Lawn dethatching typically costs between $65 and $165. While it’s not a service you’ll need frequently, it can play a major role in restoring a struggling lawn.
Thatch is a layer of dead grass, leaves, and twigs between the grass and the soil’s surface. While some thatch can be beneficial, too much smothers the soil from getting the nutrients it needs. Dethatching removes much or all of that layer, allowing your roots to access the water and nutrients the grass needs to thrive.
This guide gathers data from big and small cities in the U.S., so you can get a better idea of how much this lawn care task will cost in your area.
Cost by Location
Lawn dethatching costs can vary depending on where you live. Metro areas tend to have higher prices due to an overall higher cost of living. In contrast, smaller towns or rural areas may offer lower rates, though availability might be more limited.
Check the table below for a snapshot of the average costs of lawn dethatching across the U.S.:
| City | Average Cost Range (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Pawtucket, RI | $68 – $171 |
| New York, NY | $70 – $200 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Dothan, AL | $58 – $133 |
| Orlando, FL | $66 – $156 |
| Atlanta, GA | $65 – $155 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $68 – $177 |
| Chicago, IL | $71 – $186 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Salem, OR | $63 – $157 |
| Seattle, WA | $65 – $169 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Houston, TX | $61 – $145 |
| Roswell, NM | $64 – $153 |
| San Diego, CA | $71 – $184 |
Cost per Hour
Hiring a professional for lawn dethatching typically costs $50 to $85 per hour. A 5,000-square-foot lawn can be dethatched in 1 to 3 hours, depending on the thickness of the thatch and the type of equipment used.
If multiple professionals are working on your lawn at the same time, hourly rates may double or even triple, since you’re paying for each worker’s time. However, the job will likely be completed much faster.
Cost by Lawn Size
The size of your lawn can impact the price of this lawn care service. So, the bigger your yard, the more hours it’s going to take a pro to do the job.
However, pros won’t usually charge by the square foot; they’ll charge by the hour. However, if you have a small yard and they do, you can expect the average cost to be between $0.08 and $0.16 per square foot.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
The price of dethatching DIY can vary significantly depending on the equipment you use. When choosing dethatching equipment, there are a few options:
- Thatch rakes are similar to standard lawn rakes. Thatch rakes have steel tines that cut through the thatch, pull it up, and cultivate the soil. This option is the most cost-effective, around $44, but is more time-consuming.
- Dethatching machines look similar to lawnmowers but have rotating tines that quickly slash through thick layers of thatch. They cost around $140.
- Dethatching tow-behinds attach to riding lawn mowers so you can dethatch your lawn as you mow. This method is ideal for large lawns or lawns with bumpy terrain. These attachments cost around $160.
You’ll need a standard mower if you’re not using a tow-behind. You’ll also need a leaf rake, a wheelbarrow, and lawn waste bags to collect and clean up the debris.
Even though buying equipment is a one-time cost, a pro will ensure that your lawn is dethatched correctly, and you’ll only need to do it once a year.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
Other aspects of your lawn can impact the cost of a dethatching service. Each project will have unique challenges related to the topography, amount of thatch, and weather conditions at the time of service.
Thatch Thickness
How thick your lawn’s thatch layer is will affect how long it takes to dethatch your lawn. While a little bit of thatch is suitable for a healthy lawn, it’s best not to let it build up too much between services.
Usually, you don’t want more than 1/2 inch of thatch in the grass. This ensures your dethatching service cost stays low and your lawn stays healthy. If your lawn produces a lot of thatch, dethatching annually may be best.
Weather and Season
Weather conditions affect both the price and quality of your service. While it’s wise to dethatch your lawn while the soil is moist, it’s generally not recommended to dethatch during rainy seasons.
Dethatching your property after a rainstorm, during winter, or on the hottest summer day can complicate the process, increase costs, and make it harder for your lawn to recover.
The best time to dethatch depends on where you live and the type of grass you have, but it is generally during your lawn’s peak growing season:
- The best time of year to dethatch for cool-season grasses is late summer to early fall.
- For areas with warm-season grasses, late spring to early summer is best.
Dethatching done during the right season for your grass type and in good weather ensures a healthy recovery.
Topography of the Property
The topography of your lawn can affect the cost of dethatching. Uneven or steep lawns may take longer and be more challenging to dethatch. Obstacles such as trees, walkways, or landscaping can be difficult to work around, meaning labor costs will be higher.
Flat, healthy lawns with fewer obstacles will take less time to dethatch, meaning labor will cost less.
FAQ
When the thatch layer gets thicker than 1/2 inch, it’s time to dethatch your lawn. Thatch builds up slowly over time, so it’s not a service that needs to be done frequently – only about once every two or three years. However, lawns prone to producing a lot of thatch may require annual services.
Both are important, and they aren’t interchangeable. While dethatching removes the thick layer of thatch from the top of the soil, aeration punctures the soil. These services can be done independently or together if your lawn requires significant rejuvenation. Still, if you’re going to aerate, you should dethatch first.
For more information, read our articles:
• Aeration vs Dethatching: What’s the Difference?
• Can You Dethatch and Aerate at the Same Time?
Your lawn will need time to recover. That’s why it’s best to dethatch only during your lawn’s peak season while it’s actively growing and can recover quickly.
Say Goodbye to Thatch
If your lawn looks dry, thin, and brown, or you can see excessive thatch buildup, it may be time to dethatch your lawn. Dethatching allows your lawn to get the nutrients it needs and return to its best.
You can purchase a thatch rake, dethatching machine, or tow-behind dethatcher from your local home improvement store and refresh your lawn with just a little bit of elbow grease. But if you’d prefer to relax and leave the lawn care to the experts, get a quote from a lawn dethatching service near you today.
Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
Read more about the costs of other lawn care services next:
– Lawn Mowing Cost Guide
– Lawn Aeration Cost Guide
– Seeding Cost Guide
– Hydroseeding Cost Guide
– Yard Cleanup Cost Guide
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Photo by: Agri-Fab, Inc. / Wikimedia Commons / CC0
