Best Lawn Mower Brands

Direct answer: For most U.S. homeowners as of August 30, 2026, the safest shortlist starts with Toro, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, EGO, and Greenworks. Add RYOBI, Craftsman, STIHL, Makita, or American Lawn Mower Company when your yard, battery platform, or mower style is more specific.

This refresh narrows the old list to brands with clear current U.S. mower pages, active lineup information, or obvious dealer and parts support. That matters more than generic rankings, because the practical choice depends on whether you need a battery walk-behind, a lawn tractor, a zero-turn, a robotic mower, or a simple manual reel.

How I narrowed this list

I prioritized brands that still show active homeowner mower categories or current product pages in the U.S.
I favored brands with real lineup depth, not just one leftover mower model.
I treated dealer access, parts support, and battery-platform lock-in as buying factors, not afterthoughts.
I removed stale claims about universal quality, quietness, or durability when the current official site only supported a narrower statement.

Quick picks by mowing need

Need	Best brands to start with	Why they stand out now
Battery walk-behind	EGO, Greenworks, RYOBI	All three show deep cordless lineups, with EGO focused on 56V, Greenworks spread across several voltages, and RYOBI covering 18V, 40V, and 80V.
Riding mower or zero-turn	John Deere, Toro, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna	These brands still show broad riding categories instead of a token homeowner rider.
Gas push or self-propelled	Toro, Craftsman, STIHL	Each still presents gas homeowner mowing as an active category.
Manual or reel mowing	American Lawn Mower Company	It remains one of the clearest reel-focused brands, including American Lawn Mower, Earthwise, Great States, and Scotts-branded reels.
Battery if you already own tool batteries	EGO, Makita, RYOBI, Greenworks	Battery ecosystem fit can save more money and hassle than chasing a marginal feature difference.

Best battery-first brands

EGO

EGO's mower lineup is one of the cleanest battery-only options for homeowners who want a focused platform instead of mixed gas and battery messaging. Its current pages show multiple 21-inch, 22-inch, and 30-inch walk-behind models, while the separate riding mower range covers Z6 zero-turn and T6 tractor-style options. EGO makes the most sense if you want to stay inside one 56V ecosystem across mower, blower, trimmer, and snow tools.

Greenworks

Greenworks now spans walk-behind, riding, zero-turn, and robotic mowing, which is unusually broad for a battery-led brand. The tradeoff is complexity: the same brand currently sells 24V, 40V, 60V, and 80V products, so you should decide the mower class first and the battery family second.

RYOBI

RYOBI's mower catalog is broad and unusually accessible for shoppers already invested in ONE+ or 40V tools. Current pages show walk-behind models, riding mowers, and zero-turn options, including 80V riders. RYOBI is often the practical pick when you want battery convenience and direct online availability more than a dealer-led buying process.

Makita

Makita is not the broadest mower brand, but its current mower pages still matter if you already own LXT or XGT batteries. The XML05PT shows a compact residential option, while the GML01SM shows a self-propelled commercial-leaning 40V XGT mower. Makita is strongest as a battery-platform decision, not as a one-brand answer for every yard type.

Best riding and zero-turn brands

John Deere

John Deere remains one of the clearest riding-mower brands because its homeowner pages are built around lawn tractors, zero-turns, attachments, and dealer support rather than only box-store walk-behinds. The residential mower overview still shows the 100, 200, X300, X500, X700, Z300, and Z500 families. If you are shopping for acreage, attachments, or long-term serviceability, Deere still belongs near the top of the shortlist.

Toro

Toro is one of the few homeowner brands that still shows real depth across walk-behind, zero-turn, and robotic categories in one place. That range is useful because it lets you stay with one support ecosystem even if your yard needs change. Toro is especially strong when you want both battery and gas choices without leaving the brand.

Cub Cadet

Cub Cadet still presents riding mowers, zero-turns, and walk-behinds as active categories, and its current pages keep a clear distinction between compact riders, lawn tractors, and heavier zero-turn families. If your yard is too large for a push mower but you do not want to jump straight to a dealer-only commercial brand, Cub Cadet is still a sensible middle ground.

Husqvarna

Husqvarna is still one of the best brands to check when you want options across robotic, riding, zero-turn, and walk-behind mowing. Its current U.S. pages make that breadth explicit. Husqvarna is especially worth a look when your shortlist includes both traditional riders and robotic mowing, because few brands span both categories this clearly.

Best gas and mixed-power homeowner brands

Toro

Toro belongs here too because its walk-behind mower lineup still covers gas and battery-powered models in the same homeowner range. If you are undecided on power source, Toro is a good comparison brand because it lets you compare formats without switching support systems.

Craftsman

Craftsman still shows riding, zero-turn, push, self-propelled, and cordless mower categories. That makes it relevant for price-conscious homeowners who still want gas options and familiar retail channels. It is a better fit for broad availability than for highly specialized commercial mowing.

STIHL

STIHL now deserves more attention in homeowner mower comparisons because it clearly markets both gas and battery push mowers plus zero-turn options. Its dealer-centric model can be a strength if you want setup help, service access, or a local support relationship rather than a ship-to-door purchase.

Best for manual or reel mowing

American Lawn Mower Company is still the easiest brand to recommend if you specifically want a reel mower. The official site remains strongly centered on manual reel models and also surfaces Earthwise, Great States, and Scotts-branded reel options. If your yard is small, flat, and easy to maintain, a reel mower can still be the simplest and lowest-maintenance answer.

Match the brand to your yard

Small suburban yard: start with EGO, Greenworks, RYOBI, Toro, or American Lawn Mower Company.
Medium yard with hills: start with Toro, EGO self-propelled models, Cub Cadet walk-behinds, or STIHL.
One acre or more: start with John Deere, Cub Cadet, Husqvarna, or Toro zero-turns and riders.
Mixed obstacles or tight turns: compare zero-turn and robotic options before buying a larger tractor.
Already own batteries: prioritize the brand that matches the tool platform you already use.

Check parts, dealers, and batteries before you buy

For battery brands, verify the exact platform. Greenworks, Makita, and RYOBI each span multiple battery families.
For riders and zero-turns, check whether the brand relies on dealer setup and service or mostly direct retail fulfillment.
For long-term ownership, look for official parts or support hubs such as EGO support or a brand dealer locator before you decide.
Do not assume a famous engine brand means the complete mower experience will match the old reputation of that engine maker.

Bottom line

If you want one short answer, start with Toro for all-around homeowner range, John Deere and Cub Cadet for riding mowers, Husqvarna for riding plus robotic breadth, and EGO or Greenworks for battery-first shopping. Then narrow by yard size, terrain, battery ecosystem, and service access, because those factors will usually matter more than the badge on the deck.