How Much Lawn Mowing Cost

Factors Which Can Influence Lawnmowing Prices

Size of the lawn to mow as you would expect, the bigger the yard, the more time needed to mow it and the higher the lawn mowing cost

Density of the grass some types of grass are easy to breeze the mower through, but other types of grass are thicker to mow and therefore take more time and result in more clippings to remove

Height of the grass if a lawn has not been mowed for a while, it might need to be whipper snippered first, to get it down to a height that is easier to mow

Terrain and access a flat yard with no obstructions is much quicker to mow than a sloped yard and/or only accessible by stairs

Obstacles in the yard such as trees or garden features to mow around, trampolines or guinea pig cages to move, palm fronds to take off the lawn

Amount of edging footpaths, stepping stones, trees, swimming pool, garden features and/or multiple lawn sections can create extra edging work that adds time and money to a lawn mowing quote

Whipper snipper or edging tool most mowing guys will edge lawns with a whipper snipper, but for customers who prefer they use a specific edging tool, this too can add time and money to the lawn mowing cost

Clippings it takes time to collect the clippings, empty the catcher and get mowing again

Waste removal and dump fees if the mowing guy is unable to put the clippings in the wheelie bin , then the clippings need to be taken a dump/tip which incurs dump fees and labour fees

Lawn striping will add to how much your lawn mowing costs

So How Much Should I Charge For Lawn Mowing

As you can see, so many different variables go into establishing a cost. Its important to do whats best for you, but having some structure is a good idea. Perhaps create a scoring system for each factor that affects your cost. This way, you can match up a score with an appropriate figure when quoting a client.

There’s some helpful information in the forum of the Independent Lawn Mowing Contractors of Australia, where you can gain hands on advice from other professionals on what to charge specifically. The below video from Lawn Care Life goes into the different factors that go into pricing your lawn mowing services.

What Our Research Indicates About Landscaping Rates

GreenPal recently conducted a poll of over 10,000 lawn care service providers all over the country about how much they charge for weekly or bi-weekly lawn mowing services.

As it turns out.

78% of lawn care professionals we polled responded they charge at least $60 per man per hour. Or $1 a minute.

Next. 12% responded they charge on average $50 per man per hour

Lastly, 10% responded they charge $40 per man per hour or less

But thats just part of the story

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Why The Cost Of Lawn Mowing Varies

The cost of lawn mowing varies because the cost of living varies from area to area for starters. I learned this very quickly talking about prices and wages on my lawn and landscape YouTube channel. I was ignorant to this before getting feedback in the comments.

Also, legitimate businesses pay roughly 25-40% of the money they make to the government in taxes, insurance, and other hoops they are forced to abide by. If you aren’t a business owner, that may shock you…it’s true.

So, if you are getting really low quotes, you are risking disaster if that company gets hurt on your property or damages your property, you could very well be sued or at least out of pocket for the damaged property.

How Often Should A Lawn Be Mowed

When its growing, a lawn may be mown every one or two weeks. You dont want to allow it to get too short because that risks sun damage. In the winter, you may need it once a month. Lawn experts recommend that you enable enough time between mows to allow your lawn to dry out. This encourages root growth.

Dependent upon:

Season

In the winter, its inadvisable to mow too often. In the summer, you are likely to need services about two weeks apart.

The type of lawn you have

Certain types of grass grow more quickly than others. Plus, a weedy lawn tends to look untidy faster than a uniformly planted lawn. Some examples of grass are unusually thick and take longer to mow.

Condition of the Lawn

If your grass is already quite high, your first mow may require a higher fee. Sometimes a lawn care company must do whipper snipping before running the mower. Since this may take twice the time, it maybe twice the cost. A big clean-up job will cost even more where shrubs, trees and obstacles are involved.

Where you live

The climate will be a significant factor in how slowly or quickly your lawn grows. It may also impact lawn mowing rates if theres a bigger demand.

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How Do You Choose The Right Lawn Care Provider For You

You may never know by looking at someone that they are going to provide high-quality lawn care services, but you can certainly improve your chances in a few easy ways. The first thing you can do is ask for recommendations. Talk to family and friends and other people who hire someone to mow their lawns.

If they like the job they are getting from their lawnmower, then they will be happy to recommend them. Whats more, many lawn care professionals are only too happy to receive referrals from their loyal client base.

If you dont know anyone who hires someone to take care of their lawns, then look online. Check out online reviews for local lawn care companies and find out what people are saying about specific people, companies, and franchises.

