The best lawn mowers under 500 dollars are the walk-behind models that mix a 20 or 21 inch deck with a real drive system, and the short answer is this: the Greenworks 60V 21 inch cordless mower is the best all-round buy at this budget, while the YARDMAX 22 inch 201cc is the best gas mower you can get without crossing the ceiling. One starts with a button and needs no fuel. The other has an engine that will chew through grass that stopped a battery mower.
That is the whole decision at this price, and it is more interesting than a spec sheet suggests. Under 500 dollars you give up deck width, warranty length and some build materials compared with a 700-plus machine, but you do not give up the ability to mow a quarter or half acre properly. What you do give up, in a lot of cases, is anything that makes the machine pleasant to live with.
We compared ten mowers across the gas, cordless battery and corded categories and read the owner feedback on each one closely, because the difference between a good mower and a frustrating one at this budget is rarely visible in the marketing copy. It shows up in the complaints. If you want the wider picture of what these machines are, our guide to the best lawn mowers overall covers higher tiers too.
Two warnings before the list. First, a large share of cordless listings under this ceiling are sold as bare tools, meaning the mower body only, with no battery or charger in the box, and every pick on our list states plainly what is included. Second, weight decides whether a mower is comfortable, and several machines here weigh more than 55 pounds, which is a real problem on a slope if the drive is push-only.
Top 3 Picks for Best Lawn Mowers Under 500 Dollars in October
Greenworks 60V 21 inch…
- 60V brushless motor
- 3200 RPM blade speed
- IPX4 steel deck
- 5.0Ah battery and charger included
Skil PWR CORE 40 20 inch
- Variable-speed self-propel drive
- 6.0Ah battery
- 7-position deck
- 55 minute runtime
Greenworks 40V 16 inch
- 37.5 pounds
- 5-position height lever
- 2-in-1 mulch and bag
- 4.0Ah battery included
Quick Overview: Every Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars Side by Side
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Greenworks 60V 21 inch Cordless |
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| Skil PWR CORE 40 20 inch Self-Propelled |
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| Greenworks 40V 16 inch Push |
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 YARDMAX 22 inch 201cc Self-Propelled |
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 WORX WG752 40V 21 inch |
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 PowerSmart EasyGlide 21 inch Gas |
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 CRAFTSMAN V20 20 inch Cordless Kit |
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 PowerSmart 21 inch 144cc Gas |
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 BILT HARD 21 inch 144cc Gas |
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 CRAFTSMAN Corded 20 inch 13-Amp |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Greenworks 60V 21 inch Cordless Mower – Best Overall Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars
Greenworks 60V 21in Push Lawn Mower, 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger
60V brushless motor
3,200 RPM blade speed
IPX4 steel deck
59.5 pounds
Pros
- 4.4 star rating from 527 reviews
- Cuts tall grass as well as most gas mowers
- 4-in-1 system with turbo leaf mode
- LED headlights for dusk mowing
- 5.0Ah battery and charger in the box
Cons
- Turbo mode roughly doubles battery use
- Real runtime falls short of the figure in thick grass
- Push-only drive
- Support has been reported as slow to respond
It sits at 4.4 stars from 527 reviews, and it is the one we would put on a quarter-acre lawn without hesitating. The 60V brushless motor spins the blade at 3,200 RPM, and owners consistently report that it cuts thick, tall grass as well as or better than the gas machines they replaced. That claim is unusual for a battery mower, and it is the reason this one leads the list rather than sitting in the cordless section.
The deck is a real steel deck with an IPX4 waterproof rating, not the plastic housings that show wear around rocks. It folds flat for vertical storage, which matters a lot if your mower lives in a single-car garage, and there are no fluids to leak onto the floor in winter.
What makes it feel more expensive than its price is the SmartCut system. The dual blades adjust power output automatically when it hits dense or wet growth, so you are not riding the throttle the way you would on a fixed-output machine. Owners also rate the 4-in-1 system highly, since the turbo leaf mode handles autumn cleanup without a separate machine.
The catch is battery consumption. Turbo mode roughly doubles the drain, and several owners report that real-world runtime in thick grass falls noticeably short of the advertised figure. If your lawn is a full half acre with uncut spring growth, plan on a mid-job charge rather than assuming one pass finishes the job.
Is the 60V platform the right battery voltage for your yard?
For a yard up to a half acre, 60V is close to the sweet spot. It carries enough torque for overgrown grass without the weight and cost of an 80V machine, and at 59.5 pounds it stays manageable even when the drive is push-only. If your lawn is much smaller, you are paying for headroom you may never use.
