Homeowners with an average-sized yard typically spend between $78 and $238 to aerate their lawn, or about $144 on average. The primary cost factors are yard size, aeration type, and geographic location. Homeowners with huge yards may pay up to $636 for aeration, and those with tiny yards could pay as little as $42.
Proper aeration is essential to maintaining a lush and healthy lawn. Aeration creates tiny holes in the soil, allowing more oxygen and nutrients to reach the grass’s roots. Lawns with heavy traffic or heavy soil benefit the most from aeration.
Average Lawn Aeration Costs in 2024
| National Average Cost | $144 |
| Typical Price Range | $78 – $238 |
| Extreme Low-End Cost | $42 |
| Extreme High-End Cost | $636 |
The cost of lawn aeration depends on the size of your lawn, labor costs, and the type of aeration used. The typical yard size is 5,000 to 20,000 square feet, and most homeowners pay just over $0.01 per square foot for aeration.
Lawn Aeration Cost Estimator by Yard Size
Since the average lawn is about 10,000 square feet, the average cost of aeration comes out to a little over $0.01 per square foot to aerate the lawn. Homeowners with yards over an acre typically spend about $518 per acre for aeration.
Please see typical pricing by yard size in the table below.
| Yard Size | Typical Overall Cost of Aeration |
| ⅛ acre | 88 |
| ¼ acre | 149 |
| ½ acre | 292 |
| 1 acre | 518 |
However, most landscapers don’t price lawn aeration services by the square foot. Instead, they have pricing tiers (based on yard size ranges) or charge by the acre.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Other than the size of your yard, here’s what else you should take into consideration for an accurate lawn aeration price estimate:
Aeration Type
Please see the average pricing by aeration type below.
| Aeration Type | Average Cost |
| Liquid aeration | $88 |
| Spike aeration | $100 |
| Core aeration | $188 |
There are three main types of lawn aeration:
- Liquid aeration is the least expensive type and is also the easiest to implement. Unfortunately, it is also the least effective aeration process. Studies show there is no liquid solution as effective as physical aeration methods (i.e., spike or core aeration). Average cost: $88
- Spike aeration uses solid tines to penetrate the soil and push away thatch. It works best on sandy soil. Average cost: $100
- Core aeration is the crème de la crème of aeration methods and is also the most expensive. A core aerator uses hollow tines to penetrate the soil and then remove the soil cores. This method is recommended for loam or clay soil and is also best for compacted soil. Average cost: $188
Slope of the Yard
It is difficult to maneuver an aeration machine over sloped land, so expect to pay more if your yard has slopes. Of course, the steeper the slopes, the higher the price tag.
Preparation Work
Your yard should be clean and mowed before the lawn care company begins aerating. If your lawn isn’t prepared, expect to pay extra for these additional services:
- Mowing: It’s crucial to mow your lawn to the recommended height before aeration. So, ask your landscaping company how much they charge for this lawn service.
- Yard cleanup: After mowing, you also must rid your lawn of debris, dead grass, fallen leaves, and other clutter. Yard cleanup prices vary depending on the square footage of your yard, the amount of debris, and the type of clutter.
- Dethatching: For the best results, you should always dethatch your lawn before aerating. Thatch is a layer of debris that settles between the turf and soil, and dethatching is the process of removing the thatch layer.
Lawn Care Packages
Instead of purchasing each lawn care service separately, many homeowners purchase lawn care packages. Packages include yearly contracts and seasonal packages (e.g., spring and fall cleanups). Buying multiple services together is a great way to pay a flat rate and save money.
Services commonly bundled with lawn aeration include mowing, dethatching, and overseeding.
Related Services
The following services also will help you maintain a lush, healthy lawn:
Lawn Fertilization
All living things need to eat, and the grass is no exception. Lawn fertilizer gives your grass the nutrients it needs to grow and thrive. The typical cost of lawn fertilization will depend on several elements, with the size of the lawn and the fertilizer type being the main cost factors.
However, you can learn how to fertilize your lawn and save money by doing it yourself. Remember to choose the right fertilizer type and fertilize at the right time.
Mowing
Regular and proper mowing not only maintains an attractive and manicured appearance but also helps promote the health and resilience of the grass. By trimming the grass at the correct height, mowing encourages lateral growth, resulting in a denser and healthier turf.
Additionally, consistent mowing helps prevent thatch buildup, minimizes weed infestation, and ensures an even distribution of nutrients and sunlight. If you choose to mow your lawn yourself, you will need to purchase a lawn mower.
Dethatching
Regular dethatching helps maintain a healthy and lush lawn by addressing the accumulation of thatch — a layer of dead grass, roots, and debris that can hinder optimal grass growth. Removing thatch is essential as it prevents the matting down of organic material, allowing sunlight, air, and water to penetrate the soil and reach the grassroots.
