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Gas vs Battery Mower Cost Calculator: 5-Year Cost of Ownership

Last updated Researched from specs, manuals and owner reviews, not tested in person

Quick answer

On a quarter acre a battery walk-behind usually costs a little more than a budget gas mower over five years, because its price outweighs about $20 a year in fuel savings. On 1 to 2 acres the gap closes: a battery rider uses under $15 of electricity a year where a gas rider burns roughly $70 to $140 of fuel.

Battery mowers cost more up front and far less to run. Whether that trade pays off depends on how many hours you mow, local fuel and electricity prices, and whether you will need a replacement battery within the time you own the mower. Enter your lawn and prices, choose walk-behind or rider, and the calculator totals purchase price, fuel or electricity, routine maintenance and an optional battery replacement over the years you set, then shows the break-even year. Purchase prices default to current catalog prices for a representative gas and battery model, and you can type your own. Runtime per charge is covered by the battery mower runtime calculator.

Gas vs battery cost calculator

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Is a battery lawn mower cheaper than gas over time?

Five-year cost at $3.50 per gallon, $0.17 per kWh and 28 mows a year
Lawn and mower5-yr gas fuel5-yr electricity5-yr total, gas5-yr total, batteryLower cost
0.25 acres, 21 in walk-behind$85$6$659$805Gas
0.5 acres, 21 in walk-behind$170$12$744$811Gas
1 acre, 42 in rider$340$34$3,589$3,758Gas
2 acres, 42 in rider$679$67$3,928$3,791Battery

How is the cost of ownership calculated?

  • Mowing hours come from the site's mowing time formula: a 21 inch deck at 3 mph, a 42 inch lawn tractor at 4.5 mph and a 42 inch electric zero-turn at 6.5 mph, with a 15 percent overlap and 80 percent efficiency.
  • Gas fuel = hours x about 0.3 gallons an hour for a walk-behind or 0.9 for a 20 to 26 hp rider x your fuel price.
  • Electricity = about 20 watt-hours per 1,000 square feet for a walk-behind or about 1.2 kWh per acre for an electric rider, divided by 85 percent charger efficiency, x your electricity rate.
  • Maintenance per year: about $35 for a gas walk-behind (oil, spark plug, air filter, blade sharpening), $10 for a battery walk-behind (blade), $90 for a gas rider and $25 for an electric rider. Add a battery replacement if you expect one within the period.

All consumption and maintenance figures are planning estimates, not measurements of any specific model. Engine size, grass conditions and how hard you run the mower all move fuel use, and battery replacement timing varies widely with use and storage.

When does a gas mower still make more sense?

Gas still wins on large, thick or wet lawns mowed in long sessions, where battery runtime means buying extra batteries, and on properties far from an outlet. It also wins on purchase price in the budget class: a value gas self-propelled mower such as the SENIX 22 in. 3-in-1 Variable Speed Self-Propelled Gas Mower, 201cc costs roughly half as much as a premium battery self-propelled mower like the EGO POWER+ LM2135SP 21 in. Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Kit, and on a small lawn the fuel savings take many years to close that gap. For riders, the Husqvarna TS 120 42 in. Lawn Tractor lawn tractor costs less up front than the EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT4204L 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower, but the electric rider avoids oil changes, fuel storage and belt-driven engine maintenance. Compare in gas vs battery lawn mowers and gas vs electric riding mowers.

How much do replacement mower batteries cost?

Replacement batteries are the wild card. A large 56V pack such as the EGO Power+ BA4200T 56V 7.5Ah Battery ($439.00) can cost more than half the price of a budget gas mower, while a 60V 5 Ah pack like the Greenworks 60V 5.0Ah Ultra Power Battery costs less. Warranties on mower batteries commonly run several years, and many owners get longer life by storing batteries partly charged in a cool, dry place and avoiding charging them hot. The upside is that one platform's batteries also run your trimmer, blower and hedge trimmer, which spreads the cost across tools. See cordless outdoor tool systems.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge a battery lawn mower?

Very little. A 56V 7.5 Ah battery holds about 0.42 kWh, so a full charge at 85 percent charger efficiency uses about half a kilowatt-hour, roughly 8 to 10 cents at typical US electricity rates. Mowing a quarter acre every week of a 28 mow season costs only a few dollars in electricity for the whole year.

How much gas does a push mower use per year?

A typical walk-behind gas mower uses roughly 0.25 to 0.35 gallons an hour. A quarter acre takes about 35 minutes with a 21 inch self-propelled mower, so 28 mows use around 5 gallons a year, about $15 to $20 at typical prices. Add oil, a spark plug, an air filter and blade sharpening, and yearly running costs are roughly $50 to $60.

Do battery mowers last as long as gas mowers?

The mower bodies and brushless motors in battery mowers have few wearing parts and can last many years with blade care. The battery is the component that wears, losing capacity over hundreds of charge cycles. Gas mowers can also last many years with regular oil changes, fresh fuel and carburetor care, but neglected fuel systems are a common cause of early failure.

Is an electric riding mower cheaper to run than gas?

Yes, by a wide margin. A gas lawn tractor mowing an acre weekly can burn roughly 15 to 30 gallons a season depending on engine size and speed, while an electric rider uses a little over a kilowatt-hour per acre, a few dollars a season in electricity. Electric riders also skip oil changes and spark plugs. Their higher purchase price is what decides the overall comparison.

How many years until a battery mower pays for itself?

It depends on the price gap and how much you mow. With a $350 price gap and about $40 a year in fuel and maintenance savings, the break-even is roughly eight to nine years for a walk-behind. With a larger lawn, higher fuel prices or a smaller price gap, it can be under five years. The calculator shows the break-even year for your own numbers.

Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published specifications, manuals, labels and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and product label, and consult a qualified professional where safety, chemicals, fuel or structures are involved. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.