The best battery lawn mower is the one whose battery fits your lawn, and I judge each mower by the minutes of real mowing it gives on the house lawn and the yard edges around my orchard, not by the number on the box.
I rank nine walk-behind mowers here, led by the EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower, and every review says who should skip it. After the reviews I explain how to size a battery and read a spec sheet, and which safety habits come with a blade and a lithium pack.
Best Battery Lawn Mower Reviews for 2026 With 9 Push and Self-Propelled Picks
These nine cover the lawns a walk-behind battery mower handles, from a small yard to a long level lawn. Each review states the run time the maker gives and the weight on its stated basis, and every one says who should skip the mower.
1. EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower Best Overall
The EGO LM2114 is the push mower I recommend first for a level lawn and a buyer who is done with fuel cans. It comes with a 6.0Ah battery and a charger in the box, and its manual prints run time by load, so you can plan the mowing in minutes before you start. Few makers publish run time that honestly.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I put the LM2114 first because it is the complete push kit: a 6.0Ah pack, a charger, three discharge modes and a handle that folds, all under a 5-year tool warranty. It has no drive, which keeps it at 45.2 lb without the pack. If your lawn is level and fits inside the pack’s 30 to 55 minutes, you do not need to spend more.
EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Run time by load: The manual prints 55, 40 and 30 minutes, so you size the job before the first pass.
- One-handed height lever: Seven positions run from 1-1/4 to 4 in; stop the motor and take the battery out before you change one.
- Three discharge modes: Mulch with the insert in, bag at the rear, or throw to the side through the chute.
- Folding handle: It folds flat, and the manual prefers flat storage because an upright mower can tip.
- LED headlights: A button on the mower lights the ground ahead for dusk mowing.
- Status light: Solid green means at least 15 percent charge, flashing red means a low pack.
- Overload and overheat protection: The motor stops when the deck jams or the pack runs hot, and the manual says what to clear first.
On a dry day the LM2114 mows with no pull cord and no fuel can, and EGO states 6.0 ft-lbs of cutting torque from the brushless motor. Take off no more than a third of the blade per pass, as the manual advises. If the deck loads up, the overload light flashes orange, and the manual says to stop, wait for the blade, take the pack out, clear the deck and raise the height. On my first cut of spring the grass stood too tall, so I set the top height and mowed again lower, the two-pass method the manual describes.
Run time decides whether this mower fits your lawn. With the 6.0Ah pack the manual gives 55 minutes at light load, 40 at medium and 30 at heavy, and wet, tall or thick grass pushes you toward the low end. I plan a lawn in minutes of real mowing, not by the number on the box, and I watch the status light while I work. The kit has one pack, so a lawn that outlasts it waits for the charger.
The motor will not start unless the side rails are fully extended, both green clamps are shut and the handle sits in an operating position. I check that before I blame the battery. In late October I run the mower over the leaf fall on the first alley with the mulching insert in. Dry leaves go through the deck, and wet ones wait for a dry day, because the manual’s rule against wet grass applies under the deck.
Wipe the underside after every mow with the battery out and the blade stopped. The manual says clippings left there promote rust and corrosion, and it forbids a hose, so use a damp cloth and a brush.
Switch off, wait until the blade has stopped, which takes a few seconds according to the manual, then take the battery out before you empty the bag, change the insert or clear the chute. Keep children out of the yard while you mow, keep pets and bystanders at least 100 feet away, and clear stones, sticks and wire first.
Charging takes the CH3200 charger and about 80 minutes, according to EGO. The manual allows use from 32 to 104 F, and it says to store the pack indoors at room temperature, away from the cold shed. Sharpen the blade about twice a season, sooner in sandy ground, and keep it balanced. The small irritation is the mode change, which means taking the battery out and lifting the door every time, and the bag fabric needs a wear check, as the manual says.
Buy it for a level house lawn that one pack can finish, with grass you can mow dry. It suits a buyer who wants no fuel, a folding handle and a mulching insert in one kit. Skip it if your mowing runs past half an hour at heavy load, if you want self-propel, or if you mow slopes over 15 degrees, which the manual forbids. On any slope the manual says to mow across the face, never up and down.
FINAL VERDICT
I buy the LM2114 for most level lawns because a complete kit and an honest run time table take the guessing out of the purchase. The price of that is no drive and one battery, so check your minutes first.
It is the push mower I recommend for most level lawns.
2. EGO Power+ LM2134SP-2 Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Best Premium
The EGO LM2134SP-2 is my premium pick because it fixes the one thing every battery mower struggles with, the pack ending before the lawn does. Two 6.0Ah batteries come in the box, and EGO claims up to 100 minutes with both. Touch Drive self-propel sets your pace with a dial, so the mower is for a long lawn and an open budget.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I rank it as the premium pick because the second battery changes how a big lawn feels. A mower that stops halfway is a mower you resent. With two batteries and Touch Drive I plan around two packs instead of one. The honest trade is cost and weight: it sits in the highest price tier on this page, and EGO publishes no weight.
EGO Power+ LM2134SP-2 Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Touch Drive: Palm pressure on the handle drives the mower, and a dial sets the speed from 0.9 to 3.1 mph, according to EGO.
