Pricing guide · Lawn care & mowing
How to price lawn mowing
Last updated
The pricing model
- 1Measure the mowable lawnTurf only: exclude beds, patios, the driveway and the house footprint.
- 2Know your speedTime your crew on a few lawns: minutes per 1,000 sq ft for your mower and typical obstacles.
- 3Set a rate per 1,000 sq ftHourly revenue target × minutes per 1,000 sq ft ÷ 60. Include trimming and blowing time.
- 4Apply a minimumDrive time is the same for a tiny lawn. A per-visit minimum keeps small stops profitable.
- 5Add services as optionsFertilization, aeration, overseeding and cleanup, priced per 1,000 sq ft and shown separately from the per-visit price.
Published rates
| Item | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mowing, per visit (most homeowners) | $44–$71 (avg $57) | LawnStarter (updated 2026-10-06) |
| Per square foot | $0.01–$0.06 | LawnStarter; Jobber (2026) |
| Up to ¼ acre, per visit | $41–$61 | LawnStarter |
| ¼ acre, per visit | $25–$60 | Jobber (updated 2026-03-11) |
| Hourly | $30–$68 | Jobber; LawnStarter |
| Typical minimum fee | ≈ $30 | LawnStarter |
Published guides disagree (Jobber's ¼-acre range starts lower than LawnStarter's) because of region, frequency and what's included. Use them as a sanity check, not a price list; your own minutes per 1,000 sq ft is the number that matters.
Worked example
A front lawn (3,200 sq ft) and back lawn (4,800 sq ft) mowed weekly, with one fertilizer application added. Priced with the default starting rates in a new account (before tax); yours will differ.
Lawn care
Per visit- Front lawn3,200 sq ft
- Back lawn4,800 sq ft
| Item | Quantity | Amount |
|---|---|---|
Mowing, trimming & blowing Per visit 8 × 1,000 sq ft × $5.00 | $40.00 |
Mistakes that cost money
Pricing the lot instead of the lawn
A quarter-acre lot is not a quarter-acre of grass. Measure the turf and exclude everything else.
No minimum
Without a per-visit minimum, a 1,500 sq ft lawn can cost more to reach than it pays.
Mixing recurring and one-time prices
Quote mowing per visit and aeration as a one-time line. Adding them together confuses the customer.
Ignoring obstacles and slopes
Trees, beds and steep banks slow trimming. Adjust the price or note it on the quote.
Measure and price lawn care & mowing jobs from satellite imagery →
Related
Sources
- LawnStarter: How much does lawn mowing cost? (updated 2026-10-06), accessed October 12, 2026
- Jobber: How much to charge for lawn mowing (updated 2026-03-11), accessed October 12, 2026
- ECHO: How to quote lawn mowing, accessed October 12, 2026
- Iowa State University Extension: How much fertilizer should I apply to my lawn?, accessed October 12, 2026
- UConn Soil Testing: Suggested fertilizer practices for lawns, accessed October 12, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Should I charge by the hour or by the square foot?
By area is easier for customers to compare and doesn't punish you for being fast. Use your hourly target to set the rate per 1,000 sq ft, then quote by area.
What profit margin should a lawn care business target?
Jobber suggests 20% as a reasonable profit margin for lawn mowing. Your costs, region and service mix decide what's realistic.
Should I charge more for bi-weekly mowing?
Many operators do, because grass is longer and slower to cut. ECHO lists bi-weekly service as a common add-on to the base price.
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