Best Lawn Mower Reviews of 2024

Best Self Propelled Mower (Walk behind)

#1 Honda HRR216K9VKA

Honda GCV160 160cc 4-Cycle Engine: This engine has the perfect amount of power for most lawns (see our Q&A “How much power do I need”). Additionally, it is not obnoxiously loud, so you won’t have to worry about annoying the neighbors with your early-morning mows.

“Micro Cut” Twin Blades: With two blades oriented off-center to one another the mower produces a clean cut, and mulches the grass (when in mulching mode) into fine clippings.

Variable Speed Rear Wheel Drive: The mower reaches a max speed of 4mph, and accelerates depending on how much pressure is placed on the handle: light pressure=slow speed/ firm pressure=fast speed. This allows you to accelerate on straight stretches of grass, and then easily slow down to cut the hard-to-reach areas.

Honda mowers are legendary for their reliability, quality, and features-this mower is no exception. It leaves a remarkably clean cut (it can mulch or bag), and the engine is produced by Honda themselves (unlike with most other brands). With over 50 years of engine-making experience Honda truly deserves to receive our highest recommendation.

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#2 Snapper Hi-Vac SP Mower P2185020

190cc Briggs and Stratton (B&S) Ready: Start TM Engine-Along with Honda, B&S produces exceptional engines. At 190cc the engine will help this mower power through the tallest/wettest of grasses with brutal effectiveness. Additionally, the engine is “ready-start TM” which means it does not require choking/priming.

Hi-Vac TM mower deck: The unique shape of the deck creates a powerful vacuum underneath the mower. This vacuum ensures that almost all of the grass clippings are bagged.

High capacity rear door grass bag: The 2.5 bushel bag is the perfect complement to the Hi-Vac’s (TM) ability to collect the maximum of grass clippings. The large volume bag means you won’t have to interrupt your mowing to empty a full bag.

Snapper created the industry’s first rotary blade mower, and continues their tradition of excellence with this push mower. It is the most powerful gas push mower we review, and has the most effective method for sucking up lawn clippings. It may be on the pricier side, but with that extra price you are getting a lawn cutting powerhouse.

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#3 Toro Recycler 20339

190cc Briggs and Stratton Ready: Start TM Engine-One of the standout features of the Recycler is that it has the same engine as its more expensive counterpart the Snapper. This means you are going to get a powerful mower at an empowering price.

Smart Stow (TM): The Toro is made to be stored on the garage floor in a vertical position. It easily folds into a small package with supports that allow it to be balanced upright. It is important to note that no fluids will leak during storage. With smart stow (TM) there is no need to worry about the mower dominating garage space.

Quick wash port(TM): The mower has a hose connection port on its underside, so cleaning built up grass deposits and grime from the bottom of the mower is a breeze.

This Toro is a perfect everyman’s mower; it gets the job done without breaking the bank. Just because it is cheaper does not mean lower quality. Toro has added a variety of innovative features to simplify every aspect of the mowing experience. All that being said, the Toro is our pick for the best value for the money push mower.

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#4 Troy Bilt TB330

163cc Briggs and Stratton Ready-Start TM Engine: We have discussed the B&S engines before and this one is no different. At 163cc it provides enough power for most lawns aside from the very tallest/wettest.

Versatile 3-in-1 TM cutting deck: The Troy-Bilt allows the user to either mulch, side discharge, or bag the clippings (See “Lawn clipping disposal” under “What to look for in a mower” header). This flexibility means that the setup can be adjusted to fit the task at hand. For example, someone might use side discharge if he hadn’t cut the grass in a while and it has grew tall; the next week he would switch to mulching.

Rake bumper: The mower has a small plastic rake in the front. The rake straightens the grass after it has been cut to ensure an even, neatly-cut appearance

Troy-Bilt is a brand of the American manufacturing company MTD products. This mower in particular has some interesting features, but overall is positioned as a less expensive alternative to the Honda HRR216K9VKA

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#5 Ariens Razor 911175

Deep Domed deck: The curvature of the deck makes cutting tall or wet grasses (that might be difficult for a 159cc motor) easier.

Easily adjustable height: To adjust the height simply push the bail (lever that you hold to move mower) downward. There is no need to unscrew or fidget with jammed levers.

