How Much Does It Cost to Level a Yard in 2025?

Yard Leveling Cost Factors

When regrading your yard, the type of project and the size aren’t the only factors that affect the final price. Here are other important cost factors that’ll affect the cost to level your yard. 

Land Survey

Consider getting a land survey to confirm that all work is being done on your land, not on neighboring properties, especially if you’re working near any boundaries. On average, land surveys cost $200 to $1,000. The final cost depends on your property's size and makeup, location, and the type of survey you want.  

Slope Inclination

Another factor that impacts the total cost of regrading is the slope inclination, or how much you need to change the direction of the current slope. If your lawn makes a steep downward turn in one direction and you need to have it slope dramatically in the opposite direction, it will be significantly more costly than a project that just requires a slight resurfacing.

You can calculate the slope by dividing the change in elevation by distance. For example: 

30 feet/100 feet = 0.3 or a 30% slope 

Remember that steep slopes result in erosion, and areas with larger gradients require more resloping to create a flat area. Below are the average costs for different types of hills in a typical yard. These prices include the cost of fill dirt and labor fees.

Additional Fill Dirt

While fill dirt won’t make as substantial of a dent as other price factors, it’s still a critical portion of this project. Expect to pay $5 to $15 per cubic yard for the cost of fill dirt. 

If the soil being relocated from one area of your yard to the location of a newly created slope isn’t enough to fill the space, you might need additional fill dirt. 

Topsoil

The topsoil is the dirt placed on top of the fill dirt. It contains nutrients that allow for a well-nourished garden and lawn. Depending on the type and quality, it can cost $12 to $55 per cubic yard. 

Soil Quality

Not all topsoil is the same. Unscreened topsoil costs $10 to $35 per cubic yard. This soil isn’t filtered through a mesh and may contain rocks, roots, and sticks. Screened topsoil is finer and provides the optimal conditions for growing plants and a flat lawn. It typically costs $20 to $40 per cubic yard. 

Other Cost Factors

In addition to the slope and soil of your yard, you’ll also need to budget for preparations, labor, and other costs.

Site Prep Work

The amount of landscape prep work your pro needs to do before starting on your lawn also influences the cost to slope your lawn. If you need to excavate your property entirely, the cost of excavation can average around $2,700. Additionally, if your pro needs to remove bushes and trees, expect to pay $870 on average for this service. 

Don’t forget to contact your local utility company and have someone mark your utility lines so your landscaper doesn’t damage them. The cost to repair damaged lines is $1,000 or more.  

Erosion Control

When you dig up the ground and move the soil somewhere else, you can potentially face erosion problems. Without erosion control measures in place, groundwater, wind, and rain can shift the soil and undo your resloping work. 

Controlling this issue is an unavoidable cost for homeowners. One option is to add living and rooting plants to the area to keep soil from running off with the first rainstorm. Another option is to install wooden or metal edging or bracing in areas with new soil. 

Different erosion control measures have varying price points:

• Cost to build a retaining wall: $2,900 to $7,800

• Cost to add heavy sod: $170 to $380

• Mulching cost: $160 to $300

Labor

Regrading a yard often requires professional tools and equipment, particularly for steep or challenging spaces. Pros usually charge between $50 to $150 per hour to reslope a yard, depending on their experience level, the difficulty of the job, and labor costs in your area.

Permits 

Depending on where you live, you may need a permit for a regrading project. Regrading permits can range from $50 to $500, depending on the scope of the work. Consult with your local permitting office before you begin to learn whether you need a permit and how much it will cost.

Grass and Landscaping

Most homeowners prefer to landscape their yard immediately following a sloping project. The average cost to landscape a home is $3,400. However, this varies depending on the size of your lawn, the complexity of the landscaping design, and where you live. Also, consider which plants you want to install. 

Here are some typical prices homeowners pay to landscape:

• Cost to install sod: $1,050–$2,800

• Landscape curbing cost: $750–$1,850

• Cost to build a pond: $1,200–$5,500

• Cost to seed a lawn: $400–$1,600 

Irrigation System

The cost to install an automatic sprinkler system typically ranges from $1,000 to $4,000. Your existing landscaping, the size of your lawn, the irrigation system you select, and the number of zones in your yard (particularly if your lawn is terraced or has several levels) can all impact the cost of your irrigation system.

French Drain

A French drain sits under your exterior landscape to control groundwater and prevent puddling, pooling, and yard flooding. Installing a French drain costs between $2,000 and $10,000. The size, style, and condition of your property all impact the project's final cost.

Cost to Level a Yard by Size

One of the most impactful factors when calculating the cost to level a yard is its size. Below, we’ll look at two different measurements you can use while budgeting for this project. 

