Best Battery Powered Lawn Mower for Small Yards

Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Kyle Whitley

Do you have a small yard and don’t want to have to deal with a gas powered lawn mower and the maintenance that comes with it?  If so, you might want to take a look at a battery powered lawn mower.  Battery powered lawn mowers are perfect for small to medium-sized yards found in most suburban areas.  Let’s take a look at the best battery powered lawn mower for small yards.

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Best Battery Powered Lawn Mower for Small Yards

Below are some of the best battery powered lawn mowers you can buy to cut and maintain a small yard.

 

Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower, 4.0 AH Battery Included 25322

Greenworks makes a wide range of battery powered lawn mowers, and the 25322 16 inch 40V mower is one of their best.  This mower has many great features, including multiple cutting methods and a wide range of cutting height adjustments to get the perfect cut for your small yard.

• 40V 4Ah Li-Ion Battery  includes 1-4Ah Battery and Charger
• Single lever 5-position height adjustment offers cutting height range from 1-1/4 inch to 3-3/8-inch 
• 2-in-1 feature offers rear bagging and mulching capability
• 16-inch cutting deck
• 6-inch front wheel and 7-inch rear wheel for easy maneuvering 

What we Liked

• Battery compatibility with other Greenworks outdoor equipment
• Wide range of height adjustment

What we Disliked

• The battery didn’t last as long as we might like when cutting thicker grass
• I would have like side discharge ability

Sun Joe iON16LM 16 in. 40-Volt Cordless Battery Mower with Brushless Motor – 4.0 Ah Battery/Charger Included

The Sun Joe iON16LM is a great mower for small to medium-sized lawns. The 40V battery has a long 40-minute runtime to let you complete the cutting of your lawn on a single battery charge.  The brushless motor provides plenty of power to get the cutting job done.

• 16-inch cutting deck
• 40-Volt 4.0 Ah EcoSharp rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Powerful brushless motor
• A compact design ideal for small to mid-sized lawns
• 6-position height adjustment lever with cutting height from 1.18 in. to 3.15 in.
• Provides up to 40 minutes of runtime

What we Liked

• The motor seemed pretty powerful for its size
• Ability to use 40v battery with other Sun Joe/Snow Joe outdoor tools

What we Disliked

• Height adjustment was a little low for cool-season grass
• Bagging capacity left a little to be desired

BLACK+DECKER 40-volt Lithium-Ion 16-in Cordless Electric Lawn Mower (Batteries Included)

The Black+Decker 40V, 16-inch mower is a great model for small to medium-sized yards.  With its 30 minute runtime, you should have no trouble cutting a small yard before your batteries run out of power.  The mower even comes with a carrying handle to help to store the mower after cutting sessions.

• 40 V MAX lithium-ion battery with 2 x 2.0 Ah for up to 30 minutes of runtime
• 16-inch cutting deck
• Single lever height adjustment of 1-1/5-in to 3-1/5-inches.
• Folding handles for easy and convenient storage
• Carrying handle makes it easy to lift and carry
• The foldable handle offers easy, space-saving storage, perfect size for sheds and smaller spaces.
• Includes 9.5-gal nylon grass bag to collect clippings, and features a hardtop, so you can easily check when it’s full.

What we Liked

• Light and compact design
• The grass bag was decently sized for such a small model

What we Disliked

• Dual batteries just don’t last as long as some of the other larger 40V mowers
• Height adjustment was a little low for cool-season grass or for those who like to keep their grass a little longer

16 in. ONE+ 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Lawn Mower Two 4.0Ah Batteries/Charger Included

This mower from RYOBI is using two 18V batteries to power this 16-inch mower.  The mower has multiple height positions and cutting methods to satisfy any small yard grass cutting duties.  One plus is that the 18V batteries can be used in any of RYOBI’s 18V power tools.

