A leaf-covered yard not only looks messy, all those leaves smother your grass. Want them gone? Leaf removal typically costs around $166, but prices can vary depending on the size of your yard and the type of removal.
You may pay as little as $15 per hour for leaf blowing or as much as $925 to clean a 1-acre yard, but many factors influence the overall cost.
This guide draws on LawnStarter data from the past year across the U.S., so you can get a clearer idea of how much leaf removal will cost in your yard.
Cost by Location
Costs for leaf removal can vary by location. If you’re in a rural area, you can expect to pay less for labor than someone in a metropolitan area because there is a higher demand for workers and a higher cost of living. However, bigger yard sizes in rural areas may increase overall costs.
The table below offers a snapshot of the costs of leaf removal in various cities across the country, based on LawnStarter data from May 2025 to May 2026:
Cost by Yard Size
The average cost for leaf removal is $160 to $290 for a standard 1/4-acre yard.
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 | $160 – $290 |
| 1/2 acre | $230 – $475 |
| 3/4 acre | $305 – $710 |
| 1 acre | $410 – $925 |
Cost by Type of Leaf Removal
Three different types of leaf removal 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 Leaf Removal | Average Cost Per Hour |
| Leaf Raking | $25 – $50 |
| Leaf Blowing | $15 – $45 |
| Leaf Vacuum | $37 – $60 |
Leaf Raking
With leaf raking, you or a pro collects 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 $25 to $50 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 between $80 and $420, or you can hire a professional leaf-blowing service for between $15 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
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, 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 |
| Biweekly Contract (Every 2 Weeks) | $1,000 – $1,500 |
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 a leaf removal pro 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.
For more information, read our guides:
- 16 Tips for Cleaning Up Leaves in Your Yard
- How to Clean Up Wet Leaves in Your Yard
- Best Tools to Use to Collect Autumn Leaves
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
One of the most important factors 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.
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, keep your gutters free of clogs from debris and leaves.
Gutter cleaning costs an average of $1 to $1.30 per linear foot. You can also invest in leaf guards, which reduce the need to clean gutters. Leaf guards typically cost between $684 and $2,213, and they work like a cover that prevents leaves and other debris from clogging up your rain gutters.
Ways to Save on Leaf Cleanup
Leaves can pile up fast, but your costs don’t have to. Here are some tips you can follow if you want to stay on budget:
- Mulch in place: Ask for mower-mulching instead of haul-away. Shredded leaves feed the soil and skip disposal fees.
- Compost on-site: Add the leaves that were removed to your compost pile to keep the disposal fees off the ticket.
- Book a yearly contract: Yearly contracts usually cost less per visit than booking a single service.
- Bundle services: Pair leaf cleanup with a final mow, gutter cleaning, or landscaping edging for a discounted price.
- Be flexible with timing: “We’re already in your area” slots are usually cheaper than peak-day requests.
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.
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. Contact 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
- What to Expect When You Hire a Leaf Removal Service
Main Image: Pile of fall leaves with rake on lawn. Image Credit: Sasha / Adobe Stock
