The 6 Best 24V Lawn Mowers of 2026

Updated July 3, 2026
Affiliate Disclosure
We analyzed multiple models using our proprietary SmartScore™ algorithm to bring you the best lawn mowers you can buy in 2026.
Disclaimer: While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all product features listed are complete or error-free. Please confirm the details with the retailer before making a purchase.
Lawn Mower Buying Guide
Mower Type

The type of mower is the foundation of your entire purchase, and it comes down to how much lawn you have and how much of the work you actually want to do yourself. Get this right and everything else falls into place.

  • Walk-Behind — The classic, most versatile choice. You walk behind and steer it. Ideal for small to medium yards, easy to store, and available in every power source imaginable.
  • Riding — You sit and drive. These shine on large properties where walking would take forever, but they need serious garage or shed space and a bigger budget.
  • Zero-Turn — A riding mower with a 360-degree turning radius, meaning it pivots on a dime. The go-to for large yards packed with trees, flower beds, and obstacles. Fast and precise, but there's a learning curve.
  • Robotic — The "set it and forget it" option. It mows on a schedule while you do literally anything else. Great for tidy, modestly sized lawns, though the upfront cost stings.
  • Tow-Behind — An attachment pulled by a tractor or ATV, used for very large acreage. This is a specialty tool, not a primary mower for most homeowners.
  • Hover — Rides on a cushion of air instead of wheels, making it nimble on slopes and uneven terrain. A niche pick, but unbeatable for tricky banks and hillsides.

Match the type to your property first. Most homeowners land on a walk-behind for anything under half an acre and start eyeing riding or zero-turn models once the lawn stretches past that.

Yard Size

Your lawn's size quietly dictates nearly every other spec, from cutting width to battery runtime. Being honest about your acreage saves you from overbuying a beast you don't need or underbuying a mower that leaves you exhausted.

  • Small Yard (Under 1/4 Acre) — A compact walk-behind, robotic, or reel mower handles this with ease. Storage and maneuverability matter more than raw power here.
  • Medium Yard (1/4 - 1/2 Acre) — The sweet spot for battery-powered and gas walk-behinds. A self-propelled model starts to feel worth it at this size.
  • Large Yard (1/2 - 1 Acre) — You'll appreciate a wider cutting deck and either a high-capacity battery or a gas engine. Riding mowers become a reasonable consideration.
  • Extra Large Yard (Over 1 Acre) — Riding or zero-turn territory. Walk-behinds are technically possible but will eat your weekends alive.

Measure before you shop. A mower rated for your yard size keeps mowing to a single, sane session rather than a multi-day ordeal.

Power Source

How your mower gets its energy shapes your maintenance routine, your noise level, and your ongoing costs. This is one of the most consequential choices you'll make, and the market has shifted hard toward battery power in recent years for good reason.

  • Gas — Maximum power and unlimited runtime as long as you keep filling the tank. The trade-off is noise, fumes, and real maintenance: oil changes, spark plugs, and winterizing. Best for large yards and heavy, tall grass.
  • Corded Electric — Lightweight, quiet, and never runs out of juice, but you're tethered to an outlet and dragging a cord. Fine for small yards near the house, frustrating anywhere else.
  • Battery Powered — The modern favorite. Quiet, no fumes, push-button starts, and almost no maintenance. Runtime and charging are the only real limits, and both keep improving every year.
  • Manual Reel — No motor at all; the blades spin as you push. Silent, zero emissions, and cheap, but it demands muscle and only works on small, well-kept lawns.

For most homeowners today, battery power hits the best balance of convenience and capability. Reserve gas for large or rugged properties, and skip corded unless your lawn is tiny and outlet-adjacent.

Cutting Width

Cutting width is the size of the path the mower clears in a single pass, measured across the deck. A wider deck means fewer passes and faster mowing, but it also means a bulkier machine that's harder to store and steer around obstacles.

