Lawn mower in house. 20 Things to Know When Buying a New Lawn Mower

There’s lots to consider when it comes time to buy a lawn mower

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Performance

When you’re thinking about buying a lawn mower, you need to find the mower that matches up with what you need for your lawn. You’ll find that walk-behind mowers have engines that range from 140-cc to 190-cc. Pick the engine size that will handle tasks like cutting through tall grass, wet grass, leaf mulching and bagging.

There are several different engine styles out there, including a side valve engine, engines with overhead valves or a direct overhead valve. An overhead valve engine is quieter and has better fuel consumption typically, but it costs more. Bonus: If you’re shopping during holiday season, don’t miss these amazing lawn mower sales.

Lawn-Boy

Comfort

You’re going to be walking behind the mower or riding it for years to come so you’d better make sure it’s comfortable. Make sure the walk-behind mower can be set at the right height for you or the tractor seat is firm enough for you. A stand-on mower is another option to consider. If you plan to buy one, then make sure you check out our list of the best stand-on mowers.

Durability

Features like John Deere’s Easy Change Oil Filter are important to think about before buying a lawn mower. Are other mower parts easily replaceable like the air filter or how tough is it to replace the mower’s pull cord? If you know how to tune up a lawn mower you can get it to last a long time. Another way to get it to last a long time? Get a lawn mower cover.

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Electric Mowers

When deciding between electric vs. gas lawn mowers, consider the size of your lawn. If you don’t have a huge lawn, a battery-powered electric lawn mower may be perfect. Cordless mowers are quieter, require less maintenance, and of course, run without gas or oil. But best of all, you’ll never have to start a gas engine—you just push a button or lever and you’re mowing. Here are a few reasons why you should switch to electric lawn care.

As lithium-ion battery technology has improved, most manufacturers have included cordless mowers in their lineup, so you’ll have plenty of choices. Many of these mowers can cut an average suburban yard (about one-fifth of an acre) on a single charge. for battery-powered mowers are similar to those of gas-powered mowers, and you’ll find most of the same features, too.

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Drive System

If your lawn is relatively flat and not huge, chances are you’ll be perfectly happy buying a push mower—that is, a mower that’s not self-propelled. In addition to being cheaper, mowers without power to the wheels are lighter, have fewer mechanical parts to wear out, and are usually easier to maneuver.

If you have hills or a large yard, a self-propelled mower is a better choice. Front wheel drive mowers pull the mower along but may lose traction on hills, where you tend to push down on the handle. And if you bag your grass, the weight of the bag will reduce the traction on the front wheels, making the drive wheels less effective. In most cases, rear- wheel drive is the best option since it works great on hills and with a bag. All-wheel drive is needed only for severely sloping terrain.

If you buy a self-propelled mower, consider upgrading to variable speed for more flexibility in matching your mowing speed to the lawn conditions and your walking speed.

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Spending Up Front

Residential, walk-behind lawn mowers range in price from less than 200 to well over 600. And you may be wondering if it’s worth spending top dollar on a mower. In addition to the extra features available on more expensive mowers, high-end mowers have better-quality components. You’ll find easy-rolling ball bearing wheels, long-lasting composite or aluminum decks, and top-quality engines. And most high-end mowers include a longer warranty, too. This adds up to a mower that will last longer and need fewer repairs. So you may save money by not having to repair or replace your old mower.

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What To Look For When Buying A Used Lawn Mower

Online Reviews

Even a top-brand mower will occasionally have a quirky problem. One good way to discover whether the mower you’re considering has a hidden flaw is to check online reviews. You’ll find user reviews on manufacturer websites, Amazon and other websites where lawn mowers are sold. But keep in mind that there will always be a few users who have had a bad experience. Multiple complaints about the same problem should be a red flag, though.

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Your Local Dealer

You may be able to save a little money by buying a lawn mower from a department store or home center. But buying from a local servicing dealer has advantages that might outweigh any cost savings. First, you’re more likely to get better purchasing advice from the more knowledgeable staff at a dealer showroom. And when it comes time for a tune-up or warranty repairs, you’ll know right where to go for convenient, personal service. Most dealers have at least two or three top-quality lawn mower brands to choose from and will display the most popular models on the showroom floor.

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A Good Mulcher

If you mulch your grass, look for features like special mulching lawn mower blades or an aluminum or composite deck that resists grass buildup on the underside better than steel. If you prefer to bag your grass, make sure the bag is easy to remove and reinstall. And for the greatest versatility, look for a mower that also has a side discharge chute for times when you’ve let your grass grow too long for mulching or bagging. Some mowers have features like Toro’s ‘Bag On Demand’ that simplify the changeover from bagging to mulching. Honda makes a mower with a feature called Versamow that allows you to mulch and bag at the same time, and adjust the percentage of clippings that go into the bag.

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Cutting Height Adjustment

Try out the height adjusters on the mower you intend to buy to make sure they work smoothly and easily. On some mowers, a single lever adjusts a pair of wheels or even all four wheels at once to make sure you are mowing at the right height.

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Electric Start

If pulling a starter rope is difficult for you or anyone else who will be using the mower, look for a mower with an electric start. A built-in battery and starter motor eliminate the need to pull-start your mower. This is great for people with shoulder or strength problems. The electric start feature is also handy when you need to stop to empty the grass-catcher bag or pick up a stick that’s in the way. Just turn off the engine. Restarting is a button-push away. Honda even makes a mower that charges the battery while you mow, so you don’t ever have to plug in the mower to recharge the battery. You’ll spend about 100 more for the electric start feature.

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Stop Without Restarting

If you collect your grass clippings and need to empty the bag frequently, or if you have to stop often to pick up sticks or move toys out of the way, you know what a hassle it can be to restart the lawn mower every time. You can avoid this problem by shopping for a mower with a blade brake clutch (BBC) or Toro’s Blade Override System (BOS). Mowers with either feature allow you to stop the blade but leave the engine running. Expect to pay about 100 more.

Lawn Tractors: Easy Deck Engagement

For safety reasons, the cutting blades don’t automatically spin at start-up; you have to engage them with a mechanical lever or an easy electric push-button. Some of the lever mechanisms are awkward or stubborn, so try before you buy.

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Lawn Tractors: Get a Bumper

Trust us on this: You’re going to smack a tree someday, and that impact can destroy the hood. So plan on buying a lawn mower with a bumper or set aside some dough to buy an add-on bumper from the manufacturer. And if your little collision with the tree made your lawn mower not start, here’s how to fix it.

Lawn Tractors: Check the Hour Meter

All lawn tractors require maintenance based on hourly usage. A built-in hour meter takes all the guesswork out of maintaining your tractor. You can always add an hour meter later (50), but the built-in models eliminate that hassle.

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Lawn Tractors: Know Engine Size and Features

Lawn tractor engines are sized to match the mower deck and climb the grade listed in the manufacturer’s specs. Buying a lawn tractor with a larger engine won’t get you a higher top-end speed, but the larger engine is important if you plan to haul a cart or add a snow blade or a snow thrower accessory.

Most tractor engines have traditional carburetors. However, the Cub Cadet model shown above, has electronic fuel injection (EFI), which dramatically reduces the starting problems associated with carbureted engines and ethanol fuel. Plus, Cub Cadet claims its EFI system boosts fuel efficiency by 25 percent.

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Mow-in-Reverse Mechanisms

Lawn tractors automatically stop blade movement the instant you shift into reverse. To mow in reverse, you have to hold in a button the entire time you’re mowing in reverse or turn the key to the reverse position and then reposition the key when you want to move forward. We slightly prefer the button system, but both are inconvenient.

