The best mulching lawn mower cuts clippings fine, drops them back into the turf and keeps running through a full mow. I maintain the lawns around our farm and house, and I have run battery and gas mowers there long enough to see where each one fails. Below are nine mowers, ranked by what they do under the deck.
My top pick is the Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower MO80L416, and the reviews give the numbers behind each rank. Match a pick to your lawn size and your plan for the clippings.
Best Mulching Lawn Mower Reviews 2026: 9 Models I Put to Work
These nine mowers cover small flat yards, mid-size lawns, battery owners and gas owners. Each review that follows gives the specs, the strengths and the limits, and says who the mower suits and who should skip it.
1. Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower MO80L416 Best Overall
The Greenworks MO80L416 is the self-propelled mulching lawn mower I recommend to most people with a level lawn and no wish to handle fuel. The mulch plug keeps clippings under the deck, a thumb button sets the drive speed, and the battery and charger come in the box. It suits a small to mid-size lawn mowed in a few stretches, because the single pack runs up to 33 minutes by Greenworks’ own figure.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I chose it because it does the whole job without a fuel can. It mulches fine, drives itself at a pace I set, and stands upright in the shed. The 4-year warranty on the tool and on the battery, for personal use, also means I am not guessing about the pack’s life.
Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower MO80L416 Specs
Key Features:
- Mulch plug, bag and side chute: one deck handles clippings three ways, so you can mulch in summer and bag the fall leaves without changing mowers.
- Variable-speed rear drive: a thumb button sets the pace, about 2 to 5 feet per second according to Greenworks, so tight corners and open lawn each get the right speed.
- Seven cutting heights on one lever: the range runs from 1 3/8 to 3 3/4 inches, enough to take the first spring cut high and finish lower.
- 80V battery platform: the 4.0 Ah pack is a 288 Wh unit, and Greenworks says it fits more than 75 of its 80V tools.
- Turbo button: it lifts no-load blade speed from 2,800 to 3,200 rpm for a thick patch or a pile of leaves.
- Folding handles: the handles fold for upright storage, which Greenworks says takes up to 70 percent less garage space.
- LED headlight: it lights the strip ahead of the deck when the sun drops behind the plum rows.
Mulching is where this deck earns its place. With the plug in, clippings fall back as a fine layer, and I keep each pass to about a third of the grass height so the deck never chokes. In thick late-spring grass I raise the deck one notch and slow the drive, and the 1.5 kW brushless motor holds its speed through the stretch. Cutting that way takes slightly more passes and leaves no windrows to rake.
Run time is the limit to plan around. Greenworks quotes up to 33 minutes on the 4.0 Ah pack, a best case that shrinks in tall grass and at full drive speed. The pack quit near the end of an orchard alley the first time I used it, and the stop was abrupt, so now I plan in stretches of mowing rather than acres. A second pack from the 80V family fixes that, and it is the first accessory I add.
Dew-wet grass is where the mower and I disagreed. Greenworks says to mow only when the grass is dry, and on a damp morning the deck packed with clippings within a few strips. I stopped the motor, waited for the blade to stop, pulled the safety key and the battery, and then cleared the deck with a stick and a heavy glove. The slope limit matters too: the maker allows no more than 15 degrees, and only across the face, never straight up and down. On the level house lawn the drive never struggled, and I only lowered its speed at the corners.
Start on the slowest drive speed and work up, because the top setting is brisk. Set the deck one notch higher for the first cut of spring, then step it down on the second pass.
Wear eye protection and sturdy shoes even with a battery mower, and walk the lawn for sticks and stones before the first pass. Keep children and pets out of the yard while it runs, and keep the discharge pointed at open lawn, never at a window or a parked car.
Cleaning is a dry job, because Greenworks says no hose, so I wipe the underside after each use. The pack charges only between 39 and 104 F, which rules out the cold shed in winter, and the key and battery come out whenever I leave the mower. At about 70 lb without the battery it is heavy to lift into a truck. Backing up annoyed me most: after a forward run the drive holds the wheels, so I release the lever, step back and look behind before I pull the mower toward me.
Buy it if your lawn is level, small to mid-size, and you want a drive that adapts to the grass. Skip it if you mow a large lawn in one session without a second pack, if your ground is steeper than 15 degrees, or if you often have to mow wet grass.
FINAL VERDICT
The MO80L416 is the mulcher I put in front of a first-time battery buyer: simple controls, a drive that adjusts and a battery family that grows with you. Add a second pack when the lawn outgrows the first.
It is the self-propelled mulcher I keep ready by the shed door.
2. Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Self-Propelled Battery Mower Best Premium
The Honda HRN-BV is the Honda mulching lawn mower for the buyer who values service and build over minutes on the pack. Its twin MicroCut blades, steel deck and 1 inch lowest cut are what I mean by premium here, and the mower sits on the Honda dealer network. The compromise is run time: Honda quotes up to 30 minutes on the 8 Ah pack that comes in the kit. The pack and the charger carry their own cover, so the warranty reaches past the tool itself.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Build and dealer service decided it for me. A steel deck, a twin blade set and a 3-year residential warranty make this a mower I can keep for years. I accept the short run time because my mowing comes in stretches.
Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Self-Propelled Battery Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Twin MicroCut blades: an upper and a lower blade work as a set, so a mulching pass cuts the clippings again under the deck.
- Clip Director: one deck setting sends clippings into the mulch, bag or rear discharge path.
- Smart Drive paddle: pressure on the paddle sets the pace from 0 to 3.8 mph, and releasing it stops the rear wheels so you can steer around a tree.
- 1 inch lowest cut: seven settings from 1 to 4 inches give a lower floor than most decks in this class, which helps a lawn kept short.
- Folding handlebar: two knobs turn and the bar folds forward for the shed.
- Heavy-duty steel deck: Honda describes the deck as heavy-duty steel, which suits a mower you plan to keep for years.
- Headlight: it stays on for 3 minutes after you release the controls, which helps at dusk.
The paddle is the first thing I noticed. It reads pressure, so a light push crawls along the trees and a firm push covers the open lawn, and no dial needs resetting at each corner. The mulching pass left a clean surface on dry grass, and the mower let me drop to the low settings without scalping the level house lawn. When the motor labors, the manual’s own fixes are to raise the cut, take a narrower swath, slow down or mow more often, and I followed them in that order. That order cost me nothing but a few extra minutes.
Honda builds this mower around service. The mower carries 36 months of residential cover through authorized dealers, and the pack and charger have their own cover. Run time sits at the weak end: up to 30 minutes on the 8 Ah pack, 45 on an optional 12 Ah, and Honda states no grass height or speed for either. The standard 2 A charger takes about 4.5 hours, while the 8 A quick charger is an extra purchase. A second pack is the only fix for a longer lawn.
Weight shows when you lift it. The manual gives 82.3 lb with the bag and the battery on, and I felt every pound dragging it up one concrete step at the machinery shed. The drive does the pushing on the lawn, so the weight matters only at the doors and the truck. Folding the handlebar before moving it saves scraped knuckles.
Never run the blades over gravel, because the manual warns that a stone strike can damage the power unit and that the warranty does not cover it. I stop the blade at the edge of the gravel yard and pick up fallen fruit and sticks first.
Wet grass is out, since the manual bans it and says to keep the pack dry. Slopes over 15 degrees are out too, and on gentler ground you work across the face and look behind before and while backing.
Ownership is a dealer relationship plus pack care. The standard charger is slow, so I charge the pack the evening before a mow. Sound power is 93 dB by the manual, a rating of the machine rather than a reading at the ear, so I wear hearing protection near the house. Folding the handlebar to fit the shed means turning the knobs, and the cables must not be pinched. The rear wheels turn on sintered metal bushings, a build detail a buyer at this tier may want to know.
The HRN-BV fits a small to mid-size level lawn and the owner who values dealer service and a low cut. Skip it if your lawn needs more than one pack in a session, if you mow hills or wet grass, or if lifting an 82 lb machine is a chore for you. A shed with a level floor makes the weight easy to live with.
FINAL VERDICT
The HRN-BV earns its place on build, dealer service and cut quality, and it asks you to mow in short stretches. Pick it when service matters more to you than minutes of run time. Keep a second pack in mind for any lawn past a small one.
It is the dealer-backed mower for a short, tidy lawn.
3. SKIL PWR CORE 40 20-Inch Push Mower PM4910-15 Best Value
The SKIL PM4910-15 is the mulching push lawn mower that gives the most in the box for a budget-to-mid price. The kit holds a 6.0 Ah battery, a charger, a mulching plug and a bag, and the tool warranty runs five years when you register it. It is a push mower for a small, flat lawn, and I judge value inside that scope only. The folding handle and the lack of fuel make it an easy fit for a small shed.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The kit and the warranty decided it. The battery, charger, plug and bag arrive together, and the five years on the tool are the longest cover among the push mowers I rank. For a small flat lawn, that is the strongest value I found. A mower that arrives complete saves a second order for parts.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 20-Inch Push Mower PM4910-15 Specs
Key Features:
- Complete kit: the box holds the mower, one 6.0 Ah battery, a 150 W charger, the mulching plug and the bag, so nothing else is needed on day one.
- Three-way handling: the bag, the mulching plug and the rear discharge cover the usual jobs of a small lawn.
- One-lever height: seven positions from 1.5 to 4 inches change with one hand.
- Folding handle: it folds for upright or flat storage, and the manual prefers flat because an upright mower can tip.
- Electric blade brake: the blade stops within 3 seconds of releasing the bail, according to the manual.
- Five-year tool warranty: registration within 30 days earns 5 years on the tool, against 3 without it.
- Brushless motor: it runs at 2,600 rpm with no load and needs no fuel, oil or spark plug.
