Just because you have a small yard doesn't mean your lawn can't look great. Here are some of the best lawn mowers for small yards.
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Buying a Lawn Mower for a Small Yard
Lawn mower shopping can be frustrating for those with smaller yards, because it seems like every manufacturer is trying to deliver bigger, more powerful mowers than their competitors. Walk into a typical a big box store and you’ll find massive riding mowers almost as big your lawn!
Here, we’re looking out for the little lawns and yards because they deserve as much care as the big honking ones. For our purposes, we’re defining a “small yard” as one-third of an acre or less, down to about 10-ft. x 10-ft.
When shopping for a small yard mower, here a few things to look for:
- Deck width: A mower deck is the shroud that houses the blades. The wider the deck, the bigger the blades. In smaller spaces, it’s not about size but maneuverability. How well can the mower navigate around trees, bushes or other obstacles?
- Blade type:Most push mowers use rotary blades, which cut with a powerful, machete-like horizontal swing. Reel mowers pinch grass like a scissors between a stationary cutting bar and a rotating cylindrical reel. Reel mowers cut cleaner but deliver less force, leaving them prone to jamming from sticks and twigs.
- Price:This varies by power source, style and features. While we have a few outliers on our list, most push mowers for a small yard cost between $120 and $300.
- Power source: The options are gas, corded electric and cordless electric. Electric mowers have made great gains in recent years and are especially good for small yards. Cordless mowers feature chargeable batteries, some compatible with a specific manufacturer’s lineup of cordless tools. For small yards, don’t bother investing in expensive higher-voltage battery systems.
- Accessories. Baggers and mulching kits are the most popular. Baggers are especially helpful if you let the lawn grow long. Many small yard mowers do not have bagging options, so do your homework.
- Maintenance. All mowers need blade sharpening and periodic cleaning of grass clippings. Gas-powered mowers require engine maintenance. Most mower maintenance can be DIY, or you can take the mower to a service center. For small yard owners, your mower may only need service every two or three years, depending on yard size and mower brand.
- Storage. Small yards often mean limited storage space. Will the mower you want fold or disassemble? Be sure it’ll fit where you plan to keep it.
Best Value Corded Lawn Mower for Small Yards
If your yard is small enough that a mower on an extension cord can cover every inch, consider the full-featured Greenworks 25142 Lawn Mower.
This 16-in. push mower plugs into a 120-volt outlet. Like most electric mowers, it has push-button start and can mulch or collect clippings with the included bag. However, it lacks side discharge, so if you tackle long grass you may struggle with clogs. It weighs 39 pounds and comes with a three-year warranty.
Best Budget Corded Lawn Mower for Small Yards
This corded model is one of the most affordable electric mowers you’ll find. The Sun Joe MJ401E Electric Lawn Mowerfeatures a 14-inch cutting deck to navigate the tight corners and narrow turns that come with smaller yards. The MJ401E comes with a 10.6 gallon clipping collection bagand a two-year warranty.
Best Cordless Lawn Mower for Small Yards
The Ryobi P1180VNM Lawn Mower performs without unnecessary bells and whistles. The 13-in. cutting width is easily maneuvered. This mower runs on a single 18-volt battery that’s swappable with other tools in Ryobi’s One+ battery system. If you already own a One+ battery and charger, you can get the mower as a “bare tool” for $189 and save even more.
We love that the Ryobi folds flat for vertical storage. Ryobi calls this mower appropriate for up to one-quarter acre, but we think that may be pushing it for a deck this narrow. It also lacks a side discharge option. Much like the Greenworks models we looked at, you can only mulch or bag the clippings, so it’s not great for cutting tall grass.
Best Reel Lawn Mower for Small Yards
If you don’t want to mess with gas or power cords, or simply prefer to get some exercise when you mow, consider a manual reel mower. The Scotts 304-14S Reel Lawn Mowerfeatures a 14-in. reel to navigate tight turns and narrow spaces. It tucks away for storage in your garage or shed. At 18 pounds, it’s even light enough to carry inside if that’s your best storage option.
Best Gas-Powered Lawn Mower for Small Yards
Gas powered mowers often have wider cutting decks and self-propelled drive, features that aren’t as valuable in a smaller yard. The Murray MNA152506 Lawn Mowerfeatures a 20-in. deck, about as narrow as a gas powered push mower gets. It comes with a Briggs and Stratton engine and Murray’s proprietary “Prime ‘N Pull Start” to make getting going a little easier. Admittedly, it’s not as convenient as a true press-button start.
This model has side discharge and a mulching option but doesn’t accept a bagger, so it’s better for those who mow frequently. It has a two-year limited warranty.
Best Riding Lawn Mower for Small Yards
In general, small yards aren’t big enough for a riding mower. However, if your yard is about one-third of an acre and you’ve got the storage space, the Snapper RE110 Riding Lawn Mowermight be the mower for you.
With a 28-in. cutting deck, the RE110 is actually narrower than some large push mowers. It can’t perform tight turns like a push mower, but the Briggs and Stratton engine provides plenty of power, and it does have an optional bagging system.
The Snapper RE110 is unusual in its size and affordability. And while it’s not a fit for every small yard, it may be exactly what you’re looking for.
Best Space-Saving Lawn Mower for Small Yards
If storage room is tight, look for a mower with vertical storage, like the Craftsman Double 20-volt Max Cordless Electric Lawn Mower.
This mower folds up and hangs on the wall, freeing-up valuable floor space in a garage, shed or basement. It only weighs 35 pounds, almost one-third lighter than some of its competitors.
This 20-in. Craftsman features two 20-volt batteries, compatible with more than 100 other 20-volt Craftsman tools. Unlike many other small yard mowers, it comes with a clippings collection bag. It offers a three-year warranty as well.
Best Outside-the-Box Option for Small Yards
For those with the smallest of yards, sometimes all that’s needed to keep the grass in check is a simple string trimmer. But it can be tough to make a uniform, level cut that way. Luckily, the Black+Decker MTC220solves that problem!
This convertible string trimmer mounts on a four-wheeled cutting deck to provide a stable base when mowing lawns. It also disconnects for use as a traditional trimmer. Its 20-volt battery is compatible with the rest of the Black+Decker Power Connect line.
If you don’t mind the hassle of dancing around an extension cord, the corded version of this tool — the Besta512CM— is even more affordable.
Best Robotic Lawn Mower for Small Yards
The Worx WR165 Landroid S Lawn Moweris intended for yards one-eighth of an acre or smaller. The modest 7-in. cutting base and patented Worx AIA (Artificial Intelligence Algorithm) allows this mower to navigate narrower spaces than most other robotic mowers. It’s also more affordable than others, which often cost thousands of dollars.
The Worx WR165 can be controlled by the Landroid app over a Bluetooth or WiFi connection.