- Two batteries in the kit: Start with both charged and swap when the first runs down.
- Select Cut system: EGO builds it around blades for mulching, bagging or run time, chosen for the job.
- One-handed height lever: Heights run from 1 to 4 in, and you stop the motor and take the battery out before you change one.
- Three discharge modes: Mulch, bag or side discharge, with the insert or chute changed by hand.
- Overload and overheat protection: The motor stops when the deck jams or a pack runs hot, and the manual says what to clear.
- Folding handle: It folds for storage, upright or flat, as the manual for this mower family describes.
On the level house lawn Touch Drive is the feature I use most: I set the dial to a walking pace and slow it at the corners so the mower turns with me. EGO states 7.0 ft-lbs of torque for this mower, and the manual’s advice for thick grass applies to it as to any other: take off no more than a third and raise the cut. When the deck loads up, overload protection stops the motor until you clear it. Self-propel does not free your attention, so I still look down and behind before and while I back up, and I back up only when I must.
Run time is what you pay the premium for. EGO claims up to 100 minutes with both batteries and does not publish the load behind that number. The manual for this mower family shows what load does, with minutes falling by about half from light to heavy mowing. I start a long job with both batteries charged, swap when the first runs down and charge the spent one in the workshop.
Select Cut gives this mower a second job. Mulching suits the alley on a dry day, and I bag the strip under the plum trees after I pick up the fallen fruit by hand. EGO does not say which blades ship in the box, so check the listing if the blade set matters to you. The side rails must be fully out and the handle locked, or the mower stays off, and EGO publishes no weight, so I lift it with the batteries out.
The manual’s run time tips are simple and work: a moderate pace, no more than 1.5 in of grass off per pass, sharp blades and a clean deck. Clean the underside after each mow with the battery out.
The manual forbids mowing wet grass and mowing in rain, and it says to mow across a slope, never up and down, within the slope limit in your manual. Stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and take out the battery before you clear the chute or change the bag, because the blade turns for a few seconds after shutoff.
Use only EGO’s charger and the battery types its manual lists; the manual allows use from 32 to 104 F, and an overheated pack shuts the mower down until it cools. EGO does not publish the deck material, so I wipe the underside after every mow and never hose it. The tool carries a 5-year warranty and the batteries carry 3 years. The 56V batteries and charger interchange with other EGO 56V tools, so a buyer already on that platform can share packs
A long level lawn where one battery is the limit is its job, and so is any yard where you want the mower to set the pace. It suits an owner who wants mulching and bagging in one deck and wants to stop for a charger less often. Skip it if you want the lowest price, the lightest mower or a mower for wet slopes, since the manual rules out wet grass and any slope beyond the limit in your manual.
FINAL VERDICT
Two batteries and Touch Drive make the LM2134SP-2 the mower for a long lawn, and they cost more and add weight EGO does not state. A short lawn does not need them.
It is the two-battery mower for long lawns.
3. WORX Nitro WG752 21-Inch 3-in-1 Cordless Push Mower Best Value
The WORX WG752 gives you a full 21 in deck and two 5.0Ah batteries with a charger in one box, which makes it my pick for the best value battery lawn mower on a level lawn up to the half acre WORX quotes. It is a push mower with three discharge modes and a handle that folds for the shed, and its limits are a push drive and a run time published only with no load.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Value is why it ranks third, because two batteries, a charger and a full 21 in deck come in one box. Value here means a level lawn of dry grass up to the half acre WORX quotes. It also gives you no loaded run time figure, and you push every foot yourself.
WORX Nitro WG752 21-Inch 3-in-1 Cordless Push Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Two PowerShare batteries: The 20V packs fit WORX 20V tools, and WORX says more than 140 tools share the system.
- Full 21 in deck: The manual gives a 20 in cutting diameter, wide enough to keep passes few on a house lawn.
- 3-in-1 handling: Bag, mulch plug or rear side discharge chute, with a 2 bushel bag in the box.
- One-lever height: Seven positions from 1.5 to 4 in change with one lever.
- IntelliCut: WORX says the motor speeds up in thick grass and slows in thin grass to stretch the charge.
- Fold-flat and stand-up storage: The handle folds fully, so the mower fits a small shed.
- Onboard charge indicator: You read the pack level on the mower while you work.
The WG752 mows a flat lawn well when the grass is dry. The manual’s rule for a clean cut is a third of the blade or less per pass, ideally no more than 1.5 in, and for thick growth you cut high first and lower after. Along the gravel yard I release the bail at the stones and walk the mower across with the blade stopped, as the manual requires. When the mower stops mid-row, the maker’s list is blade not free, cut too low, packs not charged or overload, so I raise the height or slow my pace.
WORX publishes a maximum no-load run time of 50 minutes with both packs and says the mower suits yards up to half an acre. No-load means no grass in the deck, so the loaded figure is shorter, and WORX does not print it. Both packs must be installed or the mower will not run, and they charge together on the dual charger. I plan the house lawn as one job and keep the long alleys for another day.
