Professional lawn edging typically costs $0.50-$2.00 per linear foot, or about $50-$150 per visit for a typical residential yard. The price depends on how many feet need edging, how overgrown the border is, whether clippings are hauled away, and whether the job uses a simple lawn edger or installs permanent landscape edging.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Routine lawn edging service | $0.50 per linear ft | $1.10 per linear ft | $2.00 per linear ft | Typically includes cutting a clean edge along beds, walks, or driveways |
| Residential visit | $40 | $85 | $150 | Minimum charges and yard size affect the total |
| First-time or overgrown edging | $1.00 per linear ft | $2.00 per linear ft | $4.00 per linear ft | Extra time may be needed to redefine the edge |
| Installed landscape edging | $3 per linear ft | $9 per linear ft | $20 per linear ft | Material and trenching can change the price substantially |
Typical lawn edging prices for a 100-foot yard
For routine trimming with a power edger, homeowners commonly pay $50-$200 for 100 linear feet. A straightforward, regularly maintained border often falls near $100-$125, while a first visit with thick grass or roots can reach $200-$400. Contractors may charge a minimum visit fee even when the measured edge is short.
These estimates cover cutting or refreshing the boundary, not installing a lasting barrier. A 100-foot installation of plastic or metal edging may cost $300-$1,500, and stone or concrete borders can cost more. For a routine cut, estimate by linear foot; for a permanent border, budget for materials, trenching, and installation.
Assumptions: Typical suburban U.S. property, accessible borders, standard power-edging equipment, and no major root removal. Linear footage means the length of the edges being serviced, not the lawn’s square footage. A 5,000-square-foot lawn may have very different edging needs depending on the number of beds, sidewalks, driveway edges, and other boundaries.
What labor and equipment add to an edging quote
A routine service quote usually combines labor, equipment, cleanup, and the contractor’s travel or minimum charge. Permanent edging includes a separate material and installation component. The figures below show common cost ranges for a 100-foot project; they are not additive in every quote because some contractors bundle tasks.
| Quote component | Routine service | Installed edging | What changes the charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | $35-$120 | $100-$500 | Time, layout, soil, and crew size |
| Materials | $0-$10 | $50-$900 | Plastic, steel, aluminum, stone, or concrete |
| Equipment | $5-$25 | $10-$75 | Edger, trenching tools, saw, or compactor |
| Cleanup and disposal | $0-$40 | $10-$100 | Clippings, soil, and removed old edging |
| Minimum or mobilization fee | $25-$75 | $25-$100 | Small jobs, distance, and contractor policy |
For service work, labor often represents most of the bill. A crew may finish a simple 100-foot edge in 30-60 minutes, but travel, setup, and cleanup still take time. Ask whether the quote includes trimming, cleanup, and disposal rather than comparing the per-foot rate alone.
For a basic labor estimate, contractors may use . Rates commonly work out to about $40-$80 per labor hour, though a fixed minimum is more common than an hourly invoice. Installation labor is higher when workers must dig a continuous trench, cut roots, or fit sections around curves.
How length, overgrowth, and edging material change the price
Linear footage is the clearest pricing driver for routine edging. A property with 50 feet of sidewalk edge may cost $40-$100, while 250 feet of beds, walks, and driveway borders may run $125-$500. A short job can still meet a $40-$75 minimum, so dividing that invoice by a small footage total can make the apparent rate seem high.
Condition matters, too. If the edge has been maintained every few weeks, a pass with a power edger may be quick. If grass has grown 2-4 inches over a bed or the border has not been cut for a season, expect roughly 25%-100% more than routine service. Dense roots, rocks, buried landscape fabric, and uneven ground can add labor or require hand tools.
For installed edging, material and depth make a larger difference. Flexible plastic edging often costs about $1-$4 per linear foot for material, while steel or aluminum can run $3-$10. Concrete or stone materials can cost $5-$20 or more per linear foot before installation. A shallow decorative strip is less demanding than a deep, rigid border set in a prepared trench.
Curves and corners also affect installation time. A straight 100-foot driveway edge is usually simpler than 100 feet arranged around several rounded beds. Measure each distinct border and note its condition before requesting quotes; a square-foot lawn measurement alone is not enough.
How long a crew needs for 100 to 300 linear feet
One worker can often edge 100 feet in 30-60 minutes when the boundary is open, recently maintained, and easy to reach. A 200-300-foot visit may take 1-2 hours, including setup and cleanup. Hand trimming around trees, gates, irrigation heads, or tight corners can extend the visit.
