By lot size
| Lot size | Typical range |
|---|---|
| 1/8 acre | $600–$2,000 |
| 1/4 acre | $800–$3,000 |
| 1/2 acre | $1,000–$5,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200–$8,000 |
| 2 acres | $1,900–$15,000 |
| 5 acres | $4,500–$35,000 |
Source: HomeGuide, Land Clearing Cost (updated Nov 20, 2025).
By type of work
| Work | Guide | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Land clearing, per acre | $1,200–$8,000 | HomeGuide |
| Land clearing, national average | about $3,778 | Angi |
| Land clearing, what most pay | $1,396–$6,174 | Angi |
| Forestry mulching, hourly | $125–$300/hr | HomeGuide |
| Forestry mulching, daily | $1,000–$2,500/day | HomeGuide |
| Yard grading, small area | $500–$1,000 | HomeGuide |
| Yard grading, average backyard | $1,000–$5,000 | HomeGuide |
| Yard grading, per sq ft | $0.40–$2.00 | HomeGuide |
| Excavator + operator | $100–$300/hr | HomeGuide |
| Excavation, typical project | $1,100–$5,600 | HomeGuide |
These are published national ranges, not quotes. Your actual price could be higher or lower. The independent local operator who walks the property sets the final price.
Sources: HomeGuide, Land Clearing Cost (updated Nov 20, 2025); Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Clear Land (updated Sep 28, 2026); HomeGuide, Forestry Mulching Cost; HomeGuide, Yard Grading Cost (updated Jan 16, 2026); HomeGuide, Excavation Cost.
What pushes the number up or down
- How wooded it is
- Brush and saplings go fast; a closed hardwood canopy takes machine days.
- Tree size
- Big trunks mean bigger machines, more cutting and more debris to move.
- Stumps out vs. ground
- Pulling stumps and root balls for a pad costs far more than grinding or leaving them at grade.
- Slope
- Steep ground slows machines and adds erosion control.
- Wet ground
- Saturated red clay can stop tracked machines and push the schedule.
- Haul-off vs. mulch in place
- Every truckload to a landfill or yard adds cost; mulching keeps it on site.
- Permits and silt fence
- An acre or more of disturbance in Mecklenburg generally means a plan and permit before work.
- Access
- Narrow gates, soft lawns and long drives change which machines can get in.
Getting a real number
A price you can plan around comes from someone walking the property. Have the acreage, a rough idea of tree size, what the cleared ground is for, and any survey or site plan ready. Compare forestry mulching against full clearing if you're not building on every square foot.