Best Cordless Electric Push Mower
Ryobi 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower
- Design5/5
- Performance4.3/5
- Usability4.8/5
- Safety5/5
- Value4/5
- It’s a highly efficient lawn mower, comes with an extra battery, and is very quiet.
It’s a highly efficient lawn mower, comes with an extra battery, and is very quiet.
- There’s only one port on the charger so each battery has to be charged separately.
There’s only one port on the charger so each battery has to be charged separately.
If you’re after a super quiet and efficient lawn mower that gives you as much freedom to roam as a gas model, but without the gas fill-ups, oil checks, and fumes, check out this Ryobi pick. In addition to being a quiet option, it also comes with an additional battery.
This mower was tested on a medium-sized yard that has a few inclines and is lumpy in some areas. We appreciated that the mower self-propels at different speeds that you set, so navigating smaller hills and bumps is a breeze. Plus, maneuvering around obstacles, like tree stumps, and getting close to garden beds and bushes was also easy.
At 75 pounds the mower is quite lightweight, so it wasn’t difficult to maneuver. The 6-inch grass height meant we had to stop a few times to empty the collection bag but after the second and third mows, when the grass was fairly short, we rarely had to empty the collection bag.
On the side of the mower there is a pull handle that can adjust the deck height, which is effortless to do. The garden we tested this on usually takes around 45 minutes to mow, and since each battery lasts 70 minutes, we had plenty of battery life to spare after we were done. If one battery loses power, however, you can always swap it out with the spare that comes with it.
Setting up this mower is an easy one-person job and takes just 20 minutes. We appreciated that the instructions were straightforward and consisted mainly of pictures, a testament to how very simple and intuitive a machine this is. All you have to do is unfold the handle and put together the debris bag, although you can use the mower without it. We also had to charge the batteries, which took under an hour.
The mower almost folds down right in half, which is convenient for storage. When folded, it measures a compact 2 x 3 feet, and not much more with the bag on.
Apart from a few sprays of grass that flew out from the blade due to the wind, and the fact that there’s only one charging port so you can’t charge the batteries at the same time, we had no complaints. This lawn mower performed just as well as a gas mower, and we didn’t notice any missed spots after mowing.
Product Details: Power: Battery | Ideal Lawn Size: 0.5 to 1 acre | Deck Width: 21 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4 inches (adjustable, 7 positions) | Mower Weight: 75 pounds
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER MAY
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JENNIFER MAY
Best Gas Riding Mower
John Deere S100 42-Inch Gas Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractor
- Setup5/5
- Design5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.8/5
- Safety4.8/5
- It’s fast and can turn sharply around corners and obstacles.
It’s fast and can turn sharply around corners and obstacles.
- The two separate pedals for forward and reverse may take some getting used to.
The two separate pedals for forward and reverse may take some getting used to.
John Deere’s S100 42-inch riding mower is ideal for lawns up to 1 acre, and it’s small enough for easy stowing away, too. We tested this machine out on a large and hilly property and found that it performed impeccably.
The mower came fully assembled and the instructions were easy to understand. Starting it up does require a few steps. First, you must push the brake pedal all the way down, then you set the parking brake. Next, advance the throttle forward to the choke position, and lastly, turn the key.
Mowing 0.2 acres of lawn took just 15 minutes. It was able to cut the grass evenly and didn’t seem to have any problems when the grass was damp either. The mower was fast and agile during testing, and it turns corners sharply, so you can get close to obstacles and mow around them.
The lawn mower has great maneuverability and a highly responsive pedal that controls the speed depending on how hard you push it. Puddles are no problem for this solid gas lawn mower, and if you need to pass over anything higher like rocks, you can just raise the blades via the lever.
It has two separate pedals for reverse and forward drive which took some getting used to at first. We loved the side discharge chute that powerfully sends grass far away from the mower. Steering was easy and it rides smoothly, even over gravel. It’s quite a loud mower, but not so much that you need hearing protection.
While it doesn’t have wheel weights or reflectors, we felt safe using it overall. For added safety, however, it features an ignition cutoff switch and headlights for clearer visibility. The adjustable seat has a short back that supports the lower back, and it’s comfortable even with extended use.
Product Details: Power: Gas | Ideal Lawn Size: Up to one acre | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4 inches (adjustable, 13 positions) | Mower Weight: 414 pounds
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ABBY MERCER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ABBY MERCER
Best Electric Riding Mower
Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower
- Setup5/5
- Design5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.8/5
- Safety4.8/5
- The mower beeps when you leave the seat and while reversing, and there’s also an auto shut-off function.
The mower beeps when you leave the seat and while reversing, and there’s also an auto shut-off function.
- It doesn’t have power steering.
It doesn’t have power steering.
The Ryobi 80V HP 42-inch Electric Riding Lawn Tractor offers a fast and safe riding experience, so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for an electric riding option. It’s a lightweight machine due largely to its mostly plastic construction, and we found that it’s quiet when in operation.
Setup took 1.5 hours, which was a bit longer than some of the other mowers we tried. Luckily the battery was partially full when it arrived, so we were able to take it out and test it immediately once it was assembled. While testing it, we liked that the faux leather seat that was comfortable and adjustable forward and back.
As an electric model, it’s quite easy to start (no choke), and we particularly appreciated the lack of exhaust fumes and excess heat as well. As soon as you hit the accelerator the mower really took off, so keep in mind light footing is needed.
