If you are looking for the best lawn mowers under $400, then you will have plenty of options. With a 400-dollar budget, you can get a top-quality lawn mower with a nice set of lawn mower features.
Most lawn mowers in this price range are self-propelled and they tend to have a more powerful motor, so you can get your yard work done faster. You can also get an entry-level electric lawn mower at this price point if you are interested in that option.
This review lists the best lawn mowers under $400, as well as some tips for you to choose the right one. Let’s get going!
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5 Best Lawn Mowers Under $400
1. Greenworks 40V 20-Inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower
This cordless lawn mower is an affordable electric choice from Greenworks lawn mowers that can handle small and medium-sized yards. Its 20-inch cutting deck allows you to lawn more efficiently by drastically cutting down the number of passes needed to cover much ground. An adjustable lever gives you the option of choosing from 5 different cutting heights for a smooth and clean cut.
Another notable feature is its two 40V rechargeable batteries. One fully charged 40V battery can give you a runtime of up to 70 minutes. This means you will have around 2 hours of mowing time with two fully charged batteries. That’s why we recommend it for users who have reasonably sized lawns to mow frequently. (This mower is also one of the best push mower models in the market)
This push lawn mower comes with 2 oversized 10-inch wheels for easy maneuverability. However, be advised that it is not a self propelled lawn mower. The operator will need to exert a considerable amount of energy to get it around the lawn. You should consider a self-propelled alternative (as we listed above!) if you need a mower on steep hills.
The added airbag at the rear helps you mulch your lawn by adding required nutrients while you mow or you can just use it to collect grass clippings. There is an airflow tab at the bag that helps inform the user of the status of the bag (whether it is full or not).
You can easily start the mower without any hassle of managing gas pull cords. The engine runs smoothly and leaves zero carbon footprints along the way.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Push mower |
| Power source | Battery-powered |
| Cutting width | 20’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1.125’’ to 3.375’’) |
| Weight | 42.5 lbs |
Pros:
- Large deck size for wider surface area mowing
- Powerful dual blade design for superior cutting efficiency
- Mulching and grass collecting capabilities
- Automatic battery power switch to increase runtime
- Adjustable single-lever height and control handle height
- Power 40V lithium-ion batteries
- Ergonomic design features for easy handling and maneuverability
Cons:
- Auto throttle is slow to respond
- Charger only charges one battery at a time
2. Ryobi RY40190-Y Electric Lawn mower – Top electric lawn mowers
This Ryobi RY40190-Y mower is a perfect example of how quickly battery-powered mowers are gaining ground on gasoline mowers. The advantage of being capable of providing robust cutting power and results that are more precise makes it a worthy contender.
Unlike gasoline models, this product doesn’t emit toxic fumes, which makes it a great choice for people looking for environmentally-friendly mowers. Better yet, the model comes equipped with a high-capacity battery that offers enough juice to manicure a medium-sized lawn. Looking at its performance, we can safely say that this affordable self-propelled mower will give most mid-sized gasoline rivals a run for their money.
Besides coming in a compatible design, this model is powered by a Li-ion battery that has a runtime of around 40 minutes on a full charge. The addition of a brushless motor ensures enhanced efficiency. Another main selling point is its active load sensing technology, which cranks up its cutting power and enables it to shave down tall grass and stubborn weeds.
The mower houses up to batteries. This is particularly handy for people with large lawns. What’s more, these batteries recharge faster, taking only 90 minutes to reach a full charge.
The Ryobi RY40190 is designed to mow medium-sized lawns (0.5-1 acre), preferably with fewer slopes. Pairing 20-inch cutting width with 7 adjustable cutting height positions from 1.5 to 3.75 inches, the machine clears tough grass and tall weeds in a heartbeat.
The height adjustment doesn’t require special tools. You can easily do it with a single-height lever conveniently positioned on the mower’s deck. When it comes to disposing of grass clippings, the mower comes with both mulching and bagging features that wrangle turf in an orderly manner. It also has a foldable handle, making it easy to store. This is helpful for people with limited space in their garage or shed.
Different from gas mowers, which involve pulling cords to start, the mower starts instantly with a press of a button. It is also extremely quiet, so you don’t need to worry about disturbing your neighbors.
