Electric lawn mowers can cut it for most homeowners, but a gas powered lawn mower may still be best for your needs. Here’s how to decide on gas vs. electric.
For most homeowners, an electric mower is more than sufficient to maintain a standard sized yard. And a small electric mower is actually better than a gas mower in many ways. Below, I take a look at the major differences between gas and electric lawn mowers, namely:
- Maintenance
- Ease of operation
- Energy efficiency
- Noise
- Cost and rebates!
Gas powered mowers were once the only practical choice for large yards, thick grass, or mowing far away from a power outlet for an electric corded lawn mower. Times have changed though, and most modern electric battery powered mowers are just as powerful as gas powered machines.
Pros and cons
Let’s sum it all up with a comparison of corded electric, battery electric, and gas powered lawn mowers.
| Corded electric | Battery electric | Gas powered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pros | Very low energy costs | Very quiet | Powerful performance |
| Easy and inexpensive to maintain | Easier to maneuver and use (no pesky cord or recoil ignition!) | Longer mowing time on a tank of gas | |
| Weighs less than a gas or battery mower | Can often be stored upright to save space | No cord to contend with | |
| Lower noise output than a gas mower | No toxic gas emissions (at tailpipe) | Can be used when grass is wet | |
| No toxic gas emissions | Lighter than a gas mower | Great for steep, hilly, uneven ground | |
| Eco-friendly | Energy efficient and environmentally friendly | Can handle going over some errant rocks and stones | |
| Easier to store | Low maintenance requirements | ||
| Usually the cheapest option |
Personally, I found using a corded mower absolutely infuriating, especially for a yard with a lot of rocks and other obstacles. If you have a big yard, a corded mower may prove unsafe and very irritating.
The longer a cord is, the thicker the wire, which creates a limit on cord length due to weight and expense. And, even if you use an extension cord, safety becomes a serious concern as you have to constantly be aware of where the cord is so that you don’t run it over, damage plants, knock over garden statuary, or otherwise cause an accident.
Cordless electric mowers do cost a bit more than a corded mower, but you’ll save a good chunk of money on your electricity bill by using a battery powered mower.
| Corded electric | Battery electric | Gas powered | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cons | Usually lower powered than a gas mower | Sometimes lower powered than a gas mower | Emit toxic fumes and pose risks of gas spills |
| Limited range due to cord | You have to remember to charge batteries | Loud! May fall foul of neighborhood noise restrictions | |
| Irritating to use as you have to pay attention to cord safety | Batteries deteriorate over time and can be costly to replace | Heavy and more difficult to maneuver – not great for tight spaces | |
| Usually a narrower cutting width than a gas mower | Battery time is limited, so you may have to charge mid-mow or switch out your battery | Take up more storage space and don’t fold up | |
| Can’t use when grass is wet or in the rain | Usually a narrower cutting width than a gas mower | Require more maintenance than electric mowers | |
| Can have a hard time with wet grass | Fuel costs more than an electric charge/electricity | ||
| Not great if your yard is rocky or full of big twigs | Harder to start | ||
| More expensive than corded mowers and some gas mowers | Need to mix fuel and oil, and/or drain fuel for longer periods of disuse | ||
| Higher vibrations, which can cause health problems over time |
Most battery electric mowers now use brushless DC motors that modulate power depending on conditions. This makes for a very efficient mowing experience that is more powerful and energy efficient than corded models, and just as powerful and more environmentally friendly than gas powered mowers.
You may want to consider a gas powered lawn mower if:
- You have a huge amount of grass to cut
- Your yard has especially steep or uneven terrain
- Your lawn is large and the grass is very thick.
Mower maintenance
If you’re really into getting dirty and oily and have the kind of masochistic tendencies whereby you want to spend your weekends yanking cords to try to start an itinerant motor, a gas powered lawn mower might be perfect for you. If not, bear in mind that these engines aren’t anywhere near as easy to use and maintain as an electric mower.
For a gas mower, it’s best to have the mower serviced regularly by a certified professional. Doing the maintenance yourself may seem cheaper and easier in the short term, but the DIY approach invalidates your warranty, meaning you’re not covered if anything goes terribly wrong.
