Largest electric lawn mower. Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers for 2023

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers for 2023

As we once again approach the mowing season, OPE Reviews wants to offer its recommendations for the best battery-powered lawn mowers in 2023. These mowers have really improved to the point where they work great on large lawns. Of course, anyone with a smaller lawn can also benefit. No matter what your intended use for a battery-powered lawnmower might be, our Pros give their thoughts and tell you which ones they love to use.

If for some reason your favorite mower isn’t listed—tell us why you think it should be included in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below!

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower – What We Look For

Power to Cut Grass

With brushless motors, testing lawnmower power becomes more challenging. This is due to the ability of these motors to adjust power to meet the load on the cutting blade. To get a sense of real-world power, we cut an overgrown section of grass to around 4-inches and then see how short we can cut it.

The best battery-powered lawn mowers can cut these curated sections of grass at the lowest cutting positions without stalling out. It really lets us know how much working power the mower has.

Runtime and Cutting Area

Determining runtime on a battery-powered lawn mower combines several different metrics. We need to understand how much area we can cut on a single charge. To do this, we prepare our lawn by cutting it to a standard height. Then, we see how long we can mow on one battery charge as we cut it down to 3 inches.

Once we know that, we calculate the maximum area you should be able to mow without having to stop and change or recharge the batteries.

Quality of Cut

We test three basic things to determine the cut quality of each battery-powered mower. We look at the evenness of the cut, bagging efficiency, and the mower’s mulching efficiency.

To gauge evenness, we look for blades that stick out along a cut line. We also observe areas that may have been cut shorter than intended.

Measuring bagging efficiency looks at how much grass the mower leaves behind compared to how much it collects in the bag. Run three mowers over a similar section of grass, and the bags will likely tell very different stories as to how much grass gets collected.

Mulching efficiency takes in consideration the size of the grass clippings dropped by the mower as it makes a pass. It also looks to see if the lawnmower leaves behind any clumping or trailing along the path.

Noise Level

To understand how much noise each battery-powered lawn mower makes, we use an SPL meter set to slow response, A-weighted. In an open area, we measure the recorded decibels taken from a 5-foot, 8-inch operator’s ear.

Build Quality

We consider the quality of the battery-powered lawn mower by looking at the materials used. We also observe how well the mower is put together and how each major component physically functions. We’re looking for solid parts that will last well beyond the warranty period, rigid construction, and ample protection for any electrical components including the battery pack(s).

Mowing on Hills and Slopes

In Florida, we don’t encounter many slopes, but we do have access to some hilly terrain. We also encounter many lakes—most of which have sloped sides. And, of course, nearly every property out in the county has proximity to drainage ditches. We check both push mowers and self-propelled models to check how well they maintain traction when mowing uphill, downhill, and side-to-side along a pitch.

Features

In addition to any standout features, here’s a list of the standard items we look for:

• Brushless motor
• Drive type and function
• Deck size and material
• Height range and adjustment
• Handle positions
• Rear/side discharge and bagging options
• Battery ports and functionality

Price and Value

Our professional reviewers really appreciate value. To us, value means more than just the price of a product. It combines what you pay against what you get. A more expensive product may present the best battery-powered lawn mower value if it performs far better than the budget brands.

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Buying Guide

As you’re deciding on the best battery lawn mower for you in 2023, consider how far these outdoor tools have come. Today’s battery-powered lawn mowers provide longer run-time, better cutting performance, and vastly improved features and ergonomics over the first models we started seeing back in 2014.

What’s Your Budget?

While you can buy a battery lawn mower for under 300, plan to spend at least 500 if you want something that comes from a reputable manufacturer and has features like a self-propelled mechanism. If you want premium features, expect that price to hit or exceed 700 (and Pro models can go even higher).

Looking back at gas lawnmowers, this may give you pause. After all, you can typically find a gas mower for a lot less money. You might even get something that has more power and additional features. The best battery-powered lawn mowers are more about what you don’t get: Noise, emissions, and yearly winterization hassles and costs.

Are Battery Riding Mowers Viable?

Several zero-turn and riding mowers exist in both the consumer and professional markets. Professional landscaping crews have options such as the Greenworks Lithium Z zero turn (they also have a battery-powered UTV). You can also look got brands like Green Machine.

Homeowners have many more choices. Brands like EGO, Ryobi, Greenworks, Cub Cadet, and others crowd the field—giving you lots of great choices. That wasn’t the case just several years ago.

We’ve reviewed many of these battery-powered zero-turn mowers. The downside comes in the form of potential increased up-front costs compared to similar gas ZTs. A second potential issue comes with charge times. One of the fastest charge times to date comes from Greenworks. Their ZTs use external dual battery chargers to top off batteries in just 90 minutes. For many other ZTs you might have to wait several hours to recharge all of the packs. That’s far longer than refilling a gas zero-turn lawn mower!

A third factor to consider involves longevity. Battery-powered zero-turn mowers are fairly new-to-market. That means we don’t yet fully understand the long-term maintenance or repair issues and required to keep these tools running for extended periods of time. Users of gas-powered ZTs can keep their tools running for 10 years or more with regular maintenance. With a fully-electric power plant, we simply don’t know what kind of service life to expect—even with proper maintenance routines.

Residential or Commercial Quality?

On the surface, there’s not a huge difference between commercial-quality and residential-quality walk-behind battery lawn mowers.

High-end battery-powered mowers match or exceed the power of comparable gas-powered mowers. The Milwaukee M18 FUEL lawn mower notably demonstrated more power than a popular commercial gas mower in recent testing. The EGO Select Cut XP —technically a residential model—also bests many gas models in our testing.

Commercial battery mowers add designs and features that meet the needs of professional landscapers. Steel and aluminum decks come to mind as do more rigid methods of adjusting deck height. Pros also demand the best cut quality and excellent bagging performance. Lastly, mowers designed for landscaping professionals must be ready to operate for longer periods of time—and for multiple days of the week.

Brands such as STIHL, Makita, and Husqvarna—to name a few—rely on their dealer networks rather than big box stores. You get additional support during and after the sale that you won’t find at other retailers.

Battery-powered riding mowers are a completely different ballgame. With those, you’ll find a much greater difference in Pro-vs-residential design and performance, along with a massive gap in cost.

Self-Propelled or Push Mower?

