Commercial Lawn Care Pricing: Rates Per Acre (2026)

⚡TL;DR: Key Takeaways

• Commercial mowing rates run $50-$150 per acre for small properties (1-5 acres) and $25-$60 per acre for larger sites (5+ acres)
• Per-acre rates drop as property size increases because setup time, travel, and edging stay roughly the same
• Common commercial properties include HOAs, office parks, apartment complexes, churches, and retail centers. Each has different service expectations
• Commercial contracts are typically bid as monthly or seasonal totals, not per-visit prices
• The transition from residential to commercial changes your pricing model, your equipment needs, and your cash flow cycle

A lot of residential operators start eyeing commercial work around the same time — when they're booked solid on houses but the per-job revenue isn't growing. Commercial properties pay more per visit, fill bigger time blocks, and don't cancel because they're "going on holiday."

But pricing commercial work isn't the same as pricing residential. You can't just multiply your quarter-acre rate by 10 and call it a bid. The equipment is different, the expectations are different, and the way you win (and lose) contracts is different.

Here's what commercial lawn care actually costs per acre in the US, how to price it, and what to watch out for.

These are the typical per-acre rates US operators are charging for commercial mowing in 2026.

The pattern is the same as residential, just at a larger scale: per-acre rates drop as the property gets bigger. A sub-1-acre commercial lot (think a small retail strip or church) might cost $150 per visit. A 15-acre office park might be $35/acre, but at 15 acres that's still $525 per visit.

Not all commercial properties are the same job. A church with clean edges and a flat parking lot border is a different animal from an apartment complex with 40 units, playground equipment, and tenants leaving toys on the lawn.

Industrial and warehouse properties are often the easiest commercial work. Large open areas, minimal obstacles, low aesthetic standards. You can cover ground fast with a wide-deck mower and move on. The per-acre rate is lower, but your production rate is highest here.

Office parks and HOAs pay more per acre, but they take longer. Every edge has to be clean, every curb line trimmed, and there's usually a property manager inspecting your work. Factor that time into your rate.

"For a simple job like a mow, it shows a lack of confidence" — Paul Luck, Lawn Care Contractor

Same principle when you're handing a property manager a bid. Show up with a detailed, professional bid that breaks down what's included, how often, and what the property will look like. Property managers see dozens of bids — the one that looks professional and confident wins.

Your commercial rate per acre starts with the same number as every other rate you set: your true cost per hour.

The formula:

Per-acre rate = (Cost per hour ÷ Acres mowed per hour) + Margin

The variable that changes for commercial work is acres per hour. With the right equipment on open terrain, your production rate jumps.

That's your floor. The minimum per-acre rate before you make any profit. Add your target margin on top.

If your true cost per hour is $65 and you're running a 60" zero-turn at 2 acres/hour, your cost is roughly $33/acre. Add a 35% margin and you're bidding at $44/acre. On a 5-acre office park, that's $220 per visit, $880/month on weekly service.

If you're used to residential work, commercial is a different game.

Bidding process. Residential customers want a per-visit price on the spot. Commercial property managers want a monthly or seasonal bid, often in writing, sometimes through a formal RFP process. You're competing against 3-5 other bids.

Contract length and payment. Most commercial contracts run 12 months with auto-renewal clauses. Some are seasonal (March-October in the North, year-round in the South). You're locked in on price for the contract term, so build in an annual escalation clause of 3-5% or you'll be eating cost increases. And unlike residential customers who pay on the day, commercial accounts pay on 30-day terms. Some stretch to 45 or 60 days. If you're running thin margins, one slow-paying account can put you in a hole.

Equipment investment. A 42" zero-turn that's perfect for residential gates doesn't cut it on a 10-acre office park. Commercial work often requires a 52-60" mower minimum, plus a dedicated string trimmer operator. That's a $10,000-$15,000 equipment jump.

Your general liability insurance also needs to cover commercial work specifically. Budget $1,200-$2,500/year depending on coverage and property types.

Commercial work isn't automatically better than residential. It's different.

Go commercial when:

• You've maxed out your residential schedule and want higher revenue per stop
• You already own (or can justify buying) production mowing equipment
• You can handle 30-60 day payment terms without cash flow problems
• You want predictable monthly income from multi-year contracts
• You have a crew (commercial sites are hard to service solo at scale)

Stay residential when:

• Your equipment is residential-grade and you're not ready to invest
• You need same-day payment to cover expenses
• Your route is tight and efficient — a commercial detour might kill your production rate
• You prefer variety over volume (commercial work is repetitive by design)

The sweet spot for most operators making the jump: start with 1-3 small commercial properties (churches, small offices, retail lots) in the 1-3 acre range. These are manageable with residential equipment, teach you the bidding process, and let you build a commercial reputation before going after the 10-acre office park contracts.

For a full breakdown of residential pricing, see our complete US lawn care pricing guide. If you haven't calculated your true cost per hour yet, do that first — commercial or residential, every number you quote flows from that one figure.

Key takeaways

• Commercial mowing rates run $50-$150/acre for small sites and $25-$60/acre for 5+ acre properties
• Per-acre rates drop with property size, but revenue per stop is 3-5x higher than residential
• Your production rate (acres per hour) is the key variable. Bigger equipment means lower cost per acre and better margins
• Commercial bids are monthly or seasonal totals, not per-visit quotes. Factor in growth cycles, seasonal variation, and payment delays
• Start small: 1-3 acre commercial properties let you learn the bidding process without a massive equipment investment

If you don't know your true cost per hour, your per-acre bid is just a guess with a bigger number. Gus calculates your real equipment, fuel, and labor costs, so every acre you bid is priced to protect your margins.

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Rates in this guide are based on US industry data from HomeGuide, Jobber, GreenPal, and operator forums (2025-2026). Commercial pricing varies significantly by region, property type, and contract terms. Calculate your costs — don't copy someone else's bid.