Land Clearing Cost per Acre in Mississippi (2026): Chinese privet and sweetgum, Lots and Acreage Priced from Real Jobs
Cost of land clearing per acre here starts at $1,000 to $2,500 for light brush clearing when crews clear Chinese privet under loblolly pine. Heavily wooded land with dense hardwood thickets pushes forestry mulching cost to $2,500-4,000 per acre, while clearing to bare dirt with stump removal runs $2,500-6,000 per acre. I started on a dozer in Georgia red clay at 19, and I've priced land clearing projects across 11 states over 20 years. A skid steer mulcher runs $2,500-3,200 a day here, with transport included inside 60 miles of the crew's yard. Send the form or call (888) 709-7985. Marisol emails a budget range the same day and books the on-site estimate with the crew nearest you.
- 48 contiguous
states - Insured
crews - Same-day
budget range
48 statesContiguous coverage
$2,500–3,200Skid steer mulcher, per day
60 milesTransport included
Same dayBudget range by email
How Much Does It Cost to Clear Land in Mississippi? Average Cost per Acre
The average cost per acre to clear land here falls between $1,000 and $6,000 depending on vegetation density, soil, and method. When clearing land, every landowner must match the machine size to the trees on the tract. Here is how clearing one acre or larger acreage breaks down in this state. The average cost to clear land varies by site.
Light brush clearing
$1,000 to $2,500 per acre. This covers Chinese privet, sweetgum saplings, and thin pine undergrowth handled in one pass.
Medium to dense brush and hardwood
$2,500 to $4,000 per acre. This handles thickets, yaupon, wax myrtle, and overgrown pasture.
Full clearing to bare dirt with stump removal
$2,500 to $6,000 per acre. Root grubbing, piling, and rough grading drive the higher price range.
Residential lot clearing for half an acre
$2,500 to $3,200 total project cost, typically completed in one day.
Use our land clearing cost calculator to estimate land costs, then call (888) 709-7985 or submit the form. Marisol provides a fixed cost budget range based on your exact acreage and terrain.
Land Clearing Cost Calculator for Mississippi
Planning range from 2025–2026 national price data, adjusted to Mississippi costs. Change any answer and the range updates.
Open the full land clearing cost calculatorCost to Clear 1/2 Acre, 1 Acre, 2 Acres, 5 Acres and 20 Acres in Mississippi
Total project cost scales with size. Smaller tracts carry higher per acre rates for a professional land clearing company. On our jobs, we calculate brush clearing cost and total land clearing prices using daily machine output logs. We help anyone considering land clearing.
Half an acre
$2,500 to $3,200. A residential lot with brush and small trees up to 8 inches in diameter takes one day for a skid steer mulcher.
One acre
$1,000 to $4,000 for mulching a full acre, or up to $6,000 for traditional clearing with dozer work and stump removal. Crews clear one acre of standard pine undergrowth in one day.
A 2 acres project with selective clearing takes one to two days.
5 acres
$8,000 to $18,000. Clearing 5 acres of thickets moves faster using a dedicated 300-hp mulcher priced at $3,800 to $4,500 per day.
Large agricultural land or timberland reclamation projects reduce the price per acre depending on terrain and density.
Every acre of land presents different ground obstacles. You can check our price guide to clear land for detailed figures. Red clay hills take longer after rain than dry sandy soil, directly affecting the time and cost required to clear the lot.
Cost by Method in Mississippi: Forestry Mulching vs. Dozer vs. Excavator and Haul-Off
Your chosen method of clearing dictates your total investment. The price to clear trees and brush depends on machine choice. Different clearing methods change machine selection and overall project speed. Forestry mulching cost per acre is usually lower because it avoids haul-off fees and leaves a mulch layer that prevents soil erosion.
Forestry mulching
$1,000 to $4,000 per acre. One machine cuts and grinds standing wood and brush flush to the ground line.
Dozer clearing
$150 to $200 per hour for dozer clearing with an operator. Traditional clearing pushes whole trees into windrows, leaving bare earth and root holes.
Excavator and root rake
$150 to $200 per hour excavation cost. Best for stump removal and grubbing house pads clean.
Haul-off service
$600 to $1,300 per load. If debris cannot be burned or mulched, trucking material away becomes a major cost factor on a heavily wooded lot.
Open burning follows state environmental rules. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality controls open burning rules under 11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 2, Ch. 1. Land clearing burns cannot take place within 500 yards of an occupied dwelling without a forced-draft system, or within 50 yards with an air curtain burner. Mulching bypasses burn permit needs completely.
Cost by Vegetation in Mississippi: Chinese Privet, Sweetgum, Kudzu, and Cogongrass
Vegetation type determines machine selection and daily speed. Chinese privet and sweetgum under loblolly pine make up the standard underbrush on wooded land across this state.
Kudzu and honeysuckle create thick mats across banks and ditch lines. Mulching thick vines pushes pricing toward the medium range because wrapping vines slow cutter rotors. On the coast, cogongrass forms dense thickets. Clearing cogongrass requires mechanical cutting followed by chemical treatment, rather than a single machine pass. Yaupon and wax myrtle thickets demand heavy machinery, while water oak sprouts on old fields require root grubbing if the land is returning to pasture.