A spare means two more packs, since the mower needs a pair, and I charge both together, as the manual says. In May the mulch plug goes in and the mower cuts the cover crop in the alleys before it sets seed. In June and July I pick up the fallen fruit by hand, then bag the clippings under the plum trees for the compost pile, with the bag and discharge guard fully fitted, because the manual forbids running without them. The limit is the side discharge chute, which bolts on and takes a tool to fit.
Register the mower within 30 days of purchase. WORX gives 3 years only with registration, and without it only 24 months apply.
Never mow wet grass, which the manual forbids, and never run the mower without the catcher or the discharge guard in place. After it strikes an object, release the switch, take both batteries out and inspect before the next pass.
Charge with the WORX charger only, store the packs between 0 and 45 C, and after the blade has stopped remove both before any adjustment, cleaning, tipping or blade work, as the manual says. The deck is polymer and cannot rust, but the manual says not to hose it, so I brush the deck and wipe it. Trade use is excluded from the warranty, so this is a home mower. At 50 lb without batteries by the manual, and more with two packs fitted, it is a mower I lift with the packs out.
It fits a level lawn of dry grass up to about the half acre WORX quotes, and it fits better if you already own WORX 20V packs. It also suits a small shed, since the handle folds fully and the mower stands upright. Skip it if you want self-propel, if your lawn sits near the half acre limit and you want to finish on one charge, or if you mow wet grass or slopes. The manual gives no slope figure, only to mow across the face and never up and down.
FINAL VERDICT
A full deck, a pair of batteries and three discharge modes make the WG752 the value pick for a level, dry lawn. Near the half acre WORX quotes, plan on a recharge or a second pair of batteries.
It is the two-battery value mower for a level half acre.
4. SKIL PWR CORE 40 SM4910C-11 20-Inch Self-Propelled Mower Best Affordable Self-Propelled
The SKIL SM4910C-11 is the self-propelled mower I pick when price matters: it sits in the lowest price tier of the four self-propelled picks here, which makes it my choice for the best affordable battery lawn mower with a drive. Rear-wheel self-propel with a speed dial sits on a 20 in deck with a brushless motor and a 6.0Ah battery in the kit. SKIL documents the drive, and it works with the blade off.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
It is here because SKIL documents the drive: rear wheels, a speed dial and drive with the blade off. A 5-year tool warranty applies when you register. The thing to accept is that SKIL publishes no weight, so I lift it with the battery out.
SKIL PWR CORE 40 SM4910C-11 20-Inch Self-Propelled Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Rear-wheel self-propel: The manual shows the drive gear at the rear wheels, and a dial sets the speed.
- Drive with the blade off: The mower can drive itself back to storage without the blade turning.
- One-hand height lever: Seven settings run from 1.5 to 4 in.
- Bag, mulch or rear discharge: The bag holds 1.7 bushel, and there is no side chute.
- Folding handle: A telescoping handle folds for storage, and its lock doubles as a safety interlock.
The drive does the walking and the dial sets the pace, so on a level lawn you steer and watch the cut. Take a third of the blade at a time, as the manual says, and cut high first on overgrown grass. I learned to nudge the mower forward before I pull it back, because the drive wheels can lock when the drive is released.
SKIL claims up to 50 minutes on the 6.0Ah battery with no grass height or speed behind it, so treat it as a best case. The manual says grass condition and cutting height greatly affect run time. The kit has one battery, and I plan the lawn around it.
The manual lists a side rail pushed shut by pressure on the handle as a reason the mower stops mid-row. On the long alley the rails crept shut once and the mower stopped, so now I check the clamps at the row end.
Stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and remove the battery before you clear the deck or change the bag, since contact with the blade can amputate hands and feet, per the manual. Keep children out of the yard, keep pets and bystanders at least 100 feet away, and never mow wet grass or slopes over 15 degrees.
Charge indoors with SKIL’s charger only, between 41 and 104 F. The manual says an upright mower can tip, so flat is the safest storage, and blades are not covered by the warranty. The bag is the irritation, since the mulching insert has to come out for bagging and go back in for mulching.
It suits a house lawn that needs a drive and a speed you control, and a small shed. Skip it if you mow long alleys on one battery, need a side discharge chute, or mow wet grass or slopes over 15 degrees. I compare seven picks in my ranking of self-propelled lawn mowers.
FINAL VERDICT
A lawn that one battery can finish is the right job for the SM4910C-11, with a drive at the lowest price tier among the self-propelled picks. A long lawn asks for more battery than this kit holds.
It is the self-propelled mower for a house lawn with trees.
5. Greenworks 80V MO80L416 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower Best Battery Warranty
The Greenworks 80V MO80L416 has the longest cover on the battery of the nine mowers here: four years on the tool and four on the battery, according to Greenworks. Battery cover is the line I read twice on a cordless mower. It is a 21 in self-propelled mower with rear-wheel drive and a steel deck.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I chose it for the warranty because battery cover is the line to read twice on a cordless mower, and Greenworks gives four years. It is a four-year limited warranty for the original purchaser’s personal use. The costs are a short run time and a weight you lift with the battery out.
Greenworks 80V MO80L416 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Four-year tool and battery warranty: Greenworks covers the original purchaser for personal use.
