How to Price Lawn Mowing Jobs: The Complete Guide for Contractors
December 5, 2025 - 23 min read
December 5, 2025 - 23 min read
Table of Contents
| TL;DR The average lawn mowing price ranges from $49 to $204 per visit, but your actual rate depends on labor, equipment wear, travel time, and property complexity. Location, lawn size, grass condition, and service frequency all impact your final quote. Use a cost-plus-profit formula to stay profitable, avoid underpricing, and keep your margins healthy. Contractors who calculate real costs and follow a consistent pricing model grow faster and avoid the race-to-the-bottom trap. |
Pricing too low means working for free. Pricing too high means no customers.
Here’s the thing most contractors get wrong: they copy what the guy down the street charges without understanding their own numbers. That’s a recipe for working hard and wondering where all the money went.
Lawn care services run anywhere from $30 to $80 per visit, with most pros charging between $30 and $65 per hour. But these numbers mean nothing if you haven’t calculated what it actually costs YOU to show up, mow, and drive away.
The landscaping industry is worth $188.8 billion and growing steadily. There’s plenty of work out there. The question is whether you’re capturing your fair share or leaving money on the table with every job.
This guide breaks down everything: what to charge, how to calculate your real costs, which pricing model fits your business, and the mistakes that quietly drain your profits.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
How to Charge for Lawn Mowing in 2026
🎧 Prefer listening instead of reading?
We break down lawn mowing pricing, real cost calculations, and common mistakes in this short podcast episode.
Before setting your own prices, you need a reality check on what the market looks like. These numbers give you a baseline, but remember, your rates need to reflect YOUR costs, not someone else’s.
| How You Charge | Typical Range | Works Best For |
| By the hour | $30–$65/hour | New contractors, tricky properties |
| Per visit | $49–$204/visit | Most residential jobs |
| Per square foot | $0.01–$0.06/sq ft | Commercial properties, large lots |
| Per acre | $50–$200/acre | Rural properties, big open spaces |
The national average sits around $123 per visit as per HomeAdvisor, though most jobs fall between $49 and $204 depending on lawn size and what’s included.
But here’s what these averages don’t tell you: A contractor in small-town Texas with a paid-off truck and low insurance costs can profit at $45 per visit. Meanwhile, someone operating in suburban New Jersey with higher wages, pricier insurance, and more expensive everything, needs $90 for the same lawn just to break even.
The average price to mow a lawn is just a starting point. Your number depends on your situation.
💡 Quick Tip: Call 3-5 competitors in your area and ask for quotes on a “typical” property. This 30-minute exercise tells you more about local pricing than any national survey.
Here’s what most contractors charge based on property size:
| Lawn Size | What Most Charge | Time It Takes |
| Under 5,000 sq ft | $30–$75 | 30–45 minutes |
| 5,000–10,000 sq ft | $50–$125 | 45–75 minutes |
| 10,000–20,000 sq ft | $75–$175 | 1–2 hours |
| Half acre | $100–$200 | 1.5–2.5 hours |
| One acre | $150–$300 | 2–4 hours |
Source: LawnStarter
Something important to notice: pricing doesn’t go up in a straight line with size. Smaller lawns actually cost MORE per square foot because you’re still spending time driving there, unloading equipment, and packing up, regardless of whether the lawn takes 20 minutes or 2 hours to mow.
A 5,000 square foot lawn might only need 35 minutes of actual mowing. But add 15 minutes of travel, 10 minutes loading and unloading, and 5 minutes for paperwork? Suddenly, that “quick job” ate an hour of your day.
Where you work matters a lot.
Big cities — $50–$80/hr & $75–$250/visit
Higher wages, higher insurance, higher overhead
Suburbs — $35–$60/hr & $50–$175/visit
Moderate competition, moderate cost of living
Rural areas — $25–$45/hr & $35–$125/visit
Lower overhead but longer travel times
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
The same lawn that gets $60 in rural Ohio might command $110 in suburban Boston. Neither price is “wrong”—they reflect different cost realities.
💡 Quick Tip: Use a cost-of-living calculator to see how your area compares to national averages. If living costs run 20% higher, your prices probably need to be 20% higher too.
