Best electric lawn mowers 2024: for a clean cut lawn

best electric lawn mowers | ego lawn mower led headlights
(Image credit: Future / Jennifer Oksien)

Owning one of the best electric lawn mowers will make light work of trimming the grass in your yard, so you won't have to put in quite as much effort. There are a few factors to consider before you purchase, whether that's the size of your lawn area, your budget, or even if you want a corded or cordless design. 

The power tends to be less than you would get with a gas lawn mower, but electric models are one of the most environmentally friendly options on the market, and an option is guaranteed to suit every home. 

Cordless electric lawn mowers make it super simple to reach distant corners and help avoid any mishaps from having a cord near your feet. Corded electric lawn mowers are easy to use, too, though, and they're usually a bit cheaper - you plug in, and you're ready to go (and mow). 

The size of your yard is also a big factor to consider. Our round-up of the best lawn mowers can all be used for maintaining a small or medium-sized lawn, but if you want to leave things to the latest lawn tech, the best robot lawn mowers will take the work completely out of your hands. 

To help you choose an electric lawn mower, we're reviewing a bunch of makes and models so we're ready to get cutting when spring arrives. Until then, we've featured two lawn mowers that we have had hands-on with already (EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Select Cut and Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322) and checked the spec of alternatives to consider. What we look out for is the cutting width, charge time, run time and features such as self-propelled. We like to test lawn mowers for a minimum of one month / four weeks so we can evaluate the set up, performance and maintenance. Read on to see the lawn mowers that made the cut so far this year...

The best electric lawn mowers in 2024

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We're on a mission here at Top Ten Reviews to review everything that we feature in our buyer's guide. While we haven't been able to test every electric lawn mower in this guide in person, we've instead honed in on top-rated brands and used our knowledge of the spec you'll need to look out for to help you make the right decision for your yard, all for the best price. 

Best electric lawn mower overall

Best electric lawn mower overall

Specifications

Deck size: 21-inch
Battery: 56V Arc Lithium
LED headlights: Yes
Dual battery: No
Self-propelled: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Quick and easy to assemble
+
Feels solid
+
Fantastic cutting performance

Reasons to avoid

-
It takes some trial and error to use as a self-propelled mower
-
May be too heavy for some

The EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Select Cut has been voted a gardener's "battery-powered dream" by our reviewer for a fantastic grass cutting performance in a large backyard. With the option to use it as a self-propelled or a push lawn mower, it's an essential piece of kit to add to the tool shed this year. 

One of the main reasons why we have voted it as the best electric lawn mower is because if you have a slopping yard then the self-propelled mower can help get you over the top, or back down to the bottom. We found that it does take some trial and error to find the right balance with starting the self-propelled, and adjusting the speed thereafter. There is a knack to it, so patience is key.

We also liked that aside from attaching the 70Ltr collection bag, there wasn't any further set up required. As soon as the battery had charged (this took up to 60 minutes) we were ready to start using the EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Select Cut on test.

To test the cutting performance (power) we mowed over an apple; there was barely anything left other then a bit of pulp. We also cut the grass in our reviewer's 400sqm yard, too, which did a great job although that 70ltr collection bag required regular emptying (probably more to do with the grass length, than the mower).

It has a list price of $749 / £919 and weighs close to 30kg, so the mower may be out of the budget or too heavy for some of our readers. Other than this, there's a lot going on under the hood of the EGO electric lawn mower. Did we also mention that the battery can also be switched around with other POWER PLUS products? Just say'in.

Read our full EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Select Cut Lawn Mower review

Best electric lawn mower for small-medium yards

Best electric lawn mower for small-medium yards

Specifications

Desk size: 21 inches
LED headlights?: Yes
Dual battery?: Yes
Self-propelled?: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Multiple cutting modes for maximum efficiency
+
Easy to maneuver with a self-propel system
+
Durable plastic and metal build with a convenient control panel

Reasons to avoid

-
Batteries didn't last as long as promised
-
Cleaning process was a little tricky
-
Expensive

The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 with battery and charger thoroughly impressed us with its performance. This lawn mower is perfect for small to medium yards and offers multiple cutting modes, making the process easy and efficient. The self-propel system is a game-changer and makes it much easier to maneuver the machine.

The Lawn Xpert LE-322 is made of durable plastic and metal and includes two batteries. Although only one battery can be charged at a time, the batteries fit easily into the top of the lawn mower once charged. The control panel on the handle is very convenient and includes indicator lights for battery life, errors, high-temperature notification, and a locked blade.

