The Best Lawn Mowers Under $400

Numerous brand names populate the lawn mower universe. Most are well established outdoor power-equipment manufacturers that produce a variety of gas and/or electric power tools for gardening chores (and some also make snow blowers for when the white stuff flies). Examples include GreenWorks, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, Worx, Toro, Black & Decker, Craftsman, Lawn Boy, Sun Joe, Poulan, Weedeater, and Yard Machines. Most of these companies produce a range of push mower models that span the gap between an entry-level cheap lawn mower and high-end professional-grade machines. Other well-known makers, such as John Deere, concentrate on the commercial lawn mower market, but may also offer a model or two (or, as in the case of John Deere, a line of lawn tractors) that might be suitable for those that own very large properties.

To identify the best lawn mowers for your money, Cheapism chomped through comparative testing results from experts at Consumer Reports, as well as reviews from professionals at Top Ten Reviews, Wirecutter, and Popular Mechanics, among others. These sites largely cover more expensive lawn mowers, though, particularly in the gas segment. To evaluate cheaper push mower models, we also took careful stock of hands-on assessments from actual users posting feedback on home-improvement retailer websites, such as Home Depot and Lowe's. We also looked at reviews posted at major general-merchandise sellers, such as Walmart and Amazon, as well as those at specialty vendors that concentrate on gardening gear. What we found was that, while it's easy to spend more than $1,000 on a high-end mower, there are a number of top-ranked and reliable models from trusted brands that will get the job done for $400 or less. We even found one cheap lawn mower for just under $100. One of these best-seller lawn mowers is sure to be just right for your property and budget.

For the cleanest and smoothest cut, matching the equipment to the size and grade of the yard is critical, experts say. Manual reel mowers and electric mowers are best suited for relatively flat areas up to one-quarter of an acre (about 11,000 square feet). Gas-powered push mowers boast more oomph and are the best lawn-mower choice for slightly larger yards, especially those with a few bumps. Consumers with even more ground to cover may want to spring for a riding lawn mower. However, keep in mind that a riding lawn mower is an entirely different category of yard equipment. These models (which also includes zero-turn riding mowers and even larger lawn tractors) are decidedly more expensive than a cheap lawn mower, and can be overkill for a smaller yard. Still, if you think a riding lawn mower is best lawn-mower choice for your property, we have some recommendations for those as well. And for those that hate the idea of mowing the lawn at all, there's always a robotic lawn mower, like the Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 315X Robotic Lawn Mower, though those hardly qualify as cheap, or even affordable.

Electric Lawn Mowers

For consumers with small, flat yards, an electric lawn mower is a quiet, lightweight, and environmentally friendly choice. Electric mowers draw power from a cord plugged into an outlet or from a rechargeable battery.

Corded electric mowers, such as GreenWorks lawn mowers and Sun Joe lawn mowers, are generally cheaper than battery-powered mowers. Their range of movement across the grass, however, is limited by the length of the electric cord, which typically extends 100 feet. Managing the cord to prevent tangles can be tricky, and the cord may hamper the operator's ability to maneuver around obstacles. Some users of corded mowers say they feel as though they're vacuuming the lawn.

That leads some experts and homeowners to say that among electric lawn mowers, cordless electric is the best lawn-mower choice. That said, while cordless electric mowers allow more mowing flexibility, they do have their own quirks. The battery on budget electric lawn mowers can handle about one-quarter to one-third of an acre on a single charge, and most cordless electric mower models come with a disclaimer stating that difficult cutting conditions will cause the charge to run down faster. Batteries on a cordless lawn mower last about five years before needing replacement. These power cells are heavy, and the difference in weight between a corded lawn mower and a cordless mower with the same size deck can be 30 pounds or more. (One plus: Some cordless mowers use batteries that are interchangeable with other battery-powered tools that run on the same voltage.)

Gas Lawn Mowers

Gas mowers cost more than electric models upfront and over time, between maintenance expenses and refilling the gas tank. Still, more grass calls for a bigger, heavier, more powerful machine, making them the best lawn mower for larger yards. For even more square footage than a push mower is designed to handle, or where there are inclines or especially bumpy terrain, a self-propelled gas mower is a labor-saving but more expensive choice. A selfpropelled lawn mower requires minimal effort and almost pulls the operator along.

