Spring and summer are quickly approaching. Time to enjoy the great outdoors with the beauty of warm weather blooms, cookouts, biking, swimming, or just feeling the sun’s warmth on your face. That also means it is time to start cutting the grass again. Wondering which mower brand to buy from? The best electric lawn mowers make it easy to power through yard work.
For the perfect manicured lawn, you’ll need a reliable machine that can chug away across your grass. We looked through 12 expert reviews to find the consensus best electric lawn mowers to meet your family’s specific needs and keep your yard looking beautiful! Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below!
➡️ How Our “Best Of The Best” Lists Are Created
StudyFinds’ “Best of the Best” articles are put together with the idea of taking the work out of common consumer research. Ever find yourself searching for a product or service on Google and reading multiple reviews to find items listed across many of them? Our Best of the Best lists are created with that process in mind, with each item ranked by how frequently it appears on expert reviews or lists. With Best of the Best, you are getting consensus picks — making them truly the best of the best!
The List: Best Electric Lawn Mower Brands for You
1. Ryobi
With a variety of models recommended, Ryobi tops the list of the best brands of electric mowers. Ranked as the “best self-propelled” by The Spruce is the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower (RY401150). They rave about its powerful performance, 70-minute runtime, fast, 60-minute charging, and how this model is lightweight and folds for storage.
Top Ten Reviews also recommends this model as the “best affordable electric lawn mower.” With its dual batteries, it can cover half an acre on a single charge. “It’s easy to maneuver and powers over bumps easily to tackle inclines,” they write.
Prefer a riding mower? The Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower may be exactly what you’re looking for. This mower is ideal for larger yards. Better Homes and Gardens adds, “On a half-acre yard with a variety of hills, trees, and fencing, this lawn mower performed admirably.” Several safety features include reflective decals on the side, bright headlights, and the blades stop turning when the driver lifts out of the seat.
2. Ego Power+
Next on our list of the best electric mower brands is Ego. According to CNET, “Anyone who doubts that an electric mower can rival the power of gas models hasn’t used an Ego.” They ranked the Ego Power Plus 21-inch 56-volt select cut XP as the best electric lawn mower they review. The 56-volt battery works with the entire line of Ego power yard tools. CNET raves that whether “cutting grass or barreling through low-brush, this mower performed like a tank.”
The Ego LM2167SP Electric Lawn Mower is Popular Mechanics’ pick for “best combined performance.” It earns a spot in their 2023 Yard and Garden Awards. With “thorough engineering” and a “humongous 12-Ah battery that helps it go the distance,” it is easy to see why Popular Mechanics raves about this mower.
MSN recommends the Ego Power+ Z6 42-Inch Electric Riding Lawn Mower (ZT4204L). Equal to the power found with a gas engine, this mower provides 22 horsepower and speeds up to 8mph. Plus a single battery charge allows you to mow up to two full acres. MSN notes, “This mower has four independent brushless motors and an LCD interface that lets you choose from three driving modes: control, standard and sport.”
3. Greenworks
Looking for a more affordable option? Good Housekeeping ranks the Greenworks 40V Cordless Lawn Mower (LMF417) as the best value. It is also lightweight and quiet. Their researchers reported how “the large 10-inch rear wheels and 7-inch front wheels make this Greenworks mower easy to control and maneuver over small- to mid-size yards (up to 1/3 acre).”
For a thicker lawn or overgrown areas, consider the Greenworks Pro 80V (GLM801601). Lawn Love reports that “Greenworks’ ‘smart cut’ technology automatically increases motor power when encountering resistance, and the large 10-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front wheels navigate difficult terrain with ease.” With two batteries, you’ll get up to an hour of cutting time with this mower. Plus a 30-minute rapid charge allows for even longer to tackle your lawn.
4. Toro
If you need a mower capable of easily switching between mulching and bagging, The Spruce recommends the Toro 60V MAX* Electric Battery High Wheel Mower. A neat cut in tight spaces is made possible by its nine cutting positions. “Toro’s patented Vortex Technology also ensures finer grass clippings and a healthier lawn,” notes The Spruce.
Have a small, flat yard? Top Ten Reviews thinks the Toro Recycler 21″ SmartStow 60-Volt Cordless Mower is perfect for you! It has enough battery life to cut a smaller yard on a single charge. Plus, if you’re also short on storage space, this mower can fold to be stored upright.
Stripes can give a pristine look to a fresh-cut lawn. Popular Mechanics voted the Toro 21623 Stripe Dual-Blades Self-Propelled Mower as the “best lawn striper.” Its two blades “work in tandem to deliver a razor-smooth cut and a velvet-like stripe.”
5. Sun Joe
For those looking to cut a small yard at a small price, check out the Sun Joe 14-inch Push Cordless Electric Lawn Mower (MJ401C). Forbes reports it is “powered by a battery that can handle up to a 1/4 acre before needing a recharge.” Consisting of three height levels, you can easily choose the look you desire for your lawn. Plus, the smaller cutting deck means it requires less storage space.
Another option for a small yard is the Sun Joe MJ401E, as long as you’re okay with a corded mower. Lawn Starter claims “the push-button start mechanism and the all-terrain wheels [keep it] moving steadily through uneven spots in your yard.”
