Shopping for a lawn mower in 2022 felt a little like shopping for a phone: everything was “smarter,” “cleaner,” and somehow came with more battery choices than a candy aisle. The good news? That meant genuinely better options for real lawnswhether you’re taming a tiny patch of green, cutting a suburban rectangle, or staring down an acre like it personally offended you.
This guide rounds up the best lawn mowers of 2022 across the major categoriescordless electric, gas, corded electric, reel, riding, and roboticso you can pick the right tool for your yard (and your patience). Expect practical pros/cons, who each mower is best for, and a buying guide that helps you avoid the classic mistake of buying a “bargain” mower that turns every Saturday into cardio.
Quick Comparison: Our Top 7 Picks
- Best Overall Cordless: EGO POWER+ 21″ Select Cut Self-Propelled (LM2135SP)
- Best Gas for Most People: Toro 22″ Recycler SmartStow Personal Pace (21465)
- Best Premium Gas Upgrade: Honda HRX217 Series
- Best Corded Electric (Small Yards): Greenworks 20″ 12-Amp Corded (25022)
- Best Manual Reel: Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel Mower
- Best Riding Mower Value: Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro (IntelliPower)
- Best Robot Mower Starter Pick: Husqvarna Automower 115H (4G)
How We Picked the Best Lawn Mowers of 2022
Rather than guessing (or trusting the neighbor who sharpens blades “with vibes”), we compared findings from multiple U.S.-based home and tool publishers, hands-on test writeups, and manufacturer specifications. We prioritized mowers that repeatedly showed up as strong performers in: cut quality (no ragged grass tips), power (especially in thicker growth), ease of use (controls that don’t require a pilot license), storage, and maintenance.
What matters most (so you don’t overbuy)
- Lawn size: A mower that’s perfect for 2,000 sq ft can be misery on 15,000 sq ft.
- Terrain: Slopes and bumpy roots practically beg for self-propel or a rider.
- Grass growth: Thick summer growth needs torque; manicured lawns can go lighter and quieter.
- Storage: Vertical storage is a gift if your garage is already a game of Tetris.
- Maintenance tolerance: If you hate oil changes, do not adopt a gas engine “as a hobby.”
The 7 Best Lawn Mowers of 2022
1) EGO POWER+ 21″ Select Cut Self-Propelled (LM2135SP) Best Overall Cordless
In 2022, cordless electric mowers stopped being the “nice for tiny lawns” option and became a legit primary mower for many households. EGO’s Select Cut self-propelled model was a standout because it leaned into the two things people actually care about: a clean cut and enough power to not panic in thicker grass.
The Select Cut system gives you blade options depending on whether you’re mulching weekly, trying to bag cleanly, or stretching runtime. It’s also designed to feel less like pushing a box and more like guiding itself-propel is controlled by your hands, and speed adjusts easily.
Best for
- Most small-to-medium yards where you want low maintenance and quick starts
- People who want strong mulching without smelling like gasoline afterward
What you’ll like
- Strong cutting torque and confident performance for a cordless mower
- Blade choices that let you optimize for mulching, bagging, or runtime
- Push-button start, fewer tune-up chores, and generally quieter operation than gas
Watch-outs
- Battery runtime can be the deciding factor on bigger or overgrown lawnshaving a backup battery helps
- Premium cordless models cost more up front (they pay you back in fewer maintenance headaches)
2) Toro 22″ Recycler SmartStow Personal Pace (21465) Best Gas for Most People
If you want the classic “fills the gas can, mows everything, doesn’t ask questions” experience, Toro’s Recycler with SmartStow earned its 2022 reputation by being both powerful and very livable. The big win is usability: Toro’s Personal Pace system is built to match your walking speed, so you’re not constantly fiddling with a lever like you’re adjusting cruise control in a thunderstorm.
The other win is storage. SmartStow is basically permission to reclaim garage spacestand it upright instead of dedicating a full parking spot to “the mower zone.”
