Best Lawn Mowers for Mowing Tall Grass: Cutting Height Compared

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Updated 20 October 2026 | Author: Ken, bestelectriclawnmower.org

The best lawn mowers for mowing tall grass are the ones whose top cutting height is high enough to take the growth down without removing too much of the leaf blade at once. Ten electric and battery mowers in our catalog record for this keyword state a top height or a height range, and the top height is the first figure to compare. This guide uses those listed heights, applies a one-third rule from a University of Florida guide, and says plainly what the listings do not show about cutting tall grass.

Quick answer

• Compare the top cutting height first. The listed top heights run from 2.2 inches to 4 inches, and the two WORX 40V 17-inch units give the highest figures.
• Apply the one-third rule to the top height. A mower set to H inches can take down grass up to 1.5 times H in one pass, and taller grass needs more than one pass.
• Choose the power source second. Three mowers are corded, six battery mowers ship with packs, and the robot mower’s pack is not stated.
• No listing reports a tall-grass test, so every figure here is a listed height or a calculation from one.

Start with the top cutting height

Top cutting height is the one spec that tells you how much grass a mower can take down in a pass, so it comes first. The listings give it in inches, in centimeters, or as a range with a bottom setting. The table below uses the top figure from each listing. Where two figures disagree, the table shows both.

Mower	Top cutting height	Bottom cutting height
WORX WG745, 40V 17-inch	4 inches	1.5 inches
WORX WG743, 40V 17-inch	4 inches	1.5 inches
ECOVACS robot mower	3.6 inches	1.2 inches
CRAFTSMAN V20 20-inch	3.5 inches	1.5 inches
WORX WG733.1, 20V 14-inch	3 inches	1 inch
WORX WG735, 40V 14-inch	3 inches	0.8 inches
BILT HARD corded 15-inch	3 inches	1 inch
Litheli 13-inch	3 inches in the table, 2.5 inches in a bullet	1 inch in the bullets
DORTALA corded 14-inch	2.5 inches	1 inch
Hoteche corded 12.6-inch	2.6 inches in the table, 2.2 inches in a bullet	1.1 inches in the table

The 4-inch figure is the highest in this set, and the two 17-inch WORX units share it. The 3.6-inch robot mower is next, followed by the 3.5-inch CRAFTSMAN. Three units sit at 3 inches. The corded DORTALA and the two Hoteche figures are the lowest, and the Litheli is in the middle, depending on which of its two figures you use.

The gap between the highest top height and the lowest figure in the table is 1.5 inches. 4 minus 2.5 equals 1.5, which is the difference between the 17-inch WORX units and the DORTALA. That gap is real when the grass is long, because a mower that stops at 2.5 inches takes less grass down in one pass than one that stops at 4 inches.

Two listings state two top heights each, and this guide reports both. The Litheli title and table say 3 inches, but its bullets say 2.5 inches. The Hoteche table says 2.6 inches, but its bullets describe 2.2 inches as the top setting, with 1 inch, 1.6 inches and 2.2 inches as the three positions. A buyer who needs a single number should confirm it on the product page.

The one-third rule turns height into a pass plan

The University of Florida IFAS EDIS guide on homeowner lawn care says never to remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at one time. It also says that if you miss a scheduled mowing, you should raise the mower height and bring the grass back down gradually over the next few mowings. Both points apply directly to tall grass, and both can be turned into a simple calculation.

If the mower is set to a cut height C, the tallest grass you can take down to C without breaking the one-third rule is 1.5 times C. The math is short. A grass height H gives a cut that removes (H minus C) divided by H of the blade, and that must be no more than one-third. Solving for H gives H of 1.5 times C. So a mower set to 4 inches can take grass up to 6 inches in one pass, and a mower set to 3 inches can take grass up to 4.5 inches.

Apply that to the table above and the pattern is clear. 4 times 1.5 is 6, so the two WORX 40V 17-inch units can take grass up to 6 inches in one pass at their top setting. 3.6 times 1.5 is 5.4, so the robot mower can take grass up to 5.4 inches. 3.5 times 1.5 is 5.25, so the CRAFTSMAN can take grass up to 5.25 inches. Three units at 3 inches take grass up to 4.5 inches. The corded DORTALA at 2.5 inches takes grass up to 3.75 inches, because 2.5 times 1.5 is 3.75.

