If you own an electric mower, you know how important it is to choose one that has plenty of power with batteries that hold their charge for a long time. It can get annoying when you get home with your budget mower only to find it can’t cut deep grass or the battery only lasts about 15 minutes. We urge you to avoid the cheap mowers from the beginning.
Electric mowers have come a long way in the past 15 years. If you tried one more than a decade ago and didn’t like it, now is the time to give one another chance. Battery technology has come a long way, and the motors that drive modern electric lawn mowers can handle deep grass and leaves. If you were disappointed with your first experience, give them another chance.
Comparison Table
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How We Chose the Mowers on This List
A lot of factors come into play when choosing an electric mower. Picking the best mower for our yard might not fit your needs. So, we needed to come up with some criteria all mowers must possess to be suitable for most lawn care jobs. The requirements an electric mower must meet to make it onto the list included:
- Use fade-free batteries
- Be lightweight and easy to use
- Should handle grass up to 6 inches tall
- Batteries must use safe materials and technology
The batteries a mower uses are critical to the selection process. Fadeless or fade-free batteries provide the same amount of power at the end of their charge as they do at the beginning. Older batteries slowly weakened as their charge got depleted. That means you only get full power for about half the battery’s life, which also means the battery won’t last very long in a mower.
You have to push the mower up and down hills and sometimes over obstructions that can quickly tire you out. We searched for mowers that were lightweight and easy to maneuver so that anyone can use them. One advantage of using battery power is you get a short break while you wait for them to recharge unless you buy extra batteries, so choose wisely.
In some places, it may often rain, which makes your grass grow faster. Sometimes it rains on the weekend you planned to mow the yard. You may not always be able to cut your grass at the perfect time so that grass can grow a little tall at times. The electric mowers we chose can handle grass from at least 6 inches tall along with leaves and the occasional overlooked small stick.
Safety was critical during the selection process. We’ve all heard the horror stories about some batteries exploding or rupturing in phones and some cordless power tools. We looked for electric mowers that use batteries with good safety records. The technology that uses the battery can cause safety hazards as well. We chose electric mowers that have excellent safety records and no recalls.
We also chose mowers that got good reviews from consumers. The internet has given consumers a lot of power when reviewing a product. If people have problems with a product or service, finding the evidence and reading about their experience has never been easier than it is today. We carefully reviewed consumer opinions before adding a mower to our list.
The cost of the mower only played a small role in the selection process. We looked for the best mowers available that most people can afford without using price as a deciding factor. Some mowers come with extra batteries and accessories that add to their cost, so using their price tags to pick a mower is not fair to the other mowers on the list.
Electric Lawn Mower FAQs
1. Are electric mowers safe to use?
If you follow the instructions and charge the batteries correctly, electric mowers are probably safer than gas mowers. Gas mowers come with fumes and other harmful things. Gas might cause a fire if stored improperly as well. Overall, electric mowers are much safer to use and store when compared to gas mowers.
2. What size lawn is ideal for an electric mower?
This question is based on your level of stamina and patience. A yard that covers an area larger than 3,000 square feet requires a lot of pushing and emptying the grass bag. You may need to charge the mower several times while mowing a large yard which can take an hour or longer each time.
3. What advantages do electric mowers offer?
The main reason to choose an electric mower over a gas mower is that they don’t produce any pollution. Another benefit might be their noise levels, which are often under 70 decibels. Some electric lawn mowers hardly make any sound aside from the blade hitting the grass. Electric mowers are environmentally friendly, and they won’t wake your neighbors.
4. Where can I buy one?
Most home supply stores like Lowes or Home Depot carry electric mowers now. The mowers on our list are all listed on Amazon, so you can find one locally or order it online. Finding one is easy, so you shouldn’t have a problem getting your hands on one.
5. Aren’t electric mowers expensive?
They cost more than the average gas push mower, initially. However, the benefits of using eco-friendly equipment compound over time, and the lower expense for fuel to power them is worth it.
Top 10 Best Electric Lawn Mowers
Greenworks 20-Inch 40V Twin Force Cordless Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B00GX9WNP2″]
This mower comes with two batteries and a charger, and you can expect to get about 45 minutes of mowing done per charge. The batteries are 40-volt so it won’t get bogged down in thick grass. The 20-inch cutting deck is narrow but ideal for small yards plus the size makes it easier to maneuver the mower.
People that own this mower love the lightweight and easy to push mower. The only complaints come from a few owners that suggest the deck is small for the price. It comes with two batteries but only one large battery capable of powering the mower for extended periods. Why it comes with two different sizes of batteries is unclear, and we agree with the complaints on that part.
Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Cordless Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B01CA4Q2QY”]
This mower comes with two batteries and a charger, and you can expect to get about 45 minutes of mowing done per charge. The batteries are 40-volt so it won’t get bogged down in thick grass. The 20-inch cutting deck is narrow but ideal for small yards plus the size makes it easier to maneuver the mower.
People that own this mower love the lightweight and easy to push mower. The only complaints come from a few owners that suggest the deck is small for the price. It comes with two batteries but only one large battery capable of powering the mower for extended periods. Why it comes with two different sizes of batteries is unclear, and we agree with the complaints on that part.
BLACK+DECKER 16-Inch Cordless Mower
[amazon box=”B00HH4K8E0″]
This mower transforms into a trimmer and edger when you’re done mowing, so you won’t need to buy all three tools. It comes with two 40-volt batteries that give you about 30 minutes or mowing, trimming, or edging time. The deck is 16-inches wide, and it comes with a small grass bag as well.
