As satisfying as standing on your freshly mowed lawn can be, the method of getting one leaves much to be desired. After all, lawnmowers certainly aren’t the quietest devices in the gardening arsenal. Fortunately, there are some exceptions to the rule. So today, we’re on the lookout for the best quiet lawnmowers on the market.
If you don’t know anything about this subject, don’t worry. In addition to showing you some of the best electric, gas-powered, and push reel mowers on the market, I’ll also explain how to independently find the best products in this category. After you finish reading this article, you’ll basically be a full-fledged professional gardener.
Well, maybe that’s a bit of a stretch, but at least you’ll know more about mowers than you do now! So to begin with, let’s talk about the three basic types of lawnmowers and what makes each of them noisy.
Types of Lawnmowers: What Kind Is the Quietest?
As you may already know, most motorized gardening equipment can be either electric or gas-powered. For a long time, people preferred gas-powered appliances to corded electric ones. And who can blame them? After all, they:
- Allow you to move without a cord getting in the way
- Can cover a large area without running out of charge or reaching the end of the extension cord
- Have powerful engines that can last for a whole year on one canister of gas
- Cut through thicker grass with ease
- Can last for years or even decades with proper maintenance
However, those benefits come with a list of disadvantages as well. Remember, that gas tank will also add a lot of weight to your mower, making it difficult to push around. Some gas mowers can be even less user-friendly for older people, especially if they have starter cords instead of simple button ignition. And, of course, gas engines are certainly harder to maintain than electric ones.
Electric Lawnmowers Are Much Quieter
Most importantly, gas mowers tend to be obnoxiously loud. As always, the most powerful engines are often the noisiest. That’s why I usually opt for less powerful devices when looking for quiet performance.
It’s safe to say that electric mowers are better than gas-powered ones in that regard. They’re also better for the environment since they’re oil- and gas-free. And, of course, that makes them easier to maintain and more budget-friendly as well. But once again, though, there are some potential drawbacks.
Even though electric mowers are quieter, corded ones can have a limited range of motion. And while cordless, battery-operated ones are certainly more mobile, many of them have a relatively short runtime. You may also have to wait until your lawn is completely dry before trimming it. Additionally, it shouldn’t be too wild or overgrown — most electric units can’t handle thick grass.
Still, there’s one last option to consider if you’re looking for a lawnmower that doesn’t emit any engine noise at all — manual push reel mowers. Those devices have cylindrically shaped blades at the bottom, which turn as you push them forward. However, they obviously aren’t the most convenient options for large yards. And it should be noted that they do make some noise — you’ll definitely hear the blades turning.
Now that you know what the benefits of different types of lawnmowers are, allow me to share some of the best products in each of these categories. To begin with, we’ll discuss the quietest motorized units, and then move on to gas and push reel mowers.
Best Quiet Electric Lawnmowers
As we have established, there are two types of electric lawnmowers: corded and cordless, or battery-powered. There are pros and cons to getting either kind, but I still want to give both a shot at winning you over. If you’re in the market for a quiet lawnmower, here’s a list of the most promising contenders.
1. American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawnmower
The first corded lawnmower I want to mention is a compact, easily manageable unit from the American Lawn Mower Company. Coming in at only 25.4 pounds, the 50514 model should be easy enough to push around the yard. However, you should keep in mind that corded units don’t generally come with an extension cord. The built-in cord only reaches up to the handles, so you’ll have to take it the rest of the way to the outlet.
The unit has a powerful yet fairly silent 11-amp motor that is perfect for small to medium-sized lawns. This black machine with green accents seems to be very well built too. Its robust cutting deck should prevent some of the engine noise from escaping.
The 14-inch wide steel blades can be set to one of five cutting heights, letting you mow the lawn to anywhere between 1 and 2.5 inches tall. Furthermore, the unit has a mulching and collection system that stores shredded grass in the 16-gallon container in the back of the device. There’s even a grass level indicator that will show you when you should empty its contents.
