Gardening is great but it can give you a bummer when the grasses tangle your feet and you just can’t stand them. I mean let’s face it, you want to have a soothing feeling as you step into your garden in the morning, right?
If the grasses aren’t freshly trimmed, you won’t even have your comfort as you walk. Trimming the grasses right will make sure your garden shimmers a stunning look.
Ready for a change? Well, to make sure you can complete all the grass-trimming job perfectly, you can use some help using a self-propelled lawnmower. With the best self-propelled electric lawn mower in your arsenal, cutting all those bushy grasses will be done in no time.
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Best Overall Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V | • Brushless 80 v motor • Smart cut technology • Multiple discharge option • 7-types of blade positions | Price Please |
 | Best For Safety Greenworks MO80L410 Pro | • Pro 80V brushless mower • Smart cut technology • Mulch, rear bag, or side discharge • Durable 21" steel deck | Price Please |
 | Best For Easy Use Snapper XD 82-V MAX | • 82V powerful battery • Smart cutting technology • Multiple discharge option • 21 inches Steel mowing decK | Price Please |
 | Best For Unique Design Ryobi. 20 inch RY40190 | • Brushless motor with turque • Rear Wheel Drive • Load sensing capacity • Single lever height adjustment | Price Please |
 | Best For Longest Battery Backup Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” | • Dual-battery 120 V power • Smart cut technology • Multiple discharge option • 22 " cutting deck | Price Please |
Do you want to get your hands on the best one? Here’s the top 5.
Navigate Quickly
- Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower Reviews in 2021
- 01. Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower – Best Overall
- 02. Greenworks MO80L410 Pro 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower – Best For Safety
- 03. Snapper XD 82-V MAX Electric 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawnmower – Best For Easy Use
- 04. Ryobi. 20 inch RY40190 40-Volt Self Propelled Lawn Mower – Best For Unique Design
- 05. Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower – Best For Longest Battery Backup
- Benefits of an Electric Lawn Mower
- Choosing Between Reel Lawnmower and Self-propelled Lawnmower
- Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower Buying Guide
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Words
Best Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower Reviews in 2021
01. Greenworks PRO 21-Inch 80V Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower – Best Overall
Our top pick is the Greenworks Pro 21-inch 80V lawnmower. It’s really not necessary to talk about Greenworks products. They have been producing battery-powered outdoor tools for years.
Their specialization is the focus on battery power that provides excellent performance. From 24 volt to 40 volts, 60 volts, and 80 volt – Greenworks have all types of battery-powered tools that you need.
The 21-inch 80 volt electric lawn mower is one of the top performers of this time. It has got some awesome features, a superb build-quality, and the best option at the price range.
The Smart-cut Technology
One of the prime features of this product is the smart-cut technology. It sounds exactly what it delivers. The machine has some kind of artificial intelligence that can detect the thickness and height of the grass it is cutting.
According to the length and thickness, the mower can adjust its power. For example, if the grass is thinner and the length is shorter, the machine can automatically adjust its power to a lower level and still provide the best cut possible.
On the other hand, if the grass is thicker and longer, the mower can adjust the power to provide a stronger cut and make your job easier.
21-inch Steel Deck
It has a 21-inch steel deck that allows precise cutting with lesser effort. Steel-made deck adds to the durability of the mower. With this added performance enhancer, the mower doesn’t seem to gain an ounce of weight.
Comfortable Ball-bearing Wheels
The benefits of ball-bearing wheels are beyond your need. These ball-bearing wheels can carry loads of weight and are perfect for lawn mowing. With lower frictions of the ball bearings, the machine moves smoothly on any type of ground.
Three Types of Discharge
It’s awesome that you can enjoy three different types of discharge options on this mower. The side discharge, the rear discharge, and the mulching.
Side discharge: While mowing, you can discharge the grass through the sides of the mower. This way, you will move forward, and the grass debris will be thrown out on both sides of the mower.
