With gas prices sky high, now might be the time to look for an electric lawn mower. However, if you have your heart set on gas, these mowers are the most fuel efficient and eco-friendly.
Table of Contents
Best for large lawns
Best for medium-sized lawns
Best for small to medium-sized lawns
Choosing the best gas-powered lawnmower for 2023 was no easy feat. For a start, there are huge differences between different types of gas mowers and a load of fantastic mowers that would top the list if only they were for sale in the US.
To make things a little easier and narrow down the field, I’ve put together my top picks for gas-powered lawn mowers for small, medium, and larger gardens. Or, if you’d rather, for light, moderate, and heavy-duty home lawn maintenance.
You’ll note that none of these mowers get more than a 2 or 3 Leaf Score. This is because they’re powered by fossil fuels and create a heck of a lot of noise pollution. For an eco-friendly and ear-friendly lawnmower, you’ll want to go for a rechargeable electric cordless mower. These mowers can be powered by clean energy and are just as powerful, in many cases, as gas engine mowers.
Curious about how we rate products? Click here to view our methodology, which at its core, is about voting with our dollars to fight climate change.
Honda HRX217HZA – For Large Lawns
Highlights: A compact, high performance, and super user-friendly gas-powered mower.
- Power: 4.2 kW (at 3,600 rpm)
- Cutting width/Deck size: 21 inch (53 cm)
- Cutting height: 19-100 mm (0.75 inch to 4 inch) (7 step)
- Grass collector: Yes
- Weight: 40.3 kg (89 lbs.)
- Control vibrations: Moderate
- Measured mean value: n/a (loud, likely 90 dB or more)
- Tank volume: 0.9 L (.24 gallons)
- Fuel consumption (L/hour) at continuous rated output at 3,600 rpm: 1.4
- Motor: GCV200 200cc OHC 4-stroke
- Self-propelling: Yes
- Adjustable handle: Yes (3 positions)
- Multi-cut settings: Yes (Bag, Mulch, Rear-Discharge)
This super user-friendly gas mower is a great pick with if you want a relatively compact model but need a lot of power. The HondaHRX217HZA boasts a ton of functions, including Honda’s Roto-stop® system, allowing you to stop the blades while leaving the engine running, so you can move the mower or empty the grass bag with ease. The Versamow™ system allows you to switch between cutting and collecting and mulching using just a flick of the lever. You can mulch, bag, discharge, and shred leaves, or go for a combination of mulching and bagging.
The Honda HRX217 has a super durable NeXite® composite plastic cutting deck that is corrosion resistant and will not become brittle when exposed to sunlight. The HRX’s 21-inch deck is high impact resistant, does not dent, rust, or corrode over time, and is considered so durable by Honda that it comes with a lifetime warranty!
The self-propulsion mechanism is easy to use, with paddles to set the speed. These paddles are within easy reach of both hands for most users, and you can adjust their position for even greater ergonomics. You can also adjust the handle to one of three heights using a wingnut. This model also has rear wheel drive, for easier maneuverability, and robust wheels with good grip.
Downsides of the Honda HRX217
Now, for the downsides. The Honda HRX217 is very heavy. A burdensome 39 kg, compared to just 27 kg for the Stihl. The self-propulsion function is a must then, without which most users will have a hard time moving the mower around. This in spite of the Honda’s plastic chassis. You’d think that the heaviness would make it hard to alter the cutting height, but a quick button press makes this super easy to adjust, with all seven steps marked clearly.
The weight of this mower is a bit perplexing, though, given that the engine is Honda’s GCV200, the lightest engine in its class. The Honda GCV200 weighs, on average, six percent less than the GCV190, but delivers more power and more torque—10 percent more as compared to their earlier GCV190 engine. The new engine is more streamlined and more compact than other engines in the same class, featuring the CycloFlow design, which strengthens turbulence in the cylinder and provides more stable combustion for ease of starting, greater resistance to lower quality fuel, and a smoother idle. This engine also has the anti-choke, auto-start system that uses a self-recharging electric battery and enables easy starts even in hot and cold weather.
The GCV200 has a larger fuel tank, meaning fewer spill opportunities. Maintenance is also a little easier with the GCV200 as Honda provide easy access to the spark plugs and oil drain.
Honda HRX217 Performance
As for performance, the Honda HRX217 is a keen mulcher even at high speeds in long grass. The offset double blade design is unusual for a mower but seems to work exceptionally well. It’s best to collect clippings in the collector or use the mulch setting as the discharge likes to kick out clippings at the rear not to the side. Happily, this model has an in-built knob to switch between settings, instead of the typical plug used by most manufacturers and which tends to get lost. If you do use the collector, though, you may get a bit annoyed with its construction as the mesh and hard plastic make it difficult to clean.