Features:
- A corded mower with an 11-amp motor
- 14-inch steel blades with five cutting heights
- Mulching and rear discharge with a 16-gallon collection bag
- Foldable handles for easier storage
» ALMC Corded Electric Lawnmower on Amazon «
2. Greenworks 20-Inch 3-In-1 12-Amp Electric Corded Lawnmower
Greenworks is one of the most popular manufacturers of home and garden power tools on the market. The company excels at creating powerful yet quiet lawnmowers in different categories, but let’s take a look at a classic, corded one first.
The 25022 model features a 20-inch wide steel deck,which brings the weight of the machine to a hefty 56 pounds. Still, it’s much lighter than a gas mower usually is.
Thanks to the start button near the top of the handle, this machine is exceedingly simple to use. What’s more, the rest of the settings are similarly easy to access. For example, the blade height adjustment lever is near the right rear wheel, allowing you to transition between 1.5 and 3.75-inch tall grass. The mower has a manual drive system, though, so it won’t propel itself forward — you’ll have to do that.
As for the grass disposal features, you’ll find a fairly big collection bag in the back of the machine, as well as a side discharge chute. Alternatively, you can set it to mulch and leave the grass particles on the lawn.
When you finish mowing, you’ll be able to store the mower without a problem, thanks to its foldable handles.
Features:
- A corded mower with a 12-amp motor
- 20-inch steel blades with seven cutting heights
- Mulching, side discharge, and rear collection
- Foldable handles for easier storage
» Greenworks 3-in-1 Electric Corded Lawnmower on Amazon «
3. Greenworks 20-Inch 40v Twin Force Cordless Lawnmower
Greenworks also makes some of the best cordless mowers I’ve seen. This 20-inch unit is fairly similar to the one we’ve just talked about, with the notable exception of the two battery packs instead of a cord. It has a push start button near the top of the handle too.
This mower can cut your grass to anywhere between 1.75 and 3.37 inches. With the help of Smart Cut technology, it can actually adjust the amount of power it’s using based on grass thickness. The two rotating blades on the underside of the device can effectively cut, mulch, and push the grass in the hard collection box in the rear.
As mentioned, the unit comes with two lithium-ion batteries with a combined runtime of 70 minutes. You’ll keep them on-board at the same time, letting the system switch to the spare when the first one is drained. Despite these additional parts, this device is lighter than the previous one, coming in at only 42.5 pounds.
However, if you’d rather have a compact mower, you can choose between:
On the other hand, if you need a more powerful unit, there’s the Greenworks PRO 21-inch mower, which uses an 80V 4Ah battery.
Features:
- A cordless mower with dual battery ports (4Ah and 2Ah)
- 20-inch steel blades with five cutting heights
- Smart Cut technology detects grass thickness
- 70 minutes of runtime for both batteries
» Greenworks Cordless Battery-Charged Lawnmower on Amazon «
4. Sun Joe mj401c 14-Inch 28v Cordless Push Lawnmower
Despite its diminutive size, the 14-inch cordless mower from Sun Joe is a popular choice among people with small yards. Its 28V 4Ah rechargeable lithium-ion battery should be able to mow up to a quarter-acre per charge. That should give you about 20 minutes of runtime, which is just enough for smaller yards. But if you still need more, you can get a slightly larger mower with a stronger battery.
This mower is mostly made of sturdy ABS plastic, with the exception of the steel blades. It has a streamlined design, opting to omit the side chute (though it still has a 10.6-gallon collection box) and the height adjustment lever. Instead, you’ll have to manually change the cutting height by moving the wheels into one of three slots. The simplicity of the unit makes it one of the lightest products on this list at only 23 pounds.
To start the mower, you’ll first insert a security key into a slot under the transparent cap in the front. Then, hold down the safety button near the top of the handle and press the lever to start the blade rotation.
