9 Best Petrol Lawn Mowers in Australia (2024)

While petrol lawnmowers require more maintenance compared to their electric counterparts, their ability to run for extended periods and deliver superior power makes them a compelling choice if you have a larger lawn. However, navigating the vast array of models and features can be daunting.

To make your search easier, we’ve researched the best petrol lawn mowers available in Australia to help you find which best suits your lawn needs. You can also explore our comprehensive guide on the best lawn mowers and battery-powered lawn mowers available in Australia. Let's get to it!

Our Top Picks

In a hurry? Here are our top three petrol lawnmowers in Australia:

PowerBlade VS900 Petrol Mower

Best petrol mower for most people; it has an OHV 4-stroke engine with a 4-in-1 functionality, 51 cm cutting width, and 7 cutting heights (25 to 75 mm).

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Ryobi 160cc 18" Lawn Mower

Best outdoor tools bundle with an OHV 4-stroke engine lawn mower, a 40cm Chainsaw, and a 500W 300mm Electric Line Trimmer.

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Baumr-AG 720SX Lawn Mower

Best budget petrol mower with an OHV, 4-stroke engine, a 1 L fuel capacity, 40 cm cutting width, 7 adjustable stages, and a 45 L grass catcher.

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Top 9 Petrol Lawn Mowers for Aussies — In-Depth Reviews

Our research considered the unique challenges of Australian lawns, cutting-edge technology, durability, fuel efficiency, and ease of use. So, whether you need a reliable workhorse or the latest in lawn care innovation, our research has got you covered.

1. PowerBlade VS900 4in1 Petrol Mower

Best Petrol Mower for Most People

The PowerBlade VS900 lawn mower is a great choice for most Australian homeowners, offering a good balance of power, efficiency, and convenience. It is powered by a class-leading 225cc 4-stroke engine with advanced four-stroke OHV technology for a high power output, easy starting, and efficient operation. But the unique key feature of the PowerBlade VS900 is its 4-in-1 functionality, offering you the option of catching, mulching, direct side discharge, or direct rear discharge.

For ease of operation and performance, PowerBlade VS900 features a seven-stage central lever height adjustment system that allows you to adjust the cutting height to suit your lawn easily—it has a cutting width of 51 cm and a cutting height range of 25 - 75 mm. Plus, it's self-propelled, so mowing your lawn is a leisurely stroll rather than a chore.

The PowerBlade VS900 4-in-1 petrol lawn mower also features a high-grade steel deck for ultimate durability, an integrated drink holder, quick-release folding handles for easy storage, and a large 65L catcher.

Pros

• Durable build
• Convenient features
• High power and efficient engine
• Versatile 4-in-1 functionality
• Self-propelled feature
• Good value for money

Cons

• Requires ample storage room

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2. Ryobi 160cc 18" Lawn Mower

Best Outdoor Tools Bundle

If you're in the market for a robust petrol lawn mower that comes with additional outdoor tools, the Ryobi 160cc 18" Lawn Mower is an excellent choice. This lawn mower is powered by a 4-stroke engine that meets the Australian Emission Standards and operates with high efficiency and less noise, making your lawn maintenance tasks more pleasant and eco-friendly.

The 160cc lawn mower has an 18-inch cutting width, allowing you to cover more ground in less time. Its foldable, adjustable, and soft grip handles ensure comfort when lawn mowing and compaction for storage or movement, and the 55-litre catcher means you can work for extended periods before emptying it. And if you prefer to mulch alongside, the mower includes a mulching plug to use grass clippings as a natural fertiliser.

But that's not all; the Ryobi 160cc 18" Lawn Mower comes bundled with the Ryobi 2300W 40cm Chainsaw and Ryobi 500W 300mm Electric Line Trimmer. The chainsaw is perfect for cutting through thick branches and logs, whereas the electric line trimmer is ideal for trimming grass in hard-to-reach areas and giving your lawn a neat, finished look.

Ryobi also includes some innovative features, such as a deck wash adaptor for easy cleaning of the underside of the deck and blades and four swing-back blades that can deliver the most delicate cut to your grass. On purchase, you get a two-year replacement warranty.