Lawn care isn’t a steady business. Understanding the rhythm of demand helps you price smarter throughout the year.
Spring: Demand surges → Charge full rate (or 10–15% more if booked out)
Summer: Steady but drought dips → Standard pricing
Fall: Mix of mowing + leaf work → Bundle cleanup with final cuts
Winter: Slow season → Offer prepay discounts or expand services
The off-season cash crunch catches a lot of contractors off guard. Here’s how to smooth things out:
Every lawn is different. Here’s what drives your price up or down:
Bigger lawns cost more, obviously. But shape matters just as much as size.
| Property Type | How It Affects Price |
| Big rectangle, wide open | Base rate—this is the easy stuff |
| Weird shape with tight corners | Add 10-15% |
| Multiple separate lawn sections | Add 15-25% |
| Narrow strips between buildings | Add 20-30% |
A half-acre rectangle might take 90 minutes. A half-acre maze with flower beds, trees, and a detached garage? Easily 2+ hours.
Slopes slow you down and wear out equipment faster. Obstacles mean more trimmer work.
| What You’re Dealing With | Price Adjustment |
| Flat, open lawn | Base rate |
| Gentle slopes | +10-15% |
| Steep hills or drainage ditches | +20-30% |
| Lots of trees, beds, structures (10+) | +15-25% |
| Heavily landscaped property | +25-40% |
How the lawn looks when you arrive changes how long you’ll be there:
| Condition | Price Adjustment | Why |
| Regular maintenance | Base rate | Quick, predictable work |
| 2-3 weeks overgrown | +25-40% | Extra passes, more clippings |
| Seriously neglected | +50-100% | Multiple passes, tough on blades |
| Wet from recent rain | +10-15% | Slower going, clumping issues |
That first cut on an overgrown lawn? Don’t feel bad about charging more. You’re doing twice the work, and your equipment takes a beating.
💡 Quick Tip: Consider decent file management for lawn care projects. This helps with taking photos during your first visit. If a customer ever questions why their price is higher than a neighbour’s, you can instantly share a link from the customer portal as visual evidence of the extra work involved.
How often you show up directly affects what you charge per visit:
| Frequency | Price Adjustment | The Logic |
| Weekly | Base rate | Easiest work—grass stays short |
| Every two weeks | +15-20% | More growth between visits |
| Monthly | +40-60% | Serious overgrowth, multiple passes |
| One-time job | +25-35% | No loyalty, unknown condition |
Why weekly customers get the best deal: When grass stays short, it cuts faster, doesn’t clog your mower, and creates less mess. A weekly lawn might take 35 minutes; that same lawn every two weeks takes 50+ minutes.
Weekly service is genuinely easier work. Passing some of that savings to the customer makes sense, and it locks in recurring revenue for you.
💡 Quick Tip: Offer a small discount for customers who commit to weekly service. You’ll work less per visit while building a predictable income.
Most contractors use one of these approaches or mix them depending on the job.
You bill for the actual time spent on the property.
How it works: Hours worked × Your hourly rate × Number of workers
Example: 2 workers × 1.5 hours × $45/hour = $135
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Contractors still learning their timing, first-time jobs on new properties, or anything with unpredictable terrain.
How much to charge for lawn mowing per hour depends on your experience and equipment. Newer contractors typically start around $30-$45, while established pros with commercial gear charge $50-$80.
You set a rate based on lawn size.
How it works: Square footage × Your rate per square foot
Example: 10,000 sq ft × $0.025 = $250
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Commercial properties, big open lots, subdivisions where most houses look similar.
The lawn mowing price per square foot usually runs $0.01-$0.06, with $0.02-$0.03 being typical for standard residential work. If the property has complications, bump up your rate.
One price for the whole job, regardless of time.
How it works: Calculate your costs + desired profit = your price
Example: Standard quarter-acre lawn = $85 flat
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Regular customers you know well, similar properties in the same neighbourhood, experienced contractors who’ve dialled in their timing.
Here’s the hidden benefit of flat rates: when you’re getting paid $85 regardless of time, cutting a job from 60 minutes to 45 minutes effectively raises your hourly rate from $85 to $113. That’s a powerful incentive to get better.
