What Type of Battery is a Lawn Mower Battery?
As your gasoline lawn mower ages, it will take more pulls to get your lawn care lieutenant started. Many homeowners opt to trade their gasoline push or riding lawn mower for a more versatile battery-powered lawn mower. Choosing the right battery for your backyard can be overwhelming, but you’ve come to the right place.
We are Mowrator, innovators of battery-powered lawn mowers for homeowners with different types of lawns and gardens. While the specifications for your mower may vary, we’ll cover the different sizes and types of batteries, as well as how to choose the right type of battery for your specific needs.
Key Takeaways
- The two most common types of lawn mower batteries are lead-acid and lithium-ion.
- U1 lawn mower batteries share the same dimensions but offer different cold cranking amps (CCA) ratings, while Group 24 lawn mower batteries are rare but ideal for riding mowers.
- Important factors to consider when buying a lawn mower battery, aside from size, are voltage, capacity (Ah), and CCA.
- You should also factor in maintenance, lifespan, and environmental considerations along with size when deciding on a battery.
Lawn Mower Battery Sizes Explained
Electric lawn mowers use several common battery types, from riding mowers to remote controlled lawn mowers like our Mowrator S1 4WD. Batteries are categorized under the cold cranking amps (CCA) measurement, which describes how much current a battery can send at zero degrees Fahrenheit without dropping below a certain voltage.
Lawn mower batteries are usually divided into a Group U1 or 24 battery type, although your lawn mower will likely fall into the U1 battery group — this is important to keep in mind when fitting your battery into your lawn mower. Here is a battery size comparison for the U1 and U24 group batteries.
U1 Batteries
U1 batteries are the most common types of lawn mower batteries you’ll find commercially available. They come in a standardized size of 8.3 x 5.1 x 7.25 inches with the positive terminal located on the left side of the battery.
U1 batteries can have a range of CCA, however, they tend to fall between 200 and 230. They also have 35 to 40 Amp-hour (Ah) capacity and are typically manufactured as 12-volt batteries.
U1-R Batteries
U1-R batteries fall into the Group U1 type of battery, and share lots of similarities with U1 batteries, including their dimensions and CCA. The main difference is that U1-R batteries have their positive terminal located on the right side of the battery.
When using a U1-R battery, always ensure that you replace the right type of terminal post as they can vary between F7, B3, B2, etc.
U1-3 Batteries
The U1-3 batteries are the rarest type of U1 battery group, but offer the highest performance out of all the U1 batteries. They aren’t dissimilar to the U-1 battery and share the same dimensions. The U1-3 batteries have a higher CCA (typically averaging around 340 to 425 CCA), and tend to be found in electric lawn tractors or heavy-duty push lawn mowers.
U1-3 batteries also function better in colder climates, where a higher CCA is required to start your lawn mower consistently. They do tend to be more expensive than U1 batteries because of this higher performance.
Group 24 Batteries
Group 24 batteries have a higher capacity and CCA than U1 lawn mower batteries, which makes them a good fit for your larger garden tractors and riding lawn mowers. They are also taller than U1 batteries, typically 8.9 inches (about 23 cm) tall compared to U1 batteries which are 7.25 inches (about 18 cm) tall. Moreover, as Group 24 batteries are more powerful, they are often used in automotive and marine applications.
While Group 24 batteries offer a higher CCA rating than the U1 battery group size, they also tend to be more expensive with fewer brand options than the common U1 batteries.
What are Common Battery Types?
Lawn mower batteries come in a wide range of types, although modern batteries fall into two main categories: lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries. We’ve outlined the main differences between these batteries and how they impact the performance of different types of lawn mowers below.
Lead Acid Batteries
Lead-acid batteries were once the default or go-to battery for lawn mowers, but are beginning to be phased out by more modern lithium-ion batteries. They are still used in many lawn mowers today, especially with riding mowers that rely on lead-acid batteries. Some homeowners will still choose to purchase a lead-acid battery, as they are relatively cheap ($50 to $200+).
Lead-acid batteries typically last only 200 to 300 charges, which will last around 2 to 3 years with proper care. If you decide to purchase a lead-acid battery, keep in mind that regular maintenance like checking the battery’s water levels is essential to reach this lifespan. Along with checking water levels, never let your lead-acid battery completely discharge, as these batteries may fail after being fully drained.
Depending on the lawn mower model you have, a lead-acid battery can deliver quality performance to maintain your backyard on a budget.
Lithium-Ion Batteries
As technology innovates the lawn care space, you’ll find that many modern lawn mowers are equipped with lithium batteries. Compared to lead-acid, lithium-ion offers a more efficient battery, doesn’t require as much maintenance, and has a longer battery lifespan. You’ll also spend less time charging the battery when tackling a larger lawn than lead-acid, which wastes less time to mow the lawn.
Lithium-ion batteries last 300 to 500 charge cycles, which will allow you to use this battery for your lawn mower for around 3 to 5 years. Certain lithium-ion batteries can even reach up to 1,000+ charge cycles, although this often comes with a hefty premium price (lithium-ion batteries cost between $200 and $1,000+).
