How to Quote Gardening Jobs in Australia

Hourly rate vs fixed price — which works better?

Most gardening businesses use a mix of both. Fixed pricing works best for regular maintenance where you know the property — a set price for a weekly mow, edge, and blow gives clients certainty and rewards you for getting faster over time. Hourly rates suit one-off jobs like garden clean-ups and hedge reductions where the scope is harder to predict. A common approach is to quote a fixed price based on an estimated time, then review after the first visit.

Pricing benchmarks for common services

These are typical ranges for metro and regional areas in Australia as of 2026. Your rates should reflect your local market, experience, and overheads.

• •Lawn mowing (standard suburban block): $40–$70 per visit, including edging and blowing
• •Hedge trimming: $40–$80 per hour, or price per metre for long runs ($5–$15/m depending on height and density)
• •Garden clean-up (half day): $250–$450 including green waste removal
• •Garden clean-up (full day): $450–$800 including green waste removal
• •Mulching: $60–$90 per cubic metre supplied and spread
• •Weed spraying: $80–$150 per visit depending on area size
• •Minimum call-out: $50–$80 — never drive to a job for less than this

How to factor in travel time

Travel is a real cost that many gardeners forget to include. Fuel, vehicle wear, and the time itself all eat into your margin. The simplest approach is to set a service area and build travel costs into your base price. If a job is outside your usual area, add an explicit travel charge or increase the per-visit price. A good rule of thumb: if you wouldn't drive there for one job, don't drive there for one job — wait until you have two or three in that area on the same day.

Quoting on the spot vs sending a quote later

Speed wins in gardening. Clients often call two or three gardeners and go with whoever responds first with a clear price. If you can assess the property and give a quote on the spot — or even over the phone for standard mowing — you'll win more work. For larger jobs like full clean-ups or landscaping, visit the property, take photos, and send a written quote within 24 hours. Include a clear scope of what's included, what's not, and any assumptions.

Common quoting mistakes that cost you money

These errors are easy to make and expensive to repeat.

• •Not visiting the property before quoting a clean-up — photos from the client rarely show the full picture
• •Forgetting green waste disposal costs — tip fees or skip bin hire can eat your entire margin on clean-up jobs
• •Underestimating access issues — steep blocks, narrow gates, and long distances from the trailer all add time
• •Quoting the same price for every lawn — a 200 sqm courtyard and a 600 sqm block are very different jobs
• •Not reviewing your prices annually — fuel, dump fees, and equipment costs rise every year
• •Absorbing travel costs on distant one-off jobs instead of charging for them