Many people put off the purchase of a new lawn mower for as long as possible because they see it as a major purchase. Sure, you can spend a lot of money on a mower, but there are plenty of options out there that won’t leave your pockets empty of cash. If you have a budget of $200 or less then you’ll have no problem finding a quality machine that will see you through many grass cutting seasons.
The biggest challenge at a price point under $200 is finding a lawn mower that will actually handle repeated use without mechanical or cosmetic problems. That’s why we’ve done the research for you. All of the products we review below are affordable, work well and have an overall reputation for quality at a great price.
We’ve also included a short list of mowers that just missed our list at the end because they were just over that $200 price range – if you can stretch your budget just a little bit, you’ll want to take a close look at this section.
Recent updates:
July 8, 2021: Verified accuracy of picks. Replaced discontinued products.
1. Black+Decker MM2000
The best overall budget lawn mower
There aren’t many mowers that can compare to the Black+Decker MM2000 in the $200 price range. It has a nice wide cutting deck, adjustable height and the handle is foldable for easy storage. The warranty isn’t the best and the cord is somewhat limiting, but overall this is a great bargain for a budget mower.
Black+Decker has always had a reputation for making great outdoor garden equipment that works great and comes at a great price. For that reason, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that it’s a Black+Decker product that makes our list of reviews as our best overall budget lawn mower. The MM2000 is a quality machine and it can be purchased at major retailers for under $200.
There are several reasons we like this mower starting with the 20-inch cutting deck that will allow you to cut a wide path as you go. This model also comes with a grass clipping back included at purchase. Other helpful features include a height adjustment feature that lets you choose from 7 different heights and it has a foldable handle for easy storage. This is a corded mower as well, so you get the convenience of push button start.
On the negative side, the warranty only covers you for 2-years and coverage is limited. The cord can also be a pain as you have to have an outlet nearby to plug into and you have to be careful not to run over the cord.
- Priced under $200.
- 20-inch cutting deck.
- 7-position height adjustment.
- Foldable handle.
- Push start.
- 2-year limited warranty.
- Cord limitations.
2. Sun Joe MJ408E
The best budget lawn mower under $180
While the build quality of the Sun Joe MJ408E is a bit suspect, you will get years of use from it with careful use. We like the large rear wheels and the 20-inch cutting deck is a nice size for the average sized lawn. You are limited by the cord, but that isn’t a major problem as long as you have available outlets in your front and back yards. If you want to keep to a tight budget, this is a great mower for the money.
One of the least expensive mowers you can find that’s actually worth considering is the Sun Joe MJ408E. This is a corded lawn mower with some great features for a budget mower and its bright green color will blend in nicely with your lawn.
When we came across this lawn mower the large back wheels caught our attention immediately. This design makes it easier to push the mower over uneven ground and that comes in handy for most homeowners.
Another thing we like about the MJ408E is its 20-inch cutting deck which is just the right size to make short work of your lawn cutting duties. Since this is a corded electric mower there are zero harmful emissions and you’re treated to the convenience of push button start. On top of all this, this Sun Joe mower also has 7 adjustable cutting heights to choose from.
At a price point under $180-$200 you’re not likely to get perfect build quality and that is the case with this mower – its major parts are all plastic and not as durable as what you’ll find on more expensive mowers. As this is a corded machine, you’ll probably want to consider other options if you have a large yard. You get a 2-year warranty with the MJ408E as well, which only covers a limited range of items.
- Priced under $175.
- Large rear wheels.
- 20-inch cutting deck.
- Zero emissions.
- Push button start.
- Not very durable.
- 2-year limited warranty.
3. Yardmax YG0545
The best gas-powered mower under $200
For a budget of under $200, you can’t do much better than the Yardmax YG0545 for a gas-powered mower. It has plenty of power with its 170 cc engine and its MaxFlow technology helps to give it an extra boost. You can adjust both the handle and the cutting deck height for your own comfort and for the desired grass length you’re looking for. The only thing really missing are large back wheels for ease of use on uneven ground.
When we think of lawn mowers under $200, most of us picture corded electric models, but they aren’t your only option in this price range. We’ve actually discovered a great machine that we’ve selected as our best gas-powered budget mower. The Yardmax YG0545 has few strong competitors for gas-powered mowers priced under $200.
This Yardmax mower has plenty of power provided by its 170 cc engine that will easily push through tall grass and rough patches. It also has a nice 20-inch wide deck to cut a nice wide path as you mow.
What really makes this machine standout from the competition though are all of the extras it’s equipped with. It has a custom MaxFlow spiral deck design that creates better airflow and keeps the engine chugging nicely. It also has 7 different cutting heights which you can easily adjust with a single lever and the handle height can be adjusted to three different positions based on your height.