Best for
- Medium lawns, thicker growth, and anyone who wants gas power with fewer annoyances
- Garages where floor space is already emotionally committed to bikes and storage bins
What you’ll like
- Wide 22″ deck helps reduce mowing time
- Comfortable self-propel feel with Personal Pace
- SmartStow vertical storage for smaller storage footprints
Watch-outs
- Gas maintenance is still gas maintenance: oil, spark plug, air filter, stabilizer if it sits
- It’s louder than electric (your neighbors will know what you’re doingand when)
3) Honda HRX217 Series Best Premium Gas Upgrade for Cut Quality
Honda’s HRX217 line has long been the “I want a nicer mower, not a whole new personality” upgrade. In 2022, the HRX217 series stood out as a premium residential option that bridged the gap between entry-level mowers and pricier commercial-style builds. The appeal is the combination of a strong engine, thoughtful features, and excellent cut qualityespecially if you care about mulching and lawn appearance.
HRX mowers are known for flexibility: mulching, bagging, and discharge options tend to be well-executed, and the overall build feels like it’s meant to survive years of weekly use. If you’re the kind of person who actually sharpens blades and feels satisfaction doing it, this mower will feel like a good long-term partner.
Best for
- Homeowners who want a premium cut, strong mulching, and a long-term gas mower
- Lawns that get thick in peak season where bargain engines bog down
What you’ll like
- Strong all-around cut quality and solid mulching performance
- Premium features across the HRX217 lineup
- Feels built for years of weekly mowing
Watch-outs
- Costs more than standard gas mowers
- Still involves gas engine upkeep (and winterizing if you live where seasons show off)
4) Greenworks 20″ 12-Amp Corded (25022) Best Plug-In Electric for Small Yards
For small-to-mid-sized lawns where an extension cord is not a deal-breaker, corded electric mowers are underrated. In 2022, the Greenworks 25022 style of mower made sense for people who want electric simplicity without paying battery premium prices.
You get a practical 20″ cutting path and common-sense features like 3-in-1 mowing (mulch, bag, side discharge) and multiple cutting heights. Cord management is the tax you payso this pick shines most on simpler yard layouts without a maze of trees, beds, and obstacles.
Best for
- Smaller lawns with easy outlet access
- Buyers who want electric reliability without managing battery runtime
What you’ll like
- No fuel, no charging scheduleplug in and go
- 3-in-1 mowing options and adjustable cutting height
- Often lighter and easier to maneuver than comparable gas mowers
Watch-outs
- Extension cord strategy matters (or you’ll “mow” the same area three times)
- Not ideal for very large lawns or complex landscaping layouts
5) Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel Mower Best Manual Mower for Tiny, Flat Lawns
If your lawn is small enough to make gas feel sillyand you like the idea of mowing without noise, fumes, or chargingreel mowers can be surprisingly satisfying. Fiskars’ StaySharp Max earned attention because it’s designed to be easier to push than many reel mowers and built to handle more grass types than the old-school “only if your lawn is already perfect” stereotype.
The experience is different: you’re not blasting through knee-high jungle (please don’t try), but you can keep a well-maintained lawn looking crisp with almost no ongoing cost. It’s also the only mower on this list that won’t wake a baby, a dog, or the neighbor who works nights.
Best for
- Small, flat lawns (think townhouse yards, front patches, or minimalist lawns)
- Eco-minded homeowners who want quiet mowing and low upkeep
What you’ll like
- No gas, no oil, no charging, no engine maintenance
- Very quiet and tidy cutting experience
- Great for frequent light cuts that keep lawns looking consistently neat
Watch-outs
- Tall, wet, or heavily overgrown grass can be a workout
- Best results come from mowing more often (short cuts, not big rescues)
6) Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro (IntelliPower) Best Riding Mower Value
Once your lawn gets big enough, “walking behind a mower” can start feeling like a lifestyle choice you didn’t consent to. In 2022, riding mowers like the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro hit a sweet spot: approachable price (for a rider), comfortable operation, and enough capability to make weekly mowing faster and less exhausting.
The XT1 Enduro line is known for user-friendly controls and a comfortable seatsmall details that matter when you’re mowing longer than the length of a sitcom episode. It’s especially appealing if your yard has obstacles, density changes, or you simply want mowing to stop being your whole afternoon.
