Mowing the grass isn't the most exciting task, especially if you're using an old-fashioned gas mower. With an electric lawnmower, cutting the lawn becomes a much lighter job. The best electric lawn mowers are lightweight, come with advanced features like self-propulsion systems and micro blades that are as sharp as razors.

But how do you choose the very best one for you and your yard? With so many manufacturers getting in on the electric revolution, picking the right one can be challenging to say the least. Below, we compare our top five picks and discuss the advantages of going with an electric unit over choosing a gas mower.

Backyard Boss Top 5 Electric Mowers for the Summer of 2021

 

PRODUCT

FEATURES

 

Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower - $$title$$

Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower

  • Power: 40V 4.0/2.0 Ah
  • Cutting width: 20 ins
  • Type: Push

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Ryobi 20-Inch 40V 6.0 Ah Brushless Cordless Walk-Behind - $$title$$

Ryobi 20-Inch 40V 6.0 Ah Brushless Cordless Walk-Behind

  • Power: 40V 6.0 Ah
  • Cutting width: 20 ins
  • Type: Self-propelled

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Greenworks G-Max 40V 16-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower - $$title$$

Greenworks G-Max 40V 16-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower

  • Power: 10 Amp
  • Cutting width: 15 ins
  • Type: Push

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Ryobi 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Mower - $$title$$

Ryobi 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Mower

  • Power: 100 Ah
  • Cutting width: 38 ins
  • Type: Riding

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EGO Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch Walk Behind - $$title$$

EGO Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch Walk Behind

  • Power: 56V 5.0 Ah
  • Cutting width: 21 ins
  • Type: Self-propelled

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Why You Can Trust Us

If you've read any of my electric lawnmower-related pieces here on BYB, you'll know that I'm intimately familiar with these new-wave machines. Every piece researched and written lends a bit more expertise to our latest reviews and guides. Even more, I also have plenty of hands-on experience in the lawn care industry, working with weed-eaters, gas and electric mowers of the push, self-propelled, and riding type.

That said, my goal here is to present you with the cold hard facts so you can make the smartest purchasing decisions; no fluff, hype-ups, or paid-for promos from the companies that we recommend.

Best Overall

Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower

    The Greenworks 40V Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower is one of the best value purchases on the market when it comes to an electric lawn mower for maintaining medium to large yards.

      Pros:

    • Dual blade cutting system
    • High maneuverability
    • 3-in-1 functionality
    • Backup battery
      Cons:

    • Some batteries need replacing
    • Slight learning curve involved
    • Does not last as long as gas mowers

What We Like: This 3-in-1 electric push mower is highly ideal for most yards thanks to its lightweight body, powerful brushless motor, and smart cut technology.

This lightweight electric push mower is both advanced and yet super easy to use. It comes with dual blades, dual battery ports, and has a super-fast charge time. The mower works great even on uneven ground and hills as well. It makes little noise and is equipped with smart cut technology to boot. A single charge lasts between 45 and 70 minutes depending on the terrain and type of grass you're cutting. Another great thing about it is that it takes practically zero maintenance aside from a light wiping after each use.

Who Should Buy It: For lawns of approximately half an acre, there are few electric push mowers that compare with the Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower.

Best Self-Propelled

Ryobi 20-Inch 40V 6.0 Ah Brushless Cordless Walk-Behind

    If it's a powerful electric self-propelled walk-behind you've been searching for, few machines have more convenience and power to offer than this 20-Inch 40V Ryobi.

      Pros:

    • Rear-wheel drive
    • 3-in-1 functionality
    • 7-position deck
      Cons:

    • Requires assembly
    • Polymer composite deck
    • 42-minute run time

What We Like: A robust rear-wheel self-propulsion system and 7-position cutting deck, as well as additional smart features, makes this mower very appealing.

This 20-Inch Ryobi Cordless Walk-Behind lawn mower is powered by a powerful brushless motor and 40V 6.0 Ah batteries. Any Ryobi batteries of the same size, from power tools you may already own, work in place of the batteries that come with the mower. It has 3-in-1 functionality, as it cuts, bags, mulches, and discharges from the side. The hopper is quick and easy to put on, use, and take off as well. The mower starts up with the push of a button and has load-sensing technology that helps maximize power. Even more, the mower works great on uneven ground thanks to the maximized power and rear-wheel drive. It is equipped with 10-inch wheels on the back that make driving it even easier.

Who Should Buy It: If you're tired of pushing, or simply want to experience the best of walk-behind electric mowers, this 20-inch Ryobi could be the one for you.

Best Push

Greenworks G-Max 40V 16-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower

    For those who prefer a push style walk behind mower over the self-propelled sort, the G-Max 40V is a robust and lightweight solution for most yards under an acre.

      Pros:

    • 2-in-1 functionality
    • Lightweight design
    • 5-position deck
    • Powerful 40V 4.0 Ah Li-Ion battery
      Cons:

    • Smaller blade
    • Not self-propelled
    • No vertical storage

What We Like: We love the simplistic yet powerful concept and design of this push mower, it comes with a powerful motor, strong batteries, and advanced features.

The G-Max 40V 16-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower from Greenworks is a great example of all that a smaller mower can be. It is powered by the same robust electric brushless motors as bigger mowers, as well as 40V 4.0 Ah Lithium-Ion batteries. Further, it features a convenient 2-in-1 design with a five-position cutting deck. The mower mulches as well as cuts and discharges from the side. The rear wheels are seven inches, while the front measure six inches. The mower is designed for properties of up to half an acre. That said, if you don't mind investing in an extra battery, this mower can easily handle an entire acre. Each charge lasts around 45 minutes. Even more, the mower is compatible with batteries from over 50 Greenworks power tools.

