How Much Does Leaf Removal or Yard Clean Up Cost?

Expect to pay $376 on average for leaf removal. Pros typically charge between $190 and $591. Prices to remove leaves vary based on regional cost of living differences, how they’re removed (bagged, raked or blown), and your lawn’s tree density. The more leaves that fall, the more you’ll pay. Large yards, for example, may cost $400 to $1,000 per acre.

Leaf Removal Cost Per Acre

Leaf removal can rrun anywhere from $400 to $1,000 per acre, although most pay $600 to $700. However, most homes sit on a 1/6 acre lot. The most common lot sizes and pricing include:

Leaf Removal Costs by Method

You have three options for leaf removal: blowing, raking, or vacuuming, that cost between $15 and $60 per hour. Most companies will have a minimum service charge. So, even if you have a smallish yard that only takes 30 minutes to vacuum, you'll still pay the base fee of $75 to $100. On top of that, if you want your garden pro to take the leaves away, you'll pay an additional fee of $5 to $10 per bag of collected leaves.

Raking

Raking leaves costs around $30 per hour, or between $15 and $45, plus $5 to $10 per bag for disposal. Electric or gas-powered leaf blowers make comparatively short work of clearing leaves compared to raking. 

However, it's not the most efficient option for dealing with wet leaves as the blower may not be powerful enough to move them, or they may get blown around all over the place instead of toward the collection point. Remember, too, that a rake is still necessary to get the collected leaves into bags ready for disposal.

Blowing

Most people pay around $32.50 per hour for leaf ranking, with a range of $25 to $50, plus the $5 to $10 per bag fee for leaf removal. Your local yard worker uses a heavy-duty leaf rake to gather the leaves into easy-to-pick-up piles on your lawn. Raking isn't always the best choice for large areas, but it's effective at removing even wet and partially rotted leaves and, using fan rakes, the process won't damage your lawn.

Vacuuming

Vacuuming leaves will run you around $50 per hour, or between $40 and $60 per hour, plus the bagging and disposal fee of $5 to $10 per bag. Leaf vacuuming is super-efficient, but the collection bag gets heavy quickly and requires regular emptying. Plus, wet leaves and mud can get stuck in the machine, which reduces efficiency and causes delays while the pro unclogs it.

Mulching

Mulching costs $50 per hour, with most people paying between $40 and $60 per hour. Your pro uses a vacuum with a shredder inside to shred the leaves into small pieces as they're vacuumed. Your pro will then empty the leaf bag where directed. 

This efficient option eliminates a disposal fee, as you can use the leaf waste in your garden. Lead mulch is a great addition to compost piles, lawn fertilizer, or top dressing for garden beds. 

Gutter Cleaning

Gutter cleaning costs an average of $160, or between $120 and $230. If you have trees close to your home and have fallen leaves all over your lawn, there's a good chance you've got them in your gutters, too. So, it makes sense to have your gutters cleaned and leaves and other debris removed at the same time. Failing to keep your gutters clear can cause significant damage to your property over time.

Save the yearly fees with gutter leaf screens. These plastic screens keep the junk out of the gutters to both avoid downspout clogs and yearly cleanings. Installing gutter guards costs $500 to $1,500 but eliminates the need for yearly cleanings.

Leaf Removal Costs by Frequency of Service

If you have a large lawn or want to save money, you may want to purchase a service contract instead of just getting a one-off visit here and there. A one-time visit will set you back somewhere between $200 and $850, while a once-yearly contract will cost just $150 to $500. Depending on your needs, you may want to look at a quarterly, monthly, or bi-weekly contract, too. Take a look at the typical yearly costs for each service contract type.

Yard Clean Up Costs

Besides removing leaves, you might want to have your yard cleaned up for$50 to $700. This includes tidying up landscaping, removing trees, weeding gardens, and updating floral landscaping.

