Affiliate Disclosure
The Riding Lawnmower is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Cutting large portions of grass can prove difficult, especially when cutting thick grass using a standard lawnmower. Yes, it’s absolutely a nerve-wracking exercise that takes effort and time.
Fortunately, after the more advanced self-propelled lawn mowers came into the picture, cutting huge portions of thick and high grass have been made easier and less time-consuming. You don’t always need to have a riding lawn mower.
Regardless of the size of the yard and the frequency at which you trim your lawn, these six self-propelled lawn mowers will deliver to your expectations.
Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Top 6 Product Reviews
1. Greenworks MO40L4413 Smart Pace Mower
Greenworks MO40L4413 is a smart walk-behind mower that lets you charge your smart devices while making super accurate and clean grass cuts.
This Greenworks 40V 21-inch deck mower is a 3-in-1 self propelled lawn mower that comes with two 4Ah lithium-ion batteries. When fully charged, the batteries give you up to 70 minutes of juice to cut grass while mulching bagging efficiently.
Its powerful 40V brushless motor operates quietly, delivering high horsepower to enable the blades to achieve the awesome 21-inch cutting width.
As for the sturdy steel-made mowing deck, it keeps you safe from flying grass clippings, while ensuring the clippings aren’t trapped in the lawnmower motor.
With its seven adjustable cutting height settings ranging from 1 ⅜ -inches to 4¾-inches, you can customize the lawn mowing to your liking.
The rear-wheel-drive makes it the best self propelled lawn mower for users looking for utmost stability and excellent traction while cutting grass.
Greenworks takes user comfort to outstanding levels by adding this self propelled lawn mower with a smart Pace self-propelled system with automated speed settings.
The smart Pace system is intelligent enough to detect your walking speed and automatically adjust to match your personal pace.
In addition, Greenworks MO40L4413 self-propelled lawn mower comes with large 8-inch front wheels and 10-inch rear wheels that offer optimal traction and stability to let you cut grass in lawns with uneven terrain.
Its folding handles provide for compact vertical storage, which saves storage saving.
There is also an option to buy an additional 4Ah or 5Ah battery.
Pros
- Sturdy 21-inch cutting deck for getting jobs done easily
- Folding handle design to allow easy vertical storage
- Powerful power-share 4Ah lithium-ion batteries with 70 minutes run time
- Smart Pace system for ensuring comfortable operation
Cons
- Doesn’t have a roller to give your lawn an attractive look
- The bag fabric is prone to damage
2. Ego Power+ LM2142SP Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Engineered to be comfortable and user-friendly, Ego Dual lithium-ion battery LM2142SP runs on two high-power 56V 5. 0 Ah batteries.
The self-propel variable speed control adjusts the torque to minimums of 0.9 Mph and maximums of 3.1 Mph.
Adding to its admirable cutting abilities are the 21-inch aluminum poly cutting deck and the six select cutting heights.
Its six cutting height adjustment settings let users lower or raise the deck to cut heights ranging from 1.5-inch to 4-inch to make smooth grass clippings and mulching bagging.
The battery and brushless motor in this walk behind mower exhaust the two batteries in 80 minutes.
Therefore, you’re getting a whopping 11/3 hours of powerful and comfortable lawn mowing, which is enough to complete a medium-sized lawn.
Its torque is high enough to match that of gas-powered self propelled mowers, but of course, without the noises and pollution.
It’s a monster lawn mower, but the price tag is pretty high for an electric self propelled lawn mower.
Read Also: 5 Best Lawnmowers Under $500
Interestingly, this lawn mower has headlights to light your evening lawn mowing moments.
It also has a large enough collector bag that lets you mow for an extended period before you stop to dispose of the grass clippings.
The unit also features a 3-in-1 function that supports side discharge, mulching, and bagging. It also a prompt push-button start, so you can start the mower instantly with minimal effort.
Ego Dual battery LM2142SP self propelled mower comes with a fast charger that charges the batteries in approximately 40 minutes.
It has large enough wheels to offer optimal stability, two-wheel drive, and a rear-wheel drive system.
