The Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers

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A self-propelled mower drives its own wheels, so you steer instead of shoving. That matters more than most people expect. A 21-inch self-propelled mower weighs 60 to 85 lb, and pushing that up a slope with a full bag gets old fast.

This guide covers both battery and gas. Battery is the better pick for most lawns up to about half an acre. Gas still makes sense for bigger lawns, long wet grass or if you’d rather not manage batteries.

I chose these based on the published specs and owner reviews, plus long-term reviews from ToolBoxBuzz, Pro Tool Reviews and Gardening Etc. I build things from metal and composites in my workshop, so I looked hard at drive systems, deck material and weight, and I use EGO battery tools on my own lawn.

The picks

How self-propel works

Three drive layouts show up on walk-behind mowers:

• Rear-wheel drive (RWD). The best for hills and bagging. When the bag fills, weight shifts back onto the driven wheels, so grip goes up. Most mowers here are RWD.
• Front-wheel drive (FWD). Easier to turn because you lift the front wheels off the ground. It loses grip uphill and with a full bag.
• All-wheel drive (AWD). Best grip on steep or rough lawns. Heavier and more expensive.

Speed control varies too. Some mowers use a bail or lever, others use a thumb dial or a bar you push forward. Toro’s Personal Pace and Honda’s Smart Drive adjust speed to how hard you push the handle. Try the controls in a store if you can, because some people never get used to one style.

1. EGO Select Cut XP LM2135SP: best overall

EGO’s LM2135SP is a 21-inch, rear-wheel-drive battery mower with two stacked blades, a 56V 7.5Ah battery and a 550W charger. EGO’s chart lists up to 60 minutes of runtime, a 1 to 4-inch cutting height and 63.9 lb without the battery.

ToolBoxBuzz measured 50 minutes at full speed and lists a 1.8 to 3.6 mph drive range, a 2-bushel bag, LED headlights and a 5-year mower warranty with a 3-year battery warranty.

Why it’s the pick:

• Touch Drive is light and simple to control.
• The dual-blade deck chops clippings finer for mulching.
• One-handed height adjustment and folding storage.

What to watch: the runtime drops on hills and at top speed, and the price is high for a 21-inch mower.

2. Honda HRN216VKA: best gas self-propelled mower

The HRN216VKA is the standard by which gas walk-behinds get judged. Honda lists a GCV170 engine, a 21-inch 16-gauge steel deck, Smart Drive variable speed from 0 to 4 mph, seven cutting heights from 1 to 4 inches, MicroCut twin blades, auto choke, a 1.9-bushel bag and 79 lb dry. The warranty is 3 years residential, and Honda’s MSRP sits in the $500 to $600 range.

Gardening Etc’s review liked the self-propel on slopes and the fact it folds to store flat. They disliked the plastic wheels and said the Smart Drive lever takes practice.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Proven Honda engine and easy starting with auto choke.
• Twin blades for fine mulching.
• Steel deck, no batteries to manage.

What to watch: fuel and oil changes, more noise, and plastic wheels on a mower at this price.

3. Toro 60V Recycler 22-inch with Personal Pace (21466): best for hills

Toro’s 22-inch battery mower brings Personal Pace Auto-Drive to the 60V line. Push the handle harder and it speeds up; ease off and it slows. Toro lists a 14-gauge steel deck, rear-wheel drive, a 60V 6.0Ah battery, up to 40 minutes or 1/3 acre per charge, a 1 to 4-inch cutting height and 85 lb. The warranty is 2 years on the mower and 3 years on the battery.

Why it’s a good choice:

• Personal Pace feels the most like a premium gas Toro.
• Heavy steel deck and rear-wheel drive for traction.
• 22-inch deck means slightly fewer passes.

What to watch: 85 lb is heavy, runtime is short for the size, and Toro sells it mainly through dealers.

4. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-inch RY40HPLM01: best value battery pick

This is Ryobi’s single-blade 40V HP self-propelled mower. Ryobi sells it as a bare tool in the $400 to $500 range or as a kit with two 6Ah batteries and a charger in the $600 to $700 range, with up to 80 minutes on those two batteries and a rating for lawns up to 3/4 acre. Ryobi’s spec page lists a 21-inch composite deck with a lifetime deck warranty, a 1 to 4-inch cutting height, 66.8 lb, rear-wheel drive and a 5-year tool warranty.