While it certainly has a lot of power if you want to go fast, it’s also able to go slowly around obstacles. If you feel the pedal is too jerky, there’s a convenient speed response setting that you can adjust via the digital display menu.
The mower cut the grass evenly and even chopped up leaves and sticks as it went over them. If you want to reverse the mowing deck will turn off, but you can override this in the display menu if you wish. The deck height is also adjustable with a large manual lever.
For extra safety, the mower beeps (rather loudly) and also automatically beeps when you lift from the seat. LED headlights at the front provide extra visibility on gloomier days, though they’re not bright enough for mowing at night if they’re your only source of light.
The mower is quite compact so takes up minimal storage space. The only downside was that it doesn’t have power steering. While it was fine when going along fast, it was a little tiresome when turning slowly around obstacles.
We liked that the mower featured a handy digital display to let you know how much battery is left. The mower only takes an hour to fully charge up when empty, and mowing a third of an acre only took 20% of its battery life. Charging is simple—simply connect the mower’s charger to the wall socket and the mower, and unplug it when it’s full.
Product Details: Power: Battery | Ideal Lawn Size: Up to 2 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4.5 inches (adjustable, 12 positions) | Mower Weight: 700 pounds
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN
Best Zero-Turn Mower
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42-Inch Zero-Turn Mower
- Setup4.8/5
- Design4.5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.7/5
- Safety4.7/5
- It’s an easy-to-maneuver and powerful lawn mower that cuts the lawn cleanly and evenly.
It’s an easy-to-maneuver and powerful lawn mower that cuts the lawn cleanly and evenly.
- Zero-turn mowers have levers (as opposed to steering wheels) so there’s a bit of a learning curve.
Zero-turn mowers have levers (as opposed to steering wheels) so there’s a bit of a learning curve.
Thanks to a large mowing swath, two speed adjustment options (for both forward and reverse), and its nifty ability to turn on a dime around lawn obstacles, the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 40-inch riding mower was easily our top pick for the best zero-turn lawn mower.
Setting up this mower took half an hour, thanks in part to the straightforward instruction manual. After we got it all set up, we were able to start it immediately and get going.
We took it out for testing on a slightly sloped lawn with several obstacles, and it took 3.5 inches of grass off quickly and evenly. Taller grass was no issue for this machine, and the side discharge chute powerfully ejects clippings far away from the mower, with no lawn chunks in sight.
There’s a knob on the left side that adjusts the deck height, and the machine’s lower overall height gave us clearer visibility ahead, as well as making us feel safe with no fear of toppling. The ride was smooth, even on bumpy terrain, and the mower’s seat is adjustable for both the rider’s comfort requirements, and according to the type of terrain you’re mowing on.
Since zero-turn mowers have levers instead of steering wheels, steering this mower does take some getting used to. It’s also rather loud due to its exposed motor, but it didn’t bother us too much.
Product Details: Power: Gas | Ideal Lawn Size: 2 to 4 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4.5 inches (adjustable, 15 positions) | Mower Weight: 580 pounds
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHAD SPARKS
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHAD SPARKS
Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
EGO Power+ 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower
- Design4.8/5
- Performance4.5/5
- Usability4/5
- Safety5/5
- Value5/5
- It’s a breeze to push thanks to its powerful self-propelling technology that basically moved the mower along for you—no effort needed.
It’s a breeze to push thanks to its powerful self-propelling technology that basically moved the mower along for you—no effort needed.
- If you’re not used to a self-propelled mower, it could take some time to get accustomed to it.
If you’re not used to a self-propelled mower, it could take some time to get accustomed to it.
We took the EGO POWER+ Select Cut 56-Volt 21-inch Self-propelled Cordless Lawn Mower out on a small lawn that takes 30 minutes to mow. The garden is mostly flat, with a patio and a couple of trees to mow around which proved problematic for some other mowers. This EGO POWER+ handled them well and turned easily, handling the small hills well.
There is no assembly required apart from putting on the bag if you want it, but it took a while to figure out the functions and required a thorough read of the instruction manual. Adjusting the deck height was super easy, as was the propelling speed. The handle is also adjustable both in height and angle for user comfort with no back pain.
If you’ve never used a self-propelled mower before, the speed and power in which it pulls you along might seem a little strange at first (as soon as it’s engaged, it literally just takes off), but you always have the option of switching that function off by simply not gripping the clutch that’s right on top of the handle.
By the second mowing session, we got the hang of it, though. The mower performed impeccably, cutting evenly and smoothly. However, it did get stuck on a patch of wet grass when we hit a branch, but the mower blinked its orange power light to let you know that something was wrong. We moved it to a dryer area and it started just fine.
The mower is very light to maneuver with one hand, even when it’s not on. It gives you the option of having the self-propelled function on without the blades running so you can push it back to where you need to store it without messing up your freshly trimmed grass.
The single battery it comes with only takes an hour to charge and lasts up to 75 minutes, more than enough for a small to medium-sized lawn. The mower folds down so compactly we were able to store it in a small space between a shelving rack and a patio couch. This lawn mower is great for anyone with back pain, or even an elderly person, as no effort is required to push it.
Product Details: Power: Battery-powered | Ideal Lawn Size: 0.25 to 0.5 acres | Deck Width: 21 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4 inches (adjustable, 6 positions) | Mower Weight: 62.6 pounds
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEGAN WOOD
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / MEGAN WOOD