Key takeaways
- National range: about $200 to $600. HomeAdvisor’s average is $360; Bob Vila’s range is $191 to $573.
- By lot size, LawnStarter puts leaf removal at $160 to $290 for a quarter acre and $230 to $475 for a half acre.
- Trees matter more than acreage. Leaf volume, beds, access and disposal move the price most.
- Get the scope in writing: what is included, where the leaves go, and whether a second visit is extra.
On this page
What do national price guides say?
None of the major guides publish Michigan or Detroit-area figures, so treat these as a starting point:
| Source | Figure | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor | $360 average, $200 to $600 typical | Professional yard cleanup |
| Bob Vila | $191 to $573, $367 average | Fall cleanup |
| LawnStarter (Oct. 2026) | $160 to $290 on a quarter acre, $230 to $475 on a half acre | Leaf removal by lot size |
| LawnStarter (Oct. 2026) | $25 to $50 an hour raking, $15 to $45 blowing; many pros have an $80 minimum | Hourly leaf work |
National figures as published by each guide, checked October 2026.
What makes one yard cost more than another?
- Leaf volume. The number and size of mature trees, yours and your neighbors’, matters more than lot size. Two quarter-acre lots can be hours apart.
- Beds. Foundation beds, borders and shrubs need hand work.
- Cutbacks. Cutting back perennials adds time; leaving healthy plants standing saves it.
- Disposal. Bagging leaves for curbside pickup takes longer than mulching them into the lawn. In Macomb County that pickup ends between Thanksgiving week and mid-December, so timing matters too. See leaf pickup rules by community.
- Access. Gates, slopes and fenced backyards slow the work.
- One pass or two. Yards under late-dropping oaks may need a second visit.
Why fall costs more than spring
HomeAdvisor notes that fall is the most expensive season for yard waste work: there is simply more material, crews are busiest, and where leaves have to be hauled to a compost site there are dump fees of $20 or more a load plus fuel. In much of Macomb County curbside pickup takes bagged leaves for free, which is one reason bagging for pickup is the usual approach here, as long as the cleanup happens before the season ends.
Is a contract cheaper than a one-time cleanup?
Sometimes. LawnStarter’s national figures put an annual leaf contract at $150 to $500 and a one-time visit at $200 to $850, because a crew that comes regularly deals with smaller amounts each time. For most homeowners the real choice is between one cleanup after the bulk of the leaves drop and two visits for yards under late-dropping trees.
How to compare quotes
- What exactly is included? Lawn only, or beds too? Cutbacks? A final mow?
- Where do the leaves go? Bagged for pickup, mulched in, or taken away?
- Is a second visit included or extra?
- Is it a fixed price or hourly? An hourly job with no estimate can run long.
How we price ours
We do not publish a single fall cleanup price, because leaf volume and beds vary too much from yard to yard. We look at the yard, and the quote lists what is included, where the leaves go and whether a second pass is needed. See our fall cleanup service. If you are also pricing winter, residential snow removal is published per square foot, from $75 a visit.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor: how much does yard cleanup cost? — national averages
- HomeAdvisor: how much does leaf removal or yard clean up cost? — dump fees of $20 or more a load; fall is the busiest season
- Bob Vila: how much does fall cleanup cost? — national averages
- LawnStarter: how much does leaf removal cost? (updated October 2, 2026) — national figures; no Michigan data
Written by the Macomb Lawn & Snow Solutions team in Macomb Township, Michigan. We do fall cleanups and lawn work near our routes, and plow and salt homes and businesses across all 26 Macomb County communities, November 15 to April 15. Published October 15, 2026. About us · How we research these guides · How our dispatch works