Garden owners know the different tools they need to maintain their lawn. Every such tool powered by an engine is available in two variants – regular and commercial.
Similarly, you can find lawn mowers in both categories. Although same in appearance, both differ in terms of their application and levels of functionality.
Usually, people with huge lawns or more than 1 property that require daily mowing are advised to use commercial lawn mowers.
But do you know what is the difference between a commercial lawn mower and a regular lawn mower?
Let’s explore some common points of difference between the two types of lawn mowers. But first, we’ll go through their definitions.
Commercial Lawn Mowers
Commercial refers to products or services that professionals use.
Similar is the concept that defines commercial lawn mowers. Companies that offer lawn mowing and maintenance services use commercial mowers.
They are meant for mowing regularly. Commercial mowers can take on heavy mowing jobs, extending up to 6-7 days a week.
Residential Lawn Mowers
On the other hand, residential mowers aren’t that sturdy and reliable for heavy-duty jobs.
Homeowners use these lawn mowers to mow their lawns. With smaller structures and fewer controls, residential mowers are made for once-a-week use only.
What is the Difference Between a Commercial Lawn Mower and a Regular Lawn Mower?
Did you get the idea of the difference from the definition? Let’s explore the comparison in more detail.
Quality
A commercial lawn mower can withstand regular use for heavy-duty mowing jobs. The structures, engines, and entire construction of a commercial mower are of higher quality.
Also, their engines come with significantly higher horsepower ratings. The features of a commercial mower make it a great choice for big fields like golf courses.
Besides, you can also use them on lawns with irregular terrain comprising weeds and tall grass, and rocks.
Regular mowers, on the other hand, have simple construction and structure as well as less horsepower. They are made for use on a single lawn from time to time.
Although regular mowers can also handle rough terrains, they are more prone to wear and tear than commercial ones.
Endurance
Commercial lawn mowers are built to last longer than regular ones. That’s why the former comes with stronger engines and higher horsepower.
And this one comes in as a major factor when thinking about “what is the difference between a commercial lawn mower and a regular lawn mower?”
In other words, the engines of commercial mowers are much different than those of regular mowers. But that doesn’t mean the latter break down faster.
You can extend your mower’s life by years with proper maintenance. Comparatively, regular mowers offer less endurance since they are made to be used once or twice a week.
And that makes a major point of difference as commercial mowers can work regularly for days.
Price
Get ready to pay more for extra features, endurance, and high-quality parts. Commercial mowers are costlier than regular ones.
In most cases, mowers that homeowners use cost around $400. However, the commercial ones are on the costlier side with prices going up to $1000.
Besides, a mower’s final price will vary with the choice of manufacturer, features, and type.
Features
Commercial mowers appear to have more features as compared to residential ones. For instance, most commercial mowers feature complex mulching and grass collection system.
Moreover, some also feature a self-propelling system to minimize the effort for the machine’s functioning.
More features convert to higher price tags. So, you should evaluate what features you need before buying as that would change how much you will spend.
Can I Buy Commercial Mower for my Home?
Typically, lawn maintenance and mowing companies use commercial mowers. This comes from the high-end features and mowing professional requirements.
However, in several cases, homeowners can also buy and use these lawn mowers.
Do you need to mow (or maintain) your garden more than once a week for over an hour? In such a case, get a commercial mower.
The reason regular mowers aren’t preferred here is that they are made for less frequent uses and might break down faster.
Moreover, summers require you to spend more hours maintaining the garden. That’s when considering a commercial mower is advised.
Another reason that calls for buying a commercial mower is when you desire high-quality parts and good features. They need little maintenance even during peak usage situations.
If your lawn has irregular or difficult terrain and hilly ground, a residential mower can take a bad toll. A regular mower won’t stand strong against the difficulties of these landscapes.
However, with a commercial mower, you can mow your garden at a faster pace without applying much effort.
Do you want or desire professional garden maintenance? A residential mower won’t do the job even though it works wonderfully at mowing small lawns.
Contrarily, a commercial mower can give better results as per your wishes and you’re your garden a healthier look.
Wrap Up – Commercial Mowers vs Regular Mowers
Isn’t that clear by the name about “what is the difference between a commercial lawn mower and a regular lawn mower?”
Basically, the difference lies in the frequency of use and area of the lawn. Moreover, commercial mowers have better features and higher quality parts.
FAQs
What is considered a commercial mower?
A commercial lawn mower generally uses a two-cylinder engine and not a four-cylinder engine. Displacement and horsepower are higher than residential four-cylinder engines.
Technically, 4-cylinder engines have more breakable parts and are more complex because of environmental regulations.
Do commercial mowers cut better?
A commercial engine is known for its higher torque rating and blade tip speed.
Blade tip speed refers to the speed of spinning the mower blade. Higher speed means faster spinning, whereas commercial mowers are 2-3 times faster than residential ones.
Why are commercial lawn mowers so expensive?
Commercial lawn mowers are more reliable and sturdier by construction. They pack better features and are made to last longer.
Also, commercial mowers can operate for 12 hours a day. Hence, they are less prone to the risks of breaking down or overheating.