If you’ve got a yard that’s too much work to walk but not quite big enough to ride (or your wallet isn’t quite ready for a quality riding mower), then finding the best self-propelled lawnmower may be just what the doctor ordered.

There are lots of options available: some mowers have enormous cut diameters and can plow through thick grass while others are a lot friendlier to that budget you’re trying to keep. When it comes down to it, the best mower for you will be the one that ticks your specific boxes.

So with that said, let’s take a look at our top picks!

In a Hurry? Here’s Our Top Picks…

Best Overall

Remington Pioneer 21-Inch

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Remington’s mower is one that can check a whole lot of those boxes you may have. The cut diameter on this one is 21 inches, which is about as big as cut diameters get on mowers. It may not be a make or break feature, but bigger cut diameters mean that you won’t have to take as many passes through your yard to get it all cut.

This mower comes with the option to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass after you cut it. No worries if you don’t know what that means, we break it down for you in the Frequently Asked Questions section (so you might want to read on). This mower comes with six different height adjustments ranging from 1-1/4″ to 3-3/4″ so there are plenty of options to customize how you want your yard to look.

The Remington here will let you select between front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive. Each of these has its benefits, but the ability to choose which one you want is very rare. We break down the benefits of each of these options in the Things To Know Before You Buy section, so just be aware that this mower is suited to a very wide range of yards.

This mower is gas-powered. That’s neither a pro nor a con but is something to be aware of. The initial upfront cost will be less, but the mower will cost you more over time than an electric mower. Gas-powered mowers are most often a bit stronger than their electric cousins, so you can be sure that this mower will annihilate some thick and tall grass.

This mower allows you to customize how fast you want it to go, so it’s a good option for slow-walking people, as well as those who like to simulate an Olympic-worthy sprint while mowing the yard.

Remington’s mower comes with a 2-year warranty.

What We Like:

• Options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass
• Six different height adjustment options
• Allows you to select between front, rear, or all-wheel drive
• Adjustable speed options
• Initial upfront cost will be less for a gas mower
• Will be able to cut through thicker grass than most electric mowers

What We Don’t Like:

• Cost over time is higher for a gas mower

This is the best self-propelled lawnmower for anyone who wants a gas mower with lots of customization options and it’s the best pick for someone who has a varied terrain in their yard – some bumps, some plains, and a whole lot of grass.

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Snapper XD 21-Inch

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Snapper’s mower is a great pick for those who want a powerful electric self-propelled lawnmower.

Snapper’s XD mower comes with a 21-inch cut diameter and 2 Ah batteries with a rapid charger. Each of these batteries should get you up to about 45 minutes worth of run time depending on your grass thickness and the speed setting of your mower. The rapid charger can get a battery at max power in 30 minutes, so if you have a big yard or very thick grass, you should be able to charge one battery in the time it takes you to use up the other one.

Snapper’s mower comes with smart load-sensing technology that can detect how much power it needs to expend to get your grass cut. This technology goes a long way towards saving your battery life.

The XD allows you to choose between side-discharge, mulch, and bagging options for your grass. It comes with 7 height adjustment options ranging from 1-3/8″ to 3-3/4″ so you can trust that you’ll be able to customize the yard how you want it. This mower is rear-wheel drive.

This mower comes with adjustable speed options and a one-button push start. It is an electric mower, so you can expect your initial investment to be high (unless you get the no-battery-included option), but you’ll never need to worry about gas, oil changes, spark plugs, or the other possible frustrations of a gas mower.

This mower comes with a long 5-year warranty on the mower and a 2-year warranty on the battery and charger. It’s nice to see a manufacturer support their work for so long.

What We Like:

• 2 batteries and a rapid charger are included
• Load-sensing technology
• Options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag
• 7 height adjustment options
• Adjustable speed
• One-push easy start button
• No worries about gas, oil changes, spark plugs, etc.
• Long 5-year warranty on the mower, 2 years on the batteries and chargers

What We Don’t Like:

• Might not be as strong as a gas mower
• The initial investment is higher than a gas mower

All-in-all, this is a great mower for those who are wanting an electric self-propelled lawnmower because they’re less hassle than a gas mower. Since this mower is rear-wheel drive, it’s best suited for yards where you won’t have to follow lots of contours.

Check Price and Reviews on Amazon

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POWERWORKS 21-Inch

Last update on 2024-03-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

POWERWORKS has made a mower that is a great option for those looking to buy a budget electric self-propelled lawnmower.

This mower has a 21-inch cut diameter and comes with a single 5 Ah battery with charger. The charger isn’t a rapid charger, so you may need a few hours to get your battery up to full par, but this battery should be able to last you for about 45 minutes before giving out.

