How To Price Lawn Mowing Jobs Without a Fuss?  

Ordering pizza with friends is always an adventure. Some want extra cheese, others want a gluten-free crust, and some want pineapple on top.

However, have you noticed the price is different for each pizza?  

That’s because pricing is about the value perception, operational costs, and the customer’s willingness to pay. Funny enough, the same logic applies to lawn mowing jobs. 

Figuring out how to price lawn mowing jobs can be complicated and become harder if you are just starting out. However, it doesn’t have to be this way.  

Let’s break down how you can price lawn mowing jobs without a fuss.  

How Much Should You Charge for Lawn Mowing?  

Most lawn care businesses start pricing the same way people pick a place to eat by seeing what everyone else is doing. It’s in our human DNA.  

You notice that your competitors are charging $40 per lawn. You see it on their flyers, websites, and maybe even trucks. So, you figure $40 sounds about right. 

But here’s the thing. Just because everyone else does it doesn’t mean it’s the right price for you. 

Let’s say you set your price at $50. You show up at the property, mow the lawn, trim the edges, and clean up. You track your time (which most businesses don’t) and realize the job took 1.5 hours. 

That means you just made $33.33 per hour. 

At first, that might seem okay. But fast-forward, and when you have employees, maintenance costs, insurance, office expenses, and maybe even an operations manager, suddenly, that $33.33 an hour won’t feel suitable.  

We covered all lawn care business expenses in detail here.  

Your price needs to cover today’s costs and future growth. Otherwise, you’re building a business that can’t afford to expand. 

This brings us to the juicy part of the guide:  

How to Price Lawn Mowing Jobs in 5 Steps  

Pricing a lawn mowing job is about covering costs, staying competitive, and turning a profit. 

In fact, 29% of small businesses fail because they run out of money. Underpricing your services is one of the fastest ways to end up in that statistic. 

That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide to help you estimate lawn mowing jobs, create accurate quotes, and keep your business growing. 

1. Set Your Pricing  

Sure, a small yard might take 10 minutes at a $60/hour rate, but that doesn’t mean you should only charge $10. Why? Because travel time, fuel, and wear and tear on your equipment all add up.  

That’s why successful lawn care businesses set a minimum charge. It’s a baseline amount that makes every job financially viable. 

Pro tip: If you service multiple towns or have longer drive times, your minimum price needs to go up. Otherwise, you’re spending more time on the road than making money. 

While there’s no universal rule, many pros suggest a minimum of no less than $25 per cut—though that’s on the lower end. 

2. Check the Client’s Lawn 

Before you throw out a price, know what you’re dealing with. 

The size and condition of the lawn can make a huge difference in your pricing. That’s why the first step in any estimate is to measure the square footage and assess the property’s condition. 

This is especially important for jobs that require materials like fertilization or weed control. If you don’t know the exact square footage, you risk undercharging and eating the cost of supplies. 

Here’s what you should look for:  

• Lawn Size 
• Grass Condition 
• Obstacles & Features 
• Special Requests  

3. Include Material and Service Costs 

Once you’ve nailed down the basics, it’s time to factor in the extras. 

Some jobs require more than just a quick mow, and failing to price these means you’re cutting into your own profits. 

Here’s when to adjust your pricing: 

• If a client wants eco-friendly fertilizers, organic treatments, or specialized products, these should be included in the job price. 
• Hauling away leaves, filling holes, or clearing brush isn’t part of a standard mow—it’s extra work. Charge accordingly. 
• If you offer landscaping, weed prevention, pest control, or even gutter cleaning, mention it in the estimate. These small upsells can add significant revenue over time.  

4. Include Labor Costs 

Labor is one of the biggest expenses in any lawn care business, so you need a clear formula to ensure you’re pricing jobs profitably. 

Here’s a simple way to calculate labor costs: 

Labor Cost Formula: 

Labor cost = (Job hours × # of employees) × (Hourly wages × Employee overhead multiplier) 

Step 1: Determine the Labor Hours 

Let’s say a client’s lawn takes 2.5 hours to complete, and you have two employees working on it. 