Owners also value the practical details: the grass catcher attaches without fuss, the LED headlights genuinely help on early morning or evening schedules, and the 10 inch rear wheels roll over uneven ground better than most push decks at this weight.
Where this mower will disappoint you
There is no self-propel drive. On a flat lawn that is fine, but on a slope you will be pushing 59.5 pounds uphill, and that is the single most common regret in the reviews. Owners also report that Greenworks customer support has been hard to reach for extended periods, which matters if you need a replacement battery or a deck part.
For more on how the cordless side of the market fits together, our guide to the best electric lawn mowers goes deeper on platforms and battery reuse.
2. Skil PWR CORE 40 20 inch Self-Propelled Mower – Best Self-Propelled Mower Under 500 Dollars
SKIL PWR CORE 40 Brushless 40V 20-Inch Self-Propelled Mower Kit, Includes 6.0Ah Battery and Auto PWR JUMP Charger – SM4910C-11
Variable-speed self-propel drive
Digital brushless motor
6.0Ah battery
7-position deck
Pros
- Variable-speed self-propel drive at a light weight
- 6.0Ah battery covers a full yard on one charge
- Light for a self-propelled mower
- Excellent leaf pickup
Cons
- Only one battery included
- Handles must be fully extended and locked before it runs
- Self-propel lever must be released before the end of a row
- Stalls in very wet overgrown grass
Everything else on this list is push-only, which makes this one unusual. The variable-speed self-propel drive adjusts to your walking pace, and owners with physical limitations describe it as the feature that made lawn care possible again. It is light enough to lift with one hand despite the drive system, which is unusual for a machine that pushes itself.
The 6.0Ah battery is the largest single pack in this group, and reviewers report three to six full mows per charge depending on grass condition. The Auto PWR JUMP charger tops it up quickly, which matters more than raw capacity when you only own one pack.
Leaf pickup is the sleeper feature. Owners consistently rate it as strong enough to replace a separate rake and blower in autumn, and the 3-in-1 system covers bagging, mulching and rear discharge for everything else. The seven-position deck lever runs from 1.5 to 4 inches in a single-lever adjustment, and the telescoping handle folds for vertical storage.
Runtime is quoted at up to 50 minutes on the included battery, with a stated average of 55 minutes. Real results depend heavily on grass height and whether you use the self-propel drive continuously, which draws noticeably more than a manual push.
Who benefits most from the self-propel drive
If your lawn has any meaningful slope, or if you are over 60 and mowing a quarter acre feels like work, this drive system is worth more than a wider deck. It is the only machine in this roundup that removes the pushing from the job entirely, and owners say so repeatedly in the reviews.
It is also the right choice for a lawn with uneven ground or buried roots, where a push mower bogs down and you end up restarting constantly. The drive keeps blade speed steady as the machine works through rough patches.
What the learning curve costs you
There is a genuine adjustment period. The handles must be fully extended and locked before the mower will power on, and owners warn that forgetting this simply produces silence. The self-propel lever also has to be released before the end of a row or the drive locks up, which catches almost everyone once.
Only one battery is included, so a second charge means an extra purchase. And with a 20 inch deck, buyers coming from a 22 inch gas machine notice the narrower pass, which is the trade you accept to get the drive.
3. Greenworks 40V 16 inch Push Mower – Best Value Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars
Greenworks 40V 16in Push Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
37.5 pounds
16 inch cutting width
5-position lever
4.0Ah battery included
Pros
- More than 12000 reviews to draw on
- Exceptionally light at 37.5 pounds
- Quiet enough for normal conversation
- Cuts 12 to 18 inch grass without stalling
- Folds for compact storage
Cons
- 40V 4.0Ah pack is short on large lawns
- Plastic blade housing wears around rocks
- Weaker suction than most gas mowers
- Push-only drive
With a review count north of twelve thousand, this is the most thoroughly scrutinised machine on the list by a wide margin, and the owner feedback is unusually consistent. The praise falls into three buckets: weight, noise and cut quality on smaller lawns. At 37.5 pounds, users of all ages and mobility levels push it one-handed, which is the reason it keeps outselling heavier machines.
The 16 inch deck is listed at 15.67 inches of actual cutting width, and the five-position single lever adjusts from 1.25 to 3.75 inches. Reviewers repeatedly mention mowing grass between 12 and 18 inches tall successfully, which is well beyond what most 40V packs in this bracket can manage.
Runtime is the honest limitation. The stated average battery life is around 35 minutes, which covers roughly a third of an acre per charge, and the 2-in-1 system handles mulching or rear bagging. If you already own other tools on this platform, the mower works with more than 75 compatible Greenworks 40V tools, and the warranty runs three years on both tool and battery.
