Best Lawn Mower (2026): 7 Picks by Type, From Push to Robot

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The best lawn mower for most lawns is the EGO Power+ LM2135SP, a 21-inch battery mower that drives itself, runs up to 60 minutes on its included battery by EGO's figure, and is the best overall pick in Popular Mechanics' electric mower guide. To push a flat quarter to third of an acre, the pick is Greenworks' 60V 21-Inch Push Mower MO60L516, which Pro Tool Reviews mowed with and found no significant drawbacks in.

The other five picks each cover a type of yard: EGO's 22-inch aluminum-deck mower for bigger lawns and thick grass, a 16-inch Greenworks for small yards, EGO's 42-inch riding tractor for lawns past half an acre, a Mammotion robot for lawns up to 0.37 acre, and a PowerSmart gas push mower for anyone who would rather refuel than recharge. Our mowing-time table shows how long each deck width takes on lawns from 2,500 square feet to 2 acres. If you have already settled on battery power, our best electric lawn mower guide sorts battery mowers by job, with what one charge covers.

Jump to: Mowing time by lawn size | Battery or gas | Push or self-propelled | Riding mowers | Robot mowers | Mowing height | Safety

Start here: which lawn mower for your yard

• A quarter acre to about 0.4 acre, with self-propel: the EGO Power+ LM2135SP (pick 1).
• A flat quarter to third of an acre you are happy to push: Greenworks' MO60L516 21-inch push mower (pick 2).
• About 0.4 acre to half an acre, or thick grass: the EGO Power+ LM2206SP (pick 3).
• A small yard under 1/8 acre, mowed often: the Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower 25322 (pick 4). Between 1/8 and 1/4 acre, picks 1 and 2 cover the lawn on one charge with room to spare, or see the 17-inch push mower in our electric lawn mower guide. For a very small lawn and no motor at all, see our best reel mower picks.
• Lawns of more than half an acre: the EGO Power+ T6 TR4204 riding mower (pick 5).
• Hands-off mowing on a lawn up to 0.37 acre: the Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H robot (pick 6).
• You would rather run on gasoline: the PowerSmart DV8621C (pick 7).

The best lawn mowers, by type

1. EGO Power+ LM2135SP Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower: best overall

The LM2135SP is a kit: EGO's 21-inch Select Cut self-propelled mower (model LM2130SP), one 56V 7.5Ah battery and the CH5500 Rapid Charger. EGO's battery page lists that pack at 420Wh, and EGO quotes a runtime of up to 60 minutes on a charge, with about 60 minutes to recharge. The manual breaks the runtime down by load: 60 minutes in light grass, 45 in medium and 30 in heavy. Touch Drive self-propel moves from 0.9 to 3.1 mph under your palms, eight deck positions run from 1 to 4 inches, and the box holds three swappable lower blades (mulching, high-lift bagging and extended runtime) plus an upper blade, for cutting torque of up to 7.0 ft-lbs by EGO's figure. It mulches, bags into a 2.0-bushel catcher or side-discharges, folds for storage, and carries a 5-year tool and 3-year battery warranty.

Why it is the pick: Popular Mechanics mowed with this exact kit and its 7.5Ah battery and made it the best overall pick in its electric mower guide, crediting the X-shaped blade with a smooth cut and calling it an excellent bagger. Its main lawn mower guide names the same LM2135SP its best overall electric mower, there sold with an extra 5.0Ah battery. TechGearLab ranked the mower (it lists it as the "Ego Power+ 800 Self-propelled") third of the 12 it scored, liking the quick recharge and the wide deck, and it measured a 60-minute recharge and 73 dBa. By the method in our mowing-time table, one 60-minute charge covers about 18,480 square feet, or 0.42 acre, once you allow for overlap.

Good to know: the 7.5Ah battery weighs 6.3 lb by EGO's figure, and Popular Mechanics finds EGO's handle-less packs awkward to pull from the mower, which you do each time you charge. EGO's manual puts the mower itself at 55.3 lb without the battery. TechGearLab found the self-propel takes some getting used to at the end of a row, where its testers let go of the drive and pushed through the turn.

2. Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Push Mower MO60L516: best battery push mower

The MO60L516 is a 21-inch push mower with a stamped steel deck on Greenworks' 60V platform, sold with one 60V 5.0Ah battery (Greenworks lists the pack at 300Wh max) and a charger. Greenworks gives up to 45 minutes per charge, up to half an acre, and a 50-minute recharge on the included charger, and a second battery port lets you add another 60V pack. The deck is 4-in-1 (mulch, bag, side discharge and a turbo leaf pickup mode), the blade tops out at 3,200 RPM, one lever sets seven heights from 1.3 to 4 inches, and the handles fold so the mower can stand on end for storage. Greenworks lists it at 59.5 lb and covers the tool and battery for 4 years.

Why it is the pick: Pro Tool Reviews mowed with this exact model in Central Florida and reports that it bagged and mulched well even in lush grass. It puts Greenworks' 45-minute runtime at lawns of a quarter to half an acre, points to the second battery slot for extra runtime, likes the battery gauge on the handle, and lists no significant drawbacks. It is the one battery push mower on this page with a 21-inch deck.

Good to know: you supply all the drive, and Greenworks lists the steel-deck mower at 59.5 lb. Pro Tool Reviews says side discharge "did leave something to be desired" in thicker grass and suggests turbo mode for overgrown lawns. By the method in our mowing-time table, one 45-minute charge covers about 13,860 square feet (0.32 acre) allowing for overlap, so the top of Pro Tool Reviews' quarter- to half-acre range calls for a second 60V battery in the spare port.

3. EGO Power+ LM2206SP 22-Inch Aluminum Self-Propelled Mower: best for bigger lawns and thick grass

The LM2206SP kit pairs EGO's 22-inch cast-aluminum-deck mower (model LM2200SP) with a 56V 10.0Ah battery, which EGO lists at 560Wh, and a 700W charger. EGO gives up to 70 minutes per charge and about 60 minutes to recharge; the manual lists 70 minutes in blade Mode 1, 60 in Mode 2 and 45 in Turbo. EGO quotes cutting torque of up to 11.1 ft-lbs at 3,350 RPM, and the mower has the same Touch Drive self-propel at 0.9 to 3.1 mph and eight heights from 1 to 4 inches, set with levers at the front and rear. It bags into a 2.5-bushel catcher, mulches, and comes with a side-discharge chute. It is IPX4 weather resistant, folds for storage, and carries a lifetime deck warranty with registration, a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty (5 years with registration).

Why it is the pick: four tester awards back it. Popular Mechanics names this exact kit the best electric mower in its self-propelled guide, and it names the LM2200 mower its best self-propelled pick in its electric guide and its best electric self-propelled mower in its main guide, noting that at 11 foot-pounds it has more motor torque than most gas push mowers. Pro Tool Reviews makes the LM2206SP its best residential battery mower. Its 70 minutes is the longest maker runtime of the walk-behind picks here, and by our table's method that charge covers about 22,587 square feet, or 0.52 acre, with overlap. Pro Tool Reviews' own figures for it are 0.62 acre at most and 0.49 acre typical, worked out from a 21-inch blade.

Good to know: EGO's manual puts the mower at 83.8 lb without its battery, and the 10.0Ah pack adds 7.7 lb; Popular Mechanics lists 91.3 lb with the battery and says the aluminum deck adds some weight without making it harder to steer while cutting. The 70 minutes is EGO's Mode 1 figure, and Turbo, for the thickest grass, gives 45.

4. Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower 25322: best for small yards

The 25322 is a 16-inch push mower with a hardened plastic deck on Greenworks' 40V platform, sold with a 4.0Ah battery (146Wh, per the manual) and a charger. Greenworks gives up to 40 minutes per charge, up to a third of an acre, and 120 minutes to recharge on the included charger. It mulches or bags to the rear (there is no side discharge), sets five heights between 1-1/4 and 3-3/8 inches on a single lever, and weighs 37.8 lb by the manual. Its handles fold to take up to 70 percent less space by Greenworks' figure, and Greenworks covers the tool and battery for 3 years.

