How do you choose a lawn mower?
Do you check the motor? Or maybe all the other parts? The features? Or do you do something else?
Some people prefer to go by brand.
A new brand has a lot of work to do before it establishes its name. And then they have to stand up to their name and deliver.
This is why some brands are known to deliver exceptional quality, while others, not so much. You know that the price may be a bit high, but the lawn mower will last you literally a lifetime (if not more).
Regardless, buying a lawn mower from a well-established brand is going to be almost universally a better choice. But with so many brands, things can get a little tough. A little hairy if you will.
This is why I have created this list of the best lawn mower brands. Of course, with time, this list may change. Perhaps a newcomer will show up and change the scenery? Only time will tell.
What you will find below is a list of the best brands of lawn mowers and what their current product lines are and what you can expect from each brand. Almost every single brand has found its unique niche that they are good at.
So without further ado, let us dive in.
Honda
When we are talking about the best lawn mower brands, Honda is almost certain to be somewhere in the top three.
You don’t need to drive a Honda to know that they are well-known for their quality and long-lasting engines.
In fact, they have also been manufacturing a wide array of different power tools and equipment throughout the years like generators, water pumps, snowblowers, outboards, trimmers, and tillers, to name a few.
They definitely do not stick to cars and motorcycles only.
They have been producing power products since 1953 when they first started manufacturing small engines for power tools and equipment. Since then, they have turned into one of the leading manufacturers of engines producing about 2 million per year.
Honda is manufacturing its products at the eleven manufacturing facilities that they have built all around the world.
But back to lawn mowers.
Honda produces primarily 21-inch push type and self-propelled gas-powered lawn mowers. So in case you are after a great electric or battery-powered lawn mower, I would suggest taking a look at the products from EGO, Husqvarna, or Greenworks.
Their lawn mower line is separated into four categories:
HRX
The HRX is the top of the line, no-expense-spared type of lawn mowers. And quite as expected they will be on the more expensive side.
But is the extra price worth it? I would say it depends. If you are really looking for a lawn mower that is the buy-it-for-a-life type of thing, then yes.
All the HRX models come with what Honda calls the NeXite Deck.
What makes it unique is that Honda did their best to make the most durable mower deck they can. It is specifically designed to withstand rust, corrosion, and dents. They also stand behind their product by offering a lifetime warranty for the deck.
Honda is also stepping up a notch by offering a five-year residential warranty.
HRN
The HRN model line from Honda is what one may consider the lawn mowers with the best price to performance ratio.
They may not necessarily offer the best features, but for their price, these offer quite the value.
HRS
Honda is also offering a few models of lawn mowers with a side discharge. Frequently they are the cheapest lawn mowers from Honda and are great for smaller yards.
HRC
The HRC lawn mowers are the big boys in the neighborhood.
Sturdy, durable, and very powerful, they are designed for commercial cutting business.
The HRC lawn mowers come with the Twin Blade system, which provides for the ultimate cutting performance.
Toro
Toro has been in the business for more than a 100 years now. Or to be more precise since the distant 1914.
Toro has multiple manufacturing facilities spread out throughout the world.
Their main aim as a company is to deliver quality products while relying on consistent innovation. They have been specializing in the landscape maintenance niche for a long time, and they definitely do have the drive and experience that they need.
However, the good things about Toro do not end here.
They also offer a Build-Your-Own-Mower feature on their website.
You can pick and design a lawn mower according to your personal needs choosing what the deck, drive wheels, engine, you want to have.
Normally Toro uses Briggs & Stratton engines for their mowers, which are great; however, some models can be found even with a Honda engine.
Toro is offering a few different product lines:
Recycler
The Recycler is designed for the everyday user. It is a lot cheaper than other models, so it will not place a big strain on your budget.
Not every Recycler model is created the same. There are some great features that you can find on some models.
For example. Certain models can save you a lot of storage space. These lawn mowers can be stored vertically, which is super convenient for people that have limited storage space.
Some models can adjust to your individual walking pace.
The PowerReverse feature helps to make mowing a breeze buy allowing the mower to power the wheels in both forward and reverse.
Overall the Recycler product line is designed to be very user-friendly, versatile, and convenient to use.
Super Recycler
The Super Recycler is going to be, on average, on the more expensive side. Of course, that is well justified.
