The best lawn mowers under 500 dollars depend on whether you want the raw cutting power of gas, the convenience of a cordless battery, or the simplicity of a manual reel. After comparing 12 walk-behind mowers on deck width, runtime, weight, warranty and real buyer feedback, the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 takes our top spot for small yards, the Greenworks 40V 25322 is the strongest all-round value, and the Greenworks 80V MO80L416 handles the largest lawns in the group.
There is a catch at this budget, and it is not the price. It is that a mower listed as a single number often arrives without the battery or the charger, so the all-in cost can climb well past the headline figure once you add what the box leaves out.
Our team went through 12 mowers that fit inside a 500 dollar budget, split them by type rather than by price, and mapped each one to the yard it actually suits. Every mower here is a walk-behind; there is no riding mower at this price. We also looked at the forum consensus, and the r/lawncare view that a tight budget should go mostly into a self-propelled gas mower unless the yard is under half an acre kept up to a sensible height.
If you would rather spend your attention elsewhere, our other budget roundups cover headphones under 500 dollars and digital pianos under 500 dollars on the same test-and-compare basis.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Lawn Mowers Under 500 Dollars in October
American Lawn Mower 1204-14…
- 14 inch 4-blade reel
- Adjustable 0.5 to 1.75 inch height
- Only 19 pounds
- No engine or battery needed
Greenworks 40V 25322 Cordless
- 16 inch cut
- 1/3 acre per 4.0Ah charge
- Battery and charger included
- 3-year warranty
Greenworks 80V MO80L416…
- 21 inch steel deck
- Self-propelled up to 1/2 acre
- LED headlight
- 4-year warranty
Those three cover the three genuinely different needs. A reel mower for a small lawn that gets maintained weekly, a battery push mower for a quarter-acre yard, and a self-propelled cordless for anything larger.
All 12 Lawn Mowers Under 500 Dollars at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Reel Mower |
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| Greenworks 40V 25322 Cordless Push |
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 Scotts 304-14S Reel Mower |
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 Great States 815-18 Reel Mower |
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 LawnMaster MEB1114K Corded Electric |
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 LawnMaster 48V MAX CLMF4819X Cordless |
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 PowerSmart DB8721P Gas Push |
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| Greenworks 80V MO80L416 Self-Propelled |
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Check Latest Price |
 Greenworks 60V MO60L516 Cordless Push |
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Check Latest Price |
 YARDMAX YG2860 Gas Self-Propelled |
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Check Latest Price |
 BILT HARD TL-TMA-0557 Gas Push |
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 Worx WG745 Cordless |
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Check Latest Price |
Five cordless mowers here list a battery and a charger in the box, and that single detail changes the real cost of the purchase more than the headline figure does. Every cordless model in this roundup includes its pack, which is not the norm in this price bracket.
1. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Red
14 inch cutting width
Manual 4-blade reel
19 pounds
3 height positions from 0.5 to 1.75 inch
Pros
- Over 15k reviews at a 4.3 average
- Quiet and pollution free with no fuel or oil
- 19 pounds makes it one of the easiest mowers here to lift and steer
- Reel action shears grass instead of bruising it
Cons
- Struggles when grass is allowed to get long
- Not for wet lawns
- No grass catcher included
This is the mower we come back to when someone asks what a lawn mower actually costs to own. There is no engine, no battery, no charger and no fuel. You push it, four helical blades shear the grass against a fixed bed knife, and the clippings fall behind you or drop into the lawn as a light mulch.
At 19 pounds it is the second-lightest machine in this roundup, and that weight is the real story. It can be carried down basement steps by one person, turned in tight corners around a garden bed, and lifted into a car. The 8.5-inch polymer wheels roll over uneven ground without the machine bogging down.
The 14-inch cutting width sounds small next to the 21 and 22-inch decks here, but width is only useful if you can keep mowing. On a lawn kept to a normal weekly height, a 14-inch reel finishes a quarter-acre yard faster than most people expect, because it never stops for a charge or a refill.
Height adjustment runs from 0.5 to 1.75 inch across three positions, and the alloy steel construction is what keeps the blades aligned season after season. Owners also point out that the reel cut leaves a clean striped finish, since the blades shear rather than tear the leaf tips.
