Some of the Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers For The Backyard Job
In a perfect world, a lawnmower that can move by itself, doing most of the work and getting the job done seems like a dream. Except it’s not a dream. These types of lawnmowers exist, they are called self-propelled lawnmowers.
They do move by themselves, but of course, you’ll still have to be with it to make sure it doesn’t “wander off”. These types of mowers are used for larger yards so it will cut downtime and energy on the mowing. In this article, we will discuss self-propelled lawn mowers in-depth and of course showcase our top picks.
Top Picks
Craftsman 3-in-1 High-Wheeled Self-Propelled Gas-Powered Lawn Mower
“It is equipped with a 21″ Cutting deck that allows you to mow wider areas of grass with fewer passes- perfect for small- or medium-sized yd”
PowerSmart Lawn Mower, 21-inch & 170CC, Gas Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
“A great mower for the price after putting in oil and gas start up first pull” *customer review*
Greenworks GLM801601 21-Inch 80V Cordless Push Lawn Mower
“Cordless lawn Mower features a durable steel deck, large 10″ Rear wheels, & smart cut(tm) load sensing technology.”
Lawn-Boy 3-in-1 Discharge Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Lawn Mower
“This is a great lawnmower, good back wheel speed as well as easy to maneuver when you do not have the self-propel bar engaged.”
EGO Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Lawn Mower
“Even though the body is plastic, there is a full metal deck underneath, and the blade is really sharp.” * customer review*
Husqvarna Self-Propelled Mower
“This mower has incredible suction and leaves nothing behind.” *customer review*
“This electric lawn mower features our pivot control handle & peak performance with a winged blade providing 30% better collection.”
How to Decide if a Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is for You
If you have a larger yard, then it’s clear that you need an easier lawn mower in your life such as a self-propelled mower. If it’s a half and acre or less, you’ll benefit greatly having this mower in your life. But first, consider the reasons why the self-propelled mower is for you:
Time
This is the most important aspect of why people actually do buy a self-propelled lawn mower because having one means you will save so much time from actually pushing the mower. The reason being, is because it does not require an extra push from you which makes things easier. You’ll actually get your lawn mower in a decent amount of time without much effort.
Speed
It’s clear that a self-propelled mower is a lot faster than the traditional push mower. For example, it can go up to 3 miles an hour without you touching it.
Weight
It’s pretty obvious with how the self-propelled mower is built it will definitely weigh more than its traditional push mower counterpart. This is because of the propulsion gearbox (which makes the mower move by itself).
Type of lawn
This is important when deciding on a self-propelled mower because if you choose the wrong one you will not be happy. For example, A rear wheel drive mower is designed for hilly areas vs a front wheel drive. The front wheel ones are perfect for flat properties.
Price
If you are not on a budget, then the self-propelled mower is for you. They are typically more expensive than its traditional push mower counterparts.
Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers Brands
Craftsman
The Craftsman M215 159cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 High-Wheeled FWD Self-Propelled Gas-Powered Lawn Mower is gas power and comes with a bagger. It is a front wheel drive which will get the job done for you effortlessly.
Powersmart
The PowerSmart Lawn Mower, 21-inch & 170CC, Gas Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is gas powered and has a 21-inch cutting width. It also has a 4-stroke engine which helps cutting tall and thicker grass with ease.
Greenworks
The Greenworks GLM801601 21-Inch 80V Cordless Push Lawn Mower is environmentally friendly and has a 60-minute run time on its 2 batteries. It also boasts a load sense technology that lets you know the storage area is full.
Lawn Boy
The Lawn-Boy 17732 21-Inch 6.5 Gross Torque Kohler XTX OHV, 3-in-1 Discharge Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Lawn Mower is gas powered and is a rear wheel drive. This mower can mow hilly terrains and it also has a larger bag capacity so you can continue to mow without emptying it all the time.
