Best 3-in-1 Lawn Mowers: Reviews & Buying Guide
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As technology is advancing at a rapid race, lawn mower manufacturers have to constantly innovate their products in order not to be left behind in the race to the top. That’s why we can witness the increase of more versatile lawn mowers on the market.
3-in-1 lawn mowers have become more and more popular because of their convenience and versatility. 3-in-1 lawn mowers can feature 3 grass clipping discharge options or integrate 3 garden tools into a single one.
Here is the list of 9 best 3-in-1 lawn mowers running on 3 different types of energy:
Best 3-In-1 Gas Lawn Mowers
Craftsman M105Editor’s Choice
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Powerful enough for yards up to 1/2 acre
- Cut tall grass like a charm
- Lightweight, quiet and easy to start
- Mulch well
Cons
- Small catch bag
- Not for larger lawns
If you tend to let your grass overgrow, you can’t overlook the power of a gas lawn mower, especially this Craftsman M105. Featuring a 140cc engine that is powerful enough to cut through the tallest and toughest grass you get out there and a wide cutting desk, this mower is a perfect match for your medium yard of up to ½ acre.
The 3-in-1 discharge options save you from raking the grass clippings after mowing. Side and rear discharge features help holding all the grass in the bag that is easy to empty. Mulching capacity allows grass clippings to be cut into finer pieces that easily feed the soil.
It doesn’t sound like a helicopter taking off so you can rest assured that your neighborhood won’t come after you every time you mow your lawn. M105 is also lightweight compared to other gas models.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | Up to 1/2 acre |
| 3-in-1 Features | Side discharge, Rear discharge, and Mulching Capabilities |
| Cutting Width | 21 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 6 Positions (1.25” - 3.75”) |
| Weight | 65 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | 4-choke 140c c engine, Dual-lever cutting height adjustment, Bagger included |
Powerful, versatile, user-friendly without costing an arm and a leg, those are the reasons why Craftsman M105 has won our heart.
Lawn-Boy 17734Best for Hills (Great for the Elderly too)
Pros
- Rear-wheel drive works like a dream on hills
- Self-propelled engine and electric start make garden work easier for the elderly
- Adjustable speed commodated your pace
- Excellent mulching capacities
- Easy to use
- Compact and easy to store
Cons
- Bag is smaller than advertised
- Not working well on wet grass
- Poor front wheel adjuster
The rear-wheel drive and the self-propelled feature have qualified this Lawn-Boy 17734 as the best mower for hills and sloped yards. Rear-wheel drive system provides enough traction for the mower to climb the hills like a charm while the powerful Kohler engine tackles the thickest grass you can find up those hills.
Seniors and homeowners with physical limits can enjoy mowing more than ever before thanks to the electric start that turns on the engine without a hitch, saving you time and energy that the pull start may take away from you.
The 21-inch deep dome desk features Tri-cut system that provides cleaner cut and better mulching capacities. Moreover, the desk is versatile with 6 height settings that can be adjusted easily with 2-Point Height-of-Cut System.
For a lawn mower like model 17734 with an electric start, Lawn-Boy offers the best price on the market.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | 1/4 to 1/3 acre |
| 3-in-1 Features | Side discharge, Rear discharge, and Mulching Capabilities |
| Cutting Width | 21 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 6 Positions (1.25” - 3.75”) |
| Weight | 72 lbs |
| Warranty | 3-Year Tru-Start Commitment + 2-Year Full Warranty |
| Highlight Features | Kohler XTX OHV 4-Stroke Engine, Self-Propelled, Electric Start, Tri-Cut System, Two-Point Height of Cut, CARB Compliant |
Elderly people need a lawn mower that is more than just being lightweight. That’s why Lawn-Boy 17734 that self-propels and features electric start is the best bet someone with limited mobility can find.
PowerSmart DB8620Most Affordable Self-propelled Option
Pros
- Cost effective
- Powerful engine that cuts grass like butter
- Rear-wheel drive makes it suited for hills and uneven terrains
- Mulch like a charm
- Easy to start
- Large grass bag capacity
Cons
- There is only one speed that can be fast to older people
- Not good on steep hills
- Installing the front wheels can make you pull your hair out
For homeowners who love self-propelled lawn mowers, you can find one now at only 200 dollars, how cool is that? PowerSmart DB8620 doesn’t compromise power and user-friendliness despite the low cost.
With a powerful 196cc engine and a rear-wheel drive, nothing on your uneven and rough yard can stop this little beast. Although this mower isn’t as easy to use as Lawn-Boy 17734 on hills, it surely has enough power to blast through anything on the way uphill.
