Honda, Husqvarna and Briggs Powered Mowers: Brand-by-Brand Picks

If you want a mower from a name you recognize, the Honda HRX-BV is our top pick for a medium lawn that needs a self-propelled, battery-powered walk-behind, and the Husqvarna TS 120 (42 inch) is the runner-up when the yard is big enough to justify a lawn tractor. People who search for the best Honda mowers, the best Husqvarna mower or the best lawn mowers with Briggs and Stratton engines are usually trying to answer one question: which brand fits my yard, my budget and my tolerance for maintenance? This guide is built around that question, with seven main picks and four more to consider, grouped by brand so you can compare like with like.

One honest note up front. This guide is research-based. We did not personally use these products. We read manufacturer spec sheets, the product listings in our store and independent write-ups, and we mark any detail we could not verify as “not listed.” We also do not quote prices, sale dates or stock levels, because those change daily and differ by store.

Honda HRN-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRN216YXBVKA4) | Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower with 1.9 Bushel Capacity, Easy-Off Grass Bag, Clean Cuts in Thick and Tall Grass

Chosen because it specifies Easy-Off Grass Bag and Clean Cuts in Thick and Tall Grass.

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Honda HRX-BE 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRX217YXBEXA6) | 12AH Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower, 2 Battery Bays, 2.2 Bushel Capacity, Easy-Off Grass Bag

Chosen because it specifies 12AH Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower and 2 Battery Bays.

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Honda HRC-BE 21-Inch Commercial Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRC216EXA6) | 12 AH Battery Powered Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower, 2 Battery Bays, 2.5 Bushel Capacity, Easy-Off Grass Bag

Chosen because it specifies 2 Battery Bays and 2.5 Bushel Capacity.

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Honda HRX-BV 21-Inch Walk Behind Battery Powered Lawn Mower (HRX217YXBVKA4) | Variable Speed Self Propelled Lawn Mower with 2.2 Bushel Capacity, Easy-Off Grass Bag, Clean Cuts in Thick and Tall Grass

Chosen because it specifies Easy-Off Grass Bag and Clean Cuts in Thick and Tall Grass.

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Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: Honda HRX-BV 21-inch battery self-propelled mower, for mid-size lawns where quiet and low upkeep matter.
• Best Premium Walk-Behind: Honda HRX-BE 21-inch, with two battery bays and a bigger 12Ah battery.
• Best Value Honda: Honda HRN-BV 21-inch, the steel-deck entry to the battery line.
• Best Husqvarna Walk-Behind: Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322R, a battery self-propelled mower for smaller yards.
• Best for Large Lawns: Husqvarna TS 120 (42 inch) lawn tractor with a Briggs engine.
• Best Briggs and Stratton Self-Propelled: PowerSmart 22-inch with the 140cc Briggs and Stratton E550 engine.
• Best Briggs and Stratton Push: PowerSmart 21-inch 3-in-1 push mower with a 140cc Briggs and Stratton engine.

Comparison Table

1. Honda HRX-BV: Best Overall for Mid-Size Lawns

• 21-inch NeXite deck (Honda’s molded composite deck, which does not rust)
• 8Ah battery, one battery bay
• Select Drive self-propel, speeds up to about 4.0 mph
• About 84.7 lb without the battery, per a published comparison of Honda’s battery line
• Honda quotes roughly 30 minutes, or about a quarter acre, per 8Ah battery in typical conditions

Best for: owners of a quarter-acre or smaller yard who want the Honda name without the gas routine. Skip if: your lawn is well over a third of an acre and you do not want to buy a spare battery.

The HRX-BV is the model most people mean when they say “a Honda mower” these days, because Honda has moved its self-propelled walk-behind line toward batteries. In practice that means no fuel stabilizer, no spark plug, no oil changes and no pull cord. You charge the battery, snap it in and mow. The self-propel system lets you set a walking pace rather than being dragged along, which is a real relief on a longer pass.

Runtime is the number to respect. A single 8Ah battery covers a modest yard, but thick, wet or tall grass shortens it. If your lawn sits near the upper edge of the quarter-acre estimate, plan on a second battery or mow in two sessions. The batteries are shared across the HRN-BV, HRX-BV, HRX-BE and HRC-BE, so one spare fits the whole family.

The composite deck is a quiet advantage. Steel decks can rust where wet clippings sit, while a molded deck sheds that worry. You still need to scrape the underside after mowing damp grass, but corrosion is less of a long-term concern.

