How much does leaf removal cost?
How much does leaf removal cost?
$150 – $350 average cost per lawn
$400 – $700 average cost per acre
Leaf removal cost
Leaf removal costs $150 to $350 on average with the typical clean up costing about $225. Leaf cleanup and blowing costs $400 to $700 per acre, depending on the size of your yard, the frequency of service, and the type of removal.
| National Average Cost | $225 |
| Minimum Cost | $50 |
| Maximum Cost | $550 |
| Average Range | $150 to $350 |
Leaf cleanup and blowing prices by service
Yard cleanup costs $125 to $400 for the average lawn or $850 to $2,000 per acre, depending on the yard size, services needed, and season. Yard cleanup includes tree debris removal, garden, landscaping, and leaf collection.
Fall leaf cleanup prices
Fall cleanup prices are $150 to $400 on average. Fall cleanup typically includes leaf removal, mowing, pruning, and cleaning out garden beds.
Spring cleanup cost
Spring cleanup costs $125 to $300 depending on if you hired a lawn service during any of the winter months or not. If the leaves haven't been removed during the fall or winter, then expect to pay much more.
Leaf removal from gutters cost
Gutter cleaning costs $100 to $250 on average or $0.50 to $2.50 per linear foot. Prices increase for two-story or three-story homes or gutters longer than 200 linear feet total. Cleaning leaves out from gutters is important to prevent roof problems.
Leaf removal cost per acre
Leaf removal costs $400 to $700 per acre depending on the amount of leaves, the volume of tree debris, and the tree types. Yard cleanup costs $70 to $80 per visit if you schedule regular maintenance for a typical 0.2 acre property.
Landscaping cleanup costs
Landscaping maintenance costs $100 to $200 per month and typically includes mowing, gardening, flower bed cleaning, mulching, and pruning. Hiring a landscaper typically costs a minimum of $40 to $45 per worker per hour.
Garden cleanup cost
A gardener costs $75 to $250 per service. Gardeners charge $35 to $65 hourly for jobs that take longer than average to also trim hedges, pull weeds, and do other garden bed maintenance.
Tree Debris Removal Cost
Tree debris removal costs $75 to $250 per trip on average.
Tree trimming prices vary by tree height:
A small tree under 30' tall costs $100 to $500.
A tree 30' to 60' tall costs $200 to $900.
A tree over 60' tall costs $400 to $1,800.
Leaf removal cost factors
How to estimate leaf removal costs
There are many different factors that professional leaf removal services consider to estimate their prices, including:
Property size
Number of trees and their types
Experience of yard cleanup service
Leaf blowing or bagging
Vacuuming or mulching
Frequency of service
Minimum charges
Time
Leaf pick up machine & equipment
Size of property
The larger the property, the more it will cost to have leaves removed because there are likely more trees on the property, which creates more labor. Some companies charge per square foot or acre to rake leaves.
How many trees? Which kind of trees?
The more trees that are on your property, the more leaves you’ll need to remove at a higher cost. Some trees shed more leaves and faster than others, which means more regular maintenance from a leaf removal service.
Leaf removal service experience
More experienced leaf removal companies work faster and more efficiently. Other leaf removal companies that are starting out may take more time if they have fewer workers and less experience.
Leaf blowing or bagging
Leaf blowing costs start at $30 to $35 per worker hourly or $65 to $75 for a minimum service charge. If you live in a neighborhood association that handles the removal of leaves blown into the road, leaf blowing may be a better option for you.
Landscapers charge $4 to $8 per bag for leaf collection with debris disposal. Save money by leaving bagged leaves for curbside garbage pickup when possible.
Vacuuming or mulching leaves
Vacuuming up piles of leaves starts at $75 to $85 minimum. Mulching costs can be an extra $70 to $100 to mulch all leaves on-site, but it saves money on buying new mulch. After watering chopped leaves, they soon decompose to leave fresh garden mulch.
Lawn maintenance & frequency of service
Maintenance for a small lawn starts at $70 to $80 while a bi-weekly service can cost about $45 to $50 minimum per visit. A yearly leaf-collection service can cost $100 to $300. A more frequent leaf removal service for large lots will lower the cost per visit.
Minimum charges for leaf removal
Minimum fees cost $70 to $80 on average, and this price varies by region and company. This fee covers operating costs and labor for small lots less than 500 square feet.
Time
The average hourly rate is $30 to $70 depending on the job type, experience, and skills of the worker. The amount of time increase for sloped land and lots of wet leaves.
Compost Fee
Some companies charge an additional fee for composting the leaves. Compost is excellent for your lawn to create a nutrient-rich soil.
Leaf removal FAQs
How do you dispose of leaves?
Leaf cleanup companies can either bag or mulch the leaves for you. Your options are to leave the bagged leaves on the curb for trash pickup or let the leaf removal company dispose of them for you.
What is the best time of year for leaf removal?
The most common times of year to have your leaves removed is in the fall or early spring. If you are looking for a single leaf removal service, it will usually need to be added to a larger lawn project for the company.
How much to charge for leaf cleanup?
Leaf cleanup services charge $4 to $8 per bag of leaves or about $125 to $255 for the average residential lawn. On large properties, leaf removal costs $400 to $700 per acre.
Getting estimates from leaf removal services
Before hiring a leaf removal service be sure to:
Compare multiple estimates from companies with 5+ years of experience.
Check that the company has licenses and liability insurance.
Confirm they have a commercial applicator license to spray any fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides on the property.
Ask for a list of references.
Read company reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Request copies of the written estimate and contract.
Beware of the cheapest quotes that typically indicate low-quality standards.
Never give full payments upfront.
Questions to ask
What kind of equipment do you use?
Do you remove leaves from the gutters? What is the additional cost?
What is the cost of leaf removal per square foot?
Have you worked with anyone in my neighborhood that I could speak with?
How long have you been in business?
Do you have a leaf removal minimum fee?
Do I have to be home when you complete the service?
What forms of payment do you accept?
Are there any discounts available?
How to save money on yard clean up
As you consider a lawn care company, be sure to consider:
Dry leaves are easier and cheaper to remove than wet ones.
If you have your own equipment and supplies, the company may use yours for a lower price.
Many companies have a referral program. Ask if your local leaf removal company offers incentives and discounts for referrals.