Maintaining a small yard with hills presents a unique set of challenges. You need a mower that is not only maneuverable enough to handle tight spaces and inclines but also powerful enough to provide a clean cut without getting bogged down. The wrong equipment can turn a simple chore into a frustrating battle with cords, weight, and uneven terrain.
Fortunately, the market is filled with excellent options designed specifically for these conditions. From lightweight reel mowers to powerful cordless and robotic models, there is a perfect mower to make your hilly, compact lawn look pristine with minimal effort. This roundup will help you find the ideal machine to conquer your landscape.
The Best Lawn Mowers for Small, Hilly Lawns
- Greenworks 12 Amp 20″ Corded Lawn Mower
- American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch Push Reel Mower
- Husqvarna Automower® 315X Robotic Lawn Mower
- Great States 16-Inch Reel Mower with T-Style Handle
- BLACK+DECKER Cordless 3-in-1 Mower, Trimmer, and Edger
- BLACK+DECKER 13 Amp, 20-Inch Corded Lawn Mower
- Sun Joe 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower
- Greenworks 40V 14″ Cordless Lawn Mower
- Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
Greenworks 12 Amp 20″ Corded Lawn Mower
For small yards where an outlet is never too far, the Greenworks Corded Mower offers consistent, unlimited power. Its 12 Amp motor spins the blade at 3600 RPM, providing the reliable force needed to cut through thick grass on a slope without the worry of a battery dying mid-task. The 20-inch steel deck covers a good amount of ground with each pass, making quick work of compact lawns.
This mower provides excellent versatility with its 3-in-1 system, allowing you to mulch for nutrients, bag for a clean finish, or side-discharge. Features like the push-button start and single-lever height adjustment make operation straightforward, while the folding handle is a major advantage for those with limited storage space.
American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch Push Reel Mower
If your hilly yard is also small and you prefer a quiet, eco-friendly approach, this push reel mower is a superb choice. Weighing only 19 pounds, it is incredibly easy to push and maneuver on inclines, providing a fantastic workout while giving your grass a clean, scissor-like cut. It operates entirely without gas, oil, or electricity, producing zero emissions and minimal noise.
The four-blade reel design is effective on most turf grasses, and the cutting height is adjustable to suit your lawn’s needs. Its lightweight and simple mechanics mean there is very little maintenance required, making it a hassle-free option for flat or gently sloped terrains where grass is kept at a consistent height.
Husqvarna Automower® 315X Robotic Lawn Mower
For the ultimate in convenience on a sloped, small-to-medium yard, the Husqvarna Automower 315X handles the work for you. This robotic mower can navigate hills and automatically trims your grass a little at a time, resulting in a healthier lawn and freeing up your weekends. Its compact, 20.1-inch width allows it to easily pass through narrow spaces common in smaller yards.
Setting up the mower is a do-it-yourself project involving a boundary wire. Once installed, you can control its schedule via the built-in timer. For peace of mind, it includes built-in theft protection with an alarm and GPS tracking, ensuring your investment is secure while it maintains your property.
Great States 16-Inch Reel Mower with T-Style Handle
Another excellent manual option, the Great States Reel Mower, features a slightly wider 16-inch cutting path. Its heat-treated blades are designed to stay sharp, providing a precise cut that promotes lawn health. The T-style handle offers a comfortable, two-handed grip which can provide better control on uneven or hilly ground compared to a single-bar handle.
This mower is exceptionally easy to maneuver and store, requiring no fuel or cords. The ball-bearing 10-inch wheels roll smoothly, and the cutting height is adjustable to fit your grass type. It is a straightforward, reliable tool for anyone looking for a quiet and non-polluting way to manage a small, sloped lawn.
BLACK+DECKER Cordless 3-in-1 Mower, Trimmer, and Edger
This innovative tool is a space-saving powerhouse for small yards. The BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 system functions as a mower, a string trimmer, and an edger, eliminating the need for multiple tools. Its cordless, battery-powered design gives you the freedom to move around hills and obstacles without being tethered to an outlet.
Ideal for properties up to 750 square feet, it features an Automatic Feed Spool (AFS) that advances the trimmer line with the push of a button. The power drive transmission helps prevent the tool from bogging down in thicker grass, making it a capable and versatile choice for maintaining every part of your landscaped yard.
BLACK+DECKER 13 Amp, 20-Inch Corded Lawn Mower
This corded mower from BLACK+DECKER is built for power and endurance in small to medium-sized yards. The robust 13 Amp motor ensures you have more than enough strength to tackle thick grass and slight inclines without hesitation. The corded design guarantees unlimited runtime, so you can complete your mowing in one session without interruption.
It features a 20-inch cutting deck and a uniquely designed winged blade that is optimized for both cutting and collecting grass clippings efficiently. This is a straightforward, powerful electric mower for those who value consistent performance and don’t mind managing a power cord.
Sun Joe 14-Inch 28-Volt Cordless Push Lawn Mower
The Sun Joe Cordless Mower offers a great balance of cord-free convenience and sufficient power for small lawns. Its 28V lithium-ion battery provides enough charge to mow up to a quarter-acre, making it suitable for many compact properties with hills. The 14-inch cutting width is easy to handle and maneuver around garden beds and tight corners.
Weighing less than many larger mowers, it is easier to push on slopes. It comes with a large 10.6-gallon collection bag and offers three cutting height positions to customize your lawn’s look. The inclusion of a safety key adds an extra layer of security for households with children.
