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We put these battery-powered lawn mowers to the test to see which left our lawns looking fresh.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Battery-powered mowers are cordless, dont use gasoline, and are typically best for small to medium-sized yards.
Consider the terrain and the drive system on the mower.
Customers withsteep or hilly yardsshould consider a self-propelled mower.
Credit: Walmart
We evaluated each lawn mower on theirset up/assembly, design, performance, and usability.
Our Top Picks
Which Mower Is Better: Battery-Powered, Electric, or Gas?
Battery-powered, electric, and gas lawn mowers each have their own pros and cons.
The Ego Power+ LM2101SP cordless lawn mower is self-propelled and made our list for its cutting capabilities and also its disposal option.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Megan Wood
Gas powered mowers have the advantage when it comes to being able to fuel them right away.
When an electric or battery-powered mower runs out of juice, it needs to be plugged in and charged.
Battery-powered lawn mowers have the advantage of being lightweight and quieter than gas-powered mowers, too, says Durden.
You just need to remember to keep the battery charged.
One downside to an electric mower is the range of motionyou may be limited by the cord.
Battery powered and electric mowers are more equipped to handlesmall to medium-sized yards.
so you can operate a push mower, you have to push it forward manually.
The bad news: Youre the one doing the pushing.
Riding lawn mowers, like the theRyobi 80V HP Brushless 42 in.
Riding Lawn Tractor, require the least amount of work, but are also the most expensive models.
First, we recorded how long it took to assemble each mower straight out of the box.
As we used each mower, we considered many factors.
We also evaluated how each mower compared to those that we previously owned or tried.
One of the most important aspects of a battery-powered lawn mower is its power source.
We also observed how much storage each model had and how they would eventually be stored away.
Finally, we tried each mowers features.
For push mowers, we tested the handle lever, back flap, and blade brake control.
We also evaluated the cutting height options, plus various speeds of each mower.
Credit: The Home Depot
When using the bag disposal, we found that it was difficult to put on by ourselves.
It has six different height prefs forlawn mower blades, which range from 1.5 inches to 4 inches.
This means that it is best suited for a small to medium-sized yard of 0.5 acres.
The Ryobi Brushless Electric Zero Turn riding mower allows you to go slowly to maneuver around obstacles, but during tests, we found you could punch it and go instant speed.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Patrick McGowan
This unit made our list not only for its cutting capabilities, but also its disposal option.
It offers three options for use: mulching, side discharge, or bagging.
One feature we loved was this mowers storage capability.
Riding mowers tend to be very expensive, this one is no exception.
This model can mow a large yard without needing to be recharged, and it has cruise control.
It also has cup holders, USB ports, and storage compartments.
The option to mulch or side discharge clippings was also a plus.
As is the case with most ride-on mowers, comfort and convenience comes at a premium.
As we became more comfortable with its configs and features, we enjoyed using it more.
After testing, we determined the best mower with storage is theRyobi 80V HP Brushless 42 in.
Riding Lawn Tractorbecause it has two separate compartments.
It handled the lawn with ease, mowing over sticks, leaves, and more.
When the blades are on, it is still less noisy than a gas mower.
We liked that we could get a close cut, even in wet conditions.
This riding lawn mower is able to side-discharge and mulch clippings, and is also capable of bagging.
We only tested the side discharge and mulching capabilities, as the bagger is sold separately.
This mower also comes with a few safety features.
It also turns off the mowing deck while in reverse.
Credit: The Home Depot
We used theRyobi 80V HP Brushless 42 in.
Riding Lawn Tractorfor six months, and it continued to perform well after frequent use.
However, we noticed a couple of quirks with this mower over time.
The Ryobi Brushless Electric Cordless riding tractor handled mowing the lawn with ease during our tests, maneuvering easily around obstacles, and mowing over sticks, leaves, and more.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Joseph Wanek
You cant customize the cutting patterns.
After testing, weve chosen theHusqvarna Automower 430Xas the best robot battery-powered lawn mower.
This wasnt difficult to do, it just took time to stake the wires into place.
We also downloaded the accompanying app, which was also straightforward and easy to use.
This mower can cut up to 0.8 acres and has a run time of 145 minutes.