Taller grass than that needs a second pass. Cut at the top setting first, then lower the deck one step and cut again, keeping each pass within the one-third limit for the height it is cutting. That is the gradual approach the UF guide describes, and it applies the one-third limit to every pass rather than to the whole stand at once.

This is a rule applied to a listed height, not a test. Neither the UF guide nor any listing in this set reports how a mower performs in tall grass, so the figures above show what the rule allows, not what a given mower will do.

Cutting width and the number of passes

Cutting width sets how much ground each pass covers, and it is a separate question from height. The CRAFTSMAN V20 gives a 20-inch deck, the widest here. The WORX 40V 17-inch units state a 16-inch cut. The WORX 20V unit states 13 inches, the WORX 40V 14-inch unit states 14 inches, and the Litheli states 13 inches. The DORTALA states 14 inches, and the BILT HARD states 15 inches. The Hoteche states 32 centimeters, which the listing matches to a 12.6-inch cut in its bullets. The robot mower states an 8.66-inch cutting width, the narrowest deck in this set.

The width ratio is easy to check. 20 divided by 16 is 1.25, so the CRAFTSMAN deck covers about a quarter more width per pass than the 16-inch WORX units. On a long, wide lawn, that difference counts, but it does not change the height rule. A wide deck that is set too low still leaves the one-third limit in force.

A narrow deck is not always the wrong choice. The robot mower’s 8.66-inch deck fits under narrow spaces, and the ECOVACS listing describes a body that passes through lawn corridors as slim as 0.8 meters. A wide deck on a tight lawn may turn in many small passes, so the width should follow the shape of the lawn as well as its grass height.

Read the width together with the height. A tall, wide deck such as the CRAFTSMAN’s 20-inch deck at 3.5 inches covers the most ground per pass at the one-third limit of 5.25 inches. A narrow deck at a lower height takes less grass per pass, and it may need more passes across the same lawn.

Power: packs, cords and the robot

The power source decides how you plan the cut. Three units are corded by their titles and bullets: the BILT HARD 15-inch, the Hoteche 12.6-inch and the DORTALA 14-inch. The BILT HARD specification table says battery powered, which we flag below. Their cords must reach the lawn, and a long cord adds its own handling step. The corded group tops out at 3 inches in the BILT HARD listing, so a corded mower takes grass up to 4.5 inches in one pass at most under the rule.

The battery group is larger. The WORX WG733.1 includes one 5.0Ah pack and a 2.0A charger. The WORX WG743 and WG745 each include two 4.0Ah packs, and the WG735 includes two 4.0Ah packs with a 2.0A charger. The CRAFTSMAN includes two 5.0Ah packs and two chargers, and the Litheli includes one 4.0Ah pack. 4.0 plus 4.0 equals 8.0 amp-hours for each WORX 40V pair, and 5.0 plus 5.0 equals 10.0 amp-hours for the CRAFTSMAN pair. 10.0 divided by 8.0 is 1.25, so the CRAFTSMAN carries a quarter more total charge than a WORX 40V pair.

Battery runtime is listed unevenly. The CRAFTSMAN listing says up to 50 minutes, and the WG743 specification table gives an average battery life of 20 minutes. The Litheli bullets give 15 minutes of continuous work, and that figure does not match the 4.0Ah pack named in its title. We report each figure with its source, and we do not combine them into a ranking.

The ECOVACS robot mower is a different category. It needs no perimeter wire, and its listing describes LiDAR navigation, obstacle detection and a built-in edge trimmer. Its listing says it is battery powered, but it does not state a pack size or a runtime in minutes. Its top height of 3.6 inches is a listed figure, and the listing does not say how it handles grass taller than that. Do not assume it will manage a long first cut.

Weight and the push

Weight matters on a slope and on a long lawn, and it changes with the power source. The WORX WG745 weighs 39.7 pounds in its specification table, and the WORX WG733.1 weighs 21.7 pounds. 39.7 minus 21.7 equals 18, so the 40V 17-inch unit is 18 pounds heavier than the 20V 14-inch unit. The CRAFTSMAN is the heaviest unit here at 47.9 pounds, and the DORTALA is the lightest corded unit at 15.5 pounds.

