Best 40V Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers: Push and Self-Propelled Picks

The best cordless electric lawn mower in the 40V class for most yards is the Greenworks 40V 21 inch self-propelled brushless mower, because it combines a full-size deck, a drive system that does the pulling and a battery that also powers a large range of Greenworks 40V tools. For small yards, the WORX 40V 17 inch 2-in-1 is the runner-up and our best value: it is lighter, brushless and ships with two batteries. If you are shopping for the best cordless electric lawn mowers 40V can offer, the choice comes down to three things: deck width, whether you want self-propelled drive, and how many batteries come in the box.

This is a research-based guide. We did not personally use these mowers. Specs come from the product listings in the site store and from manufacturer pages for the Greenworks line; anything we could not confirm is marked “not listed”. We do not quote runtimes for models where the maker does not publish one, and prices appear only as tiers (Budget, Mid-range, Premium).

Our top picks

Top pickGreenworks 40V 16in Push Lawn Mower

• [16" LAWN MOWER] - This 40V lawn mower…
• [ULTRA LIGHTWEIGHT] - 35% lighter than steel deck…
• [SINGLE LEVER HEIGHT ADJUST] - 5 position height…

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Also greatGreenworks 40V 16in Push Lawn Mower

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Also greatGreenworks 40V 17in Push Lawn Mower

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Also greatGreenworks 40V 21in Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

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Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: Greenworks 40V 21 inch self-propelled, brushless, 5.0Ah battery
• Best Value for Small Yards: WORX 40V 17 inch WG745, brushless, two 4.0Ah batteries
• Best Self-Propelled Alternative: SKIL PWR CORE 40 20 inch self-propelled, 6.0Ah battery
• Best Budget Self-Propelled: Dong Cheng 40V 21 inch brushless self-propelled, four 4.0Ah batteries
• Best Lightweight Push Mower: Greenworks 40V 16 inch brushless
• Best Budget Push Mower: NovorikX 40V 17 inch brushless, dual batteries
• Best for Larger Push Decks: NBKXDEL 40V 21 inch brushless, two 8.0Ah batteries

Quick Comparison Table

1. Greenworks 40V 21 Inch Self-Propelled: Best Overall

• Deck: 21 inch steel
• Drive: self-propelled
• Motor: brushless
• Battery: 40V lithium-ion, 5.0Ah in the kit
• Platform: one battery powers over 75 Greenworks 40V tools (per the maker)

Best for: medium lawns, gentle slopes and owners who may later add a trimmer or blower on the same battery. Skip if: your lawn is small enough for a lighter push mower.

Greenworks sells several 40V 21 inch self-propelled variants, and runtime depends on the model and battery. The maker’s pages list roughly 40 minutes on a 5.0Ah battery for one version and up to 60 minutes on larger or dual-battery versions, with grass conditions affecting both. We therefore treat runtime as “about 40 minutes on one 5.0Ah battery under typical conditions” and recommend a second battery if your lawn takes longer than that. A rule of thumb: mowing time equals lawn area divided by cut rate. A 21 inch deck at a walking pace of about 2.5 mph, ignoring overlap and turns, cuts roughly 0.5 acre per hour in theory; real-world is lower, so a one-third acre lawn is about the limit for a single 5.0Ah battery.

The self-propelled drive is the real upgrade over a push mower. It carries the weight of the mower, and cuts down on the push effort on hills. The value of a shared battery platform is also real: one 5.0Ah pack that runs a mower, string trimmer, leaf blower and hedge trimmer reduces the number of chargers and batteries you own.

Pros:

• Self-propelled drive reduces effort
• Brushless motor, low maintenance
• Works with a large 40V tool platform
• Established brand with parts and warranty pages

Cons:

• Premium price tier
• One battery supplied in this kit
• Heavier to lift for storage than a push model

2. WORX WG745 40V 17 Inch: Best Value for Small Yards

• Deck: 17 inch, 2-in-1 mulching and bagging
• Motor: brushless
• Batteries: two 4.0Ah, 4.0A charger
• Platform: PowerShare, shared with other WORX tools
• Rated area: up to about a quarter acre (listing)

Best for: small to mid-size suburban lawns and owners who want two batteries in the box. Skip if: you need self-propelled drive for hills.

Two 4.0Ah batteries mean you can mow, swap and keep going, or charge one while using the other. The PowerShare platform is useful if you already own other WORX tools, although you should check the exact voltage compatibility on the maker page before assuming cross use. A 17 inch deck is a good match for lawns with fences, beds and narrow gaps. It cuts more passes than a 21 inch deck: 21 divided by 17 is about 1.24, so a 17 inch mower needs roughly 24 percent more passes over the same lawn.

The 2-in-1 design bags clippings or mulches them back. Mulching is easier on lawns that you mow weekly; bag when grass has gone long or when you are dealing with weed seed.

