Electric lawn mower (corded) vs. robotic lawn mower: running cost
An electric lawn mower (corded) is cheaper to run: about $6 a year versus $9 for a robotic lawn mower at typical use and 17.99¢/kWh, a $3 difference.
| Electric lawn mower (corded) | Robotic lawn mower | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical watts | 1,400 W | 30 W |
| Watt range | 1,000–1,600 W | 10–80 W |
| Typical use | 45 minutes a day, 1 days a week for 7 months a year | 8 hours a day for 7 months a year |
| Energy per year | 32 kWh | 51 kWh |
| Cost per hour | 25¢ | 0.5¢ |
| Cost per day | 2.7¢ | 4.3¢ |
| Cost per month | $0.82 | $1.31 |
| Cost per year | $6 | $9 |
| Per year in Hawaii (43.51¢) | $14 | $22 |
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What drives the difference
- Electric lawn mower (corded): Corded mowers draw 10-13 A (about 1,200-1,500 W) and mowing a quarter-acre takes about 45 minutes, about 1 kWh, or roughly 30 kWh a season.
- Robotic lawn mower: Robot mowers use small batteries and average 20-40 W of charging over the hours they work, about 50-80 kWh a season.
Ways to cut either cost
Similar energy use without a cord; charging costs a few dollars a year.
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Frequently asked questions
Which costs more to run, an electric lawn mower (corded) or a robotic lawn mower?
At typical use and the U.S. average rate (17.99¢/kWh), a robotic lawn mower costs about $9 a year versus $6 for an electric lawn mower (corded). That's $3 more, or 1.6× as much.
How many watts do electric lawn mower (corded) and robotic lawn mower use?
An electric lawn mower (corded) typically draws 1,400 W (range 1,000–1,600 W). A robotic lawn mower draws 30 W (range 10–80 W). Watts alone don't decide cost. Hours of use, cycling and standby matter just as much.
Rates: EIA, 12 months ending 2026-07. Methodology.