Getting rid of weeds can be difficult, especially if they have already overrun your property. So, it’s important to stay on top of weeds before the problem grows out of control. On average, professional weed control costs $100 per treatment for a typical ¼-acre yard.
Many lawn care pros charge $30 to $55 an hour in labor fees and will bill you for at least one hour of work. Many other factors affect the cost of weed control, such as lawn size and control method.
Average weed control costs in 2024
| National average cost | $100 |
| Typical price range | $65 – $165 |
| Extreme low-end cost | $35 |
| Extreme high-end cost | $615 |
Homeowners can expect to pay around $65 to $165 for professional weed control, with each weed treatment costing an average of $100. With a smaller or bigger lawn, you can pay as little as $35 or as much as $615 (or more).
The cost of weed control is affected by many things, with the biggest factor being lawn size. You can expect to pay a lot if you opt for a pro to hand-pull weeds in a very large lawn that’s overrun with weeds.
To lower your costs, consider doing the following:
- Use herbicides over hand-pulling.
- Use chemical herbicides over organic options.
- Control weeds while they’re still contained in one area.
- Consider preventative methods to prevent weeds.
- Follow good lawn care practices to prevent weeds from popping up in the first place.
Since you can’t exactly make your lawn smaller on a whim, preventing weeds from germinating and keeping existing weeds from taking over your lawn is the best way to lower your weed control costs.
Weed control cost estimator by lawn size
The biggest factor that can affect the weed control service cost is the size of your lawn. Homeowners will typically pay $95 to treat an average-sized lawn (¼ acre), including materials and labor. Weed control for smaller lawns (⅛ acre or less) is cheaper, only costing about $50 on average.
| Lawn size | Average cost |
| ⅛ acre (5,445 square feet) | $50 |
| ¼ acre (10,890 square feet) | $95 |
| 1 acre (43,560 square feet) | $495 |
A larger lawn typically costs more as it takes more time and/or product to get rid of weeds. You can expect to pay around $495 to get rid of weeds on a 1-acre lawn (or bigger).
You may need to pay more — or end up spending less — depending on how badly your lawn is overrun with weeds. Expect to pay less if only a small area of your lawn has weeds.
Other factors that affect cost
Aside from lawn size, other factors can affect how much a weed control service may charge you. These additional cost factors include the following:
- Weed control method
- Type of herbicide
- Type of weed
- Landscape fabric
- Frequency
- Labor
- Weed abatement
Weed control method
There are two most common methods to control garden and lawn weeds: manual pulling and herbicide application. The control method you choose will impact the final cost of a weed control service. The table below lists the costs for an average-sized lawn (¼-acre).
| Weed control method | Average cost |
| Manual pulling | $105 – $330 ($35 – $80 per hour) |
| Herbicides | $55 – $160 |
Manual pulling is more expensive than using herbicides because it requires more labor. Hand-pulling weeds is one of the eco-friendly and safest methods to remove weeds, but it can only remove existing weeds. The cost of professional weed pulling ranges from $105 to $330, with most pros charging $35 to $80 per hour.
Using herbicides is cheaper, only costing around $55 to $160 per treatment. It isn’t as labor-intensive, but it’s less environmentally friendly. Herbicides are often made with synthetic chemicals, but organic, natural, and pet-friendly options exist for a slightly higher price.
Type of herbicide
If you opt to use herbicides to kill weeds on your lawn, expect to pay differing rates based on the type of herbicide used. The table below details the average price for different herbicide treatments:
| Type of herbicide | Average cost |
| Pre-emergent herbicide | $65 – $135 |
| Post-emergent herbicide | $75 – $145 |
| Weed and feed | $65 – $170 |
| Selective herbicide | $65 – $180 |
| Non-selective herbicide | $40 – $165 |
| Organic herbicide | $95 |
Pre-emergent weed killers prevent weeds from germinating. You can expect to pay around $65 to $135 to treat your yard with this product. It’s good to use these before the start of the growing season when weeds haven’t grown yet. Pre-emergents do nothing against existing weeds.