Pros:

• Two batteries and a charger included
• Brushless motor
• Lightweight and easy to store
• Mulch and bag options

Cons:

• Push-only
• Narrower deck needs more passes

3. SKIL PWR CORE 40 20 Inch Self-Propelled: Best Alternative Platform

• Deck: 20 inch
• Drive: self-propelled
• Motor: brushless
• Battery: 6.0Ah, with Auto PWR JUMP charger
• Model: SM4910C-11 (listing)

Best for: homeowners already using SKIL PWR CORE 40 tools or wanting a larger single battery. Skip if: you want the widest range of 40V tools, where Greenworks is broader.

The 6.0Ah battery is the biggest single pack in this guide’s self-propelled picks, which in theory gives longer runtime than a 5.0Ah pack in similar conditions, though SKIL’s own runtime figure is not listed in the title and we do not quote one. The Auto PWR JUMP charger is described as a feature, but the practical effect is not specified in the listing, so read the manual page for charge times.

Pros:

• Self-propelled with brushless motor
• Large 6.0Ah battery included
• Part of a growing tool line

Cons:

• Premium tier
• Smaller deck than 21 inch rivals
• Runtime not listed

4. Dong Cheng 40V 21 Inch Self-Propelled: Best Budget Self-Propelled

• Deck: 21 inch
• Drive: self-propelled, listed at 1.4 m/s
• Motor: brushless, 2600 RPM (listing)
• Batteries: four 4.0Ah with dual charger
• Modes: mulching, bagging and side discharge, 7 height positions

Best for: medium lawns where self-propelled drive and extra batteries matter more than brand name. Skip if: you want warranty and parts support from a major brand.

The listing’s drive speed of 1.4 m/s is about 3.1 mph, which is a brisk walk; a speed control, if present, is not listed. Four 4.0Ah batteries is a lot: used in pairs it can give you two mowing sessions per charge cycle, though how the mower combines the batteries (one at a time or two at once) is not stated. Brand support and warranty are not listed, so keep your receipt and read the return policy.

Pros:

• Self-propelled at a lower tier
• Four batteries included
• Three discharge modes

Cons:

• Support and parts availability not listed
• Compatibility with other tools not listed

5. Greenworks 40V 16 Inch Brushless: Best Lightweight Push Mower

• Deck: 16 inch
• Motor: brushless
• Battery: 4.0Ah, charger included
• Design: lightweight push mower

Best for: small lawns, townhouse yards and storage-limited owners. Skip if: your lawn is over about a fifth of an acre.

A 16 inch deck is narrow, but it is a good choice if your lawn has many corners and you store the mower upright in a closet. It shares the 40V battery platform with the bigger Greenworks mowers, so a later upgrade is easy. A key point: the 16 inch size cuts about 30 percent more passes than a 21 inch deck, because 21 divided by 16 is about 1.31.

Pros:

• Light and compact
• Brushless motor in this version
• Shared battery platform

Cons:

• Narrow deck
• Battery capacity limits larger lawns

6. NovorikX 40V 17 Inch: Best Budget Push Mower

• Deck: 17 inch
• Motor: brushless
• Batteries: two 4.0Ah with charger
• Heights: 6 cutting positions
• Modes: 2-in-1 mulching and bagging

Best for: small yards on a tight budget. Skip if: you want long-term brand support.

Two batteries and a brushless motor at a budget tier is attractive on paper. The caveat is the lack of track record: durability, warranty and parts support are not listed. If you choose a lesser-known brand, mulch regularly and keep the deck clean, and keep proof of purchase.

Pros:

• Two batteries included
• Brushless and 2-in-1
• Budget tier

Cons:

• Support and warranty not listed
• Battery cross-compatibility not listed

7. NBKXDEL 40V 21 Inch: Best Larger Push Deck on a Budget

• Deck: 21 inch
• Motor: brushless, 3200 RPM (listing)
• Batteries: two 8.0Ah, 100W fast charger
• Heights: 8 positions, 3 handle heights
• Modes: bagging, mulching and discharge

Best for: quarter to half-acre lawns where you prefer to push but want a wide deck. Skip if: slopes make a push mower tiring.

The 8.0Ah batteries are large for a 40V push mower, and the three handle heights help taller or shorter users. Larger batteries are heavier, so it is worth checking weight with batteries installed. Support is not listed.

Pros:

• Wide 21 inch deck
• Large batteries
• Many height settings

Cons:

• Push only
• Brand support not listed

Also Consider

Greenworks 60V 21 Inch Self-Propelled

If you want more power, step up to the 60V class. Greenworks lists a 4-in-1 system and a brushless motor, with a rated area up to three quarters of an acre in the listing. It is a different battery platform from 40V, so only consider it if you are not already invested in 40V batteries.

