How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost in 2025?

The key to maintaining a beautiful lawn is mowing the grass. Professional lawn mowing prices typically range between $36 and $105. Prices will vary depending on the size of your yard and how challenging the terrain is to mow around (i.e., steep slopes or garden beds). The national average cost of lawn mowing is about $77.

Lawn mowing is one of the most popular services provided by lawn care companies. Every mowing stimulates the grass to grow, creating a lush look. It also inhibits weed development and nourishes your lawn. Let’s discuss the cost of having your lawn mowed and the factors associated with it.

Average Lawn Mowing Costs in 2025

National Average Cost (Per visit)	$77
Typical Price Range (Per visit)	$36 – $105
Extreme Low-End Cost	$30
Extreme High-End Cost	$278

The simple formula is that the more grass you have, the more expensive the grass-cutting service. It also stands to reason that a large backyard that is difficult to access, with multiple obstructions and a slope, will cost more than a simple, small front yard.

How much does it cost to mow a lawn? Many landscaping experts bill their clients between $32 and $68 per hour. However, some choose to charge a set rate for each service, with the average cost to mow a lawn being $77 per visit.

Companies may provide year-round choices with a contract instead of charging per visit. They’ll often lower the average cost of each visit if you sign a contract since you’ve committed to several months of planned appointments.

Lawn Mowing Cost Estimator by Size

When evaluating the expenses associated with lawn mowing, it’s essential to factor in the size of your property. For an average-sized home, the average grass-cutting cost falls between $42 to $68. This estimation is based on the fact that the median lot size in the U.S. is close to 1/4 acre.

• How much does it cost to cut 1/2 acre of grass? The average price to mow a lawn in a 1/2-acre lot is $56 to $90, depending on the grass type and grass height, among other factors.

Pro Tip: Expect to pay a minimum for less than 5,000 square feet. The average minimum cost for lawn mowing service is $30. Even if the area is small, the landscaper will have to account for travel expenses and time, thus the minimum fee.

Project Size	Average Overall Cost
5,445 sq. ft. or 1/8-acre lawn	$30 – $49
10,890 sq. ft. or 1/4-acre lawn	$42 – $68
21,780 sq. ft. or 1/2-acre lawn	$56 – $90
43,560 sq. ft. or 1-acre lawn	$104 – $152

Other Factors That Affect Cost

In addition to lawn size, multiple factors determine average lawn mowing costs. Ease of access, grass type, grass height, and labor cost are four other factors that may affect lawn mowing rates.

• Ease of Access
• Grass Type
• Grass Height
• Cost of Labor

Ease of Access

Areas that are uneven, steep, or have to be worked around, like trees, shrubs, or landscaping features, will take longer to mow and, thus, cost more. The average price to cut grass will rise if more places need to be cut or if the location is hard to reach. If the lawn isn’t level, learn how to level your yard before you call a pro to mow.

Grass Type

The type of grass covering your yard impacts the maintenance and mowing costs. Cool-season grasses grow at different rates than warm-season grasses throughout the year. Warm-season lawns grow the fastest in the summer, but cool-season grasses need mowing the most in the spring and fall.

The season will determine how often you mow.

Grass Type	Mowing Height (Inches)	Weekly by Season
Annual ryegrass (Cool-Season)	1.5 – 2	Spring, fall
Bahia (Warm-Season)	3 – 4	Summer
Bermuda (Warm-Season)	1 – 1.5	Summer
Buffalograss (Warm-Season)	1 – 2	Summer
Centipede (Warm-Season)	2	Summer
Colonial bentgrass (Cool-Season)	0.5 – 1	Spring, fall
Creeping bentgrass (Cool-Season)	0.5 inch or less	Spring, fall
Hard fescue (Cool-Season)	1.5 – 2.5	Spring, fall
Hybrid Bermuda (Warm-Season)	0.5 – 1	Summer
Kentucky bluegrass (Cool-Season)	2 – 3	Spring, fall
Kikuyugrass (Warm-Season)	1 – 1.5	Summer
Perennial ryegrass (Cool-Season)	1.5 – 2.5	Spring, fall
Red fescue (Cool-Season)	1.5 – 2.5	Spring, fall
St. Augustine (Warm-Season)	2.5 – 3	Summer
Tall fescue (Cool-Season)	1.5 – 3	Spring, fall
Zoysia (Warm-Season)	0.5 – 1	Summer