Why it is the pick: TechGearLab picks it for small yards and calls it a great mower for small lawns, light, compact and easy to steer in tight spaces. It measured 72 dBa, the quietest electric mower in its test, and runtimes of 35.5 and 46 minutes in two runs, an average of 40.8, in line with Greenworks' 40. Its measured recharge was 65 minutes, about half of Greenworks' own 120-minute figure. At 37.8 lb it is the lightest pick on this page.

Good to know: it cuts a 16-inch path. By our table's method one charge covers about 9,387 square feet (0.22 acre) with overlap, so a quarter acre is more than one charge, and Pro Tool Reviews' lot-size chart puts a 16-inch deck on lots under 1/8 acre. TechGearLab found the motor struggles once grass passes about 5 inches, and that the light plastic deck can bounce over bumps and dips, so it suits flat lawns that are mowed often. Greenworks lists the 25322's motor as brushed, while TechGearLab's editor's note says its fall 2024 update tested the brushless motor, so its figures may come from that version. The top height is 3-3/8 inches; Penn State's range for tall fescue is 3.0 to 3.5 inches.

5. EGO Power+ T6 TR4204 42-Inch Electric Riding Mower: best riding mower

The TR4204 is EGO's T6 lawn tractor sold with six 56V 6.0Ah batteries, the same packs its walk-behind tools take. EGO says the set cuts up to 1.5 acres per charge, that its two brushless blade motors give the equivalent of 21 horsepower, and that it mows at up to 6 mph (3 mph in reverse, per the manual). The 42-inch deck is stamped steel, with 12 heights from 1.5 to 4.5 inches and two anti-scalp wheels. A digital display sets three blade modes, three drive speeds and cruise control, and LED headlights, a USB port, Bluetooth and a rear hitch (the manual gives a 600 lb towing limit) are standard. EGO's manual for its 800W tractor charger gives about 200 minutes to charge six 6.0Ah packs. EGO covers the tractor for 5 years and the batteries for 3.

Why it is the pick: Popular Mechanics names this exact model its best electric tractor. Its tester has used it for two full seasons on a yard of about half an acre, still mows the whole yard without trouble as long as the grass has not grown too long, and says you can drive it without hearing protection. EGO's 1.5 acres per charge works out to about 76 minutes of mowing at the 3.5 mph pace in our table.

Good to know: it weighs 401 lb without its batteries by EGO's manual. The side-discharge chute comes fitted; the manual lists a bagger kit and a mulching plug as separate accessories. EGO's manual rules out slopes over 15 degrees. Popular Mechanics' tester finds that steering around objects or turning 180 degrees at the end of a strip takes some effort, and has noticed a little loss of battery life over two seasons.

6. Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H Robot Mower: best robot mower

The LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H is a wire-free robot: no boundary wire to bury and no antenna to mount. It maps and steers with a 360-degree LiDAR scanner and two cameras and drives all four wheels, and Mammotion says it handles lawns up to 0.37 acre and slopes up to 38.6 degrees, with up to 20 separate mowing zones set in the app. A 7.8-inch main cutting disc and a 4.7-inch edge disc do the cutting, and this High version cuts at 2.2 to 4.0 inches, set from the app. Mammotion lists a 6.1Ah battery, 150 minutes of mowing and 150 minutes of charging per cycle, IPX6 water resistance, 39.5 lb and a 3-year warranty. It is sold on Amazon by Mammotion Technology, the company that runs Mammotion's own store.

Why it is the pick: Bob Vila named the LUBA mini 2 AWD its pick for complex yards after running it among seven robot mowers on a Florida property with thick St. Augustine grass, slopes and narrow sections. Its tester found the small size helped it slip through tight spaces and around obstacles, and the all-wheel drive kept its grip on steep slopes where other robots stopped or rerouted. Bob Vila's chart lists RTK and vision navigation for its unit; the 1500H linked here maps with LiDAR and cameras.

