The 5 Best Electric Lawn Mowers for 2023
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Leigh Matthews is a sustainability expert and long time vegan. Her work on solar policy has been published in Canada’s National Observer.
Looking for a lawn mower that doesn’t contribute to climate change, and that won’t wake up your neighbor’s sleeping baby? We rate the best emission free, electric, lawn mowers on the market today, plus tips for buying the right electric lawn mower.
Gas lawn mowers degrade air quality
Think your choice of lawn mower doesn’t matter?
According to research published by Michigan State, “mowing the average lawn in the U.S. creates as much air pollution as driving the family car on a 200-mile trip,” which has many of us looking for greener options. We rated, and tested, emission free lawn mowers and listed our top picks below
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) places restrictions on emissions from lawnmowers, but there are no emission-free gas lawn mowers. Gas mowers also become less efficient and pump out ever-greater emissions the older they get.
As for electric mowers, these are tankless and instead rely on a cord or battery. Corded mowers have no mowing time restriction as they draw energy from your main electricity hookup. For battery models, battery time means how long you can use an electric mower before having to charge the battery again.
Most battery-powered lawn mowers are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which are just bigger versions of the lithium batteries in our laptops and cellphones. You can store a lot of energy in a lithium battery compared to older types of batteries, which is why electric lawn mowers are now possible and, indeed, comparable in power to a gas-powered lawnmower.
Unfortunately, lithium batteries are expensive and deteriorate over several years, with their capacity decreasing as the cells in the battery die off. It’s a good idea, therefore, to have a spare battery and to replace the battery every few years to ensure good performance.
Avoid second hand electric lawn mowers
Beware second-hand electric mowers with older batteries; the mower itself may be sold cheap compared to a new model, but the included battery or batteries may be next to useless and cost more than the mower to replace.
The best electric lawn mowers
Curious about how we rate products? Click here to view our methodology, which at its core, is about voting with our dollars to fight climate change.
Ego LM2102SP and LM2142SP [Staff Tested]
Highlights: 56V, Cordless, huge storage bag, headlights for evening mowing. Both models fold up easily for storage, have weather-resistant construction, and have a 21-inch deck size, with 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, side discharge options. Can buy with or without battery and charger.
- Same torque as a gas powered mower
- Huge collector bag
- Pin drop quiet while mowing
- Easy to store
- Can mow the lawn at night
The EGO 2102SP is a 21 in. 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Walk Behind Self Propelled Mower that includes a 7.5 Ah battery and charger, and offers 60 minutes of cutting time and a 60 minute charge time.
With more than 6,000 5-star reviews at Home Depot online and a reputation elsewhere for high performance and usability, the Ego is a top pick for an electric lawn mower that can easily handle larger lawns.
You can also buy the 2102SP model without battery or charger for 450 (View Price on Ace Hardware).
This mower delivers the same high torque as gas-powered mowers without the air pollution and noise, and at a lower price! If your lawn area is half an acre or more, this monster of a mower might be your new best friend. It even boasts headlights, so you can do a spot of evening mowing should you wish.
One big plus for the Ego is that huge collector bag, which means you can mow a large area of lawn without having to stop to empty the bag. The downside here, of course, is that the machine becomes quite heavy by the end of your run. Happily, this model doesn’t seem to lose traction at the front when the bag is nearing capacity, unlike some other models.
The LM2142SP (View Price on Amazon) is a 2 x 5 Ah battery model that is very similar to the LM2102SP 7.5 Ah model. The 2142SP offers a bit more flexibility in handle height, however, with 6 handlebar positions available rather than just 3. This makes it the better option if you’re a bit taller or shorter than average.
One other major difference between these two Ego mowers is that the 7.5 Ah model has a polymer composite cutting deck, while the 5 Ah model has a steel cutting deck. Both seem to perform extremely well across all kinds of grass, but the steel is, arguably, the more sustainable material.
The rear wheels on the 2 x 5 Ah model are also an inch bigger in diameter (10 inches vs. 9 inches), which may help with maneuverability in some situations and be better for sloping lawns. The 7.5 Ah model also weighs a dash more at 78.8 lbs compared to 75 lbs or the 2 x 5 Ah model.
