How Much to Charge for Lawn Mowing in the UK (2025 Regional Guide)

Knowing what to charge for lawn mowing is one of the biggest challenges for UK lawn care businesses. Charge too little and you'll struggle to make a profit. Charge too much and you'll lose jobs to competitors. This guide breaks down real pricing data across the UK to help you set rates that work.

UK Lawn Mowing Prices at a Glance

Based on our analysis of lawn care businesses across the UK, here are the average prices for 2025:

Calculate Your Minimum Rate

Before setting prices, you need to know your costs. Use our calculator to find your minimum hourly rate based on your income goals and expenses.

For detailed guidance on calculating all your costs, see our complete lawn care pricing guide.

Factors That Affect Lawn Mowing Prices

1. Location

Regional differences are significant:

London and South East (+20-40%) Higher cost of living, higher wages, and wealthier customers mean you can (and should) charge more. Competition is fierce, but so is demand.

Midlands (Average) Prices typically match national averages. Good balance of demand and competition.

North of England (-10-15%) Lower cost of living translates to lower prices. Adjust your rates accordingly but don't undervalue your service.

Scotland and Wales (-10-15%) Similar to the North, with some rural areas commanding premium prices due to limited competition.

2. Garden Size

Size is the primary pricing factor:

3. Garden Access and Obstacles

Add time (and cost) for:

• Narrow side gates - Can't fit large mower through
• Steps or slopes - Slows down mowing significantly
• Multiple lawn areas - Moving between front/back/side takes time
• Obstacles - Trampolines, furniture, flower beds, trees
• Long grass - Overgrown lawns need multiple passes
• Difficult terrain - Uneven ground, boggy areas

4. Frequency

Regular customers should get better rates:

5. Additional Services

Standard lawn mowing typically includes:

• Mowing all lawn areas
• Basic edging
• Blowing/clearing clippings from paths

These are usually extra:

How to Quote a Lawn Mowing Job

Step 1: Assess the Property

Before quoting, consider:

• Total lawn area (measure or estimate)
• Access (gate width, steps, distance from parking)
• Obstacles (trees, flower beds, furniture)
• Lawn condition (well-maintained vs overgrown)
• Additional services requested

Step 2: Calculate Your Time

Estimate how long the complete job will take:

Travel time: 10 mins
Setup/pack up: 10 mins
Mowing: 25 mins
Edging: 10 mins
Clearing up: 5 mins
---
Total: 60 mins

Step 3: Apply Your Hourly Rate

Using our calculator above, if your minimum hourly rate is £40:

60 mins at £40/hour = £40

But consider adding margin for:

• Difficult access: +10-20%
• First-time customer: +10%
• Irregular/long grass: +20-30%
• Premium area: +20-40%

Step 4: Check Against Market Rates

Compare your calculated price against local competitors. You don't have to match the cheapest, but being significantly higher requires clear differentiation.

Pricing Strategies

Strategy 1: Per-Visit Pricing (Most Common)

Charge a fixed price per visit based on the property.

Pros:

• Simple for customers to understand
• Fair for varying lawn conditions
• Easy to adjust seasonally

Cons:

• Need to re-quote if conditions change
• Customers may try to negotiate each visit

Strategy 2: Monthly/Seasonal Packages

Charge a fixed monthly rate for regular service.

Example:

• Weekly service: £120/month (4 visits)
• Fortnightly: £70/month (2 visits)

Pros:

• Predictable income
• Less admin (one invoice per month)
• Customer loyalty

Cons:

• May over/under-service in variable weather
• Harder to adjust for missed visits

Strategy 3: Tiered Pricing

Offer different service levels:

Pros:

• Upsell opportunities
• Customers feel in control
• Higher average transaction value

Cons:

• More complex to explain
• May confuse some customers

When to Raise Your Prices

Don't be afraid to increase prices. Signs it's time:

1. You're fully booked - If you're turning away work, prices are too low
2. Costs have increased - Fuel, insurance, and equipment costs rise annually
3. You've improved - Better equipment or skills justify higher rates
4. It's a new year - Annual price increases are expected and accepted

How to Raise Prices

• Give notice (at least 2-4 weeks)
• Explain briefly (costs have increased)
• Apply to all customers equally
• Expect to lose 5-10% of customers (often your worst ones)

Example message:

"Hi [Name], I wanted to let you know that from 1st April, my prices will be increasing slightly to £[new price] per visit. This reflects increased costs for fuel and equipment. Thank you for your continued support - please let me know if you have any questions."

Regional Pricing Deep Dive

London and South East

Average prices:

• Small lawn: £30-40
• Medium lawn: £45-60
• Large lawn: £70-100

Key considerations:

• Higher customer expectations
• Parking challenges (factor into pricing)
• Competition from larger companies
• Many customers pay premium for reliability

Midlands

Average prices:

• Small lawn: £22-30
• Medium lawn: £32-42
• Large lawn: £48-65

Key considerations:

• Mixed urban/rural areas
• Price sensitive in some areas
• Good balance of supply and demand

North of England

Average prices:

• Small lawn: £20-28
• Medium lawn: £28-38
• Large lawn: £42-55

Key considerations:

• Lower cost of living reflected in prices
• Strong community referral networks
• Seasonal variation more pronounced

Scotland and Wales

Average prices:

• Small lawn: £20-28
• Medium lawn: £28-38
• Large lawn: £42-55

Key considerations:

• Rural areas may command premiums
• Weather affects working season
• Fewer competitors in remote areas

Commercial vs Residential Pricing

Residential Customers

• Price per property
• Relationship-based
• Regular, predictable work
• Higher margins possible

Commercial Customers

• Often tender/quote based
• Price per square metre or per hour
• Larger volumes, lower margins
• Payment terms 30-60 days
• Requires proper insurance documentation

Typical commercial rates:

• £0.03-0.08 per m² for large areas
• £35-50 per hour for grounds maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the minimum I should charge for any lawn?

Most professionals won't take on jobs under £20-25, regardless of lawn size. The travel time, setup, and admin make smaller jobs unprofitable.

Should I charge more for the first cut?

Yes, if the lawn is overgrown. First cuts on neglected lawns can take 2-3x longer than maintained lawns. Quote accordingly.

How do I handle customers who think I'm too expensive?

Explain your value: insurance, reliability, professional equipment, expertise. If they still want cheap, they're not your customer. See our guide on handling customer objections.

Should I charge for travel?

Most lawn care businesses include travel in their prices for local work. For jobs outside your normal area, add a call-out fee (£5-15) rather than itemising travel.

How often should I review my prices?

At least annually. Review whenever costs increase significantly or you're consistently fully booked.

What about charging for skipped visits due to weather?

Most businesses don't charge for weather cancellations but may adjust monthly package rates. Be clear about your policy upfront.

Tools for Better Pricing

Managing prices across many customers can get complicated. A few tools that help:

• TradeSender CRM - Track what you charge each customer
• Job costing calculator - Ensure every job is profitable
• Spreadsheet template - Simple but effective for tracking prices

Set Prices That Work

Pricing is part art, part science. Start with the calculator above to know your costs, research your local market, and don't be afraid to charge what you're worth.

Key takeaways:

1. Know your minimum hourly rate (use the calculator)
2. Factor in location, access, and job complexity
3. Offer discounts for regular customers
4. Review and raise prices annually
5. Track what you charge with proper invoicing software

The best lawn care businesses aren't the cheapest—they're the most reliable, professional, and fair. Price accordingly.