A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide

By Desmond J.

Last Update:

This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you buy after clicking on our links. Read our disclaimer.

Read our editorial process

In 2023 there are various types of lawn mowers in the market and they come in different sizes, designs, and features. Hence, you’re probably going to market to pick the right mower. Their specs and features confuse you when you want to choose the right mower for your needs.

First of all, we are going to know more about types of mowers, their features, and specs. And also why they will be suitable for your needs.

Types Of Lawn Mowers

A different type of lawn mower comes with different specs and features. In this section, I will add the most popular lawn mower types that will be a good fit for your needs.

Riding Mower

Two types of riding undoubtedly make your mowing task easy and enjoyable. They are

  • Standard Riding Mower
  • Zero-Turn Mower

You might be considering the garage storage for their big-sized design. On the other hand, they are powerful, easy to control, maintain, comes safety features and excellent cut quality and grass management.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 2

Standard Riding Mower

Undoubtedly it’s the most popular among the homeowners having a large-sized lawn. The ring mower comes with a steering wheel, people can easily sit on top of it and make the mowing task more comfortable and effortless. And also some riding mower comes with a lap bar navigated instead of the steering wheel.
The riding lawn mower comes with an expensive price tag. Their price range between $1000 – $5000+

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 3

Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

Zero Turn Radius mower makes the yards work very simple. They come with caster wheels in the front that can pivot at very sharp angles. Hence they are required less time than other machines and make the mowing jobs much easier to navigate around rocks, flower beds, and fountains.

Like the riding mower, it also comes with an expensive price tag. For their features and durably their starting price around $2000 and above.

Read more: Worst Zero Turn Mowers to Avoid

Benefit of a corded eletric lawn mower

Electric Lawn Mower

There are two types of mowers available on the market.

  • Battery-powered (Cordless)
  • Corded lawn mower

The cordless mower powered by a battery. Relatively the corded mower powered through an electric outlet. The corded mower has unlimited running times, conversely, the battery-powered mower has limited running time.

The electric mowers are less powerful than a gas-powered mower. They are less expensive and require less effort to start. Moreover, they are maintenance-free.

Instead of pulling cord or recoil starter gas mowers, the electric lawn mower starts every time with a push-button or key starter.

The electric mowers are available on push, self-propelled, and riding mower versions. Excluding the riding version, they are less expensive.

The electric mower price ranges between $100-$500 USD.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 4

Push Lawn Mower

The push mowers come with a lightweight and compact design. The weight range is 50-70 pounds.

The push mower is primarily powered by you. For starting the lawn task you have to push it forward and it starts working. The push mowers are a great choice for small lawns. They come with an inexpensive price tag.

Their price range between $90 – $600.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 5

Self-propelled Lawn Mower

It’s an updated version of a push mower. They come with the same design, but a little heavier. They are more powerful than a push model. Their engine power combined with the wheel and moved it forward. After starting the machine just grab the handle and change the cutting direction.

The self-propelled mower used for hard mowing tasks and also it’s ideal for old men and women. On the other hand, it doesn’t require physical effort.

The self-propelled lawn mower price ranges between $300 – $800.

Some best self-propelled lawn mowers I review here.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 6

Reel Lawn Mower

Reel mowers are environmentally and eco-friendly. They are the cheapest mower in the market. It is ideal for homeowners having small lawns. It doesn’t have a motor or require any electric or gas power but required efforts to spin the blades and cut the grass.

Unlike the other mower reel mower that did not chop the grass, its razor-sharp blades cut the grass like a pair of scissors.

Reel mowers cost less than $60 – $350.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 7

Robotic Lawn Mower

It is a revolutionary design for the lawn mower industry. It’s operated by software and doesn’t require any kind of effort to mow your lawns. Just start the mower and it will work by itself.

All you need to do just set a perimeter wire around the lawns, it will take care of the rest. It is a lot quieter than a gas mower and also environment friendly.

But It is only a great pick for flat lawns. Mowing hilly yards or slopes is hard to work with robot mowers.

The robotic lawn mower cost between $600-$2000.

A Definitive Lawn Mower Buying Guide 8

Hover Lawn Mower

Generally hover mowers are designed to tackle the hardest mowing job. The hover mowers are extremely durable and cut at almost 45-degree angles on any kind of hill. It will provide better traction and control and slopes or hills.

Unlike the mower, it cut the grass smoother and faster. It is extremely lightweight and maintains a weight ratio.

The hover mowers cost around $480-$1100.

How To Choose The Right Mower For Your Needs

A beautifully green lawn not only enhances the outlook of your house but also increases the value of your house. Everybody loves to see a green lawn. But maintaining healthy laws is not an easy task. It required time and effort.

While many use lawn mowing services companies to maintain a healthy lawn. Also sometimes they are not satisfied with their services. With the right tools, the mowing task is easier and enjoyable than you might think.

The market is filled with lots of mower brands. That’s why buying the best lawn mower can be a little confusing. Before you arrive at a final purchasing decision you need to consider a lot of factors including lawn size, lawn types, types of mower, budget, mower features, and specs.

In this article, we will provide a definite lawn mower buying guide besides before making the final purchasing decision.

Let’s dive in.

Things To Consider When You Choose A Lawn Mower

The lawn mower comes in various designs and usages. Hence, first of all, people need to clarify their requirements before choosing the best lawn mower for their yard. Here are some factors needed to consider before buying one.

Lawn size

It is the first thing that you need to consider before purchasing one for your home. Explore your lawn size and pick the right one.