Good to know: Bob Vila calls coverage area its main trade-off, and 0.37 acre is Mammotion's limit for this model. The High version does not cut below 2.2 inches, which is above Clemson Extension's mowing heights for bermuda, zoysia and centipede lawns (Mammotion's S version cuts at 0.8 to 2.6 inches). Setup runs through an app, and Consumer Reports recommends keeping children off the lawn while a robot mower works.

7. PowerSmart DV8621C 21-Inch 144cc Gas Push Mower: best gas mower

The DV8621C is a gas push mower with a 144cc four-stroke OHV engine, a recoil starter and an automatic choke. PowerSmart's manual gives a 20.5-inch cutting width (it is sold as a 21-inch mower), six heights from 1.5 to 3.9 inches on one lever, a 0.21-gallon fuel tank, 13.5 fl oz of oil and a weight of 59 lb (PowerSmart's product page lists 16.9 fl oz and 63 lb). The steel deck mulches or side-discharges, and the handle folds for storage. It ships without gas or oil, with a bottle of 10W-30 and a funnel in the box, and carries a two-year limited warranty. The Amazon seller is Amerisun Inc, PowerSmart's parent company.

Why it is the pick: none of the testers we read reviewed a PowerSmart mower, so this pick rests on the maker's manual and Amazon's listing data. The gas mowers the testers favor, from Toro, Craftsman and Troy-Bilt, are not sold on Amazon by their makers or an authorized dealer in our read (see Also considered). This 21-inch push mower was in stock, sold by the maker's own company, with a long record of owner ratings.

Good to know: it is a push mower with no grass bag in the box, so it mulches or throws clippings to the side. PowerSmart's manual warns that running the engine indoors, garages included, can kill you within minutes through carbon monoxide (more in Safety). It calls for fresh unleaded gasoline of at least 87 octane, never an oil and gas mix, and a drained tank and carburetor before long storage. Consumer Reports recommends ear protection with gas mowers.

How we chose these

We compared 120 lawn mower listings on Amazon (battery, corded, gas, riding and robot), using Amazon's product data for each listing's model number, seller and stock. We read the makers' product pages for all seven picks and the operator's manuals for six of them (EGO's LM2130SP, LM2200SP and TR4200 tractor manuals, Greenworks' 60V 21-inch push and 25322 manuals, and PowerSmart's DV8621C manual), plus Mammotion's spec table. We then read the hands-on results of independent testers: Popular Mechanics (and its electric, self-propelled, riding and robot guides); TechGearLab, which scored 12 mowers and measured their noise and recharge times; Pro Tool Reviews (and its Greenworks 60V push mower review); Bob Vila (and its electric mower guide and robot mower test); and Good Housekeeping. Consumer Reports keeps its model scores for members, so we used only its published advice on lawn sizes and mower types. Where a tester ran a sibling of a pick, we say so.

Every numbered pick was in stock on Amazon on October 23, 2026, sold by Amazon.com or by the brand's own company (Mammotion Technology for the robot, Amerisun Inc for the PowerSmart), carries the maker's model number on its listing, and has a long record of owner ratings. Where a tester's favorite was in limited stock, out of stock, sold by a third-party seller, not sold on Amazon by its maker, or had a short or weak owner-rating record that day, it is in Also considered with the reason. Safety guidance on this page comes from the makers' manuals, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and mowing heights come from Clemson, Penn State and University of Minnesota Extension. Each is credited where it appears.

Also considered: models that missed the list and why

EGO Power+ 30-inch self-propelled (LM3004SP-2). The wide-cut pick in three Popular Mechanics guides; on the same patch of lawn, Popular Mechanics needed seven passes with it where a 21-inch mower needed 10. On October 23, 2026 its Amazon listing had a short owner-rating record, so pick 3 covers bigger lawns.

EGO Power+ 1000 Series 22-inch composite deck. TechGearLab's best mower for large yards and Bob Vila's best overall electric. The Amazon listing we read (LM2244SP-2) had a short owner-rating record on October 23, 2026. Pick 3 is EGO's 22-inch aluminum-deck model.

