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Landscaper Pricing Calculator

Calculate landscaping labor rates and common job pricing — with crew-specific defaults and U.S. market benchmarks for lawn care and hardscape.

Your market

Adjusts your rate and market benchmarks for local cost of labor.

What the business must produce
$/yr
$/yr

Rent, insurance, admin, vehicles, software, marketing.

Field labor
hrs
$/hr
36%
65%

Share of paid hours actually invoiced. Drive, shop, and callbacks come out of this.

$/yr

Gross profit from parts markup that labor does not have to carry.

Service call pricing
$

Covers the first 30 minutes. National range: $40–$100.

min

Required landscaper rate in Chicago

$90.90per billable hour

National market for landscapers: $51–$91/hr in Chicago.
Billable hours per year5,400 paid hours at 65% utilization
3,510 hrs
Break-even rateBefore owner income
$71.41/hr
Site visit fee
$53
Total for 90-min job
$144

Your rate sits inside the landscaper market band

$90.90/hr is inside the $51–$91 band typical for landscapers in Chicago. Landscaping and lawn care labor rates, U.S. national. Design-build and hardscape work commands higher rates.
Common landscaper jobs in Chicago
JobYour priceMarket range
Lawn mowing (weekly, 0.25 acre)$144$44–$83
Mulch installation (10 cubic yards)$1,233$552–$993
Patio paver install (200 sq ft)$4,446$3,863–$7,725
Tree removal (medium, 30 ft)$712$552–$1,324

You pay for every hour, not just the billable ones

At 65% utilization, 1,890 paid hours a year — $51,408 of burdened wage — never appear on an invoice. Route density and dispatching move this lever without raising your rate.

What this assumes

  • Lawn maintenance is often priced per visit, not hourly; hourly rate is used for job costing.
  • Seasonal revenue swings are extreme — northern climates may earn 70% of revenue in 6 months.
  • Equipment depreciation (mowers, trucks, trailers) is included in overhead assumptions.

Understanding the result

Landscaping has two businesses: maintenance and install

Lawn mowing is recurring, low-margin, and priced per visit ($40 to $75 per mow). Hardscape, tree work, and design-build are project-priced with higher margins. Most landscapers need both revenue streams — maintenance for cash flow, installs for profit.

Seasonality is the biggest business risk

A landscaper in Minnesota earns 70% of annual revenue between April and October. Winter months generate near-zero revenue but trucks, insurance, and equipment payments continue. Price summer work to cover the full year, not just the active months.

Equipment costs are hidden in the hourly rate

A commercial mower ($8,000 to $15,000), truck ($40,000+), and trailer ($3,000 to $8,000) must be recovered across billable hours. Landscapers who price like laborers without equipment depreciation go broke in year three.

Common questions

How much do landscapers charge per hour?
Landscaping labor runs $45 to $80 per hour nationally, but most services are priced per visit or per project. Lawn mowing runs $40 to $75 per visit. Hardscape installation is quoted per square foot ($15 to $35/sq ft for pavers).
How much does lawn mowing cost?
Weekly lawn mowing costs $40 to $75 per visit for a standard 0.25-acre lot. Bi-weekly service runs $50 to $90. Prices include mowing, edging, and blowing. Fertilization, aeration, and weed control are add-ons at $50 to $150 per treatment.
How much does mulch installation cost?
Mulch installation runs $50 to $90 per cubic yard installed, including material and labor. A typical 10-cubic-yard job costs $500 to $900. Premium hardwood mulch costs more than basic shredded bark.
How much does a paver patio cost?
Paver patio installation runs $15 to $35 per square foot installed, or $3,500 to $7,000 for a 200 sq ft patio. Natural stone runs $25 to $50/sq ft. Proper base preparation (4 to 6 inches of compacted gravel and sand) is non-negotiable.
How much does tree removal cost?
Tree removal runs $500 to $1,200 for a medium tree (30 to 60 feet). Large trees (60+ feet) near structures run $1,200 to $3,000. Stump grinding adds $100 to $400. Emergency storm removal carries a 30 to 50% premium.
How much should a landscaping business charge to be profitable?
A 3-person landscaping crew with $20/hour burdened labor, 65% utilization, and $7,000/month overhead needs $55 to $75/hour for install work. Mowing-only operations need 40+ clients per week per crew to cover fixed costs.
Do landscapers charge for estimates?
Lawn care estimates are usually free. Hardscape and design-build projects may involve a paid design ($200 to $500) credited toward the install. Large landscape designs with renderings run $500 to $2,000.
How much does sod installation cost?
Sod installation runs $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot installed, or $2,000 to $4,000 for a 2,000 sq ft lawn. Price includes soil prep, sod, and installation. Seeding the same area costs $500 to $1,500 but takes months to establish.
What is the profit margin for landscaping?
Maintenance operations target 15 to 20% net margin at scale. Install and hardscape work targets 20 to 30%. Design-build projects with in-house installation can reach 30 to 40%. Solo operators often underprice maintenance to win accounts.
When is the best time to hire a landscaper?
Book hardscape and install projects in late winter for spring start — best availability and sometimes 10% early-booking discounts. Mowing contracts fill up by March in most markets. Fall is ideal for planting, aeration, and tree work.

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