Best for
- Medium-to-large lawns where a riding mower cuts time dramatically
- Homeowners who value comfort and easy operation
What you’ll like
- Comfort-forward design (seat, controls, overall feel)
- Handles variations in lawn density without constant babysitting
- Turns mowing into a faster routine instead of a long walk
Watch-outs
- Storage space and maintenance needs are bigger than a walk-behind mower
- Some models have fixed positions that may not fit every body type perfectly
7) Husqvarna Automower 115H (4G) Best Robot Mower Starter Pick
Robot mowers aren’t for everyone (yet), but in 2022 they became a very real option for people who value time over tinkering. The Husqvarna 115H is often considered an entry-level way to test the concept: it’s designed for smaller-to-medium lawns, runs on a schedule, and trims frequently so your lawn stays consistently short.
There’s a setup cost in effort (boundary wire installation), but the long-term payoff is convenience. Instead of mowing once a week for an hour, you let the mower do little trims regularly. Your lawn gets a steady, mulched finishand you get your Saturday back.
Best for
- Small-to-medium lawns where regular scheduled mowing makes sense
- People who want the lawn maintained with minimal weekly effort
What you’ll like
- Set-and-schedule mowing that keeps grass consistently trimmed
- Quiet operation compared with gas mowers
- Works best when the lawn is kept in a maintained range (robot mowers are maintainers, not rescuers)
Watch-outs
- Initial installation effort (boundary wire, layout planning)
- Not ideal for highly complex yards with many narrow corridors unless you plan carefully
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Lawn Mower (2022 Edition)
1) Start with lawn size (it’s the fastest way to narrow the field)
Lawn size determines everything: deck width, runtime needs, whether self-propel is “nice” or “necessary,” and whether a riding mower saves you real time. As a simple rule: small lawns can do great with corded electric or reel mowers; medium lawns often benefit from self-propel; larger lawns may push you toward powerful cordless, gas, or riding mowers.
2) Match the mower to your terrain
- Flat lawns: You can go lightercorded electric or reel can be a joy.
- Hills/slopes: Self-propelled (or a rider) becomes the difference between “mowing” and “training montage.”
- Bumpy roots and obstacles: Look for easy height adjustment and stable wheels.
3) Choose your power source honestly
- Battery (cordless electric): Low maintenance, quieter, quick start. Best if your lawn fits within realistic runtime or you’re willing to own an extra battery.
- Gas: Strong, long-running power and quick refuelingat the cost of noise, emissions, and regular upkeep.
- Corded electric: Simple and reliable for small yards, but the cord is your full-time coworker.
- Reel: Quiet, simple, and satisfyingif you mow often and keep grass in check.
- Riding/robotic: Best for time savings on larger lawns or for maintenance-style mowing with minimal effort.
4) Deck size and cut width: bigger isn’t always better
Wider decks mow faster, but they’re heavier and sometimes harder to maneuver around beds, trees, and narrow gates. Many walk-behind mowers fall in the 20–22″ range because it balances speed and control. Riding mowers typically start around 42″ decks, which can be a major time saver.
5) Decide how you want to handle clippings
- Mulch: Great for feeding the lawn and reducing waste (and avoids bag-emptying cardio).
- Bag: Useful in spring growth spurts, leaf season, or if clumps bother you.
- Side discharge: Handy for taller growth when bagging would fill instantly.
Pro Tips for a Better Cut (No Matter What You Buy)
- Keep blades sharp: A sharp blade cuts cleanly; a dull blade tears grass and stresses the lawn.
- Mow when grass is dry: Wet grass clumps and can clog decks, especially when bagging.
- Don’t scalp: Cutting too low weakens grass and invites weeds. Adjust height seasonally.
- Overlap slightly: Especially with narrower decks or robot mowers, overlap prevents missed strips.
- Plan your pattern: Changing mowing direction helps reduce ruts and keeps growth more even.
FAQ
Are battery mowers really strong enough?
In 2022, the best cordless mowers were strong enough for many mainstream yards, especially when mowing regularly. If your lawn frequently turns into thick, tall growth (or you mow less often than you’d like to admit), gas still has an edgeor you’ll want a higher-end cordless mower plus an extra battery.
Is self-propelled worth it?
If your yard has slopes, you mow for more than 20–30 minutes, or you simply don’t want mowing to feel like pushing a shopping cart through sand, yes. For small flat lawns, a push mower can be totally fine.
