To cut tall grass in the garden and have a tidy and aesthetically pleasing lawn, here are the best electric lawn mowers from the most reliable brands and how to correctly choose which one to buy.
The electric lawn mower is an indispensable gardening tool for caring for green spaces and cutting the lawn to the desired length. It is currently the most-used garden tool for lawn maintenance; it is the cheapest alternative to the robot lawn mower and allows you to obtain excellent results without much effort.
The garden is an outdoor space that can carry out many relaxing and recreational activities but requires special and repeated care over time to be pleasantly livable.
This tool can be used by those who only want to thin out their lawn and by those who want to get a concise cut of the grass, depending on their preferences.
Table of Contents
How to choose an electric lawn mower: Types and Characteristics
Several factors need to be considered to choose which mower to buy correctly. First, the lawn’s characteristics, the first decisive criterion, understand the necessary power that the appliance must have and, consequently, the power needed to obtain the best results.
In detail, let’s see all the features to be evaluated to make the right choice.
Lawn features
The characteristics and dimensions of the lawn to be cut are the first and most important parameter that influences the choice of which electric lawn mower to buy:
- A lawn that requires high maintenance and on which action must be taken often presents, usually, a softer grass. A lawn mower with sharp blades will be necessary.
- A more rustic and irregular lawn requires a lawn mower with a good engine and traction.
- An uncultivated lawn on which only occasional or seasonal cuts are made requires using an even more powerful lawn mower with sturdy blades.
The garden grass can differ: some are more stringy, and others are difficult to eradicate or dry. It is always good to consider the lawn’s specific characteristics to make the best choice in purchasing an electric lawn mower.
Power
The power factor refers to the mower’s performance; for this reason, you can select the most suitable mower based on the garden in which you will have to work.
Lawn mowers are divided into two large types if we take the characteristics of the engine as a reference point:
- With the internal combustion engine.
- With electric motor.
For example, on a medium-sized lawn, if the surface to be cut does not exceed 2,700 square feet of extension, a 1,800 Watt mower (if electric) or 4 HP (if with an internal-combustion engine) may be sufficient.
Petrol lawn mower
The petrol lawn mowers have a higher cost but also have a higher power. Since they have a four-stroke petrol engine, they should remember that petrol releases gummy residues into the tank if left stationary.
These can ruin the seals and block the passage of fuel. To remedy the problem, additives on the market stabilize petrol for a long time, reducing residues’ formation.
In addition to gasoline, it is also necessary to use oil, commonly used for car engines. The internal combustion engine model allows you to cut even extensive lawns without being tied to the power cable’s length, which is present in electric models. The power supplied by the motor allows you to always obtain a perfect cut without indecision.
Lawn mower with an electric motor
The electric lawn mowers are suitable for cutting small gardens. They are easy to use and are divided into two sub-categories: wire lawn mowers and battery-powered lawn mowers. They do not require special maintenance and have lower costs.
The wire mowers need to be powered by connecting to the power outlet. Therefore, they have a power that varies from a minimum of 1,000 W to a maximum of 2,000 W in the most powerful models, which will also be the most suitable for working on uneven ground.
The cordless lawn mowers represent the evolution of the classic wire lawn mowers. They have a generally higher price but are much more manageable.
They are equipped with a rechargeable battery, starting from 20 V in simple models, up to 30-40 V in the best professional lawn mowers for the most demanding jobs.
Electric lawn mowers are also lighter than those with an internal combustion engine. However, weight is a feature that must consider since cutting the grass is still a job that requires energy.
Structure and frame
The mower has a straightforward structure in itself. It is equipped with a motor covered by a frame that activates the blades present under it. The central body is easily transportable thanks to the presence of the wheels.
Behind the blades is a removable basket that collects the residues of the cut. The mower is pushed through a high handle, allowing you to push the tool easily. The frame can be made of different materials:
- Plastic
- Sheet steel
- Die-cast aluminum
The metal frame is more resistant, but this affects both the weight and the mower’s price.
Blades
The blades are made of steel and can be of different shapes. In addition, each manufacturer offers blades with different characteristics or inclinations that give different aspects to the cut.
The blades must be resistant because the soil they are used to could be uneven or have stones that could damage them. Constant maintenance and sharpening can ensure a longer blade life.
Wheels
The wheels are indispensable to facilitate transport and, above all, lawn mowers. The petrol engine models are decidedly heavier, and the wheels’ characteristics take on an even more important role than the electric models.
The petrol lawn mowers must have robust, solid wheels to support the engine’s inevitable oscillations. Some models are equipped with a partial traction system and are called self-propelled.
This system is handy, especially when the turf’s slope is demanding, or the surface is huge. In addition, some models have been pivoting on wheels at the front, i.e., wheels that turn on themselves, thus facilitating cutting in more critical areas, such as curves and corners.
The rubber wheels can ensure greater smoothness on the ground, unlike rigid plastic tires.
Removable basket
The removable basket collects the cut grass, is located in front of the mower’s central body, and can be rigid or net (collection bag). The rigid basket can be cleaned very easily using a jet of water, while the mesh basket is less bulky and less heavy but more difficult to clean and more fragile.
