Overall Winner
Greenworks 25022
Best Cordless Under 300
Greenworks 25322
Best Gas Under 300
Craftsman M105
If you’ve got a lawn to take care of, like it or not, mowing is something you’re going to have to do. That’s just how it is. However, that doesn’t mean it has to cost you the earth. There are lots of really good quality lawn mowers available these days for significantly cheaper than it would cost you to hire a lawn care service for the summer and in this article, we're going to profile 6 of the best lawn mowers under $300.
If your budget doesn't quite stretch to $300, you might want to check out the following article:
And if you've got a bit more cash to spend and want to see what the extra money will buy, check out this article:
The 6 Best Lawn Mowers Under $300 (Our Picks)
1. Greenworks 25022 Corded Electric Mower
(Best Lawn Mower Under $300)
Starting with the crème de la crème, we have the Greenworks 25022, which has a proven track record, is packed full of user-friendly features, and is available for an extremely fair price given what you get. It's a corded electric model, so is best for smaller yards, but with an extra extension cable could cope with medium size lawns too. Probably the most striking feature when you first look at this mower is the fact that it has a tough, steel deck. And trust me when I say that this is not at all common for either corded electric mowers or a mower at this price-point. But Greenworks definitely meant business when putting this model together, and this should ensure it lasts you a good few seasons.
The fact that it’s a “3-in1” model, meaning it offers you the option to mulch, bag or side discharge your clippings, is something that’s nice to have too. It’s not the most powerful mower ever built, so if you’re used to the mulching ability of say a gas mower, you might be left a little disappointed. But it does do an adequate job. And it’s easy to move between these three options – there’s no faffing about! The same can be said about the blade height – it’s a snap to move it between the 7 different available settings.Key Specifications:
Type: Corded Electric
Weight: 56 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
There’s a reason why this mower is considered the best lawn mower under $300; it’s the all-round package. Good quality to price ratio, nice set of features, good design (Greenworks rarely let you down in this sense) and on top of all of that it does what it's supposed to. The perfect low-cost solution to small and medium-size lawn maintenance!
2. Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
(Best Cordless Mower Under $300)
Electric cables are something you can learn to live with, but they always remain an inconvenience. In the past, you would have had to either go gas or stick with the cable, but now you have another option, and the Greenworks 16-inch 40V cordless model is a prime example of that. It offers the same great level of design as the 25022 model, but without the restrictiveness of an electric cable. So you get the freedom to mow wherever you want, without having to worry about tripping over that damn cord.
As well as the freedom, this mower has some pretty nifty features. The single lever for height adjustment saves you time and hassle, the quiet purring sound it makes when it’s in action is a godsend (for both you and your neighbors!), and it's solidly built. The first time you lay your hands on it, you'll instantly recognize its quality. Additionally, another cool feature is the fact that the battery pack can be used with other Greenworks power tools, so if you own any, you may already have a spare!Key Specifications:
Type: Cordless Electric
Weight: 37.5 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
This is at the higher end of the $300 budget we’re sticking to in this article, so getting rid of the electric cable does come at a price and only you know whether it’s worth it. If you only have a small lawn to take care of and are barely outside for 15 minutes, it’s probably better to just stick with the corded model above. Otherwise, this is a solid option for anything up to medium size lawns and does a good job on most grass types.
3. Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch Lawn Mower
(Best Gas Lawn Mower Under $300)
If you're looking for a mower with a bit more power, then you'll likely need to get a gas-powered model. Maybe you've got a thicker variety of grass or you're often away for work and the grass gets quite long in between cuts. Whatever the reason, the Craftsman M105 is without doubt one of the best gas lawn mowers you can buy for under 300 dollars. It’s a fairly barebones model, but it does all the basics well and that’s what counts.
If you’re a DIY novice, don’t fear. It goes together nice and easy, and should only take you a few minutes at most. The other thing that people worry about with gas mowers is starting them, but the Craftsman M105 ticks that box too. Once you’ve added the oil that comes with it, it fires up no problem. And then there’s the cut. It eases through pretty much anything it's likely to come across in a small or medium-size yard, and you can either bag, mulch or side discharge your clippings. Oh, and if you are a bit erratic with your mowing schedule, there's a dual lever mechanism that allows you to quickly move between the six different cutting heights.Key Specifications:
Type: Gas
Weight: 72 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a solid entry-level gas mower that gets the job done with the minimum of fuss, then this is just the ticket. Just remember that there's more maintenance involved compared to electric alternatives. Its 21-inch cutting deck means it's big enough to cope with anything up to a medium-size yard, but not too big that it takes tons of space to store.
4. Yard Machines 140cc 21-Inch Push Mower
(Best Push Mower Under $300)
This gas mower doesn’t pretend to be anything that it’s not. It’s basic – there’s no self-propel feature, nor does it come with a grass box – but it well and truly delivers. It just works. There are two things that stand out when looking at the Yard Machines 140cc push mower. Firstly, the OHV engine is a beauty, and as reliable as they come. It powers this mower right through tougher challenges, such as longer or thicker grass, and doesn’t blink. Secondly, even though it’s fairly lightweight, it feels nice and sturdy, which is always reassuring when buying a new mower.
The wheels at the rear of this mower are bigger than on other models, and this makes turning extremely easy. That’s probably music to your ears if your yard is full of little bends and turns to navigate. It’s also known to be a reliable starter, and you shouldn’t need to pull more than twice to get it going. So no need to worry about putting your shoulder out just to keep your lawn nice and tidy.Key Specifications:
Type: Gas
Weight: 62 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
This push mower is the perfect buy for any homeowners wanting a no-nonsense mower that handles small to mid-size lawns with ease, and doesn’t mind the little bit of extra maintenance that a gas mower demands. It’d also be the perfect accompaniment to anyone that uses a ride-on mower, and is looking for an affordable push mower to handle the areas that the ride-on can’t get to.