Most entry-level gas mowers now feature a four-cycle engine that runs on straight 87-octane gasoline, which is a big advance over the old two-cycle engines that required a gas-oil mixture. However, never use gas with more than 10 percent ethanol content (E10). Higher ethanol content gas is fine in heavier automobile engines, but can be corrosive to the lighter weight power equipment engines used by lawn mowers, and especially to lawn-mower parts like the carburetor and fuel lines. If the use of gas with ethanol is unavoidable, a fuel stabilizer, which can help protect lawn-mower parts such as the carburetor, fuel intake valve and more, is recommended. Gas-powered engines are far noisier than electric motors and spew emissions. And they still rely on a recoil start while electric motors feature push-button starts.

Residents of California must consider regulations on carbon emissions when buying a gas-powered lawn mower. (A gas mower generates more than 10 times as much pollution per hour as a new car, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.) The equipment must meet requirements set by the California Air Resources Board. There are plenty of CARB-compliant models to choose among.

Reel Mowers

Reel mowers — the old-fashioned style of push mower with cylindrical lawn-mower blades — are very quiet and emit no exhaust of any kind. A push-reel lawn mower is relatively inexpensive and simple to assemble, maintain, and operate. On the other hand, mowing the lawn with a manual reel mower takes a lot longer, and heaving a reel mower across a large or hilly yard can be a bear. Twigs or debris lying around can jam the lawn-mower blades. And if the grass is too high, a reel mower just won't cut it. If the choice is between a reel mower and a gas or electric mower, just remember that a push-reel lawn mower requires 100% person power. On the other hand, a manual reel mower is the least expensive type of lawn mower you can buy, with models such as the Great States 30414 available starting at around $60.

Expensive vs. Cheap Lawn Mowers

Compared with budget mowers, pricier mowers have more power (higher voltage batteries for electric mowers and engines with more displacement in gas mowers). They often have more features, such as handlebars that adjust to more than two positions, zero-radius turning, all-wheel drive, longer warranties, electric start, and are generally built using higher quality lawn-mower parts. But most American homes sit on lots no larger than a quarter of an acre, according to a Census Bureau survey, and most consumers don't need a heavy-duty, high-priced push lawn mower, riding lawn mower, or lawn tractor. An affordable push mower is more than up to the chore.

Both experts and users point to cutting performance as the most important criterion for judging a lawn mower. Testing by Popular Mechanics shows that almost any mower will work under ideal conditions, but individual yards are rarely ideal. That puts a premium on choosing a mower that suits the property and the operator (the easier the mow, the more likely it is the chore will be completed). Reliable and quick starts are important criteria for gas lawn mowers, but reviews indicate this is rarely a problem on the best new models. Overall, users expect their lawn mowers to be durable and trouble-free.

Mowing Performance

Experts note that entry-level lawn mowers are at their best when users mow on a regular basis and don't let the grass get too long; user reviews corroborate that assessment. Our picks generally earn high ratings in lawn mower reviews for cutting cleanly, quickly, and efficiently. Most operators say the push mowers on our list tackle weeds and heavy grass with aplomb — unless the yard is wet. Owners of electric models and reel mowers report instances where they have had to go over the same spot more than once if the grass is very thick, although this slight glitch in performance doesn't seem to deter those who prefer to keep weight, noise, and emissions to a minimum.

Height Adjustment

Mowing demands a certain amount of precision. Grass that's too short may not withstand drought or excessive heat, and grass that's too long can accumulate thatch that gets in the way of water and fertilizer. Experts recommend keeping the lawn at 2 to 3.75 inches, all the better for weed control and absorption of water and nutrients. Each mowing should trim no more than one-third of the lawn's height. A machine with multiple height settings affords flexibility in mowing frequency. On the best budget mowers, adjusting the height of the lawn-mower blades takes very little effort — just a finger pull on a lever that's located on the handle or wheel.

Cutting Width

Mowing efficiency is affected by the operator's speed but also by the width of the cutting deck on the mower. The wider the cutting path, the fewer passes needed to finish the job.

