Calories Burned Mowing the Lawn
Calorie Calculator
Now track what you ate after mowing the lawn
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About mowing the lawn
The mower decides nearly everything here. Walking behind one at moderate effort is 5.5 METs, or 387 calories an hour for a 155 lb person, which puts an ordinary Saturday lawn above a brisk walk. Sit on a ride-on and the Compendium drops you to 2.5, about 176 an hour, the same rating it gives walking behind a snow blower. A hand reel mower goes the other way at 6.0. Same lawn, same person, and a 45 minute job that ranges from 132 calories to 316 depending only on what is doing the pushing.
Calories Burned by Body Weight
Calories burned per 30 minutes of mowing the lawn at moderate intensity (MET 5.5)
| Body Weight | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 120 lbs (54 kg) | 150 cal |
| 140 lbs (64 kg) | 175 cal |
| 155 lbs (70 kg)Reference | 193 cal |
| 170 lbs (77 kg) | 212 cal |
| 185 lbs (84 kg) | 231 cal |
| 200 lbs (91 kg) | 249 cal |
| 220 lbs (100 kg) | 274 cal |
Calories Burned by Duration
Calories burned at 155 lbs body weight, moderate intensity
| Duration | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| 15 minutes | 97 cal |
| 30 minutesReference | 193 cal |
| 45 minutes | 290 cal |
| 60 minutes | 387 cal |
| 90 minutes | 580 cal |
Calories by Intensity
Different intensities burn different calories. MET (Metabolic Equivalent) measures exercise intensity.
Food Equivalent
30 minutes of mowing the lawn burns enough calories to offset:
Based on 193 calories burned (30 min at 155 lbs)
Tips for Mowing the Lawn
- Push from the hips with a tall spine rather than leaning your weight onto the handle
- Swap the leading hand every few passes so one shoulder is not doing all of it
- Mow the long dimension of the lawn, fewer turns means fewer stops
- Empty the bag before it fills, a full grass bag is heavy to swing at hip height
- Go out in the cooler part of the day and drink before you feel like it