Who this mower suits
This is the right pick for a small front lawn, a city yard, or any lawn under roughly a quarter acre that gets cut regularly. It is also the one we recommend to anyone who mows before eight in the morning, because a reel mower makes no sound that carries past your own fence.
There is no fuel cost, no oil change and no spark plug, so a buyer who has been put off mowing by upkeep will find nothing to maintain here. Storage is a non-issue too; it stands on end in a corner of a small garage.
Who should buy something else
If your grass gets away from you for a couple of weeks, this is the wrong tool. The front bar bends over tall blades instead of cutting them, and the machine will jam rather than power through. It also does not like wet lawns, and the blades can dull if you cut damp turf.
Anyone with back, hip or shoulder problems should look at this as a genuine effort question rather than a price question. A 19-pound mower is manageable, but you supply all the forward force, and on a slope that becomes real work.
2. Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Lawn Mower with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
Greenworks 40V 16in Push Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
16 inch cutting width
1/3 acre per 4.0Ah charge
2-in-1 mulch and bag
3-year warranty
Pros
- Battery and charger both included in the box
- Push-button start with no fumes or pull cord
- About 35 percent lighter than steel deck mowers
- Works with more than 75 other 40V tools
- Three-year tool and battery warranty
Cons
- Roughly 35 minutes of runtime on one charge
- Plastic deck is less durable on rough ground
- No self-propelled drive
This is the mower we recommend to the buyer who has never run anything but a gas machine and wants to stop dealing with fuel. Push a button and it runs. The 4.0Ah battery and the charger are in the box, which removes the single biggest surprise in this price bracket.
It cuts a 16-inch width and covers up to a third of an acre on one charge, with about 35 minutes of running time. A single lever moves all four wheels through five height positions, and the discharge system does double duty as a mulcher or a rear bagger.
At 37.5 pounds with a plastic deck, it is noticeably easier to maneuver than the 59 to 85 pound machines further down this list. That difference shows up most in tight turns around trees and along fences, which is where a lot of mowing time actually goes.
The platform argument matters more than the mower. Owners with this machine tend to end up with more than one 40V tool on the same pack, and the 40V line covers trimmers, blowers, chainsaws and hedge trimmers. If you already own another brand’s battery, note that it will not fit here.
Is the runtime enough for your yard
Thirty-five minutes covers about a third of an acre on a well-kept lawn, which handles most suburban front and back yards. Once the grass thickens or you slow down for edges, that number shrinks, and on anything over half an acre you will be charging mid-job.
Greenworks sells higher-capacity packs in the same platform, so buying a second 4.0Ah battery later is the straightforward fix. That is the one hidden cost to plan for in this category, and it is worth deciding on before you buy the mower rather than after.
What you give up against a gas mower
You give up deck width, which is 16 inches here against 21 and 22 inches on the gas machines, and you give up the ability to charge through a thick unmowed patch without waiting. Reviewers are consistent on that point rather than dramatic about it.
In exchange you get zero exhaust, near-zero running cost and no pull cord on a humid morning. For a quarter-acre yard, that trade is worth making without much hesitation.
3. Scotts 304-14S 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
Scotts 304-14S 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Green
14 inch cutting width
5-blade ball bearing reel
18.1 pounds
90 day limited warranty
Pros
- Lightest mower in the roundup at 18.1 pounds
- Heat-treated alloy steel blades stay sharp longer
- Tool-less assembly takes a few minutes
- Silent with no gas or oil
- Cuts evenly on uneven ground
Cons
- Jams on twigs and small sticks
- Cannot handle grass that is too long
- Only a 90 day limited warranty
The Scotts 304-14S does the same job as the American Lawn Mower reel but with a five-blade ball bearing reel and heat-treated alloy steel blades. Those blades hold an edge longer, which matters more than it sounds if you mow close to the soil and pick up grit.
It is the lightest machine here at 18.1 pounds and it assembles without tools, which matters when the delivery box is bigger than your garage shelving. The T-style handle has a cushioned grip, and the height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 inch.
Buyers also note that it cuts evenly on uneven ground, which is a real problem for the heavier reel designs. The composite wheels ride over ruts rather than catching on them.
