body {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
max-width: 1200px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
}
.calculator-container {
background-color: #f8f9fa;
border: 1px solid #e9ecef;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
margin-bottom: 40px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.calc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
}
@media (max-width: 768px) {
.calc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
}
.input-group {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 5px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.input-group input {
width: 100%;
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ced4da;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
}
.input-group .hint {
font-size: 12px;
color: #6c757d;
margin-top: 4px;
}
button.calc-btn {
background-color: #28a745;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 12px 24px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
margin-top: 10px;
transition: background-color 0.2s;
}
button.calc-btn:hover {
background-color: #218838;
}
#results-area {
background-color: #fff;
border: 1px solid #dee2e6;
border-radius: 4px;
padding: 20px;
margin-top: 25px;
display: none;
}
.result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
}
.result-label {
font-weight: 600;
color: #495057;
}
.result-value {
font-weight: 700;
color: #28a745;
font-size: 1.1em;
}
.content-section {
background: #fff;
padding: 20px 0;
}
h2 {
color: #2c3e50;
border-bottom: 2px solid #28a745;
padding-bottom: 10px;
margin-top: 30px;
}
h3 {
color: #34495e;
margin-top: 25px;
}
p {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
ul {
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
.formula-box {
background: #e9ecef;
padding: 15px;
border-left: 4px solid #28a745;
font-family: monospace;
margin: 15px 0;
}
Understanding Mowing Productivity
Whether you are a professional landscaper bidding on commercial properties or a homeowner looking to optimize your lawn care routine, knowing your mowing rate is essential. This calculator determines how much grass you can cut in an hour based on the physical specifications of your equipment and your operating speed.
How is Mowing Rate Calculated?
The standard formula used in the landscape industry to estimate productivity is known as the "Acres Per Hour" formula. It takes into account the width of your mower deck, the speed at which you travel, and an efficiency factor.
Acres/Hr = (Speed (mph) × Width (inches)) / 99 × (Efficiency % / 100)
Why divide by 99? This is a mathematical simplification derived from unit conversions.
1 mile = 5,280 feet.
1 acre = 43,560 square feet.
(5,280 feet/mile ÷ 12 inches/foot) / 43,560 sq ft/acre ≈ 0.0101, which is approximately 1/99.
Key Variables Explained
- Deck Width: The cutting width of your mower. Larger decks cover more ground per pass but may be harder to maneuver in tight spaces.
- Mowing Speed: The average speed maintained while cutting. While residential tractors may move at 3-5 mph, commercial Zero Turn Radius (ZTR) mowers can often cut effectively at 8-12 mph.
- Efficiency: No one mows at 100% efficiency. You must account for:
- Overlap between rows (usually 10%).
- Turning around at the end of rows.
- Navigating obstacles (trees, flower beds).
- Emptying grass catchers (if bagging).
A standard efficiency rating for open areas is 80-90%, while complex residential lawns may drop to 70-75%.
Landscape Business Applications
For landscaping businesses, this calculator is a critical tool for job estimation. If you charge $60 per hour and your equipment allows you to mow 2 acres per hour, your pricing model for a 2-acre lot should reflect that 1 hour of labor.
By knowing your equipment's theoretical productivity, you can identify if your crews are underperforming or if your equipment needs upgrading to meet contract demands.
Example Calculation
Let's say you have a 60-inch commercial ZTR mower. You can safely mow at 8 mph on a large open field. You estimate your efficiency at 85% due to minor obstacles.
Calculation: (8 mph × 60 inches) / 99 = 4.84 theoretical acres/hr
Adjusting for efficiency: 4.84 × 0.85 = 4.11 actual acres/hr
This means you can complete a 10-acre complex in approximately 2.5 hours.
function calculateMowingRate() {
// 1. Get input values
var widthInput = document.getElementById('deckWidth');
var speedInput = document.getElementById('mowSpeed');
var effInput = document.getElementById('efficiency');
var areaInput = document.getElementById('lawnArea');
var width = parseFloat(widthInput.value);
var speed = parseFloat(speedInput.value);
var efficiency = parseFloat(effInput.value);
var totalArea = parseFloat(areaInput.value);
// 2. Validation
if (isNaN(width) || width <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid mower deck width.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(speed) || speed <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid mowing speed.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(efficiency) || efficiency 100) {
alert("Please enter a valid efficiency percentage (1-100).");
return;
}
// 3. Calculation Logic
// Formula: (MPH * Width_inches) / 99 * (Efficiency / 100)
// Theoretical acres per hour (100% efficiency)
var theoreticalRate = (speed * width) / 99;
// Actual acres per hour adjusted for efficiency
var actualAcresPerHour = theoreticalRate * (efficiency / 100);
// Convert to square feet (1 Acre = 43,560 Sq Ft)
var sqFtPerHour = actualAcresPerHour * 43560;
// 4. Update UI Results
document.getElementById('resAcresHour').innerHTML = actualAcresPerHour.toFixed(2) + " Acres";
document.getElementById('resSqFtHour').innerHTML = Math.round(sqFtPerHour).toLocaleString() + " Sq. Ft.";
// Handle optional 'Time to Mow' calculation
var timeRow = document.getElementById('timeRow');
var timeResult = document.getElementById('resTime');
if (!isNaN(totalArea) && totalArea > 0) {
var hours = totalArea / actualAcresPerHour;
// Convert decimal hours to Hours and Minutes
var h = Math.floor(hours);
var m = Math.round((hours – h) * 60);
// Formatting time string
var timeString = "";
if (h > 0) {
timeString += h + " hr ";
}
timeString += m + " min";
// Display
timeResult.innerHTML = timeString + " (" + hours.toFixed(2) + " decimal hrs)";
timeRow.style.display = "flex";
} else {
timeResult.innerHTML = "N/A (Enter Area)";
}
// Show results container
document.getElementById('results-area').style.display = 'block';
}