The major difference between the two, though, is simply the run time. The 7.5 Ah gives you around 60 minutes of run time before you’ll need to charge the battery. And, of course, while you’re charging the battery, you don’t have a spare to use as a backup. With the dual battery model, you can use one 5 Ah battery for 45 minutes while charging the other battery, then switch them out to carry on mowing without having to take a break. This way, you could pretty much mow all day and, thanks to the LED headlights, all night if you wanted!
Both of these Egos have one easy-to-use shifter style handle that adjusts the height of all four wheels at the same time, which is much more convenient than having to adjust each one individually. Both models fold up easily for storage, and both have weather-resistant construction and a 21-inch deck size, with 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, side discharge options.
The Egos also offer independent self-propulsion, meaning you can turn off the mowing function but still use self-propulsion to move the mower easily from one spot to another, such as over surfaces that could damage the blades if they were moving.
Finally, both the Egos have a 5-year limited warranty and, if you buy from Home Depot, a 90-day return window in case you’re not happy with your new mower.
Oh, and the Ego Power 56 Volt battery/batteries are shipped separately and are compatible with all Ego Power products. This means you can save on the cost of the mower by buying the tool only, if you already have an Ego battery and charger. Or, consider this an investment in the future of your tool collection if you’ll also be replacing any snow blowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws or so forth in the next little while.
One other reason Ego make my list of eco-friendly lawn mowers is their adoption of green power sources for their research and development facilities and industrial park. In 2004, the company installed a 7,500 square foot Green Roof system on their RD facility, with savings of around 1.5 gallons of gas per square foot each year. The roof of their Green Power Industrial Park also features a 2-megawatt photovoltaic power station.
This ‘Blue Roof’ generates, year-on-year, the equivalent power from burning 755 tons of coal. This cuts sulfur dioxide emissions by 50 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1677 tons annually.
In addition, the Ego Green Power Industrial Park utilizes ground-source heating, air-conditioning and water-storage technologies. They estimate that their ground source heating system alone saves 1 million kWh of electricity annually, the equivalent of 378 tons of coal. It also cuts sulfur dioxide emissions by around 25 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 839 tons each year.
Ego hasn’t been in business quite as long as Black Decker, but they’re an innovative company with global reach. Established in 1993, they have long been invested in cordless electric technology and are now one of the world’s largest manufacturers of tools.
Our experience after one year of using the Ego electric lawn mower
After a year of hands-on use, here’s what a member of our team, Taylor, has to say about his experience with the Ego mower:
I’m not the type of person who really enjoys and looks forward to mowing their yard, unlike many of my neighbors; it’s a chore that needs to get done just like any of the others that are part of owning a home. With that being said, the Ego mower is hands-down my favorite mower that I’ve used to date.
MEAN GREEN MOWERS
Mean Green Mowers manufactures powerful commercial electric mowers. Traditional gas-powered mowers can be loud and produce harmful emissions to the environment. Mean Green attempts to solve these problems with some of the most efficient electric mowers made in the US. They designed a line of mowers that are much quieter and produce zero emissions. These electric mowers also require minimal routine maintenance. Mean Green Mowers zero turn riders and stand on mowers are ½ the noise level of gas-powered mowers. These electric mowers are powered by Mean Green Lithium Energy Modules and offer all day mowing with extreme power. The loudest these machines will get is 80 db.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT MEAN GREEN MOWERS MACHINE
Mean Green Mowers Zero Turn Riders are designed with expansive cutting decks, speeds up to 13 mph, and horsepower comparable to a 37 HP diesel mower. The lithium powered electric mowers deliver up to 8 hours of continuous mowing time. Mean Green zero turns are constructed of strong aluminum alloy which provides great strength and lightweight efficiency.
Mean Green Mowers Stand On Lawn Mowers are powered by Mean Green pure Green Lithium Energy Modules to deliver 9,000 mowing hours. The super quiet mowers offer exceptional performance, even on hills and slopes. Constructed of a thick 7 gauge steel chassis and a welded steel deck with cutting heights up to 4.75 inches, these machines are powerful, durable, and efficient.
Mean Green Mowers Stand On Lawn Mowers are super quiet with exceptional performance, even on hills and slopes. The SmartDeck Rapid height deck lift system can be operated with the push of a button. When approaching curbs or obstacles, a simple touch of the electronic rocker switch will completely elevate the deck within 2.8 seconds.
WHY BUY A MEAN GREEN MOWER?
