The Best Lawn Mower

• Over the past 11 mowing seasons, we’ve spent more than 175 hours researching nearly 250 mowers. We’ve also interviewed a wide variety of experts, including landscapers, lawn-mower retailers, and product managers at Cub Cadet, Ego, Honda, Toro, and Troy-Bilt, among other manufacturers.
• During this time, we’ve also extensively tested our recommendations at multiple locations across the country, with the majority of our testing taking place on a large lawn in rural New Hampshire and a grassy hillside property in Los Angeles.
• I cover outdoor power equipment for Wirecutter, and I also test leaf blowers, string trimmers, pressure washers, and chainsaws. I’ve been reviewing tools and gear since 2007, and I spent 10 years in construction. This guide’s editor, Harry Sawyers, draws from his previous experience as a professional landscaper.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, we review and test products with complete editorial independence. We’re never made aware of any business implications of our editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

If you want to appreciate the sight of your yard, you need a lawn mower. Anything larger than a half-acre is riding-mower territory, but for lawns up to a half-acre, a self-propelled push mower is perfect. When you’re going at a pace of about 3 mph (roughly the average walking speed for adults), it takes about an hour to cut this amount of grass. If you have a particularly small lawn, you could use a reel mower, but it’s fairly hard work. If you want to expend much less energy, and you have a much larger budget, we’ve also tested robotic mowers.

We prefer cordless mowers (and we no longer recommend gas mowers). Compared with gas mowers, cordless mowers start with the push of a button and are easier to maneuver, and they don’t need oil changes, gas, spark plugs, or air filters. They’re also much quieter, they don’t smell, they don’t produce emissions, and they’re easier to store in the off-season. Over the years, battery and charger technology has improved to the point where the best models consistently get over an hour of run time per battery, and charging time is reduced to as little as an hour to completely replenish a battery. As of 2025, we no longer recommend gas mowers.

Self-propelled mowers make life easier. Since the mower moves itself across the lawn, all you have to do is work the throttle and steer, as opposed to forcing the mower’s full weight up every incline and over every bump. A self-propulsion feature adds to a mower’s price, but after using both types in testing and in our regular lives, we’ve concluded that this feature is well worth the investment.

We favor easy-to-use controls and features. It’s important to have a nicely cut lawn, but it’s equally important for the process to be relatively easy. When we were evaluating models, we placed an emphasis on user controls and features. And we considered the following things: How difficult is it to adjust the push-bar height or to raise and lower the mowing deck? Can you intuitively control and adjust the self-propulsion? Is the bag a pain to put on and take off? Does the mower have other design details that make startup smoother or assist with storage?

We look at cost in terms of long-term value. Gas mowers are generally cheaper up-front, but they also have long-term costs and hassles that cordless mowers avoid. The drawbacks include the cost of supplies (such as gas, oil, stabilizers, air filters, and spark plugs), as well as the time and labor required to care for a gas mower (namely getting gas, changing the oil, and emptying the tank at the end of the season). With cordless mowers, the battery claims a large percentage of the price tag. But cordless-mower manufacturers typically offer a series of outdoor tools (leaf blowers, string trimmers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and the like) that are compatible with the same battery, and you can usually purchase them without a battery at a greatly reduced cost. So while cordless mowers have a high cost up-front, the investment may open the door to an affordable expansion into the manufacturer’s other yard tools.

Charge time and run time are critical. For cordless candidates, we examine both of these primary factors, which together determine whether a mower’s battery will be adequate or frustrating. Because these two elements are so important, we consider only those mowers that use a battery of at least 40 volts.

Top pick

The best lawn mower

Ego LM2236SP Power+ 1000 Series 56-volt Self-Propelled Battery Mower

This self-propelled lawn mower has a battery that runs for at least an hour, and it easily mows overgrown grass. It will also spare you the noise, emissions, and maintenance of a typical gas mower.

$999 from Lowe’s

For the best in convenience, run time, cutting quality, and value, we recommend the Ego LM2236SP Power+ 1000 Series 22” Mower. Compared with a gas mower, this model is quieter, it doesn’t create exhaust, and it requires almost no maintenance. Among cordless models, the LM2236SP has a long run time — the battery is good for a solid hour of mowing — and a short, one-hour charging time. The control interface allows you to operate the self-propulsion with either hand. The mower cuts with two blades, creating a finer cut and allowing for better mulching, and the motor is powerful enough to handle wildly overgrown grass. The mower also lets you control how much gets mulched and how much gets bagged. Rounding out the features, there are two forward-facing LED lights; an easy-to-use, eight-position cutting-height adjustment; and a battery port that faces the battery gauge toward the operator. In addition, the battery is compatible with Ego’s other lawn tools, such as the company’s leaf blower, chainsaw, pressure washer, and string trimmer.

It has a solid run time, but that may vary depending on how — and what — you’re mowing. The LM2236SP comes with three different blades. One is the established upper blade, which always stays on the mower. And you add one of the other two — a mulching blade or a bagging blade — depending on what you need. Ego states the mower has a maximum run time of up to 75 minutes (this is with the lowest of the blade speeds cutting a light load of grass). We tested the mulching blade on tall grass and got just over an hour of run time; older Ego cordless mowers we’ve previously used in similar conditions lost power after about 40 to 45 minutes. A Milwaukee mower we tested similarly lasted only about 25 minutes.

