Maintaining your lawn can be a daunting task. Everybody wants a lush lawn that looks nicely manicured and all green. But, if you’re going to use a push lawn mower on your bumpy lawn or a large yard, then your back is in trouble. Push mowers rely on your muscle power and can be very tiring to use.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are perfect for working in difficult mowing conditions with uneven terrain. They make trimming and tidying your lawn quite easy. All you need to do is to start your mower, set the cutting height, adjust the moving speed to a comfortable pace, and you are just about done. You don’t need to push anything here. Only steer the mower in the right direction.
Here are the 8 Best Self Propelled Lawn Mowers:
The Best Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Honda HRX217K4HZA HRX Series Lawn Mowers
The Honda HRX-series is the premium line, and the HRX217K4HZA is one of the most expensive and most powerful Honda lawn mowers with a big engine.
This machine is an excellent self-propelled lawn mower that will easily and efficiently maintain your lawn. Its electric start fires it up effortlessly. There is a self-charging, electric key-start that is backed by a rechargeable Cyclone-battery, which you can trust to always maintain its charge for an entire season. Plus, you don’t have to set the choke since its GCV-engine is fitted with an auto-choke system that can take the hassle out of starting your mower.
You won’t break your back using this mower because it features an advanced hydrostatic cruise-control system that lets you easily select a speed you will be comfortable following behind. All you need to do is set the speed anywhere between zero and four mph and let the twin-blades take over. These blades feature a proprietary MicroCut system designed with a four-blade system to ensure finer cuts with each revolution. You’ll also find more clippings in the 2.5-bushel capacity grass-bag every time you have to empty.
One feature I’m sure you will love, especially if you are using this at home, is the four-in-one Versamow system. This feature offers the versatility of mulching, bagging, discharging, and shredding as you carry on with your mowing. This feature, combined with the superior mulching performance the cutting blades can achieve, makes this lawnmower an efficient and convenient machine for home use.
This machine also has a safety feature built-into the engine and blade system that lets you take a moment away from the mower without having to turn off and restart the engine. This system is called the Roto-Stop System. You’ll find it comes in handy when you want to remove items out of the path and don’t want to come back and restart the engine all over again.
Overall, this is a well-designed lawnmower, and its GCV 190-Engine is sure to provide years of reliable service. It comes packed with many other features that will make for a more comfortable mowing experience.
For some super affordable options, check out our list of the best cheap lawn mowers.
Husqvarna LC221RH Mower
You cannot ignore the Husqvarna LC221RH if what you are looking for in a lawnmower is cutting performance coupled with fuel efficiency. This product is a quality residential mower that will give you excellent results on your ¾-acre (or more) lawn. It gives you the option to side discharge, mulch, or bag your grass clippings.
It is powered by a heavy-duty Honda GCV-160 gasoline engine that delivers high performance without consuming too much gas. Depending on the cutting conditions, you can expect that this lawn mower can run for 80 to 90 minutes on its full tank of fuel.
Husqvarna uses a steel deck. This feature makes it a little heavy but sturdy and durable. Pushing this 80-pound mower for even 10 minutes would be a back-breaking experience for anyone. Fortunately, the LC221RH offers a rear-wheel self propelled drive that takes loads of pressure off when working in the yard. It also features a dual trigger drive control, which you’ll find quite convenient when you need to set a mowing speed that makes you feel comfortable. The large 11-inch rear ball-bearing wheels offer superior traction and excellent maneuverability even when mowing on tough terrain.
The easy-to-start, fuel-efficient Honda GCV160 engine on this machine is a power horse. It is well built for the task, and at 89 decibels, it is certainly quieter than some battery-powered mowers. It is equipped with an auto-choke system that makes for a quick and easy start-up.
I find the four-point deck-height adjustment to be laborious because you have to set the height on each wheel individually. The problem, however, is that you’ll find this system in most of your gas mowers since they tend to be a little too heavy for a single-point adjustment system. Some people don’t have a problem with this feature. In fact, I heard quite a lot of them saying that the four-point deck-height adjustment easily meets all their mowing conditions. I guess it’s a hate-love kind of thing, that’ll allow you to change the deck height to desire and precision conveniently.
Another thing that will not make you go crazy for this mower is it’s two-handle position settings. Most mowers in its class offer more versatility with three-position adjustable and foldable handles. Even so, I find that if you can pick a suitable handle position from the two available settings, you will enjoy a more comfortable mowing position.