Rear discharge: This way, you can save yourself from doing extra cleaning chores. You need to attach a collecting bag at the end of the mower, and the mower will throw the grass debris in it. It means you will need to worry less about the mess.
Mulching: With mulching, you can break the grass debris into the tiniest pieces and spread it on the surface. It will work as fertilizer, as well. Nothing can be better when you get a two-in-one facility!
Seven Different Blade Positions
The Greenworks 21-inch electric lawn mower provides you with the freedom to select the best blade height according to your needs. You have 7 different height options for the blades to get the optimum position for your mowing.
Powerful Battery
The mower comes with a powerful 80 volts/4 Ah battery. It can never be more powerful, can it? This powerful battery is one of the key features of this cordless electric lawnmower.
The battery supports a fast charging option and takes only an hour to recharge fully. With a full-charge inside, a battery can support your machine to mow for an hour without any interruption.
In the case that you need more than an hour of mowing, we always recommend keeping an additional battery with you so that you never get stuck in the middle of the work.
The mower has an LED indicator that shows the battery health, and you will know when to recharge your batteries.
With all these excellent features, build-quality, and brand image, the Greenworks 21-inc 80V cordless electric lawn mower is the perfect fit for your regular household lawn mowing work.
- Great battery back-up with fast charging
- All types of discharges available
- Smart sense for different types of cut
- It is a bit heavier than similar types of products
02. Greenworks MO80L410 Pro 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower – Best For Safety
Our second pick is also from Greenworks. It’s not that surprising as GREENWORKS does provide some of the best lawnmowers for everyday use.
As a household user, you are sure to be baffled by the variety of lawnmowers GREENWORKS comes up with. After the 21-inch 80V lawnmower we just reviewed, comes another masterpiece – the MO80L410 Pro.
This one is also a 21-inch 80V lawnmower that serves as a successful successor of the previous one.
The Brushless Motor
The Greenworsk MO80L410 Pro is powered by a powerful brushless motor that produces enhanced torque with maximum power. The brushless motor is very helpful for battery health as it causes less battery-heating and saves battery life.
Having a brushless motor inside means lesser noise. No mechanical or operation sound may irritate your ears. That’s how efficient a brushless motor is. It also prolongs the lifetime of the machine compared to other brushed-motor run mowers.
If you happened to be a gas-powered mower before, there’s good news for you. This machine can produce the power equivalent to a 160 CC gas-powered mower.
Battery-power
Battery power is one of the most alluring features of the Greenworsk MO80L410 Pro. The battery is 80 Volt and 5 Ah powered. The support that this battery offers is absolutely amazing.
Depending on the tasks you are doing, the battery can last from 45 minutes to 70 minutes max. If you are doing low-length cutting or mowing on a small amount of area, the battery will last over an hour for sure.
You can recharge the battery with a fast charging method that takes only half an hour to recharge fully. Isn’t that mind-boggling?
21-inch Steel Cutting Deck
Greenworks proves its professional excellence by providing a 21-inch steel cutting deck with this model. This is the most standard size for this type of lawnmower that can be used to get the perfect trimming experience.
This cutting deck is perfect for you if you are planning to mow a larger area of land, and you got very little time to do so.
Different Cutting Height
Greenworks Pro MO80L510 has a wide range of cutting height options to choose from. Mostly depending on the type of grass, you are mowing, you can easily adjust the height of the blades.
From 1.25 inches to 3.65 inches of height is basically the range you are going to adjust the blades with. This adjustment is triggered by a single lever. Most users complain about multiple levers to change the heights. The best news for you is that you don’t have to complain at all!
3-in-one Design of Discharge
The ultimate type of debris discharge varies from user to user. Some prefer rear discharge, whereas some may prefer eco-friendly mulching discharge. The MO80L410 Pro comes with three different types of discharge options to suit all types of users.
You can set the discharge option to rear discharge, which means you can collect the discharge in a bag and throw away the debris in a trash can later.
