How Much Does It Cost to Fertilize Your Lawn? [2025 Data]
The average U.S. homeowner spends about $224 for lawn fertilization. Depending on square footage and type, most spend between $72 and $377.
The cost of fertilizing a lawn is $224 on average, but you can expect to pay between $72 and $377 for this professional service. Pricing varies depending on the type of fertilizer, the size of your lawn, and whether you DIY or hire a pro. Let’s dig into how to budget for the cost of a professional lawn fertilization service.
Fertilizer Cost Calculator
Calculations based on the average size of a lawn, which is ⅕ acre. We converted these dimensions to 8,700 square feet. A 50-pound bag of fertilizer covers up to 10,000 square feet. Calculations rounded to the nearest whole number.
| Cost Calculator | Quantity | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Fertilizer Spreading Cost | 50-pound bag of organic fertilizer, including labor | $200–$500 |
| Optional: Mow Lawn | 8,700 square feet | $50–$300 |
| Total | $200–$500 | |
| Total per Square Foot | $0.02–$0.05 | |
| Total with Options | $450–$1,300 | |
| Total per Square Foot with Options | $0.05–$0.14 |
Lawn Fertilization Cost Factors
Labor, tools, and equipment make up 80% to 90% of the total cost of lawn fertilization. For example, the average cost of lawn fertilization is $400. The fertilizer for this project costs $40 to $80, with the remaining $320 to $360 paying for labor and professional equipment.
Size
The square footage of your lawn determines how much you'll pay to fertilize it. The bigger your lawn, the more fertilizer you need, and the longer it’ll take a pro to apply it. Typically, you can expect to pay between $0.02 and $0.08 per square foot for professional lawn fertilization.
However, if you choose to bundle additional lawn care treatments—a common cost-saving practice among homeowners—you can pay as much as $0.40 per square foot. Take a look at some common lawn sizes and the typical costs of professional fertilization without additional services.
| Size | Cost Range (Labor Included) | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq. ft. | $10–$40 | $25 |
| 1,000 sq. ft. | $20–$80 | $50 |
| 2,500 sq. ft. | $50–$200 | $125 |
| 5,000 sq. ft. | $100–$400 | $250 |
| 7,260 sq. ft. (1/6 acre) | $250–$350 | $300 |
| 8,700 sq. ft. (1/5 acre) | $275–$375 | $325 |
| 10,900 sq. ft. (1/4 acre) | $300–$400 | $350 |
| 14,500 sq. ft. (1/3 acre) | $350–$450 | $400 |
| 21,800 sq. ft. (1/2 acre) | $400–$500 | $450 |
| 32,700 sq. ft. (3/4 acre) | $450–$550 | $500 |
| 43,500 sq. ft. (1 acre) | $500–$600 | $550 |
Synthetic or Organic
All fertilizers can help improve the health of your lawn, but before purchasing, it’s important to consider whether you want to invest in synthetic or organic products. Synthetic fertilizers tend to cost less than organic ones, and they're usually faster-acting and more potent. However, even though organic fertilizers are more expensive, they're better for your soil long-term. They nourish and replenish the soil and build better soil health, reducing your lawn's reliance on a constant fertilization cycle.
“Consider organic fertilizers, especially if pets and children use the lawn space,” says Tara Dudley, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Plant Life Designs.
| Fertilizer Type | Cost to Apply 50-pound Bag (Labor Included) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic | $100–$300 | Temporary effects; requires more product; dangerous if misapplied |
| Organic | $200–$500 | Long-term effects; takes longer to work; less hazardous |
Type of Fertilizer
To fertilize between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, you'll pay between $100 and $600. The type of fertilizer has a significant impact on the price you'll pay. The type of fertilizer you need depends on the type of grass, your climate, and any issues your lawn is facing other than basic feed needs.
Your local lawn fertilizer pro can advise you on the best type of lawn fertilizer for your specific needs. Take a look at the typical costs of fertilizing 5,000 to 10,000 square feet with different kinds of fertilizer.