Like other gas mowers, you will be adding some emissions to the air, so if you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint you may want to consider a battery or corded electric model instead. Also, we would have preferred to see large back wheels on this mower to make it easier to push through uneven ground.
- Gas-powered under $200.
- MaxFlow aerodynamic deck.
- 7 different cutting positions.
- 3 height adjustable handle.
- 170 cc engine.
- Increased emissions due to gas power.
- Missing large rear wheels.
4. Yard Machines 11A-02BT729
The best budget mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine
The Yard Machines 11A-02BT729 isn’t built for extra power. It’s a reliable budget mower with a dependable Briggs & Stratton engine. With its rust resistant 20-inch deck and lightweight design it’s a great choice for small to medium sized lawns and of course, it’s affordably priced.
There are a few things that indicate quality in a lawn mower and a Briggs & Stratton engine is one of them. It’s one of the things we always look for when evaluating a mower’s quality. This reliable budget mower ticks off most of the boxes we look for in a quality machine that’s priced affordably.
We generally don’t recommend choosing a mower that doesn’t have at least a 20-inch deck and the 11A-02BT729 meets this requirement. It has a rust resistant deck with a durable single blade system that will give you year after year of reliable use. At just 50 lbs, it’s fairly lightweight for a gas-powered mower as well. This machine also has decent sized 7 inch wheels for durability.
You don’t get a lot of bells and whistles with this machine though. There are only 3 cutting heights to choose from and the handle is not adjustable. It’s also not the most powerful machine at just 125 cc, so you probably won’t want to consider this machine if you have a lot of uneven ground to cover when you cut your lawn.
- 20-inch cutting deck.
- Reliable Briggs & Stratton engine.
- Rust resistant deck.
- Lightweight design.
- Stable and durable 7-inch wheels.
- Only 3 cutting height positions.
- Handle height is not adjustable.
- Only 125 cc’s.
5. Scotts 62014S
The best battery-powered budget lawn mower
For small yards, the Scotts 62014S is a good option. You get the cordless freedom of battery power without the emissions of a gas-powered mower. The inclusion of a clipping bag is a nice feature as well. The cutting deck is a little on the narrow side, but this mower will do the job if you don’t have a large area to cut.
At the upper end of our $200 budget range is the Scotts 62014S. This is a battery-powered machine at a great price and it’s also our selection as the best battery-powered budget lawn mower. We think this is a great choice for smaller lawns and for budget conscious consumers who are looking to invest in a battery-powered lawn mower.
One of the nice features of this mower is the incorporation of a brushless motor system that comes close to matching the power you’d expect from a gas-powered mower. It has a durable steel deck and you can easily switch between mulching or bagging your clippings. A 9-gallon bag is included at the time of purchase which saves the need for raking. You can also adjust both the deck height and the handle height – the handle also folds down for easier storage.
Probably the biggest drawback of this mower is the small 14-inch cutting deck. Usually we prefer to see at least a 20-inch deck on a mower, but there aren’t many battery-powered machines available under $200. The 20-volt battery is also a little underwhelming and you’ll only get about 40 minutes max per charge.
- Battery-powered.
- Brushless motor.
- Durable steel deck.
- 9-gallon grass clipping bag included.
- Adjustable deck height and handle.
- Small 14-inch cutting deck.
- Only 40 minutes per charge.
Our Just Missed The List Budget Mowers
Since this is a review article dedicated to providing great lawn mower options priced under $200, we left some great mowers off our list that just missed the price cut. We still think the following machines are worth some serious consideration if you can stretch your budget by a little bit. Here are some brief reviews of our just missed the list mowers.
PowerSmart DB8621CR
Another great gas powered lawn mower just slightly above the $200 threshold is the PowerSmart DB8621CR. It has a nice wide 21-inch cutting deck and it’s powered by a powerful 170 cc engine, giving it the strength to handle almost anything you put in its way. The deck height is fully adjustable and comes with a decent 3-year warranty. See it on Amazon
WEN 40439BT
WEN may not be a household name in the garden equipment category, but they’ve created a great product with the WEN 40439BT. It has a nice sized 19-inch cutting deck and it also happens to be a battery powered mower with plenty of power from its 40-volt battery. Another cool feature of this mower is that it has built in grass height sensing technology that adjusts itself automatically. See it on Amazon
For more great options, check out our picks of the best lawn mowers of 2024, the best lawn mowers under $300, the best riding lawn mowers, and the best budget riding mowers under $1500.
On A Final Note
If one thing should be clear at this point, it’s that you can find a great lawn mower on a budget of no more than $200. We chose the Black+Decker MM2000 as our best budget lawn mower, but any one of the products we’ve reviewed in this article will provide you with years of reliable use at a price that fits most family budgets. With these great machines under $200, there’s no need to keep pushing off that new mower purchase.
