For many homeowners, the machine of choice to keep their lawn under control is the self-propelled mower. With a small transmission that drives the front or rear wheels, these take some of the mowing load off of you, no small consideration at the peak of the hot and humid mowing season. And since that season may last from early spring through late fall, it's important to select a mower not just based on price but features that make sense for how you like to mow. To help you with that decision, we tested a batch of mowers. Our goal, as always, is to help you find the right one and, in doing so, hopefully make your yard work a little easier.
See quick info of top tested and non-tested mowers below, then scroll down for buying advice and in-depth reviews of these and other models.
Best Overall
Toro 21382
A beauty of a mower, with a cast-aluminum deck and a smooth-running engine.
Maneuverable
Craftsman M215
The Craftsman appears to be a basic, easy-to-handle, three-function mower.
High Cut Quality
Honda 663020
We recommend the Honda as a durable option that offers good cut quality.
Most Affordable
Troy-Bilt TB300 XP
A true Troy-Bilt mower, offering a lot of performance for the money.
Things to Consider
A mower is like many consumer products in that the more features a manufacturer adds, the more expensive it becomes. A longer or eye-catching features list isn't necessarily better. Sometimes less is more. Here are the most important to keep in mind.
Engine size
An engine as small as 125 cc can power a mower, but most fall somewhere in the 140 cc to 190 cc range. A large engine helps when powering through tall, lush grass or in extreme conditions, such as with a side discharge chute in place and mowing tall weeds in a border area. Its extra torque improves bagging when the going gets tough (tall, leaf-covered grass in the fall). But if you mow sensibly and pay attention to deck height—and especially if you don't let your lawn get out of control—an engine in the 140-160 cc range has more than enough power to get the job done.
Rear wheel diameter
A mower can have all four wheels the same diameter (seven to eight inches) or it may have rear wheels that range from 9.5 inches to 12 inches in diameter. Larger rear wheels help the mower roll more easily over bumpy ground.
Storage options
Mower manufacturers have paid attention to homeowners complaining about crowded garages and sheds and equipped some mowers with handles that fold forward, allowing for more compact storage. Some mowers have the forward-fold feature and can stand on end for additional space savings.
Electric start
Self explanatory. Mowers that are really decked out start the engine with the twist of a key or the press of a button. It's a great option, but a luxury. Keep the mower engine tuned and use fresh or preserved fuel, and you'll never have trouble starting.
Speed control
Any number of mechanisms can control a mower's ground speed—a squeeze handle, a drive bar that you press forward, even a dial. There's no single right answer here. Look at the design and think about how you like to work. For example, if more than one person will be using the mower (and not all of them are right-handed), a drive control like that on a Toro 21382 might be the answer. Just push down on the bar to make it go faster.
Two- or three-function
A mower that can bag, mulch, and side discharge is known as a three-function mower, the most versatile kind. Two-function mowers bag and mulch or mulch and side discharge.
Deck height
Mowers will typically have one, two, or four levers to control the deck height. Single-lever adjustment is the easiest to use, but it requires more linkage, which adds weight and complexity. If for some reason you find yourself varying deck height frequently, it's a good option. Otherwise, two or four levers work just fine.
Deck material
Only Honda makes a gas-engine mower with a high-impact plastic deck (there are battery mowers that have plastic decks). Otherwise, mowers generally have a steel deck, and a few manufacturers—Toro, for one—offer a corrosion-resistant aluminum deck. An aluminum deck won't rot the way a steel deck will, but you still need to keep it clean.
Deck wash
This is a hose fitting mounted on top of the mower's deck. When you're done mowing, hook up a hose and run the mower to power wash the underside of the deck. We've had mixed results with these, but they're better than just letting a mass of dried grass clippings accumulate.
Bag quality
More expensive mowers come with a more durable bag with more dust-blocking capability. If you bag a lot, especially leaves or other lawn debris in the fall, then you need a mower with a higher quality dust-blocking bag. Having said that, if you rarely bag, the standard one that comes with a mower will last you the life of the mower.
