Best For Small Lawns: Sun Joe 12
Type: Push| Power Source: Battery | 20 inches
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Easy to start, use, and maintain
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Heavy
If your lawn is less than half an acre, an option like Sun Joes Mow Joe 20-inch Corded Electric Lawn Mower will be both functional and affordable. This highly-rated mower runs on a 12-amp motor and cuts a 20-inch wide path, and while you do have to attach it to an extension cord, youll be able to quickly groom your yard thanks to its powerful performance.
This Sun Joe electric mower has a seven-position manual height adjustment, as well as a detachable 14.5-gallon rear collection bag for clippings, and its easy to start up, use, and maintain. Like many electric mowers, this one is quiet during operation, but its powerful enough to handle tall grass and uneven ground, making it a versatile lawn care tool.
Type: Ride on| Power Source: Battery | 38 inches
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Sensitive pedal
The RYOBI Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower can handle up to 2.5 acres of lawn on each charge, thanks to its 100Ah lead acid batteries. This electric riding lawn mower features a 38-inch deck with two blades to deliver a clean, level cut, and it has an impressive 12 deck height positions.
This mower runs for up to 2.5 hours on every charge, allowing you to tackle large lawns in one go, and it charges via a standard 120-volt outlet. It features cruise control, LED headlights, and a USB phone charge, promising to keep you as comfortable and efficient as possible as you tend to your weekend chores.
Worx Wr150 Robotic Lawn Mower
Best Robotic Battery Powered Lawn Mower
This is a robotic battery powered lawn mower that works just like a Roomba for your yard! Keep in mind this model is best for short-grassed residential lawns, not for rough turf. Owners can skip weekend mowing chores with their Landroid, cutting 9-inch-wide paths with customizable boundaries, random algorithms, and even the ability to auto-schedule mowing times through the accompanying app. To keep lawns neat and trim, schedule to have your lawn clipped multiple times a week.
This is the best battery powered lawn mower for those with big budgets but not a lot of time. If you can afford a convenience like this, youll never want to go back!
Cutting WidthCutting Height OptionsVoltage
Ryobi Ry40100 16 In Cordless Lawn Mower
Weight: 40 lbs. Height range: 3/4 to 2-3/4 in. Battery: 40V, 2.4 Ah lithium ion
Ryobi offers a great combination of features at a reasonable price with this battery powered mower. Its perfect for a small to medium-size lawn, and especially attractive if you plan to buy other tools that can use the 40-volt lithium ion battery. We liked the easy-to-fold handle and the fact that two batteries are included. We gave this cordless electric mower our Editors Choice award for best compact mower because in addition to the other features, its also small and light enough to easily fit on a shelf.
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Why You Should Trust Us
Over the past eight mowing seasons, weve spent more than 120 hours researching nearly 225 mowers, interviewing experts, and extensively testing some of our top picks.
An invaluable source has been Roy Berendsohn, a Popular Mechanics lawn mower guru who has more than 20 years of experience testing and writing about mowers. If Berendsohn isnt writing about mowers, hes often being interviewed about them .
Weve interviewed landscapers, including Chad Crosby of West Michigan Lawn Services and Paul Koehler of Koehler Landscape Construction Services. Weve called people at lawn mower retail/service outlets, like Nick Ortiz at Kellam Lawn Mower in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and Boston Lawnmower Companys David . Weve talked to product managers at Honda, Toro, Troy-Bilt, Ego, Cub Cadet, and other manufacturers.
Personally, I maintain a rural property in New Hampshire that is far too large for a push mower to cover but that does provide ample room to test our recommendations. This guides editor, Harry Sawyers, assists with testing mowers on his LA property and draws from his previous experience as a professional landscaper.
What Are The Benefits Of A Cordless Lawn Mower
There are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models.
These benefits include:
- Easy to manoeuvre: Without a cord, cordless lawn mowers are typically easy to manoeuvre. Most cordless mowers are lightweight, too, because there are fewer moving parts compared to a petrol mower.
- Quiet: Cordless lawn mowers are powered by a lithium-ion battery making them much quieter than petrol-engine mowers.
- No emissions: The lack of an engine means cordless lawn mowers do not emit emissions.
- Minimal maintenance: Cordless lawn mowers do not need regular servicing like petrol mowers do.
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How We Tested Cordless Lawn Mowers
When testing these cordless lawn mowers, our experts consider a range of variables including price, size, cutting lengths, voltage, and battery life, along with how easy models are to manoeuvre and store.
With the help of Richmond Park in London, all the cordless lawn mowers were tested in different situations, such as on vast areas, sloped lawns and confined gardens to see how well they manoeuvred.
Finally, our testers used their expertise to assess the cordless lawn mowers according to their price, any warranty that is offered and their battery life. For example, the Worx WG779E was awarded Best Buy for the range of features it offered at its low price point.
