I know the feeling of pushing a heavy mower up a sloped front yard while the engine roars in my ears. That’s exactly why I built this roundup around cordless walk-behind models that trade gas fumes for quieter, lower-effort mowing, with options sized for tight city lots and larger suburban lawns alike. Every pick below leans on brushless motors, swappable battery platforms, or self-propelled drives, depending on how much ground you actually cover. The goal is simple: help you find a mower that matches your yard, your storage space, and your tolerance for swapping batteries mid-mow.
The Lineup, Simplified
Greenworks 80V 21in Push Lawn Mower 4.0Ah Battery
Casince 17in Walk Behind Cordless Lawn Mower
Worx 20V 14in Cordless Lawn Mower WG733.1
Worx 40V 14in Cordless Lawn Mower WG735
Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower WG745
EGO POWER+ 21in Self-Propelled Mower LM2135SP
Litheli 40V 16in Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower
A Deeper Look At The Lineup
The Greenworks 80V is the heavyweight in this lineup, and it earns that label honestly. A brushless motor (a design that uses electronic sensors rather than physical brushes to transfer power, which generally means less wear and longer life) drives a 21-inch steel deck, which is wider than most of the cordless options I cover here, so it covers ground quickly.
It ships with a single 80V 4.0Ah battery and a rapid charger that finishes a full top-up in roughly an hour. Owners with mid-size suburban lawns, somewhere in the quarter-acre range, will get through a full mow without rushing. If your lawn sprawls beyond that, the swappable 80V platform lets you keep a spare charged.
Everyday Perks
- Single-lever height adjustment lets you change cutting height without wrestling separate adjusters on each wheel.
- The 80V battery platform extends beyond the mower into trimmers, blowers, and chainsaws if you want a unified toolkit.
- The 21-inch deck trims mowing time noticeably versus the 14-inch and 16-inch models in this roundup.
- Brushless motor runs quieter than brushed alternatives and generally lasts longer because there are no friction brushes to wear down.
Things To Consider
- At 21 inches, the deck is harder to store in a tight garage or shed than the 14-inch Worx options.
- One battery may not finish very thick or overgrown grass without a recharge, so a spare is wise for rough lawns.
- Pushing this mower uphill without self-propulsion can wear you out compared to the EGO model below.
Key Specs
Made For
Homeowners with flat, medium to large yards who want a wide deck and don’t mind trading storage space for a faster cut.
Look Elsewhere When
Sloped yards where pushing gets tiring suit the EGO POWER+ 21in Self-Propelled Mower LM2135SP better, since it drives itself.
Casince is the underdog in this roundup, but the spec sheet is genuinely useful. A 17-inch deck slots between the wider Greenworks and the narrow Worx models, which makes it a sweet spot for small and mid-size lawns where you still want fewer passes.
Two 20V 4.0Ah batteries run in tandem to deliver up to 40 minutes of cutting, enough to cover around 5,380 square feet under typical conditions. The 1 to 3 inch height range covers most common lawn grasses without scalping.
The Practical Payoff
- Six height settings from 1 to 3 inches give you real flexibility for seasonal growth changes.
- Two batteries running together extend runtime well past what a single 20V pack delivers.
- A 17-inch deck balances storage and mowing speed better than the 21-inch Greenworks.
Trade Offs
- Runtime depends heavily on grass thickness, so thick spring growth may force a mid-mow battery swap.
- Without a brushless motor, expect slightly more noise and a shorter motor lifespan than the Greenworks above.
Right Fit For
Budget-focused shoppers with a small suburban yard who don’t need self-propulsion or a wide commercial-style deck.
Consider Something Else When
Owners wanting a wider 17-inch deck with two batteries and a 40V platform benefit more from the Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower WG745.
This is the lightest, most compact mower in the Worx family, and arguably in the entire roundup. The 14-inch deck and 20V power plant target city dwellers with postage-stamp lawns who want a machine they can lift with one hand.
A single 20V 5.0Ah PowerShare Pro battery covers up to 3,200 square feet on a charge, which sounds modest but actually fits most urban lots. The 2-in-1 design switches between bagging and rear discharge so you can adapt to whether the lawn needs tidying or quick cutting.
Advantages To Know
- The compact frame fits through narrow side-yard gates where wider mowers physically can’t pass.
- PowerShare batteries work with the wider Worx tool family, so existing tool owners save on batteries.