• Includes (2) 4.0Ah lithium plus batteries for increased power and extended run time
• 16 in. cutting deck
• 5-position, single-point height adjustment 1.25 in. to 3.5 in.
• Compact  size and lightweight design with carrying handle for easy transport
• Folding handle with quick-release knobs for easy, compact storage
• Push-button start
• Up to 40min of Runtime w/ provided batteries and 2h charge time

What we Liked

• Decent runtime with dual batteries
• Nice cutting width for a smaller mower

What we Disliked

• 18v batteries aren’t strong enough to compete with any of the 40V mower
• Doesn’t mulch taller grass well and has trouble with leaves too

RYOBI RY401100-Y 18 in. 40-Volt 2-in-1 Lithium-Ion Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower 4.0 Ah Battery/Charger Included

The RYOBI 40V, 18-inch mower steps up the power from its 18V sibling.  This mower has plenty of power, running up to 40 minutes on a single charge.  The RYOBI 40V batteries can also be used in any other RYOBI 40V tool.

• 18-inch cutting  deck
• 2-in-1 mowing system for mulching and bagging
• 1.25 in. – 4 in. cutting height adjustment
• Fold-down handle for compact storage
• Carrying handles for user convenience
• RYOBI 40V 4.0 Amp-hour high capacity lithium-ion battery for extended run time
• Up to 40min of Runtime w/ Provided Battery and 2h Charge Time

What we Liked

• Side discharge is a rarety with smaller cordless push mowers
• Wide range of cutting heights to handle all types of lawn grass

What we Disliked

• No bagging capability
• Height adjuster sometimes pops out of place

Why is a battery powered lawn mower great for small yards?

Battery powered lawn mowers don’t require much maintenance. All you have to do is keep the batteries charged and sharpen/replace the mower blades.  They are also much quieter than gas lawn mowers as well.

There is a weight advantage for choosing a battery powered mower, and they are much lighter than their gas powered cousins.  There is also a slight cost incentive, as current electric rates are cheaper than the price you pay for gas.

Battery powered mowers are better than gas lawn mowers for small yards

Battery powered mowers are better than gas lawn mowers for small yards for a few reasons

• No engine emissions. which means they are better for the environment
• Battery powered mowers are much quieter, which gives you the flexibility to cut your grass late or early in the morning
• There is no gas to buy and maintain
• Little maintenance.  Charging batteries and sharpening/replacing mower blades are it.
• Easy starting, usually with a push-button start.

I recently made the switch to all battery powered outdoor lawn equipment and couldn’t be more satisfied.

Will a battery powered mower work for me?

You might be thinking about using a corded electric lawn mower.  They are great for small yards as well and can be really inexpensive.

Being cordless allows you to cut the lawn and not be tied down to the location of your exterior electric outlets. That can be a real pain.  Also, with a corded electric mower, you have to deal with the long extension cords, which can slow you down in your mowing process.

If you are used to a corded electric lawn mower then making the switch to a cordless battery  power lawn mower won’t be that big of a change.  You will need to adjust to limited runtimes, but you gain the ability to go anywhere on your lawn.

What are the disadvantages of a battery powered lawn mower?

There are two major disadvantages with battery powered lawn mowers

• The batteries.  Batteries can be expensive if they go bad.  The reliability of Lithium-Ion batteries has come a long way, but that reliability comes with an expensive price tag.  Some replacement batteries can cost as much as the tool itself
• Runtime.  The newer 40v, 50v, and 60v Lithium-ion batteries are strong and powerful.  However, they do have a shorter runtime.  With most modern lithium-ion 40v batteries, you will get a 40-minute average run time.

What features would you like in a battery powered mower for a small yard?

• 13inch -16inch cutting width
• 16inch – 20inch cutting width
• mulching and bagging capabilities depending on the model
• multiple position height adjustment
• Lithium-ion batteries in the 18v -40v range.
• battery and charger should be included

All of these great features make cutting the grass in a small yard with a battery powered mower a snap.

What’s the best battery powered lawn mower for a small yard?

You can’t make a bad decision with any of the mowers listed in this post.  Each of these mowers can easily cut grass in small yards.  They can do it without using gas, costly maintenance, and bad environmental emissions. I actually like the RYOBI 18-inch 40v mower personally.  This mower would be perfect for cutting the grass around a small fenced-in yard or pool area, and I think it would work great in that type of environment.

If you need a battery powered mower for your small lawn, check out the mowers above, and give a cordless electric powered corded lawn mower a chance. I don’t think you will be disappointed.  Get out there and cut some grass!

 

Lawn Mower Manufacturers Mentioned in this Post

Green Works

SunJoe

RYOBI

Black and Decker