Cordless mowing has crossed a threshold. Battery powered push mowers now cover respectable ground on a single charge, start with a button press, and skip the oil changes, fuel stabilizer, and exhaust fumes that define gas ownership. This roundup walks through ten solid options built for small urban lots, mid-size suburban yards, and the rare homeowner who just wants quiet Saturday morning grass cutting without the engine noise rattling the windows.
Your Options, Compared
Greenworks 80V 21″ Brushless Push Mower, 4.0Ah + 2.0Ah Battery
Greenworks 80V 21″ Brushless Self-Propelled Mower, 4.0Ah Battery
Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Mower
Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
WORX WG743 40V 17″ 2-in-1 Cordless Lawn Mower
LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch 5-Blade
Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Mower
Greenworks 48V 20in Push Lawn Mower, (2) 4.0Ah Batteries
American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Mower
LawnMaster CLMF4819A 48V 19″ Brushless Mower + Extra Battery Bundle
Taking A Closer Look At The Options
The 80V platform gives this Greenworks noticeably more cutting muscle than the 40V and 48V competitors in this roundup, and the 21-inch steel deck covers ground quickly on larger suburban lots. Two batteries ship in the box (a 4.0Ah and a 2.0Ah), and the rapid charger tops them off fast between cuts.
Compared to the self-propelled Greenworks reviewed next, this is a true push mower you supply the legs, so it weighs less and costs less, but you give up drive assist on inclines. The brushless motor, LED headlight for early-morning cuts, and aluminum handles round out a thoughtful design for homeowners who already plan to grow into the broader 80V tool family.
The Practical Payoff
- 80V brushless motor delivers enough torque to handle thicker, taller grass without bogging down, especially useful in spring growth.
- The 21-inch steel deck trims mowing time noticeably compared to the 16- and 18-inch reel options reviewed below.
- Two batteries in the box give you a swap-and-finish option for yards that push the 4.0Ah battery’s range.
- LED headlight turns early-morning and twilight cuts from guesswork into a real option.
- Aluminum handles resist corrosion better than steel, which matters if you store the mower in a damp garage or shed.
Honest Caveats
- Without self-propulsion, expect to push the full weight up any meaningful hill, something the Greenworks self-propelled model solves.
- Runtime varies with grass condition and operator technique, so a neglected lawn may chew through the 4.0Ah faster than expected.
Who It Suits Best
Homeowners with flat to gently sloped lawns up to half an acre who already plan to expand into the 80V Greenworks tool ecosystem.
Consider Something Else When
The Greenworks 80V 21″ Brushless Self-Propelled Mower is the better fit for anyone with a noticeably hilly yard who wants the motor to help push itself.
The self-propelled version of the 80V Greenworks tackles the one complaint people have about its push sibling: hills. The rear-wheel motor pulls the mower forward at walking pace, so you guide rather than muscle it up slopes.
Everything that made the push model strong carries over here: the brushless motor, 21-inch cutting deck, push-button start, and compatibility with 75+ tools in the Greenworks 80V family. Where it differs is comfort, the drive assist reduces fatigue on larger or uneven lawns, and the 60-minute rapid charger gets the 4.0Ah battery back to full quickly.
Strengths Worth Knowing
- Self-propelled rear-wheel drive takes the strain off your legs on inclines and longer mowing sessions.
- The 80V battery system shares cells with dozens of other Greenworks tools, from blowers to chainsaws.
- Push-button start removes pull-cord frustration on chilly mornings.
Worth Bearing In Mind
- Self-propelled mowers weigh more than their push counterparts, so storage in a tight shed is worth measuring.
- Drive assist on flat lawns can feel like overkill, and the push Greenworks above handles that scenario with less complexity.
Key Product Details
Built With In Mind
Anyone managing a hilly or uneven half-acre lot who already uses or plans to buy into the 80V Greenworks tool ecosystem.
Skip It When
The push-style Greenworks 80V is the smarter pick for a flat, smaller yard, since the self-propelled drive adds weight and cost without a meaningful payoff.
