Research & Data
This is our central data hub — the starting point for every statistic, benchmark, and market figure we publish about the lawn care industry. Every number on this page is sourced, dated, and methodology-transparent. If you're a journalist, researcher, or business owner looking for citable data, start here.
This is our central data hub — the starting point for every statistic, benchmark, and market figure we publish about the lawn care industry. Every number on this page is sourced, dated, and methodology-transparent. If you're a journalist, researcher, or business owner looking for citable data, start here.
This is our central data hub — the starting point for every statistic, benchmark, and market figure we publish about the lawn care industry. Every number on this page is sourced, dated, and methodology-transparent. If you're a journalist, researcher, or business owner looking for citable data, start here.
Here's what this page covers:
Each section summarizes the headline findings and links to our deeper data pages where we break the numbers down further.
This is the parent resource for our full data and research cluster — use the linked supporting pages for detailed analysis.
The U.S. lawn and landscape services industry generates an estimated $176 billion in annual revenue (2025), growing at approximately 4.2% annually. The market has expanded consistently for over a decade, driven by household formation, aging homeowners who outsource maintenance, and commercial property growth.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. lawn & landscape services revenue | ~$176 billion (2025) | IBIS World Industry Report 56173 |
| Annual growth rate | ~4.2% | IBIS World |
| Number of businesses | ~632,000 | U.S. Census Bureau, SUSB 2024 |
| Total employment | ~1.3 million | BLS Occupational Employment Statistics |
| Projected market size (2028) | ~$198 billion | IBIS World growth projections |
Growth exceeds general inflation, suggesting real demand expansion — not just price-driven increases.
The lawn care industry is one of the most fragmented service sectors in the U.S. economy. No single company controls more than 5% of the market.
| Segment | Estimated Share of Firms | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Solo operators | ~40% | Owner-operator, local routes, minimal overhead |
| Small crews (2-5 employees) | ~35% | 1-3 trucks, residential focus |
| Regional companies (6-50) | ~18% | Multi-crew, mixed residential/commercial |
| Enterprise (50+) | ~7% | Multi-branch, commercial-heavy, treatment programs |
Enterprise operators dominate the treatment segment (fertilization, weed control) where annual programs and route density create scale advantages. The mowing segment remains overwhelmingly small-operator territory.
| Company | Focus | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| BrightView | Commercial landscaping | Largest U.S. commercial landscaper; $2.7B+ revenue |
| TruGreen | Residential treatment programs | ~2.3M customers |
| Lawn Doctor | Residential treatment franchise | ~550 locations |
| Spring-Green | Residential treatment franchise | ~100+ locations |
| Weed Man | Residential treatment franchise | ~300 locations (US + Canada) |
Labor is the largest cost component for lawn care businesses, typically 40-55% of total operating costs. Regional wage differences are a primary driver of why the same service costs different amounts in different metros.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total grounds maintenance workers | ~1.3 million | BLS OES, SOC 37-3011 |
| Median hourly wage (national) | $18.65 | BLS OES, May 2024 |
| Wage range (10th-90th percentile) | $13.67-$27.98 | BLS OES |
| Job growth projection (2022-2032) | 5% (above average) | BLS Occupational Outlook |
| Seasonal employment swing | 30-40% in northern states | Industry estimates |
The wage spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is 2x — reflecting the range from entry-level seasonal workers to experienced crew leads and specialized technicians.
For the full breakdown by metro and region: Lawn Care Workforce: Labor Costs by Region
The gap between published "average cost" figures and what homeowners actually pay is persistent and significant. Published ranges are broad because they blend different lot sizes, scopes, frequencies, and regions.
| Service Level | Typical Monthly Spend | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| Bi-weekly mowing only | $70-110 | $560-880 |
| Weekly mowing only | $140-220 | $1,120-1,760 |
| Mowing + basic treatment | $200-320 | $1,600-2,560 |
| Full-service program | $280-450 | $2,240-3,600 |
The largest spending variable is scope (what's included), not lot size. Mow-only vs full-service creates a 2x spread on the same property. Most homeowners underestimate their annual lawn care spend by 20-40% because they think in per-visit terms.
For the full consumer spending analysis: What Homeowners Actually Pay for Lawn Care
Lawn size is the baseline driver for residential pricing. The national median is approximately 4,200 square feet of maintained turf, but state-level medians range from under 2,000 sq ft in dense coastal markets to over 10,000 sq ft in New England.
| Region | Typical Turf Area | Pricing Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New England | 7,000-14,000 sq ft | Largest lots; highest per-visit pricing |
| Southeast | 4,500-10,000 sq ft | Long season compensates for lower per-visit rates |
| Midwest | 5,000-9,000 sq ft | Near national medians |
| Southwest | 2,500-6,000 sq ft | Xeriscaping reducing turf area |
| West Coast / Pacific | 2,000-5,000 sq ft | Smallest lots nationally |
New construction lots nationwide are trending 20-30% smaller than lots built before 2000, which directly affects per-visit revenue for mowing operators.
For state-level data and detailed methodology: Average Lawn Size by State
The industry has been slow to adopt technology compared to other service sectors, but the pace is accelerating — driven by field service management platforms, mobile apps, and online quoting tools.
| Technology | Estimated Adoption | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Field service management software | 25-35% of 5+ employee firms | Growing rapidly |
| Automated invoicing / payments | 30-40% | Highest adoption category |
| CRM for customer management | 20-30% | Often bundled with FSM |
| GPS route optimization | 15-25% | Built into newer FSM platforms |
| Online quoting / instant estimates | <10% | Early stage; concentrated in tech-forward operators |
No comprehensive technology census exists for the lawn care industry. These estimates are compiled from vendor adoption data, industry surveys, and market research. Contractor technology adoption is an area where original research would significantly advance the data available.
Lawn care is one of the most seasonal service industries in the U.S. Revenue, employment, and demand all follow growing-season patterns.
| Region | Peak Season | Off-Season | Typical Annual Mowing Visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep South | March-November | December-February | 36-42 |
| Southeast / Mid-South | April-October | November-March | 28-34 |
| Midwest | April-October | November-March | 26-32 |
| Northeast | May-September | October-April | 22-28 |
| Southwest (irrigated) | March-October | November-February | 30-38 |
Revenue concentration in peak months is the structural driver behind the industry's shift from per-visit billing toward monthly and annual programs. For contractors, smoothing seasonal cash flow through billing structure is a meaningful operational advantage.
| Finding | Statistic | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Use 2+ review sites before choosing | 74% of consumers | BrightLocal 2025 |
| Brand reputation considered important | 96% of home services buyers | Major homeowner survey, 2024 |
| Leads converting when contacted <1 hour | Nearly 7x more likely to qualify | Harvard Business Review, 2011 |
| Mobile visits abandoned if load >3 sec | 53% | Think with Google |
| Home improvement Google Ads CVR | 7.33% | WordStream 2025 |
Speed of response, online presence, and review management are increasingly baseline requirements for customer acquisition — not differentiators.
For verified benchmark sources and usage guardrails, see our internal Verified Conversion Benchmarks.
All statistics on this page and its supporting data pages are sourced from:
Where estimates are used, methodology is documented. Where data is proprietary (from our property measurement pipeline), that's labeled. We don't present internal assumptions as market truth.
This data is refreshed quarterly. If you cite these statistics, please link back to this page.
| Page | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Lawn Care Workforce: Labor Costs by Region | BLS wage data by metro and region, loaded rate calculations, pricing impact |
| Average Lawn Size by State | State-level lot and turf area data, lot-size trends, pricing implications |
| What Homeowners Actually Pay | Real spending by service level, scope analysis, regional comparison |