These lawn mowers are designed to be one of the best in their class delivering power, ease of use, and outstanding durability.
The different models may come with various features.
But one of the things that separate the Super Recycler is what actually happens underneath the deck. It has wedges that deflect the grass clippings back to the blade, making the clippings even smaller.
The design also allows for more airflow underneath the deck, which will keep the cuttings moving.
Even tall grass will not stand a chance thanks to the super-powerful 159cc motor the Super Recycler is equipped with.
Overall all this provides for a lot of cleaner cuts and a lot fewer grass clippings left behind.
Even some other more expensive models, in my opinion, cannot compare to the Super Recycler product line and its five-year warranty.
E-Cycler
The e-Cycler is a battery-powered model.
It is very easy to use and a very durable model that may last you for many years.
Since it is cordless, you do not need to worry about fuel and harmful emissions.
If you are after a simple and easy to use lawn mower and do not want to worry about all the little things, this one may be worth considering.
TimeMaster
And let us not forget about the TimeMaster.
What Toro aims to achieve with this model is to have a lawn mower that provides a wider cut, substantially reducing the time you spend mowing. And all that at a budget-friendly price tag.
While with the other lawn mowers frequently, you will be choosing between the standard 21 to 22-inch cutting width with the TimeMaster you will be getting 30 inch wide cuts.
Of course, with the wider cut comes a more powerful motor. The engine is 223cc, which will allow you to get through even thicker and taller grass.
Husqvarna
Where do I start with Husqvarna? First, they are a Swedish company which has been founded in 1689, making it one of the oldest manufacturers on the list.
Originally a manufacturer of muskets, which then moved on to bicycles and, eventually, motorcycles. From there, they continued to grow and expand. They began manufacturing their own engines and later started establishing themselves on the market for lawn care as well.
Today they produce a whole myriad of different products like brush cutters, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, tillers, pressure washers, pole saws, chainsaws, and even robotic lawn mowers.
Husqvarna has a wide variety of different lawn mowers. They have:
Manual Mowers
Currently, there is just one manual lawn mower model that they are offering.
This is a cylinder lawn mower with a smaller cutting width. Ideal for very small gardens and lawns.
Gas-Powered Lawn Mowers
Husqvarna is offering a wide range of different lawn mowers in this category like:
- Hover Mowers – A hover lawn mower that definitely adds a new perspective to the idea of what a lawn mower should look like.
- Push Lawn mowers – A standard push lawn mower product line that is suitable for smaller lawns.
- Self Propelled Mowers – Both more powerful and with more potential, this line of lawn mowers is the perfect choice for medium-sized lawns.
No matter what you are looking for, you are almost guaranteed you will find something to your liking.
All Husqvarna mowers are designed in a way that facilitates the use of the mower without putting extra strain and stress on your back, shoulders, and arms.
The lawn mowers are designed with the idea to be extra durable and tough so that they can withstand even harsher weather.
You will find out that certain models can be equipped with engines from different manufacturers like Briggs & Stratton, Honda, and Kawasaki. All perfect choices, in my opinion.
Cordless Lawn Mowers
I am sure you already see why Husqvarna is one of the best lawn mower brands out there. They are successfully covering the whole spectrum of what one might need.
They also have a battery lawn mower product line. These offer all the needed features that any homeowner has grown to expect from a lawn mower.
These are easy to operate, store, and use. Unlike a petrol-powered lawn mower, these are very quiet and will not produce any harmful emissions. They are cheaper in the long run and deliver superb torque and power.
Robot Lawn Mowers
This is where we enter the new AI age of technology. Everybody nowadays has heard of the robot vacuum cleaners, and there are even pool cleaners now, so it was just a matter of time before we can get our hands on a robot lawn mower.
I know that some people do enjoy the calming and relaxing effect of cutting your grass, but others will definitely rejoice at the thought of not having to do all the work anymore.
Well. Your lawn mower will do the work for you! How about that?
These lawn mowers can cut the grass, collect the clippings, recharge themselves, return home, and navigate most gardens all on their own.
Unfortunately, and quite understandably, these are going to be very expensive.
EGO Power+
EGO manufactures and produces a wide range of different landscape equipment and power tools like chainsaws, hedge trimmers, portable generators, snow and leaf blowers, and so much more.
