“Walk behind lawn mowers” are designed to move on their own, instead of being pushed by a person. They’re an excellent option for lawns up to a quarter of an acre and are easier to maneuver than push mowers. We researched dozens of models, evaluating ease of use, maneuverability, and value.
Our best overall pick is the Earthquake Walk Behind String Mower, which is easy to maneuver and has a powerful battery.
Here are the best walk behind lawn mowers.
Best Walk Behind Lawn Mowers: Editor Recommended
Our Editor’s Best Walk Behind Lawn Mowers Reviews
- CLEAR & COLLECT: The PickUp Pro 2 is the best and fastest way to clear leaves and grass clippings from lawns, paths and driveways. Our unique barbed spinning brush sweeps the debris into the collection bag as you walk. Not suitable for wet leaves, large debris, fruit/nuts or pet waste.
- PUSH & GO: There’s no motor to worry about here, our Push & Go design means that the PickUp Pro 2 is ready to go whenever you are. Simply walk the device forwards and watch the brush spin 6 times for every wheel rotation.
- LARGE HOPPER: The Pickup Pro 2 has a large capacity, 3.65ft³ hopper to collect a high volume of waste to reduce emptying times. The non-woven bag material is hard wearing and tear resistant and is supported by an easy-to-handle metal frame to make emptying a breeze.
- QUICK HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT: No tools are needed to adjust the working height on the go. Easily dial in the right height for your surface using the central handwheel to move the axel up and down. We recommend starting high and working down to find the optimal height for your surface.
- NEW & IMPROVED: This second-generation model features a new and improved barbed brush, larger and more ergonomic hopper and simplified assembly. From extensive testing we have designed this new mode to be the best.
- Powerful & Easy-Start Gas Engine: Get going quickly with the reliable 144cc 4-stroke OHV engine on this gas lawn mower. Features a convenient primer button for simplified cold starts, delivering robust 3.8 HP (2.9 kW), 5.8 ft.lb torque, and 3600 RPM power to cut through tough grass effortlessly.
- 8-Position Cutting Height: Achieve your ideal lawn with the single-lever, 4-wheel synchronized adjustment! This 20-inch gas mower offers 8 precise height settings (0.7" to 3.2") for versatile turf control.
- Superior Maneuverability & Comfort: Glide effortlessly with 7" rear / 6" front double ball-bearing wheels. The ergonomic, foam-wrapped angled grip on this lawn mower reduces fatigue during extended operation.
- Durable 20-Inch Deck & Clean Cut: Built to last, the reinforced 20-inch cutting deck and specialized blade on this gas mower ensure a consistently clean, even cut for a professional-looking lawn every time.
- Essential Engine Care Tip: Protect your gas lawn mower's longevity – Avoid tipping or inverting the mower to prevent oil from entering the combustion chamber.
- Scotts Lawn Sweeper with 26” Sweeping Width. Light weight and easy to use
- Scotts Lawn Sweeper recommended for level ground only. The push sweeper has a spinning rake like brush action to clean your lawn, patio, yard, sidewalk, and driveway
- Height of brushes must be adjusted to your lawn. Set brushes ¼” Deep into your grass
- Scotts Lawn Sweeper only works on dry leaves and debris, sweeps up 80% on first pass
- Lawn Sweeper does not work for collecting rocks, nuts, pinecones, or any wet material
- Precision Cutting with 5-Blade Reel – Achieve a clean, scissor-like cut that promotes a healthier lawn with a high-quality 5-blade reel design.
- Adjustable Cutting Height – Easily customize your lawn’s look with a height adjustment range from ½ inch to 2 ½ inches, perfect for different grass types.
- Eco-Friendly & Quiet Operation – Enjoy a greener, noise-free mowing experience with a manual reel mower
- Comfortable & Easy to Maneuver – The cushion-grip T-handle provides superior comfort and control, reducing hand fatigue while mowing.
