Leaf raking service cost is typically $100-$350 for a routine visit, with an average near $200 for a suburban yard. The final quote depends on lawn size, leaf depth, access, whether leaves are bagged or hauled away, and local labor rates.
Small, lightly covered yards can cost less than $100, while large or heavily wooded properties may exceed $500 per visit. Hauling and disposal are often the main charges beyond the raking labor.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single leaf-raking visit | $75 | $200 | $500+ | Price varies with yard size and leaf volume |
| Per lawn area | $0.02 per sq ft | $0.05 per sq ft | $0.10+ per sq ft | Useful for comparing similar quotes |
| Bagging and curb placement | $25 | $60 | $150 | May be added to the raking charge |
| Leaf hauling | $50 | $125 | $300+ | Depends on volume, distance, and disposal fees |
| Season package | $250 | $600 | $1,500+ | Usually includes several scheduled visits |
Assumptions: Residential property, ordinary access, standard hand or blower cleanup, and U.S. dollars before unusual disposal or travel fees.
What a typical yard costs to rake and clear
For a roughly 5,000-square-foot lawn with a moderate layer of leaves, one service visit commonly runs $125-$275. A small lot under 2,500 square feet may be $75-$150, while a one-acre property with scattered trees often costs $300-$700 or more. A heavily wooded acre can require multiple loads and several crew hours.
A typical $200 visit covers a modest suburban lawn, ordinary leaf volume, and basic cleanup. That estimate usually assumes leaves are raked or blown from open lawn areas and gathered into bags or a designated curb pile. It may not include hauling, gutters, garden beds, brush removal, or cleaning leaves from a long driveway.
Some companies quote by square footage, while others use a minimum service charge plus labor and disposal. A small yard may still have a $75-$125 minimum because travel, setup, and equipment take time regardless of lawn size. Per-square-foot rates commonly fall around $0.02-$0.10, but leaf density and obstacles can make that measure less useful than a site-specific estimate.
For properties with several mature trees, a single visit may not keep up with falling leaves. Three or four visits over the season can cost $300-$1,000 for an average lot, depending on whether each visit includes removal. Confirm the number of visits and the cleanup standard before comparing a seasonal package with one-time rates.
How raking labor, bags, and hauling appear on quotes
A written estimate may combine several tasks into one total. Separating labor, collection, and disposal helps explain why two quotes for the same lawn differ. The ranges below are common residential charges, not guaranteed line items; some contractors bundle them.
| Quote item | Typical price | Unit or scope | What changes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raking or blowing labor | $40-$75 | Per worker-hour | Leaf depth, obstacles, and crew size |
| Collection and bagging | $25-$150 | Per visit | Number of bags and bag type |
| Curbside pile preparation | $20-$75 | Per visit | Distance to pickup point and local rules |
| Hauling and disposal | $50-$300+ | Per load or visit | Volume, travel, and disposal charges |
| Small-lot minimum | $75-$125 | Per appointment | Provider minimum and travel time |
Labor is usually the largest predictable part of a straightforward cleanup quote. A two-person crew working two hours at $50 per worker-hour represents about $200 in labor before any separate bagging, hauling, or minimum charges. Ask whether the rate applies per person or to the whole crew.
Equipment is often included in the service price, but a difficult job may involve a commercial blower, tarp, or extra collection equipment. Ask what the quote includes rather than assuming equipment is a separate fee. If leaves are placed in municipal yard-waste bags, local bag costs or pickup rules may affect the total.
Why lawn size, leaf depth, and access shift the estimate
Square footage matters, but the number of trees and leaf density can matter more. A 10,000-square-foot open lawn with a thin layer may take less time than a 5,000-square-foot yard under several mature oaks. Quotes often rise when leaves are wet, compacted, or mixed with sticks, acorns, and other debris.
Leaf depth and haul-away volume can turn a basic visit into a multi-hour job. A light layer under 2 inches may fit a standard cleanup; a 4-6-inch accumulation can require repeated passes and substantially more collection. If leaves cover beds, fences, or low shrubs, moving them carefully can add labor compared with clearing a flat lawn.
Access also affects the estimate. A wide gate and nearby curb pile make removal faster than carrying bags through a narrow side yard or down stairs. A property more than 50-100 feet from the street, a steep slope, or a long driveway can add labor or a trip charge. Mention these conditions when requesting a quote.
Service scope should specify whether the crew will clear only lawn areas or also handle patios, sidewalks, planting beds, and beneath decks. Adding gutters, sticks, branches, or general yard debris can change the work from leaf raking to broader cleanup. The quote should identify included surfaces and any limit on bags, loads, or time on site.
What homeowners can change before booking leaf cleanup
Price is easier to control when the scope is clear. Ask for a quote for the lawn and another for optional surfaces or hauling. If municipal pickup accepts leaves at the curb, moving a pile to the collection point may cost less than paying for contractor transport. Verify pickup dates, acceptable bags, and restrictions before choosing that option.
Keeping leaves on-site for mulching or composting can avoid much of the hauling charge. Where practical, leaves can be shredded into a lawn or moved to a compost area rather than bagged and removed. This approach is not suitable for every yard; thick mats, diseased foliage, or leaves that smother turf may still need collection.
