Whether you’re on a tight budget or you just need an inexpensive power tool to help you complete a landscaping job, you’ll love the options that we’ve included on our best self-propelled lawn mower under the $300 list.
To be clear, these lawn mowers are easy to start, easy to maneuver, and they give you finer cuts just like their high-end counterparts do. It doesn’t matter if you need one for mowing a flat yard or you want to work on hilly terrains, any of the options below will work well for you.
So without further ado, let’s get to the reviews.
| Brand | Note | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks MO40L02 Lawn Mower | Editor’s Pick | ||
| PowerSmart DB2322S Lawn Mower | Best Budget | ||
| Greenworks G-MAX Self Propelled Lawn Mower | Best Value |
Best Self Propelled Lawn Mower Under 300: Top Picks
1. Greenworks MO40L02 Self Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower
The Greenworks MO40L02 is a perfect option to consider if you own a small yard. It’s so lightweight that it’s easy to push.
And it is beginner-friendly enough for you to figure it out on the fly if it’s going to be your first time to try your hands on lawn mowing. Because it assumes a vertical storage design, Greenworks MO40L02 doesn’t really takes up a lot of space in a patio or home garage.
This self-propelled lawnmower gets its performance power from a dual battery setup. One battery powers the engine as the other one waits. As soon as the current battery runs out the supplementary one takes over. It does take around 120 minutes to give the battery a full charge.
The cutting deck of this machine is only 21 inches wide, so it makes a perfect machine to consider if you own a small yard. Interestingly, its cutting deck supports a 3-in-1 functionality, allowing you to do mulching, bagging, and side discharge.
Pros
- Greenworks MO40L02 is generally quiet
- Vertical design saves on storage space
- A single lever height adjustment with 7 settings included
- Extra compartment for an extra battery for continued operation
- Push-button start
Cons
- Battery life sucks; only lasts for 70 minutes and takes too long to charge
- The price of the product tends to fluctuate from time to time
2. PowerSmart DB2322S Lawn Mower
PowerSmart DB2322S is one of the best lawn mowers perfect for giving your yard a new look. Whether you want to mow only a part of the yard or you’re up for an extended mowing section, this machine can help you get the job done in time.
This machine may be compact in design, but it’s a no-nonsense power tool when it comes to performance. To begin with, gasoline powers a 200cc engine to provide sufficient power to do your lawn-mowing job. Adding a push start button would have been better, but the easy pull starting is still a fine deal for the price point.
This 3-in-1 lawnmower allows you to clip, mulch, and side discharge. Its 5 adjustable height options give you the flexibility you need to cut grass according to your preference while making sure you achieve finer cuts for the lawn.
The mower’s cutting deck is 21 inches wide, which is enough to cut a sizeable area. The bag on the rear is large enough to hold a lot of grass, and it doesn’t demand frequent emptying to say the least.
Pros
- This lawnmower is easy to assemble, easy to start, and easy to maneuver
- Relatively easy to start
- Provides enough gas power for consistent mowing
- The 5 adjustable heights let you achieve uniform, finer cuts
Cons
- No push start button included
3. Greenworks G-MAX Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Greenworks keeps making new power tools every time they need to upgrade a category, and it’s interesting to note that its new models only ever get better.
The G-Max is a perfect example of a self –propelled lawn mower under $300 built to eliminate the need for simple, ancient tools, so you can mow your yard in style and get the work completed in time.
The looks are obviously an overkill, and if anything, the lime green complexion makes this model stand out from all the lawn mowers in the market.
With a cutting deck only 17 inches wide, this one isn’t going to cut a wider area, but the difference between this and a 21-inch mower isn’t nearly that big per se.
Greenworks G-Max isn’t super lightweight, but it’s the closest thing we’ve had to a lightweight lawn mower. At only 36.2 pounds, it should be easy to push on areas where you must combine the self-propelling mechanism with a little hand effort.
The battery doesn’t suck one bit, because at least it can provide enough runtime to mow up to half an acre of land before grumbling for a juice up. Some people have reported that the battery can run up to 60 minutes before dying. Others have estimated the runtime to be a lot less than that. With everyone’s need different and charging frequency varying, the variation in battery runtime obviously does make a lot of sense.
As a 2-in-1 self-propelled lawn mower, this machine allows mulching and rear bagging, so you can easily put it to multiple use at the same time. And while it does create some sort of sound when it’s use, you won’t need to wear earmuffs because the noise won’t blow your eardrums out.
Pros
- You can adjust the height by up to 5 positions
- Decent battery life
- Lightweight, smooth, and relatively quiet in operation
- The handles fold down for easy storage
Cons
- Not the best battery runtime from a single charge
4. Lawn-Boy 17732 Self Propelled Lawn Mower
Lawn Boy 17732 is the kind of a self-propelled lawn mower that you can put to a hard landscaping job and get the results that you want. Its power comes from the Kohler XTX OHV 149cc engine, a build-in that promises better performance even on rough terrains.
The cutting deck is 21 inches wide, which is perfect for a lawn mower. This not only let you trim somewhat a larger area in one round, it also gives you finer cuts. Since the clippings bag is large, there’s no need for frequent emptying, especially if you’re working on a small or medium-sized yard.
Think of this self-propelled lawn mower as a 3-in-1 power tool that can make your work easier. To be precise, it can mulch, clip on the go, and side discharge with ease. Add the durable wheels with low rolling resistance to the self-propelling mechanism, and what you get is a machine that you can easily push up a hill.
Pros
- It’s easy to get rid of the clippings
- The collection bag is big enough and doesn’t demand frequent emptying
- Doesn’t overheat or make a lot of noise when in use
Cons
- Not the most durable model in the market
- Tends to be inconsistent at times
How to Choose the Best Self Propelled Lawn Mower
It’s obvious that the market is flooded with different brands and models of self-propelled lawn mowers.
The question is:
How do you find a suitable mower for you with a budget of less than $300?
Speed
The speed setting you get depends on the size and type of lawn mower that you choose. Usually, small self-propelled lawn mowers feature single speed settings and larger ones have speeds that go as high as 4 miles an hour.
Remember, the speed option you choose comes down to your preferences. If you’re the kind of power tool user who likes to get jobs done fast, then a model with a number of speed options is the best machine to consider. Otherwise, even a single speed model can still get the job done quite well.
Check the Noise Level
We all wish there was such a thing as a 100% quite lawn more. But unfortunately power tools don’t work like that. They do make noise, and some of them are louder than others are. First, understand how much noise you can stand, and then choose a model within noise level within that range.
Generally, gas-powered self-propelled lawn mowers make the most noise. While the noise may be annoying for some people, it’s definitely not deafening. If you’re not okay with the noise that a gas-powered engine makes, consider a cordless, battery-operated lawn mower instead.
Weight
Some people think that the weight of a self-propelled lawn mower doesn’t matter. And there’s nothing wrong with that provided the lawn they intend to work on is flat.
But when it comes to getting the mower to landscape a hilly terrain or banks that are somewhat steep, you’ll need to give the machine a little push, which calls for selecting a lightweight machine.
It’s best to go for a lawn mower with a maximum weight of 60 pounds. Anything above this value would be an overkill, unless it’s a zero turn or riding lawn mower.