Toro 60V Max 21-inch Super Recycler. Bob Vila's best overall lawn mower and TechGearLab's most maneuverable battery mower. On October 23, 2026 Amazon showed limited stock of its tool-only listing (battery and charger not included).

Toro 60V Recycler 22-inch. Popular Mechanics' pick for cut quality and for damp, heavy grass. It was unavailable on Amazon on October 23, 2026.

Toro 21-inch Super Recycler (gas). Popular Mechanics' best overall gas mower and Good Housekeeping's best overall. Toro does not sell it on Amazon in our read; both testers link Lowe's. More broadly, no gas self-propelled mower on Amazon met our bar on October 23, 2026: each one we read had an owner-rating record below it.

Greenworks 40V 16-inch LMF417. Popular Mechanics' small-yard pick. It was in stock on Amazon on October 23, 2026 and clears our bar; pick 4 is the 16-inch Greenworks that TechGearLab picks for small yards.

Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD. Popular Mechanics picks the 3000H for hills and uneven ground, and that listing was unavailable on October 23, 2026. The LUBA 3 AWD 3000 listing, which its title gives for lawns up to 0.75 acre, was in stock from Mammotion's store; pick 6 covers the robot slot.

Husqvarna Automower 410iQ. Good Housekeeping's best robot and Popular Mechanics' pick for lawns with multiple areas. Amazon showed one unit left on October 23, 2026.

Honda HRX-BE battery mower. Popular Mechanics' premium walk-behind. On Amazon it is sold by a third-party dealer.

EGO Power+ Z6 zero-turn (ZT4214L). EGO's 42-inch battery zero-turn. Its Amazon listing had a short owner-rating record on October 23, 2026, so pick 5 covers riding mowers.

PowerSmart DB8618P. An 18-inch gas push mower from the same maker that also bags (3-in-1, by its listing). Pick 7 covers gas push mowing with a wider deck.

Corded electric mowers. None of the corded models we read met our owner-rating bar on October 23, 2026. Our electric lawn mower guide covers when a corded mower still makes sense.

What size mower does your lawn need?

Consumer Reports sizes mowers to the lawn. It says a battery push mower will likely suit a lawn under a quarter-acre, a battery self-propelled mower suits a quarter- to half-acre, gas walk-behinds are best for a quarter- to half-acre, and tractors and riders are for lawns over half an acre. It puts the runtime of most battery mowers at about a third of an acre. Pro Tool Reviews' lot-size chart is finer: a 16- to 20-inch cut for lots under 1/8 acre, 18 to 21 inches for 1/8 to 1/4 acre, 20 to 22 inches for 1/4 to 1/2 acre, and 22 to 30 inches for 1/2 to 1 acre. The chart below follows both with one pick per band: under 0.125 acre the 16-inch pick 4, 0.125 to 0.4 acre a 21-inch battery mower (pick 1, or pick 2 to push a flat lawn up to a third of an acre), 0.4 to 0.5 acre the 22-inch pick 3, and over 0.5 acre a rider, which EGO says covers up to 1.5 acres per charge.

The table turns deck width into time. It uses Pro Tool Reviews' published lawn-size method: the area a deck covers at a 2.5 mph walk, which is 220 feet a minute, with 20 percent taken off for overlap and higher grass growth. So minutes = lawn square feet / (deck width in feet x 176), and a 21-inch deck is 1.75 feet wide. For the 42-inch rider we used 3.5 mph, the pace Consumer Reports says you still need on a zero-turn for an even cut (EGO's tractor tops out at 6 mph). Times are mowing only, rounded to the nearest minute; turns, trimming and emptying a bag come on top. As a check on the width math, Popular Mechanics needed 10 passes with a 21-inch mower and seven with a 30-inch mower on the same section of lawn, and 10 x 21 / 30 = 7.

Our arithmetic from Pro Tool Reviews' method and each maker's deck width. The 30-inch column is for scale (EGO's 30-inch mower is in Also considered), and pick 7 cuts a 20.5-inch path, which works out to about 72 minutes for half an acre at this pace.