Pros
- Easily folds to ease storage
- comes with full-light headlights for night lawn mowing
- Variable speed control and six height adjustments
- It has a 21-inch self-propelled deck
Cons
- Pretty costly for an electric mower
- The mulching blades exhausts the battery fast
3. Greenworks Pro 80V MO80L410 Lawn Mower
Greenworks Pro 80V MO80L410 is the self propelled lawn mower for you if you own a ¼ or 1/3 acre of lawn. Thanks to the metal blades, steel deck, brushless motor, and lithium-ion batteries, this self propelled lawn mower s built for durability and high performance.
Running on an 80V 4Ah battery offering 45 minutes of juice supply, this self-propelled mower is pretty robust and reliable.
Its sturdy 21 inches steel mowing deck allows for easy and streamlined cutting of large areas of grass.
As for the self-propelled rear-wheel drive system, it allows for easy adjustment to complement your personal pace.
Its powerful brushless motor outputs high torque and horsepower equal to the one generated by a 160cc gas engine size.
This self propelled battery-powered lawn mower has a 3-in-1 function, offering you total control over your lawn mowing. It offers convenient mulching, side discharging, and bagging of the grass cuttings.
As one of the best six self propelled lawn mowers, Greenworks Pro 80V MO80L410 self propelled mower has an innovative smart cut technology that drives more power to the blades to optimize cut accuracy and speed.
Its vertical storage feature lets you save on storage spacing, while the seven cutting height adjustment function allows you to adjust the cut to your liking.
The front wheels in this self-propelled mower are 8 inches, while the rear ones are 10 inches. That offers you adequate stability to cut through lawns with varying topographical features.
Pros
- Foldable handles and vertical leaning feature to save storage spacing
- High power 80V 4Ah battery and powerful brushless engine
- Smart cut technology to optimize cut speed and accuracy
- Self-propelled rear wheels drive to maximize user comfort
Cons
- Pretty heavy and hard to transport around when the battery dies
- The handle is quite difficult to adjust
4. Snapper XD 82V MAX Step Sense Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Boasting the features and power of a gas-powered self propelled lawn mower, Snapper XD 82V MAX Step Sense is one of the best self propelled lawn mowers you can get around.
Its bestselling features include an intelligent dual battery system, smart self-propulsion, and a step sense drive system.
With this walk behind self propelled lawn mower, you’re getting two Briggs Stratton 2.0 Ah 82V batteries that give you 60 minutes of juice to cut grass accurately.
Adding to the amazing features is the intelligent load sensing system that automatically adjusts the power supply to suit your cutting needs based on the grass length and thickness.
Snapper XD 82V MAX Step Sense self propelled lawn mower also offers you a single-point cutting height adjust comprising 7 settings. That ensures you can cut lawns of different heights efficiently and smoothly.
You’re getting three grass clippings disposal options, including side-discharge, mulch bag, and clippings bagging, which are pretty efficient.
You can always fold the mower’s handles to vertically store it and save spacing.
As for the 21-inch steel deck system, it gets the work done effortlessly while saving you from grass cuttings.
Cutting accuracy and mower stability in uneven terrain are guaranteed, thanks to the tall 10-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front wheels.
Pros
- Ergonomic push button to ease starting the mower
- Powerful Briggs Stratton engine and high output 82V battery
- 60 minutes of battery life to allow cutting larger lawns
- Ease of grass clippings disposal
Cons
- Extremely heavy for a battery-powered mower
- It won’t work well in wet lawn conditions
5. Craftsman M215 159cc High Wheeled Self Propelled Gas Powered Lawn Mower
Craftsman’s high-wheeled self propelled gas-powered mower is a beast when it comes to getting grass yards cleared.
It runs on a powerful 159cc OHV gas engine and has an auto choke and recoil start. The auto choke and electric start gets this gas mower ignited in seconds.
As a rear-wheel drive push mower, it can be maneuvered quickly around uneven terrains.
With Craftsman M215 159cc gas lawn mower, you’re getting dual lever and six cutting height adjustment settings that ease the mowing work.
