While some swear by the riding lawn mower, those with smaller lawns (or in search of a little physical activity) can do fine with a good walk-behind lawn mower. And you can get a great lawn mower for under $300. Read on below to browse our favorite budget picks.
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1. EDITOR’S CHOICE: Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
Pros:- Electric
- Best-Looking Design
- 17-Inch Cut
Cons:- Rubber Grip Wears Around 3 Year Mark
- 20-Inch Version is Too Expensive
- Bag Design Isn't the Greatest
If you’re looking to get away from gas mowers (and, at this point, we highly suggest you go the electric mower route), THE best cordless lawn mower under $300 is the Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower.
Not only is it a great-looking mower that runs on a 40V 4.0Ah battery, but it’s also highly functional. It’s very lightweight and great for small to medium-sized yards, and it also has a rear bagger (or mulcher, if you prefer).
The handle has 5 different adjustable positions available, so you can adjust it easily to the perfect height so that you don’t have to be bent over your mower while you’re mowing (better for your back!).
Greenworks is one of my favorite brands for lawn and home tools, as they’ve got a versatile line of other tools that also use the same 40V battery. For example, I have a snowblower with a 40V battery and this mower with a 40V battery, so I have twice as much power in both the winter and the spring to get the job completed without the fear of running out of battery juice.
My front lawn is 500 square feet and my back lawn is 1,300 square feet, and the mower handles the job on just a single charge. If your lawn is any bigger, you might want to grab another battery. A backup battery pack is worth it in case you didn’t charge your primary battery. Greenworks also makes one of my favorite cordless leaf blowers too.
Find more Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower information and reviews here.
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2. WORX WG779 14-Inch 40V Power Share Cordless Lawn Mower
Pros:- Adjustable from 1.8 to 3.3 inches
- Batteries and charger included
- No gasoline to worry about
Cons:- Approximate four-hour charge time
- Small wheels make it harder to push in thicker grass
- 14 inches is small for an average lawn
Cordless battery-powered lawn mowers can definitely get the job done quickly. The WORX WG779 is a highly rated cordless lawn mower with 76% percent of reviewers giving it four or five stars on Amazon. The WORX WG779 can cut up to 6,000 square feet on a single charge (up to 30 minutes of runtime), and it looks great doing it. The chunky orange and black design will make you think twice about what yard tools are supposed to look like.
The mowing height is adjustable from 1.8 to 3.3 inches and it’s easy to maneuver around the yard thanks to the compact profile and low weight, just 33 pounds. The mower also comes with two removable 20V batteries that combine for a total 40V power profile and a charger.
The WORX WG779 allows for mulching or bagging, whichever you prefer. It doesn’t start with a pull but instead starts with a single switch. It takes approximately four hours to charge the batteries back up so some preliminary planning on your part will be necessary.
To Find Out More or Purchase the WORX WG775 Cordless Lawn Mower Click here.
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3. Greenworks 25022 12 Amp Corded 20-Inch Electric Lawn Mower
Pros:- 3-in-1 feature for dealing with lawn clippings
- No gasoline required
- Durable 20-inch steel cutting deck
Cons:- Requires an extension cord
- Extension cords can be a pain to maneuver around
- Less power than a gas-powered mower
The Greenworks 25022 is a 12 Amp 20-inch corded electric lawn mower whose standout feature is a durable steel 20-inch cutting deck. It gets the job done quicker and more efficiently than most other mowers in this price range.
Its 3-in-1 feature provides multiple options for grass clippings from rear bagging to side-discharge to mulching. It’s ideal for small to medium yards and you’ll breeze through your yard quickly and quietly. The durable steel deck is rust-resistant, a huge plus if you live anywhere with significant rainfall.
The height is adjustable with a single lever and the fact that it doesn’t require any gas means you can store it through the winter without having to worry about maintenance issues. Yes, you’ll need to plug it in to make it work but, that said, it’s a lot less expensive than a cordless lawn mower as well.
To Find Out More or Purchase the GreenWorks 25022 Electric Lawn Mower Click here.
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4. Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower
Pros:- Auto-choke start feature
- Folds for storage
- Large cutting width
Cons:- It's not self-propelled
- Typical gasoline mess and maintenance
- Bagger attachment costs extra
When it comes to power tools for your yard, sometimes simple is best. With this Craftsman M105 3-In-1 Lawn Mower, you’ll have a great tool to keep your grass maintained without a lot of bells and whistles that may just get in the way.
Powered by a 140cc engine with a recoil start & auto choke, this push lawn mower is equipped with both side discharge, rear discharge, and mulching capabilities. It features a 21-inch cutting deck that allows for wider areas of grass to be cut with fewer passes.
It’s great for small or medium-sized yards and is equipped with a dual lever that provides the adjustment of trimmings between six different heights. The durable seven-inch front and 8-inch rear wheels feature zig-zag tread for more traction when mowing your lawn.
No, there’s no self-propulsion on board but think of it this way: the Craftsman M105 is a cost-effective lawn mower that will get you a little workout. You can save even more money by not picking up that exercise machine that will just gather dust in the basement anyway.
Find more Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower information and reviews here.
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5. Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO 14 inch 13 Amp Electric Lawn Mower
Pros:- Lightweight
- Easy to push and steer
- Highly-rated
Cons:- No blade height below two inches
- Your mower is going to look like a toy
- I mean, it REALLY looks like a toy
The Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO 14-Inch Electric Lawn Mower is the perfect pick for those that want to save some money and own a small lawn. Even though it only has a 14-inch blade, it still will get the job done quickly thanks to its easy maneuverability and compact size.
