If you want that picture-perfect, healthy, green lawn, expect to spend time, energy, and money keeping weeds out of it. The average cost for weed control is $50 to $210.
The costs vary based on factors such as acreage, method, frequency, and location. You may pay as little as $40 for an application of non-selective herbicides in a small yard and as high as $920 to treat an acre.
We’ve gathered data from small and big cities across the U.S., so you can get a better estimate for your lawn care budget.
Cost by Location
Prices for weed control may vary from location to location depending on the cost of living. Rural areas with larger yards and room for more plants will likely pay more than someone in the city suburbs with a small plot of soil to work with.
Check the table below for a snapshot of the costs of weed control for a 1/4-acre yard across the country:
| City | Average Cost Range (Including Labor and Materials) |
| Northeast U.S. | |
| Pawtucket, RI | $53 – $208 |
| New York, NY | $75 – $287 |
| Southeast U.S. | |
| Dothan, AL | $39 – $168 |
| Orlando, FL | $44 – $176 |
| Atlanta, GA | $44 – $178 |
| Midwest U.S. | |
| South Bend, IN | $50 – $220 |
| Chicago, IL | $55 – $248 |
| Northwest U.S. | |
| Salem, OR | $48 – $198 |
| Seattle, WA | $59 – $258 |
| Southwest U.S. | |
| Houston, TX | $42 – $174 |
| Roswell, NM | $43 – $178 |
| San Diego, CA | $53 – $228 |
Cost Estimator By Lawn Size
For yards between 1/8 acre and 1 acre, expect to pay between $40 and $920. Take a look at the table below:
| Lawn Size | Average Cost |
| 1/8 acre | $40 – $115 |
| 1/6 acre | $47 – $152 |
| 1/5 acre | $52 – $185 |
| 1/4 acre | $60 – $230 |
| 1/2 acre | $95 – $460 |
| 1 acre | $142 – $920 |
Cost by Weed Control Method
The type of weed removal method you choose will affect the total cost of the treatment. The most common methods are hand-pulling weeds and herbicides:
| Weed Control Method | Average Cost |
| Manual pulling | $35 – $140 (per hour) |
| Spraying weeds | $40 – $200 (per application) |
Manual Weed Pulling
Pulling weeds by hand is something pros typically reserve for garden and landscape beds, where herbicides might injure other plants. Hand weeding an entire yard isn’t cost-effective.
Costs may vary depending on how much labor is required, but pros usually charge between $35 and $140 per hour. Pros can use various tools to complete the job, such as trimmers, tillers, and weed pullers.
Spraying Weeds
One of the easiest ways to get rid of (or prevent) weeds is by spraying them with herbicides. This common weed control method often involves less work than hand-pulling. Costs vary depending on the type of herbicide used, but they can vary from $40 to $200 per application.
Here are the most common types of herbicides and their typical costs:
| Type of Herbicide | Average Cost Per Application |
| Weed and feed | $60 – $185 |
| Pre-emergent herbicide | $60 – $150 |
| Post-emergent herbicide | $75 – $170 |
| Selective weed killer | $75 – $200 |
| Non-selective weed killer | $40 – $165 |
- Weed and feed is a type of product that combines a traditional herbicide with a fertilizer that is then used on lawns to get rid of weeds.
- Pre-emergent herbicides are used prior to the growth of weeds in a yard. By applying pre-emergents before the start of the growing season, you can effectively prevent the growth of any new weeds above the surface.
- Post-emergent herbicides are used for weeds that have already sprouted during the growing season. If you’re trying to get rid of the existing weeds in your yard, post-emergents are most likely what you’ll be looking at.
- Selective herbicides target specific types of weeds. Even if they target many weeds, they won’t kill every type of weed (or your lawn).
- Non-selective herbicides will kill all plants. These herbicides are made with synthetic chemicals like glyphosate or natural ingredients that injure all plants, including grass.
Cost of Labor
Some pros charge between $35 and $105 per hour instead of a flat, per-application price. Prices might be higher if the service is for manual weeding. Moreover, if you have a lot of weeds and/or a large lawn, then you can expect the pro to work on your lawn for a longer time.
Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost
You can pull weeds by hand to save money but this can be strenuous and time-consuming. You’ll need only gardening gloves, a kneeling pad, and the occasional weeder tool, which will all cost you around $58.
If you’d prefer to jump straight to weed killers, costs change based on the size of your lawn and the brand you choose. On average, one gallon of herbicide costs from $8 to $45.