- Convenient Grass Catcher Included – Keep your lawn neat and tidy with the included grass catcher, which efficiently collects clippings for easy disposal.
- Choose Your runtime- choose your battery. Recommended 60V Max* 4.0Ah, 5.0 Ah, 6.0 Ah and 7.5 Ah batteries.
- Self-Propelled mower with a 2-point height of cut that allows for quick deck adjusting to keep an even cut.
- Advanced bag to reduce blow out and hold more clippings with the large, easy-to-empty mulching bag.
- Self-Propelled mower that cuts up to 1/3 of acre in 42 minutes or less on a full charge at the start of a button.
- 3-phase brushless motor with RunSmart technology for increased runtime and optimized performance.
- 【Battery Operated Lawn Mower】 X2 battery lawn mower features a 15-Inch cutting width, 45 minutes of continuous operation after full charge (135mins). Please fully charge the battery before use.
- 【2-in-1 Mowing Feature】 Allows you to either mulch or bag grass clippings. Lightweight and compact, great for mowing for small to medium size yards.
- 【6-Position Height Adjustment】Cordless electric lawnmower has a 6-position single lever height adjustment that offers cutting heights ranging from 1" to 3"; Folding handles make storage and transport a breeze
- 【Battery Level Indicator】 Stay informed with the On-Board Battery Charge Indicator, allowing you to keep an eye on the remaining power at all times; The innovative ECO Mode maximizes battery life.
- 【What's in the Box】 40V Max X2 electric push mower comes with 2 20V lithium-ion batteries, lithium-ion battery charger, and 11 gallons grass bag.
- EXCEEDS POWER OF GAS - This EGO self-propelled lawn mower delivers up to 11.1 ft-lbs of cutting torque and blade speeds up to 3,350 RPM for power and performance that exceeds gas-powered mowers
- LIFETIME DECK WARRANTY - Built to stand the test of time, this battery lawnmower features an ultra-durable 22-inch cast aluminum deck protected by a lifetime warranty
- UP TO 70 MINUTES OF RUNTIME - Get up to 70 minutes of runtime on a single charge with the included 56V 10.0Ah battery; compatible with all EGO 56V ARC Lithium batteries
- SELECT CUT MULTI-BLADE CUTTING SYSTEM - Customize your cut with interchangeable lower blades; this battery powered mower includes high-performance and high-lift bagging lower blades plus an upper blade
- TOUCH DRIVE SELF-PROPELLED TECHNOLOGY - Engage the self-propel function with the touch of your palm and change speed with the scroll of a dial at your fingertips
- Push Lawn Sweeper, 26-Inch Width, 7 Cu. Ft. Hopper Capacity, 4 Spinning Brushes, Adjustable Height, Durable Steel Frame with Rubber Wheels
- Wide 20-Inch Cutting Path – Cover more ground with each pass, making mowing faster and more efficient with a precision 5-blade reel design. Grass Catcher Included
- Optimized Cutting Height – Easily adjust between 2 inches to 3 inches for a lush, well-manicured lawn that promotes healthy grass growth.
- Eco-Friendly & Low-Maintenance –just a quiet, smooth mowing experience that’s better for your lawn and the environment.
- Comfortable & Easy to Use – Designed for effortless maneuverability, the ergonomic handle ensures a comfortable grip and superior control.
- The Reel-Deal 5-Year Protection Plan
- | Universal Fit Lawn Mower Cover | - Measures 74" x 25" x 39" (L x W x H), Zettum push lawn mower covers are designed to fit most brands' mowers, including: Honda, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Toro, John Deere, Ryobi, Greenworks, Sun Joe, EGO, PowerSmart, Craftsman, LawnMaster, Snapper and more. For special weeding machine models, please check the size carefully.
- | 600D Heavy-Duty & Super Waterproof | - Made of Premium 600-Density oxford cloth with PU coating, Zettum walk behind lawn mower covers are extremely heavy-duty and super waterproof. Compared with PVC type cover, our lawnmower covers are more breathable and softer, hard to be torn in outdoor. More important, PU type coating are more environmentally friendly!!
