The Best Lawn Mowers for a Half-Acre Yard

Honda HRX2172VKA

• Popular Mechanics gives this Honda self-propelled mower its highest rating of five stars and declares it the best of eight walk-behind mowers tested for 2010. Priced at $700 as of November 2010, Popular Mechanics calls this model the "luxury car of walk-behind lawnmowers." A dual-blade system cuts and recuts clippings to leave a smooth finish on the lawn. Though Popular Mechanics criticizes the mower's deck lift levers, overall it dubs this lawnmower "an outstanding machine."

Black & Decker CM1836

• For homeowners who don't want the noise and pollution associated with gas-powered mowers, this Black & Decker model is a good choice. The CM1836 is a cordless electric walk-behind mower that mulches and bags, and has a cutting width of 18 inches. Backed by a 2-year warranty, it has a 36-volt electric engine and a single-lever deck height adjustment. The CM1836 also has the recommendation of Consumer Reports.

Craftsman 37436

• The Craftsman 37436 earns four stars from Popular Mechanics, which calls it "a sweet ride." This mower has spring-loaded height adjustment, making it easy to position the wheels at the desired cutting level.The mower cuts quickly and is easy to operate. On the negative side, the model makes more noise than some other gas-powered mowers, and grass built up under the deck when tested, but Popular Mechanics still gives a strong recommendation.

Toro 20332

• After testing this model, Popular Mechanics gave it five stars and named it "best value." The operator controls the speed at which the mowers cuts by simply applying more pressure on the handle to go faster, or pulling back on the pressure to slow down. The operator can also switch between bagging and mulching by hitting a switch located near the rear wheels. The mower comes with a 3-year warranty. Popular Mechanics didn't note any negatives for this model in its report.