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Convenient Gas Gauge

Some models have a gas gauge you can check while driving, while others offer a see-through tank. The less expensive models require you to stop and lift the hood to check the fuel level. You’ll also want to be sure to empty out the gas in your lawn tractor before winter.

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Rear-Engine Riding Mowers

Rear-engine riding lawn mowers do one thing: cut grass. Compared with lawn tractors, they’re less powerful, slower and cut a smaller swath (maximum width: 30 in.). At 800 to 1,400, they’re not always cheaper than a lawn tractor. The least expensive models are a good choice for smaller yards and limited storage space.

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Garden Tractors

Garden tractors are the heavy-duty models. They start at about 2,200 and top out at about 8,000. They accept larger mowing decks (up to 72 in.!) and a wide range of implements such as tillers, seeders, snow throwers, front loaders and backhoes.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Reviews 2023

Deciding on the best self-propelled lawn mower isn’t as easy as it used to be. Do you need commercial or residential quality? Do you want to use gas or batteries for power? How much grass do you need to cut? Are you a mulcher or a bagger?

Having tested dozens of the best walk-behind lawn mowers from entry-level residential to the top professional models, we got our Pro team together to choose our top mowers in a range of scenarios.

One of the big things changing in the market is Honda’s announcement that the brand is exiting the lawn mower market. While you can still buy Honda mowers until they run out of stock, 2023 marks the end of production. We still highly recommend them, but due to the news and iffy availability, we’re not considering Honda as part of our choices this year.

Want to see more, including ride-on and robotic recommendations? Read out Best Lawn Mower Reviews main article!

Best Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower

Commercial: Exmark Commercial X-Series Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

As we bid adieu to Honda this year, the HRC series still gets two thumbs up from us while you can get them. From there, we turn to Exnark and its Commercial X line that complements its Lazer Z zero-turn mowers well. Some professionals will certainly turn to the higher-capacity 30-inch model, but we expect the 21-inch model will find its way onto more trailers.

Exmark wisely uses a Honda 163cc GXV engine with a legendary reputation for reliability. It’s fed by a generous 1-gallon fuel tank and turns the blade at tip speeds up to 18,500 fpm. There’s also an option for a Kawasaki FJ180V engine if you’d like to step up to a 179cc engine.

The deck is 1/4-inch aluminum construction that keeps the weight down (112 pounds) while maintaining high durability. The deck is adjustable from 4.5 inches on the high side all the way down to 1 inch while the drive runs at speeds up to 4.2 MPH.

Residential: Toro Super Recycler Series 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Toro runs deep in the residential lawn mower sector and our favorite among them is the Super Recycler series. Getting the best of all the technology Toro has to offer, our top recommendation (model 21565) includes the Personal Pace drive system and the Smart Stow design that allows you to vertically store the mower even though it’s a gas model.

It uses a 163cc Briggs Stratton engine that produces 7.25 ft-lbs of torque and just under 17,000 fpm blade tip speed.

Toro touts a commercial-grade construction on this model and includes a lighter aluminum deck rather than steel. In addition to that, you get outstanding cut quality, especially on the mulching side (you better with the name Super Recycler!). Wrapping it up, the Personal Pace drive system adjusts to your walking pace so there are no levers or dials to adjust.

Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower

Just a few years ago, if you wanted to find the best battery-powered lawn mower, you could only find residential models. Now, there’s an emerging class of professional-grade options and we have picks for both Pros and homeowners.

Professional: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

There aren’t many true commercial self-propelled lawn mowers with lithium-ion power sources. Milwaukee launched their effort in 2022 with a monstrous 10 ft-lbs of torque that tops what you typically see from a 200cc gas engine. It’s more than just muscle, though. Its blade and deck combine to handle mulching and bagging better than most.

As you roll into fall, the mower’s high-lift mode keeps the blades at 3300 RPM to help pull those lightweight leaves and clean up your lawn. Other features include 180° LED lighting, LED battery indicators facing you, variable speed thumb bar (in addition to the speed wheel), a durable build, and much more.

Price: 1099.00 with two 12.0Ah batteries and dual-port Rapid charger

Residential: EGO Select Cut XP 21-Inch Lawn Mower with Speed IQ

The evolution of EGO’s flagship mower is interesting. It started with the dual-battery Peak Power model that raised the bar of what lithium-ion is capable of. Then, we saw the first stacked-blade SelectCut options that improved cut quality and effectiveness in tall grass. The two technologies combined in the SelectCut XP. Now EGO adds Speed IQ to the mix.

Speed IQ is a self-propelled drive system that automatically adjusts to your pace. However, it’s not a spring-loaded set of handles like Toro uses on its Personal Pace models. Instead, there’s a sensor doing some serious engineering magic… and it works like a charm from our brief time with it at Equip Expo 2022 (formerly GIE).

Price: 599.00 bare, 999.00 with a 12.0Ah battery and Turbo charger

Best Large Walk-Behind Lawn Mower

Commercial: Greenworks Commercial 30-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Can a battery-powered commercial mower really displace gas models? Greenworks Commercial has an 82V 30-inch model that got our attention at the Equip Expo in late 2022, and it’s hard to ignore as a legitimate option. It has the power to replace a 200cc gas engine with blade speeds up to 16,000 FPM. On a full charge, it can cover up to 2 acres.

There are drive system features worth considering as well. Independent hub wheel motors engage what Greenworks calls the Easy Turn System (ETS), making the mower easier to maneuver. Another big deal is that there is a powered reverse function—something that’s incredibly helpful with the weight of mowers in this class. The controls are all up next to your hands and there’s even a display to help you keep track of your battery levels.

Price: 1999.99 bare, 2999.99 with three 8Ah batteries and a dual-port charger

Residential: Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Personal Pace Mower

With 10 ft-lbs of torque delivered from its Briggs Stratton 223cc engine, the 30-inch Toro TimeMaster is our pick as the best large walk-behind lawn mower. Not only does it deliver big power to turn its time-saving 30-inch blade, but it also features Toro’s Personal Pace self-propelled drive and Spin-Stop that lets you stop the blade without shutting off the mower.

It all adds up to big-time savings on larger lawns. Grab model 21200 if you want an electric start or the 21199 if you don’t mind a recoil start and want to save 100.

Price: 1599.00 (21199), 1499.99 (20200)

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for the Money

Toro’s 21-inch Recycler (21352) offers an excellent value for budget-minded homeowners. It’s a Made in the USA rear-wheel drive system powered by a Briggs Stratton 140cc engine. It comes ready to mulch, bag, or side discharge and you don’t have to worry about changing the oil. Just check the levels and add more when it’s necessary.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Brand

No one in the self-propelled lawn mower market dominates like Honda. Their engines enjoy a reputation for quality and durability every other manufacturer is shooting for, and their mowers are simply outstanding.

They typically run at a premium, though. Both Honda mowers and Honda-powered mowers are more expensive than similar designs from other brands. The big kick in the pants is Honda leaving the market, though.

That opens the door for Toro. There are a lot of Toro models we recommend for good reason and hit a wide range from budget-friendly homeowner mowers to commercial zero turns. It’s one of the best-selling brands of walk-behind mowers.

Getting hard sales figures is tough to come by, and it’s always possible we missed the mark. However, we see more Honda and Toro walk-behind mowers on commercial trailers and residential lawns than any other brand.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for Bagging

You don’t have to ditch your current self-propelled lawn mower and buy a whole new one to improve your bagging efficiency. In most cases, adding a high-lift blade to your current mower will make a significant difference. With the exception of electric mowers, you don’t need to worry too much about matching the brand making the blade, but you do need to match the arbor style and the length. The package should tell you which brands it is compatible with.

