By HomeGuide's national 2026 figures, leveling a small yard costs $500 to $1,000 and an average back yard $1,000 to $5,000. Clearing runs $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. Around San Antonio, clearing means cedar and mesquite, and oak wilt rules shape how we work near oaks.
All prices on this page are national ranges from HomeGuide, not quotes from us. In San Antonio, limestone, caliche, black clay, access and haul distance decide where a job really lands. Figures checked in October 2026.
What does it cost to level a yard in San Antonio?
Leveling a yard runs $500 to $5,000 by HomeGuide's national figures, or $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, with $2,300 as the national average. Grading along one side of the house costs $500 to $1,000, and around the whole house $1,000 to $3,000. Hitting caliche under the lawn moves a job toward the high end.
| 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 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $5,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| 10,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $10,000 | $10,000 to $20,000 |
What are the signs a yard needs grading?
A yard needs grading when water stands by the slab after rain, mulch and soil wash onto walks, or a hillside sends water toward the house. On San Antonio clay, wide cracks opening along the foundation in a dry summer show the soil is drying unevenly, which good grading and steady drainage help prevent.
My yard slopes toward the house: what does regrading cost?
When a yard slopes toward the house, HomeGuide's figures put regrading at $500 to $1,000 per side and $1,000 to $3,000 for the full perimeter. On sloped north side lots, the fix often adds a swale on the uphill side to catch water before it reaches the wall.
Rough grading and finish grading: what is the difference?
Rough grading moves bulk soil and sets the overall shape, and finish grading smooths the top for grass, seed or a slab. On HomeGuide's grading page, rough work runs $1 to $2 a square foot and fine work $0.40 to $1.00. Building sites get both, and most existing yards need finish grading only.
How much does it cost to level a sloped back yard or hillside?
Taking out a slope or hill runs $1,000 to $5,000 by HomeGuide's national figures. On Hill Country lots in Helotes and Boerne, a usable flat yard often needs a retaining wall cut into the rock, which HomeGuide prices at $35 to $65 per square foot of wall. Walls over about 4 feet generally need engineering.
How much to level a spot for an above-ground pool?
For an above-ground pool, HomeGuide's grading page lists $200 to $850 to level the spot. The pool needs a flat, firm base. On rock we grind or cut the high spots, and on clay we cut down to firm ground rather than piling loose fill that settles.
What does it cost to prepare a lot for building a house?
Preparing a lot for a house combines several jobs that HomeGuide prices separately: clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 per acre, a foundation pad at $1,500 to $10,000, and grading for new construction at $1,000 to $5,000. In San Antonio, rock on the lot and tree preservation rules are the two things we check first.
How long does clearing and grading a lot take?
A typical lot takes from a few days to a couple of weeks. HomeGuide says small excavation jobs take 1 to 3 days and large or rocky ones 3 weeks or more. North side lots with rock take longer, and clay lots on the south side need dry weather before grading.
What does land clearing cost per acre around San Antonio?
HomeGuide's land clearing page puts clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 per acre nationally. Light clearing runs $1,200 to $2,500, moderate $2,500 to $4,500, and heavy clearing of dense brush and trees $4,500 to $8,000 per acre. Thick cedar breaks and mesquite thickets usually count as moderate to heavy.
| Lot size | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 1/8 acre | $600 to $2,000 |
| 1/2 acre | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200 to $8,000 |
| 5 acres | $4,500 to $35,000 |
How much does clearing heavily wooded land cost?
For thick woods, HomeGuide's clearing page gives $4,500 to $8,000 an acre. Hill Country tracts west and north of the city fit that description when cedar grows in dense stands with live oaks mixed in that the owner wants to save.
What does brush clearing cost?
HomeGuide puts brush removal at $800 to $3,000 per acre, and removing a single tree at $400 to $1,200. Mesquite, huisache and prickly pear on old pasture south and east of the city are typical brush jobs.
How much does forestry mulching cost, and can the cedar be mulched on site?
Forestry mulching runs $500 to $1,000 or more per acre by HomeGuide's figures. Yes, cedar and brush can be ground and spread in place. On rocky slopes, a mulch layer helps hold thin soil and slows runoff toward the creeks.
Can you clear the land without removing the stumps?
Yes. Stumps come out only where a pad, drive, pool or trench will go. Elsewhere they can be cut flush or ground, which HomeGuide prices at $2 to $6 per inch of diameter. Near oaks, we avoid tearing roots, because wounds can let oak wilt in.
What size machine is needed to clear land?
For cedar and brush, a compact track loader with a mulching head does most of it. Large oaks, mesquite with deep roots and rock call for a mid-size excavator. We pick the machine after walking the land, since access, slope and the trees that stay matter as much as size.
To get a number for your own site, have us walk it first; the price comes in a written quote. Call or text (210) 796-2675.