Landscape Cleanup 

Cleanup comes as part of larger landscaping installation costs of $1,400 to $5,300. The actual prices vary depending on the type of cleanup you need, which includes:

• Tree removal costs:$400–$1,200

• Landscape construction cleanup fees: $250–$700

• Aerate lawn costs: $75–$200

Garden & Flower Bed Cleanup 

You’ll pay anywhere from $45 to $75 per hour for a landscaper to clean up your garden or flower bed. You’ll spend half that on local independent operators working on task fees of $60 to $100.

Backyard Waste Cleanup 

Backyard waste removal costs $150 to $400. Waste includes junk besides organic waste. The size of the backyard and accessibility play a large role in pricing. If the pro can’t get their truck near the waste, it’ll take longer and require more manual labor to clear it out.

Seasonal Yard CleanUp Prices

You’ll pay twice as much in the fall versus the spring for yard cleanup, as fall tends to be a busier time. Plus, there’s more to pick up and haul away. Dumping fees of $20+ per load, fuel, and high demand make fall the most expensive time to remove yard waste. However, leaving it can lead to a rotten and messy spring cleaning.

Fall Cleanup Prices

Cleaning up leaves in the fall costs $200 to $500 on average. Pros are busiest in the fall, increasing prices. Combined with snow removal contracts through the same professional, you might save a little throughout the year.

Spring Cleanup Prices

Spring cleanup runs homeowners $100 to $300, unless you combine it with other services, like gutter cleaning, mowing, fertilizing, and lawn prep. Combined, you’ll usually save anywhere from 10% to 30%, depending on the professional.

Leaf and Yard Cleanup Cost Factors

Aside from the size of your yard and the method of removal, there are a few other factors that determine how much you'll pay per visit for leaf clearance. 

Blowing vs. Bagging

Companies charge the standard hourly rate to blow or rake leaves into piles on your lawn. However, if you also want them to bag and haul the leaves away for you, expect to pay an additional $5 to $10 per bag. 

This can quickly add to your project total, but if you have no use for the leaves, such as lawn fertilizer, mulching around plants, or adding to compost, it's worth paying the pro to dispose of them for you.

Number of Trees

The more trees you have, the more leaves that fall, unless they're evergreens. The more leaves that fall, the longer the job takes, so the more you'll pay overall.

Experience

The more experienced the pro, the higher the price. Sure, you may be able to hire a neighborhood kid with a rake for a few bucks, but they may damage your lawn and won't achieve the same level of mastery as a pro.

Time

The larger the lawn, the longer it's been since the last service call, the depth of the leaf layer, and how wet the leaves all impact how much time it takes to remove the leaves from your lawn. And, the longer it takes, the more you'll pay, as garden pros charge this type of job by the hour.

DIY vs. Hiring a Cleanup Service

If you have the time, raking and bagging your leaves is a simple and safe DIY project. It’s also good exercise. Hiring a cleanup service takes the project off your schedule and frees up your time. Or, consider splitting the project: rake your leaves to the curb and have a pro come pick up the pile and haul it away.

FAQs

Is it OK to burn leaves?

No, it’s not OK to burn leaves outside. Do not start any outdoor fires without checking with your local fire department first. There is a serious risk of starting a wildfire, especially in drought-prone areas. In some locations, if you start an outdoor burn and the fire department visits, they’ll charge you for the house call.

How do you dispose of leaves?

Depending on your location, you might have a few options to dispose of leaves:

1. Have your waste service haul them away. Some locations have specific days set aside for yard waste removal.

2. Hire a landscaping service.

3. Take them to the waste yard or dump them yourself.

Should I mulch or bag my leaves?

If you have a use for leaf mulch, then you should mulch your leaves, then use the mulch for lawn fertilizer, compost, and top dressing for garden beds. If, however, you can't use the mulch, bag it and have it disposed of or consider checking with neighbors if they could use it. 

Do I need to remove leaves from my yard?

Yes, you should remove the leaves from your yard. If you leave a deep layer of leaf litter, you'll smother your grass, killing it off. Additionally, pests can overwinter in the undisturbed leaf matter, creating problems for your plants during the following growing season, leading to expensive fixes to your lawn once the weather warms.