- Brushless motor is unusual at this size and price tier, giving you longer motor life than typical compact competitors.
Worth Noting
- A 14-inch deck means more passes on any lawn over 2,000 square feet, so mowing takes longer.
- Single battery setup means you can’t swap in a fresh pack mid-mow without a charged spare on hand.
Key Specs
Who Should Grab It
Apartment dwellers, townhouse owners, and anyone with a small lawn who wants something they can carry, not wheel.
Swap It Out When
Homeowners with overgrown or thick grass benefit more from the Worx 40V 14in Cordless Lawn Mower WG735, which adds IntelliCut torque management.
The WG735 takes the compact WG733.1 and adds the muscle it was missing. A 40V brushless motor pairs with IntelliCut technology, which automatically boosts torque when the blade hits dense patches, then dials it back to save battery on thinner grass.
The deck is still 14 inches, so storage and access through gates stay easy. Coverage stretches to roughly 1/8 acre per charge from the included 20V 4.0Ah battery, which is meaningful headroom over the WG733.1.
Practical Pluses
- IntelliCut means the mower ramps up power only when needed, preserving runtime across patchy lawns.
- The 40V PowerShare battery is shared across the larger Worx outdoor equipment family.
- Optimized deck airflow improves bag fill and gives a cleaner cut compared to the smaller WG733.1.
Honest Caveats
- At 1/8 acre, it’s still below what the Worx WG745 handles, so larger lots will require a recharge or two.
- The 14-inch deck adds passes versus the 17-inch and 21-inch models in this lineup.
Feature Snapshot
Best Suited To
Homeowners with patchy or thick grass on a small lot who want smarter battery management than a fixed-power mower offers.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
Anyone mowing a true quarter-acre benefits more from the Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower WG745, which adds a second battery.
The WG745 is where Worx starts to feel like a serious replacement for a gas mower. Two 20V 4.0Ah PowerShare batteries deliver the 40V output, and a dual charger tops both packs at once so downtime stays low.
The 17-inch deck sizes up cleanly for a quarter-acre yard. With battery compatibility across more than 140 Worx tools, you can plug into an existing outdoor ecosystem without buying a new battery every time.
Benefits That Matter
- Dual batteries extend runtime far enough to finish most quarter-acre mows without stopping.
- 17-inch deck cuts mowing passes down versus the 14-inch Worx siblings.
- Battery cross-compatibility lowers the cost of building out a full Worx yard-care setup.
Points To Keep In Mind
- At 17 inches wide, the deck requires more storage depth than the 14-inch options.
- Two batteries mean more total charge time, even with the dual charger, than single-battery mowers.
Quick Facts
Perfect Match For
Quarter-acre homeowners who already own Worx tools and want to share batteries across the lineup.
Skip It When
Anyone with a sloped lot should step up to the EGO POWER+ 21in Self-Propelled Mower LM2135SP for the self-propelled drive.
EGO is the only self-propelled mower in this roundup, and that distinction matters more than any spec line. Self-propulsion means the rear wheels pull the mower forward at your walking pace, so you guide instead of push.
The 56V 7.5Ah battery is paired with an extra 5.0Ah pack in the bundle, which is unusual. You get genuine flexibility to mow longer or swap batteries mid-session. The Select Cut multi-blade system (a setup with three interchangeable blades for mulching, bagging, or extended runtime) handles different grass conditions without swapping tools.
Why It Works Well
- Self-propelled drive makes hilly or sloped yards dramatically less tiring than push mowers.
- The 56V battery delivers torque that exceeds typical gas mowers for thick or wet grass.
- Select Cut lets you swap blades for mulching, bagging, or longer runtime on the fly.
- The included extra battery effectively doubles your runtime on long mowing days.
Possible Compromises
- Premium tier means a higher entry cost than the Worx and Casince options.
- The extra battery ships separately, so it may not arrive with the main mower.
Feature Rundown
Who It Suits Best
Homeowners with sloped or uneven lots who want a true gas-replacement experience without engine noise or maintenance.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Flat, small lawns where self-propulsion adds cost without real benefit suit the Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower WG745 just as well.
Litheli rounds out this roundup with a 16-inch deck and a 50-liter collection bag, which is genuinely large for a cordless mower at this size. The bag means fewer stops to empty clippings, and the mulching function lets you skip the bag entirely when you’d rather feed the lawn.
Two 5.0Ah batteries run together to deliver 40V output, and a brushless motor keeps noise and maintenance low. Six height settings from 25 to 75 millimeters cover most grass types without scalping.
