How much does lawn dethatching cost?
How much does lawn dethatching cost?
$10 – $30 cost per 1,000 square feet (add-on service)
$100 – $300 average cost for 5K – 10K SF (standalone service)
Lawn dethatching cost
Dethatching costs $100 to $300 on average. Lawn dethatching service costs $10 to $30 per 1,000 square feet, or $50 to $85 per hour. Power raking costs $10 to $70 per 1,000 square feet. The cost to rent a dethatching machine is $15 to $75 per day.
| Lawn size | Average cost with cleanup |
|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $10 – $30 |
| 3,000 square feet | $30 – $90 |
| 5,000 square feet | $50 – $150 |
| 10,000 square feet | $100 – $300 |
| 1/2 acre | $220 – $650 |
| 3/4 acre | $325 – $1,000 |
| 1 acre | $440 – $1,300 |
| 3 acres | $1,300 – $3,900 |
| 5 acres | $2,200 – $6,500 |
*Minimum service fees of $90 to $200 apply.
Average lawn dethatching service cost
The following table shows the average cost to dethatch a lawn of 5,000 to 10,000 square feet.
| National average cost | $200 |
| Minimum cost | $50 |
| Maximum cost | $700 |
| Average range | $100 to $300 |
*Cost data is from research and project costs reported by HomeGuide members.
Power raking lawn cost
The average cost to power-rake a lawn is $10 to $30 per 1,000 square feet or up to $70 per 1,000 square feet with cleanup. Power-raking machines remove dead grass of 1” thick or more. Power raking costs up to twice as much as basic dethatching or hand raking.
| Lawn size | Average cost (Without cleanup) | Average cost (With cleanup) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 square feet | $10 – $30 | $40 – $70 |
| 3,000 square feet | $30 – $90 | $120 – $200 |
| 5,000 square feet | $50 – $150 | $200 – $350 |
| 10,000 square feet | $100 – $300 | $400 – $700 |
| ½ acre | $220 – $650 | $880 – $1,500 |
| 3/4 acre | $325 – $1,000 | $1,300 – $2,300 |
| 1 acre | $440 – $1,300 | $1,750 – $3,000 |
| 3 acres | $1,300 – $3,900 | $5,200 – $9,150 |
| 5 acres | $2,200 – $6,500 | $8,700 – $15,250 |
*Minimum service fees of $90 to $200 apply.
Cost factors to dethatch a lawn
Cost factors to dethatch a lawn include:
Labor – Landscapers charges $50 to $85 per hour, and average jobs typically have 2- to 3-person crews. Minimum service fees are $90 to $200.
Lawn size – Large lawns take longer to dethatch but have cheaper rates per square foot.
Topography – Flat lawns without obstacles are easiest. Steep lawns with uneven areas and obstacles take longer.
Thatch amount and type – A thicker lawn with more dead weeds takes longer to dethatch.
Equipment choice – Bigger properties need heavy duty equipment that costs more.
Location – Labor rates depend on the local rates and weather conditions.
Cleanup – Extra debris-disposal fees may apply for bigger jobs.
Additional services – Discounts are available for dethatching as part of full-service lawncare packages with seeding, fertilizing, or aeration included.
Cost to rent a dethatcher
The cost to rent a dethatcher is $15 to $75 per day, depending on the size, type, and rental location. Most rental companies require a $100 to $200 deposit. Pull-behind types need a riding lawn mower.
| Rental time | Walk-behind machine | Pull-behind attachment |
|---|---|---|
| 4 hours | $30 – $50 | $10 – $30 |
| Daily | $45 – $75 | $15 – $45 |
| Weekly | $160 – $300 | $50 – $160 |
| Monthly | $370 – $900 | $140 – $370 |
Thatching prices with other services
Common services combined with dethatching include:
Lawn mowing costs $30 to $65. Mowing first makes dethatching easier.
Lawn aeration costs $75 to $250. Landscapers typically aerate after dethatching.
The cost to fertilize a lawn is $65 to $100, which prepares the soil for seeds.
The cost to overseed or reseed a lawn is $300 to $1,350.
Hydroseeding costs $500 to $1,600.
Weed control costs $50 to $125.
Dethatching FAQs
What is dethatching?
Dethatching is the removal of compacted natural debris, or “thatch,” above grass roots by manual raking or with power-raking machines. Pull-behind dethatching attachments for riding mowers suit larger yards. Dethatching lets more air, water, and nutrients reach the soil below.
When to dethatch a lawn
The best times to dethatch lawns are early spring and late fall. Summer dethatching damages lawns stressed by hot and dry conditions. Repeat dethatching annually, or when the thatch layer is 0.5” to 1.0” thick.
How long does it take to dethatch a lawn?
Dethatching a lawn takes 1 to 3 hours on average for lawns up to 5,000 square feet. The total time depends on the lawn size, number of passes, machine type, crew size, and cleanup method.
Does dethatching remove weeds?
Dethatching removes some of the top layer of weeds, but its main purpose is removing thatch above the grass roots. However, dethatching results in better weed control because it encourages healthy grass growth.
Should I aerate or dethatch my lawn?
Both aerating and dethatching improve the lawn’s ability to get air, water, and nutrients. Aerating is best for highly compacted lawns. Dethatching is best for lawns with dying grass that feel spongy. Always dethatch before aerating to remove compacted debris.
| Dethatching | Core aeration |
|---|---|
|
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*Same-day dethatching and aeration is available in some lawn-care packages.
Getting estimates from dethatching services
Before hiring a landscaping company near you, be sure to:
Compare three or more estimates.
Check the company business license and liability insurance.
Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Look for a company with years of experience and ask for references.
Confirm that the business regularly maintains its equipment.
Ask if they do employee-background checks.
Request copies of written contracts and warranties upfront.
Never pay in full before the job is complete.
Beware of highly discounted bids that can indicate low-quality work.
Questions to ask
How long have you been dethatching lawns, and what equipment do you use?
Should I aerate my lawn after dethatching?
What steps will you take to stop moss from growing after you’ve removed it?
How many times will you pass over the lawn with the dethatcher?
Will you mow the grass and mark sprinkler locations first?
Should I overseed and fertilize following dethatching?
How many people will be in the work crew?
Do you include cleanup in your estimate?
How often should I dethatch or aerate?
Do you offer lawn care packages that include dethatching?
What other lawn treatments are best to improve my lawn?