How much does grading and excavation cost in Dalton?
Grading and excavation jobs range from a few hundred dollars to fix a low spot to five figures for clearing and preparing a building lot. This guide collects rough 2026 prices for the common jobs around Dalton and explains what makes one quote higher than another.
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What do common grading jobs cost?
| Job | Rough cost |
|---|---|
| Yard grading or regrading | $500 to $5,000; $1,000 to $3,000 around a whole house |
| French drain | $10 to $35 a linear foot; $500 to $8,800 installed |
| Gravel driveway, new | $4 to $10 a square foot |
| Land clearing | $1,200 to $8,000 an acre, light to heavy |
| Stump grinding | $120 to $400 for one stump |
| Foundation pad for a new home | $1,500 to $10,000 |
| General excavation | $2.50 to $15 a cubic yard; $100 to $300 an hour |
These are national guides from HomeGuide's 2025–2026 cost surveys. Dalton-area quotes can land above or below them.
What makes a grading job cost more?
Access, hauling, rock, debris and permits move the price most. Here is how each one adds up:
- Access: A backyard behind a fence that only a small machine can reach takes longer than an open lot.
- Moving dirt off or on: Hauling soil away or trucking in fill adds truck time on top of machine time.
- Rock and slope: Rock and steep ground slow the work. Dalton sits in the Valley and Ridge, where ridges are built on harder rock layers.
- Debris and stumps: Burning is limited in Whitfield County from June through September, so hauling or mulching may be needed.
- Permits and erosion control: Jobs that need a land-disturbance permit also need silt fence and other erosion controls.
How should I compare quotes?
Ask each crew for the same things in writing: what is being cut, filled or hauled; how deep the base or drain will be; whether stumps, debris and seeding are included; and who calls Georgia 811 before digging.
A lower quote that leaves out compaction, an outlet for a drain, or the base thickness for a drive is often the more expensive job a year later.
Where in Whitfield County are calls answered?
Calls and requests come from Dalton, Rocky Face, Tunnel Hill, Varnell, Cohutta and the rest of Whitfield County. See the service area page for the towns and communities.
Common questions
Why do grading prices vary so much?
Two yards the same size can need very different amounts of dirt moved, and access, rock and hauling change the time a crew spends.
Is an hourly price or a fixed bid better?
Fixed bids are easier to compare for well-defined jobs. Hourly can make sense for small fixes. Ask what is included either way.
Do prices change with the season?
Wet winter weather slows grading, and dry months are busy. Booking early helps for spring and summer work.
Sources: HomeGuide, Cost to level or regrade a yard (Jan 2026) (source); HomeGuide, French drain cost (Feb 2026) (source); HomeGuide, Gravel driveway cost (Dec 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Land clearing cost (Nov 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Stump grinding cost (Dec 2025) (source); HomeGuide, Excavation cost (Feb 2026) (source); New Georgia Encyclopedia, Valley and Ridge geologic province (source); The Chattanoogan, Whitfield County announces outdoor burn ban (May 2026) (source); Whitfield County Engineering, Land disturbance: what requires a permit (source); Georgia 811, the 811 process (source).
Last reviewed October 31, 2026.
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