The cut mode button is especially useful, allowing you to choose between three different modes depending on your needs. The rear-wheel drive of this lawn mower makes it easy to mow in a straight line and around trees, and the drive speed lever lets you choose how fast you want the self-propel system to go.

The grass catcher, rear discharge chute, and mulch plug can be easily exchanged, and the grass catcher size is decent at 2.3 cubic feet. The batteries did not last as long as advertised, but this is not uncommon for lawn mower batteries. The cleaning process can be tricky, but maintenance is minimal overall, and the three-year limited warranty is a bonus.

Read our full Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322 review

Best affordable electric lawn mower

Ryobi 40V 21-inch Brushless Smart Trek

(Image credit: Ryobi)

3. Ryobi 40V 21-inch Brushless Smart Trek

Best affordable electric lawn mower

Specifications

Deck size: 21-inch
Battery: 6.3Ah
LED headlights: Yes
Dual battery: Yes
Self-propelled: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Self-propelled
+
Dual-battery
+
Five year limited warranty

Reasons to avoid

-
Awkward full extension handle start required
-
No battery indicator on mower
-
Slow charging

The Ryobi 40V 21-inch Brushless Smart Trek gives a huge amount of features for the price and comes with an impressive five-year limited warranty. The powerful mower has a 21-inch deck backed by dual batteries for up to half an acre with both in place. 

This electric lawn mower sits on the higher end of the lineup regarding both price and features, and we'd consider it best suited to larger lawns. Its dual battery setup allows you to achieve double the power and cover at least half an acre plot on a single charge. When we reviewed this model, we noted that charging could be faster, and there were issues with the battery not appearing on the handlebars, but the performance was impressive to compensate. 

It's made of a weighty steel deck which is reassuring if you're looking for longevity in your next electric mower. However, this doesn't add to the overall weight too much. It's easy to maneuver and powers over bumps easily to tackle inclines. It also has a brushless motor that should have better efficiency than a brushed equivalent. The single-point height adjustment is also a popular feature for good reason. Pull the handle and lift or depress the deck to find your desired height.

The self-propulsion takes some getting used to, but with easy height adjusting, a simple start button, and great grass collection bag removal and replacement, this is great. The LED headlights and quiet running are nice touches on this mower that help it go above and beyond the price.

Note: this electric lawn mower has not been reviewed. We've instead looked at the spec and customer reviews which has determined its position in our shortlist.

Best ride on battery mower

Ryobi RY48ZTR100

(Image credit: Ryobi)

4. Ryobi RY48ZTR100

Best ride on battery mower

Specifications

Deck size: 42-inch
Battery: 100Ah
LED headlights: Yes
Dual battery: No
Self-propelled: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Three hour battery life
+
Zero-turn controls
+
12 height positions

Reasons to avoid

-
Could be comfier

The Ryobi RY48ZTR100 is the best ride-on battery mower out there - with a whopping 42-inch cutting deck powered by a massive 100Ah battery, this can handle any job. It can run on approximately three acres of land and does so noiselessly and flawlessly so you can get the job done quickly. The four brushless motors power the dual blades and four wheels across 12 cut heights and work forward and reverse with a top speed of 7mph. 

The zero-point control arms allow accurate driving, and the LED lights let you work day or night. There's even a drinks holder and USB charger for your phone, plus a snow plow attachment for use in the winter, so you can get plenty more out of this machine than just mowing. This means it comes at a price, though, so it's more suited to those looking for an upgrade or have a larger budget.

This mower also offers a three-in-one system meaning you can pick between bagging your grass, mulching it, or side discharging it – although the side discharge accessory is sold separately. Thanks to the Easy-Life Single-Motion lock, the bag is super easy to use for easy one-handed control. 

You can move the height of the deck through seven levels with that one-handed pull-and-adjust system. This ranges from as low to the ground as one and a half inches up to as high as four inches. 

Note: this electric lawn mower has not been reviewed. We've instead looked at the spec and customer reviews which has determined its position in our shortlist.

Best electric lawn mower for speed

Toro Recycler 21" SmartStow 60-Volt Cordless Mower

(Image credit: Toro)

5. Toro Recycler 21" SmartStow 60-Volt Cordless Mower

Best electric lawn mower for speed

Specifications

Deck size: 21-inch
Battery: 4.Ah
LED headlights: No
Dual Battery: Yes
Self propelled: Yes

Reasons to buy

+
Quiet running 

Reasons to avoid

-
Short cutting time,
-
Lengthy charging time 

The Toro Recycler 21-inch SmartStow 60-Volt Cordless mower excels on small, flat lawns. As far as cutting widths go, this model sits at about average. This means it will be perfectly adequate for most lawns, but if you have a larger yard that needs more frequent maintenance, it might be worth looking at a larger model to get the job done quicker. Its cordless design is convenient to use, and it has a self-propelled operation.

