Milwaukee

There’s no single “best” lawn mower—it depends on your lawn size, terrain, and whether you prefer gas, battery, or manual. But these are the brands and specific models people actually buy and recommend most often.

🔋 Best Cordless Battery Mowers

Great for small to medium lawns (under ½ acre). Quiet, low maintenance, no gas fumes.

• EGO Power+ LM2156SP – The gold standard. 21” self-propelled, 56V battery, tons of power, excellent build quality. If you want a premium electric mower, this is it.
• Greenworks Pro 80V – Strong alternative to EGO. Good runtime, brushless motor, and usually a bit cheaper.
• Ryobi 40V Brushless – Popular at Home Depot. Reliable, plenty of models, and share batteries with other Ryobi tools.
• Milwaukee M18 Fuel – If you’re already in the Milwaukee ecosystem, this is a beast for a battery mower.

⛽ Best Gas Push / Self-Propelled Mowers

Best for medium/large lawns, thick grass, or hilly terrain.

• Honda HRX217VKA – Legendary. Hydrostatic transmission (no shifting), powerful GCV200 engine, great mulching. People keep these for 15+ years.
• Toro Recycler 22” SmartStow – The big selling point: the handle folds up so it stores vertically. Great bagging, mulching, and Personal Pace self-propel.
• Honda HRN216VKA – Slightly cheaper than the HRX, but still Honda-reliable. Great for most homeowners.
• Craftsman M105 / M110 – Budget-friendly gas mowers that just work. No frills, but solid value.

🧑‍🌾 Best Reel (Manual) Mowers

For tiny lawns, precision cutting, or people who want zero emissions and exercise.

• Fiskars StaySharp Max – The best modern reel mower. Inertia-driven reel stays sharp longer, cuts better than traditional reels, and is easier to push.
• Great States / American Lawn Mower – Cheap, lightweight, classic. Fine for very flat, small lawns.

🚜 Best Riding Mowers / Lawn Tractors

For lawns over ½ acre–1 acre.

• John Deere X350 – The go-to “nice” tractor. Solid 42” deck, smooth hydrostatic transmission, comfortable ride. People keep them 10–20 years.
• Husqvarna YTH24V48 – Great power-to-price ratio. 48” deck, 24 HP, and a very comfortable cut. Popular with people who have big yards.
• Cub Cadet XT1 LT42 – A favorite budget-friendly tractor. Good cuts, easy to use, tons of available parts.
• Troy-Bilt Super Bronco 46” – If you want a cheap but capable rider for a large yard, this is a common choice.

Quick Recommendations by Situation

• Small flat lawn (< ¼ acre): Fiskars reel mower or any 40V Ryobi/Greenworks.
• Medium lawn (¼–½ acre): EGO LM2156SP or Honda HRX217VKA.
• Big lawn, hilly, thick grass: Honda HRX or a gas self-propelled Toro.
• Huge lawn (> 1 acre): John Deere X350 or Husqvarna YTH.

The bottom line: If you want to join what actually works for most people, get an EGO battery mower for easy everyday use, or a Honda gas mower if you want decades of raw reliability.

EGO, Toro, Greenworks, and Ryobi dominate expert tests and real-world recommendations for walk-behind mowers, while John Deere, Cub Cadet, and Toro lead for riding models. Battery-powered options have surged in popularity due to lower maintenance, quieter operation, no emissions/fuel hassles, and improving runtime/power—many experts (like Wirecutter) now prefer them over gas for most residential yards up to about half an acre. Gas remains common for larger areas, thicker grass, or unlimited runtime needs.

Recommendations depend on yard size (small: under ¼ acre; average: ¼–½ acre; large: ½+ acre or hills), terrain, budget, and preference for battery vs. gas. Self-propelled models are strongly preferred for ease. Always check current prices, battery compatibility (if investing in a system), warranties, and local availability. Prices are approximate and fluctuate.

Top Brands People Actually Use and Recommend

• EGO (Power+): Frequently tops lab tests and reviews for battery mowers. Excellent power (rivals gas), long runtimes (often 60+ minutes with larger batteries), dual-blade cutting/mulching, fast charging, and user-friendly features like vertical storage and headlights. Highly regarded for reliability and performance; batteries work across their ecosystem.
• Toro: Strong across gas and battery. Known for clean cuts (Recycler/Super Recycler decks excel at mulching), durability, features like Personal Pace/SmartStow (vertical storage), and solid handling. Popular with both homeowners and for reliability.
• Greenworks: Excellent value battery options, especially for smaller/average yards. Lightweight, quiet, affordable, and capable enough for regular mowing. Widely available and frequently recommended as a budget-friendly step-up.
• Ryobi: Great if you’re already in (or want) their 40V/18V/80V battery system (Home Depot). Solid performance, good controls/mulching on higher models, and competitive pricing. Slightly less powerful than top EGO/Toro in some tests but very practical.
• John Deere: Premium choice for riding mowers/tractors. High owner satisfaction and predicted reliability in surveys/tests.
• Cub Cadet: Popular and well-reviewed for riding mowers and zero-turns (e.g., Ultima/Enduro series)—good power, comfort, and value for larger properties.
• Others worth noting: Craftsman and Troy-Bilt for affordable/reliable gas push mowers (often with Briggs & Stratton engines); Honda (legendary long-term reliability on older gas models—now more electric-focused after discontinuing many residential gas lines in the US); Milwaukee/DeWalt for those in pro tool battery ecosystems; Husqvarna/Ariens for higher-end or commercial-leaning.