  • Under 16 in — Compact and nimble, perfect for tight spaces, narrow gates, and postage-stamp lawns. Expect more passes on anything larger.
  • 16 in to 18 in — A great match for small yards where maneuverability beats speed. Common on lighter electric and reel mowers.
  • 19 in to 21 in — The most popular range for walk-behind mowers, balancing efficiency and control for typical suburban lawns.
  • 22 in to 30 in — Wider decks that cut mowing time noticeably. Found on premium walk-behinds and entry-level riding mowers for larger yards.
  • 31 in & Larger — Riding and zero-turn territory, built to clear big properties in as few passes as possible.

Bigger isn't automatically better. Pick the widest deck that still fits through your gates and around your landscaping, and you'll get speed without the storage headaches.

Drive Type

This determines whether you provide the muscle or the mower does. It's a small spec with a big impact on how tired you feel when the job's done, especially on hills or heavier machines.

  • Push — You supply all the forward motion. Lighter, cheaper, and simpler, with fewer parts to break. Ideal for small, flat lawns where the mower's weight isn't fighting you.
  • Self-Propelled — The mower drives itself forward while you steer. A back-saver on larger yards, slopes, or with heavier gas models. Costs more, but the comfort is often worth every penny.

If your lawn is small and flat, a push mower keeps things simple and affordable. Once there are hills, distance, or heft involved, self-propelled quickly stops feeling like a luxury.

Wheel Drive

For self-propelled mowers, wheel drive describes which wheels pull the machine forward. It sounds like a minor detail, but it directly affects traction and how the mower behaves when you tilt it to turn.

  • Front-Wheel Drive — Easy to turn since you can tip the mower back on its rear wheels without disengaging drive. Best on flat lawns; loses traction on slopes when weight shifts backward.
  • Rear-Wheel Drive — Keeps traction on inclines and when the grass catcher is full and weighing down the back. A strong all-around choice for varied terrain.
  • All-Wheel Drive — Power to every wheel for maximum grip on hills, wet grass, and uneven ground. The most capable and the most expensive option.

Flat lawn shoppers do fine with front-wheel drive. If hills or rough terrain are in the picture, rear-wheel or all-wheel drive will pay you back in confident traction.

Engine Size

For gas mowers, engine size is measured in cubic centimeters (cc) and roughly indicates power and torque. More cc's help the mower chew through tall, thick, or wet grass without bogging down, but they also mean more fuel and a heavier machine.

  • Under 150 cc — Suited to light-duty mowing on small lawns with regularly trimmed grass. Efficient but easily overwhelmed by dense growth.
  • 150 cc to 179 cc — A solid middle ground for typical residential lawns and average grass conditions.
  • 180 cc to 224 cc — Extra muscle for larger yards, thicker turf, and bagging where the engine works harder.
  • 225 cc & Larger — Serious power for demanding jobs, tall grass, and riding mowers covering big acreage.

Don't chase the highest cc rating for its own sake. Match engine size to your grass conditions, remembering that thicker, faster-growing lawns and bagging both benefit from a little extra power.

Start Type

How you fire up the mower is a small daily interaction that can either be effortless or a source of quiet dread. The days of yanking a cord until your shoulder aches are fading, but the method still varies by power source.

  • Push Button Start — One press and you're mowing. Standard on battery mowers and a huge convenience upgrade. No cord, no priming, no drama.
  • Recoil Pull Start — The traditional pull cord found on most gas mowers. Reliable and simple, but it can take a few frustrating tugs, especially in cold weather.
  • Key Start — Turn a key like a car, common on riding mowers and some premium gas models. Effortless, though it adds cost and a battery to maintain.

If easy starting matters to you, push-button (battery) or key start delivers it every time. Recoil is perfectly fine, just know it occasionally tests your patience.

Battery Voltage

On cordless mowers, voltage is the headline spec that signals raw power. Higher voltage generally means more cutting force and better performance in tough grass, though it often adds weight and cost. It also ties you into a brand's battery ecosystem.