CUB CADET SC 300HW Front-Wheel Drive
If you are in the market for a high-quality residential lawn mower that will not break, no matter how much you punish it, then the Cub Cadet lawn mowers will be hard to turn down. You might know Cub Cadet for its lawn tractor line-up, but the brand also produces reliable self propelled mowers with incredible cutting performance.
With a 156cc cub cadet OHV engine, it comes as no surprise that this mower can cut residential lawns in almost any condition. You really cannot tell the difference between this engine and the Honda GCV160 on the Husqvarna. Both products can breeze through weekly cuts, and they showed incredible performance when cutting in mulching and side-discharge mode. Plus, you can also choose to bag your grass clippings.
The SC 300HW uses Cub Cadet Signature Cut blades that feature three cutting surfaces to produce fine clippings. The only thing that would beat this performance is the Honda HRX-series MicroCut quartet blades. Even so, the SC 300 still does an excellent job on weeks-old overgrowth.
This lawnmower features a six-position deck height adjustment that will allow you to conveniently set the deck height between 1.25 inches and 3.75 inches for precise cuts. A two-position handle adjustment lets you set a comfortable height for controlling the mower, so you can effortlessly handle your mowing tasks.
There are many other features that I love about the Cub Cadet SC 300HW, such as the front-wheel drive. I find it to be more maneuverable since I can easily tip the mower to its rear wheels to change direction. Also, I figure fuel consumption on a front-wheel-drive is better since the weight of the engine allows for better traction at the front wheels.
There are a couple of minor weak points, but this still stands as a reliable mower from a reputed company that will have your yard looking clean season after season.
For more machines that will make taking care of your lawn fast and easy, check out our guide on top zero turn lawn mowers.
Troy-Bilt TB33 Self Propelled Lawnmower
This model is a US-made self propelled lawnmower with a reliable 163cc Briggs & Stratton engine that will help you achieve remarkable results and a well-manicured yard. Its triple action cutting blades offer superior cutting performance to turn waste into mulch. You will always have more ultra-fine clippings in the 1.9-bushel capacity bag that comes with it. You can also choose to mow bag-free.
This machine weighs a massive 80 pounds, but you only feel a fraction of that when working the yard, thanks to the rear-wheel-drive powered by its strong 163cc OHV engine. Its drive control design is quite useful by allowing you to control the speed from a single drive lever. You can also choose between four speeds setting that will suit your walking pace. The handle is flexible and ergonomic for greater comfort when running your mower.
The engine starts on the first pull, so there’s no priming or choking required. It also features a ReadyStart system that checks the engine temperature and adjusts the fuel and air mix so that the engine starts every time you pull the power cord.
We’ve talked about the easy-start engine, but did you know that this product has a “no oil change” engine? As such, there is no oil draining required. You just have to add the oil when it runs low and keep mowing. Balancing your deck is quite easy too. A single lever adjusts the deck about six cutting heights.
If you are looking for a product that takes the guesswork out of mowing and operating a mower, then this unit is your best choice.
Our guide to best riding lawn mowers offers some reliable machines that will make your life easier.
Honda HRR216VKA Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Here’s a monster self propelled smart-drive lawn mower that will accelerate uphill and sculpt your lawn with little effort on your part. The Honda HRR216VKA is quite impressive because it can work effortlessly over bumpy and irregular yards even though it weighs 84 pounds. This unit runs on a VGC 160 Honda engine rolling on eight-inch ball-bearing wheels that make maneuvering a breeze. With this feature, even kids can help you mow your lawn.
This product is self propelled, and it comes complete with variable speed control on its handle, wherein you can adjust its pace from zero to four mph. The thumb-operated controls allow you to get around obstacles and dial back to your comfortable speed in a breeze.
This lawnmower is a quick-start key-powered machine, but it also includes a pull cord. The key start system is powered by a self-charging battery that comes out easily so you can replace or float charge during winter. Even so, you will rarely need to take it out since the pull cord powers the engine on the first pull every time. Plus, the key will always start even after storing this mower all season.
HRR Honda mower models aren’t exactly high-end. The HRX-series Honda mowers are your high-end machines. All the same, this mower will give you a premium cut for mulching or bagging. It is a three-in-one mower, so it can bag, compost, and side discharge with no tools or attachments necessary.
I love the Roto-Stop feature on most Honda mowers. Imagine being able to check the blade without really powering off or locking out the mower so that you can take obstacles out of the way. This feature saves a lot of time that would have otherwise been used for setting safeguards.