The Hoteche listing gives two weights that do not match. Its bullets say 16 pounds, while its specification table gives 7.95 kilograms, and the listing does not reconcile them. The Litheli listing gives 24 pounds and the WG735 gives 27.7 pounds. The BILT HARD listing gives 21 pounds net in a bullet and no weight in its table. The ECOVACS listing gives no weight at all.

Weight and height work against each other. A heavier deck is more stable when you push through thick grass, but it is harder to lift over a curb or to walk up a slope. A lighter mower is easier to push, but its deck and wheels may not be built for the same load. The listings give weight but not stability data, so do not read a heavier number as a sign of better tall-grass cutting.

Bags add weight too. The Hoteche lists a 30-liter bag, the DORTALA a 9.3-gallon box, the BILT HARD a 9.2-gallon bag and the Litheli an 8-gallon bag. A full bag of tall-grass clippings is heavy, so consider how often you will empty it. The listings do not say how a bag performs when it is filled with long grass.

Safety when you cut tall grass

Tall grass hides what is under it, and the UF/IFAS lawn mower guidance says to clear the lawn of debris that a mower could throw, such as sticks and pine cones, and to mow only when the grass is dry. The UF guide on mowing also says not to mow wet grass, because it can be dangerous if you slip and tough on the mower. Those points matter more with tall grass, because a long stand of growth can hide a stick or a stone until the blade meets it.

Wear eye and ear protection and closed-toe shoes. The UF/IFAS guidance says eye and ear protection are always a good idea for mowing, and the UF mowing guide says to wear heavy, closed-toe shoes and eye protection. The Virginia Tech guide gives a 50-foot radius for bystanders, children and pets when you run power tools, and the UF guide says to keep children out of the yard while you mow.

Keep the blade sharp. The UF guide says a dull mower tears the leaf blade instead of slicing it, and it says rotary mower blades should be sharpened and balanced. Check the blade before a long first cut, because a dull blade tears the leaf instead of slicing it.

Battery packs need their own care. The U.S. EPA says used lithium-ion batteries should not go in household garbage or recycling bins. It says to tape the battery terminals and place each battery in its own plastic bag, because even used batteries can have enough energy to injure or start a fire. Several battery mowers in this set show a charge indicator on the unit, and the WORX WG745 and WG743 listings both name one. Use it to plan the job before the pack runs low, rather than mid-pass. For a closer look at charging trouble, see our lawn mower battery not charging post.

When a tall-grass mower is the wrong pick

A mower with the highest top height is not always the right buy. If your lawn is short most of the year and needs a tall first cut only once in spring, a mower with a 3-inch top height will take more passes for that cut, and the one-third rule tells you how many. The extra 1 inch of top height on the 40V 17-inch units matters most when the grass is far taller than a 3-inch mower’s limit of 4.5 inches.

A corded mower suits a buyer with an outlet within reach of the lawn. The extension cord adds a handling step, and the BILT HARD and DORTALA listings put the corded group’s top heights at 3 and 2.5 inches. For a corded unit with a long cord run, see our extension cord for electric lawn mower post.

A robot mower suits a buyer who wants to cut regularly rather than once in a long while. Its listing describes automatic operation, and the top height of 3.6 inches is a listed figure. A robot that cuts often keeps the grass short, which is a different job from taking down a long stand in one visit.

For a battery mower that bags its clippings, see our small electric lawn mower with bag post. For a broader look at battery mowers, see our pros and cons of battery powered lawn mowers post.

How we chose

We started from the ten electric and battery mowers in our catalog record for this keyword, as the record stood on 20 October 2026. We did not add or drop any item from the set, and we set aside two items that are not mowers. Each card uses the listing’s own bullets and specifications, and it names a skip-if condition. We did not use price, availability or customer feedback data when choosing.

We compared on one listed figure, the top cutting height, because it decides how much grass a mower can take down in one pass under the one-third rule. We did not rank on performance in tall grass, because no listing reports it. Cutting width, weight and power source are reported alongside, not used to choose a winner.

