Mowing a lawn does involve extensive effort and burns calories. It's a laborious chore that affects our bodies in different ways, depending on age, physical strength, etc.
People often ask how many calories lawn mowing actually burns. The primary reason is to get an idea of whether lawn mowing can replace regular workouts or if it is too much of an exercise.
This article is all about the number of calories you burn while mowing a lawn, along with the factors that affect the number. Most importantly, we will talk about whether it is better than regular workouts and how good or bad it is when considered as an exercise.
How Many Calories Do You Burn Mowing the Lawn for 30 Minutes?
We can calculate the exact number of calories you burn mowing a lawn through a simple formula, which is:
Calories burned per minute = (MET x body weight in Kg x 3.5) ÷ 200
By looking at the formula, you know that the number of calories you burn actually depends on your body weight. The heavier you are, the more calories you burn, and that makes perfect sense.
But another variable is MET, which stands for Metabolic Equivalent. Every activity has a specific MET, and this helps us determine the calories burned in a specific time. The MET value for lawn mowing ranges from 4.5 to 6. It depends on the effort required, or basically the type of mower, which we will be discussing in detail later in the article.
For now, let's assume that you are using a power mower and making light to moderate effort to mow the lawn. In this case, the MET will be 4.5. For the ease of calculations, let's say the weight of the person mowing the lawn is 150 lbs or 68 kg.
Calories burned per minute = (4.5 x 68 x 3.5) ÷ 200
Calories burned per minute = 5.355 calories
To get the total calories burned in 30 minutes, multiply the answer by 30.
Calories burned in 30 minutes = 160.65
For reference, if he walks at a moderate pace for 30 minutes, he will burn about 125 calories.
Factors that Affect the Calorie Burn
We already know that the number of calories burned depends on the person's weight, but that's not the only factor. Here are a few more.
Type of the Mower
The primary factor that affects the calorie number is the type of mower you are using. It's a no-brainer that a manual reel mower will require effort and energy compared to a self-propelled mower.
The MET value for mowing changes along with the type of mower, which is as follows:
|
Mower Type |
MET |
|
Riding Mower |
2.5 |
|
Power Mower (Light or Moderate Effort) |
4.5 |
|
Power Mower (Moderate to Vigorous Effort) |
5.0 |
|
Hand Mower |
6.0 |
Now, you can easily calculate the calories burned by using the MET value according to the mower. A riding mower requires extremely less effort as you just have to sit on it. A power mower requires more effort than that because you have to walk along with it and maneuver it. Lastly, a hand mower requires human force to move and maneuver, and it's extremely labor-intensive.
Terrain & Slope
If the lawn is plain or flat, you have an idea of the number of calories burned to mow it. You just have to push the mower and walk along with it. That's why it's predictable.
But if there is a steep slope, everything changes. Now, you need to exert more force to push the mower on the incline and maintain its balance at the same time. It requires more energy, which translates to more calorie burning.
Grass Conditions
Cutting an inch or two of grass in a well-maintained lawn isn't a big deal. You won't feel any issue or resistance while doing that.
But if the grass is long, thick, and dry, cutting it becomes extremely difficult. The physical resistance against the mower increases, which is why you have to exert more force. You have to engage your muscles to push the mower forward, and all of this results in more calorie burning.
Mulching vs Bagging
Mulching simply means leaving grass clippings on the lawn, while bagging means collecting those clippings in a bag for disposal.
Both have their own advantages and disadvantages that you can read in Mulching vs Bagging. Apart from that, they also differ in the effort required.
Mulching is much easier. You just have to run your mower on your lawn. You burn the same number of calories we have discussed.
However, bagging is more labor-intensive. The bag gets full while mowing, so you have to empty it in a bin. This emptying of the bag consumes more time and burns more calories.
Does Lawn Mowing Replace Gym Workouts?
If you mow a plain lawn for an hour, you burn the same calories as:
- 45-60 minutes of brisk walking on a treadmill
- 25-45 minutes of moderate weightlifting
- 30 minutes of running at 6 mph
But does that mean you should switch to lawn mowing and leave gym workouts? The answer is No. Let's understand why.
Lawn mowing helps you burn calories, but it's an aggressive and compound exercise. It targets multiple muscles at the same time, and there is no control over the intensity. That's why it's not suitable for everyone because of the lack of customization.
In a gym, you can work on specific muscles on isolation machines. Not only that, but you can control the time, motion, intensity, and everything. It's exactly according to your needs.
Another important factor is the duration of the workout. In a gym, you have a workout plan that is designed to achieve the desired goals. You can stop when you need to.