Who Should Buy It: If it's a reliable and easy-to-handle electric push mower that you're after for your lawn mowing duties, you may have just found it.

Best Riding

Ryobi 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Mower

    The Ryobi 38-Inch Rear Engine Riding Mower is a top-of-the-line machine with dual blades and all the advanced options of a great rider.

      Pros:

    • 2.5 hour run time
    • Cruise control
    • 12-position deck
      Cons:

    • Wet grass may damage battery
    • Requires a bit more maintenance
    • Not great for uneven ground

What We Like: One of the biggest advantages of this mower is obviously that you can ride it. We also love the fact that it runs for approximately 2.5 hours on a single charge.

Believe it or not, this electric riding mower from Ryobi is one of the quietest mowers on our list; it runs at 70 dB. Not only is it quiet, but it is genuinely powerful even when compared with similar gas-powered riders thanks to its top-of-the-line brushless motors. Even more impressive, this unit comes with a 12-position cutting deck, cruise control, and big 16-inch rear wheels. The mower is adjustable without the use of a single tool. It also has extra features like a cup holder, bright LED headlights, USB ports, and a key start. Not to mention that it cuts two to three times as much grass in a single pass as most push mowers and about double what some of the best small riding mowers do.

Who Should Buy It: If you have anywhere between a half-acre and two acres, this could be just the electric solution that you've been looking for to take care of all that grass.

Best Commercial

Ego Power+ LM2142SP 21-Inch Walk-Behind

    When it comes to those larger than average jobs, and commercial lawn care, the Ego Power+ Dual Port LM2142SP is one of the most advanced as capable electric machines in the business.

      Pros:

    • Durable aluminum and ABS plastic design
    • PeakPower technology
    • 80 minutes run-time per charge
    • 3-in-1 functionality
      Cons:

    • May come with old-style batteries
    • Longer nose than gas mowers
    • Easier to store without batteries

What We Like: For an electric mower, we really like how well-constructed and heavy-duty this model is. The fact that it is self-propelled makes it even sweeter.

The Ego Power+ LM2142SP is a walk-behind self-propelled electric mower with a 21-inch cutting deck. It is powered by a 56V brushless motor and 5.0 Ah Arc Lithium-Ion batteries. Not only does it draw on a robust power source, but it also works with PeakPower Technology that helps ensure it is always performing optimally. The mower runs for around 80 minutes on a single charge and takes around the same time to power up its batteries. It features a 3-in-1 design, six-position 21-inch cutting deck, and hits speeds of up to 3.1 mph. The high-powered brushless motor fires up with the single press of a button and the mower is adjustable with one hand. The body and deck consist of high-end ABS plastic and durable aluminum.

Who Should Buy It: If you're after an electric walk-behind mower for large commercial jobs, you might just be looking at it right now.

What Are the Advantages of Electric Over Gas?

A Greenworks electric cordless twin force lawn mower doing its job.

Image credits: Greenworks via Amazon

In our opinion, electric mowers are absolutely worth it. They are lighter, require no fuel, need little upkeep, and are all-around easier to use and store. The list of advantages that make electric lawnmowers worth it is a long one:

Less Maintenance

Due to their electrical components, like brushless motors and batteries, there are practically no working parts that need to be maintained by the user. For example, you will never need to change oil, air filters, or clean out carbs.

Lower Costs

Since these mowers run on electricity, there is no fuel or oil to purchase. There is also no need to have your mower maintenance by a mechanic or lawn mower repair specialist. The little bit of electricity used to charge an electric mower's batteries is a fair amount cheaper than the comparative costs of running a gas-powered unit, even one of the cheapest ones with small gas and oil tanks.

Easier to Maneuver

Electric mowers are typically far lighter than gas versions. This fact alone makes them more easily maneuvered than their predecessors. Many of them also come with advanced features like self-propulsion, rear-wheel drive, and large wheels on the backend. To say the least, electric units are easily among the best walk-behind mowers due to how easy they are to use.

Easier to Start

Being electric, it would be a step backward to produce pull-start mowers. That is why almost every electric mower has a push-button start. This is a huge benefit compared to gas mowers. Especially aged gas mowers that need primed and yanked on several times every single time you start them.

Better for the Environment

Last but not least, electric mowers are much more friendly to the environment than gas mowers. With no fuel or oil to fool with, there are no spills to damage the environment. Likewise, there are no harmful fumes for you or your lawn to breathe in.

How We Picked

With numerous electric lawn mower pieces under our belt here at BYB, we have a better idea than most as to which electric lawn mowers are actually worth the investment of your hard-earned money, and which ones simply have great marketing but come up lacking in performance when put to the test.

That said, the five mowers that we choose for this particular guide are highly rated by the BYB team and customers of these various manufacturers as well. Even more, we made our decisions with several different types of people and yard sizes in mind. That means we picked at least one of the best electric lawn mowers for everyone, including you!

Picking the Best Electric Mower for You

Choosing the best electric mower for you doesn't have to be as hard as it may at first seem. Granted, the market is saturated with these products. But in the end, after some thorough research and a bit of dedication to finding the one that genuinely suits your needs the best, the answer should be clear. Hopefully, our guide reduces the time and effort you'll need to put in to pick the best one for you and your lawn care needs.

Our top pick for the best electric lawn mower, in general, is the Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower. It is a push mower, but it is super lightweight compared to gas mowers and is easy to maneuver. Further, the machine is a 3-in-1, built for mowing, bagging, mulching, and side discharge. It requires practically no maintenance, works well on bumpy ground and smooth lawns alike, and runs long enough to cut a half-acre per charge.