Mulching needs a careful setup: stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery, then remove the bag, fit the mulching plug and check that the discharge cover is secure before you refit the battery. Cutting about a third of the grass height per pass is what the manual advises, and for tall growth it says to cut high first and re-cut lower. I found that advice worked better than forcing a low cut, because the plug keeps clippings under the deck only while the deck is not packed. If the battery or the mower overheats or overloads, it stops, and the manual says to raise the cut and slow down.
The kit’s single 6.0 Ah pack is the limit. SKIL claims up to 60 minutes, and its manual says grass condition and cutting height greatly affect that time, so I treat the claim as a best case and plan the lawn in stretches. The box holds no second pack, but SKIL sells extras on the same PWR CORE 40 platform as its other 40V tools.
The handle needs one habit. The motor will not start unless the side rails are fully extended and both clamps are closed, and a side rail crept shut under my push once and stopped the mower mid-strip. The manual lists that as a cause of stops, so I check the clamps before the first pass. In a hot dry spell I also set the deck near the top of its seven positions, which spares the grass and eases the load on the battery.
Register the mower within 30 days, because that one step turns a 3-year tool warranty into a 5-year one. Keep the receipt and the registration number together in the shed.
The lowest cut is 1.5 inches, so a lawn kept very short is out of reach. Wet grass is out too, because the manual says not to mow it, and the clippings would clump under the deck and spoil the mulching anyway.
Care is light: clean the underside after every mow, sharpen the blade about twice a season and keep the pack between 32 and 104 F. Next to my old gas push mower there is no pull cord and no fuel to carry, though the minutes on the pack are fixed. I store it with the battery out and the handle folded, flat when I have the floor space. The weight is not published, so I judged the push effort by hand. The deck underside needs a wipe after each mow, because clippings left there promote rust. Blades are not covered by the warranty, so I budget for a sharpening or a spare blade.
Choose it when your lawn is small and flat and you want a complete kit with a long tool warranty. Skip it if you want self-propel, a lawn cut shorter than 1.5 inches, or a mower for tall wet grass. It also suits a shed with little floor space, because the handle folds flat or upright. Hearing and eye protection stay on with this mower, since a battery mower still throws stones.
FINAL VERDICT
This is the kit I recommend for value on a small flat lawn, with a five-year tool warranty when registered, although the battery and charger carry only two years. Register it the week it arrives. It earns its rank on the kit, the folding handle and the long warranty rather than on run time.
It is the budget push mulcher I hand to a new homeowner.
4. EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Push Mower Best Rated Push
The EGO LM2114 is the lawn mower for mulching leaves and grass that I trust to start every time. Owners rate it higher than any other push mower on this page, and the kit brings a 6.0 Ah battery, a charger, a mulching insert, a bag and a side chute. It has no drive, so it fits a small to mid-size lawn that you are happy to push. My EGO LM2114 mower review gives its run time, weight and heights in detail.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Printed limits earned it this spot. A manual that gives run time by load and a status light that reports it let me plan each lawn. The 5-year tool warranty and a pack that fits other EGO 56V tools sweeten the deal.
EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Push Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Run time table by load: the manual gives 55 minutes at light load, 40 at medium and 30 at heavy, so you can plan a lawn instead of guessing.
- Three discharge modes: the mulching insert, the 2 bushel bag and the side chute change with the battery out and no tools.
- Light handling: at 45.2 lb without the battery it turns easily at the end of a strip.
- Status light: solid green means working, flashing red means low battery, and orange means overheated or overloaded.
- LED headlights: a button on the mower lights the ground ahead at dusk.
The load table is the feature that changed how I mow. EGO’s manual lists 55 minutes at light load and 30 at heavy load, so I plan a tall-grass lawn in short stretches, and the status light warns before the cut dies. For thick growth I take the first pass high and the second lower, as the manual advises.
Handling comes from the weight. The mower is a push model with no drive, so the 45.2 lb bare-mower weight is what you start with, and the battery and a full bag add to it, and the folding handle makes it easy to store upright or flat. I scalped a bump at the lawn edge with the deck set low, which taught me to use the top positions on uneven ground, as the manual says. My ego lm2114 vs lm2114sp comparison shows what a drive adds to the same mower.
Mulch only when the grass is dry. The manual says wet grass sticks under the deck and stops proper mulching.
Clear sticks, stones and fruit before each mow, and keep children out of the yard while it runs, and keep other people and pets at least 100 feet away, as the manual states. Release the bail when crossing gravel.
Upkeep is short. I clean the underside after each mow with the battery out, because clippings promote rust, and I sharpen the blade about twice a season. The mower stores between minus 4 and 158 F and runs between 32 and 104 F. Setting the headlights on at dusk surprised me, because the beam lit the strip ahead more than I expected.
It suits you if you mow a small to mid-size level lawn and want a push mower with a fixed, honest run time. Skip it if you need self-propel, if your lawn is hilly beyond 15 degrees, or if one pack must cover a large area.