Pros

• Comfortable to use
• Quieter than most machines
• Handle folds swiftly and easily
• Innovative and useful features
• Bundled with other tools
• 2-year warranty

Cons

• Build quality can be better
• Grass collector can be difficult to empty

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3. Masport 470 2'n1 Petrol Lawn Mower

Best Fuel-Efficient Petrol Mower

The Masport 470 2'n1 Petrol Lawn Mower is a popular choice among consumers for its ease of use, durability, and fuel efficiency. Masport, as a brand, is well-known for offering excellent ranges of Australian lawn mowers, and the 470 2n'1 Mulch & Catch Petrol Lawn Mower is no exception. The lawn mower is powered by the Briggs & Stratton 140cc 4-stroke engine.

With the Masport 2'n1 Petrol Lawn Mower, you get a 460 mm steel chassis and the Masport Quickcut® Blade System, which allows for easy cutting and mulching of lawns with perfection. It is powerful enough to cut through long and hard grass. The mower also features a comfortable upturned upper handle with a soft grip and a reinforced lower handle for added strength.

Like most others, the mower also features a catcher with a volume of 46.5L, allowing you to mow for longer periods without having to empty the catcher frequently. The cutting height range is 10 - 70 mm, with single-point cutting height adjustment. So you can easily adjust it to suit your lawn's needs. Masport offers a 4-year warranty on the chassis and a 2-year warranty for the engine.

Pros

• Fuel-efficient
• Durable and easy to use
• Masport brand reputation
• 460 mm steel chassis
• Powerful enough
• Generous warranty

Cons:

• Can be difficult to start sometimes

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4. Honda 21" Petrol Lawn Mower

Best Domestic Grade Petrol Mower

The Honda 21" (53 cm) Self Propelling Lawn Mower with Clip Director Mulching is a silent yet efficient model from a top brand. Its key features include Honda’s impressive Mow-Safe engine brake technology, low fuel consumption, and quiet operation ideal for residential usage. The model’s powerful 160cc engine and MicroCut twin bar blades allow for a thorough cut.

The lawn mower also comes with a spacious 66-litre fabric grass catcher, allowing for prolonged mowing sessions without the need for frequent emptying. It also boasts mulching capabilities, providing the option to fertilise your lawn while mowing. The mower's efficiency is further enhanced by its broad 53 cm blade length and cutting width with a height adjustment range of 27 to 100mm, which can help reduce mowing time.

Despite the Honda 21" professional-grade design, it is categorised as a domestic mower, that is, intended for less frequent use. A 2-year domestic warranty accompanies your purchase, providing an extra layer of assurance.

Pros

• Silent operation
• Efficient fuel consumption
• Powerful 160cc engine
• Spacious 66-litre fabric grass catcher
• 2-year domestic warranty

Cons

• Pricey
• Heavier

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5. Victa Classic Cut & Catch

Best for Medium-Sized Lawns

The Victa Classic Cut 18” Cut and Catch Lawn Mower is a great value petrol lawn mower, especially for less complicated lawns. It boasts an easy-to-start ignition system, a quiet Briggs & Stratton 500E Series OHV engine with a displacement of 144cc, and a dual swing-back blade with an 18-inch (46 cm) cutting width for robust and steady performance.

Victa's Classic Cut is a mulching lawn mower that is perfectly suited for medium to large lawns that are regularly maintained and don’t have overgrown grass. It also has a comfortable grip handlebar for ease of use and a durable plastic catcher for collecting grass clippings. The catcher has adjustable vents, allowing you to control the airflow and ensure optimal performance.

The Victa lawn mower comes with a 5-year limited warranty for both the chassis and consumer use, providing peace of mind for your purchase.

Pros

• Easy to start and use
• Large grass catcher
• 10 different cutting height adjustments
• Generous warranty

Cons

• Not ideal for overgrown lawns

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6. Rover Duracut 420 Lawn Mower

Best Petrol Mower for Manoeuvrability

Featuring an impressive 140cc Rover OHV 480 engine, the Rover Duracut 420 Lawn Mower is a great value mulching model that’s perfect for smaller lawn areas. With a 46 cm (18-inch) steel deck, it’s robust enough to handle harsh conditions of grass, and its four swing-back blades are perfect for slicing grass for a thorough cut. You also get a 45-litre grass catcher with a fill indicator and a cutting height adjustment in 10 positions within 12 - 70 mm.

Rover Duracut 420 also boasts 17.7 cm front wheels and 20 cm rear wheels, both smooth rolling ball bearing wheels, for smooth manoeuvrability. The mower offers clean catching performance and a mulching capability for organic fertilisation to your lawn, thanks to its mulch plug. There’s also a safe stop engine brake for controlled lawn mowing. It is easy to start and ergonomically designed.