Traditional gas-powered mowers are loud, toxic to the environment and expensive to operate and maintain. Mean Green Mowers is solving each of those problems with some of the most efficient electric mowers. USA engineered and built, Mean Green designs superior electric mowers with the highest degree of strength and durability. Whether you’re mowing your lawn, a five-acre lot, or multiple commercial properties, Mean Green gets the job done efficiently and effectively.
Mean Green Mowers are manufactured in the small agricultural town of Ross, Ohio, utilizing aluminum alloys, high strength steel, lightening holes, and modern bending technologies. Their patented mower designs and lithium battery technology provide you with all day commercial run times. Visit Mean Green Mowers to learn more.
New Green Machine Cordless Outdoor Power Tools at Home Depot
A reader wrote in about some new cordless outdoor power tools they spotted over at Home Depot.
Do you know anything about the new 62 volt Green Machine lawn equipment at HD? Possible replacement for Ego products?
I can’t say I have ever seen this Green Machine brand before, or their 62V Cordless outdoor power tools.
Green Machine tools are available exclusively at Home Depot, and it looks like this is a very new development.
At the time of this posting, they have 2 different mowers, a hedge trimmer, 2 string trimmers, the “industry’s most powerful” leaf blower, a chainsaw, and 2 battery sizes.
The Green Machine website says that are a Daye North America brand, with the parent company associated with a broad range of gas and electric outdoor power equipment products.
On the Home Depot website, they list their featured outdoor power equipment brands, in this order:
Below all that, they also have sponsored listings for Greenworks and a mix of other brands. At this time, the Green Machine brand is not in that or any other list of Home Depot’s featured brands.
All we know so far is that Green Machine is a brand of 62V cordless outdoor power tools that is exclusive to Home Depot.
Some of the claims they are making are pretty bold, and their specs are very competitive as well, such as their 16″ string trimmer.
It also looks like Green Machine is using brushless motors for all of their products.
As you might be aware, EGO products are no longer available at Home Depot. Mike asked if Green Machine is a replacement for EGO. Given the limited information available, it’s way too soon to make any speculations or predictions.
Home Depot has launched a core selection of Green Machine tools, but it’s unclear what their long-term investment could look like.
Home Depot could just be testing the waters with Green Machine, or they could be working towards a long-term partnership with Green Machine to be their flagship high-voltage cordless OPE tool brand. Home Depot tends to make strong commitments to brands and product lines, and so I would assume they have a multi-year strategy and plan in place.
Earlier in the season, Home Depot stores dedicated a lot of floor space to Ryobi, DeWALT, and Milwaukee cordless outdoor power tools, and there were a couple of other brands’ offerings at their flanks. Do they need to replace the EGO outdoor power tools they used to sell in stores and online?
Green Machine is a brand new system, and the market isn’t what it was when EGO first came out a few years ago. If Home Depot is to build up the brand, it’ll take some work.
I’ll be keeping an eye out for any developments.
In the mean time, I have been very thoroughly amused by Green Machine’s advertising. Some of these are screenshots from their product videos, others are images from their website.
Those who have said I get too excited about tools should meet this guy.
Everybody is so overjoyed to use their Green Machine tools…
This guy takes his lawncare very seriously.
I’m not quite sure how to caption this one.
s:
Why, HD? You have a great selection of OPE even without EGO. This looks like one of those rebadged Amazon off brands.
I believe in picking cordless brands with the widest selection of tools that meet your needs. Avoid having multiple different brands of battery tools and batteries. It’s nice that my drill and weedeater use the same batteries. While the power of this brand is great it’s selection is currently limited. I would avoid it till more comes out
My thoughts exactly. Even if my immediate need is only for a single tool, why would I buy into a more limited line of tools when alternatives exist with tons more options? Not only does that mean I have more options for batteries and tools to suit any future needs, but it also implies that the tool line is better supported and that parts/service are more likely to be available if and when I need them.
