We all want a beautiful and tidy yard, but clearing away leaves, branches, and debris can take an entire weekend. A pro will charge, on average, $210 to $446.
Several factors push that bill up or down. The average minimum cost for a yard clean-up is $167 for a 1/5-acre yard, but it can rise to $1,700 for 1 acre.
This guide gathers data from big and small cities across the U.S., so you can get a better estimate of the prices in your region.
Cost by location
You typically pay more for services in metropolitan areas than in rural ones because labor costs are generally higher.
Your climate can also affect cleanup prices. If you live in an area that experiences heavy storms, yard clean-up services will be in higher demand and will likely cost more than usual (especially right after a storm).
See the table below for the average costs of yard cleanup nationwide:
| City | Average Cost |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Boston, MA | $212 – $475 |
| Portland, ME | $218 – $458 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Orlando, FL | $187 – $401 |
| Atlanta, GA | $218 – $446 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| Detroit, MI | $228 – $491 |
| Madison, WI | $208 – $441 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Missoula, MT | $218 – $451 |
| Boise, ID | $203 – $426 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Phoenix, AZ | $206 – $425 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $212 – $457 |
Cost by yard size
When estimating the cost of a yard cleanup, size matters. You can use the average cost estimates below as a starting point, but remember to factor in the services you need.
| Project size | Average overall cost |
| 1/5 acre | $167 – $358 |
| 1/4 acre | $215 – $467 |
| 1/2 acre | $410 – $900 |
| 3/4 acre | $650 – $1,200 |
| 1 acre | $833 – $1,700 |
Cost by frequency
The cost of a contract with a lawn care service will depend on the frequency with which you need your yard cleaned.
Signing an annual contract means the pros will provide ongoing service, keeping leaves and other debris from piling up, which in turn means you’ll pay less per year and visit.
However, if you plan on hiring a pro after months or a year of debris building up, it will take more hours to finish the service, which will cost you more than having them come regularly.
Here is a table of average costs for contracts based on the frequency of the cleanup:
| Contract frequency | Average cost per year |
| One-time visit | $250 – $1,425 |
| Annual | $175 – $500 |
| Quarterly | $325 – $775 |
| Monthly | $450 – $1,050 |
| Bi-weekly | $825 – $1,400 |
Cost by pricing method
Landscaping companies have different ways of estimating the cost of a yard cleanup. Most charge a flat rate, but some will charge per hour or even per bag of debris hauled away.
Here are the average costs for each pricing method:
| Pricing method | Typical cost range |
| Flat rate | $210 – $446 |
| Per hour | $45 – $95 |
| Per square foot | $0.02 – $0.07 |
Pro cost vs. DIY cost
The costs of cleaning up your yard on your own can vary depending on what you need to do. For example, if you just need to remove leaves, a rake costs an average of $22, and a leaf blower can cost around $167. However, if you need to trim trees, bushes, hedges, and more, the total cost may rise to more than $900 for all the necessary equipment.
Most homeowners already have some of the tools at home, and regularly keeping your bushes and shrubs pruned can help you save money on maintenance. However, doing a complete yard clean-up yourself is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and sometimes even dangerous. In addition, you may still need to hire someone to haul away your yard waste.
Other factors that affect cost
Here are some other factors that might affect your yard cleanup costs:
Season
As the weather changes, so do the needs of your yard.
Spring clean-up: Winter can be harsh on landscaping, so when spring arrives, it’s time to clean up branches, twigs, and leaves that might have fallen off during snowstorms. You’ll want to ensure your lawn is ready to sprout new growth by raking and dethatching matted-down grass and taking care of any other damaged areas.
Fall clean-up: As for fall, you’ll want to prepare your plants and turfgrass for winter by removing dead leaves and other debris from your lawn. Doing so will help them endure the extreme weather conditions. Fall is also the time to clean your gutters (or hire someone else to do it) of all the clogs caused by leaves.
Here are the average cost ranges for spring and fall clean-up:
| Season | Average cost range |
| Spring | $110 – $300 |
| Fall | $185 – $500 |
Type of clean-up
The nature of yard clean-up tasks significantly influences overall costs, considering factors such as labor intensity, equipment requirements, and disposal needs. Here’s a breakdown of common cleanup tasks and their impact on yard clean-up costs:
- Raking leaves: Larger yards with more foliage may incur higher costs due to extensive labor and effort.
- Mulching leaves: Leaf mulching offers an alternative to disposal. While it adds nutrients to the soil, the process may require specialized equipment, impacting the overall cleanup cost.
- Flower bed and garden clean-up: Clearing and tidying flower beds and gardens involves delicate work. The intricacy of this task can contribute to higher costs, especially in well-maintained or intricate landscapes.
- Trash or furniture removal: Disposing of non-organic waste or old furniture incurs additional costs, considering the need for proper disposal methods and potential recycling fees.
- Pet waste removal: Addressing pet waste involves meticulous cleaning to ensure a hygienic and odor-free environment. While a crucial task, it may incur additional costs due to the extra care and attention required.
- Bagging yard waste: Bagging yard waste for disposal or recycling adds a labor component to the clean-up process, impacting costs based on the quantity and weight of the collected waste.
- Specialized clean-up: Tasks like removing invasive plants, treating pest-infested areas, or addressing specific lawn issues fall under specialized cleanup. The need for expertise and targeted treatments can impact costs based on the complexity of the task.
Debris removal
Clearing larger debris, like fallen branches or dead plants, may involve additional costs, especially if disposal services are required. The type, volume and weight of debris impact overall cleanup expenses.
FAQ
Follow these tips to avoid an expensive yard clean-up:
• Mow regularly
• Dethatch when necessary
• Aerate once a year
• Mulch leaves with a mulching mower instead of paying someone to rake, bag, and haul them away
• Use grass clippings as mulch instead of bagging them
• Apply herbicides to help control weeds
• Control pests when they first appear
• Hire a lawn care pro to regularly maintain your lawn
Low-maintenance lawn alternatives are the best option for homeowners who have a large yard but don’t have much time to take care of it. For example, you can install paving stones, a stamped concrete patio, or artificial turf. You can also opt for xeriscaping or laying down wood chips or bark in large areas.
For a faster clean-up, you can:
• Mulch leaves and grass clippings
• Sharpen your tools for mowing grass and trimming shrubs and trees
• Divide your tasks into separate days
• Divide your yard into sections and work on them separately
But really, the fastest and easiest way to clean up your yard is to hire someone else to do it for you.
Neater is Sweeter
The cost of yard cleanup will depend on how much work your yard needs and what types of services you need. Yard clean-up can include trimming bushes, removing leaves, weed control, and many other tasks. Save money, time, and energy — find a pro near you to handle this arduous assignment.
Lawn Love senior writer Maria Isabela Reis updated this pricing guide.
Main Image: Two people cleaning up a yeard. Image Credit: U.S. Army Corps of Engine / Flickr / Public Domain
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