Whether you are a senior looking to purchase a new easy-to-use lawn mower, or a loved one searching for a mower to keep the senior in your life active and independent, our list of the best lightweight lawn mowers for elderly will help you make the right choice.
The Best Light-Weight Lawn Mowers for Seniors
What's Inside:
Staying active and getting outside is important for individuals of all ages. As we get a couple of extra birthdays under our belt it is extremely important to maintain our activity levels, mobility and independence.
Working in the yard and gardening is a great activity that you can do to get some fresh air and exercise close to home. With the right equipment maintaining and mowing your lawn can be a joyful and safe experience.
When shopping for a lawn mower that is appropriate for elderly there are a few key features that will make them user friendly and safe for mowing. Some of the key features to consider would include:
- Gas vs Electric
- Self propelled vs push mower
- Maneuverability
- Weight
- Storage
Gas vs Electric
Traditionally when you are looking to purchase a new lawn mower you have two basic options, gas powered or a manual push reel style mower.
We are currently in a new era for lawn mowers as companies are now producing great battery powered lawn mowers.
Electric mowers are flooding the market, and for good reason, as they perform on par and sometimes better than traditional gas powered rotary mowers. Let take a look at a few of the differences between gas powered lawn mowers and battery powered electric mowers.
Gas powered lawn mowers are traditionally going to be heavier than a better powered lawn mower. Battery powered lawn mowers have significantly less moving parts making them lighter and potentially easier to maneuver. A lighter mower will have a tendency to “float” on top of the grass when cutting compared to a heavier gas powered mower.
Since there are less moving parts, an electric lawn mower will also require less maintenance.
Maintenance on an electric mower will consist of battery charging, or purchasing a new battery, and sharpening or replacing the cutting blade, which you can have done at your local small engine repair shop.
A gas powered mower will need annual maintenance consisting of oil changes, blade sharpening or replacement, and the added cost of fuel.
Gas powered lawn mowers traditionally have more power, making it easier to cut long or wet grass, but today’s battery powered mowers do a great job of providing adequate power similar to many gas powered units.
Comparing these two platforms head to head, gas powered will provide more power, but will be heavier and require more maintenance.
Self Propelled vs Push Mower
A self propelled lawn mower will have a drive system that when engaged will move the lawn mower forward with minimal effort, this is a key feature when choosing a lawn mower for an older individual.
Self propelled lawn mowers are traditionally heavier as the drive gearing will add additional weight.
Push mowers will still have an engine to propel the blades but do not have a drive system to move the mower forward. Any movement of the mower will be provided by pushing it while you are walking. Because they lack the drive system, push mowers tend to be lighter but are more difficult to push.
Maneuverability and Weight
Self propelled mowers will be easier to handle when you are mowing in a straight line as the gearing system will move the mower in a forward motion with minimal effort.
However, self propelled lawn mowers become a little cumbersome when you have to move the mower backwards or you have to perform a lot of turns in a tight space as these mowers are generally heavier and do not self propel backwards.
Push mowers are a little easier to maneuver in tight spaces and are easier to pull backwards as they are lighter.
It is also important to consider where you will be storing the lawn mower and any obstacles between storage and the lawn. To make this process easier make sure the lawn mower you consider can be easily moved from one area to another.
Storage
If you are downsizing or like to keep a nice and tidy garage or shed it is important to consider where you are going to be storing your lawn mower. Many newer lawn mowers have folding handles and can be stored in an upright position to give you maximum storage and minimize tripping over handles that may be in the way.
Lightweight Electric Lawn Mowers
Greenworks G-MAX 40V Cordless Lawn Mower
- CORDLESS LAWN MOWER – Get more done, faster, with Greenworks electric lawn mowers. This 40v push lawn mower provides the power you need with up to 45 minutes of runtime on a fully charged 4.0Ah battery. The battery completely charges in 120 minutes.
The Greenworks G-Max 40V battery operated lawn mower is a great option for seniors. Greenworks has a reliable battery platform that will work across the board with their outdoor tool line-up. This mower has a 16” cutting swath and is easily maneuverable. Cutting height is made easy with a single handle that can raise and lower all four wheels at once. The provided grass clippings bag is built to last with easy removal and replacement.
