For any homeowner with a yard in front or behind their house, a clean yard with trimmed grass is a matter of pride. What delivers that pride is not just the trimmed grass, but the lawn mower itself. The typical American family boasts themselves with a really good lawn mower.
So the better lawn mower they have the more pride they show.
But the question is which lawn mower should an average family go for? Which lawn mower will deliver the most pride? Push lawn mower or self-propelled lawn mower?
Well, if you are looking to buy a lawn mower, we can help. We will answer all your questions regarding deciding which one to buy. The push vs. self-propelled lawn mower debate will be answered here.
Just keep reading.
Push Lawn Mowers
Push lawn mowers are more affordable when compared to self-propelled lawn mowers. The walk-behind lawn mower with all wheel drive offers better traction. On slopes and on little bumps they work great, but you will have to push them.
Rear wheel drive gives more control on slopes and front wheel drive works better on flat land.
The thing with push lawn mowers is that they don’t need no charge, no battery, no overheating, no fume, no fuss. They can work all day as long as you are able to push. They prove to be better exercise machines for most.
But that does not mean you have to mow the lawn every day.
Let’s take a look at the equipment you use, for instance. The equipment of a lawn mower could make this task very easy.
A push lawn mower has 2 versions.
The one that is very common is the simple mechanical one. The one that has a blade-wheel in front of it and it spins as you walk. The blade wheel spinning speed and power relies on your pushing power.
The second one has a motorized blade attached to it. The blade spins on its own after you start the engine. The blade keeps spinning and cuts grass as it touches. All you have to do is push the lawn mower and direct it to the grass.
This is where many people think about choosing a self-propelled lawn mower.
Let’s look at some of the pros and cons of a push lawn mower.
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use.
- No fumes released, no waste.
- No charge or battery required.
- Motorized version may require fuel, but not as much as a self-propelled one.
- Very low maintenance.
- Very affordable.
Cons:
- No bagging system for grass clippings.
- No mulching facility.
- Requires physical force.
- Hard to push on wet grass.
Self-Propelled Lawn mowers
Self-propelled lawn mowers have their own power source. They work their blade and they move on their own. All you have to do is walk behind them and give them directions.
Self-propelled lawn mowers are of two types based on their power source.
The first one is gas powered self-propelled lawn mowers. Gas powered ones are not as expensive as the electric ones. See this PowerSmart Lawn Mower 21-inch 170CC to get an idea.
Gas powered self-propelled lawn mowers have one problem: they make a lot of noise. There is no way to reduce the noise on gas powered ones. Also the fume is another big problem. The exhaust from these gas powered engines can be toxic and not environment friendly.
They don’t even offer much benefit compared to electric ones. Also, they have a huge annual fuel cost.
The second type of self-propelled lawn mower is the electric ones. Electric lawn mowers use either direct electricity source or battery power source.
Direct power source electric lawn mowers are corded, obviously. This has one problem that is they have a limited range. The cord kind of restricts free movement.
The Cordless ones or the battery powered ones have that freedom of movement. They have no limited range. They offer all the benefits of a modern self-propelled lawn mower and the best part about them is that they are noise free.
Cordless ones are great. Check out this Greenworks 40V 20-inch Cordless Twin Force Lawn Mower, an affordable self-propelled lawn mower.
Most self-propelled lawn mowers come with a height adjustment facility. They have steel decks for increased durability which push lawn mowers didn’t have. They even have better grass clippings management facilities.
Even a no brainer can tell that a self-propelled lawn mower is better than a push lawn mower. If you want to know more, you can check out our other blog “What is a Self-propelled lawn mower?”
Alright, we want you to look at the pros and cons below.
Pros:
- Less physical effort required.
- Variable speed adjustment
- Height adjustment.
- Most self-propelled lawn mowers have 3 in 1 grass clippings managing facility.
- Really good for large yards.
- Different options are available based on terrain.
- Noise free and pollution free.
Cons:
- Corded ones have limited range.
- Cordless ones have limited charge capacity. Highest 1 hour.
- Battery takes a long time to charge.
- High maintenance cost.
- Very expensive.
Comparison Between Push Lawn mower VS. Self- Propelled Lawn mower
Alright, let’s look at this table below to get an idea about their differences.
| Subject | Push Lawn mower | Self-propelled Lawn Mower |
| Performance | Push lawn mowers depend on your effort. The harder you push the better and faster it will cut grass. So its performance is completely reliant on you. | Self-propelled lawn mowers are different because they have an engine that is moving the blade for you. So their performance relies on the motor quality. |
| Power Source | The user’s physical force. However, there are motor attached versions of push lawn mowers. | If it is gas powered, its main power source is gas or oil. Electric lawn mowers require direct electricity or a charged battery to provide energy. |
| Speed | The speed of a push lawn mower depends on your push power. | The speed of a self-propelled lawn mower depends on its engine quality. They have varying speed and some have the option to adjust it.Sometimes the speed depends on the grass condition as well. |
| Weight | Push lawn mowers are quite heavy otherwise they will not be able to cut anything. Their weight helps them stick to the ground. | Self-propelled lawn mowers are mostly light weight. They have better quality materials than push lawn mowers. |
| Price | Push lawn mowers are cheap compared to self-propelled ones. | Self-propelled lawn mowers are expensive. There are $1000 options available for self-propelled lawn mowers. |
| Storing | Push lawn mowers are hard to store. They are heavy and bulky. | Self- propelled lawn mowers are lightweight and some of them can be folded. They are very easy to store and pack away. |
We are very sure these are enough to help you understand the difference between these two lawn mowers.
F.A.Q.s
Which is better? Push lawn mower or Self-propelled lawnmower?
Well, in our opinion a self-propelled lawn mower is definitely better. Yes, they are expensive, but investing in a good technology is always a smart decision.
Can you push a self-propelled lawn mower?
Yes you can push a self-propelled lawn mower. It is totally fine to push it but you don’t have to.
Are push lawn mowers hard to push?
Push lawn mowers are not hard to push but they do take some effort. If your push lawn mower blades are rusty then it will surely be harder.
Are push lawn mowers heavy?
Yes, push lawn mowers are heavy compared to normal RWD or FWD self-propelled lawn mowers. However the four wheel tractor-like self-propelled lawn mowers are heavier.
Final Words
A lawn mower is necessary if you have a yard. Your yard will look better with grass trimmed and flattened. You can’t do it with your hands, just get a lawn mower.
But which lawn mower should you get?
Well, in our opinion we would say a self-propelled lawn mower.
Yes, self-propelled lawn mowers are expensive and have a lot of cost. They have annual maintenance costs and repair costs. Sometimes you will have to add in a bit of fuel or battery costs as well.
But they are all worth it. The convenience you will get from a self-propelled lawn mower is amazing. This technology will make your life much easier compared to a push lawn mower.So, we hope now you understand which one to go for. Hopefully, the push vs. self-propelled lawn mower debate is done.