Are you tired of trimming your yard with that old, worn-out mower of yours and you’re looking for the best electric lawn mower? Electric mowers are great alternatives to traditional, gas-powered units.
Electric mowers will be a lot less expensive to run since you’ll no longer have to deal with gas or oil. Moreover, they’re lightweight, easy to use and maintain, and they’re environmentally friendly.
However, picking a high-quality lawnmower can be quite a daunting task, so in order to help you pick a reliable unit, we’ve compiled a small list of the best electric lawn mowers on the market.
GreenWorks 25022 20-Inch 12-Amp Electric Lawn Mower
The GreenWorks 25022 is an electric lawnmower than rival gas-powered models of its size in all categories. This mower is super easy to use, just plug it in and press the power button to get the blades spinning and then you’re ready to start mowing. The extension cord can be cumbersome in the beginning until you get used to it.
There’s a single adjustment lever that helps you adjust the mowing height to your liking. When it comes to the sharpness of the blade, the GreenWorks 25022 features an extremely sharp blade that will provide clean cuts without hacking at your grass. As a result, the grass will heal quickly. Further, the unit houses a pretty powerful motor to help grant you that high-quality cut you want.
Speaking of the motor, you’ll rarely need to run any maintenance checks on it since it has no oil, spark plug, air filter, or even a carburetor. If something ever happens to the motor, it will cost you less to replace it than to get it fixed. Of course, that will be covered by the 4-year warranty that it comes with. Ideally, the motor should remain in good condition for 6 to 8 years.
The part where you have to do some regular maintenance checks, however, is at the underside of the deck and at the discharge chute. You always need to make sure that those areas are free of dried buildup and gunk so that the machine can function at its best. This is a fairly easy thing to do, all you need is to brush any buildup off and then spray with a garden hose.
Although the 25022 isn’t the lightest unit the GreenWorks lineup at 56 pounds, it features a very compact design that makes it easy for you to store. Moreover, it features foldable handles for an even easier storage process. We’d highly recommend this unit for people with smaller yards and don’t have many obstacles between the machine and the power outlets you’ll be using.
Pros:
- Very powerful and quiet performance
- Doesn’t require regular maintenance
- Covered by a long 4-year warranty
- Features a highly durable steel deck
Cons:
- Not the best for thick or wet grass
- The extension cord is a little clumsy
Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO 14-Inch 13-Amp Electric Lawn Mower
The machine may look like it has a flimsy construction at first, especially when you consider that it only weighs around 29 pounds. However, this unit is as rugged as they come. Its lightness will allow you to tackle tighter quarters with ease. Another thing we love about this Sun Joe machine is that it requires very minimal assembly. Simply attach the blades and fold-up, then just tighten the handles and you’re all set.
The blades on the MJ401E-Pro are laser-sharp and made of steel for ideal durability. Even with such durable blades, you shouldn’t abuse your machine by running it over sticks and such. As long as you treat this unit right, it will treat your lawn with equal care. Also, be careful because the bottom of the mower is made of plastic parts that can break off with rough use.
The biggest bummer about this unit is that it doesn’t come with an extension cord. We’d strongly recommend buying a lower-gauge cord such as an outdoor-rated, 12-gauge cord. Further, you’ll need to get a thicker extension cord as thinner models tend to burn out motors. Overall, this is a cost-effective machine that will get the job done beautifully.
Pros:
- Powerful motor with great torque
- Easy to operate and maneuver
- Super lightweight and compact
- Highly affordable on any budget
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with an extension cord
- Some plastic parts are incorporated
- The catch bag gets filled up quickly
Greenworks Pro 80V GLM801600 21-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
This is one of the very few reliable cordless electric mowers on the market. It’s far from a perfect machine but it does have a lot to offer. Similar to most GreenWorks units, this unit was designed to provide clean cuts with super quiet performance. You should also know that an 80V mower is very uncommon in the market. Such voltage gives this unit as much power as a gas mower.
The GLM801600 implements a highly durable steel deck that’s able to resist wear and tear with ease. It also features 10-inch wheels that allow for great maneuverability. You can easily tackle tight sports in your yard with this unit. Very few plastic parts were used with this machine, which sets it apart from the competition since most units in this category mostly utilize plastic parts.
The mower features a rear handle that helps you adjust the height of all wheels simultaneously. It features 7 height settings for your convenience. Also, you can bag, mulch, or side-discharge your clippings. The mulching and side-discharge functions work perfectly. Keep in mind that you need to make a few passes when attempting to mow thick grass.
This mower functions on an 80V, 5Ah, lithium-iron battery. The battery takes around 30 minutes to be fully charged and can keep this unit mowing for up to 60 minutes. Unfortunately, both the battery and the charger are sold separately, and that’s probably our biggest complaint against this machine. Regardless, it’s hard to imagine a better cordless electric mower.