If you’re still in the market for a new mower, higher RPMs make for better airflow and bagging. Check mowers with a 160cc or higher engine and compare the top blade speeds. You can always swap blades, but you can’t change the speed.

Pro Tip: If you have a 2-point or 4-point deck height adjustment, set the front wheels of your mower one notch higher than the rear to improve bagging.

Best Self-Propelled Mulching Lawn Mower

Similar to a high-lift blade for bagging, you can improve your mulching efficiency with a mulching-specific blade. These usually have additional cutting edges that cut the clippings more times before they drop back into the grass. Keeping the blade sharp ensures you get the best mulching results every time you mow.

If you’re in the market for a new mower, look for a 160cc or higher engine to give you the torque you need to keep your blade speed high in thicker grass. Remember, you can always add a mulching blade, but you can’t make up for an underpowered engine.

Pro Tip: You get the best mulching results if you’re only taking an inch or two off the top of your grass, so make sure you stay on top of lawn maintenance during the peak cutting season.

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower – Priorities

Best Rear-Wheel Drive Self-Propelled Lawn Mower for Hills: YBravo Gen II 25-inch Commercial Mower

After running into issues with other commercial walk-behind mowers, we turned to YBravo 25-inch commercial mower to take care of a 3-acre soggy field that our ZTs only bogged down in. Its Kawasaki 180cc engine kept the blade turning where others simply stalled.

When it’s time to move out of the radio station swamp and you’re going for a more professional look, its cut quality is excellent as well. Available in a 21-inch and the 25-inch model we tested, Ybravo is worth serious consideration.

If you have a Bad Boy dealer closer to you, check out the same model sold under the Bad Boy brand name.

Price: 1299.00 (25-inch model)

Best All-Wheel Drive Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Toro 22-inch Personal Pace All-Wheel Drive Mower 21472

AWD mowers are what you turn to for work on slopes and uneven terrain where it’s possible to have a wheel or two lose traction. For the best all-wheel drive self-propelled lawn mower, we like the Toro 21472 Personal Pace model.

Its 22-inch deck is on the larger size of standard mowers and the Personal Pace system is easy to work with once you get used to it. If you switch between mulching and bagging, the mower’s lever system is super simple.

Packing plenty of power with its 163cc Briggs Stratton engine, it’s not so much that it destroys the competition. It’s that its performance is excellent and the innovations are genuinely helpful while keeping its price in check.

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Recommendations

Not every mower earns an award, but there are several other models we recommend that didn’t find a place earlier in the article. Check these options out if one of the others doesn’t fit your needs.

Best Lawn Mower Buying Guide – What We Look For

Gas vs Battery

Gas power still wins the day when you’re highest priorities are keeping your purchase price down and your power level high. With advancements in battery and motor technology, the OPE world is shifting towards battery power, though. It’s cleaner and quieter to run and requires less maintenance.

However, you have to look at premium models to get true gas power, and runtime can be a limiting factor. It’s also less likely you have a service center nearby that can get you back up and running quickly if there’s a problem.

If your lawn is a 1/4-acre or less, there are a lot of battery-powered options available. Once you get beyond that size, you need to consider how many batteries you’ll need and legitimate options really start to thin out once you hit 1/2 an acre. With larger lawns, newer battery-powered zero turn mowers are a legitimate option.

Take a deeper look at the comparison between gas and battery power in this article.

Commercial vs Residential

This might be better titled “professional vs homeowner” considering there are both commercial and residential professional crews. Regardless, commercial mowers are built with better components and commercial engines, creating a machine that is built to last for years of high-hour daily use.

If you’re a homeowner mowing once a week or so, a good residential mower can still last for 5 or 10 years (or more) if you take care of it. It just uses components and engine designs better fit for occasional use.

Engine Size and Cutting Power

If you stay on top of your mowing and cut quality isn’t a high priority, an engine as small as 140cc is likely fine.

Move up to the 160cc–180cc class for better performance when the grass is thicker and taller, or when you want to make sure you get excellent mulching, bagging, and/or clean cuts. The greater power improves lift and is less likely to bog down in thick patches.

When you’re looking at deck sizes beyond 22 inches, you should start looking for engines in the 180cc–200cc range (or higher) to ensure it can keep the RPMs high while it’s cutting such a large swath.

Cut Quality

We look for three major components of cut quality: evenness, mulching size, and bagging efficiency.

Evenness is pretty straightforward. When we’re testing, we look for grass blades that weren’t cut and indications that there wasn’t enough lift to clip all of the blades at the same level.

When mulching, smaller clippings are better since they drop down closer to the base of the remaining grass. We also look to see if a mower is prone to leaving trails and clumps.

For bagging, it’s all about how much grass is collected, if the chute tends to clog while we’re cutting, and how much grass is deposited back to the ground.

Noise Level

One of the major benefits of battery-powered mowers is the lower noise levels compared to gas, but that doesn’t mean gas mowers have to be obnoxious. We expect higher levels than battery-powered models and that is typically the case.

When we test noise levels, we measure from our operator’s ear to get an idea of what the person using the mower should expect. Even though some mowers are quieter than others, we still recommend hearing protection when you’re using a gas model.

Fuel Efficiency

How efficient gas mowers use fuel has a very direct effect on your wallet, especially when you’re mowing every day as a Pro.

Fuel efficiency testing is more than just a runtime calculation. The cutting swath of a mower comes into play, especially on those 25 and 30-inch models. With larger lawns, it’s possible to get more cutting done per gallon of gas with an engine that uses more gas per hour.

Deck Size

21 or 22 inches is pretty standard for most mowers. Jumping up to a 25-inch or 30-inch mower may seem tempting, but it’s not for everyone.

If your lawn is a 1/4-acre or less, the time you gain with a larger deck might not mean a whole lot of time savings. Where you really gain some time is on lawns that are a 1/2-acre or more.

Keep in mind, larger deck-size mowers are heavier. When you have to mow wet or soggy areas, the weight can work against you.

Steel vs Plastic (Poly) Deck

The vast majority of gas mowers have steel decks while battery-powered models have a much higher percentage of plastic poly decks.

Those poly plastic decks are tougher than they look, but they probably won’t hold up as well as steel in the long run. It’s still highly unlikely that you’ll wear through one before it’s time to replace the mower, though.

However, there’s a whole lot more design flexibility that comes with poly decks, and engineers can do some amazing things to help with airflow that directly affects cut quality along with bagging and mulching efficiency.

Deck Height

Here in Florida, we have a lot of St. Augustine grass that we cut at 3 1/2 inches, so we prefer a mower that has at least a 4-inch maximum deck height.

Depending on what species of grass you have, you might be able to get away with a lower height, but 4 inches is a good all-around benchmark.

On the low end, most of us aren’t cutting golf course greens (you’d use a reel mower for that, anyway), so the minimum deck height usually isn’t an issue.

However, if you use a blade that dethatches or scalps for maintenance or re-seeding, you might want to make sure the deck height gets low enough—typically 1 1/2 inches or less.

Height Adjustment

Single-point height adjustments are the easiest since you can raise or lower the deck with just one lever. It’s common on battery-powered lawn mowers, but not so much on their heavier gas counterparts.

Part of that is because the single-point mechanisms tend to introduce additional flex into the system and the weight of a gas mower puts more strain on the mechanism. So while we generally prefer single-point, we understand why gas mowers may opt away from them.

Pro Tip: Set the front wheels one notch higher than the rear wheels to improve bagging efficiency on 4-point or 2-point adjustable mowers.

Adjustment Levels

If you’re really OCD, more height adjustments mean more precise cutting. Realistically, most of us are going to find a good height on any mower as long as it hits the maximum and minimum heights we mow at.

