Result
- Mowing time
- -
- Total time on & to the job
- -
- Labor cost
- -
- Monthly price
- -
- Effective hourly per person
- -
Drive time counts the round trip. Rounded up to the nearest $5. Monthly price = price per cut x average visits per month.
How to price lawn mowing
A lawn mowing price has to pay for more than the minutes the mower is running. You also spend time trimming, edging, blowing off hard surfaces, unloading and loading, and driving between properties. This calculator adds those up and prices the visit from your own target hourly rate.
price = max(minimum, time x crew x hourly rate + fuel & wear), rounded up to $5
Measure your mowing speed
Mowing speed depends on your mower deck, the terrain, obstacles, slopes and how you stripe. The fastest way to get a reliable number is to time a few typical lawns of known size and divide square feet by hours. Use separate numbers if you run very different equipment. The default here is only a placeholder.
Don't forget drive time
Drive time is real working time. If a property is 15 minutes away, that's 30 minutes of your day before you've mowed anything. Routing nearby yards together is one of the best ways to raise your effective hourly rate without raising prices.
Per cut vs. monthly pricing
Many lawn businesses quote a monthly price so income stays steady across months with four or five visits. The calculator multiplies your per-cut price by the average visits per month (52 weeks / 12 months for weekly service). Decide in advance how you'll handle skipped visits for drought or rain.
Set a minimum
Small yards can calculate to a price that doesn't cover the stop itself. A minimum per visit protects you from jobs where loading, unloading and driving take longer than mowing.
Check your effective hourly rate
The last line divides the price (minus fuel and wear) by every labor hour, including the drive. If it's below your target, the minimum or rounding isn't covering a long drive, or the lawn is slower than your average speed. Track real times on recurring properties and re-price the ones that run long.
Know your profit, not just your price
Quoting well is half the job. The other half is knowing what you kept after fuel, equipment repairs, insurance and dump fees. A simple monthly profit-and-loss sheet makes that visible in minutes a week.
FAQ
How much should I charge to mow a lawn?
Estimate the time the property takes, including mowing, trimming, edging, blowing and drive time, multiply by your target hourly rate per person, add fuel and equipment wear, and set a minimum per visit. Your own speed and costs matter more than any average price.
How do I measure lawn size?
Measure length x width of each lawn area in feet and add them up, or use a satellite map measuring tool and subtract the house, driveway and beds. Enter acres if that's easier - one acre is 43,560 square feet.
Should I charge more for the first cut?
Many businesses charge more for an overgrown first cut or a cleanup, because it takes longer. Use a higher trim time or a slower speed in the calculator to price it.
How do I price lawn care monthly?
Multiply your per-visit price by the average number of visits per month. Weekly service averages about 4.33 visits per month (52 weeks divided by 12).