Some basic pointers:
- At minimum, remove and clean the air filter for your gas mower before every use
- fairly quick and simple, this improves mower reliability
- Use the right ratio of fuel to oil
- too much causes excess carbon production, making the mower smoke and damaging the engine and carburetor
- not enough oil can cause overheating and serious engine damage.
- Use fresh fuel
- ethanol-based gas typically deteriorates within a few weeks
- Drain the fuel from the carburetor at the end of the mowing season or if it won’t be used for two or more months
- (run the mower’s engine with the fuel cap closed, until the engine runs out of fuel and cuts out).
If you’re mechanically minded and like mucking about with motors, these issues probably don’t phase you in the slightest. The fact remains, however, that, compared to electric mowers, gas mowers are still:
- Noisier
- Require more maintenance
- Reduce air quality
- Cause more pollution.
Electric mower maintenance
For an electric mower, maintenance requirements include:
- Basic inspections every once in a while (such as to make sure the wiring is in good condition)
- A bit of cleaning
- Replacing the brushes on the motor after a few years
- Sharpening or replacing the blades if you accidentally damage it (see photo above: oops!).
That’s it!
I’ve had my Ego mower for four years and have probably spent less than an hour on maintenance that whole time. It’s still in fantastic condition and works like a charm every time.
Gas and electric mower maintenance
For both gas powered and electric mowers, you’ll want to:
- Clean the cutting deck after every use
- Get a hard brush and water to remove fine lawn cuttings stuck to the blades
- Use a hose attachment for easy cleaning
- Check the general condition of the mower at least once a year
- Examine: fuel pipes, electrical wires, nuts, bolts, paintwork, etc.
- Remove dirt and rust as necessary
- Apply fresh paint or other rust inhibitor to exposed metal
- Grease bearings, levers, and shafts annually
- Tighten any nuts and bolts as needed.
Ease of operation
As a kid, I was very happy when my folks upgraded to a corded electric mower. I’d had it with the frustration of pulling a recoil starter again and again without the gas powered mower jumping to life. And that gas mower was heavy.
If you want your kids to mow your lawn, go electric. They’re lighter, safer, quieter, and more satisfying to use than a gas mower. My toddler is already a fan of our lawn mower but hates the sound and smell of a gas mower.
If you live somewhere cool or have an old mower, the chances are even higher of your engine not firing when you want it to. That might be because of carbon on your spark plug or a dirty carburetor, both of which you’re going to have to deal with if you want to keep using the mower.
Larger engines with heavier pistons are even harder to start. That’s why lawn mower manufacturers have mostly switched to easy-start functions that use an electronic decompression device to help reduce engine resistance. Electric ignition also makes for a more reliable start-up process. Some gas powered motors also have easy access spark plugs and drains for oil, including those in my top picks for Leaf Score.
If you have an unruly patch of pasture that hasn’t seen a lawn mower in years, consider borrowing a gas powered mower for the first pass.
Check local tool libraries and ask friends and family for a loaner mower.
After taming that grass, use an electric mower for maintenance to save money and the planet.
Energy efficiency
The first lawn mowers, invented in the 1830s, were largely ineffective and not at all energy efficient.
These days, we’ve mostly moved away from gas guzzling, smoke belching 2-stroke mowers to slightly better 4-stroke mowers and beyond, to:
- Robot mowers
- Hybrid-electric solar battery powered mowers.
These are far more energy efficient and environmentally friendly, not to mention quieter.
If you absolutely must have a gas mower, you can keep noise and fumes to a minimum with a newer energy efficient model. This means looking for a mower with a four-cycle OHV engine (such as is found in my top picks for gas powered mowers). These cost more but will:
- Use less fuel
- Last longer
- Produce lower emissions.
If you’re wondering whether electric mowers really are better for the environment, I examine the issue here (spoiler alert: yes they are!).
Unfortunately, lawn mowers are not eligible for an Energy Star rating, which means you have to do your own research to find an energy efficient, eco-friendly lawn mower.
Energy Star does offer an archive of products meeting Energy Star standards, but most of the lawnmower batteries on this list are lead acid or very low voltage, meaning they’re almost certainly outmatched for energy efficiency and performance by current lithium ion batteries and chargers.
