There’s nothing nicer than sitting on your back patio and enjoying the view of a freshly cut lawn.
What makes it hard to enjoy is doing the work to get it mowed, when most lawnmowers are a pain to push, touchy to operate and take long afternoons to get the job done.
The good news is, there are now many types of lawnmowers available, and if you’re someone who wants to take it easy when caring for your garden, there are some right up your alley.
The self-propelled lawnmower was designed to make mowing a lot less effort, and when you add in an electric start, it becomes even more enticing.
So, what is the best self propelled electric mower on the market?
There are lots of styles to choose from, but ultimately the best electric self propelled lawn mower is one with the right amount of power, battery reliability and efficiency, and a comfortable and ergonomic design that makes it comfortable to use.
The best choice for you is one that suits your budget and meets the requirements of your lawn, with a few rated better than others.
Rather than going through countless reviews trying to find one that ticks all of those boxes, we’ve done the work for you. With our favorite choices for these easy to use mowers, you’ll be able to enjoy a freshly cut lawn more often, and without the usual pain and strain of a traditional mower.
Shopping for a self propelled lawn mower with electric start might seem overwhelming at first, but we’re here to make it easier.
Although there are loads of features and specs to weigh up, as well as your own gardening needs, it doesn’t have to be so daunting. We’ve narrowed down some of the top rated mowers on the market, and a little more about what makes them so great, so you can choose your new favorite gardening tool.
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Best Electric Start Self Propelled Lawn Mower – Reviews & Buying guide for 2021
Best Overall: Greenworks Self Propelled Electric Lawnmower
- Power: Battery
- Size: 21 inches
- Weight: 67lbs
The best self propelled electric lawn mower that money can buy comes from Greenworks, one of the biggest names in gardening tools.
This electric lawnmower is run by a self propelled drive system and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, with 40V of power that makes it easier than ever to mow your lawn.
According to customers, it has a surprisingly long battery life and was capable of cutting the average sized lawn without stopping, and the time it took to power up the battery was quick as well.
If you do have a larger lawn that needs more than 45 minutes to mow, you can make use of the handy battery storage compartment that Greenworks has built-in underneath it.
On the downside though, it’s hard to turn off the self propel function for when you want to pull the mower backward.
Considering the average mowing pattern has you sometimes moving back and forward, you’ll have to spend some time adjusting to using this lever otherwise it’ll chew up a lot of your time on the lawn.
The Greenworks Self Propelled Electric Lawnmower has a 21-inch steel deck, giving you a good cutting width to work with. Thanks to the battery operation, there’s no need to drag around a power cord or fill it up with petrol, and the electric start push button makes the whole process easy to get going.
The most disappointing thing about this lawnmower is that the advertised price doesn’t include the battery, which adds almost double the cost to it. Greenworks makes all of their products so they can share a battery, hence the missing part, but if you purchase this one hoping it’ll all be included, you’ll be let down.
This lawnmower is a 3-in-1 product that features mulching, bagging, and side discharge, giving you more options for what to do with the grass you’ve mowed. With a self propelled drive system, it pushes with minimal effort, and you can easily adjust the height between 1-3/8″ to 3-3/4″ to meet your lawn’s needs.
If you want the easiest battery-powered mower with an electric start, this one from Greenworks is our favorite. This includes free shipping, free returns, and a massive three year limited warranty from Greenworks, giving you peace of mind you’ve chosen a quality lawnmower that makes yard work easy.
Runner Up: Crafstman Self Propelled Lawn Mower
- Power: Gas and battery
- Size: 21 inches
- Weight: 86.8lbs
To get the best of both worlds from a gas powered mower with an electric start, the Craftsman Self Propelled Lawn Mower is a fan favorite.
This mower combines everyone’s favorite features with a lithium-ion battery, gas-powered engine, and easy one touch button to start it up, making it one of the easiest mowing experiences you’ll ever have. Weighing a hefty 86.8lbs and with a 21 inch cutting deck, it’s a full size mower, and nothing about it feels flimsy.
Customers loved the adaptability of this mower, with so many ways to customize it to suit your needs exactly.
There’s a height adjustment, speed adjustment, and even the choice to use either gas or battery power, so if you’re looking for something different to suit your varying landscape and need a versatile mower to keep up with it, you’ll agree that this is the best way to go.