When you’re done, just check the LED battery indicators under the transparent shield in the front. Since this unit doesn’t have a detachable battery, you’ll have to plug it directly into an outlet to charge.
Features:
- A cordless mower with a 28V 4 Ah lithium-ion battery
- 14-inch steel blades with three cutting heights
- 10.6-gallon collection box
- 70 minutes of runtime for both batteries
» Sun Joe 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Lawnmower on Amazon «
Best Quiet Gas Lawnmowers
As I have mentioned, gas mowers are generally louder than electric ones. However, I’ve managed to find some that could be considered quieter than the rest.
1. Husqvarna 7021p 21-Inch 160cc Honda gcv160 Gas-Powered 3-N-1 Push Lawnmower With High Rear Wheels
Don’t be deceived by the large engine — the Husqvarna 7021P is one of the quietest gas mowers on the market, and it’s all thanks to a cylinder displacement of 160 cubic centimeters. The fewer ccs an engine has, the less powerful it is, and the less fuel it will consume. I’ve found that gas mowers in the 160–170cc range work best if you’re looking for a powerful yet silent machine.
With a blade diameter of 21 inches, this mower is wide enough to use on medium and large lawns. Furthermore, it has six height adjustment settings, ranging from 1.5–3.5 inches.
Between the 8-inch wheels in the front and the 12-inch ones in the rear, this machine should easily cover any kind of terrain. It’ll mulch or store the grass in the rear container, holding up to two bushels of it!
Some users are suspicious of the mower’s plastic body right off the bat, but I’d like to assure you that it won’t be a problem. Most people agree that the build doesn’t seem to affect the mower’s performance or durability at all. In fact, I’d even go so far as to say that a plastic deck might be better than a metal one if you’re looking for noise reduction.
Features:
- A 102-pound gas mower
- 21-inch blade width with six height adjustments
- 8-inch front and 12-inch rear wheels
- Mulching, side discharge, and rear collection
» Husqvarna 21-Inch Gas-Powered Lawnmower on Amazon «
2. Pulsar ptg1221 21-Inch 173cc Gas-Powered Push Mower With 7 Position Height Adjustment
The Pulsar PTG1221 has many of the features we’ve seen in the previous product. However, rather than having a 160cc engine, the cylinder displacement here is 173cc. That means that it’s just a tad more powerful and probably a bit noisier as well.
Still, by all accounts, this product is somewhat lighter than the previous one, making it more maneuverable. Although the engine isn’t much smaller, there have been adjustments elsewhere. For example, instead of the 12-inch rear wheels, this product has 10-inch ones. It also has a 21-inch blade diameter and seven, rather than six, cutting height adjustments.
Other than that, it pretty much has the same capabilities we saw in the previous mower on the list. There’s a rear bag for collection, a side discharge chute, and it can even mulch the grass.
Features:
- An 80-pound gas mower
- 21-inch blade width with seven height adjustments
- 8-inch front and 10-inch rear wheels
- Mulching, side discharge, and rear collection
» Pulsar Gasoline Lawnmower on Amazon «
3. Remington rm1159 Walk-Behind High-Wheeled String Trimmer
Lastly, we have something a little different with the Remington RM1159 string trimmer. Even though this product is still a gas-powered push mower, it doesn’t have a front deck housing a metal blade. Instead, you get an exposed cutting string in the front. That design lets you move the machine up and down on its 14-inch rear wheels, chopping through the tallest foliage with ease.
Due to the absence of the regular metal blades and the deck cover, this product is much lighter than either of the ones above. However, it’s still heavier than most electric units, at 68 pounds. After all, it still has a gas engine and a tank.
Its 159cc 4-cycle engine is powerful enough to deliver the force necessary to cut through any weeds in your path. It doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles we saw in the previous machines, though. You’ll just have to rake and collect the cut grass manually if you don’t want to leave it strewn about.
