Raking leaves is a chore, and, personally, it’s a chore I’m happy to pay someone else to do. Hiring someone to clean up leaves from your lawn typically costs $103 to $420, depending on a few factors.
Once the leaves are collected, you may need to pay extra to have them hauled away, typically $5 to $10 per bag. In many areas, leaf disposal is included with regular trash pickup if it’s bagged and placed at the curb, but it’s important to check your local city ordinance first.
To get realistic numbers, we gathered data from major metros and smaller towns in order to give you a clearer and country-wide snapshot of what leaf removal really costs.
Cost by location
The cost of leaf removal varies by your location. Areas with higher costs of living typically have higher yard service prices because workers need higher wages to afford housing, food, and other necessities. A lawn service in San Francisco or New York City will cost much more than the same service in rural Mississippi or small-town Iowa
See the table below for an overview of leaf removal costs across the U.S.:
| City | Average Cost Range |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Portland, ME | $103 – $435 |
| Boston, MA | $124 – $471 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Orlando, FL | $87 – $398 |
| Atlanta, GA | $96 – $395 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| Madison, WI | $106 – $409 |
| Detroit, MI | $112 – $449 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Missoula, MT | $98 – $376 |
| Boise, ID | $106 – $433 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Las Vegas, NV | $97 – $418 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $100 – $405 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $106 – $434 |
Cost estimator by size
On average, you can expect to pay $400 to $850 per acre for leaf removal, or as little as $100, for a small yard. Be aware that some companies charge a minimum fee.
| Yard Size | Average Cost for Leaf Removal |
| 1/6 acre | $110 – $190 |
| 1/5 acre | $140 – $220 |
| 1/4 acre | $150 – $250 |
| 1/2 acre | $210 – $470 |
| 3/4 acre | $290 – $700 |
| 1 acre | $400 – $850 |
If you have a lot of trees on your property, it will take more time and labor to clear the leaves, which raises costs.
These prices are averages. For a precise number get a leaf removal quote from Lawn Love.
Cost by method of leaf removal
There are three common methods of leaf removal, each with its own pros, cons, and associated costs.
| Leaf removal method | Average cost of service per hour |
| Leaf raking | $20 – $50 |
| Leaf blowing | $25 – $45 |
| Leaf vacuuming | $35 – $60 |
- Leaf raking: Raking up leaves takes a lot longer than blowing or vacuuming, so you can expect to spend more if your crew is being paid by the hour.
- Leaf blowing: Leaf blowing involves using a leaf blower to blow the leaves onto a tarp for easy disposal.
- Leaf vacuuming: Leaf vacuuming involves using a vacuum to remove leaves from your lawn without a tarp. This typically costs more per hour than raking, but it clears large yards fast. So, that efficiency often makes it cheaper in the long run than paying a crew to rake all afternoon.
Cost by frequency or type of contract
The more a pro visits your home in a year, the less it’s going to cost you per visit. Of course, you’ll pay more per year, but you’ll also get a more maintained yard.
The table below illustrates what you can expect to pay in a year, depending on the type of contract:
| Type of contract | Average cost range |
| Seasonal contract | Fall: $175 – $450 Spring: $115 – $300 |
| One-time visit | $200 – $850 |
| Quarterly contract | $250 – $750 per year |
| Monthly contract | $300 – $900 per year |
| Bi-weekly contract | $1,000 – $1,500 per year |
Other factors that affect cost
There’s really just one major factor that will drive the average cost up: number of trees.
It’s simple: More trees means more leaves. Expect to pay more if your yard is heavily treed.
For more information, check out these articles:
- Best Leaf Rakes for the Lawn and Garden
- Best Leaf Blowers
- Best Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers
- Best Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
- Leaf Blower Cost Guide
FAQ
You can bag leaves, compost them or mulch them. If you bag, many cities offer yard waste pickup services.
For more information, read our guide: What to Do With Fall Leaves on Your Lawn
Don’t. Leaves smother grass, keep sunlight and water from nourishing your lawn, and serves as a breeding ground for pests.
You can read more about this topic in our article: What Happens If You Don’t Remove Fallen Leaves in Your Yard?
A Tidy Lawn Awaits
If you’d rather spend your Saturday watching the game than wrangling piles of crunching leaves, hire a leaf removal pro to remove the leaves for you. A clear lawn is a just one smart phone call away.
Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
Read More:
- Lawn Seeding Cost Guide
- Lawn Mowing Cost Guide
- Aeration Cost Guide
- Dethatching Cost Guide
- Lawn Fertilization Cost Guide
Main Image: Raking fallen leaves. Image Credit: maxbelchenko / Adobe Stock
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