Lawn Mowers: Reviews

Updated April 2010

Best cordless electric lawn mower

Toro e-Cycler 20360

*Est. $400 Compare Prices

Cordless electric mowers are the fastest-growing segment of the lawn mower industry, because they're environmentally friendly and convenient to use. Comparison tests show that the new 36-volt Toro e-Cycler 20360 cuts more… evenly than its competitors, and its high dome mulches clippings well. The e-Cycler 20360's 20-inch cutting path speeds mowing and a fast charger make it usable again in three hours. The Toro e-Cycler is ideal for small, flat lawns, but if you need a self-propelled cordless mower that can use extra batteries for longer run time, consider the 48-volt Ryobi RY14110 (*Est. $400), which mulches well but doesn't cut as evenly as the Toro.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Lawn Mowers: ConsumerReports.org now publishes owner-written ratings as well as their own reviews, and it's startling to see how much lower ...

Best Lawnmowers of the Year: Comparison Test: Comparison tests here cover eight convertible mulching lawn mowers -- mowers able to mulch or bag clippings -- tested over a ...

2009 Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Study: Honda wins the 2009 award for the best walk-behind lawn mowers among 10 brands, based on the latest J.D. Power and Associates ...

Cordless Electric Mowers: Mowing Down Pollution: A veteran homesteader tests four cordless electric lawn mowers on his own lawn, saying, "If a mower can make my lawn look ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best self-propelled gas lawn mower

Honda HRX217K2HXA

*Est. $800 Learn More

They're expensive, but Honda HRX series lawn mowers consistently win top ranking in professional comparison tests as well as in owners' reviews and surveys. Honda's easy-to-start OHV/OHC engine meets California's strict… emissions standards -- and the looming 2012 EPA nationwide requirements, too. Plus, it's available in all 50 states (lots of efficient gas mowers are only available in California). The Honda mower's rustproof deck carries a lifetime warranty, and the lawn mower itself carries a five-year warranty -- longer than most. The Honda HRX217K2HXA self-propelled lawn mower excels whether you're mulching or bagging clippings, thanks to a feature that lets you bag whatever percentage of clippings you like, mulching the rest.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org compares the Honda HRX217HXA with 30 other self-propelled lawn mowers and 21 mowers of other types in this ...

PopularMechanics.com: Tests here give top ranking to the similar Honda HRX2172VKA (*Est. $700), which lacks cruise control, compared with seven ...

J.D. Power & Associates: Based on a 2009 customer-satisfaction survey of more than 2,220 users rating 10 brands, J. D. Power and Associates ranks Honda ...

Choice magazine: Tests here (by the Australian equivalent of ConsumerReports.org) give high scores to a Honda mower, finding it quieter and ...

HowStuffWorks.com: This detailed single-product review of the Honda HRX217K2HXA gives it perfect ratings for features and performance, plus ...

National Noise Pollution Clearinghouse: Based on objective tests, this older review recommends the Honda HRX217HXA as the quietest self-propelled gasoline mower.

Consumers Digest: The Honda HRX217K2HXA is recommended again this year, along with the electric-start Honda HRX217K2HMA (*Est. $850), as the ...

HomeDepot.com: More than two dozen owners give the Honda HRX217HXA near-perfect ratings here.

Men's Health: This brief article recommends the similar Honda HRX217HMA for its noise level, which is low among lawn mowers.

PopularMechanics.com: This brief review notes that the Smart Drive on the newer Honda HRR series of lawn mowers isn't as comfortable to use as the ...

Find a Local Dealer at Honda.com

Budget self-propelled lawn mower

Toro Recycler 20332

*Est. $350 Compare Prices

The Toro Recycler 20332 gas lawn mower automatically adapts its speed to the user's walking pace. Comparison reviews find this mower a good budget choice. It's capable of mulching and side-discharging clippings just as… effectively as more expensive mowers. Experts say it's easy to switch between mulching and bagging, and like all Toro mowers, the Recycler 20332 incorporates a port to make hosing off the area under the deck easier. This lawn mower's 22-inch cutting path helps speed work as well. Note that the Toro Recycler 20332's engine fails to meet California's emissions standards, and the CARB-certified version, the Toro Recycler 20352 (*Est. $380) is hard to find outside California -- though you can order it online.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Based on objective tests, ConsumerReports.org compares the Toro 20332 with 30 other self-propelled lawn mowers and 21 mowers ...

PopularMechanics.com: Based on tests of eight comparable self-propelled mowers, editors name the Toro 30032 as the best value, praising its ...

J.D. Power & Associates: Toro ranks fourth among 10 brands of walk-behind lawn mowers -- behind Honda, John Deere and Craftsman, in this latest J. D. ...

Consumers Digest: The Toro 20332 is recommended here as one of three good budget buys among gasoline lawn mowers, noted for its Personal Pace ...

HomeDepot.com: Over 50 owners review the Toro 20332 here, giving it an average rating of 4.3 on a 5-point scale. Complaints are mostly about ...

MowersDirect.com: Staff here recommend the Toro 20332 mower as a best buy, and say it's the top-selling lawn mower at this retail site. Half a ...

Amazon.com: At the time of our report, only four owners review the similar Toro 20333 (*Est. $400), which adds a blade brake, but all give ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Gas push mower

Lawn-Boy 10645

*Est. $270 Compare Prices

If you can get by without having a self-propelled mower, reviews say the Lawn-Boy 10645 is reasonably easy to push, and its 190 cc Briggs & Stratton four-cycle OHV engine meets California's strict emissions requirements.… The Lawn Boy 10645 push mower mulches clippings effectively, and can be equipped with an optional discharge chute. Bagging is a weak point, according to reviews, but most users of push mowers don't want the extra weight anyway. The factory warranty is good for three years, including a guarantee that the mower will start within two pulls. The similar Lawn-Boy LB10640 (*Est. $240) costs a little less, but its non-CARB-compliant engine is more polluting.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Based on objective tests, ConsumerReports.org compares the Lawn-Boy 10640, the similar but non-CARB-certified version of the ...