This is one lean, mean green mowing machine that doesn’t quit. Since my lawn is small, this is the mower that I personally own, and I’ve had it for over two years without any fails yet. It does require the typical cleaning and maintenance of electric powered lawn mowers, but it doesn’t require gas or oil.
It may not be the best-looking lawn mower available — unless you like yard tools that look like toys— but it definitely does the job and it’s reliable. The fact that it comes in at less than $150 is a big selling point, too. If you use the Sun Joe MJ401E as it is intended to be used — frequently and on generally well-maintained lawns — it can be one of the best mowers available for those on a budget.
Find more Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO 14 inch 13 Amp Electric Lawn Mower information and reviews here.
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6. LawnMaster ME1218X 19-Inch Electric Lawn Mower
Pros:- Foldable handle for compact storage
- Easy cutting height adjustment lever
- Quiet, effective electric power
Cons:- Requires an extension cord
- Bag system is pretty small
- Plastic, plastic, plastic
The LawnMaster ME1218X 19-Inch Electric Lawn Mower may look like a toy but you’ll learn otherwise when you unleash it on your shaggy grass. This mower will get through uneven, thick turf like nobody’s business. It will even chop up tree branches, acorns, and other yard debris without a second thought.
This LawnMaster is available in a number of different sizes and power profiles but for the price, do yourself a favor and just pick up this one with the largest cutting width and electric motor. Yes, you’ll need an outdoor extension cord but once you get the hang of using a corded lawn mower, it’s really not that big of a deal.
The ME1218X is lightweight and easy to push around the yard. It’s simple to operate: just set your cutting height (from 1-1/2-inches to 4-inches), squeeze the large orange trigger, and off you go. Wheels are all 6.7-inches in diameter and roll easily across the grass. The drawback with a good machine like this that’s light and inexpensive is that it’s primarily made of plastic so how durable the mower will be over the years may vary according to how well you baby it along.
Find more LawnMaster ME1218X 19-Inch Electric Lawn Mower information and reviews here.
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7. American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 Reel Lawn Mower
Pros:- Noise-free
- Simple, safe, and easy to use
- Great ecological solution to cutting grass
Cons:- No motor and no self-propulsion
- Old-fashioned
- No bagging option
This American Lawn Mower 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower is about as simple as it gets. The 1204-14 is a mechanical lawn mower that will cut grass up to four inches tall.
It is easy to assemble and about as easy to use as anything in your tool shed. The mower blades can be adjusted to cut at your desired length. It has a durable yet comfortable handle that will provide an excellent balance between grip and comfort.
The lawn mower is practical and a very ecologically savvy solution since it has zero carbon emissions. Forget about an extension cord, expensive battery platforms, fumes, oil, fuel, and noise of powered lawnmowers. If you want a maneuverable lawnmower that is lightweight and low maintenance (just sharpen the blade every three years or so), this really is the most low-key solution that’s out there.
Find more American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 Reel Lawn Mower information and reviews here.
What's the Best Lawn Mower for Under $300?
The easy answer is whatever you can get. But allow me to follow that up with some good news: a lawn mower for less than $300 isn't necessarily going to fail after a season or two.
In fact, you're going to be pleasantly surprised with what's out there these days for that small budget. With electric models getting better and lasting longer, gas models are coming drastically down in price.
With gas-powered lawn mowers come more amenities for a lower price including self-propulsion and more bagging options. They're typically stronger than their electric cousins as well.
That said, it's becoming less of a problem. Companies such as Greenworks, E-GO, and WORX are coming up with some pretty great mowers that offer less noise, no fumes, and almost no maintenance. And they offer all of that while providing nearly as much power as a gas engine.
And along with picking up a mower that's right for you, it's important to understand there's a right and a wrong way to mow your grass. Learning how to mow the lawn is as crucial as choosing the right lawn mower.
One more thing: consider picking up a good lawn edger. They're not that expensive and high-performance edgers put a great finishing touch on your hard work. If you have yard OCD like me, they're must-have machines.
What's the Easiest Lawn Mower to Use?
Depending on your own skill level, the best lawn mower for you might be a cordless electric lawn mower. There is virtually nothing to take care of, there isn't a cord to trip over, and it requires no gasoline, oil, or effort.
Electric mowers that feature self-propulsion are typically expensive (or at least they used to be) but that might not kill the deal for you. Electric mowers are very lightweight and unless you have steep hills to deal with, pushing one around is generally really easy.
I've owned a small, professional lawn mower for years and it does take some effort to keep the oil clean, the blade sharp, and the gasoline taken care of each year. But I'm a DIY kind of guy and I like that sort of thing. I'm not sure what I'd do if the machine I was using didn't make noise!
I really enjoy mowing my lawn and I'm used to operating my gas mower. It provides some exercise (at least a little bit) in the form of pushing it and hauling the grass to the disposal bin. Its powerful engine also takes care of a lot of debris in the spring and the fall without me having to rake up too much.
I also like saving money and gas mowers these days can be found ultra-cheap if you know what you're looking for. For far less than $300, a number of brand-name mowers are available for you to look at.
Here's the other thing about electric lawnmowers: the batteries will eventually wear out and need replacing. At this point, the major electric tool vendors haven't been around long enough to demonstrate how far into the future their electric batteries will last or if they'll keep the same form factor for your particular mower.