Which Lawn Mower is Easy to Push
From old-fashioned reel cutters to high-tech electric motors, the push lawn mower is a staple tool of the urban and suburban household. With so many options out there, what are the best push mowers on the market?
We did the research to help you pick the best push lawn mower for your yard. We looked at the power, width of cutting deck, weight, special features, customer reviews, and price to come up with our list of the Top 10 Best Push Lawn Mowers. We've included a buyers guide and FAQ about push mowers, too.
What is a push lawn mower? Also known as walk-behind mowers, push mowers are the most popular way to keep small- to medium-sized lawns in shape. For yards under an acre in size, push mowers are an economical alternative to riding mowers.
Push lawn mowers cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000. We highlight push mowers here from all price ranges to give you the best choice in every class:
- "Inexpensive" – Under $150
- "Moderate" – $150-$500
- "Expensive" – $500 and above
Speaking of economical lawn care equipment, new advancements in battery technology have led to a surge in electric mower production. These green machines can last for up to 90 minutes on a single charge, more than enough time to cover a typical suburban lawn.
In this article, we'll review mowers in a number of different categories. From fancy self-propelled machines to budget-friendly options, the mowers on this list are the most reliable and best-reviewed products on the market.
To make it easy to compare prices, we also have listed multiple buying options, when available.
Top 10 Push Mowers — Reviews
| 1. Best Gas Mower: Craftsman M105 |
| 2. Best Self-Propelled Gas Mower: Honda HRX 217VKA |
| 3. Best Battery-Powered Mower: Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Mower |
| 4. Best Self-Propelled Electric Mower: EGO Power+ 21-Inch Select Cut |
| 5. Best Corded Electric Mower: Black + Decker MM2000 |
| 6. Best Budget Mower: SunJoe MJ401-E |
| 7. Best Reel Mower: American Lawn Mower Co. 1204 |
| 8. Best String-Style Mower: Black + Decker 3-in-1 Cordless |
| 9. Gas Mower: PowerSmart 21-Inch Mower |
| 10. Runner-up Electric Mower: Snapper XD 82V MAX |
1. Best Gas Mower: Craftsman M105
If you're looking for an affordable gas-powered mower, and don't want to pay extra for features you won't use, the Craftsman M105 is a surefire pick. It's not the fanciest machine on the market, but its reliability, durability, and affordability separate it from the pack.
The 21-inch cutting deck and light weight make the Craftsman M105 one of the most efficient machines for the price. With an automatic choke, it starts with a single pull. The 6-inch front wheels and 7-inch rear wheels are equipped with heavy-duty zag-tread tires to tackle difficult terrain. The M105 can be set to side discharge, bag, or mulch clippings. Craftsman recommends this mower for suburban yards up to 11,000 square feet.
Specifications
Power Source: 140cc gas engine
Deck Width: 21 inches
Deck Height: 1.25-3.75 inches
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: No; available for $10 extra
Price Range: Moderate
Pros
✓ Lightweight
✓ Easy assembly
✓ Extra oil included
Cons
✗ Oil leaks reported during shipping
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2. Best Self-Propelled Gas Mower: Honda HRX 217VKA
If you have a larger yard, or uneven, hilly terrain, a self-propelled mower may be the best choice for you. The Honda HRX series is the top-performing walk-behind mower on the market, trusted by professionals and homeowners alike.
"Select Drive" provides precise speed control, so this mower will never get away from you. The "blade stop" feature allows you to fully shut off the blade without cutting engine power. The hefty price tag is a downside with this push mower, although financing is available to take the strain off your wallet.
Specifications
Power Source: Honda GCV200 gas engine
Speed: Up to 4 mph
Deck Width: 21 inches
Deck Height: 0.75-4 inches
Mulching: Variable mulch/bagging system
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Expensive
Pros
✓ Reliable Honda engine
✓ Automatic choke
✓ Highly variable settings
✓ Works on hills
Cons
✗ Expensive
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3. Best Battery-Powered Mower: Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Mower
Greenworks is a leading brand of eco-friendly electric mowers. This model weighs in at 37.5 pounds, making it one of the lightest options on the market. With a push-button starter, a fast-charging battery, and 45 minutes of uninterrupted use, this machine handles small- to medium-sized lawns like a champ.