Self-propelled drives don’t subtract much from overall runtime. If you can afford this feature, we recommend getting it. Rather than simply on or off controls, look for variable speed that lets you dial in a top speed and then vary your pace within that range. EGO, Milwaukee Tool, Ryobi, and others offer this feature. You may also want to try out the controls in the store or dealership before buying it. We can typically get a good feel for the ergonomics of a mower after playing with it for a few minutes.

Look for a mower that disengages its drive easily when you want to pull the mower back. Some systems have a hard time disengaging the self-propelled motor. These mowers require you to drag the drive wheels rather than letting them roll.

Classic push mowers also have their place—especially if you’re on a budget. These mowers typically drop 100 off the price of a comparable self-propelled mower, and they cut just as well and with slightly higher runtime.

Bag, Mulch, or Side Discharge?

No matter if you tend to mulch or bag, we recommend getting a mower that has all three modes (including side discharge). There are times when you can use each throughout the year to your advantage.

The Ryobi AWD mower has an interesting integrated lever/gate system for switching between bagging and mulching modes. We love not having to remember where we placed the mulching plug! Nearly all push mowers include a bagging option—so figuring out rear or side discharge remains about the only decision here.

Deck and Blade Size

All of the best battery-powered lawn mowers use 21-inch blades for the most part. A couple have 20-inch blades and some vary in how they take that measurement. We appreciate brands that list the actual blade diameter (like Makita) as opposed to simply stating the deck diameter. The latter has no bearing on the cutting swatch.

Smaller push mowers work really well for tiny lawns or gardens. We know a gentleman who preferred a small 16-inch mower because he had to carry it up and down the stairs to mow his tiny backyard!

For those looking for a larger deck, both Greenworks Commercial and Greenworks Pro 60V have 25-inch mowers. Ryobi also just released a 30-inch riding mower that fits through gates—even with a bagger installed! Residential battery-powered riding mowers currently go up to 54 inches or larger while you can find commercial models with up to 74-inch decks.

Larger deck sizes really help when mowing lawns larger than 1/3-acre in size. When mowing a lawn less than that, standard 20- or 21-inch decks work really well.

Deck Height Adjustment and Cutting Height Range

Most consumers set their height once and leave it alone after that. Single-point height adjustments make it easy to adjust your cutting height. It’s certainly easier than adjusting each wheel manually.

Pros typically prefer 2 or 4-point adjustments. What they really want are stiff decks that don’t rock while you cut so that you get an even cut across any lawn. A 4-point height adjustment system offers the most rigid solution. This one is really about preference.

The majority of battery-powered lawnmowers have all the height range you need to cover a wide variety of grass species. If you prefer to cut at heights over 3-1/2 inches or under 2 inches, just double-check that the mower you’re looking at has that option.

Multiple Battery Ports

When mowing lawns over 1/3 of an acre, you may benefit from multiple battery ports. We typically see three ways lawnmowers utilize these ports:

• The second storage port acts as a battery holder
• An active second port includes a manual switch for engaging the second battery
• Two active battery ports include automatic switching where you can use either port while mowing

Automatic switching seems to be common—and certainly the most convenient. You find this option on the higher-priced mowers. While we prefer that over manually switching or swapping batteries, it does save you from having to return to the garage, shed, or trailer to get another battery.

Why Buy a Battery-Powered Lawn Mower?

The best battery-powered lawn mower for you should get your lawn cut on one charge. No matter which model that is, they all share some common characteristics. There are no gas emissions and no gas engine to maintain. You still need to clean it off when you’re done, but the maintenance is much easier and takes less time.

They’re also quieter. The early bird gets the worm and if you want to start mowing at 7:00 on Saturday morning, your neighbors can probably sleep through it. of a night owl? Many battery-powered mowers have headlights, and you’re unlikely to disturb your neighbor’s Lord of the Rings marathon at 10:00 PM.

Those are some of the more obvious reasons, but one of our favorites is the ability to put the battery in and mow. There’s no cranking, no choke, and no fuel cut-off valve. As long as you have enough batteries to get the entire lawn cut, it’s an easier system to work with than gas.

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower Overall

Pro Pick: Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

The Milwaukee lawn mower simply prioritizes power above all. With a full 10 ft-lbs of torque (roughly exceeding a 200cc gas engine), the M18 Fuel self-propelled lawn mower can start up while nearly buried in grass. It is the strongest battery-powered walk-behind we’ve had our hands on for testing to date. It runs off a pair of 12.0Ah batteries, running as much as 60 minutes in light conditions. We clocked over 40 minutes when doing some major grass-cutting (removing 4 – 6 inches of growth).

With that said, the mower doesn’t come without some glitches. The drive bar introduces some thumb fatigue, for example. In the end, we found we could adjust our natural grip to overcome most of the strain when mowing for extended periods of time.

Milwaukee Tool designed this mower to handle professional use while offering the convenience of single-point height adjustments and vertical storage.

Price: 999 for the kit with two 12.0Ah batteries and a dual-port Rapid charger

Residential Pick: EGO 56V Select Cut XP 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

The EGO Select Cut XP Mower built upon the original EGO Select Cut mower—an instant favorite of ours with its stacked-blade system and solid performance level to go with its excellent cut quality. EGO stepped it up with the release of the Select Cut XP, taking everything we already loved and stepping up the torque to 8.3 ft-lbs. It can still use some help on the side/rear discharge, but if you bag or mulch like most people, it’s tough to find a better mower to maintain your lawn.

Price: 549 bare, 799 with a 10.0Ah battery and Rapid charger

Best Self-Propelled Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

As self-propelled models, our recommendations from Milwaukee and EGO top the charts in this category, too. Here are two more outstanding options for you.

Pro Pick: Makita ConnectX 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

One of the biggest challenges with any battery-powered lawn mower is runtime. Makita put that problem squarely in its crosshairs and developed the ConnectX system. Unlike other designs, the 1200Wh power supply attaches directly to the top of the mower, offering more than 3x the capacity of most cordless mowers and running up to 3 hours continuously.

Similar to the 18V X2 (36V) XML08, the mower tops out at 2800 RPM with a 2300 RPM Quiet Mode and has a true 21-inch steel deck.

Price: 999.00 bare, ~1399.00 power supply (2348.00 for both)

Residential Pick: Ryobi 40V HP Brushless CrossCut 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Ryobi crushed it with the development of the 40V HP Brushless CrossCut self-propelled lawn mower, making huge strides over its previous generation of mowers. Matching up very well against EGO’s Select Cut XP, it’s a stacked blade design that offers excellent power and cut quality. Where it has a clear advantage over its competitors is on the side discharge. This mower distributes clippings far better than other battery-powered lawn mowers we’ve tested. Plus, Ryobi builds this mower in the US using global materials, and the kit is typically priced less than the EGO Select Cut XP mower.