EGO Power+
The EGO Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Dual-Port Walk Behind Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is environmentally friendly and runs on 2 batteries. On a single charge, this mower can last for 80 minutes.
Husqvarna
The Husqvarna LC221FHE, 21 in. The 163cc Briggs & Stratton Walk Behind Self-Propelled Mower features a push button start and has higher rear wheels to move the mower around easier. It’s also a front wheel drive so mowing will be a breeze when you mow your property.
BLACK & DECKER
The BLACK+DECKER BEMW472ES Electric Mower is environmentally friendly and is very easy to maneuver. It also has a 6-height adjustment that you can choose from so your property will be looking perfect.
Best Time to Cut Grass
Most people don’t even think about the right time of day to mow their grass. They just do it during the day when it’s convenient for them. But do you know that there’s an optimal time to mow your grass? Unless you’re an expert, you probably didn’t know. Let’s look into the times of day:
Morning
Mildew is still on the grass so this might affect your lawnmower if it’s not “weather resistant”. You will also accidentally expose your grass to disease because of the mildew.
Afternoon
This is the second opportunity to mow your grass without destroying it because it’s not too hot for both yourself and the grass. If you missed the opportunity in the morning, this is the time now before evening.
Evening
This time of day, especially around dinner time, is when a lot of people tend to mow their lawn because it was on their to-do list. However, it’s not a good time because mildew starts to set in, and by cutting your grass now, you will have exposed it to disease and fungus, unintentionally making your lawn sick.
Best Self-Propelled Mowers
Craftsman 21-Inch 3-in-1 High-Wheeled Propelled Gas Powered Lawn Mower
The Craftsman 3-in-1 Self-Propelled Gas-Powered Lawn Mower has everything that you expect from a self-propelled mower. It is Front wheel drive, so it’s perfect for flat terrains. It has a powerful 159CC gas engine, so you can be sure that it will cut through the thickest grass & weeds.
This model also has the typical 3 in 1 capabilities (side discharge, mulching and rear discharge) a bonus which is always nice to have. The Craftsman has 11-inch tires to make it easier to move around, even if on uneven terrain. The mower also comes with baggage for your clippings which is good, so you’ll have a nice, clean cut lawn.
Pros:
- Powerful
- 3 in 1
- Large rear tires
- Baggage included
Cons:
- Quality issues
- Poor customer service
PowerSmart Lawn Mower
The PowerSmart Lawn Mower, 21-inch & 170CC, Gas Powered Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is certainly one of a kind. It features 170 CC gas engines and a 21-inch steel mowing deck, which means it’s extremely powerful. The engine is also a 4-stroke engine which is why the mower again, is powerful. The mower also comes with an 18-gallon bag and has adjustable cutting depth capabilities (1-3”).
You can easily fold up this mower to put away in tight and small spaces. This mower also comes with a 3-year warranty if you have issues with it.
Pros:
- 4 stroke engine
- Affordable
- Comes with an 18-gallon bag
- Warranty
Cons:
- Buyers have reported quality issues
Greenworks GLM801601 21-Inch 80V Cordless Push Lawn Mower
The Greenworks GLM801601 21-Inch 80V Cordless Push Lawn Mower is an environmentally friendly mower as its electric. Even though it’s electric, it is cordless and runs on 2 2AH batteries which gives it up to an hour of mowing time! For most people, that is more than enough time to mow their lawns.
This mower also comes with the typical 3 in 1 capabilities (mulch, side and rear discharge) but it also features a load sensing technology which will let you know that the load is full in the bag that comes with the mower. As with most electric mowers, you can start the mower with just a push of a button and it’s ready to mow. This mower can mow up to 1 acre before needing a recharge of its batteries.