Honda mowers have a reputation (as per Consumer Reports) for needing little repair and for excellent overall customer satisfaction. Still this mower has a 5-year warranty just in case. Honda are also known for going above and beyond the basic requirements for emissions standards for smaller engines. Honda have more than 45 years of experience making high performing mowers and the HRZ217 is part of their core high performance range.
In summary, the Honda HRX217HZA is a great option if you’re looking for a compact, high performance, and super user-friendly gas-powered mower with self-propulsion for a larger garden.
Stihl RM 248 T – For Medium-Sized Lawns
Highlights: Great choice if you have a sloping lawn or need a little help moving the mower around.
- Power: 2.1 kW (at 2900 rpm)
- Cutting width/Deck size: 46 cm
- Cutting height: 25-75 mm (7 step)
- Grass collector: 55 L
- Weight: 27 kg (59.5 lbs.)
- Control vibrations: Moderate
- Measured mean value: 68.4 dB
- Tank volume: 0.8 L
- Motor: Briggs & Stratton 550EX OHVRS
- Self-propelling: Yes
- Adjustable handle: Yes
- Multi-cut settings: No
One of the most user-friendly gas-powered mowers, the Stihl RM 248 T has an energy efficient Briggs & Stratton 550EX OHVRS motor and seven cutting height settings to perfect your lawn game. This mower features a ‘high lift blade’ that creates a strong air current in the housing, effectively making grass stand upright before cutting. This air current then efficiently carries the clippings into the catcher box, where a handy indicator light will tell you when the bag needs emptying. The Stihl RM 248 T a great choice if you have a sloping lawn or need a little help moving the mower around.
Downsides of the Stihl RM 248 T
That said, you can’t reduce the speed on the Stihl, so the mower may outrun you if you like a more leisurely mow. If you can keep up, the Stihl makes for a very efficient mower. And, if you find the speed too fast, you can turn off the self-propelling function and still use the Stihl efficiently as it’s quite light, despite its metal chassis.
That lightness has advantages and disadvantages. The front end tends to lift if the collector bag is full, but the lightness makes for easier storage and maneuverability. Emptying the bag regularly will help prevent any issues.
As for build quality and ease of use, some users may find the soft-grip handle of the Stihl RM 248 T too soft, but at least it’s easy to adjust the height using a single lever. This makes the Stihl a great choice for pretty much everyone with a normal sized garden who wants a gas mower.
All of this said, the Stihl doesn’t seem to be available for sale in the US currently, so you may be limited to looking for a secondhand model or opting for the similar performance Snapper (see below). For a more eco-friendly mowing option, an electric mower would be best, of course.
Snapper RP2185020 NINJA – For Small and Medium-Sized Lawns
Highlights: Great gas-powered mower for the average yard; it has a reliable engine with a quality guarantee.
- Power: 2600 rpm
- Cutting width/Deck size: 21 inch (53 cm)
- Cutting height: 32-100 mm (1.25 inch to 4 inch) (7 step)
- Grass collector: Yes
- Weight: 37.4 kg (82.5 lbs.)
- Control vibrations: Moderate
- Measured mean value: n/a
- Tank volume: 1 L (.26 gallons)
- Motor: Briggs & Stratton 850 Professional Series OHV 4-stroke
- Self-propelling: Yes
- Adjustable handle: Yes
- Multi-cut settings: No, mulch only (Bagging optional)
- Price: $622
The Snapper RP2185020 NINJA is a self-propelled, gas-powered lawn mower made in the US. This mower can handle small to medium gardens, even when terrain is rough. With a Briggs & Stratton 850 Professional Series engine, this mower needs no priming or choking, just pull the cord and it jumps to life. That’s thanks to a magnetic electronic ignition system that’s maintenance-free. The engine’s cast iron sleeve also makes for some serious durability. And, if your engine doesn’t start in two pulls, you can have it repaired or replaced for free as part of the company’s guarantee.
Rear-wheel drive and a smooth turning action makes using this mower a breeze, including on hilly lawns and where obstacles necessitate tight turns. The back wheels are a beasty 10 inches while the front wheels measure 8 inches for maneuverability.
The self-propelling function offers variable speed and you can easily adjust the handle height to satisfy every user. The handle does feature a foam grip, which makes it more comfortable but could expose users to unwanted chemicals. My advice is to wear gloves, which will also further help reduce vibration injuries when using a gas-powered mower.
The Snapper Ninja has a 21-inch cutting deck with 7 height settings ranging from 1.25 inches to 4 inches, so if you like your grass cut super short, you’ll want to go for the Honda HRX217HZA instead.
The Ninja blades offer six cutting surfaces to mulch grass and the deck design blows it back onto the lawn. The cutting deck is made with stamped steel and the Ninja also features a solid steel front axle for durability.
The Snapper Ninja weighs 82.5 lbs., making it a few pounds lighter than the Honda HRX217.
All in all, the Snapper is a great gas-powered mower for the average yard; it has a reliable engine with a quality guarantee.