The best lawn mower of 2025, tested and reviewed

If you’re dreaming of a manicured carpet of mown grass, you’ll need tools to make it happen. The best lawn mowers turn maintaining your yard into … well, maybe not a joy, but certainly less of a chore. Picking one, however, can be tricky — even for a professional gardener with 30 years of experience like myself. After recently relocating from the East Coast to California, I bought a house with an acre and a half of land. At the time, I didn’t own a lawn mower, so I found myself in the market.

Recent legislation prohibits anyone from buying gas lawn mowers in California (likely a sign of things to come: According to a recent study by the market research company NielsenIQ, battery-powered lawn equipment is expected to outpace gas). Fortunately, I discovered that many major, and some new, brands make battery-powered electric lawn mowers for homeowner use.

In my research, I learned that electric mowers are good. In fact, they’re pretty great. They cut grass as well as (and sometimes better than) gas-powered mowers, are much quieter, require less general maintenance and help reduce CO2 emissions. Recent years have seen huge leaps in battery technology, and for lawn mowers, it’s no different. So when I was asked to put nine of the best electric lawn mowers to the test, I jumped at the chance. I focused on push and self-propelled models, as opposed to riding lawn mowers or robot mowers, because they’re the most popular and affordable options (that said, we’ll be testing these down the road.) Some of the machines I tried performed so well, I’m convinced that making the switch from a gas- to a battery-powered mower is a smart move, no matter where you live.

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Table of contents

Best lawn mowers of 2025

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Factors to consider when choosing a lawn mower

An electric lawn mower is an investment, so you want to make sure you’re spending your money on a machine that lasts and is right for your yard. Before buying, here’s what to keep in mind, including some tips from DIY and tool expert Chip Wade:

• Lawn size: Electric push mowers are perfect for small to medium lawns. But if you have a property that’s more than an acre, you’ll probably want a riding lawn mower, so you don’t need to worry about batteries dying before you finish the task. Wade recommends a zero-turn mower if you buy a riding mower: “It’s faster, more maneuverable around landscaping, and gives a polished finish with fewer passes,” he says.

• Watt hours: This is the calculation that determines the power capabilities and the potential run time of your mower before the batteries need recharging. The higher the watt hour, the more work the mower can do on a single charge.

• Number of batteries required and charge time: Few batteries mean less charge time, and faster charge time means less down time.

• Self-propelled or not: Self-propelled mowers require a little more power and charge, but the benefits outweigh any limitations (and cost) because they move on their own without you having to use force to push them. Spinning blade(s) use most of the battery power. Both self-propelled and push models are a smart pick if storage is tight, says Wade, because many come with collapsible handles or even vertical storage options, so they take up less space.

• Blade type: Cross-cut mowers with two blades cut and mulch better than single-blade models. Wade recommends sharpening your blades at least once a season to avoid ragged cuts and wasted effort.

• Power modes: Most mowers self-adjust the power mode based on what is needed for the height and type of grass, or if mulching, bagging or discharging the clippings.

• Weight: Lighter is generally better, for battery charge longevity and ease of maneuverability.

• Cutting width: Decks range in size, usually maxing out at 22 inches for a self-propelled or push mower. Larger decks have larger blades that cut more grass area on each pass. “Just keep in mind bigger isn’t always better,” says Wade. “If your yard has tight gates, narrow pathways, or landscaping features, a smaller deck may be easier to maneuver.”

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What to look for in the best lawn mower

When it comes to electric models, the best lawn mowers are battery-powered and offer significant run time on a single charge. Look for high-quality hardened steel blades, especially if you tend to mow over roots or branches. “Multiple blades are a plus, because it means finer mulching and less need to bag,” Wade says.

He adds that you’ll also want to look for adjustable cutting heights — a mower that adjusts from 1 to 4 inches gives you the most flexibility across seasons, grass types, and lawn conditions. Then, there are add-ons like mulching kits or side discharge chutes. Think about how you want to manage grass clippings and choose the right features that’ll make mowing easier for you.

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How we tested lawn mowers

We researched nearly 100 lawn mowers, focusing on major brands and models with high customer ratings. We also looked at other publishers to see what has been covered and reached out to power-equipment companies to learn about their newest launches. We then narrowed down the testing pool to mid-priced electric lawn mowers designed for homeowners.

