Run times have improved. Several battery and self-propelled mowers in our ratings offer impressive run times of 70 or more minutes. (The average run time of battery mowers in our tests is 45 to 50 minutes.) Some manufacturers are designing new models with multiple battery slots. When one battery is spent, another can take over, a feature CR’s expert testers consider in determining a model’s true run time.
“Battery run times have increased to the point where some mowers are able to cut half an acre on one charge,” says David Trezza, who leads CR’s lawn mower tests.
You’re getting more value for your money. Performance among our tested models is improving for both self-propelled and push battery mowers, and they offer more value, Trezza says. Several highly rated battery push mowers from Snapper, Ryobi, Skil, Greenworks, Kobalt (Lowe’s), and Atlas are priced close to or below similarly rated gas models from Toro, Honda, and Troy-Bilt. Notably, even those battery mowers that are more expensive up front may cost you less in the long run. A CR analysis found that the savings on gasoline and maintenance may more than make up for the price difference within a few years of ownership.
You can often use the battery for other yard equipment. Increasingly, mower brands are designing other outdoor power tools—including string trimmers, leaf blowers, and chainsaws—to accept the same battery as their mowers, typically at 40 volts or higher. A few brands, including DeWalt, Makita, and Milwaukee, sell battery mowers that run on 18- or 20-volt batteries that also power their hand tools, such as drills and circular saws.
Battery mowers are more eco-friendly. They don’t produce noxious fumes or use fossil fuels. That efficiency is good for the environment and, to a small degree, good for your wallet. The most energy-efficient battery mowers in our ratings earn CR’s Green Choice designation, signified by a green leaf.
Battery mowers require less maintenance than gas mowers. Consumer Reports’ tests show they’re quieter than gas models, too.
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