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Eight push lawn mowers sit on a green lawn. Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

The Best Lawn Mowers of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Eight push lawn mowers sit on a green lawn. Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

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Editor's Choice Product image of Ego Power+ LM2135SP
Best Overall

Ego Power+ LM2135SP

This mower is powerful, comfortable, and a joy to use. It performed extremely well mulching and driving itself uphill. Read More

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly
  • Powerful
  • Comfortable handling

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Battery limits operation time
2
Product image of Toro SmartStow Personal Pace Auto-Drive 21465
Best Gas Lawn Mower

Toro SmartStow Personal Pace Auto-Drive 21465

The Toro has the largest cutting area at 22 inches, and is powerful and comfortable to use, thanks to its Personal Pace self-propel system. Read More

Pros

  • Powerful
  • Comfortable handling
  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Less intuitive speed control
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Kobalt KM 5080-06

Kobalt KM 5080-06

The electric Kobalt KM 5080-06 was flexible and easy to operate, and can run bagged or bagless. Read More

Pros

  • Compact
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Strong

Cons

  • Battery must be charged
4
Product image of Hart HLPM061US

Hart HLPM061US

The Hart HLPM061US performed well across terrains and has a simple to use speed control. Read More

Pros

  • Powerful motor
  • Easy-to-use propulsion system
  • Dual batteries

Cons

  • A challenge to use in tight areas
5
Product image of Skil PM4910-10

Skil PM4910-10

The Skil PM4910-10 is a suitable option for small lawns. At just 58 pounds, it's a simple machine that's easy to store. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Only suited to smaller lawns

Until just a few short years ago, gas lawn mowers were king. As more consumers are seeking eco-friendly cars, homes, and, yes, power equipment, advanced battery technology answers the call.

Today, consumers can drive an electric car, thrive in a solar-powered home and maintain their property with battery-powered equipment. But are the new electric push lawn mowers as good as the old internal combustion mowers? We decided to find out.

We tested gasoline, electric-corded, and battery-powered lawn mowers from the leading brands. We were eager to see if the battery-powered mowers could handle a large yard as well as the tried-and-true gasoline models. We weren't disappointed. The Ego Power+ LM2135SP (available at Amazon) came out on top as Best Overall.

For the gasoline mowers, the Toro SmartStow Personal Pace Auto-Drive 21465 (available at The Home Depot) is our choice for Best Gas Lawn Mower. This mower has a large cutting area with a self-propelling feature

An Ego Power+ electric lawn mower sits on a lawn.
Credit: Ego Power+

The Ego Power+ LM2135SP is the best electric lawn mower we've tested.

Best Overall
Ego Power+ LM2135SP
  • Power source: Electric/battery
  • Self-propelled: Yes
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 88 lbs

Until a few years ago, those who preferred not to buy an internal combustion mower had little choice. But advanced battery technology has finally arrived, and the benefits are easy to see in the Ego Power+ LM2135SP, a 21-inch self-propelled electric mower. This cordless mower with a cutting width of 21 inches utilizes a 56-volt lithium ion battery to power through up to 60 minutes of lawn cutting.

The Ego Power+ is powerful, comfortable, and a joy to use. Even though the battery only lasted about an hour, the mower performed extremely well mulching and driving itself uphill. It has plenty of torque and can keep up with anything a gasoline-powered mower can do. It is clean, easy to use, and efficient.

Of all the lawnmowers in our guide, this one is the easiest to get up and running. The handle slides and folds across the mower, making storage a cakewalk. Adjusting it to a personal height takes seconds.

The battery chargers in a quick 50 minutes and the charger itself has a cooling fan that improves charging times and keeps the battery cool.

Like some of our other mowers, the Ego Power+ has twin blades that improve mulching and keep the trips to empty the rear bag to a minimum. Cutting height is achieved with one easy-to-access lever.

Operation is straightforward, and the composite deck makes the mower light and easy to maneuver around yard obstacles. Depress the power button, pull the green handle, and the blades begin to spin. Dual buttons on the handle make engaging the self-propel feature safe and comfortable.