Furthermore, it is self-propelled, so it requires minimal effort to move around. Another feature worth mentioning is the mulching ability, which allows for grinding down grass clippings and you can reuse them for gardening.
Weighing only 55 lbs (including the battery), the mower is pretty lightweight. This makes it easy on your knees and backs. As mentioned, the mower comes with a push-button start that takes out the hassle of traditional aggravations of priming the engine as well as yanking the cord ruthlessly.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Self-propelled mower |
| Power source | Battery-powered |
| Cutting width | 20’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1.5’’ to 3.75’’) |
| Weight | 55 lbs |
Pros:
- Environmentally-friendly
- Equipped with a 40V 5Ah battery with a runtime of up to 45 minutes
- Foldable space-saving design
- 20-inch cutting width
- Instant push-button start
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons:
- Some users mentioned that the batteries drained quicker than expected when engaging the self-propel feature
3. Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
If having the most beautiful lawn in your neighborhood is something that you strive for, we recommend getting this Snapper XD 82V MAX cordless electric 19’’ push lawn mower. This model offers unmatched performance when it comes to cut quality and maintaining turf health thanks to its unique features.
Snapper has been a well-known manufacturer of quality lawn equipement for more than half a century. They were the builder of the first self-propelled rotary lawn mower, and now create some of the best electric mowers. Therefore, we know they’re always leading the way in development.
This lawn mower comes with two batteries and a rapid charger, thus you can get your lawn mowed even when one battery runs dry. This self-propelled electric mower is perfect for someone with a ¼ acre residential lawn. In fact, it can run for 45 minutes before it needs a charge, so it can handle a small yard easily.
With a push of a button, you can turn on the mower and don’t need to struglle with your lawn mower to get the engine to start. Besides, it is also nearly silent to mow without disturbing anyone in your house anytime you want.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Push mower |
| Power source | Battery-powered |
| Cutting width | 19’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 35mm to 95mm) |
| Weight | 59.5 lbs |
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Sturdy due to its steel deck
- 2 batteries and rapid charger
Con:
- Heavy due to steel deck
- Occasionally battery lasts a little less than the listed 45 mins
4. Honda HRR216K9VKA 21-Inch 3-in-1 – Top Gas Lawn Mowers
Honda may not be a major player in the lawn mower industry, but they can make incredibly efficient machines. The HRR216K9VKA model is no exception and is an outstanding example of this efficiency and power.
The lawn mower comes with a GCV160 engine, also manufactured by Honda. Anyone who knows about mowers (or landscaping machines in general) will tell you of the GCV160’s legendary reliability. While it may not be the most robust engine around, its reliability and longevity make it perfect for any mower. Besides, its auto choke capabilities mean that you don’t need to worry about choking or priming before mowing.
The mower comes with dual micro blades, which can cut grass into fine clippings. Finer clippings take longer to fill a bag and also make it much easier to empty the bag. Smaller clippings also decompose faster, making them perfect for mulching. Its 21-inch deck lets you finish mowing your lawn in the minimum number of passes.
You can choose between mulching, bagging, or discharge by simply turning a knob. You don’t need any tools, attachments, or even elbow grease. Its cutting deck can be adjusted to 6 different positions, allowing you to cut to the exact height you may need.
The HRR216K9VKA has a simple and variable self-propulsion system. All you need to do is turn a knob, and the mower will adapt to the speed you set it to.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Self-propelled mower |
| Power source | Gas-powered |
| Cutting width | 21’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1-⅛’’ to 4’’) |
| Weight | 84 lbs |
Pros:
- Powerful and reliable engine
- 21-inch cutting deck
- Flexible dual micro blades
- 6 different positions
- Potent rear-wheel drive
Cons:
- Quite noisy
- Occasional rough starting, despite auto-choke
- No deck-wash port
5. Toro 22-Inch Recycler Personal Pace
If you’re looking for a robust lawn mower that comes at a great price, Toro Recycler Personal Pace is an exceptional pick. It is certainly one of the best self-propelled lawn mowers under $400. Coming in a simplistic design yet offering beastly power, the model has gained exponential popularity in the fast few years.