Assembly deserves a mention because it usually is not one. The handle folds down for storage and the whole unit assembles without tools, which several owners call out as a genuine relief after assembling other mowers that morning.
Is a 16 inch deck too small for your lawn?
It is enough for anything up to about a third of an acre, and for smaller yards the narrow deck is an advantage because you can manoeuvre around trees and flower beds without clipping them. The trade is time: on a half acre you will be making noticeably more passes than with a 21 inch machine.
The 40V platform is also the broadest tool ecosystem at this budget, so if you are building a cordless setup one tool at a time, this is the cheapest way in. Reusing a pack you already own changes the maths completely, as we explain in the buying guide below.
Where owners report problems
The recurring complaint is capacity, not quality. A 4.0Ah pack is genuinely short on anything larger than a third of an acre, and owners on bigger lots add a second battery rather than fight it. The all-plastic blade housing is also flagged for wear over time, particularly around rocks and roots.
Suction is weaker than most gas mowers, so if you bag rather than mulch, the bag fills faster. None of these are deal breakers for a small lawn, and the review volume suggests very few owners treat them as such.
4. YARDMAX 22 inch 201cc Self-Propelled Mower – Best Gas Mower for Thick Grass
YARDMAX 22 in. 201cc Select PACE 6 Speed CVT High Wheel FWD 3-in-1 Gas Walk Behind Self Propelled Lawn Mower, Black (YG2860)
201cc gas engine
Select PACE 6-speed CVT
High-wheel front-wheel drive
84.9 pounds
Pros
- Largest engine and widest deck in the group
- CVT drive matches your walking pace
- High-wheel drive handles slopes and uneven ground
- Automatic choke means no priming
- Deck cleanout port speeds maintenance
Cons
- Large and heavy to lift without help
- Gas engine needs fuel and oil maintenance
- Drive system adds complexity over a simple push mower
- 2-year residential warranty only
This is the machine to buy if your grass gets away from you. A 201cc engine in a 22 inch deck is the most cutting capacity on this list by a wide margin, and the automatic choke removes the most common reason people give up on gas mowers, which is fussing with a choke and primer in damp morning air.
The Select PACE 6-speed CVT transmission is the feature owners write about most. Unlike a fixed gear drive, a continuously variable transmission lets you set the mower to your pace without hunting between speeds, and on a slope you can slow it to a crawl without forcing it.
Traction comes from the high-wheel front-wheel drive with spiked rubber tread, which is the opposite arrangement from most rear-drive mowers in this class. The taller front wheels climb over uneven ground and soft patches that would stop a standard mower, and the deck cleanout port lets you clear clippings from underneath with a garden hose rather than a socket set.
Single-lever deck height adjustment handles the rest of the setup, and spare parts are listed as available for five years. Owners who care about long-term repairability rate that above the two-year residential warranty length.
What 84.9 pounds actually means in daily use
This is the heaviest machine in the roundup, and weight is not a spec sheet detail here. Owners who mow flat ground do not notice it because the drive does the work. Anyone who has to lift it into a van, or move it around a shed step, will feel every pound of it, and it is the reason some buyers pass.
That weight is also why the self-propel drive matters so much here. Without it, pushing this mower uphill would be genuinely unpleasant. If you are buying a mower you will manually push on rough ground, choose a lighter machine instead.
Is a gas mower worth the maintenance?
It is if you mow a large or neglected lawn, because runtime is unlimited and the engine recovers from a heavy cut the way a battery cannot. Against that, you are handling fuel and oil, storing a fuel can, and accepting noise that neighbours will hear.
The 201cc displacement is the reason this mower can handle grass that stalls the 60V battery machine. It is also the reason it needs the maintenance. If you want more detail on gas mechanics, our best gas lawn mowers guide covers engine sizing and drive types.
5. WORX WG752 40V Cordless Mower – Best Cordless Mower for Half-Acre Yards
Worx Cordless Lawn Mower, 40V 21″ 3-in-1 Grass Mower for 1/2 Acre, WG752
Two 20V 5.0Ah batteries
4.0A dual charger
IntelliCut sensing
55.6 pounds
Pros
- Two batteries and a fast dual charger in the box
- IntelliCut adjusts blade speed to grass density
- Batteries share PowerShare with 140+ tools
- Collapsible handle for vertical storage
- Rated for lawns up to 1/2 acre
Cons
- Listed cutting width is 20 inches despite the 21 inch name
- Push-only drive
- 55.6 pounds before you account for batteries
Two batteries and a 4.0A dual charger in the box is the detail that separates this from most cordless mowers at this price, and it is the one owners mention first. Runtime anxiety is the loudest complaint across the whole cordless category, and this machine simply removes it for anything up to half an acre.