3-in-1 discharge option makes it easier to collect grass clippings as you wish. The deep dome desk with sharp and solid blade chop clippings into finer pieces that can be easily taken in by the soil. Eight height settings and an easy pull start makes it even more valuable for such a cheap price.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| 3-in-1 Features | Side discharge, Rear discharge, and Mulching Capabilities |
| Cutting Width | 20 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 8 Positions (1.18” - 3.15”) |
| Weight | 83 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | Self-Propelled, Powerful 196cc Engine, Easy Pull Start, Rear-Wheel Drive, Deep Dome Desk |
PowerSmart DB8620 has everything you need for mowing an uneven and rough backyard without costing a fortune.
Best 3-In-1 Corded Electric Lawn Mowers
GreenWorks 25022Best for Tall Grass
Pros
- Powerful enough to tackle tall, thich grass and slight hills
- Lightweight and compact for storage
- Super maneuverable on uneven grounds thanks to large wheels
- Start the engine without a hitch
- Easy to assemble and use
Cons
- One should watch out for the extension cord while mowing
- Can get bogged down on wet grass
If a self-propelled gas-powered lawn mower goes over your budget, and you need one that is easy to use enough for the seniors, take a look at this Greenworks 25022. Costing half the price, yet, this little mower has the power of a heavy-duty lawn mower that can cover up to ½ acre of lawn in no time with 12 Amp motor.
Overgrowth will never be a problem anymore with this Greenworks mower. It comes with 10-inch rear wheels and 7-inch front wheels that make it super maneuverable on tough and uneven yards. The push button start effortlessly turns on the motor and seven height positions tackle all kinds of grass.
Like all of the gas-powered models on the list, it has a 3-in-1 grass clipping option. Moreover, this mower is super lightweight and with foldable handles, it can squeeze to any small storage space you have.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | Up to 1/2 acre |
| 3-in-1 Features | Side discharge, Rear discharge, and Mulching Capabilities |
| Cutting Width | 20 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 7 Positions (1.50” - 3.75”) |
| Weight | 56 lbs |
| Warranty | 4-Year Full Warranty |
| Highlight Features | Powerful 12 Amp Motor, Push Button Start, Foldable Handles, Large Wheels |
Such a powerful, user-friendly, lightweight and super affordable mower like GreenWorks 25022 will please any yard owner. That's why it’s got an excellent rating score at 4.3/5.0 stars on Amazon.
BLACK+DECKER MTE912Budget-friendly Option
Pros
- Innovative design with 3 tools in 1 silhouette
- Space-saving and lightweight design
- Get into tight spaces with no problem
- Work well on tricky hills
- Easy to use like a piece of cake
- Cost next to nothing
Cons
- Only ideal for smaller lawns
- Only 2 height settings available
- Overgrown grass is a problem to it
You’re looking at the most innovative technology that a lawn mower can have. BLACK+DECKER MTE912 integrates 3 kinds of landscaping functionality into a one single compact tool. With just a rotation, you can convert the lawn mower into a string trimmer and a edger in no time.
It is also a great solution for those who have limited storage space. With its small and compact silhouette, it will find its way into the smallest space you’ve got. Besides, it only weighs a mere 10.2 lbs, so basically it is as lightweight as a kid’s toy.
The mower also comes with Automatic Feed Spool saving you from stopping your work frequently to bump the string onto the ground. The Gear Drive Transmission helps prevent bogging down as much as possible.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | 750 sq.ft. |
| 3-in-1 Features | Lawn Mower, String Trimmer and Edger |
| Cutting Width | 12 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 2 Positions (1.6” & 2.4”) |
| Weight | 10.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | AFS automatic feed system, Gear Drive transmission, Compact Design |
Isn’t it great to have 3 tools at the price of just, well, half a tool? This compact BLACK+DECKER MTE912 is perfect for your small lawn and for small storage space.
Best 3-In-1 Cordless Electric Lawn Mowers
BLACK+DECKER MTC220Best for Tight Spots
Pros
- Compact design that gets into tight spaces effortlessly
- Innovative design with 3 tools in 1 silhouette
- The most affordable cordless mower you can find on the market
- Easy to use
- Automatic feed spool
- Works well on hills and slopes
Cons
- Short runtime, thus only suitable for small yards
- Feature only 2 height settings
- Narrow desk
Basically, BLACK+DECKER MTC220 is a cordless version of BLACK+DECKER MTE912 we have discussed above. With MTC220, you can also easily convert from lawn mower into string trimmer and edger in the blink of an eye.