Reel mowers cut grass with a scissor action rather than tearing it, and the Earthwise 1715-16EW leans hard into that approach with seven alloy steel cutting surfaces and a 16-inch cutting width. No motor, no battery, no cord: you provide the pushing and the mower does the cutting.
The trade-off is the grass type. Earthwise specifically calls out bent grasses like Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine, and Seashore Paspalum, which thrive under frequent, low cuts. If your lawn is tall fescue or thick Kentucky bluegrass, you’ll be working harder than the battery-powered picks above.
A Favorable Mix
- Silent operation makes Saturday morning mowing neighbor-friendly.
- Alloy steel blades stay sharp through long stretches of regular use.
- Lightweight design cuts fatigue compared to heavier battery mowers.
Points To Keep In Mind
- Tall or wet grass overwhelms a push reel, so you must mow frequently and let the lawn stay relatively short.
- Side wheels and cutting height are best adjusted on dry, even ground; rough terrain is tougher than with the powered picks above.
Made For
Homeowners with small warm-season lawns who mow often and want zero emissions, zero noise, and zero battery maintenance.
Reach For A Different Pick When
The Scotts 2000-20S is a better match for cool-season grasses that grow taller and thicker than the bent grasses this Earthwise handles best.
The 14-inch cutting width is the narrowest in this roundup, which means more passes, but it also means the Great States 204-14 slips into tight spots, narrow side yards, and gates that block wider mowers. There’s no battery, no cord, and very little that can break.
Where it shines is purely on small, flat lawns where the goal is clean, quiet cutting without spending on a battery platform. The 5-blade reel trims grass like scissors, leaving a healthier blade tip than rotary mowers tear through.
Well-Handled Touches
- Compact 14-inch width navigates gates and tight landscaping with ease.
- Minimal maintenance: no battery, no spark plug, no oil change.
- Scissor-like reel action delivers a cleaner cut that supports long-term lawn health.
Trade-Offs
- Requires frequent mowing and short grass; tall or neglected lawns demand unrealistic pushing effort.
- Limited height adjustment range compared to wider, heavier reels.
Right Fit For
Apartment patios, small city lots, and anyone who wants the quietest, simplest mowing experience for a postage-stamp lawn.
Look Elsewhere When
The Earthwise 1715-16EW is worth the upgrade if you need a wider deck and more blades for slightly larger warm-season lawns.
WORX leans on its PowerShare platform, the same 20V batteries slot into 140+ tools in the lineup, and the WG743 ships with two of them. That double-battery design gives you real headroom: while one pack runs the mower, the other charges in the dual-port dock.
The 17-inch deck splits the difference between the wide Greenworks models above and the narrower reels below, making this a sensible pick for lawns up to about 1/8 acre. The 2-in-1 design offers mulching and bagging, so you choose how to handle clippings.
Notable Upsides
- Two 20V 4.0Ah batteries give you genuine runtime headroom instead of waiting on a single pack.
- PowerShare compatibility means the same batteries feed your drill, trimmer, and blower.
- The 40V combined voltage delivers enough cutting power for routine suburban grass without the bulk of an 80V platform.
Less-Strong Areas
- Runtime is more limited than the 80V Greenworks picks for yards larger than 1/8 acre.
- No self-propulsion, so steeper lawns demand leg power.
Technical Snapshot
Perfect Match For
Existing WORX tool owners and anyone with a small suburban lot who values cross-tool battery sharing more than raw cutting width.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
The Greenworks 48V 20in Push Lawn Mower is the smarter call if you already own Greenworks batteries or want a wider deck for faster mowing.
The LMRM1801 sits in a sweet spot: wider than the 14- and 16-inch reels above, with nine cutting height positions ranging from 1.1 to 2.5 inches. That height flexibility makes it useful across more grass types than the shorter-cut reels.
10-inch front wheels help with maneuverability around trees and landscaping, and the motorless design keeps the weight low and the maintenance simple. The 18-inch deck width means fewer passes than the narrower reels, though you’ll still walk more laps than with a powered mower.
What It Does Well
- Nine height positions give you a wider cutting range than most push reels.
- 18-inch width balances coverage and maneuverability for medium lawns.