Per Square Foot

The average size of most residential yards is between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, with an average cost of $1 to $2 per square foot to level a yard. It’s uncommon for homeowners to regrade the entire yard, so you may not need to budget for the full area. Below are some average yard sizes and the grading cost per square foot.

Per Acre

While some contractors charge by the square foot, others charge by the acre. The typical cost to level a yard on a 1/5-acre lot is $3,000 and can reach up to $45,000 for one acre. While these prices include labor, material, and equipment, they don’t include any additional fill dirt your yard might require. 

Cost to Regrade a Yard by Project

Size isn’t the only factor that impacts yard resloping costs—you’ll also have to factor in the type of regrading project. Here are some common projects that impact the cost of regrading your yard. 

Driveway

Regrading your driveway allows it to drain water more efficiently, reducing the chance of water seeping in and causing cracks. The cost to regrade your driveway is approximately $2 to $15 per square foot. For a 400-square-foot driveway, homeowners pay about $800 to $6,000.

Regrading Around a Foundation

An inefficient slope around your foundation can lead to poor drainage, excessive bugs around your house, foundational damage like cracks, and spongy soil. On average, the cost to regrade around your entire foundation is $1,000 to $3,000. 

Patio, Deck, or Porch

Resloping around an existing structure can cost more than resloping a fresh, untouched area. One of the most notable benefits of grading your yard to install a patio, deck, or porch is saving money on installation because you won’t need to build a raised deck and pay for the material required. Homeowners pay $12 to $20 for each full cubic yard when grading for a patio, deck, or porch.  

Fence

You don’t need to grade your yard to install a fence, but some homeowners prefer the look and security of a sloped fence. If you decide you would like flat land before installing a fence, expect to pay about $900 to $3,000 for the cost of regrading a lawn. 

Pool

When calculating the costs to install a pool, it’s important to install it on level ground. If your ground is uneven, it can impact the stability of your pool and cause it to crack. The average cost to grade your yard for a new pool is $200 to $850.  

Removing a Hill

For some homeowners, hills can add depth to their yard, while others prefer more usable space to make yard chores more convenient. If you’ve ever mowed a lawn on a slope, you know what we’re talking about. Typically, homeowners pay $1,000 to $5,000 to remove a hill in their yard. 

Terraced Backyard

A terraced backyard is a lawn divided into several flat sections of differing heights. The cost to create a terraced backyard can vary from $1,000 to $10,000, but most people pay around $3,800 for the entire yard.

Prices vary significantly because some lawns require retaining walls, and others do not. Terracing a backyard is different from grading because portions of the yard need to be raised or lowered to create a step-like landscape. Both sections then need to be flattened.

Some of the factors involved and their average prices are:

• Sod removal: $2.00 per sq. ft.

• Fill dirt: $8 to $15 per cubic yard

• Grading: $1,000 to $2,000

• Building retaining walls: $2,800 to $7,800

• Reseeding or re-sodding: $1,000 to $2,700

Does Leveling a Yard Increase Home Value?

Leveling a yard can increase the value of your home by boosting curb appeal and improving drainage. Some homeowners choose to reslope portions of their yard for aesthetic purposes, which may add appeal depending on the taste of home buyers in your area. 

Yard leveling may improve safety and drainage by directing rainwater away from foundations and driveways. This can improve the longevity of your home and may even reduce flood risks and insurance premiums.

Budgeting for Leveling a Yard

Most yard leveling projects require professional equipment and skills. However, there are several steps you can take to keep your project budget-friendly:

• Book ahead: Landscaping pros are usually busiest during the spring and summer, so schedule well in advance to secure a spot. Booking in the off-season may open up discounts, but if you’re worried about water damage, it’s best to book early to prevent bigger problems.

• Shop for soil deals: If you’re regrading a large section of your yard, look for bulk deals on fill and topsoil. Your landscaper may also have access to special discounts, so it’s worth talking to your pros and shopping around.

• Prepare your yard in advance: Many landscapers charge by the hour, so save time and money by clearing away vehicles, shrubbery, and furniture from the work site before they arrive.

• Do your own landscaping finish: If you’re an avid gardener or handy DIY-er, this is a step you can manage yourself. Rooting plants are key to preventing erosion, so look for grasses, mosses, flowers, and other plants with a wide reach. Native plants tend to be well-suited for preventing erosion, so consider contacting your local native plant society for free seeds and other resources.

• Contact multiple pros: Reach out to several professional landscapers in your area to ask about quotes and compare prices.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. We surveyed thousands of real customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.