The manual also has tips on extending the run time; those include keeping a sharp blade, never cutting off more than 1.5 inches of grass, and keeping the mower at a reasonable speed. You can also extend the run time by purchasing an additional battery (or another Ego yard tool that comes with a battery), though this is costly (and somewhat obvious). The batteries alone are pricey: Depending on their ampere-hour rating, they currently range in price from about $150 (for a 2.5 Ah battery) to about $650 (for a 12 Ah battery). They all fit in the mower, and if you have a second one on the charger while the first one is out working in the yard, you can minimize or eliminate downtime.

This two-blade model offers superior power. We’ve put the mowers on some rough tufts of knotty crabgrass, knee-height rye grass, and thick stalks of weeds. Although most mowers we’ve tested could handle the tasks, the LM2236SP hardly slowed down at all, and it left a much better cut compared with that of the competition. Other models either significantly slowed down or periodically stalled out.

The cut quality is very nice, especially compared with the cut quality of single-blade models, and this leads to a healthier lawn. With its two blades, the LM2236SP cut grass into smaller pieces than the single-blade mowers did. This leads to better mulching, since smaller pieces decompose more quickly, and bagging is more efficient because you can fit more grass into each bag. The LM2236SP’s second blade places this mower in territory previously exclusive to mowers like the ones in the highly regarded dual-blade Honda HRX series. Even going through taller grass, the LM2236SP left a nice-looking lawn in our tests.

Controlling it is easy and intuitive. Like many mowers, the LM2236SP has a metal bar (called a bail) that you hold against the handle to activate the blades. To activate the self-propulsion, you press either of two buttons in the upper corners of the handle. A central dial controls the mower’s speed; you can operate that dial with your thumbs or your palm (if you’re holding the upper part of the handle).

It emits no exhaust fumes. When you use the LM2236SP, there’s no gas-engine exhaust in your face, so the smell is entirely different, and it’s a much more pleasant experience. Unfortunately, the allergens are exactly the same.

It offers a number of convenience features. A redesigned dashboard on this version gives you at-a-glance info on battery status and blade speed, and it controls a headlight. This headlight (not found on many comparable mowers) provides some illumination in the evening or in shadowy corners dense with foliage. We didn’t have much occasion to change between the three blade speeds in testing, but it’s a nice new feature to help adjust cut quality or extend battery life.

Shifting cut height is easy and versatile. The single-adjust height control, a rarity on gas mowers, allows you to set the cutting height with a single lever. (On most gas mowers, you have to adjust the cutting height at each individual wheel.) The LM2236SP has eight cutting heights, between 1 to 4 inches; this is a wider range than on most cordless mowers, which top out at around 3.5 to 3.75 inches.

It has a unique mulching system. At the rear of the mower, the Ego has a toggle that lets you adjust the opening between the mowing dome and the bag opening. On other mulching mowers, the dome is either completely open or completely closed off, so 100% of the grass gets bagged or mulched. But with this mower, you can make adjustments, such as setting one-third of the grass to be bagged and two-thirds to be mulched. This feature allows you to respond to your yard’s conditions and makes mowing easier.

It outshines gas mowers in storage convenience. This mower can be folded up, propped up on one end, and then rolled like a dolly. Once it’s folded, the whole thing is the size of a large suitcase, with multiple rails to grab. The grab points are helpful because this mower weighs almost 70 pounds. It’s still lighter than a lot of gas mowers, but it can be a challenge to lift the LM2236SP over large thresholds, haul it up a couple of garage steps, or fit it through a door.

It’s expensive up-front, but it includes many features that typically come as premium options on gas mowers. Sold for anywhere between $800 and $1,000, the LM2236SP is a serious investment. Yet it offers a lot of convenience, including a push-button start, the ability to stop the blades but not the motor, and self-propulsion. Add in all the avoided long-term costs of gas and maintenance, as well as the LM2236SP’s two-blade system, and the value proposition starts to look a lot more even.

If it’s out of stock, you can get the same mower with a different battery configuration. An alternate version of the LM2256SP, the LM2244SP-2, comes with two 6.0 Ah batteries and a dual-port charger. The two mowers are the same; only the batteries are different. The LM2244SP-2 is usually more expensive and provides up to 90 minutes of cutting time. Another bonus of this model is that the smaller, 6.0 Ah batteries are going to be easier to use on Ego’s smaller handheld tools, like its leaf blower or string trimmer.

Once you purchase the mower and battery, you can buy other tools in Ego’s 56-volt lineup. The batteries are compatible across Ego’s line of yard-care tools. So when you have this mower’s included battery and charger, you can purchase any of the other tools at a reduced price, since you can get just the tools, minus the battery and charger. In our testing, Ego’s blower, chainsaw, and string trimmer have all been excellent performers. The company has also announced the release of a mini bike (no joke), so it isn’t making just lawn tools anymore.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The self-propelled system’s controls could use some improvement. Because the throttle buttons are so integrated with the handle, on occasion we’ve accidentally goosed the mower when we didn’t intend to. This isn’t usually an issue. However, it’s often when you’re trying to get a better grip on the handle that you least want to engage the self-propulsion. For example, if you’re mowing across a hill, there’s a brief moment during the turnaround when the mower is pointing up or down the hill. When you’re adjusting your grip to make those turns, you may inadvertently tap the throttle, destabilizing your stance or your grip on the mower.

