HomeGuide's national 2026 numbers put leveling a small yard at $500 to $1,000 and an average back yard at $1,000 to $5,000, and land clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. In Clark County, clearing often means fir trees and blackberry, and critical areas decide what can be cleared.
We did not set the dollar figures on this page: they are national ranges from HomeGuide. In Clark County, wet-season clay, trees, slope, groundwater and haul distance are what push a real job up or down. Figures checked October 2026.
How much does it cost to grade or level a yard in Vancouver?
Grading or leveling a yard runs $500 to $5,000, or $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, on HomeGuide's national page, where the average is $2,300 and the range goes from about $200 to $10,000. Correcting the slope on one side of a house costs $500 to $1,000, and on all sides $1,000 to $3,000.
| Area | Finish grading | Rough grading |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $200 to $500 | $500 to $1,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $400 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $1,000 to $2,500 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $5,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 |
How can I tell my yard needs grading?
The yard needs grading if water stands for days after rain, moss and soggy turf creep toward the house, the crawl space gets damp every winter, or soil washes down a slope. Walk the yard during a long rain and watch which way the water runs; if it heads to the foundation, the grade is wrong.
What does it cost to regrade a yard that slopes toward the house?
If your yard slopes toward the house, plan on $500 to $1,000 per side or $1,000 to $3,000 for the whole house by HomeGuide's figures. Here, the water then needs somewhere to go: a swale, a drain to the street, a ditch or a drywell on sandy ground, because months of steady rain will find any low spot.
What separates rough grading from finish grading?
Rough grading moves bulk soil to set the shape and elevations of the lot; finish grading trims the top few inches smooth for sod, seed, beds or paving. On HomeGuide's grading page, rough work costs $1 to $2 a square foot and finish work $0.40 to $1.00. New homes need both passes.
How much to level a sloped back yard or cut into a hillside?
Taking down a slope or hill runs $1,000 to $5,000 on HomeGuide's page. On Prune Hill in Camas, the slopes above Salmon Creek or the hills near Washougal, a level yard usually needs a retaining wall at $35 to $65 per square foot of wall face. Walls around 4 feet or taller generally need an engineer.
What does leveling ground for an above-ground pool cost?
HomeGuide prices leveling for an above-ground pool at $200 to $850. We cut to firm soil and add compacted crushed rock rather than building up with native clay, which softens every winter.
How much does preparing land for a house cost?
Preparing land for a house costs about $2,000 to $5,000 on mostly level ground and $50,000 or more on rocky, boulder-strewn land, by HomeGuide's land clearing page. Clearing firs, a foundation pad ($1,500 to $10,000), a driveway, utility trenches and septic work on rural lots are part of it.
How long does it take to clear and grade a building lot?
Most residential lots take a few days to two weeks to clear and grade in dry weather. By HomeGuide's timing, a small dig wraps up in 1 to 3 days, while big or rocky sites can run beyond 3 weeks. In Clark County, the wet season and critical-area review can add weeks.
What does land clearing cost per acre in Clark County?
HomeGuide's land clearing page lists $1,200 to $8,000 per acre nationally: light clearing $1,200 to $2,500, moderate $2,500 to $4,500 and heavy $4,500 to $8,000. A stand of mature firs with blackberry under it is heavy clearing.
| Lot size | National range, HomeGuide |
|---|---|
| 1/4 acre | $800 to $3,000 |
| 1/2 acre | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200 to $8,000 |
| 2 acres | $1,900 to $15,000 |
| 5 acres | $4,500 to $35,000 |
What does it cost to clear heavily wooded land?
Clearing dense woods sits at the top of HomeGuide's scale, $4,500 to $8,000 an acre. That fits much of rural Clark County, where second-growth Douglas fir, alder and maple cover many parcels; timber with market value can sometimes offset part of the cost.
How much does brush and small tree clearing cost?
HomeGuide prices brush removal at $800 to $3,000 an acre and single tree removal at $400 to $1,200 on average. Himalayan blackberry is the brush we fight most, and the root crowns have to come out or it grows back.
What does forestry mulching cost, and can trees be mulched in place?
Grinding brush and small trees where they stand costs $500 to $1,000 or more an acre on HomeGuide's land clearing page. Brush and small trees ground in place make a layer that protects bare soil from winter rain, which helps with erosion control near creeks and slopes.
Can a lot be cleared without pulling every stump?
Yes. Pull the stumps under the house pad, the driveway, the drain field and trench lines, and cut or grind the rest. A grinder charges $2 to $6 for each inch across the stump by HomeGuide's figures.
What size excavator is needed to clear land here?
A mid-size excavator with a thumb handles most fir stumps and brush piles, a compact track loader with a mulcher handles brush, and a larger machine handles big stumps and logs. On wet ground, tracks and mats keep the machine from sinking. The machine gets chosen once we have walked the parcel and seen the trees.
Tell us about your project and we will come look at the ground, then send the scope and the price in writing. Call or text (360) 276-9112.