The IntelliCut system uses sensors to read grass density and adjust blade speed automatically, giving more power in thick patches and backing off in sparse areas. Owners describe the effect as a smoother cut with fewer stalls, which is the same job the SmartCut system does on the Greenworks 60V.
The AeroDeck vented deck design is intended to lift clippings off the blade more efficiently, which improves both cut quality and bag fill. Stated runtime is around 50 minutes per battery, and with two packs you can swap mid-mow without stopping to charge.
Batteries run on the PowerShare platform, compatible with more than 140 tools, and the seven-position lever runs from 1.5 to 4 inches. The 3-in-1 system covers mulching, bagging and rear side discharge, and an onboard charge indicator removes the guesswork.
Check the listed width before you buy
The product name says 21 inch, and the listed cutting width in the specifications is 20 inches. Owners flag this as the main point of friction, and it is a fair complaint because marketing names and spec sheets should agree. If deck width is your deciding criterion, measure the listed figure rather than the box.
For everything else the package is generous. Two 5.0Ah packs and a fast charger mean no extra spending to get started, which is exactly the trap that catches buyers of tool-only listings elsewhere in this price range.
What the extra battery weight does to handling
At 55.6 pounds the bare machine is already substantial, and the two packs add to that. Owners do not describe it as unmanageable, but it is clearly not a lightweight mower, and on a slope the push-only drive means you are moving all of it yourself.
That is the trade for the bundle. If you already own PowerShare packs, the weight argument gets much weaker, because you can carry one pack at a time and leave the other charging.
6. PowerSmart EasyGlide 21 inch Gas Mower – Best Gas Mower for First-Time Buyers
PowerSmart EasyGlide 21-Inch 3-in-1 Push Gas Lawn Mower
144cc 4-stroke OHV engine
21 inch steel deck
6-position height lever
61.6 pounds
Pros
- Starts easily thanks to auto choke and primer
- Plenty of power for thick wet grass
- Light enough to push with many turns
- Single lever moves all four wheels
- Clean even cut from steel deck
Cons
- Small fuel tank needs refilling on larger yards
- Rear rubber deflector sits on molded tabs
- Hot restarts can be difficult
- Louder than a 140cc machine
Owners consistently report more power than they expected at this price, and several describe it outperforming a battery mower they had replaced. The 144cc four-stroke overhead valve engine with auto choke and primer is a proven configuration, and it is simple enough that a first-time gas mower owner can handle it without a manual.
Owners describe putting it together in a few minutes, and the steel 21 inch deck with a specialised mulching blade produces the clean, even cut that a spec sheet cannot promise. Single-lever adjustment moves all four wheels at once, which is faster than a separate lever per corner.
The 10 inch rear and 7 inch front double ball-bearing wheels roll over obstacles better than the small plastic wheels on cheaper mowers, and at 61.6 pounds the machine stays manageable for a push mower with a steel deck. The 3-in-1 system covers mulching, bagging and side discharge.
Height adjustment runs across six positions from 1.5 to 3.9 inches, which gives you enough range to get under fence rails and above spring growth. Mulching into a lawn that has not been cut for a few weeks is the use case that suits it best.
Is a small fuel tank a real problem?
It depends entirely on lawn size. On a quarter acre it is not a meaningful issue. On anything approaching half an acre, owners report refilling mid-job, and that is the most common complaint on the whole machine. A larger tank would be the single most useful improvement.
Because it is push-only at this weight, the tank size also affects how long you are out in the yard standing still, so plan for it if your lawn is on the larger side.
Which parts fail first on this mower
The rear rubber deflector is held on by molded tabs, and owners report it detaching early in ownership. It is a cheap part and easy to refit, but it is the piece that gives the machine away as a budget design when it lets go.
Hot restarts are also harder than cold starts, and the machine is louder than a 140cc class mower, which owners comparing it against a Troy-Bilt note directly. Neither issue is serious if you buy it for a flat, moderate lawn.
7. CRAFTSMAN V20 20 inch Cordless Kit – Best Cordless Kit Under 500 Dollars
CRAFTSMAN V20 20 in Lawn Mower, 2 x 5Ah Batteries and 2 Chargers Included, High Effeciency Brushless Motor, Push Mower, Up to 50 Min of Runtime, Lightweight, Grass Bag, Low Profile (CMCMW220P2)
Two 20V MAX 5.0Ah batteries
Two chargers included
Brushless motor
47.9 pounds
Pros
- Two batteries and two chargers in the box
- Light at 47.9 pounds and easy to transport
- Cuts cleanly without clogging on damp grass
- Interchangeable with the wider CRAFTSMAN V20 platform
- Folds flat for vertical storage
Cons
- Push-only drive struggles on half-acre or sloped lawns
- Handle height is fixed and set high
- Small grass bag needs frequent emptying
- Included 1.25A chargers are slow
Two 5.0Ah batteries and two chargers are the headline here, and owners of small to medium yards repeatedly call that bundle out as the reason the machine felt like good value rather than a compromise. Nothing else needs buying before the first mow.
