How Much Does Excavation Cost in Coeur d'Alene and Kootenai County?
Excavation near Coeur d'Alene typically runs $125 to $225 per hour for an excavator with an operator, $15 to $40 per linear foot for a rural driveway and $2,000 to $6,000 per acre for land clearing. Access, rock, slope and haul distance move a price within, and sometimes beyond, those ranges.
Request a quote or email contact@cdaexcavation.com, or call (509) 408-3370
Typical costs for driveways, grading, clearing and walls
| Work | Typical range | Unit and note |
|---|---|---|
| Excavation, hourly | $125 to $225 | Per hour; operator and machine; minimum charges apply; depends on machine size |
| Site preparation | $3,000 to $15,000+ | Per project; scope, acreage, haul-off volume and rock content drive it |
| Roads and driveways | $15 to $40 | Per linear foot; width, base depth, culverts, grade and surface |
| Grading and drainage | $2,000 to $7,500 | Per project; $1,500 per day machine minimum on most jobs |
| Retaining walls | $30 to $80 | Per square foot of wall face; engineering, drainage backfill and base prep |
| Forestry mulching | $1,500 to $4,500 | Per acre; vegetation density, terrain, rock and finish |
| Land clearing | $2,000 to $6,000 | Per acre; heavier than mulching; timber value, slope, access, stumps |
| Brush removal | $1,000 to $2,500 | Per acre; chipping, hauling or piling |
| Slash removal | $800 to $3,500 | Per day; chip, burn or haul |
Ranges based on a published pricing guide, assuming standard access and working conditions. Actual prices depend on the lot.
What the ranges add up to on a real lot
| Example | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 300 ft of rural driveway | 300 ft × $15 to $40 | $4,500 to $12,000 |
| 5 acres of land clearing | 5 acres × $2,000 to $6,000 | $10,000 to $30,000 |
| 8 hours of machine and operator | 8 hours × $125 to $225 | $1,000 to $1,800 |
| 2 acres of fuel reduction | 2 acres × $1,500 to $4,500 | $3,000 to $9,000 |
The spread between the low and high end is the point: access, rock, slope, stumps and haul distance move a price that far. Minimum charges and permits are on top.
What changes an excavation price on a Kootenai County lot?
- Access and haul distance. Narrow gates, soft ground and long hauls.
- Rock and old fill. Neither shows until the ground is open.
- Slope. The county limits cut and fill slopes to 2:1 unless engineered, so steep lots bring walls, benches or design fees.
- Permits. A site disturbance permit and, near water, state approvals.
- Near the lake. The 25-foot shoreline management area limits mechanical ground disturbance.
- Minimums. Hourly work often carries a minimum charge; ask what it is.
Hourly or fixed price?
| Hourly | Fixed | |
|---|---|---|
| Fits | Unknown ground, rock, stumps | A defined pad, trench or driveway length |
| Ask | The rate, the minimum and whether travel is billed | What the written scope excludes |
| Watch for | No estimate of hours | A low total with long exclusions |
What should a written quote list?
- The work in plain words with quantities.
- Hourly or fixed, and the rate or total, with any minimum.
- Hauling, import fill and gravel.
- Who requests 811 and who holds the ticket.
- Which permits apply and who applies.
- How rock or water is handled.
- The contractor's Idaho registration number.
How do I check the contractor?
Search the company on the public search run by the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Idaho Code 54-5203 counts excavating as construction, and 54-5205 exempts some small projects.
Common questions
How much does excavation cost per hour near Coeur d'Alene?
Typically $125 to $225 per hour for an operator and machine, with minimum charges. The rate follows machine size.
What does a driveway cost per foot?
Typically $15 to $40 per linear foot for a rural driveway, varying with width, base depth, culverts, grade and surface.
What do land clearing and forestry mulching cost per acre?
Typically $2,000 to $6,000 per acre for land clearing and $1,500 to $4,500 per acre for forestry mulching.
Why can my price differ from a typical range?
Ranges assume standard access and soil. Rock, slope, access, haul distance and permits move the price.
Do permits add cost?
Possibly. Kootenai County requires a site disturbance permit for most excavation and grading; ask Community Development for the current fee.
Hourly or fixed price?
Fixed prices suit a defined scope; hourly suits unknown ground. Ask what the minimum charge is.
What should the quote say?
The scope, the rate or total, any minimum, haul-off, who handles 811 and permits, and the contractor's Idaho registration number.
How do I get a quote for my lot?
Request a quote
Tell us about your project and how to reach you.