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best lawnmower for high grass

5 Best Lawn Mowers For High Grass: A Quick Breakdown

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There’s nothing worse than letting your lawn get out of control. Before you know it, the grass has turned into what looks like an overgrown forest! Don’t worry – we’ve all been there!

When this happens, it’s important to have a lawnmower that can handle taller grass. If you opt for something of low quality, it’s going to stall when it comes up against high grass. Keep that in mind as well, if you’re trying to mow an uneven lawn.

That’s not to say you need the most powerful lawnmower in the world; however, there are some things you need to look out for.

The 5 lawnmowers in this article have been chosen based on power, performance, battery life, and more. Each product has been separated into subcategories, helping you make an informed decision.

Don’t have time to read the entire article? No problem! My top pick is the KT Kobalt 80V Lawn Mower. The power adjusts depending on the grass length, making it an ideal choice. 

The 5 Best Lawnmowers For High Grass In 2023

Check out the best lawnmowers below…

Title
Best Overall
KT Kobalt 80-Volt
Best Gas Powered
Craftsman M105
Best Battery Life
Snapper HD 48V MAX
Image
KT Kobalt 80-Volt Max Brushless Lithium Ion 21-in Self-propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower (Battery Included)
Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower with Bagger, Liberty Red
Snapper HD 48V MAX Cordless Electric 20-Inch Lawn Mower Kit with (1) 5.0 Battery and (1) Rapid Charger
Prime
-
-
-
Best Feature
Automatic Power Increase
Easy Setup
Quiet Engine
Gas Or Electric
Electric
Gas
Electric
Grass Catcher
Power Sensor
Best Overall
Title
KT Kobalt 80-Volt
Image
KT Kobalt 80-Volt Max Brushless Lithium Ion 21-in Self-propelled Cordless Electric Lawn Mower (Battery Included)
Prime
-
Best Feature
Automatic Power Increase
Gas Or Electric
Electric
Grass Catcher
Power Sensor
Best Gas Powered
Title
Craftsman M105
Image
Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower with Bagger, Liberty Red
Prime
-
Best Feature
Easy Setup
Gas Or Electric
Gas
Grass Catcher
Power Sensor
Best Battery Life
Title
Snapper HD 48V MAX
Image
Snapper HD 48V MAX Cordless Electric 20-Inch Lawn Mower Kit with (1) 5.0 Battery and (1) Rapid Charger
Prime
-
Best Feature
Quiet Engine
Gas Or Electric
Electric
Grass Catcher
Power Sensor

1.KT Kobalt 80-Volt (Best Overall)

  • Cutting Deck: 21”
  • Self-Propelled: Yes
  • Height Adjustments: 7
  • Gas Or Electric: Electric
  • Power: 80V

The KT Jobalt Lawn Mower has a built-in sensor. This adjusts the power depending on the density and height of the grass. This helps preserve battery life, saving you time in the long run.

Included are a battery and charger, so you can start cutting straight away. It’s fast-charging and provides 60 minutes of run time, which is perfect for overgrown lawns.

In addition, the clear white catcher holds all the grass clippings. This means you can dispose of them safely afterward. But be warned, the grass bag gets dirty quickly due to the color.

When it arrives, you won’t need to spend too long assembling parts. Many previous customers were thrilled with the easy setup. 

The self-propelled feature means you use less energy pushing this bad boy around. Combine that with the lightweight design, and you’ve got the perfect lawnmower!

What I Like…

  • Power increases with tall grass
  • Includes battery and charger
  • Self-propelled
  • Lightweight design
  • 60 minutes run time

What I Don’t Like…

  • Only includes one battery
  • Grass catchers get dirty easily

Best Feature: Automatic Power Increase

2.Craftsman M105 (Best Gas Powered)

Craftsman M105
  • 140cc OHV gas powered engine: Engine comes equipped with recoil and auto choke. No more fussing with a primer or choke - just pull to start!.Clipping Collection: Rear bag collects grass clippings for easy cleanup or composting.
  • 3-In-1 capabilities: unit has side discharge, rear discharge, and mulching capabilities.
  • 21-INCH CUTTING DECK: Efficient cutting deck helps trim grass in one quick pass for an easier yard job.
  • Cutting Deck: 21”
  • Self-Propelled: No
  • Height Adjustments: 6
  • Gas Or Electric: Gas
  • Power: 140cc

When it comes to power, gas mowers never fail to disappoint. However, the Craftsman M105 stands above the rest. It’s got a 140cc engine that’s capable of tackling the tallest grass without stalling.

