If you’re prone to “paralysis by analysis” when it comes to making significant purchases, buying a lawn mower these days is probably a lot harder than it used to be. There are just so many choices. You could opt for a cylinder blade or a rotary blade. You can go gas or electric. Corded or cordless. Electric start up or manual. See what I mean? One common decision that people struggle to make is whether they should opt for a push mower vs self propelled. If that’s you, you should find this article helpful, as we’re going to compare the two and look at the use cases that each one is best suited to.
Generally speaking, push mowers are more suited to smaller, flatter lawns, whereas self propelled mowers really come into their own in medium to large-sized lots, as well as on sloped or hilly terrain.
A Bit of Background on Both Push and Self Propelled Mowers
Before we get into comparing the push mower vs self-propelled, I think it’s important that we clarify exactly what is considered a “push mower” and what is considered a “self-propelled mower”. There are several variations of each, and I want you to be aware of that before we go any further.
Push Mower
Push mowers are essentially any mower that you walk behind and push, hence the name. Now I think a lot of folks associate the term “push mower” with the old-fashioned reel mower, but there are other types of mower that fall into this category too.
I’d consider all of the following to be push mowers.
- Manual Reel Push Mowers – These are the mowers you see in the old films. There’s no motor or engine, just a cylinder where the blades are located that rotates horizontally as you push the mower. They’re very simple in design and often the cheapest type of push mower.
- Electric Push Mowers – These are considered the “next level up” in terms of push mowers. They’re still lightweight, and are available in both corded (powered by the mains) and cordless (use a battery) versions. They use a rotary cutting blade instead of a cylinder blade.
- Gas Push Mowers – The most powerful of the 3, gas push mowers are typically heavier to push and more expensive too. But they offer the most power and are likely the best option if you need to cut longer, thicker grass on a regular basis.
The obvious difference between these 3 variations of the push mower I mentioned above is the power source. The type that would be best suited to your needs will depend on the type and size of lawn that you have.
I wrote a couple of posts that you may find interesting if you’ve still not decided on which power source to opt for, which I’ll link to below:
Self Propelled Mower
A self-propelled mower, as the name suggested, does not require you to push it (although you still can if you want to). Instead, they have a transmission that turns the wheels for you and drives the lawn mower forward. All you have to do is steer it.
Just like with push mowers, there are a couple of different variations of self-propelled mower:
- Front-Wheel Drive – On this type of self-propelled mower, it’s the front wheels that are driven. These tend to be the cheapest type as the mechanics of the self-propel system are much simpler. They’re best suited to flatter yards.
- Rear–Wheel Drive – The premise here is exactly the same, but instead of the front wheels being powered, it’s the rear wheels that turn. The design to make this possible is more complicated from a technical standpoint, so they do tend to cost a bit more, but they do take more of the mower’s weight and are a real help on yards with a gradient. Honestly, if you have hills to mow, one of these will add years to your life!
Push Mower vs Self Propelled: How Do They Compare?
Now that you’re aware of the different variations of mower that fall into each category, let’s take this push mower vs self-propelled comparison to the next level by looking at the main benefits of each one.
Pros of Push Mowers
- Lighter than self-propel mowers. The extra hardware needed to equip a mower with self-propel adds quite a significant amount of weight. Push mowers in comparison are generally quite a lot lighter (definitely so in the case of reel mowers).
- Can be very affordable. Obviously, I’m speaking in general terms here. I’m sure you can find a few models of push mower that are pricier than some self propelled mowers, but generally speaking, push mowers are a lot cheaper. Certainly in the case of reel mowers and corded electric. And there are some very affordable gas push mowers too.
- Less that can go wrong. The self-propel system is just one more thing that can go wrong over the life of the mower. Push mowers are simpler in design (very simple in the case of reel mowers), so there’s less risk of costly repairs.
- Lower fuel costs. If you look at how much it costs to run a push mower vs self propelled mower in terms of fuel, the push mower will almost always be cheaper. Self-propelled mowers are heavier, putting greater strain on the engine, and the self-propel system itself consumes extra energy too. Push mowers on the other hand can be free (reel mowers) to run or very cheap (corded electric mowers). Even in the case of battery or gas push mowers, they’ll usually work out being cheaper to run.
Pros of Self Propelled Mowers
- Easier on your body. Bearing the full weight of a mower, and pushing it up and down your lawn can be tiring and put a lot of pressure on your body. A self propelled mower relieves your body of that pressure by taking care of that weight for you. It’s only when turning that you will feel the weight, but the rest of the time it’s much easier going.
- Slopes and hills are child’s play. Try going up and down slopes or hills with a heavy gas push mower in the summer heat. It’s brutal! That same scenario with a self-propelled mower is completely different. No sweating, gasping for air as you struggle to go uphill or aches and pains afterward. The mower puts in the hard yards and makes challenging conditions much easier to manage.