Owners love this 3-in-1 mower because it eliminates the need to buy and store a mower, trimmer, and an edger. However, some owners claim that failing to keep the mower clean can cause some problems when you try to convert it from a mower to one of the other two tools. However, it only takes a few minutes to clean it up when you get done, and it folds up for easy storage as well.
Snapper XD 82V MAX Electric Cordless 21-Inch Lawnmower Kit
[amazon box=”B01IY813XC”]
The two batteries offer around 45 minutes of mowing time each. The 21-inch deck is steel, so it won’t get damaged or wear out like mowers with plastic ones. The mower can mulch or bag your grass clippings without shortening battery life by more than about ten minutes.
People that use this mower love the power and wide deck, but the steel material adds weight to the mower along with the large 82-volt batteries. Mowing on a steep grade or in dense grass can wear you out pretty quickly. That said, the oversized wheels and fast charge times make up for the extra work, but fast charging batteries limit your rest periods between mowing sessions.
Sun Joe Cordless Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B00IP1MG2Q”]
The deck on this mower is 16 inches wide, and it comes with a 40-volt battery. This mower is one of the quietest mowers on our list. The only thing you really hear while you mow is the grass getting chopped up. This mower is an excellent choice for small yards with close neighbors that might complain about noisy mowers if you cut the grass too early in the day.
Most of the people that own this mower love it, and they claim the battery offers the same amount of power from the first minute to the last. Like many electric lawn mowers that use a mostly plastic design model. This mower must be kept clean, or it gets difficult to remove the grass bag. It only comes with one battery that lasts about 30 minutes.
EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B01DL6GVKW”]
This mower features a 20-inch deck and comes with a 56-volt battery that lets you mow for about 40 minutes. It folds up for storage, and the battery produces the same amount of power for the duration of its charge. The mower is light enough for anyone to use it and quiet enough to avoid waking up the neighbors.
Owners claim the mower is sturdy compared to other brands they used in the past. It only comes with one battery, which is a slight inconvenience, but you can buy extra batteries to match your mowing times. You can’t get lazy between mowing sessions and fail to clean the mower, or its performance might suffer. This is a common problem with electric mowers.
Earthwise 20-Inch 40-Volt Electric Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B00OPTSAXQ”]
This little mower comes with a 40-volt battery that mows with the same power from start to finish. It weighs around 53 pounds with the battery installed, so almost anyone can use it easily. The oversized rear wheels add to its agility and make it easy to maneuver in tight spaces.
People that use this mower like how easy it is to move around and control, but they claim you might want to avoid folding the handles after this mower’s first grass cutting season because the bolts that keep the handle secure strip easily. However, this could be user error and not a flaw in the construction of the electric mower. Starting a bolt incorrectly and stripping the threads is easy to do.
WORX Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B007PC67L2″]
You can mow about 6,000 square feet with this mower on one battery. It weighs about 33 pounds. It comes with the option to mulch or bags your grass clippings, and you can simply let them fly out of the side discharge area as well. This mower is an excellent choice for people with a small yard that don’t want to deal with a heavy mower.
Owners say the mower is easy to use and durable despite its mostly plastic construction. The wheels are all the same size and too small to help you maneuver the mower, so it takes some effort to push it along while you mow. The rear grass bag is too big for the mower and adds too much weight. Most owners agree that dumping the grass bag early eliminates any problems it might cause due to its size.
Ryobi ONE+ Cordless Lawn Mower
[amazon box=”B01DOET2C0″]
It doesn’t come with batteries or a charger but a set of batteries for this mower cost around $100 with a charger. You get around 40 minutes of mowing out of a fully charged battery. Unlike many electric mowers, this mower doesn’t seem to need cleaning as often. The design of the tool helps keep debris from building up in problem areas.
Ryobi doesn’t include batteries with some of their cordless tools because all of their batteries are interchangeable. Some owners complain that for nearly $240 they could include at least one battery with this electric lawn mower. Aside from the battery issue, people that use this mower claim it works well and is easy to push if your grass isn’t too tall. Taller grass might slow it down significantly.
LawnMaster Electric Mower
[amazon box=”B00845V1W4″]
This mower is the only one on the list that isn’t cordless. You need a long extension cord to use it. The cord probably sounds annoying, but it eliminates charging times and means you can mow until you get done without stopping. That said, we don’t recommend this for yards or areas larger than 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.
The people that use this mower like it and they say the cord doesn’t take long to get used to using. The cord and the grass bag add weight to the mower as well. The deck is only 15-inches wide which and along with the cord limit the size of the area you can comfortably mow using this electric mower. This mower is perfect for small yards like those in neighborhoods where houses are close together.
The Verdict
The Snapper XD 82V MAX Electric Cordless 21-Inch Lawnmower Kit is our pick for the best overall electric lawn mower. It offers plenty of power for cutting taller grass, and the deck is 21-inches wide, which helps you cut more and get done faster. Snapper has an excellent reputation for making lawn care tools and mowers. However, at a little over $$$$ is may not fit everyone’s budget.
The WORX Cordless Electric Lawn Mower is the best priced electric mower on our list that offers plenty of power a long battery life. This electric mower isn’t the cheapest one on the list, but it should fit most budgets and handle most yard mowing duties. The LawnMaster Electric Mower takes that distinction, but it requires a cord to power it.
Consider the information in our mini-reviews of each mower to help you choose the best one for your yard. If you live in a house surrounded by ten yards of grass on each side, you don’t need a lot of battery life, and a corded mower may be all you need to get the job done. If you have a large yard, pick a mower with long battery life, and buy extra batteries.
Featured Image via Pixabay