Once the test is complete, each machine is rated out of five stars and the cordless lawn mowers that really impress our experts are awarded Best Buy status. Each review is broken down into concise pros and cons lists to help you decide which cordless lawn mower is best for your garden.
The Capable Battery Powered Lawn Mower For $749
Because the batteries are large 6.0Ah ones, this would be the only 18v battery based system I would consider as a lawn care professional looking for a cordless lawn mower that packs a punch when it comes to power. The AEG 2 x 18V 18 Fusion Lawn Mower Kit may just be the ideal match. Confidently providing high performance thanks to its Advanced Brushless Motor technology, this particular AEG model also has impressive run time. Functioning on two 18V batteries, it also comes with two standard chargers to power through even the most challenging of lawns.
One of the best things about this battery powered lawn mower is that it has a 3 in 1 design, enabling it to catch, mulch plug, and side throw so that you can cut the lawn whilst fertilizing and aerating at the same time. The generous 50 litre catch bag also allows for some decent runtime before having the empty the bag. Cutting power is achieved thanks to a strong 2mm thick steel deck for the toughest of terrains, and a unique deck geometry for lower cutting heights. The 7 position height adjustment lever also means grass can be cut to a multitude of heights to suit your specific lawn. Strengthened handles also allow for a robust operation.
The AEG 2 x 18V 18 Fusion Lawn Mower Kit can often be bought from your local bunnings store.
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Residential: Ego Z6 Residential Zt Mower
The EGO Z6 Zero Turn Riding Mower shakes up what you can expect from a battery-powered riding mower at a price thats very compelling compared to the other options out there. In our opinion, the design team clearly did their homework, and EGOs first shot at a battery-powered zero turn is a home run.
EGO initially teased their Z6 zero turn with the tag line Worth the wait.
It totally was. Price: $4999
Ryobi Ry40140 40v 16 Mower With 4ah Battery & Charger
I personally own the older 16 RYOBI 40v push mower that is no longer sold from Home Depot, but you can still find it on Amazon. I have had zero reliability issues with my mower over the almost three grass cutting seasons I have owned the mower. The mower is more than capable enough to cut the grass in and around a fenced-in area in my backyard. The mower came with both bagging mulching, and side discharge capability, but I strictly mulch with the mower.
The mower came with a 4Ah battery and charger. I have yet to run a complete 4Ah battery down while using this push mower, and usually, I switch that battery to my RYOBI string trimmer and use it for trimming as well. While I dont have a tremendously large area to cut with this mower the grass is thick and it barely uses one bar of battery capacity when cutting.
What I Like
- Different cutting methods mulching, bagging, side discharge
- Multiple height adjustments
- 40v battery compatibility with other RYOBI 40v outdoor tools
What I Dislike
- Folding the handle isnt super easy
- The grass and leaf clippings are a little larger than I like, so multiple passes are sometimes needed
- The bagger capacity is a little small, but what do you expect with a 16 mower
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The Easy To Use Battery Powered Lawn Mower Under $700
For a lawn mower thats cordless and makes the often arduous process of mowing the lawn straightforward and a pleasure to do, the Makita 18V Cordless Lawn Mower kit with 2 Batteries is a decent choice. Typically on the retail market at $699, the battery powered model has a powerful speed of 3,600 RPM with no load. It maintains its power despite having a lightweight design and being very simple to use.
Features include a generous 430mm cutting width and an incredible 13 stage cutting height adjustment to suit a plethora of lawn conditions. The Rotary type 2 tooth blade guarantees a good cut and the supplied blower skin makes the mowing process as convenient as possible. Finally ball bearing wheels help to ensure better maneuverability across various types of terrain.
The Makita 18V Cordless Lawn Mower Kit with two batteries from Makita.
How Often Should I Be Mowing The Lawn
How often you should be mowing will be dependent on how quickly your grass grows, as well as the type of grass, and your general preferences to how you want your lawn looking.
In Canstar Blues latest survey, almost a third of respondents were out tackling the lawn every week, with 45% saying they mowed monthly. However, 14% stated that they only mowed when they needed to, showcasing that while others may find enjoyment in the garden, others only consider mowing a chore.
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Ry48ztr100 100 Ah 42 Zero Turn Electric Riding Mower
I have owned this RY48ZTR100 100Ah mower since 2019 and couldnt be more impressed with it. Like I previously mentioned my lawn is not small and I have to do a lot of cutting for most of the calendar year. This mower has made a huge improvement in my cutting time.
My previous mower was a Husquvarna 42 gas lawn tractor. While it was a great mower it was loud, required a lot of maintenance, and was slow to cut the grass. I was never really impressed with the cut from that mower, and the RYOBIs cut is so much better in my opinion.
I cut my mowing time down from a total of three hours to a little more than 2hrs. The mower is more than capable to cut for more than two hours at a time. I have put more than 100hrs on this mower, and I havent had any issues I didnt personally cause .
