Best Lawn Mowers Under $500 (2026)

The EGO LM2114 is a 21-inch cordless mower claiming up to 6.0 foot-pounds of cutting torque, the figure the listing uses to say it exceeds gas, and up to 55 minutes of runtime on a single charge. Torque at the blade, not horsepower, is what keeps the blade spinning in thick grass, and a high figure here means the mower holds speed when the deck loads up.

Seven cutting height positions give finer control than the five and six step levers on most rivals. A battery and charger come in the kit, and the EGO battery platform is one of the largest in cordless outdoor tools, so a trimmer, blower or hedge trimmer can share the pack.

Compared with the Greenworks 60V, the EGO is a push mower rather than self-propelled, so it suits flat to gently sloping lawns of a quarter acre or less. Runtime claims assume light, dry grass, so expect 15 to 20 percent less in thick growth. Rinse the deck, keep the battery indoors and replace the pack in around five years. Compared with a gas mower, the weekly routine is simpler: pull the battery, mow, rinse, recharge. Keep the pack at room temperature before charging, and the platform will repay the premium over many seasons.

The PowerSmart EasyDrive Pro adds a 170cc four-stroke OHV engine, rear-wheel self-propel and a 22-inch steel deck. Rear-wheel drive gives better traction on slopes and uneven ground than front-wheel systems, because the weight transfers to the driven wheels as you push uphill.

A 22-inch deck is the widest in this lineup, and 170cc is a notch above the 144cc engines in cheaper tiers, with a stated capacity for thick grass. Together they cut a half-acre lawn in far fewer passes than a push mower, and self-propel takes the work out of slopes and bagging.

Gas upkeep is the cost: oil each season, a plug and air filter each year, and stabilizer before winter. Rinse the underdeck and dry the steel after each cut to slow rust. For large, uneven or sloped lawns, this is the heavy hitter. At year three, check the self-propel cable and wheel gears, since those are the parts that wear on a driven mower. The extra width helps most on long straight runs, so measure your yard before assuming you need it.

This PowerSmart 21-inch is the slightly cheaper sibling of the 22-inch EasyDrive Pro, with the same 170cc OHV engine, rear-wheel drive and steel deck, and an auto choke with recoil start. The one-inch narrower deck covers about 5 percent less per pass, which is hardly noticeable.

For most owners it is the better buy: nearly identical engine and drive at a lower price tier. An auto choke removes the manual choke step that trips new gas mower owners.

Same upkeep as the 22-inch: seasonal oil, yearly plug and filter, stabilizer before storage, and dry the deck after cutting. A second battery is not needed because the engine is gas, which is a quiet advantage on a large lawn. For most households this is the sweet spot: the same engine class as the bigger sibling at a gentler price.

The SENIX 21-inch is a push mower with a 144cc four-stroke OHV engine, a high-strength steel deck, six height positions on a dual lever and 3-in-1 functions: mulch, bag or side discharge. The engine and deck are described as designed for longer life and low vibration.

Without self-propel, it relies on you to push the weight, which matters on slopes and with a full bag. Against the PowerSmart self-propelled models it saves money and weight but not effort.

It suits flat lawns where you want gas runtime and flexible discharge. Change the oil and plug on schedule and clean the deck after each cut. If you later move to a hillier property, this is the mower that won't hold you back. Treat the 3-in-1 as a seasonal tool: mulch in summer and bag in autumn leaf season.

The Greenworks 60V pairs a brushless motor with rear-wheel self-propel and two 4.0Ah batteries, in a 21-inch deck with 4-in-1 functions. The listing says it handles slopes and thick grass and runs about three times quieter than a gas mower, with instant starts and zero emissions.

Self-propel draws from the same battery, so a self-propelled model gets less acreage than the push version on the same pack, and two batteries are what keep it practical. The 60V label is a platform name; a 60V max pack is about 54 volts nominal.

Against the EGO it adds self-propel but costs a little more and offers fewer heights, and it connects to the broader Greenworks 60V family. Rinse the deck and keep the packs indoors. Over several seasons, check the drive belt equivalent on the wheel assembly and keep the packs partly charged. The self-propel speed control matters for comfort, so test that it matches your walking pace.