Of all Greenworks' battery-powered options, this one makes the list due to its low price tag and maneuverability. It can handle yards up to a half acre on one battery charge. For larger yards, consider Greenworks' 20-inch dual-blade mower or Pro 80-Volt model.
Specifications
Power Source: 40V lithium-ion battery
Battery Life: 45 minutes
Deck Width: 16 inches
Deck Height: 5 settings, 1.25 inch to 3.375 inches
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Moderate
Pros
✓ Lightweight
✓ Eco-friendly
✓ Fast-charging battery
✓ Low-maintenance
Cons
✗ Limited battery life
✗ Small cutting deck
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4. Best Self-Propelled Electric Mower: EGO Power+ 21-Inch Select Cut
This EGO Power+ electric mower gives your yard a sharp cut with minimal work. It uses a two-blade system to lighten the motor's workload and deliver a consistently perfect trim. It can propel itself to over 3 mph with a variable-speed throttle and has LED lights for mowing in low-light conditions.
EGO Power+ tools use a smart battery that charges in under an hour and is compatible with all their power tools. For medium- to large-sized lawns, this is the best battery-powered mower for your buck.
Specifications
Power Source: 56V ARC lithium battery
Battery Life: 45 minutes
Deck Width: 21 inches
Deck Height: 7 settings, 1.5 to 4 inches
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Expensive
Pros
✓ Fast and efficient
✓ Eco-friendly
✓ Less expensive than gas
✓ Low-maintenance
Cons
✗ Limited battery life
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5. Best Corded Electric Mower: Black + Decker MM2000
This corded mower delivers all the functionality and efficiency of a 20-inch cutting deck without the need to charge batteries or maintain a gas engine. The Black + Decker MM2000 starts with the touch of a button and can mow as large of a yard as your extension cord allows.
When compared with other mowers at the same price point, this Black + Decker model outshines the competition. Weighing in at under 50 pounds, it's lighter than most 20-inch mowers. Its 13-amp motor delivers more power than its 12-amp competitors and the "EDGEMAX" deck improves maneuverability without sacrificing cutting width.
With seven height adjustments, this versatile mower is easily the best in its class.
Specifications
Power Source: AC power cord
Deck Width: 20 inches
Deck Height: 7 settings, 1.5"-4"
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Moderate
Pros
✓ Lightweight
✓ Unlimited run time
✓ Eco-friendly
Cons
✗ Affordable
✗ Have to avoid cord while mowing
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6. Best Budget Mower: SunJoe MJ401-E
Whether you have a small urban yard or are just looking for a less expensive mower, this SunJoe packs a big punch in a compact frame.
It's a basic mower — it doesn't come with all the features of a more expensive model. For instance, it only has three height adjustment settings and doesn't mulch grass clippings. If you're passionate about lawn care, this probably isn't the choice for you.
If, however, you want an uncomplicated mower that gets the job done without breaking the bank, the SunJoe MJ401-E may be the right fit for you.
Specifications
Power Source: AC power cord
Deck Width: 14 inches
Deck Height: 3 settings
Mulching: No
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Inexpensive
Pros
✓ Very affordable
✓ Eco-friendly
✓ Low-maintenance
Cons
✗ Smaller deck
✗ Must avoid cord
✗ Does not mulch
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7. Best Reel Mower: American Lawn Mower Co. 1204
In business since 1895, the American Lawn Mower Company knows the ins and outs of manual mowers. For people with smaller yards, a human-powered mower can be an economical choice. It also can double as a workout!
This 14-inch model is great for urban yards, but the American Lawn Mower Co. also makes 16-, 18-, and 20-inch varieties. You can also save time on cleanup with the attachable grass catcher accessory.