- | Easy to Put On with Great Protection | - Designed by our lawn mower experts team, Zettum push mower covers are very easy to put on and put off. With the cover on your weeding machine, no more worry about the sunlight, rain, snow, wind, dust, resin, leaves, debris and bird droppings etc. Zettum will be the tough protector of your lawn mower machines!
- | Windproof Smart Buckles Design | - Upgrade Quick-Release buckles design under the back with elastic make the cover secure to the lawn weeding machine super tightly, No wind can blow away Zettum push lawn weeding covers! Coming with a portable storage bag for storage and a cloth for daily cleaning. You deserve Zettum mower cover and you will get what you pay for!!!
- | Fading-Resistant Cover for Years | - UV Test can reproduce the damage caused by sunlight, rain and dew through the equipment. The test shows that Zettum outside mower cover can withstand at least 3 years of UV aging, which is much better than others. Zettum walk behind mower covers are fading-resistant which can keep your lawn mower new for years!
Best Walk Behind Lawn Mowers Buying Guide
Before choosing the best walk-behind mower you should consider the following options:
1. Size and Power: The size and power of the mower will depend on the size of your lawn, the type of terrain, and the features you want.
Although some buyers may be tempted to go for a mower with more power than they really need, experts advise that buying a mower with too much power is not a good idea.
A mower that is too powerful can cause problems when maneuvering around slopes and curves. If you have a large area to mow, you may want to consider buying two mowers instead of one.
Some mowers are available in a self-propelled version, which makes them easier to maneuver.
2. Size of the Cutting Deck: The size of your cutting deck will depend on the size of your lawn, the type of terrain, and the features you want.
For example, if you have a large lot with lots of curves, you will want a mower with a large cutting deck to make one pass over the entire area.
On the other hand, if your lawn has mostly straight lines, you can get by with a mower with a smaller deck.
3. Speed: Most walk-behind mowers have a top speed of about 3 miles per hour.
However, if you have a flat and smooth lawn, you may not need a mower with a high speed.
On the other hand, if your lawn has lots of slopes and curves, you will want a mower with a faster top speed.
4. Maneuverability: You will want a mower that is easy to maneuver, regardless of whether you have a rough or smooth lawn.
While some buyers will want a mower with a powerful engine and a large cutting deck, others may want a mower that is easy to maneuver.
Some mowers have a “front lift” feature that makes it easier to lift the front end of the mower and maneuver it.
5. Features: Some mowers have added features, such as attachments for clipping and bagging, that make them easier to use.
If you have a large area to mow, you may want to consider buying two mowers instead of one.
Some mowers are available in a self-propelled version, which makes them easier to maneuver.
What else you should know about the best walk behind lawn mowers
1. What is the best walk behind a lawn mower for a small lawn?
Some of the best walk-behind lawn mowers for small lawns include the Honda HRX217VKA, the Toro 20333, and the Craftsman 24737.
2. What is the best walk behind a lawn mower for a large lawn?
Some of the best walk-behind lawn mowers for large lawns include the Honda HRX217K5VKA, the Cub Cadet SC500E, and the Troy-Bilt TB240.
3. What is the best walk behind lawn mower for a hilly lawn?
Some factors that may make one walk-behind lawn mower more suitable for a hilly lawn than another include the mower’s weight, wheel size, and self-propulsion feature.
4. What is the best walk behind lawn mower for a flat lawn?
Some of the best walk behind lawn mowers for a flat lawn include the Husqvarna LC221A, the Honda HRX217K5VKA, and the Toro 20332.
5. What is the best walk behind a lawn mower for a lawn with trees?
Some factors to consider when choosing a walk-behind lawn mower for a lawn with trees include the size of the lawn, the type of trees present, and the terrain.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best walk-behind lawn mowers. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best walk-behind lawn mowers will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.