The high-efficiency brushless motor is rated for up to 50 minutes of runtime, and the 20V MAX batteries are interchangeable with the wider CRAFTSMAN V20 tool platform. That ecosystem matters: if you own any V20 tools already, the mower effectively costs you the machine body alone.
What stands out physically is the low-profile deck, which sits at 10 inches tall in setting 1. That lets you get under deck boards, bushes and low obstacles that a standard deck simply cannot reach, and owners buying for a complicated yard cite it as the deciding feature.
Vertical storage uses 78 percent less space, and at 47.9 pounds the machine is light enough to carry easily even for users with joint issues. The dual-lever height adjustment spans 1.5 to 3.5 inches, and the blade cuts without clogging on damp grass, which is a common electric mower failure.
How far can this mower realistically go
Owners rate it highly up to about a third of an acre, which is where the two batteries comfortably cover a mow with charge to spare. Push beyond that and the push-only drive starts to tell on you, particularly on any slope, and the two included 1.25A chargers mean a full recharge takes hours.
Torque also drops noticeably in the final fifth of a charge, and owners report needing a second pass over sections cut at the end of a battery cycle. It is a real limitation, but a predictable one rather than a surprise.
What the fixed handle height costs you
The handle is fixed and set high, which is fine for a tall user and awkward for a shorter one, and it cannot be telescoped. Owners with mobility issues also find the small grass bag annoying because it needs emptying frequently on a normal lawn.
For anything larger than a third of an acre, or for slopes, look at a self-propelled or larger-deck machine instead. Our guide to the best self-propelled lawn mowers covers the drive systems in more detail.
8. PowerSmart 21 inch 144cc Gas Mower – Best Budget Gas Mower
PowerSmart 21-Inch Gas Lawn Mower, 144cc 4-Cycle OHV Engine, Push Mower with Mulching & Side-Discharge, 6 Cutting Heights
144cc OHV engine with auto choke
All-steel deck
Folds to save 70 percent storage
4.3 stars
Pros
- 4.3 star rating from 400 reviews
- Starts on the first or second pull
- Three-minute assembly
- Light and easy to push
- Large rear wheels for uneven ground
Cons
- Side discharge chute held on by a spring
- Rear rubber flap can roll under the deck
- Air filter can arrive soaked with oil
- Occasional recoil starter failures
Owners rate this one of the strongest in the group at 4.3 stars from 400 reviews, and it comes from a machine that is simpler than most. Owners describe assembly as a three-minute job where the handle is the only step, which matters if you are putting together a mower in a garage rather than a workshop.
The 144cc four-stroke overhead valve engine with auto choke starts on the first or second pull for most owners, and the all-steel deck is a step up from the plastic housings used on the cheapest mowers. Oil and a wrench are included in the box, so the first service is not an extra trip to the store.
Large 10 inch rear wheels and 7 inch fronts roll over uneven ground, and the foldable design saves up to 70 percent of storage space, which answers the problem of fitting a mower into a small shed. The six-position single lever covers 1.5 to 3.9 inches, and the 2-in-1 system handles mulching and side discharge.
Warranty is two years limited, which is standard for the category. At 59.4 pounds it is lighter than most steel-deck gas mowers here, which makes it easier to manoeuvre around obstacles for a push mower.
What a 2-in-1 system leaves you without
There is no bagging on this model, only mulching and side discharge. If you want collected clippings for a tidy lawn or to keep them off a neighbour’s boundary, you will need a rake or a blower, and mulching alone only works well if you mow regularly and never let the grass get long.
That is the main reason to step up to the 3-in-1 PowerSmart at position six rather than choose this one, and it is worth weighing before you buy.
Which quality control issues to check on arrival
Owners report a few recurring issues. The side discharge chute is held on by a spring and its own weight, and the rear rubber flap is long enough to roll under the deck when you pull the mower backwards. The air filter can also arrive soaked with oil, which makes assembly messy.
There is an occasional report of the recoil starter assembly breaking after two uses. None of these are common, but inspecting the machine in the first few minutes takes ten minutes and catches them early, which is what owners who had trouble recommend.
