Calories burned mowing the lawn
Mowing calories at 150 and 180 lb
At 150 lb for 30 minutes, the formula gives 187 calories for mowing on foot under general code 08095 at 5.5 MET, 85 for riding mower code 08100 at 2.5 MET and 204 for hand mower code 08110 at 6.0 MET. These mowing values come from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities.
| Compendium entry | MET | 150 lb 30 minutes | 150 lb 60 minutes | 180 lb 30 minutes | 180 lb 60 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 187 | 374 | 225 | 449 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 85 | 170 | 102 | 204 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 204 | 408 | 245 | 490 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 170 | 340 | 204 | 408 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 153 | 306 | 184 | 367 |
Calculate calories for a mowing entry
08095 at 5.5 MET for 150 lb and 30 minutes.
To calculate gross calories during mowing, multiply the entry's MET value by body weight in kilograms and time in hours. Convert pounds to kilograms by dividing by 2.2046, and convert minutes to hours by dividing by 60. For calories above resting, subtract 1 from the MET value before multiplying.
The Compendium unit conversion page, checked October 18, 2026, defines one MET as one kilocalorie per kilogram per hour.
Mowing figures across body weights
| Compendium entry | MET | 120 lb | 150 lb | 180 lb | 210 lb | 240 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 150 | 187 | 225 | 262 | 299 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 68 | 85 | 102 | 119 | 136 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 163 | 204 | 245 | 286 | 327 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 136 | 170 | 204 | 238 | 272 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 122 | 153 | 184 | 214 | 245 |
| Compendium entry | MET | 120 lb | 150 lb | 180 lb | 210 lb | 240 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 299 | 374 | 449 | 524 | 599 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 136 | 170 | 204 | 238 | 272 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 327 | 408 | 490 | 572 | 653 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 272 | 340 | 408 | 476 | 544 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 245 | 306 | 367 | 429 | 490 |
| Compendium entry | MET | 120 lb | 150 lb | 180 lb | 210 lb | 240 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 122 | 153 | 184 | 214 | 245 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 41 | 51 | 61 | 71 | 82 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 136 | 170 | 204 | 238 | 272 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 109 | 136 | 163 | 191 | 218 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 95 | 119 | 143 | 167 | 191 |
| Compendium entry | MET | 120 lb | 150 lb | 180 lb | 210 lb | 240 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 245 | 306 | 367 | 429 | 490 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 82 | 102 | 122 | 143 | 163 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 272 | 340 | 408 | 476 | 544 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 218 | 272 | 327 | 381 | 435 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 191 | 238 | 286 | 333 | 381 |
Each cell is rounded from its own full calculation, so a 60 minute cell is not always twice the 30 minute cell.
How the source marks estimated values
On the Compendium lawn and garden page, red activity codes identify estimated MET values. The note below the entries says all other values are supported with published literature. None of the five mowing codes was printed in red when checked October 18, 2026.
Mowing beside a moderate walk
For comparison, the Compendium walking page, checked October 18, 2026, lists code 17190 at 3.8 MET for Walking, 2.8 to 3.4 mph, level, moderate pace, firm surface. Riding mower code 08100 at 2.5 MET is below that value, while the other four mowing entries at 4.5 to 6.0 MET are above it.
| Compendium entry | MET | 150 lb 30 minutes | 150 lb 60 minutes | 180 lb 30 minutes | 180 lb 60 minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17190 Walking, 2.8 to 3.4 mph, level, moderate pace, firm surface | 3.8 | 129 | 259 | 155 | 310 |
| 08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort | 5.5 | 187 | 374 | 225 | 449 |
| 08100 Mowing lawn, riding mower, Taylor Code 550 | 2.5 | 85 | 170 | 102 | 204 |
| 08110 Mowing lawn, hand mower, vigorous effort, Taylor Code 570 | 6.0 | 204 | 408 | 245 | 490 |
| 08120 Mowing lawn, walk, power mower, moderate or vigorous effort | 5.0 | 170 | 340 | 204 | 408 |
| 08125 Mowing lawn, power mower, light or moderate effort, Taylor Code 590 | 4.5 | 153 | 306 | 184 | 367 |
For a walk measured by distance, see walking calories by mile and speed. The step count calorie calculator works out calories from a step count.
Details the mowing descriptions leave out
The mowing descriptions give no walking speed, slope, grass height, mower weight or yard size. Those details therefore have no inputs in this calculator. Light, moderate and vigorous appear as effort words without further definitions in the mowing entries.
Limits the Compendium states for its values
The Compendium was not developed to determine the precise energy cost of an activity for an individual. Its standard uses a fixed resting rate for 1 MET and does not correct MET levels for age, body mass or sex.
In the example table on its corrected METs page, checked October 18, 2026, the standard values underestimated energy cost. The difference grew with higher body mass index and older age.
Gross calories include the resting amount for the same time. Above-resting calories leave that amount out. The calculator that splits active and total calories explains that distinction.
Another yard task to compare
For clearing snow, snow shoveling calories by effort and body weight uses the Compendium's snow entries.
Keep a food log with TrueCal
TrueCal is a food log with free manual calorie logging. Pro adds macros and logging from a typed description, voice, a photo or a barcode. Its App Store listing says it shows weight trend, daily steps and estimated energy balance over time.
Questions about the mowing numbers
Does mowing burn calories?
Yes. For 150 lb and 30 minutes, the formula gives 187 calories for mowing on foot under general code 08095 at 5.5 MET, 85 for riding mower code 08100 at 2.5 MET and 204 for hand mower code 08110 at 6.0 MET.
How does a riding mower compare with walking behind a mower?
The riding mower entry 08100 is 2.5 MET. The walk power mower entry 08120 is 5.0 MET, and entry 08095, mowing while walking at moderate effort, is 5.5 MET. At 150 lb for 30 minutes, those entries give 85, 170 and 187 gross calories respectively.
Which mowing entries have estimated MET values?
None of the five mowing codes appears in red on the lawn and garden page checked October 18, 2026. Red codes mark estimated MET values. The Compendium says all other values have support from published literature.
Compendium pages used here
- Lawn and garden entries, checked October 18, 2026.
- Walking entries, checked October 18, 2026.
- Work unit conversions, checked October 18, 2026.
- Corrected METs, checked October 18, 2026.