Pros:

• No fuel, oil or spark plug upkeep
• Rust-free composite deck
• Variable-speed self-propel
• Batteries interchange across several Honda models

Cons:

• One battery bay limits continuous mowing
• Premium pricing for a 21-inch deck

2. Honda HRX-BE: Best for Bigger Yards and Long Sessions

• 21-inch NeXite deck
• 12Ah battery with a charger included, per Honda’s product page
• Two battery bays so a second battery can be added
• eSelect Drive, speeds up to about 4.0 mph
• Brushless motor; about 91 lb without the battery in a published comparison

Best for: larger suburban lots and anyone who hates stopping to swap batteries. Skip if: your lawn is small enough that the lighter HRX-BV already covers it.

The step up from the HRX-BV is mostly about stamina. The 12Ah pack is quoted at around 45 minutes of mowing, or about 0.37 acre, and the second bay lets you run two packs for a longer job. The tradeoff is weight. At roughly 91 lb before the battery goes in, it is the heaviest walk-behind in this group, which matters if you have to lift it over a curb or into a truck bed.

Be careful with online reviews of this model. Some third-party pages disagree with Honda about what is in the box and about motor power, so treat the maker’s page as the source of truth and confirm what is included before you buy. The same advice applies to every product in this guide: compare the model number printed on the product, not just the name.

Pros:

• Longest runtime of the Honda walk-behinds
• Dual battery bays
• Battery and charger included, per the maker
• Rust-free deck

Cons:

• Heaviest of the group
• Highest cost among the walk-behinds

3. Honda HRN-BV: Best Value Honda

• 21-inch steel deck
• 8Ah battery, one bay; optional 12Ah batteries extend runtime
• Smart Drive self-propel with five positions, up to about 3.8 mph
• About 80.6 lb without the battery

Best for: a smaller yard where you want a respected brand and a lower entry cost. Skip if: you want the composite deck or the faster top speed.

The HRN-BV trades a few refinements for a lower cost. The deck is steel rather than composite, and the drive is a simpler five-position system rather than the more finely variable ones on the HRX models. For a typical small lawn, you will notice the difference less than the price gap. If you mow a flat yard of a few thousand square feet and want something that starts every time, this is the pragmatic Honda.

Keep the steel deck dry and clean. After mowing, tip the mower according to the manual, scrape the underside and let it dry before storage. That one habit does most of the work in keeping a steel deck healthy for years.

Pros:

• Lightest of the three Honda walk-behinds
• Same battery family as the pricier models
• Self-propel at a gentler price

Cons:

• Steel deck needs more care
• Single battery bay

4. Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322R: Best Husqvarna Walk-Behind

• Battery-powered, self-propelled walk-behind
• Brushless motor
• Marketed for small to mid-size lawns
• Deck width, battery capacity and runtime: not listed in the product title we verified, so check the maker’s sheet

Best for: homeowners who prefer the Husqvarna name and want a gas-free walk-behind. Skip if: you need a published runtime figure before buying.

Husqvarna is better known for tractors, zero-turn riders, chainsaws and robotic mowers than for push mowers, so this model is a sensible answer for people who search for the best Husqvarna mower but only have a modest lawn. A brushless motor is generally a longevity feature, since there are no carbon brushes to wear out. Self-propel takes strain off the arms and is the feature we would prioritize over any other on this class of mower.

Because we could not confirm details such as deck width, battery size or runtime from the listing text, we are not going to guess. Check the manual for the battery model it uses and whether a charger is in the box. Also ask whether replacement batteries will remain available for a long time, which is a question worth asking of any battery platform.

Pros:

• Gas-free operation
• Self-propelled
• Brushless motor

Cons:

• Key specs not listed in the data we could verify
• Smaller deck class than a tractor

5. Husqvarna TS 120 (42 inch): Best for Large Lawns

• 42-inch cutting deck
• 19 HP Briggs and Stratton engine
• Lawn tractor (sit-on) format
• Transmission, bagging options and hitch: not listed, check the manual

Best for: flat to gently rolling lawns of roughly an acre or more, where walking behind a mower would take too long. Skip if: your yard is small, cluttered or steep.

This is the pick for readers whose lawns have outgrown a walk-behind. A 42-inch deck cuts nearly twice the width of a 21-inch walk-behind, so the same lawn needs far fewer passes. Pairing a Husqvarna chassis with a Briggs and Stratton engine is a common arrangement and keeps service parts easy to find.