Features:
- A 68-pound gas mower
- 22-inch cutting string width
- 14-inch wheels grant you with increased mobility
- Compact storage and transportation
» Remington Walk-Behind String Trimmer on Amazon «
A Silent Alternative for Small Yards: Push Reel Mowers
There is one last alternative for those who already know that electric and gas mowers don’t work for them. If you were hoping to completely remove engine noise from the equation, one of these products should be ideal.
American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawnmower
First up, I want to talk about what is probably the most popular push reel lawnmower on the market. At only 14 inches wide, the American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 is precise enough to work on small surfaces. That’s exactly what most people use these kinds of mowers for.
The device stands on 8.5-inch composite wheels, which hold a 4-blade ball bearing reel between them. However, I also want to mention that the company makes a similar device with a 5-blade reel.
Even though these kinds of devices are pretty basic, you’ll still be able to adjust the cutting height from 0.5–1.75 inches. If you like keeping your grass above two inches, you might prefer the next product I’ll mention.
As you can imagine, though, these kinds of mowers don’t require much maintenance at all. You’ll just have to sharpen the blades every few years. This is also one of the lightest mowers you’ll find, so you probably won’t mind pushing it around.
Features:
- A 14-inch push reel mower with a T-style handle
- 4-blade ball bearing reel with adjustable cutting height
- 8.5-inch wheels
- Weighs 20 pounds
Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawnmower
The Great States 815-18 push reel mower is perhaps a slightly more versatile unit than the one we’ve just seen. It has a cushioned, U-shaped handle, and its 18 inches wide 5-blade reel is stationed between two 10-inch composite wheels. That width might make it more appropriate for larger lawns than the previous unit on my list.
Moreover, this is a fantastic choice if you want your lawn to be above two inches tall. The height of the blade reel is adjustable between half an inch and 2.75 inches. Lastly, like the previous product, it’s made of quality alloy steel, which should stay sharp for 3–5 years at least.
Features:
- An 18-inch push reel mower with a U-shaped handle
- 5-blade ball bearing reel with adjustable cutting height
- 10-inch wheels
- Weighs 27 pounds
Finding the Right Quiet Lawnmower: Key Features
Now that you’ve seen the best quiet lawnmowers on the market, let’s take a moment to find what they all have in common. In case your dream mower wasn’t on this list, you should learn how to find one that will be equally as effective. More importantly, you’ll want to make sure that it’s as quiet as it can be.
In the interest of not finding yourself at the wrong end of a neighbor’s prank because your mower was loud enough to wake the dead, here are some features you should prioritize.
Power
Before I presented my recommendations, I explained why you might prefer different kinds of lawnmowers. So for now, I’ll just reiterate that while gas engines are generally thought of as the most durable, they’re also the loudest ones you could get.
Still, if you’re planning to get an electric model, you may have to get an extension cord to go with it. Or, if it’s cordless, and it uses detachable batteries, you might want to get an additional pair.
An extension cord will allow you to put your new mower to the test as soon as you get it. Meanwhile, an extra battery is always a good idea when it comes to cordless units since you wouldn’t have to stop to charge it.
Mobility
Aside from making sure you pick a mower with the quietest engine, you should also get one that’s easy to push around. That’s why you need to keep the overall size and weight of the machine in mind. But your first concern should be whether the model you’re looking at is cordless or not.
As you know, gas and battery-powered models give you the best range and mobility. However, each has certain weaknesses you should take into consideration. Obviously, gas mowers, even the ones on my list, are always louder than electric models. But at least they can easily traverse a large yard, whereas a battery-operated mower may need to be charged mid-session.
A corded electric mower is a perfect compromise between endurance, range, and noise levels. But you’d still need to have a long extension cord and be careful not to push your mower over it.
Once you narrow down your list of contenders by type, you should consider their size and weight. Gas mowers are generally the heaviest, so you shouldn’t get one if you don’t think you can push it around. If that’s going to be an issue, you might have to disregard your noise concerns and settle for a riding lawnmower.