Where it beats the other reels
Compared with the American Lawn Mower 1204-14, you get a lighter frame and a five-blade reel rather than four. That extra blade helps with density, and the ball bearing under the reel is smoother to turn under load.
For anyone with limited upper-body strength, this is the pick. Lifting 18 pounds onto a workbench is straightforward, and the folded handle does not fight you.
The two real limitations
Twigs. Reviewers mention jams on sticks, pinecones and stones far more often than anything else, and clearing the reel by hand is a regular part of the job rather than an occasional event.
The warranty is the other catch. A 90 day limited warranty is much shorter than the two-year cover on the Great States and the three years on the Greenworks, so treat this as a consumable machine rather than a long-term one.
4. Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Grey
18 inch cutting width
Height 0.5 to 2.75 inch
10 inch composite wheels
2 year limited warranty
Pros
- Wide 18 inch cut with taller 10 inch wheels for ground clearance
- Alloy steel blades hold a sharp edge
- Two year limited warranty
- Quiet enough for early morning mowing
- Easy to hose off and store
Cons
- Twigs and stones jam the reel
- Blades sit between the wheels so edge cutting is limited
- Can need a second pass on patchy lawns
This is the reel to buy when your lawn is bigger, rougher or full of holes. The 18-inch cutting width is four inches wider than the two 14-inch reels here, and the 10-inch composite wheels clear uneven ground in a way smaller wheels cannot.
Height adjustment is the standout feature, running from 0.5 all the way to 2.75 inch across six positions. That range means you can take a pass through taller summer growth and still creep down to a close cut for the edges.
The loop-style handle with cushioned grips keeps a neutral wrist position, and the whole machine cleans off with a hose in a minute. Two year limited warranty coverage is the best of the three reels we tested.
At 27 pounds it is heavier than the 14-inch reels, so it wants a reasonably flat lawn. What it buys is ground clearance and a wider swath, and on a bumpy property that trade is usually worth making.
The lawn it fits best
This suits a quarter-acre or larger yard that is mowed on a schedule and has some slope to it. The wide cut and the tall wheels mean fewer passes and less time fighting the terrain.
Two limits are worth stating plainly. The blades sit between the wheels, so cutting flush against a fence or bed takes a separate pass with a string trimmer. And the reel jams if you leave twigs and cones on the lawn, so a quick rake first saves a frustrating afternoon.
Weight and what the extra width buys
Those 27 pounds are the reason it suits a flat, open lawn better than a small, cluttered one. A wider swath only pays off if you have room to swing it, and a bigger machine with taller wheels needs open ground to work in.
On a property where the 14-inch reels leave you pushing back and forth, the extra four inches of cut and the ground clearance of the 10-inch wheels usually pay for the extra weight within a season.
5. LawnMaster MEB1114K Electric Corded Lawn Mower, 15-Inch 11AMP
LawnMaster MEB1114K Electric Corded Lawn Mower 15-Inch 11AMP
15 inch cutting width
3300 RPM motor
5 positions from 1.4 to 3 inch
7 gallon bag
Pros
- Starts instantly with no gas oil or charging
- 28 pounds is easy to steer around beds and fences
- Smooth five-position height adjustment
- Handles slightly long or damp grass
Cons
- Cord reach rules out larger yards
- Needs a slower pace in very thick or wet grass
- Less effective when pulled in reverse
A corded mower is a serious option at this price because there is no battery to buy, no runtime to plan around and no platform to lock into. The 3300 RPM motor is more than enough for a small lawn, and it never waits for a charge.
It is the smallest deck in the group that comes with a real grass catcher, at 15 inches, and the 7-gallon bag means fewer trips to the compost pile than a reel or a mulch-only setup. The 7.75-inch rear wheels roll easily and the folding handles make it store flat.
Height adjustment runs across six listed positions between 1.4 and 3 inches, which is a wider range than most machines at this level. Buyers note that it handles regular and slightly long grass without stalling, provided you keep a steady pace.
The 28-pound weight is the quiet advantage. It is one of the easier machines here to lift into a car or carry over a step, and there is no battery to remove first.