- Rear-wheel variable-speed drive: A button on the handle sets the speed while you hold the bail.
- Steel deck: Greenworks lists a 21 in heavy-duty steel deck.
- 80V platform: Greenworks says more than 75 tools use the same battery.
- Vertical storage: A storage switch stops the mower starting while it stands on end.
The drive does the walking on a level lawn, and I set the speed with the thumb button as the grass and the corners change. Greenworks says to mow across a slope, never up and down, and to keep off slopes over 15 degrees. On a thick dry cut the clippings packed the deck once, so I stopped the mower, waited for the blade to stop, took out the safety key and the battery and cleared the deck with heavy gloves on.
Greenworks claims up to 33 minutes on the 4.0Ah battery and up to half an acre per charge, both best cases. On the orchard alley the pack ran out before I reached the end, so I plan an alley in minutes now, not in acres. The kit has one battery, and Greenworks says a charge takes up to 60 minutes. I set it against Greenworks’ two-pack 60V mower in Greenworks MO80L416 vs MO60L424.
Take the safety key and the battery out when you finish, and wear heavy gloves for any blade work. The manual for this mower family says both.
Stop the blade, wait for it to stop turning, remove the key and the battery and put on heavy gloves before you clear a clog, change the blade or tip the mower, because the blade can amputate hands and feet. I wear safety glasses even though a battery mower is quiet next to gas, and I leave wet grass for another day.
Store the mower indoors and dry with the battery out. The weight is 75.7 lb with the battery, so I lift it with the pack out and never alone into a truck. On a step the drive pushes the mower but does not lift it. I go through this mower in full in my Greenworks MO80L416 review.
A level house lawn of dry grass that one pack can finish suits it, and so does a buyer who wants a drive and the longest cover on the battery. Skip it if you mow long alleys on one pack, need a light mower or mow wet grass or slopes over 15 degrees.
FINAL VERDICT
Four years of cover on the tool and the battery is what the MO80L416 offers, and a buyer who fears paying for a dead pack should weigh that against its short run time and its weight.
It is the self-propelled mower with the longest battery cover.
6. Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 17-Inch Cordless Push Mower With Bag Best for Small Yards
The Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM is the best battery powered lawn mower for small yards on this page. It pairs a 17 in deck and a 30.2 lb frame with two 4.0Ah batteries, a dual-port charger and an 11 gallon bag. The manual aims it at small lawns and gardens, and the handle folds completely for the shed.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
Small yards are why it is here: a 17 in deck and a 30.2 lb frame suit a small lawn, and the handle folds completely for the shed. The trade is a narrow deck and a 2-year warranty, and Sun Joe does not publish the weight with the packs fitted.
Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 17-Inch Cordless Push Mower With Bag Specs
Key Features:
- Two iON+ batteries and a dual-port charger: The 24V packs run other Sun Joe tools.
- 11 gallon bag with a fill window: A flap held open by the airflow closes when the bag is full.
- Six height positions: One lever sets 1 to 3 in.
- Mulch plug in the box: The plug goes in the rear opening with the bag off.
- Handle that folds completely: The mower stores folded, indoors and dry.
A 17 in deck takes more passes than a wide mower, and on a small lawn the narrow deck turns tight around shrubs and beds. The manual’s rules apply in full: take a third of the blade at a time, never start the mower in tall grass, and set the highest cutting height on uneven ground. On the house lawn the bag flap is my cue, because when it closes the bag is full and I empty it before the next pass.
Sun Joe does not publish a run time with conditions for this kit, so I treat the two 4.0Ah packs as a small-lawn supply and size the job to them. The charge button shows three lights, and one light means flat, so the manual says to stop and charge, since running packs flat shortens their life.
Mulching and bagging do not combine. The plug goes in the rear opening with the bag off, and the bag goes on with the plug out.
Switch off, wait for the blade to stop, then remove the batteries and the safety key and wear heavy gloves on the blade before you clear, adjust or clean the deck. Never run the mower without the bag, discharge guard and rear guard, switch it off to cross gravel, and keep wet grass for another day.
Charge only iON+ 24V packs on a compatible charger, and store the mower indoors and dry with the packs and key out, as the manual says. The warranty runs 2 years and needs proof of purchase from an authorized seller. Before every mow I check which mode the plug has set.
A small house lawn of dry grass is the right place for it, along with a buyer who bags or mulches and a shed that needs a folding mower. Skip it if your lawn is large or sloped over 15 degrees, if you want self-propel, or if you mow after rain, since the manual forbids wet grass. My picks for tight sheds and tiny lawns are in lawn mowers for small yards.
FINAL VERDICT
The narrow deck and the 30.2 lb frame suit the 24V-X2-17LM to a small, dry lawn. A larger yard needs more width than 17 in gives.
It is the light mower for a small lawn.
7. WORX WG733.1 14-Inch 20V 2-in-1 Cordless Push Mower Best Compact
The WORX WG733.1 is my pick for the best small battery lawn mower: the smallest and lightest mower on this page, a 14 in deck at 22.35 lb without the battery. It is built for a yard where a bigger mower would be more than the job needs, and it sits in the lowest price tier here.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
It is the compact pick because it does the one job a small yard needs with the smallest deck and the lowest weight on this page, and with a brushless motor, a mulch plug, a bag and a battery in the kit. At 22.35 lb without the battery it is the lightest mower on this page.