Bundle mowing with extras at a combined rate.
Example packages:
| Package | What’s Included | Price |
| Basic | Mowing, quick trim, blow clippings | $60/visit |
| Standard | Basic + detailed edging, blow all walkways | $90/visit |
| Full Service | Standard + quarterly fertilizer, weed control | $130/visit |
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Established businesses looking to grow revenue per customer and stand out from the crowd.
💡 Quick Tip: When presenting packages, most people pick the middle option. Put your best-margin package in the middle and watch what happens.
This is where most contractors mess up. They track the obvious stuff—wages, gas—while ignoring the hidden costs that quietly eat their profits.
The true cost of mowing a lawn includes a lot more than you might think.
Labor usually runs 40-60% of what a job costs you. But here’s where people get it wrong: your labor cost isn’t just wages.
What you need to include:
The easy way to calculate this: Take your base wage and multiply by 1.25-1.35. That’s your “real” labor cost.
Example:
Even if you work solo, pay yourself a proper hourly rate. Too many owner-operators just take “whatever’s left” after expenses. That’s not a business—that’s a hobby that happens to make money sometimes.
Every hour you run your mower, it burns fuel, wears down, and gets closer to needing repairs or replacement.
| Cost Type | Per Hour |
| Fuel | $5–$8 |
| Oil and routine maintenance | $1–$2 |
| Blade sharpening/replacement | $0.50–$1 |
| Depreciation (equipment wearing out) | $3–$5 |
| Total | $10–$16/hour |
Example: 1.5 hour job × $13/hour = $19.50 in equipment costs
Don’t forget your trimmer, edger, and blower. Each piece has its own hourly cost that adds up.
This is the stuff that keeps your business running even when you’re not mowing.
| Monthly Expense | Typical Range |
| Truck insurance and maintenance | $600–$1,000 |
| Business liability insurance | $150–$300 |
| Marketing and advertising | $200–$800 |
| Phone, software, apps | $150–$300 |
| Storage or small office | $300–$600 |
| Bookkeeping | $150–$400 |
| Monthly Total | $1,500–$3,400 |
To get your per-job overhead: Monthly total ÷ Number of jobs per month
Example: $2,400/month ÷ 80 jobs = $30 overhead per job
For basic mowing, this is the smallest piece:
| Item | Cost Per Job |
| Trimmer line | $0.75 |
| Cleaning supplies | $0.75 |
| Blade wear | $1.00 |
| Safety stuff (gloves, earplugs) | $0.50 |
| Total | $3–$5 per job |
Let’s add up a real example: a 1.5-hour job with two workers:
| Category | Cost |
| Labor (2 workers × 1.5 hrs × $23) | $69.00 |
| Equipment (1.5 hrs × $13) | $19.50 |
| Overhead | $30.00 |
| Materials | $5.00 |
| Total Cost | $123.50 |
Now add your profit:
This is your lawn mowing pricing formula. Use it for every job.
💡 Quick Tip: Create a simple spreadsheet that calculates this automatically. Punch in the hours and workers, get your price. Takes the guesswork out of every quote.
This trips up a lot of people. They’re not the same thing.
| If You Want This Profit Margin | Multiply Your Costs By | Example ($100 cost) |
| 15% | 1.18 | Charge $118 |
| 20% | 1.25 | Charge $125 |
| 25% | 1.33 | Charge $133 |
| 30% | 1.43 | Charge $143 |
The confusion: If your costs are $100 and you want to keep 20% as profit, you can’t just add 20% ($20) and charge $120. At $120, your profit is $20 out of $120—that’s only 16.7%.
To actually keep 20% of every dollar as profit, you need to charge $125. Then $25 out of $125 = exactly 20%.
Small difference? Over hundreds of jobs, it adds up to thousands of dollars.
Let’s walk through some actual scenarios.
The property: 6,000 square feet, flat, a few obstacles, weekly service
| Cost | Amount |
| Labor (1 person × 45 minutes) | $17.25 |
| Equipment | $9.75 |
| Overhead | $7.50 |
| Materials | $4.00 |
| Subtotal | $38.50 |
| + 25% markup | $48.13 |
| Your Quote | $50/visit |
For weekly customers: $45/visit or $180/month
This is where typical residential lawn mowing prices land for smaller, easy properties.