Scheduling before leaves become wet and packed down can reduce labor. A recurring visit after major drops may cost less per appointment than a single cleanup after the entire season’s leaves accumulate. However, extra visits increase the total spend, so compare the seasonal package price with the likely number of individual cleanups.
Before accepting a quote, confirm whether it includes bags, hauling, disposal, and cleanup of paved areas. Obtain two or three written estimates using the same scope and ask about minimum charges. A lower price may reflect curb placement only, while a higher quote may include bagging and off-site disposal.
How leaf-raking rates vary across U.S. regions
Local wages, disposal rules, and seasonal demand create meaningful regional differences. In lower-cost rural and small-town markets, routine work may be 10%-20% below a national midrange. Dense metro areas in the Northeast or Pacific Coast can run 15%-35% above it, especially where labor and disposal access are expensive.
Regional comparisons are most useful when the service scope is identical. A $150 quote in a lower-cost market may cover curbside piles, while a $250 urban quote may include bagging, loading, and disposal. Rural providers may add travel charges if the property is far outside their normal route; a $20-$75 trip fee is possible, although some fold travel into the total.
Municipal leaf collection changes what homeowners need to buy. Cities with scheduled curbside pickup may make raking and pile placement the main expense. Communities without collection may require paid yard-waste bags, a transfer station trip, or contractor hauling. In some places, burning leaves is restricted or prohibited, so local rules should be checked rather than treated as a cost-saving option.
Climate and tree type also affect the number of visits. In parts of the Northeast and Midwest, a concentrated fall drop can make recurring cleanups common. Warmer regions may have less dramatic seasonal leaf fall but still need service around evergreen debris or scattered deciduous trees. Requesting a per-visit rate and a package rate makes the difference visible.
How long a crew spends on 5,000 to 20,000 square feet
One worker may need 1-2 hours for a small, open yard with a light layer. A two-person crew can often clear a 5,000-square-foot lawn in about 1-2 hours, while a 10,000-20,000-square-foot lot may take 2-5 hours depending on leaf volume and the number of surfaces included. These are planning ranges; dense tree cover can add several hours.
Labor time rises quickly when collection and removal are included. Blowing leaves into a curb pile is generally faster than hand-raking, bagging, and carrying them to a truck. A crew may quote a fixed project price based on expected hours rather than charging an hourly rate, so ask whether work beyond the estimate requires approval or triggers an added fee.
Common residential labor rates are about $40-$75 per worker-hour. A two-person crew billed for three hours could represent $240-$450 in labor before disposal. Some companies charge by the crew-hour instead, which makes the wording important. Confirm the crew size and billing basis in writing, particularly for large lots or properties with difficult access.
Rain and heavy dew can slow the job because wet leaves cling to grass and weigh more during loading. During peak fall weeks, availability can be limited, and a provider may offer only certain service windows. Booking ahead can improve scheduling, but the estimate should state whether the price changes if the cleanup is postponed and leaves accumulate.
When bags, gutter clearing, or extra debris add fees
Bagging commonly adds $25-$150, depending on how many bags the crew fills and whether the homeowner supplies them. Off-site hauling often adds $50-$300 or more for a residential visit. Large volumes may be charged by load, and a truckload estimate should clarify whether it means a pickup bed, trailer, or another capacity.
Removal is not always included in the advertised leaf-raking price. Some providers rake leaves into a pile and leave them at the curb; others bag them but leave the bags on the property. Ask where the leaves will end up and who pays any municipal or facility disposal charge.
Gutter cleaning is a separate task and commonly costs about $100-$250 for a one-story home, with two-story access often around $150-$350. These prices vary with roof height, gutter length, guards, and debris. Combining gutter cleaning with leaf cleanup may reduce travel charges, but it does not mean the gutter work is included in a lawn service quote.
Extra fees may apply for sticks, branches, acorns, heavy wet leaves, or moving furniture and garden items before work begins. A remote or steep property can also require added labor. Clarify whether the quote covers patios and sidewalks, and whether a minimum number of bags or a disposal surcharge applies.
Three sample quotes for small, wooded, and large yards
These examples show how similar service labels can produce different totals. They assume ordinary access and typical local rates; a specific contractor’s price may differ. The labor figures use per-worker hourly billing for comparison and include the stated service scope.
| Property and scope | Labor estimate | Collection or disposal | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 sq ft, light leaves, curb pile | 1 worker × 1.5 hours at $45 = $68 | $20 pile placement | $88-$125 with minimum charge |
| 7,500 sq ft, moderate leaves, bagged | 2 workers × 2 hours at $50 = $200 | $45-$90 for bags and handling | $245-$320 |
| 1 acre, heavy cover, hauled away | 3 workers × 4 hours at $55 = $660 | $150-$300 for loading and disposal | $810-$1,100 |
Assumptions: Rates are illustrative, include no unusual travel charge, and reflect one visit. High-volume or obstructed sites may exceed the examples.
The quoted removal method explains much of the difference between these totals. The small-lot example is mainly a minimum-service visit, whereas the acre example includes a three-person crew and off-site disposal. A property with no hauling requirement could receive a substantially lower quote even if the crew spends a similar amount of time raking.
Use sample math as a check, not a substitute for a site estimate. Ask each provider to list the yard area or surfaces covered, crew size, labor basis, number of bags or loads, and whether disposal is included. That detail makes it easier to compare the real price of equivalent leaf cleanup.