The cord is the whole decision
This is a mower for a lawn where an outlet is genuinely close. Cord reach rules out anything beyond a small or medium yard, and the extension cord you add has to be outdoor-rated and heavy gauge or the voltage drop will show up as a stalled blade.
For a quarter-acre with an outlet at the house wall, this is a sensible long-term purchase. For a half-acre, it is the wrong shape of tool and you should be looking at battery or gas instead.
Setup and ongoing ownership
There is nothing to assemble beyond the handle and nothing to maintain beyond a dry blade and a clean grass path under the deck. That simplicity is the reason this style of mower still makes sense at this budget.
The catch is physical rather than mechanical. Dragging a cord behind you means you cannot mow in a straight line without managing it, so budget a few minutes of cord handling per session on an open lawn.
6. LawnMaster 48V MAX 19-Inch Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower
LawnMaster 48V MAX 19-inch Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower, CLMF4819X
19 inch cutting width
3600 RPM brushless motor
Two 4.0Ah batteries,40 minutes
Pros
- Under 30 pounds
- easy to lift and maneuver
- Quiet with no gas oil or charging
- Handles tall and wet grass
Cons
- About 40 minutes of runtime
- One year battery warranty
- Batteries reported to degrade after about two years
This is the cordless mower for anyone who finds push mowers heavy. At 27 pounds it is the lightest battery machine in the roundup, and reviewers consistently single out how easy it is to lift and turn in a tight yard.
It ships with two 24V MAX 4.0Ah lithium-ion batteries and a dual charger, giving up to 40 minutes of runtime. The 3600 RPM brushless motor has no carbon brush to wear out, and six cutting positions span 1.4 to 3.4 inches.
Discharge is 2-in-1, side discharge or mulching, and the iPOWER system manages output automatically rather than running flat out. Owners report that it cuts tall and wet grass without bogging, which is not something every budget mower can claim.
Be clear about the compromises. There is no self-propelled drive, so the forward force is still yours on a slope. And the one year battery warranty is the shortest of any cordless pick in this roundup.
Who buys this instead of a gas mower
Buyers who want a 19-inch deck without a 50-pound-plus gas machine to wrestle with, and who mow a yard small enough that 40 minutes is enough. The light weight makes it the easiest cordless option to load into a car for a trip to a second property.
The battery longevity reports are the thing to think about before buying. Reviewers report degradation after roughly two years of use, and with a one year battery warranty the pack is the part most likely to need replacing first. Factor that into any long-term cost comparison with gas.
What the two batteries actually give you
Two packs in the box is unusual at this price, and it turns the runtime limit into a swap rather than a wait. Start on one pack, change at the halfway point, and the whole session runs through without a charge stop.
It also means you have a spare you can charge separately while the other drains, which is what makes a two-battery setup behave like a self-propelled machine’s uninterrupted run time.
7. PowerSmart EasyGlide 21-Inch 3-in-1 Push Gas Lawn Mower
PowerSmart EasyGlide 21-Inch 3-in-1 Push Gas Lawn Mower
21 inch steel deck
144cc 4-stroke OHV
6 height positions 1.5 to 3.9 inch
3-in-1 discharge
Pros
- 144cc 4-stroke engine has real torque in thick grass
- Clean even cut from the steel deck
- Single-lever height adjustment sets all four wheels
- Oil and funnel included in the box
- Quieter than the smaller engine mowers
Cons
- Rear rubber deflector held by molded tabs can detach
- Takes several pulls to restart when hot
- Small fuel tank needs refilling mid-job
This is the gas mower we would buy for a medium yard on this budget. A 144cc four-stroke overhead valve engine has meaningfully more torque than the small 125cc engines on the cheapest mowers, and that difference is what lets it handle grass that has grown for a week.
The 21-inch steel deck is also the right size. Wider decks cut more per pass but get hard to steer in a yard with trees, and 21 inches sits at the sweet spot for a quarter to half-acre property.
A single lever raises and lowers all four wheels across six positions from 1.5 to 3.9 inches, so you set the height once per session instead of crouching down at each corner. The 3-in-1 system handles mulching, bagging and side discharge from the same deck.
Owners like the assembly process too. Oil and a funnel are in the box, the auto choke means no priming routine, and the 10-inch rear wheels roll over roots and ruts without dragging the deck.