- Scissor-like reel cuts grass cleanly, supporting healthier regrowth.
Potential Compromises
- No motor means pushing effort scales with grass height and thickness.
- Best on small to mid lawns; very large yards favor a powered mower for time savings.
Best Suited To
Homeowners with small to medium flat lawns who want a quiet reel mower with enough height range to handle mixed grass types.
Another Choice May Suit
The Scotts 2000-20S is worth considering if you want the widest reel in this roundup and a quick-snap height adjustment up to 3 inches.
The widest reel mower in this roundup, the Scotts 2000-20S uses a 20-inch cutting width and a 5-blade ball bearing reel to cover ground efficiently on foot. Dual tracking wheels keep the cut straight even when you’re pushing at an easy pace.
The quick-snap cutting height adjustment ranges from 1 to 3 inches, which is taller than most reels and makes this a more forgiving pick for cool-season grasses like fescue and bluegrass that prefer a higher cut.
Real Benefits
- 20-inch width covers more lawn per pass than every other reel in this guide.
- Height adjustment up to 3 inches supports cool-season turf preferences.
- Reel cutting action produces a clean, healthy blade tip that resists browning.
A Few Limitations
- Push reels still demand consistent mowing; long, wet grass overwhelms the 5-blade reel.
- Wider deck is less nimble around tight landscaping than the 14-inch Great States above.
Who Should Grab It
Cool-season grass owners with flat, frequently mowed lawns who want the widest possible reel cut without going electric.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
The Earthwise 1715-16EW handles warm-season bent grasses better thanks to its 7-blade reel design.
The 48V platform hits a useful middle ground: more power than the 40V WORX above, less than the 80V Greenworks flagships. The kit ships with two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port rapid charger, which keeps downtime low for medium-sized yards.
A brushless motor delivers quieter operation and longer motor life than brushed alternatives, and the 20-inch deck sits between the compact 17-inch WORX and the 21-inch 80V models above. For many homeowners, this is the volume sweet spot.
The Good Stuff
- Two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger minimize waiting between cuts.
- Brushless motor extends service life compared to brushed designs.
- 48V system provides more torque than 40V picks for thicker grass.
Things To Weigh
- No self-propulsion means pushing up steeper slopes is on you.
- 48V tool ecosystem is smaller than the 80V family, so battery sharing is more limited.
Quick Facts
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Mid-size suburban yard owners who want genuine battery runtime without paying for the 80V flagship tier.
Swap It Out When
The Greenworks 80V 21″ Brushless Push Mower is the better fit for larger yards that benefit from extra torque and deck width.
At roughly 19 pounds, the 1204-14 is the lightest mower in the guide, easy to carry down stairs, lift over steps, or hang on a garage hook. The 4-blade reel and 14-inch cutting width keep things simple: short lawn, frequent mowing, quiet operation.
The polymer wheels reduce overall weight further, and the adjustable blade height from 0.5 to 1.75 inches lets you dial in a low cut appropriate for bent grasses. Most turf grasses fit the bill when mowed often.
Useful Highlights
- Featherweight build at about 19 pounds is the easiest mower in this guide to carry and store.
- Adjustable cutting height handles bent grasses and similar low-growing turf.
- Polymer wheels keep weight low and resist rust over time.
Possible Compromises
- 14-inch width means more passes than every other reel here except the Great States above.
- Short height range rules out cool-season grasses that prefer a taller cut.
Made For
Apartment dwellers, townhouse owners, and anyone with a small patch of bent grass who values light carry weight above cutting width.
Not Your Match When
The Scotts 2000-20S offers a much wider 20-inch deck and taller height range for cool-season turf on a larger lot.
The CLMF4819A is a 48V brushless push mower with a 19-inch deck, and this bundle adds a third 24V 4.0Ah battery plus a dual charger. For homeowners planning to expand into the LawnMaster 24V/48V cordless family, that spare pack is a real value-add.
The brushless motor spins at 3,400 RPM and the mower runs on two 24V MAX batteries delivering up to about 40 minutes of runtime with a 15-gallon bag collection. The included batteries fit a long list of LawnMaster machines, which makes this an attractive entry point.