Price: 749 with two 6.0Ah batteries and a Rapid charger

Best Battery-Powered Commercial Lawn Mower

Milwaukee and Makita both earned our recommendations as the top overall battery-powered lawn mowers on the commercial side. Greenworks Commercial is another brand worth considering thanks to improvements in its 25-inch model heading into the year.

Greenworks Commercial 82V 25-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

The big deal for Greenworks Commercial is an improvement in power. The 25-inch mower now has the performance equivalent to a 160cc gas engine. Aside from that and a change in the color scheme, it’s still very similar to the previous version with side-by-side blades that overlap to cover a larger area without losing a ton of battery efficiency.

The entire Greenworks Commercial line got an overhaul coming into this year with tools that are lighter and higher performing, making it one of the emerging systems to keep an eye on as more areas of the country shift to battery power.

Price: Starts at 714.99 bare

Best Cordless Push Lawn Mower

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless CrossCut 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower

If you don’t want a self-propelled drive system, or you’re looking to save a little money, you can get a quality push mower with similar performance and features to the top models we already mentioned. Of those options, Ryobi’s CrossCut is our pick as the best battery-powered push mower. Essentially, it just removes the drive system and keeps the performance, cut quality, and other features, along with its US-built designation.

Price: 599.00 with a 7.5Ah battery and Rapid charger

Best LAWN Mower. EGO vs TORO. Battery Operated Lawn Mowers

Best Cordless Mower for Small Lawns

Skil PWRCore 20 18-inch Lawn Mower

The joy of a small lawn is that it doesn’t take long to cut and you can go with a smaller mower that takes up less space. A 17 or 18-inch deck is great for that kind of lawn. The good news is, you don’t have to sacrifice all the features of larger mowers to get.

Our top pick is the Skil PWRCore 20 18-inch lawn mower. It has the benefits of a brushless motor, folds up for vertical storage, and its 20V batteries are compatible with Skil’s entire line of PWRCore 20 lawn and power tools.

Price: 299 with two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger.

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower for Large Lawns

Greenworks Pro 60V 25-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

In our testing, the Greenworks Commercial 25-inch mower earned our pick as the best battery-powered lawn mower for large lawns. Currently, no one else comes close to its 25-inch cutting width in a walk-behind. With the pair of 4.0Ah batteries in the kit, we were able to cut for over an hour, easily covering a 1/2-acre. With a 599.00 price tag when you buy direct from Greenworks, it’s an excellent value, too!

Once you get close to 3/4 of an acre, you might want to consider a battery-powered riding mower.

Best Battery-Powered Riding Lawn Mower

Residential: EGO 52-Inch Residential ZT Mower (ZT4204L)

The EGO Z6 Zero Turn Riding Mower shook up what you can expect from a battery-powered riding mower in 2021. This year, they’re stepping it up a level with a 52-inch fabricated deck and power equivalent to a 25HP gas engine. It keeps the comfort and refined controls of the original model, making the “Tesla of ZTs” even better.

Price: 6999 with six 12.0Ah batteries and an onboard charger.

Commercial: Mean Green 74-inch EVO Zero Turn Mower

Mean Green is pushing the envelope further with a 74-inch deck on its flagship EVO ZTR. It delivers an impressive cutting width and day-long 8-hour max runtime. Combined with a 13 MPH top speed and 37 HP equivalent power, this is the battery-powered riding mower to get when you have a lot of property to cut.

There are a lot of accessories to choose from—including a solar canopy! Mean Green certainly lets you customize the mower to suit your particular commercial needs.

All of this innovation comes at a cost, though. You’re looking at a minimum of 28,500 to get in and closing in on 35,000 if you want the most runtime. That’s before you add accessories.

Price: 28,500 (22kWh) – 34,499 (35kWh)

Best Budget Cordless Lawn Mower

EGO 56V 21-inch Self-Propelled Mower LM2102SP

If you’re shopping with a sub-400 budget, you don’t have access to the top-tier mowers, but you’re still in a range that has quality options. You can find budget self-propelled models in this price range, but we suggest stepping up in overall quality with the EGO LM2101 push mower.

It has a 5.0Ah battery that can run up to 45 minutes and covers a 1/4-acre lot well. You get single-point height adjustments, 3-in-1 discharge options, and vertical storage with a better build than most mowers in the same price range. When it comes to getting the best value battery-powered lawn mower, this is it.

Price: 399 with 5.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mower: Options From Brands We Trust

Best DeWALT Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

DeWALT made some big improvements from its first-generation 2 x 20V self-propelled mower to the second. The DeWALT DCMWSP244 has far better runtime, low noise levels (even for cordless), and the build is sturdy. There are still some quirks in this one, though, and it’s not for everyone.

Price: 599 with two 10.0Ah batteries and charger.

Best Greenworks Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

If you like the design of the Greenworks 60V 25-inch mower, but don’t have a ton of lawn to maintain or want a smaller storage footprint, check out the Greenworks 60V 21-inch self-propelled mower. It’s effectively the same foundation and uses a single blade.

Price: 749.99 with two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port Rapid charger

Best Echo Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

Echo phased out its 58V battery lineup in favor of a completely new 56V eForce line (sorry, the old batteries are not compatible with the new tools) and that includes the revised Echo DLM-2100 lawn mower. This 21-inch self-propelled mower includes a 5.0Ah battery and charger in the kit.

Best EGO Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

For all the reasons we mentioned above and more, the EGO Select Cut XP is our pick for the best EGO battery-powered lawn mower.

Price: 549 bare, 849 with a 10.0Ah battery and Rapid charger

Best HART Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

HART stepped up big-time in the lawn and garden department this year with several new mowers to choose from. Our favorite is the HART 40V brushless 21-inch self-propelled mower (HLPM061US) for several reasons. It’s stronger and runs longer thanks to the pair of 6.0Ah batteries in the kit. It has a full 3-in-1 mulching/bagging/side discharge design, stores vertically, and has a beefier build than previous HART models. To top it all off, this one is made in the USA using global materials.