Battery power and size
Voltage (V) and Ampere-Hours (AH) are two key things to look for when buying a battery powered electric lawn mower. A higher voltage doesn’t mean more power, but it may mean a slightly longer mowing time between charges.
Basically, don’t be bamboozled into thinking an 80V battery is way better than a 20V; both will provide the same wattage, it’s just that the lower voltage battery will require higher amps. Confused? Let’s do some math.
Consider the following two batteries:
- A 4 AH 20 V battery
- A 2 AH 40 V battery
Which one is best?
Both provide around the same amount of working time because the 20 V battery has half the voltage but twice the Ampere-Hours than the 40 V 2 AH battery.
However, because the higher voltage battery is a little more efficient, there might be a few extra minutes of mowing time from this model, but that’s not enough to warrant a significant price difference.
If you compare a 2 AH 80 V battery with a 4 AH 20 V battery, however, the 80 V option gives you about twice the working time of the 20 V battery.
In my garden, I know that my first mow of the season requires at least two full battery charges. After that, I can typically zip through the much shorter grass with just one charge.
Hotter weather also means batteries discharge faster.
On a recent very hot day here in BC, my mower battery conked out in about two thirds of the time it usually lasts. I parked my mower in the shade while I charged my battery again and made sure to charge my battery somewhere cool too.
If I can, I mow on a cooler day, both for my sake and the battery’s.
Newer battery powered mowers have power monitoring technology built in, so that the motor continually adjusts power output depending on cutting conditions. Thicker grass and/or longer grass means the motor will increase power, while the onboard computer will reduce power as the mower traverses shorter, less dense grass.
The responsiveness of mowers does vary, however. Some models suffer from a significant lag between when the mower senses changes in cutting conditions and when it toggles power output.
The easiest way to counteract this is simply to slow down. I do this in my yard when I hit an area of thicker or longer grass. That gives my mower a better chance to modulate power output for better results and better battery life.
When mowing thick grass, slowing down also helps overcome another potential downside of electric mowers: a lack of suction.
Keeping it slow gives the mower a better chance to collect clippings.
Get a second battery and a good charger
If you mow a lot in summer, and have dense grass, get a second battery.
Having a backup ready to go means you can zip through the job without having to wait for recharging.
A good battery charger is also essential. This means one with:
- Rapid charging capabilities
- Cooling (batteries can quickly overheat and become damaged when charging)
- Over-charge protection.
When you’re done using your battery powered device, set it to charge again. Storing a battery with less than 30% charge can speed up degradation, meaning it can’t hold a full charge as well.
Keep your charger somewhere cool and recharge all batteries at least once every three months to help keep lithium ion batteries in good working condition.
Most batteries will last at least two years before you start noticing any decline in performance. My Ego batteries are still going strong at four years!
Electric mower rebates
One other big advantage of electric mowers is the potential rebate for new purchases. In some jurisdictions, local government offers money back on your first purchase of a new electric lawn mower if you can demonstrate it will replace a gas guzzling lawn mower.
For example, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has two programs designed to support cleaner air by encouraging residents in the following places to replace their gasoline powered garden equipment:
- Los Angeles
- San Bernardino
- Orange County
- Riverside County.
Residents can get up to $250 in rebates for scrapping an operable, gasoline powered lawn mower in favor of a cordless, battery electric lawn mower. Not all models qualify, though, so check specifics before buying.
Many of the eligible mowers are on my list for the best eco-friendly energy efficient lawn mowers.
If you don’t live in this area, ask your local authority if they run a similar program. If the answer is no, form a delegation and ask them to put a program in place!
Final thoughts
Now that you have a better sense of the kind of mower that suits your needs, you might want to look at other factors to consider when buying a new mower, such as:
- Cutting height and width
- Noise level
- Mulching and side exhaust options
- Vibrations.
I really appriciate that. I think that gas lawn mower is better then electric lawn mower. But I’m really thankful for your content.
Hi Parvez,
Thanks for the comment. I’d love to know why you still favour gas-power over electric for lawnmowers?
Leigh
As an older person, I would choose a battery mower.
