A push mower shouldn’t cost more than the lawn it’s cutting. I get the appeal of bargain hunting, and the good news is that today’s affordable walk-behind mowers genuinely cut well without the noise, fumes, or upkeep of a gas engine. This lineup leans into corded, reel, and cordless options that handle small to mid-size yards, so you can match your lawn size and noise tolerance to the right tool.
A Quick View Of The Lineup
BILT HARD 15″ Corded Electric Lawn Mower with 35L Bag
Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
Worx WG733.1 20V 14″ Cordless 2-in-1 Lawn Mower
Worx WG735 40V 14″ Cordless 2-in-1 Lawn Mower
Worx WG745 40V 17″ Cordless 2-in-1 Lawn Mower
Litheli 40V 16″ Cordless Brushless Lawn Mower
The Details Behind The Selections
For shoppers who want the simplest path to a tidy lawn, the BILT HARD corded electric mower removes every fuel-related headache. There’s no battery to charge, no pull cord to yank, and no oil changes. You plug it into a standard outdoor outlet and walk it across the grass.
The 15-inch deck is wide enough for a small suburban lot but narrow enough to thread between garden beds. At 11 amps, the motor turns the blade at 3300 RPM, which translates to a clean slice through typical cool-season grasses without bogging down in light growth.
A Favorable Mix
- Five cutting heights from roughly 1 to 3 inches let you adjust for seasonal growth and grass type
- The 35L grass bag means fewer emptying stops during a single mow
- Lightweight build and a folding handle make seasonal storage painless in a shed or garage
- Instant start: just plug in and squeeze the bail lever
Points To Keep In Mind
- You’re tethered to an extension cord, so you’ll need to manage cable routing to avoid mowing over it
- Best paired with lawns under about 2,000 square feet, since the cord limits wander range
Feature Snapshot
Best Suited To
Homeowners with a small, open yard and a reachable outdoor outlet who want low-maintenance cutting without battery fuss.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Anyone mowing a yard with lots of trees, corners, or obstacles will find the cord more hassle than help, and the cordless picks below suit that profile better.
The Great States reel mower cuts grass the way a pair of scissors would, with curved blades that slice rather than rip. There’s no motor at all, just a set of blades spun by the wheels as you push. That means a quiet cut and zero operating cost beyond your own effort.
The 14-inch cutting width is the narrowest in this roundup, so it shines on small patches of grass rather than wide open stretches. Reel mowers are also at their best when grass is cut frequently, before it grows tall and tough.
What Earns Its Place
- Truly silent operation, ideal for early-morning cuts without waking neighbors
- No gas, no cord, no battery: just push and mow
- Scissor-like cutting action is gentler on grass blades, which supports a healthier lawn over time
Trade Offs
- Works best on short, fine grass; it struggles when grass gets tall or wet
- Requires more physical effort than any powered option, especially on uneven ground
- Smaller 14-inch deck means more passes on a larger lawn
Who Should Grab It
Apartment dwellers or homeowners with a postage-stamp lawn who want a near-silent, zero-maintenance cut and don’t mind a bit of a workout.
Skip It When
You have a yard bigger than a small patio, in which case the Worx WG733.1 is a lighter, motor-assisted alternative worth a look.
This Worx is the lightest and most compact option in the Worx lineup, which makes it a strong match for tight storage spaces and small yards with lots of turns. The 20V battery platform is modest compared to the 40V sibling picks later in this list, but it’s plenty for yards up to about 3,200 square feet per charge.
Unlike the BILT HARD, you’re not tethered to a cord, which makes maneuvering around trees and flower beds far less awkward. The 2-in-1 design lets you bag clippings or let them drop back onto the lawn.
Useful Highlights
- Brushless motor (a design that uses electronic control instead of carbon brushes) runs cooler and typically lasts longer than brushed equivalents
- Single 20V battery keeps the mower light enough to carry up basement stairs
- 2-in-1 deck lets you choose between bagging and mulching on the fly
Less-Strong Areas
- 20V battery limits the mower to small yards; thick or tall grass can drain it quickly
- 14-inch deck is narrower than the larger Worx models and the Litheli pick below
Quick Facts
Made For
Anyone with a small yard, limited storage, or a preference for a feather-light mower they can pull out and use without thinking about cords.
Another Choice May Suit
Shoppers with bigger lawns who want more runtime per charge will find the Worx WG735 a smarter step up.
Step up from the WG733.1 and you get the WG735, which doubles the voltage to 40V and adds IntelliCut, a feature that automatically adjusts torque when the blade meets thicker grass. For most backyard mowing this means the deck keeps a steady pace without you having to push harder or make a second pass.
The included 20V 4.0Ah battery is rated to handle about an eighth of an acre per charge, which lines up with the typical townhouse lot. Compare that to the WG733.1: same compact 14-inch deck, but more headroom for uneven growth.
Where It Delivers
- IntelliCut torque management helps the mower power through patches that would stall lesser models
- Optimized deck airflow produces a cleaner finish in fewer passes
- Brushless motor keeps the maintenance list short over the life of the tool
Small Caveats
- 14-inch deck is still on the narrow side, so large yards take longer to cover
- Single-battery design means you’ll want a backup for lawns that approach the upper end of its range
Right Fit For
Homeowners with a quarter-acre lot who deal with mixed grass thickness and want the mower to handle the transition without manual adjustment.
Look Elsewhere When
You’d rather finish faster on a wider lawn, in which case the Worx WG745 with its 17-inch deck covers more ground per pass.