Pros:
- Load sensing technology
- Environmentally friendly
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Buyers have reported poor quality
Lawn-Boy 17732 21-Inch 6.5 Gross Torque Kohler XTX OHV
The Lawn Boy 17732 21-Inch 6.5 Gross Torque Kohler XTX OHV, 3-in-1 Discharge Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Lawn Mower is definitely one of a kind. It has a powerful Kohler 149 cc Gross Torque engine so that means it can power through thick grass and weeds with ease. It’s also a rear wheel drive, which is a huge plus if you live in a hilly area.
This mower also has a 2-point height cut system that will let you adjust while you are mowing, the range is 1.25-3.75”. This also comes with the standard 3 in 1 (mulch, side and rear discharge) and a 2-year warranty should you have any issues with it.
Pros:
- Ideal for hilly terrain
- 2-year warranty
- Can cut thicker grass/weeds
- 3 in 1
- Large bag capacity
Cons:
- Some buyers have reported low quality
EGO Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless
The EGO mower is clearly environmentally friendly running on dual port 56V batteries giving it a run time of up to 80 minutes. The mower’s material is made out of plastic & aluminum, but rest assured its high-quality plastic (ABS) that was used.
The EGO mower also has a 6-position cutting adjustment (1.5-4”) so that you can be sure that you can get a nice clean cut on your lawn. You have the 3 in 1 (mulch, bagging and side discharge) which is nice to have in an electric mower. You can start the mower by just pushing the button, like you can with most typical electric mowers. The EGO mower comes with a 5-year warranty should you have issues with the mower.
Pros:
- Environmentally friendly
- 5-year warranty
- Weather resistant
Cons:
- Some buyers reported the mower being DOA or died within a year’s use.
- Poor customer service
Husqvarna Self-Propelled Mower
The Husqvarna mower is one of the few gas mowers that actually has a push button to start, instead of trying to crank it. It is also a front wheel drive, which makes things easier mowing. It has a 21-inch cutting width and a 4-point height adjustment to help you get that nice looking lawn.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Electric button
- Front wheel drive
Cons:
- Poor customer service
BLACK+DECKER BEMW472ES Electric Mower
The BLACK & DECKER electric mower is the only corded electric mower on our list. It’s on this list because it is designed to move around in spaces even though you are on a cord. It has a 15” cutting width and runs on a 10amp electricity via the cord. The rear wheel is big enough to wear and you can navigate through thick grass while mowing with ease.
Pros:
- Environment friendly
- Can maneuver in odd spaces
Cons:
- Corded, some may trip on it while mowing
- Some buyers report 15” cutting width is not enough
FAQ
What is the best self-propelled mower?
In our opinion, the Greenworks electric mower is the best self-propelled mower because it’s environmentally friendly and you have an hour’s worth of mowing you can get done. With those two things, it makes it the best self-propelled mower.
Is a self-propelled mower worth it?
It is more expensive than the traditional push mower, but if you like the ease of not constantly putting your hands on a bar to make it go, then it’s worth it. With a self-propelled mower, all you do is put the bar handle down, and it will move for you. With that said, it is worth spending the extra money to cut down time mowing your grass.
What brand is the best lawn mower?
In our opinion, the Greenworks is the best lawn mower. We say this because while it’s environmentally friendly, you get the same results you expect from a gas mower with an electric one. With the Greenworks brand, there is very little maintenance which means you’ll save money in the long run.
What is better: self-propelled or push mower?
Self-propelled mowers are perfect if you are mowing up to ¾ of a acre because the mower actually pushes itself to reduce giving yourself fatigue that you get with a traditional mower. All you do is literally stay behind it to make sure it’s going the right way. A push mower can technically go for acres, but you’d have to be in very good shape to do all that. That’s why it’s recommended it’s better for smaller yards. In our opinion, self-propelled mowers are better because the operator will experience less fatigue.
Bottom Line
If you are in the market to look for a self-propelled mower, ask yourself if you really want one. Traditional push mowers can do the same job as a self-propelled mower, but the self-propelled mowers are designed to give you a “break” so you can complete your mowing in a reasonable time.