Setting the Speed

The type of speed adjustment your self-propelled lawn mower has can make or break your experience. There are pull levers, thumb push levers, full push bars (Toro’s Personal Pace), and iterations on those.

Try it at the dealer before you buy it. If you hate working the mechanism for a couple of minutes, imagine what it’s going to feel like after 30 minutes or an hour.

Front-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive, or All-Wheel Drive?

Front-wheel drive lawn mowers are typically the least expensive and work well for even terrain. They also help you turn the easiest since you lift up the drive wheels as you make your turns.

Rear-wheel drive mowers add some cost but create better traction on hills and slopes. They’re particularly good at pushing the mower’s weight uphill where front-wheel drives start to lose traction as they try to pull the weight.

All-wheel drive mowers are the most expensive and generally do the best job on hills, slopes, and uneven terrain. On particularly bumpy areas where it’s likely one or more wheels will lose traction, it’s the best bet.

Wheel Size

Larger wheels tend to handle bumps and uneven terrain better than smaller wheels according to manufacturers. However, it’s a claim that Consumer Reports says isn’t really the case.

Electric Start

If you’ve used a gas engine, there’s a good chance you’ve worn out your arm pulling the cord to start it. There’s no doubt that having an electric start on your mower can take away a lot of the frustration.

It won’t make up for poor maintenance, though. A well-maintained mower starts easily on the first or second pull. That begs the question as to whether the electric start is worth an extra hundred dollars.

It’s totally up to you, but if it’s in the budget, we want it.

Mulch, Bag, or Side/Rear Discharge?

Most quality mowers are 3-in-1, meaning you can bag, mulch, or side/rear discharge. Less expensive models often only provide options for bagging and mulching. Which one you choose depends on what type of grass you have, how fast it grows, and your personal preference.

In central Florida where St. Augustine, Zoysia, and Bahia dominate our landscapes, the summer heat and rains make our grass grow incredibly fast. Most of us mulch out of necessity since we almost need a dumpster for the volume of clippings we create.

Lawn Mower Buying Guide | Consumer Reports

Handle Positions

Most lawn mowers have 3 handle positions you can set. For tall guys like me or average-height guys like Clint, it helps you find a more comfortable grip. Some mowers opt for 2, or sometimes just 1 handle position.

Value

Value is more than just price. We take a broad look at the performance and features compared to the price to determine the value of each mower.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers?

That’s not us. We only recommend what we’d actually use, even if we don’t earn a commission from it. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction, automotive, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 250 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

We consult with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.

We work with more than two dozen professional contractors around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

We’ll provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers—including objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

House for robotic lawn mower

Storing your lawnmower in a corner of the garden can obstruct the view. To arrange your outdoor space properly, it is possible to have a robot mower house built there. Is this a good idea? What are the best alternatives for placing your garden equipment out of sight? Here are a few tips that you may like.

Discover the 3 products House for robotic lawn mower.

Anti-UV robot mower shelter

Is it a good choice to build a robot lawnmower house?

Some people think that you only need to follow the tutorials to build a robot lawnmower shelter. But it is not as simple as people think. First of all, you need to set aside a budget for the purchase of DIY tools and then go to a specialist shop to get all the necessary supplies. Just thinking about the tasks ahead of you can easily get discouraged.

You should also keep in mind that building a robot lawn mower house requires a knowledge of DIY techniques. The slightest mistake in the measurements can ruin your efforts. Even if you have some carpentry skills, you should be aware that adding extra features such as an electric door requires know-how.

To save time and enjoy a quality robotic lawnmower house, it’s a good idea to buy a ready-to-install model.

What are the options for fitting out a robot lawnmower house?

Are you looking for a robot lawnmower house? There is no shortage of options in specialist shops. But be aware that some models are versatile while others are specially designed for equipment manufactured by a brand. So it all depends on your needs and your budget.

If you have a limited budget, you can limit yourself to a standard robotic lawnmower house. In terms of efficiency, this model has nothing to envy from the other ranges. However, its design sometimes leaves something to be desired. In the majority of cases, their exterior appearance remains classic. This can be a drawback if you have special requirements.

If you are considering installing a shelter for an ultra-discreet robot mower, you can opt for a garage consisting mainly of a roof and legs. With a minimalist design, this garage has the advantage of being less bulky.

Some brands of robotic lawnmowers also provide customers with underground shelters. Totally hidden under the lawn, these shelters avoid distorting your outdoor décor. For added comfort, you can also buy a robot lawnmower house with an automatic door. This feature is much appreciated to make it easier to open and close the shelter.

Where to find a house for robot lawnmowers?

Thanks to the evolution of technology, all products, regardless of their size and appearance, can be purchased online. Based in Ancenis, DaSheep is one of the online shops selling a variety of lawnmower robot accessories. From the most basic to the most sophisticated, there is something for everyone.

In order to adapt to the configuration of your garden, the robot mower garage is available in several sizes. You can also choose a finish you like. In addition to being a functional accessory, don’t forget that a robot lawnmower house can also be used to decorate your garden. It is also an effective solution to extend the life of your appliance. It offers optimum protection against the weather and also prevents the failure of your appliance’s electrical system. In short, investing in the purchase of a robot lawnmower shelter is beneficial in the long term.

Order on a perfectly secure site, we are at your disposal.

How to Move a Lawn Mower to a New House

When you’re getting ready to move to a new house, you should definitely think about what to do with your lawn equipment, including your lawn mower.

Now, if you happen to have some experience in transporting a lawn mower to a new home, then you should remember the steps you need to follow to get the job done. In most cases, though, you won’t have had to move that large piece of garden care equipment since the day you bought it.

Regardless of the exact type of lawn equipment you have – a battery lawn mower, an electric corded lawn mower, a gas lawn mower, or a riding lawn mower, moving a lawn mower to a new house is not an easy task. There are many important things to consider and crucial steps to take before you get to the point of loading your lawn mower onto the moving truck.

Read on to learn the best way to move a lawn mower to a new home, including a riding lawn mower.

Decide whether you really need to move your lawn mower

The very first thing you should think about is whether it’s a good idea to move your lawn mower at all.

What you don’t want to do is to go through the time-consuming process of preparing your lawn mower for transportation, then follow the steps of packing, loading, and moving your garden care equipment only to find out that all your efforts were in vain, for some reason or another, when you reach the new place.

Ultimately, you have to decide whether you will be moving your lawn mower or not based on your specific house moving parameters.

To help you decide, here are the major pros and cons of moving a lawn mower to a new house.

Advantages of moving a lawn mower

Of course, moving your lawn mower will have a number of bonuses for you:

• You’ll get to keep the same lawn mower. This is especially relevant if the unit is fairly new or it’s a model you just love and enjoy working with;
• You’ll continue to use the garden care equipment you are well familiar with;
• You’ll be able to use it right after the move is over to cut the grass of the front lawn or backyard of the house you just moved to;
• You won’t have to spend money on buying a new lawn mower after the move provided that your current one still works just fine and will continue to serve you well for the next few years;

Disadvantages of moving a lawn mower

As you can imagine, moving a lawn mower to another house will have its share of disadvantages as well:

• You may lose too much time preparing, packing, and loading the lawn equipment piece;
• You’ll have to spend money to transport the lawn mower to your final destination. This scenario is especially bad from a financial point of view in case your mower is already too old or has technical issues;
• You’ll have to find enough space for the mower on the moving truck if you’ve chosen to move by yourself by renting a moving vehicle;
• The moving company you’ll hire may refuse to transport your lawn mower for safety reasons, especially when it is a gas-powered lawn mower.