The only drawback is that it takes a while to charge fully and can only be used for 45 minutes when the battery is finally full. However, the battery is part of the brand's Flex-Force line, so you can switch the battery between other Toro devices - great for saving money on buying additional batteries. 

There is a bonus regarding storage, though, as it can be placed upright when not in use. You can also choose from three different options for discharging grass clippings. There's a two-year warranty on the mower plus a three-year warranty on the battery, so you can rest assured that you won't be unnecessarily spending if any issues occur. 

We tested this mower ourselves and gave it a generous four stars. There weren't many things this Toro model can't do - it's cordless, easy to use, and has a decent cutting width. Various disposal options also make it simpler to get rid of grass cuttings. The only downside is the short battery time, so we'd recommend it for smaller flat lawns that don't require as much upkeep. 

Note: this electric lawn mower has not been reviewed. We've instead looked at the spec and customer reviews which has determined its position in our shortlist.

How to choose the best electric lawn mower

While deciding on a lawn mower with a cord might seem like the most obvious way to keep your spending low, we recommend avoiding corded models unless you’re on a very tight budget. Why? Well, it boils down to the running times: nowadays, cordless models can run strong for 45 minutes to an hour, which should be enough time to deal with a moderate or large lawn. 

With a corded model, you’ll always need to stay close to an electric socket. It’s also easy to get frustrated by tripping on your cord or shoving it out of your path. Cordless models take away that hassle, and it’s likely the job won’t take as long once you remove all the cord maneuvering.

While an electric lawn mower is more environmentally friendly than a gas lawn mower, you may need one if you’re dealing with a particularly large lawn. Gas is a more powerful energy source, and the mowers also run longer without a refill. Even so, most electric lawnmowers only take 40 minutes to recharge, so if you run out of battery mid-mowing session, that’s enough time for a snack break.

Cutting modes and features should also be on your mind when you choose an electric lawn mower. While they’re not essential, self-propelling models can also make your life far easier.

Electric lawn mowers FAQ

Are electric mowers good?

Electric mowers are a great option if you want a machine that isn’t too heavy to move around - and won’t cost you a fortune. They are best suited for smaller lawns rather than huge areas of grass, and this is because a power cord restricts you. There are battery lawnmowers that solve the cord problem, but you’ll need to note how long the run time is on each battery. Many battery-powered mowers can be purchased with a spare battery so your mower is never out of action. 

Electric lawnmowers don’t require any fuel, which makes them more affordable to power than gas mowers. There’s also the added benefit of electric mowers operating more quietly than their gas counterparts. 

How much do electric lawn mowers cost?

In general, prices for corded electric lawn mowers tend to start at about $100; however, dealing with a cord while mowing can be awkward, and it limits your mobility and the distance you can cover. You can buy extensions for your mower, but this might be inconvenient if you have an extremely large backyard. 

Battery-operated mowers cost a little more, starting in the low $200 range up to about $500, but the convenience of battery power, for many consumers, is worth paying extra. These models can also run for up to 90 minutes, so unless you have acres of land to cover, you should be able to get the job done. Be aware that cordless mowers have somewhat less power than corded models, and you’ll have to recharge the batteries, but they offer much more mobility. 

Running costs may be another concern when buying an electric lawn mower. Compared to best gas lawn mower models, you can rest assured that the money you’ll spend on charging on powering your electric mower will be considerably less, costing around 20 to 60 cents an hour to run, depending on the exact wattage of your model. 

Are electric lawn mowers powerful?

You should consider your yard's size and how often you intend to mow it. If your lawn is 1/3 acre or bigger, you’ll want to spring for a high-performance model with a high-voltage battery, wide cutting path, and multiple height settings. If you have a smaller yard or don’t need to mow very often, you can probably get away with one with less power.

Caroline Preece
Deputy Editor

Caroline is the Deputy Editor of Top Ten Reviews. Joining Future at the start of 2021, she has since served her time across all of the company’s home titles, including Real Homes, Ideal Home, Livingetc, and Homes & Gardens. Caroline has spent years testing out products for the home, which she trials in her cozy one-bedroom basement apartment in Suffolk, UK. She’s passionate about helping people choose the very best appliances, tech, and anything else that might make their lives easier, more cost-efficient, or just more fun.

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