Lawn Mowing Bid Calculator

How to bid a yard for mowing without guessing: time on the property, plus the drive, times what an hour of your time has to earn. Per cut, per month and for the season.

Turf only, not the lot. A quarter acre lot is 10,890 sq ft and usually 6,000–8,000 of turf.
Net acres per hour with turns and obstacles, not the brochure figure.
Unbilled time is still time. Tight routes are where mowing profit comes from.
Per worker hour, overhead included. See the labor rate calculator.
Time per visit
0 min
Price per cut
$0
Per month
$0
Season contract
$0

Turn the number into a season agreement the customer signs. Weekly mowing as the base, with aeration, fertilizer and leaf cleanup as optional items they tick themselves. Typed-name e-signature, and the invoice is created when they accept. Free for 3 proposals a month.

Start a lawn care proposal

How the bid is built

Mowing time is turf area divided by what your mower actually covers in an hour on a residential lot, which is well under the manufacturer's figure once you count turns, gates, beds and trees. Add trimming, edging and blowing, add the drive, and multiply by the hourly rate your business needs. The minimum protects you on small lawns where the drive is most of the job.

Why per-cut pricing beats hourly

Customers want a price per visit, and a fixed price rewards you for getting faster. Work out the time honestly once, quote per cut, and review any property that consistently runs long. Overgrown first cuts should be priced separately at one and a half to two times the regular rate, stated on the proposal, so the first visit does not set a number you regret all season.

Season agreements

A season agreement smooths your cash flow and gives the customer a number they can budget. State the visit frequency, what happens in a drought or a rain week, the services that are included, and the ones that are extra. The landscaping pricing guide has 2026 ranges for mowing and the common add-ons.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I charge to mow a quarter acre?

Most US markets land between $40 and $65 per cut for a typical quarter acre lot with trimming and blowing included. Your number depends on drive time and equipment more than on the lawn itself, which is why the calculator asks for both.

Should I charge by the square foot for mowing?

Use square footage to estimate time, then price the time. A flat open lawn and a fenced yard full of beds can be the same size and take twice as long.

What should a lawn care contract include?

Visit frequency, the season start and end, services included per visit, pricing for extras, how weather skips are handled, payment terms, and how either side can cancel. Keep it to one page.

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