Excavation Costs in Ontario: What Digging Actually Costs in 2026
Excavation is usually priced three ways in Ontario: by the cubic yard of soil moved, by the machine-hour, or as a fixed project price once a contractor has seen the site. Published Ontario ranges put bulk excavation at roughly $30–$200 per cubic yard and an excavator with operator at about $100–$300 per hour — a wide spread, because the ground itself is the biggest variable.
Typical GTA project ranges
| Project | Typical Ontario range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation dig (new home) | $3,000–$10,000+ | Depth, soil type and haul-off drive the top end |
| Home addition excavation | $15,000–$35,000 | Tight access and shoring raise the price |
| Utility trenching | Priced per linear foot / project | Depth and locates affect the rate |
| Grading & levelling | Priced per project | Cut/fill balance on site keeps costs down |
| Machine + operator | $100–$300 / hour | Size of machine and minimums apply |
The five factors that move your quote
- Soil and rock: sand and loam dig fast; clay is slower; rock can mean breaking equipment and a very different price.
- Haul-off and disposal: soil that can't stay on site must be trucked and disposed of under Ontario's excess-soil rules (O. Reg. 406/19) — often the hidden half of a quote.
- Access: a backyard addition reached through a 6-foot gate takes mini equipment and more hours than an open lot.
- Depth and water: deeper digs need trench safety measures, and a high water table can mean dewatering.
- Locates, permits and restoration: locates are free, but permits, road occupancy and putting surfaces back all cost money.
How to compare quotes honestly
Ask every contractor the same three questions: Is haul-off and disposal included? Who arranges locates and permits? Is backfill and compaction included, or just the dig? A low quote that excludes trucking and backfill is rarely the low final bill. A site visit before quoting is the other good sign — contractors who price from photos alone are pricing their risk into your change orders.
51 Excavation prices work after seeing the site (or detailed drawings and photos for straightforward jobs), and our quotes state what's included — digging, haul-off, backfill and compaction — in plain language.
Want a real number for your site?
Send us the address and what you're building. 51 Excavation quotes are site-specific — we price the soil, access and scope in front of us, not a guess from a rate table.