Variable speed rear wheel drive: Like the Honda the Ariens mower speed can be dynamically changed based on how much pressure is applied to the bail.

Ariens is a classic American manufacturer which has been producing quality lawn and snow removal equipment since 1933. This Ariens mower has some strong features, but its inconsistency and foreign made engine (says Ariens engine, but manufactured by Chinese company called Lonclin) ultimately regulate it to last place.

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Best Push Mower

NOTE: Many of the top manual mowers are the same as certain self propelled mowers (SPM) minus the drivetrain of course. Anytime this happens, we will write “Refer to SPM” indicating that you should scroll up and read about the mower in the SPM category.

#1 Honda HRR216PKA

More Information: Refer to SPM

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#2 Craftsman 37430

• Briggs and Stratton Engine: When working with a lower cc engine it is vital to have the best quality. This B&S engine delivers by maximizing the mower’s power, and allowing it to shred anything in its path.
• California CARB Approved: This mower meets the emissions requirements set by the state of California. Mowers spew so much toxicity into the environment that it is encouraging to see one trying to keep the planet safe.
• Rear bag technology: This is a seriously over engineered bag. It even includes an air filter to prevent allergens from entering the user’s system.

Craftsman is a name that has been synonymous to quality tools for many Americans. This push mower is affordable and packed with the standard features you need. It may not be the most glamorous, but it accomplishes what it needs to.

Who this is for: Someone who wants a reliable manual mower with no extra gimmicks (except an air filter bag)
Who this is not for: Someone who can afford to purchase the more expensive Honda mower.

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#3 Yard Machines 140cc 21’

• 140cc Powermore engine: This is the lowest power engine available, because of this there is a higher chance that the engine will turn off while mowing. Some users report this happening when larger items are mowed over. Additionally, this is an imported Chinese mower.
• Maneuverability: The mower has large wheels, height adjustment, and is very light (62lb). These attributes are especially important in a push mower, where no drivetrain assistance is provided.
• Affordability: These mowers can be found around $200, and are one of the best values on the site regardless of category.

Yard Machines is another made in America brand under the umbrella corporation of MTD Products. The mower featured here is a compact, quiet, and affordable machine.

Who this is for: Someone who wants a high quality, no-frills machine that’s the best value for the money.
Who this is not for: Someone who needs a more powerful machine, or wants more features.

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#4 Ariens Razor 21’ Push

More Information: Refer to SPM

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#5 Husqvarna 7021P

• 160cc Honda engine: This is the same top-quality Honda engine we have mentioned in other mowers. At 160cc this mower will handle the majority of lawn problems with ease, and its Honda pedigree means it will be extremely durable.
• Warranty Issue: There are 2 warranties: 1 for the Honda engine (Honda warranty) and 1 for the rest of the mower (Husqvarna warranty). This can pose problems if a defect arises in the engine (Honda warranty), but Honda blames it on the transmission (Husqvarna warranty). The owner will have to argue back and forth between the two companies until one of them accepts the blame, and fixes the problem. This issue may never occur, but we felt it was worth noting.
• High Rear Wheels: The extra large rear wheels make the mower easy to push and steer. Divets or other imperfections in the surface of your lawn will be glided over effortlessly.

This Husqvarna mower is chock-full of features, but we opted to place it at the bottom due to their warranty policy and the fact that several users received defective products right out of the box. Otherwise this is a solid candidate for best push mower.

Who this is for: Someone who wants the superb quality of a Honda engine without the steep price.
Who this is not for: Someone who is not willing to wade through warranty disputes in the unlikely event that a problem arises.

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Best Electric Mower (battery pack)

NOTE: All electric mowers featured below are manually propelled. Electric mowers are so light that the absence of a self propelled feature does not pose an problem.

#1 GreenWorks 25302

• Dual Batteries: The mower holds two batteries that power the mower for up to 70 minutes (time varies based on lawn condition). These batteries are 40v each, so power won’t be an issue unless you are cutting coarse/tall/wet grass. Unlike most mowers with only 1 battery, you won’t need to switch batteries half-way through your cut. Additionally, the long runtime means you won’t have to rush to cut your lawn before time runs out.
• Smart Cut: The mower adjusts how much power it needs to use automatically. It senses the thickness of the grass, and will determine whether to use more or less power.
• Safety Key: The mower features a removable key which acts as a safety. When the mower is not being used the key is taken out, and with the key removed the mower cannot be started. This ensures that no accidents happen to children or pets if they try to turn on the mower when in disuse.