Dude. I’m with you — I have M18 tools, but when I needed a new string trimmer, Milwaukee didn’t have one on the market, so I bought the original Echo 58V, made by TTI. It is mediocre at best, and now I have a “dead” battery system with very little support from parent brand or manufacturer. Disappointed to say the least. I honestly don’t care how much “better” brand X’s new tool is compared to the one offered by the company whose battery system I own. Unless I’m ready to jump ship for a new battery system, there is nothing out there that can usurp the convenience of sharing the sizable collection of batteries I already own across tools
I came across the name “green machine” for power equipment 3 years ago when I was doing research looking for a wood chipper. I never paid the line any attention since it was obviously not what I was looking for but I do recall seeing it on HD’s website. That said the equipment I saw didn’t resemble these tools and I have no firsthand experience with them. I know I’ve said this before when we’ve discussed cordless power tools in general but it’s certainly true for OPE too: I just don’t see how the market can be saturated with so many brands? Of course people have different needs: some people need light duty equipment, some people need more serious gear and at the high end you have professional users, so obviously one expects the market to cater to all those segments, but the sheer number of brands–many of which have little if any brand recognition behind them–just seems odd. What is Green Machine going to offer that the big boys will not? Why would someone buy a Green Machine tool when instead they could enter a system which offers far more options for cross-compatibility with those expensive batteries? In other words, why should I consider a Green Machine over a Ryobi if I want something inexpensive and light duty? Why would I choose Green Machine over DeWALT, Makita, Milwaukee, et al, if I needed mid-range gear? If this is supposed to be a high-end brand what does it offer me that STIHL does not? Right now it just sounds like a me-too product with strange marketing and the disadvantage of a battery system which isn’t much good for general use.
A quick look at Justia Trademarks – and it seems that the trademark Green Machine (in this context) is now owned by Daye North America https://trademarks.justia.com/906/99/green-90699811.html Daye’s parent company in in Ningbo China: https://trademarks.justia.com/906/99/green-90699811.html
Odd color choice. I suppose the OD green might appeal to some. Certainly doesn’t look like a pro brand to me – maybe a competitor for Greenworks?
I could see the OD green and the “army” theme working if they really did make impressively tough tools that could take a lot of abuse–go for the “army tough” marketing angle–but otherwise I don’t think it’s a great idea. I like my tools easy to spot, especially for things I’ll be using outdoors. Just this past Friday an electrician left a bright red milwaukee charger at my home when doing some work on the meter pole. If something THAT easy to see can be left behind I can’t imagine how many lost tools there would be with busy contractors adopting OD green yard equipment.
Army Green for the color? WTH? Heck, they should have gone all the way and went Camouflage! I think they would have had better sales and marketing with Camo! When I hear the words Green Machine, I don’t think about Army green anything! I think bold, stand out shades of green! As far as will I try this brand? That’s a no and my thoughts about this lineup pretty much Echo what has already been said ie new battery platform, untested, few tools to select and then of course why would I purchase them over name brands?
Interesting promo pictures. Guess that is what they think we picture ourselves when doing yard work. I am normally just a hot, sweaty, dirty mess and a tad or two more out of shape than those beautiful people.
All outdoor tools and power equipment should be covered in realistic camo. People will flock to it because everything with camo is better! And, think about repeat sales! Tools will disappear as soon as you put them down … /s
This is strange. On Saturday I ran into a green machine 62v lawnmower at a liquidator. Almost bought it (200) but one 4ah battery wouldn’t be enough to mow my lawn. I had never heard of it before then. I wonder how it made it’s way to a HD liquidator already.
While Home Depot sells about 3 or 4 different Ryobi electric riding mowers. Lowes is now starting to sell a zero turn Ego electric mower(42”, 22hp, 5k). The unique thing about this mower is the capability to hold six batteries for more run time(mower comes with four batteries).
I should mention the largest Ryobi(54”), will probably cut more lawn than the Ego with six batteries.
There are several things to consider when looking at the Ego riding mower vs the Ryobi. For me, the biggest issue is in the batteries each brand uses. Ryobi riding mowers use deep cycle lead-acid batteries compared to a much more energy dense, and more expensive, lithium ion batteries used in the Ego. As a result the Ryobi mower weighs almost twice what the Ego weighs, 800lbs and 460lbs respectively. And that is with six 10Ah batteries in the Ego. It’s also worth noting that the warranty for the Ego is 5 yrs for the mower, batteries and the charger, where as the Ryobi is 3 yrs for the mower and 1 yr for the batteries. The Ryobi 54″ zero turn mower is 4600 vs 5000 for the Ego 42″ zero turn mower.
The 10 Best Electric Lawn Mowers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed
Sage McHugh has written for Dotdash Meredith since 2019. With over a decade of experience in consumer-oriented content, Sage has a passion for products and how they enhance our everyday lives.
Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.
Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. The Baltimore native also covered the technology scene for LocalBusiness.com and has been a regular contributor to the sports pages of The Baltimore Sun and The Washington Post.
Electric lawn mowers have many advantages over gas-powered models. For example, electric models don’t release exhaust fumes and can be significantly quieter and easier to operate, resulting in a much more pleasant mowing experience all around. “Electric lawn mowers come with many features to help owners stay safe, comfortable, and productive,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI).
We researched many different types of electric lawn mowers and tested several in our own backyards across the country. We then evaluated products based on their setup, design, performance, usability, safety, and value and selected our favorites in a range of categories for this list. During our first run with the mower, we timed the assembly process and made careful notes about how clear and simple the included directions were. Following this, we utilized the mowers on three separate occasions, taking note of the grass length cut, the total area of the yard mowed, and the time it took to complete the task.
In our latest round of testing, we put six riding lawn mowers through their paces in our personal yards and selected the best electric ones based on its power, maneuverability, and noise level.
Best Overall
EGO Power Select Cut 56-Volt 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower
- Powerful and easy to use
- Lightweight and foldable for vertical storage
- 60-minute runtime and recharging
- Relatively affordable
After testing other electric mowers across the country, the EGO LM2102SP POWER 21-Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower is our best overall pick because it is very easy to use, lightweight and compact, and offers additional power when you need it, all at a relatively affordable price. Self-propelled mowers make mowing—especially over hills and rugged terrain—much easier because the mower moves for you at your pace, while you simply guide it around your yard. This option is no exception. While we tested this mower, we almost found it too powerful at first, especially because it was our first time using a self-propelled mower. But once we got the hang of it, we turned it off and on easily, and adjusted the speeds when needed by using the levers on the handle. We found the self-propulsion helpful for going up small hills (the lowest speed was all we needed) and turned it off when navigating around obstacles.
We also appreciated the battery life and fast recharging this mower offers. Although it comes with just one EGO 56V ARC Lithium battery, it has a 60-minute runtime and only takes about the same time to recharge using the included Rapid charger. And while it only took 50 minutes to mow our lawn, we are happy to report that the battery did not run out. If you have other EGO products at home with the same battery, you could always swap in that battery if you have a larger lawn and want to continue mowing without much of a break.
Other user-friendly features we love include the easily-adjustable handle: You have two options for the height and three options for the angle, so you can pick the one that is most comfortable for you. We also found adjusting the cutting height to be a simple task, with six settings to choose from ranging in height from 1.5 to 4 inches. And when you are done, the handle is just as easy to fold, so you can store your mower vertically in your garage or shed. We do want to note that while we think this mower did a great job mowing in dry and damp conditions, once when mowing over a particularly wet area, an orange light came on and the mower stopped. However, once we moved the mower to a more drier area, we were able to start it again easily. The only other minor issue we reported is putting on the grass collection bag. We found it would be much easier with two people since it clips on tightly and it’s a bit hard to get around the support bar (it popped off a few times during this process). But other than those small issues, we think this is an excellent electric mower for navigating different types of terrain with ease.
Price at time of publish: 549
Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 93.61 pounds | Power Source: Battery | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge
Best Budget
Greenworks 12 Amp 20-Inch 3-in-1 Corded Lawn Mower
We’ve tested the Greenworks Electric Corded Lawn Mower several times over the last few years, and it continues to stand out as the best affordable choice for small yards and tight spaces, even those with somewhat challenging terrain. In fact, while testing this mower in our latest round of testing, we had no issues navigating over divots, clumps, bumps, and other parts of our lawn that were uneven—we found that this mower powered right through them. Plus, the 12-amp motor is powerful enough for tough cutting and mulching, including the tall, spindly weeds in our yard. We didn’t report any issues mowing over slightly wet grass either.
The 20-inch cutting deck is narrower than some other options, but we found that it helped us get through the tight areas of our yard easily. Adjusting the cutting height (seven different heights ranging from 1.5 to 3.75 inches) is simple as well, and really is the only setting you need to worry about. However, we did note that the mower didn’t go quite low enough to cut some patches of clover. Although it’s budget-friendly, we love that you have three options for your grass clippings—bag, mulch, or side discharge—and you don’t have to purchase any of these features separately (which would add to the cost). The grass collection bag was easy to clip on, although we did spill some grass clippings the first time we removed it and noted that the bag was not even full. However, we think this won’t be an issue once we get the hang of it.
