Finance category

Mortgage, loan, investing, tax, and money calculators.

Sitework Budget Calculator

Sitework is the budget line that blows up construction budgets when assumptions are wrong. This calculator builds a line-item budget: demo, grading, utilities, paving, and landscape — line by line with per-SF rates and lump sums. Pair with 15-20% sitework contingency for underground unknowns.

Site SF (land area)

Demolition / SF

Grading / SF

Utilities (water, sewer, storm)

Paving & curbs / SF

Paving SF coverage

Landscape / SF

Landscape SF coverage

Total sitework budget

$659,000

Sitework / SF of site

$8.24

Demolition

$120,000

Grading

$180,000

Utilities

$180,000

Paving & curbs

$144,000

Landscape

$35,000

How the math works

Sitework covers demolition, grading, utility connections, paving, curbs, sidewalks, and landscaping. On commercial projects, sitework runs 8-15% of total hard cost. Infill sites with existing demo needs can spike to 20%. Always get sitework quoted as separate bid package before committing to site.

Sitework is notoriously hard to estimate — unknown below-grade conditions (rock, old footings, water) can blow budgets. Contingency on sitework is often 15-20% compared to 5-10% on vertical construction.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

How this calculator works

What this page estimates

This Sitework Budget Calculator is built to give a quick, browser-based estimate for sitework budget. Sitework is the budget line that blows up construction budgets when assumptions are wrong. This calculator builds a line-item budget: demo, grading, utilities, paving, and landscape — line by line with per-SF rates and lump sums. Pair with 15-20% sitework contingency for underground unknowns. The inputs stay on the page during normal use, and the result should be treated as an estimate for planning, comparison, or education rather than professional advice.

Calculation approach

The calculator applies the standard relationship implied by the inputs, then formats the answer so it can be checked and reused. For finance tools, the most important step is using consistent units, rates, time periods, and assumptions before comparing the result with another calculator or outside quote.

Example workflow

For example, start with a realistic value you already know, change one input at a time, and watch how the answer moves. That makes it easier to tell whether the result is being driven by the main amount, the rate, the time period, or a unit conversion.

Practical checks

Use current, real-world numbers when the result affects money, health, tax, or legal decisions.
Run a low, base, and high case when the inputs are estimates.
Check the related calculators below when the next decision depends on a different assumption.

How to interpret the sitework budget result

Best use

Use the result as a planning number for comparing payments, rates, returns, tax reserves, or cash-flow choices before you request a quote or make a commitment.

Cross-check

Compare the answer with the contract, lender estimate, tax form, brokerage statement, payroll record, or invoice that will control the real-world outcome.

Watch for

Do not rely on a single optimistic rate, return, or fee assumption. Money pages work best when you run low, base, and high cases and keep professional advice separate from the estimate.

This page belongs to the Finance calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this sitework budget estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Confirm source numbers

Match balances, rates, fees, taxes, income, and payment dates against the lender quote, payroll record, tax form, statement, invoice, or contract.

Separate cash flow from total cost

A lower monthly payment can still cost more over time if fees, interest, taxes, or a longer term are hidden in the structure.

Run conservative cases

Test at least one higher-cost or lower-return case before using the output for a purchase, refinance, investment, loan, or tax decision.

Rerun this page when the rate, price, term, fee, tax rule, income, expense, or expected holding period changes.

How to Use

Enter total site SF.
Enter demolition and grading per SF rates.
Enter lump-sum utility costs.
Enter paving and landscape per-SF rates and SF coverage.
Read total and per-SF sitework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Biggest sitework risk?

Underground unknowns — rock, old foundations, contaminated soil, rising water table. Environmental Phase II and geotech reports before finalizing budget. Add 15-20% contingency minimum.

Utility tap fees?

Often excluded from the GC sitework budget — owner handles municipal tap fees separately. Major water/sewer tap fees can be $20K-$100K+ per connection for commercial.

Landscape vs hardscape?

Landscape is living plants and irrigation. Hardscape is concrete, pavers, retaining walls. Budget separately — landscape is $0.50-$2/SF on softscape, hardscape is $8-$25/SF.