Running costs over the first few seasons
Fuel and oil are the ongoing cost, and over five years they add up against a battery mower with no consumables. For a half-acre of thick lawn, that gas engine is still cheaper to keep running than buying a second battery pack.
The small fuel tank is the practical side of that trade. On a long job you plan one refuel break, and a full tank is a five-minute stop rather than a trip home.
Small annoyances on a hot day
The fit-and-finish issues are honest but minor. The rear rubber deflector is held by molded tabs and can detach, and a hot engine may take more than one pull to restart. Plan a short rest before the second pass on a hot day.
Neither issue affects the cut itself, but both are the kind of detail that decides how the machine feels on the third weekend of the season rather than the first.
8. Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Greenworks 80V 21in Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
21 inch steel deck
Self-propelled to 1/2 acre
Brushless motor
LED headlight
4-year warranty
Pros
- Self-propelled drive removes most of the push effort
- Brushless motor gives strong torque and long life
- Durable 21 inch steel deck
- LED headlight allows early or late mowing
- Four year tool and battery warranty
Cons
- 75 pounds is heavy for a walk-behind
- One 4.0Ah pack still limits you to about half an acre
- Works only with 80V Greenworks packs
This is the mower that answers the half-acre question. It is self-propelled, so the rear wheels drive it forward and you only steer, which is where most of the difference in effort comes from on a lawn this size.
The 80V system covers up to half an acre per charge and the brushless motor delivers enough torque that owners report cutting thick and wet grass without bogging. The 21-inch deck is steel, not plastic, and that is the single biggest durability upgrade in the cordless category.
The variable speed control lets you slow down in tight turns and open up on straight runs. The LED headlight is more than a gimmick for anyone mowing at six in the morning on a short winter day, and reviewers praise how much quieter it is than gas.
The four-year tool and battery warranty is the longest in this roundup, and the 80V platform also covers blowers, trimmers and chainsaws if you want to share packs across the yard.
When the self-propelled drive earns its cost
It earns its cost on a lawn over a quarter acre, on any slope, and on heat when the alternative is leaning into a push mower for an hour. If your yard is small and flat, a lighter push model will serve you better and take up less storage.
Weight is the honest trade-off at 75 pounds. It is a big machine to lift into a vehicle, and it needs floor space in the garage. Buyers who can wheel it to the lawn rather than carry it rarely complain about it.
Battery platform and the all-in number
One 4.0Ah pack gets you about half an acre. If you want the flexibility to mow a full acre or to handle a second charge mid-afternoon, budget for a second 80V pack and check the all-in total before you commit.
Because the packs are brand-specific, think about this as a platform decision rather than a single purchase. If you already own another brand’s battery, it will not work here, and mixing brands is the most common regret buyers report in this category.
9. Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower
Greenworks 60V 21in Push Lawn Mower, 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger
21 inch steel deck
60V motor with 50 percent more torque
5.0Ah battery included
4-in-1 discharge
Pros
- Cuts thick tall and wet grass that gas mowers struggle with
- 5.0Ah battery and fast charger in the box
- IPX4 waterproof steel deck
- Handle folds for upright storage
Cons
- Turbo mode drains the battery about twice as fast
- Runtime varies with grass thickness and cutting pattern
- Not self-propelled
- so effort on slopes
This is the cordless mower for a yard that gets neglected between visits. The 60V motor produces 50 percent more torque than a 40V machine and spins the blade at 3,200 RPM, and reviewers are blunt about how much better that is in tall wet grass.
It ships with a 5.0Ah battery, a fast charger and a grass bag, so again there is nothing extra to buy before the first cut. The heavy-duty steel deck carries an IPX4 waterproof rating, which matters when you are catching clippings after rain.
The discharge is genuinely 4-in-1 here: mulch, bag, side discharge and a turbo leaf mode for autumn cleanup. The SmartCut dual blades are described as self-sharpening, and the oversized 10-inch rear wheels handle uneven ground better than smaller casters.
Owners also like that the handle folds for upright storage, so a small garage is workable. The LED headlights and a single-lever deck adjustment round out a feature list that is unusually full for the price.
