The site work division of ICFHome.ca · Building since 1979 · Insured to $2,000,000 · 705-533-1633
Excavation2026Tiny, Tay, Midland, Wasaga, Collingwood
Excavation Cost in Ontario (2026): Basements, Rates and Extras
In 2026 a mini excavator with operator runs roughly $120 to $185 an hour, and a basement dig for a typical new house in sand runs roughly $8,000 to $20,000 before rock, water or trucking. Below is what each machine costs, what a basement dig really includes, and the extras that turn a fair quote into an ugly invoice.
Updated October 2026 · Georgian Bay Siteworks, the site work division of ICFHome.ca
Insured to $2,000,000Site work division of ICFHome.caBuilding since 1979250+ projects in Simcoe County
Hourly Rates by Machine Size
Hourly rates look simple until you notice nobody digs a basement with one machine. You are usually paying for an excavator, a dump truck or two, and the float that brings the machine to your lot. Here is where rates sit for operated equipment in our area in 2026.
| Equipment (with operator) | Rough range (2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini excavator (under 6 t) | $120 – $185 / hr | Trenches, footings for decks and additions, tight lots, landscaping |
| Mid-size excavator (12 – 20 t) | $150 – $225 / hr | Basements, septic beds, stumps, driveways |
| Large excavator (25 – 35 t) | $190 – $280 / hr | Deep or big basements, rock breaking, heavy clearing |
| Tri-axle dump truck | $110 – $160 / hr | Hauling spoil out, fill and gravel in |
| Float (moving the machine) | $300 – $800 per move | Getting a mid or large machine on and off site |
For a reference point, one GTA mini excavator outfit advertises $130 to $185 an hour including operator, transport and fuel. Rates up here are in the same neighbourhood. What moves the number: machine size, whether fuel and float are included, minimum hours (many outfits bill a half or full day minimum), and how far the job is from the yard.
Builder truth: a cheap hourly rate on a slow machine with a green operator costs more than a fair rate on the right machine. You are buying cubic metres moved, not hours.
What a Basement Dig Costs
A basement dig is not just a hole. It is the hole, the over-dig around the footings, sorting topsoil from fill, stockpiling what goes back in, trucking out what does not, and backfilling once the walls are up. Here are rough 2026 ranges for a new house in our area.
| Job | Rough range (2026) | Assumptions |
|---|---|---|
| Basement dig, sand, good access | $8,000 – $20,000 | About 1,500 – 2,000 sq ft footprint, 8 – 9 ft deep, most soil kept on site |
| Basement dig, clay or tight lot | $15,000 – $30,000 | Slower digging, more trucking, wet spoil that will not stack |
| Hitting bedrock | Add $10,000 – $40,000+ | Hydraulic breaker time; blasting is a separate conversation |
| Backfill and rough grade | $2,500 – $8,000 | Using stockpiled native soil, compacted in lifts |
| Trenching for services | $15 – $40 per foot | Water, hydro or septic lines 1.5 – 1.8 m deep, normal soil |
| Haul-away | $300 – $800+ per tri-axle load | Distance and whether the receiving site charges a tipping fee |
| Imported fill | $250 – $600 per tri-axle load | Clean fill delivered; septic sand and Granular A cost more |
Sand along the Bay in Tiny and Wasaga digs fast but caves easily, so the walls of the hole need a gentler slope and that means more volume. Clay in Oro-Medonte and Springwater digs slower and turns to grease when wet. The edge of the Shield in Tay, Midland and Port Severn can stop a bucket dead at two feet. Same house, three very different invoices.
ICF Foundations Need Room to Work
If your house is going up on an ICF foundation, plan for a bigger hole. The crew needs space outside the footing to stand, set forms, brace walls and install the drainage and waterproofing. As a rule of thumb we dig about 2 to 3 feet past the outside of the footing all the way around.
That over-dig is extra cubic metres to dig and extra to backfill. It is still cheaper than a cramped crew fighting a caving bank with a shovel. If you are comparing quotes, check that every excavator is pricing the same over-dig. Our parent company ICFHome.ca builds ICF homes, so we dig these every season.
Fixed Price or Hourly?
Fixed price
Best for a defined job: a basement with a known footprint, depth and soil report. You know the number before the machine shows up. Read the exclusions: rock, water and extra trucking are usually listed as extras, and they should be.
Hourly
Best for small or uncertain work: a few trenches, a stump or two, digging test holes, chasing an old pipe. You pay for what actually happens. Ask for daily time sheets with machine, truck and hours on each.
Fixed with unit prices
Our favourite for basements. A fixed price for the dig, plus written unit rates for rock breaking per hour and for each extra load in or out. Nobody argues later about what a surprise costs.
Whichever way you go, get it in writing. Ontario says contracts over $50 must be in writing and recommends deposits of no more than 10%.
Where Homeowners Get Burned on Excavation
- No locates. A Brampton homeowner was handed a $27,000 hydro repair bill after a contractor cut a line on his lot. See our locates guide.
- Trucking out good soil. Every load you haul away today is a load of fill you may buy back next month for backfill and grading.
- No stockpile plan. Topsoil mixed into the fill pile is ruined for both jobs. Strip it first and keep it separate.
- Ignoring water. A high water table near the Bay can flood a fresh hole overnight. Pumping is a real cost, so price it up front.
- Footing depth guesswork. The bottom of the hole has to meet frost and code depth. See our footing depth guide.
For the full site sequence before the dig, see site preparation in Simcoe County, and for service lines see our trenching services page.
Send Us Your Plans for a Fixed Excavation Price
Send your site plan and house drawings and we will price the dig, backfill and trucking with unit rates for rock and water written in. Call 705-533-1633.
Related guides
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to dig a basement in Ontario in 2026?
For a typical new house in sand with good access, a rough range is $8,000 to $20,000 for the dig. Clay, tight lots, rock and heavy trucking push it to $15,000 to $30,000 and beyond.
What is the hourly rate for an excavator with operator?
Rough 2026 ranges are $120 to $185 an hour for a mini excavator, $150 to $225 for a mid-size machine and $190 to $280 for a large excavator. Ask whether fuel, float and minimum hours are included.
Does backfill cost extra?
Usually yes. Backfill and rough grading with your own stockpiled soil is often $2,500 to $8,000, more if fill has to be brought in.
How much extra if we hit rock?
Breaking rock with a hydraulic hammer can add $10,000 to $40,000 or more depending on how much rock and how hard it is. A good contract lists an hourly rate for rock work before digging starts.
Why do ICF foundations need a bigger hole?
The crew needs working space outside the footing to set and brace the forms and install drainage. We usually dig about 2 to 3 feet past the footing all around.
Should I pick fixed price or hourly excavation?
Fixed price suits a defined basement dig, hourly suits small or uncertain work. For basements we like a fixed price with written unit rates for rock and extra truck loads.
How much does it cost to haul dirt away?
A rough range is $300 to $800 or more per tri-axle load, depending on distance and tipping fees. Keeping good soil on site for backfill and grading saves money twice.