The WG745 trades deck width for speed. At 17 inches, it eats up noticeably more grass per pass than the 14-inch Worx siblings, which makes it a better match for half-acre lawns. Two included 20V 4.0Ah batteries, both compatible across the broader Worx Power Share ecosystem, run in parallel to keep the 40V motor fed.
The dual-port charger included with the unit tops off both packs at once, so downtime between mowing sessions stays minimal. That’s a quiet quality-of-life win for anyone mowing on a weekend schedule.
Practical Advantages
- 17-inch deck cuts mowing time on wider lawns compared to 14-inch models
- Dual batteries and a dual-port charger reduce waiting between mows
- Batteries are compatible with 140+ Worx tools, a real plus for households already in that ecosystem
- Brushless drive keeps the deck moving at a consistent speed through ordinary turf
Worth Bearing In Mind
- Wider deck makes the mower a bit bulkier to store than the compact WG733.1
- Heavier overall weight may be tiring on slopes
Feature Rundown
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Homeowners with a half-acre lawn who already use Worx tools, or anyone planning to grow into the Power Share battery platform.
Swap It Out When
Your yard is on the small side and storage space is tight; the Litheli 16-inch or the WG733.1 will fit a closet more comfortably.
Litheli rounds out the lineup with a 40V brushless design that aims to balance runtime, deck width, and adjustability. The 16-inch deck sits between the narrow 14-inch Worx models and the wider WG745, which gives a nice middle ground for varied yard shapes.
Six cutting heights from about 25 to 75 millimeters let you set the deck low for a manicured summer look or higher to take stress off the lawn during dry spells. Two 5.0Ah batteries ship in the box, along with the charger.
Reasons It Performs
- Six height positions offer finer tuning than the five-step options on most rivals
- 50L collection bag holds more clippings than the 35L BILT HARD bag, useful for longer grass
- Mulching capability returns nutrients to the soil and reduces bag-emptying trips
Honest Caveats
- Two batteries must be installed together to power the unit, so swapping a single depleted pack mid-mow isn’t an option
- Brand awareness is lower than the bigger names in this list, which may matter for long-term parts support
Built With In Mind
Shoppers who want height flexibility, mulching, and a generous bag on a 40V cordless platform at a budget-friendly price point.
Where A Sibling Pick Shines
If you want a wider deck for a larger yard, the Worx WG745 covers more ground per pass with the same voltage class.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Bargain Lawn Mowers
Yard Size Drives The Decision
The single biggest factor is how much grass you actually cut. Anything under roughly 2,000 square feet is comfortably handled by a corded model like the BILT HARD or a compact cordless like the Worx WG733.1. Past that, you start trading convenience for hassle, and a 40V cordless platform becomes the more comfortable choice.
Power Source Changes The Whole Experience
Corded mowers deliver endless runtime but tie you to an extension cord. Cordless mowers free you up but ask you to keep batteries charged. Reel mowers cut out the power source entirely, which is a charm for tiny lawns and a chore for anything bigger. Match the source to your tolerance for either constraint.
Deck Width Versus Maneuverability
A wider deck finishes the job in fewer passes, which matters most on open lawns. A narrower deck weaves around garden beds and tight corners more easily. The 14 to 17-inch range in this list covers the full spread of suburban yard shapes.
Cutting Height Options
More positions mean a closer match between mower setting and seasonal grass needs. The Litheli offers six steps, while most others offer five. For most small yards, either is enough to keep grass healthy through spring and summer.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Common Shopping Slip Ups
The biggest mistake is picking by deck width alone. A wider deck on a low-voltage battery can leave you stranded mid-mow. Voltage, battery capacity, and deck width all need to line up with your lawn size. A close second is ignoring storage footprint. A 17-inch mower that won’t fit in the shed ends up cluttering the garage, which is a poor trade even at a bargain price.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Stepping up from a basic model generally buys you brushless motors (longer-lasting, cooler running), larger batteries with longer runtime, and adaptive cutting features like IntelliCut. For yards approaching a quarter acre or beyond, those upgrades save real time. For a small front yard, they’re nice but not essential, and the budget end of this list will serve you well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cheap electric mowers powerful enough for normal grass?
Yes, for typical cool-season and warm-season turf at standard heights, the motors in this roundup cut cleanly without bogging down. Thick or overgrown grass is where you start to feel the limits of a budget cordless model.
How long do the batteries last per charge?
Most 20V and 40V packs in this list cover between roughly 2,000 and 5,000 square feet per charge, depending on grass thickness and the height setting. Real-world results vary based on conditions.
Can a reel mower handle tall grass?
Not comfortably. Reel mowers work best on grass that’s kept short with frequent cuts. Letting the lawn grow tall makes reel mowing a strenuous chore.
Is a corded mower safe to use in damp grass?
Most manufacturers recommend dry conditions for electrical safety and cut quality. Wet grass also clumps more and strains the motor. Wait for a dry day when possible.
Do brushless motors really last longer?
Brushless designs eliminate the carbon brushes that wear out in brushed motors, which generally translates to longer service life and less maintenance over time. The cost difference at the bargain tier is often small.
The Takeaway
The right bargain mower matches your yard size, your tolerance for cords or batteries, and your storage situation. The BILT HARD is the smart play for tiny lawns near an outlet, the Great States reel suits the smallest patches, and the Worx and Litheli cordless picks scale up as your yard grows. Pick the one that fits the space you actually mow, and the rest takes care of itself.