Best Electric Lawn Mower For The Money – Comparisons & Reviews

Cutting the lawn isn’t the most fun chore, but as every homeowner knows, it’s a necessary evil. If you have even the smallest patch of grass in your yard, you’ll probably want to own a lawnmower.

And there sure are a lot of choices out there.

Many people nowadays are also trying to cut their impact on the environment. The traditional gas-power lawn mowers on the market have high emissions, and not everybody has the size of the yard to justify a zero-turn mower.

Related: Our Complete Lawn Mower Buying Guide

That’s why the electric lawn mower market is growing so quickly. An electric lawn mower is perfect for anyone concerned about its impact on the environment. Electric mowers nowadays are more than capable of cutting grass with the precision and efficiency of a gas-powered one. And with recent advancements in battery technology, there’s never been a better time to buy one.

The Top 5 Electric Lawn Mowers 2019

1. WORX WG960 20-inch 40V(5.0Ah) WG751 Cordless Lawn Mower and WG547.9 Power Share Cordless Turbine Blower

 

The WORX WG771 is a powerful electric mower that can handle almost any type of suburban yard. If it weren’t for the nearly noiseless operation, you might not even notice that it was electric.

The battery will last around 40-55 minutes and takes around 2 hours to charge. While not ideal for bigger yards, the WG771 does include two batteries and a charger. This is also one of the most sturdy electric lawn mowers on the market. It’s got a steel cutting deck and heavy duty caster wheels, which provide great maneuverability and will last for a long time.

What we like:
  • Powerful, especially for an electric lawnmower
  • Comes with an extra battery
  • Fully collapsible handle for easy storage
  • Cuts up to 9,000 square feet on a single charge

The WG771 is just as well made and works just as well as almost any gas-powered mower out there. You also get the added benefit of being environmentally friendly and quiet when you’re doing your lawn care. This mower is a fantastic, well-rounded choice for any type of yard.

2. EGO 21 in. 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Push Mower with 5.0 Ah battery and charger

 

This mower from EGO is another reliable, versatile choice for a small lawn to a medium-sized lawn. Its standard battery is a 4.0 Ah Arc-lithium battery that will last about 45 minutes and mow up to two miles. However, you can also upgrade your mower and purchase it with 5.0 Ah or even 7.5 Ah batteries for an additional cost.

The main feature that the Power+ has that many other electric mowers don’t is the charging speed. The 4.0 Ah battery completely charges from empty in about 30 minutes. So even if you have a larger yard, the charge time is short enough to run through multiple charge cycles. In the meantime, you could use an edger, weedeater, blower, or just take a break.

What we like:
  • Folds quickly into compact storage space
  • Fastest charger on the market
  • Weatherproof, sturdy frame
  • Included 5-year limited warranty

The EGO Power+ electric mower offers consumers a number of options. It’s perfect fora smaller lawn or medium sized lawns that can be cut in under an hour, but even those with larger yards can use this machine. It’s much quieter and more eco-friendly than a gas equivalent, and EGO managed to include all of these features for a price that includes the 4.0 Ah battery and mower.

3. BLACK+DECKER CM1640 40 Volt Lawn Mower

This electric mower from Black & Decker is the budget-friendly option on our list. It will be great for customers with smaller yards, as it has only a 16-inch cutting deck. Even though this machine is priced well, you do get a lot of features.

The CM1640 features a 6-height adjustable cutting deck with cutting height ranges from 1 1/10” to 3 1/10”. It also comes with two 40V batteries, so one can be used while the other is charging. Combined, you can get over 30 minutes of mowing, which should be enough for smaller yards.

What we like:
  • The CM1640 is priced like a budget mower but is packed with features
  • Adjustable height settings
  • Ships with two batteries
  • Folds into an extremely compact, storable frame

Don’t mistake the CM1640 for a heavy-duty, performance mower. If you have even a medium sized yard, or lots of hills and rough terrain, this likely isn’t the mower for you. However, if you just need a small, effective electric mower that will get the job done in a pinch for a small-sized yard, look no further.

4. GreenWorks 25012 Mower

If you thought the CM1640 was bare-bones, take a look at the GreenWorks 25012. We included this corded electric lawn mower because for some, they might be the best option. This mower includes a 18 inch mowing deck and is powerful enough, at 12 Amps, to handle day-to-day cutting of modest residential yards.

If your yard has rough terrain, complicated features, or lots of trees, mowing it with a corded mower will quickly become frustrating. However, if you have a simple, flat, small lawn size you may find that the GreenWorks 25012 is more than adequate. You’ll save a ton of money that can be spent elsewhere.

What we like:
  • Durable steel 18-inch cutting deck
  • 7 different height adjustments
  • Grass clippings can be side discharged or mulched in bag
  • Extremely affordable.

This machine is obviously extremely affordable. However, the manufacturer offers a four year warranty, and the sturdy build is likely to last far longer than that. For those with flat, simple yards that don’t want to break the bank, the GreenWorks 25012 is a great option to consider.

5. Sun Joe MJ408E Mow Joe 20-Inch 12-Amp Mower

The Sun Joe “Mow Joe” is just about the cheapest (yet high-quality) electric mower you’re going to find on the market. This corded electric mower has the same amperage as the GreenWorks 25012, but has a 20-inch cutting deck instead of a 18 inch one.