While the upfront costs are higher, you may fit into the market of homeowners who are looking for a more consistent lawn mower battery that requires minimal maintenance and tolerates deep discharges better.
Lithium Iron (LiFe Battery)
The lithium iron battery has a slight edge over lithium-ion in terms of its life cycle and safety. They are incredibly efficient batteries, offering a 4 to 5 times longer charge cycle than typical lithium-ion batteries.
Heat is a major factor to be cautious of when choosing a lithium-ion battery, as they can overheat and catch fire. However, Lithium-iron-phosphate or LiFePO4 batteries do not have these issues, which is another reason why we’ve opted to use this type in our Mowrator S1 Remote-Control Electric Lawn Mower.
What are Key Battery Specifications You Should Know?
Voltage
Your lawn mower’s battery will use a specific voltage to power the blades, no matter if it's a lead-acid or lithium-ion battery. While early lawn mower batteries used either 6- or 12-volt batteries, modern batteries have been standardized to be around 12 volts. Regular push mowers and most riding mowers will have a 12-volt battery, although some riding mowers need 14-volt batteries because they need more power.
The size of the battery will often be significantly affected by the battery’s voltage, although a higher voltage causes the battery to weigh more. For example, a 40-volt lithium-ion battery that is used by some heavy-duty lawn mowers will be heavier and more expensive.
Capacity in Amp-Hours (Ah)
The battery capacity of a lawn mower battery tells you how much current can deliver in 10 hours when fully charged in amps. For modern lawn mowers, including the U1 battery group sizes we described above, this battery capacity will range from 10 Ah to 40 Ah — the higher the capacity, the larger the battery will be.
Cold Cranking Amps (CCA)
A battery’s CCA shows you the cranking current it delivers in amps for 10 hours after a full charge. For most lawn mower batteries, which are smaller than a car battery, you won’t need a high CCA. Many modern batteries will offer around 100 A to 300 A, although a riding mower battery will likely require a higher CCA (at least 145 A).
What Else Should You Consider When Buying a Battery?
Here are some additional factors to look out for in addition to size when choosing a battery for your mower:
Lawn Mower Battery Maintenance
A major factor that can influence your decision regarding your choice of lawn mower battery is the maintenance it will require. Not only can regular maintenance on your lawn mower’s battery eat up valuable time from your day, but it can also damage the battery if not done properly. However, they are essential to ensuring your battery performance is at peak efficiency.
The most time-consuming maintenance happens during winter, when homeowners winterize their lawn mowers until their lawn becomes overgrown in spring and summer. Both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries should not be fully discharged during storage. Keeping your batteries indoors, hooked to an automotive battery charger, and safe from moist conditions will maintain your battery the best.
Lawn Mower Battery Lifespan
A lawn mower’s lifespan is another important factor when deciding which battery to purchase. Lawn mower batteries typically last between 3 and 10 years, depending on the size and type of the battery. For example, while a lithium-ion battery can last up to 10 years with proper care, you’re likely to enjoy a longer lifespan the bigger the battery is.
Your environment and battery maintenance can also decrease your battery’s lifespan, including:
- Overcharging or undercharging your lawn mower battery
- Extreme hot and cold climates
- Improper electrolyte levels
Environmental Considerations
Sustainability is a prominent factor for many homeowners today when purchasing a lawn mower, especially as the lawn mower battery market is expected to reach $320 million by 2029. Lithium-ion and lithium-iron lawn mower batteries are the leading choices, as they don’t emit exhaust fumes and produce less greenhouse gas than lead-acid batteries. As technology improves, batteries continue to become smaller and more efficient, so making the switch can save on future costs.
Our team at Mowrator is continually working at the forefront of lawn mower technology to not only help maintain the environment, but your lawn as well. The Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower is a revolutionary new companion to your backyard, with an 18 Ah 56 V lithium-iron (LiFePO4) battery that boasts a 135-minute run-time after a quick supercharge. Shop our incredible range of remote-controlled lawn mowers and accessories today.
What Type of Battery is a Lawn Mower Battery? | FAQs
How to Replace a Lawn Mower Battery?
To change your lawn mower battery, move the mower to a dry, flat surface and open the battery compartment. Loosen the terminals with a wrench, disconnect the negative (black) terminal first, then the positive (red). Carefully remove the old battery, which can be heavy, so ask for help if needed. Install the new battery, reconnect the positive (red) terminal first, then the negative (black) terminal, and tighten the nuts and bolts with your wrench. Finally, dispose of the old battery safely.
Are Lawn Mower Batteries Similar to Car Batteries?
Yes, lawn mower batteries and car batteries have similarities. If you have experience with working with a car battery, you’ll be able to manage lawn mower’s with no problem. For example, a mower’s battery will have comparable acid content and antimony to a car battery, which means it’s equally important that you clean up corrosion buildup from the battery's terminals. While a lawn mower battery is smaller than a car battery, many of them will still run on a 12-volt charge.
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