There are two main categories electric mower – on batteries and with cable. It is worth noting here that this list focuses exclusively on battery-powered electric models. These new battery-powered electric mowers are more powerful than ever before, and at the same time manage to offer many environmentally friendly and money saving benefits via gas models.
There are currently a wide range of prices and features on the market for electric lawn mowers, which can make shopping for one a little intimidating. During this testing, I discovered that there is a lot of variation in how good an electric lawn mower is compared to how it is advertised, as well as how well battery lawn mowers worked compared to electric lawn mowers with cable or gas mowers.
It’s not just raw performance that’s critical. Before you spend on one of these machines, you will need to consider what types of batteries they also use. Some mowers rely on batteries that also power popular brands household power tools. DeWalt, EGO and Ryobi are good examples of this type of cross-compatibility. If you already own tools from one of these or similar brands, you may not need to spend extra money on extra hardware.
Other factors such as whether the mower is self-propelled can also have a big impact. This is especially true for large, heavy machines that you would rather not push without help. If you are in the market for an electric lawn mower, you are in luck. Here I have gathered a group of the most popular electric lawn mowers I could find. I was left with only models that are pushed from the background, which cost from 250 to 550 dollars. Then I unpacked, assembled and personally tested each unit. After the mowed grass from the mowing calmed down, these were my favorites.
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Whoever doubts that an electric mower cannot match the power of gas models, has not used EGO. At 62.6 pounds, this machine is one of the largest and heaviest in my test group. Still, EGO Power Plus definitely had the most power. Whether you are mowing the grass or breaking through low bushes, this mower worked as a tank. Where other smaller mowers stopped, it was simply unstoppable.
Despite its weight, the EGO Power Plus was easy to drive around the yard. He was fast and stable for me too. I also appreciated being able to turn on his variable speed motor without turning the mower blade. Other notable features include a wide 21-inch cutting platform and a 56-volt battery that works with the entire line of EGO power tools for the yard.
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Just because a lawn mower is not self-propelled does not mean it is difficult to use. Example: Ryobi 16-inch One Plus HP 18-volt push mower. Although it is extremely compact and weighs only 34.5 pounds, this tiny machine has power. It stopped less than some of the larger, more powerful mowers in my test group, and the light weight of the Ryobi made it easier for me to push.
This machine also uses Ryobi’s standard 18-volt rechargeable batteries. These are the same lithium-ion generators that the company uses in its popular line of household power tools. The mower comes with two batteries and a charger – in case you don’t have it.
Its 16-inch cutting width, however, is on the narrow side. However, for those with smaller yards (a quarter of an acre or less), the surprising power of this mower will perfectly suit their needs.
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Although the Hart 40-volt cordless brushless mower does not have the raw cutting power of other electric pushers, it is not bent. The blades of this mower never stopped during my test trims. It is also powered through a challenging low brush without choking.
Despite offering a wide cutting width of 20 inches, the 52-pound machine was relatively light. It is not self-propelled, so pushing the mower uphill is a challenge. Despite that, the low price of the mower and solid performance make it attractive to cheap buyers. A pair of 40-volt batteries and a charger are compatible with Hart’s line of power tools to sweeten the deal.
Other mowers I tested
Dewalt 21.5 in. 20-V MAX.
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Dewalt 20-V MAX
I had high hopes for this Dewalt mower because of its large size, steel chassis and Dewalt’s long history of power tool making. On the field, however, his performance was disappointing. The Dewalt 21.5-inch 20-volt MAX often stalled due to mowed grass stuck between the mower blade and the frame wall. An additional insult to the injury is the relatively high price of the mower of $ 499.
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Ryobi self-propelled brushless mower 21 inches of 40 V.
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Ryobi 21-inch 40V brushless
Close to the EGO mower in power, speed and cutting ability, the Ryobi 21-inch mower handles our test lawn well. He slowed down a few times, but recovered quickly and never stopped. For an even lower price than Ryobi’s $ 587 price, a more powerful EGO is a better buy.
Cobalt 40-V Max cordless lawnmower without 20-inch brushes.
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Cobalt 40-V Max without brushes
Light for its size, this 56-pound mower is not self-propelled, but it was easy to push. However, its underside clogged several times during our tests. Its battery also needs some force to push into place.
Greenworks G-MAX 40V 16-inch cordless lawn mower.
Chris Monroe / CNET
Greenworks G-MAX 40V
Compact and lightweight, this Greenworks model has proven itself well. It didn’t stop during my test mowing and it was easy to push across the lawn. However, the battery holder inside the mower is located on the upper inner edge of its socket. This makes it more inconvenient to insert compared to other machines.
Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 48-volt 17-inch mulching mower.
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Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 48-volt
This Sun Joe model can be light and easy to push. If you walk too fast, the mower can get stuck with mowing the grass. You also need to push the machine’s batteries into their sockets at an angle that is not as intuitive as it should be.
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Lawn mower testing
To test each mower, I chose one flat lawn surface inside a CNET Smart Home lawn. With all the batteries of the mower fully charged, I set the cutting height of each mower to its position no. 4 (higher number means higher cutting height). I then used each machine to mow at least four full rows (15 feet) of lawn in both directions, with 180-degree turns between each row.
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Some mowers like Cobalt here can get stuck due to mowed grass.
Brian Bennett / CNET
I paid close attention to whether the mowers stopped, got stuck or struggled in any way during cutting. I also performed the same test through the low brush section on the outer edge of the lawn. This served as a torture test for high power models and a good way to determine which mowers are really worth your money.
Frequently asked questions about electric mowers
Is it worth buying an electric lawn mower?
It depends on the specific requirements of your yard, your personal budget and whether the potential benefits of owning an electric lawn mower outweigh the potential disadvantages. I invite you to start by considering your needs, and then look at our article that weighs the advantages and disadvantages of an electric lawn mower.
We have a nice list of options here, but if the restrictions of an electric lawn mower do not meet the needs of your yard, you will end up dissatisfied with the purchase.
Is it safe to mow wet grass with an electric mower?
No, mowing wet grass with an electric mower is not recommended. Always consult the specific user manual for your product to determine its optimal safe use in advance and contact the manufacturer directly with questions.
Are cordless mowers the same thing as electric lawn mowers?
Yes. Cordless lawn mowers are one type of electric lawn mower, but some electric lawn mowers have a cable instead.