Specifications
Power Source: You
Deck Width: 14 Inches
Deck Height: 6 settings
Mulching: No
Bag Included: Grass catcher attachment sold separately
Price Range: Inexpensive
Pros
✓ Most eco-friendly option
✓ Very affordable
✓ Low-maintenance
Cons
✗ Takes more work to mow
✗ Small deck width
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8. Best String-Style Mower: Black + Decker 3-in-1 Cordless
This ingenious design combines two essential lawn care tools into one. The standard string trimmer converts into a cordless mower in seconds.
Weighing in under 15 pounds, this one tool can mow, trim, and edge small lawns. It's light enough to use on steep slopes that other mowers can't handle. However, with only 40 minutes of battery life included, the Black + Decker string mower is not a great option for larger yards.
Specifications
Power Source: 20V battery
Battery Life: 20 minutes per battery (2 included)
Deck Width: 12 inches
Deck Height: 1.6 or 2.4 inches
Mulching: No
Bag Included: No
Price Range: Inexpensive
Pros
✓ Versatile
✓ Lightweight
✓ Eco-friendly
Cons
✗ Short battery life
✗ Only 2 cutting heights
✗ Small deck width
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9. Runner-Up Gas Mower: PowerSmart 21-Inch Mower
This affordable gas mower delivers a lot of value. Lightweight and easier to maneuver than other 21-inch gas mowers, the PowerSmart 21-inch is a great choice for medium-sized lawns.
This mower features a single-lever height adjuster with five settings. It folds into a compact shape for easy storage and can be stowed vertically as well.
Specifications
Power Source: 144cc gas engine
Deck Width: 21 inches
Deck Height: 5 settings, 1.18 to 3.05 inches
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Moderate
Pros
✓ Lightweight
✓ Affordable
✓ Reliable engine
Cons
✗ Less durable plastic parts
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10. Runner-up Electric Mower: Snapper XD 82V MAX
Boasting an incredible 90-minute battery life, this mower delivers the power of a Briggs & Stratton engine with the convenience and low impact of a battery-powered mower. The load-sensing technology automatically adjusts the motor's output to save energy and lengthen battery life. The heavy-duty mower blades and high-powered motor add considerable weight to this mower, so we don't recommend it for hilly yards.
Specifications
Power Source: 82V lithium-ion battery
Battery Life: 45 minutes per battery (2 included)
Deck Width: 21 inches
Deck Height: 7 settings
Mulching: Yes
Bag Included: Yes
Price Range: Moderate
Pros
✓ Eco-friendly
✓ Powerful
✓ Easy assembly
Cons
✗ Heavy
✗ Needs battery change for full battery life
Buy Now
Buyers Guide: Push Lawn Mowers
A lawn mower can be a big investment. This buying guide will go over the different types of push mowers and their specifications to help you make an informed purchase. We'll also talk about the metrics we used to create this list.
Types of Push Mowers
There are many options to consider when purchasing a push lawn mower. This list has compiled front-runners from several different categories. Here are the basics of different mower types and how they'll perform.
Gas Lawn Mowers
A staple of lawn care since 1919, a gas mower is simply a lawn mower that runs on gasoline. This means you'll need to keep additional gas on hand to keep it fueled up and ready to use.
Gas mowers also require oil to run without overheating. Different engine types require different oils.
4-stroke engines are similar to automobile engines; the oil is kept in a separate, recirculating system and must be changed sparing.
2-stroke engines require special oil to be added directly to the fuel. The oil is consumed along with the gasoline.
Gas lawn mowers require more maintenance than other types because they generate a lot of heat and parts move at such high speeds. If you're set on a gas mower, learning a little bit about small engine repair can save you money in the long term.
Gas engines deliver more power than most electric engines and aren't limited by battery life. If you have very thick grass or a large yard, a gas engine may be the right fit for you. Some places are restricting the purchase of new gas mowers in an effort to reduce harmful carbon emissions. Check your local regulations before purchasing.
Electric Lawn Mowers
Electric mowers come in two main varieties: battery-powered and corded.
Corded lawn mowers plug into your home's AC power and have unlimited run time. They are limited only by the length of your extension cord.
Battery-powered mowers can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 90 minutes of constant operation, depending on the battery voltage. Many battery-powered mowers come with more than one battery to extend your range.
