The best lawn mowers of 2021

The best lawn mowers of 2021

There's something almost meditative about spending an hour or two each week pushing the mower around the yard. The drone of the motor drowns out your thoughts as you work on a task with a clearly defined objective: make your lawn look its best.

Of course, the deciding factor between an almost relaxing experience and one filled with frustration is often the quality of the lawn mower you have.

How to shop for a lawn mower

In the following guide, we focus on walk-behind mowers since the majority of lawns are serviced perfectly well by these machines. However, if you have a lawn that is larger than half an acre, you may want a riding mower.

If you have a yard that is above a quarter or half an acre, consider a self-propelled model. This basically means you do less pushing. Self-propelled mowers are especially helpful on hills. Also, pay special attention to blade size. Look for a mower with a blade that's at least 20 inches long if you have a larger yard. Conversely, if you have many narrow areas to mow, a smaller deck “” the area in which the blade spins around “” is best.

Lastly, pay close attention to model numbers.