As a professional garden designer for 30 years, I have plenty of experience mowing lawns, so I eagerly jumped into testing. I unboxed and assembled each machine, recording the time it took to fully charge the required battery or batteries. While the batteries charged, I read the owner’s manual and explored the controls, adjustments and options of the machine. With the battery/batteries installed, I put each mower through its paces in several real-world lawn-cutting situations in the back two acres of my and my next-door neighbor’s yard. To rank, the mowers had to excel in the following tests:

• “Fast and tall” test: In taller, uncut grass, I set the cutting height at 3 inches and self-propelled or walked briskly to find out how well the lawn mower maneuvered on different terrains, such as up and downhill, across hills, tight turns and back and forth. I swapped between bagging, mulching and discharging the clippings out the side (when equipped with a chute.) This is also when I experimented with the adjustable power modes and self-propel speeds if equipped.

• “Low and slow” test: In the medium-height lawn produced by the first test, I set the cutting height at 1.5 inches and self-propelled or pushed the mower at a leisurely pace, once again swapping between three treatments of the clippings: bagging, mulching or discharging out the side (when equipped with a chute option.) This helped determine the quality of the cut as well as the ability of the machine to handle clippings. This test helped me focus on the comfort of the handle and controls as well as sound and dust levels.

• “Where the wild things grow” test: This took the mower into very tall grass and weeds set at its tallest cutting height (generally 4 inches) to see how it would hold up to the rigors of working through several inches of tough stalks and fallen twigs while contending with bumps and ruts. I skipped the bagger for this test (because it would fill too fast) and focused on how each machine either mulched or discharged the clippings as well as the overall power of the machine. I continued with this test until the batteries ran out of charge and the machine stopped.

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Other lawn mowers we tested

Greenworks 16 in. Cordless Battery Push Lawn Mower ($299, battery and charger included): The Greenworks is a fun little machine that couldn’t compete with the stronger, more adaptable lawn mowers tested. However, anyone with a very small lawn and a limited budget might find it the perfect fit. It’s ultra-light, super simple to use and gets the job done.

Husqvarna Lawn Xpert 21 in. Self-Propelled Mower ($760, battery and charger included): This mower puts Husqvarna (a pioneer in robot mowers) in the electric lawn mower game, and it held its own in terms of power, quality of cut and self propel. But its performance did not warrant the nearly $800 price tag and it wasn’t quieter than gas.

Ego Power+ 800 Series 21 in. Self-Propelled Mower ($579, tool only): While almost identical in power and performance to the runner up Best Push Mower of the same brand, the Ego self-propelled model felt overly complex with too many lights and settings that don’t mean much when all you want is a well-mowed lawn. At the price point of $579, there are better options if self propel matters.

DeWalt 2X20V Max 21 in. Cordless Battery Powered Push Lawn Mower ($599, two batteries and two chargers included): This is a solid machine from a reliable brand, but the frustratingly long wait to charge the batteries (three hours) kept it from our top picks. Price-wise, it competes with, but does not beat similarly priced mowers, and the very low deck hurts its performance in tall grass and weeds.

Craftsman 2x20V Max 21 in. Self Propelled Battery Walk Mower ($549, two batteries and two chargers included): The Craftsman mower is a clone of the DeWalt (both companies are owned by Stanley Black & Decker) but with self propel. It suffers from slow battery charge time and clogging in tall grass and weeds. Oddly, at $549 with self propel it costs less than the DeWalt.

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FAQs

What’s the most reliable lawn mower brand?

When it comes to choosing an electric lawn mower, this can be difficult to answer. Newer companies like Ego and Greenworks have a limited track record, but their specialization in electric tools makes them industry leaders. Battery technology is new territory for long-trusted brands like Toro, Craftsman and Husqvarna, so you have to decide to either rely on the old hats or bank on the new guns.

What lawn mowers do landscapers use?

As of 2025, landscapers, even in California, use gas-powered lawn mowers, like Scag, Honda, Toro and Stihl. These machines typically have wider cutting widths up to 30 inches and are self-propelled. All this power and size comes with a price, as most commercial walk-behind mowers cost from $1,500 to over $2,000.

How often should you replace a lawn mower?

The simple answer is “when the old one doesn’t work anymore and can’t be repaired.” Cutting blades are designed to be replaced as are wheels, cables and lever bars. One good reason to replace a working lawn mower is to swap your gas-powered machine for electric power. If you do go electric, this review should help you decide which one to choose.

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Meet the expert

• Chip Wade, founder, Wade Works

We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.

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