Best Push-Button Start Lawn Mowers
Best push-button start lawn mowers compared by starting system, deck size, drive type, battery capacity, and what happens if the starting battery runs down.
At a Glance
EGO POWER+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Lawn Mower with Battery, Charger (LM2114)
↓ See why we picked itEGO Power+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower (LM2134SP-2)
↓ See why we picked itGreenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
↓ See why we picked itGreenworks 60V 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower, 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger
↓ See why we picked itGreenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
↓ See why we picked itKOMASTY 40V 16-Inch Cordless Battery Powered Lawn Mower, 2-in-1 Mulching
↓ See why we picked itPush-button start means different things depending on the mower. On a battery mower, push-button start is inherent to the design: there is no engine to prime or pull, just a safety key or bail lever and a start button. On a gas mower advertised with electric start, the button is powering a small starting battery that spins a normal gasoline engine, and that battery needs its own charging and maintenance separate from the fuel system.
We grouped the current lineup by starting system and drive type, then compared deck size, included battery capacity, self-propel availability, and what a buyer needs to know about backup starting before choosing a model. Because the current push-button lineup we reviewed is entirely battery-powered, every model below starts the same simple way: a safety key, a bail lever, and a button, with no pull cord and no separate starting battery to maintain.
5 Criteria to Look For Before Buying a Push-Button Start Lawn Mower
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Battery push-button start vs gas electric-start
On a battery mower, push-button start is inherent: there is no engine, so the key and button simply close a safety circuit. On a gas mower advertised as electric start, the button spins a normal gasoline engine using a small separate starting battery that needs its own charging and off-season maintenance.
Cold-start reliability
Battery mowers do not need choke settings, priming, or warm-up and generally start the same way regardless of temperature, as long as the main battery has charge. Gas electric-start mowers can still be harder to start in cold weather even with a charged starting battery, since the engine itself still needs proper fuel and choke handling.
What happens if the starting battery is dead
Most battery push-button mowers have no backup starting method: if the main battery is dead, the mower will not run until it is recharged or swapped. Gas mowers with electric start usually keep a pull-cord backup, so a dead starting battery is an inconvenience rather than a stopped mowing day. Check the specific model before assuming either type has a fallback.
Safety interlocks
Push-button mowers typically require a removable safety key plus a bail lever held against the handle before the blade will engage, and releasing the bail lever stops the blade. Confirm both interlocks are present and understand how quickly the blade stops after release.
Convenience vs added mechanical complexity
Push-button starting removes pull-cord effort, but on gas mowers it adds a small starting battery, charging port, and another component that can fail or need replacement over the mower's life. On battery mowers, the tradeoff shifts instead to overall runtime and recharging the main pack rather than a separate starting system.
Best Push-Button Start Lawn Mowers
EGO POWER+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Lawn Mower with Battery, Charger (LM2114)
About this pick
The EGO POWER+ LM2114 is a 21-inch cordless mower on EGO's 56V platform, sold with a battery and charger included so the push-button start works out of the box. Buyers rate it 4.5 stars across roughly 2,160 reviews, one of the stronger review counts in this lineup, which suggests the starting system and general reliability hold up over repeated seasons.
Because there is no gasoline engine, starting is simply inserting the safety key, holding the bail lever, and pressing the button, with no separate starting battery to keep charged. Confirm the deck width fits your gates and storage, and check current runtime specs against your lawn size before buying.
Best for: standard-size lawns where a proven push-button battery mower with strong review history matters
Check price on AmazonPros
- +56V battery and charger included so start-up needs no extra purchase
- +4.5-star rating across about 2,160 reviews
Cons
- −Push drive only, so self-propel is not available on this model.
EGO Power+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower (LM2134SP-2)
About this pick
The EGO LM2134SP-2 pairs the same 21-inch cordless push-button starting system with self-propelled drive, aimed at buyers who want less pushing effort on a full-size deck. It carries a 4.5-star rating from about 316 reviews, a smaller sample than the base LM2114 but consistent with it on the rating itself.
Self-propel draws from the same battery pack that powers the blade, so runtime on hills or thick grass should be checked against the current listing before buying. Starting still needs only the safety key and button, with no pull cord or separate starting battery involved.
Best for: buyers who want push-button starting plus self-propelled drive on a full-size deck
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Self-propelled drive reduces pushing effort on a 21-inch deck
- +4.5-star rating from about 316 reviews
Cons
- −Self-propel shares battery capacity with the blade, which can shorten runtime on hills or thick grass.