Price: 598 with two 6.0Ah batteries and a Rapid charger

Best Husqvarna Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

The Husqvarna 20-inch self-propelled lawn mower features a commercial-grade aluminum deck as well as a front bar to protect the battery/motor housing. The W520i notably is compatible with a battery backpack. It doesn’t fit as cleanly as the Makita ConnectX mower since you still need to run an adapter into the battery slots, but it does take the weight off of your back and keep you from being tethered. It also has a higher-than-normal cutting range that tops out at 4.5 inches.

Best Kobalt Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

Kobalt is quietly still making excellent battery-powered lawn mowers, and the 80V line is where its performance peaks. The Kobalt 80V 21-inch mower (a rear-wheel-drive system) sports an upgrade to the handle system that makes folding it forward for vertical storage easier. In addition to its excellent cutting power, Kobalt also makes efficient use of its batteries, running up to 60 minutes with a 6.0Ah battery. Plus, its high 4 1/8-inch top cutting height is great for tall grass species and reclaiming neglected areas.

Price: 749 with two 4.0Ah batteries and a charger

Best Makita Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

If Makita’s ConnectX lawn mower is a little too high-priced for your budget, give the Makita XML08 lawn mower a shot. It has a very similar commercial-grade build and feature set while running on the 18V X2 (36V) system that’s compatible with Makita’s largest line of OPE and power tools. With room onboard for four batteries, you can still cover a decent area. Oddly, it’s not uncommon for the four-battery kit to be priced less than the bare tool.

Price: 899 (look for discounts) with four 5.0Ah batteries and dual-port Rapid charger

Best Milwaukee Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

There’s only one Milwaukee M18 FUEL lawn mower, but it’s a good one! Check out more in our review (click the headline) or read our summary above.

Price: 1099 with two 12.0Ah batteries and a dual-port Rapid charger

Best Ryobi Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

For the reasons we stated earlier, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless CrossCut mower is their top battery-powered model currently.

Price: 799 with two 6.0Ah batteries and a Rapid charger

Best Skil Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

We see a lot of value in the Skil 40V self-propelled lawn mower. Running on the stronger PWRCore 40 line, this brushless mower has excellent all-around performance and cut-quality characteristics compared to others in the same price range. If you’re shopping in the sub-500 class, Skil has the best budget self-propelled lawn mower available.

Price: 399.99 with a 5.0Ah battery and Rapid charger

Best STIHL Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

STIHL has been a little more cautious in entering the battery-powered lawn mower market and upgraded the line with a couple of self-propelled models. Of the two available, the STIHL RMA 510 V is your top performer. It features a 21-inch steel deck (20-inch blade) with a tougher build than the 460 series and its 3.9-inch top cutting height is appropriate for taller grass species. The one downside is that this model runs through batteries quickly compared to other self-propelled mowers.

Price: 509.99 bare, 729.99 with AP 300 battery and charger

Best Toro Battery-Powered Lawn Mower

The first-generation Toro Flex Force 60V lawn mowers were excellent, though not quite able to compete with the best of the best. A new generation of 60V Max Super Recycler 21-inch self-propelled mowers is on its way with a sleek black color scheme and the promise of serious upgrades. The two models (one with and one without headlights) FOCUS on high airflow, excellent power, a Flex Handle suspension system, and a durable build. Along with all that improvement comes a steeper price tag, though.

Price: 649 bare, 799 with 7.5Ah battery and charger

Why You Can Trust OPE Reviews

Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if they actually tested the tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d actually use it ourselves, and we don’t really care who the primary retailer is. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.

We’ve been in business since 2016 covering outdoor power equipment, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the landscaping, heavy equipment, and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers have lots of experience in these fields as well as the skills and experience to know whether these products can perform well on the job.

Each year, our team reviews and gets their hands on hundreds of additional landscaping tools and equipment at our shop and at media events and trade shows.

We work with dozens of professionals around the United States who review products for us on real job sites and consult with us on testing methods, categories, and weighting.

Best electric lawn mowers in 2023

Light, quiet and easy to use, we review budget electric lawn mowers to help you find one for your lawn.

A well kept, manicured lawn is a point of pride for gardeners and maintaining it should be one of the easiest tasks in the garden. There’s a huge choice of different mowers on the market but electric corded mowers are the most common and one of the easiest to use. They’re quiet, light and easy to manoeuvre plus they’re clean with no fuel fumes or regular servicing needed. They’re also the cheapest, but do you get what you pay for? To find out if paying less means you lose out on features or performance our gardening experts tested a range of corded electric lawn mowers that won’t break the bank.

Want to compare these to others or shopping for a different mower? See our reviews of the best cordless lawn mowers, best robotic mowers, and best hand-push lawn mowers.For other help with lawn care, take a look at our reviews of the best strimmers and the best aerators, or check out our guide to the best lawn edging.

Planning a DIY project in the garden, have a look at the best cordless drills.

The best electric mowers to buy at a glance

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All the lawn mowers in our review are rotary mowers with an electric motor that spins a blade to cut the grass. This blade is angled upwards to create lift, which pulls cut grass away and into the grass collector. We tested a range of electric mowers, putting them through their paces across different lawns and terrains, to help you find the right one for your garden.

Each mower has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and storage, handling, mowing and value for money. Every mower in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best electric lawn mowers, below:

RRP: £157

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Long cable
• Good choice of cutting heights
• Choice of handle heights
• Wide cutting width

This sturdy electric mower feels robust and has a wide cutting width of 38cm, helping you mow the grass quickly, with fewer passes up and down the lawn. It’s simple to put together, offering the choice of three handle heights to suit different users and has a useful six heights of cut, from 25-75mm, which are easy to change with a single lever. It manoeuvres well around the lawn despite its weight and is simple to use producing a neat cut. It comes with a large grass collection box of 40L too so you’re not constantly emptying clippings on the compost heap. When you’ve finished mowing it’s easy to store, with a handle that folds flat over the body of the mower, so it takes up very little room and a detachable cable that can be hung up or stored in a drawer. It has a long 15m cable, which should reduce the need for an extension lead, and only its black colour and lack of cable safety clip let it down. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best budget mower in 2023.

• Cutting width: 38cm
• Power: 1400W
• Weight: 11kg
• Noise: 95dB
• Warranty: 5 years

Webb Weer 33

Our rating: 4.8/5

• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Cuts to the edge
• Height of cut simplest to change
• Orange cable easy to see

This mower is well thought out with excellent features. It’s easy to assemble and folds for storage with a comfortable, foam handle which can be adjusted to a variety of heights. There are five cutting heights to choose from and these are easily changed by a single lever. The grass collection bag has a generous 35L capacity and a full indicator that lets you know when it needs emptying. The mower is relatively quiet and it cuts well, right up to the edge. It’s lightweight and comfortable to manoeuvre and our only quibble is the black mower cable, which could be a brighter colour so it’s easier to see. For just £99.99, this is a a great value mower and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best electric mower all round in 2021.