However, the Craftsman Self Propelled Lawn Mower is not the easiest model to maintain, and you’ll need to put in work to wash the grass clippings off each time.
Although there’s an included hose attachment that’s meant to do this job for you, many people found it useless and had to tilt the mower up to hose under it manually.
The Craftsman Self Propelled Lawnmower comes with everything you need including a V20 lithium-ion battery, self-propelled mower, charger, engine oil, and bagger.
Overall, the mower measures 36.56 x 17.75 x 17.75 inches and comes with a 21-inch cutting deck which is standard with these size models. There are six different sizes to choose from depending on the length of grass you want, varying from a trim to a deep lawn cut, and everything in between.
To assemble the lawnmower is easy and it comes with everything you need to set it up. There’s the option for side discharge, rear discharge and mulching, giving you the choice of what you want to do with the grass clippings when you’re done.
The Craftsman Lawn Mower runs on an MTD Products motor with 159 CC of horsepower, and you have the option to use the included battery if you want to save gas.
You’ll get the included parts, free shipping to your door, free returns should there be any problems, and a two-year warranty, making it a comprehensive and easy way to purchase your brand new mower.
Alternative: Lawn Boy Electric Start Lawn Mower
- Power: Gas
- Size: 21 inches
- Weight: 72lbs
Lawn Boy has created an electric start mower that’s affordable for most and with an easy pull start that feels nothing like any mower you’ve used in the past.
With a 149cc Kohler motor powering it along and an OHV engine, you have some of the most trusted names in the industry, but with the modern touches of an electric start and a self propelling body to make light work of the job.
The best thing about this mower is its ease of use, and this is backed up by a guarantee from Lawn Boy that it’ll stay this way for three years.
People were thrilled that it only took one pull to get going, compared to a standard push mower that can spend ages to even turn on. This, coupled with the self propelling motor, makes it one of the easiest to operate.
On the downside though, it’s not the best designed mower in some parts, with people commenting on the plastic trims that make it feel a little flimsy.
Although this mower is covered by a warranty, for the price you’d hope that more of it was made of steel and metal, otherwise it might not feel durable enough to stand the test of time.
The Lawn Boy Electric Start Lawn Mower comes with a two-point height of cut system that lets you choose how long or short you want your grass, and allows you to adjust it with ease. The wheel height is seven inches and the cutting deck is 21 inches in width, made out of durable and long-lasting steel.
For those who want something less harmful for the environment, you’ll be pleased to know that the Lawn Boy Electric Start Lawn Mower is CARB Compliant, which means fewer emissions.
The three year Tru-Start Commitment from Lawn Boy ensures that your mower will start with no more than two pulls during this time, or they’ll fix it for free.
If you want your lawnmower to be made with some of the most trusted names in the business, the Lawn Boy Self Propelled Lawn Mower is a great choice. Priced at just over $360, it’s a cheap way to make mowing your lawn easy, and when you shop on Amazon you’ll benefit from free shipping and free returns as well.
Alternative: Husqvarna Self Propelled Mower
- Power: Gas
- Size: 21 inches
- Weight: 80lbs
Husqvarna is a trusted name in home and garden tools, and it’s no surprise that their Self Propelled Mower is one of the favorites in this range.
With a standard 21 inch cutting width and an easy push forward motion, you won’t have to work very hard to get rid of the overgrown grass in your lawn, which means more time for the fun stuff on the weekend.
The best thing about this lawn mower from Husqvarna is the front-wheel drive which means it’s easier than most self propelled lawnmowers to push.
With the front-wheel drive system, you’re able to maneuver around corners and forward and backward, so if you need further assistance, feel too weak to push, or aren’t in the best physical shape, it’s one of the better choices out there.
However, according to reviews, this isn’t the best electric lawn mower if you have an uneven space to mow and a lot of inclines.
This is better suited to flat and even surfaces, and those who tried to go uphill or on a particularly bumpy area would be pretty frustrated at how inefficiently it got the job done. The front wheel drive system helps somewhat, but it still requires more manpower than most if you’re going up a slope.
The Husqvarna L221FHE mower starts with a push button electric start and is powered by gas, giving you the best of both worlds. With rear wheels that are higher than the front, you’re able to get greater control of the mower, which can be helpful since it weighs around 80lbs and is a lot heavier than most on the market.