The lightweight design means it’s also easy to push around and maneuver, regardless of your age and strength level. To put it bluntly, you don’t need to be superman to operate this mower! However, it is not self-propelled, unfortunately.

On a more positive note, there is a grass bag attached. With a long overgrown lawn, this saves precious time. However, make sure to change it regularly.

Furthermore, setting up the Craftsman M105 is effortless. Just attach the grass bag and handle. Next, fill up the gas tank and you’re ready to start mowing!

A 21” deck means you can cut smaller to medium size lawns reasonably fast. With larger lawns, a mower with a bigger cutting deck would be more suitable.

Read Also: Best Lawn Mowers For 3 Acres

What I Like…

  • Powerful and reliable engine
  • Easy to maneuver
  • Lightweight design
  • Easy to set up
  • Includes grass bag

What I Don’t Like…

  • It’s not self-propelled
  • Not recommended for large lawns

Best Feature: Easy Setup

3.Snapper HD 48V MAX (Best Battery Life)

Snapper HD 48V MAX
  • Up to 90-minute run time with the Briggs & Stratton 48V MAX 5.0 Lithium-ion Battery under light loads*. Kit includes 1 lithium-ion battery and 1 rapid charger
  • 20-Inch Steel mowing deck with 3-in-1 design to mulch, bag, or side-discharge grass clippings with ease
  • Intelligent load-sensing technology allows for optimum power levels while you mow for maximum efficiency
  • Cutting Deck: 20”
  • Self-Propelled: Yes
  • Height Adjustments: 7
  • Gas Or Electric: Electric
  • Power: 48v

The Snapper 48V Max is similar to the KT Kobalt Lawn Mower. It’s self-propelled and has an engine sensor, automatically adjusting the power with taller grass.

However, it’s got longer battery life. A full charge lasts around 60 minutes. Although, it’s less when cutting taller grass because of the additional power being used.

In addition, you can take full advantage of the self-propelled adjustable speed. Attached to the mower is a small leaver that changes the walking pace. This is great for elderly people who like to take things slow.

Read Also: 5 Best Lawnmowers For Seniors

Senior citizens will also be glad to hear it’s easy to assemble. You’ll only need to attach a few parts, which should take no longer than 10 minutes.

Also, the engine is very quiet. After all, it’s an electric mower, right!? You can take it for a spin first thing in the morning without waking the neighbors.

The problem? The parts are difficult to come by. That means if something breaks, finding a replacement can be tricky.

What I Like…

  • 60 minutes battery life
  • Automatically adjusts power
  • Self-propelled with adjustable speed
  • Easy to assemble
  • Quiet engine

What I Don’t Like…

  • Hard to find replacement parts
  • The handle is not adjustable

Best Feature: Quiet Engine

4.WORX WG779 (Most Advanced)

Sale
WORX WG779
  • QUICK-START 40V POWER: Cordless lawn mower delivers robust 40V power with (2) 20V 4.0Ah batteries, ideal for cutting up to 1/8 acre. Starts fast—simply push a button and pull the bail handle. Quickly charge both batteries with included dual charger
  • SAME BATTERY, EXPANDABLE POWER: The same Power Share batteries that run this push lawn mower can conveniently be used with 140+ power tools, outdoor power equipment, and lifestyle products from the Worx Power Share platform
  • INTELLICUT: Patented sensor technology automatically adjusts cutting speed to match the grass conditions. IntelliCut increases cutting speed when it detects dense grass for smoother mowing, but slows down in less demanding turf to save on battery
  • Cutting Deck: 14”
  • Self-Propelled: No
  • Height Adjustments: 6
  • Gas Or Electric: Electric
  • Power: 40v

The Worx WG779 is like the Tesla of lawnmowers. It alerts you when the grass bag is full and the battery is low. The prevents the blades from jamming when you forget to change the bag.

It’s also 100% electric. Running on two batteries means you’ll get a dual charger, saving you time. And the best thing? You can interchange the batteries with any other 20 or 40 volt Worx product.

The electric design also means it’s super lightweight. Weighing only 29lbs, maneuvering this mower is a piece of cake, regardless of strength levels.

