Troy-Bilt TB100 review

It may not have the bells and whistles of more expensive lawn mowers, but the Troy-Bilt TB100 is a budget-friendly, reliable option.

Troy-Bilt TB100 review
(Image: © Troy-Bilt)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Troy-Bilt TB100 gas lawnmower has all the basic features you need at a nice price, and it powers through even the toughest of terrains.

Pros

  • +

    Lightweight

  • +

    Different cutting heights

  • +

    Happy customers

Cons

  • -

    Manual push

  • -

    The oIl cap is hard to reach

  • -

    No bagging option

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Packing a decent-sized 140cc Briggs and Stratton engine, the Troy-Bilt TB100 is right at the cheaper end of the market, regularly available for just under $300 at major retailers. 

Troy-Bilt TB100: Key specs

Dimensions: D 60" x H 38" x W 22"

Weight: 60 lbs

Blade length: 21 inches

Engine displacement: 140cc

Max cutting height: 3.75 inches

Min cutting height: 1.25 inches

Mower type: Manual push

Start type: Pull cord

Warranty: 2-year limited warranty 

Yes, you’ll have to push it around your lawn, but at just 60 lbs, this should be no hardship. And it may be lacking the extra bells and whistles that come as standard with more expensive lawn mowers, such as blade stop technology or cruise control, but it comes with good basic features, such as six adjustable cutting height positions for the blade and a mulching option. 

The Troy-Bilt TB100 is easy to maneuver around too, with high 11-inch rear wheels to help you cope with bumpy terrain. You won’t be able to bag up your cuttings, but you can mulch or discharge them through a side chute. Equipped with folding handles, it’s also easy to store and transport if you need to.

We’ll be taking a close look at the individual features of the Troy-Bilt TB100 and giving you the lowdown on whether it’s a worthwhile investment. We’ll also take a look at user reviews, to see how recent purchasers have got on with their Troy-Bilt TB100. 

And if you decide the Troy-Bilt TB100 isn’t the right mower for you, we have plenty more affordable, mid-range, and high-end options in our buyer’s guide to the best gas lawn mowers

Troy-Bilt TB100: Features

The big downside with the Troy-Bilt TB100 is that there's a lack of features. For instance, there's no bag included so your cuttings will be mulched and left on the ground for the majority of your mow. The alternative is to simply discharge them out of the side chute.

This is a push-along mower, so there's no self-propelled technology, and there are none of the nice features you get in more advanced mowers like cruise control or blade-stop.

(Image credit: Image source: Home Depot)

Most of the mower is made of plastic, but that has the advantage of making it very light at just 60lbs. If you need to transport your mower from place to place then you'll find the Troy-Bilt is exceptionally portable, and it folds up too, making it more compact for carrying around.

The wheel height is adjustable through six different positions, giving you a cutting height range of between 1.25-inches and 3.75-inches. Again, other mowers offer a better range of cutting heights.

Troy-Bilt TB100: Performance

It's easy to assemble the Troy-Bilt 100. Just add oil and gas and you're good to go. The big rear wheel helps it motor through longer grass and it's perfect for small to medium sized lawns. 

You'll appreciate the lightweight design of the Troy-Bilt 100 if you have to cut around flower beds or small spaces that larger, heavier mowers might be too cumbersome for. 

Troy-Bilt TB100: Price

You can pick up the Troy-Bilt TB100 for just under $200 on Home Depot, and that puts it at the lower end of the lawnmower market. When you consider that some gas-powered walk-behind lawnmowers cost over the $1,000 dollar mark, the Troy-Bilt is exceedingly cheap, but you're getting very basic functionality here.

Troy-Bilt TB100: User reviews

There are a lot of positive customer reviews of this product on Home Depot, where it scored a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars with a recommendation ranking of 90%. There are a few reviews by people who say the product was defective and they had to take it back, but generally, people are very happy with how well it performs.

The main complaint customers have about the TB100 is that it's difficult to put the oil in because of the location of the oil inlet and dipstick. It's hidden in a little cutaway and requires small hands to reach it, although some customers reported success using pliers to release it. If you'd prefer to avoid changing oil at all, then check out our guide to the best electric lawn mowers

I've been weed whacking my yard all season because I didn't have extra money for a lawnmower. I finally said I don't care, I'm getting a lawnmower today. It was there, it was cheap enough, and it works. It is very lightweight, with feather-touch maneuvering.

Home Depot customer

Should you buy the Troy-Bilt TB160?

If you’re looking for a reliable, basic lawn mower that gets the job done, the Troy-Bilt TB100 is a bargain. It may not have all the extra features that come with more expensive models, but it cuts the grass well, allows you to mulch, and it’s easy to move about your lawn. 

Folding handles and a super-lightweight of 60lbs make it the ideal mower to store away during the winter months, or even hang up in your garage. Users rate it too, with many remarking on its reliable performance, easy start-up, and value for money, although some say the budget price makes for a lackluster performance and poor quality design. 

But if you have a small backyard, and you’re not interested in engine power, self-propelled features, or endless bagging options, the Troy-Bilt TB100 could be the simplest, most cost-effective option for you.

If this product isn't for you

Another affordable option from Troy-Bilt that has more engine power is the Troy-Bilt TB160. With a 160cc Honda-designed engine, a 1.9-bushel rear bag and 6 different cutting height options, it offers more features than the TB100, but for a similar price. 

If you want more cutting height options from your lawn mower, you can’t get better than the Toro 21378 Recycler Mower. It has 9 options to choose from and also comes with a 3-year guaranteed-to-start warranty.

Another lightweight option is the Craftsman M105. Weighing in at just 65lbs, this manual push mower is easy to maneuver around the smallest of yards. It also features a 140cc engine, 6 cutting heights, and 3 different clipping disposal options.  

Graham Barlow

Graham usually works in home computer journalism for his day job, and has been at Future Plc for many years, mostly employed across our print titles. He has a keen interest in all things gardening, and has written extensively about lawn mowers and other garden care products while in his freelance capacity at Top Ten Reviews.

With contributions from