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Mower vs Lawn Service Cost Calculator

Is it cheaper to buy a mower or keep paying a lawn service? It depends on what services charge where you live, how often you mow, and what the mower costs to buy and run. Enter a real quote from a local service below; we do not supply local prices, because they vary too much by region and lawn.

How the calculation works

  1. Lawn service per season = price per mow x mows per season.
  2. Owning per season = fuel or charging per mow x mows per season + maintenance per season (oil, filters, blades, belts, a spark plug or a battery reserve).
  3. Savings per season = lawn service per season – owning per season.
  4. Break-even = mower price / savings per season, in seasons. If owning costs as much as the service each season, the mower never pays for itself on cost alone.
  5. Over the years you expect to keep it: service total = service per season x years; owning total = mower price + owning per season x years.

Worked example

Say a local service quotes $50 a mow and you mow 28 times a season: $1,400 a season. Running your own mower costs about $3 a mow in fuel plus $120 a season in maintenance: $204 a season. You save $1,196 a season, so a $3,000 mower pays for itself in about 2.5 seasons. Over 10 years, the service would cost $14,000 and owning about $5,040.

Assumptions and limits

The price tiers are rough planning midpoints, not prices for any model; enter the real price of a mower you are considering for a better answer. The calculator leaves out your own time, storage space, a trailer if you need one, financing and resale value. If a service also trims, edges and blows, compare it with the cost of those tools too.

Mowing safety

Read the manual, keep children and pets out of the yard while you work, wear eye and hearing protection and sturdy footwear, and never exceed the slope rating of your machine. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. See CPSC lawn mower safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to buy a riding mower or hire a lawn service?

For most lawns over an acre, owning pays off within a few seasons if you mow regularly, because a service charges every visit. On a small lawn with a cheap service, it may never pay off on cost alone. Use your own quote above.

How much does it cost to run a riding mower each season?

Fuel or electricity plus routine maintenance such as oil, filters, blades and belts. Enter your own numbers; the defaults are planning figures.

Should I count my time?

The calculator does not, but you should. If mowing two acres takes your whole Saturday, the Mowing Time Calculator shows how a wider deck or faster mower changes that.

Does a commercial-grade mower make sense for a homeowner?

Only on large acreage or when the mower will run many hours a season. Commercial mowers cost more up front but are built for more hours and often carry hour-based warranties.

Budget mower guides

Next: try the Mower Matcher to see which mower type fits your budget and land.