Excavating a construction pit: What does it cost?

Excavating a construction pit costs an average of €28 per cubic meter.

Excavating a construction pit costs between €6 and €50 per cubic meter.

Once you have purchased a building plot, you can begin construction. To start, a construction pit is required — especially if a basement is planned, which usually makes the pit quite large and deep. To avoid costly mistakes later, it’s best to have professionals handle the excavation.

How many soil classes are there?

There are 7 soil classes.
The first three layers are easy to remove and therefore cheaper to excavate.
Soil classes 4 and 5 are harder to dig depending on their composition, especially when large stones or roots are present.
Soil classes 6 and 7 consist of rock types that are often very difficult to break apart.

What factors influence the price?

The following factors can affect excavation costs:

• Soil class

• Water content in the soil

• Size of the pit

• Qualification and experience of the workers

How can you save money on excavation?

To save money, you can help with the excavation yourself. For example, you can rent a mini excavator starting at €150 per day. This way, the workers don’t need to bring their heavy machinery, saving you rental costs. Depending on the soil type, you can often remove the upper layers yourself.

How much does excavation and disposal cost?

Excavating a construction pit including soil disposal costs between €9 and €69 per cubic meter, depending on the soil class.

Example calculation: How much does excavation cost?

A family wants to build a pool in their garden. For this, a 3-meter wide, 4-meter long, and 2-meter deep pit must be excavated.
The family should expect total costs of €270 for the project.