The property: 12,000 square feet, some slopes, landscaping beds, and every two weeks service
| Cost | Amount |
| Labor (2 people × 1.25 hours) | $57.50 |
| Equipment | $22.50 |
| Overhead | $30.00 |
| Materials | $6.00 |
| Subtotal | $116.00 |
| + Terrain factor (15%) | $133.40 |
| + 25% markup | $166.75 |
| Your Quote | $165–$170/visit |
When figuring how much to charge for lawn mowing per acre: The property: 1 acre, mixed terrain, trees and beds, every two weeks service.
| Cost | Amount |
| Labor (2 people × 2.5 hours) | $115.00 |
| Equipment | $55.00 |
| Overhead | $30.00 |
| Materials | $8.00 |
| Subtotal | $208.00 |
| + Complexity (20%) | $249.60 |
| + 25% markup | $312.00 |
| Your Quote | $300–$325/visit |
How much to charge for commercial mowing depends on scale and expectations:
The property: 2 acres, office complex, weekly service
| Cost | Amount |
| Labor (3 people × 3 hours × $25) | $225.00 |
| Equipment (commercial machines) | $105.00 |
| Commercial overhead | $45.00 |
| Materials | $12.00 |
| Subtotal | $387.00 |
| + 30% markup | $503.10 |
| Your Quote | $500/visit |
With annual contract: $1,900–$2,000/month
💡 Quick Tip: Commercial clients care more about reliability than rock-bottom prices. Don’t race to the bottom—sell consistency instead.
A basic lawn care price sheet keeps you consistent and shows customers you’re professional.
| Factor | Add to Base |
| Flat, wide open | Nothing—base rate |
| Moderate slopes/obstacles | +15% |
| Significant complexity | +25% |
| Very challenging property | +35–50% |
| First cut on overgrown lawn | +50–100% |
When someone asks how much to charge for flower bed cleanup, explain that it depends on size, how weedy things are, and whether they want fresh mulch. A quick cleanup of two small beds might be $50; rescuing a neglected landscape could hit $200+.
| Policy | Amount |
| Minimum service charge | $45–$65 |
| Travel surcharge (10+ miles out) | $15–$25 |
| Same-day/rush service | +20–30% |
Commercial work offers bigger checks and steadier income—but it’s a different game.
How Commercial Differs from Residential
| Factor | Commercial | Residential |
| Equipment needed | Heavy-duty commercial machines | Standard equipment |
| Crew size | Usually 3+ people | 1-2 people |
| Insurance requirements | Higher coverage limits | Standard coverage |
| Contracts | Annual or multi-year | Season to season |
| When you get paid | Net 30-60 days | Right away or monthly |
| Profit margins | Lower (15-20%), but more volume | Higher (20-30%) |
| Cost Category | Adjustment |
| Labor rates | +15% for commercial-grade work |
| Equipment costs | +25% for commercial machinery |
| Overhead | Higher allocation for bigger insurance |
| Profit margin | Lower percentage, but larger total |
Growing beyond basic mowing means more revenue per customer.
| Service | What to Charge |
| Single fertilizer application | $50–$100 |
| 4-application annual program | $175–$350 |
| Core aeration (under 10,000 sq ft) | $75–$125 |
| Overseeding | $75–$150 |
| Aeration + overseeding combo | $150–$300 |
| Service | What to Charge |
| Shrub trimming (each) | $5–$15 |
| Hedge trimming (per linear foot) | $2–$5 |
| Flower bed wedding | $50–$150/visit |
| Mulch installed (per yard) | $65–$95 |
| Service | What to Charge |
| Leaf removal (per visit) | $75–$150 |
| Heavy fall cleanup | $150–$350 |
| Spring cleanup | $100–$200 |
| Snow removal (residential driveway) | $35–$75 |
How to Fix It
How to Fix It
How to Fix It
How to Fix It
How to Fix It
Know the True Cost of Every Visit
FieldCamp tracks travel, admin hours, load/unload time, minimums, and route efficiency — giving you accurate, profitable pricing every time.