If that’s not what you want, you can use the side discharge option to get rid of the grass debris quickly.
Finally, you can go for the naturally healthy option of mulching – giving your land a bit of natural food support!
Smart cut
The smart cut technology of this model automatically understands when to engage more power while cutting. When it comes to mowing thicker and higher grass, the machine automatically increases its power and force for the blades to cut throw difficult grass. That’s the smart feature everybody will be in love with, isn’t it?
Safety switch
Besides the great option to start the machine with just a push of a button, the MO80L410 Pro has a safety switch for better protection. The safety switch prevents the mower blades from engaging while you start it. The blades will start to go into action only if the safety switch is released.
The Greenworks MO80L410 Pro does give a good competition to its previous model. Although the battery back-up may have some disappointment issues, still it’s one of the best mowers out there.
- Easy to use and handle
- Easy to store vertically
- One-push start
- Safety switch for protection
- Intelligent trimming
- Battery support drops with heavy continuous use
03. Snapper XD 82-V MAX Electric 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawnmower – Best For Easy Use
Number three on our list is the Snapper XD 82V MAX Electric Cordless 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawnmower. Snapper is one of the oldest players in this mowing market.
Producing quality tools and household products since 1951, Snapper has made its way to become one of the best tool manufactures in the market. They have kept their credibility through the products they are producing. One of those such products is the XD 82V Max Electric Cordless Lawnmower. Let’s find out why.
Highlighted Features
- Built-in smart cutting technology
- Load-sensing detector
- 82V powerful battery
- Steel cutting deck
- Multiple discharge options
The Smart-cut tTechnology
It’s not always the same junk you need to go through. During the late fall seasons, your lawn may look like a little wood, to be honest. The higher and thicker grass can make any lawn-owner get frustrated.
That’s not the case if you own a Snapper XD 82V Lawnmower. The smart-cut intelligence of the machine is a blessing for every household. The mower can detect which type of grass is coming in front of it, and it will self-adjust the level of power engagement it needs.
Obviously, you won’t need the same amount of power to cut thin and thick grass. A thicker grass will need a more powerful blade movement and motor power. Here’s what smart-cut plays its role. As for thinner grass, the mower will reduce power engagement and deliver the right amount of soft power.
Load Sensing Options
One of the most fabulous technologies that have been used in Snapper XD 82V Lawnmower is its load sensing technology. The load sensing sensor will automatically inform the machine to lower its blade speed when getting into contact with short grass.
On the other hand, whenever the sensor detects taller grass, the blade will boost up its speed. This means you can save your battery life more efficiently and smartly.
Briggs & Stratton Battery
The machine is loaded with the Briggs & Stratton 82 Volt 2 Ah battery. The battery is quite supportive compared to even some of the 80 Volt batteries. Having the smart-cut and load sensing technologies on board, the battery seems to have a better life than any other regular ones.
You can recharge the battery using the fast-charging option of the machine just in 30 minutes. This 30-minute charge will get your machine going for over 45 minutes if you are mowing heavily around.
The short recharging time and the long battery life – this great combination of the Briggs & Stratton battery put the XD 82V Lawnmower to be a great contender on our list.
Steel Deck
The steel Deck of the machine does add some advantages. The durability that you get from a steel deck is priceless. Plus the 21-inch large size of the deck helps you mow a better and greater area of your backyard.
A steel deck can indeed increase the weight of the mower, but without coping up with it, you won’t get the best mowing experience. Again, the self-propelling mechanism of the machine does lift some of the burdens.
Multiple Discharge Options
Like the Greenworks 21-inch models, the Snapper XD 82V MAX does not displease us. This machine too, allows you to use any of the three most popular discharging techniques. You can use the side discharge option to discharge the trimmed grass out of the machine through the sides.
You can go for the mulching option to keep the tiniest of pieces of the grass in your yard and let it act like a fertilizer. This can make your lawn fertile, as well. Just we don’t know if you can take its advantage or not, depending on your use of your lawn.
