A dense healthy lawn produces enough oxygen for a family of four in a 50-foot square. In a way, having a healthy lawn plays a small part in helping our environment. Purchasing one of the best push mowers will ensure you foster a healthy lawn without contributing to the pollution of the environment. The right lawn mower will cut instead of tearing the blades of grass.
When grass is regularly cut and cared for it will look greener and grow better. Up first in this article, is our section featuring the best push mowers out there. After that, you’ll find a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best push lawn mower for your yard.
9 Best Push Mowers in 2021
In our review section, we’ve featured only the best of the best push mowers on the market. To help you identify some of their features, we’ve given awards to each of the manual push mowers to show what we feel they excel at. We feel confident that after reading through these reviews, and our shopping guide below, you’ll be able to pick out the best manual push mower for your lawn and garden.
So what is the best push mower for you? Read on to find out.
1. Earthwise Push Reel Mower
Our pick for the Best Push Reel Mower Blades
- Width: 16″
- Wheel Size: 10″
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Features: 7 Tempered Alloy Steel Blades
- Height: 0.5-2.5″
The Earthwise push reel mower comes in 14, 16, 18, and 20-inch widths. You also have the option of five or seven blades, though we recommend more blades for a finer trim. The sharp rotating blades will give you a clean cut promoting the health of your lawn. While the blades need manual sharpening, that is the most maintenance you will need to do.
This mower is best for Bermuda, Hybrid Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede grass types. Powered by you, it is absent of both fumes and noise making it perfect for sustainable gardening. The ten-inch wheels allow you to push this reel mower around your yard. At 26 pounds you won’t fatigue quickly while operating it.
2. Sun Joe Mow Joe Manual Reel Mower with Catcher
Best Push Mower for the Money
- Width: 16″
- Wheel Size: 8.8″
- Weight: 22 lbs
- Features: 4 Steel Blades
- Height: 0.79-1.81″
The Sun Joe manual reel push mower is unique in that it allows you to adjust the height to four different positions. The clippings catcher will hold up to 6.6 gallons. This best manual push mower is easy to use and lightweight at twenty-two pounds. The four steel blades cut a sixteen-inch-wide path.
The 8.8-inch wheels allow for maneuvering with ease. The foam handle provides a comfortable grip. Sitting at under $100, we dub this model of the Mow Joe the best push mower for the money.
3. Greenworks Reel Lawn Mower with Grass Catcher
Best Bagging Push Mower
- Width: 16″
- Wheel Size: See Sizes Listed Below
- Weight: 26 lbs
- Features: 5 Blades
- Height: 1.125-2.25″
The Greenworks reel lawn mower has a two-in-one feature that provides mulching and rear bagging of the grass cuttings, earning it the title of best bagging push mower in our review list.
There are four different height positions, letting users choose from a cutting height range of 1 1/8th to 2 1/4 inches.
This large height range gives this push mower the ability to cut a wider range of grass types, with a 16-inch span to help get the job done efficiently. The large wheel size also aids in maneuvering the mower over a variety of grass types.
- Front Wheel Height: 10″
- Rear Roller Height: 2″
Assembly is required before use, and again, the Greenworks push mower weighs under 30lbs making the use relatively easy for a range of strengths and stamina.
4. Scotts Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
Best Rated Push Mower
- Width: 20″
- Wheel Size: 10″
- Weight: ~10-15 lbs
- Features: 5 Heat Treated Steel Blades
- Height: 1″-3″
This is one of the widest mowers on this list at 20 inches, making it ideal for larger lawns. It also has ten-inch dual tracking rugged radial tires, so it can better handle hills and rougher terrain. The classic design meets new technology which customers love. It’s easily the best-rated push mower available.
Perhaps the largest variety of heights, the Scotts Classic Push Reel Mower features nine different grass heights to choose from, ranging from 1-3 inches.
For ease of adjustment, there are quick snap adjusters on the wheels to control the blade height. The five blades are made from heat-treated steel, made to withstand rusting and dulling more effectively.
The handle is cushioned and shaped to be ergonomic, so you won’t tire during your yard work. The frame itself is also made of rigid steel, so you’ll be getting a lot of use from it without seeing wear and tear. The one thing we definitely recommend is purchasing a blade sharpening kit to help maintain the push mower and get the most out of your new yard toy.
5. Great States Push Reel Lawn Mowers
Best Push Lawn Mowers of 2020
- Width: 14″, 16″, 18″
- Wheel Size: 10″
- Weight: 27 lbs
- Features: 5 Heat Treated Blades (see below for second blade option)
- Height: See Heights Below for each Width
The Great States push reel mower comes in 3 different widths- choose from 14″, 16″ or 18″ to best fit your yard. All three sizes come with five heat-treated blades. There is a second fourteen-inch option that only has four blades that is better for a less dense yard.
Here is a summary of all the width and height options to make it easy for you to compare the features:
- 14″ 4 Blade: cutting height range of 0.5-1.75 inches. Features 3-Spider 4-Blade Reel.
- 14″ 5 Blade: cutting height of 1-2.25 inches.
- 16″: this push mower has a decent cutting height range of 0.5″-2.5″, allowing you to customize your look and routine.
- 18″: the widest option has the largest cutting height range from 0.5-2.75 inches.
All of the mowers come with ten-inch composite wheels. A grass clippings catcher and blade sharpening kit can be purchased in addition to helping the life and effectiveness of the push mower. With all of the variety in sizes and height adjustments, the Great States easily took the cake last year as the best push mower of this year!