In some cases, selling your current lawn mower and buying a new one in the new town or city can be a great option when moving long distance across the country. The thing is that you always have to take into account the price you’ll pay for transporting your piece of lawn equipment. Just think about the most practical solution in terms of money and time before you start packing up your lawn mower for transport.

Another important factor that should influence your decision one way or another is whether you’ll be able to use the lawn mower at all in the new place. When moving to another house with large green areas that will need constant care, then yes, moving your lawn mower makes a lot of sense.

However, when moving to a house with only a small backyard and an even smaller front lawn, or when moving into an apartment, then paying good money to move any garden care equipment will probably not be the best option for you.

Save time and money on your move

Save up to 40% on your upcoming move and get a quote from reputable moving experts.

Prepare your lawn mower for packing and moving

One of the trickiest parts of moving a lawn mower to a new house is that you’ll need to prepare it first for proper transportation. What that basically means is that you’ll have to find the required time in your busy house moving schedule.

However, you shouldn’t just move the mower as it is, the way you left it after the last time you used it.

Drain the liquids from your lawn mower

For safety reasons, you’re not allowed to transport a gas-powered lawn mower with any liquids inside it. Gasoline and oil are classified as hazardous items, meaning that professional movers will not move them, and neither should you as the risk is too great.

Drain the gas tank of your gas lawn mower into a suitable container. Gasoline is very combustible, so don’t take any unnecessary risks.

Also, empty the oil tank of your mower as well by transferring the liquid into a separate appropriate container. During transport, the oil may leak out and create a big mess inside the moving vehicle, so make sure the lawn mower has neither gas nor oil inside it before you load it up.

Give the siphoned quantities of gas and oil to a good neighbor or just dispose of them in an eco-friendly way.

Clean up your lawn mower

If your lawn mower is dirty, it’s time to give it a good wash before packing it up and loading it up into the moving vehicle. The thing is that you don’t want to bring any dirt, dried-up mud, grass cuttings, or any other debris into the truck for two obvious reasons: 1) you’ll spend extra time cleaning the truck afterward, and 2) the dirty mower can ruin some of your belongings in the back of the vehicle.

Make sure the grass bag or grass catcher of your lawn mower is empty and clean so that it won’t make a mess inside the moving vehicle.

Wash your lawn mower according to the instructions in its user manual. In most cases, a big soft sponge and water should do the trick.

Remove the lawn mower blades

The next step of preparing a lawn mower for transport is to remove its blades, if possible at all. To do so, follow the disassembly steps described in the user manual while wearing thick work gloves to protect your hands.

Once you disengage the blades from the lawn machine, place the original covers over the sharp blades to make them safe to handle. When done, wrap the secured set of cutting parts in a thick moving blanket, tape it up in a nice bundle, and set it aside for sage loading later on.

As was the case with the gas and oil, removing the blades from the mower should be done for safety reasons. It’s about minimizing the risk of injury during the unpredictable and dangerous Moving day.

Also, consider removing any other attachments that your lawn mower has in order to make your loading job easier and safer.

Disengage the spark plug

One way to know that the lawn mower can never get started accidentally during the haul (the fuel tank will still have fuel fumes inside it or even some tiny amount of gas left there) is to remove the spark plug from your gas-powered mower. That way, it can never start by accident.

Check the user manual if you’re not sure how to disconnect the spark plug of the grass cutting machine.

Pack your lawn mower for safe transportation

Packing a lawn mower for moving is easy – you can finish up the packing task in several simple steps:

• Secure the blades. By now you should have put protective covers over the open blades and wrapped them up in a moving blanket. However, if you don’t have such protective covers for the blades, you should wrap a few large sheets of bubble wrap around those grass-cutting blades to prevent any types of injuries during the house move.
• Pack all accessories. Pack up all lawn mower accessories and any attachments you have removed from the machine. Use packing paper, moving blankets, and bubble wrap to protect those machine parts and transfer them into a separate cardboard box, if applicable. Label the box MOWER ACCESSORIES.
• Cover the engine. Use a few moving blankets to cover the top part of the lawn mower, and more specifically – the gas-powered or electric engine. Use packing tape to secure the protective blankets over the engine.

Load your lawn mower into the moving vehicle

Unless you’re moving a riding lawn mower, getting the machine up into the moving truck should be fairly straightforward:

• Push your lawn mower up the loading ramp to get it safely into the back of the rented truck.
• Park the lawn mower into such a position so that its wheels are set perpendicular to the wheels of the moving vehicle. That trick should minimize any shifts of the lawn equipment during the haul.
• Fold the handle of the lawn mower, if possible, to greatly reduce the storage space it will take inside the van.
• Use straps or pieces of rope to secure the mower to the side of the truck and make sure it does not move during the relocation trip.
• Ensure there are no large furniture pieces near it that could come into contact with the expensive piece of garden care equipment – undesirable contact that may lead to possible damage to the machine.
• Add more furniture blankets on top and on the side of the mower if you think it is not padded well enough. Secure those extra blankets with tape.

Load your riding lawn mower into the moving truck

If you own a ride-on lawn mower and you wish to take it with you to the new house, then you should keep in mind that the best way to move a riding lawn mower is to hire professional movers to transport it for you. It may not be the cheapest way to transport your lawn equipment but it will definitely be the safest one.

The next best way to move your riding mower is to transport it in a specialized trailer which you can hitch to the back of your own car or to the rented moving truck.

Finally, you also have the option to load your riding lawn mower onto the moving truck (or pick-up truck in some cases) and transport it to the new home yourself. If done incorrectly, the loading process can turn out to be quite dangerous and that’s exactly why this is the least recommended way to move your lawn tractor. Nevertheless, a riding mower is usually a considerable investment so you can’t just leave yours behind.

Here’s how to load a riding lawn mower into a moving truck:

• Step 1. Get the appropriate loading ramps. To get the job done safely, you’re going to need arched ramps instead of straight ones. The reason for this is the low ground clearance of most ride-on lawn mowers. The arched ramps will help your lawn equipment to clear the tailgate of the truck without any damage.
• Step 2. Secure the ramps onto the vehicle. Unfold the arched loading ramps and fix them securely onto the edge of the tailgate. After that, secure the ramps using tie-down straps so that they cannot shift. This step is very important so double-check whether everything is well secured.
• Step 3. Load the riding mower. The most important thing to remember here is that the safest way to load a riding mower into a moving truck is to ride the mower backward. The reason for this is that the center of gravity of ride-on mowers is at the back, meaning that the risk of tipping over increases greatly when riding the machine forward along ramps that go up. If you must go forward for some reason, then do it in low gear and do not stop midway on the ramps.
• Step 4. Tie down the mower onto the truck. Once inside the vehicle, use strong straps to secure the riding mower, making sure it stays in one place during the haul. Set the mower’s parking brake as an extra measure.

Bear in mind that moving a lawn mower by yourself can be too risky, especially when it’s a riding lawn mower as opposed to a push lawn mower. If you decide to sell your large lawn equipment prior to the move, then you’ll save yourself plenty of time and a few headaches along the way.

However, if leaving behind your bulky garden care equipment is out of the question, then the safest way to move your lawn mower is to use the services of a reputable moving company. Get free quotes from the best movers in your area to learn the price of moving a lawn mower across the country.