WORX WG733.1 14-Inch 20V 2-in-1 Cordless Push Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Brushless motor: The manual lists 3,800 rpm with no load.
- Six height positions: One lever sets 1 to 3 in, and the manual says a higher setting extends battery duration.
- Mulch or bag: The plug goes in to mulch and out to bag, and the 1 bushel bag has a fill indicator flap.
- PowerShare battery: WORX says the pack fits its 20V, 40V and 80V tools.
- Folding upper handle: The mower stores folded and dry.
At 22.35 lb the mower moves with one hand on the handle. Next to my old gas push mower there is no pull cord and no fuel can, but the minutes on the pack are fixed. The manual’s fix for a mower that stops mid-row is a higher cut, a charged pack or a slower pace, since taking off too much grass at once trips the breaker. I scalped a bump at the lawn edge once with the deck set low, so I set it high near edges and mounds.
WORX publishes no run time in minutes, only that the pack covers yards up to 3,200 sq ft on a single charge, with conditions unstated. That is about 0.07 acre, well short of a quarter-acre lawn, so this is a mower for a small yard or a strip of lawn.
Sharpen the blade twice a season and replace it after 50 hours of mowing or 2 years, whichever comes first, as the manual says.
The blade keeps spinning after you release the bail, so stop the motor, wait and take the battery out before you remove the bag, clear the chute or touch the blade. Release the bail to cross gravel, avoid wet grass and steep slopes, and mow across a slope, never up and down.
Charge between 32 and 104 F with the WORX charger only. The manual allows use and storage from 32 to 113 F, so I keep the pack indoors, away from the cold shed in winter. The 1 bushel bag fills fast in spring growth, and the manual’s clog fix is to release the bail, remove the pack and shake the grass to the back of the bag.
Reach for it on a small level yard, a townhouse lawn or the edge strips beside a larger lawn, and if you already own WORX 20V tools. Skip it for any lawn near a quarter acre, for wet, tall or sloped ground, and if you want self-propel.
FINAL VERDICT
On a small yard the 14 in deck and 22.35 lb of the WG733.1 are an advantage. On anything near a quarter acre they are a limit.
It is the compact mower for a small yard.
8. SKIL PM4910-15 20-Inch Cordless Push Mower Kit Best Mid-Size Push
The SKIL PM4910-15 is the only push mower on this page with a 20 in deck, which makes it my mid-size push pick for a house lawn. SKIL claims up to 60 minutes on a single 6.0Ah charge, with no grass height or speed behind the figure, and I treat that as a best case.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
It is here as the mid-size push pick because a 20 in deck sits between the small mowers and the 21 in class. The kit carries a 5-year tool warranty when you register within 30 days. The cost is that SKIL publishes no weight and no conditions for the 60 minutes.
SKIL PM4910-15 20-Inch Cordless Push Mower Kit Specs
Key Features:
- Up to 60 minutes per charge: SKIL’s claim for the 6.0Ah battery in the kit, with conditions not stated.
- Brushless 40V motor: The same PWR CORE 40 battery fits other SKIL 40V tools.
- One-hand height lever: Seven settings run from 1.5 to 4 in.
- Bag, mulch or rear discharge: The bag holds 1.7 bushel, and the mulching insert comes out for bagging.
- Folding handle: The mower stores upright or flat, and the manual prefers flat because an upright mower can tip.
The manual’s cutting advice is plain: take a third of the blade at a time, no more than 1.5 in, and cut high first on overgrown grass. In June and July I walk the plum rows and pick up fruit and sticks before the first pass, since thrown objects are the hazard the manual stresses.
The 60 minute figure is SKIL’s best case, and the manual says grass condition and cutting height greatly affect run time. The kit has one battery, and I treat the claim as the ceiling. The bag hooks must sit firmly on the pivot rod, and the first time I hung the bag it rode loose until I seated both hooks. On the long alley I set the handle in the top of its three operating positions so I do not stoop. I pit it against a WORX push mower in WORX WG752 against SKIL PM4910-15.
Do not charge the battery outdoors or in wet places, as the manual says.
Stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and remove the battery before you clear the deck, change the bag or tip the mower, since the manual says the machine can amputate hands and feet. Keep children out of the yard, keep pets and bystanders 100 feet away and never mow wet grass or slopes over 15 degrees.
After each mow I clean the underside with the battery out, because the manual says clippings left there promote rust and corrosion. I store it flat in the machinery shed with the handle folded and the battery indoors, which is the manual’s safest position. The lowest cut is 1.5 in, which is too high for a close-cut lawn.
It suits a house lawn of dry grass that a single battery can finish, and a buyer who wants a 20 in deck without a drive. Skip it if you want self-propel or a side discharge chute, if you mow below 1.5 in, or if the lawn is wet, sloped over 15 degrees or larger than one battery covers.
