You don’t need to spend $700 to get a lawn mower that actually does its job. The real difference between a cheap mower and an expensive one usually comes down to deck width, runtime, and whether it’s self-propelled, not some mystery “quality” gap. Once you know what your yard actually needs, it’s a lot easier to pick the right mower without overspending on features you’ll never use.
Below we’re covering eleven mowers across gas, corded electric, and cordless battery power, plus one dethatcher that’s worth pairing with a mower if your lawn looks thin no matter how often you cut it. We’ve grouped these by yard type and use case instead of picking one overall “winner,” because the right mower really does depend on your yard.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Power Type | Deck Width | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worx WG752 40V 3-in-1 | Cordless battery | 21″ | Best overall pick |
| Baikemon 40V 19″ | Cordless battery | 19″ | Best budget battery mower |
| GF8A131 Brushless 13″ | Cordless battery | 13″ | Best for tiny yards |
| SENIX 144cc 20″ Push | Gas | 20″ | Best cheap gas mower |
| AMERISUN 144cc 21″ 2-in-1 | Gas | 21″ | Best value gas mower |
| PowerSmart EasyCut 18″ | Gas | 18″ | Lightest gas mower |
| STEELITE 20V 13″ | Corded/battery electric | 13″ | Best with a spare battery included |
| Greenworks 40V 16″ Push | Cordless battery | 16″ | Easiest to push and maneuver |
| Worx 40V 14″ 2-in-1 | Cordless battery | 14″ | Lightest mower on this list |
| Greenworks 80V 21″ Push | Cordless battery | 21″ | Most power without gas |
| YARDMAX 201cc CVT High Wheel | Gas, self-propelled | 22″ | Best for slopes and uneven yards |
| WORX WG850 Dethatcher | Corded electric | 12″ scarifying width | Companion tool, not a mower |
1. Worx WG752 40V 21″ 3-in-1 — Best Overall Pick
A 21-inch deck is wide for a cordless mower, and wider decks usually mean shorter runtime because they pull more from the battery on every pass. The WG752 is rated for up to half an acre on a charge, which covers what most suburban yards actually need without forcing you to plan a mid-mow recharge. The 3-in-1 setup lets you switch between mulching, bagging, and side-discharge depending on how long the grass has gotten since your last cut.
If you’ve let the grass go a couple of extra weeks, switch to side-discharge for that first pass rather than mulching. Mulching tall or wet clippings on a mower this size tends to clog the deck, and clearing that out takes longer than the time you saved skipping the bag.
Bottom line: the balance of deck width and runtime here is why it works for most quarter-to-half-acre yards without needing a battery swap partway through.
Not the right fit if: your yard is under a quarter acre, where a smaller-deck mower like the Worx 14″ or the GF8A131 will be lighter to push and cheaper to buy.
Pros: 21″ deck covers ground quickly for a battery mower, mulch/bag/discharge in one machine, no gas or extension cord to deal with.
Cons: The half-acre runtime estimate assumes moderate grass height and dry conditions. Tall or wet grass will bring that number down.
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2. Baikemon 40V 19″ — Best Budget Battery Mower
The Baikemon costs less than the Worx and Greenworks battery mowers on this list while still running a 40V platform and a 19-inch deck, which is enough for most standard residential yards. It’s a straightforward push mower with no self-propulsion, so expect more effort on hills than you’d get from the self-propelled gas option later in this list.
Because it’s a smaller brand than Worx or Greenworks, replacement batteries and parts are harder to find. Worth factoring into the total cost if the included battery ever needs replacing down the line.
Not the right fit if: you’d rather stick with an established brand with easy-to-find replacement batteries. Worx and Greenworks both have wider parts availability.
Pros: Lower price than comparable 40V mowers, 19″ deck handles a standard yard, no gas and no cord.
Cons: No self-propulsion. Replacement batteries and parts are harder to track down than for bigger brands.
