Best self propelled battery operated lawn mower

The Snapper XD features a variable-speed transmission and design features that allow for adjustments to meet different grass-cutting demands. The StepSense feature automatically adjusts the speed to match the user’s walking pace. Load-sensing technology in this model automatically adjusts power output based on the thickness of the grass to provide a clean cut while maximizing energy efficiency.

The mower’s impressive 21-inch steel cutting deck is versatile. It boasts seven height adjustments that are easily changed from behind the mower with a single lever. The deck can mulch, side discharge, or bag with a capacity of up to 2.1 cubic feet of grass clippings.

When the yard work is done, this mower folds up conveniently for vertical storage in the garage. The kit includes two 2.0-Ah (amp hour) batteries, which together provide about 60 minutes of runtime and recharge in about 60 minutes.

In our tests, the Snapper XD traversed all types of terrain and left behind a smooth, even cut on a single pass. It easily powered through overgrown grass and weeds up to 10 inches tall, although extended use in tall weeds increased the needed power output and reduced runtime by about half.

We were more impressed by the blade motor’s load responsiveness than by the automated pace-adjustment system. The StepSense feature worked well on relatively flat ground, but on inclines it felt somewhat sticky or uneven. In overall performance for the price, this mower offers excellent power and runtime to mow about ⅓ of an acre, or 15,000 square feet, per charge.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 60 minutes/60 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Self-propelled, automatic pace adjustment

Pros

• Automatically adjusts to user’s pace
• Powerful motor doesn’t bog down in dense grass
• Single lever cutting-height adjustment
• Folds for storage

Cons

• Less runtime per charge than some competitors
• StepSense feature feels somewhat “sticky”

Get the Snapper battery-powered lawn mower at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Mowers Direct.

Greenworks is known for its advancements in battery technology, and this model has two 2.0-Ah batteries that allow for up to 70 minutes of runtime from a full charge, with a combined recharge time of just 60 minutes. This push mower features a 21-inch-wide mowing deck. Technology that adjusts the motor speed based on load helps to maximize battery life and maintain excellent cut quality.

Adding to this impressive mowing coverage is a steel deck with seven positions that are easy to adjust with a large handle near the right rear wheel. Its sturdy steel deck gives it the tough feel of gas-powered models.

A large start button and easy-to-maneuver speed control mean it can be manipulated with gloved hands. This push mower does not have motorized wheels, which keeps the price low and maximizes battery life for cutting grass. The 3-in-1 grass clipping capability allows for bagging, mulching, or side discharging, and a foldable handle design facilitates compact storage.

Although this Greenworks push mower required a bit more effort to move around the yard than the self-propelled mowers, its simplified design made it an extremely capable mower. The powerful motor offered the most “gas-like” performance of the group. It had no trouble cutting dense, weedy grass up to 10 inches tall and left possibly the best finish of all the mowers we tested. In all three modes, bagging, mulching, and side discharging, it left the grass perfectly smooth, with no uneven spots or stringy weeds left behind. It had plenty of power to mulch thick grass into virtually invisible clippings.

The only downside of this mower was that hilly ground reduced the amount of area mowed per charge, not because of demand on the mower, but because the operator’s pace slowed. Everything else considered, we felt that this push mower delivered the strongest mowing capability, even though we had to push it. And the price was significantly less than the others.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 70 minutes/60 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Push

Pros

• Dual 2-Ah batteries offer up to 70 minutes of runtime
• Strong motor delivers powerful cutting performance
• Easy to use controls
• Budget-friendly price point

Cons

• Included charger only charges one battery at a time
• Not self-propelled

Get the Greenworks 80V battery-powered lawn mower on Amazon or at Lowe’s.

The Toro Flex Force Super Recycler lawn mower is built for powerful mowing performance with superior operator comfort. The three-phase motor automatically increases power output when it detects tougher mowing conditions, then eases off to conserve battery life when the mowing gets easier again.

The 21-inch military-grade cast aluminum deck features a powerful vortex air-intake system that stands the grass blades up straight for a smoother, cleaner cut. The shock-absorbing Personal Pace self-adjusting, self-propelled system operates smoothly regardless of the terrain. Bright LED headlights make it easier to mow later into the evening. It comes with a powerful 60V 7.5-Ah battery that delivers up to 50 minutes of runtime per charge and recharges in 3 hours.

The Toro Super Recycler was the most comfortable battery-powered mower we tested, primarily because of its robust self-propulsion system. Although it was not the only mower with a pressure-sensitive handle, this one functioned the best. It paired the slightly more resistant, but buttery smooth, handle movement with a higher top-end speed for self movement that felt almost effortless on most terrain. Only slight pressure was required to climb the uphill areas, and it didn’t try to run away on the downhills.