It is also compact and lightweight enough to get into tight spots like a charm, making your garden look evenly manicured and smooth. Its compact silhouette is also a solution to tiny storage space that you have at home.
MTC220 is slightly heavier than the corded model due to the battery it carries, yet it still weighs like a kid’s toy. You won’t have any trouble carrying it around all day long.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | 750 sq.ft. |
| 3-in-1 Features | Lawn Mower, String Trimmer and Edger |
| Runtime | 20 minutes |
| Cutting Width | 12 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 2 Positions (1.6” & 2.4”) |
| Weight | 14.4 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | AFS automatic feed system, Gear Drive transmission, Compact Design |
If you have a small lawn and you want a mower that is safe, environmentally-friendly and versatile, BLACK+DECKER MTC220 is definitely for you.
Craftsman V60 CMCMW260P1Lightweight Mower with Plenty of Power
Pros
- Powerful as a gas-powered mower
- Mow 1/3 acre on a single charge
- Durable and versatile metal desk
- Lightweight and compact
- Easily adjusted desk heights
- Excellent warranty
Cons
- None!
If you need a mower with more power for your medium lawn that doesn’t come in a huge silhouette, take a look at this Craftsman V60 CMCMW260P1. This 3-in-1 mower features a 60V motor that provides enough runtime for you to mow a lawn of up to 1/3 acre without a hitch.
This mower is among those that prove not only gas-powered mowers are the most powerful. Craftsman V60 can cut through the tallest and thickest grass you have like butter. The ability to survive through a 1/3 lawn this mower has is what you can’t find in some gas mowers.
The features that most of the customers appreciate about this Craftsman is how compact and lightweight it is with such power. With the foldable handle and the vertical storage position, it can squeeze into any room you’ve got for it in your home.
Backed by an incredible warranty of 4 years by Craftsman, you can rest assured that this battery-powered lawn mower will be there with you through sunshine and rain for many years to come.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | Up to 1/3 acre |
| 3-in-1 Features | Mulching, Bagging and Side Discharging |
| Runtime | 40 minutes |
| Cutting Width | 21 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 6 Positions (1.5” - 4”) |
| Weight | 77.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 4-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | Powerful 60V Motor, Metal Desk, Vertical Folding, Single Lever Height Adjustment, On-board LED indication |
Why sticking to gas-powered mowers when you can have Craftsman V60 CMCMW260P1 with the same power and without the fume, the heavy weight, the noise and the expensive maintenance cost?
Yard Force YF120vRXPremium Choice
Pros
- Features an impressive power and runtime
- Fast charge time
- Built-in sensor saves energy
- Cut through tall, thick and wet grass like a charm
- Self-propelled
- Work well on hills and uneven yards
- Excellent warranty
- Large bag coming with indicator
Cons
- A bit expensive
This Yard Force YF120vRX is the only cordless electric lawn mower on the market that can handle a 1/2 acre lawn. With 120vRX brushless motor, it is so powerful that some gas models cannot even compete. 100 minutes of runtime on a single charge enables it to mow a medium yard without a hitch.
Tall, thick and wet grass that gets in the way of some gas mowers can’t frustrate Yard Force YF120vRX. Built-in sensor in the motor automatically increases the speed of the blade when the mower encounters those kinds of grass, which can save a lot of energy.
The self-propelled system saves you from breaking a sweat when mowing and the rear-wheel drive system gives the mower more traction to tackle hills and sloped yards like a dream. The wide and versatile 22-inch desk provides you with 3 grass clipping options.
Vortex tunnel design maximizes the capacity of the bag, reducing the times you have to empty the bag. Moreover, the mower is backed with one of the industry’s best warranty of up to 5 years.
| Features | |
|---|---|
| Ideal for properties | Up to 1/2 acre |
| 3-in-1 Features | Mulching, Bagging and Side Discharging |
| Runtime | 100 minutes |
| Cutting Width | 22 inches |
| Cutting Heights | 7 Positions (Max... 4”) |
| Weight | 109 lbs |
| Warranty | 5-Year Limited |
| Highlight Features | Self-propelled with speed-adjust, Dual battery ports, Single-lever height adjustment, Fast charging, High capacity grass bag, Torque-sensing technology |
All in all, Yard Force YF120vRX is an amazing cordless electric mower that challenges the existence and value of its gasoline swilling cousins.