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3. GF8A131 Brushless 13″ — Best for Tiny Yards
At 13 inches, this is the narrowest deck on this list, which is exactly the point if you’re working with a small city lot or a strip of grass squeezed between a driveway and a fence line. A wide deck on an oddly-shaped small yard just means more time maneuvering around obstacles instead of cutting grass. The brushless motor also runs cooler and tends to last longer than a brushed motor at this price.
This isn’t the mower for a quarter-acre lot. The narrow deck that makes it easy to maneuver in tight corners means a lot more back-and-forth passes on anything bigger than a small yard.
Not the right fit if: your yard is bigger than a small city lot. The narrow deck means significantly more passes on larger properties.
Pros: Lightweight and easy to maneuver in tight spaces, brushless motor for a longer service life, easy to store.
Cons: 13″ deck is too narrow for anything beyond a small yard. Shorter runtime than the wider-deck options on this list.
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4. SENIX 144cc 20″ Push — Best Cheap Gas Mower
If your yard has thick or wet grass that would bog down a battery mower, gas still has the edge, and the SENIX gets you a 144cc engine and a 20-inch deck without the price premium of the bigger gas brands. It’s not self-propelled, so you’re pushing it yourself, but the deck width and engine size are enough for a standard yard without straining.
Like any gas mower, plan on basic maintenance: oil changes, air filter cleaning, and fresh gas if it sits over winter. Skipping that upkeep is usually what makes a cheap gas mower feel unreliable after a season or two.
Not the right fit if: you’d rather skip oil, gas, and small-engine upkeep entirely. A battery mower on this list will be lower-maintenance.
Pros: 144cc engine handles thick or wet grass better than most battery mowers, 20″ deck covers ground efficiently, lower price than name-brand gas mowers.
Cons: No self-propulsion. Needs routine small-engine maintenance to stay reliable.
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5. AMERISUN 144cc 21″ 2-in-1 — Best Value Gas Mower
The AMERISUN steps up to a 21-inch deck over the SENIX’s 20 inches, covering more ground per pass on a standard yard. The mulch/bag function covers the two ways most homeowners actually manage clippings, without a discharge chute you probably won’t use if you’re not bagging for pickup.
Not the right fit if: you specifically want side-discharge for clearing tall grass fast. This one is mulch and bag only.
Pros: 21″ deck for faster coverage, mulch and bag functions cover most needs, competitive price for a 144cc engine.
Cons: No side-discharge option. No self-propulsion, so expect more effort than the self-propelled YARDMAX further down this list.
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6. PowerSmart EasyCut 18″ — Lightest Gas Mower
An 18-inch deck is smaller than most gas mowers on this list, which usually means less raw power, but it also means less weight to push and an easier fit in a tight garage or shed. This is the gas option to reach for if you want engine power without the bulk of a full-size 20-21 inch deck.
Not the right fit if: you have a larger yard and want fewer passes. The 20-21″ gas models on this list cover more ground per pass.
Pros: Lighter and easier to push than full-size gas mowers, compact for storage, still gas-powered for thicker grass.
Cons: Smaller 18″ deck means more passes on bigger lots. No self-propulsion.
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7. STEELITE 20V 13″ — Best with a Spare Battery Included
This is the only mower on this list that comes with two batteries instead of one, which matters more than it sounds like on a 20V platform with a narrower 13-inch deck. Lower-voltage cordless mowers tend to run shorter per charge than the 40V and 80V options here, so having a charged spare ready to swap in means you’re not stuck waiting mid-yard.
Bottom line: the included second battery makes up for the lower voltage’s shorter runtime, which is the real reason to pick this over a single-battery 20V mower.
Not the right fit if: your yard is bigger than a small lot. The 20V platform and 13″ deck are built for small spaces, not acreage.
Pros: Two batteries included so you’re not stuck waiting on a recharge, lightweight 13″ deck, lower price point.
Cons: 20V platform is underpowered for anything beyond a small yard. Narrow deck means more passes.
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8. Greenworks 40V 16″ Push — Easiest to Push and Maneuver
At 16 inches wide with a 40V battery, this Greenworks sits between the tiny 13″ mowers and the full 21″ decks on this list. That makes it light enough to push without strain while still covering a small-to-medium yard in a reasonable number of passes. No pull cord, no gas fumes, and no cord to drag around behind you.