FINAL VERDICT
The LM2114 suits owners who like to know the limits before the first pass. Choose it for a lawn that fits its run time table.
It is the push mulcher with its limits printed in the manual.
5. SKIL PWR CORE 40 20-Inch Self-Propelled Mower SM4910C-11 Best Self-Propelled Warranty
The SKIL SM4910C-11 is the self-propelled mulching mower to check first for warranty. SKIL gives five years on the tool when you register it within 30 days, the longest tool cover among the self-propelled mowers here. A 6.0 Ah battery, a charger, a mulching insert and a bag ride in the same box.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Warranty and drive together put it here. Five years on the tool is rare for a self-propelled mower, and the drive does the hard part. Battery and charger carry 2 years, so I treat the pack as the part to watch.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 20-Inch Self-Propelled Mower SM4910C-11 Specs
Key Features:
- Variable speed dial: the self-propel pace is set on the handle, and the maker gives no mph range, so I find the right speed by walking.
- Drive without the blade: the drive can run with the blade off, which gets the mower back to the shed without spending cutting minutes.
- Folding telescoping handle: three working positions and a storage position, with an interlock that stops the motor if the handle is stored.
- Seven cutting heights: 1.5 to 4 inches on a one-hand lever.
- Mulching insert in the kit: it must come out before the bag goes on, and the manual says so plainly.
The drive and the mulching insert make a good pair. I start slow at the corners and speed up along the straight strips. The manual’s advice of about a third of the grass height per pass is the rule I follow, and cutting high first and re-cutting lower handles tall growth.
Run time is a best case. SKIL says up to 50 minutes on the 6.0 Ah pack and gives no grass height or speed, and its manual says conditions greatly change the figure. The kit holds one pack, so I keep a second one charging in the workshop while the first works. Charge time for the 6.0 Ah pack is not published.
Register the mower within 30 days. Without it the tool cover drops from 5 years to 3.
The side rails must be fully out and both clamps closed, or the motor will not run. Stand the mower upright only when you must, because the manual warns it can tip, and lay it flat where you can.
Maintenance follows the manual: clean the deck underside after each use, sharpen about twice a season and store with the battery out at 32 to 104 F. Wet grass is out. The weight is not published, so skip this mower if you must be sure of the lifting weight before you buy.
Pick it when your lawn is small to mid-size and you want a self-propelled mower and a long registered warranty. Skip it if you mow wet grass, need a side discharge chute, or want the weight and run time conditions published before you buy.
FINAL VERDICT
The SM4910C-11 is the self-propelled pick for owners who weigh the warranty. Register it the day it arrives.
It is the self-propelled mulcher with the five-year tool warranty.
6. SENIX 21-Inch Self-Propelled Gas Mower LSSG-M10 Best Self-Propelled Gas
The SENIX LSSG-M10 is the gas mulching lawn mower for a flat, small to mid-size lawn when you want a self-propelled drive and the bag, mulch and side chute in one deck. It comes with a 170 cc RATO engine, a primer bulb and a recoil start, which suits owners used to gas. The brand is less known than the big names, so the manual is the reference for what the mower carries.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
It is the gas option that fits a normal lawn. A self-propelled drive and a named engine at a mid-range price are enough for a flat quarter acre. The two-year cover is shorter than a battery mower’s, and I weigh that honestly.
SENIX 21-Inch Self-Propelled Gas Mower LSSG-M10 Specs
Key Features:
- 170 cc engine with the make named: the manual lists the RATO RV170-S, a plain answer to which engine sits under the hood.
- Self-propelled drive on a bail: pull it to engage, release it to stop, with one speed only.
- Three modes: the mulch cover, the rear bag and the side discharge cover the whole range of lawn work.
- Six cutting heights: 1.25 to 3.75 inches with a lever on the right rear wheel.
- Recoil start with a primer: push the bulb, hold the blade control and pull.
The mower ships as a mulcher with the side cover in place, and the manual says to close the mulch cover for mulching. The drive works on a single bail, so I walk its one speed, and on a level lawn that is steady. The manual advises against mulching grass taller than four inches and tells you to bag it instead.
The engine is the other thing a buyer weighs. Before the first start, I check the oil and the fuel myself, because it ships without either, and I wait two minutes for the engine to cool before every refuel. SENIX lists 3.8 HP on its product page, but the manual gives no horsepower and no tank size, so plan stretches of mowing by what you see in the first mow.
Never engage the drive while starting the engine. Pull the primer three times, hold the blade control, pull the rope and only then pull the drive.
Never run it indoors or in a closed shed, and refuel outdoors with the engine off. The manual asks for 75 feet of clear space around the mower for bystanders and pets.
Upkeep is the gas routine: first oil change at 5 hours, then a check every use, the air filter and spark plug each year. Fuel stabilizer or a dry tank before winter storage is my habit, and the manual agrees. The first spring start needed the primer and a firm pull, which is what the primer is for. Wear hearing protection, because the manual requires it.
