Top 5 Best Lawn Mower Blades For Thick Grass (2023 Review)

Of course, if you really want a healthy lawn you also need to know how to mow your lawn to promote better health. I’ve got you covered with a guide showing you how to mow your lawn like a pro.

Don’t worry, choosing a great lawn mower blade for thick grass isn’t difficult, you just have to know what to look for. I’ve got that covered, and I’ve included a list of some of the best lawn mower blades for thick grass to help you choose a great option.

In this guide, you’ll learn: 

• Why thick grass needs a high quality lawn mower blade
• Which features matter most for your lawn mower’s blade
• And Much More!

Below is a quick list of my favorite lawn mower blades for thick grass. Keep scrolling to learn more of my top tips to choose and use the best lawn mower blades.

My Overall Top #1 Pick: MaxPower 561713B 2-Blade Set for 42″ Cut Poulan/Husqvarna/Craftsman

One of the things I really love about the MaxPower line of lawn mower blades is that they are manufactured in the United States. It’s great to be able to get a high quality product that’s made in the United States without having to pay an arm and a leg for it.

Plus, I’ve noticed that these blades tend to hold up a little longer and are a little more durable than most alternatives, which is one reason so many of the blades on this list are from MaxPower.

These blades are designed for Husqvarna, Poulan, and Craftsman lawn mowers. That doesn’t mean they won’t work if you have a different model of lawn mower, but you should check compatibility before you invest in these blades.

This model features 42-inch heat treated blades that are very durable and work well in even the thickest roughest varieties of grass. This blade maintains sharpness well, and provides good cutting power for thick lawns.

Top 5 Best Lawn Mower Blades For Thick Grass

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these top lawn mower blades for thick grass.

1. MaxPower 561713B 2-Blade Set for 42″ Cut Poulan/Husqvarna/Craftsman (My Top Pick)
2. High Lift Replacement Blade For Craftsman, Poulan, Husqvarna (Best High-End)
3. Maxpower 331528B Mulching Blade for 21 Inch Cut (Top Contender)
4. Oregon 95-621 AYP/Sears/Husqvarna/Poulan Gator Mulcher G3 Replacement Lawn Mower Blade 21 in (Most Aggressive Blade)
5. Maxpower 561713XB Commercial Mulching 2-Blade Set for 42 (Best Large Mulching Blade)

Why Do You Need a High-Quality Lawn Mower Blade For Thick Grass? 

Thick grass might be the goal of your lawn keeping efforts, but it does come with its own challenges. Most importantly, it can be difficult to maintain your thick lawn if you don’t have a lawn mower blade that can handle the extra stress.

Why do you need a high quality lawn mower blade for thick grass? Mostly because thicker grass will dull the blade more quickly. If the blade is too dull it will start tearing through your grass instead of cutting it.

Not only is torn grass less healthy than cut grass, it looks worse. Torn clippings can also lead to more jams and clogging in your lawn mower since they stick together more than cut crass and smaller pieces of grass.

High quality lawn mower blades also generally last longer than cheaper versions. They’re easier to sharpen and more durable against mowing stress. High quality lawn mower blades are also easier to sharpen, and less likely to bend and warp if you run over any branches or hit a rock.

Not sure how to replace your lawn mower’s blade? This short video will teach you the basics and works for pretty much all push lawn mowers.

How to Pick the Best Lawn Mower Blade For Thick Grass?

Lawn Mower Compatibility

The first thing you need to look for is lawn mower compatibility. Not all lawn mowers are going to be compatible with all blades, even blades of the right length. Checking compatibility before you buy can help prevent you from spending money on a blade that won’t work with your lawn mower.

This is especially important since it can sometimes be challenging to get a refund if you’ve already opened the packaging.

When it comes to lawn mower compatibility, I also highly recommend matching your lawn mower to the kind of terrain you’re working with. That means that if you have uneven ground, you need a lawn mower and lawn mower blade that can handle uneven ground.

Cutting Or Mulching Blades

Cutting blades are the most basic kind of blade you can get for your lawn mower. They are great for cutting through thick grass, but that’s all they’ll do.

Mulching blades, also called 3 in 1 blades, are significantly more versatile and can be a little more aggressive. I personally tend to prefer mulching blades, but that’s because I like to mulch fall leaves and even some of my grass clippings to help fertilize the soil.

Not sure how to mulch grass and fallen leaves, or don’t know why you should? This guide to leaf and grass mulching will get you started.

Durability

Durability is also critical when it comes to lawn mower blades. Most manufacturers don’t include a ton of detail about the kinds of metal they are using though, which can make it more challenging to find a durable steel blade.

Instead of looking at metal quality, you’ll need to look at other signs of high quality metal.

Heat-treated metal is one way of looking for better durability in your lawn mower blade. The attachment point is also a good indicator. High quality manufacturers will usually use a grippier kind of attachment point like a star-shaped connector or a bow-tie connection. Those connections are a good sign of durability because they decrease the stress on the center of your blade while also improving grip and torque for better cutting.

Another way to identity durable lawn mower blades are words like professional grade, or contractor-ready, in the description. Manufacturers don’t add those words as buzzwords because if a bunch of professional lawn care companies buy the blades and then rate them poorly they’ll struggle to get new business.

Lastly I like to look at reviews and see how the blade holds up in two critical areas: sharpness and bend-ability. A blade that doesn’t hold an edge, or bends the first time you mow over an obstacle, isn’t the blade for me, or for you. Look for blades that consistently offer good performance and that are able to handle a wide variety of terrain.

