The Best Push Lawn Mowers to Maintain Your Yard

Best Overall, Gas: Troy-Bilt 21 in. 140cc 2-in-1 Gas Push Lawn Mower

4.4

View On Home Depot

If you prefer the power of a gas mower, the Troy-Bilt 21-Inch 2-in-1 Gas Push Lawn Mower is a top choice. This heavy-duty machine is powered by a 140cc Briggs and Stratton engine, and it starts up easily without any priming or choking. The push mower has a 21-inch steel deck with six height options, and it comes fully assembled in the box—all you have to do is unfold the handle, and you’re ready to go. 

The Troy-Bilt Mower stands out thanks to the brand’s TriAction cutting system, which uses a rake bumper, specialized blade, and symmetrical deck to deliver a clean, even cut, and finely mulched clippings. It comes with a 1.9-bushel grass collection bag, as well, but keep in mind that there’s no side discharge option.

Best Overall, Electric: RYOBI 20 in. 40-Volt Brushless Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Push Lawn Mower

View On Home Depot

For an electric push mower, one of the best picks is the RYOBI 40V 20-Inch Push Lawn Mower. This popular model has a 20-inch deck, and its 40-volt battery offers up to 48 minutes of operation per charge. The mower has a brushless motor that delivers nearly as much power as a gas mower, and it even features load-sensing technology that maximizes power to tackle tough patches of grass. 

This electric push mower can mulch or bag grass clippings—it can be used to side-discharge clippings, but the accessory to do so is sold separately. There are seven cutting heights to choose from, as well as an onboard storage compartment where you can stash an extra battery, and the unit has a telescoping handle and vertical storage ability to save space in your garage.

Best Budget: Sun Joe MJ401E 14 Inch 12 Amp Home Electric Corded Push Behind Lawn Mower

View On Walmart

This budget-friendly push power is a great option for anyone with a small yard. The Sun Joe 14-Inch Corded Push Mower is compact and basic, but it’s extremely lightweight and easy to operate. It has a 14-inch deck made from rust-resistant material, and you can choose between bagging or side-discharging clippings as you cut. 

One of the downsides of this mower is that it only has three cutting heights, ranging from 1.18 to 2.52 inches, so it’s not ideal for cutting overgrown grass. You’ll also need to navigate around a 14-gauge extension cord (not included) as you mow, but the benefit here is that you have unlimited runtime and very little maintenance is required.

Best Corded: BLACK+DECKER MM2000 20 in.13-Amp Corded Electric Push Lawn Mower

View On Amazon View On Home Depot

For a corded mower that’s larger and more powerful, this model from BLACK+DECKER is a top contender. It’s powered by a 13-amp motor that can handle tall grass, and it has a 20-inch mower deck that lets you cut wider paths on each pass. Plus, it has a six-setting height adjustment that’s controlled by a single lever. 

This corded mower can side-discharge, mulch, or bag grass clippings, and its unique winged blades are designed for optimal grass collection. The BLACK+DECKER mower is easy to push around your yard thanks to its large rear wheels, and its handle folds down for more compact storage.

Best Cordless: Greenworks PRO 21 in. 60V Battery Cordless Push Lawn Mower

View On Home Depot

If you have a larger yard or just a lot of obstacles, a cordless mower like the Greenworks PRO 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower gives you more freedom while still minimizing maintenance requirements. This battery-powered mower can run for up to an hour per charge, and its 4-in-1 design allows you to bag, mulch, or side-discharge grass clippings as well as pick up leaves. 

The Greenworks PRO Push Mower has a 21-inch deck with seven cutting heights, and its high-efficiency brushless motor provides plenty of power and torque to tackle any task. An onboard battery charge indicator lets you know exactly how much power you have left, and if you invest in an additional battery, the mower has dual ports and can switch over automatically, doubling your runtime.

Best Reel Mower: American Lawn Mower Company Push Reel Lawn Mower

View On Amazon

The American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch Reel Lawn Mower is extremely affordable and simple to use. This motorless motor is designed to be pushed around your yard, and as the wheels turn, it spins four sharp steel blades that cut your grass. This style of mower obviously requires more manual effort than others, but it’s environmentally friendly and a great option for those with very small yards. 

This reel mower is 14 inches wide, and it can cut through grass up to 4 inches tall. It even offers an adjustable blade height between 0.5 and 1.75 inches. It has a cushioned handle to give you a comfortable grip, and you can even outfit it with a grass catcher (sold separately).

Best Heavy Duty: CRAFTSMAN M110 140-cc 21-in Gas Push Lawn Mower with Briggs & Stratton Engine

View On Lowe's

For a powerful mower that can tackle tough, overgrown grass, the Craftsman M110 Push Lawn Mower is up to the task. It features a 140cc engine with one-step starting, meaning there’s no priming needed, and the 21-inch deck gives you the option to side discharge, mulch, or bag clippings. 

This mower has a dual-lever, six-position height adjustment, but one of the downsides is that there are no markings to indicate which setting you’re on. The loop handle is adjustable for operator comfort, but the wheels are all the same size, providing less traction on sloped terrain.