For more than 100 years, Craftsman has made outdoor tools that are ideal for homeowners. Since 1927, Craftsman has been making lawn mowers for homeowners across the USA. The brand is known for its “tougher than nails” philosophy, which has been true ever since the founder’s son, Raymond, joined the company in 1936. The company’s motto for “built to last” holds true to this day.
There’s nothing like a nice, clean lawn. But it takes a lot of work to maintain. From mowing and fertilizing to trimming and edging, a big yard can take up a lot of your time. That’s where Craftsman comes in. Whether you’re looking for a trimmer, edger or lawn mower, our reviews can help you decide.
Craftsman has become more sophisticated in recent years, with mowers featuring automatic blade height adjustment, mulching capabilities and self-propelled options, among other features. We look at key features, including specs and performance, as well as ease of use. We also review specifications and compare the features to similar models.
The 5 best Craftsman lawn mowers to buy in 2022 are:
1. Craftsman V60 CMCMW260P1
The Craftsman V60 push mower is one of the better-looking battery-powered lawn mowers we’ve seen. The 21-inch cutting deck and metal construction make it a durable performer. The 60-volt motor provides enough power for medium-sized lawns, and it’s quiet enough to use around people. The mower is well-balanced and can handle inclines of up to 20 percent. It’s also fairly responsive in more challenging conditions.
The mower is reasonably easy to use, although its multi-position handle requires a bit of thinking to figure out which position to use depending on the incline. It handles side discharge well, although we had some trouble with the mulching attachment, which was difficult to disengage. The mower’s four-position height adjustment isn’t as precise as some of the competition; it seems to get stuck at multiple heights.
This mower isn’t perfect. Its bag catcher is difficult to remove and empty, and the handle is awkward to grip, and the plastic body picks up a lot of debris, especially close to the wheels. But overall, the V60 offers a nice combination of power, cutting ability, lightweight construction, and portability. On the plus side, the mower has a 4-year limited warranty, including 2 years of free battery maintenance. The service representative we spoke with was friendly and helpful.
Features We Like
- Quick Fold to 45° for Compact Storage
- 2-in-1 Mowing System to Mulch, Bag or Side Discharge
- Adjustable Cutting Height from 1-1/2 in. to 4 in.
- 21 in. Steel Deck for Durability and Power
- Comfortable 15 in. Handle Height
- Energy Efficient and CARB Compliant
| PROS | CONS |
| Smart power management | Expensive |
| Long battery life | |
| 2-speed power switch | |
| Professional grade | |
| Excellent 360-degree side handle | |
| Maximum weight capacity |
2. Craftsman M105
The Craftsman M105 21-inch gas string trimmer/shredder comes with an 18-volt battery, so it’s more portable than its corded counterparts. The trimmer’s 21-inch cutting deck provides more than enough cutting power, and its dual-point cutting height adjustment lets you dial in the ideal height for trimming around shrubs or delicate flower beds. Its 140cc engine delivers plenty of power and torque, and it handles a variety of cutting tasks with ease.
The side-discharge feature allows you to freely operate around landscaping borders while mulching, and the 6-position adjustable cutting height helps you trim around bushes and landscaping without damaging your grass. The trimmer’s compact size makes it a good choice for small yards, and it weighs just over 40 pounds, so it’s lighter and easy to carry than trimmers with similar cutting decks. It’s powered by a 3.5-amp-hour battery that can power the trimmer for up to 35 minutes on one charge, and the trimmer has a charging indicator light so you know when it needs to be plugged in. The trimmer comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
Features We Like
- Easy Start Engine
- 3 in 1 Capability
- 21 Inch Cutting Deck
- Dual Lever Adjustable Cutting Height
- ABS Plastic Wheels
| PROS | CONS |
| Durable, with lightweight design | Small, but sturdy |
| Strong, rugged construction | Muzzle rotates 360 degrees, so may not line up with gun port on some rifles |
| Good value for price | Expensive |
| Reliable performance |
3. Craftsman M310
The Craftsman M310 3-in-1, side discharge, rear discharge, and mulching mower is our best budget pick because it provides plenty of power, an easy-to-operate design, and an earlier start/stop time than most corded mowers—making it well-suited for average-sized yards. The mower is self-propelled, which we found made it easy to maneuver around our 2.5-acre property. The M310 has a generous 3.5-inch cutting deck width, which is large enough to tackle our yard, but small enough to remain maneuverable on most yards.
The mower also has 6 height settings that make it easy to adjust the mower to the height of your grass, and the standard 25-inch cutting deck width makes it easy to mow around obstacles. The mower also has a 163cc Briggs & Stratton engine with 12.5 hp, 5.5-amp output. The motor is powerful enough to power through most yards, but light enough (and quiet enough) to operate all day long. It is best to use the mower with 6 or fewer height settings, as the mower struggles at higher settings, but it’s easily adjusted for single or multiple mowing tasks. The mower has a 23-inch cutting width, which means it can tackle most medium-sized yards, but not larger ones. The cutting height can be lowered by 1 inch increments from 3.5 to 1.5 inches. The mower has a 25-inch deck width, and is 22.5 inches wide when folded for storage. The mower also has a convenient, self-propelling “Ready Start” mechanism, so it’s just a matter of pulling the lever to begin mowing, no pushing or pulling required.