Lastly, you can go for the bagging discharge. Attach a bag at the rear side of the mower and keep going on mowing without causing any mess. All the debris will be collected in the bag, and all you need is to find a trash can to deport the debris and clean it up.
- Very impressive battery back up
- Fast charging support
- Load sensing and smart cutting technology for better trimming
- Fold up vertical storage
- Due to the steel deck, the weight is a bit heavier.
04. Ryobi. 20 inch RY40190 40-Volt Self Propelled Lawn Mower – Best For Unique Design
Our fourth contender is from the home of the Japanese brand Ryobi. It has been manufacturing electronic power tools for more than 70 years. The brand has successfully placed itself in a trustworthy brand position in the USA for decades.
The Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 self-propelled electric lawn mower is one of the masterpieces that Ryobi has produced. This electric lawnmower has a stunning design that is bound to catch your eyes when you first place an eye on it. Its ready-to-rock look and masculine design take it to the next level of lawnmowers.
Its design is cent percent equal to the design of the original Ryobi 40 V lawnmower. This self-propelled version is an upgraded one with the auto-propelling option.
The self-propelled drive is powered by an easy control option. You have a slider on the machine to select how fast you want the propeller to go. You won’t even need to slide the slider all the way right, as it will generate enough top speed at the one-third way of the slider. That’s how efficient the self-propelled version is!
In addition to that, we have got plenty of other beneficial features in the Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 self-propelled electric lawnmower.
Powerful Brushless Motor
What to expect from a brushless motor, other than better torque and maximum power? If your lawnmower is powered by a brushless motor, it definitely beats every other mower in the game.
The brushless motor produces maximum torque with minimum battery usage. This means you will get the best possible power with less battery consumed. A piece of good news for all those who don’t like unnecessary sounds is that the Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 produces the least sound possible while working.
This is possible because of the brushless efficient motor inside. The longevity of the mower is more than average as the brushless motor does put a better impact on the machine’s life.
Single Lever Height Adjustment
The height adjustment is quite crucial in lawn mowing. You will need this feature every other moment as the grass height and length will give you a tough time for sure. The lawnmowers that come with height adjustment can be a blessing for tackling this issue.
Thankfully enough, the Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 comes with seven different height adjustment options ranging from 1-1/2 inches to 2-3/4 inches. Plus, you can change the height with just a single lever button.
It’s confusing and irritating to find multiple levers for the height adjustment. Luckily we don’t need to deal with more than one lever for this purpose here. Moreover, the height adjustment syncs perfectly with the four wheels for the optimum result.
Extra-battery Placement
Trust us, if you are using the best of the best lawn mower but planning to go on mowing the whole day, you will definitely need more than one battery. That’s how electric battery-powered lawnmowers are designed.
For this reason, the Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 allows a spare battery space right beside the battery connector point. Whenever you run out of charges, all you need is just take it off and place the spare battery in it, and start again.
This is a super-fast process and takes only 5 seconds. Who wants to carry a battery in the pocket these days? Thanks to Ryobi for lifting this burden.
Folding-up Storage Capacity
The Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 mows pretty well, that’s true. However, to be an all-around performer, it needs to be a space saver. Surprisingly, this model doesn’t disappoint in this segment, as well.
You can easily fold the whole mower up and place it in a vertical position against the wall. This will save at least 70 percent of the area of your garage. Remember to take the batteries out before you fold it up. You can still take those out once folded, but it will be a bit tougher.
Considering the Japanese smart technology and other brilliant features, the Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 is a strong and heavy performer in the mowing category.
- Lightweight machine for easy use
- 2-in-1 discharge options
- Push start button
- Battery-health indicator LED light
- 7 positing height adjustment
- Battery capacity is lower
05. Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower – Best For Longest Battery Backup
Last but not least, we have the Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower. This beast boasts of a 22-inch steel deck that has a 3-in-1 discharging facility. The brushless motor will never let you feel that you are not using a gas-powered mower.
