What land clearing costs in the Finger Lakes
Forestry mulching by the acre, full clearing by the site, and stumps by the stump.
Clearing costs depend on what's growing and what you need the ground to look like when we're done. Mulching an overgrown field is affordable; fully clearing and grubbing a wooded building site is a serious excavation job. These are 2026 ranges for Ontario, Yates, and Livingston counties.
| Job | Typical range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Forestry mulching, light brush and saplings, per acre | $1,200 – $2,500 /acre |
| Forestry mulching, dense brush and small trees, per acre | $2,500 – $4,500 /acre |
| Full clearing with stump removal, wooded lot, per acre | $5,000 – $12,000+ /acre |
| Building site clearing (house footprint plus work area) | $3,500 – $9,000 |
| Stump grinding, per stump (12–24 in) | $90 – $250 |
| Stump pulling and hauling, per stump | $150 – $400 |
| Lake view clearing (selective, per day) | $1,400 – $2,800 /day |
| Fence line clearing, per 100 ft | $300 – $900 |
What moves the number
- Density and tree sizeA mulcher eats saplings and brush fast. Trees over 8 inches have to be felled first, and hardwoods over 16 inches change the equipment and the day.
- Mulch or removeMulching leaves the material as a chip layer. Full removal means hauling, chipping, or burying debris — and grubbing roots, which is the slow part.
- StumpsGrinding is cheaper per stump; pulling is necessary if you're building or excavating on the spot.
- Slope and accessLakefront and hillside lots slow the machine and often require erosion control.
- Standing dead ashDead ash is brittle and dangerous. Lots with heavy ash mortality take longer to clear safely.
Most acreage jobs are quoted per day of machine time after we walk the property. If you're clearing for a house, we combine mulching the acreage with full clearing of the building envelope — the most economical way to do it.
Get a quote
Call, or send the form and we'll get back to you — usually the same business day. Tell us the town and what you're trying to do; a photo or two never hurts.
(585) 575-0567Serving Canandaigua, Ontario County, the Finger Lakes, and the Rochester area. Larger Syracuse-area projects by arrangement.