Wide-Cut
Also called wide-area mowers, machines in this subgroup of self-propelled help homeowners better reconcile their need for more power and speed with the fact that they may not have enough storage for a large machine. A typical residential walk mower has a single-blade deck that cuts a swath from 20 to 22 inches wide. Wide-cut mowers (built for homeowner use) have either a single blade or, more typically, a pair of blades, cutting from 26 to 30 inches with each pass. Some of these are rated for light commercial use and have larger decks, in the 32-inch range, and engines that start at 223 cc and go up to about 337 cc.
Wide-cut mowers employ gear or hydrostatic drive transmissions, and they have top speeds of about four to six miles per hour. At their fastest, they move so quickly you have to trot to keep up with them. Needless to say, they're overkill for small yards; only opt for one of these if you've got a significant plot of land that you need to keep tidy, but not one so large that you'd be better off going with a full-on riding mower.
How We Tested
We put all of the mowers we test through the paces using our standard Popular Mechanics methodology: We cut turf grasses such as fescues and blue grass and rougher non-turf grasses like Timothy, clover, orchard grass, and wild oats, all in both normal and shin-deep heights. We mow uphill, downhill, and across the faces of hills. The maximum slope we cut is about 35 degrees. That may not sound like much, but it's about all you can do to stand on it, let alone push a mower up it. We mow damp and wet grass to test general cutting performance and whether clippings accumulate on the tires. And we cut dry and dusty surfaces to see how well the bag filters under less-than-optimal conditions. After all that mowing and analysis, we give each a rating from our star system.
3 Stars Satisfactory
3.5 Stars Good, improved ease of use
4 Stars Very Good, additional versatility or power
4.5 Stars Outstanding, with more emphasis on some combination of power, cut quality, bagging, or versatility
5 Stars Category leader and possibly the best product in our test; performs as well as mowers with 4.5 stars with improved industrial design, ease of use, or durability
Have a look at our tested mowers below, and keep scrolling down to look at options that we haven't had the chance to test yet but are promising based on their specs and brand pedigree.
Toro 21382
Engine size: 160 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Rear | Non-lawn surfaces: Good | Uphill mowing: Very good | Sidehill mowing: Fair | Bagging: Very good
Toro 21382
$649.00 homedepot.com
This is a beauty of a mower, with a cast-aluminum deck and a smooth-running Honda GCV160 engine. It's both an effective bagger and mulcher, even of moist grass, we found. Equipped with rear-wheel drive and the Personal Pace system (the farther you push the drive bar, the faster the mower goes), it's an effective hill climber and moderately effective on sidehill cutting. It has 7.5-inch tires on all four corners, which causes this Toro to bump up and down a bit on washboard surfaces, but the good news is that it's equipped with a far higher quality tire than we're used to seeing these days. We didn't notice any grass pickup on moist surfaces. Other features we like include its forward fold handle and a high-quality grass bag that loads through the handle, from the top.
Masport 464961
Engine size: 190 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, rear discharge, bag | Drive: Rear | Non-lawn surfaces: Very good | Uphill mowing: Outstanding | Sidehill mowing: Very good | Bagging: Very good
Masport 464961
$839.99 masport.com
We had never heard of Masport mowers before this test, but after giving this rugged 22-inch machine a solid workout, we're glad we came across the brand. This really is a contractor-duty mower, as reflected by its rugged construction, such as the 14-gauge steel deck. Among its other stalwart features are a big professional-series Briggs & Stratton engine with a cast-iron cylinder sleeve, a tube steel bumper in front of the engine, and the most robust single-lever deck height adjustment in this test. We also appreciated the decal applied right beside its lever that indicates the optimal deck heights for bagging and mulching—a user-friendly feature we've never seen on any mower. Its 9 x 3-inch rear tires have thick, horizontal cleats, enabling good hill climbing. Its cut quality is as outstanding as its bagging, as good as any mower we've seen. And it waltzed through tall grass like it was mowing a putting green. The 464961 comes with a blade on it and a spare one for mulching in the box. Both are thick and well-ground, reflecting the attention to detail that one would expect for a mower rated as contractor-duty.