The ownership picture is different from the walk-behinds. You will change oil, replace the air filter, sharpen or swap blades, and store a bigger machine through winter. You also need a driveway or shed with real space. For slopes, a lawn tractor is not automatically safer. Follow the manual’s slope limits and mow across or up and down as the maker instructs, never guessing.

Pros:

• Wide deck cuts mowing time
• Established engine brand with easy parts
• Comfortable for long jobs

Cons:

• Needs storage and regular servicing
• Overkill for small yards

6. PowerSmart 22 inch with Briggs and Stratton E550: Best Self-Propelled Gas Pick on a Budget

• 22-inch deck
• 140cc Briggs and Stratton E550 engine
• Rear-wheel drive, self-propelled
• 3-in-1: bag, mulch, discharge

Best for: readers who specifically want a Briggs and Stratton engine and a self-propelled drive without a premium price. Skip if: you want a battery mower or a very light machine.

Searches for lawn mowers with Briggs and Stratton engines usually come from people who value easy parts and familiar service. The E550 series is a long-running small engine line, and mower makers like PowerSmart use it to offer a recognizable engine at a lower overall cost. Rear-wheel drive is the layout many people prefer for hills and for bagging, because weight shifts back onto the drive wheels when the bag fills, though exact traction depends on the lawn.

The cost of a gas mower is routine care. Use fresh fuel, change the oil as the manual says, replace the air filter and the spark plug on schedule, and use fuel stabilizer if the mower sits over winter. If that list sounds tedious, the Honda battery models above are the alternative.

Pros:

• Familiar engine brand
• Self-propelled rear-wheel drive
• Bag, mulch or discharge

Cons:

• Gas upkeep
• Louder than battery mowers

7. PowerSmart 21 inch with Briggs and Stratton Engine: Best Push Pick

• 21-inch wide cutting deck
• 140cc Briggs and Stratton 4-stroke engine
• 6 height adjustments
• 3-in-1 bag, mulch and discharge; push, not self-propelled

Best for: small, flat yards where a push mower is enough. Skip if: your lawn has slopes or you dislike pushing.

This is the simplest recommendation here. A push mower keeps the cost and the weight down, and on a small flat lawn the missing self-propel feature is easy to live with. The six-position height lever lets you raise the deck during hot, dry spells and lower it in spring when growth is steady.

If you are unsure whether you need self-propel, count your strides. Anything over about ten to fifteen minutes of pushing, or any slope, is where the feature starts to pay for itself.

Pros:

• Lower cost and weight
• Simple controls
• Familiar engine

Cons:

• You do all the pushing
• Gas maintenance

Also Consider

Honda HRC-BE commercial battery mower

A 21-inch battery model aimed at commercial users, sharing the Honda battery family. It suits owners who mow often and want a work-grade machine. Details beyond the listing are not listed, so confirm duty rating and warranty terms with Honda.

Husqvarna Z254F zero-turn

A 54-inch Kawasaki-powered zero-turn rider for large properties with many obstacles to trim around. It is a different budget and storage conversation than anything above.

Greenworks 60V 21-inch self-propelled kit

A battery alternative with two 4.0Ah batteries in the kit and a 4-in-1 system per the listing. A good comparison if you want to stay off the Honda price tier.

YARDMAX 22-inch 201cc self-propelled

A gas self-propelled option with a six-speed drive. Its engine is not a Briggs and Stratton, so it fits shoppers who care about drive and deck more than engine brand.

Brand and Retailer Notes

Honda

Honda’s reputation was built on gas engines, and the long-running HRX family is still what many people remember. The Honda listings we could verify in our store are the current battery models, so we did not find a gas HRX or HRN to recommend. If you want a gas Honda, check Honda’s own site and a dealer for current availability.

Husqvarna

Husqvarna covers walk-behinds, lawn tractors, zero-turns and robotic mowers. If your yard is large, the brand’s ride-on range matters most. If you want a robot, that is a separate decision, covered in our robotic mower guides.

Briggs and Stratton engines

Many mowers from different brands use a Briggs and Stratton engine. That means the engine can be serviced by many shops, but the mower around it varies a lot. Judge the deck, wheels and handle as carefully as the engine.

Big-box stores such as Home Depot, Lowe’s and Sears

People often search for the best lawn mowers at Home Depot or at Lowe’s, and older shoppers still search for Sears. We do not claim what any retailer currently carries. Instead, use this rule: whatever the store, match the model number to the maker’s spec sheet, check the engine or battery named in the listing, and read the warranty terms. Store-specific variants of a familiar name can differ in details.