  • 20V / 24V — Entry-level power for small yards and light grass. Lightweight and affordable, but not built for heavy work.
  • 40V / 48V — A popular mid-range that handles typical suburban lawns comfortably. Good balance of power and battery weight.
  • 56V / 60V — Strong, gas-rivaling performance for larger yards and thicker turf. Common among the leading cordless brands.
  • 80V — Top-tier cordless power for demanding jobs and big properties, closing the gap with gas mowers entirely.

Higher voltage buys you power and headroom, but consider the whole platform: if you already own tools from a brand, staying within its voltage system lets your batteries work across your whole collection.

Battery Capacity

If voltage is the power, capacity is the fuel tank. Measured in amp-hours (Ah), it determines how long you can mow on a single charge. More capacity means more runtime, but also a heavier, pricier battery.

  • Under 4.0 Ah — Enough for quick jobs on small lawns. Light and easy to handle, but you may need a spare for anything larger.
  • 4.0 Ah to 5.9 Ah — A practical range for most small to medium yards, offering a reasonable runtime without excessive bulk.
  • 6.0 Ah to 7.9 Ah — Extended mowing for medium to large lawns, cutting down on mid-job recharges.
  • 8.0 Ah & Larger — Maximum endurance for big properties, letting you finish in one go. Heavier and more expensive, but fewer interruptions.

Think in terms of your lawn size and whether you want to finish in one charge. A larger battery, or a second battery to swap in, is the surest way to avoid stopping halfway to recharge.

Runtime

Runtime is the real-world payoff of voltage and capacity combined: how many minutes of continuous mowing you get per charge. Manufacturer estimates assume ideal conditions, so tall or wet grass will trim these numbers.

  • Under 30 Min — Fine for small lawns and touch-ups. You'll want a backup battery for anything more ambitious.
  • 30 Min to 45 Min — Covers most small to medium yards in a single session under normal conditions.
  • 46 Min to 60 Min — Comfortable endurance for medium to large lawns without constant clock-watching.
  • Over 60 Min — Long-haul runtime for large properties, often achieved with high-capacity or dual batteries.

Take advertised runtimes as a best case and pad your expectations for thick grass. When in doubt, a spare battery turns any runtime rating into effectively unlimited mowing.

Motor Type

Cordless mowers use one of two motor designs, and the difference genuinely matters for performance and longevity. It's an easy spec to overlook, but it separates the budget machines from the ones built to last.

  • Brushless — More efficient, quieter, and longer-lasting. These motors run cooler, squeeze more runtime from the same battery, and adjust power to the workload. The premium standard, and worth seeking out.
  • Brushed — The older, cheaper design with physical brushes that wear down over time. Perfectly functional for light use, but less efficient and shorter-lived.

If your budget allows, choose brushless. The efficiency gains, longer lifespan, and better runtime make it the smarter long-term investment on almost any cordless mower.

Waterproof Rating

Grass and moisture go hand in hand, so a mower's water resistance, expressed as an IPX rating, indicates how well its electronics survive damp conditions and cleaning. Higher numbers mean better protection, which matters most for battery mowers you'll hose down.

  • IPX4 — Protected against splashes from any direction. Adequate for morning dew and light moisture.
  • IPX5 — Withstands low-pressure water jets, giving you more freedom to rinse off clippings.
  • IPX6 — Handles powerful water jets, the most robust rating in this range and the most forgiving during cleaning.

Never mow soaking-wet grass regardless of rating, but a higher IPX number gives peace of mind for dewy mornings and easier post-mow cleanup.

Deck Material

The deck is the housing over the blade, and its material affects durability, weight, and how well the mower resists rust and dents. It's a spec that quietly determines how many seasons your mower will keep performing.

  • Steel Deck — Tough and durable, standing up to rocks and hard knocks. The trade-off is weight and a vulnerability to rust if scratched and neglected.
  • Poly Deck — Made of durable plastic composite that never rusts and shrugs off dents. Lightweight and low-maintenance, common on battery mowers.
  • Aluminum Deck — Rust-proof and lighter than steel while still sturdy. Often found on higher-end mowers, though it comes at a premium.

