Home Power Equipment Lawn Mowers
ByTyler Graham
Updated: May 21, 2024
The best self-propelled lawn mowers make mowing easy, comfortable and provide superior cuts. Our lawn expert tested more than 25 to find the best.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
TYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Push mowers certainly have their place, but the convenience of a self-propelled mower is unrivaled. For folks with larger lawns, hilly or slanted lawns or older people, self-propelled lawns can make life much easier. Before you buy, read our guide to the best self-propelled lawn mowers to learn the nuances between mowers that you only learn by testing out dozens (which we have!).
Best Overall
Ego Power+ LM2156SP Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Read More
Best Wide-Deck
Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Read More
Best Budget
Troy Bilt TB210 Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Read More
Best Splurge
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Lawn Mower
Read More
Best Rear-Wheel Drive Cordless
Toro Recycler Smartstow Cordless Lawn Mower
Read More
Best for Small Lawns
Makita 18-inch 18V Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Read More
TYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMANTYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Pros:
- Powerful cutting performance
- Strong self-propelled system with TouchDrive technology
- High-performing battery system that can be used with other EGO tools
- No maintenance
- Dual cutting blades
Cons:
- Long-term investment in electric tools
- Plastic cutting deck may be less durable
The Ego Power+ LM2156SP self-propelled lawn mower is a great electric mower that performs like agas-powered mower. For starters, it has the highest torque of just about any electric mower at 8.3 pounds per feet–more than many classic gas mowers like the Honda GCV190.
The LM2156SP also comes with Ego Select Cut XP, which means it has two blades that spin simultaneously and a turbo button that takes the mower into maximum torque mode. The TouchDrive technology of this mower enables you to modify the self-propelled speed exceptionally easily. Another great thing about this mower is the 56V battery series from Ego. If I am going to invest in a particular battery line across all of my lawn tools (which I recommend you do to save big bucks), then I am going to use the 56V battery series. Ego has an extensive lineup of tools, including a cordless two-stage snow blower, and they all use the same voltage so that you can use one battery to power all of their tools.
Family HandymanFAMILY HANDYMAN
Best Wide-Deck
Toro TimeMaster 30-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Pros:
- Extra-cutting deck
- Personal pace self-propelled feature
- Easy to store
- Push button start
Cons:
- Expensive
- Requires yearly maintenance
The Toro TimeMaster 30-inch self-propelled mower is an absolute workhorse. At 30 inches wide, the TimeMaster provides a highly efficient cutting experience for those of us with big yards. Considering thatmost riding mowershave cutting decks starting at 32 inches and above, theTimeMaster 30 is an anomaly with a cutting deck eight inches wider than most of its self-propelled peers.
Ethan O’Donnell, a senior editor atFamily Handyman, also tested this mower. He noted that it cut his “mowing time from 90 to 49 minutes” due to the wide cutting deck and the personal pace self-propelled system.
The mower’s design backed up Ethan’s experience.Jens Hoffmann, a senior marketing Manager at Toro, said, “The cutting capacity of the wider deck 30-inch deck reduces your mowing time by up to 40 percent while allowing it to still fit through gates that wider riding mowers can’t fit through, along with the maneuverability of a walk power mower.”
Not only is the TimeMaster self-propelled mower super wide and powerful, but it also comes with some of the best bells and whistles in the lawn mower space. The personal pace function constantly monitors and adjusts the self-propelled function to match your walking speed. The mower also has two blades side-by-side underneath it, which more closely resembles the cuttingdeck of a zero-turn mower.
An excellent spin stop system on the TimeMaster allows you to step away from the mower to move sticks, adjust, or grab some water without completely turning off the engine. The spin stop system simply disengages the blades and allows the mower to run safely in place without requiring you to restart it.
VIA MERCHANTVIA MERCHANT
Best Budget
Troy Bilt TB210 Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Pros:
- Affordable
- Dependable
- Front-wheel drive
- Strong deck material
Cons:
- A bit heavy
The Troy Bilt TB210 self-propelled lawn mower isn’t cheap but is a lower-cost alternative to many other self-propelled mowers. I have owned a Troy Bilt TB160 (my first-ever mower) for seven years. This thing occasionally fires up on the second or third pull despite my lazily avoiding a strict maintenance schedule. All this to say—the Troy Bilt TB series lasts you a long time. If your current mower isn’t so lucky, here’s what to do when your lawn mower won’t start.
The TB210 is an excellent budget self-propelled mower that comes with front-wheel drive. I like front-wheel drive on lawns with bumps or steep areas. It can help pull the mower forward instead of pushing it from behind, which takes off some of the load for crawling uphill. The rear-wheel drive can “spin” like a car stuck in the mud with hills. Are you looking for a cheaper lawn mower? Browse this list ofFamily Handyman-approvedaffordable lawn mowers.
VIA MERCHANTVIA MERCHANT
Best Splurge
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Cordless Lawn Mower
Pros:
- Powerful
- Sleek metal deck design
- Can use the same batteries as Milwaukee M18 hand tools
Cons:
- Expensive
The Milwaukee M18 Fuel cordless self-propelled mower may be thebest electric moweron the market–but it comes with a hefty price tag. This mower can be an excellent investment forMilwaukee Toolloyalists (of which there are many). The M18 battery system on this mower uses the same M18 batteries as the hand tools, so if you buy the tool-only version, you can savebigbucks.
Regardless of cost, the M18 has the best cutting experience of any electric mower (or gas mower). From the super smooth metal cutting deck with a unique and sleek design to the satisfying “thump” you get from closing the battery connection unit, this mower is unreal. It also has an extremely long runtime of just over an hour, a powerful self-propelled function and an extraordinarily clean cut.
