13 Best Lawn Mowers and Tractors of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed

Battery walk-behind mowers (also called cordless mowers or battery-powered mowers) use rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs. These mowers are much easier to store and maintain than gas walk-behind mowers, and our testing shows they cut grass just as well, too. Below, we highlight the top-scoring battery-powered self-propelled mower and the highest-rated battery push mower in our ratings.

Gas walk-behind mowers (or gas-fueled mowers) aren’t limited by battery capacity and can cut much larger yards in one go. They come in both push and self-propelled varieties (you can read more on the top-rated model of each type below) and usually cost less than their battery-powered counterparts, though you might spend more in the long run on fuel and maintenance.

Battery and gas riding mowers and tractors cut two to three times faster than push mowers, making them better suited for larger lawns. CR tests have found that the best battery riding mowers perform as well as—or better than—gas riding mowers and tractors. 

Zero-turn-radius mowers offer more nimble handling and higher top speeds than tractors. Rather than using a steering wheel, you control a zero-turn with a pair of levers; pushing one forward and the other rearward causes the mower to turn in place. 

Rear-engine riders are a small subset of the riding mowers category that bridge the gap between mowers and riding mowers. They’re typically cheaper than tractors and have smaller cutting decks, but we find their cutting to be less effective.

CR tests a number of mowers hovering around the $300 to $400 range, and we’re happy to report that you can still get a great cut at that price. Consider one of the following gas or battery walk-behind models if any of the top mowers featured above exceed your budget.

To test lawn mowers and tractors, our testers and engineers travel every winter to specially prepared grounds in Florida, where we plant 1,800 pounds of grass seed (predominantly annual rye, prized for its dense growth). That’s where we put the mowers to work, cutting 500,000 square feet of grass using three modes: mulching, side discharging, and bagging (accumulating a total of 3,000 pounds of clippings). We cut both level turf and slopes to get a feel for how each model handles the terrain. We also review convenience features.

In our view, a mower that works well now but conks out in a year or two doesn’t—ahem—cut it. So the Overall Score for each lawn mower and tractor in Consumer Reports’ ratings incorporates not only its test performance data but also predicted reliability and owner satisfaction ratings from our latest member surveys. These surveys, fielded in the fall of 2022, 2023, and 2024, leverage data on more than 46,000 lawn mowers and tractors that members purchased between 2014 and 2024.

If you’re not sure which kind of lawn mower is right for your yard, we have advice on how to choose a model based on your property’s acreage and topography.

Trying to decide between a gas and an electric mower? Check out our face-off or use our interactive decision tool to see which is the better investment for you.

If you’re deciding between different brands, read our reports on the most and least reliable gas riding mower brands and walk-behind mower brands, which cover both electric and gas mower brands.

When you start to shop, keep in mind that some mower brands are sold only at Home Depot or Lowe’s, while others are sold only through independent dealers. And some brands may sell certain models at big home improvement chains and others through dealers. If you can’t find a particular model at your favored store or at a price that fits your budget, shop around more.