The Best Electric Lawn Mowers of 2023

If you've been hesitating to buy a battery-powered mower, this is as good a time as any to make the move. Prices, which reached incredible high-water marks during the pandemic, have receeded somewhat (for some models, that means a price cut of $100 or so). Supplies are plentiful and the variation in features and prices are such that, almost certainly, you can find something that suits your needs.

And there's another reason. Battery mowers are getting the job done. If your typical mow takes 40 minutes to an hour, a battery mower will work for you. Regardless of model and a wide range of voltages and features, on average we find these machines cut grass for about 30 to 40 minutes. Meaning that with a second battery or set of batteries, you're good for extending your mowing session to about an hour. This is especially important if your cutting conditions tend to be a bit on the demanding side–not unusual for rural homeowners who cut the shoulder of a long driveway, and keep non-turf areas in check. But even suburbanites have to deal with tall grass and leaf-covered lawns.

Read on for our reviews of the best electric lawn mowers, plus things to keep in mind when you’re buying.

The Best Electric Lawn Mowers

How Battery Mowers Work

Several features have enabled the improved capability of battery mowers. First is the lithium-ion battery, which has grown in size and sophistication, with the ability to better manage the heat and electrical strain that it experiences. And that equals better durability and run time. Next, brushless motors have fewer parts and increased reliability, compared to motors equipped with brushes that slowly wear away. This is especially important given that a mower operates in harsh conditions and high temperatures.

Another factor that has enabled the success of these motors is their electronically controlled output. When the mower encounters tall grass, the motor speed increases automatically, also ramping up the blade speed. The reverse occurs when the load on the mower eases, such as when it enters low or thin grass. Other battery mowers are equipped with a manual switch that conserves battery charge by running the motor at lower rpm (often called an Eco mode setting, or something similar). Use this low-power setting at the height of summer when the grass is dry and brittle; it may need only a light trim.

Battery mowers are also quieter than their gas-engine counterparts, and since they don’t burn fuel, they don’t have hot surfaces like an engine or muffler that can burn you.

How We Test

People have diverse mowing needs, from tidy little patches of grass to rough-and-tumble rural properties. We anticipate these varying needs by testing accordingly.

Our specimen grasses vary from soft and thick bluegrass and fine fescues, to perennial ryes that are bit more wiry. We mow flats, washboard surfaces, uphill, downhill, and sidehill. We mow tall grass and weeds. We cut lawns that are immaculate and we mow the rim of a retention basin. Every feature and accessory on every machine gets a thorough workout. We mulch, bag, and side discharge. We raise and lower decks, check the controls for their comfort and whether they are intuitive. Anybody should be able to get behind any mower and mow safely without a lot of instruction.

We also check for a neatly mowed surface. We cut a section and lie on the grass and sight along the top of the surface of the grass to get a better sense of the finished product.

These tests are long, hot, tiring, and repetitive. We’re confident our research will lead you to the right mower, regardless whether your lawn is like a putting green or more like our retention basin. Below are the mowers we recommend, followed by buying advice to help you select the right one for your needs.

For more lawn mower reviews, check out our guides to the best riding lawn mowers, our favorite zero-turn mowers, and the self-propelled mowers we recommend.