• A quarter acre takes about 35 minutes with a 21-inch deck. With the 16-inch pick 4 it takes about 46 minutes, over the 40 minutes per charge Greenworks gives it, so pick 4 fits lots under 1/8 acre best.
• Half an acre takes about 71 minutes at 21 inches and 68 at 22 inches. Pick 3 runs up to 70 minutes in Mode 1 by EGO's figure. Pick 1 runs up to 60 minutes and pick 2 up to 45, so plan on a second battery for half an acre with either at this pace.
• An acre takes about 141 minutes at 21 inches and about 51 on the 42-inch rider, 2.8 times faster (42 / 21 x 3.5 / 2.5). Consumer Reports says gas tractors and riders "can cut two to three times faster than simple push mowers."

The robot (pick 6) does not fit the table, because it mows on a schedule rather than at a walking pace; see robot mowers below. For a very small lawn and no motor, a reel mower is the quiet option: Clemson Extension says "Reel mowers are for highly maintained turf" kept at 2 inches or less, and it names them the best cut for bermudagrass and zoysiagrass. Our reel mower guide compares them.

Is a battery mower as good as gas?

For most home lawns, yes. Consumer Reports says its testing shows the best battery mowers match or beat gas mowers at cutting grass, and that they are much easier to store and maintain: they start with a button, make no exhaust, run more quietly and need no oil changes or frequent tune-ups. The limit is runtime, which Consumer Reports puts at enough for about a third of an acre on most models, and an average of 45 to 50 minutes across the battery mowers in its tests, with several at 70 minutes or more. Most mower batteries also fit the same brand's other tools of the same voltage, and Consumer Reports notes that many makers build trimmers, blowers and chainsaws that take the battery from their mowers.

Gas mowers are not limited by a battery, and Consumer Reports notes they can finish much bigger yards in a single session, and it puts gas walk-behinds at lawns of a quarter- to half-acre. The trade is upkeep and noise: Consumer Reports calls gas mowers noisy, recommends ear protection, and lists tune-ups, oil changes and blade care as regular upkeep, and TechGearLab points out that a gas engine's fuel tank, carburetor and spark plug all need cleaning, draining or stabilizing over a long layoff. On Amazon, our gas pick is a push mower (see Also considered).

Set on battery? Our best electric lawn mower guide goes deeper on battery mowers, with what one charge covers for each pick, what a battery's volts and amp-hours mean, and when a corded mower still makes sense.

Push or self-propelled: which is easier for your lawn?

Self-propelled mowers drive their own wheels, which Consumer Reports says makes them easier to handle on a large lawn or a sloped lot. The walking adds up: before any overlap, a 21-inch deck covers a quarter acre in about 1.18 miles of walking and half an acre in about 2.36 miles. With a 16-inch deck, a quarter acre is about 1.55 miles. On a battery mower, the drive draws power too: TechGearLab notes that self-propel drains batteries faster than pushing, and Consumer Reports says battery self-propelled models "use a chunk of the battery charge to power the wheels."

Picks 1 and 3 use EGO's Touch Drive, which you set with a dial from 0.9 to 3.1 mph. Picks 2, 4 and 7 are push mowers, where weight matters more: Greenworks lists pick 2 at 59.5 lb and pick 4 at 37.8 lb, and PowerSmart's manual lists pick 7 at 59 lb (its product page says 63 lb). On a flat lawn under about a third of an acre, a push mower is plenty; on slopes, longer walks or bigger lawns, self-propel earns its place.

When is a riding mower worth it?

Consumer Reports suggests a tractor or rider for lawns over half an acre, gas or battery, and says the top battery riding mowers in its tests match or beat gas riders and tractors. Battery riders skip the spark plugs and engine oil, though Consumer Reports says to keep the battery charged in the off season and away from temperature extremes.

Tractors and zero-turns handle differently. Consumer Reports says zero-turns are nimbler and faster but not well suited to hilly ground, where they can lose traction, and that tractors have a wider turning radius. Popular Mechanics' tester on the EGO T6 (pick 5) finds that steering around objects takes some effort. Riders also need room: Consumer Reports notes they take a lot of storage space. If you need somewhere to keep one, see our best storage shed picks.

