Last updated on March 18th, 2021
Self-propelled lawn mowers move by pressing down on a lever or by pushing a button to get it going, this, in turn, propels the lawnmower forward without you needing to use too much force to push it around your lawn.
Just like a car, the lawnmower can be front-wheel, rear-wheel or four-wheel driven, all by walking behind the mower like a traditional lawnmower, just with the added benefit of not breaking your back as you’re doing it.
Having to push a manual lawn mower over bumpy ground and over long distances makes the job 10 times harder to complete. A self-propelled lawnmower is especially a great option for anyone that has a more challenging terrain to mow down. Although, if you want to use it on the little patch of grass in your front yard then go for it.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are becoming more and more popular these days due to the availability of cheap parts and even lower manufacturing costs, meaning that companies can sell their lawnmowers at a reduced price. This lower price point has made the product more accessible to people that want it for their homes.
We have picked out the 10 best lawn mowers available on the market today that cost less than $300 and identified their main features and benefits, as well as what is not so appealing about each item. At the end of this review, you should be able to choose which lawn mower is best for you.
Read another related article: Best Riding Mower for Steep Hills
Comparison Table
6. Black+Decker CM2043C Cordless Mower
- Quiet
- Lightweight
- Battery powered
Check Price
PRODUCT | FEATURES | LATEST PRICE |
---|---|---|
1. Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 12 Amp Electric Corded Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
2. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
3. Sun Joe MJ401C 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
4. Craftsman M115 11A-B25W791 Push Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
5. PowerSmart DB2321SR 21 Inch 170cc Engine Gas Powered Self Propelled Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
7. WORX WG779 40V Power Share Mower |
|
Check Price |
8. Sun Joe MJ403E Mow Joe 17-Inch 13-Amp Electric Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
9. Pulsar 3-in-1 Self Propelled Mower |
|
Check Price |
10. Scotts Outdoors Corded Electric Lawn Mower |
|
Check Price |
Our Best Self Propelled Lawn Mowers Reviews and Comparisons
1. Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 12 Amp Electric Corded Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
A ‘push to start’ corded lawn mower that is specially designed to stay relatively quiet. No more shouting over the mower’s loud noises to have a conversation.
Features
- Constant, dependable power
- Plug in cord
- 7 inch front wheels
- 10 inch rear wheels
- Push to start
- 7 height levels to choose from
- Foldable handles
- Corded
What We Like About Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 12 Amp Electric Corded Lawn Mower
It is so easy to use that men and women of all ages and physical ability can use it effectively. You do not need to pull-start the engine which is another big plus. Once you start mowing, your lawn will be done in no time. The Greenworks lawn mower is powerful enough to mow down long grass as well as tidy up shorter, sparse patches.
What We Don’t Like About Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 12 Amp Electric Corded Lawn Mower
The motor gets filthy during use and you might find yourself having to clean it up after every time you mow your lawn. The power cord is a little annoying too, as with all corded mowers, you will have to be extra careful not to mow over the lead. Using an extension cord will make this problem a little more manageable for you.
PROS
- Don’t need to use gasoline
- No charging involved
- Easy to use
- 7 height adjustments
CONS
- Makes a mess while cutting
- Requires an extension lead
2. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Etiam aliquam erat sed sem aliquam, at viverra tortor facilisis. Cras id ante sed erat vulputate malesuada. Vivamus nulla dui, vehicula venenatis facilisis elementum, semper ut leo.
Features
- Light weight
- Chargeable
- Onboard battery life indicator
- Lithium-ion technology
- 4Ah battery and charger included
- Rear bagging and mulching capacity
- Push button start
- SMARTCUT technology
- Up to 45 minutes of battery life
- 6 inch front wheels
- 7 inch rear wheels
What We Like About Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
You won’t have any trouble changing from mulching to basket in a matter of minutes. It manages to mow tall, wet and heavy grass without choking and is designed really well. Surprisingly, the grass catchers not only work but work incredibly well.
What We Don’t Like About Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
The battery seems to need to be charged constantly and barely has enough juice in it for the whole lawn. If you have a big lawn this will likely be an issue for you. Overcharging the lawnmower can also lead to affecting the quality and usability of the battery as it will deteriorate much faster.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Minimal vibration
- Quiet
- No oil or gas needed
CONS
- Reliable warranty
- Battery is weak
3. Sun Joe MJ401C 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
No need for cords or gas, the Joe MJ401C is a simple cordless lawn mower perfect for small and medium-sized lawns.
Features
- Detachable 10.6 gallon grass catchers
- 28V rechargeable battery
- Safety switch that prevents accidents
- Instant star technology
- Battery powered
- Free 2 year warranty
What We Like About Sun Joe MJ401C 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower
The great thing about this battery-powered lawn mower is that it does not require a lot of strength to start like gas mowers do. All you do here is push a button and you are ready to go.
