Excavation is the process of digging, moving and shaping earth, rock and other material to prepare a site for construction or landscaping. It includes digging foundations, basements and pools, trenching for utilities and drainage, building ponds, grading and general dirt work.

How do I find good excavation companies near me?

Look for a licensed and insured, locally established excavating company that walks the site before quoting and explains the work. Evans Excavating has served Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Charlotte and surrounding York, Lancaster and Chester county communities since 1998.

Evans Excavating | Excavation Contractors & Excavating Company

Q: How much does excavation cost?

Excavation cost depends on how much material is moved (measured in cubic yards), soil and rock conditions, site access, whether dirt needs to be hauled off or brought in, and permitting. Evans Excavating walks every property and gives a free, itemized on-site estimate. Call (803) 242-5461.

Q: Is there an excavation cost calculator?

To ballpark an excavation, multiply length by width by depth in feet and divide by 27 to get cubic yards. Online excavation cost calculators multiply that volume by a per-yard rate, but they cannot account for rock, red clay, tree removal, access or haul-off. For a real number, request a free on-site estimate.

Q: How much does pool excavation cost?

Pool excavation cost depends on the pool size and depth, soil and rock conditions, equipment access to the backyard and whether excavated dirt is hauled away or spread on site. Evans Excavating provides free pool excavation estimates in Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Charlotte.

Q: Do you offer hydro excavation (hydrovac)?

No. Evans Excavating does not run a hydrovac truck. Hydrovac uses pressurized water and a vacuum truck to expose buried utilities and is the right tool for potholing around crowded gas, fiber or power lines. For most residential and farm work, such as trenches, ponds, footings, drainage and septic, a backhoe or excavator is faster and less expensive, and it is safe once 811 has marked the lines. If your job truly needs hydrovac, Donnie will tell you up front.

Why Evans Excavating

Fort Mill's Trusted Excavating Contractor

For over 28 years, Evans Excavating has been the go-to excavating company for homeowners, builders, and contractors across Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Charlotte, and the surrounding Carolinas.

Owner-Operated Quality

When you hire Evans Excavating, you work directly with Donnie Evans — the owner, operator, and the person running the equipment on your property. No salespeople, no subcontractors, no runaround. Donnie personally handles every estimate, every job, and every follow-up. That direct accountability is why most of our business comes from referrals and repeat customers across York County, Lancaster County, and the greater Charlotte metro area.

The Right Equipment for Every Job

Evans Excavating owns and operates a full fleet of heavy equipment — excavators, bulldozers, skid steers, dump trucks, and specialized attachments like Fecon mulchers for land clearing. Having the right machine for the job means faster completion, less property damage, and better results whether we're clearing a half-acre lot in Tega Cay or grading a commercial site in Ballantyne.

Local Knowledge Matters

Working across Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Charlotte, Waxhaw, Pineville, Lake Wylie, York, Chester, Clover, and Steele Creek for nearly three decades means we understand the local terrain, red clay soil conditions, drainage patterns, and building code requirements specific to each municipality. That experience translates into fewer surprises, accurate estimates, and projects completed on time and within budget.

Free Estimates, Fair Prices

Donnie walks every property before providing a quote. He'll explain exactly what the job requires, what it will cost, and how long it will take. No hidden fees, no inflated estimates. If a project doesn't need excavating, he'll tell you that too. Call (803) 242-5461 to schedule your free on-site estimate.

What Our Customers Say

Earned One Job at a Time

Most of Donnie's work comes from referrals and repeat customers. Here's what neighbors across York County and the Charlotte area say.

★★★★★

"We had three different excavators quote our land clearing job. Donnie was the most honest about what the job actually required and came in at a fair price. He finished ahead of schedule, left the lot clean, and even helped us figure out the best placement for our driveway. We've already sent two neighbors his way."

Homeowner · Fort Mill, SC

★★★★★

"Our backyard held water every time it rained. Donnie figured out the problem in about ten minutes, regraded the whole yard, and tied in a drain. First storm after, completely dry."

