Updated August 2026
What Excavation Costs in Nanaimo
The Island Equipment Owners Association's Suggested Rate Guide, effective 1 January 2026, prices a Class 4–8 excavator at $180 to $248 an hour with an operator across the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Updated August 2026
We quote every project after we walk the site — access, slope, soil and how far the spoil has to travel all change the price before a single machine moves. Rock, high water tables or a trench over 1.2 metres that needs shoring all add time, and disposal fees follow whatever material comes out of the ground.
For a full breakdown of what a job involves, see Site Prep & Grading.
What changes the price on your job?
Access for equipment, the slope and soil on your property, how deep we need to go, and where the spoil and any wood or yard waste ends up all factor into your quote. A straightforward pad on flat, sandy ground costs less than a foundation dig on a sloped, rocky lot that needs shoring.
| Machine class | Rate / hour |
|---|---|
| Mini, Class 1–3 | $142–$169 |
| Standard, Class 4–8 | $180–$248 |
| Larger, Class 9–12 | $257–$398 |
| Material | Rate |
|---|---|
| Wood waste | $275/tonne |
| Yard and garden waste | $60/tonne |
| Municipal solid waste (residential) | $160/tonne |
Island Equipment Owners Association Suggested Rate Guide, effective 1 January 2026. Operator included, transport excluded.
Where the spoil goes, and what it costs
Not everything that comes out of a hole goes to the same place. Wood waste and yard waste both go to the Regional District at the rates in the table above, charged by the tonne. Clean soil and land-clearing debris aren't accepted at the regional facilities at all, so those loads go to private soil-receiving sites and the haul gets priced by distance. A lot that can reuse its own spoil as backfill avoids two round trips, which is why we look at where material can stay on site before we price taking it away.
How is your quote calculated?
We measure the job against the machine class needed, the estimated hours, and any disposal or haul-away costs, then confirm the number before we start. Every quote reflects what your site actually needs.