FINAL VERDICT
A dry house lawn that wants a 20 in deck without a drive is where the PM4910-15 fits, and SKIL’s 60 minutes should shrink as the load rises.
It is the mid-size push mower for a house lawn.
9. Honda HRN216YXBVKA4 21-Inch Self-Propelled Battery Mower Best Honda Battery Mower
The Honda HRN216YXBVKA4 is the only Honda on this page, and it is my pick if you want a Honda battery powered lawn mower serviced through an authorized Honda dealer. It is a 21 in self-propelled mower with a steel deck, a pressure-sensitive drive paddle and an 8Ah battery in the kit.
WHY I CHOSE THIS ✓
I included the Honda for the dealer behind it. Service goes through authorized Honda dealers, and the mower, the battery and the charger each carry 3 years for residential use. The price of that is weight and a short run time.
Honda HRN216YXBVKA4 21-Inch Self-Propelled Battery Mower Specs
Key Features:
- Smart Drive paddle: Pressure sets the speed from 0 to 3.80 mph, and releasing it disengages the rear wheels.
- Steel deck with a 1 in floor: Seven settings run from 1 to 4 in on two levers.
- Clip Director: One deck handles mulch, bag or rear discharge.
- Folding handlebar: It folds forward for storage, and the cables must not be pinched.
- Headlight: It stays on for three minutes after you release the controls.
The paddle sets this mower apart. It has five handle positions, and light pressure gives a slow walk while more pressure gives more speed, so I ease off at a plum trunk and nudge the mower round by hand. For a loss of power the manual says to raise the cut, take a narrower swath or slow down.
Run time is the weak spot. Honda claims up to 30 minutes on the 8Ah battery and up to 45 on an optional 12Ah, with no grass height or speed stated. The standard 2A charger takes about 4.5 hours, and an 8A quick charger that takes about an hour is an extra purchase. Plan a small lawn, or buy the second battery, because one standard pack ends the mowing early.
With the motor off and the battery out, set the rear height lever first and match the front, as the manual says. Never run the blades over gravel.
Shut off the power unit, wait for the blades to stop and then remove the battery before you adjust the height, clean the deck or touch the blades, which can amputate fingers, hands, toes or feet. Keep children out of the yard, keep pets and others at least 100 feet away, avoid slopes over 15 degrees, never mow wet grass and look down and behind before and while you back up, and back up only when you must.
The manual gives 82.3 lb with the bag and the battery, and dragging that up a step is where I feel it. Store it dry with the battery out, under a breathable cover rather than a plastic sheet. The 4.5 hour charge ties the mower to the charger between mows. I compare the two self-propelled mowers in Honda HRN-BV against EGO’s LM2135SP.
It suits a small to mid-size level lawn where the dealer network and the 3-year warranty count for more than run time. Skip it if you want a light mower, if the lawn needs more than one standard pack, or if you mow wet grass or slopes over 15 degrees.
FINAL VERDICT
The dealer is the reason to buy the HRN216YXBVKA4, and the standard battery ties it to a small level lawn. A larger pack is the upgrade if the lawn grows.
It is the Honda for a buyer who wants a dealer behind the mower.
How to Choose the Best Battery Lawn Mower
Seven checks sort the field, and the first is the battery, because a cordless mower is a motor and a deck wrapped around a pack. I run them in this order. Riding mowers, lawn tractors and zero-turns are a different class and sit outside this page, so I cover rider choices separately in my best riding lawn mower roundup.
Battery Voltage, Amp-Hours and Watt-Hours
Voltage names the battery platform, and watt-hours measure the energy in the pack. Energy depends on volts and amp-hours together, and platforms print different voltages: SKIL calls its 40V pack nominal, while WORX’s manual gives its 20V pack a nominal 18 V. A bigger voltage figure on the box says little about run time by itself. I compare packs in watt-hours first and read the maker’s load conditions second.
| Pack | Energy (watt-hours) | Maker’s run time claim |
|---|---|---|
| 56V, 6.0Ah | Not published | 55 min at light load |
| 80V, 4.0Ah | 288, per Greenworks | Up to 33 min, load not stated |
| 40V nominal, 6.0Ah | 240, calculated from nominal voltage | Up to 50 min, load not stated |
The claims do not line up with the watt-hours, which is why the stated load matters more than the label. OSHA says lithium batteries can be damaged by temperatures above about 130 F and by charging below freezing, so charge and store a pack within the temperature range in its manual (1).
Pro Tip
Buy into a platform as well as a mower. A pack that also runs a trimmer or a blower later is worth more than a few extra volts.
Run Time, Load and Planning a Lawn
Every maker’s run time is a best case. One manual prints three figures for one pack, 55 minutes at light load, 40 at medium and 30 at heavy, and wet, tall or thick grass pushes you toward the heavy row. Another maker gives a no-load figure of 50 minutes, which means no grass in the deck at all. Plan in minutes of real mowing and ask what load a number was taken at. Dense turf is where the heavy-load figure matters, and my best lawn mower for thick grass roundup ranks nine mowers on how they cope.
- Time one real mowing session and count blade-running minutes apart from breaks; treat the result as an estimate.
- Use the heavy-load figure if the grass is thick or tall at the first cut of spring.
- Add a second battery or a charging break when your minutes exceed the pack.
- Treat any figure with no stated load as a best case.
On my quarter-acre house lawn I plan with the heavy-load figure in spring and the light-load figure in a dry July, and I treat a number whose conditions the maker does not state as a qualified maker claim, not a measured result.
Key Takeaway
A run time with a stated load is a figure you can plan with. A run time with no load behind it is a sales line.
Push or Self-Propelled
A self-propelled mower drives its own wheels, so you steer and set a speed, while a push mower is lighter and you supply the force. Drive matters most when the bag is full, the lawn is long or the ground rises. The manuals that give a slope limit say 15 degrees, and all of them say to mow across the face of a slope, never up and down.
| Choose | Push | Self-propelled |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small, level lawns | Long lawns, tall grass or a full bag |
| Handling | Lighter, you supply the force | Heavier, a dial or lever sets the pace |
| Check | The weight on its stated basis | The drive layout and the speed range the maker publishes |
On the level house lawn a push mower is enough for me, and the best battery-powered push lawn mower is the one whose pack covers the lawn. The long orchard alleys are where a drive earns its weight. Battery, gas, corded and reel push models sit together in my best push lawn mower list.
Cutting Width, Cutting Height and the One-Third Rule
Decks on this page run from 14 in to 21 in, and a wider deck means fewer passes and a harder turn around trees and beds. Heights run from 1 in to 4 in. Take off no more than a third of the blade per mowing, because a field study found that mowing by that rule cut the number of required mowing events by 31 percent, about 8 a year, compared with mowing weekly (2). In tall grass, cut high first and lower after, as the manuals say.
- A 14 in deck suits a small yard and tight beds.
- A 17 in deck adds width and still folds small.
- A 20 to 21 in deck suits an ordinary house lawn.
- Check that the height lever reaches the top setting you need in heat and in tall grass.
Pro Tip
Set the deck at its top position on rough ground and in tall growth. The manuals give that order for protecting the blade and the cut.
In a hot, dry spell I move the deck up a notch to protect the grass.
Mulch, Bag or Side Discharge
Mulching returns clippings to the lawn, bagging removes them and side discharge throws them out. In a three-year field experiment on Kentucky bluegrass, returning clippings was equivalent to doubling the nitrogen applied as fertilizer at the levels tested, and the clippings did not add thatch (3). The result is for that grass and those nitrogen levels, so read it as a reason to mulch dry grass rather than a promise for every lawn. If mulching is your main job, my best mulching lawn mower roundup goes deeper on battery and gas models.
- Mulch on dry grass with the insert or plug in, because wet grass sticks under the deck.
- Bag where leaves or seed heads mix with the clippings, and pick fallen fruit up by hand before you mow; the bags here run from 1 to 2 bushels.
- Use side discharge, where a mower has one, only with people and windows well clear of the chute.
- Changing modes is hands-on work, and several manuals say to stop the blade and take the battery out first.
Along the alley edge I leave the clippings where they fall in the growing season, and I bag only when a mowing runs long.
Weight, Handling and Storage
Makers state weight on different bases. The manuals give 22.35 lb, 30.2 lb, 45.2 lb and 50 lb for the bare tool, Greenworks gives 69.7 lb tool only, Honda gives 82.3 lb with the bag and battery, and three of the nine mowers publish no weight at all, so compare only figures with the same basis. A folding handle and a documented storage position decide whether the mower fits a small shed, and several manuals say flat is safer than upright because an upright mower can tip. Lift with the battery out.
- Check whether a weight includes the battery.
- Check that the handle folds fully.
- Store the battery indoors at room temperature, as the manuals say.
I carry the pack indoors and leave the mower in the machinery shed, since the pack should not sit in the cold.
Warranty and Battery Cover
Tool warranties on this page run from 2 to 5 years, and battery cover runs from 2 to 4 years where the maker states it. Several terms depend on registering within 30 days, and most makers limit professional use. The battery cover is the line to read twice.
- Register the mower on the day you buy it.
- Keep the receipt, because one maker wants proof of purchase from an authorized seller.
- Check what the warranty excludes; blades and sharpening are wear items.
Battery Lawn Mower Safety Before You Mow
The blade does the damage, and the numbers are large. A study of US emergency departments from 2005 to 2015 estimated 934,394 lawn mower injuries treated, about 84,944 a year, with the hand and finger the most injured parts at 22.3 percent (4). Lacerations were the most common injury at 23.1 percent.
- Stop first: Stop the motor, wait until the blade has stopped, then take the battery out before you clear the deck, empty the bag or tip the mower. The blade keeps turning for a few seconds after shutoff, as the manuals say.
- Clear the lawn: Pick up stones, sticks, wire and toys before the first pass.
- Keep people away: Keep children out of the yard while you mow, and keep pets and bystanders at least 100 feet away, the distance the manuals give.
- Dress for it: Wear closed shoes, long trousers and eye protection, and heavy gloves on the blade.
- Leave the controls alone: Never disable the bail or the safety button.
