Garden clearance pricing in the usually falls into two main styles:
- Hourly/day rate (common when the scope is uncertain until work starts)
- Fixed price (more common when photos/video make the scope clear)
In 2026, most homeowner clearances land in a practical range of £150–£600 depending on size, overgrowth level, access, and waste removal — with extremes higher for neglected gardens or heavy waste.
Typical garden clearance prices
1) Hourly rates
Published ranges commonly sit around:
- £45–£65 per hour (Bark price guide)
- £45–£150 per hour depending on complexity (MyBuilder’s 2026 cost guide page)
Some general gardener rates often appear in the £30–£50 per hour band, with clearance typically higher due to tools, labour intensity, and waste.
Reality check: clearance work is usually priced higher than routine mowing/weeding because it’s heavier, messier, and includes disposal logistics.
2) Fixed job prices
As a broad guide, MyBuilder’s 2026 pricing suggests:
Overgrown garden clearance: £200–£600
- Basic clearance sometimes £120–£350; more complex/heavily overgrown £400–£600 (regional examples)
Checkatrade’s clearance cost guide gives an average style benchmark of £52.50/hour and £210 per load.
3) Waste removal costs
Waste can make or break the quote.
MyBuilder lists:
Waste removal: £60–£360 per load
Checkatrade’s separate waste guide suggests garden waste removal can vary widely depending on method/type — from low cost to several hundred pounds.
Practical takeaway: two similar-looking gardens can price very differently if one has mostly green waste and the other has soil, rubble, mixed waste, fencing, or heavy brambles.
What affects your garden clearance quote
1) Overgrowth type
- Long grass + light weeds = faster
- Brambles/ivy/self-seeded shrubs = slower, more tool wear, more waste volume
2) Access
Quotes rise if:
narrow side access
steps
long drag to the front
no nearby parking
3) Waste volume and disposal method
Bagging only vs loading into a vehicle
Number of trips / loads
- Whether you want all waste removed (most customers do)
4) Extras beyond clearance
If you want the garden to look finished, price changes if you add:
hedge reduction
shrub pruning
stump removal
bed edging
final tidy + re-seed/mulch
Example cost scenarios
These are typical ranges based on the published guides above — your actual quote depends on photos and access.
Small garden tidy clearance
- £150–£350 (often includes a minimum charge + waste)
Medium garden, overgrown
- £250–£600
Large neglected garden
£600–£1,000+ is plausible, especially with multiple loads or bulky waste.
How to get the best value
If you’re comparing quotes, ask:
Is waste removal included? If yes, how many loads/trips?
- What counts as clearance vs tidy finish? (edge lines, blowing down paths, etc.)
- What happens if the garden is worse than photos suggest? (fixed price vs hourly extension)
Also, the ’s waste duty of care principle means you should ensure waste is handled properly.
Want a fast quote for your garden clearance?
Send:
2 wide photos
2 close-ups of the worst areas
1 photo of side access / route to remove waste