What are the Quietest Lawn Mowers?
The quietest lawn mowers are manual lawn mowers like reel mowers, as well as certain models of electric lawn mowers. If you're looking for a quiet cutter for grass, then choosing a battery-powered lawn mower is what you need: efficiency and low decibels. Our own Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD is exceptionally quiet, making it easy to mow your lawn in the early morning or evening without disturbing your neighbors.
We've written this guide to help you decide which quiet cutter lawn mower is right for you, from gas to electric and everything in between.
Key Takeaways
- The quietest lawn mowers are the Toro Smartstow, Mowrator S1 4WD, and Fiskars StaySharp.
- Electric lawn mowers are quieter than gas mowers by at least 10 decibels in most cases.
- Your lawn mower's engine, muffler, blade, RPM, and sound insulation will impact how loud it is.
What are the Quietest Lawn Mowers on the Market?
| Lawn Mower | Price | Decibels | Requires Ear Protection? | Average Noise Exposure (1 Acre) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toro Smartstow 21455 | $699 | 85 dB | Yes | 1 hour |
| Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD | $3,499 | 63 dB | No | 2 hours |
| Fiskars StaySharp Max 18-Inch Reel Mower | $266 | 60 dB | No | 4 hours |
Quietest Gas Lawn Mower: Toro Smartstow 21455 ($699)
The Toro Smartstow 21455 is a gas-powered, self-propelled lawn mower that's used as a space-saving lawn mower thanks to its vertical storage options. While you can reduce your storage footprint by over 70% using this lawn mower, it's also incredibly quiet to boot up — at least when you compare it to other gas mowers. It packs a small engine, a 150cc Briggs and Stratton, and is relatively lightweight as well.
Unfortunately, while it's a quiet gas mower model, it's likely you'll still need to wear ear protection if you're planning to use the Toro Smartstow. It produces around 85 to 90 decibels; according to OSHA, this requires appropriate hearing protection if you're going to be mowing over 8 hours on average. Nevertheless, the cutting performance and mulching capacity of the Toro Smartstow may still convince you.
Quietest Electric Lawn Mower: Mowrator S1 4WD ($3,499)
The Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD is quiet, producing only around 63 dB of noise, which is perfect for mowing your lawn without disturbing anyone. When you switch from a gas lawn mower to an electric one, the difference is astonishing. This is true not only for its easy-to-operate capabilities but also for the reduced noise level.
Aside from its quiet operation, the Mowrator S1 4WD boasts several unique features that you cannot find with traditional mowers. It's one of the first remote control lawn mowers, meaning you can enjoy cutting the grass from a shaded nook in your garden without needing to sit under the sun or walk behind your mower. A remote control mower also means you're further away from the lawn mower on average, which reduces your exposure to noise.
The battery and charger included with the Mowrator S1 4WD are perfect for long mows and fast recharges. Our LiFePO4 battery has a 135-minute runtime, which can cover over an acre on a single charge and recharge in a blistering 90 minutes. Like the Toro Smartstow, the S1 4WD has a 3-in-1 mulching, bagging, and disposal system that makes removing clippings and leaves from your lawn a breeze.
Quietest Reel Mower: Fiskars StaySharp Max 18” Reel Mower ($266)
The Fiskars StaySharp is a quiet and cheap manual reel mower specifically designed for eco-friendly users who want a quiet and emission-free mowing experience. Our tried and tested experience with the StaySharp certainly backs up this claim, although the downside is that it's a walk-behind mower that lacks a self-propel feature. This reel mower still clocks in at around 60 dB occasionally, making it about as quiet as the Mowrator S1 4WD.
Since the Fiskars StaySharp is a push lawn mower and isn't self-propelled, you'll find that it's best suited for small to medium-sized lawns (less than 0.25 acres). It's easy to start, quiet, and an excellent trimmer for your lawn care needs, but we'd be remiss to not speak about a few downsides to this reel lawn mower. For example, you may need multiple passes to tackle long grass and grass clippings may be blown towards you on particularly windy days.
Are Electric Lawn Mowers Quieter than Gas Mowers?
| 50–60 dB | 60–70 dB | 70–80 dB | 80–90 dB | 90–100 dB | 100–110 dB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Normal conversation, rainfall, electric toothbrush | Washing machine, electric lawn mower, loud radio, city street | Vacuum cleaner, blender, busy restaurant | Heavy traffic, shouting, freight train | Gas mower, electric drill, car horn, nightclub music | Trains, snowmobile, trombone, helicopter |
Yes, electric lawn mowers are much quieter than gas-powered mowers. You'll typically find that an electric cordless lawn mower outputs around 75 to 80 decibels (about the same as the noise level of a washing machine), while gas mowers average around 95 decibels. At those noise levels, you should be wearing ear protection to prevent damage to your hearing.
Why Should You Choose a Quiet Lawn Mower?
You should choose a quiet lawn mower over a loud one because it offers several benefits over a loud push mower. These can include:
- Reduced exposure to loud noise (above 85 dB)
- Peaceful residential areas
- Mowing during quieter times of the day
- Generally more eco-friendly
- You can keep your mower running if necessary
What Impacts How Loud Your Lawn Mower is?
How loud your lawn mower is will be impacted by its engine type, exhaust system, blades, sound insulation, and RPM. We’ve described these factors in more detail below:
- Engine Type: The internal combustion in gas engines creates more noise, and they often lack the advanced muffler systems found in cars. This makes gas engines far louder than electric ones.
- Muffler and Exhaust System: Gas mowers usually have minimal or ineffective mufflers compared to vehicles, which have complex exhaust systems with large mufflers designed to reduce sound.
- Blade Design: The blades themselves contribute significantly to the overall noise level. As they spin rapidly, they create turbulence by chopping through the air, which generates additional sound. Even electric mowers can be noisy due to blade design, though they are still quieter than gas models.
- RPM: The faster the engine and blades spin, the louder the mower becomes. Most lawn mowers operate at around 3,600 RPM, and higher speeds lead to increased noise levels.
- Sound Insulation: Lawn mowers typically have little or no sound insulation around their engines or decks, which allows noise to escape freely.
If you're looking for a lawn mower that operates quietly without sacrificing performance, consider Mowrator’s selection of ultra-quiet models, including the Mowrator S1 3-in-1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD. Our dedicated team of engineers uses advanced technology to create lawn mowers that meet your needs for both efficiency and noise reduction. Explore our range of the quietest lawn mowers and accessories to find the perfect fit for your yard.
FAQs on What are the Quietest Lawn Mowers?
Are electric lawn mowers the quietest type of mower?
Yes, electric lawn mowers are generally the quietest type of powered mower available. They are quiet because of their electric battery — regardless of whether it's 40V or 60V, a robotic lawn mower, or any electric mower for that matter, will be quieter than a gas mower. A manual or reel mower that doesn't have a battery life may be comparable, but you would be giving up many features for a similar noise output.
Are cordless lawn mowers quieter than corded mowers?
No, you'll find that in general, a cordless mower and corded electric lawn mower tend to produce an equal level of noise. As long as they're electric, your lawn mower should produce around 60 to 80 decibels of noise, which is still low enough to not cause hearing damage over time.
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