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 8.8KG
• Noise: 89dB
• Warranty: 2 years

Gardena PowerMax 1200/32

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Cuts to the edge
• Height of cut simplest to change
• Orange cable easy to see

This mower offers incredibly precise cutting. it cuts between 20-60mm in 5mm increments and this height of cut is very easy to control with a simple twist of a dial making it great for gardeners who lack strength or dexterity. It’s light and easy to manoeuvre, with a tight turning circle and we love the bright orange power cable, which is easy to spot in the grass. The grass box is easy to empty and indicates when it’s full, however, we found it a little tricky to assemble. The handle which folds for easy storage is a little short for taller users. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use in 2021.

• Cutting width 32cm
• Power 1200W
• Weight 8.3kg
• Noise 94dB
• Warranty 2 years

Ryobi RLM13E 33S

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Comfortable foam handle
• Light and easy to move
• Cuts to the edge
• Best cable relief clip
• Orange cable easy to see

This mower is simple to assemble and simple to use. Its handle folds for storage and can be adjusted to a choice of heights and it’s light and comfortable to use. There are five cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 20-60mm, and these are easy to change with a simple lever. Its best feature however is a convenient and effective cable relief clip, which keeps the cable tucked safely out of the way while you mow and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best for cable safety in 2021. Though one of the quietest machines on test, the motor on this model is very high-pitched.

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 9.9kg
• Noise: 89 dB
• Warranty: 3 years

Cobra GTRM34

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Simple to assemble
• Comfortable and easy to use
• Cuts efficiently
• Cable relief clip for safety
• Rear roller
• Folds for easy storage

Easy to put together, this mower has a 34 cm cutting width and a rear roller for those ever desirable stripes. Although it’s reasonably heavy and may be harder to lift and carry than some of the mowers in our test it feels well balanced and cuts and collects even long grass very well. There’s a choice of seven cutting heights and this is easy to change with a single lever located on the deck. The fabric grass bag has a 35L capacity and it compacts down flat for easy storage, as does the mower, which has easy-clip levers on the handle and double folds down over the body of the mower. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features in 2021.

• Cutting width: 34cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 13 kg
• Noise: 96dB
• Warranty: 2 years

The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

STIHL RME235

Our rating: 4/5

This mower does the basics very well. It’s well thought out with an adjustable, folding handle for storage and a handy cable relief clip and it has five cutting heights from 25-65mm, which are simple to change with a single lever. The grass box opens right up for easy emptying and has indicator that lets you know when it’s full. It feels sturdy and moves smoothly but we found the drive lever a little uncomfortable and stiff. It was also the longest mower to assemble in our test.

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1200W
• Weight: 13kg
• Noise: 93dB
• Warranty: 5 years

Einhell GE-EM 1233

Our rating: 4/5

• Double folding handle for easy storage
• Easy to manoeuvre
• Cable relief clip for safety

This mower is easy to manoeuvre and easy to store. It mows right up to the edge of a lawn and its 30L capacity is good for a mower of this size. There’s a choice of five cutting heights and a mulching option if you prefer to leave the clippings to break down on the lawn. However, the black cable is hard to spot against the grass and the one-handed drive lever is uncomfortable, particularly for left-handers.

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1250W
• Weight: 11.5kg
• Noise: 96dB
• Warranty: 3 years

How to choose an electric lawn mower

Not all budget mowers are basic machines. Consider the following points to help you choose the right electric mower for you:

• Where are you mowing? A convenient power socket is essential for an electric mower but you may need an extension lead too. Check that the length of the cable is long enough to reach all parts of your lawn. If your lawn runs right up to walls, fences or raised beds look for a model that cuts to the edge or you’ll need to invest in a grass trimmer to neaten them up afterwards.
• What size mower do you need? The wider the cutting width, the quicker the mower will cut your lawn. However, there is a trade-off. Mowers with a wider width have a bigger deck and are heavier and less easy to manoeuvre around trees or furniture. A wider cutting width is therefore best for large expanses of grass while smaller models are ideal for nipping up and down little lawns and negotiating beds and borders.
• Is it safe? An electric cable is an obvious safety hazard and if you’re concerned about tripping over the cable or cutting it accidentally when you’re mowing, look for a model with a brightly coloured lead that’s easy to spot. A cable relief clip will help to keep it tucked out of the way of the blade and will also prevent it being snagged and ripped out. For safety always use an RCD (Residual Current Device) plugged into the electric socket before plugging in your mower.
• Where will you store it? No matter the model, these are fairly bulky machine. However, the handles of most mowers can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, make a note of its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier.

Find out how to maintain your mower, in our easy to follow, step-by-step guide, and for more advice, check out our budget lawn mowers Buyers’ Guide.

How we tested electric lawn mowers

When we test lawn mowers, each one is unpacked, assembled, and then used to cut grass over a wide area, and wheeled up slopes and in and out of storage to see how they fared. They are assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

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• Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly and clarity of instructions and how easy the mower is to store.
• Handling. Focused on comfort and ease of use, handle-height adjustment and how to change the height of cut, weight and noise levels.
• Mowing. Assessed cutting width, the range of cutting heights, collection-bag capacity and features such as cutting to the edge or mulching.
• Value for money. Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price.

For more information on our testing process see How we Review

This review was last updated in April 2023. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Electric Lawn Mower Reviews

You probably are ready to say goodbye to checking the oil, yanking the start chain, monitoring the gas, and enduring the noise of your gas mower. You can’t even listen to a podcast with that thing on! Still, the best reason to buy an electric lawn mower is that it’s one step closer to a carbon-neutral existence. Do your little part to halt climate change—if you need a mower, buy electric.

Best Electric Lawn Mower

Hands down, the best electric lawn mower is the Ego Power Plus Mower. We’re basing this on reviews, reliability, and the fact that we believe in the company.

EGO isn’t a traditional mower company with an electric line. They aren’t an electric tool company that also makes mowers. EGO focuses on electric lawn products, and that FOCUS shows in their products.

What we like about the EGO is the obvious thought that went into the design.

