59/100CR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.4★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Best Excavating Contractors in Palm Desert, CA (2026)
8 excavating contractors ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Best overall in Palm Desert: M & J Grading Services, CR Score 59/100; 4.4★ from 7 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 5
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): Desert Bobcat INC, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #5 of 8.
- 4
Most-reviewed: Pacific Slope Tree Company, 72 Google reviews at 5.0★, the most of 8 ranked; ranked #4.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
8 Palm Desert excavating contractors are ranked here by CR Score, from ten published factors. 2 are open 24/7, 6 open Saturdays and 1 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 5.0★ across 8 rated businesses.
Top 8 excavating contractors in Palm Desert at a glance
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M & J Grading Services | 59 | 4.4★ (7) | Indio, 10 mi away | 24/7 | Overall |
| 2 | Brooks Earthworks | 56 | 5.0★ (15) | Twentynine Palms, 19 mi away | Sat | — |
| 3 | Wilson Backhoe Services | 55 | 5.0★ (8) | Indio, 9 mi away | — | — |
| 4 | Pacific Slope Tree Company | 54 | 5.0★ (72) | Hemet, 20 mi away | Sat | Most reviews |
| 5 | Desert Bobcat INC | 53 | 5.0★ (8) | Cathedral City, 8 mi away | 24/7 | Emergencies |
| 6 | Randy Fulcher Grading Contractor | 49 | 4.7★ (3) | Indio, 7 mi away | — | — |
| 7 | Bobcat rental | 49 | 5.0★ (3) | Cathedral City, 7 mi away | Sat | — |
| 8 | Windmill Excavating & Construction | 47 | 5.0★ (3) | Banning, 23 mi away | Sat | — |
The 8 best excavating contractors in Palm Desert, ranked
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from ten published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Scores below: based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Based in Twentynine Palms, 19 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 15 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based in Indio, 9 mi away
55/100CR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based in Hemet, 20 mi away
54/100CR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 72 Google reviews, the most in Palm Desert.
Based in Cathedral City, 8 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews.
Based in Indio, 7 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.7★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Contractor”.
Based in Cathedral City, 7 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Equipment rental agency”.
Based in Banning, 23 mi away
47/100CR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Construction company”.
How we ranked Palm Desert excavating contractors
We scored 8 Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert: frequently asked questions
Who is the best excavating contractor in Palm Desert?
By CR Score, the highest-ranked excavating contractor in Palm Desert, CA is M & J Grading Services with a CR Score of 59/100. It has 4.4★ from 7 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Brooks Earthworks (#2) and Wilson Backhoe Services (#3) follow. We ranked 8 excavating contractors on ten factors, last updated November 3, 2026.
How many excavating contractors are there in Palm Desert?
ContractorsRanked ranks 8 excavating contractors serving Palm Desert, CA. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which excavating contractors in Palm Desert are open 24/7?
2 ranked excavating contractors in Palm Desert post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are M & J Grading Services (#1) and Desert Bobcat INC (#5). Hours come from each business's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which excavating contractors in Palm Desert work on weekends?
6 of 8 ranked excavating contractors post Saturday hours and 1 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are M & J Grading Services (#1), Brooks Earthworks (#2) and Pacific Slope Tree Company (#4). Posted hours are office hours; crews may book weekend jobs separately.
What Google rating do Palm Desert excavating contractors have?
The median Google rating among 8 rated excavating contractors in Palm Desert is 5.0★, with a median of 8 reviews. Pacific Slope Tree Company has the most, 72 reviews, and ranks #4. 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 Palm Desert count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Palm Desert 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 Palm Desert
- November 2026: CR Scores recalculated for 8 excavating contractors serving Palm Desert.
- November 2026: 2 duplicate listings merged.
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