Mower NameLawn Size
Riding mowers2 acres or more
Zero-turn mowers2 acres or more
Electric MowersSmall to Mid-sized lawn
Push mowers1/3 Acre lawn
Self-propelled walk-behind mowers1/2 acre lawn
Reel mowers8,000 square feet
Robotics mowers1/4 acres
Hover mowersSmall to Mid-sized

Budget

The various mowers come with a reasonable price tag. Above I mentioned the price of each mower. And below you will see a price comparison table of mowers price. Generally, lawn mowers price start at $60 to $5000 above.

Think About Hills, Slopes, And Obstacles

Is your yard flat or uneven or have lots of slopes?

Is your yard well doctored or has flower beds or rocks?

The types of your yards are nearly as important as their size. Here are some good features are listed below:

  • If your yard is uneven or having lots of obstacles then pushing the mower with a high rear wheel is a good option.
  • A front-wheel-drive mower can handle flat terrain. It’s easy to maneuver and change the cutting direction.
  • Relatively rear-wheel-drive mowers perform better on the hilly yards or slopes. It provides better traction.
  • Both slope or flat terrain all-wheel-drive mowers are the best options.

Power Source

The various types of mowers powered by various power sources. Below we have listed all power source types.

Battery Powered (Cordless)

Battery-powered have limited running time and they are environment friendly. They are less powerful than gas mowers.

Before starting a mowing job you have to be fully charged. Today mowers are using dual battery life to extend the changing time. 

One of the major things you have to check before buying a battery mower is “Does it come with a battery charger or not”. Because some of them are not coming with battery power. You have to pay some extra money to buy a charger.

Electric Power (Corded)

The electric mower is powered by the electric joules extension. They have a limited cutting area with unlimited running time. They are quiet and easy to maintain. But the disadvantage is some of them don’t come with a power cord.

Check out the best-corded lawn mower from here.

Gas Powered

Gas-powered mowers are more powerful than electric power mowers. But the gas model is not environmentally friendly. They make fumes and noise.

They have unlimited running time. But every year required maintenance. Generally, they are used for tackling tough mowing jobs.

Manual Powered

You’re the only power source of a manual mower. Whether it’s a push or reel mower, you have to move it forward to start the mowing job.

Manual mowers are environment friendly but they take lots of physical effort. They are not so powerful as a gas mower. They are only suitable for small-sized lawns.

Drive types

Just like a car lawn mower comes with various drive types. Drive refers to how the mower propelled forward. 

Manual Drive

Unlike all other mowers, manual mowers are not propelled by an internal drive. Even if it has an engine, but cuts the grass you have to move it forward by your physical efforts. It’s not ideal for an old man or woman. 

All-Wheel-Drive

All four wheels are powered by the internal engine power source and forward together. They are the most powerful mower and cut the grass very quickly. 

Rear-Wheel-Drive

The back two wheels are powered by the internal engine power and rear wheels offer better traction on rough, uneven, or hilly terrain.

Front-Wheel-Drive

The front two wheels are powered by internal engine power and it is better for flat terrain.

Start Types

Previously starting a lawn mower was too annoying. Why?

Sometimes pull cords are broken and recoil starters are not working. But day by day the mower manufacturer changed the mower design and started a lawn mower push easier than ever.

Push-button

The push-button start type uses an electric system to easily and quickly start the engine. It doesn’t mean push-button start only found on the electric-powered models. Relatively gas-powered models have a push-button start.

Key Start

Like the car, this type of mower uses a key to turn and start the engine.

Recoil Start

Recoil starter mowers are the most classic model mowers have. Some continuously jerking a cord for starting the mower. 

Grass management

Nowadays lawn mowers come with various grass management functionality. Some of them have  3 in 1 or 2 in 1 design. 

3 in 1 design refers to mulching, bagging, and side discharge

2 in design refers to mulching, bagging, or side discharge.

Deck size

The most common deck size is 21 inches. But the deck doesn’t matter for a mower. A machine with a larger deck size means it comes with wider cutting blades. 

The main reason people choose a bigger deck is that they can save time and effort. A larger cutting swath cut the sufficient amount of grass on each pass.

A bigger deck mower is great for large lawns. But on the contrary, it’s not good if your small lawn will be decorated with the flower beds, rocks, and other things. Then you need to go with a small deck-sized mower.

Height Adjustment

Nowadays most lawn mowers have adjustable height features. The adjustable height allows changing the mower deck cutting height and cutting the grass in your perfected settings. 

Attachments

Another factor you need to consider if you’re looking for riding or zero radius mower. The various attachments are available for riding mowers which include ATV carts for hauling, baggers, dump carts, sweepers, and debris loaders for cleaning, aerators, dethatchers, lawn rollers, and sprayers for lawn care, etc.

Lawn Mower Pricing comparison

The cost of your lawn mower will depend on the size, types of lawns, and features you want. Here we include a lawn mower price comparison chart that might help you.

Mower NamePrice
Riding mowers$1000 – $5000+
Zero-turn mowers$2000+
Electric Mowers$110 -$600
Push mowers$90 – $600
Self-propelled walk-behind mowers$300 – $800
Reel mowers$60 – $350.
Robotics mowers$600-$2000
Hover mowers$480-$1100.

Conclusion

Above we mention every aspect of how to choose the lawn mower.

If you’re looking for the best mower, maybe this article will help you.

Hope so you enjoy the article.

If you have any questions about the lawn mower buying feel free to drop your comments. We are ready to help you.

Happy gardening!

Related posts

Photo of author
Written By
Desmond J.
I'm a lawn mowing expert and gardening enthusiast. I started my own lawn care business in college and have been doing it ever since. I love taking care of lawns and gardens, and I'm always looking for new ways to improve my skills. I'm also a big fan of composting and using natural fertilizers.

Leave a Comment