How much to charge for landscaping
Enter the length, width and depth of the mulch. We work out the bags and build the quote with your labor.
QUOTE
Landscaping
- Labor8 h × $25.00/h$200.00
- Mulch11 bags$55.00
- Subtotal$255.00
- Overhead (10%)$25.50
- Profit (15%)$42.08
TOTAL$322.58
Example numbers: replace them with yours.
Is your rate right?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes what employers pay per hour in this trade. A wage is not a rate: your rate also has to cover your overhead and your profit.
National average (May 2025): $20.33 an hour; median: $18.82 an hour.
See this trade’s wage in every state
If you have helpers, work out their overtime at Cuenta Horas: overtime calculator
How it is worked out
The bags come from the Maestro Calc mulch calculator: length × width × depth, plus the waste you enter, divided by the volume printed on the bag and rounded up.
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge by the hour or by the square foot?
Both work. By the hour is simpler when you do not know how long it will take; by the square foot is easier to explain to the client. The calculator takes either, and you type your own price, because only you know your costs and your market.
What if the job is only mowing?
Set the price per bag to 0 and charge only the labor, by the hour or by the square foot. The quote still comes out itemized.
How much does a bag of mulch cover?
Divide the volume of the bag by the depth in feet. A 2 cu ft bag covers 12 sq ft at 2 inches deep (2 ÷ 2/12) and 8 sq ft at 3 inches; a 3 cu ft bag covers 18 and 12 sq ft; a 1.5 cu ft bag, 9 and 6 sq ft. The deeper the layer, the more bags for the same bed.
What overhead and profit percentages should I use?
The ones your business needs. Add to the labor and the material what you spend on vehicle, insurance, tools and office time, and what you want to earn. There is no percentage that is right for everyone, so the calculator does not make one up: the starting numbers are only an example.