5. Craftsman M215 159cc Self Propelled Lawn Mower
(Best Self Propelled Mower Under $300)
This is similar to the Craftsman M105 but has some added features. If you want a gas mower and mobility is a key consideration for you, then the Craftsman M215 should probably be a contender. It comes complete with self-propel, so instead of having to push the whole weight of the mower (and at 83 lbs, it’s not exactly light as a feather), you just have to walk behind it and guide it. The other thing worth mentioning about its self-propel feature is that it's front-wheel drive, which means that if you have to lift the front of the mower up for any reason, maybe to avoid cutting a certain area, then you’ll have to bear the weight of the mower in those scenarios.
The Craftsman M215 also comes equipped with large rear wheels, which makes turning and navigating any obstacles in your yard a whole lot easier. Besides the mobility aspect of this mower, it also comes with a whole host of other nice features, including a powerful 159cc OHV engine (OHV engines on the whole are pretty reliable), dual-lever height adjustment (makes your life easier), and three different cutting options (bag, mulch or discharge).Key Specifications:
Type: Gas
Weight: 83 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
The more features you add to a mower, generally the more expensive it will get. But you can still find good self-propelled options under $300, and this one is the best in our opinion. It’s maybe overkill for a small yard, unless you have thick grass and don’t want to have to push. A good option if you’re in need of a new mower to take care of a medium size lawn.
6. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Push Reel Mower
A bit of a wild card that comes in well under budget and won't be well suited to everyone's needs, but it truly is one of the best-rated lawn mowers available for under 300 dollars, and that's why it has to feature on this list. It’s extremely simple to operate, is mega light, so you won’t be battling it the whole way round your lawn, and it has a cylinder cutting mechanism made up of 4 alloy steel blades that’s actually better for the health of your grass (as opposed to a rotary blade).
Obviously this is quite a small lawn mower – it only has a 14-inch cutting width – and might not be the best option for any lawns that are not considered "small." But its size does offer a number of advantages including an extremely small storage footprint, and the ability to weave in and out of tight areas around your lawn.Key Specifications:
Type: Manual
Weight: 20 lbs
Pros
Cons
Conclusion:
Whether this lawn mower is suitable will largely be decided by the answer to the following question. How big is your lawn? If it’s any bigger than “small” you’ll probably save yourself a lot of time and effort by buying a bigger mower. But if simple, cheap and small is what you’re after, then this mower is just the ticket!
Buying Guide
If you're in the process of replacing your current lawn mower, you probably already have some idea of what you're looking for and which options are best suited to your yard. But if you're a first-time buyer, it can be difficult to know which way to turn, with so many different styles and brand of lawn mower available. We all dread walking into a store clueless and coming out with a product that is well over budget and overkill for your requirements. This section will hopefully prevent that from happening and help you stick to your 300 dollar budget.
How to Stick to Your Budget and Spend $300 or Less
There are a few simple, but very easy to overlook rules when buying a lawn mower that can help to keep the cost under control.
- Which Features Do You NEED – The idea here is pretty simple to understand. Generally speaking, the more features that a lawn mower has, the more it is likely to cost. For that reason, it's important to have a think about what you actually really need. E.g. Self-propel mowers typically cost more. But do you really need a self-propel system? If you've only got a small lawn or are fairly physically strong, there's a good chance that you can cope without it and save yourself some money.
- Manual + Corded Electric are Cheapest Options – There may be one or two exceptions, but typically both manual mowers and corded electric models will be cheaper than gas mowers and battery-powered mowers. So by sticking to a manual push mower or a corded electric model, you can probably save yourself some money and ensure that your purchase comes in under the $300 mark.
- How Big is Your Lawn? – Another way that people often go over their budget is by buying a mower that is too big for the size of lawn they have. If you've got a postage stamp lawn, there's little point in buying a gas-powered mower, even one with a narrow cutting deck. In general, manual push mowers will be the cheapest option for small lawns, followed by corded electric. Obviously, if your lawn is bigger, then gas and cordless mowers become a suitable option. The key here is avoiding getting something that would be considered "overkill" for the area of grass you're going to cut.
Things to Be Wary of When Shopping for a Budget Mower
When you’ve got a certain dollar amount in mind, it can be easy to get caught up thinking only about the money and not about the mower. Here are a few things to be wary of.
- Low Prices on Unreputable Websites – If something is too good to be true, it usually is. That never rings truer than when you're shopping online. So if you see a mower that is priced at $xxx everywhere else, but is less than half the price on a website you’ve never heard of, tread very carefully. In fact, just move on. It’s almost certainly a scam.
- Don’t Compromise on Quality – One way to spend less is to buy a low-quality product. But we definitely wouldn't advise that. When you buy poor quality, you normally end up buying twice. Unless you're a real gardening aficionado (hey, we do exist!), a new lawn mower isn't a toy you're going to show off to your mates each time you change it. So just get one that lasts!
- 2nd Hand is an Option (+ a Minefield) - Another way you can save yourself some $$$ when getting a “new” lawn mower is to buy one second hand. While undoubtedly you’ll find lower prices, unless you really know what you’re looking for, you could be buying some expensive scrap. And if you do get lumbered with a mower that doesn’t work, “it was fine when you took it” is a phrase that you’ll hear all too often from unscrupulous sellers.
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