There’s one last measurement you’ll need to worry about — the cutting deck size. The diameter of the blades and the general width of the mower you need to get will largely depend on the size of your yard. If you have an enormous lawn, you’ll probably want to get a large mower as well. Conversely, if you have a tiny lawn, you’d be able to trim it more easily with a smaller model.
Additional Features
If you want the most basic mower on the market, the machine type and size are all you need to worry about. However, there are some additional features you might want to keep in mind, such as:
- Blade height adjustment, which allows you to set how tall you want your grass to be
- Mulching, which makes grass clippings so small that they blend into the lawn (if you have a leaf blower, you’re probably already familiar with this feature)
- Collection, which is a way of catching grass before it hits the ground so that you don’t have to rake it and manually collect it
- Self-propelling drive, which means that the mower moves forward on its own. You’ll only have to steer it.
In my experience, most of these features are optional but welcome additions to any mower. However, they may spike up the price of the products you’re considering.
Furthermore, some of the features I’ve mentioned may take some getting used to. For example, the self-drive feature can make it impossible to pull your mower backward. You’d have to make U-turns at the end of each length.
Safety Features
Since lawnmowers use sharp steel to cut down the grass, they need to have certain safety measures in place. Most of the newer mowers are much safer than they used to be. Nowadays, you have to hold down the handle lever for the blades to turn, so they can’t keep rotating unless you’re pressing down. Some units even have safety keys to ensure that no one without a key can even start using them.
Additionally, many lawnmowers have back flaps to prevent grass and pebbles from hitting your shins as the blades make contact with them. That’s also why many of the units we’ve seen have side discharge chutes and collection bags in the back.
Maintenance
Lastly, you’ll want to consider the level of care you’re willing to put into your lawnmower. If you don’t want to change the oil every year, you’d be better off with an electric model.
Still, there is some basic maintenance you’ll have to perform even on push reel mowers. Namely, you may have to sharpen the blades every once in a while to keep the machine effective. Additionally, you ought to keep all the nuts and bolts secure to prevent vibrations from shaking the deck. And that brings us to my final point.
How to Make Your Lawnmower Quieter
If you end up with a loud mower, there are still a few ways to protect yourself and your household from the excess noise. I’ve explained most of those methods in my previous guide to making lawnmowers quieter. It boils down to keeping up with maintenance and soundproofing certain parts of your mower.
However, the more immediate steps everyone can take to ensure their health and safety is to wear protective equipment like noise-canceling headphones, earmuffs, or earplugs. In my previous article about lawnmowers, I mentioned some other methods you can use to prevent neighbors, housemates, and pets from hearing the racket, as well.
But if anyone complains, you should be able to get by with a polite reminder that you’ll finish up quickly. After all, your brand new mower will certainly be up to the challenge.
Final Thoughts
Whether you get one of the quiet lawnmowers I’ve recommended or not, you should make sure that the machine you get is one that you’ll love using. After all, there are plenty of benefits to keeping your yard tidy, not the least of which is preventing cricket choirs from setting up shop in the thick shrubbery.
There are plenty of light and powerful mowers that would basically do most of the work for you. Still, if you’d rather not have to walk behind them the whole time, you could invest in a robotic mower. Husqvarna’s line of automatic mowers can mow up to 0.4 acres thanks to a GPS implant — and they even work in the rain. You just issue the command through an app or a smart home device and let the mower do its thing.
I should say that I don’t exactly know anyone who’s tried this kind of thing. But even if you don’t get a robotic mower right now, we can all admit that the future of gardening looks promising!
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A lawyer never retires. So I would just say that I am not as active as I used to be. Now I simply dedicate myself to fishing, my hobby, and my grandchildren. For Business Finance News I write about legal aspects of mortgage policies, mostly regarding the rights of policyholders. I also have articles about personal injuries.
