Cost to Dig Post Holes???

[4 seasons lawn&land]

Hey guys,

I have a customer that wants 30 post holes dug. How much should I charge per hole? Or should I charge hourly? I'll charge cost for the post hole digger rental but how much should I get for going and picking it up and delivering to the site/bringing back?


Also, can one guy run one of those tow behind diggers by himself?

Thanks for any help.

[SuperDuty335]

Powered augers are great to use. I have a one or two-man powered auger. If the ground isn't solid rock it shouldn't take more than a few minutes per hole. Definitely charge by the hour just in case.

[KGR landscapeing]

Powered augers are great to use. I have a one or two-man powered auger. If the ground isn't solid rock it shouldn't take more than a few minutes per hole. Definitely charge by the hour just in case.

And have a MIN of so many hours but if u get an auger get a 2 man Those things are a SOB

[4 seasons lawn&land]

should i rent a tractor/auger instead?

[start2finish]

make sure to get the property located for utilities, and take a quick look at the areas after locating. nothing sucks more than having to hand dig holes you priced to use a machine on.

[4 seasons lawn&land]

ok, sorry, im new, what does that mean?

[hockeypro1411]

it means make sure you call the county (or whoever does it in your area) to come and spray where the gas/water/electrical/phone/whatever lines are buried. breaking one would get you in big trouble, especially since its a law to call before you dig (around here anyway)

[KGR landscapeing]

it means make sure you call the county (or whoever does it in your area) to come and spray where the gas/water/electrical/phone/whatever lines are buried. breaking one would get you in big trouble, especially since its a law to call before you dig (around here anyway)

haha the people come out here and spray for u come out and spray and it looks like a collage because there is paint every where and u find one spot its not boom u hit something wether it be a pipe or a rock or a wire. never fails

[start2finish]

it doesn't matter how secluded you think the area is, we found a 100 pair telephone cable in a wooded lot. it was installed 30 years ago and had mature trees on top of it. the locate company didn't even check the area. (their bill, thank goodness) :)

[4 seasons lawn&land]

so what are you guys thinking for a price? 30 holes.

[hockeypro1411]

what size post are you droppin into them (how big are the holes gonna be?) also are you doin it manually or with an auger? manually for 30 8-12 inch diameter holes 2.5 feet deep id say around 5 bucks a hole. with an auger like 3 bucks a hole plus the cost to rent the machine then whatever labor charges you decide to add

[4 seasons lawn&land]

Im going to get a toro dingo, there 4x4 posts, so I was going to get a 6 and 9 inch bit in case the 6 isnt big enough. Im thinking 30 an hour.

[KanAg]

$10 a hole, no clean out. I figure it at $10 a hole so that would cover all my total time and equipment.

[Ramairfreak98ss]

$10 a hole, no clean out. I figure it at $10 a hole so that would cover all my total time and equipment.

i agree, $300 isnt much for 30 holes. You can rent the machine but what your talking about isnt cheap, what does a dingo cost per day?

I know my 27hp tractor with a 9" bit can dig through most soils per hole and pull forward to do the next in about 15-20 seconds per.. In clay it would probably take 30-40 seconds per. Of course id have to hook up the Landpride digger, transport to the site, dig and load up and leave.

Are the spots marked or do you have to measure everything?

[4 seasons lawn&land]

Thanks guys, I told him 200 for the 24hr rental (cost). Cost of fuel to transport and 30 an hour.

[sunray237]

sounds to me like over kill.
if it's not rock or really hard clay get the post hole diggers and get after it 5 bucks a hole.
if it's tuffer get a two man auger and charge him 350 for the job.
sometimes we can let equipment get in the way of a simple job.

[milkie62]

It is easier to overbid and give the customer back a little.It may make him think he got a deal and lead to more work down the road

[shovelracer]

agreed. You could easily start hitting 2-300 pound rocks and then wind up digging the majority by hand. Must charge accordingly. Customers are much happier when you say that it will be less, over handing them a change order after you hand dug 2 holes. Hourly is good although a little low for my tastes.

[4 seasons lawn&land]

it went pretty smooth, took about 4 hours, 26 holes, then put the posts in the holes but didnt set em. Ended up with 6 hours total.

[brownings]

30 holes thru shellrock then i'd charge 975 and use an auger. 30 holes thru sand, I'd charge 375 and dig them with a post hole digger.