Why Are Lawnmowers So Expensive? (10 Reasons)

 

If you own a home with a yard, you know how important it is to have a working lawnmower.

If your grass becomes too long, the county might punish you for it.

Not everyone can afford monthly lawnmowing services, so they have to mow the lawn themselves.

The problem with getting your hands on a lawnmower is that they’re often quite expensive.

You may wonder what it is about lawnmowers that makes them so expensive.

 

Why Are Lawnmowers So Expensive? (10 Reasons)

 

The average price of a lawnmower is $400 with some models costing as little as $125 and others costing $3,000 or more.

Lawnmowers are expensive because of pricey manufacturing costs, additional bonus features, and their brand name.

Let’s look at these factors in more detail.

 

1. Engine Costs

 

One of the biggest costs that lawnmower manufacturers face is engine costs.

A lawnmower relies on an engine for power.

Unless you’re buying a manual lawnmower, in most cases, your mower is going to have an engine.

The power and size of the engine can determine how expensive a mower is.

The cheaper engines tend to be single-cylinder.

The more expensive engines use v-twin technology that enables them to produce a lot of power.

You’ll usually find single-cylinder engines on self-propelling or push mowers.

The larger and more powerful engines tend to go on mowers that you ride.

Engines are expensive to produce since they use a lot of expensive materials.

Certain brands might use high-quality parts and materials to ensure their engines last even longer or produce even more power.

Since the company is spending more on the engine, it’s also going to sell the mower at higher prices to offset the costs.

Lawnmowers are expensive because they use expensive engines.

 

2. Wide Cutting Widths

 

Some lawnmowers also come with wide cutting widths.

The cutting width is an important part of a lawnmower.

It can determine how long a job takes.

Standard cutting widths usually determine the size of the lawnmower.

Lawnmowers that possess wider cutting widths are either larger or use extensions to increase their cutting widths.

Having a large cutting width makes lawnmowers expensive for a few reasons.

The first is that it makes the lawnmower more attractive and convenient.

Commercial landscapers, for example, will find a lawnmower with a wide cutting deck beneficial.

They’re able to cut more lawns in a shorter amount of time.

Since it provides a benefit to them, they’re likely more willing to pay a higher price for it.

That justifies the expensive price tag.

Wider cutting decks also mean that the lawnmower is bigger.

The deck is bigger, at the very least, so it requires more materials.

The manufacturer has to spend more money on the materials to create that wider deck.

Since it has a higher material cost, it’s going to have a more expensive price.

Lawnmowers are expensive because wider cut widths usually involve higher manufacturing costs.

 

3. Self-Propelling Capabilities

 

There are several types of lawnmowers.

The cheapest is a manual lawnmower.

This is a type of lawnmower that doesn’t have an engine.

It relies on kinetic energy to turn its blades and cut the grass.

Essentially, you have to push the mower to make it cut the grass.

Another cheaper lawnmower is one that has an engine but it doesn’t move on its own.

You have to push the mower in the direction you want to go.

A more expensive type of lawnmower is the self-propelling model.

This type of lawnmower also has an engine.

It has the added benefit of being able to drive itself forward.

That means you don’t have to exert quite as much effort in pushing it across your lawn.

This type of lawnmower is expensive for a few reasons.

For one, it requires more engineering and parts than a non-propelling lawnmower or a manual mower.

The mower has to be able to drive itself forward which means the engine is a bit more sophisticated.

It’s also more convenient.

You don’t have to expend as much energy with a self-propelling mower as one that doesn’t propel itself.

Some people are willing to pay more money to receive that benefit.

Lawnmowers are expensive when they’re self-propelled due to their convenience and higher manufacturing costs.

 

4. Mulching And Bagging Capabilities

 

Some lawnmowers just mow the lawn.

Others offer benefits like mulching and bagging the grass for you.

Mulch is an important part of keeping your garden and even your lawn healthy.

It helps feed the soil which, in turn, feeds the plants growing in the soil.

While you can buy mulch at the store, you can also make your own.

Grass blades make an excellent mulch when mixed with old leaves.

Your lawnmower can turn the grass you’re cutting into mulch.

It can also bag the mulch for use later or for disposal.

Some lawnmowers come with attachments that take care of mulching and bagging for you.

It saves you a lot of time and effort from raking and collecting the cut grass yourself.

This makes lawnmowers expensive because it comes with more manufacturing costs.

Depending on how advanced the mulching or bagging system is, the extra cost might be quite high.

Using this type of lawnmower is also convenient.

It saves you a lot of time.

Some people are willing to pay more money for that convenience.

Lawnmowers are expensive because having mulching or bagging capabilities adds to the cost of production.

