The Best Inexpensive Lawn Mower Under $200: Recommendations and Reviews

Looking for the best lawn mower under $200? Today we are sharing our top picks for cheap lawn mowers that will still get the job done when you’re on a budget.

The best lawn mowers under $200

What is the Best Lawn Mower Under $200?

Ok friend, there’s some good news and some bad news.

Let’s start with the good news: There are a few lawn mowers that are priced below $200 that are still worth buying.

But the bad news is that there aren’t many that we would actually recommend.

That being said, we will go ahead and tell you which ones we think are decent at that price point. However, for the sake of giving you the best advice possible, we will also tell you what we think is the best budget-friendly lawn mower you can buy if you spend just a bit more (and we promise you won’t regret it).

So, you came here for the best cheap lawn mowers and here they are:

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The Best Gas Powered Lawn Mower Under $200

PowerSmart Lawn Mower, 21-inch & 170CC, Gas Powered Push Mower

PowerSmart Self propelled Gas Lawn Mower 21-Inch 144cc 4-Cycle Engine 3-in-1 Walk-Behind Lawnmower with 5-Position Height Adjustment (DB2321PR)
  • Powerful Gas Powered Engine: 144cc 4-stroke engine equipped with recoil starter and auto choke. Easy to start and provides professional quality cut every time.

Our favorite lawn mower at this price point is the PowerSmart 170cc gas powered mower.  This mower brings to the table a lot of features that come on higher priced modes.  The lower price point of this mower is due to it being push only and not self propelled.  This would be great for smaller lawns and comes with a robust 3 year warranty.

Pros

  • Budget price point
  • 170cc engine
  • Cutting height 1 ⅛-3 inches
  • Bag for clippings
  • 3-in-1 Mulch and side discharge capabilities
  • 21in cutting deck
  • Folding handles for easy storage

Cons

  • Not self propelled

Best Electric Mower Under $200

Sun Joe MJ401C-XR 14-Inch 28V 5 Cordless Lawn Mower

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Sun Joe MJ401C-XR 14-Inch 28-Volt 5-Amp Cordless Lawn Mower w/Brushless Motor, 10.6-Gallon Detachable Collection Bag, Lightweight, Green
  • [POWERFUL]: Perfect for Small to medium lawns, battery-powered mower's durable Steel blade cuts a crisp 14-inch wide path with precision in a single pass

This Sun Joe cordless electric lawn mower is great for smaller yards and comes equipped with a battery and grass clippings catch basket.  Compared to other electric mowers on the market this Sun Joe offering is budget friendly and comes with a two year warranty.

Pros

  • Great for small to medium sized lawns
  • Rechargeable 28 volt battery
  • 3 different cutting heights
  • Grass clipping bag
  • Great Price Point

Cons

  • Smaller 14 inch cutting deck would be too small for larger areas

Greenworks 24V 13 inch Lawn Mower, MO24B410

Greenworks 24V 13-Inch Cordless (2-In-1) Push Lawn Mower, 4.0Ah USB Battery (USB Hub) and Charger Included MO24B410
  • Greenworks 24V Lithium-Ion battery provides 20% more power and run-time, and delivers fade-free power with no memory loss after charging.Number of blades : 5 Helical blades.

This cordless, electric mower from Greenworks is priced just under $200 and has amazing reviews. This mower is super light-weight which makes it easy to use and maneuver. The 4 AH battery provides enough power for you to tackle up to 1/4 acre on a single charge. This little workhouse is small enough to get in-between shrubs and other tight spaces, but powerful enough to get the job done.

Pros:

  • Runs smoothly and quietly
  • Super lightweight
  • 45 minute approximate run time on single charge
  • 16 inch deck fits in tight spaces and is easy to store
  • USB port for charging phone while mowing
  • Easy to push

Cons:

  • 13 inch cutting width may be considered too small for larger lawns
  • Not self-propelled

What is the best lawn mower I can buy at the cheapest price?

Ok, so we know that you came here looking for a lawn mower under that 200 dollar price point, but our best advice is to spend just a bit more in order to get a mower that will be a much better purchase in the long run.

Lawn-Boy 17732 21-Inch Kohler XTX OHV, Self Propelled Lawn Mower

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When trying to save money and purchasing a quality and reliable lawn mower it is best to invest in the best you can afford so you can avoid making a bad purchase and having to buy a replacement. Our pick for the best and cheapest lawn mower you can buy would be the Lawn-Boy 3-in-1 self propelled mower.  Although this exceeds or criteria for a lawn mower under $200, at a price point of around $280 you get a lot of mower for the value.  Lawn-Boy is owned by Toro who’s known for making great lawn equipment.

Pros

  • Budget friendly
  • 149cc Kohler engine
  • Easy cutting height adjustment from 1.25 to 3.75 inches
  • Bag-Mulch-Rear Discharge capability
  • 21 inch deck
  • Rear wheel drive

How much should you spend on a lawn mower?

When trying to be budget conscious when purchasing a new lawn mower it is important to not just settle on buying the cheapest option. When looking at price point alone, you might be purchasing a mower that doesn’t meet your needs. 

Determine your needs based upon the size of your lawn, bagging or mulching capabilities, and self propelled vs a push only.  After looking at these needs then you can browse various options that will serve you well.  The most versatile mowers are available for around $300.00

Is it worth buying a used lawn mower?

You will probably be able to find some great deals in your local area for used lawn mowers. 

If you are small engine savvy you can look through your local marketplace and find some quality used mowers.  If you are not necessarily mechanically inclined, your best bet is to go to a small engine repair shop or a locally owned power tool retail store.

These shops traditionally have quality used equipment that has been serviced and is ready to use at a discounted price.

Why are lawn mowers so expensive?

Of course there is generally a huge mark-up on retail price, similar to most retail items, but you also get what you pay for.

In our research the greatest mark-up in pricing generally occurs in the $400 to $700 dollar range.  Many of the lawn mowers in this price range will all have the same features so make sure to compare models to make the most out of your purchase.

If you are still undecided, some of the brands we trust are Toro, Honda, Club Cadet, and Troy Built for gas powered mowers.  As for electric offerings we like Toro, EGO, Greenworks and Sun Joe.

Lawn mowers can vary in price depending on the features that are included as well as the engine or electric motor that provides its power.  Homeowner lawn mowers can vary dramatically in price from around $200 to over $2,000.

Some of the features that would potentially create this large gap in pricing would include the engine provided, lawn mower deck material, cutting width,  and mulching and bagging options.

When looking at prices it is important to look at the features you desire in your lawn mower.  Some things to consider are.

  • Self propelled vs push only

If you have a smaller (under 3,000 sq feet) and flat landscape you could use a push mower.  If your landscape is larger and has some slope or hills to contend with you would be better served with a self propelled mower.

  • Do you need a grass clippings bag?

Many of the budget lawn mowers will not have the capability to bag your clippings.  This is ok if you can keep-up on your mowing and not cut off more than ⅓ of your total height in a single cutting.  If your lawn was to get too long and you removed more, your lawn will have clumps of clippings left over.  A bag is great if you want to collect your lawn clippings and also works well for general clean up of small lawn debris and leaves.

  • Cutting deck size

Cutting decks range in widths from 19 inches wide up to 30 inches wide.  Wider cutting decks will cut a lawn faster than a smaller deck because you will be cutting off a wider swath with each pass.  All things considered a wider deck will cost more.

What is the best month to buy a lawn mower?

When looking for a discounted lawn mower there are two great times to catch a great deal. 

First look at mowers at the end of the season before holiday sales hit.  This will usually be from August to October.  The second best time is to look for sales or discounts in early spring on previous seasons models.

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