Toro’s excellent cut quality was second only to the Greenworks 80V (mainly because the Greenworks mower performed exceptionally well in overgrown areas and Toro needed a second pass for best results there). However, we were underwhelmed by its battery performance at only 45 to 50 minutes of runtime in average conditions and 3 hours to recharge. Still, anyone with less than a half acre who is shopping for smooth operation and a top-quality cut may want to consider the Super Recycler.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 50 minutes/180 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Self-propelled, automatic pace adjustment

Pros

• Mows up to 0.4 acre (17,424 square feet) per charge
• Self-propelled rear wheels
• Motor automatically adjusts output to match mowing conditions
• Lightweight, rust- and corrosion-resistant aluminum deck
• LED headlights

Cons

• Longer recharge time than the competition
• Top mowing speed is too fast for imperfect conditions

Get the Toro battery-powered lawn mower at The Home Depot.

Those with larger acreage can now have a battery-powered mower that can actually cut all of their grass on a single charge. The Ego Power+ riding mower is capable of mowing up to 2 acres per charge, with easy upgrades that can increase runtime to cut more than 3 acres per charge. Plus, it offers many of the same features found on gas-powered zero-turn mowers, such as adjustable lap bars to independently control the rear drive wheels; heavy-duty front swivel casters; a comfortable high back seat with adjustable suspension; a 42-inch deck with 10 height settings from 1.5 to 4.5 inches; and side discharging, mulching, and bagging capabilities.

The electric motor delivers power equivalent to a 22-horsepower (hp) gasoline engine. The Z6 also boasts high-power LED headlights, a battery level indicator, and independently adjustable modes and blade speeds. This mower comes with four 56V 10-Ah lithium batteries, with six available battery slots onboard, and is compatible with any of Ego Power’s other 56V batteries. It also comes with the fastest battery charger in the industry.

With so many features to test, we spent more time with the Z6 than with any of the other battery-powered mowers in this roundup. For our first run, we charged the four 56V 10-Ah batteries that came with the mower and cut as much grass as possible until the batteries ran out. Then we repeated the process with only two batteries, and again with a full “tank” of six batteries.

The mower requires a minimum of 15-Ah to operate, and the charger plugs into the mower to recharge all six batteries at once. Runtime and charge time were as follows: two batteries charged in 1¼ hours and mowed 3/4 acre, four batteries charged in 2 hours and mowed 1¾ acres, and six batteries charged in 3 hours and mowed almost 3 acres (we mowed the entire available area with about 12 percent charge left in the batteries).

We should also mention that the acreage we were mowing included a 1-acre rectangular field and two 1-acre home lots that, in addition to the homes, are approximately 50 percent and 75 percent lawn. The total grass acreage is more like 2¼, with some significant slopes and obstacles to navigate. Since Ego offers an even bigger battery size at 56V and 12-Ah, we estimate that runtime could possibly be stretched to mow up to 4 acres, depending on the condition of the grass and the lay of the land.

The Ego Power+ Z6’s operation was mostly excellent. Startup was easy, and maneuvering was intuitive. The apparent noise level was extremely quiet and limited to operating the mower deck. The machine travels almost silently when the blades are not running. The lap bars and drive wheels felt somewhat imprecise compared to other zero-turn mowers we’ve used. The machine pulled slightly to the left at full speed on flat ground under an average mowing load. The suspension seat was comfortable, but the relatively small rear tires and light weight of the machine made for a bouncy ride at times. It climbed and maneuvered fairly well on slopes, which is not a strength for most zero-turn mowers.

For most mowing, we kept the machine in “standard” mode and the blades on half power with excellent results. We tested the top blade speed on an area of about 2,000 square feet of overgrown crabgrass that was about 12 inches high, and we had to slow the travel pace significantly to get an acceptable cut in that situation. The Ego Power+ battery-powered zero-turn mower would make a great choice for any large-acreage owner with lots of grass to maintain.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 30 minutes/120 minutes (4 batteries)
• Deck size: 42 inches
• Mobility: Zero-turn riding mower

Pros

• Four 56V 10-Ah batteries included, with room for 2 additional batteries
• Onboard rapid battery-charging system
• 10-position, 42-inch deck
• Mows at speeds up to 7 mph/2.6 acres per hour
• Bright LED headlights for low-light mowing

Cons

• Premium price point
• Batteries will need to be replaced in 5 to 10 years

Get the Ego Power+ Z6 riding lawn mower at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Lowe’s.

The advancements Ego has made with its battery-powered mower sets it atop the cordless electric lawn mowers. It boasts 60 minutes of runtime, thanks to its high- efficiency brushless motor and 56V 7.5-Ah battery. With its 21-inch deck and variable-speed self-propelled wheels that give it the capability to mow more than 3 mph, this mower is suitable for yards up to a half acre. The Ego Power+ cordless mower also includes speed controls that the user operates with an intuitive lever, LED headlights, and a rapid charger that powers up the 7.5-Ah battery in just 60 minutes.

We were impressed by this mower’s blend of mowing ability, operator comfort, affordability, and rapid recharging ability. In our tests, it easily mowed down tall weeds and traversed steep slopes, and its battery life appeared to be less affected by the added workload. In tough conditions where we experienced declines in battery life up to 50 percent with some of the other mowers, the Ego mower only lost about 25 percent of its runtime.