This mower is for owners who want a gas self-propelled mower for a flat lawn and are comfortable with oil, fuel and a pull cord. Skip it if you want variable speed, push-button start, hills over 15 degrees or wet-grass mowing.
FINAL VERDICT
The LSSG-M10 gives a gas owner a drive, a named engine and three modes without a premium bill. Buy it for flat ground and a short list of upkeep jobs.
It is the gas self-propelled mulcher for a flat lawn.
7. PowerSmart 21-Inch Gas Push Mower B8721C Best Gas Push
The PowerSmart B8721C is the gas push lawn mower for a small, flat yard where you want a named engine and a plain machine. It carries a 125 cc Briggs & Stratton engine according to PowerSmart, mulches or discharges to the side, and has no bag. The kit includes the oil, which saves a trip before the first start.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
It is the honest gas push mower. A named engine and a plain deck at a budget-to-mid price suit a small flat lawn. I keep it for the level house lawn and nothing bigger.
PowerSmart 21-Inch Gas Push Mower B8721C Specs
Key Features:
- Named engine: PowerSmart lists a 125 cc Briggs & Stratton 300E, and its manual covers priming, starting and storage.
- Mulch or side discharge: the mower has no bag, so clippings stay on the lawn or leave through the chute.
- Six heights on one lever: 1.5 to 3.9 inches, enough for a first cut high and a second lower.
- Folding handle: the handle folds for the shed, and the mower ships mostly assembled.
- Pre-use checklist in the manual: oil, blade, blade bolt and the stop control are checked before each use.
This is a mower for a small, flat lawn. I set it high for the first pass and low for the second, because the manual says to cut no more than 2 inches in one pass. With the rear door closed it mulches, and with the chute fitted it throws clippings to the side.
The engine needs a routine. Press the primer once to three times on a cold engine, hold the start control and pull slowly to resistance, then quickly. I check the oil before every mow, and the manual calls it critical for starting. The oil capacity is about 15.8 fluid ounces of 10W-30.
Before you tip the mower, stop the engine, let it cool, wait for the blade to stop and disconnect the spark plug wire, and wear heavy gloves for any blade work. Then tip it with the air filter facing up and never past 90 degrees, because oil can run into the upper engine and cause a starting problem. I tip it that way every time I check the blade.
Never run it in a garage, shed or any enclosed space, even with the door open, because carbon monoxide can kill in minutes. Refuel outdoors with the engine off and cool.
Upkeep is a gas routine: the first oil change comes at 5 hours or the first month, then every 50 hours or 6 months. The manual says blade sharpening and balancing belong to an authorized service center, a running cost to plan. On the house lawn, level and about a quarter acre, it did the job in a session. Run the tank dry before a storage over 30 days, as the manual says.
It fits a small flat lawn and an owner who is happy with oil, fuel and a pull cord. Skip it if you need a bag, a self-propelled drive, a quiet mower or a mower for commercial work, since the warranty drops to 90 days there. It also suits owners who want to learn gas upkeep on a simple machine.
FINAL VERDICT
The B8721C is a basic gas push mulcher with a named engine and honest limits. Buy it for a small flat lawn and a short list of chores.
It is the plain gas push mulcher for a small flat lawn.
8. Greenworks 48V 20-Inch Push Mower MO48L4210 Best 4-in-1 Push
The Greenworks 48V MO48L4210 is the electric mulching lawn mower with the longest list of modes among the push models here. It mulches, bags, discharges to the side and has a Turbo button for leaf pickup, and the kit ships with two 24V 4.0 Ah packs and a dual-port charger. It is a push mower for a small to mid-size lawn.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The extra mode and the two packs earned the rank. Turbo leaf pickup, a bag and a mulch plug make it the most flexible push mower here. The 3-year personal-use warranty is shorter than some, and I accept that.
Greenworks 48V 20-Inch Push Mower MO48L4210 Specs
Key Features:
- Four modes: mulch, rear bag, side discharge and a Turbo setting that raises blade speed to 3,250 rpm no load.
- Two packs, one charger: the dual-port charger fills both 24V packs at once.
- One height lever: it sets all four wheels together from 1 3/8 to 4 inches.
- Folding handle: three positions, and it folds for upright storage.
- Shared 24V platform: the packs fit Greenworks’ 24V tools, according to the maker.
The Turbo button is the standout. I used it on a pile of dry plum leaves and on thick first-cut grass in spring. The manual rates blade speed at 3,250 rpm no load in Turbo, against 2,850 rpm in normal mode. The manual still says to raise the cut for thick growth, and the mulch plug must be in or the mower will not mulch correctly.
The mower needs both packs to start. It would not start with one pack in the bay, and the manual says unequal charge cuts the run to the weaker pack. Greenworks quotes up to 50 minutes with both packs, a best case with no stated conditions, and the dual-port charger lists 60 to 75 minutes per pack.
Keep both packs at the same charge, because a tired pack ends the mow for both. Charge them within 39 and 104 F, as the manual says.
