Several decades ago when electric lawn mowers first hit the market people could only take them as far as the cord would allow them to.
Luckily, technology has allowed manufacturers to upgrade electric mowers for the better.
Now they only need to be plugged into the wall in order for their batteries to charge.
While this is great, many people wonder what these electric-powered lawn mowers will do to their electric bills.
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Do Electric Lawn Mowers Use A Lot Of Electricity?
Corded electric lawn mowers usually use between 700 and 1800 watts per hour, while battery-powered mowers tend to be slightly weaker.
The sizes of the batteries are usually between 36 and 120 volts and usually require between 600 and 1400 watts to charge up.
This is not a lot of electricity, and most people don’t even notice the extra pennies that are added to their bill from mowing the lawn.
Depending on the wattage of your mower and how much you pay for electricity, electric lawn mowers usually run at a cost of between 20 and 60 cents per hour.
This is considerably cheaper than running a gas mower which can cost up to $7 per hour if you are using gasoline and around $2.50 per hour if using propane.
Let’s dig a little deeper and find out exactly how much electricity your electric lawn mower is likely to use and just how effective they are at mowing lawns.
Also Read: Can I Put Soapy Water On My Lawn? (Explained)
How Much Electricity Does An Electric Lawn Mower Use?
Electric mowers use anywhere from 600 to 1800 watts of electricity per hour.
Most homeowners in the US won’t see much of an increase in their bills from charging their electric lawn mowers.
Even those who still own the older models which rely on the cord to operate don’t seem to notice a difference in cost.
However, this might not mean anything to you, so let’s explain it in dollars.
In most US homes it costs an average of 13.19 cents per kilowatt each hour.
To determine the number of kilowatts used simply divide the watts by 1000.
Therefore, if you are using an electric mower that uses 1800 watts of electricity and charged it for one hour, then the equation would go like this:
- 1800/ 1000= 1.8 kilowatts
- 1 hour of charging: 1.8 X 13.19 = 23.74
You could round that up to 24 cents a charge.
And a typical electric mower will mow roughly one-third of an acre on a single charge.
However, that is for one of the models that use the most electricity.
If you have a more modern electric lawn mower it will likely cost even less.
Do Electric Lawn Mowers Cost More To Run Than Gas Lawn Mowers?
Electricity isn’t free, but neither is gas.
It costs a lot less money to operate an electric lawn mower than it does a gas-powered one.
Every time you charge the battery in your electric lawn mower or use one where the cord is attached to the wall, it will cost you around 24 cents or less.
How much gas can you get for 24 cents?
You will burn more gas than you will use electricity when it comes to cutting your grass.
It just depends on which type of lawn mower you choose to use.
Electric mowers cost less money to operate, and they are also a lot quieter and more convenient.
You don’t have to go get gas every time you want to cut the grass.
Are Electric Mowers Worth It?
If you’re looking to be more friendly to the environment and use less electricity, a newer model electric lawn mower is a better choice than a petrol mower.
This is because they use lithium batteries, which charge very quickly.
These types of batteries allow you to cut back on how much electricity is needed to charge their lawn mower.
They are also a lot lighter on maintenance seeing as you don’t have a gas engine to look after.
Not only do they cost less to operate, but they are also easy to operate, as well as being lightweight and quiet.
Newer models allow users to get their lawns cut without having to search for the right extension cord.
It’s easy to see why so many homeowners are ditching their gas-powered mowers for electric ones.
Do Electric Lawn Mowers Need Maintenance?
Although a lot less than gas mowers, electric lawn mowers still require some maintenance to keep them running as efficiently as possible.
Your electric mower will require the following maintenance:
- Check batteries to ensure they are charged, undamaged, and not leaking, or deformed.
- Check for frayed wires.
- Ensure attachments like bags and chutes are undamaged and secured to your mower.
- Check that your mower’s blades are sharp, in good condition, and not bent or cracked.
Do Electric Mowers Cut Well?
Electric mowers cut well when used to cut dry grass that’s under 4 inches in height and on lawns that aren’t much bigger than a quarter of an acre.
Electric lawn mowers will typically get bogged down and perform less well in grass taller than 4 inches, especially when it’s damp.
But not all electric models are created equally.
If you want an electric mower that cuts well, skip the smaller voltage ones and go for the larger-sized lithium packs, in the 50-volt to 80-volt range.
Keeping a sharp blade and having a spare charged battery on hand will also help you get through tougher cutting conditions.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to get a new lawn mower this season, going electric is the smart choice.
Despite any rumors you may have heard, electric mowers don’t require very much electricity at all.
And this is especially true with newer models.
The more recent models have lithium batteries, which means you only need electricity to charge the batteries.
Manufacturers are constantly finding new ways to make it so electric lawn mowers don’t require as much electricity to operate.
For now, we’re just happy we don’t have to drag an extension cord around the yard.