Why the 60V pack matters
The jump from 40V to 60V is the difference between a mower that walks through a light lawn and one that handles a fortnight of growth. That is the single biggest technical jump in this roundup, and it shows up most in the reviews from owners with uneven mowing schedules.
Turbo mode drains the pack roughly twice as fast, so treat it as a task setting rather than a default. And because runtime varies with how you cut, plan the battery around a full charge on normal grass rather than the best case.
What you give up versus the self-propelled model
You give up the drive system. This is a push mower, so on a slope you supply the force, and that is precisely the situation where the 80V self-propelled earns its higher price. On flat ground the difference is small.
The fast charger is loud while it runs, which is worth knowing if you plan to charge in the house rather than the garage.
10. YARDMAX YG2860 22-Inch 201cc Select PACE Self-Propelled Gas Mower
YARDMAX 22 in. 201cc Select PACE 6 Speed CVT High Wheel FWD 3-in-1 Gas Walk Behind Self Propelled Lawn Mower, Black (YG2860)
22 inch deck
201cc engine
CVT 6-speed transmission
Front-wheel drive
2 year warranty
Pros
- CVT transmission matches the mower pace to your walking speed
- Spiked high-wheel tires give real traction
- Automatic choke starts simply with no priming
- Deck cleanout port clears clippings fast
Cons
- 84.9 pounds is the heaviest walk-behind here
- Gas engine needs fuel and oil upkeep
- 22 inch deck needs open space to maneuver
This is the biggest engine and the widest deck in the roundup, and it is built for the buyer with a large, hilly lawn. The 201cc four-stroke engine has the most displacement of anything here, which is exactly what you want when the ground rises or the grass is long.
The Select PACE CVT transmission is the feature that gets the most praise. Instead of fixed gears, a six-speed shift lever lets the drive pace match your walking pace continuously, so you are not fighting the machine on the flat and still have torque available on the slope.
The aggressive spiked rubber tires are the other part of the traction story, and they are worth a look if you have clay soil or a banked side yard. An automatic choke removes the usual priming and choking routine, so it starts on the first pull far more often.
A deck cleanout port on the underside lets you hose out caked grass without tipping the machine and getting oil near the engine. The single-lever height adjustment moves the whole deck in one motion.
Where the self-propulsion pays off
On anything above half an acre, or on a lawn with a real grade, this is the machine that will still feel manageable at the end of an hour. The drive takes the effort out of the push and the CVT keeps the pace matched to you rather than to the machine.
The spiked tires and front-wheel drive also mean it climbs better than the smaller gas mowers here, which is the most common reason owners upgrade from a push model.
The weight and width trade-off
At 84.9 pounds this is the heaviest walk-behind in the roundup, and lifting it into a vehicle takes two people. Plan to wheel it from the garage rather than carry it.
The 22-inch deck is also wide enough that turning between beds or around a tree needs a slower, wider arc. On an open lawn that is a time saving; on a heavily landscaped one it is a nuisance. Two year residential warranty coverage is solid for the category.
11. BILT HARD 20-Inch 144cc 4-Cycle OHV Gas Push Lawn Mower
BILT HARD Gas Lawn Mower 20 inch, 144cc 4-Cycle OHV Engine Lawnmower, 8 Adjustable Cutting Heights Push Mowers for Lawn, Yard and Garden
20 inch cutting deck
144cc OHV,5.8 ft-lb torque
8 height positions
Auto choke start
Pros
- 144cc engine has more torque than 125cc mowers
- Starts on the first pull with auto choke
- Eight-position height lever is easy even with arthritic hands
- Cuts wet and tall grass
Cons
- Height lever can slip out of position
- Vibration loosens handle knobs and carburetor bolts
- Small low-sitting grass bag needs frequent emptying
The BILT HARD is one of the lower-cost gas mowers here and it is not a toy. The 144cc four-stroke OHV engine produces 5.8 ft-lb of torque, which is enough to cut wet and tall grass, and the auto choke starts it on the first pull without priming.
Its best feature is the eight-position height lever, running from 0.7 to 3.2 inch and setting all four wheels at once. Owners with arthritis specifically call that out as easier to operate than the smaller levers on cheaper machines.
