How much does garden clearance cost in the UK?
A Garden clearance costs £150 to £1,000 in the UK, typically around £300 for a typical clearance. What moves the price most is the size of the garden and how overgrown it is, so a simpler job sits near the bottom of that range and a larger or higher-spec one near the top. Prices reviewed June 2026.
Garden clearance usually costs between £150 and £1,000 in the UK, with most homeowners paying around £300 for a medium overgrown garden. The price depends mainly on the size of the garden, how overgrown it is, and how much green waste has to be taken away.
Garden clearance cost calculator
Use the calculator to price your Garden clearance in 2026. Adjust the options and area for a UK cost range. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Garden clearance cost breakdown
Typical Garden clearance costs, by option:
| How big is the garden | Typical UK cost |
|---|---|
| Small garden or yard | £150 to £350 |
| Medium garden, overgrown | £300 to £600 |
| Large or badly overgrown garden | £550 to £1,000 |
What's included in the price?
Typical Garden clearance prices include:
- Cutting back overgrown grass, weeds, brambles and shrubs
- A team, usually two people, with strimmers, loppers and a van
- Clearing borders, paths and patios of green waste
- Bagging and loading all the waste
- Taking the green waste away and disposing of it
- A tidy, cleared garden ready to replant or landscape
What changes the price?
The things that move Garden clearance prices most:
The size of the garden and how overgrown it is
How much waste there is to remove and dispose of
Access, and whether waste has to be carried through the house
Whether trees, stumps or rubble are involved as well as green waste
Green waste tipping and disposal fees
Your region and how far the team travels
How the price is built up
The price comes from the time on site, the size of the team, and the volume of waste to remove. Firms usually quote by the size of the garden or by the number of van or skip loads of waste, so an overgrown garden that fills several loads costs more than a light tidy-up. Garden clearance is nearly all labour; there are no materials to buy. The main non-labour cost is disposing of the green waste, either at a green waste tip or in a hired skip.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Do the cutting back yourself and pay only for the waste to be taken away
- Book in autumn or winter when clearance firms are quieter and often cheaper
- Keep green waste for your council garden bin or home compost to cut disposal fees
- Get a few quotes, as prices for the same garden vary widely
Does where you live change the cost?
In London, a Garden clearance typically costs around £390, about 30% above the UK average of £300. In the North, Scotland and Wales the guide figure is nearer £280.
| Region | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midlands / East (UK average) | £150 | £300 | £1,000 |
| London | £200 | £390 | £1,300 |
| South East / South West | £170 | £350 | £1,200 |
| North / Scotland / Wales | £140 | £280 | £920 |
Guide prices for a typical clearance, scaled with the same regional multipliers as the calculator. Not quotes.
Garden clearance cost in major UK cities
| City | From | Typical | Up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfast | £130 | £260 | £850 |
| Birmingham | £150 | £290 | £980 |
| Bristol | £170 | £330 | £1,100 |
| Cardiff | £140 | £280 | £940 |
| Edinburgh | £150 | £290 | £980 |
| Glasgow | £140 | £270 | £900 |
| Leeds | £140 | £280 | £930 |
| Liverpool | £140 | £280 | £920 |
| London | £200 | £390 | £1,300 |
| Manchester | £140 | £290 | £960 |
| Newcastle | £140 | £270 | £900 |
| Sheffield | £140 | £280 | £920 |
City guide estimates, scaled by local labour costs. Indicative averages for Garden clearance, not quotes.
Clearance teams in London and the South East charge the most, often £250 to £400 a day; rates in the North, Wales and Scotland are typically £180 to £300 a day.
Common questions
How much does garden clearance cost in 2026?
Most UK homeowners pay around £300 to clear a medium, overgrown garden. Prices run from about £150 for a small yard or light tidy-up to £1,000 or more for a large, badly overgrown garden that fills several loads of waste.
What changes the price of garden clearance?
Mainly the size of the garden and how much waste comes out of it. Most firms quote by garden size or by the number of van or skip loads, so a jungle garden that fills several loads costs far more than a light clear-up. Poor access, and having to carry waste through the house, adds time and cost, as do trees, stumps or rubble on top of green waste.
Is it cheaper to hire a skip or a clearance firm?
A skip is cheaper if you are happy to do the cutting and loading yourself; a builder's skip is roughly £250 to £350 including the permit. A full clearance firm costs more because you are paying for the labour to cut back, load and dispose of everything, which for an overgrown garden is the bulk of the work.
Can I clear my own garden to save money?
Yes, and it is the biggest saving. You can strim and cut back yourself and then pay only to have the waste taken away, or hire a skip. The catch is the time and effort of dealing with brambles and thick growth, and the disposal, which is where a firm earns its fee.
How long does a garden clearance take?
A small garden is usually cleared in half a day. A medium garden takes a full day for two people, and a large or seriously overgrown garden can take two to three days depending on how much has to be cut back and carried out.
How often does an overgrown garden need clearing?
A full clearance is normally a one-off to reset a neglected garden. After that, a light maintenance visit once or twice a year, or regular gardening, keeps it under control and stops it becoming an expensive clearance job again.
These are independent guide prices based on typical UK jobs in 2026. Your actual cost depends on your property, spec, access and where you live. Always get at least three written quotes before committing.