Which mower is better

This self-propelling mower also offers a variable-speed Touch Drive controller, allowing you to travel from 0. Just because you don't have the budget for a higher-end option, that doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy the benefits of a reliable lawn mower.

The first thing to mention about the Sun Joe is how small it is. At 14 inches, its blade is substantially smaller than the other options on our list. Larger, heavier mowers are impractical for a small yard or one that requires a lot of maneuvering around rocks or other landscaping elements.

This compact size also makes this mower a great choice for this short on storage space. The Sun Joe MJE only weighs 29 pounds, making it well-suited for anyone who doesn't feel like lugging around a heavy mower. This light weight is even more valuable because this is not a self-propelled mower, and you'll be pushing it under your own power. The corded power supply of the Sun Joe means you won't have to deal with any messy fuel mixes or battery packs, and it will essentially run as long as you need it to.

Of course, this unlimited run time limits you to the length of your extension cord. The Sun Joe MJE is made of more plastic than our other metal-deck options, which makes it less durable. The low-maintenance Greenworks Amp Corded Lawn Mower is lightweight, easy to maneuver, and doesn't require charging. The Greenworks 12 Amp Corded Lawn Mower has many features that can make your mowing experience enjoyable. Since it is corded, you don't need to stop to recharge a battery or gas up.

It's a three-in-one mower that has mulching, side discharge, and rear bagging capabilities. You can adjust the cutting height with a single lever. Plus, the inch rear wheels, 7-inch front wheels, and pound size make it easy to push around the yard. For the past three years, I have used the Greenworks on my quarter-acre lawn.

I particularly like how easy it is to adjust the blade height, and it's surprisingly light. There are just a couple of negatives I've noticed. I live in the Pacific Northwest, where mowing wet grass is unavoidable. When the grass is wet, it does not feed into the bag of this mower easily. Also, I had to replace the cord after my teenager ran over it with the mower. Cord control is important and takes a little planning. But if you don't have a large lawn and want to avoid the hassle of keeping batteries recharged, this Greenworks mower could be a perfect fit.

Honda HRXVKA Inch Nexite : Our previous top pick, this gas-powered Honda mower features a powerful cc engine, and its rear-wheel drive allows you to effortlessly maneuver inclines and hills. Its Versamow system also allows you to choose how much grass is mulched and how much is bagged, depending on your yard's conditions.

This mower is currently out of stock, but we'll continue to monitor its status and will most likely add it back to our list once it's available again. The Craftsman M Inch Mower : Both of our experts recommended Craftsman brand mowers for typical homeowners, and Wilson specifically cited this model as a great option. It's self-propelled, has a nice cutting width of 21 inches, and could be a good lower-cost alternative to the Honda model above. Although its cc engine and inch cutting width are great, they were ultimately not able to stack up against our current top pick, the Toro Recycler SmartStow.

If the Toro is unavailable, this mower costs about the same and could be a great alternative. Although we did not personally test all the mowers we included on our list, we did extensive research considering all the available options. After compiling a list of the most popular and well-known models out there, I contacted Mike Wilson , a full-time landscaping contractor in Madison, Wisconsin, and Trevor Lively, a lawn-mower expert and the president of Blue Jay Irrigation.

These two experts and their hands-on expertise provided the insight and experience to recommend the final options on our list. According to our expert, the typical lawn mower that's used once a week can last anywhere from eight to 10 years.

To ensure that your lawn mower lasts as long as it should, make sure you follow the recommended maintenance and cleaning procedures in the user manual. If you're not sure where to start, Wilson explained that it's more important to think about your yard first. A good lawn-mower width for a small yard is anything 20 inches and above. Wilson added that electric mowers tend to be smaller than gas mowers, so a gas mower might be a better idea if you have a large yard.

In addition to your yard size, Wilson also added that you should consider the terrain. While some mowers will function best on large, flat yards, others will be better suited for hills or lots of obstacles. You should also think about how much effort you're willing to put into cutting your grass. If you want to ensure that the mower does as much of the work as possible, make sure you choose a self-propelled model.

This will allow you to set the speed and simply walk behind the mower, steering as you go. If you have steep hills that require a lot of effort to traverse, it's an especially nice feature. Consider a self-propelled model if your yard is over a quarter acre. Lastly, pay close attention to model numbers. Many brands have dozens of models with only slight differences.

