What leaf removal costs in 2026
| Property size | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 5,000 sq ft | $150 – $350 |
| ¼ acre | $200 – $400 |
| ½ acre | $300 – $500 |
| ¾ acre | $350 – $700 |
| 1 acre | $450 – $1,000 |
Gutter cleaning is a natural add-on at $100 to $250.
Sell a fall package
Leaves keep falling for weeks. Offer two or three scheduled cleanups at a package price instead of one big job, which also keeps your crew busy all season.
Leaf removal cost per hour
Many companies quote a flat price after seeing the yard, but some charge by the hour. Hourly rates depend on the method:
| Method | Cost per hour |
|---|---|
| Leaf blowing | $15 – $45 |
| Raking | $25 – $50 |
| Leaf vacuuming | $37 – $60 |
For a whole job, blowing usually runs $150 to $600, raking $150 to $450 and vacuuming $200 to $700. Expect a minimum charge of about $80, and $5 to $10 per bag if the leaves are bagged and hauled away. Mulching the leaves into the lawn avoids the bag fee. The typical single visit costs about $170, and a standard quarter-acre yard runs about $160 to $400.
One visit or a fall package?
A single cleanup at the end of the season costs more because the leaves are deeper, wetter and heavier. In areas with lots of trees, two or three scheduled visits through the fall often cost little more in total and keep the lawn from being smothered.
| Plan | Typical cost per year |
|---|---|
| One-time visit | $200 – $850 |
| Annual contract (1 visit) | $150 – $500 |
| Several visits through fall | $250 – $900 |
| Every 2 weeks in season | $1,000 – $1,500 |
What changes the price
- Trees. Mature oaks and maples drop far more leaves than a yard with a couple of small trees. Pine needles take a different technique.
- Wet or matted leaves are heavier and slower to move.
- Disposal. Bagging and hauling costs more than blowing leaves to the curb for city pickup or mulching them.
- Beds, fences and slopes that have to be cleared by hand.
When to schedule leaf cleanup
The best time is late fall, after most leaves have dropped but before the first snow. Leaves left over winter smother the grass and invite mold and pests. Many homeowners book one visit in early November and a final one after the last trees drop. It's also the right time to clear the gutters: see how often gutters should be cleaned.
DIY or hire someone?
A rake costs about $25 and a leaf blower or vacuum about $80 to $420. A small, lightly treed yard is easy to do yourself in an afternoon. Hiring makes sense for large lots, heavy tree cover, or when you don't want to bag and haul the leaves.
Fall cleanup cost
A fall cleanup usually covers more than leaves: clearing leaves from the lawn and beds, cutting back spent plants, a final mow and often the gutters. Leaf removal alone is about $200 to $400 for a quarter acre. Adding gutter cleaning on the same visit is typically $100 to $250, so a combined fall cleanup for a quarter-acre lot often lands around $300 to $650.
Leaf removal cost per square foot and per acre
Per acre, leaf removal usually runs about $450 to $1,000. Spread over the yard, that works out to roughly 1 to 7 cents per square foot. Bigger yards cost less per foot because setup and travel are spread over more ground.
| Yard size | Typical cost | About per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 sq ft | $150 – $350 | $0.03 – $0.07 |
| ¼ acre (10,890 sq ft) | $200 – $400 | $0.02 – $0.04 |
| ½ acre (21,780 sq ft) | $300 – $500 | $0.014 – $0.023 |
| 1 acre (43,560 sq ft) | $450 – $1,000 | $0.01 – $0.023 |
Why is leaf removal so expensive?
- It's labor. Most of the price is crew time: blowing, raking and moving piles by hand around beds and fences.
- Disposal. Bagging and hauling adds $5 to $10 per bag, and some areas charge dump fees for yard waste.
- Wet, heavy leaves. Leaves left until late in the season are matted and slow to move.
- Peak demand. Everyone wants a cleanup in the same few weeks, so crews are fully booked.
How to get rid of leaves for free
- Mulch-mow them into the lawn with a mower. Thin layers feed the grass and there's nothing to bag.
- Use your city's leaf pickup. Many towns collect loose leaves at the curb or bagged yard waste in the fall.
- Compost them, or spread shredded leaves on garden beds as mulch.
Frequently asked questions
How much does leaf removal cost?
Leaf removal usually costs $150 to $350 for a small city lot, $200 to $400 for a quarter acre, $300 to $500 for half an acre and $450 to $1,000 for a full acre. Adding gutter cleaning on the same visit is typically $100 to $250.
How much should I charge for leaf removal?
$150 to $400 for most suburban lots, rising to $450 to $1,000 for an acre.
Should I charge more for wet leaves?
Yes. Wet, matted leaves are heavier and slower to move. Use the surcharge field.
How much does leaf removal cost per hour?
About $15 to $45 an hour for leaf blowing, $25 to $50 for raking and $37 to $60 for vacuuming, with a minimum charge of around $80. Bagging and hauling usually adds $5 to $10 per bag.
How much does it cost to remove leaves from a quarter acre?
Usually about $160 to $400, depending on how many trees you have and whether the leaves are mulched, blown to the curb or bagged and hauled away.
Is a fall leaf cleanup package worth it?
If you have many trees, often yes. Two or three visits keep the leaves from piling up and smothering the lawn, and per-visit prices on a package are usually lower than one big late cleanup.
Do you tip for leaf removal?
Tipping isn't required. Homeowners who tip usually give 10% to 20% of the bill or $10 to $20 per crew member, often at the end of the season.
How much does a fall cleanup cost?
Leaf removal alone is about $200 to $400 for a quarter-acre yard. A fuller fall cleanup that also clears beds and gutters often runs about $300 to $650 for the same yard, since gutter cleaning on the same visit adds $100 to $250.
How much does leaf removal cost per bag?
About $5 to $10 per bag when the crew bags and hauls the leaves away. Mulching the leaves into the lawn or blowing them to the curb for city pickup avoids the bag fee.
Why is leaf removal so expensive?
Most of the cost is crew time, plus bagging and disposal fees. Late-season leaves are wet and heavy, and demand peaks in the same few weeks every fall.