Although this electric model is corded, we appreciated the unlimited runtime and didn’t find the cord to be cumbersome. We did find ourselves holding on to the cord even though there was a cord restraint system that kept it in place, but we were able to mow the lawn easily with our other hand. It’s important to note that this mower must be used with a 14-gauge 50-foot extension cord or a 12-gauge 100-foot extension cord (not included). Overall, we found this to be a really easy lawn mower to set up (just a few screws are needed for the handle), use, and store (just fold the handle), and it continues to impress us with its performance and price.
Price at time of publish: 227
Cutting Width: 20 inches | Weight: 56 pounds | Power Source: Corded | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge
Best Self-Propelled
Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower
Although it is a little more of a splurge compared to other options we tested, The Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower stands out for its powerful performance (comparable to some gas models), and long, 70-minute runtime. We tested this mower on the first grass of the season and were quickly impressed by its ease of use and quiet performance (we thought it almost sounded like white noise), especially compared to gas models we’ve used in the past. Thanks to the self-propelled technology, it was a breeze to mow over uneven terrain, even over hills, with little effort on our part. It did take a little bit of time to select the right cutting height for our uneven lawn (the blade did get stuck a few times), but once we adjusted the height, we were impressed by the cutting performance. Luckily this mower offers seven adjustable cutting heights (1.5 to 4 inches), so you can easily pick the one you need. We also want to mention that like our best overall mower, the EGO LM2102SP POWER 21-Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower, the self-propelled feature does take some time to get used to, and you may feel like the mower will run away on you at first until you figure out which setting you need for each part of your yard.
This model comes with two 40-volt batteries and a Rapid charger. Since only one battery is needed at a time, you will always have one ready to go should you need it. Our lawn took only 45 minutes to an hour each time to mow, and we never had to stop and recharge it to finish the job. However, we did have to stop the first time we mowed to empty the grass collection bag, which we found to be surprisingly small. It filled up after mowing about 25-30 feet of tall grass. The next two times weren’t as much of an issue because the grass wasn’t as overgrown. It was very simple to remove the full bag, but we found that it spilled easily and a few blades even spilled when the mower was in use (whether or not it was filled.) These few issues aside, we appreciated the bag, mulching, and side-discharge options for the grass clippings overall, although it is worth noting that it did not break up older leaves very well.
Like most of the mowers on this list, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower is easy to fold and store vertically to save space. We were equally impressed with all of the safety features. Although it has a simple, push-button start, the mower has a key that you can store separately so no one can accidentally start the mower. When ready to use, the key has to be inserted behind a flap. Plus, the mower only works while you are gripping a lever. The LED headlights provide extra light that might be helpful when mowing around dusk or dawn. Although this mower is a bit more pricey than our best overall (which is also a battery-powered self-propel model), we think it’s worth the extra cost for the power, long runtime, and extra battery.
Price at time of publish: 799
Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 75 pounds | Power Source: Battery | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge
The Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers Tested in 2023
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Whether you’re switching from gas-powered to green or buying your first cordless electric mower, battery-powered lawn mowers offer many advantages. In addition to being kinder to the environment, they’re also quieter and easier to start than gas-powered mowers.
These innovative machines use powerful batteries that provide enough juice to mow lawns up to a half acre or larger. They also produce enough torque to cut through tall grass and many are self-propelled, making them easier to operate.
We tested the following battery-powered lawn mowers in different grass-growing environments to find out more about their capability, reliability, and overall user comfort. Read on to learn about the important features to consider, how to select the best battery-powered lawn mower for areas ranging from just a few square feet to a couple of acres, and how each mower performed in our hands-on tests.
- BEST OVERALL:Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:Greenworks Pro 80V 21-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
- BEST SELF-PROPELLED:Toro Flex Force 60V 21-Inch Super Recycler Mower
- BEST RIDING:Ego Power Z6 42-Inch Zero Turn Riding Mower
- BEST FAST-CHARGING:Ego Power 21-Inch Select Cut Lawn Mower
- BEST FOR LARGE YARDS:Greenworks 40V 21-Inch Smart Pace Lawn Mower
- BEST FOR SMALL LAWNS:Worx Nitro 80V Power Share 21-Inch Self Propelled Mower
How We Tested the Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers
Battery-powered lawn mowers generally offer a quiet, exhaust-free mowing experience. They remove the hassle of buying and hauling gasoline, changing oil, and other maintenance aspects of gas engines. With the notable exceptions of sharpening/replacing blades and charging/replacing batteries, they are virtually maintenance-free. While shoppers are motivated to buy battery-powered lawn mowers for a multitude of reasons, the expectation remains that they will be able to mow their grass whenever they want, without hassle or frustration. To us, as testers, that meant we needed to closely scrutinize runtime, recharge time, and overall mowing capability.
