Best Cordless Lawn Mowers of 2022

Types of cordless lawn mowers

Cordless or battery powered lawn mowers are just a variety of the electric kind, the other being the corded electric lawn mowers to which we have dedicated an extensive guide. However, not all cordless lawn mowers were created equal. You’ll have to choose from the following types:

• Push lawn mowers: These mowers come with a motor that spins the blades for faster and more effective mowing, but you will be the driving force of the machine, pushing it along your property. Push mowers are ideal for small to mid-sized lawns.
• Self-propelled lawn mowers: Look similar to the push type, but they have an extra drive system that provides traction. You will still have to walk behind the machine to guide its direction, but the mower will move on its own, saving you quite a lot of hassle similar to walk behind weed eaters. These mowers are great for mid- to larger-lawns. We have talked about these mowers in a dedicated guide you can find here.
• Robotic lawn mowers: Are very different from both types above, but still work on batteries. These machines don’t have the same mowing performance as the walk-behind, but they do everything on their own. A wired or wireless system lets you designate the area where you want to the robot to mow, so all you have to do is push the start button, and let it go. The robots usually return to the recharging base on their own, and you’ll be able to enjoy a manicured lawn with no effort.

Which is the best cordless lawn mower for you?

Leaving the robotic mowers out of the discussion, the size of your yard and type of terrain will determine which is the best battery powered lawn mower for you.

• If you have a yard of up to half an acre and fairly flat terrain, a push cordless lawn mower would be ideal. A push mower is also a better choice for a terrain full of obstacles because you have complete driving control.
• If you have a yard larger than half an acre or hilly terrain, a self-propelled lawn mower will save you a lot of effort. Depending on the actual size and type of terrain, you should choose the most appropriate type of drive.

Mower battery and runtime

Most cordless lawn mowers on the market are powered by lithium-ion batteries, although some models come with lead-acid. The former is more resistant to corrosion and often equip commercial lawn mowers.

Most residential cordless lawn mowers come with lithium-ion batteries, as these models typically store more energy and hold a charge longer. The two variables to check before buying are voltage and amp-hour.

How many volts does my mower need?

The voltage varies widely between entry-level and top-end cordless lawn mowers, usually from around 18 to over 80 volts. A higher voltage usually means more power, but also a higher price. Depending on the size of your lawn and type of grass, you’ll usually be fine with:

Mower amp-hour

The amp-hour (Ah), together with the voltage, determine the capacity of the battery and consequently the runtime. Most lithium-ion batteries have between 2Ah and 5Ah. The higher the specification, the longer they’ll run on a single charge.

Cordless lawn mower cutting swath and height

Picking the right cutting swath is, once again, a matter of size and configuration of your property. It is easy to understand that a bigger deck will help you mow faster, but if you have many obstacles or tighter corners in your yard, a smaller deck could be more appropriate.

On the contrary, a too small deck will keep you mowing for hours if you have a big yard.

The cutting decks on battery powered lawn mowers can have any size from approximately 10 to over 20 inches, so you have plenty of options to choose from.

Mower maintenance

Turning a heavy mower upside down can be a tricky task, for those situations the best lawn mower lifts were invented.

Mower cutting height

The vast majority of the cordless lawn mowers are designed to handle all types of grasses. However, an adjustable cutting height still comes with benefits. Because gardening experts give ranges rather than precise cutting heights for each type of grass, an adjustable deck height will give you the possibility to cut the grass shorter, so you won’t have to mow too often.

Other things to consider

Besides the features above, there are a few other things you should consider if you want the best battery powered lawn mower.

• Foldable handle: This type of handle reduces the size of the mower for storage and transport.
• Ergonomic design: Either push or self-propelled, it is essential to invest in an ergonomic mower. A height-adjustable handle, soft grips, and easily reachable controls can really improve your user experience.
• Headlights: They come as an optional on many lawn mowers and allow you to take care of your lawn in low light conditions.
• Clippings management: Also consider what you want to do with the grass once you’ve cut it. The simplest models have either side discharge or bagging capabilities, and you’ll have to settle for just one feature. The most versatile ones will let you bag, side discharge, or mulch the clippings, similar to the 3-1 options on many riding lawn mowers and some zero turn mowers.
• Battery indicator: A LED indicator will let you check the status of the battery and see when it’s time to recharge. Another nice thing to have is onboard battery storage if you want to carry a second battery along.
• Wheels: The best cordless lawn mowers come with sturdy, all-terrain wheels that are easier to push and improve maneuverability. Swiveling front wheels can also improve maneuverability around obstacles.

Best Cordless Lawn Mower for the Money

Best value

Greenworks MO40B410 40V Cordless Lawn Mower

Best for small to mid-sized lawns

A smaller lawn mower perfect to fit in tighter spaces and easy to maneuver around obstacles.

Check price on Amazon