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How a gardener works out the price
A gardener usually prices by the hour for maintenance and skilled work, or as a set price per visit for mowing and per job for a tidy-up. The rate has to cover more than wages: the Fair Work Horticulture Award minimum for a Level 1 adult employee is $25.74 an hour from 1 July 2026, and the price also covers equipment, fuel, travel, insurance and the provider's tax and admin. We did not confirm which award covers every garden-services employee, so treat that figure as a floor, not a rule for any one business.
- Size and condition of the lawn or garden, and how long it will take
- Hourly rate times hours, or a set price per visit or per job
- Extras such as edging, hedge trimming, weeding or mulching
- Green waste removal and any tip fees, usually quoted separately
- GST, if the provider charges it
Worked example: One visit: lawn mow plus hedge trim, with green waste taken away (illustrative, not a quote)
- Lawn mowing, one hour
- $66
- Hedge trimming, one hour of skilled work
- $100
- Green waste removal
- Quoted separately
- Total
- $166 plus green waste removal (illustrative)
What it costs, by scenario
Low, typical and high prices. Built on 15 October 2026 from Australian marketplace price guides and the Fair Work pay guide. Each range sits inside figures that at least two publishers share for the same kind of job; none of the price sources states whether its prices include GST, so we treat the basis as unconfirmed. Lawn-size bands and green waste removal are not priced because the sources do not share comparable figures.
Lawn mowing, standard suburban lawn (per visit)
Where two publishers' per-visit ranges overlap; the typical value is the median one of them publishes, and it sits inside the other's range. Small lawns can cost less and acreage or ride-on mowing more. Regular bookings are often cheaper per visit than one-off mows.
- Low
- $75
- Typical
- $100
- High
- $150
Lawn mowing, hourly rate (per hour)
Where two publishers' hourly ranges overlap; the typical value is one publisher's stated average and sits inside the other's range. Ride-on mowing for larger properties is priced higher than this.
- Low
- $60
- Typical
- $66
- High
- $85
Skilled garden work (hedging, weeding, mulching), hourly rate (per hour)
Where two publishers' ranges for skilled garden tasks overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap. The same publisher also quotes far lower hourly figures ($40 to $50) for hedging and fertilising on its page, so the spread between publishers is wide and quotes matter.
- Low
- $80
- Typical
- $100
- High
- $120
One-off garden tidy-up, small to medium garden (per job)
Where two publishers' tidy-up ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint. Overgrown or neglected gardens cost well above this, and green waste removal is usually extra.
- Low
- $150
- Typical
- $195
- High
- $240
| Scenario | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawn mowing, standard suburban lawn (per visit)Where two publishers' per-visit ranges overlap; the typical value is the median one of them publishes, and it sits inside the other's range. Small lawns can cost less and acreage or ride-on mowing more. Regular bookings are often cheaper per visit than one-off mows. | $75 | $100 | $150 |
| Lawn mowing, hourly rate (per hour)Where two publishers' hourly ranges overlap; the typical value is one publisher's stated average and sits inside the other's range. Ride-on mowing for larger properties is priced higher than this. | $60 | $66 | $85 |
| Skilled garden work (hedging, weeding, mulching), hourly rate (per hour)Where two publishers' ranges for skilled garden tasks overlap; the typical value is the midpoint of that overlap. The same publisher also quotes far lower hourly figures ($40 to $50) for hedging and fertilising on its page, so the spread between publishers is wide and quotes matter. | $80 | $100 | $120 |
| One-off garden tidy-up, small to medium garden (per job)Where two publishers' tidy-up ranges overlap; the typical value is the midpoint. Overgrown or neglected gardens cost well above this, and green waste removal is usually extra. | $150 | $195 | $240 |
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Find a providerWhat changes the price
- Size of the lawn or garden. Bigger areas take longer, and the time on site is what most prices are built on.
- Condition. Overgrown lawns and neglected gardens need more cutting, clearing and bagging, so they cost more than a well-kept garden.
- Type of work. Mowing is priced lower per hour than skilled work such as hedge shaping, weeding and mulching.