Grass Height

Has your lawn turned into the Amazon jungle? Expect the price for lawn mowing to be well above the national average, even for a small yard. Most companies charge a long grass fee if the grass is over 6 to 12 inches.

Some lawn care businesses will charge an extra fee for lawns that are 12 inches and higher. (Like a super speeder ticket, the price increases significantly over a certain height threshold.)

Cost of Labor

There are lawn mowing companies that offer flat rates, but most charge an hourly rate or a set fee for services included in a package. The average cost of a lawn mowing service is between $36 and $105, depending on the services and the size of the project. Most charge between $32 and $68 per hour.

• If a landscaper, for example, charges $50 per hour for mowing services, a yard that takes two hours to mow will cost $100.

The third option is based on the square footage of the area to be mowed, usually with a minimum fee of, on average, $30 for lawns less than 5,000 square feet. When the area’s close to a full acre, your prices may change to acres for more accurate estimates. The average mowing cost for one acre of land is between $104 and $152.

Related Services

There’s more to lawn maintenance than mowing. Let’s look at a few additional services you might need apart from lawn mowing:

New Lawn

If your yard looks rough with bare spots, or you want to re-do a section of your lawn to make it lush again, you have a few options.

Overseeding

Seeding a new lawn or overseeding an existing one is the cheapest way to create a green, healthy lawn. However, it takes longer to establish than other options like sod and may not be suitable for every location.

If you’re seeding your lawn from scratch, it will generally be more expensive than overseeding an average lawn. Although, it will still depend on the square footage of your lawn.

Hydroseeding

Spreading a mixture of seeds, mulch, binders, fertilizer, water, and soil additives across a significant land area is known as hydroseeding. Although traditional seeding is still the most cost-effective method of growing grass for smaller lawns, hydroseeding will give you a new lawn far faster and is cost-effective for large areas.

Your overall hydroseeding expenses may vary depending on how much grass you need, how well your yard is kept up, and where you’re located. Compared to laying new sod, the cost per square foot of hydroseeding a large area is more affordable.

New sod

Installing sod results in a lush lawn almost immediately, unlike seeded lawns, which take one to two years to establish. Sod species, property size, and soil conditions will all impact your final cost.

Whether you’re establishing a 1/5-acre lawn (8,712 square feet) or a smaller one, it will cost you extra if you want professional installation for your sod.

Edging

Clean lawn edges will not only add curb appeal but also help to keep mulch in place. Also known as curbing, edging creates an attractive boundary between the grass and flower beds by defining the regions and giving them a manicured appearance with wood, rocks, or brick materials.

A standard edging job will cost extra. But for homeowners who want to improve their curb appeal, this is one way to do it.

Aeration

It is recommended to aerate compacted soil to keep a lawn looking healthy and green. Core aeration allows more oxygen and nutrients to reach the grass root systems by creating tiny holes in the soil. Aeration is beneficial for yards that have a lot of foot traffic.

The average cost homeowners spend on lawn aeration depends on their yard size, aeration type, and location. These are the most significant factors in the final estimate, but the total cost will be higher for large yards compared to small lawns.

Dethatching

Lawn thatch is a tangled layer of dead grass and other organic material that forms between the lawn and the ground. While it is beneficial in small amounts, too much thatch prevents the soil from receiving essential nutrients.

