How Much to Charge for Bush Hogging Per Acre
Bush hogging is priced per acre for open, maintained ground and hourly for heavy, overgrown, or obstacle-filled fields. A job minimum and a stated travel charge matter more than the per-acre number, because loading, hauling, and unloading a tractor cost the same on five acres as on fifty.
Per acre, with conditions
Set a base per-acre rate for open, previously maintained ground, then step up from there.
| Condition | Pricing |
|---|---|
| Open, maintained annually | Base per-acre |
| Moderate growth, some obstacles | Higher per-acre |
| Heavy / first cut in years | Hourly, quoted after inspection |
| Steep, wet, or ditched ground | Hourly |
| Small acreage | Job minimum applies |
The three lines that decide profitability
- Job minimum — covers loading and hauling.
- Mobilization / travel — beyond a stated radius.
- Condition surcharge — the first cut is not a maintenance cut.
Never quote heavy ground sight-unseen
“It’s about ten acres, a little grown up.”
That sentence has cost every operator in this trade a day. Look at it, then quote it — hourly.
Bill from the cab
Same-day invoicing puts you ahead of every other bill a landowner is holding — see custom farm work invoicing.
Frequently asked questions
When should I switch from per-acre to hourly?
When growth is heavy, the ground is rough, or there are trees, ditches, and obstacles. Per-acre assumes a predictable pass rate — the moment that assumption breaks, hourly is the only fair unit for both sides.
Why do I need a minimum?
Because hauling equipment is fixed cost. Loading, driving, unloading, and reloading takes the same time for a three-acre job as a thirty-acre one, and per-acre pricing alone makes small jobs a loss.
Should I charge more for the first cut?
Yes. A field that hasn't been touched in three years is a different job from an annual maintenance cut, and it should be quoted hourly or at a substantially higher per-acre rate after you've seen it.
How should travel be handled?
A stated trip or mobilization charge beyond a free radius. Rural work means real distance, and quietly absorbing it is how per-acre rates stop working.