Service
Yard Grading & Leveling
Uneven ground, low spots, standing water, or water running toward the house. We level and regrade yards so a lawn looks better, mows easier and drains the right way.
- Price
- From $0.75/sq ft
Priced by the square foot, in four levels. Light leveling by top-dressing is about $0.75. Standard leveling is $1.35 to $1.70. Drainage regrading is about $3.00. A full regrade with new sod is about $5.20. Minimum project charge is $750. Quotes by phone, video or through the site are free, and an on-site estimate is free inside Loop 610, $50 inside Beltway 8 and $100 beyond. The visit confirms the exact figure for your yard. One-off jobs carry a mobilization fee on those same zones. Compare every published price.
Overview
Grading is the part of a yard nobody looks at until it goes wrong. Ground should fall away from the house and keep falling to somewhere water can leave. When it does not, because the yard was never graded properly, because soil has settled, or because beds and topsoil have been built up against the house over the years, water ends up exactly where it should not be.
The same work fixes the other version of the problem: a yard that is simply uneven. Low spots that hold water, high spots that scalp under a mower, and settlement over old trench lines all get corrected by moving and compacting soil rather than by adding another product on top.
What’s included
- Light leveling, about $0.75 per sq ft: half an inch of quality topsoil raked and blended into the existing lawn, which the grass grows straight through. A 2,000 sq ft yard is about $1,450
- Standard leveling, $1.35 to $1.70 per sq ft: high spots taken off, one to two inches of fill added, shaped with a skid steer and rolled smooth. A 2,000 sq ft yard is $2,700 to $3,350
- Drainage regrading, about $3.00 per sq ft: the yard reshaped so water runs away from the foundation, cut with a skid steer and laser level, including fill dirt and a topsoil finish. A 2,000 sq ft yard is about $6,000
- Regrade with new sod, about $5.20 per sq ft: old grass removed and hauled off, the yard regraded for drainage, and fresh St. Augustine laid. A 2,000 sq ft yard is about $10,400
- Additional soil beyond what a job includes, at $150 per yard
- Sprinkler heads checked and adjusted to the new level
Our work
Grading in Houston
Generator Gravel Pad 
Modern Streetscape 
New Build Front Landscape 
Backyard Hardscape in Progress
FAQ
Grading questions.
How much does it cost to level a yard?
Most yard leveling runs $0.75 to $1.70 per square foot. Drainage regrading is about $3.00 per square foot, and a full regrade with new sod is about $5.20. On a 2,000 square foot yard that is roughly $1,450 for light leveling, $2,700 to $3,350 for standard leveling, $6,000 for a drainage regrade, or $10,400 regraded with new sod. There is a $750 minimum project charge. Every yard is different, so the exact figure is confirmed on a free on-site estimate.
What is the difference between leveling and grading?
Leveling smooths out bumps and low spots so a lawn looks and mows better. Grading reshapes the slope of the yard so rainwater drains away from the house instead of pooling or running toward the foundation. Plenty of yards need some of both.
Will my grass survive?
With light leveling, yes. The layer is thin enough that the existing grass grows straight through it. For deeper regrading we recommend new sod, because grass buried under one to two inches of fill will not come back reliably and a patchy result is worse than a fresh lawn.
How long does it take?
Most leveling jobs take a day. Drainage regrades usually take one to two days, and a regrade with sod takes two to three, depending on the size of the yard and the weather.
What affects the price?
The size of the yard, how much soil has to be added or moved, whether equipment can get through the gates, what machinery the job needs, and whether new sod is going in. Additional soil beyond what the job includes is $150 per yard.
Do I need a permit?
Not for yard leveling on its own in the City of Houston.
Will my sprinklers be affected?
Leveling changes the height of the ground around sprinkler heads, so they are checked and adjusted as part of the work. Any repairs beyond that are quoted separately.
Free quote
Start with yard grading & leveling.
Tell us about the property and we’ll come back to you. You can add other services at the same time. Bundling saves a trip and saves you money.
Where grading is available
Yard Grading & Leveling is available across Houston, TX and 36 surrounding neighbourhoods and cities, at the same published price everywhere. One-off jobs outside Loop 610 carry a mobilization fee ($50 inside Beltway 8, $100 beyond); recurring work never does.
Related
Often booked together.
Landscape Design
A custom design built around your style, your property and how you actually want to use the space.
$100 · 1 hr
Landscaping Installation
Building the plan: beds, planting, turf, gravel, edging, pavers and the hardscape that holds it together.
Quoted per property
Sprinkler System Repairs
Diagnosis of a sprinkler system that is not working properly, and the repair itself if it can be done within the visit.
$150 minimum · 1 hr 30 min
Free quote
Ready to talk about grading?
Call us, or send a request and we'll come back to you about the property.