Yard Clean Up Cost Calculator (2026)
Updated October 2026 · Labor, equipment, and disposal broken out — plus a two-quote comparison
A yard cleanup quote is three costs stacked together: crew time, equipment, and disposal. This calculator separates them — so you can see what a fair price looks like before you compare bids, and check whether two quotes actually cover the same work.
1. Your cleanup
A quarter acre is about 10,890 sq ft. Use the lawn and bed area being cleared, not the whole property.
Overgrown edges, beds, and a full leaf drop
Auto-filled from area and condition. Override it if your quote lists hours (or if you know from last time).
2. Rates and add-ons
Published ranges: $30–$80/hr (Angi), $50–$100/hr (HomeGuide); Tulsa example $60/hr.
Optional: leaf vacuum, dump trailer, brush mower rental.
Estimated cost breakdown
Cost per man-hour: $69.09
Cost per 1,000 sq ft: $105
Estimates only. Tree work, steep terrain, and travel distance are separate line items in most quotes and are not included here.
Compare two quotes
Two quotes can differ by $200 and still not price the same work. Enter both and check what each one includes.
| Item | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Debris disposal & haul-away | Included | Not listed |
| Equipment (blower, trailer, loader) | Included | Included |
| Materials (mulch, soil, seed) | Not listed | Not listed |
| Quoted total | $450 | $380 |
These quotes do not cover the same work. Before comparing the totals, ask each contractor to price the missing items — a disposal run is often the difference between the cheaper quote and the actually-cheaper quote.
How the estimate works
Three inputs build the number, and all of them are visible:
- Man-hours start from 0.75 hours per 1,000 sq ft for a maintained yard, 1.5 for a seasonal reset, and 3 for a neglected lot — with a 2-hour minimum so small jobs still cover the trip.
- Rate per man-hour is the crew's billing rate, not the worker's wage. It covers payroll, equipment, fuel, insurance, and margin. Published ranges run $30–$100 depending on market.
- Disposal is loads × fee per load. A typical pickup-truck load of yard waste is $50–$150 to tip in many markets; full-service disposal with curbside pickup costs more.
The honest caveat: hours-per-area is the most volatile number in any cleanup quote. Dense brush, wet leaves, fence lines, and long drags can double it. That is exactly why the calculator lets you override the estimate with the hours from an actual quote.
Published price examples (region + date)
Dated examples from national guides, contractor-reported data, and published local rates. These anchor your expectations — they are not quotes for your address.
| Basis | Published price | Source |
|---|---|---|
National average, standard cleanup Quarter-acre cleanup runs $200–$500; full acre $850–$1,100. | $200–$600 (avg $360) | National consumer guide as of 2026-05 |
Seasonal cleanup, standard yard | Spring $100–$300 · Fall $200–$500 | National consumer guide as of 2026-05 |
Fall cleanup | $150–$400 | National consumer guide as of 2026-02 |
Overgrown yard cleanup | $400–$800 | National consumer guide as of 2026-02 |
Labor rate | $30–$80 per hour | National consumer guide as of 2026-05 |
Labor rate | $50–$100 per hour | National consumer guide as of 2026-02 |
Leaf-heavy cleanup per 1,000 sq ft Includes bagging or mulching; higher end is large yards or wet leaves. | $60–$260 | National cost guide as of 2026-08 |
Operator pricing formula A contractor-side example of how cleanup quotes get built. | $65 per crew-hour + dump fee · $200 minimum | Operator example as of 2026 |
Crew rate, Tulsa market Includes equipment, tools, and leaf loader; dump fee extra. | $60 per man-hour | Tulsa, OK as of 2026-10 |
What moves the price
- Debris volume, not lot size. A leaf-covered half acre can be cheaper than a quarter acre full of fallen branches, brush, and junk.
- Access. Backyard piles that require hand-carrying through a gate add man-hours fast; a driveway pile comes out with a loader in minutes.
- Truckloads. Disposal is billed per load. Ask every contractor how many loads their quote includes — going over is the most common change-order on a cleanup.
- Season. Spring cleanups average $100–$300; fall cleanups run $200–$500 because leaves dominate the volume.
- Condition. An overgrown yard runs $400–$800, roughly double a standard seasonal cleanup, because equipment and time both step up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a yard cleanup cost for a quarter acre?
Most quarter-acre cleanups run $200–$500, with the national average for all yard cleanups around $360. The range comes from debris volume and disposal: a light spring cleanup with two loads sits at the low end; a leaf-heavy fall cleanup with brush hauling sits at the top.
How much does yard cleanup cost per hour?
Published labor rates run $30–$80 per hour (Angi) and $50–$100 per hour (HomeGuide), depending on market. Operator-side examples price cleanup at $60 per man-hour (Tulsa) or $65 per crew-hour plus a dump fee with a $200 minimum. Per-hour only works when the scope is clear — see how your crew defines an hour.
Is spring or fall cleanup more expensive?
Fall is typically more expensive: $200–$500 versus $100–$300 for spring. Leaves add volume and disposal loads, and crews are in peak demand during the six-week leaf window. Booking in late summer or the shoulder season is the simplest way to pay less.
What should a yard cleanup include?
At minimum: clearing leaves and debris, cutting back dead growth, edging or trimming overgrowth, and removing the debris from the property. Ask explicitly about haul-away, walkway and gutter clearing, and whether the price assumes a set number of truckloads. Those three items are where quotes quietly differ.
How much does it cost to clean up an overgrown yard?
Published prices for overgrown-yard cleanup run $400–$800, roughly double a standard seasonal cleanup. Waist-high grass and brush require different equipment (brush mowers, skid steers) and multiple disposal loads, so the labor and hauling lines both grow.
Do cleanup quotes include debris disposal?
Not always — it is the most common omission. Some quotes price labor only and bill dump fees separately; others assume one truckload and charge for extras. Use the two-quote comparison above, and get the answer in writing before you pick a contractor.