We docked points in this mower’s score in two areas: its noise level, specifically its louder-than-average self-propelled wheels, and its finish quality. This mower was more likely than the others to leave behind ragged edges or stringy weeds after mowing overgrown spots. But even with a couple of minor faults, this mower represents a really good value for general use.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 60 minutes/60 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Self-propelled, manually adjustable pace

Pros

• Budget-friendly price
• Brushless motor
• LED headlights
• Intuitive speed controls

Cons

• Self-propelled motors make excessive noise

Get the Ego Power+ Select Cut battery-powered lawn mower at Ace Hardware or Lowe’s.

With its 21-inch mowing swath and up to 70 minutes of runtime per charge, this efficient brushless lawn mower from Greenworks tackles larger yards, from ⅓ to ½ acre. Two 40V 4-Ah batteries power it, and it includes a single-port battery charger that recharges each battery in 70 minutes, or a total of 120 minutes for both. The Smart Pace self-propelled feature operates with a pressure-sensitive handle that automatically adjusts the speed of the wheels to the user’s walking pace. The single-lever height adjustment feature quickly sets the mowing deck to cut at any of seven positions from 1⅜ to 3¾ inches. The kit includes a side discharge chute, bagger, and mulch plug to handle clippings in whichever way works best.

In our tests, we were somewhat surprised that this mower performed similarly to others with significantly more battery power. It did have a greater tendency than the others to bog down in dense grass areas while in mulching mode, but otherwise it delivered excellent results. With the discharge chute in place, we had no trouble mowing overgrown weedy areas, but those areas diminished runtime by about half. Overall, the cut quality was quite good. Only the most difficult grass patches required a second pass to get acceptable results.

The Greenworks 40V system runs off one battery at a time, and it automatically switches to the second battery when the first battery is depleted. This allowed us to pull the depleted battery and start charging it while mowing on the second battery, reducing downtime to about 20 minutes after depleting the second battery. On a single battery, we averaged from 20 to 30 minutes of runtime depending on mowing conditions, terrain, and pace.

The self-propel system worked fairly well, but as is the case with most of these pressure-sensitive handle systems, it was not perfect. The sliding-handle mechanism felt a little sticky, so the mower did not accelerate as smoothly as we would have liked, especially going uphill. On downhills and flats, it occasionally felt as if the mower were running away instead of decelerating with the operator. Still, it was much easier to adjust to these minor sensations than to push the mower for an hour at a time. For its extended runtime and the battery-management abilities, this would be a good choice for those with larger lawns.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 70 minutes/120 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Self-propelled, automatic pace adjustment

Pros

• 70 minutes of runtime per charge
• Self-propelled with automatic pace adjustment
• Heavy-duty steel deck
• Large 10-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front wheels

Cons

• Pace adjustment feature is less smooth than competitors
• Less effective mulching dense grass

Get the Greenworks 40V battery-powered lawn mower on Amazon.

The Worx Nitro 80V power-share system packs a serious lawn-mowing punch. This mower uses four 20V 5-Ah batteries to deliver 80V of power for up to 60 minutes of mowing time per charge. It is a moderately priced, highly capable, self-propelled 21-inch mower that offers numerous features to compete with others we’ve tested. For ease of operation, it incorporates a single-lever deck height adjustment; a one-touch fully collapsible handle; charge-level indicator; and choice of side discharging, bagging, or mulching. The built-in mulch/discharge lever eliminates dealing with a mulch plug. The quiet, load-sensing multistage motor automatically increases output for difficult conditions. Plus, LED headlights extend mowing time past sundown.

A standout feature on the Nitro mower is the Base Camp power pack. It combines the power of the four included 20V 5-Ah Worx Power Share Pro batteries to produce 80V 5-Ah of power output. The power pack doubles as a four-way charger, recharging the depleted batteries in just 2 hours. It can be used for both onboard and offboard charging, and it is also compatible with the Worx Nitro 80V leaf blower.

In our tests, the Worx mower performed better than the average of the group in terms of smart power output and finish quality. It did a great job conserving power while providing an excellent cut on previously maintained lawn areas, then increased output almost immediately to power through overgrown weedy lawn areas. The finish quality was good to excellent in both the previously maintained area and in the overgrown area, with no need for a second pass.

Battery runtime decreased by as much as 50 percent under a heavy mowing load, but the difference between sloped areas and flat ground was less pronounced. We awarded this one Best for Small Lawns considering the amount of power that would be needed in reserve to blow off the driveway using the Base Camp–compatible 80V leaf blower. Those with between ¼ and ⅓ of an acre of grass could probably do that without first recharging the batteries.

Product Specs

• Runtime/recharge time: 60 minutes/120 minutes
• Deck size: 21 inches
• Mobility: Self-propelled, manual pace adjustment

Pros

• Four 20V batteries achieve 80V 5-Ah output
• Flexible onboard or removable charging system
• Single-lever deck height adjustment
• Bag, side discharge, or mulch; no mulch plug required
• LED headlamps for mowing in low light conditions

Cons

• Removing and installing Base Camp is more awkward than a single battery
• Does not include the longer-lasting 20V 6-Ah Worx batteries

Get the Worx battery-powered lawn mower at Amazon, Target, or Walmart.