When you’re out mowing the yard in the scorching sun, you probably don’t stop to think about what your mower is costing you to run. It is relatively easy to know how much you’re spending on fuel for a petrol mower, but what about electric mowers? In this article, Canstar Blue explores how much power your electric mower uses and what it costs to run. We also compare these costs to petrol mowers to see which type of mower is cheaper to operate. If you’re after more general information on electric mowers verse petrol mowers, then be sure to check out our mower comparison guide.
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How much power does an electric lawn mower use?
The amount of power that your electric mower uses will vary considerably between different models. Most electric lawn mowers have a cord, providing endless run time at the expense of maneuverability. Some other electric mowers instead use a rechargeable battery, which is particularly convenient, but not ideal for larger lawns.
If you have a corded electric mower, then it will typically use between 1200 and 1800 watts of electricity per hour. Cordless electric mowers, on the other hand, tend to be a bit weaker, requiring 1000 to 1400 watts of electricity.
How much does it cost to use your electric lawn mower?
An electric mower typically costs between 32.7 cents and 58.9 cents per hour to run, depending on the wattage of the mower and how much you pay for electricity. Wattage (W) refers to how much energy the mower will consume in an hour. For example, a 1000W mower will use 1000W per hour. You can usually find the wattage in your mower’s instruction manual or in the product details section of a seller’s website.
Electricity usage rates are provided in terms of kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is equivalent to 1000 watts. Obviously, the more you pay for electricity, the more you will pay to use your electric mower.
It’s important to note though that as a general rule, corded mowers have a bigger and more powerful motor than cordless mowers as they aren’t limited by battery capacity. This results in battery mowers seeming cheaper, as in the one hour scenario shown below, a battery mower would use less power. This does mean however, that a battery mower would require more time mowing to get the same amount of work done as a corded mower, in which case, its consumption and costs would also go up.
Corded Electric Mower Costs
| Wattage | Running Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|
| 1200W | 39.2c |
| 1500W | 49.1c |
| 1800W | 58.9c |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/11/2023. Average electricity usage rate of 32.7c/kWh based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347 kWh. Annual usage assumes 40 minutes of use, 21 times per year. Wattages listed based on selection from range of online sources.
Cordless Electric Mower Costs
| Wattage | Running Cost Per Hour |
|---|---|
| 1000W | 32.7c |
| 1200W | 39.2c |
| 1400W | 45.8c |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/11/2023. Average electricity usage rate of 32.7c/kWh based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347 kWh. Annual usage assumes 40 minutes of use, 21 times per year. Wattages listed based on selection from range of online sources.
Compare cheap electricity deals
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Ausgrid network in Sydney but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 3911kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Citipower network in Melbourne but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4000kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the Energex network in Brisbane but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4613kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Here are some of the cheapest published deals from the retailers on our database that include a link to the retailer’s website for further details. These are products from referral partners†. These costs are based on the SA Power network in Adelaide but prices may vary depending on your circumstances. This comparison assumes general energy usage of 4011kWh/year for a residential customer on a single rate tariff. Please use our comparison tool for a specific comparison in your area. Our database may not cover all deals in your area. As always, check all details of any plan directly with the retailer before making a purchase decision.
Is an electric mower cheaper than petrol?
Yes, electric mowers are generally cheaper to run than petrol mowers, however petrol mowers easily have more power and are better suited to larger and more difficult yards.
A typical petrol mower has a fuel tank capacity of around 1 litre, which based on Canstar Blue research, will cost about 188.5c/L, according to the average cost of fuel over the last 12 months. While the exact running cost will also depend on the size of your mower’s motor, you can see that petrol mowers can cost three or four times more than an electric mower.
Annual lawn mowing costs compared
Depending on the weather where you live, you might find yourself mowing the yard once every 2-3 weeks. The calculations below use the running cost estimates from before to calculate what you can expect to pay using an electric and petrol powered mower. The calculation is based on mowing for 40 minutes, 21 times throughout the year.
| Mower Type | Annual Mowing Cost |
|---|---|
| Electric (1200W Corded) | $5.49 |
| Electric (1500W Corded) | $6.87 |
| Electric (1800W Corded) | $8.24 |
| Electric (1000W Cordless) | $4.58 |
| Electric (1200W Cordless) | $5.49 |
| Electric (1400W Cordless) | $6.41 |
| Petrol | $39.59 |
Source: www.canstarblue.com.au – 16/11/2023. Average electricity usage rate of 32.7c/kWh based on single rate, non-solar only plans on Canstar’s database, available for an annual usage of 4,347 kWh. The average cost of petrol over the last 12 months is 188.5c/L. Annual usage assumes 40 minutes of use, 21 times per year. Assuming 1L petrol used each mow. Wattages listed based on selection from range of online sources.
Keep in mind that these calculations are broad and are likely not correct for your specific mower. Once again, exact running costs will vary on your mower, engine size, fuel prices, electricity prices, and other variables.
What else to consider
Having established that electric mowers are both cheaper to run and buy, does that mean you should ditch traditional petrol mowers? Well not so fast. Electric mowers are perfect for small suburban yards, with grass that’s relatively easy to cut. However, petrol mowers excel in terms of raw power and are not encumbered by the need for cords or recharging batteries. Whatever you choose, if you’re in the market for a new mower, then be sure to check out Canstar Blue’s lawn mower satisfaction ratings to see which brands Aussies trust to get the job done.
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