Best Electric Lawn Mowers – Buying Guide and Reviews

Push or Propel?

You will need to decide if you want to go with the classic push mower or have a model that propels itself. Out of these two options, the push mower is going to be cheaper. The downside is that push mowers will exclusively rely on your personal strength to mow your yard. On the other hand, propel mowers just need you to guide them, making them much better for an extended period of use. Just like with the mower’s deck, you need to consider what type of yard you are dealing with. You should also keep in mind that a propel mower will use more energy than the push model, this can be taxing if you’re using battery power.

If you have an average-sized yard with easy to cut grass, you may not see a need to spend the extra cash on a push mower. If you have hard to cut grass, and a few acres of land to care for, then using a propel mower is your best bet. Propel mowers will keep you from getting tired as fast and reduce the amount of strain you place on your body while mowing. They will also be able to cut through thick patches of grass much easier.

Finally, keep in mind that propel mowers have more parts, which means more maintenance. They have a higher chance of breaking down. You will need to do regular maintenance and be aware of the common issues that occur when using a propel mower.

Height Settings

Getting a mower without height settings would be like getting clippers that only cut one length of hair. Mowers need to have the option to adjust the blades in order to care for different yard types properly. Even when you mow on a weekly schedule, extra rain or lack thereof can cause the grass to grow to different heights. Even the species of grass you choose to plant in your yard may cause you to lower the blade for a shorter trim. The rule of thumb is to make sure the mower you are purchasing cuts your lawn no less than 30% of the grass’s original height to avoid stunted growth.

Some mowers will also have different levers for each wheel. Different levers mean you will need to perfectly line every wheel up in order to have a neat lawn. Other mowers will have one single adjustment lever that moves everything at once. Depending on the designs of these levers, it may be harder to get them turned to the perfect spot. Some levers will be loose, while others are hard to move. If you’re viewing a model in-store, make sure to toy with its height setting to learn just how difficult adjusting the wheels will be.

Some mowers will have more height options than others. In fact, a mower can have around eight different height settings, but most users prefer to buy a mower with four different height levels. These levels generally work best when the height difference ranges between 1.5 to 4 inches. Anything with a smaller range may be incompatible with your grass cutting needs. If you can’t tell or test out how many settings a mower has make sure to look over the product description thoroughly.

It’s important to note that keeping an electric lawn mower constantly on the lowest setting can actually damage the blade. If the lowest height setting for the model perfectly matches the needs of your yard, look for a mower with a wider range of heights.

Additional Electric Mower Features to Consider

Along with making sure that your electric mower will actually cut your yard correctly, there are a plethora of other features to think about. These features can range from extra safety precautions to the way your mower disposes of cut grass. Depending on your budget and individual needs, these features can vary in importance to most shoppers. Make sure to thoroughly read each mower’s description or ask about specific features if you don’t see them lister when looking at your desired model.

Grass Disposal

While the way your grass is disposed of may not top the list of features, it’s still important to consider. Many mowers will just spew grass out of their sides while you are mowing, for many users, this leaves an unwanted mess. If you don’t mind the look of a freshly cut lawn or don’t mind raking up the cut grass, then you may not care much for how your new mower blows out the cut grass. If you find it a hassle to have to clean-up after mowing, then you may want to look into models that use a bag to collect the grass as you mow. Some mowers can also turn the grass into mulch so that you don’t even need to bother with the disposal.

Generally, if a mower has a built-in bag to make clean-up easier, it will cost more. The bag is a great middle-ground though, as it isn’t as expensive as a mulching model, but makes clean-up quick. You simply need to detach the bag after mowing and dump it in the trash or the nearest compost heap. You will need to take care to make sure your bag system doesn’t get clogged up by the extra grass. Some bags will also have the option to shoot the grass out elsewhere, which can be great for controlling areas where weeds tend to grow.

If you want to go with a model that mulches the grass, then you will need to spend even less time during the clean-up process. Some mowers will even come with dual options or allow you to choose from all three. Keep in mind that with every extra you add on to your electric mower, the price will go up.

Starting Options

Another afterthought for many purchasing a mower may be how you start the model. You can easily go with the classic pull string models or even spring for an electric lawn mower that requires a key. Pull string models are generally the less expensive of the two, but many handles have to be held the whole time you are mowing. If your hand slips and you let go of the handle, most mowers have a safety feature that will cause them to shut off. Depending on how you look at it, the safety shut-off can either be a wanted feature or a nuisance. Buying a pull string mower also means that you can’t have as much control over who is trying to use it.

Keyed mowers, on the other hand, can be easier to start and keep going as you mow. A key-operated model does mean you will need to be more careful as the mower won’t stop if you trip or need to take a quick break. Adding in a key does give you another level of security as only you will be able to turn the mower on. A keyed mower can be a great choice if you have children or want to deter possible theft. Additionally, there are some push to start models out there that are even simpler to turn on and start mowing with.