lawn mower in the garden.
Buyer's Guide Table of Contents
Last Update: June, 2023
Gas-powered motors are the bane of many homeowners’ existences. Between the cost of fuel and their tendencies to break down, it can become a stressful and time-consuming experience just to keep your grass cut.
Electric mowers are quickly becoming the more popular option because of their lower cost and easier maintenance. If you are in the market for a new mower, or you want to ditch the gas mower for a better experience, electric mowers are the way to go.
In this guide, we’ll take you through the best corded electric lawn mowers on the market. We’ll also help you understand how they have fewer disadvantages than the traditional gas-powered lawn mower.
Corded Electric Lawn Mower | Summary |
|---|---|
GreenWorks 20-Inch 12 Amp Corded | Designed to provide you with a 12-amp motor, seven positions adjustable cutting height, this Greenworks lawn mower has a push button start and drive system. There are also foldable handles to make the mower more compact and easier to store. |
GreenWorks 21-Inch 13 Amp Corded | With a 13-amp motor and 21-inch cutting desk, this Greenworks mower is great for even the toughest lawns. You can choose between seven different cutting heights to get the ideal length of your grass as well. |
GreenWorks 16-Inch 10 Amp Corded | With a two-in-one feature, you can choose whether you want to mulch the grass or collect it in a rear bag. You can also adjust the cutting height to five different positions. |
Black+Decker MM2000 | This Black and Decker mower provides you with a 20-inch-wide cutting path and seven different cutting heights to choose from. This mower also comes with a 13-gallon rear bag attachment to collect your grass as you go. |
Greenworks Pro 21-Inch | A cordless option, this mower can handle up to an acre of land with a minimum of 45 minutes of continuous battery life. This deal also comes with two replacement batteries. |
More About The GreenWorks 20-Inch 12 Amp Corded Lawn Mower 25022, 20 inches
With a 12-amp motor and 20-inch steel cutting deck, you can change your cutting height with seven different positions. There is a push button start to avoid any strain on your shoulder, and you can choose between mulching, side discharge and rear baggage for easy cleanup.
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
Greenworks 18-Inch  | Scotts Outdoor 50620S  |
American Lawn Mower  | BLACK+DECKER BEMW482BH  |
More About The Greenworks 21-Inch 13 Amp Corded Lawn Mower MO13B00
Designed with the ability to handle even the toughest of lawns, the MO13B00 has a powerful 13-amp motor and a 21-inch cutting deck. You also get seven-inch front wheels and ten-inch rear wheels to help you push through tough areas and seven cutting heights to choose from. You can also switch between mulching, side discharge, and rear bag collection.
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
Greenworks 18-Inch | Scotts Outdoor 50620S |
American Lawn Mower | BLACK+DECKER BEMW482BH |
More About The Greenworks 16-Inch 10 Amp Corded Lawn Mower 25142
While it is not as powerful as the other Greenworks mowers listed in this review, the 25142 mower is still strong enough to handle your average yard. This mower provides you with five different cutting heights to choose from. It also has the option to mulch as you go or have the grass collected in a rear bag.
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
Greenworks 18-Inch | Scotts Outdoor 50620S |
American Lawn Mower | BLACK+DECKER BEMW482BH |
More About The BLACK+DECKER MM2000 13 Amp Corded Mower, 20-Inch
This Black and Decker mower provides you with a 13-amp motor and cuts a 20-inch-wide strip as it goes. There is a carry handle included in the design to make it more convenient for you to move it around and seven different cutting heights. This mower also comes with a 13-gallon rear collection bag.
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
Greenworks 18-Inch | Scotts Outdoor 50620S |
American Lawn Mower | BLACK+DECKER BEMW482BH |
More About The Greenworks 21-Inch 40V Brushless Self-Propelled Mower 6AH
If you are interested in a cordless option, this battery powered Greenworks will be a great choice. With 45 to 60 minutes of battery life, this mower can take on an acre of land. If you don’t want to wait around for recharging, this mower comes with two additional batteries you can switch out to keep working.
Shop Related Products | |
|---|---|
Greenworks 18-Inch | Scotts Outdoor 50620S |
American Lawn Mower | BLACK+DECKER BEMW482BH |
How an Electric Lawn Mower Works
Traditional lawn mowers are gas-powered, requiring you to buy gasoline to fuel it. You are subject to rising gas prices when summer comes, and they require yearly maintenance that can be costly.
Fuel powered engines are more likely to break down and have trouble as they sit unused for a large part of the year. This means you must pay for tune-ups as well as labor to have it repaired.
Electric mowers have an engine that runs purely on electricity and provides a much cleaner experience. Because it uses electricity rather than liquid, there is nothing sitting for long periods of time. This means that there isn’t an issue of freezing, aging, or leaking.
Electric mowers are also better for the environment because they do not rely on fossil fuels and do not emit anything when running.
Electric lawn mowers can be cordless or corded. A cordless electric lawn mower is powered by a battery that is plugged in and charged just like any other electric device.
But the battery is limited, and you may need to stop and recharge the battery to finish the job. Lower battery power can also provide a less efficient cut.
Corded electric mowers are continuously plugged into an electrical outlet so there is a constant supply of power to your mower. This means that every rotation of the blade is even and there is no need to take breaks to refuel.
