# Buying a battery-powered lawn mower: self-propelled or not? (Need answer fast!) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574 "2022-05-17T20:35:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/1 "2022-05-17T20:35:36Z")
I’m about to buy one of these two Ryobi 40V lawn mowers, and I’m debating whether it’s worth it to pay an extra $100 for the self-propelled model. The push one gets better reviews than the self-propelled. I’m guessing that’s mostly because it uses up the battery faster. What’s your experience with self-propelled mowers, gas or electric? FYI, the yard I’ll be mowing is less than 1/4 acre, rocky and uneven, with lots of bushes and shrubs. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Uob1Noypf8KQjTbx0jI2lQYWXuvp1z7zlBXYbumNNKuW3lidJlH9cZ_3HlarIZXw7ui3VaDeRwb7AeTIuLrgLfUFlgPRwdOY2tZgrf8gW3LVGOHuG6_wbP8THbGLqEK3rPpxfg23-II=w600-h315-p-k "New item by James Hyder") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/2hnqXPt3n7ovNbxAA) I plan to make the decision in a day or two. Thanks. > **[RYOBI 40V HP Brushless 20 in. Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower with...](https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-40V-HP-Brushless-20-in-Cordless-Battery-Walk-Behind-Push-Mower-with-6-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-RY401170VNM/317061059)** > > RYOBI continues to lead the industry in cordless mower innovation with their 40V HP 20 > **[RYOBI 40V HP Brushless 20 in. Cordless Electric Battery Walk Behind...](https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-40V-HP-Brushless-20-in-Cordless-Electric-Battery-Walk-Behind-Self-Propelled-Mower-with-6-0-Ah-Battery-and-Charger-RY401180VNM/317061072)** > > RYOBI continues to lead the industry in cordless mower innovation with their 40V HP 20 ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/2 "2022-05-17T20:36:48Z")
Depends on how in shape you are and how much work you want to do. I got a greenworks self propelled, and it’s the best mower I’ve ever had. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/3 "2022-05-17T20:44:57Z")
I have a 10,000 sq’ property so close to the same size. But pretty flat. I’m a fat 50-something and the battery operated not self-propelled works great. No need for self-propelled for me. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/4 "2022-05-17T21:18:37Z")
I’m 61, in pretty good shape. to \<1/4 acre and flat. I went with the EGO. I didn’t NEED the self-propelled, but that was what they had in stock. And I must say it makes the job slightly more pleasant. Less of a chore. Not that it ever was a really onerous chore, but just enough that I won’t put it off, or won’t mind doing it an extra time when company is coming over. But if you have a lot of rocks and bushes, you’ll likely be doing all of that without the self propel. Self propel is really only good for longish straight paths. So entirely not needed, but IMO, kinda nice to have. And the $100 one way or another isn’t going to make or break me. Damn - that is one helluva view! Where are you at? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/5 "2022-05-17T21:37:25Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Damn - that is one helluva view! Where are you at? Oh, come on. Like _you_ don’t own an island 😉 ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/6 "2022-05-17T21:56:43Z")
If you’ve been using gas mowers, you may be surprised at how light the Ryobi is. It’s plastic with an electric motor compared to a steel frame gas mower with a metal engine. Since it’s not all that much effort to push, the self-propelled feature isn’t as useful as on a heavy mower. Because you may have to be moving the mower back and forth around all those trees and such, I would probably go with the push mower. It’s lighter so you can schooch it around those trees and bushes easier and you won’t be fighting the propelled wheels. The self-propelled feature might be more useful if you had a big, flat rectangle of grass since you’d just be going back and forth over the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/7 "2022-05-17T22:18:37Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > But if you have a lot of rocks and bushes, you’ll likely be doing all of that without the self propel. Self propel is really only good for longish straight paths. So entirely not needed, but IMO, kinda nice to have. And the $100 one way or another isn’t going to make or break me. I’ll come down on the other side. I have a Ryobi self propelled, and I feel like I use the drive motor most for those strange angles around my bushes and stuff where I can’t really push it well. Straight lines are easy. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/8 "2022-05-17T22:29:14Z")
It’s especially nice when going under trees. I can walk off to the side as the mower goes under ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/9 "2022-05-17T22:33:42Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Damn - that is one helluva view! Where are you at? North Shore of Boston. Marblehead is visible on the left. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/10 "2022-05-17T22:37:10Z")
Is it hard to disengage the drive motor? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/11 "2022-05-17T22:37:20Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > It’s especially nice when going under trees. I can walk off to the side as the mower goes under   … and Do-Si-Mow your partner … ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/12 "2022-05-17T22:49:02Z")
I’ve got a self-propelled Ego (brand lawn mower). Our lawn has hills, and the drive is nice going against gravity. Usually I’ll push it myself on the level areas to make the battery last longer. If you can easily afford the self-propelled it is nice to have the drive available — maybe it will be even nicer in five or 10 years. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/13 "2022-05-17T22:50:25Z")
I use a several year-old push mower on a smallish enclosed yard that serves as spaniel habitat. Its self-propelled feature went bust awhile back, and I definitely notice the extra labor involved in trundling the mower around. If the extra $100 isn’t a big deal, I’d go with the self-propelled model. You’ll appreciate it during hot muggy weather, assuming there’s a fair amount of that where you live. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2022, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/14 "2022-05-17T22:52:00Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > Is it hard to disengage the drive motor? On the Ego brand it’s easy as pie. I’ll engage it going up hill and disengage it going down. You can adjust the speed easily as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/15 "2022-05-18T02:03:50Z")
Enjoy that Ryobi! I had the previous iteration, and I’ll never go back to a gas mower. Mine wasn’t self-propelled, but they’re so dang light that unless you have wicked hills or mobility issues you probably won’t NEED it. One of my boys killed that mower, so I have recently purchased the Makita 36v self-propelled. Honestly, I barely use the self-propel function at all. One of the few times I did was to make sure I was doing very straight lines on my front yard. A bonus: It’s easier to carry a beer with a self-propelled if you’re in to that sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/16 "2022-05-18T02:05:28Z")
Yeah - on the EGO, it is just a lever right at your hand. Close your fingers around it and off it goes. Takes a beat or 2 to engage, but pretty quick. Loosen your fingers and push. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/17 "2022-05-18T02:20:17Z")
On gas powered self propelled, if they have a speed control, it also slows the blade if you slow the speed of the mower. On an electric, they are independent. I like that the high speed is actually a pretty brisk walk, it gets the job done faster, and acts as a bit of exercise. Also, you don’t have to have the blade running in order to use the self propelled, which is useful for going from the front to the back, or otherwise crossing areas that don’t need cutting. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/18 "2022-05-18T02:31:50Z")
Thanks for all the replies, folks. I think I will probably get the self-propelled model. I can afford the $100 difference, and since there seem to be few if any downsides, and since I’ll be 67 years old this year, I might as well go ahead. Thanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Sensitive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Darth\_Sensitive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Sensitive)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/19 "2022-05-18T02:43:51Z")
It was a PITA to turn off the drive on my gas mower cause you had to disengage the safety. Now, you could reengage it before the engine died, but it took effort. On the Ryobi I have it’s a separate handle from the safety. Like a bike brake. Just grab to go whenever I want an assist. ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574/20 "2022-05-18T04:31:37Z")
Having the extra weight and power drain of the other motor will kill the battery quicker I would think. Maybe not a good trade off? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-a-battery-powered-lawn-mower-self-propelled-or-not-need-answer-fast/964574.md?page=2)