Lawn Mowers: Reviews

Updated April 2009

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Gas push mower

*Est. $225 Compare Prices

If you can get by with a push mower (instead of self-propelled), the Craftsman 38905 is a good blend of performance and value. This model can mulch, side discharge or bag clippings (bag included), but in comparison… reviews, it mulches and bags better than it side-discharges. This Craftsman mower gets especially good reviews for its recoil start, which owners say almost always fires up on the first pull. The 38905 has a more powerful Briggs & Stratton engine than the cheapest Craftsman mowers, so owners give the engine better reviews. The easy-to-change bag is another plus. The Craftsman mower comes with a two-year warranty. One drawback is that changing the cutting height requires adjusting all four wheels.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports evaluates the Craftsman 38905 push mower alongside a dozen others in tests for mulching, bagging and ...

Sears.com: Since Sears is the only place you can buy Craftsman lawn mowers (made by Toro), this is the best place to find user ratings. We ...

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$215.99 from Sears.com

Budget self-propelled lawn mower

Toro Recycler 20333

*Est. $400 Compare Prices

In comparison reviews, experts say that the Toro Recycler 20333 does pretty much everything well, from mulching to bagging and side-discharging clippings. You can even do a little of both, switching back and forth from… bagging to mulching with the flip of a switch. A blade brake means you can pause mowing briefly without cutting the engine. Owners say the recoil start generally starts on the first pull (Toro even guarantees this for three years). Most owners like the Personal Pace drive system, which powers the back wheels to match your walking pace, but many say that this takes some getting used to. The Briggs & Stratton 190cc engine is the same engine used in the Craftsman 38905 above.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports compares the similar Honda HRX217HXA (which lacks electric start) with 31 other self-propelled lawn mowers and ...

HomeDepot.com: Owners reviewing the Toro Recycler 20333 on the Home Depot website give it excellent reviews. The engine and self-propel system ...

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Best luxury lawn mower

Honda HRX217K2HMA

*Est. $900 Compare Prices

It's expensive, but reviews praise this top-ranked Honda self-propelled gas mower for both mulching and bagging grass clippings. Instead of choosing one or the other mode, you can set the mower to bag a certain percentage… of clippings. This electric-start lawn mower meets even California's strict standards for emissions, and it's available in the other 49 states as well. The mower carries a three-year warranty and has a rustproof deck, but it's expensive -- and hard to find, except from specialty dealers. The less expensive Honda HRX2172HXA (*est. $800) just lacks the electric start.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports compares the similar Honda HRX217HXA (which lacks electric start) with 31 other self-propelled lawn mowers and ...

NoisePollution.org: This older review recommends the Honda HRX217HXA based on comparison tests of performance, ease of use and noise level.

Choice.com.au: Tests here (by the Australian equivalent of Consumer Reports) give high scores to a Honda mower, finding it quieter and easier to ...

ConsumerGuide.com: This detailed review praises the Honda HRX217HXA (similar except for lacking electric start) for its easy-starting Honda OHV ...

Consumers Digest: This review recommends a Honda self-propelled lawn mower, based on its ease of use, performance and durability. Ranking depends ...

Men's Health: This brief article recommends the similar Honda HRX217HMA for its average 84-decibel noise level, which is low among lawn mowers.

Epinions.com: These reviews date back several years, but more than 50 owners review various models in the Honda HRX series of 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 ...

ConsumerAffairs.com: One owner writes about a Honda HRX series mower here. The complaint concerns poor warranty service from Home Depot after problems ...

3Luxe.com: This site recommends the Honda HRX217HXA as one of the three best lawn mowers available, but readers are about evenly split on ...

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Electric lawn mower

Black & Decker MM875

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

Although you have to deal with a power cord, electric mowers are quiet and almost maintenance-free -- they're an option for those with small, relatively flat lawns. Reviewers like the rotary blades on Black & Decker… electric mowers, plus conveniences like one-lever height adjustment. The handle on the Black & Decker MM875 folds down for storage and the polymer deck has a lifetime warranty. As with all corded electric mowers, the maximum cord length is 100 feet, so it's best for small lawns. We did find a few recent owner-reviews warning of durability issues, but in performance tests, the Black & Decker electric mower mulches, side discharges and bags very well (a bag is included).

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports compares the Black & Decker MM875 with just one other corded electric lawn mower plus five cordless mowers in a ...

ConsumerGuide.com: This single-product review of the Black & Decker MM875 has more detail than Consumer Reports but much more informal testing. It ...

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: Nearly 300 owners review the corded electric Black & Decker MM875 lawn mower here, giving it above-average ratings. A few ...

Lowes.com: Over 45 owners give the Black & Decker MM875 electric mower an average rating of 4.3 out of five. A handful of owners add ...