- Mind the ground: Mow dry grass only, across a slope and never up and down, within the manual’s limit where it gives one (15 degrees in most), and keep away from drop-offs, ditches and embankments. For slopes, I rank seven picks by drive and slope limits in my guide to lawn mowers for hills.
Children carry a share of that risk. US emergency departments treated an estimated 140,700 lawn mower injuries in patients aged 20 and under from 1990 to 2004, about 9,400 a year, and lacerations were the leading injury at 41.2 percent (5). Keep children out of the mowing area, look down and behind before and while you back up, and back up only when you must.
A battery mower is quieter than a gas one. Noise measurements of more than 600 mowers, taken at 25 feet and at the operator’s ear, found electric mowers significantly quieter than gas mowers (6), but a quiet mower still throws stones, so I wear eye protection.
Never Reach Under the Deck
Stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and take the battery out before you touch the deck, the chute or the blade. Wear heavy gloves on the blade.
I never reach under the deck or into the chute while the blade can turn. I stop, wait, take the battery out and put gloves on first.
What I Ask of a Battery Mower on My Own Land
The house lawn is level, the alleys between the tree rows are long and straight, and spring grass is often wet. Those three facts set my questions. I compare five picks from half an acre to open acreage in my guide to lawn mowers for large yards.
- The pack covers the longest stretch. I want to finish a row before the pack tells me to stop.
- Wet spring grass waits. The manuals say to mow dry grass, so I wait for a dry day.
- The deck clears the drip lines. The lines lie on the soil near the tree rows, so I mow parallel to them and keep the deck high.
A mower that gets those three right is a mower I keep using.
My Overall Verdict
I ranked these nine on what the maker documents about run time, drive, weight and warranty, and on how each one behaved on my own lawn and yard edges. The top three suit three different lawns. The ranking across battery and gas, by yard size, sits in my best lawn mower roundup.
1. EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower Best Overall
For a level house lawn that one battery can finish, with a complete kit and a run time table you can plan from.
2. EGO Power+ LM2134SP-2 Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Best Premium
For a long lawn where a second battery and a drive set the pace and cost matters less.
3. WORX Nitro WG752 21-Inch 3-in-1 Cordless Push Mower Best Value
For a level lawn of dry grass up to the half acre WORX quotes, with two batteries and a full deck, and a recharge near that limit.
Add up the minutes your lawn needs at the load you mow, then buy the pack that covers them. Charge within your manual’s temperature range, mow dry, and before you touch the deck stop the motor, wait for the blade to stop and remove the battery or safety key, and the best battery lawn mower for you will be the one that fits those minutes.
Why EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower Might Be the Best Choice
I put the EGO Power+ LM2114 21-Inch Cordless Push Mower first because it tells you its run time by load, and that lets you buy against your own lawn. It ships with a 6.0Ah battery and a charger, and EGO’s manual gives 55 minutes at light load, 40 at medium and 30 at heavy.
The trade is the drive. It has none, so you push 45.2 lb without the pack across the lawn, and a lawn that needs more than the pack’s minutes waits for the charger.
What puts it first:
✓ A 6.0Ah battery and a charger in the kit
✓ Run time printed for light, medium and heavy load
✓ Mulch, rear bag and side discharge on one deck
✓ A folding handle with a locked storage position
✓ A 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ego or Greenworks better?
EGO is better for a buyer who wants run time printed by load and a 5-year tool warranty, and Greenworks is better for a buyer who wants 4 years of cover on the battery. This page ranks the EGO LM2114 first and the Greenworks MO80L416 fifth, so choose by your lawn’s minutes of mowing and the cover you want.
Is a 40V or 80V lawn mower better?
Neither a 40V nor an 80V lawn mower is better by voltage alone, because energy depends on volts and amp-hours together and platforms differ. Compare watt-hours where a maker gives them: Greenworks lists 288 for its 80V 4.0Ah pack, and a 40V nominal 6.0Ah pack calculates to 240, and run time at your load decides the rest.
What is the most reliable lawn mower battery?
Warranty length alone does not show which lawn mower battery is the most reliable. Choose a pack from a maker with service near you, a platform you can build on and battery cover of 3 to 4 years where offered, and charge and store it within the temperature range in its manual.
What is the best battery powered lawn mower?
The best battery powered lawn mower on this page is the EGO LM2114 for a level lawn that one battery can finish, and the EGO LM2134SP-2 when the lawn is long enough to need two batteries and a drive. Pick the one whose run time at your load covers your mowing.
Who makes the best battery powered lawn mower?
EGO makes the best battery powered lawn mowers on this page, with two of the top three picks, while WORX, SKIL, Greenworks, Honda and Sun Joe each make one that wins on value, drive, battery cover, dealer service or small-yard fit. Judge a maker by its manual, its battery warranty and its service network.
References
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Preventing Fire and/or Explosion Injury from Small and Wearable Lithium Battery Powered Devices. Safety and Health Information Bulletin SHIB 06-20-2019. US Department of Labor; 2019.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Vollman D, Smith GA. Epidemiology of Lawn Mower-Related Injuries to Children in the United States, 1990-2004. Pediatrics. 2006;118(2):e273-e278. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-0056
- 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
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.