This mower is produced by a company called Greenworks, based in Europe. They produce a line of environmentally friendly lawn care machines with advanced features. This mower is one of their best sellers and is our top pick for electric mowers.

Who this is for: Someone with a larger lawn who wants a great all around mower with some innovative features.
Who this is not for: Someone who needs more power to cut tougher turf.

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#2 Black+Decker CM2040

• 3 lawn clipping discharge options: The mower allows the user to either mulch, bag, or side discharge lawn clippings. This is a popular feature on gas powered mowers that has been brought to electric.
• EdgeMax deck design: The mowing deck is structured in a way that allows you to cut right up to the edge of the fence providing a clean cut.
• 6 setting height adjustment: The mower’s cutting height can be set from 1.5 inches to 4 inches high. This gives you the ability to customize the mower to your lawn.

The Black and Decker is a solid runner up. Although it may not have as many bells and whistles as the Greenworks, it performs its job effectively.

Who this is for: Someone with a small to medium sized lawn (takes 30-45 min to cut) who uses multiple clipping discharge methods.
Who this is not for: Someone who takes longer than 45 minutes to cut their lawn.

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#3 EGO Power + 56v

• Powerful: The most alluring attribute of the EGO is its power. Containing a 56v battery, the mower chops through even difficult grass with ease. Colloquially, consumers call it the “electric mower that performs like a gas powered one.”
• Convenient Storage: The mower can be folded and stored upright. There are no fluids like there are in gas mowers, so leaks/dripping is not an issue.
• Headlights: The LED lights on the front bumper of the unit allow you to cut the lawn in the evening when visibility has been reduced. This is a great feature, because the temperature is a lot cooler in the evening, so the task of mowing becomes less painful.
• Electric products, whether they be mowers or cars, have a reputation for being weak. EGO+ has set out to prove this stereotype wrong with their line of overpowered (56v) mowers.

Who is this for: Someone who needs a powerful mower, and has a small to medium sized yard.
Who is this not for: Someone who has an easy to cut yard (no tall grasses/rough patches).

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#4 Sun Joe iON16LM

• Brushless motor: A brushless motor is more energy efficient, and allows the mower to perform better and last longer.
• Brushless Motor Explained: Whereas a traditional motor will always operate on max power, a brushless motor consumes power based on activity being performed. In other words, if the Sun Joe is cutting long grass it will use more power than when it cuts short grass.
• Incredibly Light: The mower weighs only 33lb making it one of the lightest electric mowers available. The extreme lightness compensates for the fact that the mower is not propelled, and makes the mower a breeze to operate.
• ETL and Energy Star certified: The Energy Star certification means that the product uses less energy than required by federal government. The ETL certification means that the product has met US safety requirements and is safe. Although the absence of these labels does not mean a product is unsafe or inefficient (they could just not have decided to get certified), the fact that Sun Joe company decided to go through the process to obtain them speaks volumes about the character of their company.

Sun Joe launched in 2009 as a sister company to Snow Joe. As you may have guessed, like EGO and Greenworks, Sun Joe develops environmentally conscious outdoor tools. Thankfully for consumers, their Mow Joe mower is also budget conscious.

Who this is for: Someone who wants a durable mower that is lightweight from an honest company.
Who this is not for: Someone who needs a more powerful mower, or has a large lawn.

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#5 WORX WG788

• Power/Quiet mode: There are 2 settings: Power and Quiet. Quiet mode is intended for short, dry, easy to cut grass. While in Quiet mode the mower can run for up to 1 hour. Power mode is intended for the exact opposite: tall/wet grass. The only downside to power mode is decreased battery life (approximately 45 minutes).
• Clippings Disposal: The mower is equipped with a mulching blade that finally pulverizes grass. Additionally, it can handle clippings by either mulching, bagging, or side discharging.
• Accessories: The mower comes with a mulch plug and a side discharge chute (along with 36v battery and charger). WORX did a good job including the attachments most commonly used.