While there’s an added cost, this process can help reduce the risk of disease and pests, promote better nutrient absorption, and ensure your lawn remains resilient and vibrant throughout the seasons.
Sprinkler Installation
Not only does grass need to eat, but it also needs to drink. Therefore, watering your lawn at the right time and frequency is vital to its health. Installing a sprinkler system with a timer is an easy and effective way to keep your lawn hydrated. Most sprinkler systems cost over $1,000 on average.
General Lawn Care
General lawn care services include routine maintenance your yard needs. Please see common lawn care prices for services including:
- Bush trimming
- Leaf removal
- Weed control
Hiring a lawn care pro for regular maintenance is a great way to ensure your lawn gets the care it needs. In addition, lawn care providers can often diagnose and treat problems quickly so they don’t turn into eyesores or costly repairs.
However, some homeowners prefer to do it themselves. Note that most tasks require equipment such as the following:
- Leaf blower: It’s a versatile tool for clearing fallen leaves, debris, and grass clippings from your lawn. Its efficiency in swift cleanup not only preserves the aesthetic charm of your outdoor space but also helps prevent issues like smothering grass or creating a habitat for pests.
- Hedge trimmer: By facilitating precise trimming, hedge trimmers not only contribute to a well-manicured appearance but also promote the overall health of plants by encouraging controlled growth and preventing overgrowth-related issues.
Overseeding
One of the quickest methods of overseeding a lawn is hydroseeding. It uses a mixture called slurry instead of traditional seeds. The slurry contains seeds, mulch, fertilizer, water, and soil amendments, and it works faster than conventional grass seeds.
This technique fosters uniform seed distribution, promotes faster germination, and provides an effective erosion control solution. For a detailed guide on the costs associated with hydroseeding and insights into transforming your landscape, check out our comprehensive pricing guide on hydroseeding.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
For DIY lawn aeration, you will need a lawn aerator, physical strength, and the know-how to aerate a lawn. Please see the equipment rental prices below.
| Equipment | Rental Cost / Day |
| Spike aerator | $54 |
| Core aerator | $98 |
While renting an aerator can be less than $100 per day, homeowners with small yards may pay more for equipment rental than a professional would charge — especially since there’s an additional deposit of around $150.
The same can be said for homeowners with larger lawns, as it may take multiple days to complete the project. At best, you’ll probably save a few dollars by renting an aerator and doing it yourself.
| Typical DIY Cost | $52 – $220 |
| Typical Professional Cost | $78 – $238 |
Aeration is very physically demanding, especially on sloped land. And after all your hard work, you still won’t attain professional results.
Affordable DIY aeration: If you can’t afford to hire a professional lawn care company or rent aeration equipment, there are some very affordable ways to do spike aeration. You can use any handy equipment with spikes (e.g., pitchfork or rake) to poke holes in the soil. A pitchfork isn’t as effective as professional equipment, but it is usually better than not aerating at all.
Cost of Lawn Aeration by Location
Your geographic location also impacts the total cost of aerating your lawn for the following reasons:
- Soil type varies by location and affects the type of aeration you can use on your lawn. Areas with sandy soil, like Deerfield Beach, FL, usually do fine with spike aeration, which costs significantly less than the core aeration used on loam or clay soil.
- Labor costs also vary depending on your geographic location. Homeowners in urban areas with a high cost of living should expect to pay more for aeration.
- Average yard size varies from state to state. Larger yards are more expensive to aerate, but the per-square-foot cost is often lower in areas with atypically large yards.
FAQ
How Many Times a Year Should I Aerate My Lawn?
The number of times you should aerate your lawn depends on the soil type and foot traffic:
- High-traffic, clay soil lawns typically need aeration twice a year.
- Medium-traffic, loamy soil lawns usually need aeration once a year.
- Low-traffic, sandy soil can be aerated every two to three years.
What Month is it Best to Aerate Your Lawn?
The best months for aerating lawns are during the grass’s peak growing season so it can quickly recover and flourish. For cool-season grass, the peak growing season is early fall and early spring, while warm-season grass grows best in late spring and early summer.
Can I Walk On the Lawn After Aeration?
Your lawn needs a few weeks to recover after aeration. So, refrain from walking on the lawn right after aeration because you may:
- Cause soil compaction
- Leave indentations where soil cores were removed
- Accidentally plant weeds in the holes
Many homeowners get seeding and fertilization at the same time as aeration, and walking on the lawn can damage seeds and remove nutrients from the soil.
Final Thoughts
If you want a lush and beautiful lawn, it is essential to keep up with lawn maintenance. The best yards on the block are aerated, fertilized, and regularly mowed. However, the best way to get a jaw-dropping lawn is to contact an experienced lawn care pro to do these services for you.
Main Photo by: allispossible.org.uk / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
