Land Clearing Cost by Density Guide
Clearing priced by density: brush and grass, light woods, and heavy woods on separate rows, by frame.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
The by-density readings, priced apart by frame
| Density cleared, per acre | Frame B reading | Frame A reading |
|---|---|---|
| Brush and grass | $800-$3,000 | brush removal at $20-$200 |
| Light woods | $1,200-$2,500 | lightly forested, per acre $500-$2,000 |
| Moderate woods | $2,500-$4,500 | no moderate row in Frame A |
| Heavy woods | $4,500-$8,000 | densely forested, per acre $3,600-$5,600 |
| All densities | $1,200-$8,000 | $500-$5,600 |
Each reading is one frame's own counting of the density cleared. Frame B names its density rows directly; Frame A counts lightly forested against densely forested lots. No band is averaged across densities or across frames here, and land clearing stands alone on every row.
The half-acre and multi-acre rows, priced apart
| Parcel size, Frame A | Full band | Lightly forested / densely forested |
|---|---|---|
| Half-acre | $250-$2,800, average $1,525 | $250-$1,000 / $1,800-$2,800 |
| 1 acre | $500-$5,600, average $3,050 | $500-$2,000 / $3,600-$5,600 |
| 2 acres | $1,000-$11,200 | $1,000-$4,000 / $7,200-$11,200 |
| 3 acres | $1,500-$16,800 | as printed in Frame A |
| 5 acres | $2,500-$28,000 | $2,500-$10,000 / $18,000-$28,000 |
The size rows print inside Frame A beside its labor line at $110 to $250 per hour. Frame B prints no half-acre or multi-acre table; its per-acre density rows stand on their own above, with stump grinding carried apart at $30 to $60 per additional stump.
The Frame A related lines behind the density rows
| Line, as published | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Land clearing contractor projects | Frame A | $1,400-$6,175 |
| Forestry mulching | Frame A | $400-$1,500 |
| Tree removal, per acre in its related list | Frame A | $200-$2,000 |
| Excavation, named apart | Frame A | $1,660-$6,730 |
| Demolition, named apart | Frame A | $3,600-$15,100 |
The related lines print inside Frame A beside the density and size rows, each apart. A permit line, a dumpster rental line, and a land survey line print on the breakdown guide where a frame prints them, apart from the density rows here.
Density rows priced apart, neighbours named apart
Named apart, never a row here: slope repair, stabilizing an eroded or slumped slope on its own hub; tree removal, felling single named trees; excavation and grading as standalone earthwork; and junk removal, hauling loose debris off a parcel. Each density row above prices standing vegetation cleared as its own ticket only.
Reading a by-density quote, by frame
- Density named beside every figure
- Each figure read on its own frame only
Frequently asked questions
What does brush and grass clearing cost per acre, as reported?
Frame B prints brush clearing at $800 to $3,000 per acre, inside a land clearing band of $1,200 to $8,000 per acre by density. Frame A prints brush removal at $20 to $200 per acre in its removal table, apart from its headline half-acre band of $250 to $2,800 averaging $1,525.
What do light woods and heavy woods print at, as reported?
Frame B prints light-woods clearing at $1,200 to $2,500 per acre and heavy clearing at $4,500 to $8,000, with moderate clearing at $2,500 to $4,500 between them. Frame A prints lightly forested lots at $500 to $2,000 per acre and densely forested lots at $3,600 to $5,600.
What do the half-acre and multi-acre rows print at, as reported?
Frame A prints a half-acre at $250 to $2,800 with an average of $1,525, one acre at $500 to $5,600 averaging $3,050, two acres at $1,000 to $11,200, and five acres at $2,500 to $28,000. Frame B prints no size table; it counts per acre by density alone.
What do labor and the related lines print at, as reported?
Frame A prints labor at $110 to $250 per hour, contractor projects at $1,400 to $6,175, forestry mulching at $400 to $1,500, tree removal at $200 to $2,000 per acre, excavation at $1,660 to $6,730, and demolition at $3,600 to $15,100, each apart.
Is a density row the same purchase as slope repair, tree removal, or junk removal?
No. Each row here prices clearing standing vegetation on a parcel as its own ticket. Slope repair, tree removal of single named trees, excavation and grading as standalone earthwork, and junk removal of loose debris sit in their own lanes, named apart on every page here, stump lines apart at $30 to $60 per additional stump in Frame B.