- −Higher price than the push-only models in this lineup.
Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
About this pick
Greenworks' 80V 21-inch self-propelled mower ships with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, so the push-button start and self-propel are both usable immediately. It shares the same 4.5-star rating as both EGO models above, from about 586 reviews, a reasonable middle ground in sample size for this lineup.
As with any battery self-propelled mower, drive use and blade use draw from the same pack, so plan around the harder sections of the lawn rather than the easiest pass. Starting requires only the included key and button, with no separate starting battery or pull cord to maintain.
Best for: buyers wanting self-propel and a higher-voltage included pack at a lower price than EGO's self-propelled model
Check price on AmazonPros
- +4.5-star rating from about 586 reviews
- +80V 4.0Ah battery and charger included, ready to start immediately
Cons
- −Self-propel and blade use share the same battery pack, which can limit runtime under load.
Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower, 5.0 Ah Battery and Charger
About this pick
This Greenworks 60V mower delivers a full 21-inch deck and a 5.0Ah included battery at a lower price than the self-propelled options above, without a drive motor. It holds a 4.4-star rating from about 494 reviews, close to the self-propelled Greenworks model but on a simpler, push-only machine.
Without self-propel, all of the battery's energy goes to the blade, which can help runtime on a per-charge basis if pushing is not a concern. Push-button starting works the same way as the rest of this lineup: key in, bail lever held, button pressed.
Best for: buyers who want a full-width push-button deck without paying for self-propel
Check price on AmazonPros
- +21-inch deck with a 60V 5.0Ah battery included
- +4.4-star rating from about 494 reviews
Cons
- −No self-propel, so pushing effort is higher on larger or sloped lawns.
Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Lawn Mower, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger
About this pick
The Greenworks 40V 16-inch mower is the smallest deck in this lineup and by far the most reviewed, holding a 4.2-star rating across roughly 12,116 reviews. That review volume gives more confidence in how the push-button starting system holds up across a wide range of buyers and yards.
The narrower 16-inch deck and single 4.0Ah pack suit small lawns rather than larger properties where a wider deck would cut mowing time. Starting is the same simple key-and-button process used across the rest of this lineup, with no pull cord to fall back on or separate starting battery to charge.
Best for: small lawns where a compact, well-reviewed push-button mower is the priority
Check price on AmazonPros
- +4.2-star rating across about 12,116 reviews, the largest sample in this lineup
- +Lower price and lighter deck for small or tight yards
Cons
- −16-inch deck is narrower than the other mowers here, which can mean more passes on a larger lawn.
MZK 40V 16-Inch 2-in-1 Brushless Cordless Push Lawn Mower
About this pick
The MZK 40V 16-inch mower undercuts the Greenworks 40V model on price while carrying the highest rating in this entire lineup, 4.6 stars, though from a much smaller sample of about 201 reviews. A brushless motor is listed, which typically points toward longer motor life than a brushed equivalent, though that claim should be confirmed against the current listing.
As a compact 16-inch push mower, it suits the same small-yard use case as the Greenworks 40V model above, just at a lower price point and with less review history to lean on. Push-button starting works the same way: key inserted, safety bail held, button pressed, with no pull cord involved.
Best for: budget-conscious buyers on small lawns who want the highest-rated option even with a smaller review sample
Check price on AmazonPros
- +4.6-star rating, the highest in this lineup
- +Lower price than the comparable Greenworks 40V 16-inch model
Cons
- −Only about 201 reviews, a much smaller sample than the Greenworks or EGO models above.
KOMASTY 40V 16-Inch Cordless Battery Powered Lawn Mower, 2-in-1 Mulching
About this pick
The KOMASTY 40V 16-inch mower is the least expensive model in this lineup and ships with two batteries and two chargers, which can offset its smaller deck by letting a depleted pack swap for a charged one mid-mow. It holds a 3.6-star rating from about 180 reviews, noticeably lower than every other model here, so buyers should weigh the price and dual-battery kit against that weaker review record.
Starting still follows the same push-button pattern as the rest of this lineup, with no pull cord or separate starting battery to manage. Given the lower rating, it fits best as a low-cost backup mower or a starter mower for a very small yard rather than a primary machine for a demanding lawn.
Best for: buyers on a tight budget who want a spare battery included and can accept a lower average rating
Check price on AmazonPros
- +Two 4.0Ah batteries and two chargers included, useful for extending a single mowing session
- +Lowest price in this lineup
Cons
- −3.6-star rating from about 180 reviews, the weakest review record in this lineup.
- −16-inch deck limits it to small yards.
How We Evaluated These Push-Button Start Lawn Mowers
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
Starting system type
We separated mowers where push-button start is inherent to a battery platform from gas mowers where electric start is an added feature on top of a combustion engine, since the ownership implications differ.
Deck size and drive type
We compared cutting width and whether each mower uses self-propelled or push drive, since both affect how a mower performs on a given lawn size independent of how it starts.
Included battery capacity
We noted battery voltage, amp-hour rating, and whether a battery and charger ship with the mower, since starting reliability depends on the main pack having a charge available.
Review record
Where available, we weighed each model's rating against its review count, since a high rating from a small sample carries less confidence than a similar rating backed by thousands of reviews.
How to Choose the Right Push-Button Start Lawn Mowers
Match the Scenario to a Named Pick
| Buyer situation | Recommended direction |
|---|---|
| Standard lawn, proven push-only mower | EGO POWER+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Lawn Mower (LM2114) |
| Standard lawn, want self-propel | EGO Power+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Self-Propelled Lawn Mower (LM2134SP-2) |
| Self-propel at a lower price | Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower |
| Full-width deck without paying for self-propel | Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Push Lawn Mower |
| Small yard, best review history | Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Lawn Mower |
| Small yard, tightest budget with a spare battery | KOMASTY 40V 16-Inch Cordless Battery Powered Lawn Mower |
Battery Push-Button Start vs Gas Electric Start
Battery push-button start
The button and safety key are the entire starting system. No pull cord exists on most models, and no separate starting battery needs charging beyond the main pack that also runs the blade.
Gas electric start
The button powers a small starting battery that spins a combustion engine. That starting battery, its charging port, and its own maintenance schedule sit on top of the fuel, oil, and spark plug upkeep a gas engine already needs.
Push-Button Start Ownership Checklist
| Item to verify | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Main battery capacity and included charger | Determines runtime per charge and whether the mower is usable immediately out of the box |
| Backup starting method | Confirms whether a dead starting battery (gas electric-start) or a dead main pack (battery mower) leaves the mower unusable that day |
| Safety key and bail lever condition | Both interlocks must function correctly for the blade to engage and stop as intended |
| Deck width vs gates and storage | A wide self-propelled deck can be harder to store or move through narrow access points than a compact push model |
| Review count alongside rating | A high rating from very few reviews carries less confidence than a similar rating backed by a large review base |
Daily Use and Storage
Before mowing
Confirm the safety key is inserted, the main battery shows a charge, and the bail lever engages smoothly before pressing the start button.
After mowing
Remove the safety key for storage, recharge the battery pack, and clean grass buildup from the deck and discharge chute before the next use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is push-button start the same on every mower?
No. On a battery mower, push-button start is the entire starting system, since there is no engine to prime. On a gas mower with electric start, the button is powering a small separate starting battery that spins a normal combustion engine, and that battery needs its own charging and care.
What happens if the battery dies while starting a push-button mower?
On most battery-only mowers, a dead main pack means the mower will not run until it is recharged or swapped for a charged pack, since there is usually no pull-cord backup. On gas mowers with electric start, many models keep a pull cord as a backup, so a dead starting battery does not necessarily stop the mowing day. Check the specific model rather than assuming either type has a fallback.
Do push-button mowers still have safety interlocks?
Yes. Push-button battery mowers typically require a removable safety key and a bail lever held against the handle before the blade engages, and releasing the lever should stop the blade quickly.
Should I trust a mower's star rating on its own?
Weigh the rating against the number of reviews behind it. A 4.6-star rating from around 200 reviews and a 4.5-star rating from over 2,000 reviews are both good signs, but the larger sample carries more confidence.
Is self-propel worth it on a push-button mower?
Self-propel reduces pushing effort, especially on larger or sloped lawns, but it draws from the same battery pack that powers the blade, which can shorten total runtime per charge compared to a push-only model with the same battery.
Bottom Line
best overall: EGO POWER+ 21-Inch Cordless Electric Lawn Mower with Battery, Charger (LM2114) - best overall pick in this roundup.
See the full rankings above for all picks with pros, cons, and best-for summaries.
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