Dethatching removes excess thatch from your lawn, allowing your grass to breathe, absorb more sunlight, and remain green and robust. Most professionals include lawn dethatching as part of their lawn care services, so you don’t have to do the task yourself.

Fertilizing

The use of fertilizer will make your lawn greener. Because lawn fertilization provides your grass with the nutrients it requires, a soil test will help you choose the best fertilizer for your grass. The final cost depends on the size of your yard, the type and amount of fertilizer used, and whether you prefer to hire a professional or do the yard work yourself.

Hiring a lawn care professional to fertilize your lawn will add to your overall maintenance costs, whereas the DIY option will cost less, especially if you already own a fertilizer spreader. The downside is possibly over-fertilizing your lawn and damaging the grass. In fact, there are many fertilization mistakes you’ll need to avoid.

Trimming

Maintaining an aesthetically pleasing landscape extends beyond regular grass mowing. If you want to keep your landscape looking its best, your grass isn’t the only thing that has to be trimmed regularly. Your hedges, shrubs, and trees require attention as well.

Hedges

If your hedges need care and attention, consider including them in your landscaping package. Hedge trimming costs depend on different factors, including the size and type of hedge, the plants’ health, and the pruning job’s difficulty.

If you prefer to do it yourself instead of hiring a pro, you can buy a trimmer, borrow one from a neighbor, or rent one for four hours for less than $100.

Shrub and Bushes

While its purpose is to remove dead or dying branches, pruning bushes and shrubs also encourages and boosts new growth. Reviving and reshaping plants this way preserves their health.

Whether your contractor charges by the hour or the plant will determine how much pruning shrubs and bushes will cost. Check our bush trimming pricing guide if you want to know how much the average cost is for hiring a professional shrub trimmer.

Trees

When a tree needs to be trimmed, specific tree sections are removed, such as dead or diseased branches, buds, and roots. Pruning has several advantages, including making trees safer to be around. However, common pruning mistakes can damage or kill the tree.

The number of trees, their condition (which you’ll know if you hire an arborist for a tree checkup), and where they are planted will all impact the overall cost of your professional tree pruning. Note that you’ll have to pay extra if you also need stump or tree removal.

Leaf Removal

By raking leaves regularly, you can keep your grass healthy while saving time, money, and energy. A thick layer of leaves can damage your lawn, attract bugs and diseases, and increase your stress and lawn care costs.

Most homeowners pay a professional to remove fallen leaves instead of doing the task themselves. But if you have the time and the skills to do the leaf removal yourself, you should invest in a good leaf blower. You can choose from the following types of leaf blowers:

• Backpack leaf blower: Ideal for larger outdoor spaces, this powerful, portable blower is worn on the back for efficient and comfortable use.
• Battery leaf blower: A cordless blower powered by rechargeable batteries, offering convenient and quiet operation for smaller to medium-sized yards.
• Electric leaf blower: This easy-to-use blower operates using an electrical cord, providing consistent power for clearing leaves and debris in yards of various sizes.
• Gas leaf blower: Fueled by gas, this type of leaf blower offers high power and mobility for large areas, making it suitable for professional landscaping tasks.

Pest Control

Insects and wildlife may wreak havoc on your lawn and garden. If left untreated, these pests can cause harm to your grass and flowers. The cost of lawn pest control varies according to the type of pest and the number to eliminate. An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan for your lawn is the best option.

An exterminator may need to return more than once to address specific situations. If you hire an exterminator to eliminate outdoor insects, expect to pay them per treatment. Additionally, you’ll have to pay extra if you also need to trap and remove wild animals. Larger animals or multiple pest problems will likely cost more.

Sprinkler System Installation

Installing a sprinkler system has numerous benefits, including easy access, water efficiency, lower expenses, and a beautiful landscape. Your yard’s size and the sprinkler system components you choose are the primary price factors.

The overall cost of installing an underground sprinkler system will depend on the area you want to cover. So, installing sprinklers for small yards will cost less than larger-scale systems.