It produces greater torque to engage stronger power that a high-quality gas-run mower can provide. As for the battery power, if you think you have seen it all, you are mistaken. The Yard Force comes with staggering 120-volt dual batteries. That’s at least 40 volts extra power than any of the top-notch battery-powered mowers.
Let’s find out its features.
Multiple Grass Clipping Options
You get the freedom to choose what happens to the grass your mower is clipping and trimming. You can mulch the grass clippings on the lawn itself and help your lawn gain more fertility.
If that’s not your choice, you can go for the side discharge option to blow the grass out of the machine from both sides.
On top of the options, you have the bagging one. You can totally bag all the debris and clippings without any chaos created. Just put all the clippings in the bag and put them straight into the trash bin.
Market-leading Battery Capacity
The Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower is powered by two batteries that are of 60 V power each. That’s a consolidated power of 120 Volt.
We have seen in our previous reviews that the batteries you can get are at best 80 Volt. However, Yard Force has taken us all by surprise with the dual battery option in this model. You just put two 60 Volt batteries side by side. That’s how your mower becomes a 120-V electric mower in seconds.
Safety Key
It will be a painful experience if anyone accidentally starts the machine without proper safety. It’s a cutting, trimming, and clipping machine.
It is bound to harm someone when not used in proper control. To prevent any unauthorized use, there is a safety key placed beside the battery’s place. You need to take the key off in order to start the machine.
The Self-propelled Feature
One thing about this self-propelled mower is that it can be driven without awaking the trimming blades. The wheels on the machine can be separately activated and driven.
When you are finished mowing, you can easily get on the machine and drive back to your garage without even trimming off the grass on your way back.
Torque-sense Technology
You may find it difficult to find any details about this feature in the manual, but the Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower is equipped with a Torque-sense technology.
The RPM rate of the blades will vary depending on the grass type it comes in contact with. While engaging in thick and tall grass, the RPM of the blades will increase and help the machine cut through.
On the other hand, if it touches thinner grass, the RPM rate of the blades will come down. This intelligent technology will save batteries and increase the lifetime of the machine, as well.
Machine Run-time
Obviously, if you have two batteries inside, the run-time will increase. In the case of the Yard Force Lithium-Ion 22” Self-Propelled 3-in-1 Mower, the run-time is more than 100 minutes.
The machine will drain one battery and then switch to the other. That’s great, as you can recharge the one that’s drained while using the other one. You may be thinking about how to know which one is draining. The LED light on the machine will blink and indicate battery health continuously. Good to have this help.
Larger Rear-wheels
One of the superb additions of this model is the larger rear wheels. The front wheels are 8-inches, whereas the rear wheels are 12-inches in size. This uneven distribution of sizes gives the machine a better maneuvering capacity.
Better Storage Options
As it is not a gas-run lawn mower, it takes lesser space when folded and kept for storage. You can save spaces up to half of the spaces you need for a gas-run mower. Keeping all the awesome features aside, the powerful dual-battery is itself a stand-alone feature that put this model on the top-5 list.
- Push-button start system
- Powerful brushless motor for better performance
- Fast-charging system
- Low noise level
- Better Maneuverability
- Doesn’t support universal blades
Benefits of an Electric Lawn Mower
There are numerous benefits when you go for an electric lawnmower. It is not gas-run, so no gas or oil is needed. No engine oil, no lubrication is needed. Just put the batteries and get started. An electric lawn mower creates less noise as no gas-connection is needed. Compared to the electric ones, a gas-run lawn mower produces high irritating noise.
Apart from being quiet and noise-free, an electric lawn mower is very lightweight, easy to operate, starts with just a push button, and very easy to store. It doesn’t contain any gasoline line that’s why it can be folded easily and kept vertically. Less storage, more saving of space.
You don’t need any fuel or lubricant for the machine to run. Just a battery and a charger are all you need to keep the machine going.