Accelerating or decelerating can be awkward. The central dial sets only the speed, and the throttle buttons on the handle activate it. As a result, you can’t really pull off a quick-reflex slowdown or acceleration. You can move the speed dial while the mower is operating, but the process is not as smooth as we would like.

Runner-up

Great mower, fewer features

Ego LM2135SP Power+ 21″ Select Cut Mower

This mower isn’t as polished as our top pick. But if that one is out of stock, or you’re looking for a more-basic, self-propelled cordless model, this mower is an excellent choice.

$749 from Amazon

$749 from Lowe’s

If our top pick, the Ego LM2236SP, is not available, we also like the Ego LM2135SP Power+ 21” Select Cut Mower. A previous top pick, this model shares many of the characteristics of the LM2236SP, including the dual-blade cutting system and strong run time and charging time. The LM2135SP’s motor is a little less powerful, and it doesn’t have three speeds or the bag/mulch controller. It’s a solid mower that will satisfy the needs of most yards. While it doesn’t have the most updated features, it does cost less (sometimes by a few hundred dollars).

We’re currently researching the Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322. We’ve so far been impressed with Husqvarna’s cordless tools, recommending its chainsaw and leaf blower, so we’re interested in this model. We may test it, but it’s on the pricier side, and we are picking up on some run-time concerns in early anecdotal feedback from retail reviewers.

The LM2156SP Power+ 21” Select Cut XP Mower was a previous pick, and it’s a fine mower. It’s actually an upgrade to our runner-up mower, the LM2236SP. But its price is closer to that of our top pick, which offers so much more. The LM2156SP is an excellent mower, but compared with the other options, we have a hard time justifying this model’s value.

Since we first wrote this guide, in 2013, we’ve always had a Honda gas mower as a recommendation. In 2023, Honda announced that it was discontinuing production of residential mowers in the US, and now, in 2025, the stock has all but vanished from the shelves. Honda mowers were known for their longevity, quality, and overall ease of use. Here’s to you, Honda.

The Ego LM2206SP 22-inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is an inch wider than most cordless mowers. It also has an aluminum deck, Ego’s dual-blade system, and more power than our top pick. This model is among Ego’s highest-end mowers, and our primary concern with it is the value for the price, since we’ve been totally satisfied by several Ego’s mowers that sell for less.

Toro’s cordless mowers look nice and are backed by a very established name in lawn care. Their run times are not as long as the run times of our picks, but if you’re already invested in the Toro battery line, they look like solid options.

The same can be said about Ryobi’s mowers, including the Ryobi RY401210 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series Self-Propelled AWD Multi-Blade Lawn Mower, which is comparable to our top pick. They look like solid machines, but our picks just edge them out on performance.

We tested the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 21” Self-Propelled Dual Battery Mower. This is a very nice machine, and it handles really well. Unlike our top pick, it’s a true variable-speed model, with the ability to accelerate and decelerate in an instant. It runs on two 18-volt batteries, but it does not match the run time or power of our two Ego picks. In thick grass, it bogged down more, and the cut wasn’t as nice. It’s also typically more expensive than our Ego recommendations. Considering what our top pick offers, we don’t see the need to spend so much more.

The Ego LM2102SP Power+ 21” Self-Propelled Mower was a previous recommendation. It’s a good mower, but it has a shorter run time, and it’s not as powerful as our current picks. It also has an older control system, and we don’t like it as much as the new one.

Ego’s other self-propelled model, the Ego LM2142SP Power+ 21” Self-Propelled Mower, has a slightly longer run time than our top pick: On a light load, the two-battery LM2142SP can run for up to 80 minutes. But it has only a single blade and requires two batteries.

The Ryobi RYPM8010 80V HP Brushless Whisper Series 30” Cross Cut Self-Propelled Lawn Mower uses four blades and Ryobi’s new 80-volt battery. Though it’s about the size of a regular push mower, it staggers two sets of blades, like a riding mower, to achieve a 30-inch cut. It promises 90 minutes of run time and a charging time of less than an hour. It’s a heavy-duty model, and it carries a heavy-duty price: It sells for about $2,000, which is a whole lot of money for a push mower, no matter how good it is.

Greenworks mowers boast long run times and short charging times but we prefer the interface of the Ego mowers. If you’ve already bought into the Greenworks system, and you have other tools and batteries from that lineup, these mowers are solid options.

We researched models from Worx, but none of them can rival the Ego mowers’ long run times, shorter charging times, and convenience features.

Corded electric mowers have so many limitations that most people would find them frustrating to use. Mowing around trees, hedges, or any other obstruction is an exercise in extension-cord management. Anyone looking to avoid a gas engine would be much happier with the Ego mowers.

This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.