How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost?

Make sure you’re prepared for your upcoming phone call with a local yard care service to avoid unfair rates. Here’s what you can expect when iit comes to average lawn mowing costs.

The cost of cutting your lawn varies primarily with size, but it’s affected by other factors, too. We’ve broken it down by acre, but realize that most of the cost associated with mowing relates to the effort related to showing up to do it—not simply the size of the mowing job to be done.

By Acre

The size of your lawn plays the largest role in determining your overall lawn mowing cost. A yard under one acre generally costs $150 to $200, but for a closer estimate you’ll need to consider your local topography. The more grass you have, the heftier your expenses will be.

If you discover the quoted prices to mow your lawn veer toward the extreme low or high end of the spectrum, you may have a unique terrain, neglected grass or transport costs. Each lawn requires its own special treatment plan.

Yard Characteristics

Not only does lawn size affect your final price, as noted in the chart above, but so does lawn shape. People who have flat, square yards often pay less, while those with hilly areas and hard-to-navigate landscaping pay more. Obstacles, such as tree roots, can also up your rate.

Even your status as a city dweller versus an inhabitant of a rural area matters, with urban rates tending to lean higher due to difficulties with yard access and the higher costs of business operation in cities.

Lawn Health

Lawns, like people, need sufficient care to thrive. If your yard doesn’t receive proper sunlight, watering and fertilization, a trim can become a tricky process. Staying on top of basic lawn maintenance tasks, such as weeding, seeding and repairing issues in a timely manner, is a great way to reduce your lawn costs.

Grass Type

Some grasses grow slow, some grasses grow fast, meaning how often your lawn needs mowing will vary. A fast-growing grass in prime season may require cutting weekly, while other types may only need cutting every third week or longer. Since cutting services are typically offered per-visit, you’ll pay more if your grass variety grows longer, faster.

Location

Moisture, humidity, sunlight and other climate and location-based factors will affect the speed at which your grass grows, the feasibility of lawn care and the expenses associated with mowing. If you live in a wet region, you’ll probably need mowing services much more often, but this may also mean more competition among landscaping companies which can drive the cost down.

Travel Fees

Those gas prices your family complains about at the dinner table apply to your lawn bill as well. Quotas may fluctuate based on gas prices, since some businesses charge for travel time. We recommend teaming up with your neighbors when selecting a service—that way, a provider has a stronger motivation for visiting an area and you can negotiate a reduced, “bulk” service rate.

While there’s no golden rule for a lawn-cutting schedule, once per week is a safe bet. However, you’ll need to consider the climate and your type of grass before you fire up the mower. Regions that experience cold winters may require fewer trims than regions with milder temperatures. Keeping the weather in mind is key—avoid trimming your lawn after rainfall, since damp grass chokes the equipment and creates clumps, which, if not hauled away, can suffocate blades beneath them.

Make sure to stay in line with municipal regulations as well. Some cities have specific ordinances about grass length that uncontrolled lawns may violate. Exercise caution with grass that’s in desperate need of tidying. No matter the length, it’s best to trim about a third off of the blade for each mow. Overcutting the grass can result in dry and unhealthy roots, leaving your yard in worse shape.

Maybe you’re beyond adequate with lawn care and want to create a manicured outdoor oasis. Though it’s not required, you can pay extra for services such as dethatching, aeration, fertilization, seeding, edging and pest control. The pricing for these services are usually determined by an hourly labor rate.

Dethatching

Dethatching consists of raking until the soil is overturned to reveal where the thatch is sparse, then applying more seed to those bare areas. Dethatching services cost $190 on average.

Aeration

Aeration is the process of poking holes in the soil so that water can nourish the roots and help them grow. Aeration services cost $150 on average.

Fertilization

A fertilizer is a mixture of nutrients that treats weeds and encourages grass growth. Fertilization typically takes place in the fall and services cost $300 on average.

Seeding

Seeding, as its name suggests, entails adding seeds to thicken grass and fix bald spots. Experts suggest seeding in early spring to avoid the risks in dry summer conditions. This service costs $880 on average.

Edging

Edging cuts grass so that it doesn’t invade pavement or other landscaped areas and should be done at least once a year. Edging services cost $1,260 on average.

Pest Control

Controlling pests serves an obvious purpose—but what kind of pests? Many yards crawl with ants, ticks, centipedes, grubs and more, which can pose a risk to infestations in the home. Pest control services often use insecticides and cost $425 on average.

Maybe you’re a DIY enthusiast with a knack for cutting costs, or you want to teach your kids responsibility by encouraging them to mow the lawn. While caring for your yard can be a large undertaking, it may be the right fit for you. Taking the reins—or the handle—of your lawn mower can provide extra satisfaction. Not only do you have more control over your lawn care schedule, but you also have the ability to individualize that care as opposed to the one-size-fits-all treatment some services provide.

You’ll need to consider the costs and maintenance of the equipment. Push mowers can handle smaller yards, while larger yards require gas or ride-on mowers. Depending on your mower, it may be cheaper to hire a service that can prevent problems such as pests. Going the professional route keeps your lawn healthy for the long term.

Keep time commitment on your radar, too. When using a push mower, it will likely take over an hour to cut one acre. Ultimately, a quick search into local lawn services may offer insight on the right choice for you.

If you do choose to mow your lawn yourself, avoid serious injury wearing closed-toe shoes. Lawn mower blades are known to throw rocks, so long pants, gloves and shatter-proof eye protection are all recommended. Ear protection is also a great idea.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, editorial team members surveyed six providers on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.