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

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

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Cordless lawn mower

Black & Decker CMM1200

*Est. $400 Compare Prices

According to reviews, the cordless Black & Decker CMM1200 actually does a better job than most corded electric mowers, mulching more effectively and cutting more evenly (bagging isn't its strong suit, though a bag is… included). It can mow about 1/4 acre per battery charge. The CMM1200 has a folding handle, one-lever height adjustment and a polymer deck with lifetime warranty. The downside is that it costs more than a corded electric mower, and you'll need to buy a new battery in a couple of years.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports compares the Black & Decker CMM1200 with four other cordless lawn mowers and two corded mowers as part of a ...

Mother Earth News: The Black & Decker CMM 1200 earns top ranking in this detailed comparison review of four cordless mowers, based on the author's ...

Wired.com: This review rates and ranks two cordless mowers (including the Black & Decker CMM1200) plus two corded electric lawn mowers. The ...

ConsumerGuide.com: This detailed single-product review gives the Black & Decker CMM1200 mower perfect scores for features and performance but lower ...

Curious Cat Blog: This review compares the Black & Decker CM1200 with an earlier cordless Black & Decker, finding bagging improved on the CM1200 ...

Amazon.com: Nearly 300 owners rate and review the cordless Black & Decker CMM1200 mower here, giving it above-average ratings. Complaints are ...

Housekeeping Channel.com: Forbes, a journalist who specializes in reviewing household products, gives the previous model, the Black & Decker CMM1000 a high ...

ConsumerAffairs.com: One lawn expert tests the Black & Decker CMM1200 and finds that it performs well in the shade but balks in hot sunlight. Grass ...

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Manual reel mower

Scotts Green Classic 2000-20

*Est. $140 Compare Prices

Owners say that manual reel mowers require little maintenance and are the ultimate in quiet. They are also fun to use as long as your lawn is relatively small, flat and weed-free. Reviewers like the five-blade Scotts… Green Classic reel mower for its 20-inch cutting width and maximum cutting height of 3 inches, recommending it for upright grasses such as fescue. (Reviews recommend seven-bladed reel mowers for low, tough grasses such as Bermuda, zoysia or St. Augustine.)

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: Over 400 owners review the Scotts classic reel mower here, giving it an average rating of four out of a possible five stars. ...

HomeDepot.com: Nearly 30 owners review the Scotts Green Classic mower, giving it as high an average rating than push gas mowers sold here. ...

CleanAirGardening.com: As the name suggests, this retailer sells only electric and manual reel mowers. The Scotts Classic reel mower gets high praise ...

Consumers Digest: This review recommends the Scotts Classic 2000-20 as the best buy among manual reel mowers, but the review depends more on ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports give short shrift to manual reel mowers, testing only two models. The magazine devotes far more attention to gas ...

StuffThatHappens.com: Very disappointed with the effort required, blogger Eric Burke quotes and contradicts some of the reviews of the Scotts Green ...

TreeHugger.com: This Canadian reviewer says he's surprised that mowing with a reel mower is not only pleasant, but can also be as fast as mowing ...

About.com: This review doesn't recommend any specific manual reel mowers, but it is a useful buyers' guide. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned ...

Star Tribune: This article covers the pros and cons of the most environmentally friendly types of lawn mowers. The article notes that the ...

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Neuton CE 5.2 *Est. $390

4 picks by top review sites.

Brill Razorcut 38 *Est. $250

3 picks by top review sites.

Lawn-Boy 10795 Insight Platinum *Est. $550

3 picks including: Abby'sGuide.com, Amazon.com…

Neuton CE 6.2 *Est. $490

3 picks by top review sites.

Black & Decker MM275 *Est. $180

2 picks by top review sites.

Lawn-Boy 10683 *Est. $400

2 picks by top review sites.

EarthWise 60020 *Est. $300

2 picks by top review sites.

Cub Cadet 11A-18MC *Est. $250

2 picks including: Consumers Digest, SmartMoney's Annual Broker Survey…

Craftsman 37051 *Est. $230

2 picks by top review sites.


	Brill Razor Cut Push Mower from Amazon.com New: $239.99 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Black & Decker MM275 18-Inch 9-Amp Electric Mulching Mower from Amazon.com New: $187.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Lawn-Boy 10683 Insight Series 21-Inch 6.5 HP Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower (Non-CARB Compliant) from Amazon.com Average Customer Review:


	Earthwise 60020 20-Inch 24 Volt Cordless Electric 3-in-1 Lawn Mower with Grass Bag from Amazon.com New: $270.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Lawn Mowers: Reviews

Gas push mower

Budget self-propelled lawn mower

Best luxury lawn mower

Electric lawn mower

Cordless lawn mower

Manual reel mower

Lawn Mowers by Price Range