Garden maintenance in Stockholm costs roughly 500 to 800 SEK per hour before the deduction (2026 estimates), so about 250 to 400 SEK after the 50 percent RUT deduction. Maintaining an existing garden qualifies; creating something new does not. That distinction is the most important thing to understand before you book.
What does it cost?
Most companies charge by the hour. 2026 estimates:
| Before RUT | After RUT | |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate, one gardener | 500–800 SEK | 250–400 SEK |
| Hedge trimming, per linear metre | 40–90 SEK | 20–45 SEK |
These are estimates, not quotes. Price depends on the size of the plot, the length and height of the hedge, how accessible the garden is for machinery, and whether you want recurring maintenance or a one-off visit. A recurring contract almost always carries a lower hourly rate than isolated visits.
Which jobs qualify for RUT?
RUT gives 50 percent off the labour cost, up to the annual ceiling per person (Skatteverket). These count as maintenance and qualify:
- Lawn mowing and edge trimming
- Hedge trimming and shaping
- Weeding beds and paths
- Leaf clearing and autumn tidying
- Pruning shrubs and smaller trees
- Snow clearing and gritting on the plot
- Watering and simple planting in existing beds
Why landscaping does not qualify
This is the most common misunderstanding. RUT covers maintenance of an existing garden. Creating something new counts as construction work and qualifies for neither RUT nor ROT:
- Laying a new lawn, including rolled turf
- Building new beds, walls or paving
- Building a deck, fence or pergola
- Drainage, groundwork and excavation
- Installing an irrigation system
The line runs between maintaining and creating. If the company trims your existing hedge, that is RUT. If they plant an entirely new hedge, that is landscaping. If you are unsure, ask the company to itemise the two parts separately on the quote.
Removing garden waste
Branches, leaves and grass cuttings often need taking away. The labour of gathering and loading qualifies for RUT, but the transport to a recycling centre does not, because transport to recycling is not a household service.
For that reason companies usually put waste removal on its own invoice line. Ask in advance so you are not surprised by a line with no deduction. If you have a trailer, doing that part yourself is usually cheaper.
Recurring maintenance or a one-off?
A recurring contract suits you if you want a consistent standard: mowing every other week in season, hedge trimming a couple of times a year, and spring and autumn tidying. It costs less per hour and you avoid booking each time.
A one-off visit suits spring cleanup, autumn cleanup, or tackling a neglected plot. Expect more hours the first time, since a garden left for a season takes considerably longer than one maintained regularly.
Season: when to book
- March–April: spring tidying, pruning fruit trees, clearing old leaves
- May–September: ongoing mowing, weeding, hedge trimming
- July–August: hedge trimming, but avoid hedges where birds are nesting
- October–November: leaf clearing, autumn tidying, winter preparation
- December–February: snow clearing, planning for the season ahead
Book well ahead for spring and autumn. Those are the two periods when everyone wants help at once, and companies are fully booked weeks in advance.
Keeping the cost down
- Take a recurring contract rather than isolated visits
- Combine several jobs into one visit, hedge and lawn together
- Take the waste away yourself if you can, since that part earns no deduction anyway
- Make the garden accessible, clearing furniture and toys beforehand
- Check the labour cost is itemised separately on the invoice
Two ways to lose the deduction
Paying cash. Since 2020, ROT and RUT require electronic payment: card, Swish, BankID or a bank transfer. Cash means the deduction is lost entirely, however properly the work was done.
Hiring a relative. The person doing the work must not be related to you. That covers a spouse, cohabiting partner, parents, children, siblings and their families. More in the RUT deduction.
Common questions
What does garden maintenance cost?
Roughly 500 to 800 SEK per hour before the deduction as a 2026 estimate, about 250 to 400 SEK after RUT.
Does garden work qualify for the RUT deduction?
Yes, 50 percent on the labour for mowing, hedge trimming, weeding, leaf clearing and pruning (Skatteverket).
Why does landscaping not qualify for RUT?
RUT covers maintaining an existing garden. Laying a lawn, building beds or paving is construction work and earns no deduction.
Is removing garden waste included?
Sometimes. The transport to recycling is not eligible for RUT.
Do plants and materials qualify?
No, RUT applies to the labour only.
Does tree felling qualify for RUT?
Pruning and smaller trees normally count as maintenance. Larger felling is assessed differently, so check with the company.
Related guides: gardening services in Stockholm and the RUT deduction. Back to gardening in Stockholm.