Electric mowers generally cut a slightly narrower path than gas-powered models, so operators must make more passes than they would with a wider deck. On the other hand, a mower with a slim cutting path is easier to steer around landscaping obstacles such as shrubs, trees, garden beds, and walkways. Budget-priced electric mowers usually have decks that measure 18 to 22 inches.

The decks on budget gas mowers usually fall between 14 and 22 inches, with the widest cutting swath most often found on self-propelled mowers. The larger the lawn-mower blade, the more difficult it is to push the mower, so it's no surprise that self-propelled models cut the widest path — a few even have a cutting width of 30 inches or more.

Grass Disposal Options

Where does all that grass go once it's been cut? Most electric and gas walk-behind mowers are 3-in-1 models, a reference to the number of options for dealing with the cuttings: ejecting the grass onto the lawn, collecting it in a bag, or mulching it. The manual Fiskars StaySharp Max sends clippings out the front, either into a Grass Catcher (sold separately) or to be mulched (very finely chopped) as the blades roll over them again.

Grass left to fall back on the lawn should be raked unless the clippings are very short or mulched by the mower. Bagged clippings must be disposed of, which requires a place to dump them (compost heap, perhaps) and interrupts the mowing zen. Mulched grass reduces evaporation and adds nitrogen back into the soil, a step that alleviates, to some extent, the need for store-bought fertilizer. If there's one spot where cheap mowers teeter, it's in the mulching. We read some online comments lamenting that the clippings aren't chopped well and clump when slightly wet.

Ease of Use

The best entry-level mowers singled out in this buying guide present few, if any, issues regarding handling. Even people who push one of these electric or gas lawn mowers up and down inclines have no problem with their weight or maneuverability. That said, a small cordless electric mower is going to be easier to maneuver than a much larger, heavier gas mower, especially with a full fuel tank. Self propulsion helps move such models along. Corded electric lawn mowers, such as GreenWorks lawn mowers, Sun Joe lawn mowers, and similar models from other brands are the lightest weight choice, but that's offset a bit by the challenges some face in wrangling with the cord.

Some consumers steer clear of gas engines to avoid the perceived challenge of starting one, but gone are the days when operators struggled to pull and pull and pull a recoil cord to rev up the machine. The current crop of gasoline engines, even at the cheaper end of the market, feature some type of quick start that sets the engine humming after one good yank (two at most). Reviews of the models we researched report that the engines almost always start on the first pull. Electric mowers start right up with the push of a button. Electric start is also available on some gas lawn mowers, but those mainly sit at the higher end of the market.

Durability

We looked for reviews by consumers who have owned their lawn mowers for at least a year. The best lawn-mower models present no or few problems over time; the major gripe in this regard seems to be engines that sometimes stall or seize up.

A three-year limited warranty is fairly standard for a push mower, though having it honored is easier with some brands than others. User tales of having to travel long distances to authorized repair centers, or having to endure long waits for out-of-stock lawn-mower parts to arrive, are, unfortunately, anything but unheard of. And for gas-powered mowers, use of gas with ethanol content that's higher than recommended can void the warranty altogether.

Still, the average lifespan of a lawn mower is about six years, according to Consumer Reports, but can be much longer with proper care, which includes cleaning out the deck, keeping the lawn-mower blades sharp, and paying close attention to outdoor power-equipment manufacturer guidelines regarding gas use. An annual checkup at the start of every mowing season is vital. Lawn-mower parts such as wheels, bolts, belts, and bearings, which can come loose from the vibration of routine use, should always be checked before starting to mow.

Maintenance is minimal with an electric mower. Manufacturers recommend recharging a cordless lawn-mower battery before it runs dry and keeping the mower (or the battery, if it can be removed) connected to the charger when not in use. Corded lawn mowers should be unplugged before (dry) cleaning under the deck and around the lawn-mower blades. Users suggest spraying the deck with silicone so the grass releases easily. Never leave an electric lawn mower of any kind exposed to rain or snow.

Gas lawn mowers demand more care and attention, from draining the gasoline and winterizing the mower to periodically changing the oil and spark plugs and cleaning or replacing the air filter. Cleaning off the built-up dirt and grass immediately after use is also important. Our top picks feature washout ports where a hose can be hooked up for cleaning underneath the cutting deck.