How to Fix It
How to Fix It
💡 Quick Tip: Once a year, pick 10 random jobs and calculate what you actually made per hour on each. The results might surprise you—and show you exactly where to adjust.
How you deliver the price matters almost as much as the number.
| Do This | Why It Works |
| Show up on time, looking professional | First impressions set expectations |
| Walk the whole property together | Customer sees what affects the price |
| Point out the tricky spots | Justifies your quote before you give it |
| Offer 2-3 options | People like to choose, not just say yes or no |
| Explain what’s included | Prevents “but I thought…” conversations later |
Figuring out how much to charge for mowing a lawn doesn’t require an MBA. It requires knowing your numbers.
Here’s what actually separates profitable lawn care businesses from the ones that struggle:
They know every cost. Not just the obvious ones—every single expense that goes into showing up and doing the job.
They charge for profit, not just survival. Covering costs keeps you busy. Adding a real profit margin builds a business.
They stay consistent. Same formula, same approach, every quote. No guessing, no random discounts, no making it up as they go.
They explain value, not just price. When customers understand what they’re getting: reliability, quality, someone who actually shows up, price becomes less of an issue.
They adjust. Costs change. Markets shift. Annual price reviews aren’t optional.
The average price for lawn mowing runs between $49 and $204 per visit, depending on property size, location, and services included. But YOUR price needs to reflect YOUR costs, YOUR market, and YOUR business goals.
Start with the formula in this guide. Calculate your real numbers. Build a price sheet you can stick to. Then quote with confidence, knowing every job protects your margins while delivering genuine value to your customers.
The contractors who get pricing right don’t just survive. They build something worth having.
Start by calculating your actual costs using the formula in this guide, then add a 15-20% profit margin. For most markets, this puts new contractors around $35-$50 per hour or $45-$75 per residential visit. Don’t undercut established competitors too much—you’ll attract customers who bolt the moment someone’s cheaper, and you’ll train your market to expect unrealistic prices.
The typical rate for lawn mowing per acre runs $150-$300 per visit. Flat, open acreage with no obstacles falls toward the lower end. Properties with hills, trees, drainage issues, and landscaping features need to be at the higher end—or above it. For multiple-acre rural properties, per-acre pricing sometimes drops slightly on additional acres because of efficiency gains from longer passes.
The lawn mowing price per square foot typically runs $0.01-$0.06, with $0.02-$0.03 being common for standard residential work. If the property has lots of obstacles, slopes, or tight areas, use the higher end of that range or add a complexity multiplier on top.
How much to charge for lawn mowing per hour depends on your experience and equipment quality. Newer contractors usually land around $30-$45/hour. Established pros with commercial equipment charge $50-$80/hour. In high-cost markets, rates can push even higher. Just remember—your hourly billing rate needs to cover your labor burden (taxes, insurance, benefits), not just base wages.
Focus on value, not price. Explain what’s included in your service, highlight your insurance and reliability, and show how professional maintenance protects their property investment. If they’re purely price-shopping, they’re probably not your ideal client.
Yes. A lawn service price sheet keeps you consistent across jobs and makes you look professional. Include your base rates by property size, complexity adjustments, add-on service pricing, and minimums. Use ranges rather than single numbers to give yourself flexibility. Update it once a year.
Commercial mowing rates typically run 15-25% higher than residential to cover heavier equipment costs and higher insurance requirements. A 2-acre commercial property might run $400-$600 per weekly visit, with larger complexes reaching $1,000-$2,500+, depending on scope. Most commercial work comes with annual contracts and monthly billing.
Flower bed cleanup typically runs $50-$150 per session, depending on the beds’ size, weed situation, and what’s included. A quick cleanup of a couple of small beds might be $50. Rescuing neglected beds with serious weed problems could hit $150-$200+. Use the same cost-plus-profit approach as mowing, and don’t forget to account for disposal if you’re hauling away debris.
Do a full review once a year, ideally during your slow season when you have time to actually think. Check quarterly for any major cost changes that might need faster adjustment (big fuel price swings, insurance increases). Track profitability by job type throughout the year so you know which services need attention before your annual review.