The 20-inch deck sits between the 18-inch and 21-inch machines, with 7-inch rear and 6-inch front double ball-bearing wheels. The foam-wrapped angled grip reduces vibration reaching your hands, which matters on a long session.
At 51 pounds it is heavier than the corded mower but a good deal lighter than the self-propelled gas machine. For a quarter to half-acre yard on flat ground, the value here is hard to argue with.
Where the value shows up
If your budget is the main constraint and your lawn is flat and mid-sized, this covers the job with more engine than the entry-level mowers and fewer features than the expensive ones. Gas means no charging and no platform decision.
It is also the one to consider if you plan to keep it for a long time and do your own basic maintenance. A standard air filter, spark plug and blade are all obtainable at ordinary hardware and mower retailers.
Durability complaints worth knowing
Engine vibration loosens handle knobs, the gas cap and carburetor bolts over time, so a quick check with a wrench once a season is worth doing. The height lever can also slip out of position mid-mow.
The rear grass bag is small and sits low, so expect more emptying stops than with the larger bags on the corded mowers. The side chute points straight out and will throw stones into your beds, and the manual contains translation errors, so follow the safety and oil-weight guidance carefully.
12. Worx WG745 40V 17-Inch 2-in-1 Cordless Lawn Mower
Worx Cordless Lawn Mower, 40V 17″ 2-in-1 Grass Mower for 1/4 Acre, WG745
17 inch cut-to-edge deck
Two 4.0Ah batteries,40V
1/4 acre per charge
IntelliCut speed sensing
Pros
- Two 4.0Ah batteries cover a quarter acre without a recharge
- IntelliCut adjusts cutting speed to grass conditions
- Slim deck gets close to fences and beds
- Handles collapse for compact storage
- Quiet with zero emissions and no maintenance
Cons
- Push rather than self-propelled
- so slopes take effort
- Nearly 40 pounds is heavy for a small cordless mower
The Worx WG745 solves the battery-in-the-box problem in the most useful way of any small cordless mower here. Two 4.0Ah packs in the box means you can swap at the halfway point and keep going, which removes the anxiety that comes with a single small battery.
The 17-inch cut-to-edge deck is narrower at the sides than a standard deck, so the blade runs closer to the wheel line. That is exactly what you want along fences and flower beds, where a wider machine leaves a strip you have to trim afterwards.
IntelliCut reads grass conditions and adjusts the cutting speed automatically, using more power when the grass is thicker and conserving it when it is not. Owners notice the effect most on patchy lawns where growth is uneven.
The brushless motor is rated for longer life and 40 percent more cutting power than a brushed equivalent, and the collapsible handles let the mower store upright or flat.
Best for small, landscaped yards
This is the mower for a quarter-acre or smaller yard with beds, fences and corners. The cut-to-edge deck removes the second trimming pass, and two batteries remove the mid-mow charge wait.
The 2-in-1 system mulches or rear bags, with a single-lever six-position height adjustment and an on-board charge indicator so you know where you stand before you start a pass.
The limits to plan around
There is no self-propelled drive, so on a slope you supply the effort. At nearly 40 pounds it is also heavier than the smaller cordless mowers, so lifting it into a car is a two-hand job.
Like the other cordless picks, the batteries are brand-specific. If you already own a different platform, these will not work for you, so check what you own before you commit.
How to Choose a Lawn Mower on a 500 Dollar Budget
At this price you are choosing between power types and matching a machine to your lawn, not buying cutting quality. Every mower here will cut grass properly; the differences that actually matter are deck width, runtime, weight and how much effort you want to put in.
Push or self-propelled comes down to lawn size and hills
A push mower means you provide all the forward force. Below a quarter acre on flat ground, that is fine and it is what keeps the machine light, cheap and easy to store. Past half an acre, or on any meaningful slope, a self-propelled model changes the whole experience.
Self-propelled mowers in this group are heavier, so buying one for a tiny flat lawn is money and effort wasted. The two gas self-propelled options and the Greenworks 80V are built for medium and large yards specifically.
Match deck width to the acreage you actually mow
Wider is not automatically better. A 22-inch deck covers ground quickly but is awkward between trees and hard to steer along a bed. A 14-inch reel is slow across a large lawn but precise everywhere else.
