If you only have a small yard, but it is too much to maintain with a weed eater, you need to invest in the best small lawn mower. A heavy-duty mower is probably overkill — in price, noise, and size — for your tiny yard, but there are plenty of compact mowers designed to maintain smaller spaces. In fact, we reviewed an incredible lawnmower from Worx, that we can't help but rave about — it did wonders on our small yard.
While some small lawnmowers are gas-powered, this one works on two batteries to be kind to the environment — and so that you never run out of power. Small lawn mowers offer different mulching options so that you can feed your lawn as you mow, and this one that we love gives you the choice to either bag it up or mulch your grass back into the ground. The best part about it? It costs less than $300, it's available at Amazon AND right now it's actually on sale. Need we continue?
Quick Menu:
1. The best small lawn mower info
2. How to choose
3. Tips
4. How we review
5. FAQs
Yes, the Worx WG779.E Power Share is pretty amazing. Our reviewer loved it and found it so easy to use to trim her unruly but small lawn. It's a great option for people who have an ample lawn, but lack the space to store a larger machine as it folds, and even if your yard isn't small (we're jealous!) it can be used to mow up to 1/8 acre (AKA 5000 sq ft). Wow!
This is the best small lawnmower you can buy
The Worx Power Share 40-Volt 14-in Mower is small but mighty. At only 29 lbs, this mower is easy to move around, and even lighter when you remove the batteries for storage and transit.
Equipped with patented torque technology, you have the capability to increase the power of this mower to Turbo if you’re cutting thick grass (but remember, this will use up more battery). For regular use, we found Eco mode was competent, especially for regular trims. The cutting base is 14 inches across and there are six height adjustments that range between 2.5 to 3.5 inches with an easy-to-use lever for height adjustments. You can either mulch your grass or bag up to .85 bushels before a ‘full bag indicator’ alert notifies you it’s time to empty the bag.
To get started, simply insert the safety button, depress then pull the handle lever and you’re ready to mow. The Worx lawnmower runs on two 20V 4.0 Ah batteries. Power Share advertises that this mower can mow 5,000 square feet with just one charge. However, this wholly depends on various factors like the thickness or height of your grass. Just keep an eye on the battery meter to know when you need to juice up and keep spares on charge. We found it capable of doing a good half hour or more of mowing before it was time to recharge which is plenty for the average yard.
So while we think this is the best small lawn mower, as we've already mentioned: you could find it a good choice for a larger yard too.
You can read our full Worx WG779E 40V Cordless Lawn Mower review for more.
How to choose a lawn mower for your small yard
If you have opted for a small lawn mower then it is likely your main concerns will be around how much power and ease of use you can get into a compact package. At one time, electric lawn mowers, including cordless battery-powered models were quite big and heavy to accommodate large battery packs for optimal run time. Luckily, technology has advanced and things like more efficient batteries and brushless motors mean you get greater run time in a smaller package.
Next, consider the cutting width. Most range from 12 inches to 21 inches. It might be tempting to go smaller for ease of movement and storage space limitations, but with edge-to-edge cutting, even the largest model on our list is a great choice if you are looking for a particularly compact lawn mower. That said, bigger will tend to mean weightier, so if you are concerned about lifting — perhaps due to a bad back — take the narrower model and be prepared for a couple of extra runs of your yard.
Finally, if storage is your main reason for buying the best small lawn mower, look at foldable options. Many compact lawnmowers have a foldaway handle and don't forget the grass box. Our favorite one has a soft material grass box that flattens down. Some mulching mowers have no grass box at all.
Tips for getting the most from your small lawn mower
Lawnmowers aren’t as scary as you think. They're easy to use if you know the right tips and tricks...
Energy reserve
You don’t want to be halfway through mowing your lawn only to discover that you’ve run out of juice. If you purchase a gas-powered lawn mower, make sure you top up before each use and have a gas container with gas stored in your garage or shed in case you need more.
For those who buy a battery-powered lawn mower, you might want to consider buying a backup battery. The harder a battery-powered lawn mower has to work (like a lawn where the grass is higher or thicker), the quicker the battery will die out. If your main battery runs out of charge mid-way through mowing the lawn, just pop in the backup battery.
Never mow a wet lawn
If your lawn is wet from morning dew or rain, make sure you wait until it's dry before you mow the lawn. For one, wet grass is heavier so the lawn mower won’t be able to cut the lawn to the best of its ability. Dry grass stands straight up making it easier to cut. Secondly, wet grass clippings can damage the mower which is an easy way to ruin your day.
Clean the lawn mower deck
Every once in a while, turn the lawn mower over and clean under the deck. Grass and grime can build up under there and on the blades, making your lawn mower less effective over time. If you have a gas-powered mower, make sure the gas tank is empty and the spark plug wire is disconnected if you decide to clean the deck with the garden hose. It’s not a bad idea to blow off the lawn mower with your blower after each use.
Be careful what you mow over
Before mowing your lawn, try to pick up sticks and other debris that could ruin your lawn mower blades. It’s best to avoid stumps and vines as these can also damage or get wrapped around the blades.
Grass clippings are good for the yard
Although some people hate the sight of grass clippings left on a yard, they can actually be beneficial to your yard's health as they're a natural fertilizer. A mulching feature on a lawn mower is a good option because it breaks down leaves and grass and helps it to decompose quicker. That said, bagging clippings – especially weeds or grass that’s really high – could be helpful at certain times.
How we review small lawn mowers
Yes, this small lawnmower has been tested by a Real Homes reviewer. Our Content Director of Lifestyle Ecommerce tested it for us in her backyard, and as you can already tell: she loved it.
Lindsey has been writing about homes since 2013, when she joined the Homebuilding & Renovating team. Now, she spends her time reviewing and managing several homes titles, including Homes & Gardens and Livingetc, helping with best practices for our ecommerce content.
Lindsey reviewed the Worx lawnmower back in 2023, and when speaking about it says "With an impressive battery life, good range of movement, and edge-to-edge cutting, this cordless lawn mower is great value for money. Easy to use and store, I almost can't wait to mow the lawn again".
FAQs
What type of mower is best for small lawn?
Definitely go for a smaller size lawnmower, and one that's cordless if you can for total convenience, otherwise a corded model will still work. just check its cord is long enough to reach around your lawn. Try and get one that folds if you don't have much storage space for your lawnmower, and do consider its cutting width — the higher this number, the faster you'll be able to mow your lawn. But remember, the bigger the width of the mower, the bulkier it will be to store. We'd always say to go electric over gas for the environment and for convenience and ease.
Can I use a trimmer instead of a lawn mower?
If you want to follow the "won't take up any room" route to its logical conclusion, it may be tempting to just use your trimmer instead of a lawn mower. After all, if it's just a small lawn, how hard can it be? Trust us, it's very hard work, and you won't get an even trim no matter how hard you try. Even tiny lawns need lawnmowers, although if yours is really very small, a hand-push one will probably suffice.
If you really don't want to mow though, don't! We love the look of a wildflower meadow — as do any garden visitors like bees and small creatures.
