58/100CR Score
Ranked #1 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.
Best Excavating Contractors in San Diego, CA (2026)
37 excavating contractors ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Best overall in San Diego: CHURCH JOHNSTON GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION, CR Score 58/100; 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 2
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): McDonnell Bobcat Services, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #2 of 37.
- 3
Most-reviewed: Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon, 353 Google reviews at 4.7★, the most of 37 ranked; ranked #3.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
37 San Diego excavating contractors are ranked here by CR Score, from ten published factors. 9 are open 24/7, 22 open Saturdays and 17 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 5.0★ across 37 rated businesses.
Top 10 excavating contractors in San Diego at a glance
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHURCH JOHNSTON GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION | 58 | 5.0★ (3) | San Diego | 24/7 | Overall |
| 2 | McDonnell Bobcat Services | 58 | 5.0★ (3) | San Diego | 24/7 | Emergencies |
| 3 | Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon | 58 | 4.7★ (353) | El Cajon, 12 mi away | 24/7 | Most reviews |
| 4 | Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of San Diego | 58 | 4.5★ (111) | San Diego | 24/7 | — |
| 5 | Dirt Wurx | 57 | 5.0★ (13) | Santee, 8 mi away | Sat · Sun | — |
| 6 | Easy Flow Sewer & Drain Cleaning San Diego | 57 | 4.8★ (42) | San Diego | 24/7 | — |
| 7 | Cats Excavating Inc | 56 | 5.0★ (5) | San Diego | — | — |
| 8 | San Diego Excavations | 56 | 5.0★ (5) | Spring Valley, 12 mi away | 24/7 | — |
| 9 | Hydro Excavation San Diego | 54 | 5.0★ (3) | San Diego | 24/7 | — |
| 10 | Risen Excavation | 53 | 5.0★ (8) | San Diego | — | — |
The 37 best excavating contractors in San Diego, ranked
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from ten published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Based in San Diego
58/100CR ScoreRanked #2 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 El Cajon, 12 mi away
58/100CR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 353 Google reviews, the most in San Diego.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in San Diego
58/100CR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.5★ from 111 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#5 Dirt Wurx
Based in Santee, 8 mi away
57/100CR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 13 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in San Diego
57/100CR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 42 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in San Diego
56/100CR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Spring Valley, 12 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in San Diego
54/100CR ScoreRanked #9 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
#10 Risen Excavation
Based in San Diego
53/100CR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Construction company”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Casa de Oro-Mount Helix, 8 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #11 because of its Google rating and availability: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, open 7 days a week.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in El Cajon, 12 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #12 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 3.4★ from 12 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Coronado, 10 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #13 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 36 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Camp Pendleton North, 8 mi away
53/100CR ScoreRanked #14 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Chula Vista, 7 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #15 because of its Google rating and availability: 4.7★ from 11 Google reviews, open 24/7.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Spring Valley, 10 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #16 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.0★ from 3 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Chula Vista, 8 mi away
52/100CR ScoreRanked #17 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 20 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santee, 14 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #18 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.5★ from 8 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Portland, 10 mi away
51/100CR ScoreRanked #19 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 14 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Demolition contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in National City, 5 mi away
50/100CR ScoreRanked #20 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Concrete contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Spring Valley, 9 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #21 because of its Google rating and availability: 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews, open 24/7.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Santee, 16 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #22 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 62 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in San Diego
49/100CR ScoreRanked #23 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.0★ from 27 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in El Cajon, 21 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #24 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 3.7★ 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 San Diego
49/100CR ScoreRanked #25 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.2★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Demolition contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
All 37 excavating contractors
#1 to #25 are shown in full above. Here are #26 to #37, in CR Score order; each links to its profile.
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Crest Equipment | 49 | 5.0★ (3) | 18 mi |
| 27 | Jamul Backhoe & Bulldozer Services | 48 | 4.0★ (3) | 24 mi |
| 28 | DW Yardscapes | 48 | 5.0★ (11) | 12 mi |
| 29 | AllStar Demolition Inc. | 48 | 5.0★ (6) | 8 mi |
| 30 | John Smith Earthworks Inc | 47 | 4.2★ (6) | In San Diego |
| 31 | Mika Bobcat Services | 47 | 1.0★ (7) | 25 mi |
| 32 | Pierson Tree & Landscaping Inc | 45 | 5.0★ (3) | 21 mi |
| 33 | Harrison Brothers | 45 | 5.0★ (4) | 23 mi |
| 34 | H.I.G Contractors | 45 | 5.0★ (4) | 16 mi |
| 35 | M & M Hauling and Bobcat | 44 | 5.0★ (3) | 17 mi |
| 36 | Hire Pro Man - North County | 43 | 5.0★ (4) | 23 mi |
| 37 | Hidden Valley Backhoe & Trucking, Inc. | 43 | 4.3★ (6) | 18 mi |
Also serving San Diego
20 more excavating contractors within 25 mi that we can't rank yet: too few reviews, or a trade we couldn't confirm. Listed A to Z.
How we ranked San Diego excavating contractors
We scored 37 San Diego 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 San Diego 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 San Diego: frequently asked questions
Who is the best excavating contractor in San Diego?
By CR Score, the highest-ranked excavating contractor in San Diego, CA is CHURCH JOHNSTON GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION with a CR Score of 58/100. It has 5.0★ from 3 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. McDonnell Bobcat Services (#2) and Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon (#3) follow. We ranked 37 excavating contractors on ten factors, last updated November 3, 2026.
How many excavating contractors are there in San Diego?
ContractorsRanked ranks 37 excavating contractors serving San Diego, CA. 10 of them are based in San Diego; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 20 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which excavating contractors in San Diego are open 24/7?
9 ranked excavating contractors in San Diego post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are CHURCH JOHNSTON GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION (#1), McDonnell Bobcat Services (#2) and Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon (#3). 24/7 Drain Rooter, Inc. (#11) also lists emergency service. Hours come from each business's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which excavating contractors in San Diego work on weekends?
22 of 37 ranked excavating contractors post Saturday hours and 17 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are CHURCH JOHNSTON GRADING AND CONSTRUCTION (#1), McDonnell Bobcat Services (#2) and Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon (#3). Posted hours are office hours; crews may book weekend jobs separately.
What Google rating do San Diego excavating contractors have?
The median Google rating among 37 rated excavating contractors in San Diego is 5.0★, with a median of 7 reviews. Roto-Rooter Plumbing & Water Cleanup of El Cajon has the most, 353 reviews, and ranks #3. 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 San Diego count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the San Diego 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 San Diego
- November 2026: CR Scores recalculated for 37 excavating contractors serving San Diego.
- November 2026: 1 duplicate listing merged.
More excavating contractors and San Diego pages
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