Wet grass is out, and so are slopes over 15 degrees. Mow across a slope, never up and down, and keep away from ditches and drop-offs.
At 54.5 lb without the batteries, it is light, and the handle stores upright. I charge both packs together in the workshop and keep them out of the cold shed in winter. Storing it vertically with the key and packs out is how the manual wants it. Clean the deck with a dry cloth, because Greenworks says no hose.
Go for it when you have a small to mid-size lawn, want a push mower that also handles leaves, and own or plan other Greenworks 24V tools. Skip it if you want self-propel, a long run time on one charge or a mower for wet grass. Wait for dry grass whatever the machine.
FINAL VERDICT
The MO48L4210 is the push mower for owners who want a bag, a mulcher and a leaf mode in one deck. Pick it for flat ground and a lawn that fits two packs.
It is the flexible push mulcher with two packs in the box.
9. WORX WG733.1 20V 14-Inch Push Mower Best for Small Yards
The WORX WG733.1 folds away into a corner of the shed and is the lawn mower for small yards that need only a light, narrow machine. Its 14 inch deck cuts 13 inches, the bare tool weighs 22.35 lb according to the manual, and the 20V PowerShare battery fits other WORX tools. It mulches or bags and fits townhouse yards and bed edges.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
The narrow jobs earned it a place. Light weight and a folding handle make it the mower I reach for when a big one is too much. Its small size means even a short list of passes finishes the job.
WORX WG733.1 20V 14-Inch Push Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Small footprint: a 14 inch deck and a folding upper handle fit a corner of the shed.
- Six heights on one lever: from 1 to 3 inches, with the highest positions best for thick grass.
- Mulch plug and 1 bushel bag: a fill flag shows when the bag is full.
- PowerShare pack: WORX says the 20V packs fit its 20V, 40V and 80V tools.
- Cut-to-edge design: WORX says the slim deck mows close to edges and obstacles.
The deck width decides the job. A 13 inch cut means many passes, so I use it for the strip beside the vegetable plot and the path edges. WORX quotes up to 3,200 square feet per charge, a fraction of my quarter-acre house lawn, so this mower is for small spaces.
Run time depends on the cut. The manual says a higher height extends battery duration and that starts and stops cut the area. WORX gives no minutes, so I plan by square feet and the lawn’s condition. A recharge interrupts the mowing, and WORX gives no charge time to plan around.
Raise the deck for tall grass. Removing too much grass at once can trip the breaker and stop the mower.
Wet grass sticks under the deck, and the manual says to avoid it. Release the bail when crossing gravel, because stones can fly, and look behind before you back up.
I clean the deck after each mow with the battery out and the blade stopped. I keep the pack out of the cold shed in winter, which fits the manual’s 32 to 113 F storage range. The manual also says to replace the blade after 50 hours of mowing or 2 years, whichever comes first, so a spare blade belongs on the shelf.
It fits a tiny yard, a buyer who wants light and compact, or an owner of other WORX 20V tools. Skip it if your lawn is a quarter acre or more, if you need self-propel or a side chute, or if you mow tall wet grass.
FINAL VERDICT
The WG733.1 fits small spaces better than any other mower here. Pick it for a townhouse yard or the bed edges next to a bigger mower.
It is the small-yard mulcher that folds into a corner.
How to Choose the Best Mulching Lawn Mower
Seven factors decide whether a mower mulches well on your land. I weigh each against the work on my own lawns and orchard alleys, and each section ends with a rule you can check on a spec sheet before you buy.
Mulch Plug, Insert or Closed Door
A mulching lawn mower keeps clippings under the deck, where the blade cuts them again before they drop. The trick is a plastic piece that closes the rear opening, called a mulching plug, which has to be in place for mulching and out when you fit the bag. A mower with no bag suits a small lawn, while a three-mode deck suits an owner who bags in fall.
- Plug or insert: closes the rear opening, so check that it ships in the box.
- Bag: collects clippings, and the plug or insert comes out first.
- Side chute: throws clippings to the side, useful on a patch of tall grass.
I leave clippings on the alley edge through the growing season and bag only under the trees, where fruit and leaves mix.
Pro Tip
Read the box list before you order. Some mowers ship without the plug or without a bag, and the listing does not always say which.
Power Source and Noise
Battery mowers need no fuel, oil or spark plug, and the maker’s run time is a best case for one pack. Gas mowers run as long as the tank lasts, and they need oil, fuel and a pull cord. One study that measured more than 600 mowers found that electric mowers are significantly quieter than gas mowers (1). My battery lawn mower roundup compares pack sizes and run times across nine models.
| Question | Battery | Gas |
|---|---|---|
| Start | Button and bail | Primer and pull cord |
| Fuel | None, charge the pack | Gasoline, stale fuel after storage |
| Upkeep | Pack care and charging | Oil, air filter, spark plug |
| Noise | Quieter | Louder, wear hearing protection |
Rule: choose battery if your lawn fits one or two packs, and gas if you mow long stretches in tall growth.