If you want to go the DIY route, see our recommendations for the best weed killers overall and the best weed killers for flower beds specifically to help you choose the right product to use.
Other Factors That Affect Cost
There are other factors that can affect how much a weed control service may charge you. These additional cost factors include the following:
Pet and Eco-Friendly Options
When considering weed removal, pet-friendly and environmentally-friendly organic weed control should be considered. Organic weed control services cost an average of $85 per treatment or $20 to $45 per gallon.
Type of Weed
Weeds can be classified by life cycle or their appearance. How they’re controlled and how easy they are to get rid of can vary based on their classification:
- Annual weeds grow, spread, and die within one year. They are easier to control than perennial weeds.
- Perennial weeds last for years and will survive if their roots stay intact. They are harder to control and will likely need to be sprayed with weed killer.
- Broadleaf weeds have wide leaves, which makes them easier to identify. Some difficult-to-kill weeds are broadleaf weeds.
- Grassy weeds look like turf because they are grasses. It might be more difficult for you to spot them. A common grassy weed is crabgrass.
- Sedges look like grass but are very difficult to kill.
Landscape Fabric
When used correctly, landscape fabric can help to limit weed growth by acting as a physical barrier. It prevents weeds in the soil from getting sunlight, thus reducing the need for post-emergent weed control.
- Woven landscape fabric is usually made from linen fibers or polypropylene woven together and is the most common. A 3-foot-by-50-foot roll is about $15. On the large end, a 6-foot-by-250-foot roll costs about $290. This type of fabric costs an average of $0.05 to $0.25 per square foot.
- Non-woven fabrics are mostly made from polypropylene or polyester. These are best used for rock, gravel paths, or beds. The cost for a 6-foot-by-12-foot roll comes to around $10. The price for a 6-foot-by-300-foot roll is about $170. This type of fabric costs an average of $0.05 to $0.85 per square foot.
- Spun landscape fabrics are a type of non-woven fabric that layers bonded polyester. On the small side, a 3-foot-by-40-foot will cost about $20. More robust rolls around 6 feet to 300 feet can go as high as $170 or more. This type of fabric costs an average of $0.05 to $0.20 per square foot.
- Perforated landscape fabrics are usually the cheapest and the lightest fabrics. They have pre-cut holes in them designed for your plants. These can be purchased in smaller sizes, such as 4-foot-by-8-foot sheets, for around $8. Expect to pay $35 or more for a 4-foot-by-25-foot roll or larger.
Frequency
Lawn care companies sometimes offer package services for weed control and general lawn care. While they can be more expensive than a singular treatment, you save money by keeping weed growth to a minimum. More intense weed infestations cost a pretty penny, especially on a larger lawn.
These package services are usually bi-weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Weed Abatement
Weed abatement is the process of removing all weeds from a property. This is ordered by a court upon a property that has overgrown (and usually noxious) weeds violating state, county, or city regulations. These regulations are put in place to prevent weeds from becoming fire, health, and public safety concerns.
Pros who offer weed abatement services will charge between $70 and $120 for these services .
FAQ
The cheapest way to get rid of weeds is to simply grab and pull. Hand-pulling weeds from your yard, garden, or flower beds costs next to nothing. The only thing you’ll spend is time. A weed-puller tool is great for getting the deep-rooted weeds.
Systemic herbicides are the best option to kill the entire weed down to the root. Plants absorb these herbicides down to the root so that there is no chance of future germination. Systemic herbicides are especially useful on weeds such as dandelions, whose taproots can reach 10 inches into the soil.
Herbicides are the most effective way to kill weeds. For weeds that are already poking through the soil in your garden, post-emergent systemic herbicides are the most effective. Whether you’re using herbicides or hand-pulling, the key is to get the roots of the weed so that it doesn’t appear next season.
Take it a step further by using pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds before the growing season begins.
Hire a Weed Control Pro for a Healthy Lawn
Weeds continue to be a nuisance for anyone interested in lawn care. Whether you’re a master gardener or just trying to keep a neat yard, weeds can be a headache to deal with year after year. Get back to a beautiful lawn and contact a local lawn care professional for price estimates on weed control services.
Maria Isabela Reis contributed to this article.
Read More:
– Lawn Care Cost Guide
– Lawn Mowing Cost Guide
– Dethatching Cost Guide
– Aeration Cost Guide
Main Image Credit: Надежда Урюпина / Adobe Stock / License
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