 

5. Durability

 

An important feature of lawnmowers is their durability.

Because lawnmowers are out there doing some hard work, it makes sense that they’d break down quickly.

The engine, alone, is prone to wear and tear.

To ensure their lawnmowers last as long as they can, some companies spend a good amount of money on parts and materials.

They want to use high-quality parts to ensure the lawnmower can last for years.

Because of how expensive lawnmowers are, most people only want to buy one or two during their lifetime.

They tend to buy from brands that offer high-quality lawnmowers.

Since there’s an interest in durable lawnmowers, companies do their best to meet that demand.

However, making durable lawnmowers isn’t cheap.

They need solid materials that can withstand heavy impacts and weather elements.

That adds to the cost of production.

The fact that lawnmowers are durable also means that people don’t buy them that often.

Since they’re not buying a new lawnmower each year, it means that the company has to sell their mowers at high prices.

They need to make the most money that they can on those single purchases.

Lawnmowers are expensive because they’re durable.

 

6. High-Quality Mowing Blades

 

Mowing blades are an important part of lawnmowers, too.

The quality of the cut comes down to the quality of the blades.

If the blades are poor or even misshapen, it can impact how well you cut your lawn.

Dull blades can also be a problem.

When you have low-quality mowing blades, you may find that your lawnmower doesn’t cut that cleanly.

The tips of your grass may look as though the mower chopped them rather than smoothly cut them.

That can result in odd growth.

Some grass might grow taller than the rest because their ends weren’t cut smoothly.

You might also face problems with cutting itself.

When your blades become too dull, they might fail to cut through the grass.

You might need to pass over a few areas until it finally cuts the grass down.

The speed with which your blades dull comes down to the quality of the blades.

Some companies use the best materials and invest heavily in their blades.

Others just provide basic blades.

Since some pour a lot of money into their blades, they also have to make up for those costs.

They’ll put a higher price tag on the lawnmower as a result.

Lawnmowers are expensive when they use high-quality blades.

 

7. Electric Starters

 

When it comes to starting your lawnmower, there are a few options out there.

The cheaper lawnmowers usually have a pull chain.

It requires you to pull the chain fast or hard to start up the engine.

Others simply have a button that you push.

The latter version tends to be more expensive.

Pull-start lawnmowers are cheaper because they’re cheaper to make.

The engine relies on your energy to start.

That requires less manufacturing on behalf of the company.

Push-start mowers, on the other hand, tend to be expensive because they require more manufacturing.

When you push the button to start the engine, it kicks off a chain reaction.

More engineering goes into it.

Since the production costs are higher, the price of the lawnmower is higher.

Push-start engines are also more convenient.

People don’t have to exhaust themselves by pulling a chain to start the mower.

They simply push a button, and they can start mowing.

Some people are willing to pay more money for that convenience.

Lawnmowers are expensive when they have a push-start engine because it’s more convenient and the production costs are higher.

 

8. Fuel Or Electric-Powered Lawnmowers

 

Several different types of lawnmowers use different power sources.

Two of the most common types are fuel-powered lawnmowers and electric-powered lawnmowers.

Fuel-powered lawnmowers tend to be a bit cheaper since they’re the standard type of lawnmower.

You simply pour gas into the chamber, it runs the mower.

Electric-powered lawnmowers are a bit more expensive because they’re still relatively new.

Manufacturers are still working on new ways of making electric-powered lawnmowers better.

There are two types of electric-powered lawnmowers.

One relies on a cable that you connect to the appropriate outlet.

The other relies on a battery that you can recharge.

Both require additional manufacturing which is what makes electric lawnmowers expensive.

Lawnmowers are expensive when they use electricity to operate.

 

9. Energy-Efficient Motors

 

As people look to tighten their budgets or help reduce climate change, energy-efficient motors in lawnmowers are becoming more attractive.

Some brands focus on producing lawnmowers that come with energy-efficient motors.

These lawnmowers essentially use less fuel or less electricity to stay powered.

Not only does this save you money, but it also helps reduce carbon emissions as well.

However, to make the motor energy-efficient, companies usually have to spend more money on manufacturing.

The motor requires more expensive parts or higher-quality parts.

Since production costs are higher, the price of the lawnmower is higher.

Lawnmowers are expensive when they use energy-efficient engines since they’re usually more expensive to make.

 

10. Brand Name

 

The brand name of a lawnmower can also impact its price.

Some brands have a good reputation for producing high-quality lawnmowers.

These brands tend to be more expensive than generic brands.

When it comes to something important and expensive like lawnmowers, people want to make sure they’re investing in the right product.

That means they tend to buy lawnmowers from well-known brands even if they’re more expensive.

Lawnmowers are expensive when you buy from a well-known brand.