Will a robot mower handle your yard?

Consumer Reports says robot mowers cut only inside the boundaries you set and then drive back to their charging docks, that they sit low and are not built for tall grass, and that they suit lawns mowed often. Their cutting widths are narrow, around 9 inches by Consumer Reports' description, so even a small lawn takes a while; pick 6 cuts with a 7.8-inch main disc and a 4.7-inch edge disc. Consumer Reports also notes that a flat, rectangular yard is quicker for a robot than one broken up by slopes, rocks, trees or walkways, and that setup usually runs through an app with a learning curve.

Check three numbers before you buy. Area: Mammotion sets 0.37 acre (16,117 square feet) as the limit for pick 6. Per charge: Mammotion's US spec table lists 5,380 square feet per charge for this LiDAR model, its product copy says up to 3,800, and the Amazon listing says 350 square meters (about 3,770 square feet), so a lawn at the limit takes three to five charge cycles, which the robot works through on its own by returning to its dock. Height: the High version cuts at 2.2 to 4.0 inches (see the mowing-height table).

How high should you mow, by grass type?

Cut off no more than a third of the grass blade at a time. Clemson Extension calls this the rule of thumb for every mowing, and University of Minnesota Extension gives an example: to keep a lawn at 3 inches, mow before it reaches 4.5 inches. For a typical Midwest lawn, Minnesota suggests keeping grass at 3 inches or higher, raising the deck an inch in mid-summer, and mowing until growth stops, generally around the end of October there. The table sets the extension services' heights against each pick's cutting range.

Low warm-season grasses are where rotary mowers run out: Clemson says most rotary mowers cannot cut cleanly below 1 inch on most grasses, or below 2 inches on zoysia, and it names reel mowers the best cut for bermuda and zoysia. Keep the blade sharp whatever you mow with; Minnesota Extension says dull blades leave jagged edges that make grass more prone to disease. If you leave clippings on the lawn, Penn State describes mulching mowers as decks that keep clippings circling under the blade so they are chopped finer, and our mulching blade guide covers blades built for it. Come fall, pick 2 has a leaf pickup mode, and our guide to mulching leaves covers using a mower on them.

Mower safety that makers and pediatricians agree on

These rules come from the makers' manuals, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The AAP says more than 5,000 children a year are treated in emergency departments for power mower injuries, and the AAOS, citing the CPSC, reports more than 253,000 people treated for mower injuries in 2017.

• Mind the ages. The AAP says a child should be at least 12 to run a walk-behind power mower and 16 for a riding mower. The EGO and Greenworks walk-behind manuals are stricter: no one under 14. Never give children rides: EGO's tractor manual says "Never carry children or anyone, even when the blades are off."
• Clear the lawn and keep people back. The AAP says to pick up twigs, stones and toys the blade could throw first. EGO's walk-behind manual asks for children, bystanders, helpers and pets to stay at least 100 feet from the running mower; Greenworks' 25322 manual says at least 50 feet for children and bystanders.
• Know your slope. The AAP says to mow across a slope with a walk-behind, so you cannot slip under the mower, and up and down with a riding mower, so it does not tip over. EGO's walk-behind and tractor manuals and Greenworks' 25322 manual all rule out slopes over 15 degrees; Greenworks describes that as a rise of about 2-1/2 feet in 10 feet.
• Respect the blade. EGO's manual warns that "the blade can amputate hands and feet." The CPSC says blade contact and loss of stability are the hazards most often tied to riding mowers, estimates 35,000 riding mower injuries a year treated in emergency rooms (2012 to 2014) and about 90 deaths a year (2008 to 2010), and notes that since 2003 the safety standard has stopped mowers from backing up with the blades running unless the operator overrides it. EGO's T6 has a reverse-mowing button for that override, and its manual says not to mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary.
• Treat gas with care. PowerSmart's manual says never to run the engine indoors, garages included, because of carbon monoxide, to turn the engine off and let it cool at least 2 minutes before refueling, and not to overfill the tank; the AAP also says to stop the engine and let it cool before refueling.
• Charge batteries where the maker says. EGO's tractor manual gives a charging range of 41 to 104 degrees F and says not to charge the tractor in rain or wet places.
• Dress for it. The AAOS advises goggles, gloves, long pants and sturdy shoes, and the AAP adds hearing and eye protection and closed-toe shoes rather than sandals or sneakers.

