Top Pros and Cons of Electric Lawnmowers

A truly outstanding lawn relies on regular mowing throughout spring, summer, and fall. Many keen gardeners cut their grass as often as once a week with reliable lawnmowers. It’s easy to assume that a gas-powered example may be best. However, electric versions are now the go-to choice for owners of some of the most well-kept lawns out there.

To understand why, it’s necessary to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each type of mower. With that, here are four pros and three cons of electric lawnmowers. We’ll also take a closer look at why electric mowers continue to grow in popularity while gas mowers fall further and further out of favor.

The main reason that many people choose electric mowers is the ease of use. Simply plug them in and press a button to start mowing – it’s as simple as that. There’s no pull start needed, either, which is great for anyone with limited mobility. Electric alternatives are much lighter than typical gas-powered mowers, making them far easier to both maneuver and store.

Compared to gas lawnmowers, electric versions are a breeze to maintain. While they still need a degree of regular upkeep, it’s much easier than the upkeep required for gas-powered alternatives. Electric lawnmowers have no spark plugs to replace, for a start. Furthermore, there’s no messy oil or toxic fumes.

A major downside to owning any gas-powered tool is the need to buy and store fuel. If you run out, you’ll have to make a trip to the gas station. At the same time, there’s also the need to keep any surplus fuel somewhere — something that requires extra care and attention owing to its highly flammable nature.

Another pro of choosing an electric lawnmower is reduced carbon emissions. Because they don’t rely on gas, electric lawnmowers are cleaner, greener, and better for the environment overall. While it’s only a tiny amount of fuel in comparison to running a car or truck on gas, every little bit helps — especially as more and more people switch to electric.

One of the biggest drawbacks of electric lawnmowers has always been their power cords. Because they need to remain tethered to an outlet, you can’t use them to cover large distances. Care is also required not to accidentally mow over the cable itself — something that’s potentially dangerous. If you damage the cord, of course, it will render an electric mower useless until its cord can be repaired or replaced.

There’s a good reason why many professional gardeners continue to favor gas-powered lawnmowers. Quite aside from being able to mow larger areas by virtue of them not having a power cord, they’re also more powerful and have greater amounts of torque.

Accordingly, while electric mowers are perfect for most home gardens, they may struggle with longer grass and more demanding terrain where a gas-powered alternative typically excels.

While cutting a lawn in the rain or when otherwise wet is rarely a good idea, it’s still an option when using a gas-powered mower. With an electric lawnmower, though, conditions need to be dry in order to operate safely. Although this isn’t a major downside, it is a worthwhile point to note, especially in wetter climates.

One of the biggest perks of choosing electric over gas when it comes to a mower is affordability. Today, electric mower prices are lower than ever and start from as little as $100. By contrast, even many of the cheapest gas-powered lawnmowers will set buyers back $200 or more. Electric mowers are also cheaper to both run and maintain.

Of course, an electric mower won’t suit everyone. If any of the above cons are an outright deal-breaker, a gas version will likely be preferable.

That said, where limited cord length is the main issue, another option exists in the shape of battery-powered alternatives. Battery mowers offer many of the advantages of their electric counterparts but are free of potentially restrictive power cables.

Battery-powered lawnmowers are generally priced somewhere in the middle of electric and gas versions, too. Right now, one drawback is the high cost of replacement or spare batteries. Yet, for those looking for the various benefits of an electric mower, but without the limitations posed by a cord, a battery-powered model can be a great middle-ground.

Whichever type, make, or model you choose, be sure to protect your purchase with an extended lawnmower warranty. Many extended warranties continue the protection afforded by manufacturers’ limited warranties and also include a variety of additional benefits. For example, extended outdoor and tool warranties from Upsie include fast, free, and local repairs.

With no deductible to pay, Upsie customers and their tools are back in working order in a flash and at no extra cost. Warranties are available for all lawnmowers, leaf blowers, and hedge trimmers, as well as chainsaws, pressure washers, generators, and more.

Best of all, three-year lawnmower warranty options start from just $7.99. That’s less than $0.33 per month for complete peace of mind against everything from manufacturer defects to power, motor, and gear failures, plus plenty more. To find the right policy for you, head to Upsie.com or download the Upsie app for iOS and Android.