On the other hand, post-emergent weed killers affect existing weeds but can’t prevent new ones from sprouting. On average, hiring a professional to treat your yard with post-emergent herbicides costs anywhere from $75 to $145.
Weed and feed products combine herbicides and fertilizers in one package. The type of weed killer included differs per product. Treating your lawn with a weed and feed product can be useful if you want to apply both an herbicide and a fertilizer. Professional weed and feed treatments cost between $65 and $170.
Herbicides can either be selective or non-selective. A weed killer’s selectivity describes what types of weeds it targets. Let’s look at their differences below:
- Selective herbicides only target specific weeds. They can target many weeds, but they won’t work on all of them. Expect to pay around $65 to $180 if you want to treat your lawn with a selective herbicide.
- Non-selective herbicides affect all weeds (and sometimes, even turf and other plants). Some contain chemicals like glyphosate, while others have natural ingredients that burn or injure all types of plants. The cost of professional non-selective herbicide treatment ranges from $40 to $165.
If you are worried about chemicals affecting your pets, children, or the environment, then you can opt for an organic herbicide treatment. They are made with natural ingredients, but they may not be as effective. Costing an average of $95 per treatment, they tend to be a little pricier than their chemical counterparts.
Type of weed
Weeds can be classified in many different ways, but often they are distinguished by their life cycles and their looks.
Classifying weeds by life cycle will divide them into annual and perennial weeds. Annual weeds like crabgrass are easier to control than perennial weeds like dandelions. You may need stronger herbicides and/or multiple treatments to get rid of perennial weeds on your lawn.
Weeds also can be classified into broadleaf, grassy, and sedges. Broadleaf and grassy weeds aren’t as difficult to get rid of compared to grass-like sedges, which are notoriously challenging to eradicate.
Landscape fabric
If you want an extra layer of protection against weeds? Landscape fabric is a cover that blocks weeds from growing in your lawn and garden. They also have other benefits but must be installed correctly.
The cost of landscape fabric differs by type. Let’s look at their prices:
- Woven landscape fabric is made of linen or polypropylene plastic. It’s best used around trees, shrubs, and flower beds. It can cost as little as $15 for a 3-foot-by-50-foot roll or as much as $290 for a 6-foot-by-250-foot roll. On average, woven landscape fabric costs between $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot.
- Non-woven landscape fabric is made of polyester or polypropylene. It’s best for rock mulches and pathways as it’s very good at smothering plants. Costing an average of $0.05 to $0.85 per square foot, this landscape fabric can be as cheap as $10 for a 6-foot-by-12-foot roll or as much as $170 for a 6-foot-by-300-foot roll.
- Spun landscape fabric is a type of non-woven fabric. It’s best used around garden borders, gravel mulches, pathways, and behind retaining walls. It costs around $0.05 to $0.20 per square foot, but you might pay as little as $20 for a 3-foot-by-40-foot roll or as much as $170 for a 6-foot-by-300-foot roll.
- Perforated landscape fabric has small holes that allow water, air, and nutrients to pass through. Best used around vegetable gardens and garden beds, it costs about $0.10 to $0.70 per square foot. It can cost as little as $8 for a 6-foot-by-4-foot roll or as much as $35 for a 4-foot-by-25-foot roll.
Frequency
Some lawn care services offer recurring or bundle services that include weed control. These may be more expensive than a single treatment, but they may be more worth it in the long run (especially if bundled with other services).
Frequent visits for weed control means weeds will be kept in check better before they can wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. Most packages also come with warranties that let you avail of weed control services free of charge should weeds sprout during the warranty period.
Most companies offer a bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly service plan for weed control.
Labor
Different pros will charge different labor rates. They may charge more if your yard’s layout is particularly difficult to work with or is inaccessible. On average, weed control pros will charge between $30 to $55 per hour, and some will bill you for one hour minimum. Expect a higher labor fee with a larger yard.
Weed abatement
Weed abatement is the court-ordered process of removing all weeds (especially those on the state’s noxious weeds list) from a property. Some states, counties, and cities have regulations regarding overgrown weeds and demand their removal from a property violating these regulations.
