Alexandra Ramirez
1. GreenWorks
Best Overall Self Propelled Lawn Mower
5/5 Product Rating
Some of these notable features include a steel deck that is durable and long lasting.
Smart CutTM load sensing technology, and large wheels that measure 10” in the back for easy maneuvering. This mower is very lightweight and simple to use.
The single lever height adjustment makes lowering or raising the deck super simple and fast too. The 3 in 1 features include the ability to bag, mulch or discharge the grass clippings.
The brushless motor has plenty of power, equivalent to that of a 160cc gas engine. With this powerful mower you will rip through your mowing tasks and not have to worry about dealing with gasoline at all.
Users will get 70 minutes of run time on a full battery. If you get a backup battery, you’ll never have to worry about running out of juice before the lawn is done. This self propelled mower is designed for heavy duty jobs and will last a long time with the proper care.
– Darius Spieth
2. Husqvarna
Best Overall Self Propelled Lawn Mower – Runner Up
4.8/5 Product Rating
This 21”, 3-in-1 self propelled mower has a steel deck that allows the user to choose from one of three discharge methods: mulching, bagging or discharging out the side into the yard.
It features an all wheel 4 x 4 hi wheel rear drive that only Husqvarna products have. This makes the mower super easy to maneuver in all types of grass and terrain.
The all wheel drive system feature an autowalk self propelled capability that allows the user to control how fast or slow they mow.
The 8” front wheels and 11” rear wheels are ball bearing wheels which are much more durable and long lasting.
The Honda 163 cc engine provides plenty of power to make lawn mowing much easier. The deck is powder coated which also helps it last for years due to the protection the powder coating provides. The engine starts very easily so there is no struggle to get it going. This exceptional self propelled mower is a great investment in a tool you will have for a long time.
– Darius Spieth
3. Troy-Bilt
Best Budget Self Propelled Lawn Mower
4.6/5 Product Rating
The single lever self propelled mower has a variable speed drive that offers 4 top speed settings so you can set the mower for what you are comfortable.
The deck is 21” and features a TriAction cutting system that has an integrated deck wash.
The powerful 159cc engine makes fast work on most yards and features a convenient ReadyStart technology. The 3-in-1 system allows the user to choose from bagging, mulching or discharging the grass clippings.
It also has a 1.9 bushel capacity bag that comes with the mower. The 8” wheels are all high performance and the adjustable handle is ergonomically designed for ease of use.
The rake bumper lifts the grass straight up and the specially designed blade makes finer mulch which eliminates unattractive clumping in the yard. The engine temperature is sensed automatically and adjusts the fuel and air mixture that will suit whatever conditions you are mowing in. The fuel tank holds 1.09 quarts of gasoline. This mower comes with a two year limited warranty.
– Darius Spieth
Self Propelled Lawn Mower Buying Guide
Types
There are two basic categories of self propelled lawn mowers on the market: Gas self propelled and Electric self propelled. We have outlined the two types below and shared with you some specifics about each type so you can compare them and decide which type you prefer.
Gas Self Propelled Mower
If you are mowing terrain that has a lot of hills,a gas self propelled mower is a good choice for you. They are more powerful than the electric models and can handle whatever terrain you are dealing with.
The effort that is required of you with a self propelled gas mover is much less that a regular mower would require. Most gas powered self propelled lawnmowers are started using the old fashioned rope yank starts. Look for self propelled lawnmowers that offer users the 3-in-1 discharge options.
A few of the advantages that gas lawn mowers that are self propelled offer include powerful performance, even in thick grass and going up hills. They are usually affordable as well and tend to be in the mid-range price wise unless they have a lot of features that raise the price.
Using a gas, self propelled lawn mower allows the user to move and mow wherever they need to with no restrictions, such as a power cord to worry about. This makes moving much easier. The gas powered self propelled models are longer lasting and much more durable than electric.
One of the disadvantages to gas propelled mowers is the noise. They are much louder than electric mowers which can dictate what time of day or evening you mow.
A couple of other things that people don’t like very much is that it requires a cord to pull start it which can be very difficult for some people, and that a gas powered mower emits exhaust which doesn’t always work for users who are trying to be environmentally conscious.
Electric Self-Propelled Mower
An electric, self propelled lawn mower uses electricity to work and can either be corded or cordless and operating off a battery. Most corded electric mowers have a 14 to 20 inch cord that is used. The cordless mower is much more flexible and allows the user to mow without having electricity right there.
It’s powered by a battery. Battery life will depend on the quality of the battery that the mower uses. Many users buy two batteries to allow for the first one to run down before the mowing is done. Electric mowers are the favored choice to use if you are trying to be environmentally conscious. There are no carbon emissions that can harm the environment.
Another popular benefit to using an electric lawn mower is that they are much quieter than gas powered varieties. They are also very easy to use, even if the person mowing has some health issues to contend with. They are also much easier to start and can be started with a quick push of a button.
There are a few disadvantages to the electric self propelled lawn mower as well. These include having a limited mowing area or limited mowing time if you choose the cordless variety. They are also only suited for smaller yards that are pretty much flat and don’t do well in tall or thick grass. Electric mowers will also usually cost more than their gas powered counterparts.
Which one you choose really depends on the kind of yard you have, the type of grass you are mowing and whether you want to stick to green choices or need the power of a gas powered model. The self propelled feature that both the electric and gas powered mowers offer make them much easier to use but there is still some effort required when mowing hilly terrain.
Considerations
There are several things you want to pay attention to when it comes time to start shopping for your self-propelled lawnmower. We have outlined these things below so you are educated on what to look for when sorting through all the various choices.
- Sound Level – If noise is a big issue with you, you will want to consider an electric self propelled model rather than a gas propelled one. If you are worried about disturbing your neighbors and you have a small yard that is flat, this would be an excellent choice for you and it won’t be bothersome.
- Warranty – Self propelled mowers can sometimes require more maintenance than other types. This is due to the clutch and the belts that wear out with time. They also will need blade maintenance. After several years, the battery powered models will need the batteries replaced as well. A good warranty takes care of many of these issues for you so be certain to look for models that offer a good warranty and then pay attention to the requirements that warranty has so it stays valid. The longer the warranty the better. 2 years or longer is an excellent warranty length to shoot for.
- Cutting Width – The width of the cutting deck is very important as this will determine how many passes you will need to make when you are cutting your grass. If you have a large yard, you will want to look for a cutting deck that is as large as possible. If your yard is small, you can get away with a lighter-weight narrower deck but you probably wouldn’t want to choose anything smaller than 20” for a small yard and 22” or higher for a large yard if you can find them.
Features
Mowers can have a lot of features that make your mowing jobs easier. These include safety features that make mowing much safer for the user and those around them, automatic speeds, ergonomic designed handles, single level height adjustments, larger rear wheels and much more. Decide what features are important to you before you purchase a self propelled mower. Once you know what features are important to you, you will automatically eliminate the models that don’t work for you.
Conclusion
Looking for a self propelled lawnmower that will work for your mowing needs isn’t overly complicated but there are some decisions to be made and options to choose.
There are so many different models available that it can get a bit daunting to try and figure out which one is the best for your needs. With a little bit of time and care, you will be able to eliminate the ones that clearly aren’t what you want and make your ultimate choice easier.
Don’t forget to take into consideration the size of your lawn, the terrain of your lawn and type of grass you have, the physical health of the person who will be using the mower, the importance level of being “green” and other factors while you are doing your research.
This information will help you look at the available models with confidence and your choice will be exactly what you need.