The Ego Power+ comes with LED headlights for convenience, and it was the only mower we tested that could propel itself when the blades were not spinning. This is a nice feature that eliminates pushing the mower back to the garage.

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Powerful

  • Comfortable handling

Cons

  • Pricey

  • Battery limits operation time

On the left, the Toro lawn mower in storage. On the right, the Toro lawn mower mowing grass.
Credit: Toro

The Toro SmartStow Personal Pace Auto-Drive 21465 is the best gas lawn mower among the pack.

Best Gas Lawn Mower
Toro SmartStow Personal Pace Auto-Drive 21465
  • Power source: Gas
  • Self-propelled: Yes
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Rear discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 90 lbs

The Toro takes the cake for the best gas lawn mower.

This Toro lawn mower has the largest cutting area at 22 inches, and it is powerful and comfortable to use, thanks to its Personal Pace self-propel system.

To engage the self-propel, push the lever forward a bit, and the mower begins to move. Push it a little more, and the mower moves faster. After a couple of rows of cutting, you will see how easy it is to regulate speed. This system is not as intuitive as others, but it works well.

Another great feature is that the Toro mower has Briggs and Stratton’s check-don’t-change oil system, which never requires an oil change.

The mower handles fold down and you can store it vertically to save space in your shed or garage.

Pros

  • Powerful

  • Comfortable handling

  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Pricey

  • Less intuitive speed control

Other Lawn Mowers We Tested

Product image of Kobalt KM 5080-06
Kobalt KM 5080-06
  • Power source: Electric/battery
  • Self-propelled: No
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 66 lbs

The Kobalt 80V 21-inch electric mower is a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable, flexible, compact mower that is easy to maneuver. It is a good option for someone looking to avoid extension cords or gas cans, too. The mower is strong enough to chop through thick grass and offers a highly adjustable cutting height.

At 66 pounds, it is easy to operate, with the ability to go bagged or bagless, and you can fold up the push handle for compact storage.

The main draw is the 80V battery system, which gives you an hour of runtime in our testing, enough to cut about 7,500 square feet on a full charge. It also works with other Kobalt tools, and spares cost around $150.

Charging the battery takes about 45 minutes when fully depleted. The battery pops into the designated slot, and the mower can turn on with a press button if the safety key is inserted—much easier than using a traditional pull start.

Overall if you need a nice, basic mower to get the job done and want to go cordless, this is an excellent choice. It cuts clean lines, is easy to use, and can easily handle most lawns. The light weight makes it easy to use on slopes and hills.

If investing in a range of electric tools, this is a good system to buy.

Pros

  • Compact

  • Easy to maneuver

  • Strong

Cons

  • Battery must be charged

Product image of Hart HLPM061US
Hart HLPM061US
  • Power source: Electric/battery
  • Self-propelled: Yes
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: All-wheel
  • Weight: 89.5 lbs

This Hart lawnmower was a pleasant surprise.

After removing it from the box and charging the batteries, we fired it up and took it out to the thick, lush grass.

It performed beautifully; its powerful electric motor cut through the lawn with ease and even increased its revolutions when we cut thicker grass. This mower easily handles a larger lawn.

The Hart mower moved with power and confidence through the lawn, and the simple-to-use speed control was right there at your fingertips.

This excellent lawnmower has the power and convenience of mowers costing much more.

Pros

  • Powerful motor

  • Easy-to-use propulsion system

  • Dual batteries

Cons

  • A challenge to use in tight areas

Product image of Skil PM4910-10
Skil PM4910-10
  • Power source: Electric/battery
  • Self-propelled: No
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Rear discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 58 lbs

At just 58 pounds, this mower makes cutting small lawns fun. The rear discharge chute allows you to trim close to trees, beds, and shrubbery. We found ourselves zipping around obstacles using only one hand.

This is a simple machine with one quick-charge battery in the center.

This is not a lawn mower for the back 40. With a 20-inch cut and a small electric motor, it cannot handle larger lawns. But for most small-to-medium-sized yards, this mower cleans up the area quickly.

Light and easy to store, this is the perfect mower to keep a lawn looking great.