Features
- Battery powered
- Push Mower
- 60 min of run time
- 16inch cutting swath
- Mulch or Bag clippings
- Easy to maneuver
- Weight 37.5 lbs
- Folding handle for storage
Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 48-Volt Mulching Walk-Behind Lawn Mower w/Grass Catcher
- [POWERFUL]: 670-watt brushless motor runs cooler and lasts longer than traditional brush motors
Sun Joe’s light weight battery powered electric lawn mower is a great mower to consider for seniors. This mower is simple to use and maneuvers with ease. It has a 14 inch cutting swath and a run time of about 60 minutes which is perfect for smaller lawns.
Features
- Battery powered
- Push only
- 60 minutes of run time
- Mulch or bag clippings
- Easy adjustments
- Weight 33.8 lbs
- Folding handle for storage
EGO 20 in. Walk Behind-Self Propelled, Cordless Mower Kit
- Delivers the torque of gas-powered mowers 7.5Ah 56V battery (shipped separately) and Rapid Charger 20 in. steel deck
This offering from Ego is our only self propelled electric lawn mower in our review. This mower is heavier in weight but has a drive system that propels the mower forward when engaged. This mower is perfect for larger areas as it has a 20 inch cutting deck and would be a good replacement if you are coming from a gas operated self propelled mower.
Features
- Battery powered
- Self propelled
- 60 minutes of run time
- Mulch, bag or side discharge compatible
- Weight 165lbs
- Top of class in durability
- 7.5 Ah 56-Volt battery
Light-weight Gas Powered Lawn Mowers
Lawn-Boy 17732 Kohler XTX OHV, 3-in-1 Discharge Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled Lawn Mower
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This self propelled gas lawn mower is one of our favorites. The Lawn-Boy 17732 mower gives the homeowner a lot of quality and features at a competitive price. As mentioned, this mower is self propelled and has good power supplied by a gas Kohler engine. With the features and quality of build of this mower, it is still lightweight and easy to handle.
Features
- Gas Engine
- Self propelled rear drive
- 21 inch cutting width
- Mulch, bag or side discharge compatible
- Weight 66 lbs
- Folding handle for storage
Toro Smart Stow Sp Mwr22″ Gas Mower
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Toro is a household name and is a brand you can trust. The Toro Smart Stow is a great gas mower for homeowners including seniors. This mower is a lightweight push mower that folds at the handles and can be placed upright for easy storage. This lawn mower does not require oil changes and requires less maintenance than traditional gas mowers. It has a 22 inch cutting deck and is perfect for medium to large lawns.
Features
- Gas engine
- Push only
- Mulch, bag or side discharge
- Low maintenance
- Weight 69 lbs
- Compact storage
Best Riding Mower for Elderly
Troy Built 6-Speed Manual Drive Gas Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower
If you have a larger lawn, or have mobility issues a riding mower might be your best bet, Troy Bilt’s 30 inch riding mower is a great one to consider. We like the simplicity of this riding lawn mower and the easy in and out step through design between the steering wheel and seat. This gas powered riding mower provides plenty of power with its 382cc engine. This riding lawn mower also has a smaller footprint so it will take-up less space when not in use.
Features
- 382cc Gas Engine
- Self propelled riding lawn mower
- Easy start with auto choke system
- Spacious cockpit and easy access controls
- Large 18 inch rear wheels
- 30 inch cutting deck
What is the lightest weight lawn mower?
The lightest lawn mower is the Sun Joe 48volt Mulching Walk Behind Mower.
This mower comes in at just 33lbs. There are lighter lawn mowers that are electric and are powered by extension cords that need to be plugged in. For seniors we do not recommend these mowers as the cords have a tendency to get into the way and become a tripping hazard. These mowers weigh around 20-25lbs so for a few pounds of added weight go with a battery operated lawn mower for a better safer experience.
What is the easiest lawn mower to use?
For ease of use we recommend any of the electric battery powered lawn mowers. T
hese mowers are started with a push of a button and require charging of the removable batteries between mowings, so it doesn’t get much easier than that. Traditional gas operated machines will require refueling and manual pull starts which can sometime be difficult for seniors or anyone who lacks the strength for a manual pull.