We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Home Products Patio Furniture & Outdoors The 8 Best Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers of 2024, Tested in Real Yards Keep your yard looking pristine with our top picks By Camryn Rabideau Camryn Rabideau Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer and product reviewer specializing in home, kitchen, and pet products. In her 8+ years of experience as a product tester, she's reviewed hundreds of items firsthand, and her work appears in publications such as PEOPLE, The Spruce, Homes & Gardens, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 6, 2024 10:36AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Lauren Meyers If you want your yard to be the envy of the neighborhood, you'll need one of the best walk-behind lawn mowers in your tool shed. This style of lawn mower strikes just the right balance between performance and value, making it a popular option for anyone who wants to upgrade their landscaping in warm-weather months. Walk-behind mowers come in electric and gas models and are best for small to midsize yards. “Depending on your yard's size and terrain, a walk-behind mower is ideal for a yard that’s 3/4 of an acre or less," says Nicole Durden, senior merchant of outdoor power at The Home Depot. For those with larger yards or hilly terrain, a self-propelled mower is worth the higher cost, as it requires less manual effort to drive. The More You Know As of January 1, 2024, California outlawed the purchase of gas-powered lawn equipment, so if you live there, you’ll need to choose an electric or battery-powered lawn mower. To help you pick the best walk-behind lawn mower, we tested nine top-rated models, using them to mow in all sorts of conditions. After evaluating them on design, performance, usability, safety, and value, we selected the best gas, battery-powered, and electric options to help with your yard maintenance. We also researched some of the top walk-behind lawn mowers on the market to add a few more recommended picks to this list. Keep scrolling to shop the best walk-behind lawn mowers available. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Honda 21-Inch Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower at Home Depot $549 Jump to Review Best Electric: Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 Corded Lawn Mower at Amazon $275 Jump to Review Best Battery-Powered: EGO Power+ 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower at Amazon $649 Jump to Review Best Gas: Honda Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower at Home Depot $699 Jump to Review Best Self-Propelled: Ryobi 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower at Home Depot $625 Jump to Review Best for Uneven Terrain: Toro Self-Propelled Lawn Mower at Lowe's $549 Jump to Review Best Reel: American Lawn Mower Company Manual Reel Mower at Amazon $90 Jump to Review Best Investment: SALE Milwaukee Self-Propelled Mower at Walmart $1,189 $61 Jump to Review Best Overall Honda 21-Inch Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower PHOTO: Lowe's $549 at Home Depot View on Honda.com Star Qualities Cuts dense and wet grass Easy to start Superior mulching abilities Good value for its size and power Red Flags Bag latch can clog Not the most responsive speed control This gas mower from Honda has a self-propelled design with a powerful engine, and it started up easily during testing. It has a 21-inch cutting deck and weighs around 75 pounds, but despite its substantial weight, the self-propelled operation made it easy for us to navigate around obstacles in the yard. This lawn mower also did a phenomenal job while cutting, moving through dense patches of grass and weeds in a single pass, and it didn’t get bogged down in wet conditions. We loved that this mower’s mulching setting cuts up debris into fine pieces that help feed nutrients back into the lawn, but we did notice that the area where the collection bag latches to the mower frequently got clogged with grass pieces. Additionally, the self-propulsion doesn’t respond well to gradual increases in speed — it tends to go from slow to fast with no options in between. Still, it's a great value for its size and power, making it our top choice for midsize lawns. Power Source: Gas | Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 74.75 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Rear discharge, bag, mulch PHOTO: People / Lauren Meyers PHOTO: People / Lauren Meyers PHOTO: People / Lauren Meyers Best Electric Greenworks 20-Inch 3-in-1 Corded Lawn Mower PHOTO: Amazon $275 at Amazon Star Qualities Good value for its size Cuts damp and tall grass Good for uneven terrain Easy to push Red Flags Bulky to turn Clippings fall out of bag This mower is a great value if you don’t mind working around an extension cord. It has a large 20-inch cutting deck and offers side discharge, bagging, and mulching abilities, unlike other corded models we tested. We used it on dry and damp grass, and it had no problems cutting either one, breezing right through tall weeds. It also did a good job capturing grass