Land Clearing Cost Per Acre
Prices by vegetation density and clearing method, plus the add-ons that double a bid.
Typical ranges
HomeGuide puts land clearing at $1,200 to $8,000 per acre: about $1,200 to $2,500 for lightly wooded land, $2,500 to $4,500 for moderate woods and $4,500 to $8,000 for heavy timber. Angi reports a wider $500 to $5,600 per acre and an average project of $3,780. Brush-only clearing runs $800 to $3,000 per acre (HomeGuide).
By density
| Vegetation | Typical cost / acre | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brush and grass | $800 to $3,000 | HomeGuide |
| Light woods | $1,200 to $2,500 | HomeGuide |
| Moderate woods | $2,500 to $4,500 | HomeGuide |
| Heavy timber | $4,500 to $8,000 | HomeGuide |
| Lightly forested, 1 acre (project) | $500 to $2,000 | Angi |
| Densely forested, 1 acre (project) | $3,600 to $5,600 | Angi |
Economies of scale
Contractors charge mobilization and minimums no matter how small the lot: HomeGuide lists $150 to $300 for equipment transport and a $400 to $600 minimum for forestry mulching. Its lot-size table runs $600 to $2,000 for 1/8 acre and $1,200 to $8,000 for one acre, so small lots pay more per acre.
Can timber offset the cost?
If you have mature, marketable hardwood or pine, a forester may be able to sell it before clearing. Small or mixed lots rarely bring much, but a free consulting forester visit can tell you.
Sources
Sources: HomeGuide, Land Clearing Cost (Nov 20, 2025); Angi, How Much Does It Cost to Clear Land? (Sep 28, 2026); Angi, Forestry Mulching Cost (May 30, 2026); HomeGuide, Forestry Mulching Cost (Sep 20, 2023); HomeGuide, Stump Grinding Cost (Dec 22, 2025); Angi, Site Preparation Cost (May 30, 2026). Retrieved Oct 11–13, 2026.
Prices are published US ranges from the sources listed on each page; anything we calculated ourselves is labeled as an estimate. Get at least three written, itemized local quotes. Run the estimator to build your own range.