9. BILT HARD 21 inch 144cc Gas Mower – Best Fuel Economy Under 500 Dollars
BILT HARD 21 Inch Lawn Mower Gas Powered, 4-Cycle 144cc Engine, 3-in-1 Push Lawnmower with Bagging, Mulching & Side Discharge, Adjustable 8-Positions Cutting Height, Easy Start
144cc four-cycle engine
3.4 HP and 5.75 ft.lb torque
27.1 fl oz tank
21 inch steel deck
Pros
- Starts on the first pull with no primer or choke
- Plenty of power for high grass
- Very easy assembly
- 27.1 fl oz tank gives long runs
- Good fuel economy
Cons
- Some units report carburetor starting problems
- Vibration cracks plastic engine covers over time
- Smaller rear wheels struggle uphill
- Recoil rope guide can retract the cord
The 27.1 fluid ounce fuel tank is a large one for this class, and combined with owner reports of good fuel economy it is the reason to consider this machine for a big lawn where refill stops matter. Most owners report getting through a full mowing session on one tank.
Starting is the other repeated positive. The engine starts on the first pull with no primer and no choke, which is the single most requested feature among people buying a first gas mower, and it removes the frustration that ends a lot of ownership relationships early.
The engine is rated at 3.4 horsepower and 5.75 ft.lb of torque, which is enough to plow through high grass rather than stall in it. The heavy-duty 21 inch steel deck and oversized 10 inch front and rear wheels are a solid combination, and the synchronized single-lever height adjustment moves all four wheels together.
Assembly is described as handle bolts on, add oil and gas, go, and the box includes a grass bag, discharge chute, mulch plug, oil and tools. The three cutting positions span 1.0 to 3.0 inches across six synchronized settings.
Why fuel economy matters more than engine size
For most owners the total running cost of a gas mower is trivial compared with the purchase price, and the fuel figure is a footnote rather than a deciding factor. Where it does matter is on a big lot where you mow weekly through a full season, or on a second home you mow every few weeks.
If you mow less than a quarter acre, tank size should not influence your choice at all. Deck material and drive system matter more at that scale.
The vibration complaints are worth taking seriously
Reviews on this machine are genuinely split. Most owners love the easy start, straightforward assembly and value, while a smaller group report carburetor failures and vibration-related cracking of the plastic engine covers and dipstick housing within the first few hours of use.
That is why owners who had trouble recommend inspecting the machine on arrival. If a mower is going to give you a problem, you want to know in the first ten minutes rather than the first season, and you want to know while the return window is still open.
10. CRAFTSMAN Corded 20 inch Mower – Best Corded Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars
CRAFTSMAN Electric Push Lawn Mower, 20-Inch Deck, Corded, Powerful 13-AMP Motor, 6 Setting Height Adjustment, Winged Blades, 3 in 1 Bagging, Mulching and Discharge (CMEMW213)
13-amp motor
20 inch deck
Single lever from 1.5 to 4 inches
20.8 pounds
Pros
- Very light at 20.8 pounds and easy on slopes
- High-efficiency blade picks up more per bag
- Single-lever height adjustment
- Quieter than gas with no fuel or oil
- Redesigned chute resists clogging on wet grass
Cons
- Loud for an electric mower
- Stiff safety bail bar
- Needs a properly rated 12 gauge extension cord
- Bogs down in very tall or wet grass
- Handle folds awkwardly
A 13-amp motor driving a 20 inch deck in a 20.8 pound body gives you serious cutting power for very little mass, and owners say the mower is easy to push even on a sloped lawn. At this weight, it is also the most practical choice for anyone with joint problems or limited strength.
The high-efficiency winged blade design is the reason it picks up far more grass per bag than typical gas mowers, and reviewers report finishing a lawn in a fraction of the time of a smaller electric mower. The redesigned discharge chute also resists clogging on wet grass, which is where most corded mowers struggle.
Height adjustment is a single lever running from 1.5 to 4 inches, and the 3-in-1 system covers mulching, bagging and side discharge. The box includes the mower, collection bag and side discharge chute, with a three-year limited warranty.
There is no battery, no fuel and no oil, and nothing to charge between seasons. If you have an outlet within reach of your lawn, that simplicity is genuinely appealing for a quarter acre.
Do you have a suitable outlet
This is the whole question with a corded mower, and it is a hard constraint rather than a preference. You need a properly rated 12 gauge extension cord, and owners warn explicitly that undersized cords burn out the motor. A lighter cord is the most common expensive mistake in this category.
If your power is at the far end of the yard, this mower stops being a bargain. Cord management across an uneven lawn is also awkward in a way that no specification captures, and it is why most buyers at this budget move to battery or gas.
The noise surprise nobody warns you about
Reviewers repeatedly recommend hearing protection for this machine, which is counter-intuitive for something people buy to be quieter than a gas engine. The 13-amp motor under load produces a harsher, higher-pitched sound than the low rumble of a small gas engine.