Pros

  • Lightweight

  • Easy to maneuver

  • Inexpensive

Cons

  • Only suited to smaller lawns

Product image of Ryobi RY401150
Ryobi RY401150
  • Power source: Electric/battery
  • Self-propelled: Yes
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 78 lbs

The 21-inch Ryobi RY401150 40-volt brushless mower sets up quickly and easily right out of the box. It includes double blades and cuts clean and clear.

This mower comes with two batteries that install in the top of the machine. One notable drawback is that only one battery powers the mower at a time. Cut your grass for approximately 30 minutes, and when the first battery dies, you can stop and move a switch to engage the second battery. Ryobi says that the batteries will last for 70 minutes, but stopping to change batteries seems counterproductive.

Otherwise, the mower performed well and completed all of the tests. It has a one-lever height adjustment and is light enough to maneuver around obstacles. It has plenty of power and handled the hill with little strain.

While both the Ego Power+ and Ryobi were solid performers on the electric front, the Ryobi was let down by its self-propel controls. The controls are located under the bar, but the lever is vague and unresponsive. Because the lever is designed for thumbs only, you need to push the lever awkwardly to get the mower up to speed.

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Powerful

Cons

  • Battery design is inefficient

  • Vague propel response

Product image of Greenworks 25022
Greenworks 25022
  • Power source: Electric/corded
  • Self-propelled: No
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 65 lbs

For a corded mower, the Greenworks 25022 lawn mower performed quite well. The setup was easy, and once it was plugged in, it started right up.

Of course, before you use the mower there is the time-consuming task of unearthing your extension cord, unraveling it, and finding a suitable outdoor plug. Once plugged in, the mower embraces its purpose with ease.

It has a powerful 12-amp electric motor that may not conquer larger lawns but is perfect for smaller yards and trimming duties. Not to mention it offers clean and even mowing.

Not being self-propelled, it takes some effort to push the lawn mower and cord uphill and then navigate a path back to not cut your cord.

Its small size makes storage a breeze.

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Powerful

  • Efficient

Cons

  • Corded

  • Not self-propelled

Product image of Sun Joe MJ401E
Sun Joe MJ401E
  • Power source: Electric/corded
  • Self-propelled: No
  • Cutting options: Bag, Rear discharge
  • Drive: Rear-wheel
  • Weight: 29 lbs

The 14-inch Sun Joe MJ401E lawn mower is the easiest to store. Its diminutive size makes it the perfect lawn mower for small yards and trimming duties. It’s light enough to pick up and move, and it comes with an easy-to-use bagging system.

Still, this is not a lawn mower for cutting the typical suburban lawn, as its lightweight, short wheelbase and small wheels make it a little unstable over roots and ruts.

Of all of the lawnmowers tested, the Sun Joe provided the most difficulty when it came time to adjust the height of the blades. The mower utilizes solid axles, front and rear, and the axles are located in a three-notch system under the mower. To change the height of the cut, you need to pull the spring-loaded axles from their positions and move them up or down. It’s a challenging exercise.

The Sun Joe is corded, so cutting area is limited. To its credit, it’s powerful enough when running, but the limited scope means you will have a hard time tackling an entire yard.

Pros

  • Environmentally friendly

  • Affordable

  • Easy to store

Cons

  • Corded

  • Difficult to adjust height

Product image of Craftsman M220 CMXGMAM211201
Craftsman M220 CMXGMAM211201
  • Power source: Gas
  • Self-propelled: Yes
  • Cutting options: Bag, Mulch, Side discharge
  • Drive: Front-wheel
  • Weight: 73 lbs

The Craftsman M220 is one of the more cumbersome mowers we’ve tested. The setup was more involved. To adjust it to the right height, we had to kneel on the floor to remove two fasteners from the bottom of the handle and pull the handle out of the body. Another two fasteners at the base of the handle allowed us to set the handle angle. The better mowers have release buttons and adjusting levers that allow the operator to make these adjustments quickly and safely while standing.

The mower started on the first pull and seemed to have enough power to tackle any lawn. However, the two levers on top of the handle—one to start and one for speed of self-propulsion—are difficult to operate. Both are difficult to grab if your hands are small to medium, and the levers are too far from the handle for comfortable operation. They’re also not intuitively placed; you have to look each time you make a pass.

