Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards

You need to regularly mow your lawn to ensure proper growth and healthy grass. A well-maintained lawn can also improve the look of your property and even increase its market value. Read further to learn about the different types of mowers and what factors to consider when buying a lawn mower.

Best Mowers for Small Yards

It can be tempting to purchase the most powerful mower for your yard. However, that may not be necessary when your lawns are properly maintained and don't have uneven terrain. We've discussed the features to look for and other key considerations below.

What Features to Look for in a Lawn Mower for a Small Yard

Performance, comfort, efficiency and reliability are the top features to look for when buying a lawn mower. Don't forget to check on the machine's safety features along with the required maintenance to keep it efficient and effective. We also recommend you prioritize durability first over price when making a purchase. If you live alone, consider going for a self-propelled model to make operation of your lawn mower easy. 

Before finalizing your purchase, ask for professional recommendations. Better yet, list the features that you need in a lawn mower, and look for at least three models to choose from. 

Choosing the Best Lawn Mowers for Small Yards 

An expensive lawn mower isn't synonymous with high-quality mowing. Prioritize durability and reliability in choosing the right equipment for your small yard. Better yet, choose user-friendly mowers to avoid mistakes and other problems. Read customer reviews to help you make an informed decision. 

Types of Lawn Mowers

Below are the different types of lawn mowers by power source. You can purchase battery-powered, electric mowers, gas-powered or manual mowers (if you want to conserve energy). 

Review the features and benefits to help you pick the best one. Feel free to get in touch if you have questions.

Manual, Electric and Battery-Powered Mowers

Manual mowers don't need electricity, battery or gas to start working, making them one of the most environmentally friendly options. All you need to do is push them, and the blades start to rotate. While they're ideal for small yards, they can be a little frustrating to use, especially when your unit is old. It's also important to sharpen a manual mower's blade often to get better results. 

An electric mower, which has an electric motor, is one of the easiest types of mowers to operate compared to other types. You just have to plug it in and press the "on" button. Electric mowers are also quiet than gas-powered ones. However, it may not be as powerful as a gas-powered model. Thankfully, you don't really need powerful mowers for a small yard. 

Like its electric counterpart, battery-powered mowers also don't produce a lot of noise. It's also environmentally friendly and lightweight. If you decide to go for a battery-powered model, we recommend checking the warranty and the battery life first to ensure you won't end up replacing it sooner. If you need assistance in choosing the best lawn mowers for small yards, please get in touch with us today.

Gas-Powered Mowers

Gas-powered mowers are more powerful than electric or manual types. They can handle almost all types of mowing jobs. They're also more affordable and easy to fix, making them a good option if you're looking to save money. However, gas-powered mowers require seasonal maintenance and are heavier. Some of their components, including air filters, spark plugs and fuel filters, have to be changed every year to ensure efficient performance. 

For small lawns, a gas-powered model may not be the best choice. These models also generate more air and noise pollution than other types of mowers, which isn't ideal for those who prefer environmentally friendly machines. 

Self-Propelled Mowers

Gas and battery-powered models offer self-propelled mowers equipped with a drive system that allows you to operate the lawn mower without pushing any levers. You can purchase an all-wheel mower, a front-wheel drive mower or a rear-wheel drive self-propelled model. 

The all-wheel drive, which is the most expensive, is not really recommended for small lawns. If you have a flatter lawn, we recommend a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive model. You can choose a single-speed mower for flatter lawns or opt for variable speed if you're mowing uneven terrain.  

Mulch Mowers

Get a mulch mower if you want the grass chopped multiple times as you mow. You can use the finely cut grass that a mulch mower produces either as shade or fertilizer. This type of mower is also called a 3-in-1 mower, since it can mulch, side-discharge or bag the clippings. 

Key Considerations

What else should you look for in mowers for small yards? Make sure your lawn mower can be easily maneuvered to properly cut the grass. It's better to have a lightweight mower for a smaller lawn.

Check these other features to consider when buying a lawn mower. If you have questions or when you're ready to purchase a lawn mower, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. 

Cutting Width

You can choose from 22-52 inches when it comes to cutting width. The cutting width determines how wide the path is when mowing your lawn. Keep in mind that a lawn mower with a wider cutting width can be difficult to use, as it'll be a little heavier. For smaller lawns, we recommend getting a small to medium-sized lawn mower. 

Cutting Height

When cutting grass, make sure you never cut more than one-third of its existing height, as you might leave your grass vulnerable to disease. Cutting grass blades too short can actually damage the grass as well, especially because some types of grasses fare better when kept a little longer. 

Which lawn mower cutting height to choose depends on the type of grass you'll be mowing and how often you maintain your lawn. 

Terrain

A small yard may also contain yard debris such as twigs, leaves or large trees. When buying the best mowers for small yards, get the right size to ensure your mower can take care of the job. Also, we recommend getting a mower you can easily store and use, especially when you'll only be using it for a few minutes. It'll be time-consuming to use a mower for only 10 minutes if preparing to use it takes more time than that.