Not the right fit if: you need to cover more than half an acre. The smaller battery and deck here are built for lighter-duty yards, not large properties.
Pros: Lightweight and easy to maneuver, no pull-start or gas fumes, part of the established Greenworks battery ecosystem for easy replacement.
Cons: 16″ deck means more passes than the wider 21″ battery options on this list. No self-propulsion.
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9. Worx 40V 14″ 2-in-1 — Lightest Mower on This List
This is the lightest mower here by deck size, built for the kind of small yard or narrow patch of grass where a bigger mower would be overkill to store and awkward to maneuver around tight corners. The mulch/bag function covers what most small-yard owners actually need without the added weight of a discharge chute.
Not the right fit if: your yard is bigger than a small lot. This is built for compact spaces, not standard suburban acreage.
Pros: Lightest mower on this list, easy to store, simple mulch/bag operation.
Cons: 14″ deck is too narrow for anything beyond a small yard. Shorter runtime than the wider-deck 40V options here.
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10. Greenworks 80V 21″ Push — Most Power Without Gas
Stepping up to an 80V platform gives this Greenworks noticeably more torque than the 40V mowers on this list, which shows up most when you’re cutting thick or overgrown grass rather than a well-maintained lawn. Paired with a 21-inch deck, this is the closest a battery mower here gets to gas-mower performance without the maintenance.
Not the right fit if: budget is your top priority. 80V platforms and batteries cost more than the 40V options on this list.
Pros: More torque than 40V battery options, 21″ deck for efficient coverage, no gas maintenance.
Cons: Higher price than the 40V mowers on this list. 80V batteries cost more to replace down the line.
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11. YARDMAX 201cc CVT High Wheel FWD 3-in-1 — Best for Slopes and Uneven Yards
Every other mower on this list is a push mower. The YARDMAX is self-propelled with a front-wheel-drive CVT transmission and six speed settings, which is the real reason to consider it if your yard has slopes, uneven ground, or enough square footage that pushing the whole time becomes more of a workout than a chore. The tall rear wheels also handle rough terrain better than the smaller wheels on the mowers above.
On a flat, small, well-maintained lawn, self-propulsion is a nice-to-have you might not actually need. On a sloped half-acre lot, it’s the difference between mowing being a chore and mowing being the reason you’re too tired to do anything else that afternoon.
Bottom line: if your yard has any real slope or size to it, the self-propelled drive is worth the price jump over every push mower on this list.
Not the right fit if: your yard is small and flat. Self-propulsion and the larger 201cc engine are more mower than you need, and a lighter push mower will be easier to store.
Pros: Self-propelled FWD drive with six speeds, handles slopes and uneven terrain well, mulch/bag/discharge in one machine, 22″ deck covers ground fast.
Cons: Heavier and larger than every other mower on this list. Needs the same gas engine maintenance as the other gas models here.
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12. WORX WG850 Dethatcher — Companion Tool, Not a Mower
This one doesn’t really belong in a mower ranking, because it isn’t a mower. We’re including it because a lot of thin, patchy lawns that get blamed on the mower are actually a thatch buildup problem that no amount of mowing will fix. The WG850 pulls that dead layer of grass and debris out from between the soil and the living grass so water and nutrients can actually reach the roots.
Run this in early spring or fall, not the middle of summer heat, since pulling up that layer stresses the lawn and it needs cool, wet conditions to bounce back.
Not the right fit if: you’re shopping for a mower. This won’t cut grass. It’s a lawn health tool used alongside one.
Pros: Fixes thatch buildup that mowing alone can’t address, corded electric means consistent power with no battery to manage, lighter and easier to store than a gas dethatcher.
Cons: Not a substitute for a mower. It’s a seasonal, occasional-use tool. Corded means you’re limited by extension cord reach.