You may have seen advertisements for WORX 3 in 1 trimmers on TV, but WORX also manufactures an innovative mower. The mower comes in at 5th place because of some durability concerns, but overall introduces some novel features for mowing the lawn.

Who is this for: Someone who wants a mower that is customizable to their personal mowing situation.
Who is this not for: Someone who needs more power, or a longer runtime.

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Best Corded Electric Mower

NOTE: Many of the top manual mowers are the same as certain battery pack mowers (BPM) minus the inclusion of a cord of course. Anytime this happens, we will write “Refer to BPM” indicating that you should scroll up and read about the mower in the BPM category.

#1 GreenWorks 25022

More information: Refer to BPM

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#2 Sun Joe MJ403E

More information: Refer to BPM

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#3 Black & Decker MM2000

More information: Refer to BPM

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#4 Earthwise 50220

• Comfort V Handle: An ergonomic handle may seem trivial, but if you mow a lot you will appreciate this feature. The padded handle helps take away some of the vibrations from the machine, and its gentle contours facilitate better pushing.
• Single level Height adjustment: One brightly colored level controls the 6 different cutting heights. This makes it easy to change your preferred lawn height settings.
• Easy On/Off mulch plug and bag: Unlike other mowers where it can be difficult to remove the bag/plug, for this unit you simply move a lever and pull. No more violent fights with a jammed bag.

Earthwise started out as American Lawn Mowers in the 1890s from traditional reel mowers it finally graduated to electric mowers in 2006 and rebranded itself as Earthwise. The mower below is a testament to the American ideal of perseverance, and it cuts grass pretty well too.

Who this is for: Someone who appreciates a company’s long history, and needs extra comfort in their mower.
Who this is not for: Someone who wants a more powerful mower.

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#5 WORX WG719

• Caster wheels: These wheels allow the mower to make tighter turns and easily reverse. This extra maneuverability will be especially helpful on uneven terrain.
• Foldable: Like some other mowers we have covered this one can be folded and stored vertically. A small footprint in the garage means more space to put other tools.
• Steel Cutting deck: This premium cutting deck excels at mulching, and reflects WORX premium positioning considering that they could have opted for plastic.

We discussed WORX earlier, but this mower is interesting because it has caster wheels (same wheels as a shopping cart). These wheels coupled with some other design decisions make the mower worth looking into.

Who is this for: Someone with a bumpy yard who needs a versatile mower.
Who is this not for: Again this mower is not for someone who wants/needs a more powerful mower.

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Best Reel Mower

#1 Great States 415-16

• Rust resistant handle: This mower is made of heavy duty materials, and, in order to preserve both the integrity of the metal and its appearance, Great states powder coated the handle to prevent rusting and maximize longevity.
• Heat treated blades: Heat tempered blades last longer, stay sharper, and maintain a healthy level of flexibility. Since sharp blades are vital to a bladed mower this unit uses the best.
• Ball bearing wheels: The wheels contain bearings, so they move over grass smoothly. These are not the run of the mill plastic wheels found on electric/gas mowers; they are top-notch components engineered for comfort and durability.

Our top pick is from a sister company to Earthwise-Great States. They have been producing reel mowers for centuries and this one is a testament to their resiliency and craftsmanship.

Who is this for: Someone who wants an all around great mower with a durable design.
Who is this not for: Someone who can afford our #2 pick.

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#2 Fiskars Staysharp 17 inch

• Inertia drive: The blades on the mower are large diameter, and the mower delivers 50% more power than similar mowers.
• StaySharp TM cutting system: The blades are contactless, so friction is reduced. Also, the tough construction means that even difficult to cut Southern grass is sliced with ease.
• Easier to Push: The mower is 30% easier to push than other similar mowers.

Our 2nd place pick is from a brand known for their scissors and crafting supplies. They applied their knowledge to develop their mower which contains some pretty advanced technologies for a non electric mower.

Who this is for: Someone who wants an easy to push yet powerful mower.
Who is this not for: Someone with a bumpy yard. Some reviewers say mower begins to break down if mowing over uneven terrain.