It finishes mowing a small lawn in no time at all, regardless of how long your grass is. The only thing that will stretch out the mowing time is having to empty the grass catcher more than once in the interval.
Another thing that some people do not think about is how easy a lawnmower is to store. This one is compact and won’t get in the way in your garage.
What We Don’t Like About Sun Joe MJ401C 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower
Having to charge the mower frequently uses up a lot of electricity as the lawnmower requires at least 3 or 4 hours to fully charge. You will also find that the Sun Joe doesn’t mow wet grass very well either, so maintaining your garden in the winter is tricky.
PROS
- Light weight
- Easy to store away
- Easy to use
- Cordless
CONS
- Not appropriate for year round use
- Takes a long time to charge
4. Craftsman M115 11A-B25W791 Push Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
A lawnmower with a 140cc engine with a power auto choke and recoil start that has side and rear discharge for your ease of use.
Features
- Can drive over loose soil
- Works on hard, stubborn soil
- Manufactured in the US
- Mulching capabilities
- 21 inch cutting deck
- 550E gas engine
- 6 cutting heights
- 7 inch front tires
- 11 inch rear tires
- Bagger included
What We Like About Craftsman M115 11A-B25W791 Push Lawn Mower
Stores away easily and doesn’t get in the way in your garage. Comes with easy to read instructions, making everything from assembling the lawnmower to operating it is smooth sailing.
What We Don’t Like About Craftsman M115 11A-B25W791 Push Lawn Mower
Attaching the handle to the frame is fiddly and sometimes doesn’t connect properly making the frame uneven and unsafe. If you ever need a replacement part, it could take you a really long time to find it, or you may not find the part at all.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Doesn’t need much strength to operate
- Starts easily
CONS
- Hard to clean
- Doesn’t work in all weather conditions
5. PowerSmart DB2321SR 21 Inch 170cc Engine Gas Powered Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
This lawnmower is ideal for small yards that don’t have challenging terrain or weather conditions to put up with.
Features
-
- Weighs 76 pounds
- 170cc engine
- 3-in-1 bag
- Side discharge
- Mulching capabilities
li>Easy pull start
- Rear mounted 18 gallon container
- 5 height positions to choose from
- Cuts grass and weeds
What We Like About PowerSmart DB2321SR 21 Inch 170cc Engine Gas Powered Self Propelled Lawn Mower
It is perfect for cutting a yard that is less than an acre in size. As soon as you get it you can put it to work, it is pretty much all set upon arrival. Although it is a ‘pull to start’ lawnmower, it starts on the first pull almost every time.
What We Don’t Like About PowerSmart DB2321SR 21 Inch 170cc Engine Gas Powered Self Propelled Lawn Mower
If you do not have much strength in your upper body, you might find it a little hard to get going. Pull to start lawn mowers are a little old fashioned these days. It doesn’t look like the picture advertised.
PROS
- Delivered assembled
- Easy to start
- Easy to operate
- Good for small yards
CONS
- Comes without oil in the crankcase
- Must use gas and oil
6. Black+Decker CM2043C Cordless Mower
Product Highlights
If you have a small yard then this is a mower to consider. When fully charged, the Black+Decker lawn mower can mow up to ⅓ acres of land.
Features
- 6 cutting heights
- 2×40 volt lithium ion batteries
- Edgemax designed to mow to the edge
- Charger included
- Mulching capabilities
- Bagging and side discharge features
- 3 year limited warranty
What We Like About Black+Decker CM2043C Cordless Mower
The out of the box assembly is super simple and the lawnmower is very light so that makes the job even easier. You can only get it started by inserting the key completely into the electrical circuit, so it has high safety standards which are important.
The height adjustment feature makes it even easier to move around the lawn if you come into slightly uneven land.
What We Don’t Like About Black+Decker CM2043C Cordless Mower
For a lawnmower that can only mow small lawns, it takes a really long time to fully charge, 3 hours to be precise. The batteries overheat really quickly which is a little bit worrying.
PROS
- Quiet
- Child safety feature
- Lightweight
- Battery powered
CONS
- Mulching feature isn’t very good
- Feels like a toy
7. WORX WG779 40V Power Share Mower
Product Highlights
The WORX lawnmower weighs only 35 lbs, so if you are looking for a light and compact lawn mower read the following information.
Features
- 2x20v removable batteries
- Charger included
- Mulch and bag options
- Single lever height adjustment
- All year round mowing capabilities
- Tackles any terrain
- 13 inch cutting width
- Intellicut technology
- Folding handle
- 14 inch mower
What We Like About WORX WG779 40V Power Share Mower
There are only a few steps needed to assemble this lawnmower, so even those of you that hate assembling products won’t find this too much of a chore. Each of the batteries has a battery level indicator on it, that way the batteries won’t die on you unexpectedly.