The mower does come with load-sensing technology and due to the higher level battery, can put out quite a bit more force than the Snapper we reviewed above. This mower is rear-wheel drive, so it’s a good option for lawns with a thicker grass or lawns without many natural areas you’ll need to cut around.

This mower has the option to come without a battery if you already have one. Choosing the no-battery-included option will leave a battery and charger on the table, but you will save a significant amount of cash compared to other self-propelled electric lawnmowers.

The POWERWORKS mower comes with the option to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass and comes with 7 height adjustment options, so you can get your yard looking how you like it. The speed is adjustable.

This mower allows you to adjust your speed and has an easy one-button push start. The initial cost for this mower will be higher if you’re purchasing a battery with it, but this mower can be even less expensive than a gas mower if you already have a suitable battery and you’ll save money on maintenance in the long run. Since this mower uses a stronger battery, you won’t be sacrificing on power with this one.

POWERWORKS provides a 4-year warranty on the mower and a 2-year warranty on the battery and charger (if you purchase them).

What We Like:

• Stronger battery allows for cutting tough grass
• Comes with battery and charger
• Has an option to ship without the battery and charger, saving you money
• Options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass
• 7 height adjustment options
• Can adjust speed
• One-push button to start
• 4-year warranty on the mower, 2-year warranty on the battery with charger

What We Don’t Like:

• Purchasing the mower with a battery only includes one battery
• No rapid charger

This is a good option if you already have a battery that will work on an electric mower or if you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option. This mower doesn’t sacrifice on power, so it’s a good pick if you have tall or thick grass.

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Troy-Bilt 21-Inch

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Troy-Bilt’s 21-inch mower packs as much of a punch as the best of them, but it doesn’t stand out in too many ways.

This mower offers options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass and comes with 3 height options ranging from 1-1/4″ to 3-3/4″. That’s a wider than normal range of height from low to high, but it feels like only 3 options is a little restrictive. Even so, this mower will allow you to customize your yard’s look pretty well.

This mower is front-wheel drive and doesn’t weigh much compared to other mowers, so it’s easy to twist and turn around your yard as you please. This is a nice perk if your yard has lots of contours or natural areas.

There’s no speed control on this mower, so you may think it’s either going too fast or not fast enough.

Troy-Bilt’s mower comes with a 2-year warranty.

What We Like:

• Gas power ensures you can cut through the thickest of grass
• Allows you to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass
• The wide range of height options
• Lightweight
• 2-year warranty

What We Don’t Like:

• Not an option that’s kind to your wallet
• Just 3 options to choose for height – highest and lowest are extreme
• No speed control

This is a fine mower if you want an option that’s very lightweight, but it misses features that other mowers have and doesn’t come in at a better price point.

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Husqvarna 21-Inch

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Husqvarna’s mower is a good option on the market today but doesn’t offer much that other mowers on this list can’t beat.

This mower has a 21-inch cut diameter and is gas-powered, so you can rest assured that it will cut through some mean grass. There are options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass so you can do with the clippings as you wish.

This mower comes with 4 height adjustment options ranging from 1-1/4″ to 3-1/2″. These options should get the job done, but it’s less than other comparable mowers in this review.

The Husqvarna is front-wheel drive and is one of the lightest mowers on this list, so it’s a good mower if you have a lot of curves in your yard or want to avoid the natural areas. This mower’s light weight makes it easier to maneuver and turn how you like it. This mower doesn’t have any sort of speed control, so it may either go too fast or not fast enough for your liking.

After searching on Amazon and the manufacturer’s website for this mower, we weren’t able to find any sort of warranty information.

What We Like:

• Able to cut through lots of thick grass
• Comes with options to side-discharge, mulch, or bag your grass
• A wide range of height options (but only 4 height positions)
• Lightweight

What We Don’t Like:

• Not very kind to budgets considering how few options are included
• Just 4 choices for height
• No warranty information that we could find

This mower is powerful and can get the job done, but won’t be kind to your wallet and doesn’t include as many features as other, more budget-friendly options. Other options could possibly be better suited for most consumers.

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Things to Know Before You Buy…

Front-Wheel, Rear-Wheel, and All-Wheel Drive

Different self-propelled lawnmowers come in front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive. Each of these has its own distinct advantages, so let’s take a look at which ones may be best for you.

• Front-Wheel Drive: Makes maneuvering the mower easier since the mower is being pulled behind the front wheels. You’ll be better off getting a front-wheel-drive mower if you have lots of curves in your yard, natural areas that you’d like to avoid, or will be needing to turn a lot for other reasons. Front-wheel drive makes bagging your grass a little more difficult since there’s a lot of weight behind the mower.
• Rear-Wheel Drive: Allows for a more powerful push forward than front-wheel drive, but is a little more difficult to turn and wiggle around. These mowers are best suited for yards with humps or hills, but not great for yards where you’re going to need to be doing a lot of turning around natural areas.
• All-Wheel Drive: Provides you with even more power than a front or rear-wheel drive. These mowers are ideal for large yards, yards with lots of bumps, or yards with hills. Since these mowers are propelled from the front and rear wheels, you’ll get excellent traction in any yard, but may have trouble turning.