Furthermore, intellicut is a built-in feature that increases the torque when tackling taller grass. This is great when you have patches of grass that are taller than others.

Attached to the back is a grass catcher. Don’t want to collect the trimmings? You can also mulch the grass for a healthier-looking lawn. However, I wouldn’t recommend it with taller grass.

For downsides, it’s only got a 14” cutting deck. Combined with the smaller size means it’s going to take longer to cut the lawn. That’s fine for people with small lawns but poses a problem for larger ones.

What I Like…

  • Full grass bag indicator
  • Battery level alerts
  • Comes with a dual charger
  • Increase torque with higher grass
  • Lightweight (29lbs)

What I Don’t Like…

  • Small 14” cutting deck
  • Not self-propelled

Best Feature: Battery Level Indicator

5.Husqvarna TS 348XD (Best Riding Mower)

  • Cutting Deck: 48”
  • Self-Propelled: Riding
  • Height Adjustments: 4
  • Gas Or Electric: Gas
  • Power: 726cc

If you’re looking for the best of the best, a riding lawnmower is essential. With a 726cc engine, the Husqvarna TS 348XD is powerful enough to tackle anything in its path, including taller grass.

The 48” cutting deck cuts the lawn in record time. Due to the larger size, I only recommend this mower for people with big lawns. On average, you can expect it to cut 1.5 acres in only 1 hour 30 minutes.

It arrives in a large crate and needs assembling. If you have experience setting up riding lawn mowers, it shouldn’t take more than 1 hour. You can call the customer service team in case you run into any trouble.

In front of the steering wheel is a seat. Designed to be comfortable, it helps prevent back strain, which can be common with some lawnmowers [1].

Unfortunately, it’s much noisier than the other mowers in this article. That’s why I recommend using ear protection. In addition, the fuel gauge is difficult to see when the sun’s out.

What I Like…

  • Powerful engine
  • Great for big lawns
  • Comfortable seat
  • Cut between 1-4”
  • Durable and long-lasting

What I Don’t Like…

  • Hard to assemble
  • Very noisy

Best Feature: Comfortable Seat

How To Choose The Best Lawn Mower For High Grass

Power & Sensor

Have you ever tried to cut tall grass with a basic lawnmower? If you answered ‘yes’ to this question, then you know the struggle! As soon as you reach a thicker and more dense patch of grass, it stalls – right?

That’s why it’s important to choose a mower that’s powerful enough. However, that doesn’t mean it needs to be gas-powered. 

Nowadays, electric mowers are super powerful. This makes them great for tackling difficult jobs, like high grass.

In addition, some lawnmowers have built-in sensors. These sensors know when the grass is taller and increase the power. This is going to help conserve energy and save money on fuel.

Grass Catcher

If you’ve got an overgrown lawn, a grass catcher is essential. It’s going to collect all the trimmings, saving you time. 

However, it’s important to empty your grass catcher regularly. Otherwise, the clippings will have nowhere to go and could jam the cutting deck, causing your mower to stall.

After cutting your overgrown lawn, it’s best to mulch your grass trimmings the second time around. This provides essential nutrients to the grass, making it healthier, greener, and more aesthetically pleasing.

Read Also: Best Lawnmower For Collecting Grass

Battery Life

Long battery life is essential for overgrown lawns, as it takes a little longer than your traditional weekly cut. Of course, it is also important to consider the size of your lawn.

If your lawn is tiny, then battery life becomes less of a concern. However, it’s super important for larger lawns.

When cutting a lawn that’s more than 1 acre, I recommend getting a gas-powered mower. That way, you don’t need to worry about it running out of battery halfway through.

Sharp Blade

A shape blade provides a clean-cut, making your lawn look better. As blades start to dull, your mower will start ‘tearing’ the grass. This makes it look less appealing and can cause lawn diseases.

When you notice this happening, it’s best to get your blades sharpened before cutting the grass.

Before We Part

When tackling long grass, you need something powerful with a grass catcher and strong battery life. Otherwise, it’s going to stall and cause a whole heap of problems you don’t need! 

In case you’re still stuck for choice, I recommend the KT Kobalt 80v. Not only does it boast a powerful electric engine, but also has a built-in sensor. This helps gauge the power required when cutting higher grass.