Land Clearing Cost by Region: Delta Clay, Loess Bluffs, Clay Hills, and Gulf Coast
Ground conditions change across five regional soil belts. Heavy Delta buckshot clay clings to tracks and bogs equipment during wet months, adding days to a clearing job. The loess bluffs along the river feature steep slopes where track equipment must cut along contour lines.
contiguous states
The red clay hills in northern areas hold surface water long after storms pass. Sandy Coastal Plain soils near the coast allow machines to return quickly after rain, but high water tables can trap heavy iron in hidden low spots. Use our guide to budget your land clearing tasks for these regional ground conditions.
What Adds a Day or Affects Land Clearing Cost in Mississippi
A land clearing contractor prices a land clearing project by estimating how many days the equipment will run. Rain turns clay into grease, and soft ground adds time to the schedule. Key factors that affect land clearing timeline and pricing include:
- Privet under pine runs light to medium, but unmanaged kudzu banks require extra passes to chop down to ground level.
- Cogongrass on coastal acreage needs chemical follow-up to stop root regrowth after the mulcher finishes.
- Clay hills add a wet day in winter and spring when slick mud reduces traction for heavy iron.
- Coastal sites add a wet-season day during summer thunderstorms or tropical weather.
- Seasonal timing changes daily output: the wet season runs June to September along with tropical storm debris, while winter provides a dry clearing window on low ground.
A sudden summer shower in this state can convert firm dirt into slick grease before the lunch cooler opens.
Lot Clearing Cost for a New Home in Mississippi
Clearing a residential lot for a builder or land owner usually involves half an acre to one acre of wooded land. Preparing a house pad means clearing brush and small trees, digging out stumps near the foundation, and establishing rough grade.
A typical half acre residential lot takes one day on a skid steer mulcher and costs $2,500 to $3,200. Residential growth is active across several key metros. According to the Census Building Permits Survey 2025 single-family units data, Mississippi issued 7,318 single-family permits statewide. Top permit counties include:
- 01
Gulf Coast (Harrison County 1,909 permits, Jackson County 554 permits): coastal lots with yaupon and local live oak preservation rules.
- 02
DeSoto County (890 permits)
fast expansion near Memphis with heavy brush and dense clay. Land clearing services in DeSoto county frequently handle dense hardwood thickets.
- 03
Rankin County (563 permits) and Madison County (425 permits)
Jackson metro home sites requiring site prep and root grubbing.
- 04
Lafayette County (452 permits)
Oxford region building lots with pine and oak cover.
Single-family permits, 2025 Census Building Permits Survey
- Soto County890
- Rankin County563
- Madison County425
- Lafayette County452
Real Jobs and What They Cost: Real Field Examples
We provide clear pricing based on actual operational logs. Here are field cases from our records showing exact numbers and site details.
- Job log
4 acres, Cherokee County, Georgia
$5,800Chinese privet and sweetgum under pine. Two days with a skid steer mulcher. Total project cost: $5,800.
- Job log
10 acres, Lake County, Florida
$14,200Overgrown citrus grove with dense weeds. Three days of dozer clearing, root raking, and piling. Total cost: $14,200 plus haul-off.
- Job log
20 acres, Logan County, Oklahoma
$18,500Dense eastern red cedar pasture reclaim. Four days on a 300-hp mulcher. Total cost: $18,500 plus transport.
On a recent job in Georgia, our crews cleared four acres of dense privet undergrowth using a single acre daily target rate. Writing fixed day rates into the quote protects buyers from open-ended hourly fees.
Day Rates and Hourly Rates in Mississippi: Equipment Pricing
We offer frequently asked questions on how a professional team sets rates based on daily production or cost per hour. Knowing these equipment numbers helps you assess quotes for any land clearing task.
Skid steer mulcher (100-hp class)
$2,500 to $3,200 per day. Handles brush and trees up to 8 inches in diameter with transport included inside 60 miles.
Dedicated 300-hp mulcher
$3,800 to $4,500 per day plus transport. Takes down standing trees up to 12-14 inches in one pass.
Dozer or excavator with operator
$150 to $200 cost per hour. Used for stumping, ditching, and pad grading.
Stump removal and grinding
$3.50 to $5 per inch of diameter, with a $150 to $200 minimum per stump.
Minimum trip charge
$1,000 to $1,500 to transport heavy machines to the site.
An hourly rate sounds lower initially, but daily rates guarantee dedicated focus without surprise maintenance downtime billed to your job.
EQIP Cost-Share Programs and Tax Questions in Mississippi
A land owner managing pasture or timberland can access cost-share support through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The NRCS EQIP brush management program (practice code 314) pays a per acre reimbursement to control invasive species like Chinese privet, tallow, and kudzu. Apply through your local USDA service center before starting work.
For tax questions, clearing costs on active agricultural land or timber ground may be deductible or capitalized under IRS rules. Consult a licensed CPA to determine how clearing expenses apply to your specific tax situation.
Get an Exact Mississippi Quote: Call Clearline Land Services
Understanding the cost to clear land here makes your land clearing investment clear from the start. We clear thick brush efficiently. Our crew provides every client with a professional land clearing service. We supply clear day rates, expected output targets, and firm written numbers before equipment unloads. Visit our main state page for detailed local regulations and service details.
Call (888) 709-7985 or submit the online form today. Marisol in our estimating office emails a detailed budget range the same day and books your on-site estimate with our local crew lead within 60 miles of our nearest yard.
