Kobalt Electric Mower Review: Here's Why You Should Upgrade to this Self-Propelled Push Mower

When I had a small yard, mowing was something I actually enjoyed. But after moving to the suburbs with a much larger lawn, it quickly became my least favorite chore. A riding mower was out of my budget, so I decided to upgrade from my old gas mower to a larger, self-propelled electric one. After three months of testing the Kobalt 80-volt lawn mower, I can confidently say it’s a great option for homeowners seeking a powerful, affordable upgrade. This mower is so good that it moved mowing out of my top three most-hated household chores!

What is the Kobalt Electric Mower?

The Kobalt electric mower is an 80-volt self-propelled electric lawn mower from the well-known tool and outdoor power equipment brand Kobalt. The Kobalt brand is the house brand of tools exclusively sold by Lowe's Home Improvement stores and includes a range of power tool options, including three different power levels of lawnmowers.

The Kobalt battery mower is the company's highest-voltage mower. Its higher-voltage lithium battery and efficient design deliver power that rivals (if not exceeds) most gas engine units I've tested. When I used the Kobalt electric mower for the first time, it was impressively powerful yet quiet. The mower is sturdy, but compact for storage purposes. With its easy push-to-start feature, helpful self-propelled drive system and quick charge battery, it's shaping up to be my new favorite lawn mower.

Features

After putting the Kobalt electric mower through three months of testing, several standout features helped it separate itself from other battery-powered lawn mowers we’ve tested.

• 80-volt battery-powered motor delivers gas-like cutting power without fuel, oil changes or pull-start maintenance
• Self-propelled rear-wheel drive with seven adjustable speed settings for hills, uneven terrain and faster mowing
• Up to 80 minutes of runtime with the 6Ah battery, depending on grass conditions and self-propelled speed
• Fast-charging lithium-ion battery fully recharges in approximately 60 to 90 minutes
• Brushless motor design improves efficiency, extends battery runtime and reduces maintenance needs
• Three cutting modes include mulching, rear bagging and side discharge
• Seven-position cutting height adjustment controlled by a single lever for quick changes
• Compact folding design collapses for upright storage with an approximately 18-by-22-inch footprint
• Push-button startup eliminates pull cords and allows for quick, reliable starts
• Adjustable handlebar height improves comfort during longer mowing sessions
• Compatible with other Kobalt tools for battery sharing across the platform
• Quieter operation than gas mowers while still maintaining strong cutting performance
• 5-year tool warranty and 3-year battery warranty

How We Tested It

Over three months, I tested the Kobalt cordless electric push mower in both my front and backyard. This mower was designed for mid-sized lawns with multiple terrains. I put it through different testing to make sure it lived up to the hype.

Maneuverability

The first thing I wanted to test with this mower was its maneuverability. While my front yard is wide open, my back yard has small hills, trees and a firepit in the way. This mower maneuvered my obstacles easily, and the self-propulsion feature made simple work of the hills. In addition to the self-propulsion feature, the Kobalt electric mower is about five to 10 pounds lighter than similar gas-powered models, which helps its maneuverability.

Speed

As mentioned previously, the self-propelled function is a fantastic addition to this mower and one of my favorite features. The Kobalt electric mower has seven speeds to help you mow your lawn. I tested all seven speeds and noticed very little drop in cut quality, even at higher mowing speeds.

The only degradation of quality would be a few longer blades that seemed to remain after using the higher speeds. The highest speed allowed me little to no effort in mowing the lawn, and had my typical 20- to 30-minute mow down to 15 minutes flat. Want to cut down on cutting time completely? It's time to invest in a robot lawn mower.

Heavy Loads

Few things are more frustrating than a mower bogging down in thick or overgrown grass. I wanted to test this mower to see what it could handle, and if it could work through the thicker grass in my yard.

When cutting the slightly damp (and HOA-questionable) lawn after a week of continuous rainstorms, I was ready for immediate disappointment. But, I was pleasantly surprised when the blades cut through the grass easily, and there were little to no issues with clogging in the bag or while mulching. I did have to go over a few spots multiple times that seemed to get packed down by the wheels, but this was something that happened with my previous gas mower in the same conditions.

Assembly and Storage

The Kobalt electric mower was easy to assemble out of the box, taking roughly 15 minutes to go from packaged to mowing. During testing, I also evaluated the mower’s folding storage design, which allows it to collapse into a compact upright position for easier garage storage. The adjustable handlebars also made it easier to find a comfortable mowing position.

Cutting Options and Adjustments

In addition to testing the mower on thick and damp grass, I tested all three cutting modes: rear bagging, mulching and side discharge. I also experimented with the mower’s seven cutting-height positions using the single-lever adjustment system to compare cut quality across different grass heights and conditions.

Battery Performance

I tested the 6Ah battery configuration across multiple mowing sessions to evaluate runtime and charging performance. Depending on grass thickness and self-propelled speed, the mower consistently handled either my front or backyard on a single charge. Recharge times averaged roughly 60 to 90 minutes during testing. If your lawn is on the smaller side, I’d recommend checking out our picks for the best lawn mowers for small yards.

One feature I appreciated during long-term use is that the 80V battery platform is compatible with more than 20 Kobalt outdoor tools, making it easy to swap batteries between tools when needed.