It utilizes GPS technology, allowing it to return automatically to its charging port when the battery is low.
It provided an even and consistent cut, even when faced with denser grass.
We also liked that this mower came equipped with a few security features.
This mower does not provide an alert to notify when the battery runs out.
After testing, weve chosen theToro Stripe Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Moweras the best choice for mulching.
This lawn mower utilizes a dual-blade system, which allows you to create fine mulch as you mow.
However, it can also be used with a bag to create clippings.
This battery-powered lawn mower is self-propelled, which means it doesnt require as much physical energy from the user.
The Toro Stripe Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is best suited for small to medium lawns.
With a 65-minute run time, it can cut 0.25 acre to half an acre.
As a result, larger lawns may require more than one charging session to complete this chore.
Overall, this mower can be great for maintenance and mulching on smaller yards.
56 V Lawn Mower
The mower provided an even-cutting performance on grass of various heights.
Credit: Lowe’s
Theself-propel buttons do not lock for continuous movement.
TheEgo Power Plus LM2206SP Lawn Mower Kitis our top choice for best battery life.
During testing, we found it took around two hours for the battery to charge fully.
The Husqvarna Automower 430X makes precise turns and maneuvers well around obstacles.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
With a 70-minute run-time, this allowed for several cuts on a single charge.
The Ego Power Plus lawn mower included various height adjustments, ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches.
This mower was able to easily navigate around obstacles and up small inclines and slopes.
We found it lightweight and easy to maneuver, so much so that we could mow with one hand.
It can only run for 30 minutes.
However, we appreciated how this mower was able to finely mulch the grass.
We found the set-up to be simple, and its foldable handle made storage compact.
Our pick for best push mower is theEgo Power+ LM2101SP Cordless Lawn Mower.
This lawn mower had difficulty navigating minor inclines, and it struggled to cut taller grass.
Charge Time
Battery-powered mowers need to be charged before use, and those times will vary.
We found that the time it takes to recharge varies anywhere from one to two and a half hours.
For example, our best riding mower pick, theRyobi 80V HP Brushless 42 in.
Zero Turn Riding Mower, takes 2.5 hours to reach full charge.
Power
Battery-powered lawn mowers do not require chords to function.
Instead, they work using rechargeable batteries that have an output of anywhere from 36 to 120 volts.
Run time is largely dependent on the voltage of your battery.
The higher the battery, the longer your mower will run.
The higher the voltage, the larger the battery, so it may affect your mowers deck size.
The deck is the part of the lawn mower that covers the engine and blades of the mower.
They are also usually made with durable material so they stand up against debris and the elements.
Smaller mowers may only have one blade, while larger models have two or three for more efficient cutting.
TheRyobi Electric Ride-On Mowerhas the largest deck on our list at 42 inches.
Your Questions, Answered
How long do batteries last in a battery-powered mower?
What is the best voltage for a battery-powered mower?
The batteries in battery-powered lawn mowers provide anywhere from 36 to 120 volts of power.
The higher the voltage, the longer the run time.
Getting a battery with a high voltage may sound smart because it allows for a longer run time.
However, it also makes the machine heavier which can slow you down and can decrease the run time.
Who We Are
Andrea Wurzburgeris a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens.
For this story, she spent several hours researching the best battery-powered lawn mowers by comparing product specifications.
She also spoke withNicole Durden, who is the senior merchant of outdoor power at The Home Depot.
This article was updated byMegan Newton, a freelance writer for Better Homes & Gardens.
She has also written about bird feeders, garden tools, grass seeds, and more.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Credit: Lowe’s
The Toro Stripe 21 Inch Cordless Lawn Mower is self-propelled, requiring less work from the user.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Laura Miller
Credit: Amazon
The EGO Power+ allowed us to cut a 2,600 sq. ft. lawn several times on one charge.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Dera Burreson
Credit: Amazon
The Wild Badger Power Brushless 40-volt easily cut grass up to 6 inches tall.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Viveka Neveln
Each of the 15 lawnmowers we tested was evaluated for assembly time, and ease of use, including how long it took to mow a yard, along with other factors.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
The mowing path tends to be random, but you can spot mow specific areas, which is a nice feature.Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