Also Read

How to Pack a Car When Moving: Just Pack in Your Car

Highlights Moving some of your belongings in your car when moving to a new home is not only a great. Read

How to Move a Wood Stove Without Hiring Movers

As a proud owner of a wood stove, you know perfectly well all the advantages of having a wood burner in your. Read

Posted on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, Last updated on June 1, 2021

Joshua Green

Joshua Green is a relocation expert and a moving industry professional, one of the esteemed contributors to MyMovingReviews.com with specialized articles and informative guides which help people organize and execute their moves easily and comfortably. Joshua is a recognized author of two books about moving one of which is Relocating Without Breaking A Sweat. Your Personal Handbook For A Perfect Move. Both books are well received and help thousands of people make the right relocation decisions. He is known to skillfully incorporate his never-ending energy, utmost dedication and raw passion into his works. You can contact Joshua Green at: joshua@mymovingreviews.com

The 7 Best Lawn Mowers of 2023 to Keep Your Yard Neat and Trim, According to Testing

Tried and tested lawn mowers for every type of garden.

In This Article

It’s understandable if lawn mowing isn’t your favorite chore, but modern lawn mowers have come a long way in making upkeep easier. Thanks to features like self-propelling motors and easily adjustable blades, your lawn will easily be the envy of the block.

“Push mowers are good for lawns up to half an acre. Self-propelled mowers are better for lawns up to one acre, and riding mowers are best for lawns over one acre, says Bryan Clayton, CEO of GreenPal.

To find the best lawn mowers, we researched and tested a variety of models on the market right at home. We tested these lawn mowers on yards of different sizes, and in all types of weather, paying particular attention to their efficiency, power, durability, cutting deck width, height options, ease of use, safety features, and value for money.

In addition to Clayton, we also spoke with Ben McInerney, founder of Home Garden Guides, for advice on what to look out for when shopping for the best lawn mower.

Best Gas Lawn Mower

Honda 21-Inch Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower

• It creates a neatly cut lawn and also collects leaves, sticks, and other garden debris. It can also be used to mulch.

For a powerful gas lawn mower that is great for beginners and more advanced users alike, we recommend this model by Honda. It created a neatly cut lawn during testing, and we liked that it could collect leaves, sticks, and other garden debris as well.

We tested this lawn mower on a lawn situated between a sidewalk and the street, which offered a good incline. The lawn had thinner grass in some areas and moss in others, with a lot of small sticks, bark, and other debris that had fallen from trees. Despite having to navigate several different grass types and obstacles, this mower was completely unbothered, trimming and mulching everything in its path with ease.

Setting up the lawn mower took only 10 minutes as all we had to do was pull the handlebars up and secure them in place with the side latches. The leaf bag was also really easy to clip into place. The collection bag is also easy to install as you just place it on top of the collection area, and it just rests right on the mower.

After adding gas and oil, we took it out and immediately found it very intuitive to operate without even having to look at the instructions. We felt that it was practically foolproof and everything is clearly labeled, so it’s also one of the best lawn mowers for beginners or anyone less experienced with using one.

The height adjustment is located by the two front wheels and you’re able to change heights in 0.5-inch increments. The handlebars have the driving functions, so you can adjust the speed.

There is an auto-choke and an easy pull start that started every single time. It’s very easy to move around the yard and navigate as well, even on bumpy and inclined terrain. We appreciated the steering and wheel agility and we were able to switch from mulching to mowing functions with just one arm.

The only area that the mower had difficulty with was close to the base of the mailbox and some of the grass that was close to the curb. However, it wasn’t a dealbreaker to us as these areas usually need the help of a string trimmer anyway.

In terms of safety, you’ll appreciate that the self-propelling feature won’t function unless you are holding the gray handle down on the steering bars. The top of the engine also has a red case that protects you from accidentally touching it. At 106 pounds, it’s also quite a heavy machine that feels sturdy and secure during operation.

There are a lot of speed options to choose from as well and the self-propel is quite fast despite the mower’s weight. Plus, it doesn’t take up too much space for storage as the handles can be folded down when not in use.

Price at time of publish: 999

Product Details: Power: Gas | Ideal Lawn Size: 0.5 to 1 acre | Deck Width: 21 inches | Deck Height: 0.75 to 4 inches (adjustable, seven positions) | Mower Weight: 106 pounds

Best Cordless Electric Push Mower

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower

If you’re after a super quiet and efficient lawn mower that gives you as much freedom to roam as a gas model, but without the gas fill-ups, oil checks, and fumes, the best lawn mower is this Ryobi pick. In addition to being a quiet option, it also comes with an additional battery.

This mower was tested on a medium-sized yard that has a few inclines and is lumpy in some areas. We appreciated that the mower self-propels at different speeds that you set, so navigating smaller hills and bumps is a breeze. Plus, maneuvering around obstacles, like tree stumps, and getting close to garden beds and bushes was also easy.

At 75 pounds the mower is quite lightweight, so it wasn’t difficult to maneuver. The 6-inch grass height meant we had to stop a few times to empty the collection bag but after the second and third mows, when the grass was fairly short, we rarely had to empty the collection bag.

On the side of the mower there is a pull handle that can adjust the deck height, which is effortless to do. The garden we tested this on usually takes around 45 minutes to mow, and since each battery lasts 70 minutes, we had plenty of battery life to spare after we were done. If one battery loses power, however, you can always swap it out with the spare that comes with it.

Setting up this mower is an easy one-person job and takes just 20 minutes. We appreciated that the instructions were straightforward and consisted mainly of pictures, a testament to how very simple and intuitive a machine this is. All you have to do is unfold the handle and put together the debris bag, although you can use the mower without it. We also had to charge the batteries, which took under an hour.

The mower almost folds down right in half, which is convenient for storage. When folded, it measures a compact 2 x 3 feet, and not much more with the bag on.

Apart from a few sprays of grass that flew out from the blade due to the wind, and the fact that there’s only one charging port so you can’t charge the batteries at the same time, we had no complaints. This lawn mower performed just as well as a gas mower, and we didn’t notice any missed spots after mowing.

Price at time of publish: 749

Product Details: Power: Battery | Ideal Lawn Size: 0.5 to 1 acre | Deck Width: 21 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4 inches (adjustable, 7 positions) | Mower Weight: 75 pounds

Best Corded Electric Push Mower

Greenworks 12 Amp 20-Inch 3-in-1 Corded Lawn Mower

• The mower is great for small to mid-sized gardens. It also cuts grass neatly and evenly and can go over bumps with ease.

The Greenworks 25022 20-Inch 3-in-1 Electric Corded Lawn Mower is the best lawn mower for a small front or back yard. During testing, we found that it works well, offers a great cut, and has foldable handles that make for easy storage.

We appreciated that it was effortless to set up and is lightweight, allowing you to push it along with just one hand. Setup took just 15 minutes as all you have to do is install the top handle. There’s also deck height adjustment that you can set via a side lever– it’s labeled low to high and has seven options in total.

We tried the mower on a small lawn and it did a great job of cutting down long, spindly weeds as well as the grass. To start the lawnmower, all you have to do is press a button at the top of the handle, then pull the smaller handlebar up. It started up immediately every time we used it.

Though it doesn’t turn perfectly, we felt that the mower gets the job done and noted that it didn’t even flinch when going over bumps or divots. It also worked well with wet grass. Overall, we were able to achieve an even and attractive trimmed lawn with each use.

The mulching, side discharge, and bagging functions all worked well, and it’s completely intuitive to switch between bagging and mulching modes. The collection bag just clips on and off with a metal hook on each side. However, we weren’t able to remove it without spilling some clippings, even when the bag wasn’t all the way full.

This small lawn mower can move through tight spots with ease, although it does feel a little bulky to turn. The cord makes it less maneuverable than a gas mower, but that’s the case for electric mowers in general.

While testing this lawn mower, we felt safer holding the cord with one hand and pushing with the other. We felt that an extra hook for the cord at the top would have been a helpful touch. There is, however, a cool cord retainer that can spin, which ensures the mower doesn’t accidentally unplug while you’re moving along. However, we still had to flip the cord every few yards to keep it out of the way).

