61/100CR Score
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 22 Google reviews, the most in Sterling.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Best Excavating Contractors in Sterling, IL (2026)
10 excavating contractors ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
The short answer
- 1
Best overall in Sterling: Porters Outdoor Solutions, CR Score 61/100; 5.0★ from 22 Google reviews; open 24/7.
- 8
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): Diamond Concrete and Excavating, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #8 of 10.
- 4
Most-reviewed: NJ Excavating, 17 Google reviews at 4.7★, the most of 10 ranked after Porters Outdoor Solutions; ranked #4.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
10 Sterling excavating contractors are ranked here by CR Score, from ten published factors. 2 are open 24/7, 5 open Saturdays and 4 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.9★ across 10 rated businesses.
Top 10 excavating contractors in Sterling at a glance
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Porters Outdoor Solutions | 61 | 5.0★ (22) | Rock Falls, 2 mi away | 24/7 | Overall |
| 2 | Burger Brothers Trucking and Excavating | 60 | 4.1★ (9) | Rock Falls, 2 mi away | — | — |
| 3 | Dave Jackley Sewer & Excavating | 59 | 4.7★ (15) | Sterling | Sat | — |
| 4 | NJ Excavating | 57 | 4.7★ (17) | Rock Falls, 2 mi away | — | Most reviews |
| 5 | Ralph Mills Excavating Inc. | 56 | 4.8★ (5) | Dixon, 11 mi away | — | — |
| 6 | Crouse land improvement excavating& demolition | 56 | 5.0★ (7) | Dixon, 22 mi away | Sat · Sun · Evenings | — |
| 7 | Furr's Septic Maintenance | 56 | 4.6★ (17) | Rock Falls, 3 mi away | — | — |
| 8 | Diamond Concrete and Excavating | 56 | 5.0★ (4) | Dixon, 7 mi away | 24/7 | Emergencies |
| 9 | Corey Gregory Excavating | 55 | 5.0★ (3) | Columbus, 15 mi away | Sat · Sun · Evenings | — |
| 10 | Peppers Enterprises | 49 | 5.0★ (7) | Clinton, 14 mi away | — | — |
The 10 best excavating contractors in Sterling, ranked
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from ten published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Based in Rock Falls, 2 mi away
60/100CR ScoreRanked #2 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.1★ from 9 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Sterling
59/100CR ScoreRanked #3 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 15 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Rock Falls, 2 mi away
57/100CR ScoreRanked #4 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.7★ from 17 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Dixon, 11 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #5 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ 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 Dixon, 22 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #6 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 7 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Excavating contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Rock Falls, 3 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #7 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.6★ from 17 Google reviews.
Based on 7 of 10 factors; credentials, recency and availability not yet collected.
Based in Dixon, 7 mi away
56/100CR ScoreRanked #8 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Concrete contractor”.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Based in Columbus, 15 mi away
55/100CR ScoreRanked #9 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 Clinton, 14 mi away
49/100CR ScoreRanked #10 because of its Google rating and review volume: 5.0★ from 7 Google reviews.
Based on 8 of 10 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected.
Also serving Sterling
10 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.
| Business | Google rating | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Behrens Trucking & Excavating | 2 mi | |
| Brauer Construction | In Sterling | |
| Drew Excavating, Inc. | 5.0★ (2) | 18 mi |
| E & L Excavating | 1 mi | |
| Gutter Repair Sterling IL | In Sterling | |
| Hibbard Land Works | 5.0★ (1) | In Sterling |
| Martin & Co Excavating | 10 mi | |
| Roger Wolber Excavating | 5.0★ (1) | 10 mi |
| Terry Papoccia Construction | 1.0★ (1) | In Sterling |
| Wilkens TASC LLC | 12 mi |
How we ranked Sterling excavating contractors
We scored 10 Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling: frequently asked questions
Who is the best excavating contractor in Sterling?
By CR Score, the highest-ranked excavating contractor in Sterling, IL is Porters Outdoor Solutions with a CR Score of 61/100. It has 5.0★ from 22 Google reviews. It is open 24/7. Burger Brothers Trucking and Excavating (#2) and Dave Jackley Sewer & Excavating (#3) follow. We ranked 10 excavating contractors on ten factors, last updated November 3, 2026.
How many excavating contractors are there in Sterling?
ContractorsRanked ranks 10 excavating contractors serving Sterling, IL. 1 of them is based in Sterling; the rest serve it from nearby towns. Another 10 within 25 mi are listed but not ranked yet. Counts are as of November 2026.
Which excavating contractors in Sterling are open 24/7?
2 ranked excavating contractors in Sterling post 24/7 hours. The highest-ranked are Porters Outdoor Solutions (#1) and Diamond Concrete and Excavating (#8). Hours come from each business's Google listing as of November 2026, so call to confirm.
Which excavating contractors in Sterling work on weekends?
5 of 10 ranked excavating contractors post Saturday hours and 4 post Sunday hours. The highest-ranked open Saturdays are Porters Outdoor Solutions (#1), Dave Jackley Sewer & Excavating (#3) and Crouse land improvement excavating& demolition (#6). Posted hours are office hours; crews may book weekend jobs separately.
What Google rating do Sterling excavating contractors have?
The median Google rating among 10 rated excavating contractors in Sterling is 4.9★, with a median of 8 reviews. Porters Outdoor Solutions has the most, 22 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 Sterling count in this ranking?
Yes, if they are within 25 mi of the Sterling 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 Sterling
- November 2026: CR Scores recalculated for 10 excavating contractors serving Sterling.
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