Memorial Day and holiday sales

Holiday sale pricing is real, but we do not quote dates or amounts. If you are shopping around one, decide on the model first, then compare offers. A discount on the wrong mower is not a bargain.

How We Chose

We started with the brand and engine names that searchers actually use: Honda, Husqvarna, Briggs and Stratton, and the big-box retail angle. We then searched our store for real, currently listed products in each group and checked the maker’s specifications where possible. Honda’s battery mower details come from Honda’s product pages and a published comparison of its battery line. Husqvarna and PowerSmart details come from the listings. This guide is research-based. We did not personally use these products, and we have not measured runtime, noise or cut quality. Where a spec was not available we wrote “not listed.”

Buying Guide

Choose the power source first

Battery mowers start instantly, run quietly and skip fuel chores. Gas mowers keep going as long as you have fuel and usually cost less at the same deck size. A rough rule: under about a quarter acre, battery is easy; between a quarter and a half acre, plan for two batteries or a larger one; above that, gas or a ride-on is usually less fussy.

Match deck width to lawn size

A 21-inch deck is standard for walk-behinds. A 22-inch deck cuts about 5 percent wider. A 42-inch tractor deck cuts twice as wide as a 21-inch mower, which is why tractors dominate acre-plus lawns. Wider decks are harder to fit through gates and around beds.

Decide on self-propel

If your lawn has slopes, or mowing takes more than about fifteen minutes, self-propel is worth paying for. Look for variable speed rather than a single fixed pace, so you can slow down around obstacles.

Check deck material and mulching

Composite decks resist rust. Steel decks are fine with care. A 3-in-1 mower lets you bag, mulch or discharge, which helps when conditions change, such as leaf season.

Look at service and parts

Brand reputation matters most for parts availability and local repair. Check that spare batteries, blades, belts and filters are easy to buy for the model you pick, and keep the model number written down.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying on brand name alone and ignoring deck size for your lawn.
• Assuming every model sharing a brand name has the same engine or battery.
• Skipping the spare battery on a lawn that sits near the runtime limit.
• Forgetting storage space for a tractor.
• Ignoring the manual’s slope guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Honda mowers right now?

The Honda HRX-BV, HRX-BE and HRN-BV are the current battery-powered walk-behinds we could verify. The HRX-BE has the biggest battery and two bays, the HRX-BV is the all-rounder, and the HRN-BV is the lower-cost steel-deck version.

Are there good Honda push mowers?

Honda’s walk-behind line is mostly self-propelled. If you want a plain push mower with a Honda-like feel, consider the PowerSmart 21-inch push model with a Briggs and Stratton engine, and check Honda’s site for any non-propelled model.

Which Honda powered mowers use gas?

Honda has long made gas-engine mowers, but we did not find a current gas model in our store. Check Honda’s website or a dealer for the current gas lineup.

What is the best Husqvarna mower for a small yard?

The Husqvarna Lawn Xpert LE-322R battery self-propelled mower is the most fitting walk-behind we found. For larger yards, the TS 120 tractor makes more sense. Verify the specs on the maker’s sheet.

Are mowers with Briggs and Stratton engines still a good choice?

Yes, if you want gas power and widely available parts. The engine is only part of the mower, so evaluate the deck, wheels and handle too.

Which store should I buy a mower from?

Choose the model first, then compare retailers on warranty, delivery, assembly and return terms. We do not claim what any particular store carries.

When should I buy a mower?

Holiday sale periods can bring offers, but verify the model and the terms. Mid-season repairs and shortages are a good reason to buy before the first big mow of spring.

Which One Should You Buy?

Pick the Honda HRX-BV if you have a mid-size lawn and want quiet, low-fuss mowing. Step up to the HRX-BE if you mow a bigger lot. Choose the HRN-BV to keep the Honda name at a gentler price. Go with the Husqvarna LE-322R for a Husqvarna battery walk-behind, or the TS 120 if you need a tractor. For gas power with a Briggs and Stratton engine, take the PowerSmart 22-inch self-propelled for slopes and bagging, or the 21-inch push model for a small flat yard. Always confirm model numbers against the maker’s specifications and consult the manual for safe operation, including slope limits and blade handling.

Sources

• Honda Power Equipment: HRX-BE and HRX-BV battery lawn mower product pages
• Pro Tool Reviews: comparison of Honda battery-powered lawn mowers
• Husqvarna product listings for the Lawn Xpert LE-322R and TS 120
• PowerSmart product listings for Briggs and Stratton powered mowers
• Briggs and Stratton engine manuals and maintenance guidance

Last updated: October 2026