6. American Lawn Mower Company Push Reel Lawn Mower
Best Push Lawn Mower Under $100
- Width: 14″
- Wheel Size: 8.5″
- Weight: 19 lbs
- Features: 4 Tempered Alloy Steel and Bed Knife Blades
- Height: 0.5″-1.75″
The deluxe hand-reel push American Lawn Mower provides clean and precise scissor-like cutting. It comes in a range of sizes 14, 16, or 18 inches of cutting width, along with customization of either 4 or 5 tempered alloy steel blades. The 14-inch 4-blade edition pictured above is the one we’ve selected as the best push lawn mower under $100. If you’re on a budget, this is the one for you.
The push mower features settings from a half to one and three quarter inch cutting height. American Lawn Mowers feature easy roll wheels, will have you cutting your lawn in no time.
All grass clippings are deflected out the rear of the mower, so if you’re into mulching, this is the device for you. At nineteen pounds this push mower is on the lighter end of the scale, and maneuverable by anyone.
7. Sun Joe Mow Joe 18-Inch Manual Reel Mower
Best Push Mower Under $200
- Width: 18″
- Wheel Size: 10″ and 6″
- Weight: 28 lbs
- Features: 5 Steel Blades
- Height: 1.5″-2.6″
Another manual reel mower from Sun Joe has made our list! This one is almost exactly like the previously listed one (see review #2) only bigger. The major difference is the wider blade width, and price – though it is our pick for best push mower under $200, so it’s still a great value.
With this Mow Joe, you get 18 inches of blades that spin to cut smaller-sized lawns. Owners can choose from 9 different positions for the blade height. A grass catcher is attached to the back of the mower which can hold up to 6.6 gallons of grass cuttings.
When it gets full, simply detach and empty with ease. Two ten-inch wheels and two smaller six-inch wheels maneuver the mower around the lawn. All of the parts are covered by a 2 Year Limited warranty should it not hold up to Sun Joe standards.
8. Gardena Electric and Manual Push Reel Lawn Mower
Best Push Reel Mower w/ Electric Option
- Width: 15″
- Wheel Size: 8.5″
- Weight: 35 lbs
- Features: Steel Cylinder and 1 Stationary Blade
- Height: 0.5″-1.65″
The Gardena gives you the ability to use it as a battery-powered or traditional reel lawnmower. An LED display on the handle tells you the level of charge the battery has. A controller and cutting height scale lets you adjust the height to anything you want. Gardena’s option for the best push mower is more customizable than the set heights of all the other mowers on this list.
The ergonomic handle and well-placed switches make this mower a pleasure to use. The mower weighs 35 pounds, which is heavy compared to others, but still fairly easy to push around your yard.
The manufacturer offers a twelve-month parts and labor warranty, replacing any parts that fail within the first year at no cost to you.
9. Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel Mower
Best Push Mowers for Small Lawns
- Width: 18″
- Wheel Size: 4.86″ in Front
- Weight: 50 lbs
- Features: 5 Steel Blades
- Height: 1″-4″
The Fiskars is the best push reel mower for those who don’t mind mowing more often. This eco-friendly option has a width of 18 inches.
You have the option of pushing the clippings forward or backward depending on how you like to mulch your grass. The height can be adjusted to what is more comfortable for you and the health of your lawn. As a bonus, the blades don’t need to be manually sharpened and they also extend the full width of the mower thanks to the inset wheels.
A word of warning, this is not the best push mower if you have a large lawn or lots of hills. If you do purchase this mower it comes with a three-year warranty.
What to Look for in the Best Push Mowers
You could put the best organic fertilizers and weed killers on your lawn. Without the right lawnmower, your lawn won’t look its best. Look at the cost, cutting width, number of blades, and wheel size.
Keep in mind that different types of lawn mowers are better for different types of grass. You also want to buy the right mower for the size of your yard.
1. Type of Yard
Push mowers are perfect for yards that are on the smaller side. It’s best if the yard is flat so you don’t have to push the mower up hills.
2. Weight to Consider
Push mowers tend to weight less than self-propelled mowers. You can expect them to be ten to thirty pounds lighter. The weight will range from sixteen to thirty-two pounds. Take into consideration who will be mowing your lawn and how much weight they will be able to manage.
3. Cost
Most push mowers are going to cost between $50 and $300. This is much lower than a self-propelled that could run you $250 to $500.
Push Mower Features
When taking a closer look at the best push mowers, make sure to also consider the following features:
- Cutting Width. You’ll find the cutting width ranges from fourteen to twenty inches. The wider the cutting width the more grass gets cut in a single pass. The extra width will mean more weight.
- Blades. Besides the cutting width, you need to consider how many blades the mower has. Most push mowers have four, five, or seven blades.
- Wheel Size. Wheels are usually eight or ten inches. The larger wheels will roll easier and be less likely to get stuck in your lawn.
- Height Adjustments. Being able to customize the height of your lawn can be crucial to keeping your grass alive, but not having to mow as often.
Manual Push Reel Mower
A manual push reel mower is going cut your lawn the same way scissors cut. According to experts, this is better for the health of your lawn.
These types of mowers are best suited on lawns that are under two thousand square feet. They are not well suited for tall or wet grass.
If you are looking for the most environmentally friendly mower, these are it. Your energy moves reel mowers.
Electric Push Mower
If you’re still looking for a powered option, cordless electric mowers have made great strides to be competitive with other types of mowers on the market. They run quieter, cleaner, and are environmentally friendly.
You can usually run them for thirty minutes on a full charge. This is enough to mow a half-acre yard. Their corded counterpart offers unlimited run time. The challenge is that they require a cord making maneuvering more difficult.