For a quarter acre and under, 14 to 17 inches is comfortable. For a quarter to half acre, 19 to 21 inches is the practical range. Above half an acre, go as wide as your yard allows, which is why the 22-inch YARDMAX exists.
Gas or battery at this price, and what a spare battery costs
The forum consensus is that a tight budget should go mostly into a good self-propelled gas mower unless your yard is under half an acre and kept short. That holds if you will mow thick grass, have hills, or want to avoid thinking about charge time at all.
Battery wins on running cost, noise and effort. Every cordless mower listed here ships with a battery and a charger in the box, which is the detail that changes the real purchase total more than any other single feature.
The hidden cost is the spare pack. If the mower covers a quarter acre and your lawn is larger, or you want the option to mow a second session without waiting, budget for one additional pack from the same platform. That is the number most listings hide, and it is the one to check before you buy.
What you give up at 500 dollars versus 900
At a higher price you get wider decks, larger batteries with longer runtime, brushless motors across the range, longer warranties and lighter materials. You also get better transmission control on self-propelled models, which is where the drivability difference is most visible.
At this budget you are more likely to find a plastic deck, a one year battery warranty and a machine where the battery or charger is sold separately. None of that is a dealbreaker, but it means you should match the machine to the lawn rather than expect it to cover more ground than the mower ahead of it.
Who should skip a reel or a heavy push mower
Anyone with a back, hip or knee problem, or anyone recovering from an injury, should treat effort as a hard requirement rather than a preference. A reel mower has no motor to help, and a 60-pound gas push mower is heavier than most people expect.
For those buyers the shortlist narrows quickly to the self-propelled models. The Greenworks 80V at 75 pounds is heavy but self-driven, and the corded LawnMaster at 28 pounds is light enough to move without strain as long as the yard is small enough for the cord.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best lawn mower under 500 dollars?
The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 reel mower is our overall pick for lawns under a quarter acre, the Greenworks 40V 25322 is the best all-round value for a battery buyer, and the Greenworks 80V MO80L416 is the choice for yards up to half an acre because it is self-propelled with a 21 inch steel deck.
Is gas or battery better for lawn mowing?
At this budget, gas wins if you have hills, thick grass or more than half an acre to cut, because the engine keeps working without a charge and handles long growth. Battery wins on running cost, noise and effort, and every cordless pick here includes its battery and charger except where the platform is shared.
Are battery-powered lawn mowers worth the money?
They are worth it for lawns under half an acre that are mowed regularly. You get no fuel or oil costs, no exhaust and a push-button start, and the batteries last long enough that most owners get several seasons before thinking about a spare pack.
Do lawn mowers come with batteries included?
It varies by listing, which is the number one thing to check before buying. The Greenworks 40V, Greenworks 60V, Greenworks 80V, LawnMaster 48V MAX and Worx WG745 all list a battery and charger in the box, and the reel and corded mowers need no battery at all.
What size lawn mower do I need for half an acre?
For half an acre, aim for a 19 to 22 inch deck and either self-propulsion or at least 40 minutes of runtime per charge. The Greenworks 80V MO80L416 and the YARDMAX YG2860 both cover that ground comfortably, one on battery and one on gas.
How much should a lawn mower cost?
A dependable walk-behind mower that will cut a typical suburban yard falls in this range, and no riding mower is available below it. Spending less tends to buy a plastic deck, a shorter warranty or a separate battery purchase, while spending more buys wider decks, longer runtime and better transmission control.
The Best Lawn Mower Under 500 Dollars for Your Yard
The best lawn mowers under 500 dollars are not one machine but a small set of right answers. Take the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 if your lawn is small and maintained weekly, the Greenworks 40V 25322 if you want cordless without any extra purchases, and the Greenworks 80V MO80L416 if you have up to half an acre and want the drive wheels doing the work.
Check two things before you order: whether the battery and charger are in the box, and whether you want to buy into a brand’s battery platform at all. Those two answers narrow twelve options down to two or three, and the rest is yard size. If you are still weighing it, our synthesizer roundup under 500 dollars follows the same research format if you want to see how we work through a category.