Do robot mowers replace trimming?
Not entirely. Many robot mowers still leave edges or tight corners that need occasional trimming. Think of robot mowing as “your lawn stays tidy all week,” not “your yard becomes magically maintenance-free.”
Real-World Experiences With the 7 Best Lawn Mowers of 2022 (Extra Long Read)
Here’s the part nobody tells you on a product box: the “best lawn mower” is the one that fits the rhythm of your life. In 2022, that rhythm usually looked like this: busy weekdays, a weather window on Saturday, and grass that grows like it has a personal trainer.
Cordless electric life (hello, EGO) is mostly joyful until you hit your first “the grass got away from me” week. When you mow regularly, a strong cordless mower feels almost too easypush-button start, smooth self-propel, and no mid-season carburetor drama. But if you skip a week and the lawn gets thick, you learn the cordless golden rules: raise the deck a notch, slow your pace, and don’t expect perfection in one pass. People who love cordless mowers tend to become quietly strategickeeping a second battery on standby or timing the mow so the battery is fully charged right when they are.
Gas mower reality (Toro or Honda) is the opposite trade: you never worry about runtime, but you do inherit a tiny engine that wants attention. In a good week, gas mowers feel unstoppableespecially when the grass is dense or slightly damp and you want to finish quickly. In a bad week, you remember that fuel stabilizer exists for a reason. The “best gas experience” is usually with models that make the human part easy: self-propel that matches your stride, controls that don’t fight you, and storage that doesn’t turn your garage into a mower museum. Also: once you own a mower that stores upright or folds nicely, you get weirdly protective of that feature.
Corded electric mowing (Greenworks) is the most underrated experience when your yard layout is simple. It’s reliable and cheap to run, and it starts every time with no battery planning. The downside is that the cord becomes a character in your story. You develop a method: you loop the cord over your shoulder, you mow in lanes away from the outlet, and you learn exactly how far 50–100 feet really is. The first time you accidentally mow toward the cord, you will feel a small spike of paniclike you’re defusing something. After a few mows, it becomes routine, and the savings feel worth it.
Reel mower mowing (Fiskars) is basically lawn care as meditationassuming the lawn is maintained. The sound is almost nothing, and the results can look surprisingly crisp if you mow often. The “secret” is frequency: reel mowers love short, regular cuts. If you try to use one after a growth spurt, it can turn into a workout. Some people adore that (free exercise!); others decide, very quickly, that a mower should not double as a gym membership.
Riding mower ownership (Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro) changes how you think about mowing. Instead of planning your weekend around the task, you plan the task around your weekend. The comfort details matter more than you’d expectseat feel, control layout, how it handles bumps, and how confidently it cuts when the grass gets thicker in certain spots. The trade-offs are real: you need storage, you have maintenance, and you’re investing in a machine that’s closer to a small vehicle than a tool. But for the right lawn size, it’s one of the biggest quality-of-life upgrades you can make.
Robot mower life (Husqvarna Automower 115H) is the most “future” experience on the list, and it’s also the most “setup matters.” Owners who love robot mowers tend to do two things: they plan the boundary wire carefully and they accept that robot mowing is maintenance mowing. You don’t let the grass grow tall and then send the robot in like a superhero. Instead, it runs often, nibbles the lawn down, and keeps it looking consistently neat. The payback is time: your lawn stays presentable without you scheduling a big weekly mow. The surprise downside? You may still do occasional edge touch-ups and you might find yourself talking about mowing algorithms at parties. (Choose your audience wisely.)
Taken together, the 2022 mower landscape had a clear theme: you could finally pick a mower based on how you live, not just what engine you tolerate. If you value low maintenance, go electric. If you value brute-force speed, gas still shines. If you value your weekends more than the act of mowing, riding and robot options are hard to beat.
Conclusion
The best lawn mowers of 2022 weren’t just about cutting grassthey were about reducing friction. The right mower makes mowing faster, easier, and more consistent, which is exactly how you get a healthier lawn without turning your weekends into a recurring chore. Use lawn size and terrain as your first filters, then pick the power source that matches your tolerance for maintenance. Your future self (and your lawn) will thank you.