Another impressive feature of the Rover Duracut 420 Lawn Mower is its warranty. The Duracut 420 is backed by Rover's famous 5+5 year engine and unit warranty for peace of mind. The petrol mower's ease of use, safety features, and warranty make it a solid choice for any homeowner.

Pros

• Good value for money
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver
• Mulching capabilities
• 45-litre grass catcher with fill indicator
• Smooth-rolling ball bearing wheels
• Safe stop engine brake
• Generous warranty

Cons

• Too small for larger lawn areas

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7. Baumr-AG 720SX 139cc Lawn Mower

Best Budget Petrol Mower

The Baumr-AG 720SX lawn mower is an ideal best-budget lawn mower for lawn owners with moderate lawn area. It features a 139cc 4-stroke engine that cuts through grass effortlessly. The petrol mower has a height between 25 and 75 cm in seven height adjustments that let you determine the level at which your lawn is mowed. It packs a 45-litre grass catcher and a 1-litre oil tank to ensure you can get more done in one round.

Baumr-AG's 41 cm cutting width is ideal for smaller lawns and offers excellent manoeuvrability around obstacles such as trees and stones left on the lawn for decoration. Weighing in at just 21 kg, it is also lightweight and user-friendly. Its large rear wheels and self-propelled functionality allow for effortless travel across your lawn, reducing the amount of physical exertion required.

There's not much to complain about if you're looking for a lawn mower that gets the job done. The 12-month warranted lawn mower offers no extra perks and functionality and is an ideal, compact option for anyone working on a budget.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight and maneuverable
• Easy to assemble
• Good for smaller lawns

Cons

• Limited features
• Not for large lawn areas

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8. Victa Commercial 19" 850 I/C

Best Professional Grade Petrol Mower

The Victa Commercial 19" 850 I/C Lawn Mower is one of Australia's most powerful self-propelled mowers. It's suitable for the toughest types of grass and large lawn areas. With a durable Die-Cast Alloy Chassis, a Commercial Warranty, and four-stroke blades, it takes much less time to get the job done. Even better, the mower is powered by a robust Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series 850 I/C engine.

Victa Commercial has 8-inch double ball bearing pro wheels that allow for a convenient mowing experience. Additionally, the self-propelled variable speed gearbox makes mowing effortless. You get features such as a foldable handle for compact transportation and storage and commercial-grade mulching for a much quicker job of natural lawn fertilisation.

This lawn mower comes with a 2-year domestic product and engine warranty and a 3-year limited chassis warranty.

Pros

• Foldable handle
• Robust engine
• Good warranty
• Commercial-grade mulching
• Powerful self-propelled mower
• Suitable for large lawn areas

Cons

• Pricey
• Can be heavy for some user

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9. Masport Contractor ST S21 3'n1 SP

Best Petrol Mower for Tough Terrains

The Masport 21" Contractor features a commercial-grade Kawasaki 179cc OHV Series FJ 180V IC 4-stroke engine and is designed for tough-going conditions and regular mowing. Its high arch heavy-duty steel chassis can withstand sandblasting and hard impacts and is combined with the 4-blade cutting system. The mower is self-propelled with variable speed control and features the GT Agility PRO 3 Speed Commercial drive system.

Masport's commercial mower also features a cutting width of 54 cm (21") and an adjustable cutting height range from 13mm to 60mm. It offers multiple cutting methods, including cut, catch, mulch, and rear discharge, making it adaptable to various lawn conditions. Masport features an open rear chute to allow great grass flow and catcher full performance in a hard 80-litre High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) catcher.

For extended use, you get an upturned handlebar with a soft grip for comfortable operation and can be locked in three positions. The lower handlebar is reinforced for added strength. Weighing in at 59.6 kg, the mower is the heaviest on our list. However, this weight contributes to its sturdiness, enabling it to endure regular use with ease.

Pros

• Commercial-grade engine
• 54 cm (21") cutting width
• Multiple cutting methods
• 80-litre catcher
• Sturdy construction
• High arch heavy-duty steel chassis
• Self-propelled with variable speed control

Cons

• Expensive
• Heavy (59.6 kg)
• Small bolts for grass chute

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Why Buy a Petrol Lawn Mower?

Because petrol is synonymous with power, petrol-powered lawn mowers continue to be popular. They are an excellent choice for dense lawn growth and tougher species, and they are mostly more durable than battery-powered and electric lawn mower models. The latter two, however, are ease-of-use and environmentally friendly.