Installation is slower because the crew must mark the line, prepare the trench, set and secure the material, and restore disturbed soil. A 100-foot plastic or metal edging installation may take 3-6 labor hours; stone or concrete work can take 6-12 hours or longer, sometimes spread across more than one visit.
Small service jobs may be priced as part of a mowing visit, while a stand-alone appointment may incur a minimum charge. Combining edging with mowing or bed cleanup can reduce duplicate travel and setup charges.
Plastic, metal, stone, and routine cutting compared
Routine cutting is the least expensive option if the goal is a crisp line between lawn and an existing walk or garden bed. It does not create a physical barrier, so grass can grow back across the boundary and require periodic maintenance. Typical service is $0.50-$2.00 per linear foot per visit.
Plastic edging is a lower-cost permanent boundary, with installed prices often around $3-$8 per linear foot for a straightforward job. It can flex around curves but may shift or become visible if not set properly. Metal edging generally costs $6-$15 installed per linear foot and offers a slim, durable profile, though rocky soil can make installation harder.
Stone, brick, and poured concrete create a more substantial border. Depending on product, base preparation, and local labor, installed pricing commonly ranges from $10-$30 per linear foot, with custom work sometimes higher. These materials may require excavation and a stable base, making a simple material-price comparison misleading.
Choose routine edging for a maintained cut line; pay for permanent material when the border itself needs structure or longer-term separation. Replacing an existing border can also involve removal and disposal, typically adding $1-$5 per linear foot depending on material and access.
Three sample quotes for common lawn edging jobs
The examples below illustrate how footage, condition, and material affect estimates. They assume ordinary access and local labor rates; a contractor’s minimum charge or regional pricing may move the final quote.
| Job and scope | Estimated labor | Rate or materials | Example total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Routine edging, 80 feet, maintained border | 0.5-1 hour | $0.75-$1.50 per linear ft | $60-$120 |
| First-time reset, 150 feet, heavy overgrowth | 1.5-3 hours | $1.50-$3.00 per linear ft | $225-$450 |
| Install 100 feet of metal edging, simple layout | 4-7 labor hours | $3-$8 per linear ft for material | $700-$1,500 |
The first example could be combined with mowing and billed as an add-on rather than a stand-alone service. The second may include hand work and hauling clippings. The installation example assumes new edging rather than removing a concrete or stone border first.
Compare estimates using the same footage, material, and cleanup scope. A quote that includes disposal or old-border removal may cost more upfront but cover work excluded from a lower bid.
Regional lawn edging rates from rural areas to major metros
Local labor availability and travel distances affect both service and installation prices. Routine edging in lower-cost rural markets may come in 10%-20% below national midrange estimates, especially when it is bundled with regular mowing. Sparse contractor availability can offset that difference if the property is far from a service route.
Large metropolitan areas and high-cost coastal markets often run 15%-35% above midrange pricing. Higher wages, insurance, parking, and disposal charges may raise a basic service visit to $100-$200 or more. Dense neighborhoods can reduce travel time, but difficult access or parking can add setup time.
Material installation varies by region as well. Stone availability, delivery distance, and local excavation costs can shift installed edging prices by 20% or more. Use local written estimates as the final benchmark, and check that each quote covers the same number of linear feet and the same material grade.
Lower the bill by controlling scope and scheduling
For routine service, keep the border from becoming heavily overgrown by scheduling edging with regular mowing. The recurring visit costs less per foot than a one-time reset in many cases because the line remains defined and the crew spends less time removing turf. If only the driveway and front walk need a crisp edge, request those areas separately rather than paying to edge every bed.
For a permanent installation, choose the material based on the job rather than appearance alone. A simple plastic or metal strip may meet the need where a stone border would be unnecessary. Keep the layout relatively straight, limit decorative curves, and confirm whether the estimate includes trenching, fasteners, soil replacement, and removal of old material.
Before booking, measure approximate lengths and take photos of problem areas. Ask at least two contractors for itemized quotes and clarify whether they charge per visit, per linear foot, or by time. Control the scope first, then compare the total price for equivalent work.
Scheduling can also matter. During peak spring cleanup, contractors may have less flexibility and prioritize larger bundled jobs. Booking routine work with an existing mowing appointment can reduce mobilization fees. Avoid paying for rush service unless the edging is time-sensitive, and verify whether a quoted minimum applies to small areas.