Best Lawn Mowers Under $100 (2026)

The 1304-14GC is the best answer to a tight budget because it has nothing to go wrong in the usual ways. Five heat-treated alloy-steel blades spin against a fixed bedknife in a scissor action, driven by the wheels as you walk, and 10-inch polymer wheels roll more easily over small bumps than the 8.5-inch wheels on the cheaper reel in this guide.

Cutting height runs from 1 to 2.25 inches, which suits well-kept turf more than a lawn left to grow, and the grass catcher cuts the raking afterwards. Compared with the 1204-14, it has an extra blade and bigger wheels, which makes a smoother cut and an easier push. Compared with the gas machines at the same budget, it asks for effort but gives back silence and zero fuel.

Upkeep is simple. Keep the reel and bedknife in light contact, which you can check by feeding a sheet of paper into the gap, avoid sticks and stones, and oil the pivots occasionally. Expect to need sharpening after a few seasons, and expect a short cutting range, so mow before the grass gets over about three inches. A habit that pays off on any reel is to mow in the cool of the evening when the blades are dry, in overlapping rows, and to walk at a steady pace, because a reel cuts best when the wheels turn briskly and stalls its cut when you plod. If clippings collect in the catcher faster than expected, that is a sign you waited too long between mows.

Getting a self-propelled gas mower within this budget is unusual, and the Shulemin does it with a 131cc four-stroke engine driving the rear wheels. The listing talks up traction on hills and large lawns, and rear-wheel drive is the right layout for that, since weight shifts back as you lean on the handle.

The 131cc engine is small, though, which means it will bog on thick or wet grass where a 170cc unit would carry on, and nothing about a budget gas mower suggests long-term durability. A 50-liter bag and three clipping modes round out the package. Against the YOXIER push model of similar engine size, you pay a touch more for the drive and the extra convenience on slopes.

Because this is an unknown brand, test it as soon as it arrives, keep the receipt, and check how easily replacement blades and spark plugs can be found. Use fresh stabilized fuel, change the oil at the start of the season and clean the air filter. If the recoil pull is hard for you, this is not the mower to buy. Before the first start, check the oil level, because many budget gas mowers ship with the crankcase empty or low and running one dry is the fastest way to end its life. Add the oil the manual specifies, fill with fresh fuel, and read the instructions on priming rather than assuming it works like your last mower.

This mower pairs a 131cc four-cycle engine with a 3-in-1 deck and a wide-mouth 50-liter bag, and the listing says it is light and easy to maneuver with a push-button start. A push-button start on a gas engine at this price is worth confirming, since many budget mowers list one but rely on a pull cord in practice.

It is a push mower, so on a slope you do the work, which is where the Shulemin sibling earns its slightly higher price. Compared with the reels, it handles taller grass and light weeds, and the lighter build makes it easier to lift and store. The weakness is the same as any budget gas machine: a small engine and unproven parts supply.

To get the best from it, use fresh fuel, keep the oil topped up and sharpen the blade each season. Check the wheel adjusters and handle bolts after the first few mows, since budget hardware loosens under vibration. Treat it as a seasonal machine for a modest lawn and not a decade-long tool. One more caution on any budget gas mower is the safety hardware: confirm the blade-brake lever stops the blade when released and that the discharge guard is fitted correctly, and never operate the machine with a cover or chute removed, since at this price level the fit of plastic parts can be loose out of the box.

The 1204-14 is the stripped-down reel: four blades, 8.5-inch polymer wheels and a height range of 0.5 to 1.75 inches, with the maker saying it can cut grass up to 4 inches tall. That low height range makes it a fit for fine, short turf kept tight, not for a lawn left a few inches long.

Compared with the 1304-14GC, it has one fewer blade, smaller wheels and no catcher, so it is a slightly harder push and a slightly rougher cut, but it is also lighter and cheaper to own. It is pollution-free and quiet, and it stores nearly flat in a closet or shed.

Care is minimal: adjust the reel-to-bedknife contact each season, clear any sticks before mowing and clean the blades after wet cuts. If grass is a little longer than the sweet spot, mow it in two passes at different heights, since a reel that is pushed too hard through long grass will fold it over instead of cutting it. Because it lacks a catcher, plan to rake or mulch the clippings, and do not bother with this model if you hate raking.

What makes this one different is that a single machine turns into three tools. The 6.5 amp motor drives a 12-inch deck as a mower, then converts to a string trimmer and an edger, with an Automatic Feed Spool that advances the line so you do not stop to bump the head. For a tiny yard it replaces three purchases with one and one thing to store.

The motor is modest, so the sensible expectation is regular cutting of short grass and light weeds, not rescuing a jungle. Against the reels, it can handle slightly taller growth without muscle, and against the gas models it never needs fuel. The cord is the cost: you manage a cable around the yard and need an outlet within reach.

Change modes with the unit unplugged, keep the string head clear of tangled grass and use a properly rated extension cord. Wipe down the deck after use and check the cord for nicks each season. It is a good first mower for a patch of lawn, not a main tool for a large one. A good habit is to trim and edge first, then mow, so the loose clippings from the trimmer get picked up by the mower, and to coil the cord neatly on the handle after each use so it does not kink in the shed.