clippings when bagging, though some do spill out when you remove the bag for emptying. Thanks to its large rear wheels, this mower didn’t have any problem on uneven terrain that has posed a problem for other mowers. We were able to push the mower around with just one hand, holding the power cord with the other, but it does require two hands to turn the mower around, as it’s a bit bulky and not self-propelled. Power Source: Plug-in | Cutting Width: 20 inches | Weight: 56 pounds | Self-Propelled: No | Clipping Options: Side discharge, bag, mulch PHOTO: People / Abby Mercer PHOTO: People / Abby Mercer Best Battery-Powered EGO Power+ 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower PHOTO: Walmart $649 at Amazon $34 at Walmart View on Acmetools.com Star Qualities Long battery life Adjustable handle height Easy to maneuver Quiet during operation Red Flags Not the best in wet conditions Complicated to start This 21-inch lawn mower comes with one 56-volt battery, and it was able to mow for 50 minutes with power to spare, making it a great option even for larger yards. On first use, we struggled to figure out how to start the mower, but once we conquered that hurdle, it was smooth sailing. The self-propelled design was easy to maneuver around the yard, and it delivered a clean, even cut, even when the grass was damp. We did find that the mower would occasionally get bogged down in thicker, wet areas — for instance, it had trouble cutting through a patch of ferns — but this is the case with many mowers, so we don’t think it’s a dealbreaker. Power Source: Battery | Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 54.5 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Side discharge, bag, mulch PHOTO: People / Megan Wood PHOTO: People / Megan Wood Best Gas Honda Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower PHOTO: The Home Depot $699 at Home Depot View on Northerntool.com Star Qualities Easy to start Cruise control setting More grass clipping options Red Flags Tricky to find the right settings If you have a lot of ground to cover, this Honda Mower easily cuts through thick and dense grass, yet it’s incredibly easy to start up — we were able to get the mower going with a single pull, no priming needed. It also has four-in-one functionality, meaning you can side discharge, bag, mulch, or shred grass clippings, and we like that there’s even an option to bag half and mulch half. This mower also stood out thanks to its convenient self-propelled design, which has a knob that lets you select the speed you want, locking the mower at that pace so you don’t have to worry about holding the lever down. It can also go quite fast — a medium speed was comfortable for walking, but you could dial it up for faster mowing if desired. It did take a little trial and error to find the right deck height and speed setting, but once that was done, the mower delivered a nice even cut every time. Power Source: Gas | Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 91 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Side discharge, bag, mulch, leaf shred Best Self-Propelled Ryobi 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower PHOTO: The Home Depot $625 at Home Depot View on Ryobitools.com Star Qualities Very quiet during operation Comparable power to a gas mower Long-lasting battery life Red Flags Small grass collection bag If you have a hilly yard, this Ryobi mower’s self-propulsion abilities outperformed the competition in our testing. We found that it performs just as well as gas mowers thanks to its two powerful 40-volt batteries, and it offers variable speed self-propulsion that lets you match the mower to your pace, making it easy for up to tackle hill. In fact, the feature can be too fast on straightaways if you turn it to max speed. This mower is much quieter than a gas mower, almost sounding like a white noise machine. It also impressed us with its runtime — we were able to mow a 2,000-square-foot yard three times without needing to recharge the batteries. Our only complaints are that the grass collection bag is quite small and needs to be emptied frequently, and the mulching setting left behind quite a few dry leaves on the lawn. Power Source: Battery | Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 75 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Side discharge, bag, mulch PHOTO: People / Jennifer May PHOTO: People / Jennifer May Best for Uneven Terrain Toro Self-Propelled Lawn Mower PHOTO: Lowe's $549 at Lowe's Star Qualities Powerful engine Drives smoothly over bumps Automatic speed adjustment Wide range of deck heights Red Flags Side discharge chute not included If you have a lot of bumps and divots in your yard, this gas-powered mower from Toro has an improved suspension system that makes it much smoother to drive on uneven terrain. It has a more powerful engine than many other walk-behind mowers, and its auto-drive transmission automatically matches your walking speed, saving you from fiddling around with the controls. While many mowers only offer five or six cutting heights, this Toro model gives you nine heights to