There’s no universal lawn mowing height, and the best height to cut grass depends on the specific type of grass.
For example, cool-season grasses like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass thrive at taller heights, while warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass can handle shorter cuts. We’ll break down the best height for each grass type, as well as when to mow.
If you’re unsure what type of grass you have, hire a lawn care pro to mow your lawn at its ideal height.
Optimal Cutting Heights by Grass Types
Mowing grass at the right height is one of the secrets to a lush, healthy lawn. This table shows the best height to cut different types of grasses:
| Grass Type | Recommended Mowing Height (inches) | Mow When it Reaches This Height (inches) |
| Bahiagrass | 3 – 4 | 4.5 – 5 |
| Bermudagrass (common) | 1 – 2 | 1.5 – 3 |
| Bermudagrass (hybrid) | 0.5 – 1.5 | 0.75 – 2.25 |
| Buffalograss | 2 – 3 (weekly) 3 – 4 (monthly or yearly) | 3 – 4.5 (weekly) 4.5 – 5 (monthly or yearly) |
| Centipedegrass | 1 – 2 | 1.5 – 3 |
| Fine fescue | 2 – 4 | 3 – 5 |
| Kentucky bluegrass | 2 – 4 | 3 – 5 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 1.5 – 3.5 | 2.25 – 5 |
| St. Augustinegrass | 3 – 4 | 4.5 – 5 |
| Dwarf St. Augustinegrass | 2 – 2.5 | 3 – 3.75 |
| Tall fescue | 2 – 4 | 3 – 5 |
| Zoysiagrass (fine-textured) | 0.25* – 1 | 0.37 – 1.5 |
| Zoysiagrass (medium- to coarse-textured) | 1 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 3.75 |
*Mowing grass under 1/2 inch is common on professionally managed turf (like golf courses) but requires a commitment to daily mowing.
Here’s a closer look at each grass type:
Cool-Season Grasses
Best grown in cold climates like the northern U.S., cool-season grasses thrive when mowed at moderate to taller heights. But it will still depend on the grass species:
- Fine fescue: The recommended mowing height for fine fescue is 2 to 4 inches. Maintaining a taller height can help conserve soil moisture during dry seasons and prevent weed invasion.
- Kentucky bluegrass: Cutting Kentucky bluegrass to around 2 to 4 inches can help encourage deep root growth.
- Perennial ryegrass: Maintain perennial ryegrass at a height of 1.5 to 3.5 inches.
- Tall fescue: Mow your tall fescue lawn to 2 to 4 inches when it’s around 3 to 5 inches tall.
Warm-Season Grasses
Flourishing in warmer, southern regions of the U.S., warm-season grasses typically require lower mowing heights to maintain their dense, resilient turf. Here are the recommended cutting heights for popular warm-season grasses:
- Bahiagrass: It’s recommended to maintain bahiagrass at 3 to 4 inches.
- Bermudagrass: Keep the height of your Bermudagrass to 1 to 2 inches, as this will help support its coarse texture and rapid spreading habit. For hybrid variants, you can go shorter, around 0.5 to 1.5 inches.
- Buffalograss: A drought-tolerant grass, buffalograss must be cut 2 to 3 inches for weekly mowing and 3 to 4 inches for monthly or yearly mowing.
- Centipedegrass: The ideal grass cutting height for centipedegrass is 1 to 2 inches. Keeping it at this optimal range can help create a neat, even lawn.
- St. Augustinegrass: If you have St. Augustinegrass on your lawn, it benefits from a mowing height of 3 to 4 inches. For dwarf varieties, mow to 2 to 2.5 inches.
- Zoysiagrass: Mow fine-textured Zoysiagrass like Zeon to around 0.25 to 1 inch. For medium- to coarse-textured Zoysia like Empire and Palisades, mow it to 1 to 2.5 inches.
Pro Tip: To cut below 1.5 inches, a reel mower is your best bet. These machines are designed to cut low, creating that fairway-type lawn surface.
Consider the One-Third Rule of Mowing
Acting like solar panels for your lawn, grass blades capture sunlight to produce food. Cutting too much at once will reduce their ability to make energy, weakening the root system and making your lawn vulnerable to heat, drought, pests, and diseases.
The one-third rule of mowing is a simple guideline that helps keep your lawn healthy and looking its best: Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade’s height in a single mowing.
For example, if your ideal height for Kentucky bluegrass is 3 inches, you should mow when it reaches about 4.5 inches so you’re only removing that top third.
According to Jason Lanier, turf management Extension specialist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, mowing should always be done in relation to the growth rate of turf, “meaning that you should be mowing less often when the grass is growing slowly, and more often when it is growing fast.”
These grass-cutting tips can help you:
- Know your grass type’s ideal height: Use the grass cutting height chart above as your reference, then mow your lawn only when it reaches one-third above that height.
- Adjust for growth speed: Mow more frequently when your grass is actively growing. Lanier reiterates that mowing more frequently than growth demands is unnecessary, causing “undue stress and physical injury to grass plants.”
- Keep mower blades sharp: Remember to sharpen your lawn mower blades after 20 to 25 hours of use. Dull blades tear and damage leaf tips, which can significantly stress the grass.
- Avoid drastic cuts: If your lawn has gotten too tall, raise your mower height and trim it down gradually over multiple mowings.
Seasonal Height Adjustments
Grass doesn’t grow at the same speed or face the same challenges year-round, so your lawn mowing height should change with the season.
| Spring | As growth kicks into high gear, set your mower to the lower end of the recommended range for your grass type. This will help encourage new shoots and help thicken the turf early in the season. |
| Summer | During hot weather, raise your mowing height around 1/2 inch, especially for cool-season grasses. Taller blades shade the soil, reduce moisture loss, and help roots withstand drought. |
| Fall | Mow your grass at the higher end of the recommended height until growth slows. This helps with photosynthesis, allowing your grass to store energy in its roots and crown for the winter. In colder regions, lower the height slightly on the last mow of the season before dormancy to prevent snow mold. |
| Winter | In mild climates and southern regions that don’t get frost, grass may still grow during winter. If this is the case for you, it’s best to maintain a moderate height for your grass. |
Note: For grasses in partial shade, you should also raise the mowing height by 1/2 inch.
FAQ About Cutting Grass
When choosing between reel mowers and rotary mowers, remember that reel mowers cut grass like scissors, which is suitable for cutting grasses, such as Bermuda and Zoysia, short. On the other hand, rotary mowers use a high-speed blade designed for cutting longer grass.
Stick to your grass type’s recommended lower limit. Cutting below this increases the risk of lawn scalping, weak roots, and increased stress from heat, drought, or pests.
If your lawn has compacted soil, root growth becomes restricted. So, mow slightly higher to help maintain grass health. Also, remember to aerate your lawn to relieve compaction and improve the flow of nutrients, water, and air to the roots.
Hire a Pro for Consistent Grass Cutting
Following the recommended cutting height for your grass type is vital to maintaining a healthy and beautiful lawn. However, not everyone has time for mowing. For reliable results, most homeowners hire a LawnStarter lawn care pro to ensure their grass always stays at its ideal height.
Sources:
- “How Long Should My Lawn Be?” By Brian McDonald, senior faculty research assistant. Oregon State University Extension Service.
- Jason D. Lanier, turf management Extension specialist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Personal interview.
- “Mow Like a Pro.” Virginia Cooperative Extension.
- “Mowing Height Matters.” By Jackie Jordan, commercial horticulture agent. Clemson University.
Main Image: Lawn mower cutting grass in backyard garden. Image Credit: Mariusz Blach / Adobe Stock