I have used the mower to pull a lawn cart to collect limbs , and I have pulled a core aerator behind it as well. I am a little unsure what the towing capacity is , but neither of those was really heavy.
I have noticed and many folks on Facebook and other forums online have mentioned that the battery doesnt fully charge on the first try after putting some hours on the mower. It seems to sit at 70% then I need to unplug and then plug back up the charger. I suspect I have a battery going bad on me, but I havent had any real issue yet and my cutting time hasnt really diminished much if any.
Best Grass Catcher: Sun Joe Mulching Walk
snowjoe.com
Leave no blade behind. If you value a debris-free lawn, the Sun Joe mulching mower is a great option. A 24-volt brushless motor, 17-inch cutting deck and 11-gallon mulch basket leave small lawns spotless.
Topping out at 25 minutes, the cordless battery’s runtime is a bit on the low side, but it is long enough to mow small spaces and is easily rectified if you have a spare battery on hand. Nimble and lightweight , you can navigate any space with ease.
Customer Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars with over 1,000 Amazon ratings
Why Buy: The Sun Joe Mulching Walk-Behind Lawn Mower’s crowning feature is a spacious 11-gallon mulch basket, cutting the time you spend dumping mulch. It’s lightweight, nimble and packed with standard features, culminating in an affordable mulching mower that’s guaranteed to please.
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Watch Out For Dodgy Models
If you see a cordless mower selling at a ridiculously cheap price, chances are youre going to be better off avoiding it. These will often be poorly-made models that wont do a very good job in your back garden.
Even worse, if you forget to check the small print before purchasing, you could end up receiving the main body of the mower without a battery or charger. The price of individual batteries varies from one model to the next, so be careful you dont end up with a nasty surprise.
Its also unlikely that a cheap cordless mower will have a very long runtime, meaning youll probably find yourself stopping and starting more than youd like if youve got a large lawn. This will also wear your battery life down much quicker.
For more information on the most reliable lawn mower brands, take a look at our guide on which lawn mower brand to buy in 2021.
Pro: Easier To Maneuver
Electric lawn mowers are lighter than their gas powered siblings. That means they’re easier to whip around tight corners and navigate through your yard. For example, the EGO Power Plus 56-Volt 21-in Push Cordless Electric Lawn Mower weighs 62.6 pounds after assembly.
The Craftsman M250 lawn mower.
Conversely, gasoline lawn mowers can be much heavier. The Craftsman M250 160-cc 21-in Self-Propelled Gas Push Lawn Mower with Honda Engine weighs a hefty 90 pounds. While the self-propelled engine improves maneuverability when you mow, it is still a heavy object to lug around when it is not in operation.
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Residential Or Commercial Quality
On the surface, theres not a huge difference between commercial quality and residential quality walk-behind battery lawn mowers.
At the high end, power doesnt seem to vary much. In fact, the most powerful weve testedEGOs Peak Poweris technically a residential model.
What commercial battery mowers have going for them is a design and feature set thats much more tuned in to what professionals ask for. Some of that is merely the difference between what homeowners and professional crews prefer on a mower. But there are differences in the quality of the components that brands choose for their separate lines. That said, the best residential models rival commercial quality from what weve seen.
Greenworks Commercial and Stihl rely exclusively on their dealer networks. You get additional support during and after the sale that you wont find at big-box retailers.
Electric riding mowers are a completely different ballgame. With those, youll find a much greater difference in design and performance, along with a massive gap in cost.
Bag Mulch Or Just Let It Fly
Make sure the mower you buy discharges clippings the way you want it to.
All the mowers are set up for your choice of bagging or mulching, and all include grass catchers. The Stihl battery powered mower has a plastic container rather than a fabric bag, and a built-in mulching plug that cant get lost. The Black & Decker battery powered mower has a convenient switch on top of the mower deck that flips from grass collecting to mulching mode.
The 19-in. Worx cordless lawn mower and the Greenworks are the only mowers with a side discharge chute. You can order a side discharge accessory for the Neuton. The other mowers discharge out the back when youre not bagging or mulching.
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Is It Safe To Cut Wet Grass With Electric Lawn Mower
When using an electric or gas lawn mower on wet grass, you run the risk of damaging your lawn mower. It is a rule of thumb to not cut your grass when it is wet outside. No matter how bad you want to cut it, whether you use a normal gasoline lawn mower or a cordless electric mower, dont cut the grass.
How Much Do Lawn Mowers Cost
Lawn mowers range in cost depending on the brand and type that youre after, but can cost anywhere between $80 to over $20,000. Hand mowers are the cheapest, with most costing under $100, while ride-on mowers are the most expensive, with entry-level models still costing a few thousand dollars. In Canstar Blues latest survey, respondents spent, on average, $484 on their latest lawn mower.
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