/4 Acre Lot Lawn Mowing Service Cost

$50 Lawn Example

Amount of Grass: 6,300 Sq. Ft

Lot Size: 10,200 Sq. Ft

Notable characteristics:

• Corner lot This typically means the amount of sidewalk edging is 2x of an inline home, which adds time to the job.
• Fences Small fence gates keep us from using our most efficient lawn mowers as they may not fit through the gate.
• Its flat Steep slopes are not only a little dangerous to mow at times, they also require us to really time our time.

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Can A Client Dispute A Lawn Care Contract

No Lawn Care Contracts Using no contract or documentation for the lawn care service you provide can be risky. If the client chooses to dispute an aspect of your agreement, you wont have a paper trail to back you up. If you end up in court over the issue, its going to be tough for you to prove a verbal agreement.

What Should I Beware Of

One thing to be mindful of when comparing lawn-mowing prices is whether the quote youre getting seems reasonable.

Also, keep in mind that a lawn-mowing professional or company might try to bump up the price simply because you live in a fancy neighborhood. Why? Because they think you can afford it, Farley says.

Regardless of what sort of neighborhood you live in, there are some things you can do to avoid lawn care rip-offs. The Better Business Bureau, Better Homes & Gardens, HomeAdvisor and the National Association of Lawn Care Professionals offer these tips:

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How Much Do Gardening Services Cost

You may have been using the same gardener for the last few years but it doesnt mean youre getting the best bang for your buck. Please note, these prices should only be used as a guide and quotes will vary based on the situation and individual work performed.

The average hourly rate for gardeners in New Zealand is $40-65. Some gardeners will charge slightly differently e.g. $1 a minute or just have a fixed price for a job.

Pricing estimates:

Lawn Mowing: Cost Per 1/4 Acre

Many neighborhood subdivisions have ‘1/4 acre’ lots. This does not mean you have 10,890 sq. ft. of grass, or 1/4 of the total square feet in an acre. Your home and driveway, etc. account for some of this square footage.

In most areas, 1/4 acre lots cost $45 to have a mowing service mow your lawn. This is a standard minimum charge for a mowing service from a legitimate company.

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Dont Forget To Price Special Services And Materials Differently

Special services like mowing, mulching, and weed control and fertilization application should be priced accordingly, rather than lumped into one cost.

Jason explains that these are actually very different services because they require different types of labor.

Weed control and fertilization, for example, is typically a one-person operation, so your labor is cut downand that one person can actually generate a lot more revenue than one person can mowing, he explains.

But there are expenses in the weed control: the actual fertilizer, weed control product, labor, and drive timeall those things are factors.

The main thing Im concerned with is how big the actual yard is, and the actual amount of turf that Im going to be applying the fertilizer or herbicide to. The bigger the yard, the more of the product Im using. Thats my biggest expense, Jason explains.

So, Im pricing strictly based on the square footage. I need to get an accurate measurement of the square footage of the lawn so that I know how to price it. Then I use a pricing chart that shows square footage from 2,000 square feet all the way up to 30,000 square feet.

I can then look at my pricing chart and give them a price quickly. So as the square footage goes up, the price per square foot actually goes down.

Multiple Cutting Height Adjustments

With some mowers , users can raise or lower the mowing deck to adjust for different grass types and lengths. In case you let your grass get extra long between cuts or you use multiple species of grass in your yard, being able to adjust the cutting height could be a useful bonus for your mower.

Usually, youll adjust the deck with a single or dual lever that should be simple to operate. The easier the controls are to use and the wider the range of heights, the more expensive a mower will be. That goes for both push and riding mowers.

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Cost Of Weeding Your Lawn

Wedding your lawn is also very important maintenance. Removing unwanted and unsightly weeds is a sure way to improve the appearance of your lawn. If you have a regular lawn care professional who does your weekly mowing and trimming, you can ask them to get rid of the weeds on their next visit. There are a couple ways to go about weeding your lawn. You can pull them regularly or you can kill them with chemicals designed for the job for a more permanent solution.

The average cost of weeding is about $12 and $40 per hour, depending on which method you choose and how many weeds you have. Using weed killer is usually the more expensive route and cost closer to the $25 – $40 per hour mark since you are paying for labor and the chemicals.

Many weed killers are environmentally safe and pet friendly, but some are not. Be sure to consult a lawn care professional before making decisions on which path to take.

How Much Does A Lawn Mowing Service Cost

Here comes the million-dollar question, how much does lawn mowing service cost? It is essential to know the charges of the service so that you can make sure whether it is affordable for you and should you invest your money in this,

An average lawn mowing price ranges from $30 to $80 per visit by the lawn mowers. The price is determined based on every square footage of the lawn, and more significant cutting projects may include more substantial costs.