Price at time of publish: 230

Product Details: Power: Corded | Ideal Lawn Size: Mid-sized | Deck Width: 20 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 3.75 inches (adjustable, seven positions) | Mower Weight: 56 pounds

Best Gas Riding Mower

John Deere S100 42-Inch 17.5 HP Gas Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractor

John Deere’s S100 42-inch riding mower is the best lawn mower lawns of up to an acre, and it’s small enough for easy stowing away, too. We tested this machine out on a large and hilly property and found that it performed impeccably.

The mower came fully assembled and the instructions were easy to understand. Starting it up does require a few steps. First, you must push the brake pedal all the way down, then you set the parking brake. Next, advance the throttle forward to the choke position, and lastly, turn the key.

Mowing 0.2 acres of lawn took just 15 minutes. It was able to cut the grass evenly and didn’t seem to have any problems when the grass was damp either. The mower was fast and agile during testing, and it turns corners sharply, so you can get close to obstacles and mow around them.

The lawn mower has great maneuverability and a highly responsive pedal that controls the speed depending on how hard you push it. Puddles are no problem for this solid gas lawn mower, and if you need to pass over anything higher like rocks, you can just raise the blades via the lever.

It has two separate pedals for reverse and forward drive which took some getting used to at first. We loved the side discharge chute that powerfully sends grass far away from the mower. Steering was easy and it rides smoothly, even over gravel. It’s quite a loud mower, but not so much that you need hearing protection.

While it doesn’t have wheel weights or reflectors, we felt safe using it overall. For added safety, however, it features an ignition cutoff switch and headlights for clearer visibility. The adjustable seat has a short back that supports the lower back, and it’s comfortable even with extended use.

Price at time of publish: 2,399

Product Details: Power: Gas | Ideal Lawn Size: Up to one acre | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4 inches (adjustable, 13 positions) | Mower Weight: 414 pounds

Best Electric Riding Mower

Ryobi 80V HP Brushless 42-Inch Battery Electric Cordless Zero Turn Riding Mower

• The mower beeps when you leave the seat and while reversing, and there’s also an auto shut-off function.

The RYOBI 80V HP 42-inch Electric Riding Lawn Tractor offers a fast and safe riding experience, so it’s one of the best lawn mowers if you’re looking for an electric riding option. It’s a lightweight machine due largely to its mostly plastic construction, and we found that it’s quiet when in operation.

Setup took 1.5 hours, which was a bit longer than some of the other mowers we tried. Luckily the battery was partially full when it arrived, so we were able to take it out and test it immediately once it was assembled. While testing it, we liked that the faux leather seat that was comfortable and adjustable forward and back.

As an electric model, it’s quite easy to start (no choke), and we particularly appreciated the lack of exhaust fumes and excess heat as well. As soon as you hit the accelerator the mower really took off, so keep in mind light footing is needed.

While it certainly has a lot of power if you want to go fast, it’s also able to go slowly around obstacles. If you feel the pedal is too jerky, there’s a convenient speed response setting that you can adjust via the digital display menu.

The mower cut the grass evenly and even chopped up leaves and sticks as it went over them. If you want to reverse the mowing deck will turn off, but you can override this in the display menu if you wish. The deck height is also adjustable with a large manual lever.

For extra safety, the mower beeps (rather loudly) and also automatically beeps when you lift from the seat. LED headlights at the front provide extra visibility on gloomier days, though they’re not bright enough for mowing at night if they’re your only source of light.

The mower is quite compact so takes up minimal storage space. The only downside was that it doesn’t have power steering. While it was fine when going along fast, it was a little tiresome when turning slowly around obstacles.

We liked that the mower featured a handy digital display to let you know how much battery is left. The mower only takes an hour to fully charge up when empty, and mowing a third of an acre only took 20% of its battery life. Charging is simple—simply connect the mower’s charger to the wall socket and the mower, and unplug it when it’s full.

Price at time of publish: 5,999

Product Details: Power: Battery | Ideal Lawn Size: Up to 2 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4.5 inches (adjustable, 12 positions) | Mower Weight: 700 pounds

Best Zero-Turn Mower

Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42-Inch 22 HP Zero-Turn Mower

Thanks to a large mowing swath, two speed adjustment options (for both forward and reverse), and its nifty ability to turn on a dime around lawn obstacles, the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 40-inch riding mower was easily our top pick for the best zero-turn lawn mower.

Setting up this mower took half an hour, thanks in part to the straightforward instruction manual. After we got it all set up, we were able to start it immediately and get going.

We took it out for testing on a slightly sloped lawn with several obstacles, and it took 3.5 inches of grass off quickly and evenly. Taller grass was no issue for this machine, and the side discharge chute powerfully ejects clippings far away from the mower, with no lawn chunks in sight.

There’s a knob on the left side that adjusts the deck height, and the machine’s lower overall height gave us clearer visibility ahead, as well as making us feel safe with no fear of toppling. The ride was smooth, even on bumpy terrain, and the mower’s seat is adjustable for both the rider’s comfort requirements, and according to the type of terrain you’re mowing on.

Since zero-turn mowers have levers instead of steering wheels, steering this mower does take some getting used to. It’s also rather loud due to its exposed motor, but it didn’t bother us too much.

Price at time of publish: 3,499

Product Details: Power: Gas | Ideal Lawn Size: 2 to 4 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4.5 inches (adjustable, 15 positions) | Mower Weight: 580 pounds

Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

EGO Power Select Cut 56-Volt 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower

• It’s a breeze to push thanks to its powerful self-propelling technology that basically moved the mower along for you—no effort needed.

We took the EGO POWER Select Cut 56-Volt 21-inch Self-propelled Cordless Lawn Mower out on a small lawn that takes 30 minutes to mow. The garden is mostly flat, with a patio and a couple of trees to mow around which proved problematic for some other mowers. This EGO POWER handled them well and turned easily, handling the small hills well.

There is no assembly required apart from putting on the bag if you want it, but it took a while to figure out the functions and required a thorough read of the instruction manual. Adjusting the deck height was super easy, as was the propelling speed. The handle is also adjustable both in height and angle for user comfort with no back pain.

If you’ve never used a self-propelled mower before, the speed and power in which it pulls you along might seem a little strange at first (as soon as it’s engaged, it literally just takes off), but you always have the option of switching that function off by simply not gripping the clutch that’s right on top of the handle.

By the second mowing session, we got the hang of it, though. The mower performed impeccably, cutting evenly and smoothly. However, it did get stuck on a patch of wet grass when we hit a branch, but the mower blinked its orange power light to let you know that something was wrong. We moved it to a dryer area and it started just fine.

The mower is very light to maneuver with one hand, even when it’s not on. It gives you the option of having the self-propelled function on without the blades running so you can push it back to where you need to store it without messing up your freshly trimmed grass.

The single battery it comes with only takes an hour to charge and lasts up to 75 minutes, more than enough for a small to medium-sized lawn. The mower folds down so compactly we were able to store it in a small space between a shelving rack and a patio couch. This lawn mower is great for anyone with back pain, or even an elderly person, as no effort is required to push it.

Price at time of publish: 709

Product Details: Power: Battery-powered | Ideal Lawn Size: 0.25 to 0.5 acres | Deck Width: 21 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4 inches (adjustable, 6 positions) | Mower Weight: 62.6 pounds

The Bottom Line

The best lawn mower depends on the size of your lawn, your storage capabilities, and your specific needs. If you’re after a great zero-turn mower for a large bit of land and hilly terrain, we recommend the powerful Cub Cadet Ultima Series Zt1 Lawn Mower. For an option that’s great for smaller yards and is less expensive than other options, the EGO POWER Select Cut 56-Volt 21-inch Self-propelled Cordless Lawn Mower is effortless to push and can fold down compactly for storage.