Compared to some of the other manufacturers on this list, they are a relatively new brand that was established in the not too distant 1993.
However, ever since then, they have been aiming to provide one thing. High-quality tools that are easy on the environment, your ears, and your wallet.
The battery-powered tools and equipment are their forte.
So far, we have mainly dabbled into gas-powered lawn mowers with a few exceptions from Husqvarna.
However, when it comes to battery-powered lawn mowers, EGO can be considered one of the best brands on the market today.
The thing that makes the EGO lawn mowers top of the line is that they normally run on higher watts and amperage. What this means for us is more torque and power. Some of these models can hold up their own even when compared to gas-powered lawn mowers.
And let us not forget that we are talking about powerful lawn mowers that, at the same time, are super quiet, do not need any fuel and oil, and produces no toxic fumes.
And no more will you have to worry about waking up your neighbors early in the morning.
Normally you may be worried about how durable they are. Battery lawn mowers can usually be viewed as not as tough and rugged (maybe because they are more lightweight), but the ones from EGO traditionally come with a five-year warranty.
Of course, this may vary from model to model, but it goes to show that these are not of any lower quality compared to their petrol-driven relatives.
Snapper
By now, you probably know that Honda and Briggs & Stratton produce some of the best lawn mower engines. And we have seen that Honda also does have its own line-up of products.
“But what about Briggs & Stratton?” you might ask.
Well, I was wondering the same thing.
If you go throughout their products, you will see that they only produce lawn mower engines and no mowers.
Enter the Snapper.
They have been a company with a relatively long history under their belt. Snapper was founded in 1984 in McDonough, Georgia, as a sawing company. Later the company moved on to landscaping and manufacturing of tools and equipment.
In 2002 was acquired by Simplicity Manufacturing, which later was acquired by Briggs and Stratton.
Now the company has moved on to producing different tools and equipment like leaf blowers, string, weed, and hedge trimmers, chainsaws, utility carts, ride-on mowers, and so much more.
They produce a variety of different lawn mowers.
Petrol-Powered Lawn Mowers
Their petrol lawn mower line has a few different models that are all equipped with very powerful either Honda or Briggs & Stratton engine.
The different models aim to specialize in different aspects like better mulching, easier bagging, high performance, and durability, or ease of use.
One of their most popular models, in my opinion, is the SP65 Lawn mower.
What makes this lawn mower model best is the fact that it is a self-propelled model that aims to be as easy to use as possible. It provides for good maneuverability even on hilly and uneven grounds, which we all know how tricky they can be.
It gives you good versatility in choosing whether you want to bag your clippings, mulch them, or use the side discharge. It also has six different cutting height options.
But all the features in the world will not mean anything if the engine is bad. Right? Well, fortunately, this model comes with a genuine Briggs & Stratton engine that is guaranteed to last for a long time.
Overall this model is very easy to use. It is a breeze to start the engine. And the fact that this mower is self-propelled means that you will not feel like going to the gym whenever tending to your lawn.
Electric Lawn Mowers
With electric mowers steadily on the rise as a result of the higher exposure to the dangers and adverse effects of gas-powered lawn mower on our health and the environment, these models may be of some interest to you as well.
Snapper is producing a few electric lawn mower models with either a 48V or 80V batteries. These can also be either self-propelled or standard push mowers.
Their most popular model, in my opinion, is the Snapper 82 Volt Max model.
These have a 1200 Watts brushless motor and can be powered by different batteries ranging from 2 up to 5 Ah.
The cutting deck width can be either 19 or 21 inches.
Overall the mower provides for good clean cutting. It is easy to start and use. The mower is super quiet, which is good for both yours and your neighbor’s ears.
Best of all, this lawn mower produces no harmful gasses or emissions.
Lawn-Boy
The first-ever lawn-boy mower was constructed back in 1934; however, the history of the brand started a few decades earlier in 1904.
And ever since then, they have been establishing themselves as one of the best and most reliable brands of landscape equipment that delivers great value at affordable prices.
What you may be pleased to find out is that most of their lawn mowers are made with either Honda or Kohler engines. Both of which are some of the best brands in their field.
Their lawn mowers deliver lots of torque and power. They are easy to use and start.
