Electric lawn mower statistics span market adoption, energy use, ownership costs, emissions and safety. The available evidence combines U.S. residential modeling, California equipment records, an Illinois case comparison and federal safety and recall data, so each figure below keeps its population, period and scope explicit.
Key Electric Lawn Mower Statistics
Here are the most useful figures across the available electric lawn mower data:
- In the 2017 U.S. baseline, electric equipment represented 24% of the lawn-mower market.
- In the 2017 U.S. baseline, gasoline equipment represented 76% of the lawn-mower market.
- In California’s 2021 amendments record, zero-emission equipment represented about 52% of SORE equipment in use.
- In California’s 2021 amendments record, zero-emission riding mowers represented about 5% of riding mowers in use.
- In California’s 2021 amendments record, about 55% of residential users’ SORE equipment was zero-emission.
- In California’s 2021 amendments record, about 6% of professional landscapers’ SORE equipment was zero-emission.
- In the 2021 California market record, at least 35 brands offered zero-emission lawn mowers.
- In the 2022–2023 Illinois case comparison, the gasoline and electric riding mowers were both listed at 22–24 horsepower.
- In the 2022–2023 Illinois case comparison, the gasoline mower covered about 5 acres per fuel fill.
- In the 2022–2023 Illinois case comparison, the electric mower covered 3–4 acres per charge.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, the lithium-ion electric push mower consumed 1 kWh per mowing hour.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, electric solutions had 4.7%–10.6% higher modeled 10-year ownership costs.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, electric push ownership cost was $56 higher over 10 years.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, electric riding ownership cost was $214 higher over 10 years.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, electric push mowers reduced modeled 10-year CO2 emissions by 49.9% versus gasoline push mowers.
- In the 2019 U.S. residential model, electric riding mowers reduced modeled 10-year CO2 emissions by 32.3% versus gasoline riding mowers.
- In the 2012–2014 United States, an average 36,000 people per year received emergency-room treatment for walk-behind power-mower injuries.
- In the 2025 RYOBI recall, about 217,500 cordless walk-behind electric mowers were sold in the United States.
Contents
- Electric lawn mower market share and adoption
- Electric mower energy use and operating performance
- Electric lawn mower prices and ownership costs
- Electric mower emissions and lifecycle outcomes
- Electric lawn mower safety and reported incidents
Electric Lawn Mower Market Share and Adoption Statistics
The broadest U.S. market estimate in the supplied research is a 2017 baseline. The peer-reviewed study estimated electric equipment at 24% of the U.S. lawn-mower market and gasoline equipment at 76%; these are modeled estimates, not a complete current census. Quantification of the environmental and economic benefits of the electrification of lawn mowers on the US residential market
California’s 2021 amendments record uses different denominators and a wider small off-road equipment category, so its figures should not be treated as a direct update to the U.S. market split.
| California measure | Period | Share or count |
|---|---|---|
| Zero-emission SORE equipment in use | 2021 amendments record | About 52% |
| Zero-emission riding mowers in use | 2021 amendments record | About 5% |
| Zero-emission equipment among residential users | 2021 amendments record | About 55% |
| Zero-emission equipment among professional landscapers | 2021 amendments record | About 6% |
| Brands offering zero-emission lawn mowers | 2021 amendments record | At least 35 |
The same California record counted at least 12 brands offering zero-emission lawn-and-garden equipment for professionals. That count covers equipment broadly rather than mowers only, while the 35-brand figure is an availability count rather than market share. California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Small Off-Road Engines Regulations Decision Document
The contrast between residential and professional users is especially important: the California estimates put zero-emission equipment at about 55% for residential users but about 6% for professional landscapers. The figures describe user-group equipment in the 2021 amendments record, not a national adoption rate.
Electric Mower Energy Use and Operating Performance Data
An Illinois case study published with 2022–2023 page measurements compared representative gasoline and electric riding mowers. Both were listed at 22–24 horsepower, but the gasoline mower covered about 5 acres per fuel fill while the electric mower covered 3–4 acres per charge. Electric Lawn Mowers
| Measure | Gasoline riding mower | Electric riding mower |
|---|---|---|
| Listed power | 22–24 horsepower | 22–24 horsepower |
| Coverage per energy event | About 5 acres per fuel fill | 3–4 acres per charge |
| Capacity/configuration | 3.5-gallon fuel capacity | Six 56-volt, 10-amp-hour batteries |
The Illinois case estimated use over 30 hours per week for 20 weeks at 700 gallons for the gasoline mower and 900 kWh for the electric mower. These are case-specific modeled seasonal figures, not national averages; the page describes one client comparison. Electric Lawn Mowers
The peer-reviewed U.S. residential model assumed 40 mowing hours per year and a 400-hour, 10-year lifetime. Its modeled lithium-ion electric push mower used 1 kWh per mowing hour, with 80%–90% charge/discharge efficiency, 60% electric-motor efficiency and 54% energy-outlet-to-wheel efficiency. Quantification of the environmental and economic benefits of the electrification of lawn mowers on the US residential market
Electric Lawn Mower Prices and Ownership Costs
The 2019 U.S. residential model used different purchase prices for push and riding equipment. Electric models started higher in both comparisons: $299 versus $224 for push mowers, and $2,699 versus $1,899 for riding mowers.