The basket can have different sizes and, depending on the models, reach up to 60 liters of volume. For example, the medium-small tonnage models have a basket for collecting about 30-35 liters of volume.
The greater the volume of the removable basket, the less frequently it empties. We must consider this aspect because it affects the greater autonomy of using the mower.
Some baskets are structured in such a way as to allow monitoring of the filling level through the perforated walls or a small window. This measure lets you estimate how long you can work before emptying the basket.
Remove the basket or the collection bag if you prefer to leave the cut grass scattered in the garden to facilitate drying or proceed to its collection.
Handle
The handle is a feature to remember, especially for jobs requiring lasting effort. Therefore, the presence of a handle that facilitates work is essential.
The handle’s design must be as ergonomic as possible to allow a comfortable and firm grip and the mower to be directed precisely and with little effort.
Some models have a height-adjustable handle to personalize and facilitate the use of the instrument. In addition, some handles are foldable or removable to reduce the instrument’s space when not using models with fixed handles that require much more space to be put in order or transported.
Convenience of use
Convenience is one of the determining factors in choosing the mower that best suits your needs.
- Lawn mowers with the internal combustion engine can be used with greater freedom of maneuver and on larger grounds but have an important weight exceeding 90 lbs. They require more thorough maintenance but are more powerful and more resistant.
- The lawn mowers powered by electricity, and equipped with cable, can allow continuous and constant work. They do not require waiting for charging times and do not depend on the battery’s autonomy. However, the cable’s critical element greatly limits the movement and must be careful not to run the risk of it being under the blades.
- Battery-powered lawn mowers ensure greater freedom of movement with a wider range of action. The user can be interrupted due to the battery after being discharged. It takes some time before being fully charged and reusable. Lithium battery models are the best. This type of battery is currently the most efficient and lacks the memory effect that involves losing power of the battery over time.
Noise
Noise is a fact; the manufacturers do not always indicate that it is good to be aware of neighbors or cut lawns in residential areas.
Cordless lawn mowers are the least noisy because they are less powerful than cable-powered ones. However, the lawn mowers inevitably have a certain degree of noise.
The best electric lawn mowers to buy
Below is the selection of the best-recommended quality electric lawn mowers with their respective technical characteristics and prices.
- LIGHTWEIGHT CORDED ELECTRIC MOWER Gasless 10 Amp 15 inch electric mower for powering...
- COMFORT GRIP BIKE HANDLEBAR DESIGN Reduces friction and enhances maneuverability for small...
- ENHANCED CLIPPING COLLECTION Winged Blade yields 30% better clipping collection
- CORDLESS LAWN MOWER – Get more done, faster, with Greenworks electric lawn mowers. This...
- DURABLE / LIGHTWEIGHT 17” POLY DECK – 17 in. rust-resistant lightweight deck designed...
- VERSATILE – Single lever, 5-position height adjustment for the best cut in all...
- Up to 45 minutes of run time on single charge with the recommended 56V 5.0 Ah ARC Lithium...
- 6-position cutting height adjustments: 1.5"- 4"
- 3-in-1 function: Mulching, bagging, side discharge
- CORDLESS LAWN MOWER – Get more done, faster, with Greenworks electric lawn mowers. This...
- LIGHTWEIGHT, EASY TO USE – A lightweight 16” cutting deck allows for easy maneuvering...
- VERSATILE – Battery powered lawn mower has a single lever 5-position height adjustment...
- 【14-INCH Cutting Width & High Efficiency】With 15-inch high impact rust resistant...
- 【5 CUTTING POSITIONS】 From 11.4" - 3", with a one touch height adjustment lever
- 【Adjustable Handle & Efficient Grass Collection】 Mowers are designed for 3 adjustable...
- 【18-INCH CUTTING WIDTH & HIGH EFFICIENCY】With 19-inch high impact rust resistant deck,...
- 【2-IN-1 FUNCTION】Mulch or side discharge
- 【6 CUTTING POSITIONS】 From 1.5" - 4", with a one touch height adjustment lever
- Up to 65 minutes run time on a single charge when used with the two included EGO 56V 4.0Ah...
- Variable Speed Self-Propel: 1.3 MPH to 3.1 MPH
- 6-position cutting height adjustments: 1.5"- 4"
- 【16-INCH Cutting Width & High Efficiency】With a 16-inch metal steel blade,Electric...
- 【5 CUTTING POSITIONS】 From 1.4" - 3", with a one touch height adjustment lever
- 【Adjustable Handle & Efficient Grass Collection 】 Grass Collection rate of 8 Gallon...
- Up to 60 minutes of run time on single charge with the included 56V 7.5Ah ARC Lithium Fuel...
- Adjustable self-propel speed: 0.9 MPH – 3.1 MPH
- 6-position cutting height adjustments: 1.5"- 4"
- CORDED – Corded design offers unlimited runtime for even the biggest jobs.
- POWERFUL ELECTRIC MOTOR – 13 Amp motor supplies ample power for cutting through thick...
- TOOL-FREE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT – A single lever adjusts the mower deck’s 7-setting...
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