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Should I pay for lawn care?

Calculate if hiring a lawn service makes sense compared to doing yard work yourself, factoring in equipment costs, time, and your sanity.

By ShouldICalc Team

Updated January 2025 · See our methodology

Your Numbers

5,000
1,000 20,000
$50
$30 $150
1.5
0.5 4
28
20 40

Depends on your climate and grass type

$35
$15 $100

Add winter services if applicable

Your Results

Annual Savings

$0 – $0

per year

5-Year Savings

$0 – $0

Break Even

— months

💡 Calculating...

Enter your numbers above to see personalized results.

Trade-offs to Consider

Every decision has pros and cons. Here's what to weigh:

  • Money

    DIY saves $1,000-3,000/year on service fees, but equipment costs $300-800+ upfront. Gas, maintenance, and repairs add up over time.

  • Time

    Mowing takes 1-3 hours weekly for 6-8 months. That's 30-80+ hours per year. A service does it in your absence.

  • Quality

    Professional services often include edging, trimming, and debris cleanup. DIY quality varies with your skill and equipment.

  • Convenience

    Set-it-and-forget-it with a service. DIY requires scheduling around weather, equipment maintenance, and physical effort.

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Greenworks 40V Lawn Mower

Affordable cordless option

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Husqvarna Automower 115H

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does lawn care service cost?
Basic mowing typically costs $30-80 per visit for an average suburban lawn. Full-service packages including fertilization, weed control, and seasonal cleanup run $200-500/month. Prices vary significantly by region and lawn size.
Is it cheaper to mow my own lawn?
In direct costs, usually yes—but it depends on your situation. A push mower costs $200-400, a self-propelled $400-700, and a riding mower $2,000-4,000. Add gas, maintenance, and storage. The break-even point is typically 2-4 years of DIY mowing.
How much does a good lawn mower cost?
Budget push mowers start around $200. Quality self-propelled gas mowers run $400-700. Battery-powered options cost $300-600. Riding mowers for larger properties range from $2,000-5,000+. Consider your lawn size and terrain when choosing.
Should I get a robot lawn mower?
Robot mowers cost $800-2,500+ but eliminate ongoing time investment. They work well for simple, flat lawns under half an acre. Complex landscapes with hills, obstacles, or multiple zones may not be suitable. Think of it as automated DIY.

The True Cost of Lawn Care: DIY vs Service

That pristine lawn on your block? Someone’s either paying for it in dollars or in time. Let’s figure out which approach makes sense for you.

Understanding the Full DIY Cost

When people calculate DIY lawn care costs, they usually think: “I already own a mower, so it’s free.” But that ignores the real expenses.

Equipment Investment:

  • Push mower: $200-400 (lasts 8-10 years)
  • Self-propelled mower: $400-700 (lasts 8-10 years)
  • String trimmer: $80-200
  • Leaf blower: $100-300
  • Edger: $100-250
  • Total startup: $500-1,500

Annual Operating Costs:

  • Gas: $50-150/year
  • Oil and maintenance: $30-80/year
  • Blade sharpening/replacement: $20-40/year
  • Repairs (averaged): $50-100/year
  • Total annual: $150-370

Time Investment:

  • Mowing: 1-2 hours weekly
  • Trimming and edging: 20-40 minutes weekly
  • Seasonal cleanup: 4-8 hours/season
  • Equipment maintenance: 3-5 hours/year
  • Total annual: 40-80+ hours

What Does Lawn Service Actually Include?

Basic weekly mowing service typically covers:

  • Mowing at proper height
  • Edging along driveways and walkways
  • String trimming around obstacles
  • Blowing debris off hard surfaces

Full-service packages add:

  • Fertilization (4-6 applications/year)
  • Weed control
  • Aeration and overseeding
  • Seasonal cleanup
  • Pest and grub control

The Break-Even Analysis

Scenario: Average Suburban Lawn (5,000 sq ft)

DIY Annual Costs:

  • Equipment (amortized): $100/year
  • Operating costs: $200/year
  • Your time: 50 hours × $35/hour = $1,750
  • Total real cost: $2,050

Professional Service:

  • Weekly mowing (28 weeks): $50 × 28 = $1,400
  • Spring/fall cleanup: $200
  • Total cost: $1,600

In this example, the service actually costs less when you value your time fairly.

Who Benefits from Professional Lawn Care

Busy professionals: If you work 50+ hours weekly and weekends are precious, paying for lawn care makes obvious sense.

Those with large properties: A half-acre lot takes 2-3 hours to properly maintain. That’s 60-90 hours per season—equivalent to more than two full work weeks.

Rental property owners: Hiring a service for investment properties is almost always worthwhile. Your time is better spent on higher-value activities.

People with physical limitations: Pushing a mower in summer heat is demanding. Health conditions, injuries, or age can make DIY lawn care difficult or dangerous.

Perfectionist: Professional services maintain consistent quality week after week. If an imperfect lawn bothers you but you lack time to do it right, outsource.

Who Should DIY

Tight budgets: If $1,200-2,000/year is a significant expense, DIY is the obvious choice. The time investment is real but doesn’t require cash.

Small properties: A small yard takes 30-45 minutes. The service cost isn’t justified for a quick task.

Those who enjoy it: Many people find yard work relaxing and satisfying. If you genuinely like it, that’s valuable in itself.

Equipment enthusiasts: If maintaining a mower is your idea of a good Saturday, embrace it.

The Middle Ground: Partial Outsourcing

You don’t have to go all-or-nothing. Many homeowners find a hybrid approach:

  • DIY mowing, outsource treatments: Handle weekly mowing yourself but hire professionals for fertilization, aeration, and pest control. These require expertise and specialized equipment.

  • Robot mower: A one-time $1,000-2,500 investment that mows automatically. You handle trimming and edging (20 minutes weekly) while the robot does the heavy lifting.

  • Seasonal service: DIY during mild months, hire help for the brutal summer weeks when mowing is most demanding.

Making Your Decision

Consider these factors honestly:

  1. What’s your lawn size? Under 3,000 sq ft, DIY usually wins. Over 10,000 sq ft, service often makes more sense.

  2. What’s your hourly value? If you earn $50+/hour and could work extra hours instead, the math favors hiring out.

  3. How’s your health? Lawn care is physical work in hot conditions. Be realistic about your capabilities.

  4. What’s your equipment situation? If you need to buy everything from scratch, factor in $500-1,500 upfront.

  5. Do you enjoy it? If lawn care is zen time for you, the time “cost” is actually a benefit.

Getting the Best Value from a Service

If you decide to hire:

  • Get multiple quotes: Prices vary 30-50% between companies
  • Start with mowing only: Add services as you see their quality
  • Pay monthly, not per visit: Encourages consistent service
  • Be home occasionally: Check quality and communicate preferences
  • Lock in annual contracts: Often saves 10-15% over per-visit pricing

A well-maintained lawn isn’t just aesthetic—it protects your property value. Whether you invest time or money, what matters is that it gets done consistently.