Robot mower costs & power consumption: what does running it really cost?
Anyone considering a robot lawn mower asks about the price first – but the really interesting figure is the running costs and power consumption per year. This guide breaks down how much electricity a robot mower actually uses, how that compares with a petrol mower and a garden service – and what is already included in the price of the TerraMow V600 and V1000.
How much electricity does a robot mower use per year?
The biggest factor is the lawn area: the larger the garden, the longer the robot drives, the more often it charges, the more energy passes through the battery over the season. As a rough guide, industry sources cite values of about 14 to 60 kWh per year for typical private gardens – often calculated at around 20 kWh per year for about 200 m². At an assumed electricity price of 0.35 €/kWh, this results in running electricity costs of roughly 5 to 25 € per year. Even for a large garden, this remains a manageable item.
In practice, consumption depends on: area and mowing frequency, grass height and density (dense, damp grass takes more effort), charging losses and the standby consumption of the charging station. If you want to save, mow often and short rather than rarely and a lot – this is easier on both the battery and the grass.
Robot mower vs. petrol mower & garden service
In everyday operation, the robot mower plays out its cost advantages. A petrol mower uses roughly 0.6 to 1 litre of petrol per hour, plus oil, spark plugs and maintenance. A garden service charges per visit – over a season this adds up quickly. The robot mower, by contrast, does the work for a few euros of electricity, and your time stays free.
| Item | Robot mower (TerraMow) | Petrol mower | Garden service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Running costs/year | approx. 5–25 € electricity | petrol + oil + maintenance | cost per visit |
| Your time spent | virtually none | mow weekly | coordinate appointments |
| Noise & emissions | under 54 dB, emission-free | loud, exhaust fumes | depends on equipment |
| Installation | none (camera vision) | — | — |
As a rough rule of thumb, a saving of around 60 € in energy costs and about 65 kg CO₂ per year compared with a petrol mower is often cited. The greatest value, however, is the time regained. You can model exactly what that means for your garden with the time and savings calculator in the guide.
Purchase: what's already included with the TerraMow
When it comes to purchase costs, it pays to look closely at what is included in the price – because hidden extras for wire or antennas can quickly make a "cheap" offer more expensive. Wire-based models need boundary wire (plus hours of laying work), RTK models a reference antenna with a power supply. With the TerraMow, both are unnecessary because navigation is purely camera-based. Included are:
- TerraMow V600 – 899 € (RRP 999 €): for gardens up to 600 m², incl. garage, 27 spare blades and a 4G module for 1 year.
- TerraMow V1000 – 1,199 € (instead of 1,299 €): for gardens up to 1,200 m², also incl. garage, 27 spare blades and a 4G module for 1 year.
- Both models: 3-year warranty (battery 2 years), no costs for a boundary wire or RTK antenna.
The main wear item is the blades – thanks to the 27 included spare blades, nothing is due here for a long time. Refills and accessories can be found under spare parts & blades.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How much electricity does a robot lawn mower use per year?
For typical private gardens, reference values range roughly between 14 and 60 kWh per year, depending on area and mowing frequency. At an electricity price of around 0.35 €/kWh, this results in running electricity costs of about 5 to 25 € per year.
What does a robot mower cost to run compared with a petrol mower?
A petrol mower uses roughly 0.6 to 1 litre of petrol per hour plus oil and maintenance, depending on the model. The pure electricity costs of a robot mower, usually under 25 € per year, are far below that – plus the time saved on manual mowing.
What running costs besides electricity does a robot mower have?
Besides electricity, the main cost is spare blades, which wear out. With the TerraMow V600 and V1000, 27 spare blades are already included in the box. Additional blade sets and accessories are available in the spare parts section.
What is already included in the TerraMow purchase price?
With the TerraMow V600 (899 €) and V1000 (1,199 €), the garage, 27 spare blades and the 4G module for 1 year are included in the price, plus a 3-year warranty (battery 2 years). There are no costs for a boundary wire or an RTK antenna.
Conclusion
The costs and power consumption of a robot lawn mower in everyday operation are low: usually under 25 € of electricity per year, with no petrol, oil or service costs. With the TerraMow, there are no wire or RTK-antenna costs either, and garage, spare blades and 4G module are already included. Read on: Model choice by area & slope · V600 · V1000 · all guides.
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