What is the Best Electric Lawn Mower?
Finding the best electric lawn mower is an important task—after all, the mower is an essential and iconic part of any homeowner’s lawn-care toolkit! Every kind of yard worker, from the hobbyist weed whacker to the serious farmer, needs a mower that fits their specific property. Every yard is different, so we’re here today to guide you through the process of identifying the best electric lawn mower for your situation!
Different Mowers for Different Yards
Choosing the right style of mower is your first critical decision, and we’re here to help! There are two big categories of battery-powered mowers—walk behind and riding—and the main factor in this decision is the size of your yard. If you have over ¼ acre to mow, we recommend a riding mower.
Walk behind mowers come in two main styles, self-propelled or push. Self-propelled electric mowers will use the same battery that drives the blades to turn the wheels, which is helpful for hills or just to save you some effort! Push mowers are a great and affordable choice for smaller yards, but do take more labor than other mower styles.
For riding mowers, there are many styles to choose from, including lawn tractors, garden tractors, zero-turn mowers, and rear engine mowers. Each has different advantages, so choosing carefully can make a big difference in how much work it takes to tend to your yard.
Push mowers are compact, simple, and affordable
Self-propelled mowers are easy to use, convenient, and easy to store
Riding lawn tractors are great for larger lawns and pulling attachments
Rear-engine riding mowers excel on hills and are less expensive than other riding mowers
Zero-turn mowers are designed for the largest lawns and tightest turns
To Push or Not to Push
An electric self-propelled lawn mower is a great addition to your lawncare equipment. They’re easy to use, don’t take up much storage space, and require minimal maintenance compared to more complex mowers.
The standard push mower also has some advantages! They’re the simplest battery-powered lawn mowers available, and frequently the smallest. That means you can store them in tiny spaces (usually upright on their end, unlike gas mowers!) and that they take almost no maintenance. They also tend to be the least expensive.
This decision mostly comes down to personal preference and the difficulty of mowing your lawn. If you like yardwork and can knock out your small yard in a half hour without breaking a sweat, a push mower would be perfect. For hillier or larger yards, or if you want to save yourself some trouble and sweat, a self-propelled mower is a safe bet.
Riding Lawn Mowers and You
Riding lawn mowers also come in a variety in styles! Different brands build their mowers slightly differently, but there are a few core qualifications to check when making your decision.
Firstly, think about the functional specs of the mower. That includes things like the runtime, the battery recharging time, the width of the cutting deck, the towing or storage capabilities of the mower, and the steering system. For some homeowners, the ability to haul lumber or mulch in an attached cart is essential. Others want to drop their chainsaw into a bin on the back of their mower. For some, having a steering wheel instead of a lap bar is a requirement.
Knowing your own needs is essential for choosing the right riding mower, so ask yourself some questions before you decide on a purchase:
What steering systems are you comfortable with?
How much heavy-duty hauling do you want to do?
How much maneuverability do you need?
How hilly is your property?
How much storage space do you have for your mower?
Do you want any accessories, like a mulching kit, plow, or cart?
The Advantages of Riding Tractors
Riding lawn tractors are a great mid-point between the smaller push and self-propelled options and the full power of a zero-turn. We recommend a riding tractor for mid-sized properties, or homeowners who are expecting to use an accessory like a cart or a seed spreader.
Battery-powered riding tractors are typically slower than their zero-turn mower competition, which can be an advantage—not everyone needs super speed! They frequently have brake pedals for easier stopping and standard steering wheels that let them drive like a car.
How to Identify the Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
Electric zero-turn lawn mowers are the top of the line when it comes to outdoor power equipment (OPE). These powerful machines deliver long runtimes, high speeds, and a zero turn radius, which is the origin of their name. That means that you can turn on a dime, weaving between obstructions or making your next pass that much faster.
Typically, zero-turn lawn mowers use lap bars for steering instead of pedals and a wheel. This, coupled with their high speed and center of gravity, can make them harder to steer on hills, but does give them the power to cut on uneven or rough terrain.
A battery-powered zero-turn is ideal for the largest lawns and giving users the highest speeds, tackling your lawncare faster than other options!
Electric VS Gas Lawn Mowers
Gas-powered lawn equipment was king twenty years ago, but times have changed and electric mowers are no longer a second choice. Battery-powered tools have all sorts of advantages, including requiring less maintenance and being quieter, and they’re every bit as powerful as gas engines. The best time to mow the lawn will vary depending on your situation, but most people aim for the cooler times in the morning or evening. The quiet hum of a battery mower is much less disruptive, letting your neighbors sleep in and your family enjoy the evening crickets while the work gets done!
Some advantages of battery-powered lawn mowers include:
Zero emissions, fumes, or oil
Electric power is more sustainable and cleaner
Less noise or vibration
Ergonomic designs and simple push-to-start controls
Reduced maintenance and lower lifetime costs
The Best Electric Lawn Mower… For You!
Ultimately, only you can identify the best electric lawn mower for your situation and property. Battery-powered mower technology has caught up and passed the gas engine, so any switch you make to electric will be an upgrade. To reiterate; the key determining factor in which mower is right for you is the size of your yard, but once you’ve narrowed down to a few categories, you have plenty of options in choosing a mower that fits your situation! Walk-behind mowers are a classic option for smaller yards, and the multiple kinds of riding mowers can knock out even the largest yards.
No matter what style of mower you’re shopping for, Greenworks has options. Shop from an industry-leading innovator and see how cleaner, greener, more powerful OPE can improve your life and lawn.
