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Adrian White is a professional health, wellness, agriculture, and sustainability freelance writer and herbalist for nearly a decade, and an organic farmer for over a decade. She is co-owner and operator of Jupiter Ridge Farm, growing diverse vegetables, herbs, and mushrooms in the Driftless Area of Iowa in the Midwest.
Anna Ryan is a writer, copywriter and editor. She has a wide range of knowledge and, because of this, has been able to contribute to a variety of different genres, including article and blog writing.
As an editor, she has polished and perfected an array of pieces for diverse readerships and audiences.
Peter is a passionate writer out of the U.K. His strong interest in chili pepper and herb cultivation has led to several longstanding writing positions in the gardening and landscaping niches.
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A great lawn can turn your yard into an impressive space to relax in. But there’s no doubt that this part of your garden needs plenty of maintenance. Keeping the grass tidy, lush, and weed-free means frequent mowing, and with larger yards, this can become a chore you’ll be tempted to put off. Also, to make your garden look extra tidy, it’s worth investing in a high-quality leaf blower, as well as a wheelbarrow.
With so much yard work, using the right tools will get the job done more quickly. A high-quality mower can remove a lot of the hassle, but there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all mower to suit every yard.
When buying a mower, you need to think about its power source, power rating, size, format, and much more. But if you make the decision carefully, choosing the lawn mower best suited to your needs will make maintenance much easier, freeing up your time to enjoy your yard.
Which kind of lawn mower should you buy? Everyone’s situation is different, but here are ten of the best lawn mower models we’ve found. We’ve covered all the main formats, power ratings, and extra options.
For some, a ride-on sounds like a really nice upgrade! (And it is.) However, keep in mind that ride-ons are best for wide flat open spaces with less trees, otherwise you may not cover the entire area. Be careful of having to mow very steep inclines, too.
View the Best Lawn Mower, Below.
Honda HRN216VKA 3-in-1 Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 Zero Turn Mower
Greenworks DigiPro G-MAX 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series LT 46 in. Riding Mower
Troy Bilt TB115 Push Mower
Toro 20353 Recycler All Wheel Drive Mower
Husqvarna YTH18542 V-Twin Hydrostatic Riding Mower
Husqvarna 315X Robotic Lawn Mower
Cub Cadet CC30e Electric Rear Engine Riding Mower
1. Honda HRN216VKA 3-in-1 Self Propelled Lawn Mower
The Best for All-Round Power
Mowing the grass needn't be a tiring chore with this gas-powered self-propelled lawn mower that Honda has spent years developing. The all-new GVC 170 engine boasts a 10% power increase over last year's model. Its drive is automatically varied to match your walking speed and keep you in complete control.
The mower frame has two adjustment levers for extra comfort to match the lawn mower's height to your needs. For convenience, the mower can be switched for bagging, mulching, or discharging the clippings with no extra accessories needed. The 21-inch twin-blade design gives a cleaner cut for healthier grass and finer clippings for compact disposal or quicker composting.
Why We Like It: Variable output, easy starting power, and single lever adjustable handle height combine to make mowing an easier chore to complete.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
A gas-powered, self-propelled lawn mower
Adjustable height for greater comfort
Automatic speed to make the mower best match your stride
Mulch, bag, or discharge with no extra accessories
Some customers have found it takes time to adapt to the controls and power
2. Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 Zero Turn Mower
The Best for Large Lawns
If your yard covers several acres, you need a lawn mower that's powerful enough to take on the task without breaking a sweat. This ride-on mower packs a 23 horsepower, twin-cylinder Kawasaki engine that propels the strong tubular frame at 7.5mph for quick and easy mowing.
What's more, the 50-inch cutting deck and zero-turn technology provide a neat and professional-looking cut that'll make your yard the envy of the neighborhood. The fully adjustable, ergonomically designed seat offers full support and comfort to easily make longer mowing sessions pass.
Why We Like It: The strong construction, powerful engine, and ride-on format make mowing large lawns a breeze. This is a great lawn mower, best for yards with a gradient.
VIEW ON CUB CADET ➞
Ride-on self-propelled lawn mower for yards of up to 4 acres
23 horsepower twin-cylinder engine
Wide 50" mowing width
Rugged tubular steel construction
Zero-turn design for a neater mowing pattern
Powerful mower that can be quite loud when operating
3. Greenworks DigiPro G-MAX 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
The Best Budget Lawn Mower
Suitable for lawns of up to half an acre, this Greenworks walk behind mower model is built around a 40V lithium battery that provides gas power but without the noise, fumes, or maintenance hassle. Weighing in at only 50 pounds, it's a lightweight and easy to maneuver model with a lengthy run time of up to 60 minutes.
You can adjust the 19" mowing deck to between 1.25" and 3.5" in cutting height, while the 3-in-1 bagging, discharge, and mulching system take the effort out of clearing up the clippings.