choose from, and it can also be stored vertically to save space. Just keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a side discharge chute in the box — this piece will only be sent to you if you register the product after purchase. Power Source: Gas | Cutting Width: 22 inches | Weight: 90 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Bag, mulch Best Reel American Lawn Mower Company Manual Reel Mower PHOTO: Amazon $90 $80 at Amazon $16 at Walmart $80 at Lowe's Star Qualities Affordable pick for small yards Little to no maintenance required Four blades for a clean cut Red Flags Requires more effort For those with very small yards, this reel lawn mower is an inexpensive and eco-friendly choice. As you push the lightweight mower, its four blades spin, providing a clean cut on grass up to four inches tall. You can adjust the blade height to suit your preferences, and the mower doesn’t require any substantial maintenance — you simply have to clean it off after mowing. The downside, of course, is that this mower relies solely on manual pushing for operation, so it’s really only well-suited for yards that are only a few hundred square feet. Power Source: Manual | Cutting Width: 14 inches | Weight: 19 pounds | Self-Propelled: No | Clipping Options: Rear discharge Best Investment Milwaukee Self-Propelled Mower PHOTO: Amazon $1,189 $61 at Walmart $1,099 at Home Depot View on Northerntool.com Star Qualities Long runtime thanks to dual batteries Drives smoothly and cuts thick grass Stores vertically Red Flags Collection bag is thin While it is pricey, this battery-powered mower from Milwaukee makes it quicker and easier to mow your lawn. Running on two batteries at once, the self-propelled mower offers more power to cut through thick grass, and it can run for up to a full hour per charge. It even has a high lift mode that’s ideal for thick, overgrown areas. Users say it drives smoothly, even over bumpy terrain, and you can choose between side or rear discharge, bagging, or mulching your grass clippings. Plus, the design collapses to store vertically, so it will take up less space in your shed or garage. Power Source: Battery | Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 80.6 pounds | Self-Propelled: Yes | Clipping Options: Side discharge, rear discharge, bag, mulch What to Know About Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers Types of Walk-Behind Mowers There are three main styles of lawn mowers that fall into the “walk-behind” category: Push mowers: As their name suggests, classic push mowers need to be physically pushed during operation. You’ll need to manually push the mower around your yard, using your momentum to turn the wheels, so they’re best-suited for smaller spaces and flat terrain. Self-propelled mowers: If you have a hilly yard or limited mobility, self-propelled mowers use power from the engine to turn the wheels, so the mower moves forward on its own. These mowers require less effort to operate, and most have variable speed control that lets you adjust how quickly they move.Reel mowers: Finally, there are reel mowers, which are manually operated. As you push these mowers, the momentum causes the blades and wheels to spin. While these mowers are inexpensive and require little maintenance, they are only recommended for very small yards. Power Source There are three main styles of walk-behind lawn mowers: gas, battery, and electric, also called corded. Gas mowers are usually the most powerful option, boasting large motors that can power through thick grass and weeds, but they’re also loud and require frequent maintenance, including oil and spark plug changes. For these reasons, battery-powered models are becoming more popular: “Homeowners have been gravitating to battery power for a few years, and we’ll be seeing even more of that in 2023 with various laws and regulations and even HOA restrictions aiming to limit the use of gas,” explains Durden. “Advancements in technology are making it possible and practical for everyone to make the switch — we have several battery mowers that offer the same (or better) power than gas mowers today.” Battery-powered mowers are also quieter and don’t give off any harmful emissions, but they do have a limited runtime. Our top pick for a battery-powered mower is the Ego Power+ Lawn Mower. Finally, there are corded walk-behind mowers, which tend to be the most affordable. These use an extension cord to plug into an electrical outlet, giving them unlimited runtime, but you have to navigate around the cord as you mow, which is why they’re recommended for small yards. Yard Size Just like with a snow blower, the size of your yard will dictate which type of walk-behind lawn mower is best for your needs. If you have a small yard that’s less than 1/4 acre, a corded push mower will generally meet your needs. These are usually lightweight, have smaller decks, and are easy to operate and store. For larger yards, you may want to upgrade to a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower, such as the Ryobi Multi-Blade Lawn Mower, which moves forward on its own using power from the