Poly decks are ideal for low-maintenance, rust-free longevity, while steel offers rugged toughness if you don't mind occasional care. Match the material to your climate and how gently you treat your equipment.

Weight

A mower's weight influences how easy it is to push, maneuver, turn, and store, especially if you have hills, tight corners, or need to lift it. Lighter isn't always better, though, since heavier mowers often bring more power and stability.

  • Under 30 lbs — Featherweight and effortless to handle, typical of reel and small electric mowers. Easy to carry and store.
  • 30 lbs to 50 lbs — Light and manageable, common among battery walk-behinds. A good balance for most small yards.
  • 51 lbs to 80 lbs — Sturdier gas and larger battery mowers. More capable, but a self-propelled drive helps at this weight.
  • 81 lbs to 150 lbs — Heavier gas mowers where self-propulsion becomes essential to avoid a workout.
  • Over 150 lbs — Riding and zero-turn machines, meant to be driven rather than pushed.

Consider not just mowing but lifting and storing. If you'll haul the mower up steps or into a car, lean lighter; if power and stability rule, let self-propulsion carry the extra weight for you.

Grass Handling

What the mower does with the clippings affects your lawn's health and your cleanup routine. Most mowers offer more than one option, and having the flexibility to switch based on the season is genuinely useful.

  • Mulching — Chops clippings finely and returns them to the lawn as natural fertilizer. Great for lawn health and zero cleanup, best when you mow frequently.
  • Bagging — Collects clippings in an attached bag for a clean, manicured look. Ideal for tidy lawns and for clearing leaves, though you'll empty the bag as you go.
  • Side Discharge — Ejects clippings out the side, handling tall or overgrown grass quickly without clogging. The go-to for large or infrequently mowed areas.
  • Rear Discharge — Sends clippings out the back, common on wider decks and riding mowers for even spreading on big properties.

Look for a mower offering multiple modes, often called a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1, so you can mulch for lawn health, bag for a clean finish, and discharge when the grass gets ahead of you.

Features

Beyond the core specs, a handful of convenience features can meaningfully improve the mowing experience. None of these are dealbreakers on their own, but the right combination makes a mower far more pleasant to live with, and some quietly save you money.

  • LED Headlights — Let you mow at dusk or in low light, handy for anyone squeezing yard work into a busy schedule.
  • Foldable Handle — Collapses for compact storage and easier transport, a real space-saver in a crowded garage.
  • Deck Wash Port — A hookup for your garden hose to rinse clippings from under the deck without tipping the mower over.
  • Power Bank Battery — Some battery packs double as USB chargers for phones and devices, extending their usefulness beyond mowing.
  • Adjustable Speed — Lets you match self-propelled pace to your stride and the terrain, rather than being dragged along.
  • Battery Included — Confirms the battery comes in the box, since some cordless mowers sell the tool alone. Always check this before buying.
  • Charger Included — Same principle as the battery; a "bare tool" listing may not include a charger, which adds hidden cost.
  • Tool-Free Assembly — Gets you mowing out of the box without hunting for wrenches, a small but appreciated convenience.

Read the listing carefully, especially the battery and charger inclusions, because a low sticker price can hide the cost of parts sold separately. Prioritize the features that fit your real habits over a long spec sheet you'll never use.

Brands

Brand reputation is a useful shortcut for quality, support, and, crucially for cordless mowers, the battery ecosystem your future tools will share. These names consistently rank among the most popular and well-reviewed on the market.