Why We Like It: This lightweight lawn mower is highly maneuverable over a long run time, offering all the power of a gasoline lawn mower without the noise, vibrations, or emissions.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
TRACTOR SUPPLY CO ➞
Cordless 40V battery-powered lawn mower
Up to 60 minutes run time
3-in-1 bagging and mulching system
Brushless motor for quiet and reliable operation
Battery Powered - be sure to recharge after each use
Match with Other Battery-Powered Tools
Going battery-powered? Here’s a trick: make sure that the brand matches across all types of battery-powered tools, from mowers, to saws, drills and more. Some companies manufacture batteries that work with ALL their tools— an incredibly convenient little detail for your projects, toolshed, and budget.
4. EGO Power+ LM2101 Mower
The Most Powerful Electric Model
EGO leads the pack when it comes to high-powered electric cordless garden tools, and this mower meets their usual high standards. The 56V battery can power this self-propelled mower through up to half an acre on a single charge, while the mower includes on-board extra battery storage for even longer run times.
You can adjust the 21-inch cutting blade to seven different heights between 1.5" and 4" for a close cut or a quick trim. The 3-in-1 clippings collection mechanism switches easily between mulching, side discharge, or rear bagging. And lastly, the handles fold smoothly down for easy storage when the mowing job is done.
Why We Like It: This lawn mower delivers the trademark EGO cordless power and convenience, combining quality materials and rugged engineering to produce one of the best self-propelled machines that won't let you down.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
Designed for small lawns and yards
5. Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series LT 46 in. Riding Mower
The One for Perfectionists - Multiple Cut Heights
The manufacturers of this high-end riding lawn mower claim their model sets a new industry standard, and it's hard to disagree. Built around a twin-cylinder motor delivering 22 horsepower, this tool has the power to handle large areas of lawn while the operator sits in comfort.
The heavy-duty 46" mowing deck features twin blades with 12 cutting positions, providing cutting heights of between 1" and 4" to give the mower the best control over your lawn's appearance. And with an easy-fill fuel capacity of three gallons, it's a mower that can work hard all day long to tackle the largest of lawns.
Why We Like It: This Cub Cadet model combines comfort, power, and versatility to provide everything you could want in a high-end riding lawn mower. From the heavy-duty cutting blades to the comfortable seating, gas mowers like this make yard work almost effortless.
VIEW ON CUB CADET ➞
Twin blades with 12 cutting positions
Riding mower with optimized steering for tight turns
22 horsepower twin-cylinder engine
Integrated high-pressure deck washing system
Only comes with a shute, rather than a bag to collect cut grass
6. Troy Bilt TB115 Push Mower
High Power For Small Lawns
The TB115 from Troy Bilt is a straightforward, no-nonsense push mower that's ideally suited to smaller lawns. However, its powerful 159cc motor and symmetrical 21-inch deck mean it creates a well-groomed finish for your lawn, with clean cuts and no tearing or uprooting of the grass blades.
This Troy Bilt mower can switch between side discharge and mulching to deal with the cuttings, with a specialized blade making extra-fine clippings for mulching or composting. The rear collection bag can hold up to 1.9 bushels for easy collection and disposal. Lastly, the motor has the traditional Troy Bilt Autochoke feature to make starting reliable, easy, and frustration-free.
Why We Like It: This push mower's single lever height adjustment and cutting positions combined with the front rake bumper give it a high-quality cut, producing a neat and tidy lawn.
TRACTOR SUPPLY CO ➞
Gas-powered walk behind push mower from Troy Bilt
140cc motor with Autochoke for easy starting
Dual-lever, six-position cutting height adjustment
Rake bumper to lift grass upright
Collection bag is on the small side - you'll need to empty it regularly if you have a large yard
7. Toro 20353 Recycler All Wheel Drive Mower
Low Maintenance Gas Mower
The Toro 20353 combines a powerful gas 163cc motor with an all-wheel drive and traction control to handle uneven terrain with ease. With a variable speed option that matches your pace as you mow, this self-propelled lawn mower is as maneuverable as it is powerful, ideal for mowing in tighter spaces.
This advanced walk behind lawn mower also reduces the maintenance hassle of other gas mowers by avoiding the need for oil changes. Simply check the oil level meter before mowing, and top it up if you need to get started right away. The mower can switch between a fine mulching system to feed your lawn as you mow or a rear bagging option for easy clippings collection.
Why We Like It: The Toro takes the hassle out of maintenance thanks to its easy oil refill feature. The powerful gas motor, all-wheel drive, and traction control make the mower best for gliding over tough terrains.