The biggest disadvantage of this mower is that it is equipped with front-wheel drive. When self-propelled mowers first came out many years ago, a front-drive system was easy for manufacturers to design and implement and the homeowner didn’t have to push dead weight. The design worked for many years because there was nothing else. But over the years rear-drive systems were developed and it produced a more balanced, more comfortable cutting experience.

When cutting a lawn, the operator naturally has some weight on the handle. Add to this the weight of the grass in the bag off the back of the mower and you have a very light front end. Because the weight of the mower is not over the wheels, the front wheels tend to spin and grasp through each pass. This results in uneven lines, a hard-to-control mower (especially on a bumpy terrain), premature wearing out of the plastic front wheels, and difficulty trying to trim around obstacles. This antiquated front drive system lets this mower down.

Pros

  • Easy starting

  • Powerful

  • Capable

Cons

  • Controls are cumbersome

  • Front Drive System limits control and comfort

  • Not nimble around obstacles

How We Tested Lawn Mowers

The Testers

Two testers stand with eight lawn mowers in a garage.
Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

We spent the summer mowing a half-acre New England lawn, over and over again.

Kevin Kavanaugh is a retired public school teacher and a product tester for Reviewed. Kevin has been cutting lawns for just about 50 years. His interests include all things mechanical, like watches, power equipment, vintage bicycles, and classic cars.

Ray Lane is a retired supermarket store manager, avid golfer, and product tester for Reviewed. His lawn is the envy of Cumberland, Rhode Island, and he has used several push mowers over the years. His input on the mowers was critical, specifically when evaluating ease of starting, maneuverability, and safety.

TJ Donegan, the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed, also helped test lawn mowers at his home in Massachusetts.

The Tests

Two side-by-side images of a man pushing lawn mowers across a yard.
Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

We tested lawn mowers on both flat land and hills to test maneuverability and power.

After ordering from retailers like Lowe’s and The Home Depot, we assembled each mower and noted the ease of the setup and how quickly we could adjust the handle to our preference. We then added gasoline, a battery, or an electrical cord to prep the mower. We evaluated the ease of setting the cutting height, first testing a high cutting height and then a lower one.

We took each mower on a few passes of an uncut half-acre lawn measuring approximately 22,000 square feet, noting how it cut at high and low heights. We also monitored for the bagging and mulching features. Then, we took each mower up and down a grassy hill to see how they performed. Our final test was testing storage capability.

What You Should Know About Lawn Mowers

Eight lawn mowers sit on a green lawn.
Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

Self-propelled lawn mowers can take some of the effort out of walk-behind mowing.

There are two basic types of walk-behind mowers: push and self-propelled.

The push type of mower is usually smaller, lighter, and easier to store. They are used primarily for smaller, level lawns. They are perfect for cleaning up areas that larger riding lawn mowers may miss. They can be run by gasoline, cords, or battery.

Self-propelled lawnmowers usually have a larger cutting diameter and can move on their own through operator controls. These mowers can also be powered by gasoline, cords, or battery. Since they take the brunt of the pushing away, self-propelled mowers are perfect for larger lawns up to a half-acre, and they can easily handle hills and sloped lawns. These self-propelled mowers aren’t fully robotic lawn mowers so you still have to do some work guiding them around your yard.

What Is A Self-propelled Lawn Mower?

The first self-propelled lawnmowers started to appear in the late-1960s. As suburbia grew and lawns got larger, pushing a heavy steel mower around on a summer afternoon wasn’t what most people wanted to be doing.

The first self-propelled mowers had primitive front-wheel-drive systems that worked well enough, but the mowers often moved along too slowly. Sure, you weren’t pushing but you were caught in a slow-moving lawn-cutting procession. Early mowers either moved too slowly or too fast to match a natural walking speed.

Today’s mowers offer a much better propulsion system. Owners can dial their preferred walking speed to become one with the mower, not being pulled and not having to push.

The Ego Power+ Select Cut 56-Volt Brushless 21-in Self-propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower allows the operator to drive out to the lawn without the blades turning. That is a great feature.