J.D. Power & Associates: Lawn-Boy ranks eighth among 10 brands of walk-behind lawn mowers, in this latest J. D. Power and Associates ...

Amazon.com: The Lawn-Boy 10645 is the top-rated gasoline push mower at this retail site. About half a dozen owners give it mostly ...

HomeDepot.com: The handful of owners reviewing the Lawn-Boy 10645 here agree on giving it a rating of 4 stars out of a possible 5, saying ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Corded electric lawn mower

Black & Decker MM875

*Est. $200 Compare Prices

Cordless electric mowers are more convenient, but the Black & Decker MM875 corded lawn mower costs much less and has accumulated years of positive reviews. It's a good budget choice if your lawn is generally flat and the… mowing area is within 100 feet of power outlets. Tests show that the Black & Decker MM875 electric lawn mower doesn't cut as evenly as the Toro e-Cycler 20332 (*Est. $350), and its maximum cutting height is lower at 3.5 inches. However, the electric MM875 bags clippings better, mulches effectively, and when equipped with an optional chute, side-discharges clippings well too. Conveniences include easy height adjustment plus a folding handle for storage. This electric Black & Decker mower's polymer deck carries a lifetime warranty, but some owners warn of durability problems with the mower overall, which carries only a two-year warranty. This mower is also sold by Sears as the Craftsman 37051 (*Est. $210).

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org compares the Black & Decker MM875 with just two other corded electric mowers, ranking them in a group that ...

HowStuffWorks.com: This single-product review of the Black & Decker MM875 has more detail than ConsumerReports.org but much more informal ...

Which.co.uk: A similar Black & Decker electric mower is reviewed at this U.K. review site, where mowers are rated for speed, quality of cut ...

Amazon.com: More than 350 owners review the corded electric Black & Decker MM875 lawn mower here, giving it above-average ratings. About ...

HomeDepot.com: About a dozen owners give the Black & Decker MM875 a high average rating of 4.5 (on a 5-point scale). The main drawback noted ...

Epinions.com: About two dozen owners review the Black & Decker MM875 here, giving it mostly positive marks. A few drawbacks are also noted, ...

Sears.com: Over two dozen owners give the MM875 mostly positive ratings, but a few of the most recent reviews warn that parts fall off ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best manual reel mower

Fiskars Momentum 317736

*Est. $250 Learn More

The new Fiskars Momentum eliminates many drawbacks generally associated with reel lawn mowers. Tests show that the mower is easier to push than competitors, and the 4-inch maximum cutting height is another advantage (many… reel mowers cut so short as to invite burn risk to grass). The positioning of the wheels and blades make it possible to mow much closer to curbs and walls than with other mowers, and the Fiskars Momentum reel mower throws the clippings forward, away from the user. The no-contact blades don't require sharpening for five to 10 years, and the mower itself carries a four-year warranty. It's ideal for small, flat lawns -- or for anyone who wants a lot of exercise.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org is not enthusiastic about manual reel mowers in general, but comparison tests of three current models ...

MayDreamsGardens.com: Garden writer Carol Michel tests the Fiskars Momentum in her last mowing session of the year, reporting that it takes less ...

TheGadgetGuy.com: This illustrated review provides a good overview of the new Fiskars Momentum reel mower, detailing its features, including the ...

TreeHugger.com: This enthusiastic review explains how the flywheel action on the Fiskars Momentum stores energy for mowing tough patches. The ...

ReelMowerReviews.com: This preview describes features without conducting any testing, but notes some useful details: for example, a "quick and easy ...

AskMen.com: Although a robotic mower takes top honors here, the Fiskars Momentum reel mower closely follows it as a recommended model -- ...

People Powered Machines.com: The comparison chart at this retail site provides the features and specifications of ten current manual reel mowers. The ...

Find a Local Dealer at Fiskars.com

Black & Decker CMM1200 *Est. $400

5 picks including: Amazon.com, Housekeeping Channel.com…

Black & Decker LM175 *Est. $160

4 picks by top review sites.

Honda HRX217K2HMA *Est. $900

4 picks including: HomeDepot.com, J.D. Power & Associates…

Neuton CE5 Est. $400

4 picks by top review sites.

Black & Decker MM275 *Est. $200

3 picks by top review sites.

Honda HRX2172VKA *Est. $700

3 picks by top review sites.

Neuton CE6 *Est. $500

3 picks by top review sites.

Honda HRR216VKA *Est. $480

3 picks by top review sites.

Great States 815-18S *Est. $100

3 picks by top review sites.

Features Billboard

Lawn Mowers: Reviews

See Also

Best cordless electric lawn mower

Best self-propelled gas lawn mower

Budget self-propelled lawn mower

Gas push mower

Corded electric lawn mower

Best manual reel mower

Time Best Sites 2009

Webby Awards Logo

Footer Copyright

footer rss

Lawn Mowers by Price Range


	Black & Decker CMM1200 19-Inch 24-Volt Cordless Electric Mulching Lawn Mower from Amazon.com New: $766.79 $382.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Black & Decker LM175 18-Inch 6-1/2 amp Electric Mower from Amazon.com New: $308.84 $141.54 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Black & Decker MM275 18-Inch 9 amp Electric Mulching Mower from Amazon.com New: $359.48 $179.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Neuton CE 6.4 19-Inch 36-Volt Cordless Electric Mulching/Bagging Lawn Mower with Removable Battery from Amazon.com New: $499.00 $428.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review: