When you mow your lawn, you don’t want to lug around a machine you can barely push. If you have a large lawn, you need to know you have the strength to mow the whole thing without needing a nap afterward.
How much does a lawnmower weigh? In our guide, we’ll take you through the two main types of mowers, their average weight range, and the benefits of using each one so that you can choose the best one for you.
Push Lawn Mowers
These mowers are manually operated, with no motorized capability to propel themselves. Today, you can find gas, electric, and battery push lawn mowers. These mowers work best for maintaining small- to average-sized yards.
How Much Does a Push Mower Weigh?
Lawnmower weights vary depending on their type. High-power models can reach over 100 pounds, while simpler ones weigh less than 30 pounds. Gas-powered models are generally the heaviest due to their larger engine, compared to electric or battery-powered models.
Why Choose a Push Lawnmower?
It’s Cheaper
Even the most expensive push mowers are far cheaper than your average riding mowers. They also cost less to run and maintain.
Exercise
While many push models have motor systems that improve their grass cutting capabilities, all of them require some strength behind them. Using push mowers make for good exercise, especially if you do it regularly.
Easy to Store
Unlike bulky riding mowers, push mowers are compact, requiring minimal storage space. Most modern mowers have foldable or collapsible handles to make their frame as small as possible.
Riding Lawnmowers
As the name suggests, riding mowers have a seated operation. These machines are large, heavy and suitable for mowing more expansive areas, including commercial use.
How Much Does a Riding Lawn Mower Weigh?
The average riding mower can weigh between 300 and 600 pounds. The deck and the engine account for most of this weight.
Bigger models last much longer before needing a recharge or refuel and often provide enhanced mowing capabilities.
How Much Does a Zero-Turn Weigh?
Zero-turn mowers are a riding mower subclass that provides enhanced maneuverability. The name refers to their turning radius of zero inches, meaning the mower can turn within its own footprint.
This added functionality requires a more complex design and translates to a much heavier weight. For context, a 650-pound zero turn is considered light. The heaviest ones can weigh over 1,000 pounds.
Zero-turn mowers can produce cleaner and more aesthetically-pleasing cut patterns and save on overall mowing time. These machines are costly, but many who want nothing but the best for their lawns consider them a worthwhile investment.
Why Choose a Riding Lawn Mower?
High Efficiency
No one wants to mow extensive lawns regularly using a push mower. Riding mowers can cover areas quickly while maintaining high-quality results.
Versatility
Most modern riding mowers allow you to install multiple attachments that turn your mower into a multi-purpose tool. With these accessories, a riding mower can:
- Store and grind grass clippings to produce mulch
- Clear away snow and other debris
- Carry livestock feed and other supplies
- Plough and aerate soil
- Dethatch lawns
Ease of Operation
Riding mowers might look intimidating, but it’s easy to get comfortable with handling them after just a few uses. These machines take less physical effort than push mowers.
You can make almost any adjustment with the push of a button, from adjusting the cutting decks to changing the mowing speed for a cleaner finish.
Does the Weight of Your Lawnmower Matter?
Push Lawnmowers
The weight of your lawnmower should only matter if you plan on using a push lawn mower. That’s because its weight influences how comfortably you can handle it.
Using a lighter push mower can positively influence the cut of your lawn. It becomes easier to maneuver around tight corners and creates straighter mowing lines.
However, you should never judge a mower’s ease of use based on standard weight alone. After all, you push the machine over your lawn. You’re not using its handle to lift it.
Riding Lawnmowers
The extra weight provides added stability for riding lawnmowers, and heavier models tend to have better components, with rare exceptions.
Unless you plan on regularly moving your riding lawnmower to different locations, you shouldn’t worry about the weight.