We tested all mowers the same way and captured the results on a testing rubric for comparison. After fully charging the batteries, we used them to mow two different areas, one that had been consistently maintained at the normal mowing height, and one that had been neglected and allowed to grow about 10 inches high. Both areas included a mix of flat and moderately sloped ground. As we mowed, we assessed general operator comfort, self-propelled capabilities, mowing power, and finished mowing quality. We mowed until the batteries ran out, recorded the runtime, and measured the area mowed. Finally, we recorded the time required to recharge the depleted batteries.
Because riding mowers offer many more features and control options, we tested the Ego Power Z6 over several days with multiple battery configurations. Battery life plays such an outsized role in overall performance and customer satisfaction that we wanted to collect results on maintained and overgrown grass for groupings of two, four, and six batteries. The testing criteria and observation points for each test run were virtually the same as those for the other mowers. The great news is that all of these mowers delivered excellent mowing power, good-to-excellent cut quality, and plenty of runtime for real-world applications as shown in the individual reviews.
Our Top Picks
We tested the following mowers taking into account the above considerations for large and small yards. Read on to learn how each model performed in testing and why we consider them among the best battery-powered lawn mowers.
Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mo
The Snapper XD features a variable-speed transmission and design features that allow for adjustments to meet different grass-cutting demands. The StepSense feature automatically adjusts the speed to match the user’s walking pace. Load-sensing technology in this model automatically adjusts power output based on the thickness of the grass to provide a clean cut while maximizing energy efficiency.
The mower’s impressive 21-inch steel cutting deck is versatile. It boasts seven height adjustments that are easily changed from behind the mower with a single lever. The deck can mulch, side discharge, or bag with a capacity of up to 2.1 cubic feet of grass clippings.
When the yard work is done, this mower folds up conveniently for vertical storage in the garage. The kit includes two 2.0-Ah (amp hour) batteries, which together provide about 60 minutes of runtime and recharge in about 60 minutes.
In our tests, the Snapper XD traversed all types of terrain and left behind a smooth, even cut on a single pass. It easily powered through overgrown grass and weeds up to 10 inches tall, although extended use in tall weeds increased the needed power output and reduced runtime by about half.
We were more impressed by the blade motor’s load responsiveness than by the automated pace-adjustment system. The StepSense feature worked well on relatively flat ground, but on inclines it felt somewhat sticky or uneven. In overall performance for the price, this mower offers excellent power and runtime to mow about ⅓ of an acre, or 15,000 square feet, per charge.
- Runtime/recharge time: 60 minutes/60 minutes
- Deck size: 21 inches
- Mobility: Self-propelled, automatic pace adjustment
- Automatically adjusts to any individual user’s pace
- Powerful motor doesn’t bog down in dense grass
- Single lever cutting-height adjustment for user-friendliness
- Folds into a compact unit for ease of storage
Get the Snapper battery-powered lawn mower at Appliances Connection, Amazon, Lowe’s, Mowers Direct.
Greenworks Pro 80V 21-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
Greenworks is known for its advancements in battery technology, and this model has two 2.0-Ah batteries that allow for up to 70 minutes of runtime from a full charge, with a combined recharge time of just 60 minutes. This push mower features a 21-inch-wide mowing deck. Technology that adjusts the motor speed based on load helps to maximize battery life and maintain excellent cut quality.
Adding to this impressive mowing coverage is a steel deck with seven positions that are easy to adjust with a large handle near the right rear wheel. Its sturdy steel deck gives it the tough feel of gas-powered models.
A large start button and easy-to-maneuver speed control mean it can be manipulated with gloved hands. This push mower does not have motorized wheels, which keeps the price low and maximizes battery life for cutting grass. The 3-in-1 grass clipping capability allows for bagging, mulching, or side discharging, and a foldable handle design facilitates compact storage.