Just like I recommend matching your lawn mower to your terrain if you have uneven ground, the same is true if you have hilly ground, you’ll need a lawn mower designed to handle hills.

My Reviews of Lawn Mower Blades for Thick Grass

1. MaxPower 561713B 2-Blade Set for 42″ Cut Poulan/Husqvarna/Craftsman (My Top Pick)

The star-shaped attachment point is particularly secure, and a good option for all compatible lawn mowers.

Like most cut-only blades, this design is a little simpler than a mulching blade. however, its heat treated steel and hardened edges still perform better than most other alternatives. This design also helps maintain directional control of your grass, which helps avoid clogging.

These blades are compatible with both side- and rear- grass ejection options, and work equally well for spreading your grass clippings and for bagging them.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ High durability, this blade won’t dull too quickly, even in thick grass. + Suited to a wide range of grass types + Durable attachment point helps prevent a lose connection or loss of cutting power + Easy to maintain and sharpen when needed	– Some production runs are more prone to bending than others,

2. High Lift Replacement Blade For Craftsman, Poulan, Husqvarna (Best High-End)

The high lift design on these blades, combined with the high carbon steel materials, makes these blades incredibly effective. Compared with most other lawn mower blades this design uses significantly higher quality materials. Because the metal itself is a lot more durable, so are these blades.

The blades also use other high-quality adaptations like 5 point attachments to further increase the durability. That’s one big reason these blades are compatible with higher quality brands like John Deere and Husqvarna that are consistently longer lasting and more effective than cheaper lawn mower alternatives.

This high lift design isn’t a direct replacement for the OEM parts, but they work just as well as the original blade for compatible models. Having a high lift design does change the look and finish of your lawn slightly, but usually for the better.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Incredibly sharp, helps keep your lawn healthy + Blade design helps make sure your thick grass isn’t uneven after mowing + Durable connection point won’t wear down over time + Works with some of the best lawn mower brands for better results	– Since these blades are meant to work together, they are not compatible with 18.5″ lawn mowers, you won’t get good results with a single blade.

3. Maxpower 331528B Mulching Blade for 21 Inch Cut (Top Contender)

It’s only a single blade, which is part of why this option is more affordable. It’s also designed to fit a different line of lawn mowers, which is why it doesn’t have a star attachment.

This blade is meant to work with Troy-Bilt, Cub Cadet, and Craftsman lawn mowers. That said, it’s still important to check your model numbers to make sure it’s a match.

This blade has a similar cutting design that’s somewhere between a straight cutting edge and a mulching blade. It’s design will cut the grass a little smaller than a standard blade, but it won’t get the small particles of a mulcher.

This blade design is also particularly easy to install, which makes it a lot easier to take this blade off if you need to sharpen it. It also makes it easier to replace after it’s been dulled by your thick grass.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Most durable attachment style helps prevent accidental loosening or tightening + Easy to install, even for beginners + Sharp design provides a more even cut + Affordable	– Shorter blade only works in small lawn mowers, or in dual blade lawn mowers

4. Oregon 95-621 AYP/Sears/Husqvarna/Poulan Gator Mulcher G3 Replacement Lawn Mower Blade 21 in (Most Aggressive Blade)

The lifted gator teeth on this mulching blade are great at reducing your grass clippings to small sections, perfect for composting, mulching, or just storing more grass clippings in your collection bag.

The attachment point isn’t great though, a round center hole offers less traction, which means more stress for the other two connection points. That means that the center of this blade might wear out a little faster, which means you probably can’t sharpen this blade as many times.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Highly aggressive mulching blade, good for getting great results in a single pass + Directs airflow for more efficient cutting, and to continue processing grass clippings from long to short + Very sharp design helps protect lawn health + Low Vibration design is more comfortable for the user	– Listed for wider lawn mower compatibility than this blade actually has

5. Maxpower 561713XB Commercial Mulching 2-Blade Set for 42 (Best Large Mulching Blade)

Like all MaxPower lawn mower blades, these mulching blades are heat-treated for added durability. They also hold their edge well, and the teeth are surprisingly easy to re-sharpen for a mulching blade.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Easy to install, even for beginners + Heat treated for added durability, you won’t need to replace these blades very often + Durable attachment, the blades won’t come loose, even with extended use in thick grass. + Sharp, easy to re-sharpen, easy to maintain	– Occasionally the wrong model will ship, but the company is usually good about replacing with the right blade. But, that means it’s best to order this blade before you actually need to replace it.

My Top Pick: MaxPower 561713B 2-Blade Set for 42″ Cut Poulan/Husqvarna/Craftsman

Despite these blades being designed as simple cutting blades instead of mulching blades, I still think this model (and other sizes of the same design) are some of the best lawn mower blades you can get.

This design is simple, easy to install, and incredibly durable. Its heat-treated blades are long-lasting, and work well for cutting thick lawns smoothly.

While all the blades on this list work well for thick grass, this design is also one of the most versatile. It’s good for thick grass lawns, overgrown grass that’s being cut and trimmed, and even some light brush mowing.

Final Thoughts On The Best Lawn Mower Blades For Thick Grass

Having one of the best lawn mower blades for thick grass is critical if you want to keep your grass thick and healthy. Hopefully this list will help you choose a great blade for your lawn mower, even if your model isn’t compatible with any of the blades I’ve listed here.

Of course other maintenance like proper fertilization, aeration, and other garden tasks are just as critical for keeping your lawn lush and beautiful. Now that you’ve gotten your dream lawn the work might be different, but it’s still important.

Now, enjoy your thick grassy lawn, and enjoy easier mowing with these high quality lawn mower blades.