Most of the lawn mowing services out there charge a very flat rate for mowing your lawn. They may incur extra charges for providing services like leaf-blowing, edging, and seasonal cleanups, although you can be the judge of how often you need the lawn mowing service. It can be weekly, bi-weekly, etc. as per your requirement.

Some of the lawn mowing services price you individually, or some may offer monthly or weekly packages. A standard lawn mowing service includes assessment, which means the experts will first examine your lawn and then create a plan so that the grass in your lawn is always in good condition and charge you for the same. Some lawn mowing services also offer fertilization options, whenever required. The fertilizers will enhance the growth of your garden grass and keep them looking lush and healthy. This service charge is also included in the estimate.

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Find Out The Track Record

Ask how long a lawn care provider has been in business. What level of experience and education does the person or a providers staff have? Also, is the provider properly licensed and insured?

Unfortunately, some providers are fly-by-night operators that havent been in business very long and are interested only in taking your money, not in providing top-notch service. As noted by MarketWatch, providing lawn care requires little more than some equipment and a business license. Almost no training is required.

How Often Should You Mow Your Lawn

Most lawns in good health will benefit from being mown every two weeks in the growing season, and once a month on the winter. This will also depend on where you live, how long the growing season is and what variety of lawn you have. The key is to not cut it too short otherwise it can be damaged by the sun.

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How Much Does It Cost To Hire A Lawn Care Company

You can also hire a lawn care expert or professional lawn care company, which will bring your lawn fertilizing cost up to about $60 per hour, on average. The more experience someone has, the more it will cost. That said, if you go with an expert you will do the least amount of work and you will likely get the best results. Return to Top

Factor In Overhead And Equipment

Once youve got labor sorted, its time to add the cost of general supplies and overhead.

Overhead can include phone bills, office space, internet, vehicle payments, and gas. But, one of the most overlooked costs is maintenance and equipment.

Equipment should be factored into each job as an expense. Its expensive to purchase and maintain equipmenteven a basic mower needs its engine repaired, spark plug replaced, and oil changed. If you have more expensive equipment, then costing this into your price is critical.

Edward explains, the fact is that equipment has to drive revenue. It could cost you $20,000 to buy, and thats $20,000 to replace down the line, plus maintenance. We include all this in our final price.

So, how do you cost that into your lawn care pricing?

Edward explains, I think of it this way: I need to be making $100 an hour to use expensive equipment to make it worthwhile for commercial and residential work.

Youll want to buy something new again eventually, he says, so you do need enough profit to do thatmaybe its a couple dollars a job over the course of a year. Maybe its a percentage of all jobs, or the jobs you use that equipment on. The rule of thumb for me is that I charge two times the hourly rate of labor just to have the equipment on the site.

Pro tip: some professionals tack on an additional 15%-20% on top of their estimate to account for overhead costs.

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How Much Does It Cost To Mow A Lawn

According to HowMuch.net, the average cost for mowing a lawn is a penny per square foot plus $30 per hour. If you have a 5,000-square-foot lawn and it takes someone about 2.5 hours to mow it, edge it and handle the clippings, you’re looking at $125 for the service.

But that’s just an average based on very basic lawn care services. Your cost could be higher or lower depending on a variety of factors.

Does The Size Of The Grass Affect The Price

So far, all the prices weve presented represent normal sized grass. If youve let yours grow wild, for whatever reason, expect the costs to rise. As a rough estimate, heres our lawn care costs table for people who love to let their gardens grow:

Although the prices rise in line with your gardens size, you could see financial benefits in certain circumstances. For example, if youre trying to sell your house, having a pristine lawn gives it greater kerb appeal.

Additionally, if youre self-employed or you work from home, the hours you save when hiring someone to cut your grass go back into your business. Essentially, the cost of lawn care pays for itself in these circumstances.

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Riding Lawn Mower Brands

Husqvarna makes some of the most highly acclaimed lawn tractors and zero-turn riding mowers on the market. They tend to be durable, powerful, and packed with useful features. The best part? Theyre also more affordable than other riding lawn mowers, with a low-end price of $1,599 and a high-end price of $5,450.

Ariens specializes in riding lawn mowers, and many of its models have commercial-grade construction and features. These durable machines are a higher-end option for homeowners who are serious about lawn care. The cheapest Ariens riding mower is about $2,899, while the most expensive is about $6,999.