A lush, green lawn is one of life’s simple pleasures, but cutting all that grass may not be. The key to getting the job done right is having a lawnmower you can trust, regardless of whether you have a small patch of grass or acres of lawn. We’ve reviewed the best push mowers of 2024, keeping an eye out for features like mulching, side discharge, bagging, ease of use, and maneuverability. Our top pick from the American Lawn Mower Company is lightweight, durable, and can efficiently cut grass up to 4 inches tall. Keep reading to find the right choice for your lawn care needs.
Our Top Picks For Push Mowers
The Best Push Mowers
Best Overall
Designed for cutting grass up to 4 inches tall, the American Lawn Mower Company Push Mower is reasonably priced and easy to use. You can adjust the mower blades to help you cut grass to the length you desire. Meanwhile, an ergonomic handle with a cushioned grip lets you grip it while remaining comfortable.
With a push mower, you won’t have to worry about cords, fumes, oil, fuel, or noise. This makes this product great if you want a maneuverable lawnmower that requires little maintenance. And, since it emits zero carbon emissions, this gas-free mower is both practical and environment-friendly. With an easy-to-use, adjustable design and a lightweight yet durable design, this push mower is easily our top choice.
Pros
- Adjustable blade height
- Cutting action doesn’t damage your grass
- Completely emission-free design
Cons
- Not great for overgrown lawns
Most Versatile
The BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 Push Mower has a built-in pedal that makes it easy to convert to a trimmer/edger. Additionally, it boasts adjustable features like the automatic feed system, which provides convenience, increased comfort, and more cutting power. This push mower also features a power drive transmission for maximum torque and cutting power, meaning you can cover more ground in less time. All in all, this cordless lawn mowing, string trimming, and edger kit give you three powerful lawn maintenance tools in one compact package. Time to say hello to a beautiful lawn!
Pros
- Functions as a mower, trimmer, and edger
- Convenient pivoting handle
- Automatic feed spool for feeding trimmer line
Cons
- Not enough battery power for large lawns
Best Battery
Your lawn will look great with the 16-inch LawnMaster Cordless Push Mower. This tool offers gas-like power at a speed of 3,500 revolutions per minute, so cutting even the thickest lawns is a breeze. The brushless motor technology extends the motor’s life and ensures consistent power. And, with the innovative iPower system, you have complete control over the mower’s battery life.
One of this push mower’s standout features is the one-touch height adjustment lever. It lets you adjust the cutting height to six different positions, meaning you can effortlessly cut between 1 to 3 inches. Also, the included battery and charger work with all LawnMaster 40-volt tools.
Pros
- Highly efficient battery life
- Can cut to six different heights
- Foldable handle makes storage a breeze
Cons
- Battery life might degrade with consistent use
Best Electric Mower
Whether it’s the noise, the fumes, or the maintenance of gas-powered mowers, the Greenworks Electric Push Mower will help you transition to battery-operated tools. It is effortless to use, is highly reliable, and requires very little maintenance. With its 16-inch cutting deck, two-in-one design, and five-position cutting height adjustment, this pick is ideal for those who are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
This mower is perfect to use from season to season with no pull cord, no gas, and no maintenance. Just press the power button, and you’re ready to start scrubbing your yard. Once you’re done with this push mower, the handle folds down easily so that it can be compactly stored or easily transported.
Pros
- Easy to use and maintain
- Foldable handle for easy storage
- Three-year tool and battery warranty
Cons
- Battery life can weaken over time
Safest Choice
The Sun Joe Cordless Push Mower features a 14-inch wide steel blade that precisely cuts in a single pass and a convenient height adjustment setting that lets you customize turf height to match the terrain. For ultimate cordless convenience, this mower is powered by a long-life, high-performance 28-volt lithium-ion battery for cutting a quarter-acre continuously per charge
Even better, this push mower comes with a 10.6-gallon bag, which is perfect for collecting clippings. Then, you can detach it and dispose of any waste quickly and easily. Most importantly, for the sake of your well-being, this pick also has a safety key that prevents accidental starts.
Pros
- Includes a bag for collecting cut grass
- Safety key for extra security
- Outstanding battery performance
Cons
- Not very effective on wet grass
Most Effective
Fiskars’ StaySharp Max Push Mower delivers best-in-class cutting performance without gas, oil, charging, or cords. By comparison, this advanced design is 60% easier to push than standard reel mowers and has two times the cutting power. Best of all the StaySharp cutting system helps eliminate the inconvenience and cost of manual blade sharpening.
With one-touch handle height adjustment, you can easily adjust cutting height between 1 to 4 inches. As a bonus, grass clippings can be directed forward and away from your feet with a reversible grass chute, making mowing well-defined patches cleaner and easier. If all that wasn’t enough, this push mower can handle almost any grass type — even hardy grasses like Augustine, Zoysia, Bahia, and Bermuda.