Labor hours = 2.5 hours × 2 workers = 5 labor hours 

Step 2: Calculate Hourly Labor Cost 

If you pay each worker $20 per hour and account for an additional 25% in overhead costs (taxes, workers’ compensation, insurance), the actual hourly cost per worker is: 

$20 × 1.25 = $25 per hour per worker 

Step 3: Calculate Total Labor Cost 

Now, multiply your labor hours by the hourly labor cost: 

5 labor hours × $25 per hour = $125 total labor cost 

Step 4: Project for Recurring Services 

If this client wants weekly mowing, multiply the total labor cost by 4: 

$125 × 4 = $500 per month in labor costs 

5. Add Overhead Costs 

Your business doesn’t just run on lawnmowers and manpower—there are hidden costs that add up fast. Fuel, vehicle maintenance, insurance, office rent, utilities, software, and even marketing all fall under overhead expenses.  

Instead of adding overhead as a separate line item in your estimates (customers don’t need to see it), build it into your service pricing. 

How to Calculate Overhead Costs per Hour? 

Use this formula to spread your overhead across all billable hours so that every job contributes to covering your expenses: 

Overhead cost per hour = Total monthly overhead ÷ Billable hours per month 

Example Calculation 

Let’s say your business has $4,500 in monthly overhead costs, and your crew works 900 billable hours per month: 

$4,500 ÷ 900 hours = $5 overhead cost per hour 

That means you need to charge at least $5 more per hour to cover overhead for every billable hour. 

How Much Should You Add to Your Prices? 

Most lawn care companies add 10–20% to their service prices to account for overhead. You might need to charge even more if your overhead costs are higher due to long travel times, premium equipment, or office expenses.  

How to Calculate a Profit Margin? 

Your operating profit margin is how much you take home after covering all costs, such as labor, materials, and overhead. 

For a small lawn care business, a 15–20% profit margin is a solid target. But to hit that number, you need to add a markup to your service pricing. 

How Do Markup and Profit Margin Work? 

Let’s say the total cost of a lawn mowing job (labor, materials, and overhead) is $160. 

If you charge the client $200, here’s how the numbers break down: 

• Profit = $200 – $160 = $40 
• Markup = ($40 ÷ $160) × 100 = 25% (the extra amount added to the base cost) 
• Profit Margin = ($40 ÷ $200) × 100 = 20% (percentage of total revenue that is profit) 

So, while markup is the percentage added to cover profit, the profit margin is the percentage of the final price you keep. 

Here’s how to calculate your profit margin on any job:  

(Revenue – Cost) ÷ Revenue × 100 = Profit Margin % 

For example, if a job costs $300 and you charge $375: 

($375 – $300) ÷ $375 × 100 = 20% profit margin 

Like overhead, markup should be built into your final pricing, which is not listed separately on the estimate. Clients don’t need to see how the sausage is made; they just need a fair price. 

Final Thoughts 

So there you have it! Now you know how to price lawn mowing jobs without any fuss. By following these steps, you can ensure you don’t underestimate or overestimate pricing.  

You’ll price your services accurately, land more profitable jobs, and get your quotes approved faster. 

And if you’re looking for a way to ease some of the pressure of running this wildly successful business you’re building, why not have a reliable partner working beside you? 

Tangent Consulting has years of experience as a CFO, business coach, and tax consultant. With us, you don’t need to hire an accountant or business coach separately; you can get both in one place.                                                 

P.S. If you are reading this, it means you can have access to our free consultation for your business. Avail this for free today before we change our mind 😉  

FAQs 

How much does a small landscaping business make? 

A small landscaping business can make $50,000 to $100,000+ per year, depending on location, client base, and pricing strategy.  

What do most landscapers charge per hour? 

Most landscapers charge $50 to $100 per hour, but rates vary based on experience, location, and services offered.  

How to find customers for lawn mowing? 

Use local SEO, social media, and word-of-mouth referrals. Distribute flyers, list your business on Google My Business, and offer discounts for first-time clients or referrals.