KraftSense 21 Inch 40V Push Mower

A budget push mower with two 4.0Ah batteries, similar in spirit to the NovorikX, though motor type is not listed.

DEKOPRO 40V 15 Inch Brushless

A compact brushless push mower with six heights and two batteries, suited to very small lawns.

RB 40V 9 Inch Mini

An ultra-light mini mower for patios and tiny lawns, with upright storage. Not a substitute for a full-size mower.

How We Chose

We began with 40V cordless lawn mowers sold in the site store and filtered for battery-powered models that list a brushless motor, since brushless motors generally mean less maintenance. We compared deck width, drive type, battery capacity, batteries in the box and tool-platform compatibility from the listings, and verified Greenworks details against the maker’s pages. We limited each brand to two main picks, covered budget to premium tiers and included both push and self-propelled models. This guide is research-based: we did not personally use these products, and we do not quote star ratings, review counts or sales ranks. Where the listing did not say, we wrote “not listed”.

Buying Guide: How to Choose a 40V Cordless Mower

Deck width and lawn size

Use a simple guide. Under about one-eighth of an acre: 14 to 16 inch decks work. Up to a quarter acre: 17 to 20 inch. Up to a half acre: 21 inch. Beyond that, consider a larger battery system, a robot mower or a ride-on. A wider deck saves passes but is harder to turn around beds.

Push versus self-propelled

Self-propelled drive matters on slopes, in thick grass and for owners who tire easily. If your lawn is flat and under a fifth of an acre, push is fine and lighter. Self-propelled models weigh more and cost a tier higher.

Battery capacity and number of batteries

Ampere-hours (Ah) show capacity. Two 4.0Ah batteries give 8.0Ah of stored charge in total, but only if the mower can use both. Check whether the mower uses batteries one at a time or together. For a lawn that takes about 45 minutes, plan for at least 8Ah of total capacity in the box or a spare battery. Runtime also depends on grass height and wetness: cutting tall, wet grass can drain a battery much faster than cutting dry, regularly trimmed grass.

Brushless motors and platforms

Brushless motors have no carbon brushes to wear out, and generally run cooler and quieter. A shared battery platform helps if you want a trimmer and blower too. Do not assume batteries from different brands are cross-compatible; they usually are not.

Mulching, bagging and discharge

2-in-1 and 3-in-1 systems let you mulch, bag or side-discharge. Mulch for weekly mowing; bag in spring growth spurts and when seed heads appear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Assuming 40V means the same power across brands; battery capacity and motor design vary.
• Buying a tool-only version without a battery by accident.
• Skipping a spare battery for lawns that take over 30 minutes.
• Storing batteries in a hot garage or freezing shed; follow the manual’s storage temperatures.
• Mowing wet grass, which clogs the deck and drains the battery.

Decision Table

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best cordless electric lawn mowers 40V for a small yard?

For small yards, the WORX 40V 17 inch WG745 and the Greenworks 40V 16 inch are the best fits, because they are light and easy to store.

Is a 40V self propelled lawn mower worth it?

Yes if you have slopes, thicker grass or a lawn above about a quarter acre, since the drive reduces push effort; flat small lawns often do not need it.

What does a 40V cordless lawn mower brushless motor do?

A brushless motor has no wearing carbon brushes, which generally means less maintenance and quieter operation.

How long does a 40V mower battery last?

It depends on model, battery capacity and grass. Greenworks lists roughly 40 minutes on a 5.0Ah pack for one version, and other versions up to 60 minutes; treat these as maker ratings, not guarantees.

Can I use 40V batteries from another brand?

Usually no. Batteries are tied to the maker’s platform, so check the manufacturer’s compatibility list before buying a spare.

What are the best battery powered self propelled lawn mowers on sale for large lawns?

For large lawns, 40V models top out around the half-acre range; above that, consider 60V or 80V models, or a ride-on or robot mower.

Should I mulch or bag?

Mulch if you mow weekly and grass is dry; bag when grass is tall, wet, or has seed heads.

Which One Should You Buy?

If you have a medium lawn with some slope, the Greenworks 40V 21 inch self-propelled is the safe choice thanks to its brand support and tool platform. If your yard is small and flat, the WORX 40V 17 inch gives two batteries and a brushless motor at a mid-range tier. If you want self-propelled drive on a tighter budget, the Dong Cheng is attractive on paper but comes with less certainty on support. For tiny lawns, the Greenworks 16 inch is simple and light. Whichever you pick, confirm that the kit includes a battery and charger, and keep the manual for storage guidance.

Sources

• Greenworks product pages and 40V battery platform information (manufacturer)
• WORX product page for the WG745 and PowerShare information (manufacturer)
• SKIL PWR CORE 40 product page (manufacturer)
• Retailer listing details for Dong Cheng, NovorikX and NBKXDEL models

Last updated: October 2026