A leaf-covered yard not only looks messy, all those leaves smother grass. Want them gone? A lawn care company typically charges between $107 and $435, depending upon the size of your yard and the volume of leaves.
You may be able to pay as little as $18 per hour for leaf raking or as much as $850 to clean a 1-acre yard, but a lot of factors influence the overall cost.
This guide has gathered information from big and small cities in the U.S., so you can get a better estimate of how much cleaning the leaves in your yard will cost you.
Cost by Location
Costs for leaf removal can vary by location. If you’re in a rural area, you can expect to pay less than someone in a metropolitan area because there is a higher demand for workers and a higher cost of living.
For example, if you need leaf removal in a city like New York, Chicago, or San Diego, you’ll likely pay more per hour than you would in the suburbs.
The table below offers a snapshot of the costs of leaf removal in various cities across the country:
| City | Average Cost (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Pawtucket, RI | $109 – $426 |
| New York, NY | $141 – $637 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Orlando, FL | $86 – $369 |
| Dothan, AL | $87 – $333 |
| Atlanta, GA | $98 – $389 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $121 – $485 |
| Chicago, IL | $125 – $520 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Salem, OR | $107 – $443 |
| Seattle, WA | $113 – $448 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Houston, TX | $93 – $364 |
| Roswell, NM | $92 – $361 |
| San Diego, CA | $111 – $444 |
Cost by Yard Size
The average cost for leaf removal is $400 to $800 per acre.
These prices also vary depending on the number of trees on the property. Still, a large yard usually means more trees and, thus, more leaves to be removed, whereas a smaller yard will usually have fewer trees.
The prices below can help you make an estimate based on your property size.
| Project Size | Average Overall Cost |
| 1/6 acre | $115 – $185 |
| 1/5 acre | $140 – $215 |
| 1/4 acre | $150 – $250 |
| 1/2 acre | $210 – $465 |
| 3/4 acre | $290 – $700 |
| 1 acre | $400 – $850 |
Cost Type of Cleaning
Three different types of leaf clean-up methods can help you clean your yard, and each has its own cost.
Keep in mind that most professionals charge a minimum fee of $80 for a leaf removal service, regardless of how many hours they spend on the job.
| Type of Cleaning | Average Cost Per Hour |
| Leaf Raking | $18 – $47 |
| Leaf Blowing | $24 – $45 |
| Leaf Vacuum | $37 – $60 |
Leaf Raking
Leaf raking is the standard process of collecting leaves into piles for pickup and disposal with a rake. Leaf raking has many benefits: it makes the yard look neat and tidy, doesn’t hurt your lawn, and prevents pests from making your yard their home.
However, it can be exhausting, and leaf raking service costs range from $18 to $47 per hour. In addition, if you’re planning on bagging and disposing of the leaves, you might be charged additionally for that (between $5 and $10 per bag).
Leaf Blowing
Leaf blowing is one of the best decisions you can make to keep your lawn healthy without too much work. A leaf blower costs an average of $275, or you can hire a professional leaf-blowing service for between $24 and $45 per hour. In addition, you may also need to pay between $5 and $10 per bag to dispose of the leaves.
Leaf Vacuum
Leaf vacuuming can make your life easier by removing all of the leaves in a short amount of time. A leaf vacuum will automatically suck the leaves into a bag, which can be emptied when full, so you won’t have to rake the leaves afterward.
Professional leaf vacuuming will have an hourly rate of $37 to $60, plus $5 to $10 per bag of leaves to dispose of. However, there is an option to mulch the leaves with a mulching vacuum that shreds the leaves into small pieces. This is an excellent way to eliminate the disposal fees and to reuse the leaf waste as mulch.
Cost by Frequency
The cost of a contract with a lawn care professional for leaf removal will depend on the frequency with which you need the service. For instance, you’ll pay less per visit if you have a bi-weekly contract, but it will cost you more per year.
Many lawn care companies offer seasonal contracts for fall leaf cleanup, which will give you a lower per-visit cost than if you were to hire a pro for a one-off job.
| Frequency | Average Costs Per Year |
| Annual Contract | $150 – $500 |
| One-time Visit | $200 – $850 |
| Quarterly Contract | $250 – $750 |
| Monthly Contract | $300 – $900 |
| Bi-weekly Contract | $1,000 – $1,500 |
| Seasonal Contract | Fall: $175 – $450 Spring: $115 – $300 |
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
You can remove leaves yourself if you’ve got the energy and motivation. It’s not a difficult task, but it’s important to note that this can be physically demanding work. So, if you’re not up for a workout, we recommend hiring someone else to do it for you.
You can remove leaves using a rake, which costs around $25, or a leaf blower or a leaf vacuum, which cost around $150. The chances of straining your back while using a blower and a vacuum are lower than with a rake.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
When you hire a company to rake your leaves, a few other factors contribute to the overall price:
Tree Density
Of all the factors that affect lawn care costs, one of the most important ones is the number of trees on your property. Leaf removal costs typically increase significantly as the number of trees on your property increases.
That is primarily because more trees mean more leaves to be removed and, as such, more time and labor. Consider how many trees there are in your yard when estimating the costs for leaf removal.
Leaf Removal From Gutters
Leaves are a natural part of the fall season, but they can cause severe damage to your home if allowed to build up in your gutters. If you want to keep your house safe from water damage, it’s essential to keep your gutters free of clogs from debris and leaves.
Gutter cleaning costs an average of $1 to $1.30 per linear foot. These costs will add to your leaf removal expenses.
You can also invest in leaf guards, which reduce the need to clean gutters. Leaf guards typically cost $1,448, or between $684 and $2,213, and they work like a cover that prevents leaves and other debris from clogging up your rain gutters.
FAQ
A leaf vacuum with a shredder inside makes short work of your leaf problem. Shredding the leaves lets you use them as mulch.
You can also use a mulching mower to mow over the leaves until they are shredded to about 1/2 inch in size and use the leaves to add nutrients back into the soil.
If you don’t clean up leaves, you are throwing away all the hard work you’ve put into your lawn. A thick layer of leaves can prevent the lawn from absorbing nutrients and sunlight, and those leaves can be a good place for pests such as spiders and armyworms to hide.
In addition, if you let too much moisture build up under the leaves, you could end up with mold or mildew. All of these factors will have an impact on how well your yard looks and smells.
When to Hire a Pro
Leaf removal can be quite a task during the fall, but luckily, you don’t have to tackle that problem alone.
If you need a professional and are looking for the best way to get the job done, it’s not hard to find quality and affordable lawn care in your area. Call a local leaf removal service to ensure a healthy and appealing lawn.
Read More:
– Lawn Care Cost Guide
– Mowing Cost Guide
– Aeration Cost Guide
– Dethatching Cost Guide
Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.
Main Image Credit: David Goehring / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
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