This machine uses much less fuel, making it a great unit to consider for residential use if you are concerned about how much fuel your engine uses. After all, gas can quickly leave a hole in your wallet. Another test you might require your lawnmower to excel in is durability. Almost any quality lawnmower will assist you for a couple of years, but Honda mowers are primarily known for longevity. You can expect the HRR216VKA to serve you for years to come.
For the fans of smart tech, we have prepared our list of top-rated robotic lawn mowers. Check them out.
Ryobi 20-Inch RY40190 Cordless Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
They say this unit gives gasoline-like strength out of its intelligent brushless motor powered by a 5.0 Ah 40-volt lithium-ion high-capacity battery. Well, the load sensing system works, and the mower can breeze through any field condition. This system can save you much-needed energy while running on optimal speed every time.
This model is a two-in-one mower. You will only mulch and bag, but not side discharge with this unit. Its Tri-cut blades can produce a superior cutting performance to achieve finer clipping, which is ideal for mulching or bagging.
The 20-inch large cutting deck gets the job done quickly and effortlessly. There is a single-point adjustment lever for setting between seven cutting heights so you can get a perfectly cut lawn. It also has a two-point handle adjustment that lets you set the best height to walk behind your mower comfortably.
This machine has to be the easiest system to use because it doesn’t have a lot of moving engine parts that you need to be concerned about, making maintenance quite a breeze. You only need to charge your battery when you’re not using it, and every session will start stress-free. Plus, you don’t have to mess with oils or gas, and you will surely love the low-noise operation coupled with bright LED headlights for cool evening trims.
Battery-operated mowers, such as this one, are economical options if you don’t have time to sort through gas-powered mowers to find one with excellent fuel consumption. This unit is also so much lighter than most of the options we’ve seen above, so maneuvering is no task.
There are a couple of disadvantages, of course, such as concerns for battery life and performance on tougher conditions. However, these drawbacks will not make you turn away from this model, especially if you are already sold on its economic electric battery-operated drive.
If you are looking for a sustainable and eco-friendly option, be sure to invest in one of the top reel mowers from our guide.
Greenworks MO80L410 Pro 21-Inch Lawn Mower
There aren’t many mowers that come with 80V power and above. This much voltage on the Greenworks MO80L410 Pro gives it the power almost equivalent to a gas mower. In fact, the brushless motor on this mower powered by a 4Ah high-capacity battery actives the same results as a 166cc gas engine mower.
The beauty of this mower is that you can start mowing immediately without having to fuss over oil and gas. Using it is also quite easy. Its self propelled rear-wheel drive has an easy to adjust drive control system that offers smooth engagement so that you can follow at a comfortable pace. Its performance uphill isn’t the best, but at 64.2 pounds, it is as light as some push mowers, so you could also roll it without much effort. Power is there all right, but the threads on the tires seem to lack proper grip because they will spin out occasionally.
Like most battery-powered mowers, the Greenworks MO80L410 Pro uses the innovative Intelligent Cut Technology to provide optimal cutting performance per charge. The blade speed is dynamically varied, depending on how tall or thick the grass is, to achieve the best cut possible. The battery will run for 45 minutes or so, which is enough time to complete most trimming jobs. If you have a larger yard, you could leave one battery charging as you run on the other one.
This machine uses a steel deck to make it durable. Most other electric lawn mowers skimp on build quality to make up for the enormous expenses in brushless motors and lithium-ion batteries. By sacrificing some of the key components, these mowers are unable to resist wear and tear, especially when hitting hard obstacles like stone and sharp metals. The Greenworks MO80L410 Pro does not suffer low build quality.
This product is one of the high-end battery-driven self propelled mowers in the market. As such, you can expect to get the same service as you would with most gas-driven mowers, maybe even better.
Lawn-Boy 21-Inch Electric Start Self-Propel Mower (17734)
Here’s a reliable self propelled lawnmower in the sub-$400 category. This model is a quality and reliable residential lawn mower that you’ll have a hard time turning down. It has a Kohler 149cc OHV engine that delivers remarkable cutting performance, and the fuel-efficient will make you a proud owner.
This model is the electric start mower that features an easy to start key power, but there is one with a cord pull-to-power start that always fires up in the first pull. The engine starts and runs silently. You would think it’s not doing a proper job, but it does cut fine clippings.
This machine uses a Tri-cut blade system that produces remarkably fine cuts. It is a three-in-one mower so you can bag, mulch, and side discharge depending on your preference.
This product isn’t a high-end mower, but it is built with quality all the way. For a mid-level self propelled mower, you get everything you expect, which are a remarkable cutting performance, easy bushel bag emptying, quick turn-key start, and good thumb-operated speed control.