Weed abatement is done when the weeds pose a fire, health, or public safety concern. If someone reports your property, you may receive a notice which you are required to follow. Some weed control pros offer weed abatement services and will charge anywhere between $70 and $120.
Weeds grow everywhere, but they’re even more prevalent in lawns and gardens that aren’t properly cared for. The best way to fight back against weeds is by overcrowding them with healthy grass, flowers, and other desirable plants.
Here are some lawn care and gardening services that will help keep your yard healthy and weed-free:
- Aeration
- Dethatching
- Fertilization
- Mowing
- Mulching
- Overseeding
- Pest control
- Gardening services
Aeration
Aerating your lawn relieves it of compacted soil that blocks water, sunlight, air, and nutrients from reaching your turf’s root system. In this way, lawn aeration contributes to a healthy and green lawn.
If your lawn is often walked on and/or you notice some signs of soil compaction, then you should consider getting your lawn aerated. On average, lawn aeration costs $143 but typically costs from $82 to $251. However, you might be charged as little as $43 if you have a small yard, or as much as $496 if you have a large one.
Dethatching
Excess thatch can negatively affect your turf’s growth by preventing water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil. Thatch also can house pests that can ravage your lawn. While aeration can help get rid of excess thatch, it’s not as effective as dethatching, which specifically slices through the thatch layer.
Professional dethatching costs an average of $196, but the usual price can range from $145 to $247. The cost of dethatching also changes depending on other factors, mainly yard size.
Fertilization
Your plants need nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus (N-P-K) to grow healthy and green. While your soil contains nutrients, those nutrients get depleted over time. Some soils may not have enough nutrients to begin with. You can remedy nutrient deficiencies with the right fertilizer.
The average cost of lawn fertilization is $335, but pros typically charge between $120 and $480. You also can expect this cost to change based on how small or large your lawn is.
Mowing
Aside from keeping your lawn healthy and strong, mowing also can keep weeds at bay. Multiple injuries from mowing can kill annual weeds, and mowing also helps prevent weeds from producing seeds.
Getting your lawn mowed by a professional will save you the time and effort of doing it yourself. Lawn mowing costs an average of $75 per visit if you get a pro to do it, with most visits ranging in price from $35 to $100. Again, a bigger or smaller lawn will affect the cost of lawn mowing significantly.
Mulching
Mulching has many benefits, and one of them is helping prevent weed growth. Much like landscape fabric, mulch can block weeds from growing in your lawn and garden. Mulches can be organic or inorganic.
The cost of professional mulching averages around $85 per yard of mulch, with the price ranging from $40 and $155 per yard of mulch. The cost depends on the project size, type of mulch, and quantity of mulch.
Overseeding
Weeds will quickly overtake bald spots on your lawn, so it’s important to fix an uneven and patchy lawn as soon as possible. The good news is that you don’t have to redo your lawn from scratch: You can simply overseed an existing lawn.
Overseeding is typically cheaper than seeding a new lawn. On average, overseeding costs between $650 and $1,650 if you get a professional to do it. The cost will be affected by the project size and type of grass seeds used.
Pest control
If you’re dealing with weeds, then you also might be dealing with pests. Weeds can attract pests, and the conditions that invite weeds also can invite pests. Professional lawn pest control costs $50 to $200 per treatment.
If you’re looking for professional pest control services, Pest Gnome can help you find a qualified pro in your area.
Gardening services
A gardener offers similar services to lawn care pros, but they focus more on flower beds and gardens (as their name suggests). If you have a problem with these parts of your landscape, then you may want to hire a gardener to help solve them. On average, gardener services cost about $150 per visit.
Pro cost vs. DIY cost
Would you rather get rid of weeds yourself to save money? It’s totally possible and not too difficult to do. The cheapest way to control weeds is by pulling them by hand; however, it’s very labor-intensive and time-consuming.
