If you have a lawn, chances are you spend a lot of time mowing it. The right machine can make the weekly task of trimming grass as pain free as possible. Below, we'll walk you through key considerations when you're searching for the best tool for your needs, including the pros and cons of choosing between gas and electric options.
Consider Your Needs
Instead of adapting to your lawnmower's relative strengths, first consider your needs.
Know your Lawn and Mowing NBeeds
The size of your lawn is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a lawn mower. According to TK, the average lawn size in the United States is a quarter acre. If that's true for you, most gas-run options and many battery-powered machines will be able to take care of the task on a single tank or battery charge. If you have a half acre or more, you'll need nearly a full tank and may need to take a break to recharge your batteries. Since recharging a battery can take an hour or more, a quick tank refill sounds pretty compelling at that point.
Your yard's terrain is also important. If you have to deal with a lot of hills, slopes, or ditches, you may want to consider a self-propelled model to take some of the load off your body. If you have obstacles like trees or lawn ornaments to maneuver around, you'll want a machine that's easy to maneuver.
Another factor is your climate. If you live in a warm place, you may have to mow your grass about once a week for most of the year. In colder latitudes, you may be able to store your mower in the garage for months. If the thought of spending that much time walking in circles around your yard makes your stomach drop, you can always consider replacing your grass with durable lawn alternatives like clover or creeping thyme.
Lawnmower Models
These days, you can choose between gas-powered mowers, electric versions with batteries, those you can plug in with cords, and old-school, manual reel options. We'll run through the relative strengths and weaknesses of each option below in detail below. To summarize –
- Gas models are powerful, excel in challenging terrain, and offer longer runtimes but require more maintenance.
- Battery-run electric mowers balance power and ease since they are quieter, and don't require gas, oil, or air filter refills. Their runtime is limited though and you have to wait for a recharge.
- Corded electric mowers are powerful and less expensive options but are difficult to maneuver.
- Reel lawn mowers are simple and inexpensive, especially since they don't require fuel. But they are harder to push.
Consider your needs to figure out which type of power source will work best for your lifestyle.
Gas Lawn Mowers
Gas-powered lawn mowers are powerful, familiar, and easy to keep running. These factors make them ideal for large yards and tough mowing conditions like long, thick, or damp grass. In our tests though, some of the newest battery-powered mowers proved just as capable though less consistent in challenging situations.
One of the main advantages of gas mowers is their unlimited runtime. As long as you have a full fuel can handy, you can keep mowing. That's an important factor if you have a lawn that's much larger than a quarter acre.
Since gas lawn mowers have been around for a while, companies have gotten good at making them, and most of us have a good idea of how they work and how to fix minor issues. They're relatively simple, which makes them likely to last.
On the other hand, the pull start of most gas-powered mowers can be hard for some users, especially if you have shoulder issues. Gas mowers also require regular maintenance, including oil changes and air filter replacements. They're also loud and, since they burn fossil fuels, they degrade air quality (however slightly) and release climate warming fumes.
Best Use — Gas-powered mowers are best suited for large yards with thick grass and tough mowing conditions where their power and durability can be fully appreciated.
Battery Powered Electric Lawn Mowers
Battery-powered electric lawn mowers are quieter than gas options, are able to run on renewable energy, and don't emit the greenhouse gasses that are rapidly warming our world. They require less maintenance than gas mowers. They don't need oil, gas, or air filters.
On the downside, their runtime is limited by their battery life, which is greatly affected by factors like temperature and how long and thick your grass is. If you have a larger yard, restricted mowing time may mean that you have to mow your lawn in stages since recharging batteries takes time. Another option is to buy multiple batteries to keep things rolling without any interruption. Those batteries can be pricey though.
Additionally, battery electric mowers can have less consistent torque than gas mowers, especially when they're low on power. That reduces their performance power in thick or tall grass.
The technology is also novel to many. Working on or repairing an electric engine is more difficult without experience, and it's less likely that your local repair services will be well-versed in caring for your new machine. As a result, it's important to check each electric mower company's warranty and customer support policies to find out whether or not you'll have any recourse if things go wrong.
It's also important to understand that like all batteries, those that run your mower will eventually wear out and die, forcing you to buy a new one and to figure out how to responsibly dispose of the previous one. Luckily, businesses like Lowes and Home Depot are often willing to help you out.
Best Use — Battery-powered electric mowers are best suited for small to medium-sized yards where their easy maintenance and quiet operation easily outweighs limited battery life. They're also a great option for anyone concerned about reducing climate-warming emissions.
Corded Electric Lawn Mowers
Corded electric lawn mowers offer the same benefits as battery-powered models but trade a limited battery life for limited mobility. They'll keep running as long as you pay your electric bill, but they'll only reach as far as your longest extension cord. This is quite the tradeoff since learning to maneuver sharp blades around an electric cord is no small feat.