Points In Its Favor
- Spare 24V 4.0Ah battery extends runtime and feeds other LawnMaster 24V tools.
- Brushless motor delivers 3,400 RPM for cleaner cuts in routine grass.
- 15-gallon bag capacity means fewer dump trips on bigger lawns.
Honest Caveats
- LawnMaster ecosystem is less universally available than Greenworks or WORX, so long-term support depends on the brand’s continued presence.
- No self-propulsion means hills require pushing effort.
Feature Snapshot
Who Will Love This
Homeowners starting a LawnMaster cordless tool collection who want a third battery in the box for extra runtime and tool cross-use.
Look Elsewhere When
The Greenworks 48V 20in Push Lawn Mower is a stronger choice if you’d rather invest in a larger and more widely distributed battery ecosystem.
What To Weigh Before Choosing Your Battery Powered Push Mower
Battery platform matters more than people expect. A 40V, 48V, or 80V battery from one brand doesn’t work in another’s tools, so picking a mower from a maker with a deep ecosystem (Greenworks 80V with 75+ tools, WORX PowerShare with 140+ tools, or LawnMaster 24V/48V with broad compatibility) means your battery investment carries into trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws down the road.
Deck width changes how long mowing takes. A 14- or 16-inch reel demands more passes but slips through narrow gates. A 19-, 20-, or 21-inch powered mower finishes a half-acre faster, but it also weighs more and is harder to maneuver in tight landscaping.
Brush vs. brushless motors is the other quiet divide. Brushless designs run cooler, last longer, and squeeze more runtime from the same battery, which is why every modern cordless mower in this guide uses one.
Finally, match the mower to the grass type. Reel mowers excel on bent grasses and similar low-growing turf but struggle with tall cool-season grasses. Powered rotary mowers handle taller, thicker grass with less effort, which is the core trade-off across this roundup.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
Treating deck width as the only spec leads to awkward ownership. A 21-inch mower feels great on an open lawn and terrible threading between raised beds and a narrow gate. Measure your gate and your tightest pass before chasing the widest deck.
Underestimating battery runtime is the other common slip. The 1/8 acre and 1/2 acre ratings assume ideal mowing conditions, so a neglected, thick lawn chews through battery faster than the rated figure. Buying into a dual-battery system or keeping an extra charged pack on hand sidesteps that surprise.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Higher-tier mowers buy three things: more voltage (and therefore cutting torque), larger decks that finish the job faster, and brushless motors that outlast brushed designs. Self-propulsion adds comfort on hills but also adds weight and cost. For most flat-lot homeowners, the mid-tier picks hit the right balance of capability and value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do batteries last in cordless mowers?
Most modern 40V to 80V packs deliver 30 to 45 minutes of runtime per charge under normal conditions. Grass thickness, operator technique, and battery age all swing that range noticeably, so planning for slightly less than the rated runtime is a realistic mindset.
Can a push reel mower replace a battery mower?
Only on small, frequently mowed lawns with bent or similar low-growing grass. Taller cool-season turf, overgrown grass, and large yards push a reel mower beyond what it’s designed for, and a powered rotary is the practical pick.
What deck size works for a small yard?
A 14- to 17-inch deck handles most lots under 1/8 acre efficiently. Anything wider saves time but adds weight and storage bulk, which can matter in tight sheds and garages.
Are brushless motors worth the upgrade?
Brushless designs typically last longer, run quieter, and deliver more torque per amp-hour than brushed motors. For homeowners who mow weekly or more, the upgrade tends to pay back in motor longevity alone.
Do self-propelled mowers help on flat lawns?
On flat lawns, the drive assist adds weight without much payoff. The benefit shows up on slopes and uneven ground where pushing effort would otherwise wear you down mid-cut.
The Takeaway
The right mower depends less on a universal ranking and more on your lawn size, grass type, and tolerance for physical effort. For pure quiet and simplicity on small warm-season turf, the reel options deliver. For larger or cool-season lawns, the powered picks, especially the 80V Greenworks models, give you the torque and runtime to finish without stopping. Match the platform to your yard and your future tool plans, and the rest tends to fall into place.