How To Choose The Best 3-In-1 Lawn Mowers (Buying Guide)
Which kind of mower is best suited for your lawn?
The answer depends on many factors. Take a look at this graph to have a clearer comparison among 3 kinds of lawn mowers (gas, corded electric and battery-powered).
Gas-powered lawn mowers
They are considered the most powerful mowers on the market with the capacity to tackle tall and thick overgrow on uneven and hilly yards. However, gas mowers require tons of maintenance works such as changing oil, air filter, spark plugs or sharpening blades.
They are also noisy to operate, harmful for your health and the environment due to the emissions from the gas and oil.
Corded electric lawn mowers
Corded lawn mowers save you from the noise and the hassle of gas mowers. They are lightweight, easy to use and cheap compared to other kinds. However, they are limited by the cords and features less power so corded electric mowers are suited for small yards and even terrains.
Cordless electric or battery-powered lawn mowers
They are the most environmentally-friendly and quietest among all. Some models are even more powerful than a gas counterpart without the use of gas. However, they tend to be more expensive to buy and to change batteries.
The kinds of terrains you have
Not all gas-powered mowers are good for uneven yards and not all electric mowers are inappropriate for hills. So make sure that you read the recommendations from the manufacturers and the reviews from the customers to figure out the best mower for your lawn.
The grass types of your lawn
The grass you are growing has to do with the cutting heights of the mower you choose. Each grass has an ideal cutting height for its own sake and a mower should be able to be adjusted to the matching height. For example, St. Augustine grass is best when it is 2.5-3 inch high and if you choose a mower whose desk at its max height is 2 inches, the grass won’t be happy. Check out this picture to choose the best mower for your grass.
FAQs
There are some powerful mowers that allow you to mow wet grass with no effort like Yard Force YF120vRX. However, ideally, you should never mow wet grass. Wet grass can be a strain to lawn mowers, which leads them to overheat and maybe shortens their lifespan.
Wet grass tends to hug the ground so the mower will pass above them instead of cutting them. Those wet blades of grass dry and stand up again, making your yard uneven cut and well, ugly.
Moreover, when the engine of a mower is not powerful enough, it will tear the grass rather than cutting them cleanly, which welcomes diseases and fungi to live in your grass. Cutting wet grass also results in larger grass clippings that can be stuck under the desk and make your work harder.
In the worst case you can think of, you can slip while trying to mow wet grass, how dangerous it is!
However, if you expect more rain in the next few days and your lawn has been longer than you can bear, make sure that the soil is not too soft to walk on. If your feet sink into the mud, wait and come back later. If you are living in a rainy region, invest in a strong lawn mower so that you don’t have cold feet whenever your lawn is wet.
There are several reasons why starting a mower is a pain in the neck:
- You forget to fill gas: It may sound a bit clichéd but it can happen. Always check the fuel tank before you start the engine.
- The carburetor is clogged: After a long season of snow, you pull out your lawn mower and realize that you have left the gas in there the whole time. Gas only has a shelf life of 30 days, overtime, it can become thicker and stickier substance that clogs up the carburetor, leading to a hard-to-start engine. To fix this, use carburetor cleaner to clean it. If it doesn’t work, you may have to replace the entire carburetor.
- Clogged fuel filter: The filter may be blocked by some sediments from the fuel or by stale gas, preventing the flow of fuel to the engine. If you have old fuel left in the mower, drain it and replace the fuel filter.
- Broken primer bulbs: This allows air to enter the fuel system and makes the engine malfunction. Replace the primer bulb to fix the problem.
- The spark plug goes bad: The spark plug is the ignition source of a lawn mower’s engine. So if it malfunctions, you find it hard to start the engine and your mower will die out more often.
- Old starter solenoid: When you hear a clicking sound, it may be the time to change to a new starter solenoid.
Too much gas won’t destroy the engine, but it will give you more hassles to deal with. When you flood the engine with fuel, it will soak the filter and prevent air from flowing to the engine, making it impossible to start the engine. Or the gas can reach the spark plug, make it wet and lead to the same result - hard to start the mower.
If you accidentally put too much fuel, place the lawn mower on an even surface and wait 15-20 minutes for the gas to evaporate. Remove the spark plug and let it dry before restarting the engine.
If the air filter is covered in gasoline, remove it and open the valve for the air to circulate. Then start the engine and let it run for 5 minutes before turning it off to replace the filter.
Conclusion
Finally we have reached the end of the article. We hope you have found for your lawn the best 3-in-1 lawn mower that you’ve been dreaming of. Happy shopping and see you in the next post!