How Much It Costs to Rent an Aerator [2024 Data]
Because even grass needs a breath of fresh air
How much does it cost to rent an aerator? It’s not too much for most gardeners: Lawn aerators can be rented at a rate of about $55 to $75 for a four-hour window, $80 to $120 per day, or $285 to $500 per week.
Savvy lawn DIYers know that occasionally poking holes in your yard can help it grow even stronger—a process known as lawn aeration. Given this operation usually only needs to be done once every few years, many people choose to rent an aerator rather than buy their own. Here’s a breakdown of aerator rental costs and some more lawn care items you may want to budget for.
| Low Cost | Average Cost | High Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $80 per day | $95 per day | $120 per day |
Aerator Rental Cost Breakdown
How much you’ll spend to rent an aerator depends on several factors, including how long you want to rent it for and what kind of aerator you’re trying to rent. (Most rental companies only offer motorized core aerators, which are the easiest to operate but also the most expensive to buy.)
Cost to Rent a Lawn Aerator by Time
You don’t need your lawn aerator forever—usually just for a few hours. That’s why lawn aerator rentals are priced based on how much time you need the equipment for. Rental companies offer lawn aerators for windows of time as short as two hours and sometimes as long as a whole month.
Here’s a breakdown of how much it costs on average to rent a motorized core lawn aerator, depending on how much time you’ll be using it.
| Rental Time | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Two hours | $40–$60 |
| Four hours | $55–$75 |
| One day | $80–$120 |
| One week | $285–$500 |
| One month | $795–$1,235 |
Cost by Type of Aerator
Most lawn companies only offer one type of aerator—the motorized push core aerator—as rental equipment. (With some local vendors, you may be able to find one of the other types available for rent).
Although mower-style core aerators with engines can be prohibitively expensive to purchase, they’re not the only means of aerating your lawn—and other types can be affordable enough to purchase (or rent at a lower rate).
They may also, however, be more effort-intensive than the average core aerator to use. For example, a manual spike aerator tool might cost as little as $30 to purchase, but to use it you’ll need to physically walk around and stamp holes into each section of your yard. A walk-behind, motorized aerator makes the process much easier.
However, other types of aerators are generally inexpensive enough to purchase. Here’s how much they cost, side-by-side, on average.
| Type of Aerator | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Aerator shoes | $15–$50 |
| Manual spike aerator | $25–$50 |
| Manual core aerator | $25–$100 |
| Non-motorized push aerator | $55–$200 |
| Motorized push aerator | $1,000–$4,000 |
Cost to Rent vs. Buy Your Own Aerator
Because many types of lawns only need to be aerated once every one to three years, many people find it more cost-effective to rent a lawn aerator than to buy one. A push core aerator with an engine—which can be rented by the day for about $100—can easily cost upwards of $1,000 to purchase.
If you only aerate your lawn one day every year after you purchase your aerator, it’ll take 10 years for you to break even on the purchase price. For many lawn lovers, that’s not worth the investment.
Lawn Aeration: Ongoing Expenses
Although lawn aeration usually doesn’t need to be done frequently—for many lawns, once a year or even less will suffice—it is a service that needs to be done regularly at whatever interval works best for your yard. That means aerating your lawn is an expected expense that’s worth budgeting for, whether you choose to rent or purchase your aerator. If you rent, you can simply budget for the rental cost each year. However, if you choose to buy an aerator, don’t forget that you may encounter maintenance costs or repairs.
Many lawn aerators are powered by gas, too, so don’t forget to include fuel costs in your accounting. (Aerators tend to hold less than a single gallon of gas, so if your yard is on the smaller side, this expense won’t be a large one.)
Keep in mind, too, that other lawn maintenance services, like mowing, dethatching, and fertilizing, also come with associated costs to wrap into your overall landscaping budget.
DIY Aeration vs. Hiring a Professional
Many people consider aerating their lawn to be a very DIY-able project—and doing so can save you some money. The average cost to have your lawn professionally aerated is about $75 to $250, potentially with other fees involved for services like mowing, fertilizing, or overseeding the grass.
Since an aerator can usually be rented for $100 a day or less, many people can spend less overall by renting an aerator and doing the job themselves. However, if you want to save yourself time and elbow grease, your local lawn pro will be able to help you aerate your lawn—no fuss, no muss.
Cost of Common Lawn Care Add-Ons
As mentioned above, sometimes, lawn aeration isn’t the only service you need done. If you hire a professional, here are the average costs of some popular lawn care add-on services you might request at the same time.
Lawn mowing cost: $50 to $210
Lawn fertilization cost: $70 to $400
Lawn dethatching or power-raking cost: $100 to $200+
Lawn seeding or reseeding cost: $440 to $1,800
Keep in mind that many lawn service providers will be happy to bundle services at a lower price or offer discounts for regular (i.e., monthly, quarterly, or annual) services.
Ways You Can Save Money on Aerating Your Lawn
For people with large lawns, renting a power aerator and doing the job yourself is a great way to save money while still getting access to the most efficient aeration tool on the market. Unless you aerate very often, chances are it’ll be more cost-effective to rent than to purchase an aerator.
Those with smaller lawns that see less foot traffic may be able to save even more by aerating using a manual core aerator tool, which often costs less than $50 to buy. (Bear in mind, though, that this can be an effort-intensive project, even for small stretches of yard.)
Finally, if you’re planning to go with professional services instead, consider bundling multiple lawn maintenance tasks or signing up for regular services at a discount to keep your costs as low as possible. (Bonus: If you take this route, your job is as simple as sitting back and watching the grass grow—literally.)
Frequently Asked Questions
The most inexpensive ways to aerate a lawn include aerator shoes, which can cost as little as $20 to purchase, and manual spike aerators, which are also affordable—although both methods require a lot more effort than a motorized core aerator. Liquid aerators are another affordable option, but they generally don’t work as well and may require several applications, which negates some of their cost effectiveness.
Strange as it may seem, poking holes in your lawn can do a great deal to help the grass grow back stronger, thicker, and happier. By allowing light, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil, the grass can root down deeper and get more of what it needs to thrive. All of which is to say, if you care about the appearance of your lawn, yes, lawn aeration is usually worth the money—especially since it’s not that expensive.
Lawn aerators range in cost depending on what type of aerator you’re purchasing. For example, a manual spike aerator might cost as little as $25, while a motorized core aerator will likely cost more than $1,000. Fortunately, these expensive pieces of equipment can be easily rented from many vendors for far less money.
The proper frequency of aeration depends on the type of grass and soil you have, as well as how much foot traffic your lawn sees. If you have kids or pets who regularly play in your yard, you may need to aerate as often as twice a year to combat soil compaction, while those with more decorative lawns may only need to aerate once every three years or so.
While the specific best time to aerate your lawn depends on the type of grass you have, the rule of thumb is to aerate during your lawn’s peak growing season—and to avoid aerating during dormancy. For most lawns, that means aerating in the late summer or early fall, but for certain types, like St. Augustine grass, it’s best to aerate in the late spring or early summer.