What We Don’t Like About WORX WG779 40V Power Share Mower
The mower struggles to pick up the grass it has mowed, it also takes rather a long time to mow the lawn and it ends up looking quite patchy and uneven.
Like many other battery-powered lawn mowers on the market, it doesn’t take long before the battery life becomes shorter and shorter the more you use it.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Not noisy at all
- Has an ‘Echo’ mode
CONS
- 4 hour charge time
- Harder to push than a gas mower
8. Sun Joe MJ403E Mow Joe 17-Inch 13-Amp Electric Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
Next on the list is another lawnmower by Sun Joe, this time, you can mow 17 inches of land with a single push.
Features
- Cuts 17 inch width path
- 7 cutting height positions
- Detachable 17 gallon grass collection bag
- Mulching and mowing
- Grass indicator window
- Collapsible handle
- Instant start
- Safety switch
- 13 amp motor
What We Like About Sun Joe MJ403E Mow Joe 17-Inch 13-Amp Electric Lawn Mower
You can use the mower right out of the box, it is very precise and gives you an evenly cut lawn every time. Its push-button start is reliable, much more than the traditional pull start levers. You will be surprised at how lightweight it is for its powerful abilities.
What We Don’t Like About Sun Joe MJ403E Mow Joe 17-Inch 13-Amp Electric Lawn Mower
Overworking the lawnmower with hard to manage terrain can result in serious damages to the blades and motor. The blades loosen easily or completely come apart. The engine cuts out unexplainably whilst in the middle of mowing the lawn.
PROS
- Reduces mowing time
- Mulches the leaves easily
- Cuts wet grass
- Doesn’t need much strength to operate
CONS
- The engine overheats regularly
- Starts and stops without warning
9. Pulsar 3-in-1 Self Propelled Mower
Product Highlights
This lawn mower’s main goal is to keep your lawn looking perfect all year round, regardless of the weather. A 173cc gasoline-powered engine packs more than enough punch to keep your lawn in tip-top condition.
Features
- Includes a spark plug wrench
- 8 inch front wheels
- 10 inch back wheels
- 7 height position options
- 21 inch cutting width
- 173 cc 4- stroke engine
- Recoil start
What We Like About Pulsar 3-in-1 Self Propelled Mower
The lawnmower is easy to maneuver around the garden without using up a lot of energy. It can be used to mow tough weeds and wet grass, even on uneven soft soil.
What We Don’t Like About Pulsar 3-in-1 Self Propelled Mower
It requires you to pull the cord to get the engine going. This might be difficult for some people and is a less common start-up feature these days.
PROS
- A steel deck
- 21 inch cutting width
- Easy to use
- 7 height positions
CONS
- Pull cord engine startup
- Requires gasoline
10. Scotts Outdoors Corded Electric Lawn Mower
Product Highlights
Who doesn’t want a powerful plugin lawnmower with the strength and capabilities of a gas-powered mower?
Features
- Push button start
- Ergonomic v-shaped handle
- Built in cord retention
- No tool assembly
- Height adjustment 1.5 inches to 4 inches
- 12 amp motor
- 3-in-1 multifunction
- 20 inch cutting width
What We Like About Scotts Outdoors Corded Electric Lawn Mower
Really quiet for the amount of power this lawnmower has. The blades are easy to change if you find that they have been dulled over time due to mulching and breaking down small twigs.
It isn’t heavy to move around so anyone with upper body weaknesses can manage it, you can even let your teenagers start helping you with gardening. It is that easy.
What We Don’t Like About Scotts Outdoors Corded Electric Lawn Mower
The design is such that the wheels never seem to align up properly. The power cord is really awkward and irritating to work with especially if you are not used to mowing the lawn with a cable lawnmower. It is a little bit weaker than you’d expect it to be.
PROS
- Takes 5 minutes to assemble
- Mulches leaves well
- Cuts long grass
- Doesn’t require gasoline
CONS
- The cord is irritating
- Wheels are wonky
Final Verdict
As you can see, self-propelled lawn mowers come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. The Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower is easy to use regardless of their physical strength and abilities. It comes with a free warranty so that you have peace of mind. You can use the Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower on all grass conditions, so if you live in an area where the grass grows quickly and needs mowing all year round, you won’t have any issues.
For more lawn mower reviews click here.
Alain is Cartbig’s managing editor, in charge of the research, production and editing of all content.
He has a BA in Journalism from Cornell University and is passionate about photography and technology.
He loves travelling but he lacks orientation so he never leaves home without his GPS. Really.