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Lawn Mowing Time Calculator — How Long to Mow Your Lawn

Estimate mowing time based on lawn size, shape, mowing method, and obstacles.

Total grass area to mow in square metres (length × width); subtract beds and paths

Rectangle = open, fewest turns; L-shape and irregular add 20-35% for extra turns and edge-work

Push and self-propelled are attended walk-behind; ride-on suits 300+ m²; robot runs unattended

Trees, beds, ornaments etc.

Drives the weekly time figure; UK lawns often need twice-weekly cuts in peak summer

How We Calculate This

The calculator estimates mowing time using:

  • Effective cut width: Mower width minus overlap
  • Walking/driving speed: Push ~4 km/h, self-propelled ~4.8 km/h, ride-on ~8 km/h
  • 80% efficiency factor: Real mowing loses ~20% of time to turns, start-stop and overlap beyond the strip (industry standard — acres/hr = mph × deck ÷ 124 at 80%)
  • Shape factor: Rectangles are fastest; irregular shapes add 20-35% time
  • Obstacle time: ~1.5 minutes per obstacle for manoeuvring
  • Weekly commitment: Single-mow time × mows per week (peak summer often twice weekly)

Robot mowers run autonomously over several hours rather than in attended minutes, so their per-cut workload is shown as unattended run-hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.