You can easily lengthen the amount of cord available by connecting it to another extension cord. You simply need to sharpen the blade occasionally, to keep it from getting dull.
Factors to Consider: Buyer’s Guide
Cutting Deck
One of the first things you’ll want to consider when shopping for a corded electric lawn mower is the size of the cutting deck. A larger cutting deck means quicker mowing – you will not have to pass back and forth over the same area multiple times.
As a rule, a wider deck is better, especially if you have a big lawn. But remember that corded mowers with a wider deck will be more expensive. And they will also be harder to maneuver around tight corners.
Self-Propelled
A lot of corded electric lawnmowers are self-propelled, meaning they move forward easily without you putting in too much effort. This can make mowing a lot easier, especially in thick, high grass.
However, just like with a wide deck, a self-propelled corded lawnmower will probably be a little more expensive. If you have a smaller lawn, though, it might not be necessary.
Cutting Height
The cutting height of your lawn mower determines how low or high it cuts the grass. Adjustable cutting height can be helpful and add to the versatility of the mower.
If you choose a mower that does not have an adjustable cutting height, you will probably want a lower, rather than higher cut, to save time between mowing.
Push Start
A push starts corded electric lawn mower will turn on with the push of a single button. Most corded electric lawn mowers have a push start, and you will want to make sure that you buy one that does.
They are much easier to work with compared to the traditional pull start mechanism of a gas-powered lawn mower.
Motor Size
Like most electric power tools, the motor size of a corded electric lawn mower is measured in amps. Mowers with a more powerful motor will have faster-spinning blades, allowing you to get the job done quicker.
The higher the amps of your mower, the faster and more effectively it will work.
For a small to medium-sized yards, 8-12 amps should be plenty. To save yourself time with a larger yard, though, you will want to look for over 12 amps of power.
Grass Management
A final consideration for your corded electric lawn mower is how it manages the grass clippings as it mows. Some mowers will come with a 3-in-1 grass management system. This means you can choose whether you want it to mulch, discharge cut grass out the side of the machine, or collect it in a grass bag as you go.
These systems make a more versatile machine.
Choosing between bagging and mulching can come in handy for lawn maintenance. However, if you prefer how you dispose of cut grass, you will be able to find a mower that operates that way.
Corded Electric Lawn Mower: Advantages
Why would you want a corded electric lawn mower? In general, they are a less expensive, easier and more environmentally friendly choice for lawn maintenance. Here are some of the specific advantages to using a corded electric lawn mower over a gas-powered lawn mower.
Use protective equipment
Ensure you use the correct protective equipment every time you use your lawn mower. This includes ensuring you don’t wear any clothing that is too baggy. This lowers the risk of getting caught in the machine.
You should also always wear protective goggles to avoid any grass clipping getting into your eyes.
Less Noise
An electric motor is much quieter than a gas-powered engine. Using an electric mower, you don’t have to worry about wearing ear protection, disturbing the neighbors or overwhelming sensitive little ears in your own house.
Less Pollution
Not only are gas-powered lawn mowers loud, but they also emit fumes and can leak gas and oil while you are using them. A corded electric mower, on the other hand, is much more environmentally friendly. You will not waste any fuel using it, and it does not emit any toxic exhaust fumes.
Cheaper and Less Maintenance
A corded electric mower is generally less expensive than a new gas-powered motor – but that does not mean that it is less reliable. Electric mowers have been shown to last much longer than gas-powered motors.
That means that you would be saving money on your initial purchase, and you will not have to replace or repair the mower as quickly as you would have to repair a gas-powered engine.
It is true that electric mowers are generally a little less powerful than gas-powered. However, with such a wide range of options on the market right now, it isn't hard to find a corded electric mower powerful enough to tackle even the biggest overgrown lawns.
Lightweight and Easy to Move
Dealing with your bulky, gas-powered lawn mower can be annoying. They are usually very heavy and awkward to store, as well as tough to transport when they need to be repaired. A corded electric lawn mower is much lighter and much easier to handle.
While some models are heavier than others, the electric motor is much lighter than a gas-powered engine in general.
Care and Maintenance
A corded electric lawn mower will generally require less money and resources to maintain. However, there a few things you can do to prevent your mower from breaking down over time.
If there is a grass bag on your lawn mower, make sure you empty it after every use. Clear out the whole grass management system whenever you can – clogged grass clippings can become a problem if they build up over a long period of time.
When you are not using your corded electric lawn mower, make sure you store it somewhere dry and free of dust. Exposure to a lot of moisture or to direct sunlight can damage the metal.
When mowing, it is important for the safety of the machine and for your own safety that you steer clear the power cord. If you are on a slope, mow up and down the slope instead of sideways across it, to avoid accidentally mowing over the power cord. If the blades meet the power cord, it could be very dangerous. This will certainly damage your lawn mower’s power system.
Conclusion
There are tons of reasons to choose a corded electric lawn mower. They are lighter, easier, more reliable, and better for the environment than gas-powered mowers.
Before you buy your new electric lawn mower, make sure you consider the size of your lawn and the types of special features you may want. If you’re overwhelmed by all the choices available on the market, start with any one of these models we have recommended and you’ll be on the right track.