Its 21 inches deck system and blade allow you to cut the grass of different sizes in lawns conditioned differently.
This self-propelled high wheeled gas lawn mower offers you three disposal options, including cut & collect rear discharge and side discharge.
Mobility and stability in rough terrains are made possible by the 11-inch rear wheels and 7-inch front wheels.
As for its variable speed settings, it lets you cut across large lawns with minimal manual effort at your personal pace.
Created for medium-sized grass yards, this self propelled gas-powered mower has adjustable speed and blades.
Read Also: 5 Best Lightweight Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
The adjustable nature of the blades lets you customize each of the cuts you make. The attached mulch bag collects all grass cuttings with ease saving you the hassle. All these features make this one of the best gas powered mower.
Pros
- It has a 2-point height adjustment easing grass trimming
- It uses an advanced rear-wheel drive system
- The mower has a 21-inch steel dome for optimizing mulching abilities
- It has a 159cc gas engine generating more torque and horsepower
Cons
- The handles aren’t quite comfortable
- It doesn’t generate adequate power to mow large lawns
6. Lawn-Boy 17734 21-Inch Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Lawn Boy is a gas-powered lawn mower with an electric start function. It’s one of the best gas mowers, perfectly engineered to cut tall grass in small to medium yards.
This gas self propelled lawn mower runs on a 4-Stroke 149cc Kohler XTX OVH engine with 6.5 ft.-lbs. Gross Torque.
The high-power engine delivers enough power to cut grass in virtually all seasons.
Adding to its notable features is the 21 inches wide cutting deck system that allows for quick and efficient cutting of grass.
Table could not be displayed.You’ll fall in love with the 2-Point cutting Height-of-Cut System, designed to make it easier for you to adjust the cutting system heights.
The tri-cutting system featuring the 21-inch steel deep dome deck is durable and lightweight. It enables you to make super accurate cuts while optimizing the mulching abilities.
The extra-large bag in this self propelled lawn mower from Lawn Boy offers enough storage for clippings while easing disposal of such cuttings.
This gas mower also comes with easily adjustable handles. These ensure someone shorter than 7 feet can comfortably walk behind it without needing to bend.
Pros
- It has an electric start function to ease the mower’s ignition
- It has a commercial-grade design making it super durable
- Large wheels to improve stability and mobility
- It has a rear-wheel drive easy to handle
Cons
- It doesn’t work in wet grasses
- It can be noisy and fumy
Best Self-propelled Lawn Mower: Buying Guide
Different self-propelled gas and electric-powered lawn mower brands and models have distinctive features. These fuel-injected machines easing the cutting of glass and have a cutting system that gets triggered with a push of a button.
Most units have a self-propel system, lever height adjustment, and an efficient blade system. Lots of other features make lawnmowers, below being the key ones to check.
Front Wheel, Rear Wheel Drive, or All-wheel Drive
The best self-propelled lawn mowers use rear, front, or all-wheel drive. Rear and front-wheel drive transmit power from the mower’s motor to the rear or front axles to move it forward.
All-wheel-drive systems transmit power to all wheels. All-wheel mowers are more powerful and are ideal for lawns with bumpy and uneven terrain and steep slopes.
Some mowers run on more reliable hydrostatic transmissions. These are usually high-end and costly transmissions, not common with low-end brands.
Rear-wheel drive models are the best choices for those who want to be mulching bagging their grass clippings.
Engine Power and Speed Control
A lawn mower’s cutting abilities are determined by the overall horsepower outputted by the motor. Self-propelled lawn mowers with powerful engines rated over 180cc deliver adequate power to trim lawns in bigger commercial yards.
As for the self propelled lawn mowers rated lower than 122cc, they are perfect for cutting grass in smaller household yards.
Consider a 4-cycle engine for more power, efficiency, and quiet operations.
Choose 2-cycle engines if you’re looking for a low-budget unit to use in trimming small household lawns.
If you’re considering electric mowers, determine the motor’s productivity, often indicated in volts. Most electric self-propelled lawnmower motors are rated between 40 and 80 volts.