Each mower had to be an electric, corded or battery mower and state a cutting height. Where a listing gives two heights, the card and the table report both. Where a listing gives a runtime figure, the card names the figure as stated and does not treat it as tested.

What we could not verify

• Performance in tall grass. No listing reports how any mower cuts grass taller than its top setting, so the one-third figures are a rule applied to listed heights.
• Noise level comparisons. The WG743 bullet gives 89 decibels and the Hoteche bullet gives under 75 decibels, but the listings state no test method for either figure.
• Battery runtime under load. The CRAFTSMAN gives up to 50 minutes, the WG743 gives an average life of 20 minutes, and the Litheli gives 15 minutes in a bullet. These are listing figures under unknown conditions.
• Height settings on the WG743. Its bullets describe seven positions from 1.5 inches to 4 inches, while its specification table gives six positions.
• Weight on the Hoteche and Litheli listings. The Hoteche gives 16 pounds in a bullet and 7.95 kilograms in its table, and the Litheli gives 24 pounds without a second figure to check it against.
• Power source on the BILT HARD listing. The title says corded electric, while the specification table says battery powered. We list it with the corded units and flag the conflict.
• Robot mower battery and runtime. The ECOVACS listing gives no pack size and no runtime in minutes.
• Warranty terms. Only the Litheli bullets state one, three years for the machine and two years for the battery. The other listings state no term in the data we used.

Listings without a card

• A corded charger for a Sun Joe electric mower, from Mrgru. It is an accessory for a mower model, not a mower, so it does not fit a mower roundup.
• A 14-inch push reel mower from EAGWON. Its title says cordless, but its specifications list hand power and say no motor or batteries are needed, so it sits outside an electric or battery roundup.

FAQ

Can any mower here take tall grass down in one pass?

The listings state top cutting heights of up to 4 inches. Under the one-third rule, a 4-inch setting can take grass up to about 6 inches in one pass. Taller grass needs more passes. No listing reports a tall-grass result, so treat the 6-inch figure as a rule-based estimate.

Should I cut very tall grass short in one pass?

No. The UF/IFAS guide says never to remove more than one-third of the leaf blade at one time. If the grass is well over the limit, set the mower to a higher height, cut, then lower it a step at a time over the next mowings.

Is a robot mower a good choice for long grass?

The ECOVACS listing gives a top height of 3.6 inches, which the one-third rule turns into about 5.4 inches in one pass. Its listing describes obstacle detection and edge trimming, but it does not describe how the robot handles grass taller than its top height.

Do corded mowers reach tall grass as well as battery ones?

Under the rule, the corded group takes less grass per pass. The BILT HARD tops out at 3 inches, which allows about 4.5 inches in one pass, and the DORTALA tops out at 2.5 inches, which allows about 3.75 inches. The battery WORX 40V units allow about 6 inches. These are rule-based figures, not tests.

Do I need a bag for tall grass clippings?

Bagging helps keep a lawn tidy after a long first cut, but a full bag is heavy. Several listings describe bagging or mulching, and they give bag sizes for the Hoteche, the DORTALA, the BILT HARD and the Litheli. None of the listings says how a bag performs with long, wet or dense clippings, so check the bag size against the amount of grass you expect to take down.

Bottom line

Start with the top cutting height, apply the one-third rule to find how much grass each mower can take down in one pass, and then choose the power source you can keep charged or plugged in. Treat any used battery as hazardous waste when its life ends.

Sources

• University of Florida IFAS EDIS, Homeowner Best Management Practices for the Home Lawn (ENH979/EP236): one-third leaf-blade rule, gradual height reduction, wet mowing, footwear and eye protection, blade sharpness, opened 20 October 2026
• University of Florida IFAS Extension, Lawn Mower Care and Safety: debris clearing, dry-grass mowing, eye and ear protection, keeping children out, opened 20 October 2026
• Virginia Tech Extension, Powered Hand Tools Safety: Lawn Care Training Guide: 50-foot bystander radius and eye and ear protection for power tools, opened 20 October 2026
• U.S. EPA, Used Lithium-Ion Batteries: disposal, terminal taping, separate bags and fire risk, opened 20 October 2026