Greenworks 40V 14″ Cordless Lawn Mower
Part of the extensive Greenworks 40V ecosystem, this cordless mower is a smart choice if you already own or plan to own other compatible tools. The included 4.0Ah battery delivers up to 45 minutes of runtime, which is ample for most small yards. Its lightweight and compact 14-inch deck design makes it highly maneuverable on hills and in confined spaces.
Weighing 33 pounds, it is relatively easy to lift and control on an incline. The plastic deck resists rust and helps keep the overall weight down. This mower is a solid, entry-level battery-powered option that provides the convenience of cord-free operation without the maintenance of a gas engine.
Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
For small yards with hills that demand more power and a wider cut, the Greenworks 80V system stands out. The higher voltage translates to more torque, ensuring the mower can power through thicker grass and handle inclines with greater ease than many lower-voltage cordless models. The 21-inch steel deck allows you to cover more ground with fewer passes.
This mower combines the zero-emissions, quiet operation of a battery-powered machine with performance that rivals some gas mowers. It’s an ideal solution for those who need extra power for tougher conditions but want to avoid the hassle, noise, and maintenance associated with gasoline engines.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Lawn Mower for a Small Yard with Hills
When I first moved into a house with a small, sloped yard, I quickly learned that not all lawn mowers are created equal. My old, heavy push mower was a nightmare on the incline, and I knew I needed an upgrade. If you’re in the same boat, here’s what I found to be most important when picking out a machine for this specific job.
The first and most critical decision is the power source. For hills, I strongly recommend a self-propelled model. This feature means the mower does the hard work of moving itself forward, and you’re mostly just guiding it. This is a game-changer for stability and safety on a slope, as it prevents you from having to push a heavy machine uphill. Within self-propelled mowers, you have gas, electric corded, and battery-powered options. Gas mowers offer the most power and freedom of movement but require more maintenance. Battery-powered mowers are quiet, eco-friendly, and have come a long way in power, but you need to ensure the battery life is sufficient for your entire yard. Corded electric mowers are limited by the cord length and can be a tripping hazard, making them less ideal for uneven, hilly terrain.
Next, consider the mower’s weight and wheel design. A lighter mower is easier to maneuver and transport, but it needs to be heavy enough to feel stable. The wheels are a big deal. Look for large, rear wheels. Larger wheels roll over bumps and uneven ground much more easily than small ones, providing better traction and a smoother ride on hills. Some models even have all-wheel drive (AWD), which provides power to all four wheels for maximum traction on steep or slippery slopes. This is a premium feature, but if your hill is particularly challenging, it might be worth the investment.
Finally, think about the cutting deck and overall usability. For a small yard, a deck between 16 and 21 inches is usually perfect. It’s narrow enough to navigate around tight corners and garden beds but wide enough to get the job done efficiently. Also, look at the deck material; steel is durable but can rust, while polymer is lighter and rust-proof. Don’t forget about the height adjustment mechanism. A single-lever that adjusts all wheels at once is a huge time-saver compared to fiddling with four separate levers. Finding the right machine from a list of the 9 best lawn mowers for small yards with hills means balancing these factors—power, traction, and maneuverability—to make your weekly chore safe and simple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of mower is safest to use on a hill?
For safety on a hill, a self-propelled mower is essential. You should always mow across the slope, not up and down. This means you mow in lines that go side-to-side across the hill. This technique gives you much better stability and control, significantly reducing the risk of the mower tipping over or you losing your footing. A push mower requires you to exert force, which can lead to slips, especially when going uphill. The self-propelled function does the work for you, allowing you to focus on maintaining your balance.
Are battery-powered mowers powerful enough for hilly yards?
Yes, modern battery-powered mowers are absolutely capable of handling small, hilly yards. The technology has improved dramatically. Look for models with brushless motors, as they are more efficient and provide more torque, which is what you need for climbing. The key is to check the battery voltage (look for 40V or higher for good power) and the amp-hour (Ah) rating, which indicates runtime. For a small yard, even a moderately sized battery should be sufficient, but it’s always good to have a spare if your yard is at the upper end of “small.”
Is a wider cutting deck better for my yard?
Not necessarily. While a wider deck can cover more ground in a single pass, it can be harder to maneuver in a small yard with obstacles like trees, fences, and garden beds. For a small, hilly yard, I find a deck in the 18 to 20-inch range to be the sweet spot. It provides a good balance between cutting width and the agility needed to navigate tight spaces and changes in elevation comfortably. A very wide deck can feel cumbersome when you’re trying to turn on an incline.
How important is the wheel size on a mower for hills?
Wheel size is incredibly important for hilly terrain. Larger rear wheels, typically 8 inches or more, are a major advantage. They roll over bumps, dips, and thick grass much more easily than smaller wheels. This improved traction helps prevent the mower from getting stuck and makes the whole operation smoother and less jarring for you. When you’re looking at the 9 best lawn mowers for small yards with hills, pay close attention to the wheel specifications, as this is a feature that directly impacts performance on an incline.
Should I consider a riding mower for a small hilly yard?
I generally would not recommend a riding mower for a small, hilly yard. Their size makes them difficult to maneuver in tight spaces, and they can be dangerous on slopes due to a higher risk of tipping over. A walk-behind mower, especially a self-propelled one, offers far better control and safety on hills. Unless your “small” yard is actually a full acre with gentle slopes, a push or self-propelled walk-behind mower is the safer and more practical choice.