In addition, its unique foldable design allows you to store it in an upright position. According to the brand, this unique design helps save storage space up to 70% when compared to traditional models.
Despite its massive size, the mower is powered by a 163cc Briggs & Stratton engine that can produce enough torque for a smooth operation. It also boasts of a smart Personal Pace control system, which adjusts the mower’s speeds automatically to match your walking speed.
Another outstanding feature is its washout port, which lets users connect a garden hose to the mower that sprays the mowing dome underside, making cleanups much easier. Furthermore, both the front and rear wheels feature helpful aggressive threats and independently spin to give you the best traction when mowing uneven surfaces.
Despite its simple design, the Toro Recycler Personal Pace offers great cutting width. Coming with a 22-inch deck coupled with the self-propelled design, it saves a substantial amount of effort and time when maintaining large yards. Plus, it offers adjustable cutting height ranging from 1 to 4 inches for you to cut grass to your preferred height.
Its SmartStow system allows for a simple folding process. This enables you to either wheel it around or set it upright. Besides making storage simple, this design makes cleaning the mowing deck underside and inspecting the blade easier. Also, this mower comes with a quick-change lever, allowing you to choose to use the mulching or bagging option.
Last but not least, the brand offers 2-year full coverage warranty and 3-year guaranteed-to-start. If anything goes wrong, under normal use and maintenance, Toro will fix it free!
Specifications:
| Mower type | Self-propelled mower |
| Power source | Gas-powered |
| Cutting width | 22’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1’’ to 4’’) |
| Weight | 80 lbs |
Pros:
- The SmartStow technology reduces storage footprint by up to 70%
- 22-inch cutting deck
- Adjustable cutting height
Cons:
- Weak front-wheel drive
- Tends to stall when mowing uphill
- The handle is not adjustable
6. Toro Recycler 20339 22-Inch Walk-behind Gas mower
If you’re looking for a robust lawn mower with self-propelled function that comes at a great price, Toro Recycler 20339 is an exceptional pick. It is certainly one of the best self-propelled lawn mowers under $400. Coming in a simplistic design yet offering beastly power, the model has gained exponential popularity in the fast few years.
In addition, its unique foldable design allows you to store it in an upright position. According to the brand, this unique design helps save storage space up to 70% when compared to traditional models.
Despite its massive size, the mower is powered by a 190cc Briggs & Stratton engine that can produce enough torque for a smooth operation. It also boasts of a smart Personal Pace control system, which adjusts the mower’s speeds automatically to match your walking speed.
Another outstanding feature is its washout port, which lets users connect a garden hose to the mower that sprays the mowing dome underside, making cleanups much easier. Furthermore, both the front and rear wheels feature helpful aggressive threats and independently spin to give you the best traction when mowing uneven surfaces.
Despite its simple design, the Toro Recycler 20339 offers great cutting width. Coming with a 22-inch deck coupled with the self-propelled design, it saves a substantial amount of effort and time when maintaining large yards. Plus, it offers adjustable cutting height ranging from 1 to 4 inches for you to cut grass to your preferred height.
Last but not least, its SmartStow system allows for a simple folding process. This enables you to either wheel it around or set it upright. Besides making storage simple, this design makes cleaning the mowing deck underside and inspecting the blade easier. Also, this mower comes with a quick-change lever, allowing you to choose to use the mulching or bagging option.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Self-propelled mower |
| Power source | Gas-powered |
| Cutting width | 22’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1’’ to 4’’) |
| Weight | 78 lbs |
Pros:
- The SmartStow technology reduces storage footprint by up to 70%
- 22-inch cutting deck
- 11’’ rear wheels ensure a smooth operation on uneven terrains
- Adjustable cutting height
- Variable speed transmission with speeds of up to 4 mph
Cons:
- Weak front-wheel drive
- Tends to stall when mowing uphill
- The handle is not adjustable
7. Cub Cadet SC300E Self-propelled Lawn Mower
If having the most beautiful lawn in your neighborhood is something that you strive for, we recommend getting this Cub Cadet SC300E lawn mower – one of the great gas lawn mowers. This model offers unmatched performance when it comes to cut quality and maintaining turf health thanks to its unique features.