Our Testing Process

To find the best lawn mowers, we tested out 15 riding mowers and walk-behind mowers right at home. We tested each mower on three separate occasions in different types of weather, on dry, damp, and wet grass. Using a predetermined methodology, we evaluated each lawn mower based on its ease of use, power type, run time, performance, safety, value, design, ease of cleaning, portability, and overall value.

To start, we set up each mower and determined ease of use based on how easy or difficult each lawn mower was to assemble and operate. Once the mower was ready for use, we scored performance based on how long the unit ran on either one battery charge or one tank of gas (if relevant), how many inches of grass was cut in one pass, how long the mowers took to cover ground, how easily they maneuvered around obstacles, how easy the deck height and other settings were to adjust, and how comfortable they were to ride.

We also cleaned each lawn mower and made a note of how easy removing lawn and garden debris was. We rated portability based on how easily the mowers could be moved around, carried if need be, and stored away.

What to Know About Lawn Mowers Before Shopping

Lawn Mower Types

There are several types of lawn mowers available, the main ones being push mowers and riding mowers. These can either be gas-powered, or electric battery-powered, and some push mowers also come as corded models, but you will either need an extension cord or a generator to operate them as they typically don’t come with long power cords.

“Push mowers are cheaper, lighter, quieter, and more eco-friendly than riding mowers. They are good for small to medium-sized lawns that are flat and obstacle-free. However, they’re not ideal for people with physical or health issues,” says Clayton. “Riding mowers are faster, more powerful, more comfortable, and more versatile than push mowers. They are good for large lawns that are uneven, sloped or have obstacles, but not great for people with limited space or budget.”

McInerney advises that battery-powered lawn mowers don’t require as much maintenance as gas-powered ones, but you will need to replace the batteries once in a while. “Push battery-powered mowers are a cost-effective option, and the majority of them can last for 60 minutes on a single charge,” he says. “However, gas mowers are good if you have to clean up a large amount of leaves during autumn.”

A self-propelled gas lawn mower is perfect for large and/or hilly yards as it can drive itself, and all you have to do is direct it. “These lawnmowers do require regular maintenance, but they are usually much cheaper to buy and maintain compared to the battery-powered electric options,” McInerney says.

Finally, he explains that riding lawn mowers are best for yards of more than half an acre that don’t have many landscape features to avoid. “These types of lawn mowers come with a mowing deck that is able to trim a large area of grass using multiple blades as you drive over,” he says. “They are able to go through an entire acre in just an hour, which is half the time you would spend using a walk-behind lawn mower to trim the same area.”

Cutting Deck

A mower’s cutting deck width, also known as the swath or mowing width, relates to how much ground can be covered by the mower in one pass. The deck height, or the cutting height, depicts how short the grass will be cut, and many lawn mowers feature adjustable height settings so you can give your lawn a fresh buzz cut or leave a little bit of length for that just-grown-out look.

Weight and Size

For those who do not have ample storage space, the weight and size of a lawn mower will likely be a deciding purchasing factor. A lawn mower that is light enough to be carried and can easily and compactly fold away for storage would be ideal. A large lawnmower, perhaps even a ride-on mower, will be a better choice if you have plenty of garage space and many acres of lawn to tend to. Keep in mind those models tend to be more expensive, so it’ll be an investment.

The size of your yard and its topography are two of the main criteria that will determine the type of lawn mower you should go for. “The larger the lawn, the larger the mower should be,” Clayton says.

In addition to the size of your yard, Clayton also advises considering the type of terrain you have. “Hills, obstacles, and other preferences may also affect your choice of lawn mower,” he adds.

McInerney suggests opting for a battery-powered electric lawn mower if you have a small yard that is relatively flat. If, however, the topography is generally hilly or if your lawn grass tends to be thick, he recommends going for a gas mower.

Additional Features

Extra perks you might want to spring for in your lawn mower include 3-in-1 capabilities such as mulching, bagging, back/side discharge chute options, and bright lights for mowing from dusk to dawn. Some lawn mowers even have additional extras that are available to purchase separately, such as a snowblower, shovel, and vacuum accessories, which make the tool even more versatile.

An extra battery is always a good idea for a cordless model as you can have a spare readily available just in case you need it.

Other Lawn Mowers We Tested

Greenworks Pro 80-Volt Max 21-inch Self-propelled Cordless Lawn Mower

The Greenworks Pro 80-Volt Max 21-inch Self-propelled Cordless Lawn Mower is great on paper. It has a self-propelling technology meaning you can push it along without any strain, it’s fairly lightweight and folds down compactly for storage. It is powerful with a lot of torque, and its small 21-inch deck size makes it easy to push on narrow paths and through garden gates.

Its battery lasts up to 60 minutes and you can use it in yards up to one acre in size. Set up is also easy. However, when it came to overgrown and denser areas, it got stuck and would power off. It also clogged up a lot, needing rebooting, and was immobile while stuck in certain deep dirt s.

Toro 50-inch 24.5 HP TimeCutter Commercial V-Twin Gas Zero Turn Riding Mower

Though it’s a powerful machine, we found that the Toro 75755 50-inch 24.5 HP TimeCutter IronForged Deck V-Twin Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower wasn’t as easy to operate as some of the other zero-turn mowers we looked at, and it required more of a learning curve than we felt was reasonable.

In addition to its lack of user-friendliness, the mower also slipped a little on a damp slope and also got stuck on a rocky patch. Like many other riding mowers, it does come pre-assembled and ready for use, however.

Your Questions, Answered

Which is best—a gas or electric lawn mower?

Gas lawn mowers are often regarded as the most professional mowers available due to their ability to work non-stop and their high-powered motors that make quick work of chopping through tall and thick grass. This is also why you’ll find that gas lawn mowers are some of the most expensive mowers on the market. Keep in mind that they’re not only more expensive to buy; they’re also costlier to run.

New technology in electric and cordless models has made it so that many non-gas mowers are as durable, reliable, hard-wearing, and efficient as gas models. For the average residence, an electric or cordless battery option is ideal since there are fewer fumes, less noise (the engines on gas mowers tend to make them noisier), and generally much less maintenance.

What maintenance does a lawn mower need?

A gas lawn mower would need regular fuel, oil, and engine checks, as well as the odd spark plug change here and there. Maintenance on a manual, electric, or cordless battery-powered mower could be as simple as charging the battery, storing it in a cool, dry place, and hosing it off once you’ve finished mowing the lawn. You may have to change or replace a broken part once in a while, but hopefully, the warranty will cover it.

How long do lawn mowers last?

Though they don’t come with an expiration date, a lawn mower’s life span depends on its usage. A heavy season of weekly use on a cheap mower might be its first and only season, whereas many mid-range mowers are built to last years and years of regular use. A good indicator of how long you can expect a lawn mower to last is to check the company warranty; some brands offer five years and over—a good indicator of the company’s faith in its product.

Who We Are

This article was written by Kat de Naoum, who has over ten years of commerce writing experience. Kat is also the commerce editor-at-large at Thomas-Xometry, the leading U.S. online platform for supplier discovery and product sourcing. For this article, Kat reviewed and tested multiple mowers, and researched and considered factors such as each lawn mower’s power, cutting deck width, deck height, durability, as well as value for money. She also spoke to Bryan Clayton, the CEO at GreenPal, and Ben McInerney, the founder of Home Garden Guides.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they’re worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn’t an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.