Pros

• Powerful 80-volt battery with quick charging
• Ease of assembly and use
• Can be stored upright
• Solid warranty offered by Kobalt (5 years on the tool and 3 years on the battery)
• Surprisingly quiet

Cons

• Reversing or turning the mower when the self-propulsion is active can be difficult
• If you have a very large yard, you may need multiple batteries

What Other Reviewers and Experts Had to Say

We looked at other electric lawn mower reviews, and overall, customers and experts agree that the Kobalt electric mower is a powerhouse on wheels. When speaking with Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love, about the Kobalt electric mower, he says, "I'm a huge fan of this mower—it gives you the power of a gas mower without the maintenance, loud noise and fumes. Its 80-volt battery drives the mower through tall and thick grass without stalling. In the right conditions, it can run up to 80 minutes on a single charge, which is impressive compared to most other cordless electric mowers."

At Lowe's, reviewers rave about the mower's easy assembly and customer service. Purchaser Rich writes, "Bought our Kobalt mower last May. The 80-volt battery stopped taking a full charge last summer. Just this week I contacted Lowes/Kobalt and voilà, a replacement battery is on its way to me. First-class customer service."

Also at Lowe's, reviewer WoodenMakeup says, "If I woke up and this lawnmower was gone I would immediately go get another one... Things I absolutely love about this lawnmower are #1 quality, #2 not having to get or smell gas anymore, #3 self-propelled, #4 easy start-up (no pulling a cord and priming), #5 easy assembly and easy use, and lastly, #6 storage space saver."

We also scanned online forums for cordless mower reviews to see the general feeling of multiple shoppers and their experience with the 80-V Kobalt mower. As one Redditor put it, "My 80v mower from 5 years ago is still running strong! I've had to replace the batteries last year and sharpen the blade but the mower itself is chugging along." This experience seems to be shared throughout the internet—the Kobalt electric mower is a hit.

Kobalt Electric Mower vs. Craftsman Electric Mower

The Kobalt electric mower tends to score higher in most categories compared to the Craftsman electric mower. Some include:

• The Kobalt electric mower comes with a more powerful 80-volt battery compared to the Craftsman 20-volt battery.
• The Kobalt electric mower has an 80-minute runtime, while the Craftsman has a 50-minute runtime.
• The Kobalt electric mower has seven heights of cutting while the Craftsman only has five.

Final Verdict

My overall verdict: I like this mower a lot. The higher voltage, self-propulsion features, compact storage ability and overall quality of cut have me sold. In other reviews, the main concerns I've seen are about battery life. As long as your yard is under a half-acre and you aren't chasing after your mower with the self-propulsion at level seven the whole time, it's not an issue. The mower is available at a great price point for the features and truly functions better than any gas mower on the market I've tested. If I had to give it a rating, I'd give it a 9.2/10.

Where to Buy the Kobalt Electric Mower

The Kobalt 80-volt electric mower is available for purchase exclusively at Lowe's. The mower can be purchased without a battery, or with two different options for batteries. Standard pricing ranges from $499 without a battery to $699, which includes a battery and charger. We have, however, seen the battery options go on sale for $499 throughout the year.

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FAQ

Who makes Kobalt electric lawnmowers?

Kobalt is a line of hand and mechanics' tools, power tools and tool storage products owned by the American home improvement chain Lowe's.

How do you clean a Kobalt lawn mower?

The product manual for the Kobalt electric mower provides specific instructions on how to clean the mower. The instructions to clean the mower are:

• Remove grass clippings, leaves, dirt and other debris from the mower deck's underside to avoid rust and corrosion.
• Remove grass and leaves buildup on or around the motor cover (do not use water). Wipe the mower clean with a dry cloth occasionally.
• If debris builds up on the underside of the unit while in use, stop the motor and disconnect it from the power supply. Tilt the mower forward or on its side and scrape it clean with an appropriate tool.

Can you overcharge a Kobalt battery?

Lithium ion batteries can be overcharged, which can damage their ability to fully function. Kobalt batteries are built with circuits that protect them from overcharging. Even with this feature, the Kobalt manual suggests to always remove the battery from the charger when it's fully charged for safety purposes.

What are the drawbacks of electric mowers?

Compared to gas mowers, electric models typically offer less cutting power and torque, which can make them less effective on thick, tall or wet grass. In addition, cordless electric mowers are constrained by battery life, with some only lasting between 30 to 60 minutes before needing to be recharged. While corded electric mowers are an option, the power cord can be dangerous as it can easily get tangled or accidentally cut.

Why You Should Trust Us

At Vernl, we have personally tested dozens of lawn mowers. We've covered everything from push mowers to riding mowers and zero-turn mowers. We've even assessed the best robot mowers to understand how newer electric options compare to classic gas-powered tools in real-world conditions.

For this review, the Kobalt 80-volt mower was tested over three months on a suburban lawn with hills, trees and thick Florida grass to evaluate cutting performance, maneuverability, battery life and storage convenience. In addition to hands-on testing, we consulted lawn care expert Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love, for additional insight into electric mower performance and long-term usability.

Our goal is always to help readers make informed buying decisions based on real testing and expert-backed advice. We only recommend products that meet or exceed our expectations for performance, value and ease of use.

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