Photo: Tdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
One core-aeration visit for a typical suburban lawn (about 5,000 sq ft to 1/4 acre); overseeding and fertilizer extra.
Lawn Aeration typically costs $80 to $200 per project (national average as of 2026). Most straightforward jobs start near $80 per project. Final pricing depends on material quality, project scope, local labor rates, and site conditions. Use our free calculator below for a personalized estimate.
Quality Level
Estimated Total Cost
Standard Quality
National average — enter your ZIP for local prices.
Estimates are approximate and vary by location, project scope, and current market conditions. Contact a local contractor for an accurate quote.
$68 – $170 per project
Single pass with a core aerator across open lawn, plugs left to break down, sprinkler heads avoided
$80 – $200 per project
Core aeration in a full pass plus extra passes on compacted spots, sprinkler heads flagged, plugs left
$100 – $250 per project
Double-pass core aeration in crossing directions, sprinkler heads flagged, walks blown clean, plugs left to break down
| Component | Category | Low | High | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $36 | $90 | job |
| Labor | labor | $28 | $70 | job |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $9.60 | $24 | job |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $6.40 | $16 | job |
One core-aeration visit for a typical suburban lawn (about 5,000 sq ft to 1/4 acre); overseeding and fertilizer extra.
Typical lawn aeration pricing range per project.
Starting price $80 per project. National average as of 2026. This is a directional range. Final pricing depends on scope, materials, access, and local labor rates.
Estimates are approximate and vary by location, project scope, and current market conditions. Contact a local contractor for an accurate quote.
Soil core plug pulled by a lawn aerator lying in grass beside its hole
Lawn Aeration usually lands between $80 to $200 per project. That range reflects current national calculator data after materials, labor, supplies, equipment, and disposal are rolled together. Your real quote will move based on quantity, site conditions, finish level, and contractor availability in your ZIP code.
One core-aeration visit for a typical suburban lawn (about 5,000 sq ft to 1/4 acre); overseeding and fertilizer extra.
Material selections can move the budget faster than anything else, with current material allowances landing around $36 to $90 per project.
Labor complexity is the next major swing factor, with installation or trade time currently averaging $28 to $70 per project.
Smaller consumables still matter, because supplies are contributing about $9.60 to $24 per project.
Specialty tools, access equipment, cleanup, and disposal can add another $6.40 to $16 per project.
Scope changes, premium finishes, difficult access, demolition, and permit requirements can push the total toward the high end of the range. Cleaner access, standard finishes, and bundled work often keep the job closer to the low end.
Get multiple itemized bids, ask contractors to separate materials from labor, and confirm what is included before you compare totals. Scheduling during a slower season and bundling adjacent work can also reduce mobilization costs.
Keep specifications tight before work starts. Change orders are one of the fastest ways to blow past the original budget, especially when material lead times or specialty trades are involved.
DIY can make sense when you already own the tools, understand the prep requirements, and can tolerate schedule risk. Hiring a pro is usually the better move when mistakes would affect finish quality, code compliance, waterproofing, structural performance, or warranty coverage.
View local pricing for lawn aeration across 51 states.
Find contractors who list this service and ask for a written quote.
Cost guides for property owners. Contractor ID for the shops who do the work.
Lawn surface covered in rows of aeration holes and soil plugs
Photo: Tdorante10 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisGas-powered walk-behind core aerator on a lawn
Photo: Guipozjim · CC BY 3.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisGrass with fresh aeration holes and extracted soil cores
Photo: Guipozjim · CC BY 3.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisUse the calculator range of $80 to $200 per project as your baseline, then compare that against the time, tool rentals, material waste, and rework risk you would take on by doing the project yourself.
Most lawn aeration jobs start with site review, measurements, and material confirmation. From there the crew usually handles preparation, core installation or repair work, cleanup, and a final walkthrough to confirm the finished scope matches the quote.
Ask each contractor how they handle protection of adjacent finishes, debris removal, and change approvals. Those three points tend to separate a clean project from an expensive headache.