Pros:
- High-quality, ultra-durable steel deck
- It’s mounted on ball-bearing wheels
- Houses an incredibly powerful motor
- Clean cuts with quiet performance
Cons:
- Slightly heavier than its competition
- Battery and charger are sold separately
American Lawn Mower Co. 50514 14-Inch 11-Amp Electric Mower
Dependable is the word that best describes this mower. It’s one of the most powerful models on the market. Housing a 12-amp motor that provides enough power to rival gas-powered mowers of the same size without gas, oil, or hazardous fumes. We can safely say that this machine can easily tackle all types of grass at a length of 1.75 to 4 inches.
The 50514 features a 20-inch cutting width and a single lever for adjusting the cutting height. It’s mounted on large 9.5-inch rear wheels and 7-inch front wheels, allowing for easy maneuvering. The 3-in-1 design allows you to side discharge, mulch, or bag your clippings. The mower has a V-type handle that’s super comfortable and easy to use.
Despite being one of the most powerful units on this list and on the market in general as far as electric mowers are concerned, it still manages to have a compact and lightweight design that makes it easy for you to store. Additionally, it comes with a cord retention hook so that the cord is secured in place while in use. Lastly, this machine is just aesthetically pleasing to look at.
Pros:
- Houses an incredibly powerful motor
- Compact and lightweight construction
- Highly maneuverable due to large wheels
- It features a cord retention hook
Cons:
- The cutting deck is only 14 inches
- The blades require regular sharpening
Earthwise 50520 20-Inch 12-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower
The 50520 is in our opinion Earthwise’s best creation. It houses a 12-amp motor that produces 120 volts at a speed of 3,600 rpm. It also features a 20-inch steel cutting deck that should get the job done for medium-sized lawns. It’s also super sturdy and will last you for years to come. It’s also clear that there was a lot of thought and care put into the packaging of this product.
This mower features a V-type handle that’s very well-cushioned to provide ideal comfort. Also, the safety blade control and safety bar help keep things in check during the mowing operation. Taller grass isn’t a problem for this mower since it comes with a height adjustment feature that allows it to change the cutting height from 1.5 inches all the way up to 4 inches.
The unit is mounted on 7-inch front wheels and 9.5-inch rear wheels, giving it a great balance and allows for easy maneuvering. However, you still need to give your grass a few passes due to this unit’s inability to cut the grass that’s around the wheels. Additionally, this mower features the bagging, discharging, and mulching options for your convenience.
Pros:
- Very easy and comfortable to use
- Houses a powerful and reliable motor
- The unit can easily tackle taller grass
- Features a well-cushioned grip handle
Cons:
- Can’t remove grass around the wheels
- The cord hook isn’t the most reliable
The Buying Guide
Not all electric mowers are created equal. To ensure getting the best electric lawn mower for your buck, there’s a number of factors that you need to consider. Those factors are:
Lawn Size
An electric mower is a fantastic option for someone who has a small or medium-sized lawn that doesn’t exceed a fraction of an acre since most of them don’t have enough power to match their gas-powered counterparts. It’s highly advised to check out the manufacturer’s information about the unit in order to figure out whether it’ll be able to tackle your lawn or not.
Also, your lawn size dictates the type of mower you’re going to buy. Corded models are ideal for larger lawns since they don’t rely on batteries and won’t run out of juice mid-mowing. If you have a smaller lawn, however, a battery-powered model should get the job done.
Mowing Power
The power of an electric lawn mower isn’t measured in horsepowers. Instead, it’s determined by its amperage. Generally speaking, units with bigger ampere rates are the most powerful. Power is important for a lawn mower so that it can handle larger cutting decks. Ideally, you want to look for a unit that has an amperage that ranges between 10 to 13 amps.
Obviously, electric mowers that can provide a lot of power tend to be the most expensive, which means that if you have a small-sized lawn, it’s going to be a waste of money to buy a high-amps unit. Only go for more power if you have a large area of grass that needs to be cut.
Portability
If your lawn isn’t huge, avoid going for a mower that features a large deck size as they’re much heavier and bulkier than models with smaller deck sizes. A smaller and lighter mower will be a lot easier to push and store. However, if you want to cut down on the mowing time, you can go for a larger cutting deck of around 20 inches. Just be prepared to haul some heavier weight.
Grass Clippings
Older electric mowers only had the option to discharge the clippings. Nowadays, however, you can have a mower that allows you to bag, mulch, or discharge the clippings. This is an important feature to look for in a mower since you’ll end up with tons of grass clippings after every mowing session and you don’t want to have to rake them up every time.
Conclusion
Depending on your needs, one of the above-mentioned products should give you the best bang for your buck. However, if we were to crown a winner, it’s very hard not to pick the GreenWorks 25022. If it’s powerful and quiet performance isn’t enough to impress you, its 4-year warranty is definitely going to win you over.
Hopefully, the information we’ve provided in this article has helped you pick the perfect electric mower for you. Let us know which one of the above-mentioned units you think is for your lawn.