The Greenworks MO48L4422 is the standout self-propelled cordless mower under $500. It runs on four 24V batteries for up to 70 minutes combined and adds rear-wheel self-propulsion that makes slopes and larger lots far easier than a push mower. Reviewers give the 48V PowerAll line a solid 4-star reception, praising the runtime and 4-in-1 versatility. At around $499 with all four batteries included, it is the value self-propelled pick.
Full review
Real-World Performance
The Greenworks MO48L4422 earns its spot as the self-propelled value pick. Lawn Love named it the best cordless electric self-propelled mower under $500, citing up to 70 minutes of runtime with the four included 24V batteries. The rear-wheel self-propulsion is the differentiator in this list: where the EGO LM2114 and Greenworks push mowers make you supply the forward effort, the MO48L4422 drives itself, which transforms the experience on slopes and larger lots.
Pro Tool Reviews described it as the flagship of the Greenworks PowerAll 48V line, with four battery ports that automatically switch over for uninterrupted mowing. The 48V combined output is lower-torque than the 60V and 80V Greenworks push mowers, so it is best on regularly-maintained grass rather than heavy overgrowth, but the self-propulsion and long runtime make it the easiest mower here to use on a demanding yard.
Build Quality and Design
The MO48L4422 pairs two 24V batteries at a time for 48V of power, drawing from four included packs total, an unusual but effective setup that lets the auto-switch system keep you mowing while spent batteries wait. The 21-inch deck offers seven cutting heights and a 4-in-1 system: mulch, bag, side discharge, and leaf pickup. Bright LED headlights enable early-morning or dusk mowing.
At around 84 lb it is heavier than the push mowers, but the self-propulsion offsets the weight in use. 9to5Toys praised the feature-rich design and low noise and maintenance, summarizing the appeal as gas/oil no more. The main quirk is the four-small-battery architecture rather than one large pack, which some buyers find less convenient to charge and store.
Battery Life and Power
Runtime is a strength: up to 70 minutes combined across the four 24V 4.0Ah batteries, enough for lawns up to a half acre on a single set per Lawn Love. The auto-switchover means you do not have to stop and swap, the mower pulls from the next available pair automatically, which keeps larger jobs continuous.
Power sits at 48V combined, which Pro Tool Reviews and others note is lower than the 60V and 80V Greenworks push mowers. The brushless motor ramps power when grass gets thick, but this is fundamentally a mower for keeping a maintained lawn in shape rather than tackling heavy overgrowth. For its target use, the combination of long runtime and self-propulsion is the right trade.
Where It Falls Short
The four-battery design is the most-noted quirk: charging and storing four 24V packs is fussier than managing a single large battery like the EGO's, and the 48V combined output is lower-torque than the higher-voltage push mowers here. It is also the heaviest mower in the list, though self-propulsion compensates.
Availability is another consideration, since it sells mainly through Lowe's rather than Amazon, so the affiliate link points to a retailer that can be harder to verify automatically. None of these undercut its core value as an affordable self-propelled mower, but buyers wanting maximum torque or a single-battery setup should weigh them.
How It Compares to Alternatives
The MO48L4422 is the only self-propelled option in this roundup, so it fills the gap the push-only EGO LM2114, Greenworks 60V 21-inch push, and Greenworks 80V 21-inch push leave open. It trades torque to those higher-voltage push mowers in exchange for self-propulsion and a longer combined runtime.
Against the corded Sun Joe MJ403E it is in a different league on capability, deck size, and cordless freedom, though it costs far more. For buyers whose deciding factor is not having to push the mower, especially on hills or bigger lots, the MO48L4422 is the clear choice under $500.
Who It's Best For
The Greenworks MO48L4422 is for homeowners with hilly lots or larger yards up to half an acre who want self-propulsion and long runtime without breaking the $500 budget. If pushing a mower across slopes is the thing you most want to avoid, this is the only sub-$500 mower here that solves it.
It is the wrong pick for small flat lawns, where the cheaper push EGO LM2114 or Greenworks 60V make more sense, for buyers who want maximum cutting torque from a higher-voltage system, and for anyone who prefers a single large battery over four smaller packs. As the value self-propelled mower, though, it stands alone in this list.
Strengths
- +The best self-propelled cordless mower you can get under $500
- +Up to 70 minutes of runtime with the four included 24V 4.0Ah batteries
- +4-in-1 system plus bright LED headlights for low-light mowing
- +Rear-wheel self-propulsion takes the effort out of slopes and big lots
- +21-inch deck with seven cutting heights and auto-switch batteries
Watch-outs
- −Uses four smaller 24V batteries rather than one large pack
- −Heavier than push models at around 84 lb
- −Sold mainly through Lowe's rather than Amazon
- −48V combined power trails the 60V and 80V Greenworks push mowers on torque
How it compares
The only self-propelled mower in this list, filling the gap left by the push-only EGO LM2114, Greenworks 60V 21-inch push, and Greenworks 80V 21-inch push. It trades some torque to those higher-voltage push mowers for self-propulsion and longer combined runtime, and it dwarfs the corded Sun Joe MJ403E in capability.
Who this is for
At a glance: Homeowners with hilly lots or larger yards up to half an acre who want self-propulsion and long runtime without exceeding $500.
Why you’d buy the Greenworks MO48L4422 48V Self-Propelled
- The best self-propelled cordless mower you can get under $500.
- Up to 70 minutes of runtime with the four included 24V 4.0Ah batteries.
- 4-in-1 system plus bright LED headlights for low-light mowing.
Why you’d skip it
- Uses four smaller 24V batteries rather than one large pack.
- Heavier than push models at around 84 lb.
- Sold mainly through Lowe's rather than Amazon.
Rating sources
“The best cordless electric self-propelled mower under $500, with up to 70 minutes of runtime with the four included 24-volt 4 Ah batteries.”
“The flagship of the PowerAll 48V mower line is a 21-inch self-propelled mower with a rear-wheel-drive system and four battery ports that automatically switch over.”
“Gas/oil no more: a compelling candidate thanks to powerful batteries, a feature-rich design, and low noise and maintenance.”
Our 4.3 score is the average of these published ratings. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
