Push mowers are perfect for smaller yards or mowing around obstacles. Here are eight of our favorites to consider.
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Buying a Push Mower
For DIYers who enjoy maintaining their lawn, a mower is an exciting purchase. But selecting the right one from all the options on the market can be tricky. It depends on everything from the size of your yard to whether you’re willing to spend extra on conveniences such as a self-propelled drive train.
Push mowers are best for yards one-half acre or smaller, or for trimming and edging larger yards. When selecting a push mower, keep these factors in mind:
- Deck width: The deck contains the mower’s blades. The wider the deck, the fewer passes it will take to mow the lawn. However, a mower that’s too wide won’t easily navigate around obstacles like trees or bushes, or get through your gate.
- Accessories: Bagging kits are the main ones. Mowers may come with the bagging system, or it may be sold separately. Some mowers can’t accept baggers at all.
- Blade type: Most push mowers use rotary blades, horizontally mounted so they slice grass with a powerful, machete-like swing. Reel mowers cut like scissors, pinching grass between a stationary cutting bar and a rotating cylindrical reel. Reel mowers cut cleanly but with less force, making them prone to jamming.
- Power source: Rotary push mowers may be gas-powered, plugged into an electrical outlet or run on a battery. Reel mowers can be gas or electric but are often manual.
- Self-propelled: Most push mowers are exactly that — the user pushes it along. But some are self-propelled, using front-, rear- and all-wheel drive. These are more expensive and may require additional maintenance.
- Maintenance: All mowers require some maintenance, even if it’s just blade sharpening and cleaning out grass clippings. Gas mowers require engine maintenance such as oil changes and annual tuneups. Mower maintenance is relatively DIY friendly, so you can do most of the work yourself or take the mower in for service, as needed. Most service centers charge between $75 to $100 for an annual tuneup.
- Price:The mowers on this list run from $120 to $1,400. But most people find a mower that meets their needs in the $300 to $600 range.
Best Cordless Push Mower for Value
The Ryobi RY401140US Push Mower is a high-performing mower with good value. This rear-wheel drive self-propelled mower has a 21-inch cutting deck and runs on a pair of 40-volt batteries, providing up to 70 minutes of run time.
It comes with a bagging unit and can also mulch or side discharge. When you’re done, it folds up for vertical storage. It also comes with a five-year warranty (three years on the battery).
Best Gas Powered Push Mower for Value
Toro makes great mowers, and their Recycler line is loaded with features in a range of prices. Most DIYers will find one of the Recycler models hits a balance between price and performance.
A great starting point is the Recycler 21352 Gas Push Lawn Mower. This 21-in. mower has a Briggs and Stratton engine. For $60 more, you can get the 22-in. Recycler 20379 Gas Push Lawn Mower with Honda engine. The 21-in. Recycler 20339 Gas Push Lawn Mowerfeatures a Briggs and Stratton engine.
All three models fold flat for vertical storage and come with a bagger, side discharge and mulching option. All are self-propelled. The 20379 and the 20339 offer large rear wheels and front-wheel drive, while the 21352 has smaller wheels and rear-wheel drive.
Best Corded Push Mower for Small Yards
If your yard is small enough for an extension cord to reach an outlet, why mess with gas or batteries at all? A corded electric lawn mower is a good choice. The Sun Joe MJ401E Electric Lawn Mowerhas a 14-in. cutting deck, good for navigating the tight turns and narrow spaces of a smaller yard.
Plug it into a standard 120V-volt outlet and you’re ready to start mowing. The Sun Joe MJ401E also comes with a 10.6-gallon clipping collection bag.
Best Budget Gas Powered Push Mower
Need a budget friendly gas powered mower? Then consider the Yard Machines model 11A-02MY700. This 20-inch mower is well-suited for smaller yards.
At this price, you’re buying a mower with no bells and whistles. It’s not self-propelled, there’s no bagging option and it comes with a skimpy one-year limited warranty. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more affordable gas powered push mower.
Best Manual Reel Push Mower
Scotts is a major manufacturer of reel mowers. Its 15-16S Reel Push Moweris a great option for small yards and homeowners who don’t mind getting a little exercise.
While you can certainly find manual reel mowers for less, some budget models can only cut down to one inch, preventing you from getting that “putting-green perfect” look. That’s not a problem with this 16-in. model, which offers cutting heights from 2-1/2-in. all the way down to 1/2-inch.
Best Cordless Push Mower for a Large Yard
If your yard is about or a little more than one-half acre, the Greenworks MO40L4413 Push Moweris a great choice. It’s powered by a pair of 40-volt batteries that cleverly don’t discharge simultaneously. Instead, when one draws down, the mower switches over to the other, resulting in longer run time.
This Greenworks mower comes with a 21-in. cutting deck, side discharge, mulching options and a bag to collect your clippings. Both the mower and the batteries are covered by three-year warranties.
Best Gas Powered Push Mower for a Large Yard
You may be wondering if there are any push mowers options for extra large yards. The good news is, yes. The bad news is, it comes at a price.
For one acre or larger yards, your best bet is a Toro TimeMaster Push Mower. Its 30-in. deck is almost 50 percent wider than most other self-propelled mowers, requiring a powerful Briggs and Stratton motor. Luckily the TimeMaster is self-propelled to move all that extra weight. It also features a rear-wheel drive “Personal Pace” system adjusts its speed to your walking pace.
Best Self-Propelled Push Mower
If your lawn is sloped or uneven, or you just want a little extra power in your self-propelled mower, look at the Troy-Bilt 12A-M2MR766 Push Mower.
Unlike most self-propelled mowers, this Troy-Bilt lets you move between front-, rear- or all-wheel drive. Adjusting the drive when moving between flat areas to sloping hills is as easy as flipping a lever. Mulch, side discharge or bag your clippings with the included 2.3-bushel bagger.
All prices and links were current as of publication.
