Lawn Mowing Time Calculator: How Long to Mow Your Lawn by Area, Deck Width and Speed

How it works

Rate (sq ft/hr) = speed (mph) × 5,280 × cutting width (ft) × efficiency · Time (hr) = area ÷ rate · Acres per hour = speed × width (ft) × efficiency ÷ 8.25

Mowing time is a field-capacity problem, the same one farm engineers use for tractors (ASABE effective field capacity). In one hour a mower moving at a given speed sweeps a strip as long as the distance travelled and as wide as its deck: speed × 5,280 ft per mile × width in feet. That is the theoretical rate. You never reach it, because each pass overlaps the last so no strips are missed, and you slow down to turn at the ends. An efficiency factor captures those losses: about 80% for an open rectangular lawn, 60–70% for a yard with many trees, beds and tight corners. Divide the lawn area by the effective rate to get the time. The acres-per-hour form divides by 8.25 because one acre (43,560 sq ft) divided by one mile (5,280 ft) is 8.25 ft. The calculator also gives the distance you walk or drive, a total that includes trimming and cleanup time, a season total and a comparison of typical push, walk-behind, lawn tractor, riding and zero-turn mowers on your lawn at your efficiency. Speeds in that table are typical figures; your own speed may differ.

Worked example

A 5,000 sq ft lawn mowed with a 21 in (1.75 ft) push mower at 2.5 mph and 80% efficiency: the rate is 2.5 × 5,280 × 1.75 × 0.80 = 18,480 sq ft per hour (0.42 acres per hour). Time is 5,000 ÷ 18,480 = 0.271 hours × 60 = 16.2 minutes, so about 16 minutes of pure mowing, covering 2.5 × 0.271 = 0.68 miles. A 42 in lawn tractor at 4 mph would do it in about 5 minutes.

Sources: Effective field capacity (ASABE) acres-per-hour calculator, mower presets and worked example · Omni Calculator — Mowing time and cost calculator (formula and worked example) · Mowrator — How long does it take to mow a lawn (time per acre by mower type)

Frequently asked questions