HomeGuide's 2026 national pages list excavation at $2.50 to $15.00 per cubic yard, and most projects at $1,100 to $5,600. There is no rock to break in New Orleans; the costs come from water in the hole, soft walls that need shoring, small lots and hauling.
Prices here are HomeGuide's published national ranges, not quotes from our company. In New Orleans, groundwater, soft soil, narrow streets, buried debris and the trip to the dump site move the real cost. Checked October 2026.
How much does excavation cost in New Orleans?
A typical home excavation project runs $1,100 to $5,600 on HomeGuide's national figures. The national average is $3,500, small jobs start near $500 and big ones reach about $20,000. HomeGuide has no New Orleans figure, so we do not offer one. Depth below the water table, access on narrow streets and how much debris is buried decide the price.
| What is being dug | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| Pad for a new home site | $1,500 to $10,000 |
| Around an existing house | $5,000 to $15,000 |
| Pad for a drive, patio or deck | $1,000 to $2,500 |
| Grading for a new lawn | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| Trench for sewer or drainage | $500 to $1,200 |
| Yard excavation | $500 to $5,000 |
What is the excavation price per cubic yard?
Per cubic yard, HomeGuide lists $2.50 to $15.00 nationally, labor and machine included. Light soil is $2.50 to $6.00, average soil $6.00 to $10.00, and heavy or wet soil $10.00 to $15.00. Most New Orleans digs below the first couple of feet are in wet soil, so the upper part of that range is the realistic one. The rock prices on the same page rarely apply here.
Do excavators price per square foot or per acre?
Sometimes. HomeGuide shows $1 to $5 per square foot for shallow work and $1,000 to $3,000 per acre for open land. City lots here are small, so most jobs are priced as a whole or by the cubic yard; per-acre pricing fits clearing on the north shore or in Plaquemines Parish.
What do excavators charge per hour?
An operator with an excavator, backhoe or skid steer charges $100 to $300 per hour nationally, and an operator without equipment $50 to $150 per hour, on HomeGuide's figures. Many set a one-day or eight-hour minimum because getting a trailer through city traffic and narrow streets takes the same effort for a small job.
What does an excavator and operator cost for a day?
At $100 to $300 an hour, a full eight-hour day comes to about $800 to $2,400, using HomeGuide's rates. Renting a mini excavator alone costs $200 to $700 a day, and a skid steer $200 to $550. Renting makes sense only for someone who can run it, can handle water in the hole, and knows where the gas and sewer lines run.
What does a mini excavator job cost?
Mini excavators are billed at about the same $100 to $300 per hour nationally, usually with a day minimum. In New Orleans, they are often the only machine that fits: between raised houses, through a side alley or into a courtyard. They also weigh less, which helps on soft ground.
Is there a minimum charge for small digs?
Usually. HomeGuide says many contractors set minimum project fees of $500 to $800, since moving and unloading the machine costs the same however small the dig.
What does a small yard excavation cost?
HomeGuide lists small backyard landscaping digs at $500 to $1,000 and larger yard jobs for drainage, pipe or erosion control at up to $5,000. In older New Orleans yards, a small dig often turns up brick, old slabs and buried debris, which adds time.
How much does hauling dirt away cost?
On HomeGuide's dirt removal page, taking dirt away runs $140 to $230 per cubic yard, or $1,400 to $2,300 per truck load. Wet dirt costs $210 to $300 per cubic yard, and most spoil dug below the water table here is wet. Self-delivered landfill dumping runs $30 to $50 per ton.
Is hauling included in the excavation price?
Ask, because quotes differ. Some include haul-off, some leave the spoil on the lot, and some add hauling as a line. On small city lots there is rarely room to keep spoil, and wet clay piled on a lawn makes a mess, so haul-off is usually part of the job.
What does fill dirt cost?
HomeGuide puts fill dirt at $5 to $25 per cubic yard, topsoil at $10 to $50 and sand at $15 to $50, with delivery at $50 to $150 per trip and spreading at $200 to $400. Raising a settled yard is one of the most common jobs here, and the fill must be compacted or it will sink again.
Why are my excavation quotes so far apart?
Bids that are far apart usually cover different work. One may include pumping, shoring, haul-off and compacted fill, and another may leave those out. Ask each bidder how they will handle water in the hole, where the spoil goes, what fill comes in and who gets the permits, then compare.
Should I pay hourly or a fixed price?
A fixed price is best when the scope is clear, such as raising a yard by a set amount. Hourly can be fair for unknowns, like digging to find where a sewer line has pulled apart. Get the rate or the price in writing, plus what happens if the dig hits buried debris or more water than expected.
Want a number for your own lot? We come by, look at the ground and the drainage, and send a written quote. Call or text (504) 608-4795.