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How much does Lawn Mowing Cost?

$35 - $55 per hour

    How Much Does Lawn Mowing Cost?

    Labour rates run $35 to $55 per hour, depending on where you live. The median rate is $45. The average price for lawn mowing may run about $90 if you include maintenance such as trimming, edging, and tidying.

    Costs in Australia

    The cost of lawn care may change according to the area where you live. Lawn maintenance in a larger city will cost more than the same size lawn in a small town. Likewise, the more populous states will have higher labour costs than less populated ones. There are exceptions where a person lives in a remote area and must pay a higher price due to the scarcity of professional lawn mowing services.

    State Average Reported Costs (per hour)
    NSW $55/hr
    VIC $40/hr
    QLD $50/hr
    ACT $45/hr
    WA $35/hr
    TAS $35/hr
    SA $40/hr

    Factors Impacting the Cost of Lawn Mowing

    Type of lawn

    A big expanse may take less time to cut than smaller ones with lots of plantings. If your lawn is difficult to access or hard to mow due to a slope, this can increase the rate. A hand mower may have to replace a riding mower, raising lawn mowing prices per hour.

    Size of lawn

    If you have an acre or more, your price will be higher. It takes longer to mow a broad expanse, even using the high-powered riding mowers that are used today. 

    Time of year

    At the peak of the mowing season, you may pay higher rates. Cheap lawn mowing services and specials may be available during the slow-growth winter months.

    Insured companies

    You may get a higher rate from an insured company, but you will also know that they are more likely to take pride in a job well done. 

    Added costs 

    Many services include the cost of tidying. They will blow or sweep cuttings from sidewalk and driveway. Edging may be included, especially if you have a contract. This service cuts down on the work that the mowing company will have to do because it eliminates the need for extensive weed-eating. It is advisable to ask what is included when you are getting quotes.

    Location

    Lawn mowing services prices may be affected by the area in which you live. Your hourly rate will be higher if you live in New South Wales or the Australian Capital Territory. Queensland, South Australia and Victorian lawns will cost about the same per hour. The least expensive hourly rates are in Western Australia and Tasmania.

    Freshly mowed backyard lawn.

    Freshly mowed backyard lawn. | Source: Marks Mowing and Garden Care

     

    Lawn mowing equipment

    The equipment your professional uses sometimes affects the cost of the service. For instance, if they’re using an electric lawn mower like the Ozito 1000W Electric Lawn Mower, they might include it in their cost estimate. It is a reliable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective option for maintaining lawns.

    How often should a Lawn be Mowed?

    When it’s growing, a lawn may be mown every one or two weeks. You don’t want to allow it to get too short because that risks sun damage. In the winter, you may need it once a month. Lawn experts recommend that you enable enough time between mows to allow your lawn to dry out. This encourages root growth.

    Dependent upon:

    Season

    In the winter, it’s inadvisable to mow too often. In the summer, you are likely to need services about two weeks apart.

    The type of lawn you have

    Certain types of grass grow more quickly than others. Plus, a weedy lawn tends to look untidy faster than a uniformly planted lawn. Some examples of grass are unusually thick and take longer to mow.

    Condition of the Lawn

    If your grass is already quite high, your first mow may require a higher fee. Sometimes a lawn care company must do whipper snipping before running the mower. Since this may take twice the time, it maybe twice the cost. A big clean-up job will cost even more where shrubs, trees and obstacles are involved.

    Where you live

    The climate will be a significant factor in how slowly or quickly your lawn grows. It may also impact lawn mowing rates if there’s a bigger demand.

    How to Hire a Lawn Mowing Service

    How often will you need your lawn mowed? Generally, you’ll find services that offer weekly, fortnightly or monthly mowing. This may change with the season. You may also want to make a list of other possible services and get estimates for them as well. This should give you an idea of how much the company can do for you.

    How to Create an Accurate Estimate

    • Get three quotes from reputable companies that are insured.
    • If you get a flat rate, you will want to compare that to the hourly rates from other companies.
    • For that matter, if hourly rates are given, ask for a more definitive quote for your particular property. One person might charge you $45, expecting to earn $90. Another might do the whole job for $45, knowing the equipment will make the job fast and straightforward.
    • Find out if you have to sign a contract to get that rate. If so, what is the duration of the contract.
    • Ask about clippings. Will they collect them as they go or will they rake up afterwards? Do they haul away or should you expect the clippings to go in your bin?
    • Who is responsible for moving items out of the way? For instance, you may have dog cages, a trampoline or other large things that will need to be moved to allow for mowing. How does this affect average lawn cutting prices?
    • Find out what that company offers other services. You may want to know in advance what they charge for fertilising, pesticide application or aerating the soil.
    • Ask for more information about qualifications and business history.
    • Find out what type of equipment is used.
    • Check out references and briefly review homes to see the company’s work.

    Licencing and Qualifications:

    There are no state or national licensing requirements for mowing companies or individuals. This makes it essential to ask for references.

    How to Save Money Hiring a Lawn Mowing Service

    Consider a regular service rather than a one-off rate. Your service provider is likely to charge much more for a one-time gig than for regular visits.

    You need to get a regular mowing service to avoid a higher fee due to tall grass. This makes it worth it to get onto someone’s rotation and allow them to maintain a height that is always easy to trim. You don’t want to pay an urgent fee when you hear the in-laws are coming for a visit.

    You can spend $20 or $40 for a teenager to mow your lawn. However, you won’t get the professional trimming, edging or clean up that you would with an actual lawn mowing business. 

     

    * The cost data is based on Oneflare and third-party sources

    Real Oneflare Customer Quotes

    Mark's Lawn Mowing Job

    Location PinSydney, NSW
    Type of job

    Lawn mowing and maintenance

    How often?

    Once a fortnight in summer, once a month in winter

    Other notes

    Included edging, blowing, weeding and general tidy up

    $60inc. gst

    Quoted by Sam I Am The Gardening Man

    Laurie's Lawn Mowing Job

    Location PinBrisbane, QLD
    Job completed

    Lawn mowing and edges

    Time since last mow

    7 weeks

    Other notes

    Requires a short cut

    $50inc. gst

    Quoted by Daniel's Garden Maintenance

    Ali's Lawn Mowing Job

    Location PinAdelaide, SA
    Job type

    Lawn and edges

    Type of service

    Regular service

    Other notes

    No mess left behind

    $40inc. gst

    Quoted by Garden Elves Gmc3

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