Troy-Bilt TB300 XP
Engine size: 159 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Rear | Non-lawn surfaces: Fair | Uphill mowing: Good | Sidehill mowing: Good | Bagging: Good
We're longtime fans of Troy-Bilt lawn mowers, generally; They offer a lot of performance for the money. And this one doesn't disappoint. The TB300 XP has an engine on the small side, standard-size rear wheels, and a drive system that works more like your car's cruise control. Set the lever to the desired position, squeeze the drive handles, and away you go. Troy-Bilt also packs in a few other goodies. Most impressive are the two-lever deck-height adjustment and an excellent tread configuration that boosts traction for uphill and sidehill mowing.
DR Power SP30
Engine size: 223 cc | Deck size: 30 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge bag | Drive: Rear | Non-lawn surfaces: Very good | Uphill mowing: Very good | Sidehill mowing: Very good | Bagging: Outstanding
SP30
DR Power drpower.com
$1,399.99
We had the most fun using this mower from DR Power. It's simple to operate, thanks to a minimum of controls. Turn the key, pull the drive lever to make it go (all the way up to a very brisk pace), and pull back the blade engagement lever to cut. That's all there is to it. It's comparatively light, with weight distribution and geometry to make it surprisingly agile for such a big mower. It leaves a smooth cut, and its bagging performance is outstanding. We attribute that to the air flow off the deck and into the bag, which is so good that when you go to remove the bag, you don't find a loose pile of clippings, rather a tightly packed hay bale. Our test indicated that every morsel of grass goes into the bag. We also like the cast-aluminum deck. Assuming it's the correct alloy and you don't abuse the machine, you should get many years out of it. We also like the single-height deck adjustment courtesy of a nice long lever with a big grip. We had only one dislike: That big engine needs a better muffler.
Other Promising Options
Craftsman M215
Engine size: 159 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Front
M215
Craftsman amazon.com
$375.35
Craftsman mowers have been doing very well in our tests, so we can recommend this one because it's so much like the many other Craftsman models that we've tested. If you're looking for a good blend of maneuverability and power, you'll get it with this American-built mower. Its front drive provides maximum maneuverability. Though it's important to note that front-drive mowers do lose some traction when running uphill, particularly with a full grass bag. But if your slope is less than 20 degrees, and you're not bagging uphill, you'll be fine. The side discharge will also help you handle tall-grass cutting conditions. Adjust the two deck levers to bring the mower up to full height and have at the rough stuff. The fact that the mower bags, mulches, and side discharges is a plus, enabling you to handle a wide range of mowing conditions, from early spring and late into the fall. Three-function mowers like this are our preference for that versatility.
Honda 663020
Engine size: 166 cc | Deck size: 21 in. | Functions: Mulch, side discharge, bag | Drive: Front
663020
Honda homedepot.com
$409.00
Honda mowers enjoy a sterling reputation. And having tested their walk and self-propelled mowers for the last 30 years, we feel pretty confident in saying that this mower is a great choice for homeowners looking for power and durability. This model features an upgraded engine from its predecessor, with the switch from the GCV 160 to GCV 170. The slightly larger engine is built to withstand long hours of operation; in fact, it's primarily used in pressure washers. And if you do your own maintenance, (and most owners who buy this class of product do), you'll appreciate the easily accessible spark plug and the fuel shutoff valve that enables better winter storage. Close the fuel shutoff and run the mower until it sputters to a halt. The few drops of gasoline left in the carburetor will evaporate. Open the shutoff valve in the spring, and the mower should start easily, thanks to a carburetor free of gasoline deposits and the high-energy ignition that Honda engines are known for. All this maintenance stuff is great, but we can also tell you that our past test findings on other Hondas prove that their cut quality is outstanding for cleanliness. Sharp blades deliver a velvet-like finish. And their bagging ability is also quite good, in the same league with other well-bagging mowers from Cub Cadet and Toro. In all, if you take mowing seriously, you should enjoy this Honda.
Roy Berendsohn Senior Home Editor Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment.
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Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/lawn-garden/a27103287/self-propelled-lawn-mowers/
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