Is it cheaper to mow my own lawn or hire a contractor?

Mowing yourself is usually cheaper in cash once you own a mower, since you only pay for fuel and upkeep. A contractor costs more per visit but saves your time. Whether it is worth it depends on what your time is worth to you.

How do I compare the two over a season?

Count the mows in a season, then compare the contractor's price per visit with your own fuel and upkeep cost. This calculator also values your time, so you can see the true comparison, not just the cash.

Should I value my time in the comparison?

It helps. If you would happily spend the time, the cash cost is what matters. If your time is scarce or you dislike the job, valuing your hours shows whether paying a contractor is good value for you.

Lawn Care Cost Calculator

This calculator helps you work out whether it is cheaper to mow your own lawn or pay a contractor over a full New Zealand mowing season. Mowing yourself is nearly always cheaper in cash, since you only cover fuel and mower upkeep, while a contractor charges a set price per visit but frees up your weekends. The real question is what your time is worth. You enter the number of mows in a season, the contractor's price per mow, your own cost per mow for fuel and upkeep, how long each mow takes you in hours, and the hourly rate you want to value your time at. The calculator returns a verdict on which option is better value, the contractor's total cost for the season, your DIY cash total, and your DIY cost once your time is added in at your chosen rate. Comparing the contractor total against your DIY-with-time figure shows whether hiring help is worthwhile once the hours you spend pushing a mower are accounted for. If you are happy to spend the time or see it as exercise, the cash-only comparison is what matters and DIY usually wins. If your weekends are scarce or you dislike the chore, valuing your time may tip the balance toward a contractor. Treat the results as an estimate, since mower wear, section size and weather all affect real costs.

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Mows per season

Contractor price per mow

Your cost per mow (fuel, upkeep)

Your time per mow (hours)

Value your time at (per hour)

once your time is valued in

Contractor, season$0

DIY cash, season$0

DIY with your time$0

If you would happily spend the time, the cash cost is what counts and DIY usually wins. If your time is scarce, valuing it shows whether a contractor is good value for you. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator totals the contractor's price across the season, and your own cash cost from fuel and upkeep per mow. It also values your time by multiplying the hours each mow takes by your chosen hourly value, to give a DIY cost including time. Comparing the contractor total with the DIY cost including time shows which is better value once your time is part of the picture, not just the out-of-pocket cash.

Worked example

Over 20 mows, a contractor at $45 is $900 a season. Your own cost at $4 a mow is just $80 in cash. But valuing an hour per mow at $30 adds $600, for a DIY-with-time cost of $680, still less than the contractor, so doing it yourself wins unless your time is worth more.

Related calculators

Cost Per Use Calculator: cost per use.
Hourly Rate Calculator: value of your time.
Budget Calculator: your budget.

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