Weeding

Your home’s curb appeal and value will never be at their best if your lawn is overrun with weeds. Maintaining thick turfgrass provides efficient weed control, but getting there demands thorough weed removal.

Depending on the size of your lawn and the treatment you choose, weed management service costs more than if you hire a landscaper to hand-pull the weeds.

Yard Cleanup

Most homeowners clean up their yards twice a year: once in the spring to prepare for new growth and once in the fall to remove leaf litter. You may have to do extra yard cleanup after hurricanes or heavy snowfall. A well-kept yard is an essential element of a comfortable outdoor space.

Many landscapers include yard cleanups and leaf removal in their lawn care packages. Getting a bundle deal is a great way to save on the overall cost of lawn care services. But if you only need yard cleanup, you may check the current average cost in our comprehensive pricing guide.

Pro Cost vs. DIY Cost

Regularly mowing your lawn is one of the most important things you can do to keep it healthy and green. You should mow your grass from once a week to once a month. It’ll depend on the type of grass and the season.

There are many reasons homeowners mow their lawns themselves, including saving money or because they like working outdoors. You’ll need reliable lawn care tools to maintain your lawn and take precautions to avoid injuries. Consider purchasing a shed to save space in your garage or carport.

DIY Equipment (Lawn Mowers)	Typical Cost Range
Gas push mower	$188 – $431
Electric push mower (both corded and battery-powered)	$108 – $836
Riding mower	$1,108 – $4,755
Zero-turn mower	$2,750 – $9,912
Robot mower	$665 – $17,042
Mulching mower	$130 – $2,198

For more details on the cost of each type of lawn mower, check our lawn mower pricing guide. And if you’re going to buy a trimmer, our detailed review covers the best gas, battery, and electric string trimmers.

Note that these estimates do not include the cost of fuel, blade sharpening, replacement string, or repairs.

When all of these costs plus the time needed to maintain your lawn are considered, many people find that hiring a professional lawn service is a good option for them. This is especially true for those who dread mowing or aren’t available when it’s the best time to mow their yards.

Cost of Lawn Mowing by Location

Your location significantly impacts lawn-cutting prices because it determines which services are required, how frequently they are required, and the cost of living in your area. Labor costs are generally higher in cities than in less populated rural areas. Southern areas with a longer growing season will require mowing more often.

FAQ About Lawn Mowing

Is regular mowing necessary?

Yes. Mowing your lawn regularly keeps it looking nice and stimulates grass growth and the formation of a robust root system. It can be the difference between a picturesque, lush lawn and a lifeless, dull disappointment.

How often should I mow my lawn?

During the growing season, once a week is usually plenty. The amount of rainfall, amount of irrigation, and rate of growth all have an impact on how often a lawn needs a trim. Follow the one-third rule, and only cut a third of the grass blades per mow.

What should I expect with a mowing service?

Mowing, blowing clippings from concrete surfaces, and edging the perimeter are typical mowing service features. Depending on the service provider and the agreement, a lawn-cutting job may not include certain items, such as removing grass clippings (which is not recommended anyway). Always double-check your contract to verify that it covers all you want to be done.

When to Hire a Lawn Mowing Pro

Consistently mowing your lawn will help it grow lush and green, so budget between $36 and $105 for a professionally trimmed lawn. The average cost of lawn mowing service is roughly $77.

The average cost to cut grass will vary based on a variety of factors, such as the size of the lawn, the services you select, and how frequently you want your grass mowed. Give special attention to the size of your yard and how difficult the landscaping is to mow around.

Hiring a lawn care professional keeps your grass looking green and healthy. It is an easy and time-saving option that provides peace of mind. So start taking advantage of a weekly mowing service right away by scheduling an appointment with a local lawn care provider.

 Note: LawnStarter may get a referral fee for matching you with contractors in your area.

Main Image Credit: Pexels