Although this Greenworks push mower required a bit more effort to move around the yard than the self-propelled mowers, its simplified design made it an extremely capable mower. The powerful motor offered the most “gas-like” performance of the group. It had no trouble cutting dense, weedy grass up to 10 inches tall and left possibly the best finish of all the mowers we tested. In all three modes, bagging, mulching, and side discharging, it left the grass perfectly smooth, with no uneven spots or stringy weeds left behind. It had plenty of power to mulch thick grass into virtually invisible clippings.
The only downside of this mower was that hilly ground reduced the amount of area mowed per charge, not because of demand on the mower, but because the operator’s pace slowed. Everything else considered, we felt that this push mower delivered the strongest mowing capability, even though we had to push it. And the price was significantly less than the others.
- Dual 2-Ah batteries offer up to 70 minutes of runtime; ideal for both small and large yards
- Strong motor delivers powerful cutting performance; ideal for thin and thick grass varieties
- Easy to use controls integrated into the handle
Get the Greenworks 80V battery-powered lawn mower at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Toro Flex Force 60V 21-Inch Super Recycler Mower
The Toro Flex Force Super Recycler lawn mower is built for powerful mowing performance with superior operator comfort. The three-phase motor automatically increases power output when it detects tougher mowing conditions, then eases off to conserve battery life when the mowing gets easier again.
The 21-inch military-grade cast aluminum deck features a powerful vortex air-intake system that stands the grass blades up straight for a smoother, cleaner cut. The shock-absorbing Personal Pace self-adjusting, self-propelled system operates smoothly regardless of the terrain. Bright LED headlights make it easier to mow later into the evening. It comes with a powerful 60V 7.5-Ah battery that delivers up to 50 minutes of runtime per charge and recharges in 3 hours.
Ego LM2150SP Cordless Lawn Mower
Several features allowed the Ego to clinch Best Overall, no small achievement in our mower tests. First is its outstanding cut quality. Healthy grass looks like velvet after it has been mowed with the EGO. Even when the mower is used in mulching mode, we did not find clumps of accumulated clippings after the mower was finished (it”s important to specify here that these tests were performed on dry grass). We attribute that cut quality to the X-shaped blade (a design developed decades ago on Honda”s gas engine mowers) and to the smooth and unobstructed deck surface surrounding the blade.
This mower is also an excellent bagger, gathering pounds more grass per square foot of test area than most mowers. You have to be aware of that when operating this mower. Its bag will fill more quickly than you might think. Although we spend most of our time testing mowers in mulch mode, we recognize that bagging is particularly important to people who have a lot of foot traffic in parts of the yard and want to prevent grass clippings from getting dragged into the house, garage or onto patios. If that”s you, the Ego is probably a good fit for you.
Like many battery mowers today, the Ego is equipped with an all-plastic deck that will never rust, and a tilt-forward handle that also telescopically adjusts to suit the user’s height. To make it even easier to use, it has single-lever deck height adjustment with a large T-shaped handle. The combination of the spring-loaded adjustment and one of the better speed-control mechanisms we’ve seen–a simple dial that you rotate forward and back.
Since this model is sold without a battery and charger, it’s up to you how much battery to put in it. The brand recommends a battery with a minimum of 7.5 Ah of capacity, and that’s what we used to arrive at the cut area you see below. You can easily do better than that with a larger battery such as the company”s 10-Ah, a whopper of a power pack. Given that the Ego”s motor and drive system are both quite efficient, enabling it to accomplish nearly 1500 square feet of mowed surface per amp hour of battery capacity, that would translate to nearly 15,000 square feet of mowed surface with such a large battery. That”s a lot of lawn. With a 10-Ah battery, the manufacturer estimates run time as 75 minutes. That strikes us as plausible, particularly on level ground, in mulching mode.
With decades of mower testing behind us, we”ve seen just about every type of drive control imaginable. It”s difficult for us to assess these, since what one person finds comfortable someone else may not. We found the Ego”s dial-adjusted speed control (the company calls it Touch Drive) to be simple and intuitive. Move the dial forward with your left or right thumb to increase speed. Move it back to decrease. The slowest speed is a leisurely pace (.9 mph), the top speed requires a comfortably-fast walk.
The Ego is powerful, fun to operate, and cuts so well—it”s difficult to find anything to complain about. We suppose its big batteries could use a handle (like the Toro) but at least they are well shaped and have a lot of rubber-coated surface, to promote a good grip.