Top 5 Best Lawn Mowers for Hills (2023 Review)

Don’t worry though, I’ve chosen the best lawn mowers for hilly properties. These lawn mowers will all help you keep your lawn well-trimmed and beautiful, and make it a lot easier at the same time.

Of course, if you’re still trying to learn how to keep a beautiful lawn, this guide will help. 

As a note, all I’m recommending in this article are push-behind lawn mowers. You’ll probably want a riding lawn mower if you have a property that’s 2 acres or larger. 

In this guide, you’ll learn: 

• How to effectively mow hilly properties
• Why it’s essential to have a quality lawn mower for hills
• And Much More!

Below is a quick list of my favorite lawn mowers for hills. Keep scrolling to learn more of my top tips to choose and use the best lawn mower for hilly properties.

My Overall Top #1 Pick: Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower

I really like that this lawn mower offers a larger deck since that means it won’t take as long to mow your whole lawn. Normally a large deck would be a problem for a lawn mower on hilly ground, but the combination of the rear bagging system and the push-assist help this design. 

The push assist helps make it easier to move and maneuver the lawn mower, while the rear bagging system on this lawn mower helps prevent cut grass from clumping and jamming when you’re mowing over uneven ground. 

More importantly, the wheel design on this lawn mower gives you better leverage and control.

The larger rear wheel improves your maneuverability, which makes it that much easier to get into the hollows between hills. It also helps give you an even finish when you’re cresting hills, preventing the mower from cutting the grass too close at the front. 

I’m not personally a fan of gas-powered lawn mowers, but the power consistency and high performance of this lawn mower convinced me that it’s still a great option despite the power source. 

In fact, it works so well that it’s my top pick for properties with a lot of hills and tricky areas to mow.

Top 5 Best Lawn Mower for Hills

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these wonderful fertilizers for your orange tree.

In a hurry? Check out our top 5 picks below! Keep reading to learn more about these top lawn mowers for hills.

1. Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower (My Top Pick)
2. TACKLIFE Cordless Lawn Mower, 16 Inch Brushless Lawn Mower (Best High-End)
3. Greenworks 24V 13″ Lawn Mower, 4Ah USB Battery and Charger Included (Top Contender)
4. Great States 304-14 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
5. Greenworks 16-Inch 10 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower

Why Do You Need a High-Quality Lawn Mower For Hills? 

Getting a high-quality lawn mower and getting a lawn mower that’s great on hills isn’t always the same thing. There are plenty of high-quality effective lawn mowers that aren’t really designed to handle the curves and elevation changes of a hilly property. 

But too many lawn mowers that are marketed for hilly properties aren’t very high quality. 

A bad lawn mower can easily leave patches of uncut grass, cut some areas too low, or leave unsightly and potentially damaging piles of grass clippings on your property. 

Worse, low-quality options are likely to break down sooner, wasting your investment and forcing you to spend the money for a costly repair or a replacement for your lawn mower. 

Higher quality options are more durable and likely to be a better investment even though they are a little more expensive upfront. 

High-quality lawn mowers also just offer better results on hilly terrain, getting more consistency and a smoother, more professional looking finish. 

If you want to transform an unruly lawn into an impeccably trimmed masterpiece, you’ll need high-quality lawn mowers to get the job done. 

Still learning how to mow your lawn? Take a look at this video to give you some tips and tricks to get the best results for your lawn. 

How to Pick the Best Lawn Mower for Hills?

There are a few different things I think about when I’m looking for a great lawn mower for hilly terrain. Of course, things like the blade design and other features of your lawn mower are just as important on hilly terrain as they are on flat terrain, but there are a few places where I look for different features if I know I’m going to be mowing hills. 

Power Source

Your power source is one of the most important considerations when you’re looking at any lawn mower. This single feature can influence almost everything about your lawn mower, from its eco-friendliness to its performance and maintenance requirements. 

There are three basic options when it comes to powering your lawn mower. 

Gas Powered

Gas-powered lawn mowers are the classic electric design. These mowers have a lot of power, but they aren’t as eco-friendly as other options. Gas-powered lawn mowers also generally need specially mixed gas and oil to work their best. 

These mowers usually give you the most power, but the extra maintenance and gas fumes might not be worth it as other options are getting better with new scientific innovations. 

Battery Powered

Battery-powered lawn mowers are generally considered almost as powerful as gas-powered options, but they’ve only been able to offer similar cutting performance and runtime recently. 

The main maintenance for battery-powered mowers is that you’ll need to recharge the battery regularly. You’ll also need to replace your batteries every couple of years when you start to notice your lawn mower’s runtime decreasing. 

These are a great eco-friendly option, but they aren’t right for everyone. 

Corded Electric

Corded electric lawn mowers are relatively rare, but they can be a great option for small properties and eco-friendly users. The corded power is consistent and you can usually get the same performance from these lawn mowers as you’d get from battery-powered versions. 

However, these lawn mowers only work while they are plugged in, so you’re limited to the range of the cord and a single extension cord. That means that this option isn’t great for large areas, or properties with lots of obstacles that could tangle the cord. 

Deck Size

The size of your cutting deck determines how quickly you can mow your lawn. Larger cutting decks are faster, but smaller cutting decks are usually more maneuverable and precise. 