Let's tackle the pros first. By running on electricity, these mowers avoid emitting climate-warming gasses and allow you to plug into renewable electric solar or wind sources if they're available to you. Corded mowers also offer more consistent power than battery versions, especially as the battery starts getting low.
Like battery-powered versions, they don't require regular maintenance like oil or air filter changes. They're quieter than gas-powered options as well, though not by much.
We gotta say though, those benefits come with a significant decrease in maneuverability and ease of daily use. Managing a cord is cumbersome. Your range is also limited by the length of your power cord and the placement of electric outlets. If you have obstacles like trees or bird feeders in your yard, route planning and patience are key.
Best Use — Plug-in electric mowers are ideal for small to medium-sized yards where access to outdoor power outlets is readily available, and the limitations of cord length are less of a concern.
Reel Lawn Mowers
When it comes to reel lawn mowers, you're the power source. On the upside, that means you'll get a good workout, you won't have to deal with the racket of a traditional gas mower, and you'll save the money you would've spent on gas or electricity. Since they require no fuel, emit no greenhouse gasses, and require no electricity, reel mowers are also the most environmentally friendly option.
They're low maintenance too. Simple, with few moving parts, they require very little upkeep and few costs over time. They're also lightweight, small, and easy to maneuver, making them a good option for small lawns with obstacles like trees or bird feeders.
In tall or thick grass though, progress is slow. You'll be working very hard to achieve even a moderately even cut. The same is true for rough or uneven terrain. When the blades begin to dull, this is doubly true. The models we tested will sharpen themselves with a few quick adjustments from you, but it can be tricky the first few times you try. In general, these mowers require a bit of a learning curve to use effectively.
Best Use — Reel mowers work well for small, even lawns will finer grass types that you're able to mow frequently. They're ideal for folks who don't mind working harder to prioritize a quieter neighborhood and a healthy environment.
Key Factors to Consider
Aside from the broad mower categories above that are defined by powersource, there are a number of other factors to consider when buying a lawn mower. We outline the most important factors below.
=Self propelled=Self-propelled mowers include a drive system that significantly reduces how much effort it takes to push them around the yard. This feature is invaluable for larger lawns or those with rolling or steep terrain. They do require more power though, and can run through gas or batteries quickly.
Deck Width
A mower's cutting deck can range from 14 to 30 inches. The larger they are, the faster they can cover your lawn, and the less time you spend mowing. Larger decks are often heavier though, and they are harder to fit into tight spaces near buildings, fences, or landscaping. Models with smaller decks, those at or below 20 inches, are usually lighter and more maneuverable.
Height Adjustments
All the mowers we've tested offer several height settings, allowing you to adjust the length of grass on your lawn. If you need a specific cutting height for the health of your landscaping, make sure that the mower you're interested in has a comparable setting. If you often let your grass grow longer between trims, make sure the mower has settings high enough to accommodate the grass's height.
Mulching vs Bagging vs Side Shoot
Experts, like those at the Oregon State Extension Service, agree that mulching your grass clippings and leaving them on your lawn is the best way to increase soil health and moisture retention. Luckily, most mowers include a mulching mode, cutting grass from its stalk before chopping it into pieces small enough to leave it in place without making too much of a mess.
Almost all lawn mowers also have an optional bagging mode. You just open a flap in the back of the mower and hang an included bag. As soon as the grass is cut, it's thrown out the back and into the bag for you to dispose of separately. If you've let your grass grow a bit too long for mulching mode to work well, this can be a good option to help you get the lawn back into shape.
A side shoot mode does the same thing, but tosses grass out the side of the machine, leaving it on the lawn. This doesn't work as well as mulching since it fails to chop the grass small enough for it to disperse. The rows of cut grass can stain your shoes and block the sun from reaching sections of your yard.
The side shoot option is becoming less common, and only a few options in the test offered it. Mulching and bagging modes are far more popular, but even they aren't ubiquitous. Notably, reel-style mowers don't offer either setting. They just cut full blades of grass and leave them in place, which is why it's a good idea to trim your lawn frequently with these options.
Push or Pull Start
Most gas-powered mowers have a pull-start, requiring you to execute a quick and powerful yank to turn the engine over. In contrast, most electric mowers start with the simple press of a button, saving time, effort, and occasional frustration.
=Storage=It's also important to consider how much storage space you have. Foldable handles and compact designs make it easier to store your machine in tight spaces. Some options are built to store vertically, further reducing their footprint.
Conclusion
In summary, consider your lawn's size and terrain, the amount of time you want to spend on your lawn, and your storage options before deciding which mower will work best. Also think about how you want to manage your clippings — by mulching, bagging, or leaving them on the lawn. And don't forget to factor in your values. If you're concerned about climate change, it may be worth it to choose an electric option even if battery life constraints may shift your mowing patterns.