What Helps Most
- The 50-liter collection bag is noticeably larger than most cordless mower bags, reducing emptying stops.
- Mulching mode lets you feed clippings back into the lawn without buying a separate plug or accessory.
- Brushless motor at this price tier is a quiet win for suburban noise-sensitive neighborhoods.
Less Ideal Details
- Both 5.0Ah batteries must be inserted to operate, so you can’t run on a single pack for quick jobs.
- Litheli’s tool ecosystem is smaller than Worx’s, limiting cross-compatibility.
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Mid-size suburban lawn owners who want a balance between bagging capacity and mulching flexibility.
Not Your Match When
Someone who already owns Worx tools gets more value from the Worx 40V 17in Cordless Lawn Mower WG745 and its battery sharing.
Picking The Right Walk-Behind Mower For Your Yard
Choosing a walk-behind mower comes down to matching deck width, battery platform, and drive type to your specific yard. Deck width controls time: a 21-inch deck finishes faster than a 14-inch deck on the same lawn, but it’s harder to store and maneuver around tight landscaping.
Battery voltage matters more than people expect. A 20V mower handles thin, regularly cut grass just fine, but thick spring growth, wet conditions, or neglected lawns demand the torque of 40V or 56V systems. Pushing a low-voltage mower through dense grass is a fast way to wear out both the motor and your patience.
The battery ecosystem question is the one most shoppers overlook. If you already own a Worx, Greenworks, or EGO tool, sticking with the same brand means shared batteries and chargers. Buying a different brand forces you to maintain two battery systems.
Self-propelled vs. push is a real lifestyle decision. Push mowers cost less and weigh less, but slopes and large yards will exhaust you. Self-propelled mowers like the EGO handle grades and long distances with far less fatigue.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Common Shopping Slip Ups
The most frequent mistake is buying a mower based on battery voltage alone without checking actual deck size and runtime under load. A 40V mower with a tiny deck isn’t better than a 20V mower with a wide deck for time savings. Match the mower to your lawn size first, then worry about voltage.
Another trap is assuming all brushless motors perform the same. They don’t. The motor controller, blade design, and deck airflow all affect how well that brushless motor delivers torque to thick grass. IntelliCut-style systems, like the one on the Worx WG735, actively adjust torque on the fly, which is meaningfully different from a fixed-output brushless motor.
What The Higher Tier Buys
Stepping up to a premium mower like the EGO LM2135SP buys you three things that budget tiers generally skip: self-propulsion, multi-blade cutting systems, and dual-battery bundles. Self-propulsion alone justifies the jump for sloped yards.
Premium tiers also tend to include extras like rapid chargers, larger collection bags, and longer warranty terms. Whether that upgrade makes sense depends on how often you mow and how much physical effort you want to spend pushing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a cordless lawn mower battery last per charge?
Runtime varies by battery voltage, capacity, grass thickness, and whether you use features like IntelliCut. A 20V 5.0Ah battery typically covers around 3,200 square feet, while dual 40V setups can stretch to a full quarter acre. Thick or wet grass reduces runtime significantly.
Can cordless mowers handle thick or wet grass?
Higher-voltage brushless mowers with 40V or 56V output handle thick grass well, especially models with adaptive torque like the Worx WG735. Low-voltage mowers struggle in dense conditions and may stall frequently. Wet grass should generally be avoided regardless of mower type.
What size deck do I need for my yard?
A 14-inch deck works for lawns up to about 2,000 square feet. A 16 or 17-inch deck suits lawns between 2,000 and 5,000 square feet. A 21-inch deck makes sense for anything over 5,000 square feet where you want to finish faster.
Are brushless motors worth the extra cost?
Brushless motors generally last longer, run quieter, and deliver more torque than brushed motors at the same voltage. For homeowners who mow weekly, the longer service life alone usually justifies the price difference.
Do self-propelled mowers work on flat yards?
Self-propelled mowers work on any terrain, but the benefit is smaller on flat ground. The drive system adds cost without much payoff if your lawn is level and small. Flat-yard owners often save money going with a quality push mower instead.
Final Verdict
A walk-behind mower should match your lawn size, slope, and battery ecosystem before it matches any spec sheet. Start with deck width and runtime, then decide whether self-propulsion and premium battery platforms actually pay off in your specific yard. The right mower disappears into your routine, and that’s the only test that matters.