How Much Does a Lawn Mower Tune-Up Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $10 - $250
The cost to tuneup a lawn mower ranges from $10 to $250, or about $130, depending on your lawn mower, the size of the repair, and whether you can DIY the job.
A lawn mower tune-up costs $130 on average, though it can run as little as $10 for a simple DIY or up to $250 to have a pro service a heavy-duty residential lawn tractor. The price you'll pay for a lawn mower tune-up depends on the type of mower you have and whether you're doing it yourself or hiring a lawn mower repair pro. A properly tuned-up mower is your lawn's best friend, but one with dull blades is like the schoolyard bully. Rather than giving beautiful clean cuts, it tears at the grass like the mean kid pulls hair. Plus, annual servicing keeps your mower in peak condition for longer. Our expert guide breaks down everything you need to know about lawn mower tune-up costs.
- Average
- $130
- Low end
- $10
- high end
- $250
Lawn Mower Service Costs
Even a top-of-the-line mower needs a little help to stay in good shape. Without a yearly tune-up, any mower struggles to keep your lawn nicely manicured. Plus, a full service helps maximize the life of your mower and reduce the likelihood of hefty repair bills. Your lawn mower service costs will depend on the specific service needed, your type of lawn mower, your location, and local labor costs.
Service Costs
Take a look at the different elements involved in a lawn mower tune-up. Obviously, not all of these apply to all mowers because, for example, a reel mower doesn't have an engine. While many lawn mower repair companies charge a flat fee for a tune-up, here are the average costs for individual types of lawn mower services:
| Lawn Mower Service | Average Costs |
|---|---|
| Oil Change | $25 |
| Engine Tune-Up, Repair, or Replacement | $10–$250 |
| Checking and Repairing Tire Pressure | $20 |
| Spark Plug Change | $3–$20 |
| Air Filter Cleaning | $25 |
| Fuel Filter Check | $25 |
| Clean Block and Cooling Fins | $10 |
| Check and Adjust Drive System | $15–$25 |
| Carburetor Cleaned | $36–$50 |
| Rebuild Carburetor | $75 |
| Replace Carburetor | $50 |
| Check and Tune Belts | $10–$35 |
| Replace Belts | $65 |
| Scrape and Clean Mowing Deck | $10–$40 |
| Check or Replace Bearings and Pulleys | $12–$70 |
| Check and Service Starting System | $10–$150 |
| Sharpen Blades | $50–$70 |
| Replace Frayed Pull Cord | $10–$25 |
| Crankshaft Repair | $500–$900 |
Tune-Up Costs by Lawn Mower Type
Regardless of the type of lawn mower you have, it will still need annual TLC. If you neglect your mower, you'll have patchy, thin, unhealthy grass prone to disease, fungus, and pests. To keep your lawn lush and green, your first task every year before the grass-cutting season begins should be to give your lawn mower a tune-up.
Look at the typical cost ranges for annual lawn mower servicing by type of mower. The ranges represent the DIY cost at the lower end and the professional service at the upper end.
| Lawn Mower Type | Tune-Up Cost |
|---|---|
| Reel Mower | $10–$50 |
| Push Mower | $25–$70 |
| Self-Propelled Mower | $25–$100 |
| Riding Lawn Mower | $100–$250 |
Reel
The cost to tune up a reel lawn mower starts at $10 to DIY and runs up to about $50 if you hire a pro. The low tune-up cost is due to the simplicity of reel mowers. They’re a blast from the past and force homeowners to do a little exercise, as they’re usually powered mechanically. However, you’ll get an excellent, clean cut with these types.
Push
Similar to a reel mower but powered by gas or electricity, a typical push mower costs between $25 and $75 for a tune-up. Though you still have to walk the entire square footage of your lawn with a push mower, it’s generally easier than a reel mower since it’s motor-powered.
Self-Propelled
A self-propelled mower costs between $25 and $100 for a tune-up. These mowers can be front-, rear- or all-wheel drive and don’t require the operator to push them. All you have to do is walk behind it and guide it around your lawn.
Riding
Finally, you have the riding lawn mower, which ranges in tune-up costs from $100 to $250. The higher cost makes sense since riding mowers are the more complex and high-end mowers. With these, you simply ride the machine around your yard without pushing.
Labor
You can expect a lawn mowing company near you to charge between $45 and $100 per hour in labor. When servicing your lawn mower, many companies will split your total cost into labor, service, and parts. You’ll receive a breakdown of costs—with prices fluctuating depending on whether you need a repair, replacement, or a service check.
Location
Because lawnmowers are often bulky and difficult to lift, many lawnmower service companies will either service the lawnmower at your home or offer pick-up and delivery services. Depending on where you live and how heavy your lawn mower is, some companies will do free pick-ups and drop-offs if you’re willing to pay the minimum repair fees—which often start at $36 for small mowers and $72 for large riding mowers.
Lawn Mower Service Ongoing Expenses
Maintenance
You’ll need to perform lawn mower maintenance yearly to keep your mower in good working condition. You can expect to spend between $20 and $45 for everyday maintenance tasks, such as spark plug replacement, lawn mower oil, and air filter replacement.
Also, perform winter maintenance before stowing your lawnmower away for the season. During mowing season, frequently check your lawnmower’s tires and clean the deck.
Cost to Tune-Up a Lawn Mower Yourself
The cost to tune up a lawn mower yourself varies from around $10 to $100. While tuning up riding lawn mowers is best left to the pros, unless you have extensive experience working with that kind of machinery, reel, push, and walk-behind mowers are suitable for DIY servicing in most cases.
Reel mowers just need a splash of oil, a full clean, and blades sharpened, most likely with a whetstone. This will cost you $10, at most, for the oil, assuming you already have a whetstone.
For an engine lawnmower, you'll need to change the spark plugs and air filters and perform an oil change. This can cost you between $25 and $50. And, of course, you'll also need to clean the mowing deck, engine block, and air filters, and you'll need to sharpen the blades.
If you know your way around a lawn mower, doing the annual service yourself is a great way to save money.
DIY vs. Pro
If you're not confident, it's advisable to hire a local lawn mower repair service to do it for you. Professional servicing will identify and fix potential issues before they become significant and expensive problems, plus a pro can do the job in half the time it'll take you.
Ways You Can Save Money on Lawn Mower Service Costs
Although you can’t change the cost of a lawn mower tune-up, there are other ways you can save on your lawn mower service costs, including:
Get at least three quotes from local lawn mower service companies.
Schedule your service during the off-season.
Understand how your mower works by reading the owner’s manual.
Look out for parts that aren’t functioning correctly.
Perform regular maintenance on your lawn mower.
DIY minor repairs yourself.
Choose the right mower for your needs—don’t get a pricey mower with expensive replacement parts and repairs if unnecessary.
Purchase replacement parts separately and research the best prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often you tune up a lawn mower depends on how often your lawn mower is used. Minimally, it should be tuned up once a year. If you use it regularly or have a vast lawn, tuning it up every 100 hours is advisable.
You need to change your spark plugs regularly. It is recommended that your spark plugs should be checked and changed after every 25 hours of use.
Whether to repair or replace your lawn mower depends on what is wrong with it and how long you have owned it. If your lawn mower is relatively new, ensuring you regularly service it will help keep it in good shape. There are issues that will cost hundreds of dollars to repair, such as the engine blowing or the lawn mower going over rocks. Many people go by the three-year rule and replace their lawn mower rather than do repairs after this time.