For hilly ground, I tend to prefer smaller cutting decks, even though that means a little more time spent mowing. The smaller deck is just more precise and easier to use, especially on steep hills and rolling terrain. 

I usually think 16-18 inch decks are about right for hilly terrain. 

However, a little larger, like 20-21 inch decks can also work if the lawn mower has the right combination of other features. 

Grass Clipping Disposal

For hilly terrain, I don’t like to just let the lawn mower leave grass clippings wherever. That sometimes works on flat terrain, but uneven terrain makes clumping and clogging clippings much more likely. 

Having a bagged disposal system on your lawn mower can make it a lot more efficient. If you want to use the clippings as mulch you can always spread them out by hand later. Plus, that gives you more control over placement anyway. 

Wheel Configuration

For hilly terrain, I usually prefer larger wheels in the back of the lawn mower, with smaller wheels in front. There are a few exceptions to that rule, but larger wheels in the back help give you better maneuverability and leverage. That makes pushing the lawn mower much easier. 

Mowers with even wheels don’t generally maneuver as well, and they can be harder to push uphill, even when they have an electronic push-assist.

My Reviews of the Lawn Mowers for Hills

Now that we’ve gone over some of the most important features for a lawn mower on a hilly property, let’s look at my top 5 best lawn mowers for hills.

1. Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower

The auto choke also makes it significantly easier to start this lawn mower. Don’t worry about having to prime the lawn mower, or having to struggle to start the lawn mower like other older gas-powered models. 

The combination of this design works incredibly well on hilly properties because it’s efficient, easy to push, and offers consistent cutting power. Overall, this option is perfect for most hilly properties, even if it isn’t as eco-friendly as some of my other top pick options.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Consistent cutting power + Large cutting deck for faster mowing + Easy to move and maneuver	– Gas-powered – Not well suited to tight valleys between hills

2. TACKLIFE Cordless Lawn Mower, 16 Inch Brushless Lawn Mower

The 16-inch cutting deck is a little more limited than my top pick choice, but it’s also better suited to steep hills and narrow valleys.

The much lighter battery-powered design is a lot easier to push as well, even though the wheels are equal sizes. 

Overall, this option is perfect for most hilly properties. Additional comfort features like the vibration-absorbing handle, also make it easier to use. 

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Long-lasting battery design + 6 different cutting heights + Can charge electronic devices through an included USB port + Lightweight design	– Equal wheel sizes

3. Greenworks 24V 13″ Lawn Mower, 4Ah USB Battery and Charger Included

This mower uses a wheel configuration that’s opposite of what I usually look for, but still effective. The larger front wheels actually add to the maneuverability even over large rear wheels, but they don’t offer the same pushing leverage. 

The mower is also equipped with a USB charging port, so you can charge your cell phone, sound-canceling headphones, or even a handheld light while you’re mowing. 

Unfortunately, this lawn mower only runs for about 35 minutes at a time. Combined with the smaller mowing deck that means that this mower is best suited for small to medium sized lawns. 

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Incredibly efficient + Easy to maneuver + Lightweight design + Great for the steepest hills	– 35-minute max runtime

4. Great States 304-14 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower

It might take a little longer to use a cutting reel, but the results can’t be beat. 

Now, the other big downside of this design is that it’s easy to let your push reel get too dull to work. This lawn mower needs a fair amount of upkeep. 

I think of this design as a good addition to other lawn mowers more than a good option on its own. You can use it on your whole lawn, but it’s best for spaces your other lawn mowers just can’t reach. 

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Great for small spaces + Incredibly consistent results + Eco-friendly + Gas and Battery free	– Blades dull quickly – Hand reel mowers can take longer

5. Greenworks 16-Inch 10 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower

A longer extension cord can make it a better option, but you’re still limited by the reach of the cord and how many obstacles you’re dealing with. 

However, its other features go a long way to make up for the limitations of the cord. It’s larger rear wheels and rear bagging system make this lawn mower easy to use and efficient.

PROS (+)	CONS (-)
+ Easy to use + Don’t have to worry about running out of fuel/battery + Efficient design	– Limited by the length of the power cord

My Top Pick: Craftsman M105 140cc 21-Inch 3-in-1 Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower

Even though there are a lot of solid lawn mowers on this list, I still think that this mower offers the best combination of power, effectiveness, and price. Of course, my Best High-End pick is another fantastic option if you’re looking for an upgraded version or a more environmentally friendly design.

That said, this gas-powered lawn mower is versatile, well designed, and incredibly efficient even over hills. That’s what makes this the best lawn mower for hills. 

Final Thoughts On The Lawn Mowers for Hills

Knowing when to mow your lawn is just as important as having the right tools for the job. Fortunately, I’ve written a guide for exactly that, learn how to tell when to mow your grass to preserve the health of your lawn while getting that perfectly smooth green look. 

A great lawn mower can’t fix issues with fertilization, overwatering, or other common grass problems. If your grass is growing poorly you might have one or more other problems besides your lawn mowing habits. 

Good lawn health starts from your grass’ roots. 

Here’s a guide to low maintenance lawn care in case you’re struggling to find the time to take care of your lawn. 

But, if you’re taking great care of your grass and still struggling to get the lawn of your dreams, then these lawn mowers will help. Especially if your property is full of difficult hills and rolling land. 

Enjoy your new lawn!