Self-propelled mowers reduce operator fatigue and make cutting the grass easier than years ago. Self-propelled mowers make cutting on hills safer and more efficient. And with modern speed options, they make a summertime chore a little more enjoyable.

Gasoline, Corded Electric, or Battery—Which Lawn Mower is Right for You?

A hand pulls the green Ego Power+ lawn mower battery out of it's spot.
Credit: Reviewed / Kevin Kavanaugh

Battery-powered lawn mowers can be powerful and efficient.

Gasoline

Gasoline-powered lawnmowers have kept lawns manicured for decades. They are powerful, reliable, and affordable. They come with self-propelled movement, mulching features, and self-cleaning availability. They are powerful enough for large lawn care jobs and can tackle any lawn from a quarter- to half-acre. Any lawn bigger than that would necessitate a riding mower.

But gas-powered mowers emit dangerous carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, require yearly maintenance, and require storing gasoline and oil. This may not be suitable for some consumers.

Corded Electric

Corded electric mowers have been around for years and were historically the choice of consumers with smaller lawns that didn't need the more powerful gasoline mower. While powerful enough to get most cutting or trimming jobs done, the one obvious drawback to a corded mower is the electrical cord.

For any yard worthy of mowing, a long electrical extension cord is required to power the mower. This can be a minor annoyance, such as keeping the cord free from getting tangled in trees and bushes, to a major annoyance when you drive over it and cut it into small pieces.

However, corded electric mowers require no gas, oil, or maintenance and, other than a blade sharpening occasionally, can perform reliably for years.

Battery

Battery-powered cars, power equipment, and tools have been around for a long time. The electric motors were strong and reliable enough, but the battery was not. Just a few years ago, an electric car could expect to go only 100 miles on a charge, and power tools and equipment didn't last long either. Recently, battery technology has improved by leaps and bounds.

Electric cars can expect hundreds of miles on a charge and power tools and equipment can last a full day. This lithium battery technology found its way to lawnmowers and it has created a viable option for those consumers who don't want gas and don't want a cord. These battery-powered mowers are powerful, efficient, lightweight, and green.

Many now use brushless electric motors, which are more efficient, produce more torque, and are longer lasting than the older electric motors with brushes.

How often should I mow my lawn?

Cutting your lawn keeps it healthy and lush.

Cutting the lawn too often and only cutting it when it gets overgrown are both unhealthy for a lush, beautiful lawn. The rule of thumb in the lawn-care industry is for grass to be between 3 inches and 3.5 inches in length. This allows the grass to be long enough to thrive in the heat.

When cutting grass, never take more than a third of the blade at once. In other words, never cut more than an inch or so. Not only does this cause clumping on the lawn or in the mower bag, but it takes too many nutrients and moisture from the grass.

After the late winter fertilizer treatments and the often heavy rains, lawns come to life and need trimming every four to five days to remove just enough length. As the summer wanes and the temperature rises, the grass will grow slower, and a once-week cutting is adequate.

It is also important to keep the blades of your lawnmower good and sharp. Steel lawnmower blades tend to develop a dull edge after a season. A dull edge on a blade will tear the grass and not cut it. This may result in browning of the tips of the grass and put more stress on the mower.

While you are under the deck checking those blades—and always disconnect the spark plug wire before going under the mower—be sure there is no old clumped-up grass clinging to the mower deck.

Meet the testers

TJ Donegan

TJ Donegan

Former Director, Content Development

@TJDonegan

TJ is the former Director of Content Development at Reviewed. He is a Massachusetts native and has covered electronics, cameras, TVs, smartphones, parenting, and more for Reviewed. He is from the self-styled "Cranberry Capitol of the World," which is, in fact, a real thing.

See all of TJ Donegan's reviews
Kevin Kavanaugh

Kevin Kavanaugh

Contributor

Kevin Kavanaugh is a retired public school teacher and a product tester for Reviewed. Kevin has been cutting lawns for just about 50 years. He has always been intrigued by all things mechanical, be it watches, power equipment, vintage bicycles, or classic cars.

See all of Kevin Kavanaugh's reviews

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