Engine Features

Before making a purchase, we recommend checking the mower's engine features to ensure you're getting the right machine. A mower with higher cubic centimeters has more power. However, you may not need a very powerful engine for your small lawns. Which size to purchase always depend on the type of work you'll be doing. You may not need a bigger size when you regularly maintain your lawns. 

Starting Mechanism

No homeowner wants to spend a lot of time starting his mower or storing it away. The more user-friendly your mower is, the better. Battery-operated mowers are cordless and easy to use. However, you do need to check on the battery from time to time to ensure it's still working. An electric mower is the easiest to start. You can start running it the moment you plug it in and turn it on. 

Gas-powered mowers may be cost-effective and powerful, but it can take time to operate them. That's not ideal if you just need to mow the lawn for a few minutes. 

In choosing the right mower, try also to look for beneficial, built-in start features. You can also talk to us to help you make an informed decision.  

Mulching and Bags

Look for this feature if you're planning to bag the mulch to be used as nutrients or fertilizer for your soil. One of this feature's biggest advantages is that it can save you money and time. 

Safety Features

Look for these important safety features to avoid accidents and other problems while using your lawn mower. 

Back Flap

This safety feature is crucial especially when you're using a push mower. Without a back flap, objects caught by the lawn mower can fly out at you. If you have kids at home, inspect your mower to make sure the back flap feature is actually working correctly to avoid accidents. Otherwise, objects are likely to keep flying out. 

Handle Lever

While some people don't like holding the lever when operating the lawn mower, it's still one of the safety features that can help prevent accidents. Without it, the lawn mower can keep running and cause accidents. Look for this safety feature especially if you have pets or children at home. 

Throw Guard

In addition to the back flap, we recommend checking if the lawn mower you're considering also includes the throw guard feature. This feature prevents objects from flying from the side of the mower. You may avoid accidents or property damage because of the throw guard feature. 

Reverse Awareness System 

Get a lawn mower with a reverse awareness system feature to ensure you get an alert when the equipment is suddenly put in reverse. You should hear a large beep if the mower is moving toward you. 

How to Maintain Your Lawn Mower

Like all the other appliances or equipment in your home, your lawn mower has to be properly maintained to stay efficient. How you should maintain it depends on the type of lawn mower you own. You'll want to refer to the manufacturer's manual to understand how to maintain your lawn mower, but we cover some of the basic maintenance steps below.

Check the Air Filter

A dirty filter can affect a lawn mower's efficiency and decrease its service life. You need to change it at least once or twice a year, depending on how often you use the machine. Follow the recommendation on how to clean and replace the type of filter installed on your lawn mower. Soapy water can usually do the trick. Make sure the mower is fully dry before reinstalling the filters. 

Replace or Stabilize the Fuel

If you're using fuel for the lawn mower, we recommend either using fresh fuel or adding a fuel stabilizer when the mower hasn't been used for about a month. Old fuel can clog the carburetor, which can affect the efficiency of your equipment. To save money on professional cleaning or repairs, make sure the fuel is stabilized. 

Additionally, we recommend using high-quality oil when lubricating the engine to improve its efficiency. Homeowners who use battery-powered lawn mowers must make sure the battery is adequately charged. 

Sharpen the Blades

You need sharp blades to cut grass efficiently and effectively. When the blades are not sharpened properly, your lawn mower has to work harder. This can reduce its service life and lead to more costly repairs. 

If you have fast-growing grass or have been away on a long vacation, we recommend sharpening your blades to ensure it works just fine. It's better to also keep an extra pair, as it might come in handy. When buying new pairs of blades, ensure it's suitable for the type of lawn mower you own. 

Change the Spark Plugs

Ideally, you should replace the spark plugs every 100 hours of use. We recommend checking your manufacturer's manual on how to replace your lawn mower's spark plugs. 

Inspect the Tire Pressure

Having proper tire pressure on your lawn mower can help you cut the grass evenly. We recommend periodically checking your tire pressure to ensure your tires are working efficiently. 

Our Top Picks

The Bradley Stand-On Compact Mower brings a lot of power to your lawn. If your small lawn has a difficult type of grass or uneven terrain, we highly recommend going for this stand-on mower. 

If you prefer a less powerful model, which may be safer, the cost-effective Bradley 36-inch Drive E-Clutch Walk-Behind Mower might be the perfect fit. It's excellent for a smaller lawn as it's easy to handle. It also comes with a 3-year warranty. 

Don't forget to also purchase must-have accessories. These can include a height-adjusting handle to better cut your grass, blade sharpeners and equipment racks. If you need more professional recommendations, please don't hesitate to give us a call. 

Get in Touch With Us

Bradley Mowers is an outdoor power equipment manufacturer located on a 14-acre complex one hour south of Chicago, Illinois. With over 300,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, We are well positioned to distribute its products throughout the United States. Please feel free to call 815-935-8383 or fill out our online form with any questions or concerns you may have.