These corded mowers take the risk of a dead battery out of mowing your lawn, but they do increase the chance of frustration. Tangled cords, or one that isn’t quite long enough, can put a damper on any afternoon of yard work. Make sure you evaluate whether a corded lawnmower will be a good choice for your lawn.

What we like:
  • Large bag capacity for clippings at 14.5 gallons
  • Included 2-year warranty
  • Extremely affordable!
  • Very small and compact–can be stored anywhere with ease

The “Mow Joe” is about the simplest electric lawn mower you can find. It won’t wow you with its features, but if price is your chief concern and you have a small, simple yard, look no further than this machine. It’s sturdy enough to handle typical jobs, and powerful enough that you won’t need anything else.

Buyers Guide:

Best Features before you buy your electric lawn mower

Not all electric mowers are made equal. As with any type of machine, the choices on the market definitely have their differences. Below, we’ll talk about some features that differ among the different products out there. Keep these features in mind when you’re deciding which mower to buy.

How to choose

When considering which electric lawn mower to buy, it’s essential to know your own situation. Just as homes differ, yards differ as well. Do you have a big, flat, open yard? Or is it small, hilly, and full of flower beds?Things like the area of your lawn, potential obstacles, and elevation changes are vital to understand when choosing a lawn mower. As with any tool, some mowers are more adept at a certain situation than others. So you’ll want to keep these things in mind while you read about key features below.

Battery–performance and charge time

The major difference between an electric mower and a gas mower is obviously the presence of a battery! But some batteries are better than others. An important factor to consider is a battery’s maximum run time.

We’ve found that most batteries run anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes.

If you have a small yard that’s easy to cut, a 30 minute battery might be fine. However, if you have a larger or more complicated yard, that might not be enough time.Another component of battery quality is charge time. Some batteries regain a full charge in a half hour, while others can take as long as three hours.

If you can cut your whole lawn in one go, a long charge time may not matter very much. But if it’s going to take more than one charge cycle, three hours can get tedious–fast.

Weight

As with any consumer machine, the weight is an important thing to consider. You’re going to spend at least some time lugging this thing around, and you don’t want to break your back doing it.

Fortunately, electric lawn mowers are generally much lighter than their gas-powered brothers. Their compact size and lack of a gas engine makes the components much easier to carry around.Weight is a more important factor in an electric mower than a gas mower.

A drawback to electric mowers is their short battery life; it could die on you right in the middle of a job, and you’ll have to push it back to the garage. A lighter mower will certainly make that task much easier.

Sturdiness

In the past, many electric tools and machines have suffered from quality issues. Many find themselves replacing their electric tools at a much higher rate than any gas-powered ones they may have.That’s why the quality of the electric lawn mowers on our list was so  important. The sturdiness of a machine as important as this is one of the most critical things to consider. After all, no matter how powerful or efficient a machine is, it’s useless if it breaks down a lot.Luckily, many electric powered products on the market today have taken huge strides in terms of sturdiness. The quality of these machines rivals even the hardiest gas-powered mowers.

Corded Vs. Battery-powered

Electric mowers can be both corded or battery-powered. It may seem like corded mowers would be quite a hassle, and for some yards, they are. But they are often cheaper, and for simple yards, you’ll barely notice the cord.

Batteries can also die unexpectedly and without warning, so prepare to be stuck with a dead battery with just a few more feet of yard left to cut. Almost nothing is as frustrating as that, and corded mowers take the guessing game out of it completely.

If you have a small, simple, flat yard with easy access to an electrical outlet, you may want to consider purchasing a corded electric mower. However, if you have a larger yard, or your yard is full of trees, a cord will probably be more trouble than it’s worth.

Price

As with any tool, the number one concern for customers shopping for electric lawn mowers is price. There is a wide range of prices for the electric mowers on our list, but the old saying “you get what you pay for” definitely applies.

Electric lawn mowers are generally a bit more expensive than similarly-powered gas mowers. There is also the issue of whether the machines come with extra batteries.Batteries will lose their charge capabilities eventually, so it becomes necessary to replace them at some point.

Some of these mowers come with extra batteries, but many do not.Some of the extra price may be offset from the fact that you won’t have to buy gasoline for your mower anymore. But you’ll still have to pay for the power that charges your batteries, so it may be a wash.

Conclusion

A beautiful yard’s most important aspect is the lawn itself, so the decision about which mower to buy is pretty vital. Justifiably, many are interested in the cost savings and environmental friendliness of electric lawn mowers. And as you can see by reading this list, there are a lot of great choices out there.

If you’re in the market for a well-rounded battery-power electric lawn mower, look no further than the EGO Power+. It combines the power and effectiveness of a gas-powered mower with the ease-of-use and simplicity of an electric mower.

However, if you’re looking for a corded mower, the Sun Joe Mow Joe might be the best bet for you. It doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles, but at a price that low, you won’t care about that. What it does do is get the job done, and that’s all you can ask for with a machine this affordable.

About Russ Thompson

Hey I'm Russ and I have been a contractor for over 20 years. I know what the cost of having the right tools and materials for the job. My passion for woodworking and helping others by workshops in my wood shop. I have beginner classes all the way up expert trade classes. Check out my bio for more.