Operating costs of a robot mower

Switching from a petrol mower to a robot mower is one of the best upgrades you can make for your lawn and lifetsyle, but you will have to adjust how you think about maintenance. Robot mowers are electric, highly efficient, and built for long operating hours, but they still require upkeep to keep them performing at their best.

We've often found that most people don't fully understand just how much their ride-on is costing after you factor in the true costs, including petrol, servicing, and parts.

Here’s a simple guide to help you understand the real maintenance and running costs of a robot mower.

Compared with combustion

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    A different way of thinking

    Traditional petrol mowers need constant preventative maintenance. If you don’t replace belts, filters, spark plugs, and fluids early, you risk damaging the engine and creating bigger, more expensive issues.

    Robot mowers are different.

  • Robots don't need

    • Petrol
    • Engine oil
    • Filters
    • Belts
    • Spark plugs
    • Fuel treatments
    • Annual engine servicing

  • No "cascading" failures

    If a motor or component reaches the end of its life, it usually fails on its own without damaging the rest of the machine like it may on a petrol engine. That makes robot mowers simpler to maintain over time.

Routine Cleaning = Longer Life

Robot mowers don’t need traditional servicing, but simple regular cleaning has a massive impact on lifespan. We recommend:

  • Clearing grass or any debris from the undercarriage
  • Brushing debris from wheels and drive areas
  • Wiping cameras and sensors
  • Keeping the charging station area tidy

This helps your mower run cooler, reduces strain on the motors, and prevents unnecessary wear. A clean mower lasts longer, works better, and avoids many avoidable faults.  We strongly recommend avoiding using a water-blaster - it's usually better to use compressed air or a leaf blower and a dish brush, then rinse off with low-pressure water.

Make sure to familiarise with the operating and cleaning instructions for your particular robomate.

Expected running costs

  • Blades

    Blades are the only immediate consumable. Depending on your lawn size, grass type, and conditions, they typically need replacing a few times a year.  Some people may even do it less than this, however you will get a much better lawn result and reduce wear on the cutting motors and batteries by doing it more often.

    For a moderate lifestyle property expect to budget ~$100 per year.

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    Electricity

    Despite the long operating hours, robot mowers consume minimal electricity. On average, most users will pay an additional ~$10 per month of electricy - significant savings when compared with petrol or oil for a push/ride-on mower.

    Some mowers have an additional data cost if you want cell-tower connectivity. This is NOT required for the basic operation of the machine.

  • Batteries & motors

    These are usually covered under the warranty of the mower, however once this expires you should budget to replace some components (for example, cutting motors, wheels motors, wheels, & batteries). This varies significantly due to environmental factors and how well you care for your robot, however as an example, a Luba 2 5000 battery is ~$550 which should last a few years.

A robot mower isn't magic, but it is cheaper, safer, and simply better.

A robot mower will last as long as parts are available and software supports it. Like a car needs spark plugs, robot mowers will eventually need parts replaced, especially after the warranty period.

But overall, you get:

  • Lower running costs
  • No fuel or engine servicing
  • Safer, quieter operation
  • A consistent quality cut (often better than a professional mowing service)
  • More time back in your day

Robot mowers aren’t maintenance-free, but the maintenance they do require is simple, predictable, and inexpensive.

The Bottom Line

For most households, a robot mower costs just tens of dollars per month to operate over its lifetime, far less than a petrol mower, and dramatically less than hiring a mowing contractor.

With quick weekly cleaning and occasional component replacements over the years, your robot mower should deliver you hundreds of hours each year, lower cost of ownership and a healthier lawn.