By HomeGuide's 2026 national figures, leveling a small yard costs $500 to $1,000 and an average back yard $1,000 to $5,000, and clearing land costs $1,200 to $8,000 per acre. In Cheyenne, grading is about wind, snowmelt and drainage, and clearing is more often old shelterbelts and junk than forest.
The costs quoted on this page are national ranges published by HomeGuide, and none of them is our price. Frost depth, caliche, swelling clay, access and the long hauls of rural Wyoming all change a Cheyenne job. We read the HomeGuide pages in October 2026.
What does it cost to grade or level a yard in Cheyenne?
To grade or level a yard, HomeGuide gives a national range of $500 to $5,000, or $0.40 to $2.00 per square foot, with a $2,300 average, a $200 low and a $10,000 high. One side of a house runs $500 to $1,000, and the full perimeter $1,000 to $3,000.
| Area | Finish grading | Rough grading |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $400 to $1,000 | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $1,000 to $2,500 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $2,000 to $5,000 | $5,000 to $10,000 |
| 10,000 sq ft | $4,000 to $10,000 | $10,000 to $20,000 |
What tells me a Cheyenne yard needs grading?
A yard needs grading when snowmelt soaks the basement every spring, ice forms where water runs across the walk, or water ponds by the house after a summer storm. Look closely after the snow melts: wet soil and ice against the foundation mean the ground slopes the wrong way.
My yard slopes toward my foundation and the snowmelt follows it. What will regrading run?
When the yard slopes toward the foundation, regrading one side costs $500 to $1,000 and the whole house $1,000 to $3,000 by HomeGuide's figures. We add clean fill against the foundation, compact it, build the slope away from the wall and give the water a path to the street, a swale or open ground.
What separates rough grading from finish grading?
Rough grading moves bulk soil to set the main shape of the land; finish grading smooths the top for seed, sod or landscaping. Per square foot, rough work runs $1 to $2 and finish work $0.40 to $1.00 on HomeGuide's grading page. Most new Cheyenne lots need both, and an existing yard usually needs only finish work.
What does it cost to level a slope or a hillside on my land?
To level a slope or flatten a hillside, HomeGuide lists $1,000 to $5,000. Around Cheyenne that is often a draw on a ranchette or a slope toward a creek, and in Laramie or Fort Collins a hillside lot. A retaining wall costs $35 to $65 per square foot by HomeGuide, and walls 4 feet and up need engineering.
What does a level, wind-sheltered pad for an above-ground pool cost?
A level pad for an above-ground pool costs $200 to $850, per HomeGuide, depending on the pool size and the slope. The base has to be firm and dead level. In sandy soil we compact it well; in clay we cut down to firm ground.
What does it cost to prepare raw land for a new house in Laramie County?
Preparing raw land for a new house is a sum of several items in HomeGuide's figures: clearing ($1,200 to $8,000 per acre), the foundation pad ($1,500 to $10,000), grading for new construction ($1,000 to $5,000) and utility trenching ($5 to $12 per foot). On rural land, add the septic system, a well trench and a long gravel drive.
How long will it take to clear and grade my lot before the ground freezes?
Clearing and grading a home lot usually takes a few days to two weeks. Small digs take 1 to 3 days by HomeGuide's estimate, and big or rocky ones 3 weeks or longer. In Cheyenne, frozen ground and spring mud can stretch the schedule.
What does clearing land cost per acre on the High Plains?
Land clearing costs $1,200 to $8,000 per acre on HomeGuide's land clearing page: light clearing $1,200 to $2,500, moderate $2,500 to $4,500 and heavy $4,500 to $8,000. Most grassland lots around Cheyenne are light work; old farmsteads with dead shelterbelts, junk and foundations are heavier.
| Lot size | HomeGuide national range |
|---|---|
| 1/2 acre | $1,000 to $5,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,200 to $8,000 |
| 2 acres | $1,900 to $15,000 |
| 5 acres | $4,500 to $35,000 |
What does it cost to clear wooded land or an old windbreak?
Clearing wooded land or a thick windbreak costs $4,500 to $8,000 per acre in HomeGuide's national figures. Real woods are rare near Cheyenne, but dense shelterbelts of Russian olive, cottonwood and juniper on old farms count as heavy clearing.
How much does it cost to clear brush and small trees around a ranch?
Brush clearing costs $800 to $3,000 per acre by HomeGuide's figures, and one tree $400 to $1,200 to remove on average. Brush around Cheyenne ranches is often Russian olive and willow along draws.
Can trees from an old windbreak be mulched on site, and what does it cost?
Windbreak trees can be mulched on site, and HomeGuide lists forestry mulching at $500 to $1,000 or more per acre. The chips help hold soil against the wind, but they should be kept off building pads and septic fields.
Can a lot be cleared without pulling out every stump?
Yes, a lot can be cleared without pulling out every stump. Stumps must come out under buildings, drives and trenches, and elsewhere they can be ground or cut flush. Stump grinding is priced at $2 to $6 for each inch of trunk width in HomeGuide's figures.
What size excavator or machine do I need to clear land here?
A skid steer or compact loader handles grass stripping, brush and small trees on most lots, and a mid-size excavator pulls shelterbelt stumps and old foundations. Very large cottonwoods may need a bigger machine or a tree crew. We choose after seeing the site.
Want a price for your own place? Call or text (307) 317-7006, and after a site visit we put the scope and the cost on paper.