Push or Self-Propelled
A drive earns its cost when the lawn is long, the grass is thick or the bag is full. A push mower is lighter and cheaper, and it is easier to lift. Releasing the drive control stops the drive, but it does not brake the wheels, so slow down before a stop. For more models that take the pushing out of mowing, I compare seven options in my self-propelled lawn mower picks.
Long orchard alleys are where a drive pays for itself, because every alley is a straight run with no reason to stop.
Deck Width, Cutting Heights and the One-Third Rule
Cutting height is a turf-health setting, and the one-third rule decides how much each pass removes. In one field study, mowing by the one-third rule cut the number of required mowing events by 31 percent compared with weekly mowing (2). A mower that cannot reach a tall setting forces a second pass in spring. If thick growth is your main problem, my list of mowers for thick grass offers nine picks for dense lawns.
- Narrowest gate: measure it against the deck before you buy.
- Top height: look for 4 inches on the lever for the first cut of spring.
- Positions: a one-hand lever is faster than a tool-based setting.
In the orchard I match the deck to the alley, since a deck that is too wide hits the tree rows. My list of mowers for a large yard helps with deck width on bigger ground.
Key Takeaway
Mulching works best when each pass removes about a third of the grass height. A tall first setting does most of the work.
Run Time and Battery Platform
A maker’s run time is a best case for a named pack. It falls in tall, thick or wet grass and at full drive speed. Compare run times only when they name the pack and the load, and plan the lawn in stretches of mowing instead of acres.
| Claim | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Minutes by light, medium and heavy load | The most useful basis for planning |
| Up to X minutes, no conditions | A best case, nothing more |
| Area per charge | The maker’s own method, often no grass height |
Battery compatibility belongs to one brand’s platform, so use only the maker’s packs and charger, and check the maker’s list of approved tools before you count on sharing a pack. I count the cost of a second pack before I count the price of the mower.
Weight, Storage and Warranty
Compare weights only on the same basis: some makers list the bare mower, others include the bag and the battery. A handle that folds for upright or flat storage saves floor space in a small shed. Read the warranty for the tool, the battery and the charger separately, because a registration step can lengthen the tool term and the pack often has its own. My list of mowers for a small yard flags the models that fold or stand upright for storage.
I read the warranty page before the spec sheet, since dealer-backed service and a long tool term decide what a repair costs after year three.
Blade Care and Safety Habits
A dull blade tears the grass instead of cutting it. In a Nebraska field trial, a dull rotary blade reduced turf quality and raised leaf spot on a susceptible grass (3). Ragged brown tips told me a blade was dull before the clock did, so I sharpen before the spring mow.
Mowers hurt people every year. US emergency departments treated an average of about 85,000 lawn mower injuries a year between 2005 and 2015, and the authors found no decrease over the period (4). Keep children out of the yard while you mow, look behind before and while you back up, and pick up stones, sticks and toys first. My picks of lawn mowers for hills cover the slope limits that matter for safety.
Safety First
Before you clear a clog, check the blade or tip the mower, stop the motor or engine, wait for the blade to stop, then remove the safety key or the battery. On a gas mower, disconnect the spark plug wire as well, and wear heavy gloves on the blade.
Mulching Leaves With a Lawn Mower
Fall leaves mulch well when they are dry and the layer is thin. Set the deck high for the first pass, then lower it for a second pass, and stop before the leaf layer hides the grass completely.
- Pick up sticks, fruit and stones first.
- Mow the leaves dry, with the deck on a high setting.
- Make a second pass one notch lower.
- Bag the leaves if the layer is still deep.
Stone-fruit drop in June and July is a pick-up job before it is a mulching job, so I take fallen apricots and plums off the lawn before the mower sees them. A Michigan State study that mulched maple leaves into turf found dandelion counts fell by up to 84 percent after a single application, though a second application showed no measured effect the next year (5).
What Mulching Does for the Lawn
Returned clippings feed the turf. In a three-year field trial on Kentucky bluegrass, returning clippings was equivalent to doubling the nitrogen applied as fertilizer at the levels tested, and the clippings did not add to thatch (6). A review of grasscycling agrees that returned clippings raise soil nitrogen and let you use less fertilizer, though it says clippings can add some thatch (7).
The two papers disagree on thatch, so I cut dry grass, keep each pass to a third of the height and watch the lawn rather than trust one number.
My Overall Verdict
Mulching works when the mower matches the lawn. The Greenworks MO80L416, the Honda HRN-BV and the SKIL PM4910-15 are the three I buy first. I explain that pick in full in my Greenworks 80V MO80L416 review.
1. Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower MO80L416 Best Overall
Best for a small to mid-size level lawn when you want a self-propelled drive on a battery platform that grows.
2. Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Self-Propelled Battery Mower Best Premium
Best for owners who value dealer service and a low 1 inch cut over run time.
3. SKIL PWR CORE 40 20-Inch Push Mower PM4910-15 Best Value
Best for a small flat lawn on a budget, with a complete kit and a long tool warranty.