Choosing Between Reel Lawnmower and Self-propelled Lawnmower
The traditional reel lawn mower is easy to use and very simple in design. All you need to do is just pick it up and move around with it on your lawn. You just move from place to place where the mowing is needed. If you have a large lawn to mow, a reel mower may cost you more energy and time.
On the other hand, a self-propelled lawnmower is more efficient and demands fewer times for work. Self-propelled ones may require a battery and other electric connections, but still, a self-propelled lawn mower will save your time and energy more than the reel lawn ones.
Self-Propelled Electric Lawn Mower Buying Guide
If you are still reading this in this segment, you must have gone through the detailed review of ours on the top 5 best self-propelled electric lawnmowers. You probably have decided on one of the models for you already. If you haven’t, then we have the perfect buying tips for you.
Go for The Cordless One
Being attached to a cord will keep you away from exploring the true potential of an electric lawnmower. You need to move around your lawn for trimming and clipping the grass.
If your lawn happens to be a bit larger, a corded mower will not help you in any way.
Get the One with Height Adjustment-Option
There are many lawnmowers that allow you to clip grass at only one single height option. That’s very confining, we must say. Look for the models that have multiple height adjustment options.
You will be faced with different lengths of grass on your lawn and height adjustment is a big issue for that. Mowers like The Ryobi 20-inch RY40190 can help you out in this case.
Smart Cutting Should Add Advantage
This one is not a must-to-have feature, yet it can be the one that takes your mowing experience to the next level. With the smart cutting sensor attached, your mower will detect the thickness and size of the grass it comes in contact with.
Further, it will adjust the blade speed and motor power accordingly – saving the battery power and the machine lifetime.
Find the Brushless Motor
As you are not going for the gas-powered lawnmower, your mower should definitely have a brushless motor inside. A brushless motor produces enough torque and power that can be considered equivalent to any gas-run lawnmowers.
Take, for example, the GREENWORKS MO80L410 Pro; it has a powerful brushless motor that produces power as equal to a 160 CC gas-powered mower.
Adjustable Handles Are Key to Maneuverability
If you are not picking the mower with an adjustable handle, you will fail to reach some places that your machine won’t let you in.
An adjustable handle can solve this problem with ease. Moreover, the handle needs to be ergonomic so that you feel comfortable while using and holding the handle.
Multiple Discharging Options Will Provide Freedom
Not every day is the same. Depending on the type of lawn you are mowing, your discharging system may vary. Some lawn that has other trees on it may fit perfectly with a mulching discharge.
For a clean front playground-type lawn, rear bagging sounds like the best option. So it’s awesome if your lawnmower has all the three options like Snapper XD 82V MAX Electric Lawnmower for discharging debris of grass clippings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1) Is it Easy to Operate a Self-propelled Lawnmower?
Answer: Yes, a self-propelled lawnmower is easy to start, and you can just hold the handle and mow the lawn without any effort given.
Q2) Is a Self-propelled Lawn mower Durable?
Answer: Usually, a self-propelled electric lawn mower lasts more than 10 years, depending on the manufacturer. Most of the well-known manufacturers produce the machine with durable materials that confirms better lasting.
Q3) Are Self-propelled Electric Lawnmowers Environment-friendly?
Answer: If you are comparing an electric lawnmower with a gas-run one, then definitely it is more environment-friendly. A gas-run lawn mower emits greenhouse gas and other harmful chemicals in the environment. This is not the case for electric lawnmowers.
Final Words
Not only the newbie lawn-owners but also some professional lawn-mowers find it difficult to decide the best lawn-mower for them.
Choosing between a gas-run and an electric-run mower can be a difficult task, but it’s more difficult to find the best one from the electric ones.
With so many heavy-duty features in hundreds of models, anyone would be in a fix to decide which one to go for. We tried our best to keep the list of your options as short and effective as possible.
If you have found the one you want from our list, tell us how you come to that conclusion. If you are still thinking about your next purchase, do follow our guidelines for the best deal possible.
Happy mowing!