Is an Electric Lawn Mower Worth It?
Over time, you could save money over a traditional gas mower
Electric lawn mowers—that is, the type powered by batteries—are the better environmental choice. But are they economical? Our interactive tool below shows that these mowers often are, especially as prices have dropped and their batteries themselves have improved—meaning you don’t have to worry that your mower will poop out in the middle of the job.
Use this tool to see if buying and using a new, walk-behind electric lawn mower would cost you less than going with a gas model. You can adjust it based on the time it takes to mow your lawn, the cost of gas, and what type of mower you intend to buy.
We’ve used a five-year time horizon because we judge that, considering the continual improvements in battery technology, you may need to replace your mower’s battery at the five-year mark. Replacement batteries cost between $100 and $300.
Depending on use, five years also represents the potential life span of some mowers, according to Misha Kollontai, who tests lawn mowers at CR and helped develop this interactive tool. After that period, maintenance and repairs become more likely but are harder to estimate.
Methodology/Assumptions
Calculations are based on CR-recommended mowers. Usage assumes 30 mowing sessions per year. Gas mower calculations are based on a rate of 0.5 gallons of gasoline per hour of use and yearly do-it-yourself maintenance costs of $21 for spark plug, motor oil, and air filter replacement. Electric mower calculations are based on the use of a 500-watt charger achieving full charge at 2.29 hours, at a cost of 14 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity. Charge time is calculated proportionally to usage.