| Equipment type | Gasoline price | Electric price | Modeled electric premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Push mower | $224 | $299 | $74 |
| Riding mower | $1,899 | $2,699 | $800 |
The study’s modeled 10-year ownership costs were 4.7%–10.6% higher for electric solutions, with the electric push configuration $56 higher over the modeled lifetime and the electric riding configuration $214 higher. These are model results based on the study’s assumptions and 2019 price inputs, not current retail quotations. Quantification of the environmental and economic benefits of the electrification of lawn mowers on the US residential market
Parts and replacement assumptions produced a mixed cost picture. Baseline 10-year parts totals were $162 for gasoline push and $253 for electric push, while riding parts totals were $2,178 for gasoline and $1,952 for electric.
The modeled electric riding battery replacement in year five cost $636 including shipping, with $140 in modeled labor. That replacement assumption helps explain why a lower electric riding parts total did not automatically translate into a lower total ownership cost.
Electric Mower Emissions and Lifecycle Outcomes
The Illinois residential model estimated lower 10-year CO2 emissions for both electric categories. Electric push mowers reduced modeled emissions by 49.9% versus gasoline push mowers, while electric riding mowers reduced modeled emissions by 32.3% versus gasoline riding mowers. Quantification of the environmental and economic benefits of the electrification of lawn mowers on the US residential market
The Illinois case also estimated 6.2 kg CO2 per acre for the gasoline riding mower and 0.45 kg CO2 per acre for the electric riding mower during its 2022–2023 comparison. Those are case-study estimates, and the research notes that the comparison used representative equipment and the U.S. average electricity mix.
| Scenario | Period or horizon | Estimated outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 10-point increase in U.S. electric share | 2019 extrapolation | Avoid 0.3 Mt CO2e annually |
| 50/50 U.S. electric-gasoline split | 2019 scenario | Avoid 7.75 Mt CO2e annually |
| Full modeled U.S. electrification | 2019, 10-year horizon | Save 22.65 Mt CO2e |
These are scenario extrapolations and forecasts, not observed national totals. Separately, CARB estimated that its 2016 SIP small-off-road-equipment measure would reduce statewide NOx by 4 tons per day and ROG by 36 tons per day in 2031; those policy estimates cover small off-road equipment broadly, not an observed electric-mower total. California State Nonroad Engine Pollution Control Standards; Small Off-Road Engines Regulations Decision Document
The lifecycle model also reported stage-specific electric push impacts over 10 years. Manufacturing, maintenance and use values were 1.72e-5, 2.74e-6 and 1.05e-5 kg CFC-11 equivalent for ozone depletion; 432, 137 and 42.0 kg 1,4-DCB equivalent for human toxicity; and 0.642, 0.152 and 0.118 kg PM10 equivalent for particulate formation.
Additional electric push stage values were 0.744, 0.184 and 0.438 kg NMVOC equivalent for photochemical oxidants; 8.65, 2.56 and 1.37 kg 1,4-DCB equivalent for ecological toxicity; and 1.52, 0.440 and 0.399 kg SO2 equivalent for terrestrial acidification. Freshwater eutrophication was 0.234, 0.0740 and 0.0589 kg P equivalent, metal depletion was 115, 42.4 and 1.40 kg Fe equivalent, and fossil depletion was 51.4, 12.6 and 41.7 kg oil equivalent, respectively, by manufacturing, maintenance and use.
Electric Lawn Mower Safety and Reported Incidents
National injury data do not separate electric from gasoline equipment. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reported an average 36,000 people per year received emergency-room treatment for walk-behind power-mower injuries during 2012–2014. POWER LAWN MOWERS
The federal walk-behind rotary-mower safety standard took effect on June 30, 1982. The CPSC fact sheet says the standard requires the blade to stop within 3 seconds after control release, and certain manual-start mowers require a control within 24 inches of the handle top or a 360-degree foot shield. POWER LAWN MOWERS
A 2025 recall provides model-specific electric-mower incident data. About 217,500 RYOBI cordless walk-behind electric mowers were sold in the United States, plus about 28,400 in Canada; the recalled products sold from February 2021 through January 2025 for $500–$700. TTI Outdoor Power Equipment Recalls RYOBI Battery-Powered Mowers Due to Fire Hazard
The recall notice reported 97 overheating reports, 5 fires and 2 minor burn injuries involving the recalled mowers. These counts describe the recall population and manufacturer reports, not all electric mower incidents or a general failure rate. TTI Outdoor Power Equipment Recalls RYOBI Battery-Powered Mowers Due to Fire Hazard