How Much Does Bush Hogging Cost?
In Tampa Bay, bush hogging typically runs $75 to $400 an acre depending on how tall and thick the growth is, and most small lots cost $300 to $550 a visit. We quote a firm flat rate up front, so the number you approve is the number you pay. Send your address or parcel ID and a few photos and we'll quote most jobs the same day.
Typical bush hogging prices in Tampa Bay (2026)
| The job | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Small lot, up to about 1 acre (most code violation cuts) | $300–$550 per visit |
| Field or pasture on a regular schedule, grass under knee-high | $75–$125 per acre |
| Overgrown grass and weeds, waist-high | $125–$225 per acre |
| Heavy growth: thick brush and saplings up to 1", a first cut on neglected ground | $225–$400 per acre |
| Large open tracts on a schedule, 20 acres and up | $60–$100 per acre |
What that looks like on real jobs
- A quarter-acre city lot with a code notice: about $300–$450.
- One acre of waist-high grass and weeds: about $350–$550.
- Five acres of pasture that was cut last season: about $400–$700.
- Ten acres that have gone waist-high: about $1,250–$2,250.
Typical ranges for Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee counties in 2026, including hauling the tractor to your property and back. A small job at the far edge of our service area, a long way from our Gibsonton base, sits at the top of the small-lot range. Your firm price comes with your quote.
Hourly rate vs. flat rate
An hourly rate looks simple, but it tells you very little about what you'll pay. Production ranges from about a quarter acre to four acres an hour, depending on the machine, the operator and how thick the growth is. At a quarter acre an hour, four acres is a 16-hour job; at four acres an hour, it's one hour. Same property, same hourly rate, very different bill. Hourly operators around Tampa Bay commonly charge roughly $85 to $150 an hour, and most also charge for travel time to and from the job on top of that.
A flat rate puts that risk on the contractor instead of you. We look at the property, quote one price that includes everything, and stick to it.
What sets the price
| What we look at | Costs less | Costs more |
|---|---|---|
| How much needs cutting | One open area | More ground, or many separate sections |
| How tall and thick it is | Cut last season, grass and weeds | Waist-high or taller, thick brush, saplings |
| The ground | Level, dry and firm | Slopes, ditches, soft or wet spots |
| What's in the way | Open field | Trees, fences, stumps, debris, things hidden in the grass |
| Getting in | Open frontage or a wide gate | Tight or awkward access for a tractor |
| Hauling the tractor in | Larger jobs, where the trip is a small share of the work | Small jobs, where the trip is a bigger share |
| How often it's cut | On a regular schedule | A first cut on ground that's gotten away |
Only the area to be cut counts, not the whole parcel. Tell us if parts of the property are wooded, wet or fenced off.
The first cut costs the most
The first cut on a property that has gotten away from its owner is the hardest one: the taller and thicker the growth, the longer it takes. Once the property is on a regular schedule, the cost per visit is much lower. In the Tampa Bay area most properties benefit from a cut 2–4 times a year; to keep one looking maintained, plan on every 6–8 weeks in peak growing season and every 10–12 weeks in the cooler months. How often should I bush hog my property?
Timing matters too. Rainy season growth can push vegetation up a foot or more a month, so a lot that's quick to cut in May can be a much bigger job by August.
What our flat rate includes
- Bringing the tractor and cutter to your property and back. No travel-time charges.
- The cutting itself, with operators who each have 10+ years' experience.
- Photos of the finished work, which also serve as documentation for a code enforcement officer.
- Proof of liability insurance before work begins, if you ask for it.
Is it cheaper to rent a bush hog?
Usually not. You'd need a heavy-duty truck to tow it, then you load, unload, run, fuel and return it, and you're responsible for anything that breaks. Rental tractors tend to be under-powered with dull blades, which leads to overheating and repair bills. Add it all up and hiring a professional with a high-horsepower machine usually costs the same or less, and the job comes out better. Is it cheaper to rent a bush-hog?
How to keep the cost down
- Cut before it gets tall. Get ahead of the rainy season instead of waiting for a notice.
- Get on a schedule. Recurring visits cost much less each than a first cut.
- Clear and mark the property. Remove or flag pipes, stakes, sprinkler heads, septic covers and debris. How to prepare
- Tell us exactly what to cut. Mark the areas to skip.
- Send photos. The whole area, the way in, and anything in the way. They let us quote without a site visit.
Get your price
Send the address or parcel ID (no address? the folio number or ownership name works), roughly how much needs cutting, how tall it is now, and a few photos. Most jobs are estimated the same day. Got a code violation notice? Tick the box on the form and add your deadline. Code violation mowing
All our bush hogging services · Acreage & pasture mowing · Where we work
Bush hogging in Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Bradenton.
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