We love the versatile design that enables it to reach tight corners, edges, and other places that you may not have been able to reach easily before. This makes it an excellent choice for yards with unusual design as well as many obstacles that an average mower may have a hard time negotiating.
Coming with a robust and responsive 159cc Cub Cadet Performance Tuned Engine, the mower can easily deal with tall grass and thick weeds. Another great feature that comes with the SC300E is the rechargeable battery starter. Unlike most gas-powered mowers, which involve yanking the power cord, this handy feature lets you start the mower with the simple push of a button.
This self-propelled mower features a 21-inch cutting system that manicures a lawn to perfection. It also comes with adjustable wheels that provide you with up to 6 height positions. In addition, the SC300E has an adjustable cutting of 1.25 to 3.75 inches, which gives you excellent control over how high you want to cut your grass.
The mower is equipped with modest 11’’-diameter wheels and smaller 8’’ front wheels. The versatile design makes it simple to transverse diverse terrains. Thanks to its rear-wheel drive and extreme mobility, the mower performs exceptionally well, enabling you to maneuver around obstacles with ease.
Weighing at about 90 lbs, it is a bit on the heavy side. Nevertheless, by coming with a high power engine and compact design, it seems lighter while in operation.
Specifications:
| Mower type | Self-propelled mower |
| Power source | Gas-powered |
| Cutting width | 21’’ |
| Adjustable cutting height | Yes (from 1.25’’ to 3.75’’) |
| Weight | 90 lbs |
Pros:
- Easy to maneuver
- Powerful and responsive engine
- Simple push of a button to start
- 21’’ cutting width
- 3-in-1 bag, mulch, side discharge
Con:
- The height adjustment is made using different levers for both front and rear wheels
How to choose the best lawn mower under $400
Four hundred dollars is not a small amount, and you will have a lot of options with this budget. However, the best lawn mowers are the ones that have excellent features designed to make your mowing experience easier. So, as you will spend a good amount, you need to understand how to choose the best one for you.
Budget
Even though we are dealing with lawn mowers for under $400, you should know that the lower the price, the lower the quality of the product.
There are products that are even under $100, but they might not be able to offer the same performance as those within the range of $200 and $400. So, focus on your budget as it can affect the quality of products that you buy.
See more:
Height adjustment
Grasses that are too tall accumulate dirt and prevent water penetration. In the end, short grasses can be prone to drought.
Therefore, when choosing a lawn mower, you should look out for those that have height adjustment settings. It is recommended to keep the cutting height from 2 inches to 3.75 inches for the best result. The height adjustment is often observed as a lever designed on the machine and it ensures flexibility in mowing operations.
Cutting width
This deals with the deck size of the lawn mower. Typically, the wider the cutting width, the fewer the number of passes needed to complete mowing.
Furthermore, the speed at which operators move also impacts the efficiency of the mowing operation. The type of lawn mowers also impacts the size of the cutting width. For instance, the cutting width of electric-powered mowers is often smaller compared to that of gas-powered mowers, thus requiring more time to get the job done.
If you own a considerably large lawn, you should consider a mower with a wide cutting width.
Durability
The period in which lawn mowers can last when used over time depends on the type of materials used for its design along with the level of care it receives.
Some models are designed with metallic and plastic materials while others could have either of the materials used for their design. It is certain that metallic products last longer than plastic materials. Nevertheless, with apt care, they can last longer. If you’d like to enjoy any product, give it the proper care and it will last several years.
Warranty
This can be associated with the life expectancy of a certain product and it can be also associated with the quality of the product.
Lawn mowers should have an average warranty of 1-3 years and you should avoid those with no warranty. Such mowers are not very credible. But the warranty associated with a product is not enough criteria to consider a mower of the best quality, just ensure that it has features that are outstanding.
Final thoughts
There are a lot of lawn mowers that go for prices under $400 that will meet your mowing needs at all times. With any of the above mowers reviewed, you can be assured of the best result when you use them.
Leave a comment or contact us if you have any concerns about topic: Best lawn mower under $400. And as usual, happy gardening!