How Much Does Leaf Removal Cost? [2025 Data]

The average cost for leaf removal is $377, but the total can range from $190 to $591 for most homeowners. Some homeowners with larger yards could end up paying as much as $1,200 for this project.

Leaf Removal Cost Factors 

The cost of leaf removal will depend on several factors, such as lawn size, leaf removal method, and the frequency of service. Here are some cost factors that may influence your final price.

Lawn Size

The size of your property will affect how much you pay for leaf removal services. Smaller yards often have fewer trees and less space for leaves to fall. On the other hand, larger yards with an abundance of trees will inevitably accumulate more leaves.

Some pros may charge by the acre, while others charge by square foot, especially for smaller properties. You can use an average leaf removal cost per acre to estimate your total, which sits between $400 and $1,000 per acre. For smaller yards or sections of larger ones, you can expect to pay between $0.02 and $0.10 per square foot.

Removal Method

Your total cost for leaf removal will also depend on the leaf removal method you choose—raking, blowing, or vacuuming. The standard leaf removal cost per hour falls between $15 and $60, and where your labor costs fall in that range will depend on the method.  Raking, of course, takes the most physical effort and time, but it might be the preferred method for small yards or areas near delicate plants or around a lot of obstructions. The increased labor will push your leaf removal cost per hour to between $25 and $50, which includes a $5 to $10 disposal fee per bag.

Leaf blowing makes the cleanup job easier and speedier and can cost anywhere between $15 and $45 per hour, including the price of $5 to $10 per disposal bag. Leaf blowing is often cheaper than raking and is the preferred method for larger yards.

Leaf vacuuming can also be a good alternative to raking. This method costs between $40 and $60 per hour due to the additional labor to empty the vacuum and bag the contents throughout the project. Those prices include a bagging and disposal fee of $5 to $10 per bag.

When choosing a leaf removal method, you’ll want to consider the associated pros and cons and how they’ll impact the cost. You may also have to account for a minimum service charge and other additional fees.

Frequency of Service 

You can hire a professional to rake leaves or blow them off your property once for a fall cleanup or throughout the fall season to keep your yard clean on an ongoing basis. Another common option is to contract your landscaper to come out once per year, and providing guaranteed work for the company can often earn you a discount on each service.

A one-time leaf removal service can cost anywhere between $200 and $850 with an average cost of around $525, whereas bi-weekly, quarterly, monthly, or yearly service could end up costing you less—all while saving time, energy, and helping you to maintain a beautiful lawn. 

Tree Density

Yards with a higher density of trees will accrue more leaves, which drives up your leaf removal costs. For a 1-acre property with just a handful of sporadic trees, you’ll pay an average of $400 for leaf removal. If you have a higher density of trees or more heavily wooded lawn pockets, your total will climb closer to $1,000. Prices scale based on property size and tree density combined.

Labor

Labor will account for 90% to 95% of your leaf removal costs, totaling between $170 and $570 for most homeowners. The remainder of the total will go toward materials, like gas for leaf removal equipment and contractor bags for leaf collection. If your landscaping professional hauls away the leaves, you’ll pay $5 to $10 per bag for dumping, but still, most of your total goes toward labor.

Location

Leaf removal costs vary by location for two reasons. First, prices will tend to be higher in rural areas, where tree density is higher. More importantly, labor costs vary based on the local cost of living, so you’ll pay more in more expensive states. The price difference can be surprisingly large between states for projects like leaf removal, where most of the cost goes toward labor.

How Often Should You Remove Leaves?

You should remove leaves from your yard at least twice per fall season. Leaves will decompose by the spring, and they can add helpful nutrients to your soil. However, larger, heavier leaves or piles of accumulating leaves can actually do more harm than good by compressing your grass, holding in too much moisture, and eliminating access to sunlight.

If you have just a tree or two on your property, you can probably get away with two leaf removal services per fall. If you have many trees or the leaves are building up in heavy piles, you should rake leaves at least once per month throughout the fall.

Of course, you should also consider your property’s aesthetics. If you want a clean-looking yard, aim for leaf removal once per week throughout the fall season.

Cost of Common Leaf Removal Add-Ons

Lawn care companies offer a wide range of services outside of basic leaf removal—like preparing flower beds or applying fertilizer—which can add to your property’s curb appeal and provide some additional benefits to your soil, plants, grass, and trees. Consider adding on other lawn services for an additional cost, including the following:

• Gutter cleaning: $1–$2 per linear foot

• Garden bed cleanup: $60–$100

• Tree removal: $400–$1,200

• Lawn aeration: $75–$200

• Mulching: $50–$150

• Curbside leaf pick-up: Up to $100

Why You Should Hire a Leaf Removal Pro

Hiring a local leaf removal pro can save you time, energy, and a sore back while keeping your yard looking its best. Professionals come equipped with tools and honed skills that enable them to clear leaves quickly and thoroughly—without damaging your yard. 

Though you may be tempted to pick those leaves up yourself, regular, reliable service can allow you to enjoy a clean, healthy yard all season long.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire an leaf removal pro

Removing leaves may seem like a simple DIY, but there are definite benefits to hiring an expert. Some of the more prominent benefits include:

• Professionals have more specialized tools, such as commercial-grade blowers, vacuums, and mulchers, to thoroughly remove leaves while saving time.

• Experts know how to leave your lawn leaf-free without harming grass, plants, or landscaping.

• You can avoid any allergies, injuries, or strain that comes with labor-intensive yard work. 

• Many services recycle or compost leaves instead of sending them to the landfill.

• You can schedule professionals to regularly remove leaves so your yard is maintained when you’re extra busy. 

• Removing leaves helps prevent mold, pests, and lawn suffocation, promoting healthier spring growth.

If you want to DIY leaf removal:

If you want to DIY leaf removal, here are some steps to safely and efficiently clear your yard: 

• Rake and bag leaves when they’re dry, since wet leaves are heavier and harder to remove. 

• If you have a mower, you can scatter leaves over your yard and mulch them down with a mower for eco-friendly removal. 

• You can also rake leaves onto a tarp, then drag the tarp to a compost pile or to your curb if your neighborhood has bulk pickup.

How to Save Money on Leaf Removal

Leaf removal can get expensive, especially if you need routine removal services throughout the fall season or have a large property. There are a few things you can do to keep costs down.

• Opt for leaf blowing. The leaf removal cost per hour you’ll pay for services depends on the removal method. If you just want to protect your lawn and keep it clean, opting for leaf blowing is a good way to keep labor costs to a minimum.

• Get service less often. Leaf removal services get more expensive the more often you need them. If you don’t mind some accumulation throughout the fall season, choose monthly services over weekly. Choosing just a single fall cleanup to prepare for winter will reduce costs even further.

• Sign an annual contract. Many leaf removal companies offer a small discount to customers who sign a contract for ongoing annual service.

• DIY if you have the time. If you have a smaller property and some spare time, you can save an average of around $377 by doing the work yourself.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed over 30,000 real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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