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#3 Gardena 4023

• Contact free cutting: The blades of the mower do not scrape against each other (like a scissors does) as they cut the grass. This means the mower is extremely quiet, and the blades will be maintained longer.
• Height adjustment: The cutting height is adjustable, so you never have to cut your lawn twice in a row to get it down to size.
• Detachable/Foldable handle: The handle folds for easy storage. It is also detachable, which makes transportation (in a vehicle especially) easier.

Our 3rd place pick is also the most beautiful reel mower we have seen. The blue and red design is complemented by some excellent features. The only thing holding the Gardena back from #1 is its price.

Who is this for: Someone who can afford the best mower available.
Who is this not for: If you don’t have big budget then stick with the Great States. It provides a great cut at half the price.

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#4 American Lawn Mower 1204-14

• Blades made of Alloy steel: These are heavy duty industrial blades that will have no problem slicing through your lawn.
• Padded Handle: We have discussed the benefits of a comfortable handle, and they all hold true for this mower. Sometimes the mundane comforts are the most appreciated.
• Treaded, High-Impact wheels: These wheels grip the lawn with their treads which provides extra stability. Additionally, they can tolerate bumps and rough surfaces.

Our fourth place pick is the vintage inspired American reel mower. This mower is on the small side, but has top quality components and a great red hue.

Who is this for: Someone who needs a rugged yet comfortable mower for their lawn.
Who is this not for: Someone who has an even surface lawn might enjoy the features of one of the above recommendations better.

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#5 Brill 78371 Razorcut

• Extended Spoiler: With many reel mowers grass clippings end up all over the user’s shoes. The extended spoiler prevents this from happening.
• Sealed ball bearings: Other wheels have ball bearings, but because these are sealed ball bearings they are resistant to corrosion from water and grime. The wheels will last longer, and provide a smoother ride.
• Comes fully assembled: Other mowers requires assembly, but this one arrives fully assembled. You can open the box and get mowing.

Our next recommendation is German engineered by a company called Brill. While a great mower overall, some issues with the product’s durability decrease its position.

Who is this for: Someone who wants to mow without getting excess grass on them.
Who is this not for: Someone who wants a more durable machine (there are some fragile plastic parts).

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Types of Lawn Mowers

If you tried researching for a best lawn mower elsewhere, you may have been overwhelmed by how many different kinds there were to choose from. Understanding these types of mowers will allow you to discover which variety of mower is best for you.

Push Mowers

This category includes any lawn mower that is operated by walking behind the mower and pushing.

Self propelled mower: These mowers have either rear or front wheel drive. This feature allows the mowers to pull themselves forward.

Pros: Self propelled mowers are great for bigger lawns, or for people who struggle to push a manual lawnmower.
Cons: They are more expensive than their manual counterparts, and can have difficult to use drivetrains.

Manual: Unlike self propelled mowers, manual mowers have no wheel drive. These mowers must be pushed forward by the user themselves.

Pros: They are inexpensive, and lighter than their rear wheel drive counterparts.
Cons: The user has to push the unit, which can be tiresome if mowing a large area.

Electric: Simply put, a lawn mower that runs on electricity (via a battery pack) instead of gas.

Pros: They are environmentally friendly, save money on gas costs, and are extremely quiet.
Cons: Some may have less power, and short battery life which prevents them from having the time to cut large lawns.

Reel: Fully mechanical mowers that have a rotating cylindrical blade.

Pros: Environmentally friendly and the cheapest option available to mow with.
Cons: Blades will need intermittent lubrication, and potentially yearly maintenance. Additionally, these mowers are only good for smaller lawns.

Riding Mowers

These mowers are similar to lawn tractors in that the operator controls the mower while sitting on it.

Pros: Fast and powerful way to cut as much lawn as possible in the shortest time.
Cons: They are far more expensive than any push mower, consume a large amount of gas, and are noisy.

Robot Mowers

These are autonomous lawn mowers that remotely cut the grass without human operation or supervision.

Pros: You can relax while your lawn is cut for you.
Cons: Setup can be difficult, and since technology is still developing the robots are incredibly expensive.

NOTE: Riding and Robot mowers will NOT be covered in this article. For more information on these mowers use the navigation tabs at the top of the webpage. If you want more information regarding the history of each mower, click here.