Electric mowers are eco-friendly and low-maintenance. They're quiet, too, and won't disturb your neighbors if you like mowing at the crack of dawn. If you don't mind avoiding a power cord or swapping a battery mid-mow, electric mowers are the better choice for small or medium-sized urban and suburban yards.
Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
This class of mower can be powered by gas or electricity. The key feature of a self-propelled mower is that the engine turns the wheels as well as the blade. This lets you walk behind and steer without putting much effort into pushing the machine.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are more expensive than traditional push mowers, but save a lot of time and exertion.
If you have a larger lawn or can't manage a heavy mower, self-propelled mowers make lawn care a far easier task.
Reel Lawn Mowers
Reel lawn mowers run on the original power source: you. As you push the mower, a rotary blade turns, trapping grass between the moving edge and a fixed one. The two blades act like scissors, neatly slicing the top of the grass.
Though they take considerably more effort to operate, reel mowers are the quietest and most eco-friendly option and are generally safer for younger operators. If you like getting a workout while mowing your lawn or are on a tight budget, modern reel mowers are effective and inexpensive.
What to Look for in a Lawn Mower
When researching lawn mowers, we used several factors to determine the value of our top picks. Stacking the various features against cost, we focused on four major specs:
Power
Power isn't a consistent measurement across the board. Gas mowers measure their engine potential in cubic centimeters (cc's), corded mowers in amps, and batteries in voltage. In all cases, the higher a number is, the more power you'll get out of it, and the more it will cost.
The higher your engine's power level, the faster your blade will spin, taking on thicker or taller grasses. Low-powered engines may need multiple passes at different cutting heights to accomplish what a high-powered motor can do.
Gas engines generally produce more power than other types. If you have thick turf or keep your grass long, you may need to use a gas mower.
Width of Cutting Deck
The width of a mower's cutting deck determines the number of passes you'll need to make to cover your lawn. A wider deck means a shorter overall task but comes with a major drawback. Wider blades are heavier and require more power to operate. This means wider mowers tend to be more expensive.
If you have a small yard, it may be most cost-effective to spend a few extra minutes working with a smaller machine. If you have intricate landscaping or lots of garden beds, a smaller mower will generally handle curves and corners more efficiently.
Weight
Simply put, a heavier lawn mower is going to take more effort to push. Most motors, especially gas engines, get much heavier as they increase in power. Steel parts are more durable than plastic but add to a mower's overall weight. If you have physical limitations, a heavy lawn mower can be a dealbreaker.
The heaviest lawn mowers, however, are the self-propelled variety. Once you hit the weight threshold that comes with a powered drivetrain, the total weight becomes a less significant factor.
If your yard is large or has lots of hills, consider a lightweight or self-propelled option.
Price
Price is the most important factor in determining an item's value, as it's the basis of comparison for all the other stats.
Push lawn mowers cost anywhere from $50 to $1,000. We carefully weighed the previous three stats and customer reviews against each mower's price to determine the highest value.
FAQ About Push Lawn Mowers
1. What is the best lawn mower to buy?
The Craftsman M105 and the Greenworks 16-inch mower represent the most bang for your buck among gas and electric mowers, respectively. The Honda HRX217 series is much more expensive but is widely regarded as the best walk-behind mower on the market. If your yard is larger than an acre, consider investing in a riding lawn mower.
3. How much should I spend on a lawn mower?
mowers on this list are under $300 and can run for years with proper care. A lawn care enthusiast or a person with a large, difficult lawn may want to invest more in their yard work tools to save time and effort.
When to Hire a Lawn Care Pro
If buying your own mower and taking care of your lawn seems like a daunting task, Lawn Love pros can give your yard a professional manicure at affordable prices. Call 800-706-4117 to see how a professional lawn care crew can take the hassle out of maintaining a beautiful landscape.
Main Photo Credit: Pixabay with type overlay
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Stephen Kime
Stephen Kime is a freelance writer and professional actor based in Washington, D.C. When he isn't in rehearsal, Stephen enjoys running, hiking, and experimenting with new cocktail recipes.
Source: https://lawnlove.com/blog/best-push-mowers/
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