This lawnmower comes with the trusted name of Husqvarna behind it and is equipped with a Briggs and Stratton engine for further peace of mind. The dimensions of the L221FHE are
64.75 x 21.00 x 41.00 inches, making it one of the bigger models out there that are self propelling and electric start. If your lawn is bigger than most and you need something that’ll fit right in, this model is a must.
Amazon will send the mower to your door and offer you the chance for free returns should you not love it and Husqvarna stands behind their products with a 5 Year Domestic Warranty Program so if you want value for money and an easier mowing experience, this model is a great choice.
Alternative: Poulan Pro Electric Start Lawn Mower
- Power: Battery
- Size: 20 inches
- Weight: 41lbs
To skip the gas and cords but keep the efficiency, you’ll want to switch to something like the Poulan Pro Electric Start Lawn Mower.
This dual blade mower operates just as powerfully, and with a 21-inch cutting width, it’s better suited to people with smaller and lower maintenance yards who want to give up on the frustrating pull-start models.
The greatest thing about this lawn mower is that it doesn’t need any gas to power up, and can all be done with a battery. Just one charge of the battery will get you over 30 minutes of mowing, which is more than enough time to get the average size lawn done with time to spare.
On the negative side of things, it’s not the most powerful mower due to poor blade design and doesn’t have the gusto that a gas powered mower does.
It does feature the self propelling function that makes it easy to push around, but you might need to go over some spots more than once to ensure it’s all been cut to the right size.
The Poulan Pro Electric Start Mower works with an included 40-volt lithium battery that can be used with the rest of their outdoor tool range. The mower comes with an instant push button start and runs quietly and smoothly, which is ideal for people who want a minimal fuss gardening experience.
This lawnmower has a fold-down handle for easy storage, and if you’re low on space, you can keep it stored safely away without a fuss.
The overall dimensions of the Poulan Pro are 57.50 x 20.00 x 37.00 inches and it weighs just over 40lbs so it’s smaller than other electric start lawn mowers on the market, but that only makes it easier to maneuver.
If you want a fuss-free and battery powered mowing experience without having to use a hefty pull-start, the Poulan Pro is a favorite. Amazon has it listed for the best price currently and they offer free postage to your home, as well as a four-year limited warranty from Poulan Pro to back it up.
FAQs of Electric Start Self Propelled Lawn Mowers
A traditional lawnmower relies on the user to do most of the work, and the self-propelled lawnmower turns all of that on its head.
These unique lawn mowers might not be the right fit for every home and gardener though, so check out the answers to some commonly asked questions about them to see what they’re all about.
The self propelled lawnmower that first came onto the market years ago and wasn’t as efficient as it claimed to be, however, today’s models are easier to control and have a more powerful transmission to give them power.
With one of these, you’ll be able to mow the lawn with less effort than a standard push behind model, making mowing easy.
A lawnmower with an electric start makes it easier to turn on, as it uses a simple push button compared to the pull chain of other models.
Choosing one that’s also self propelled means minimal work to mow as it’s powered by a motor, so it’s not just starting it up that will be easier.
There are pros and cons to consider when choosing between a self propelled mower and a push mower, depending on your circumstances.
A self propelled mower is easier to push but can cost more and not have as long of a life. Push mowers are effective but require a lot of manpower to operate, and aren’t suitable for all physical conditions.
Some models of lawnmowers can be modified to install an electric start button so you don’t have to use the pull start cord to turn it on.
To determine whether you can change your mower to an electric start variety, research the motor size and model of your lawnmower and see if it’s a possibility.
Although a self propelled mower is designed to power forwards, it is possible to pull it back when needed.
All models are different, but you can usually do this by disengaging the blade and drive motor, pulling it up at an angle, and pushing it on its two back wheels where you want it to go.
Mowing Made Easy
There’s no need to dread lawn mowing time when you have the right tool for the job, and a self propelled lawnmower with an electric start makes it as easy as pie.
With one of these at your disposable, you’ll cut out the sweat factor needed to mow the lawn, and get to reap the benefits without putting in the hard work usually needed.
With so many options and specs out there to choose from, finding the best electric start self propelled lawn mower can be overwhelming. Thankfully, any of our recommendations will be the perfect fit for low maintenance lawn care, and without having to spend a lot of time getting it right.