I haven't mowed a ton of lawns in my life but I bought a house recently and want to start mowing my lawn.

Anyone recommend a good mower that won't break the bank?

Not the cheapest but the honda's with blade stop are the bom

I know you asked for a recommendation that won't break the bank, but, in my experience, you get what you pay for, especially when it comes to things like lawn equipment. If you go cheap, you'll likely be replacing it much sooner than you want to or get frustrated with how it performs.

This Honda mower is fantastic:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-in-3-in-1-Variable-Speed-Gas-Walk-Behind-Self-Propelled-Lawn-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRN216VKA/314013158#overlay

I used a simple Craftsman push mower weekly for about 10 years before giving it away to my brother and buying the Honda about 6 years ago. My boys were starting to help with the lawn and needed something self-propelled to get through thick St. Augustine. That Craftsman mower is still working 16 years after I purchased it, but Craftsman quality has gone downhill significantly since I bought it and I wouldn't vouch for them anymore.

For a small lot, consensus seems to be to go battery.

Medium to large lots, I'd go with gas. For value, I'm looking for Briggs and Stratton engines to save about $100 over the Honda. Get ethanol-free gas from Bucees. Mine B&S is well into its second decade now without a problem. When you pick your mower, make sure that the store has the self-propelled wheels in stock that go with your mower. Blades, spark plugs, and air filters seem to be interchangeable between some brands so that you can usually find replacements at Lowes or HD. The drive wheels with the teeth are the only thing I've had a problem not being available or in-stock.

edit to add: Thought I'd get a cheap one and then get a Honda after mine breaks, but I'm not convinced it will ever break, and Briggs has demonstrated that it should power my next mower too.

I got tired of messing with gas and oil years ago and have had a cordless electric for 20+ years. Bought this one in '19.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/EGO-POWER-56-Volt-Lithium-Ion-21-In-Self-Propelled-Mower-with-7-5Ah-Battery-and-Rapid-Charger/1003130698?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-sol-_-google-_-lia-_-239-_-electricmowers-_-1003130698-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwLKFBhDPARIsAPzPi-I9LuyrEyFSd2Lq6Tq9znCxVz28Nd9DoulbivG8j5p1HP3KsK25CQMaAmFYEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

agnerd said:

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For a small lot, consensus seems to be to go battery.

Medium to large lots, I'd go with gas. For value, I'm looking for Briggs and Stratton engines to save about $100 over the Honda. Get ethanol-free gas from Bucees. Mine B&S is well into its second decade now without a problem. When you pick your mower, make sure that the store has the self-propelled wheels in stock that go with your mower. Blades, spark plugs, and air filters seem to be interchangeable between some brands so that you can usually find replacements at Lowes or HD. The drive wheels with the teeth are the only thing I've had a problem not being available or in-stock.

edit to add: Thought I'd get a cheap one and then get a Honda after mine breaks, but I'm not convinced it will ever break, and Briggs has demonstrated that it should power my next mower too.

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This. B&S is more than enough and is reliable. Just picked one up as I just bought a house too. Think I paid 130 for it and it will last years with basically zero maintenance. No brainer.

7 years with the Toro, Honda engine, 22" recycling self propel. I change the oil and air filter every year, and get the blades done by a local small engine shop every other year. We have about .3 acres of grass and mow about every 5 days from Feb through Nov.

No issues and would recommend.

I also had great luck with a cheap Yard Machines fro HD with the B&S engine. Had it for 14 years and it was 100% reliable and easy to start every time. Probably had to clean th carb out every 5 years or so. It never died but I got rid of it as went all electric just because I wanted to.

For first 10 years just used 87 octane and added Sta-Bil but then switched to Tru Fuel

I just got a Ryobi mower and it's great. So quiet I won't feel bad if I mow at 6am in the summer to beat the heat.

BQ2001 said:

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I just got a Ryobi mower and it's great. So quiet I won't feel bad if I mow at 6am in the summer to beat the heat.

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This might be the only reason I would consider a battery mower.

My brother has the Kobalt and in my opinion it stinks. I have very thick St. Augustine and there is no way his mower would be able to handle my grass. With our recent rains my Honda won't be able to handle my grass in a few weeks.

BQ2001 said:

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I just got a Ryobi mower and it's great. So quiet I won't feel bad if I mow at 6am in the summer to beat the heat.

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Ego has LEDs. I mow outside of normal noise ordinance hours all the time (mostly in the evening) and no one complains.

Small job, little $$, testing the waters, etc - buy used on CL or FB. You can turn around and sell this stuff when you figure out a long term plan. I just sold all my gas tools on FB & swapped over to battery powered

EGO for small to medium sized lots. Honda for medium to large lots. I own and love both. Both are linked to above.

EGO blowers, edgers, and trimmers are the best I've ever owned. I gave my Echos away.

The cheapest craftsman made was probably the best mower I have ever owned. I think it cost $79 and I used it for 15 years. Put a mulching blade on it and you are good.

lb3 said:

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EGO for small to medium sized lots. Honda for medium to large lots. I own and love both. Both are linked to above.

EGO blowers, edgers, and trimmers are the best I've ever owned. I gave my Echos away.

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How big is a medium size lot?

Not quite as big as a large one and just a bit larger than a small.

Makita's OPE is not something to sleep on. Love their blower and string trimmer.

In 2007 I got an internship in S Texas and the landlord said I had to mow the grass. Turned out to be a wet summer and that grass was growing. So I went off to the local WalMart and dropped $220 on the house "WeedEater" brand mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine. Visually identical to the Craftsman unit at Sears. NO self propel, no bagging attachment. Just a good mulching blade and oversize rear wheels.

I figured, well it'll get me through this summer, go into storage for a year till I graduate, and get me started when I start my career and buy a house somewhere.

The darn thing STILL starts on the 1st or 2nd pull! NO special gas, no winterization, and the occasional oil change.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Honda-21-in-3-in-1-Variable-Speed-Gas-Walk-Behind-Self-Propelled-Lawn-Mower-with-Auto-Choke-HRN216VKA/314013158#overlay

My Husqvarna self propelled AWD mower with Kohler engine is an absolutely reliable workhorse as long as I don't let ethenol gas stay in the carb bowl long enough to flake.

Going on 6 years, and it starts on the first pull every time. Change oil and air filter every ~February. I think I'm on the original spark plug.

I assume this will last long enough for me to justify buying the Makita 36v dual battery mower to replace it.

Whatever you do, get one with a Honda engine. Just get a Honda to make it easy. They are more expensive but stupidly reliable.

TwoMarksHand said:

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lb3 said:

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EGO for small to medium sized lots. Honda for medium to large lots. I own and love both. Both are linked to above.

EGO blowers, edgers, and trimmers are the best I've ever owned. I gave my Echos away.

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How big is a medium size lot?

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Probably quarter to half an acre is a medium sized lot. Once you approach 3/4 of an acre you're likely looking at riding mowers.

scd88 said:

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Whatever you do, get one with a Honda engine. Just get a Honda to make it easy. They are more expensive but stupidly reliable.

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I change oil ever 5-10 years whether my Honda needs it or not. Leave ethanol fuel in the tank all winter and it still starts first (or second) pull every spring.