Why it’s a good choice:

• The longest claimed runtime here, thanks to two batteries.
• Lighter than the CrossCut version.
• Cut Command Center shows runtime and blade life and turns on turbo mode.

What to watch: two 6Ah batteries make the kit expensive if you’re not already on Ryobi 40V, and the composite deck isn’t for everyone.

The dual-blade version is in my cordless mower guide, and the Ryobi cordless mower review covers the line.

5. EGO Select Cut XP LM2156SP: best for half an acre on one battery

The LM2156SP is the same Select Cut self-propelled mower as the LM2135SP, with a 10Ah battery and a 700W charger. EGO’s chart lists up to 75 minutes of runtime and the same 63.9 lb tool weight and 1 to 4-inch cutting height.

Why it’s a good choice:

• More runtime without carrying a second battery.
• The 10Ah pack also extends runtime on EGO blowers.

What to watch: the bigger battery adds weight and cost, and the 10Ah pack takes longer to charge.

6. Toro 60V Recycler 21-inch (21327): best lighter steel-deck battery mower

Toro’s 21-inch self-propelled battery mower is lighter than the 22-inch model. Toro lists a 15-gauge steel deck, rear-wheel drive up to 3.2 mph, a 6.0Ah battery, up to 52 minutes or half an acre, a 1.25 to 3.75-inch cutting height and 66 lb.

What to watch: two-point height adjustment and a 3.75-inch maximum height, the lowest top setting among the 21-inch battery mowers here.

7. DeWalt 2x20V MAX DCMWSP244U2: best for DeWalt users

DeWalt’s mower uses two 20V 10Ah batteries and front-wheel drive. DeWalt lists a 21-1/2-inch deck, a 1-1/2 to 4-inch cutting height, up to 60 minutes per charge and a 3-year limited warranty.

Pro Tool Reviews found it quiet and good for lawns up to about 1/3 acre, but said the drive takes getting used to and it clumps in heavy grass.

What to watch: front-wheel drive is the weak spot on slopes and when bagging.

8. Greenworks 80V 21-inch MO80L416: best for fast charging

Greenworks’ 80V mower is a rear-wheel-drive, steel-deck mower with a brushless motor. Greenworks lists a 4.0Ah battery, up to 33 minutes runtime, about 40 minutes to recharge, seven heights from 1-3/8 to 4 inches, 75 lb and a 4-year warranty.

What to watch: 33 minutes won’t cover much more than a quarter acre in thick grass.

Battery or gas self-propelled?

For most suburban lawns, battery wins on convenience. Electric vs gas lawn mower goes through it in detail.

What to look for

Drive type. Rear-wheel drive for slopes and bagging. Front-wheel drive only on flat lawns.

Speed control. Variable speed is a must. A max of 3 to 4 mph covers fast walkers; slow walkers want a low minimum.

Cutting height. Cool-season lawns like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass are usually kept taller than warm-season grasses like Bermuda, so a mower that goes up to 4 inches gives you more room. My cool-season vs warm-season grass guide explains the difference.

Weight. You’ll feel it when turning at the end of a row and when lifting it into storage.

Mulch, bag, side discharge. All the mowers here do all three. Mulching returns clippings to the lawn.

Storage. Most battery mowers fold and stand upright. The Honda folds flat.

Who should skip self-propel

Self-propel adds weight, cost and one more thing that can wear out. Skip it if:

• Your lawn is small and flat. Under about a quarter acre with no slopes, a push mower like the EGO LM2114 does the job at 45.2 lb.
• You store the mower up steps or hang it. A 17-inch push mower around 30 lb is far easier to carry. See best lawn mowers for small yards.
• Budget is tight. The money is better spent on a bigger battery or a sharp spare blade.

If you’re on the fence, check the slope. Even a gentle grade feels very different after twenty passes with a full bag.

Self-propelled mowing tips

• Set the speed before you start a row, not mid-turn.
• Mow across slopes with a walk-behind, not up and down.
• Mow often enough that you only take a little off each pass. My how to mow a lawn guide covers heights and timing.
• Keep the blade sharp. See how to sharpen a lawn mower blade.

When to buy

Self-propelled kits often get bundled with a second battery or a trimmer during spring and holiday sales. When do lawn mowers go on sale covers the timing.

My pick

For most lawns up to half an acre, the EGO LM2135SP is the self-propelled mower I’d recommend. For gas, the Honda HRN216VKA is the safe choice. For steep yards on a battery, the Toro 21466 with Personal Pace and rear-wheel drive is worth the extra weight.