You, in your cons of gas mowers are Biased.
I’m not sure how long battery mowers will now last plus with added costs of new batteries and the machine itself.
If I was a young person, and I could tear myself away from my cell phone or computer game, I would choose a gas mower
A good quality gas mower will last 15-20 plus years, if properly maintained. Maintainence costs about $15 per year. I’ve had mowers last over 20 years.
That said, electric battery mowers are the future. I , if young would want to wait 5 years or more to see longevity of the mower itself and battery replacement costs.
Note: These battery mowers are Made in China.
Thanks for your thoughts, Dale.
I think for a lot of folks considering buying a mower for the first time, a gas mower has too many downsides in terms of the environmental impact and sheer noise. Like you, I’m also hopeful that improvements in technology and greater awareness of the right to repair movement will help propel electric mowers into even greater efficiencies and affordability.
And as for (presumably able-bodied) young folks tearing themselves away from screens, if that’s to get some fresh air outside, I’d definitely favor a push mower! Or an electric mower that isn’t self-propelled, just to get a bit more exercise and keep that air fresh rather than fume-filled and noisy.
All the best,
Leigh
As a young person who has to tear themselves away from the cell phones and video games, I am looking up reviews, but leaning towards purchasing the electric cordless mower. From another article,
“According to the California Air Resources Board, one hour of mowing generates the same pollution as driving a car for 300 miles. Indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency states that gas lawn mowers contribute the lion’s share of nonroad-related air pollution generated nationwide.”
I think its time we start thinking about the future of the planet, Dale. Out with the old, in with the new. Boomers have left a mess for younger generations to clean up and it starts with decisions like this.
I spend arournd $20.00 per year in fuel and another $6.00 for oil using my gasoline mower.
That’s $52.00 per 2 years.
Replacing a battery is around $150.00 every two years.
The electric mower also doesn’t have the life span of a gasoline mower.
Economically it just isn’t there yet.
Thanks for the thoughts, Steve. I agree that there are still some trade-offs with electric vs. gas mowers, but for many folks I think the environmental (and noise!) benefits will outweigh any minimal additional costs.
Yes Steve, the math doesn’t make sense. I applaud those who make an effort to go green, but unless they run on solar charging system. We are still using fossil fuels.. Batteries are expensive. In 4 years time of replacing batteries, I could by a new mower. I usually keep mine for 10. My dad has a 40 year old Toro that cuts about 1/2 acre. These electric mowers are still interesting, especially those that are pilot-less. Still think they are designed for small yards and they are too expensive to maintain.
Corded electrical mowers are a pain in the butt! My neighbors had them. I applaud them for going green but they spend too much time dragging the cord around and two of them actually cut the cord. Perhaps they are good for very small properties or patio homes. Anything more than 1/4 acre and you are in for a fight. I’m wondering if a trickle charger would prolong battery life. Batteries are expensive. I have a Troy built gas powered self propelled mower that is great for thick St Augustine Grass. I mulch it every time. I keep it cut high so the grass absorbs and holds moisture. Perhaps some of the finer grass types would be better for the electric mowers. 5 gals of gas lasts all season. I sharpen blades every 10 mows. I replace spark plug and clean air filter once a year. My my mower is 10 years old and it’s time to replace wheels and belt drive belt. I think when battery power and battery life improve, I may give an electric mower a try, but for now, I’ll hang on to old reliable.
Here is another consideration to throw into the pot. Most gas mower warranties are now voided if you do not have yearly service by an authorized dealer at a cost that around my home in NJ costs nearly half the purchase price of the mowers — and you are not told in the warranty or the manual that this is a requirement. Self maintenance records are not accepted, by Honda for example, and other manufacturers are adding this practice. Yes, I grew up with gas mowers, maintaining them ourselves and having the mowers last at least 10 years with constant use. However, today’s quality control does not have the same standards as 20-30 years ago. While very large plots might still need larger gas mowers, to me the choice for small to medium yards (we have two acres) is obvious — Costs here for purchasing comparable gas vs electric mowers are about the same, and the electric battery costs are balanced by the required professional maintenance on gas mowers, so first protect the environment and second reduce the maintenance with electric mowers.