• The EGO folds up into a rectangular shape that’s not only easy to get home from the store, but takes up less space in your garage.
• The EGO has a ridiculously simple height adjustment system that’s as easy as shifting an automatic car from park to drive.
• The EGO has lights, so you can mow in the dark. (Remember, electric mowers are practically silent; your neighbors won’t mind.)
• The EGO’s powerful lithium-ion battery charges in just 30 minutes, and mows for 45. Plus, the battery fits their other tools…if you have a little charge left over, use it to blow away some leaves.

Are Electric Lawnmowers Any Good?

Yes, electric mowers are good. If your lawn is in decent condition, gets dry enough to mow, and isn’t subject to infestation by excessive amounts of falling twigs or pinecones, and isn’t serving as the putting surface for The Masters, an electric mower will do just fine.

The main thing that should excite you about an electric mower is energy efficiency. You can use the same electric power that powers your hair clippers—power which in many states is increasingly generated with renewable resources. You’ll save money by using an electric mower, and you’ll also be doing your part to save the Earth.

Electric mowers will provide the quietest lawn care experience of your life. One of the worst aspects of mowing the gas-powered way is that, unlike with other outdoor work like weeding, raking, fence post digging—you can’t listen to music or the ballgame while you do it…even through headphones. With your largely quiet electric mower, noise pollution’s at a minimum. You can enjoy your favorite form of aural entertainment, and your neighbors will have peace and quiet.

Electric Mower Durability

Like any mechanical product, electric mowers are prone to the occasional breakdown. Most mowers carry a warranty that protect you against product defects. Any mower will need blade sharpening at some point. The known durability issue with electric mowers is that—if you choose a cordless one—the battery will eventually lose power. Most companies also offer a warranty on the battery as well, but the fact is that, like your car battery, it will need to be replaced every few years, depending on how much you use it.

Electric Mower Power Needs

A cordless mower simply needs its battery charged to run properly. Mower batteries vary in how long they take to charge. How long they will run depends on the terrain of your yard and how long your grass is. The longest-running cordless mower on the market, the EGO, runs about 45 minutes.

If you buy a corded electric mower, you can mow for as long as you like, but you must use a high-rated extension cord. Extension cords are rated by the size of the wires within, or wire gauge. The sizing isn’t very intuitive: the lower the number, the thicker the wire, and thus the more power can run through the cord. The size you’ll need will depend on the mower you buy, and how far away from your outlet you plan to mow. Consult the owner’s manual before you mow to avoid blowing a fuse.

Electric Lawn Mowers vs. Gas Lawn Mowers

This is the fun part. Let’s count the reasons you should choose electric mowers over gas ones.

Electric Lawn Mower Cost

Top-of-the-line electric mowers cost about the same as self-propelled gas mowers. Given that electric mowers are much lighter, and require very little exertion to push, you’re basically getting the same product without the hassle of using gas. On the low-end, electric mowers are cheaper than gas ones. You’ll have a tough time finding a gas mower for less than 150, while you many choices at that price point with electric mowers. The least-expensive electric mower we were able to find you can get for less than 100.

Electric Lawn Mower Performance

Gas has electric beat on pure mowing performance. The engines of gas mowers are more powerful, so they are going to do better with tough mowing tasks like high grass, wet grass, and debris. If you deal with these situations—you’re either going to stick with gas or buy a very high-end electric mower. The EGO runs at 3300 RPM, which is comparable to gas mowers. But the average person, with a relatively basic lawn, doesn’t notice any difference in performance between a gas and electric mower.

Electric Lawn Mower Energy Use

Using a corded electric lawn mower won’t save you much in energy costs—Consumer Reports estimates that you’ll save around 15/year. But you will be using cleaner energy—instead of polluting the air around your home with gas fumes, you’ll drop your emissions to zero.

Electric Lawn Mower Batteries

Most cordless electric lawn mowers now come with lithium-ion batteries, replacing the lead-acid batteries that most had used. Lithium ion batteries are longer-lasting and lighter than lead-acid batteries; on the other hand, they aren’t as powerful and cost more. Some models, like the Black Decker CM1936ZA 36V Cordless Lawn Mower, still use lead-acid batteries to generate a little more power. However, it’s 90 lbs; some cordless mowers weigh as little as 30 lbs.

Electric Lawn Mower Motors

Because your mower is creating torque with electric power rather than through internal combustion, it’s much quieter. Most make hardly any noise at all. The power of the motor depends on the voltage of the battery—the higher the voltage, the more powerful the motor. You’ll spend more for a more powerful mower.

5 Best Cordless Electric Lawn Mower 2023

Electric Mulching Lawn Mowers

Most electric mowers on the market have some sort of mulching capability, with a bag to capture the mulch or by shooting the clippings out the side of the mower. Don’t expect an electric mower to shred twigs, pinecones or other debris the way a heavy-duty gas mower might.

Used Electric Lawn Mowers

Most electric mowers on Amazon are available used on their site as well, usually at a 10-25% discount. You’ll find a pretty good selection on Craiglist as well. Just about everyone has a mower, and if they move or trade up they’ll sell theirs for a decent price. You do need to be careful, though, if you buy a used cordless electric mower.

The batteries of cordless models wear down over time, taking longer to charge and not holding as much of a charge. If you are buying a used cordless mower, you might ask for a test drive to see just how much battery power is left.

Going electric isn’t just about ease of use. It’s also about doing the right thing for the Earth. Along with choices like avoiding unhealthy chemical fertilizers, mowing your lawn with electric power will reduce your footprint on the only world we have.

The best electric lawn mowers to keep your yard under control

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Although gas-powered lawn mowers have their place on large lawns that require maximum power and runtime, their messy fuel mixes, harmful fumes, and environmental effects have many seeking another option. Luckily, electric lawn mowers don’t have these issues.

Advancements in battery design and capacity have made electric mowers a practical alternative to gas-powered machines, with long running times, quiet operation, and lightweight design. Perhaps most convenient of all, electric mowers feature push-button start mechanisms, which means no more frustrating pull cords.

All the mowers in this guide are either battery-powered or corded models that can be plugged into a standard home power outlet. These corded options are perfect for small yards that don’t require the portability of cordless options. Battery-powered models are a bit more versatile, though you’ll find that battery life varies. If you have a large yard or an incline, keeping two sets of batteries charged and ready may be necessary if you want to mow the entire space in one session. Just keep in mind that electric mowers won’t be as powerful as gas versions and aren’t ideal for extremely thick grass or brush.

We included the electric lawn mowers below based on several factors, including versatility, power, battery life, features, and overall performance. They’re available at various price points, so you should be able to find something that works for your budget and needs.