Your local lawn fertilizer pro can advise you on the best type of lawn fertilizer for your specific needs. Take a look at the typical costs of fertilizing 5,000 to 10,000 square feet with different kinds of fertilizer.
| Fertilizer Type | Cost Range for 50-pound bag (Labor Included) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fast release | $110–$310 | Used to give immediate help to lawn |
| Moss and fungus control | $110–$325 | Feeds your lawn while killing off moss and fungus |
| Weed and feed | $110–$325 | Blends nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus to feed the lawn and combat common lawn weeds |
| Granular | $140–$350 | One of the most affordable organic lawn fertilization options |
| Water soluble | $190–$360 | Easy to apply; self-mix and apply with a spraye |
| Liquid | $150–$475 | More costly but easy to use and give the best, longest-lasting results |
| Gradual release | $240–$410 | Slowly releases nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, providing continuous nourishment over a longer period |
| Crystalline | $240–$410 | Provides organic nutrient blends customizable to lawn needs |
Cost of Common Lawn Fertilization Add-Ons
If your lawn has other issues, you can often save money and time by bundling services and having multiple treatments and services simultaneously. Prices vary significantly depending on the treatment required, your lawn size, and the complexity of the task.
| Additional Lawn Fertilization Treatments | Cost Range (Labor Included) | Average Cost (Labor Included) |
|---|---|---|
| Lime treatment | $100–$150 per 1,000 sq. ft. | $125 per 1,000 sq. ft. |
| Crabgrass treatment | $30–$80 | $55 |
| Grub treatment | $30–$80 | $55 |
| Aeration cost | $75–$200 | $140 |
| Mulching | $150–$400 | $225 |
| Dethatching | $265–$295 | $280 |
| Mowing | $50–$300 | $175 |
| Raking | $100–$600 | $350 |
| Soil Test | $10–$30 | $20 |
DIY Lawn Fertilization vs. Hiring a Pro
Applying fertilizer is a relatively simple task and can be done as quickly as 20 minutes. Granular fertilizer is the safest and easiest option for DIYers. The amount of fertilizer you need will vary based on the size of your yard. Depending on the fertilizer type and brand, a bag of fertilizer can cover anywhere from 4,000 to 15,000 square feet.
You’ll also need to purchase a handheld spreader if you have a small lawn or a rolling broadcast spreader if you have a larger lawn. In that case, you’ll need to make a one-time investment of $10 to $65 for a handheld spreader or $50 to $150 for a broadcast spreader.
Of course, if you want to guarantee high-quality results to ensure your lawn grows as well as possible, consider hiring a local lawn fertilization pro. If you're already hiring a pro to mow, rake, or aerate your lawn, adding on fertilization services may be worth the additional expense. Keep in mind that overfertilizing a lawn can harm it, so if you’re uncomfortable using the spreader or keeping track of the fertilization schedule, you may be better off working with a professional.
How to Reduce the Cost of Fertilizing Your Lawn
Want to cut down on your fertilizing budget? Here are some tips to consider.
DIY wherever possible: If you have a small yard with minimal issues, consider fertilizing your yard yourself to reduce labor costs. However, you’ll have to invest in the necessary tools and equipment.
Hire a pro at the end of fall: While the best time to fertilize your lawn is late summer through fall, you may save money on labor costs by hiring a pro during the end of their busy season. Talk with local fertilization services about the right timing for your lawn’s health.
Choose a less expensive fertilizer: Opting to use synthetic instead of organic fertilizer will reduce the cost of materials for this project.
How Angi Gets Its Cost Data
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often you should fertilize your lawn depends on its health. A healthy, lush lawn with good soil health may only need fertilizing once per year. Other lawns with shallow roots or that have been neglected or overly reliant on fertilizers may need an application as often as every six weeks.
You can fertilize right after mowing as long as you've collected the clippings. If you leave grass clipping, they can form a mat that prevents the fertilizer from reaching the soil. Plus, grass clippings are rich in nitrogen, so if you leave them and then apply fertilizer, you can end up with too much nitrogen in the soil.
Overfertilizing can burn and kill the grass as well as upset the soil's nutrient balance, leaving your grass prone to disease and infestation. You'll know that you have overfertilized your burn when you have recently fertilized and begin to see brown and yellow patches of dead grass that need to be reseeded.
The best fertilizer for early spring is an organic slow-release fertilizer that sets up your lawn for continued good health and vigorous growth throughout the whole growing season. If your lawn is particularly neglected or has specific issues, you may need an application of quick-release fertilizer alongside a slow-release one for an immediate boost.
Yes, you can use compost on your lawn alongside or even instead of standard fertilizer. Compost is rich in nutrients and organic matter and restores the balance and health of your soil. It also replenishes depleted soil, adding volume as well as nutrients. It's a great alternative to synthetic slow-release fertilizer. And if you compost at home, you can save money by applying your own compost.