The safety bail bar is also stiff, and holding it down for a long session is uncomfortable. A small number of early units have had motor failures, and the handle folds awkwardly for storage. For a small, flat lawn near an outlet, the cutting performance and weight still make it the strongest corded option at this price.
Gas vs Cordless vs Corded: Which Mower Fits a 500 Dollar Budget
The right power source depends on two questions: how big is your lawn, and how often are you willing to deal with fuel. A quarter acre mown weekly is well served by any of the three. A half acre with spring growth every year is where the choice actually bites.
Gas mowers give you unlimited runtime and the highest power ceiling, at the cost of fuel, oil, storage for a fuel can and noise that carries. The 201cc YARDMAX here handles grass that stalls battery machines, and nothing else in this roundup does.
Cordless mowers start with a button, run quietly enough for a conversation, and need no fluids. Their limits are runtime, charge time and torque in genuinely thick growth. Every cordless pick on our list includes a battery and a charger, which removes the hidden cost that catches most budget buyers.
Corded mowers are the cheapest, the lightest and the least fuss, but they tie you to an outlet and a properly rated extension cord. If you have a small, flat lawn and an outlet at the edge of it, that is a perfectly good answer.
One more factor shapes this decision more than people expect: the battery platform you may already own. If you already have packs on a Greenworks 40V, CRAFTSMAN 20V MAX or PowerShare platform, the cheapest mower for you is a bare tool body that uses them.
How We Picked the Best Lawn Mowers Under 500 Dollars
Every machine here sits inside the same 500 dollar ceiling, so price separated candidates from the start rather than being a tiebreaker at the end. We ranked what was left on six criteria, weighted toward the things owners complain about rather than the things manufacturers advertise.
Cutting performance under load was first, which we judged from owner reports of tall and wet grass rather than from motor wattage. Runtime came next, and we required the stated figure to include what is actually in the box, not a bare tool body that needs a separate battery purchase.
Third was drive system and weight, because the pairing decides whether a mower suits your terrain. A self-propelled drive or a light push machine scores well; a heavy push-only machine does not, no matter how well it cuts.
Fourth was build materials, with steel decks scoring above plastic housings. Fifth was starting reliability, which matters more on gas machines than any other spec. Sixth was warranty length and parts availability, because a mower is only as good as its support three seasons in.
We then read the customer feedback on each machine looking for recurring failure modes, and we deliberately left out any listing that is sold as a bare tool without saying so. We did not test these machines in person, so every performance claim below is attributed to manufacturer specifications or to owner consensus rather than to a measured result of our own.
What to Look For When Buying a Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars
Start with the tool-only question, because it is the most expensive misunderstanding in this price range. A large share of cordless mowers under 500 dollars are sold as the machine body with no battery and no charger, which means the real cost is the mower plus a pack plus a charger. Every pick on our list tells you exactly what is in the box.
Next, match deck width to lawn size. A 16 inch deck is comfortable up to a third of an acre and is easier to manoeuvre around trees. A 21 or 22 inch deck covers more ground per pass and suits a half acre or a lawn that takes a long time to mow. Going wider on a small lawn just means more clipping and more awkward turns.
For battery voltage, the practical tiers are straightforward. 40V suits yards under a quarter acre and often has the broadest tool ecosystem here, which makes it an efficient way into a platform over time. 56V and 60V covers most suburban lawns up to half an acre. 80V and above is only worth paying for if you mow thick, overgrown grass regularly or have a genuinely large lot.
Runtime matters more than voltage. Voltage alone tells you little, because capacity in amp-hours and the number of batteries in the box determine whether you finish in one pass. Machines that include two packs, like the WORX WG752 and the CRAFTSMAN V20, remove an entire category of complaint that owners of single-battery mowers describe at length.
Self-propelled or push is the decision that determines whether a mower is comfortable at your yard size. If your lawn exceeds a quarter acre, or has any slope, a self-propel drive removes the pushing. Only the Skil PWR CORE 40 and the YARDMAX on our list have one, and both trade deck width or weight to get it.
Weight deserves its own paragraph because buyers consistently underestimate it. Anything over 50 pounds without a drive system is a workout on uneven ground. The Greenworks 40V 16 inch at 37.5 pounds and the CRAFTSMAN corded at 20.8 pounds are the two lightest machines here, and that is precisely why they suit small, sloped or awkward lawns.
Cutting systems are simpler than the marketing suggests. A 3-in-1 machine bags, mulches and side discharges, which covers everything. A 2-in-1 handles two of those and forces a decision on your part. Mulching is the mode most owners use, because it returns clippings to the lawn and stops you emptying a bag every few minutes.