Homeowner · Rock Hill, SC

★★★★★

"As a builder I work with a lot of subs. Evans Excavating is one of the few I never have to babysit. The pad is right, the grade is right, and he's off to the next job."

General Contractor · Lake Wylie, SC

★★★★★

"He rebuilt a gravel driveway that washed out every spring. Dug it down, put in real base, crowned it, and added a culvert. Two seasons later it still looks like the day he finished."

Homeowner · York, SC

★★★★★

"Straightforward estimate, no surprises on the bill, and the crew left the site cleaner than they found it. Exactly what you want when you're clearing a lot for a new home."

Homeowner · Tega Cay, SC

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What to Expect

How a Job Goes, Start to Finish

Never hired an excavator before? Here's what happens from the first phone call to the day we pull the machines off your property.

Site Walk
Donnie comes out, walks the property with you, and looks at the soil, slope, trees, access and where the water goes.
Usually within a few days
Straight Quote
You get a clear price for the work, what's included, and how long it should take. No hidden fees, no pressure.
Often same day
Permits & 811
We call 811 to get buried utilities marked and help you sort out any county or HOA permits the job needs.
Typically 3–10 days
Dig Day
The equipment shows up and Donnie runs it himself. You'll know what's happening each day, and weather delays get a call, not silence.
Most jobs: 1–5 days
Clean-Up
Final grade, debris hauled off, tracks raked out, and a walk-through with you before we call it done.
Before we leave

Dirt Work & Specialty Digging

More Excavation Work We Handle

Looking for dirt work companies near you that can take on the odd jobs too? Evans Excavating brings the right machine for digs big and small across York, Lancaster and Chester counties and the Charlotte area.

Backhoe loader digging red clay and loading a dump truck on a rural property beside a pasture fence

Backhoe Service

Need backhoe service near you? We dig, load, backfill and move material for homeowners, farms and builders, billed fairly and done right the first time.

Straight utility trench cut across a yard with a mini excavator, conduit spool and water line pipe beside it

Trench Digging

Trench digging services for water, sewer and electrical lines, French drains and footings, cut to the depth and grade your project calls for.

Excavator shaping the sloped clay banks of a new farm pond in an open pasture

Pond Excavation

Pond excavation for farm ponds, retention ponds and backyard water features, including digging, dam shaping and grading around the banks. Watch the video

Excavated crawl space footprint with footing trenches and batter boards on a wooded home site

Foundation Excavation

Excavation and foundation site prep for new homes, additions, garages and outbuildings: footings, crawl spaces, basements and backfill.

Excavator digging an in-ground pool in a fenced backyard while a dump truck is loaded at the gate

Pool Excavation

Pool excavation and dirt haul-off for in-ground pools, with careful access through finished yards and clean-up when the dig is done.

Bulldozer spreading fill dirt to build a level building pad with a roller compactor and survey stakes

Dirt Work & Site Prep

Fill dirt spreading, pad building, cut and fill, and general dirt work to get your site level, compacted and ready to build.

Free Tools

Check Your Yard.

A quick drainage check Donnie runs in his head on every site walk. To ballpark a dig in cubic yards and loads in Donnie's tri-axle, use the excavation calculator further down the page.

Is My Yard a Drainage Problem?

Check anything you've noticed around your property.

Water stands in the yard for a day or more after rain
The crawlspace or basement is damp, musty, or has had water in it
Soil, mulch or gravel washes out, or you see little gullies forming
Downspouts dump right next to the foundation
The ground slopes toward the house instead of away
Soggy, mossy spots or grass that won't grow in the same place
Cracks in the foundation, slab or driveway that are getting bigger
Your gravel driveway ruts or washes out every spring

Check 2 or more? Call Donnie. Two or more usually means water isn't leaving your property the way it should. Red clay doesn't drain on its own.

