The number of calories burned gardening is similar to walking at a brisk pace.

Image Credit: Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision/GettyImages Doing yard work may not be on your list of exercises to burn calories, but perhaps it should be. Depending on how much you weigh and the type of work you do, you can burn a decent amount of yard work calories every hour.

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 The harder you work, the more calories you burn when gardening, digging, raking leaves or doing other yard care activities. For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, a person weighing 150 pounds can burn 238 calories per hour while picking fruits or vegetables.

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  Tip The exact number of calories burned doing yard work depends on how much you weigh and your level of effort.

Calories Burned Doing Yard Work (per Hour) Activity 125-pound person 155-pound person 185-pound person Gardening (general) 270 334 400 Raking, sacking leaves 240 298 356 Mowing lawn (push, power) 270 334 400 Mowing lawn (push, hand) 330 410 488 Weeding 278 344 410 Planting seedlings, shrubs 240 298 356 Planting trees 270 334 400 Digging, spading dirt 300 372 444 Chopping, splitting wood 360 446 532 Carrying, stacking wood 300 372 444 Laying sod or crushed rock 300 372 444 Shoveling snow by hand 360 446 532 Operating snow blower (walking) 270 334 400 Source: Harvard Health Publishing. (2018). “Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights”

The number of calories burned mowing a lawn with a push mower is similar to doing low-impact aerobics.

Image Credit: cjp/E+/GettyImages Is Doing Yard Work a Good Workout? If it’s a nice day outside or you just really need to tackle some yard work, you don’t need to feel guilty for skipping your gym workout. Here’s how yard work activities stack up against common exercises, according to Harvard Health Publishing:

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 ‌Raking or Sacking Leaves:‌

Walking at 3.5 mph Tai chi Water aerobics Stretching Hatha yoga

‌Gardening; Planting Trees; Operating a Snow Blower:‌

Moderate calisthenics Walking at 4 mph Playing badminton

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 ‌Digging or Spading Dirt; Carrying Wood; Laying Sod:‌

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Walking at 4.5 mph Kayaking Playing softball

‌Mowing the Lawn With a Push Mower:‌

Low-impact aerobics Dancing Playing golf (carrying clubs)

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 ‌Chopping Wood or Shoveling Snow:‌

Swimming Vigorous weight-lifting Jogging Stair step machine

Related Reading 10 Activities That Burn More Calories Than You Think Consider Individual Differences The calculations given for the number of calories burned are not exact. It is likely that your weight varies a bit from that used in the calculations, and people typically do not do yard work at a constant rate.

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 For example, if you rake the lawn more vigorously than another person, you'll burn more calories than that person in the same amount of time. Use the calculations as a general guide.

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  references
  
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights"
    
      Valdosta State University: "Exercise and Calories Burned"
    
      Mayo Clinic Diet: "Burn Extra Calories With Daily Activities"
       




  references
  
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights"
    
      Valdosta State University: "Exercise and Calories Burned"
    
      Mayo Clinic Diet: "Burn Extra Calories With Daily Activities"
    




The number of calories burned gardening is similar to walking at a brisk pace.

Image Credit: Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision/GettyImages

Image Credit: Kathrin Ziegler/DigitalVision/GettyImages

The exact number of calories burned doing yard work depends on how much you weigh and your level of effort.

Activity 125-pound person 155-pound person 185-pound person Gardening (general) 270 334 400 Raking, sacking leaves 240 298 356 Mowing lawn (push, power) 270 334 400 Mowing lawn (push, hand) 330 410 488 Weeding 278 344 410 Planting seedlings, shrubs 240 298 356 Planting trees 270 334 400 Digging, spading dirt 300 372 444 Chopping, splitting wood 360 446 532 Carrying, stacking wood 300 372 444 Laying sod or crushed rock 300 372 444 Shoveling snow by hand 360 446 532 Operating snow blower (walking) 270 334 400

Source: Harvard Health Publishing. (2018). “Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights”

Source: Harvard Health Publishing. (2018). “Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights”

The number of calories burned mowing a lawn with a push mower is similar to doing low-impact aerobics.

Image Credit: cjp/E+/GettyImages

Image Credit: cjp/E+/GettyImages

10 Activities That Burn More Calories Than You Think

      Harvard Health Publishing: "Calories Burned in 30 Minutes for People of Three Different Weights"
    
      Valdosta State University: "Exercise and Calories Burned"
    
      Mayo Clinic Diet: "Burn Extra Calories With Daily Activities"