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Gas vs. Corded Electric vs. Cordless Battery
Gas: The most power for thick, wet, or overgrown grass, and no runtime limit as long as you’ve got fuel. The tradeoff is engine maintenance — oil, air filters, spark plugs, and fuel that can go stale if the mower sits over winter without being drained or treated. The SENIX, AMERISUN, PowerSmart, and YARDMAX on this list are all gas.
Cordless battery: no gas, no cord, and almost no maintenance beyond charging. Runtime and power scale with battery voltage — 40V platforms like the Worx and Greenworks mowers here suit standard yards, while the 80V Greenworks steps up in torque for thicker grass. The tradeoff is upfront cost, and a dead battery mid-mow means you’re done until it recharges, unless you’ve got a spare like the one included with the STEELITE.
Corded electric: the WG850 dethatcher on this list runs corded, giving it consistent power with zero runtime limit, but you’re tethered to an outlet and however far your extension cord reaches, which rules it out for anything beyond a small yard.
Buying Guide
Deck Width
13″ to 16″ suits small yards, side strips, and tight spaces where maneuverability matters more than speed. 18″ to 21″ is the standard range for most suburban lots and covers ground efficiently without becoming a hassle to store. Anything wider than 21″ starts moving into self-propelled territory, like the YARDMAX, since pushing that much deck unassisted gets tiring fast.
Self-Propulsion
Every mower on this list is a push mower except the YARDMAX. Self-propulsion matters most on sloped or uneven yards, or on lots large enough that pushing the full distance becomes genuinely tiring. On a small, flat yard, it’s a feature you’d be paying for without using.
Runtime and Battery Voltage
Cordless mower runtime scales with battery voltage and deck width together. A 40V mower with a 21″ deck, like the Worx WG752, drains faster per pass than the same voltage on a 14″ deck. If your yard is on the larger end for what a battery mower can handle, a spare battery like the one included with the STEELITE keeps you from getting stuck mid-mow.
Mulch, Bag, or Discharge
Mulching cuts clippings fine and drops them back into the lawn as natural fertilizer, which works well if you mow regularly and don’t let the grass get too tall between cuts. Bagging collects clippings for disposal, which matters if loose clippings on the lawn bother you or your HOA requires it. Side-discharge clears tall or wet grass fast without clogging the deck, which is handy for that first mow after letting the lawn go too long.
Frequently Asked Questions
How big of a yard can a cordless battery mower handle?
Most 40V mowers on this list are rated for up to half an acre on a single charge under normal conditions. Wet or tall grass, hills, and a wider deck all reduce that runtime, so a yard right at the half-acre mark may need a mid-mow battery swap.
Do I need a self-propelled mower for a flat yard?
No. Self-propulsion earns its cost on slopes, uneven terrain, or larger lots. A flat quarter-to-half-acre yard is manageable with any of the push mowers on this list.
How often should I dethatch my lawn?
Once a year is typical for most lawns, done in early spring or fall when the grass can recover from the stress of the process. Lawns with heavy thatch buildup or a lot of foot traffic may need it more often.
Is a gas or battery mower better for thick grass?
Gas mowers generally handle thick, wet, or overgrown grass better than battery mowers, since they don’t lose power under load the way a battery motor can. If your grass regularly gets ahead of your mowing schedule, a gas mower or a higher-voltage battery mower like the 80V Greenworks will handle it better than a lower-voltage cordless model.
How long do mower batteries last?
Most lithium-ion mower batteries hold a useful charge for several years of regular seasonal use before capacity noticeably declines. Storing the battery at partial charge over winter, rather than fully drained or fully charged, generally helps it last longer.
Bottom Line
For most standard yards, the Worx WG752 hits the best balance of deck width and runtime. If your lot has slopes or real size to it, the YARDMAX self-propelled is worth the extra cost. If budget is the main concern, look at the Baikemon for battery power or the SENIX for gas. Small yards and tight spaces are better served by the GF8A131 or the Worx 14″. And if your lawn looks thin or patchy no matter how often you mow, pair whichever mower you pick with the WORX WG850 dethatcher to fix the actual cause.