Best Electric Lawn Mower of 2023 – CNET

$499 at Ace Hardware

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EGO Power Plus

Best electric lawn mower overall and best for gas mower-like power

$279 at Home Depot

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Ryobi One Plus HP 18-volt Brushless

Best electric lawn mower for small yards

$294 at Walmart

Hart electric push mower

Hart 40-Volt Cordless Brushless

Best budget electric lawn mower

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If you aren’t a fan of the smell of gas, or you want a cleaner alternative to a gas-powered lawn mower, you have an excellent option: an electric mower. Electric lawn mowers are available in both battery-powered and corded models, but we’ll focus exclusively on the battery-powered variety.

Mowers that run on a battery are more powerful than ever before, while also managing to be more convenient than a mower with a long cord, and they’re better for the environment than gas. And now’s the perfect time to look for a new electric lawn mower, since we’re inching closer to summer and peak lawn care season. Here’s what you need to know. 

What’s the best electric lawn mower overall?

From price to performance to add-ons, there’s a lot to consider when purchasing a new mower. That plus the many electric lawnmower deals can make shopping a little intimidating.

While testing, I found there’s huge variation in how well an electric lawn mower performs versus how it’s advertised, and how well battery mowers perform compared to corded electric lawn mowers or gas mowers.  Plus, it isn’t just raw performance that’s critical.

Before splurging on one of these machines, you’ll need to consider what types of batteries they use. Some mowers rely on batteries that also power popular brands of home power tools. DeWalt, EGO and Ryobi are good examples of this type of cross-compatibility. If you already own tools from one of these or similar brands, you may not have to spend extra cash on additional hardware.

With these factors in mind, we’ve chosen the EGO Power Plus, because it rivals the power of standard gas mowers with no dip in quality or ability. It’s not just easy to use, the machine also boasts noteworthy features, like a wide, 21-inch cutting platform and a 56-volt battery that works with EGO’s entire line of yard power tools.

If you’re in the market for an electric lawn mower this year, you’re in luck. I’ve gathered a group of the most popular battery-powered electric lawn mowers on the market today. I stuck to push-from-behind models only, which cost anywhere from $250 to $550. I then unpacked, assembled and personally put each unit through its paces. After the grass clippings from my mowing spree settled, these were my top picks. 

Best electric lawn mowers of 2023

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Chris Monroe/CNET

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Chris Monroe/CNET

Hart electric push mower Hart electric push mower

Chris Monroe/CNET

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The Greenworks G-MAX 40V 16-inch cordless lawn mower.

Chris Monroe/CNET

Greenworks G-MAX 40V

Compact and lightweight, this model from Greenworks performed well. It didn’t stall during my test mows and it was easy to push across the lawn. However, the battery mount inside the mower sits on the top inside edge of its socket. That makes it more awkward to insert compared with other machines.

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Some mowers like the Kobalt here can get bogged down by grass clippings.

Brian Bennett/CNET

I paid close attention to whether mowers stalled, got bogged down, or struggled in any way while cutting. I also ran the same test through a low-brush section on the outer edge of the lawn. This served as a torture test for high-powered models, and a good way to determine which mowers are truly worth your money.

Electric lawn mower FAQ

Is an electric lawn mower worth it?

No, it isn’t recommended to mow wet grass with an electric mower. Always consult the specific user manual for your product to determine its optimal safe usage beforehand, and reach out to the manufacturer directly with questions. 

What’s the best time to buy an electric lawn mower?

Yes. Battery-powered lawn mowers are one type of electric lawn mower, but some electric mowers are corded instead.

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