This same model was voted by MSN as the “Best Budget Electric Lawn Mower.” They commented on how the “14-inch cutting deck lets you navigate the tight turns that come with smaller yards.” The alloy steel body makes it a long-lasting, durable mower while still being a great deal financially.
What to consider when purchasing an electric mower:
Love the smell of freshly cut grass? You’re in good company among 60% of Americans, according to one study. If you are looking for a way to become more eco-friendly, then consider purchasing an electric lawn mower over a gas-powered one. Here are several things to consider when purchasing an electric lawn mower:
- The size of your yard
- Cordless or corded
- Voltage and battery power
- Self-propelled versus push mowers
- Cutting width
- Mulching capabilities
You might also be interested in:
Sources:
- The Spruce
- Top Ten Reviews
- Better Homes and Gardens
- CNET
- Popular Mechanics
- MSN
- Good Housekeeping
- Lawn Love
- Aussie Green Thumb
- Forbes
- Lawn Starter
- US News
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This article may contain affiliate links in which we receive a commission if you make a purchase.
Hi melissa. You left out the 80 volt electric lawn mower sold by harbor freight. Might have been the best on your list. The batteries also are used in trimmers, tree trimmers, and other tools.
What about ATLAS ???
I agree. Atlas 80V is a beast.
What about Makita, this brand should be in the top 3, much better than some of the ones mentioned…I am not sure how is this article based, but I am super happy with Makita for every aspect it represents fron it’s batteries, performance and quality of materials used.
I grew up using an electric mower. It had to have been in use for over 20 years without an issue. And yes it had a cord. I loved using it. Other than sharpening the blades and cleaning out the clippings from under the metal deck, there was no real maintenance. So how long will the batteries last on these new ones? How well does the plastic body hold up over the years?
The STHIL electric mower is far better than any of these mentioned in this article.
About the Ryobi mower when the battery goes out on the mower don’t let it sit there then come back a short time later and use it again without charging it cause it will drain the battery so much that it won’t be able to accept a charge giving you a very expensive paper weight
These are terrible options, the original Ryobi cylinder mower was the best.
Cylinder blades dont rip the grass out and leave a beautiful cut similar to professional cylinder mowers.
BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL RYOBI CYLINDER BLADED MOWER
SunJoe Equipment is awful. The batteries are double the cost, are poor quality and are not interchangeable with other 24 volt batteries. Besides that, I had gray goop oozing out of the batteries.
I fell for the hype. I have a Snowjoe/SunJoe snowblower and lawn mower and and an electric tiller paperweight! Pay attention, don’t get suckered into the Sunjoe or Snowjoe equipment! I have a choice of paying $200 for 2 new batteries or a new mower and batteries for $299.00 on their website! Should be illegal!
Another worthless review based on other worthless spec/paper only paper reviews. Ok take the top five and USE them. Hills, larg lawns, battery life, grass collection. It like a wine review in the grocery store from management who dont actually drink the winea
I own 3 pieces of equipment because I can no longer use gas because of arthritis in my hands. So I figured I would buy everything battery powered.
You don’t know me, so dont be rude. I would say 90% of all reviews I ever give are positive. If I get good service at McDonald’s I will call and speak with a manager to give a kudos to the person.Plus you won’t need to look far to see other people who own these products have the same issues.
By the way, how many Sunjoe or Snowjoe tools do you own?
Tell me, what battery is compatible with Sunjoe equipment? I think your just sounding off on paper and have never even opened a Sunjoe or Snowjoe box! You probably just work for the company.
2 Kobalt 24 volt batteries $79 at Lowes. It will cost me $200 to get them on the Sunjoe site. If you did your homework you would know I’m right.
I’m amazed that Worx’s products weren’t mentioned. Solid company that backs it’s products. I have a full array of their products we trimmers two electric mowers hedge trimmer on with 40 volt battery systems. When I had an issue with one of the products they quickly replaced it no questions asked all I had to do was provide them with the model and serial number off the product. Batteries are easy to charge and maintain and the cost is fairly relative compared to some of the other products on the market.
While the thought of battery powered lawn tools seems nice, where is the “green” power coming from? Yep… open pit mines and child labor. Lithium is a very finite material. We’re gonna run out of it long before it can replace liquid fuel.
Sorry to disagree, this must be paid advertisement, no way this list can be complete with Makita lawn mowers, they are so reliable, and top notch quality and performance, without that brand this list is totally incomplete
I have been a fan of Ryobi, and have both a mower and snowblower in their 40V line, used them for 5 years without any problems, except for a battery dying one month after the 5-year warranty expired.
But now I have come to the problem of forced obsolescence. They redesigned the batteries, and the batteries they currently sell DO NOT FIT in older tools, even though the user manuals for the new batteries say they are compatible. So now I am left with one working battery, with a few months left on the warranty (which doesn’t matter, because if they send me a new one, it won’t fit), and when it dies my mower and blower will be useless.
A month or two ago, I noticed a neighbor had a Ryobi mower at the curb for trash pickup. A few years back, I had stopped while walking the dogs while she was mowing, and we both raved about them. Now I know why she trashed it.