VIEW ON HOME DEPOT ➞
Gas-powered self-propelled lawn mower with electric start
Variable speed to best match your pace
Easy to operate with all-wheel drive and traction control
No oil changes needed
Needs some assembly before use
8. Husqvarna YTH18542 V-Twin Hydrostatic Riding Mower
High Power Ride On Mower, Great for Large Lawns
For a compact model, this ride-on lawn mower boasts a lot of power. The 18.5 horsepower gas motor combines with a rear-wheel drive and hydrostatic transmission. This gives smoothly variable forward and reverse mowing. The turning radius of just 16" makes it easy to handle smaller lawns and steer around obstacles.
The ergonomic adjustable seat gives the operator a comfortable ride, while the step-through design makes mounting and unmounting easy. The 42" reinforced cutting mechanism adjusts to heights from 1.5" to 4", and the combination of dual anti-scalp wheels and air induction technology ensures a clean finish for your lawn.
Why We Like It: This compact ride-on mower packs a surprising amount of power for its size, yet the tight turning circle and easy reverse mowing make it a lawn mower best for smaller areas as well as large spaces.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
TRACTOR SUPPLY CO ➞
Gas-powered ride-on mower with 18.5 horsepower and rear-wheel drive
42" cutting width with a reinforced deck
Smooth transmission for variable speed
This powerful gas mower will give off fumes
9. Husqvarna 315X Robotic Lawn Mower
The Best Robot Lawn Mower
While gas riding models and the best self-propelled lawn mowers take most of the work out of maintaining your lawn, you need a robot to come to the rescue for truly effortless mowing. The Husqvarna 315X fully automates mowing lawns of up to 0.4 acres on gradients of up to 22 degrees.
The mowing can be scheduled for any time of day or night to make the lawn mower fit in with your schedule. The unit's weatherproof construction means mowing can continue come rain or shine. When required, the electric start, battery-powered mower automatically returns to its charging station. It's advanced programming intelligently handles obstacles and tight spaces for a smooth, even cut across the whole turf.
Why We Like It: This completely hassle-free mowing with fully automatic operation, combined with advanced cutting technology, gives results to match even the best self-propelled mower.
Check Price on Amazon ➞
TRACTOR SUPPLY CO ➞
Battery powered with electric start and automatic recharging
Effortlessly mow lawns up to 0.4 acres
Handles slopes up to 22 degrees
Weatherproof for mowing in all conditions
Does not collect grass clippings
10. Cub Cadet CC30e Electric Rear Engine Riding Mower
Clean Energy with Comfort
The CC30e offers all the comfort and mowing power of a riding model but uses a 56V lithium-ion battery as a power source to remove exhaust emissions and reduce maintenance. The mower can handle up to an acre on a single charge, with no power drop-off even toward the end of the one-hour run time.
Recharging the battery is quick and easy, taking only four hours at a standard 120V outlet. There's virtually no maintenance with no oil changes or belt replacements required. Lastly, the 30-inch deck makes for quick and easy mowing, while the compact unit is less than 36" across for high maneuverability and easy storage.
Why We Like It: This powerful riding mower operation provides all the convenience of cordless electric power, with a long run time and fast battery recharging, placing it up there among the best mowers we've seen.
VIEW ON CUB CADET ➞
Cordless electric riding mower with electric start
Mow up to one acre or one hour per charge
Fast battery recharging in four hours
Pristine cut with side discharge
Be sure to charge this mower after use
Small Options for Closer Work
Not everyone needs a big mower. There’s some great options you can choose for trimming your little patch of grass. Some are battery powered, which help you skip out on those toxic fumes. Others are completely non-powered manual mowers that are the best environmental choices.
What to Think About When Choosing a Lawn Mower
A lawn mower is an investment that should last for years, so it’s important to choose wisely when making your purchase. Here’s what you need to know when deciding which type of mower to buy.
Power Source: Gas, Battery, or Corded Electric?
Traditional gas mowers are reliable, powerful tools that can work for extended periods. Refilling the fuel tank only takes a moment. This makes gas mowers a good choice for professional work or if you need to mow large areas.
However, electric lawn mower technology has advanced immensely in quality and power over the last few years. Electric mower models are now easily capable of tackling large lawns of half an acre or even more. The best walk-behind electric mowers available now offer all the power and convenience of a gas trimmer or corded electric, but with lower noise, less vibration, a convenient electric start, and none of the fumes or emissions.
On the downside, even though the best electric lawn mower running times are now very respectable, you need to keep the battery charged, or you may find your mower is out of juice at the most inconvenient time. However, this difficulty can be avoided by choosing a mower with a removable battery. This means you can keep a spare fully charged to extend your electric lawn mower running time. Today, corded electric motors are very rare indeed.