If you would like to read more on the topic, Lowe’s has an excellent diagram explaining the pros and cons of each type of mower.

Gas Powered Vs Electric Mowers

On this list we took a look at both gas powered and electric mowers. Each one has its own benefits and challenges, so we’re going to break those down for you.

In general, gas mowers are stronger than electric mowers. Gasoline provides the extra oomph that electric mowers just haven’t caught up to yet, so gas is a good option if you have very thick grass or have a bad habit of letting your grass grow too tall.

Gas mowers will tend to be a lot nicer to your wallet on day one, but it doesn’t take too long for the honeymoon phase to give up the ghost. Gas mowers require a myriad of maintenance: they’ll always need more gas (mowers have to eat too), you’ll need to change the oil, spark plugs, keep an eye on that air filter, and you’ll always start the mower by pulling on the dreaded rope. Angie’s List has a list of things you’ll need to keep an eye on.

A gas mower won’t cost you an extra hundred bucks in the first week or even in the first several months, but those small costs do add up over the years. Maintenance takes more effort on gas than on electric mowers, plus there are always more parts that can go wrong. If you’ll notice, all of our electric mowers on this list have longer warranties than the gas mowers. There’s a reason for that: electric mowers last longer.

Electric lawnmowers tend to run your bill up on the initial buy, but don’t require as much work over time and are less subject to wear and tear. Keep in mind that it may take years to recoup your costs though.

Electric mowers tend to be a lot quieter than gas mowers, having a volume level of somewhere near your average vacuum cleaner. These mowers can be a tad weaker than gas mowers, but this shouldn’t be a problem if you keep your yard well-maintained or don’t have very thick grass.

The Big Deal About Little Batteries

In the two electric mowers we looked at today, the battery is the biggest distinguishing factor between mowers, so it’s important to choose the option that’s right for you.

It’s helpful to remember that one of the biggest expenses of maintenance for your electric mower will be your battery. You’ll never have to change the oil, spark plugs, or refill on gas, but one day your battery will give out on you. For that reason, we at OwnTheYard recommend mowers that come with 2 batteries.

Having a mower with more than a single battery will be helpful when one battery gives out on you after the warranty, but will also help ensure that you get a longer mowing time. Perhaps your grass is extra thick one week or you forgot to recharge your battery after your last cut – you can pop that extra battery in and get to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the speed on my mower?

For 3 of the 5 mowers we reviewed, you can change the speed. None of the mowers will go fast enough to get away from you, but if you enjoy cutting the grass faster than your neighbor, you can show off in all your speed-cutting glory with most of the options on our list.

Can I deactivate the self-propel feature to push my mower?

It’s best not to push a self-propelled lawnmower. It can hurt the propelling mechanism.

Best Brands

Remington

Remington was founded in 1921 by a man named Arthur Mall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Remington soon grew famous and spread wide due to the quality and dependability of their work. They are committed to keeping the quality of their work high today.

Snapper

Snapper was founded in 1951 when they made the first self-propelled rotary lawnmower. Since then, they have become obsessed with making your yard look how you want it. They have a wide range of yard tools, mowers, and tractors to help you achieve your goals to own your yard.

POWERWORKS

Powerworks was founded just in 2016, but they have already become well known for their high-quality tools and powerful electric solutions. They want a future of no fume and no fuss so your yard can be how you’ve always dreamed it to be.

Troy-Bilt

Troy-Bilt changed the world of farming back in 1937 by revolutionizing the rototiller. Even today, Troy-Bilt strives to help people achieve the American Dream by keeping their jobs in the United States and providing everyday people with the tools they need to own their yard.

Husqvarna

Husqvarna is one of the world’s leading providers in a variety of equipment ranging from snowblowers to chainsaws to our very own self-propelled lawnmowers. They’ve been at the game long enough to have built a reputation as a solid company for all of your landscaping needs.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading our guide on the best self-propelled lawnmower! When it comes down to it, the best option for you is going to be the one that suits your specific needs.

Ask yourself if you want gas or electric, power or long-term savings. Our favorite option for a gas powered mower is the Remington Pioneer. If you’re looking for electric-powered, we recommend the Snapper XD.

Whatever option you prefer, a self-propelled lawnmower is a great choice for yards ranging from small to large. These mowers aren’t too pricey but can still mow lawns that have a whole lot of acreage.