- It’s faster to mow larger areas. The problem with a push mower if you have a larger area of grass to cut is that it can take forever. Even more so if it’s a manual push mower. A self-propelled mower in this situation speeds things up considerably. I’d go as far as to say that you can nearly get a large yard mowed in half the time. This is definitely appealing if you don’t particularly enjoy mowing your lawn.
I put together a more detailed post specifically about the good and bad things relating to self-propel mowers if you want to do some more reading, which I’ll link to below.
Factors that Will Influence Your Decision
Now you’re aware of the different types of push and self-propelled mowers, as well as the respective strengths of each one, let’s explore some of the main factors that could affect your decision.
These are all things I thought about the last time I bought a new mower, and I’d encourage you to think through too.
The Size of Your Yard
Lawns vary tremendously in size. You could have a postage stamp lawn or the grounds of a stately home to maintain – or anything in between.
And lawn size has a very big impact on the characteristics you should look for in your ideal mower. But let’s brings the focus back to the push mower vs self propelled debate.
If you have a very small lawn, a self-propelled mower is going to be overkill 99 times out of 100. Small lawns can be maintained perfectly well with a push mower. It just doesn’t make sense to spend the big bucks on a lawn that can be cut in 10 or 20 minutes flat.
For anything that takes longer than that, a self-propelled mower is something you could consider if budget is not a problem. I mentioned it before, but using a self-propelled mower on a large lawn can cut your mowing time right down. You’ll be done quicker, and less tired too.
The Type of Terrain (Hills or Flat)
If you’ve ever hiked, you know that walking on completely flat terrain is nowhere near as challenging or tiring as walking on hilly or mountainous terrain.
Now imagine that, but with a lawn mower in front of you. If you’ve got slopes, hills or any sort of upward gradient that you’re going to have to push your lawn mower up, being able to rely on a self-propel system is a lifesaver. It just makes the task at hand so much easier.
Otherwise, push mowers work just fine on flatter lawns. To be honest, if it’s just a small lawn, even if you have slopes, an electric push mower will still be ok, since the light weight of these mowers will offset the lack of a self-propel system.
Just remember, if you do get a self-propelled mower with the idea of it helping you out on slopes, go for a model with rear-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive will struggle to pull the weight of the mower up the hill, whereas rear-wheel transmission drives from the back wheels.
Your Fitness
Now I know a lot of us don’t like to be honest with ourselves when it comes to fitness, but it really pays to be when making this decision, believe me. You don’t want to find out you’re not as fit as you thought you were when you’re out mowing, gasping for air because the mower you bought is far too heavy.
If you want a gas mower, but you don’t think you’re strong enough to push it without being in discomfort, go for a self-propelled mower. The thing I like about rear-wheel self-propelled models is that they make turning at the end of each pass a breeze too. You just lift the front end of the mower up slightly, and then use the self-propel to pivot. It’s super easy.
However, if you feel physically strong and are confident you can handle the weight of your mower with ease, you should be fine with a push mower. Just check the weight of the mower before you buy to make sure that you believe it’s manageable.
Your Budget
Are you looking to make your money go as far as possible or is money no object? A push mower is by far the more economical choice. You can get a manual reel push mower for as little as 60 bucks. Corded electric mowers can be had for just over 100 bucks too. So if price is the number one factor for you, then go with a push mower.
But if you’re fortunate to be in the position whereby you’re not restricted to a certain budget and just want to find the best mower for your particular needs, you could opt for either. Self-propelled mowers are generally a lot more expensive, given that it’s essentially an add-on feature.
My Recommendations for When to Use a Push Mower vs Self Propelled
I’m going to finish off this piece by outlining the type of mower I’d personally opt for in a variety of different situations. Now you by no means have to take my word as gospel. These are just observations that I’ve made over the years and through personal experience.
| Small, Flat Lawn (Standard City Lot) | Push Mower (Reel or Corded Electric) |
| Small, Uneven Lawn | Push Mower (Corded Electric) |
| Small Lawn with Steep Slopes | Push Mower (Corded or Cordless Electric) |
| Medium, Flat Lawn | Push Mower (Gas or Cordless Electric) or Self Propelled (Front-Wheel Drive) |
| Medium, Uneven Lawn | Push Mower (Gas or Cordless Electric) or Self Propelled (Front-Wheel Drive) |
| Medium Lawn with Steep Slopes | Self Propelled Mower (Rear-Wheel Drive) |
| Large, Flat Lawn | Self Propelled Mower (Front or Rear-Wheel Drive) |
| Large, Uneven Lawn | Self Propelled Mower (Front or Rear-Wheel Drive) |
| Large Lawn with Steep Slopes | Self Propelled Mower (Rear-Wheel Drive) |
Good luck! I hope my insights help you to make a more informed decision and choose a mower that makes your mowing experience enjoyable as opposed to unbearable.
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