You can get either a self-propelled lawn mower or a push mower. Depending on your needs, one may be better than the other.
For example:
- The Lawn-Boy 17732 and 17734 are two of their best self-propelled and variable-speed lawn mowers. They come with a Kohler engine that delivers lots of torque.
- The Lawn-Boy 17739 is a great self-propelled variable-speed all-wheel-drive lawn mower that is good for bigger lawns and can deal even with hills.
- The Lawn-Boy 10736 is a Honda-powered manual push mower that is built to deal even with the toughest lawns.
Of course, this may vary from model to model, but frequently their mowers do come with a three-year tru-start engine warranty and a two-year warranty on the other power parts.
Greenworks
Greenworks specializes in the field of lawn care and power tools production. One might say that they are a newcomer because Greenworks was founded in the not too distant 2007.
Greenworks products are not made in the USA. Their products are made in China and then distributed worldwide.
They focus on manufacturing battery-powered tools and equipment like leaf blowers, edgers, pressure washers, chainsaws, cultivators, trimmers, and more.
They offer a wide range of different lawn mowers:
Reel Lawn Mowers
The simplest type of lawn mower that you can use – currently, they offer three models that have different cutting widths.
These are great for smaller yards and lawns. Provide smooth and seamless cutting and allow for mulching and bagging. Currently, they come with a four-year warranty.
Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers
This is where you will find the biggest variety of Greenworks lawn mower models. You can choose from 40, 60, or 80 Volt models, and you also have the option to get certain mowers with or without the batteries.
The cutting width on these will vary, but they are in the standard 20 to 21-inch range.
One of their best-selling models is the Greenworks 25322, which is a 40 Volt model and it comes with one 4 AH battery. It is great for smaller to medium lawns.
This is not a self-propelled model, but this is not necessarily a negative thing as the mower itself is very lightweight and easy to maneuver.
Best of all, it can also be stored vertically, which will save a lot of space for your other equipment.
Corded Lawn Mowers
Greenworks also sells corded lawn mowers that are usually in the 10 to 13 AMP range, with cutting width size between 17 to 21 inches.
These models have a lot of power and create a lot of torque.
Corded mowers are perfect for smaller yards and lawns manly because of the limitations imposed by the cable.
Having to deal with the cable can, I admit, be very annoying. But even then, they are a lot easier to use and maintain compared to the conventional petrol-powered lawn mowers.
The Greenworks 25022 is probably one of their top of the line and most popular corded lawn mower. It is a powerful lawn mower that is easy to use and store. It works as intended, it is quiet, and does not produce any toxic fumes.
The G-MAX System
Certain battery lawn mowers come with specific batteries that are designed in a special way.
This allows using your 40V Lithium-ion batteries throughout all the different Greenworks’ power tools and equipment.
If you have a lawn mower that is G-MAX System compliant, then you can use its battery on your Greenworks leaf blower, for example, provided it too is G-MAX compliant.
Greenworks Gen II
And let us not forget that soon Greenworks will be launching their Gen II line of products, including lawn mowers, which aim to deliver superior power, cutting, and running time.
Black+Decker
Black and Decker has a long and very interesting history. The company was founded in the distant 1910 by two young entrepreneurs. It all started as a tiny machine shop but later grew into a big business.
They are specializing in producing a different range of power tools and equipment.
An interesting fact is that some of their tools are used even by NASA. Black and Decker produced the drill that was used in Apollo 15 (and other missions) for collecting and recovering samples from the moon.
But they also have tools that we can use here on Earth.
Their mowers are primarily cordless or corded, with one of their best-selling models being a very interesting hybrid between three tools.
This is the Black+Decker MTC220 (and the newer model BESTA512CM). It is a lawn mower, a string edger, and a string trimmer.
This, obviously, is not a fully-fledged, standard lawn mower. It is very different. In essence, it is a weed eater that can be used as a make-shift lawn mower.
I am not trying to be too nitpicky, because for what it is, it is doing a great job. It can be used with ease. It is easy to start, and it doesn’t require any complicated maintenance like the standard lawn mowers.
However, it is best for smaller yards. If you are into landscaping and aim to achieve a lawn that looks in a top-notch condition, this is probably not the product for you.