Budget/no-name electrics and reel mowers sell in high volume (e.g., on Amazon) for tiny yards, but they lack power and features of the brands above for most users.

Top Product Recommendations (Walk-Behind Focus)

These draw from recent hands-on testing by Wirecutter, TechGearLab, Bob Vila, The Spruce, and others (2025–2026 updates).

Best Overall / Large or Demanding Yards (Battery):
EGO Power+ 1000 Series or similar 22″ self-propelled (e.g., LM2236SP or equivalents with 10Ah battery). Outstanding cutting power (handles overgrown grass), 60–75+ min runtime, dual blades for even cut/mulching, adjustable self-propel, vertical storage. Wirecutter and TechGearLab top pick. Pricey (~$800–1,000+ with battery) but highly satisfying and low-maintenance. Runner-up: similar EGO 21″ Select Cut models.

Best Overall Battery Alternative:
Toro 21″ 60V MAX Super Recycler (self-propelled). Excellent cut quality, Personal Pace drive that matches your speed, strong runtime (~50 min), aluminum deck options in some, great mulching. Bob Vila’s top pick in testing.

Best for Average Yards / Value Battery:
Greenworks 60V 17–21″ models (some self-propelled). Lightweight, maneuverable, quiet, good bagging/mulching for the price (~$300–600). Ideal if you don’t need max power or width. Smaller 40V 16″ versions excel for tiny/tight yards.

Best Gas Options:

• Toro SmartStow Recycler 21–22″ self-propelled (e.g., with Briggs engine). Clean cuts, excellent mulching, easy storage, strong handling—TechGearLab and others rate highly.
• Craftsman M220 or Troy-Bilt TB110/similar 21″ self-propelled budget gas (~$300–500 range). Reliable everyday performers with decent power.

If Invested in Another Battery System: Ryobi 40V HP 21″ self-propelled (dual-blade options available); or DeWalt/Milwaukee equivalents for pro users.

For Very Small/Quiet/Eco Yards: Reel mowers like American Lawn Mower 14″ (manual, cheap, great exercise/cut for fine turf) or corded electrics.

Riding and Larger Properties

For ½ acre+, hills, or wanting less physical effort:

• Gas lawn tractors/zero-turns: John Deere S-series or similar; Cub Cadet Enduro/Ultima ZT; Toro TimeCutter. Look for 42–50″+ decks, hydrostatic drive, comfortable seats.
• Battery/electric riding: EGO Power+ T6 or Z6 series; Ryobi 80V options—growing fast, quiet, and capable for many residential sizes but watch runtime/battery cost for big jobs.

Robotic mowers (Worx Landroid, Husqvarna Automower, Eufy, etc.) are popular for hands-off maintenance on suitable (relatively obstacle-free, well-defined) lawns up to certain sizes—set it and forget it, but higher upfront cost and setup.

Key Buying Advice

• Yard size & type: Match deck width (16–17″ small/tight; 21–22″ most residential; wider for riding) and power. Self-propelled or riding for slopes.
• Battery vs. gas: Battery wins for convenience/noise for most; gas for heavy-duty/unlimited use. Buy extra batteries if needed. Runtimes vary with grass thickness, height, and terrain.
• Features that matter: Mulch/bag/side-discharge options, easy height adjustment, good bag design, foldable/vertical storage, blade quality, and warranty (batteries often 3–5+ years on premium).
• Real-user notes: EGO and Toro owners frequently praise power and cut quality with minimal upkeep. Budget gas holds up for years with basic maintenance (oil, blades, spark plugs). Read recent owner reviews for specific models, as quality control can vary. Honda gas models (if you find used/NOS) are still prized for longevity.
• Other tips: Sharpen blades regularly, don’t cut wet/tall grass in one pass, and consider your existing tool batteries. Test maneuverability if possible. Best buying times are often spring/fall sales.

Check sites like Consumer Reports (subscription for full ratings), Wirecutter, TechGearLab, or retailer reviews for the absolute latest model numbers and scores, as lines update yearly. Match the mower to your lawn for the best results—what “people actually use” successfully is usually a well-reviewed mid-to-premium model from the brands above rather than the absolute cheapest.