Lawn Mowing Cost Calculator: DIY vs Service, Per Season
Updated · See the full lawn mowing cost comparison
- Set visits to match your climate: about 20 in the North, 26 in the middle of the country, 34+ in the South and West. It applies to both tabs.
- If you already own a mower, DIY ongoing cost is mostly fuel and upkeep — under $150 a season.
- On the Hire a pro tab, the extras are where a $55 visit becomes a $150 one: bagging, leaf cleanup, fertilizing and aeration.
- The time slider is the whole decision. Try it at $15, $30 and $60 an hour and watch the answer flip.
Calculate cost
| Equipment to buy (one-time) | $570 |
|---|---|
| Equipment per season (over 8 yrs) | $71 |
| Fuel, parts & upkeep per season | $110 |
| Disposal | $20 |
| First season cash cost | $700 |
| DIY cash cost per season (ongoing) | $201 |
| Your time (26 h × $25) | $650 |
| DIY all-in per season | $851 |
DIY saves about $579 per season after valuing your time ($1,229 in cash).
National estimates for planning. Doesn't include the risk-side costs described on the comparison page.
Reading the result
For a recurring job like mowing, the calculator compares per season, and the lot size and visits you set apply to both tabs.
Do it yourself shows the first season (with equipment purchases) and the ongoing season (equipment amortized over its life, plus fuel and upkeep), then adds your time. This is the part that decides it for most people: 26 mows at an hour each is 26 hours, and 26 hours at $30 is $780 — more than the equipment and fuel combined. Set the slider honestly.
Hire a pro multiplies a low, typical or high per-visit rate by your visits, then lets you add the services that aren’t in a basic mow: edging and trimming if not included, bagging, a fall leaf cleanup, fertilizing, aeration. Those add-ons are priced once per season, not per visit.
Not in either tab: the hidden costs — storage, the occasional repair, and the roughly 80,000 mower injuries a year — and the value of a lawn that looks like a pro did it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I estimate the number of mows per season?
Count the weeks from when grass starts growing to when it stops, then subtract a few for midsummer slowdowns. Northern states run roughly 20–24 weeks (May to October), the transition zone 26–30, and the South and West 34–45. Weekly mowing in peak season and biweekly in slow months is the normal pattern.
Should I include the cost of buying a mower?
The calculator shows both. The first-season number includes buying whatever equipment you don't tick as owned. The ongoing number spreads that purchase over about eight years, which is a realistic mower life with basic maintenance, and is the fair number to compare against a service year after year.
Which quote level should I pick for a mowing service?
Low is a season contract with weekly visits from an independent operator. Typical is the national average for your lot size. High is biweekly or on-demand service, an app-based provider, or a lot with slopes and obstacles. The per-visit price you pick is multiplied by the number of visits you set.
Sources
- Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers (SOC 37-3011), Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics , U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2026-04
- How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost? , HomeAdvisor, 2026-09
- Lawn Mowing Prices , LawnStarter, 2026-09
- Lawn mower and trimmer pricing , The Home Depot, 2026-09
- Lawn Mower Safety , American Academy of Pediatrics, 2026-09
Figures last reviewed . See how we estimate.