Few smells signal the onset of warmer weather, quite like the smell of a fresh-cut lawn. As a homeowner, lawn maintenance can be a pleasure or a pain, and a significant aspect determinant is the quality of your lawn mower.
A high-quality lawn mower can make maintaining your front or back yard a quick and easy chore, so here are our picks for the best lawn mowers in 2021. The list below encompasses various lawn mowers to suit every lawn size, so there is something for everyone.
Best Reel Mower
- Scotts 14 Inch Turf Reel Mower
- Price: $98
- Width: 14 inches
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
- Available At: Home Depot
For extra small spaces or those looking to get some exercise while caring for their lawn, a reel mower can be a good choice. These mowers are human-powered, which means you have to push the mower to spin the blades.
This 14-inch Scotts Reel Mower is lightweight and has a compact 14-inch width, ideal for smaller spaces and stores conveniently by hanging on a wall, perfect for storage sheds with limited floor space.
Best Electric Lawn Mower
- Black+Decker 12 amp 17-inch Electric Lawn Mower with Comfort Grip Handle
- Price: $198
- Width: 17 inches
- Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
- Available at: Amazon.ca
If you prefer to use a powered lawn mower, but your yard is still small enough that you can reach all corners with an extension cord, this Black+Decker plug-in electric lawn mower is an excellent little mower for most yards. The 17-inch expansive deck has six adjustment levels from one to three inches in height, and the push-button start and comfort grip means it is a joy to operate.
This mower stores in an upright position, perfect for smaller storage spaces, and a total weight of 40 pounds means it is highly maneuverable.
Best Battery Operated Lawn Mower
- Ryobi 20-inch 40V Brushless Lithium-Ion Cordless Walk Behind Push Lawnmower with 6.0Ah Battery
- Price: $398
- Width: 20 inches
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty, 3-year warranty on the battery
- Available At: Home Depot
Suppose you’re looking for a cordless lawn mower with all the bells and whistles but without the extension cord. In that case, the Ryobi is an excellent choice. This lawn mower has a 20-inch width and a 6.0Ah battery, which means you’ll be able to mow a medium-sized lawn on a single charge.
The blades of this machine are adjustable, and the push-button start, LED headlights, easily removable clippings bag, and self-propelled engine make using this machine a breeze. Finally, over 5,570 positive reviews mean this home maintenance option is a tried and tested tool that will be there when you need it.
Best Gas-Fuelled Lawn Mower
- Troy-Built 160cc 3-in-1 Push Lawn Mower, 21-in
- Price: $529
- Width: 21 inches
- Warranty: 4-year limited warranty
- Available At: Canadian Tire
If your yard is a bit larger or you prefer the power that comes with a gas-fueled lawn mower, this Troy-Built machine is a great choice. With a 21-inch wide deck and six options to adjust the blade height from 1.25 to 3.75 inches, this lawn mower will help you get your desired cut every single time.
This 3-in-1 mower allows you to choose from rear-bag collection, mulching, or side discharge and the ergonomic handles help you manage any fatigue that may come from pushing this 60-pound mower around your property.
Best Ride-on Lawn Mower
- Troy-Bilt TB 36 in 382cc Troy-Bilt 7 Speed Manual Drive Gas Lawn Tractor with Mow in Reverse
- Price: $2,458
- Width: 36 inches
- Warranty: 4-year limited warranty
- Available At: Home Depot
It may be worthwhile for homeowners with more extensive lawns to consider an upgrade to a self-propelled lawn tractor. These mowers might seem like a big step up for a standard push mower, but the added speed and wider blade width combined with the extra comfort will make cutting your larger yard a breeze. This mower has a 4-year limited warranty, is gas-powered, and has a unique mow-in-reverse function. You can bag your mulch with the bagging attachment or use the rear hitch to tow garden carts, sprayers, or spreaders.
How We Picked the Best Lawnmowers in 2021
When it comes to choosing lawnmowers, they aren’t all created equally. Some are overpriced, unreliable, or come with features and gadgets that sound great but aren’t that useful. When we chose the best lawnmowers for 2021, here are the criteria we used.
Function
First and foremost, does the lawnmower do what it is supposed to do, and what features does it have? In each of the different categories below, we determined what “must-have” features homeowners can expect, along with what features would make working with the lawnmower easier and smoother for the average homeowner.
Reliability
As homeowners ourselves, it’s essential to recommend products with a good track record of performing reliably year after year. A great way to help determine product reliability is to read the online reviews for each lawn mower carefully and check the length of the product’s warranty.
Availability
As Canadians, one of our biggest pet peeves for lists like these is to find a well-reviewed, affordable product, only to realize that it isn’t available in Canada. All of the lawnmowers on this list are readily available at Canadian retailers.
Price
Finally, each lawn mower on this list strikes a good balance between function and affordability while avoiding the most or least expensive options.
Choosing your perfect lawn mower depends on many factors, including the size of your lawn and storage area, your fuel of choice, any features that you might require, and of course, price. To choose the right mower for you, you’ll need to ask yourself some key questions.
For example, do you prefer the quiet convenience of an electric mower or the power of a gasoline-fueled mower? Is speed a priority, or do you like to get exercise while doing your lawn work? Whatever you decide, each option listed here has excellent reviews, is available widely within Canada, and is a perfect choice within its class.