Pros
- A great option for tough grass
- Easy to push
- Inset wheels allow for ultra-close cutting
Cons
- Not ideal for high-grass lawns
Easiest To Use
Mowing grass can be quite tiresome, especially if your push mower is low-quality. Thankfully, with this self-propelled push mower, mowing your lawn will be both easy and enjoyable. The PowerSmart Push Mower has five different height settings that work with almost every lawn type — it even works like a charm on hilly yards or lawns with overgrown grass! To change the height, all you have to do is use the lever and move it to your preferred height level.
This push mower also has a 21-inch deck, which means you can mow a large amount of grass in a shorter time. Not only is this push mower highly efficient, but it is also reliable. You can start the engine with a quick push of the handle lever, while the three-in-one design lets you tackle nearly any job.
Pros
- Folding design for easy storage
- Comes 95% assembled
- Can also clean up dead leaves
- Powerful, high-quality engine
Cons
- Gas tank’s fill level isn’t visible
The Best Push Mower: A Buying Guide
If you’re in the market for a push mower, you might be feeling overwhelmed with the number of choices. Don’t jump on just any lawn mower; take your time to consider important factors that might impact how smooth your mowing experience will turn out. That’s why we’ve put together an in-depth guide to help you choose the right mower.
Walking vs. Riding
First, you need to determine whether you need a riding mower or a walk-behind mower. Take, as an example, a push mower that has a threshold of 14 acres of grass to mow. Even if you want to mow the lawn as fast as possible, that seems like a lot of walking.
Start by estimating the size of your mowing area. Walk around the rectangles, counting your steps along the way. Calculate the area of each rectangle. There’s no need to get too specific here. A man’s stride is approximately 30 inches, and a woman’s stride is approximately 26 inches, or measure your own stride for the most accurate measurement.
A quarter-acre is equal to 10,890 square feet; you may want to consider a riding lawn mower if you are above that threshold. Many people wouldn’t dream of cutting 14 acres of grass with a 22-inch walk mower, but we have to start somewhere. Ideally, if your lawn is between 14,000 and 20,000 square feet, you should consider using rear-engine riding mowers, light-duty lawn tractors, and residential zero-turn mowers. If your property exceeds 2 acres, then you should consider a commercial-duty zero-turn push lawn mower.
What to Consider Before Buying a Push Mower
Push vs. self-propelled
Push mowers are generally more affordable, but a self-propelled model draws power from the engine (or electric motor in the case of a battery-powered model) to move the wheels, making it easier to maneuver on a large lawn or sloped lot.
The best traction on slopes comes from an all-wheel-drive mower, followed by a rear-wheel-drive model. The most common kind of drive is a front-wheel drive, which does well for flat parcels, but doesn’t do well for bagging clippings. This is because, when the bag fills, the front wheels may lose some traction.
Yard size
When choosing a walk-behind mower, take your yard size into consideration. For large yards, it is best to use gas self-propelled mowers, while push mowers (electric or gas) are more appropriate for smaller yards.
Washout port
After each cut, you should clean the underside of your mower. A washout port makes it easier to do so when the time comes. It can be connected to a hose to remove clippings beneath the mower deck without tipping the machine. Ensure that the push mower you choose has a washout port before you bring it home.
Electric start
With an electric start, you can easily start the gas engine instead of pulling the cord to start it. This is the way all electric mowers start.
Interchangeable battery
Many manufacturers are making tools that can operate with the same battery that powers their lawnmowers, including string trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, and snow blowers. If you can get the second tool without batteries, you can save some money.
Maintenance
As with any landscaping tool, a push mower needs proper maintenance to work most effectively. Thankfully, once you get the hang of it, taking care of your mower isn’t as hard as it would seem. According to Bryan Clayton, co-founder of GreenPal, general maintenance consists of “Simple things like changing the oil twice a year, keeping the blade sharp once every couple of months, and most importantly, making sure the air filter is clean every time you push mow your yard.” So, as long as you pay attention to the little things that keep your mower going, you’ll have a reliable, effective tool that’ll take care of your lawn for years.
People Also Ask
Is using a push mower a good workout?
Surprisingly enough, yes, it can be! Using a push mower can be a pretty good form of cardio, and it'll work out your back, core, glutes, shoulders, and more. So, not only will you be getting a beautifully maintained lawn, but you'll be burning some calories at the same time.
Is it possible to clean electric lawnmowers?
Electric lawnmowers can be cleaned like any other lawn mower, but care should be taken to avoid water getting into the motor. For general maintenance, remove the grass attached to the blades and sharpen them regularly to keep them in top condition.
Are electric push mowers as good as gas ones?
In terms of effectiveness, electric push mowers are generally as good as their gas-powered counterparts. They also have the added benefit of being more eco-friendly thanks to their zero-emission nature.
How frequently should I mow the lawn?
Generally, you should mow your lawn every one to two weeks.
What is a push mower good for?
Push mowers are a great choice for small yards or those who want to avoid producing emissions while mowing their lawn.
