Fall cleanup is one of those services with a maddening price range online — quotes vary widely for what looks like the same job. The difference is almost never the leaves; it's lot size, tree cover, and what happens to the debris after it's collected. Here's how pricing actually works in the Denver Metro area.
How fall cleanup is priced here
Most Denver-area companies price fall cleanup in tiers based on lot type and tree cover rather than measured square footage. At Drift Exteriors, our tiers look like this:
| Tier | Starting at | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| Small | $125 | Townhomes, patio homes, smaller single-family lots (much of Commerce City, smaller Thornton properties) |
| Medium | $200 | Standard single-family homes (much of Arvada, Thornton, Broomfield) |
| Large | $325 | Larger single-family lots (much of Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch) |
| Estate | Custom quote | Larger acreage or heavy tree cover — quoted on-site |
"Starting at" matters: add-ons below are the honest variable in most fall cleanup quotes, and any company that won't tell you theirs before booking is one to be cautious of.
The add-ons that move the price
- Pine needles — starting at an additional $65. Needles interlock into a mat that leaves don't, so they take different tools and more time.
- Wet or compacted leaves — starting at $50. Leaves rained on or trampled into the grass can weigh several times what dry leaves do.
- Haul-away — around $8 per bag if you'd rather not keep debris for your city's curbside leaf collection. Curbside bagging is typically included in the base price.
Bundling with gutter cleaning
Falling leaves end up in your gutters as often as on your lawn, so many homeowners book both at once. Bundled same-visit pricing typically runs about 10% below booking the two separately. With a $200 gutter cleaning minimum as the anchor, the bundle is one of the better values in exterior maintenance.
Season pass vs. one-off visits
If your yard has heavy tree cover, a season pass — three visits timed to the leaf drop — usually beats three one-off bookings. Example: a Medium-tier season pass at $525 versus $600 booked separately, a 12.5% effective discount. For lighter lots, a single late-fall visit is usually the smarter buy.
Quick summary
Small lots start around $125, standard homes around $200, and larger lots around $325. Pine needles, wet leaves, and haul-away are the main price movers — and a tier confirmation based on your address or a yard photo should always be free.
Ways to save
- Book early — the two weeks before the first sticking snow are the busiest of the season.
- Book three visits as a season pass instead of separately.
- Bundle gutter cleaning into the same visit.
- Use curbside bagging instead of haul-away if your city collects leaves.
- Send your address or a yard photo for a firm tier confirmation before booking — no guessing, no surprises.