But when it comes to lawn mowing, the duration depends on the size of the lawn. If it is too small, you won't burn enough calories. And if it is too large, it will be extremely exhausting for the lawn owner. He might not be able to complete the whole lawn in one go. The worst part is that it leads to fatigue and other health issues if you end up mowing too much.
Further reading: Is mowing the lawn good exercise?
Health Risks Associated with Lawn Mowing
Lawn mowing looks like a full-body workout, but there are various health issues associated with it. If you have a pre-existing condition, then it can get worse. Before you think about replacing it with regular exercise, take a look at the risks.
Cardiovascular Problems
Mowing a lawn on a hot sunny day isn't easy. Within a few minutes of operation, you start sweating heavily. The thermal stress can cause dehydration and heat illness if you don't pay special attention to taking fluids and vital electrolytes.
Because of pushing a heavy weight and internal heat, your heart works faster. If you already have any underlying heart condition, such as high blood pressure, it increases the risk of acute cardiac events.
Musculoskeletal Pain and Injuries
Even if you do lawn mowing for once, you will feel pain in your muscles and joints. Pushing a mower is a laborious job. You have to push a weight while having complete control to maneuver. And what most people ignore is the constant vibrations. It makes things worse.
You have to exert power and force through your muscles and joints, which puts stress on them. Because of continuous movements, constant gripping, and frequent steering, there is a risk of inflammation. If you do it continuously or have any existing condition, you will end up with injuries.
Respiratory Issues
When you run a lawnmower over grass, the fast-spinning blade introduces a high concentration of dust, dirt, and grass pollen in the air. For people with allergies, asthma, and respiratory conditions, it's extremely harmful. It could trigger allergic rhinitis, respiratory inflammation, etc.
On top of that, if you are using a gas-powered mower, its fumes also pollute the surrounding area. Inhaling those exhaust fumes and particulates leads to a high risk of long-term breathing issues.
Hearing Loss
Gas-powered mowers are too noisy. The noise level is usually between 85 and 95 dB(A), which is not safe for your ears. While operating the mower, it is necessary to wear hearing protection.
Extended exposure to this noise can permanently destroy the microscopic hair cells within the inner ear. It causes premature hearing loss and chronic tinnitus.
Further reading: How loud is a lawn mower?
Focus on Workouts You Love and Let a Robot Lawn Mower Handle Your Lawn
We have already talked about the health risks associated with prolonged and regular mowing. It could be an exercise that burns calories, but it does not replace your regular workouts. It's not suitable for everyone and does not cater to the body requirements and limitations of every individual.
For instance, it could be a good calorie burner for a young guy, but it will put excessive strain on your body if you are over 40. The effort required to mow the lawn remains constant, but everyone has distinct age, strength, and health conditions.
Lawn mowing also requires considerable time, which most lawn owners don't have. On top of that, you have to waste time on excessive maintenance, frequent mower issues, etc. And if you have a large lawn, it will take too much time to get the whole yard done.
Instead of exhausting yourself on the lawn on a hot day, you can spend the same time in the gym or doing your favorite exercise, where everything is in control and according to your needs. And let a robot lawn mower handle lawn mowing, so that you can save yourself from this aggressive exercise and do what you actually like.
A robot lawn mower will automate lawn mowing. You just have to set a schedule and mowing height, and it will do everything on its own. No matter how difficult the terrain is, it will take care of everything. You will never have to push a mower again.
It maintains your lawn through regular mowing, which is beneficial for the lawn's health. Even if you don't have time or you are away, it will take care of the lawn and keep it perfectly manicured. Moreover, the micro-clippings it produces are natural fertilizer, which makes your lawn lush and healthy.
If you have a small-to-medium lawn around 0.25 acres, you can go with the Navimow i2 AWD series. For medium lawns up to 0.5 acres, the Navimow H2 series is ideal. If you have a large lawn up to 1.5 acres, select the Navimow X4 series.
Final Words
A 150-pound individual burns around 160 to 200 calories by mowing a lawn for 30 minutes. It's an aggressive compound exercise that engages different muscles and requires extensive effort. It becomes tougher with inclines, long/hard grass, and bagging clippings. The number of calories heavily depends on the type of mower you are using, and there are some other factors that contribute.
Lawn mowing can definitely help you burn some calories, but it's not a substitute for your regular exercise and workouts. We explained how it affects your body and the health risks associated with it. A better option is to automate lawn mowing using a robot lawn mower and spend time in a gym working on your favorite exercise.