Besides engine power, check the mower’s operating speed. While most self-propelled lawnmowers have a single speed rating, others variable speed modes.
Some self-propelled push mower options run on the Briggs Stratton engine options, which are known to be cheaper and less to maintain. These engines are also long-lasting, robust, and reliable.
Ease Of Use and Convenience
A self-propelled lawn mower’s ease of use and convenience determines the effort required to maneuver it through different lawn conditions.
For ease of starting the lawnmower, you need a user-friendly button or key start. Some self-propelled mowers have a single-lever deck adjustment that eases the adjustment of the mower blade.
Look for lawn mowers with handlebars that can be adjusted to varying heights. Find out if the handlebars are collapsible or stowed upright to ease storage.
Lawn Mower’s Cutting Options
Mowing with self-propelled mowers is possible through side-discharge, bagging, or mulching functions.
These types of lawn mowing cuts are made through 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 cutting functions attached to the mowers.
Lawnmowers with 2-in-1 cutting functions allow for easy mulching and bagging of grass clippings.
The 2-in-1 mulching function works such that once it cuts the grass clippings, it’ll push them over the lawn.
The 3-in-1 cutting function features side-discharge, bag, and mulching options.
With the side-discharge option, you can mulch extra-large lawns without worrying about disposing of the grass clippings.
Besides cutting options, check the quality of the cuts. Evaluate the mower’s bagging efficiency, cut evenness, and mulching size.
As a side note, I wouldn’t recommend self-propelled lawn mowers for Bermuda Grass. Instead, It’s better to stick with reel mowers.
Gas Lawn Mower or Electric Mower
Small landowners often prefer electric lawn mowers as they offer convenient cordless designs and fewer electric devices.
Electric lawnmowers aren’t just convenient but also cleaner, easier to start, and quieter.
They aren’t powerful enough, and the batteries may not have adequate juice to handle bigger lawns.
However, superior models with more powerful batteries can cut huge grass fields before the battery juice is drained.
Gas lawn mowers come in handy for those manning large grass fields. These units are pretty powerful and within the budgets of those owning large plots of glass.
With a self-propelled gas lawn mower, expect to find multiple models, some of which are pretty expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions About Self-Propelled Mowers {FAQs}
A lot of unanswered questions spark the minds of potential self-propelled lawn mower owners. Below are common self-propelled lawn mower FAQs with the answers.
How do I tell a more powerful battery-powered self propelled lawn mower?
The cutting power of a battery-powered self-propelled lawn mower is chiefly dependent on the battery power and cutting options.
For more cutting power, consider a lawn mower with high Ah and volts to output adequate power to efficiently run the wheels and blades.
Consider if the lawn mower is 3-in-1 or 2-in-1, as these features affect performance, as well. You should check the lawn mower engine size.
How long will my self-propelled lawn mower last?
Whether battery-powered or gas-powered self propelled lawn mower, the lifespan ranges between 8 to 10 years.
However, without proper care, some lawn mower options can break within a few years of use.
How long will the engine of my self-propelled lawn mower last?
First, understand that an engine’s lifespan is dependent on multiple factors. 4-cylinder engines have a longer life than 2-cylinder engines, while twin-cylinder engines have a longer life than single-cylinder options.
Tip: With proper care and maintenance, most self-propelled engines can serve you for up to 15 years, making them some of the best lawn mowers.
Can I use my self propelled mower to cut wet grass?
High-end self propelled lawn mowers have bigger and more powerful blades that can cut any grass size in any condition.
Wet grass sticks together and could affect the blade’s performance, so avoid mowing damp grass if possible.
Conclusion
Self-propelled lawn mowers are slowly gaining popularity among most homeowners. Those owning bigger lawn yards are going for gas-powered mowers while those with small to medium yards go for electric self-propelled mower options. Whichever your preferences, we just listed the top best self-propelled gas mowers and electric push mower systems. Go for a gas lawn mower if you want more power and an electric mower if you want convenience.