58/100CR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 507 Google reviews, the most in Johnston.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Best Excavating Contractors in Johnston, IA (2026)
38 excavating contractors ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Best overall in Johnston: Total Comfort Group, CR Score 58/100; 4.7★ from 507 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): Zippy Drain, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 38.
- 2
Most-reviewed: Zippy Drain, 260 Google reviews at 4.8★, the most of 38 ranked after Total Comfort Group; ranked #2.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
38 Johnston excavating contractors are ranked here by CR Score, from ten published factors. 3 are open 24/7, 13 open Saturdays and 5 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 38 rated businesses.
Most of this list also appears on the Excavating contractors in Des Moines ranking. See Excavating contractors in Des Moines
Top 10 excavating contractors in Johnston at a glance
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Total Comfort Group | 58 | 4.7★ (507) | Clive, 10 mi away | 24/7 | Overall |
| 2 | Zippy Drain | 57 | 4.8★ (260) | Clive, 10 mi away | 24/7 | Emergencies, Most reviews |
| 3 | DeFreece Land Services | 57 | 4.8★ (37) | Des Moines, 20 mi away | 24/7 | — |
| 4 | Central Iowa Dirt Works | 55 | 5.0★ (6) | Johnston | — | — |
| 5 | Torgerson Excavating INC | 55 | 4.5★ (48) | Des Moines, 5 mi away | — | — |
| 6 | Priority Excavating LLC | 55 | 4.3★ (11) | Des Moines, 5 mi away | — | — |
| 7 | McAninch Corporation | 54 | 4.4★ (28) | Des Moines, 7 mi away | — | — |
| 8 | Nicholson Excavating LLC | 53 | 4.4★ (11) | Pleasant Hill, 11 mi away | Sat | — |
| 9 | Beyond Dirt Construction LLC | 53 | 5.0★ (9) | Norwalk, 13 mi away | Sat | — |
| 10 | Elder Corporation | 53 | 4.1★ (46) | Pleasant Hill, 11 mi away | — | — |
The 38 best excavating contractors in Johnston, ranked
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from ten published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
#2 Zippy Drain
Based in Clive, 10 mi away
57/100CR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 260 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 20 mi away
57/100CR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ from 37 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Johnston
55/100CR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 5 mi away
55/100CR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.5★ from 48 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 5 mi away
55/100CR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.3★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 7 mi away
54/100CR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.4★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Pleasant Hill, 11 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.4★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Norwalk, 13 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Pleasant Hill, 11 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.1★ from 46 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#11 Latitude 41
Based in Ankeny, 6 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 119 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 8 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Grimes, 4 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Grimes, 4 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 12 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 10 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 12 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#17 L&D Hydroseed
Based in Des Moines, 24 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 15 mi away
50/100CR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Ankeny, 6 mi away
50/100CR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ from 25 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Swimming pool contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#20 Kelly Cortum Inc
Based in Norwalk, 14 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.1★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#21 Con-Struct Inc.
Based in Ames, 25 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.3★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Indianola, 22 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.3★ from 24 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Ankeny, 6 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.3★ from 80 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Norwalk, 13 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 29 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Des Moines, 5 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 25 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
How we ranked Johnston excavating contractors
We scored 38 Johnston excavating contractors on ten factors, weighted as shown. A business is ranked when its trade is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. A business with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency. Other unknown factors are left out, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed November 3, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Featured businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Johnston data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 25% | Google star rating, adjusted for how many reviews back it | Measured |
| Credentials | 15% | Active state license, bond and workers’ comp on file | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | Number of Google reviews, compared with the most-reviewed business on the list | Measured |
| Recency | 5% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 5% | Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, 24/7 or same-day | Measured |
| Trade focus | 10% | How clearly the business does this trade (its Google category and name) | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | Based in the city scores highest, less the farther away it is | Measured |
| Claimed profile | 10% | The business has claimed its ContractorsRanked profile (free or paid earn the same) | Measured |
| Partnered | 5% | The business links to ContractorsRanked from its own website with our badge, checked periodically | Measured |
| ContractorsRanked reviews | 10% | Verified customer reviews collected by ContractorsRanked: their rating and how many there are | Measured |
Excavating contractors in Johnston: frequently asked questions
Who is the best excavating contractor in Johnston?
By CR Score, the highest-ranked excavating contractor in Johnston, IA is Total Comfort Group with a CR Score of 58/100. It has 4.7★ from 507 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Zippy Drain (#2) and DeFreece Land Services (#3) follow. We ranked 38 excavating contractors on ten factors, last updated November 3, 2026.
How many excavating contractors are there in Johnston?
ContractorsRanked ranks 38 excavating contractors serving Johnston, IA. 1 of them is based in Johnston; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which excavating contractors in Johnston are open 24/7?
3 ranked excavating contractors in Johnston post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Total Comfort Group (#1), Zippy Drain (#2) and DeFreece Land Services (#3). Hours come from each business's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which excavating contractors in Johnston work on weekends?
13 of 38 ranked excavating contractors post Saturday hours and 5 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Total Comfort Group (#1), Zippy Drain (#2) and DeFreece Land Services (#3). Posted hours are office hours; crews may book weekend jobs separately.
What Google rating do Johnston excavating contractors have?
The median Google rating among 38 rated excavating contractors in Johnston is 4.8★, with a median of 12 reviews. Total Comfort Group has the most, 507 reviews, and ranks #1. We adjust ratings for review count, so a few five-star reviews cannot top the list.
How does ContractorsRanked rank excavating contractors?
Each excavating contractor gets a 0–100 CR Score from ten published factors, led by reputation (25%), credentials (15%), review volume (10%) and trade focus (10%). A business with no Google reviews scores zero on rating, review volume and recency; other factors we cannot measure are left out. Only businesses with a confirmed trade and 3 or more reviews, or a claimed profile, are ranked.
Do excavating contractors outside Johnston count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Johnston city center, our service radius for excavating contractors. Each listing shows where the business is based and how far away it is. Proximity is 5% of the CR Score, so a nearby business gets a small edge.
Can excavating contractors pay to rank higher on ContractorsRanked?
No. The CR Score never reads payment status, and this ranking has 0 paid placements. Up to 3 Featured businesses may appear above the list, labelled Featured and showing their honest rank.
Update log for Johnston
- November 2026: CR Scores recalculated for 38 excavating contractors serving Johnston.
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