The Ryobi Push Mower Consumer Reports Is Calling One The Best Affordable Models

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Ryobi is well known for its affordable cordless garden equipment and has a wide range of tools that can whip your lawn into shape. However, with so many different models to choose from, picking the right one can be challenging. Consumer Reports, the world's largest independent, non-profit review organization, recently rated the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 20" Push Mower one of the best budget battery lawn mowers on the market. They called it "perfect for a small yard." After reading such a glowing report, we thought the machine deserved a closer look.

Ryobi's 40V cordless walk-behind lawn mower comes as a bare tool for $249 or with a 6Ah battery and charger for $329. If you've been thinking about buying some of the other Ryobi tools that will help clean up your yard, the latter could be a sensible investment. A battery of that size gives the Ryobi mower a run time of up to 45 minutes, and it should be capable of mowing up to ½ acre per charge. It offers seven-point height adjustment from a single, convenient lever, and it can mulch, side-discharge, or bag. There's storage space onboard for a spare battery.

So Consumer Reports thinks it's among the best of its kind for the money, and the specifications sound impressive, but what do owners think? For some real-world feedback, we checked in at Ryobi's exclusive distributor, Home Depot.

It's clear from the Home Depot website that Ryobi's 40V push mower is an extremely popular tool. There are well over 6,000 reviews, with an average of 4.5 stars, and 88% of buyers would recommend it. Owners like the lightweight, which means pushing it is not a chore, the ease of use, and the fact that it can be folded down and stored vertically, so it doesn't take up a lot of space.

"So quiet! So light! Did such an amazing job!" said one delighted owner. Another pointed out the benefits of going cordless: "After struggling with an old gas mower, the Ryobi electric mower is a great upgrade." While another said, "Great maneuverability around trees, plant beds, etc. Mulches really well (as good as our old gas mower or a little better)." Complaints aren't unknown but are by far the minority. Starting was an issue for a couple of people, which is odd for a push-button device, and one or two had component breakages, although there was no single, consistent problem.

The lawn mower market is extremely competitive, so it's always worth shopping around. That said, Consumer Reports calls Ryobi's 40V push mower one of the best affordable models around, and buyer feedback bears that out. There may be some Ryobi tools you should avoid, according to owners, but it seems that very few are disappointed with this one.