Baumr-AG petrol push lawn mower with catcher

Petrol Mower Buying Guide: Push vs Self-Propelled and What Size Deck You Need

July 8, 2026

Push or self-propelled, and what deck size the two questions that actually determine whether a mower suits your yard. Here's how to answer them properly instead of guessing.

Push vs self-propelled

A push mower is fine for small, flat yards where you're not covering much ground lighter, cheaper, and simpler to maintain. Once the yard gets larger or has any slope, a self-propelled mower earns its keep fast; the drive system does the work of moving the mower forward, so you're steering and guiding rather than pushing dead weight, which matters a lot over an hour of mowing.

Deck size: bigger isn't always better

A 16–17" deck suits smaller, suburban blocks and yards with garden beds and obstacles to mow around more manoeuvrable in tight spaces. An 18"+ deck covers more ground per pass, which pays off on larger open lawns, but becomes a hassle to manoeuvre around tight garden edges and narrow side access.

Other things worth checking

Cutting height range. More height settings give you flexibility for different seasons taller in dry summer months, shorter in cooler growing periods.
Catcher size. A larger catcher means fewer stops to empty it on a big lawn worth prioritising if your yard is on the larger side.
Steel vs poly deck. Steel decks are tougher and handle occasional debris and rough ground better than poly, at a small weight penalty.

Rough sizing guide

Small suburban block, flat, under 300m²: 16–17" push mower. Medium yard, 300–600m², or any slope: 17–18" self-propelled. Larger blocks over 600m²: 18"+ self-propelled with a bigger catcher.