Finally, warranty length is a rough proxy for how a manufacturer expects the machine to be treated. Three and four years appears on the cordless picks here, two years on most gas mowers, and the difference is a fair signal of expected duty. Spare part availability over five years is worth more than the extra year of warranty.
If you also want to see how these compare to the wider market rather than just to each other, our guide to the best lawn mowers overall and our look at the best robotic lawn mowers both sit well above this budget and answer a different question.
Most Reliable Lawn Mower Brands: Where Owners Report Fewer Problems
Reliability at this budget comes down to engine and platform durability, not peak power. In owner feedback across the cordless category, the recurring battery complaints are about capacity and pack longevity rather than the mower dying, which tells you the platform is the durable part of the purchase.
On the gas side, the pattern is consistent across forums: simple four-stroke overhead valve engines with automatic chokes start season after season, and the machines that fail early are the ones with plastic engine components exposed to sustained vibration. The BILT HARD on our list is the clearest example, with owners split between easy starting and vibration damage.
Among cordless brands here, Greenworks and CRAFTSMAN carry the largest review volumes, and that matters for a practical reason: a platform with thousands of owners has parts, manuals and known fixes. Support responsiveness is the counterweight, and slow Greenworks support is the most commonly reported complaint on our top pick.
The battery ecosystem is the quiet reliability question. A mower whose platform is discontinued is hard to keep running regardless of build quality, and parts availability ends machines that would otherwise have lasted a decade. Check that the platform is current before you buy, especially on second-hand or clearance models.
Frequently Asked Questions
What brand of lawn mower is the most reliable?
Honda and Toro lead the gas category, and EGO leads on battery, but at a 500 dollar ceiling you are choosing among brands like Greenworks, CRAFTSMAN, PowerSmart, WORX and Skil. Reliability there comes from simple four-stroke engines with automatic chokes on gas models, and from platforms that will still exist in five years on battery models. Judge reliability by starting ease and parts availability rather than by peak power.
What is the best affordable lawn mower?
The Greenworks 60V 21 inch cordless mower is the best overall affordable buy at this budget. Its 60V brushless motor spins at 3,200 RPM on a waterproof steel deck, and owners report it cutting tall grass as well as most gas mowers. The 5.0Ah battery and charger are included in the box, so there is no extra spend before the first mow.
What is the best budget lawnmower under 300 dollars?
Under 300 dollars the best value is the PowerSmart 21 inch 144cc gas mower at 4.3 stars, or the Greenworks 40V 16 inch cordless mower if you prefer quiet operation. The gas option gives you a steel deck and unlimited runtime, while the cordless option is 37.5 pounds and folds flat for storage. Both suit lawns up to a quarter acre.
Is a 40V or 80V lawn mower better?
A 40V mower suits yards under a quarter acre and usually has the broadest tool ecosystem, which makes it the cheapest way into a platform. An 80V machine only earns its cost if you mow thick, overgrown grass regularly or have a genuinely large lot. For most suburban lawns up to half an acre, a 56V or 60V machine is the better middle ground.
Do electric lawn mowers work in wet grass?
They work, but mowing wet grass is not ideal. The Greenworks 60V deck carries an IPX4 rating, so dew and light rain are tolerated, but wet clippings clump and clog chutes, and moisture on the blade housing dulls the cut. Damp grass also draws more battery. Mow drier conditions when you can, and expect shorter runtime on a wet morning.
Can I reuse the batteries I already own in a new lawn mower?
Usually, as long as the platform matches exactly. The Greenworks 40V mower works with more than 75 tools on that platform, the WORX WG752 batteries cover 140 or more PowerShare tools, and the CRAFTSMAN V20 20V MAX packs fit the wider CRAFTSMAN tool range. Check the platform name carefully, because 40V and 42V labels from different brands are not interchangeable.
Final Verdict: The Best Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars to Buy
The best lawn mowers under 500 dollars come down to one honest question: will you mow a quarter acre comfortably, or a half acre with grass that needs an engine to cut it. If the answer is the first, the Greenworks 60V 21 inch cordless mower is the pick, and the YARDMAX 22 inch 201cc is the one to buy if the answer is the second.
For a small, flat lawn, the Greenworks 40V 16 inch is hard to argue with. It has more owner feedback behind it than anything else on this list, it weighs 37.5 pounds, and it includes a battery and charger.
The mistake worth avoiding is buying a bare tool body on the assumption that a battery is coming with it. Check what is in the box, check the weight, and buy the machine that suits your lawn rather than the one with the biggest number on the box. Our picks above are all inside the ceiling, and the comparison table at the top puts every one of them side by side.