Call Donnie Text a Photo

Quick Quote

Send Donnie a Photo

Skip the long form. Snap 1 to 3 pictures of your land, add one line about what you want done, and Donnie will text you back a ballpark.

Works great from your phone. Take the pictures right from the form.
Stand back and get the whole area in the shot, plus one close-up of the problem spot.
Rather talk? Call (803) 242-5461 or use the full estimate form.

Excavation Calculator

How many yards is your dig?

Plug in the length, width, and depth of the area you need dug. We’ll turn it into cubic yards and a rough dump-truck count so you can walk into a conversation with Donnie already knowing the size of the job.

length × width × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards

Your dimensions

Shape of the dig

Rectangle / Pad Circle / Pond

Length

Width

Depth

Inches are optional. A 20′ × 30′ pad dug 3′ deep is about 66.7 cubic yards.

Estimated volume

—

Cubic yards

Enter your dimensions to see the math.

Add dimensions for a truck-load estimate

Approximate — Donnie’s tri-axle dump truck typically hauls about 16 cubic yards per load.

This is volume only, not a quote. Rock, trees, slopes, tight access, and whether dirt has to be hauled off all change the real price. Donnie walks every property before he prices the job.

Get a real number — free on-site estimate

Owner-operated out of Fort Mill, SC. Call or request a time and Donnie will walk the site with you.

Call (803) 242-5461 Request Free Estimate

Excavation Questions

Excavation Cost & FAQs

Straight answers to the questions folks ask Donnie most, from what excavation is to what it costs.

What is excavation?

Excavation is digging, moving and shaping earth, rock and other material to get a site ready for construction or landscaping. It covers digging foundations, basements and pools, trenching for utilities and drainage, building ponds, grading, and general dirt work. Excavating companies like ours bring the heavy equipment (excavators, backhoes, dozers, skid steers and dump trucks) and the know-how to do it safely.

How much does excavation cost?

Excavation cost comes down to a few things: how much material is moved (measured in cubic yards), soil and rock conditions (our local red clay and rock can change a job), how easily equipment can reach the work, whether dirt has to be hauled off or brought in, and any permits. Donnie walks every property and gives a free, straight-talk estimate. No hidden fees. Call (803) 242-5461.

Is there an excavation cost calculator?

Here's the quick math to ballpark any dig: length × width × depth (in feet) ÷ 27 = cubic yards. A 20′ × 30′ area dug 3′ deep is about 67 cubic yards. Try our dig calculator to run your own numbers and get a rough truckload count. Online calculators can't see rock, trees, slopes, tight access or haul-off, so for a real price, send Donnie a photo or request a free on-site estimate.

How much does pool excavation cost?

Pool excavation cost depends on the pool's size and depth, what's under the ground, how equipment gets into the backyard, and whether the excavated dirt is hauled away or spread on your property. Tell us your pool dimensions and we'll give you a free pool excavation quote.

Do you offer hydro excavation (hydrovac)?

No, we don't do hydrovac. Hydrovac uses pressurized water and a vacuum truck to expose buried utilities. It's the right tool for potholing around a tangle of gas, fiber or power lines. For most homeowner and farm jobs, like trenches, ponds, footings, drainage and septic, a backhoe or excavator is faster and costs less. Once 811 has marked the lines and we hand-dig near them, it's safe too. If your job truly needs a hydrovac truck, Donnie will tell you up front instead of selling you the wrong thing.

How do I pick between excavation companies near me?

Look for an excavation contractor that's licensed and insured, has been around a while, walks the site before quoting, and explains exactly what the job needs. Evans Excavating has been doing it the handshake way in Fort Mill, Rock Hill, Charlotte and the surrounding Carolinas since 1998, and you'll deal with the owner from estimate to clean-up.

Excavation Contractors in Fort Mill, SCWE MOVEEARTH.

Full-Service Excavation Services

Land Clearing

Grading

Demolition

Drainage Solutions

Driveways

Septic Services