Related guides

For battery mowers by job, see our best electric lawn mower guide. For a small lawn and no motor, our best reel mowers are the quiet option, and our best mulching blades help a rotary mower chop clippings fine. If bumps and dips make your mower scalp, our guide to leveling a yard walks through the fix, and for compacted soil, see our best lawn aerators.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best lawn mower for most people?

For most lawns of a quarter acre to about 0.4 acre, the EGO Power+ LM2135SP, a 21-inch battery self-propelled mower that runs up to 60 minutes per charge by EGO's figure and is the best overall pick in Popular Mechanics' electric mower guide. To push a flat quarter to third of an acre, Greenworks' MO60L516 21-inch push mower.

What size lawn mower do I need for half an acre?

A 21- or 22-inch walk-behind takes about 68 to 71 minutes of mowing for half an acre at a 2.5 mph walk with overlap, so on battery you want a long runtime or a second battery; the EGO LM2206SP's 70 minutes (EGO's Mode 1 figure) is the closest match here. Consumer Reports suggests a riding mower for lawns over half an acre.

Is a gas or battery lawn mower better?

For most lawns up to about half an acre, Consumer Reports says its testing shows the best battery mowers match or beat gas mowers at cutting grass, and they are quieter, start with a button and need no oil changes. Gas is not limited by a battery and can cut larger yards in one go, but Consumer Reports calls it noisy and lists more upkeep: tune-ups, oil changes and blade work.

Do I need a self-propelled mower?

On a large or sloped lawn it helps: Consumer Reports says self-propelled models are easier to handle there, and a 21-inch deck means about 2.36 miles of walking for half an acre before any overlap. On a small, flat lawn, a push mower such as the 37.8 lb Greenworks 25322 is enough.

Is a riding mower worth it for an acre?

By the arithmetic in our mowing-time table, an acre takes about 141 minutes behind a 21-inch walk-behind and about 51 on a 42-inch rider at 3.5 mph, and Consumer Reports suggests tractors and riders for lawns over half an acre. EGO says its T6 TR4204 cuts up to 1.5 acres per charge.

Do robot mowers work on hills?

Some do: Mammotion says the all-wheel-drive LUBA mini 2 AWD handles slopes up to 38.6 degrees, and Bob Vila found it kept its grip on steep slopes in its test. Consumer Reports adds that a flat, rectangular yard is quicker for a robot than one broken up by slopes, rocks, trees or walkways.

How short should I cut my grass?

Remove no more than a third of the blade at a time (Clemson and Minnesota Extension), and mow within your grass's range: 2.5 to 3.5 inches for Kentucky bluegrass and 3.0 to 3.5 for tall fescue in Penn State's table, and 1 to 2 inches for common bermuda and 2.5 to 4 for St. Augustine in Clemson's.

At what age can a child mow the lawn?

The American Academy of Pediatrics says a child should be at least 12 to use a walk-behind power mower and 16 for a riding mower, and the EGO and Greenworks walk-behind manuals say no one under 14 should operate theirs.

The bottom line

Buy the EGO Power+ LM2135SP for most lawns of a quarter acre to about 0.4 acre, the Greenworks MO60L516 to push a flat quarter to third of an acre, and the EGO LM2206SP for about 0.4 acre to half an acre or thick grass. Pick the Greenworks 25322 for a small yard under 1/8 acre, the EGO T6 TR4204 past half an acre, the Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500H for hands-off mowing up to 0.37 acre, or the PowerSmart DV8621C for gas. Whatever you choose, keep children and pets well away from a running mower and stay within your maker's slope limit.

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