Which push mowers are best?
A push mower is any lawn mower that is not propelled by a motor or engine but is pushed by someone on foot. Most push mowers have a power source that turns the blades that do the cutting, but that’s all. Mower blades on push mowers can be powered by an internal combustion engine, electric power or the energy supplied by the person doing the pushing.
If you’re considering a push mower, you first need to decide which qualities are most important to you.
Factors to consider when choosing a push mower
The following is a breakdown of how gas-powered push mowers, battery-powered push mowers, corded electric lawn mowers and human-powered push mowers stack up against each other.
Power
Push mowers require you to supply the power that propels them around your lawn.
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- Gas-powered push mowers have more power than electric motors, making them less likely to bog down in thick, long grass. The larger the engine displacement, the more powerful the mower.
- Battery-powered push mowers vary in power, based on the volts and amperes of their batteries. Bigger numbers mean more power and higher costs.
- Corded electric lawn mowers all have the same amount of power at the socket.
- Human-powered push mowers have you supplying all the power to propel the mower and turn the blades, too.
Noise
- Gas-powered push mowers make the most noise because internal combustion is a series of thousands of little explosions per minute when a spark detonates the fuel. The mower blades add to the noise.
- Battery-powered push mowers produce noise from the mower blades, but the motor is relatively silent, making them a quieter choice.
- Corded electric lawn mowers make the same amount of noise as battery-powered mowers.
- Human-powered push mowers are the quietest of all, making only a whirring noise as the blades spin around.
Run time
Run time is how long your push mower can operate without stopping to refuel or recharge.
- Gas-powered push mowers keep mowing until you run out of fuel. The fuel tank is almost always large enough that you won’t have to refuel to finish cutting your lawn.
- Battery-powered push mowers‘ run times vary depending on the thickness and height of the grass. If you run out of power before you’re done mowing, you either have to swap in a spare fully charged battery or wait for your dead battery to recharge.
- Corded electric lawn mowers keep going until you turn them off or pull the plug.
- Human-powered push mowers can mow as long as you have the energy to push them.
Maintenance
All push mowers need to have their cutting blades kept clean and sharp.
- Gas-powered push mowers require fuel, oil, filters and spark plugs that the others don’t. This means you will need to make regular trips to the gas station and must also store flammable liquids safely. Gas engines require regular, ongoing maintenance to keep everything in good running order.
- Battery-powered push mowers need only regular recharging. It is always a good idea to have an extra battery on hand, charged and ready to go when needed.
- Corded electric lawn mowers need the power cord rolled up for storage so it doesn’t become a rat’s nest.
- Human-powered push mowers need only to be oiled occasionally.
Best push mowers
Best gas-powered push mowers
Craftsman M105 21-inch 3-in-1 Gas-Powered Push Mower with Bagger
No need to fuss with a choke or priming — just pull the cord to start. This 20-pound mower with a 140-cubic-centimeter engine has six different height settings and can be set for side discharge of the clippings, rear discharge or mulching.
Yard Machine 20-Inch 125 cc Briggs and Stratton Gas Powered Push Mower
This push mower comes fully assembled in the box. All you have to do is unfold and lock the handle, set the cutting height to anywhere from 1.25 to 3.75 inches, put some gas in the tank and start mowing. The single blade is rust-resistant and durable.
Best electric-power push mowers
Greenworks 24-Volt 14-Inch Brushless Push Lawn Mower and Mulcher
You get up to 45 minutes of run time with this bagging Greenworks mower with a push-button start. It weighs less than 21 pounds, has five cutting heights and comes with two 4Ah batteries.
Lawn Master 11-Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric Lawn Mower
Never have another dead battery with this corded 28-pound electric push mower that changes the cutting height from 1 to 3 inches with one touch of the adjustment lever. The handle has a start/stop safety switch and adjusts to three different lengths to fit whoever does the mowing.
Best self-powered push mowers
American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
You get a light workout while cutting your lawn quietly and without generating pollutants. Your power turns the cutting blades while propelling this 20-pound reel mower across the lawn. The 14-inch cutting width is great for small yards, and the blade height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 inches.
Earthwise 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
This 21-pound mower rides on 10-inch composite wheels and has seven alloy steel blades that stay sharper longer. The reel is mounted on smooth ball bearings for stable spinning and a clean cut, so all you need to do is attach the handle and start mowing.
Fiskars Stay Sharp Max 17-Inch Reel Push Lawn Mower
The inertia drive reel has twice the cutting power of standard reel mowers and is 60% easier to push. The stay-sharp cutting system on this Fiskars reel mower eliminates the cost and effort of manual blade sharpening, and the one-touch handle height adjustment adjusts to the perfect height for you.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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