Our favorite is the RYOBI 20 in. Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower because it is lightweight, quiet, easy to push, and has adjustable handles. Here are the best battery-powered lawn mowers. This mower weighs just 60 pounds, making it manageable for most people, and its handles are adjustable, too. As is, the machine can mulch or bag your grass clippings—if you want it to side-discharge, you’ll need to buy an additional accessory. The mower’s blades are adjustable to seven different heights, between 1.5 and 4 inches, and our testers liked that it’s quiet and has LED headlights for mowing at night. Cutting Width: 20 inches | Weight: 60 pounds | Run Time: 42 minutes | Charge Time: 4 hours | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 0.5-acre The Greenworks Push Lawn Mower can either mulch or bag your grass clippings, and it comes with a grass collection bag to do so. It’s easy to start up with a push of a button, and the handles fold down for more compact storage. The only major downside is that you need to remove the battery from the charger once it’s powered up—if you don’t, it can impact the longevity of the power unit. Cutting Width: 16 inches | Weight: 37.5 pounds | Run Time: 45 minutes | Charge Time: 2 hours | Cutting Options: Mulch, bag | Size of Yard: 0.5-acre This self-propelled mower can run for around 40 minutes per charge, and it’s recommended for lawns up to 0.33 acres. It has a durable steel deck and 11-inch rear wheels with a unique tread that improves traction, and it can be set to nine different cutting heights. (However, there are no markings on the levers that adjust the blade height, making it a little tricky to find the exact height you want.) The mower folds flat for storage, and its “Super Bagger” is easy to connect, lift, and empty. Cutting Width: 22 inches | Weight: 95 pounds | Run Time: 40 minutes | Charge Time: 2.5 hours | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 0.33 acres This push mower has a 20-inch steel deck, and there are six cutting height positions and three handle positions to choose from. It can mulch, bag, or side or rear discharge grass clippings, though it’s not the best option for bagging, as the suction isn’t quite as strong as it needs to be. The mower folds flat for storage and can be stood up to save space, and its EGO ARC Lithium battery is compatible with other EGO tools, as well. Cutting Width: 20 inches | Weight: 55.2 pounds | Run Time: 60 minutes | Charge Time: 40 minutes | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 1 acre This push mower can be used to bag, mulch, or side-discharge grass clippings, and the included catcher bag holds up to 1.7 bushels. The handle has a rubberized grip for comfort, and the machine even features a quiet mode that provides a constant speed to minimize any revving. Cutting Width: 18 inches | Weight: 60.5 pounds | Run Time: 43 minutes | Charge Time: Not listed | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 0.33 acres Since you’re likely going to be sitting on this riding mower for a few hours, it features a comfortable padded seat as well as a built-in USB charger for your phone. It comes with a towing hitch so you can use it as a lawn tractor around your yard, and despite its size, it still charges via a standard 120-volt outlet. Cutting Width: 42 inches | Weight: 617 pounds | Run Time: Not listed | Charge Time: Not listed | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: 2.5 acres
Cutting Options
Today’s lawn mowers can typically side discharge, mulch, or bag grass clippings. Some mowers only offer one of these abilities, while others have all three. Bagging is ideal if you don’t want grass clippings back on your lawn, while mulching can help to improve your lawn’s quality by returning nutrients to the soil.
Runtime
When shopping for a battery-powered lawn mower, see how long it can operate on a single charge and compare its runtime to the average time it takes you to mow your lawn. Those with small lawns can often get by with a runtime under 60 minutes. But if you have more than an acre to mow, you may need to splurge on a lawn mower with longer-lasting batteries—or run the risk of having to mow in multiple sessions.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance contributor for The Spruce. As someone who grew up on a 70-acre farm and owns a 5-acre parcel herself, she’s no stranger to lawn mowers, and she’s written extensively on them. She’s also personally tested both the RYOBI 38 in. 75 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower and the RYOBI 42 in. 75 Ah Battery Electric Riding Zero Turn Mower. While selecting other battery-powered mowers for this list, she considered factors such as their runtime, deck size, and features such as self-propelled transmissions. She also spoke with Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, for insights on selecting the best lawn mower for your home.
