HomeGuide's national 2026 numbers show $500 to $1,000 to level a small yard, $1,000 to $5,000 for an average back yard and $1,200 to $8,000 an acre for land clearing. In the Twin Cities, grading is mostly about keeping water out of basements, and clearing is mostly buckthorn and dead ash.
All dollar amounts here are national ranges from HomeGuide, never our own prices for a Twin Cities job. Frost, glacial clay or sand, groundwater near the lakes, alley access and haul distance all move the real cost. The HomeGuide pages were checked in October 2026.
What does it cost to grade or level a yard in the Twin Cities?
To grade or level a yard, HomeGuide's national band is $500 to $5,000, or $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, around a $2,300 average with a $200 low and a $10,000 high. Fixing one side of a house runs $500 to $1,000 and all four sides $1,000 to $3,000.
| Yard area | Finish grade | Rough grade |
|---|---|---|
| 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 do I know my Minneapolis yard needs regrading?
A Minneapolis yard needs regrading when the basement gets damp after spring melt, the soil along the foundation sits lower than the lawn a few feet out, or water pools by the back steps. In older neighborhoods, look at where the siding meets the soil: if you can see more foundation than you used to, the grade has sunk.
What does it cost when the yard slopes toward the house and the basement?
When the yard slopes toward the house, HomeGuide's figures put regrading at $500 to $1,000 for one side and $1,000 to $3,000 around the house. We bring in clean fill, compact it against the foundation, slope it away and give the water a way to the street, the alley or a rain garden.
What does rough grading mean, compared with finish grading?
Rough grading means moving bulk soil to set the main shape and elevations of a lot, while finish grading smooths the top few inches for seed or sod. HomeGuide's grading page prices rough grading at $1 to $2 a square foot and finish grading at $0.40 to $1.00. A teardown rebuild needs both; a settled yard usually needs only the finish work.
What does it cost to level a sloped yard or a hillside in Eden Prairie or Minnetonka?
Leveling a sloped yard or taking down a hillside costs $1,000 to $5,000 by HomeGuide's figures. In hilly suburbs like Eden Prairie and Minnetonka, a level yard usually means a retaining wall, which HomeGuide puts at $35 to $65 a square foot, with engineering for walls 4 feet and taller.
What does a level base for an above-ground pool cost in Minnesota?
A level base for an above-ground pool is $200 to $850 on HomeGuide's grading page, depending on size and slope. The pad has to be firm and dead level. On sandy soil we compact it, and on clay or peat we dig down to firm ground first.
What does it cost to prepare a teardown or vacant lot to build a house?
To prepare a teardown or vacant lot to build a house, add up HomeGuide's national pieces: clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 an acre, a foundation pad at $1,500 to $10,000, grading for new construction at $1,000 to $5,000 and utility trenches at $5 to $12 a foot. On a teardown, demolition and removing the old basement come first.
How long does it take to clear and grade a Twin Cities building lot?
Most Twin Cities lots take somewhere between a few days and two weeks to clear and grade. HomeGuide's timeline is 1 to 3 days for small digs and 3 weeks or more for large or rocky ones. Frozen ground, spring load limits on some roads and inspections can stretch a Twin Cities schedule.
What does clearing an acre of wooded land cost near Minneapolis?
Clearing an acre near Minneapolis costs $1,200 to $8,000 on HomeGuide's land clearing page, with light clearing at $1,200 to $2,500, moderate at $2,500 to $4,500 and heavy at $4,500 to $8,000. Thick buckthorn under oaks in Minnetonka or Plymouth is moderate to heavy work.
| Parcel size | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 1/8 acre | $600 to $2,000 |
| 1/4 acre | $800 to $3,000 |
| 1/2 acre | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200 to $8,000 |
What does it cost to clear heavily wooded land in the western suburbs?
Clearing heavily wooded land costs $4,500 to $8,000 an acre in HomeGuide's figures. Wooded parcels in the western suburbs often have wetlands and protected trees mixed in, which slows clearing more than the trees themselves.
What does buckthorn and brush removal cost?
Buckthorn and brush removal costs $800 to $3,000 an acre in HomeGuide's national figures, and single trees $400 to $1,200 each on average. Buckthorn pulled out by the roots with a machine comes back far less than buckthorn that is only cut.
Can brush and buckthorn be mulched on site, and what does forestry mulching cost?
Brush and buckthorn can be mulched on site, and HomeGuide puts forestry mulching at $500 to $1,000 or more an acre. Mulch works on lots that will stay wooded, but it should be kept off building pads, septic fields and wetland buffers.
Can a wooded lot be cleared without pulling every stump?
Yes, a wooded lot can be cleared without pulling every stump. Stumps must come out under a house, garage, drive, pool or trench, and elsewhere they can be ground or cut flush. HomeGuide's stump page prices grinding at $2 to $6 per inch across.
What size excavator or machine does clearing a Minnesota lot take?
A compact track loader with a mulching head or a grapple handles buckthorn and brush on most Minnesota lots, and a mid-size excavator pulls stumps and larger trees. Big oaks near houses are a tree service's job. We choose the machine after seeing the site, the gate width and the trees to keep.
Need a real price for your Twin Cities property? Call or text (612) 688-4650; we walk the site first and then send the scope and price in writing.