Features We Like
- 3 In 1: Side Discharge, Rear Discharge, and Mulching
- High Performance Engine
- Easy to Use
- Extra Large Collection Bag
- Bright LED Headlight
- Easy-to-Access Side
- Heavy Duty Steel Blades
- 3-Year Limited Warranty
| PROS | CONS |
| Lightweight | No grip |
| Ergonomic | Small battery |
| Quiet | |
| Easy to use | |
| Assembly time |
4. Craftsman M215
The Craftsman M215 is a 21-inch push mower with a powerful 159cc engine, 7-inch cutting deck, and 30-inch front wheels. It stood out from other push mowers we tested for this guide thanks to its range of features, including responsive steering and a large front wheel that makes it easy to maneuver. The M215 also has both mulching and side-discharge capabilities, and it boasts 22 inches of cut across 3 different cutting positions.
The mower even self-propels, and the cut height can be varied from 1/8 to 3/8 inch. The mower is self-propelled, and it has a variable speed control. It has a 15-inch cutting path, and its axle folds up for easy storage. Do keep in mind that it’s a bit of a heavier unit than other push mowers, and we found that it struggled in especially thick grass. The Craftsman M215 is a top contender for our pick thanks to its features and solid performance.
Best of all, it has mulching capabilities, which means that you can chop up finely cut grass clippings and blow them back into your garden. You’ll have plenty of power for yard cleanup in the summer months.
Features We Like
- Fully Assembled Single Stage Gas Engine
- Front Wheel Drive for Easy 360 Degree Maneuvering
- Variable Speed Control
- Self Propelled
- 3 in 1 Capability
- Durable, Lightweight, and Easy to Turn
- Low-Maintenance
| PROS | CONS |
| Powerful | Higher price point |
| Lightweight | |
| Easy to maneuver | |
| Ergonomic | |
| Great design |
5. Craftsman M275
The Craftsman 7.5 Amp 21-Inch 3-In-1 Gas Self-Propelled Walk Mower is a reasonably priced gas mower that works well on all types of grass. It’s relatively lightweight, and the self-propelled feature makes it both easier and quicker to mow than push mowers. Its self-propelled feature is also good on uneven terrain, and it’s also well-balanced, so it doesn’t tip over as easily.
The mower has 6 height settings, and its 21-inch cutting width is wide but not excessive. The height adjustment controls are easy to use, and the 21-inch cutting width means you can cut longer grass without choking the mower. The self-propelled feature works as promised, and the 3-in-1 functionality means you can do mulching or side-discharge, but it’s best with fairly short grass.
Despite its affordable price, the Craftsman M275 is a well-built mower that is able to mow small to medium-sized yards with ease. The convenient cruise control, soft start system, and electric start make this mower simple to start and operate, making it ideal for use in homes or rental properties.
Additionally, unlike some mowers at this price point, the M275 has a 2-year limited warranty. However, the Briggs & Stratton engine in the M275 may not be powerful enough for larger yards, and a little more horsepower would have been preferred.
Features We Like
- Less Effort – The mower’s self-propelled motor allows you to move about the yard with minimal effort
- Variety – Side discharge, rear discharge, and mulching capabilities allow you to adapt this machine to meet your lawn care needs
- Easy Operation – The mower’s 2-cylinder engine lets you mow your yard with ease
- imple Assembly – With only a few simple steps, your mower is ready for use
- Strong & Durable – The mower’s 21″ steel stamped deck is durable and built to withstand tough use
| PROS | CONS |
| Powerful, heavy-duty 4.0-amp motor | Heavy |
| Good speed | |
| Excellent balance | |
| Easy to maintain | |
| Quiet |
Guide: Buying the right Craftsman lawnmower model
There are a few things to consider when buying a Craftsman lawn mower. So that you too can find the right Craftsman lawn mower, we have summarized the most important purchase criteria for you here.
- Cutting width
The cutting width of the lawn mower is an important purchase criterion. It should be large enough to mow larger areas. So make sure that the Craftsman lawn mower meets your individual needs.
- Height adjustment
Height adjustment is an important feature when buying a lawn mower. It makes it possible to adjust the cutting height to the current state of the turf. Some models have several levels, others can only be fixed at a certain height. When making your choice, you should make sure that the desired cutting height can actually be achieved with the lawnmower. Especially for models without several stages, it is advisable to check the maximum collection container diameter before buying. This ensures that tall grass can also be shortened without any problems.
- Catch basket
When buying a Craftsman lawn mower, you should pay attention to the grass catcher. This should be large enough to hold several liters of grass clippings. In addition, the basket should be firmly connected to the frame so that it does not slip.
- Wheels
When buying a Craftsman lawn mower, pay attention to the wheels. The tires should be made of high quality material to ensure a long service life. It is also important that the tires are well profiled and therefore have grip even in wet weather. You should also make sure that the wheels are smooth-running and can be moved easily.
- Handles
The handles should fit comfortably in the hand and be adjustable. You should also pay attention to a non-slip surface so that you can hold the lawn mower securely even when it is wet.
FAQ
The blade should be sharpened every 25 to 30 hours of mowing.
With a new Craftsman lawn mower, the first 10-15 minutes of straight cutting is required for the mower to run well.
Conclusion
Simply mowing the lawn can make a home feel fresh and clean. But if you have a lawn that’s larger or uneven, it can require a lot of extra effort. That’s where lawn mowers come into play. They come in many styles, from small electric push mowers to large gas-powered riding mowers. These Craftsman Lawn Mowers are best-selling on the market and review each model pair by pair.