Leaf Removal Cost Calculator
Enter the yard size and what leaf services quote. The calculator prices your season in hours, compares it to the quote honestly, and sizes the mulch shortcut that university trials keep winning.
Leaf season is a labor question wearing a yard question costume: the real comparison is your Saturday hours against a service quote, and the hidden third option - mowing the leaves in thin layers - does the job at a third of the time while feeding the lawn nitrogen for free.
How to use
- Yard area first - the hours scale straight off it.
- The leaf-service quote if you have one; zero means the mower is the only crew.
- The mulch toggle: mowed-in leaves are the extension-service favorite. Both figures update live.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to rake a yard?
About an hour per 2,500 square feet for full raking and hauling - a 6,000 square foot yard is most of a Saturday across the season. Mulching with the mower cuts it to roughly a third, which is the difference this calculator puts in numbers.
Is a leaf removal service worth the cost?
Run it as an hourly comparison: a 300-dollar season quote against 2-3 hours of your own labor is a 100-plus dollar an hour decision - worth it for big lots and bad backs, steep for anyone with a mower and a free Saturday. The calculator prices both sides for your yard.
Is it OK to just mulch leaves into the lawn?
Yes, and it is the extension-service recommendation: mowed-in leaf pieces break down over winter and feed the soil - decades of turf trials show equal or better grass where leaves were mulched in. The only failure mode is a thick mat left whole; thin layers mowed repeatedly win.
When should the last leaf cleanup happen?
Before the first snow sticks: leaves matted flat under snow smother grass and invite snow mold by spring. The final pass lands in late fall after the last big drop - the frost planner dates it for your zip code.