  • EGO — A leader in high-performance cordless mowers, known for its powerful 56V platform that genuinely rivals gas.
  • Greenworks — Offers a wide, budget-friendly range of battery mowers across several voltage systems, popular with value-focused buyers.
  • Ryobi — Beloved for its enormous battery ecosystem, letting one battery power dozens of yard and power tools.
  • Toro — A trusted name in both gas and battery mowers, respected for durable build quality and smart cutting features.
  • Honda — Long revered for reliable, smooth-running gas engines, a benchmark for gas mower dependability.
  • Craftsman — A familiar, widely available brand spanning gas and cordless, offering dependable all-rounders.
  • Husqvarna — Known for premium gas mowers, robotic models, and serious riding equipment for larger properties.
  • Makita and DeWalt — Trusted power-tool brands whose cordless mowers appeal to those already invested in their battery systems.

Choose a brand for its reputation, but for cordless especially, think about the battery platform you're buying into. Committing to one system means your mower, trimmer, blower, and drills can all share the same batteries, saving money and clutter down the road.

Frequently Asked Questions
For most homeowners today, battery-powered mowers are more than capable and often the smarter buy. Modern cordless models on 56V, 60V, and 80V platforms deliver cutting power that rivals gas, all while being quieter, fume-free, and nearly maintenance-free. Gas still holds an edge for very large properties, tall or wet grass, and all-day mowing where you can't stop to recharge. But if your lawn is under an acre and you value convenience, battery power is the direction the whole market is heading, and for good reason.

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Match the mower to your acreage. Under a quarter acre, a compact walk-behind, robotic, or reel mower is plenty. From a quarter to half an acre, a standard battery or gas walk-behind hits the sweet spot, and a self-propelled model starts to feel worth it. From half an acre to an acre, you'll want a wider deck and a strong battery or gas engine. Over an acre, it's time to consider a riding or zero-turn mower, since a walk-behind will consume entire weekends.

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It comes down to your lawn's size and terrain. A push mower is lighter, cheaper, and simpler, making it ideal for small, flat yards where the mower's weight won't fight you. A self-propelled mower drives itself forward while you steer, which is a genuine back-saver on larger lawns, hills, or with heavier gas models. If your yard has any distance, slopes, or heft involved, the extra cost of self-propelled quickly stops feeling like a luxury and starts feeling essential.

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Yes, cutting width directly affects how long mowing takes. A wider deck clears more grass per pass, meaning fewer passes and a faster finish, but it also makes the mower bulkier to store and harder to steer around obstacles. Most suburban lawns are well served by the popular 19-to-21-inch range. Larger yards benefit from 22 inches and up, while tight spaces and small lawns do better with narrower decks. The trick is picking the widest deck that still fits through your gates and around your landscaping.

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A brushless motor is the more advanced, efficient design found on better cordless mowers, and it's generally worth the extra cost. Compared to older brushed motors, brushless runs quieter and cooler, lasts significantly longer, and squeezes more runtime out of the same battery by adjusting power to the workload. Brushed motors are cheaper and fine for light-duty use, but they wear out faster. If your budget allows, brushless is the smarter long-term investment on almost any battery mower.

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Brand matters more than usual for cordless mowers because of the battery ecosystem. When you buy into a brand like EGO, Ryobi, Greenworks, Makita, or DeWalt, you're committing to a battery platform that its other tools share. Sticking with one system means your mower, trimmer, blower, and drills can all run on the same interchangeable batteries, saving you money and clutter over time. Beyond the batteries, established brands also tend to offer better durability, warranty support, and replacement parts.

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Not always, so this is one of the most important things to check before buying. Some cordless mowers are sold as "bare tools," meaning the battery and charger are sold separately and can add significant hidden cost to a tempting sticker price. Listings usually specify "battery included" and "charger included" when they come in the box. Always read the details carefully, since two mowers at very different prices might actually cost about the same once you factor in the parts you need to buy.

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It depends heavily on the power source. Gas mowers need the most upkeep: oil changes, spark plug replacements, air filter cleaning, fuel stabilizing, and winterizing at the end of the season. Battery and corded electric mowers are dramatically lower-maintenance, with no engine to service, and mostly ask that you keep the deck clean and store the battery properly. Manual reel mowers need only occasional blade sharpening. If minimizing upkeep is a priority, an electric or battery model will save you both time and ongoing costs.

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