Electric lawn mower: how much electricity it uses, cost in Chilean pesos and whether it beats a petrol mower

A 1,200 W electric lawn mower, such as the Black+Decker GR1000 sold in Chile, costs about CLP 153 per half-hour mow, with power at CLP 255.27 per kWh (CGE's BT1 residential rate in Chile since October 1, 2026). A petrol mower with an engine like the Honda GCV170 can burn up to 1.2 litres per hour: for the same mow, that is up to CLP 947 in fuel, with 93-octane petrol at around CLP 1,580 per litre. And a 36 V battery mower costs about CLP 43 to recharge its two batteries.

With spring, grass grows back and mowing becomes a weekly job. This guide calculates how much electricity an electric lawn mower uses, what the season costs, how it compares with battery and petrol mowers in pesos and emissions, and which one suits each lawn size.

The power rating is on the spec sheet and on the unit's label. In Chilean stores, corded electric mowers range from about 1,000 to 1,600 W. The Black+Decker GR1000 sold by Easy is rated at 1,200 W with a 32 cm cutting width; the Einhell GC-EM 1600/37 at 1,600 W, and the store recommends it for lawns of up to 700 m². Sodimac sells Bauker models of 1,200 W and 32 cm and of 1,600 W.

Among cordless models, the Einhell GP-CM 36/47 S HW Li runs on two 18 V, 4.0 Ah batteries, that is, 36 V and about 144 Wh of stored energy. Household petrol mowers use engines of about 140 to 170 cc; according to Honda, its 166 cc GCV170 engine burns 1.2 litres per hour at continuous rated output and has a 0.9-litre tank.

Sources: Easy and Honda spec sheets, checked on November 1, 2026. Retail prices change with promotions. Battery energy is Energía Futura's calculation: 2 times 18 V times 4 Ah.

For comparison we use a lawn of about 200 m² mowed in half an hour, once a week. The electric mower's cost is power times time times the price per kWh. For the petrol mower we use Honda's rated consumption, which is a ceiling: with the engine at partial load, real consumption is lower.

Energía Futura calculations with power at CLP 255.27 per kWh and 93-octane petrol at CLP 1,579 per litre (national average reported for the week of October 29 to November 4, 2026, based on Enap and CNE data). The battery recharge comes to about 0.17 kWh including charger losses. It does not include oil or maintenance for the petrol engine.

The price per kWh varies by municipality; the guide to the price per kWh in Chile by city and utility shows the differences. Even with a kWh 20% more expensive, the electric mower still costs five times less per mow than the petrol mower's consumption ceiling.

In central Chile, grass grows strongly from October to March. With a weekly mow, that is about 24 mows per season. The difference between technologies shows up when the months are added together.

Energía Futura calculations. Petrol emissions use the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) factor: 8,887 grams of CO2 per gallon, about 2.35 kg per litre. Electric mowers emit nothing in the garden; their emissions depend on the power mix, which in Chile is mostly renewable.

CO2 is not the only problem with small engines. According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), running a commercial petrol lawn mower for one hour emits as much smog-forming pollution as driving a new car about 300 miles, around 480 km. That is why California banned the sale of new garden equipment with small combustion engines from 2024.

The corded electric lawn mower is the cheapest to buy and to run. It suits small and medium lawns, up to about 500 to 700 m², with a socket nearby. Its limit is the cord: you have to manage it so you do not cut it, and use a heavy-gauge outdoor extension cord.

The battery mower costs even less per mow and has no cord, but it is more expensive to buy, especially if the batteries are not included. Its limit is runtime: manufacturers such as Einhell recommend their 36 V models with two 3 Ah batteries for lawns of up to about 400 m² per charge. If you already own batteries of the same brand for other tools, the savings are greater.

The petrol mower makes sense on large plots, farms or places without electricity. It is the most expensive to run, the noisiest and the most polluting, and it also needs oil, spark plug and filter changes. Anyone weighing a generator to have electricity on a plot can check how much a home generator uses and what it costs to run.

• Power for your grass: 1,000 to 1,200 W is enough for a small lawn of fine grass; 1,400 to 1,600 W suits thicker grass or medium lawns.
• Cutting width: 32 cm is for small lawns; 37 to 47 cm for medium lawns, because it reduces passes and running time.
• Grass box: a larger bag avoids stopping to empty it.
• Outdoor extension cord: with a gauge suited to the power and the plug protected from moisture.
• For battery models, look at the Ah: a 4 Ah battery lasts longer than a 2 Ah one and, if it fits other tools of the same brand, it gets more use.
• Safety: unplug before cleaning the blade and do not mow wet grass.

• Mow more often and higher: tall grass puts more load on the motor and lengthens the job.
• Keep the blade sharp: it cuts in less time and leaves the grass healthier.
• Mow when the grass is dry: wet grass clumps and forces you to go over it again.
• Leave the clippings on the lawn (mulching) if the model allows it: it adds nutrients and reduces watering.
• Water at dawn or dusk: if irrigation uses a pump, the guide to how much electricity a water pump uses helps calculate that cost.

How much electricity does an electric lawn mower use?

A 1,200 W mower uses 0.6 kWh in half an hour, about CLP 153 with power at CLP 255.27 per kWh. A 1,600 W mower costs about CLP 204 for the same time.

Which is cheaper, an electric or a petrol lawn mower?

The electric one. For a half-hour mow, a 1,200 W mower costs about CLP 153 in electricity; a petrol mower with a 166 cc engine can spend up to CLP 947 on fuel, plus oil and maintenance.

How many square metres can a battery mower cut?

It depends on the batteries. Einhell recommends its 36 V models with two 3 Ah batteries for lawns of up to about 400 m²; with 4 Ah batteries, the area increases.

How much does a petrol lawn mower pollute?

Each litre of petrol emits about 2.35 kg of CO2, according to the EPA. In addition, CARB estimates that one hour of a commercial petrol mower emits as much smog as driving a new car about 480 km.

What power of electric mower do I need?

For a lawn of up to about 200 m², a 1,000 to 1,200 W mower with a 32 cm cut is enough. For lawns of 300 to 700 m², a 1,400 to 1,600 W mower with a wider cut is a better fit.