Typical Phoenix Price
Plan around $125 to $155 per hour for standard equipment and an operator, or $1,659 to $6,707 for a complete residential excavation project.
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What Is the Typical Cost to Hire an Excavation Contractor in Phoenix ?
Phoenix Excavation Co. explains that hiring an excavation contractor in Phoenix typically costs $125 to $155 per hour for standard equipment and an operator, while a complete residential project often falls between $1,659 and $6,707. Final pricing depends on cubic yards moved, soil, access, depth, equipment, and haul-off, so an itemized estimate is more useful than any single average.
Quick Summary
- Standard Phoenix excavation commonly runs $125 to $155 per hour for equipment and an operator.
- Residential projects range from about $1,659 to $6,707, with an average near $3,598.
- Standard dirt work may cost $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard, while technical sites can reach $108 to $247 per cubic yard.
- Caliche, tight access, slope, depth, utility proximity, permits, and material disposal can all increase the total.
How Excavation Costs Break Down
What Changes the Total
Cubic yards, caliche or rock, dig depth, slope, equipment access, utility proximity, compaction, and disposal determine how long the work takes.
How to Compare Estimates
Compare cubic yardage, machine class, operator time, mobilization, permits, utility locates, compaction, and haul-off as separate line items before approving the scope.
What an Excavation Quote Should Show
Measuring an Excavation in Cubic Yards
This image helps show length, width, and planned depth being measured before the volume is divided by 27. Those dimensions determine the cubic yards the contractor must move.
Mini Excavator in a Tight Phoenix Side Yard
A narrow access route can require a smaller machine and more operator hours. This image helps make the clearance between the equipment and the property visible.
Caliche Layer in an Excavation Cut
This image helps show a hard caliche layer exposed beneath surface soil. Breaking that layer takes longer than digging cooperative sandy or loamy ground.
Excavation Pricing Snapshot
Hourly or Flat Project Price
Hourly pricing fits work whose duration depends on field conditions; a flat estimate is easier to compare when the volume, access, equipment, and disposal scope are defined.
Standard or Technical Cubic Yards
Straightforward dirt work may run $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard. Tight, technical excavation with disposal or compaction can run $108 to $247 per cubic yard.
Mini Excavator or Track Hoe
A mini excavator usually sits at the lower end of the hourly scale. A full-size track hoe costs more to fuel and mobilize, but it can move bulk material faster.
Mobilization and Haul-Off
A mid-size excavator and operator may be quoted at $1,000 to $2,000 per day nationally. Dirt haul-off is separate when truckloads, disposal type, and distance to an approved fill site change.
2026 Excavation Cost Comparison Chart
| Excavation scope | Typical planning range | Main cost variables |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix equipment and operator | $125 to $155 per hour | Soil, access, depth, and machine size |
| Full residential project | $1,659 to $6,707; average $3,598 | Scope, cubic yards, and haul-off |
| Small grading or building pad | $1,500 to $3,500 total | Lot size and cut-and-fill balance |
| Pool excavation or removal | $2,000 to $6,000 or more | Pool size, access, and removal type |
| 200-foot trench | $800 to $3,000 | Depth, caliche, and utility proximity |
| Driveway excavation and removal | $1,000 to $4,000 | Slab thickness, rebar, and hauling |
| Yard excavation | $500 to $2,500 | Material volume and haul-off needs |
How to Calculate Excavation Cost
Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 to estimate cubic yards. Standard grading and site prep may run $2 to $8 per square foot, but depth makes area alone incomplete: 1,000 square feet excavated one foot deep is roughly 37 cubic yards. At $2.50 to $15 per cubic yard, that is about $92 to $555 in material-volume cost before labor. With equipment and operator time added, the draft's planning range for a straightforward 1,000-square-foot pad is $1,500 to $4,000.
Factors That Change the Answer
Caliche layers in the East Valley and parts of North Phoenix take more breakup time than sandy soil found in parts of the West Valley. Tight side yards, backyard pools, steep foothill lots, deep foundation cuts, and work near utilities can require different machines or slower production. City of Phoenix and Maricopa County permit requirements may add fees and scheduling time, while disposal distance and debris type affect haul-off. For drainage grading, the draft identifies a typical minimum fall of one inch per foot for effective runoff.
Common Follow-Up Questions
How much does a small dig cost? A short trench, drainage fix, or minor grading job may be quoted at $500 to $1,500 when it takes only a few hours. How much does a 200-foot trench cost? The draft range is $800 to $3,000, often covering half a day to a full day in cooperative soil. Can you excavate yourself? Arizona 811 must be contacted at least two full working days before digging, and OSHA protective-system requirements apply once a trench is deeper than five feet.
Ask a Local Pro
Need a Detailed Excavation Estimate?
Share the planned length, width, depth, access route, soil conditions, and haul-off needs to request a free, no-obligation estimate. An itemized scope can clarify cubic yardage, equipment, operator time, utility locates, permits, compaction, and disposal before work begins.