Best Time to Buy a Lawn Mower

Why September-October Offers the Best Mower Deals

Home Depot and Lowe's, the two dominant outdoor power equipment retailers, face a hard deadline every fall. Mowers and outdoor equipment occupy thousands of square feet of prime floor space that must transition to snow equipment, holiday displays, and seasonal merchandise. Store managers are evaluated on inventory turnover, creating strong motivation to move product through aggressive markdowns.

A push mower priced at $400 in May might follow this markdown trajectory: $350 at July 4th, $300 in August, $250 by Labor Day, and $200 by mid-October. Riding mowers see even more dramatic swings. A $3,000 riding mower in spring might be $1,800-$2,200 by October -- savings of $800-$1,200 on a single purchase.

Riding Mowers: The Biggest Savings Opportunity

Riding mowers represent the largest savings opportunity in the outdoor power category because they take up the most floor space and have the highest price points. Home Depot, Lowe's, and Tractor Supply all begin marking down riding mowers in September, with discounts deepening through October and into November.

John Deere, Husqvarna, Craftsman, and Cub Cadet all see significant clearance pricing during this window. Zero-turn mowers, which can cost $3,000-$5,000 at full price, regularly drop $1,000-$1,500 during fall clearance. If a riding mower is on your list, October is the single best month to buy.

Memorial Day: Best for New-Season Selection

Memorial Day in May offers 15-25% off with the advantage of full selection across all brands and models. This is the right window if you need a mower for the current growing season and want to choose from every available option. The discounts are modest compared to fall clearance, but you get the mower when you actually need it.

Battery mower platforms often launch their newest models in spring, so Memorial Day is when you will find the widest selection of current-year battery mowers at a mild discount.

The Battery Platform Strategy

The rise of battery-powered outdoor equipment has created a new buying strategy: buy the mower to get the battery, then add tools cheaply. EGO, Ryobi, and Greenworks all use shared battery platforms. A $500 battery mower comes with a high-capacity battery ($150-$200 value) that also powers the brand's trimmers, blowers, chainsaws, and other tools. During clearance, the mower is discounted but the battery inside retains its full value, making the effective mower cost even lower.

Lawn Mower Buying Strategy

• Match mower size to yard size. Under 1/4 acre: reel mower or battery push mower ($150-$300). 1/4 to 1/2 acre: self-propelled gas or battery mower ($300-$500). 1/2 to 1 acre: wide-deck self-propelled ($400-$600). Over 1 acre: riding mower or zero-turn ($1,500-$4,000). Overbuying wastes money on purchase price, fuel, and maintenance for capacity you do not need.
• Buy into a battery platform during clearance. Ryobi (Home Depot), EGO, and Greenworks (Lowe's) use batteries that work across their full tool lineup. A mower bought on clearance gives you the most expensive battery in the system. Then add a trimmer (tool-only, no battery, $100-$150), blower ($80-$120), and hedge trimmer ($80-$100) throughout the year using the battery from your mower. Total ecosystem cost drops dramatically.
• Gas vs. battery: the honest comparison. Battery mowers excel for yards under 1/2 acre: quieter, no gas/oil maintenance, instant start, no emissions. Gas mowers still win for yards over 1/2 acre where battery runtime becomes a limitation. For in-between yards (1/2 to 3/4 acre), buy a battery mower with a second battery during clearance for uninterrupted mowing.
• Check reconditioned and floor models. Home Depot's online section lists reconditioned mowers at 30-50% off with warranties. In-store floor models in October (assembled display units) are often available at 10-20% off the already-reduced clearance price. Ask at the service desk for floor model availability.

Where to Buy Lawn Mowers

• Home Depot carries EGO, Ryobi (exclusive), Honda, and Toro. Largest in-store selection with the advantage of hands-on comparison. Fall clearance begins late August and deepens weekly. Their app often shows online-only clearance prices that beat in-store tags -- check before buying in-store.
• Lowe's carries Greenworks (exclusive), Craftsman, EGO, and Husqvarna. Competitive with Home Depot on pricing and timing. Their Craftsman branded equipment offers strong value at mid-range prices.
• Tractor Supply is the go-to for riding mowers and zero-turns from John Deere, Husqvarna, and Cub Cadet. Their fall clearance on riding mowers is aggressive because the machines take up massive floor space. Also excellent for commercial-grade equipment.
• Amazon carries EGO, Greenworks, and other battery brands with Prime shipping. Useful for comparing prices and reading reviews. Lightning Deals during Prime Day occasionally offer excellent mower pricing.
• Costco occasionally stocks riding mowers and premium push mowers at competitive year-round prices. Limited selection but excellent value when available.

Maintenance Tips to Protect Your Investment

• Sharpen blades twice per season. Dull mower blades tear grass rather than cutting it, which stresses the lawn and makes the mower work harder. A $10 blade sharpener or $15 sharpening service at a hardware store extends blade life and improves cut quality.
• Gas mowers: winterize before storage. Run the fuel tank empty or add fuel stabilizer before winter storage. Old gas gums up carburetors and is the number one cause of spring start failures. A $5 bottle of fuel stabilizer prevents a $100+ carburetor repair.
• Battery mowers: store batteries at 50% charge indoors. Lithium batteries degrade fastest when stored fully charged or fully depleted. Keep them at roughly half charge in a cool indoor space over winter for maximum longevity.