Robot Lawn Mowers Are Getting Better But Prices Keep Them Out of the Everyman’s Hands
Lawn care is a constant issue for millions of American homeowners. However, lawn maintenance can be simplified with automation, not unlike Roombas for interior surfaces. Still, robot lawn mowers might be a bit too pricey for the average homeowner or renter in 2024.
Robot lawn mowers target small lawns without owners having to lift a finger– but they still have to stretch their budgets for quality
Robot lawn mowers replace the drudgery of keeping your lawn tight and maintained with an automated Star Wars-esque droid. As you might imagine, though, these hands-free mowers aren’t quite as budget-friendly as the Roombas and automated kitty litter stations of today.
Incidentally, Tom’s Guide asserts that price is still problematic for homeowners looking to automate their lawn care. The site compares robot lawn mowers to their closest natural domestic twin: the robot vacuum. As such, budget vacuum cleaners can cost under $100 and keep your carpeted and non-carpeted surfaces looking tidy. Conversely, the average entry-level mower will set you back around $1,500.
Now, that isn’t the case for every budget-friendly mower on the market. For instance, if you’re willing to pick up a generic unit from Amazon with a hard-wired perimeter and a limited range, you can find an option between $500 and $800. Still, it’s no sub-three-figure robot vacuum cleaner.
Of course, there’s a good reason for that. Robot lawn mowers deal with more significant factors than interior-only robot vacuums. For instance, most mowers must have a certain IPX water repellency rating. Moreover, automated mowers must factor in issues like elevation and terrain.
More worryingly, a quality robot lawn mower could be more expensive than hiring a lawn maintenance service. Specifically, if you commission services 26 weeks out of the year, paying $40 per visit, you’ll spend around $1,040 in a year. That’s less than the average entry-level mower, per Tom’s Guide. Of course, that cost per visit could be more or less depending on factors like your location and the specs of your lawn. Still, that’s the cost of just one year. Husqvarna, for instance, offers up to five years or 6,000 hours of warranty coverage as long as owners meet the service requirements.