- Frequency. Regular bookings are often priced lower per visit than a single mow.
- Equipment. A ride-on mower for a larger property, or a hedge trimmer and ladder for tall hedges, adds to the price.
- Green waste. Taking cuttings away depends on volume and tip fees, so it is usually quoted separately.
- Location. Travel time and local demand can change the price; our sources do not break mowing prices down by state.
What's usually included, and what isn't
Usually included
- Mowing and, with most providers, cleaning up the grass clippings
- Basic hand tools and equipment such as the mower and whipper snipper
- Edging, where the provider lists it in the quote
- Time on site for the tasks written on the quote
Often extra
- Green waste removal and tip fees, often priced as an add-on
- Soil, mulch, plants, turf and other materials
- Tree removal and work on large trees, which can need a permit and a qualified provider
- Spraying weeds or pests with pesticides, which can need a licence
Metro and regional differences
Metro: Cities have more providers to compare, but wages, travel time and parking add to the price.
Regional: Our sources do not give separate regional-area or state figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide; a longer drive can add to the price.
Licensing and compliance
We did not find a licensing scheme for ordinary lawn mowing or garden maintenance in the pages we read, and we did not research every state, so this guide states no universal rule.
Some work is different.
In New South Wales, the Service NSW page for the pest management licence says the licence allows a person to apply pesticides, other than fumigants, to control pests for a fee or reward; the page does not mention herbicides, so ask the New South Wales Environment Protection Authority whether weed spraying for payment needs a licence.
Tree pruning and removal is controlled by councils: one New South Wales council's page says a permit is required for trees in its urban and environmental zones that are 3 metres or taller or have a trunk 100 millimetres across at one metre, among other classes.
Other councils and states set their own rules and we did not read them, so check your council before any tree work.
We did not research pesticide or tree rules in Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT or the Northern Territory.
Before you accept a quote, check
- Is the price hourly, per visit or per job, and is there a minimum charge?
- Does the price include edging and cleaning up clippings?
- Is green waste removal included, and what are the tip fees?
- Does the quote say whether GST is included?
- Does the gardener carry public liability insurance?
- If weed spraying or tree work is on the list, who holds any licence or permit needed?
Frequently asked questions
How much does lawn mowing cost per visit?
About $75 to $150 for a standard suburban lawn in the sources we read, with the middle around $100. Small lawns can cost less, and acreage or ride-on mowing costs more.
How much does a gardener charge per hour?
Skilled tasks such as hedge shaping, weeding and mulching run about $80 to $120 an hour. Mowing is priced separately, at about $60 to $85 an hour.
Is green waste removal included?
Not always. Taking cuttings and branches away depends on volume and tip fees, so ask whether it is in the quote. We could not find two publishers with comparable prices for it, so this guide does not give a figure.
Are regular visits cheaper than a one-off mow?
Often. Sources say providers may offer a lower price for regular visits than for a one-off mow, so ask for the recurring price.
Does a gardener need a licence?
Not for ordinary mowing and maintenance in the pages we read. Spraying pesticides for payment and removing or heavily pruning some trees can need a licence or a council permit. See the licensing section for what we read and what we did not.
Sources and method
Built on 15 October 2026 from Australian marketplace price guides and the Fair Work pay guide. Each range sits inside figures that at least two publishers share for the same kind of job; none of the price sources states whether its prices include GST, so we treat the basis as unconfirmed. Lawn-size bands and green waste removal are not priced because the sources do not share comparable figures. How we calculate our guides.
- hipages: how much does lawn mowing cost (marketplace, 6 January 2026)
- hipages: how much does a gardener cost (marketplace, 22 January 2026)
- Airtasker: how much does lawn mowing cost (marketplace, 14 July 2026)
- Airtasker: gardener cost (marketplace, 19 June 2026)
- Bark: gardener cost (marketplace, 19 February 2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman: Horticulture Award pay guide (MA000028) (award, 24 June 2026)
- Service NSW: apply for a pest management technician licence (regulator, 11 February 2026)
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council: private tree removal and pruning application (regulator, 15 October 2026)
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