motor. This means you don’t have to physically push the mower to move it around your yard, making the process less strenuous. In terms of gas vs. battery-powered models, battery mowers have a limited runtime — typically less than an hour, but it will vary by product — which may not be enough for yards that are an acre or more. However, keep in mind that you can always buy backup batteries if needed. Terrain The terrain of your yard is another factor to consider as you shop for a walk-behind lawn mower. “If your yard is flat, a push mower will be the most affordable choice,” recommends Durden. “If your yard has hills, you may want to invest in a self-propelled mower that takes less manual effort.” Walk-behind lawn mowers with larger rear wheels — like the Greenworks Electric Corded Lawn Mower — tend to handle better on uneven ground, so you may want to look for this feature if your yard has a lot of divots or ruts. Clippings There are three main options for handling grass clippings while you’re using a walk-behind lawn mower: discharging them out the side or back, bagging them up, or mulching them into fine pieces that will decay back into your lawn. Some walk-behind lawn mowers only offer one option, while other models offer all three. If you want a bagging walk-behind lawn mower, pay careful attention to the size of the collection bag in comparison to your yard. If the bag is too small, you may find yourself stopping to empty it frequently — a problem we ran into when testing the Ryobi Multi-Blade Lawn Mower. Price Range Walk-behind lawn mowers are available at a wide range of prices. Basic reel mowers often cost less than $100, while small corded models often range from $100 to $300. If you’re shopping for a larger gas or battery-powered mower, you can expect to pay between $500 to $1,000, with self-propelled models typically falling on the higher end of the range. People / Jennifer May Behind the Scenes We researched today’s most popular walk-behind lawn mowers, and we selected nine top-rated models for testing, including three battery-operated, two corded, and four gas options. We sent each walk-behind lawn mower to the homes of our testers, who are located in seven different cities across three states, and they tested each walk-behind lawn mower over several days. We used each walk-behind lawn mower at least three times, evaluating them on the following criteria: Ease of Use: After setting up each lawn mower, we evaluated how easy it was to adjust settings like the blade height and walking speed. We noted how easy it was to start each mower and whether any factors, such as a power cord, made it challenging to operate. Performance: We used each lawn mower at least three times, testing out all the different features. After mowing, we evaluated how evenly the grass was cut, and for battery-powered models, we also considered how long the mower ran before needing to be recharged. Safety Features: We noted how safe it felt to operate each lawn mower, noting any special safety features like headlights, a blade stop, or protective panels. Value: After testing was complete, we compared the performance of each model against its price to decide whether it’s worth the investment. At the end of testing, the Honda 21-Inch Gas Self-Propelled Lawn Mower was our top overall winner thanks to its power, ease of use, and overall value. Frequently Asked Questions Are self-propelled walk-behind lawn mowers better? If you have a larger yard or a lot of hilly terrain, a self-propelled walk-behind lawn mower will take a lot of the manual effort out of mowing your grass. “Self-propelled mowers are designed to automatically move forward from 1 to 3.5 miles per hour,” explains Durden. “They‘re recommended for yards of more than half an acre, especially those that are hilly or sloped. Some mowers offer variable speeds that come in handy when working near trees and garden beds.” How big of a yard do I need to justify buying a walk-behind lawn mower? If your lawn is only a few hundred square feet, you can probably get by with a reel-style lawn mower, but if it’s over 1/4 of an acre, a walk-behind mower will make weekly maintenance much easier. The great thing about walk-behind lawn mowers is that there’s an option for every lawn size and budget. Why Trust PEOPLE? Camryn Rabideau has been a professional product tester for eight years, and she’s previously tested ride-on lawn mowers from popular brands like Ryobi and Husqvarna. While writing this article, she relied on firsthand insights from the PEOPLE Tested team who used these walk-behind lawn mowers for a total of 10 hours. She also spoke with expert Nicole Durden for tips on selecting the right lawn mower for your home based on factors like your yard size, terrain, and budget. Camryn later updated this article with additional picks from Milwaukee, Toro, and American Lawn Mower company based on research and shopper reviews. Our Expert Panel Nicole Durden is the senior merchant of outdoor power at The Home Depot. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase. The 9 Best Electric Leaf Blowers of 2024, Tested in Our Own Yards