Basic lawn mower Types
There are two basic formats of lawn mower: walk-behind or riding. Walk-behind push lawn mowers are the traditional type, consisting of a motor positioned above the cutting area, with long handles at the rear for the user to push. The oldest walk behind mowers were completely manual, with no motor to turn the cutting blades. The user needed to provide all the power. These kinds of walk-behind mowers are extremely rare today and have been replaced with push mowers. A cordless push mower has powered cutting blades, but it still needs the user to push and pull the mower around the lawn.
More modern walk-behind mower models improve on this basic format by adding a self-propelled mower feature. This is where the motor drives the rear wheels and powers the cutting blade to take the effort out of pushing and guiding the tool.
A self-propelled mower makes it much easier to mow large lawns of up to half an acre, especially on land with a mild gradient. These models are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
But for larger areas or lawns with more challenging terrain, a ride-on mower is more suitable. The best lawn mower models with ride-on are fully self-propelled, come complete with manual or automatic transmission, and are controlled from a comfortable seated position.
Low and Xero Turning Radius Mowers
The turning circle of a mower is a measure of how tightly it can switch 180 degrees in direction. The lower the figure, the easier it is to maneuver the mower, and the neater the cutting pattern will be at the edges of the turf. A zero-turning radius gas mower can turn on a dime, making it highly maneuverable and capable of cutting tight edges for a neat finish. The feature is only available on the best self-propelled mowers or riding mowers with powered steering and high-inch rear wheels.
However, mowers with a 21-inch turning radius or below are generally so close to zero that there’s no real difference in typical use.
You might be interested in our review on the Best string trimmers
looking for more traditional style reel mowers?
Lawn Mowers and Cutting Widths
The wider the cutting blade, the fewer passes you need to make to mow a lawn, so you can get the job done more quickly. However, larger widths make for heavier machinery, which needs more power to operate. A typical cordless push mower or walk-behind mower will have a width of around 19″, while a self-propelled mower can push the width up to around 24″. Traditionally, gas mowers often have a wider width than the best electric mower, thanks to the extra juice available. At the top end of the scale, riding mowers can have a width of 50″ or even more, ideal for tackling large acreages of turf.
However, large cutting widths aren’t always the best option. If your lawn has an intricate design with corners, curves, and obstacles to go around, a narrower width makes the mower easier to guide and can work out to be more efficient overall.
Most electric and gas mower models have adjustable blades so that you can vary the cutting height. A height of around 1″ will be enough to give a velvet-smooth finish to your lawn, while you should allow up to around 4″ for tackling longer grass without any tearing or uprooting.
When choosing the best lawn mower options, look for how easy it is to adjust the mower’s blade height during mowing. Many lawns need different heights for different sections, and it should only take a few button presses or lever turns to change the mode in today’s mowers.
Bagging and Mulching Options
There are three main options for dealing with cut grass from a mower. The most basic option is by side or rear discharge, where the clippings are simply emptied onto the lawn for later raking. This is ideal for small yards. A rear grass bag option collects the clippings so you don’t need to rake, while a mulching feature cuts the clippings finely so that you can leave them on the lawn’s surface to return nutrition to the soil.
Larger wheels make mowers easier to guide over uneven terrain, and for the best handling, the rear wheels should be larger than the front. However, there’s a balance to strike. Large wheels make an electric mower heavier and more power-hungry while also making storage less convenient. If your lawn is on flat land and the grass is usually kept cut low, there’s no need for excess inch rear wheels, as the best mowers will handle the mowing with ease.
Not everyone has the luxury of being able to mow whenever the grass height needs it. Finding headlights on a riding or self-propelled lawn mower mean you can use your mower in low light levels. This way, you can fit in a little lawn care whenever you have some spare time, day or night.
Even the lowest-priced push mower should provide years of trouble-free service. The best self-propelled models and best riding mowers take a significant investment for their ease of use. Getting solid multi-year warranty protection is essential. It should cover all parts, including the motor and cutting blades. With electric self-propelled models, the battery is usually covered by a separate warranty, as even the best batteries degrade with use.
Buying the best lawn mower makes long-term grass maintenance easier and creates a better overall lawn appearance. With the right mower model, mowing becomes less of a chore – you can even turn it into an activity you’ll enjoy! High-quality lawn mowers will also cut more cleanly to be kinder on your grass. With a good mulching feature, you can easily return nutrients to the grass to help keep it healthy and lush.
Today’s best models bring the choice of gas-powered mowers for convenient refills or electric lawn mowers for quieter lawn care with lower emissions. But the most advanced gas lawn mower models can be expensive, and buying a high-end riding electric lawn mower for a small yard is usually overkill. Think carefully about the features you need, and how much power will be required to handle the size of your garden.
Then aim for the best build quality, manufacturer reputation, and warranty options of mowers within your price range. Choosing one of the best lawn mowers available will give you many summers of hassle-free mowing, helping you keep the best lawn on the block with the least possible effort.
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