Petrol lawn mowers also come in a wide range of models. With the same powerful engine, you can purchase a tiny, lightweight model, easy-start petrol mower, a self-propelled or manually powered mower, or even a riding mower. They have no cable, no charging time, and can operate as long as they have fuel, allowing them to go anywhere and work for as long as you require. This is important if you have a large lawn or a landscaping business and need to make sure the mower can go farther from an outlet and still work through many tasks.

But they are not without disadvantages. Petrol mowers require regular maintenance and fueling. They emit fumes during operation and require fossil fuels, both of which are harmful to the environment. They can also be very noisy during operation, and they are heavier to manage due to the engine weight.

How to Choose the Best Petrol Lawn Mower?

When purchasing a petrol lawn mower, consider several factors to ensure you choose the right one for your needs. We'll go over the critical deciding factors below.

#1 - Engine Type and Power

The engine is the most important part of a petrol lawn mower, so choosing one with the right power for your needs is important. Two-stroke engines are lighter and easier to start but require more maintenance and produce more emissions. Four-stroke engines are heavier and more expensive but are also more reliable and fuel-efficient.

#2 - Cutting Width and Height Adjustment

The cutting width determines how much grass the mower can cut in one pass. A wider cutting width means fewer passes and, thus, less time spent mowing. However, it's important to choose a cutting width that is appropriate for your lawn size. A mower with a cutting width that is too wide for your lawn will be difficult to maneuver.

Also, consider the height adjustment feature, which allows you to control the height of your grass. This is important for maintaining a healthy lawn, as different types of grass require different cutting heights.

#3 - Grass Collection Options

Some mowers come with a grass box or bag to collect clippings, while others offer a mulching feature that finely chops the grass and returns it to the lawn as a natural fertiliser.

Collecting grass clippings is important if you have a lot of trees or shrubs on your lawn, as it prevents the clippings from blocking sunlight and air circulation. Mulching is a great option if you want to improve the fertility of your soil and reduce your reliance on chemical fertilisers.

#4 - Wheel Size and Maneuverability

Larger wheels can make the mower easier to push, especially on uneven terrain. Some models also offer self-propelled features, which can be a real back-saver.

You'll want to choose a mower with self-propelled features if you have a large lawn. This will make it easier to push the mower around, even when it's full of grass clippings.

#5 - Additional Features

In addition to the essential features listed above, several additional features can make mowing more convenient and enjoyable. These features include:

• Electric start: This eliminates the need to pull a recoil cord to start the engine.
• Speed control: This allows you to adjust the speed of the mower to match your walking pace.
• Steering assist: This makes it easier to turn the mower, especially on uneven terrain.
• Headlights: This allows you to mow safely in low light conditions.

#6 - Budget

Petrol lawn mowers can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It's important to set a budget before you start shopping so that you don't overspend. Still, be sure to choose good value over cost. Considering this and the other factors above will guide you in choosing the best petrol mower for you and your lawn.

Maintenance Tips for Petrol Lawn Mowers

Proper maintenance is key to ensuring your petrol lawn mower lasts for many years. Here are some tips:

• Regular Cleaning: After each use, clean the mower deck and remove any grass clippings or debris. This not only keeps the mower looking good but also prevents rust and ensures optimal performance.
• Oil Change: Regularly check the oil level and change it as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Fresh oil is crucial for the smooth operation of the engine.
• Blade Care: Keep the mower blade sharp for a clean cut. Dull blades can tear the grass, leaving it with jagged edges that can turn brown.
• Air Filter Maintenance: Clean or replace the air filter regularly. A clogged air filter can reduce engine performance and increase fuel consumption.

Remember, always refer to your mower’s user manual for specific maintenance instructions and safety guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about petrol-powered lawn mowers in Australia.

10 Best Lawn Mowers in Australia (2023)

Find the best lawn mower in Australia. Whether self-propelled or pushed, powered by petrol or electricity, corded or cordless, unpowered or battery-powered.

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Summary

Choosing the right petrol lawn mower for your needs is important to ensure that you get the best value for your money. There are a number of factors to consider when making your decision, such as the size of your lawn, the type of grass you have, and your budget.

In this guide, we have reviewed the best petrol lawn mowers available in Australia based on a range of criteria, including performance, features, and value for money. We hope this has helped you narrow your choices and find the perfect petrol lawn mower for your needs.