If you have the dough and some M18 batteries lying around, you have to experience this mower.
TYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMANTYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Best Rear-Wheel Drive Cordless
Toro Recycler Smartstow Cordless Lawn Mower
Pros:
- Vortex technology creates even cut
- Personal pace rear-wheel drive self-propelled system
- Wide range of cutting heights
- Metal cutting deck
Cons:
- Slightly pricier than peers
- Limited battery system
The more I have used my Toro Recycler SmartStow mower, the more I have liked it. In almost every sense, Toro has made what I consider the first “classic” electric mower. From the first use, the electric Recycler felt like a gas-powered mower. It has a solid self-propelledfunctionthat is tamed using the personal pace system, the same one that TimeMaster listed above uses. It also has a clean cutting deck, powerful cut and Vortex technology. The Vortex technology on this mower pulls air up through the deck and makes your grass blades stick straight up. Once they are up, it chops them for a supremely even cut across your lawn. This feature nearly guarantees you alush yard.
Another classic is the rear-wheel drive self-propelled function. In almost every way, this Recycler is reminiscent of the gas-powered Recycler. I think they just swapped out the gas engine for the electric motor.
TYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMANTYLER K FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN
Best for Small Lawns
Makita 18-inch 18V Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Pros:
- Smaller deck allows for easier storage and steering
- Can use the Makita 18V battery system from their hand tools
- Has a quiet mode
Cons:
- Battery replacement costs
The Makita 18-inch self-propelled mower is excellent for smaller lawns because—well, it is smaller. At 18 inches, the Makita LXT provides power similar to the bigger mowers on the market but in a more narrow format. Most mowers have cutting decks that range from 21 to 24 inches.
Eighteen inches doesn’t make that much of a difference until you recognize that navigating a small lawn can be difficult and every inch matters. The smaller deck on this mower doesn’t sacrifice any power but makes it easier to make nimble passes, steer around garden beds, and store them in a garage or ashed. Speaking of storage, here are some otherspace-saving garage organization ideasyou can do yourself.
What to Consider When Buying a Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Lawn mowers come in many shapes and sizes, but there are a few criticalconsiderations for self-propelled mowers:
- Speed control: Look for a self-propelled function with variable speed control. This allows you to set the mower’s self-propelled speed at the pace you are most comfortable with instead of a set pace that is too fast or too slow.
- Wheel drive: Self-propelled mowers have front-wheel, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive has the best function but is also the most exhausting on your fuel source. Front-wheel drive is better for going up hills but can spin in place if you don’t help push the mower a bit. Rear-wheel drive is a great option for general self-propelled functions at a better price than all-wheel drive.
- Fuel source impact: if you own a battery-powered mower, you’ll notice that the self-propelled function will burn through the battery more quickly. Either purchase an additional battery or be aware that you may have to stop for a recharge break. For those of us with gas mowers, keep an eye on your fuel level, as the engine will be working a little harder to get this mower moving.
Why You Should Trust Us
As someone who used to mow lawns professionally, I have mowed thousands of lawns in my life. Over the past few years, I have explored battery-powered tools and electric lawn tools and believe these are the future of lawn care. Since then, I have tested just about every battery-powered, gas-powered or self-propelled lawn tool with a focus on trying to find the best mowers available.
We also leaned on the expertise of Tyler Graham ofThe Lawn Review websiteandYouTube, who currently owns nearly 20 mowers and has tested dozens more. His expertise helped us complete thorough tests that tested these mowers to the limit, including using the self-propelled function to walk seven different gas and electric mowers until they ran out of fuel.
I Tested More Than 25 Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
To say that I have used more self-propelled mowers than the average person would be an understatement. Over the past 15 years,I have tested dozens of self-propelled mowers. Gas, electric, corded, reel, zero-turn, riding—every type of mower under the sun has come under the intense scrutiny of my backyard (and my mother-in-law’s).
Whenever I test out a new mower, I put it through the gauntlet. I start in the backyard with something I call the cut check–it involves spray painting my lawn with white paint, waiting a week, andthen cutting it to see if the mower misses any blades. The second test is the bog-down showdown. In this test, I gradually lower the cutting deck in an area of thick brush until the mower completely chokes out. The longer it lasts in dense brush, the more powerful the cut. The next test is the mower mile—my least favorite. I walk the mower with full fuel (battery or gas) until it dies. Yes, it is ridiculous. Yes, I have lost 20 pounds doing it. The last is a cost comparison. I find the best deal on each mower and compare the costs plus the five-year costs of maintaining the mower.
FAQ
Can you just push a self-propelled mower?
Yes! Self-propelled mowers can benefit from a light push during mowing. Additionally, if you need to preserve fuel time, you can turn off the function and push the entire way.
What are the disadvantages of a self-propelled lawn mower?
Self-propelled lawn mowers have two disadvantages: they are more expensive than push mowers and will burn through batteries or gas more quickly than push mowers.
Is it worth getting a self-propelled mower?
If you have a larger yard, are older, or just want a more effortless mowing experience, then self-propelled mowers are an excellent investment. While you may pay a bit of a premium for the self-propelled function, you will reap the benefits of having an enjoyable mowing experience for years.
Originally Published: April 12, 2019
Author
Tyler Graham
Alex is a lawn care and lawn tool enthusiast who is the primary editor of The Lawn Review. Alex has been featured in the Washington Post among hundreds of other national publications.
Read More
