Should I Mow the Lawn or Pay A Service?

NEED TO KNOW

Mowing your own 1/2-acre lawn is not “free.” Once you count roughly $2,000 in equipment for a mower, blower, and weed eater, plus upkeep and repair risk, DIY costs stack up fast.
The hidden cost is your time. Using the page’s own example, a 1/2-acre lawn takes about 2 hours to mow, and with labor valued at $15/hour plus fuel, DIY lands around $36 per cut before equipment depreciation.
Hiring a pro is closer in price than most homeowners expect. The page uses about $45–$50 per cut for a 1/2-acre lawn, which is only modestly above the DIY math while saving a lot of weekend time.
The real choice is convenience vs ownership. If you do not want to buy, store, maintain, sharpen, and sometimes repair equipment, paying for service may be the smarter deal even if the per-cut price is a little higher.

Should I Mow the Lawn or Pay A Service?
It doesn’t matter where you are in the US!

The question remains…

Should I hire a lawn service to take care of my yard?

Or should I purchase equipment that is needed and do it myself?

Look there is a lot to this question, but don’t worry.

We have put a lot of thought into this age old question.

Let's take a look at the facts!

Consider the Costs of the Equipment

First, you will need to take a look at the costs of all the equipment you would need to care for your own lawn.

Item	Cost
Riding Mower	$1,750
Leaf Blower	$150
Weed Eater	$100
Total	$2,000

The total cost of all of that is $2,000 dollars. That is a lot of money!

"But, It will pay for itself in the long run, right?"

Unfortunately, that is not necessarily true.

One of the things that people who take care of their own lawns may not think about, is the costs of maintaining the equipment.

Money in grass symbolizing the real cost of mowing your own lawn.

Consider the Costs of Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Look, you can’t just consider the up-front costs of purchasing the equipment. There are a lot of additional costs that go into maintaining and repairing equipment in the long run.

What if your equipment breaks? It will cost more money to repair or replace.

Get this, that’s not all. You also need to do an annual oil change and tune up on the mower.

It is also important to keep the equipment in tip top shape. For example, sharpening the blades of the lawn mower twice a year is a must, and can cost about 75 dollars.

Not to mention, if you hit a rock or stump and need to take your mower to a shop for repair. You could quickly rack up $200-$300 in repair costs.
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Consider the Time You Invest In Mowing the Lawn

Not only is money wasted, how about all the time you are putting into your lawn care?

Look, no one can argue that mowing a lawn on the weekend is a great hobby. But when you are considering the cost difference between hiring a lawn care professional and doing it yourself...

The cost of your labor should not be overlooked.

Just looking at averages, the average 1/2 acre will take you about two hours. Let’s say you are “paying yourself” $15 per hour. Oh and don't forget you also have to account for the two gallons of gas which is another $6.

That’s an additional $36 in costs each time you mow the lawn!

That may not sound like much, but it adds up quickly.
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The Costs of Hiring a Professional

Then, there is the other side, hiring a lawn service.

The average lawn mowing price for 1/2 acre is $45.

Get this, that is just a little more than doing it yourself, but saves you so much time.

Better yet, you will get a top quality cut!

DIY vs. Professional Lawn Care Costs & Time:

Consideration	DIY Lawn Care	Professional Service
Initial Cost	$2,000	$0
Annual Cost	$1,080	$1,350
Time Investment	65+ hours	0 hours
Convenience	Lower	Higher

Brick front steps with potted purple flowers.

Finding the Right Lawn Care Guy

Now finding the right company can take diligence. You have to search around and find the right lawn guy or company. Sometimes companies will not even respond to you due to being busy.

Fortunately for you, that is where GreenPal comes into play! We make it simple to find a lawn care pro.

With GreenPal you simply need to sign up and wait for OBLIGATION FREE bids to roll in!

Don't waste any more time. You can go online and order the services you would like, right now!
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can regular lawn care improve my property's value?

Yes, regular lawn care can significantly improve your property's curb appeal and potentially increase its value. A well-maintained lawn and garden can make a strong first impression on potential buyers or renters, contributing to higher property values.

The Bottom Line on Hiring a Lawn Care Provider Vs. DIY Lawn Care

Time to compare... It would take about $36 to cut your lawn yourself. With about 30 times a year, that equals out to $1,080 to cut your own lawn each year.

Choosing a credible company would be about $45- $50 per 1/2 acre lawn. Multiply that by 30 mowings per year, that equals out to $1,350 a year. That is only really saving you $270 a year.

Even worse, it will take about seven years to recover the $1,750 that was invested in equipment.

That is not even including replacing or repairing equipment that breaks.

So, will you save yourself the headache, time, and money and hire a trusted company?

Or do it yourself?

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