Solo Landscaper Hourly Rate Guide
Most solo landscapers should charge $65-100 per hour, and in some markets $100-120 is realistic with strong service.
March 22, 2026 · 6 min read · LightWork Team
Most solo landscapers charge $45-65 per hour and feel like they are barely getting by. They are right. At $50 an hour after overhead, there is almost nothing left.
Here is where the rates actually need to be, and how to get there.
The Core Answer
Most solo landscapers should be charging $65-100 per hour. Some markets support $100-120.
The problem is not that the market will not pay it. The problem is fear of losing customers. But the customers who leave when you raise your rate are almost always the most difficult ones. The ones who stay are worth keeping.
When It Gets More Complicated
1. You have a large regular client list at low rates. Do not raise everyone at once. Pick 3-4 customers whose rates need to come up the most. Raise those. Watch what happens. Then do the rest over the next 6 months.
2. Your market is genuinely price-sensitive. Rural areas and smaller towns support lower rates than suburbs of major cities. But even in price-sensitive markets, you can usually be at $65-75 per hour if you are reliable and professional. The unreliable guys set the bottom, not the top.
3. You are losing bids to lower-priced competitors. Ask yourself whether you actually know what you are worth, or whether you are guessing. Calculate your break-even first. Then see if you are even above it.
How to Actually Do It
1. Calculate your monthly overhead. Mower payment or replacement cost per month, trailer, gas, insurance, phone, equipment maintenance. A solo landscaper with a real setup is spending $2,500-4,000 per month in overhead.
2. Figure out how many hours you actually bill per month. If you work 50 hours a week but only bill 35 of them because of drive time and setup, use 35.
3. Divide overhead by billable hours. If your overhead is $3,000 and you bill 140 hours a month, that is $21.43 an hour just to cover costs. Your billing rate has to be well above that.
4. Add your target income. If you want to clear $70,000 a year after overhead, that is about $5,833 a month, or $41.67 an hour on 140 billable hours. Combined with your overhead, around $63 an hour is your floor.
5. Set your rate at or above that floor, with room to negotiate on bigger jobs. $75-85 per hour gives you a cushion.
FAQ
What do landscapers charge per hour?
Solo landscapers in most U.S. markets charge $45-85 per hour in 2026. Suburban markets outside major cities often support $75-100 per hour. If you are under $65 and running a solo operation with real overhead, you are likely undercharging. The guys charging $40 an hour either have very low overhead, are underinsured, or are burning out within 2-3 years.
How do I raise my landscaping rates?
Start with new customers only. Quote the new rate on every new inquiry. Once you see that new customers are booking at the higher rate without pushback, apply the same increase to your existing base, one client at a time. Let them know in advance. "My rates are going up this season. Your new rate will be $X. Let me know if you want to keep the schedule." Most good clients will stay.
Should I charge by the job or by the hour for landscaping?
By the job for weekly maintenance and recurring work. By the hour for one-time cleanups, unusual jobs, or anything with unclear scope. Job pricing means you get paid the same whether the lawn takes you 45 minutes or 75 minutes. Over a season, that adds up in your favor if you are efficient.