Our top picks for electric lawn mowers

Best electric lawn mower overall: Ego LM2102SP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. See at Lowe’sThe Ego Power LM2102SP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower produces plenty of power, has a push-button start, and self-propels for nearly effortless operation.

Best electric mulching lawn mower: Toro 21356 Recycler SmartStow Cordless Lawn Mower. See at The Home DepotThe Toro 21356 Recycler SmartStow Cordless Lawn Mower offers mulching, bagging, and nine cutting positions, making it versatile and efficient.

Best budget electric lawn mower: Greenworks 25022 20-Inch 12-Amp Corded Lawn Mower. See at AmazonThe Greenworks 25022 20-Inch 12-Amp Corded Lawn Mower cuts the cost compared to other electric ones without cutting down its versatile trimmer options.

Best electric riding lawn mower: Ryobi RY48111 38-Inch Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower. See at The Home DepotThe Ryobi RY48111 38-Inch Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower is a hands-on option that still reaps the benefits of a traditional gas-powered ride-on.

Best lawn mower for small yards: Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO Electric Lawn Mower. See at AmazonA narrow 14-inch cutting width makes the Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO Electric Lawn Mower ideal for maneuvering around small yards, and its affordable price is perfect for those on a tight budget.

Best electric lawn mower overall: Ego LM2102SP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Pros: Powerful motor, quiet operation, Rapid-charging battery, foldable upright storage, headlights, good warranty

Cons: Batteries are expensive to replace (or stock spares)

Featuring a powerful 7.5 Ah battery, the 56-Volt Ego LM2102SP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower offers the performance of gas in a convenient, cordless electric design. Its functionality and ease of use made it an easy choice for our top pick.

A three-in-one design allows you to choose between mulching, bagging, and side discharge of your grass cuttings, and the battery provides 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge. The push-button start makes it easy to start mowing right away, and thanks to a pair of LED headlights, you can safely mow at dusk or on overcast days.

The self-propelling feature of this mower also offers variable speed control, so you can customize it to whatever pace you prefer. A large, easy-to-use lever by the handle makes it simple to adjust these speeds. If you feel like getting some exercise, you can disengage this feature and push the mower manually.

We’re also big fans of the six cutting heights offered by the Ego LM2102SP allowing you to precisely set your preferred height from 1.5 to 4 inches. Although the 165-pound weight is heavier than similar models, the fold-up design is extremely convenient, especially if your garage or tool shed is tight on space. This mower comes with great warranty options that are slightly on the generous side compared with others.

Best electric mulching lawn mower: Toro 21356 Recycler SmartStow Cordless Lawn Mower

Pros: Fast to charge, wide range of blade position options

Cons: Expensive

Mulching your grass while you mow allows you to reuse those valuable clippings instead of throwing them away with the rest of your yard waste. These mulched clippings break down and release nutrients back into your lawn, which both benefits your grass and makes less work for you after you’re finished. If you’d prefer not to mulch, you can also use the Toro Recycler as a bagging mower.

The mower uses a single 60V battery to power its 21-inch blade, and the brushless motor help it to operate as efficiently as possible. This should help increase the lifespan of the mower motor itself. The Toro Recycler’s runtime is about 45 minutes, which should be sufficient for medium-sized yards up to 1/3 acre. It can fully recharge in 2.5 hours.

You can adjust the handle of the Toro Recycler to two different positions, making it convenient for those who want to customize their mower to their specific height. This handle also completely folds down when the mower is not in use, so you’ll be able to store it vertically or potentially under a worktable.

Nine height settings allow for a wide range of positions. With a minimum cutting height of 1.25 inches, you can get very low. The steel deck of this mower is also more durable than other plastic or composite models and should hold up well under regular wear and tear.

Best budget electric lawn mower: Greenworks 25022 20-Inch 12-Amp Corded Lawn Mower

Pros: Seven-position height adjustment, foldable handles, four-year warranty

Cons: Corded design limits reach

Electric mowers don’t have to be costly, and the Greenworks 20-Inch Corded Lawn Mower is proof. This mower, offered at a budget-friendly price, still has plenty of bells and whistles and impressive performance. Its 20-inch steel deck offers durability, and the 12-amp, 120-volt motor (effectively 1440 watts) is powerful enough for easy mowing.

The mower includes three-in-one mulching, side discharge, and rear bag functions. It also offers a seven-position height adjustment, allowing you to choose cutting heights between 1.5 and 3.75 inches. The push-button start makes for easy operation, and the foldable handles allow for convenient storage or transportation.

This mower weighs just 56 pounds, so it’s relatively easy to push. While it’s a fairly basic design, this mower is suitable for homeowners or renters with smaller lawns, provided there’s access to a power outlet.

Best electric riding lawn mower: Ryobi RY48111 38-Inch Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower

Pros: Excellent battery power, full of features, capable of large jobs

Cons: Requires more storage space than push mowers, higher price point

The Ryobi RY48111 38-Inch Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower is a quality piece of equipment that pairs durable construction with the benefits of electric power. The steel frame houses a generous 38-inch blade deck, and three high-torque brushless motors provide maximized cutting power.

Assessing power is trickier because Ryobi doesn’t offer the same information as the other brands featured within this guide. Still, the 48-volt battery can last for about two hours or 2 acres of mowing time on a single charge so you can get plenty of work done quickly.

This mower is full of features. The seat is adjustable for your comfort, and the control panel is conveniently located for accessibility. The 12-point deck height adjustment gives you nuanced control over your mowing height, and its LED headlights allow for evening work. There’s also cruise control and USB charging. A cup holder and cell phone holder round out this machine’s excellent design.

This mower offers plenty of advantages over traditional gas-powered variants. With no belts, spark plugs, or filters, it’s a low-maintenance option. If you’re looking for an alternative to gas-powered riding mowers, the Ryobi is reliable, powerful, and quiet.

Best electric mower for small yards: Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO Electric Lawn Mower

Pros: Lightweight, 10.6-gallon collection bag, low price

Cons: Too small for larger yards, only three height settings

The Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO electric lawn mower may not have the portability or width to be a practical option for larger yards, but its compact design and easy-to-use operation make it ideal for small or medium-sized ones. The relatively narrow width also makes it convenient to maneuver around tight landscaping elements like rocks or other obstacles that require more precision than a larger mower offers.