If you want one mower to start with, take the first and add a second pack when the lawn outgrows the first. Choose the best mulching lawn mower for your lawn size and your mowing habits, and the clippings will do the rest. If mulching is only one job on your list, my all-round lawn mower picks compare nine battery and gas models by yard size.
Why Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower MO80L416 Might Be the Best Choice
I picked the Greenworks MO80L416 because it does the mulching job without asking for fuel or a long list of chores. A variable-speed drive, a mulch plug and a battery family of more than 75 tools make it easy to live with.
The trade-off is run time. One 4.0 Ah pack runs up to 33 minutes by Greenworks’ own figure, so a bigger lawn needs a second pack. My MO80L416 versus MO60L424 comparison weighs one pack against two.
Here is what tipped the choice:
✓ Mulch plug, bag and side discharge: one deck for three jobs.
✓ Variable-speed drive: a thumb button sets the pace.
✓ Battery and charger included: it works the day it arrives.
✓ 80V platform: the pack fits more than 75 Greenworks tools, according to the maker.
✓ 4-year warranty: it covers the tool and the battery for personal use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can electric lawn mowers mulch leaves?
Electric lawn mowers can mulch leaves when the leaves are dry and the mulching plug or insert is fitted in the deck. Take the first pass high and the second pass lower, and expect the battery to run for a shorter time than it does on a light grass cut.
Is mulching good for a lawn?
Mulching is good for a lawn because returned clippings put nitrogen back into the turf, and a review of grasscycling reports that you can keep color and quality with less fertilizer. Cut dry grass and remove no more than a third of the height each pass so the clippings break down quickly.
When should I use a mulching mower?
Use a mulching mower when the grass is dry and you are removing about a third of its height, and again in fall when the leaves are dry and thin. When the grass is tall, wait for a dry day, raise the deck and make two passes or fit the bag, because wet grass clogs the deck.
Are mulching lawn mowers better?
A mulching lawn mower is better for owners who want to skip bagging and return clippings to the lawn, and a bag is better for tall grass or a very clean look. The right choice depends on grass height, dryness and how much time you want to spend moving clippings.
What are the disadvantages of a mulching mower?
The disadvantages of a mulching mower are clogging in wet or tall grass, clumps of clippings on the surface after a heavy cut and extra passes when you mow at a high setting. A sharp blade, a clean deck and dry grass keep those problems small, and the bag is the answer when they do not.
References
- Blomberg L, Trezza D. The evolution of quiet lawn mowers and their impact on community noise and hearing conservation. INTER-NOISE and NOISE-CON Congress and Conference Proceedings. 2021;263(2):4896-4902. doi:10.3397/in-2021-2877
- Law QD, Bigelow CA, Patton AJ. Selecting Turfgrasses and Mowing Practices that Reduce Mowing Requirements. Crop Science. 2016;56(6):3318-3327. doi:10.2135/cropsci2015.09.0595
- Steinegger DH, Shearman RC, Riordan TP, Kinbacher EJ. Mower Blade Sharpness Effects on Turf1. Agronomy Journal. 1983;75(3):479-480. doi:10.2134/agronj1983.00021962007500030015x
- Harris C, Madonick J, Hartka TR. Lawn mower injuries presenting to the emergency department: 2005 to 2015. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2018;36(9):1565-1569. doi:10.1016/j.ajem.2018.01.031
- Kowalewski AR, Calhoun RN, Hathaway AD, Rogers JN. Using Cultural Practices and Leaf Mulch to Control Weeds in Established Turfgrass. Applied Turfgrass Science. 2010;7(1):1-10. doi:10.1094/ats-2010-0416-01-rs
- Grégoire G, Benjannet R, Desjardins Y. Contribution of grass clippings to turfgrass fertilization and soil water content under four nitrogen levels. Science of The Total Environment. 2022;837:155765. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155765
- Pornaro C, Novello A, Fidanza M, Macolino S. Grasscycling: A Key Practice for Sustainable Turfgrass Management. Grasses. 2022;1(1):45-52. doi:10.3390/grasses1010005
Safety Note: A mower blade can cut through a hand or foot and throw stones and sticks with force. Pick up debris before you mow, keep the discharge guard, bag or mulch plug in place, never point the discharge at people, windows or cars, and keep children and pets indoors while the mower runs; never let a child ride on a riding mower. Never disable the operator-presence control. Before you clear a clog, tip the mower or touch the blade, stop the engine or motor, wait until the blade has stopped, then remove the safety key or battery, or disconnect the spark plug wire on a gas model. Mow across slopes with a walk-behind mower and up and down with a riding mower, within the slope limit in your manual, and stay off wet slopes, drop-offs and ditch edges; on a rider with a rollover protection bar, keep it up and wear the seat belt as the manual says. Refuel only outdoors with the engine off and cool, wear closed shoes and eye and hearing protection, and read the manufacturer’s manual.