You’ll need gardening gloves, a kneeling pad, and a weeding tool to pull weeds efficiently and without as much pain. Let’s look at how much you might need to pay, assuming you don’t have any of these tools:
| Equipment | Average cost |
| Gardening gloves | $12 |
| Kneeling pad | $21 |
| Weeder tool | $25 |
| Total cost | $58 |
If you want to make the job easier, you should consider using herbicides instead. Let’s look at how much using weed killers DIY would cost you, assuming that you don’t have any of these materials:
| Equipment | Average cost |
| Gardening gloves | $12 |
| Safety goggles | $14 |
| Chemical herbicide | $45 |
| Organic herbicide | $35 |
| Fertilizer spreader | $48 |
| Pump sprayer (2 gal.) | $30 |
| Garden hose | $38 |
| Total cost (liquid herbicide) | $91 – $109 |
| Total cost (granular herbicide) | $109 – $119 |
The total cost to use herbicides around your lawn will depend on the type of weed killer you want to use:
- Liquid herbicides come in ready-to-use and concentrated forms. Ready-to-use herbicides may be ready to spray, only needing to be hooked up to a garden hose. Those that aren’t ready to spray will need to be added to a pump sprayer.
- Granular herbicides are made of small granules. They need to be spread with a broadcast spreader. Broadcast spreaders can be used with fertilizers, grass seeds, and other small, granule-like products.
At $58, DIY manual pulling is much cheaper than even the lowest typical price compared to hiring a pro to do it ($105 – $330). However, you’ll be paying in time and a lot of sweat.
The cost of using herbicides DIY ($91 – $119) is higher than the average cost of weed control ($100). Even if you compare it to the price range of hiring a pro to apply herbicide to your lawn ($55 – $160), the DIY cost can still be more expensive. This is especially true if you don’t have any of the equipment needed.
If you still want to apply weed killers on your own, check out our product reviews of the best weed killers. We also reviewed the best weed killers for flower beds if you need something for your ornamentals.
Cost of weed control by location
Location is another factor that can affect how much you’ll pay for weed control. Location matters because of the cost of living, varying hourly rates, and the average lawn size in the area.
The average lawn size in some areas is smaller than the national average. Conversely, some are much larger than the national average.
Based on lawn size, a homeowner from Maryland (average lawn size: about 7,600 square feet) may pay less than someone living in Maine (average lawn size: about 71,500 square feet) just because of the sheer size difference between their lawns.
To find out how much weed control services cost in your area, it’s best to ask a local lawn care pro who offers those services.
FAQ about the cost of weed control
What is the cheapest method of weed control?
The cheapest method of weed control is pulling them by hand yourself. As long as you have the tools (and sometimes, all you really need is a good pair of gloves), it will cost nothing but sweat and time.
If you want to hire someone to do it, then the cheapest method is using a chemical herbicide. They’re very effective but can harm the environment and your loved ones.
How often do you need weed control?
How often you need weed control will depend on how often your lawn or garden gets weeds. At the very least, you’ll want to check for weeds once per season.
You will need to control weeds more than once a season if you’re already dealing with weeds. You’ll need to apply a pre-emergent before the start of the growing season and then a post-emergent (or hand-pull) once weeds start popping up.
How do you permanently stop weeds from growing?
There is no surefire way to permanently stop weeds from growing — at least forever. Weeds can get into your lawn through seeds carried in the wind or through wildlife.
However, using a preventative weed control measure (landscape fabric, pre-emergent herbicide, mulch) and keeping a healthy lawn and garden can help prevent weeds from growing.
Certain herbicides (mainly glyphosate) also prevent anything from growing for up to a year, in addition to killing all plants in the area they are applied to. However, these products can be very harmful to your health and the environment. Additionally, they don’t discriminate between weeds and desired plants.
Hire a pro for a weed-free yard
Getting rid of weeds in your lawn and garden can get very tiring and time-consuming, especially if you have a large yard. Instead of getting down in the dirt yourself, why not hire a lawn maintenance professional to get the dirty work done instead?
Lawn Love can connect you with a local lawn care pro that can handle not just the weeding but also the mowing, fertilization, aeration, and much more. The best part? You can sit back and enjoy your beautiful lawn while they do it. Hire a lawn care professional through Lawn Love today.
Note: Lawn Love may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
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