If you've done your research and have your heart set on XYZ Company's , be sure you don't pick up the If you follow our links, you can ensure you are getting the right model. When choosing between gas or electric mowers, the decision ultimately depends on what features are most beneficial to you.

You'll genuinely find that electric lawn mowers cost a lot less. However, some options come with two batteries, allowing you to resume your mowing session when the first one runs out. Both gas and electric lawn mowers are suitable for small yards. That said, you'll want to look for one that's easy to maneuver around tight corners, as less square footage usually means more turns.

Self-propelled lawn mowers often have multiple cutting options. For one, you can usually choose between several grass-cutting heights. Also, many models allow you to set it to discharge, mulch, or bag your grass.

Some even cut grass into super-fine pieces and then return the nutrient-rich clippings back into the ground to fertilize your lawn. This guide was written by Theresa Holland , an experienced commerce writer specializing in home and garden content.

Having spent countless hours researching landscaping products and yard care tools not only for her professional writing but also for personal use, she's well-versed in the world of grass cutting. You can check out more stories by Theresa on Byrdie and MyDomaine. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. By Theresa Holland. Theresa Holland. Theresa Holland is a freelance writer specializing in home improvement, cleaning, and bedding. She shares her favorite life hacks on her blog The Taboo Textbook.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process. Our Top Picks. Best Overall:. The lithium-ion battery can cut a half acre of grass on a full charge, and the built-in bag makes for easy cleanup.

Best Budget:. Cons of ride-on lawn mowers:. See our guide on how to buy the best ride-on mower. A robot mower isn't cheap, but it makes mowing hassle free.

Once installed, it will mow your lawn with little input from you, cutting regularly and mulching clippings back into the lawn so there are no clippings to deal with. Use your robot mower during daylight to reduce the risk to wildlife. Some models are capable of cutting lawns that are 5,sq m and more, making them a great alternative to a ride-on or petrol lawn mower. Pricier robots will usually have more advanced features, like smartphone compatibility, weather monitoring and mapping.

Cons of robot lawn mowers:. Read our handy guide to robot mowers to find out if automated mowing is for you. Or see our robot lawn mower reviews. One thing to consider before buying any type of lawn mower is how easy it will be to get replacement parts if you encounter any issues.

You can expect most mowers to last a decent amount of time at least seven years or more but that doesn't mean you'll never need spare blades, springs, or perhaps a replacement mower belt. Most major mower retailers such as Bosch, Cobra, Flymo, Ryobi and Stihl offer spare parts for their lawn mowers, either directly from their website or through a third-party seller.

It's always worth checking on the availability of spare parts before you commit to a purchase, as you don't want a minor fault to end up in you replacing your entire mower because you can't get hold of a certain part.

With cordless mowers specifically you should check to make sure it's possible to buy replacement batteries separately. We don't give Best Buys to models where the batteries can't be replaced, so will never recommend a mower that's destined to have an unusually short lifespan. A local-garden machinery specialist may be able to service and repair your mower, especially petrol models, so always check before you discard a mower that seems to be broken. The price you pay for a new lawn mower will ultimately depend on what type of mower it is.

Our expert tests prove you don't need to spend big to get your hands on a Best Buy lawn mower. Often, if you spend more on a lawn mower you're paying for certain features rather than guaranteed better performance.

These can include:. As is the case with most products, price is very rarely an indication of how 'good' your lawn mower actually is. There's no way of knowing for definite how well it will cut your grass until you put it to the test in your garden.

If you're trying to stick to a budget, though, don't feel like you need to fork out money you don't have to land yourself a reliable model. Most lawn mowers let you adjust the height of the cut between a set range of heights. Make sure that the mower can cut the heights you require and check how easy it is to change the height. Some can be changed by simply moving a lever, while others require you to change the height of each individual wheel, or to add or remove spacers under the cutting blade.

This is mainly an issue for petrol lawn mowers, as electric mowers are easy to start. Some petrol mowers start by giving a sharp tug to a pull cord. For simpler starting, look for models we recommend; these usually have a push button or key start. Some lawn mowers have a fixed-length handle, while others let you adjust it between a range of heights.

Some mowers can be hung up or stored vertically to reduce the amount of space they occupy. Some mowers are easier than others to get close up to lawn edges and around obstacles.

Features such as grass combs can help them achieve this. We cut along the edges of 90 metres of lawn against walls and flower beds.