One reason I chose the Sun Joe for this list is that I appreciate anything that improves operation safety, especially involving lawn mowers. This model requires you to press the safety lock button and simultaneously pull the on trigger to power it up. It reduces the chance of you starting the mower unintentionally.

Because of the 14-inch cutting width, this compact mower is also well-suited for those who have limited storage space. It’s also incredibly lightweight. At just 29 pounds, it’s comfortable to use and makes its lack of self-propelling mechanism less of an issue.

I’ve used Sun Joe products in the past and have found them to be straightforward to operate. The user manual provides a clear diagram of how to effectively mow with a corded model and prevent running over your extension cord.

The Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO features three height settings, which is less than our other options. But if you are just looking for a hassle-free mower, this mower could be the perfect fit.

How we rate electric lawn mowers

After extensive online research from expert sources like Thriving Yard, we assembled this list of the best electric mowers you can buy. We also used our experience with large power tools to help evaluate battery life, runtimes, and power output.

Although we did not test all the options we chose, we reviewed owner and operation manuals, watched online tutorials, and consulted with lawn care equipment experts. We then used this information to create our five categories and choose the best option for each one.

We also used a set of specific criteria to help us evaluate and compare potential options.

• Battery Capacity: For cordless options, we paid close attention to the Ah (amp hour) of the included battery. In short, the higher the Ah, the more energy the battery can store, the higher power output, and the longer it will last.
• Charging Time: The time it takes to recharge a depleted battery can seriously affect the convenience of a cordless mower. If your battery can be recharged quickly, you’ll be able to get back to work soon, and there’s less of a chance that you’ll need to purchase a second battery.
• Runtime: Overall runtime per battery charge is probably the most important metric to consider when evaluating cordless mowers — obviously corded models will provide the longest. The longer the runtime, the better, especially for larger mowers that will be purchased to use on larger lawns.
• Weight: The lighter the mower weighs, the less effort it will place on the battery and the longer the overall runtime. We did our best to always choose lighter options whenever possible while still taking overall power into consideration.

What else we considered

Ego Power LM2101 56-V 20-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower: This was our previous top pick. Although it is a great option, we ultimately decided that its replacement, the EGO LM2102SP 21-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower and its self-propelled design, was a better fit. If a self-propelled option isn’t important to you, this Ego mower would be a great choice for anyone with a relatively high budget who is looking for a high-quality battery-powered mower.

Worx WR165 Landroid: The high price of this robotic lawnmower kept it off our list. But if the 950 price tag isn’t an issue, it could be a good fit for anyone looking to explore a unique mower option. Similar to a Roomba, this mower navigates entirely on its own and automatically adjusts the height of the blade to account for uneven terrain. It wouldn’t be practical for anything larger than 1/8-acre, though, so keep that in mind.

Electric lawn mower FAQs

How long do electric lawn mowers last?

Battery-powered mowers themselves can last up to 10 years, but their batteries will only last about 4 years before they’re unable to hold an effective charge. To ensure your batteries will last as long as possible, try to completely deplete the battery before recharging it. This will reduce the overall number of charging cycles placed on the battery, increasing its lifespan. You should also do your best to remove the battery from the charger once it’s fully charged.

Corded mowers have a similar lifespan as long as they’re cared for properly. There are no batteries to worry about, but their extension cords are just as important to pay attention to. This means using the correct gauge for the job, which indicates how thick the cord is. The thicker the cord, the more voltage will reach the mower and the less unnecessary work the motor has to do. Your mower’s operating manual should tell you the best gauge for the job.

How expensive are electric lawn mowers?

Electric lawn mowers are available at a wide range of prices, although corded models tend to be cheaper than battery-powered options. Corded mowers also won’t require any additional battery purchases over time. Size also plays a part. Large riding mowers can cost thousands of dollars, while smaller, compact machines, like the Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO, our recommendation for small yards, can be found for about 140.

Neither requires the fuel or oil that gas-powered models do, which should cut down on the overall expense of the mower. However, the long-term cost of replacement batteries — which can cost hundreds of dollars — should be considered as well.

Is it safe to cut wet grass with an electric mower?

According to the Ego mower manual, you should avoid cutting wet grass with your electric mower for two reasons. First, the moisture can affect the electrical components of the mower and cause serious damage not covered by the warranty. Secondly, using your mower on wet grass is a potential safety hazard and can cause you to slip or fall and potentially injure yourself.

Wet grass can also present maintenance and cleaning challenges. It can become stuck on the deck and other components, and unlike gas-powered mowers, you can’t just spray it off with a hose. As long as you stick to cutting dry grass, you’ll have a much easier time cleaning up.

Can you leave an electric lawn mower outside?

Due to the electrical components and vulnerable batteries, we don’t recommend leaving your mower outdoors when it’s not in use. Both Ego and Greenworks recommend keeping their electric mowers indoors in a cool, dry space. They also state that you should never cover them with a plastic tarp, which can trap moisture that can damage the internal components. If you need to keep your mower outside, keep it elevated and off the ground. This will allow air to flow around it and prevent unnecessary moisture damage.

Check out more of our lawn care buying guides

• The best lawn mowers
• The best riding lawn mowers
• The best gardening and landscaping tools
• The best gardening tools for beginners
• The best garden hoses
• The best leaf blowers
• The best snow blowers
• The best snow shovels
• The best rakes
• The best sprinklers

Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the home improvement, DIY, and appliance space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter for four years, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews. Before Insider, Alex was a full-time carpenter living in New York City. There, he worked as part of a team designing, building, and installing large furniture pieces, as well as performing a variety of home repair and maintenance projects. His expertise also extends to the landscaping and gardening space, supported by experience as a landscaping professional. Alex currently lives in Los Angeles, CA, and spends his free time exploring the beaches and mountains with his fiancé and their dog Louie. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.

Former senior reporter Owen Burke covered on espresso and espresso-adjacent products, grills, meat, seafood, and a few other kitchen-related odds and ends for Insider Reviews. He also contributes an array of menswear and outdoor-gear guides, from winter parkas to fishing rods and reels. He is a founding member of Wirecutter and has contributed to publications online and in print, including Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, The Atlantic, Gizmodo, Surfer Magazine, and Power Motoryacht, among others. He’s also worked in raw bars, restaurants, classrooms, and on fishing boats, holding a USCG Master Captain’s license, and is co-author of The Ocean Handbook: The Ultimate Handbook of Nautical Knowledge (Chronicle Books, 2021). Say hello at oburke@insider.com. Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider. Learn more about how we test kitchen products.

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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@insider.com.