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Being honest up front: there is essentially no corded or cordless electric lawn mower sold new today that reliably lists at $100. The closest is Sun Joe’s compact MJ401E, which has been spotted as low as $79.84 — genuinely near the target. Below that, the realistic sub-$100 tier is a manual push reel mower, not an electric one, so this list covers both: the cheapest real electric options and the honest reel-mower alternative.
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sun Joe MJ401E (14-Inch, 12-Amp Corded) | $79.84-$110 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Manual Reel Mower | $72-$90 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | Greenworks 25012 (18-Inch, 12-Amp Corded) | $154 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Greenworks 25022 (20-Inch, 12-Amp Corded) | $179 | Amazon |
| 5 | Great States 415-16 Reel Mower | $179.99 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | BLACK+DECKER BEMW213 (20-Inch, 13-Amp Corded) | $259.99 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
Sun Joe MJ401E (14-Inch, 12-Amp Corded)
A compact corded electric mower that’s the closest thing to a genuine sub-$100 electric mower currently on the market.
- 14-inch cutting width, 12-amp motor
- 3-position height adjustment
- 10.6-gallon collection bag
- Lightweight, ~29 lbs
- Actually reaches the sub-$100 target at its lower observed price
- Lightweight enough for a small yard without much effort
- 14-inch deck means more passes on anything beyond a small lawn
American Lawn Mower 1204-14 Manual Reel Mower
The honest sub-$100 alternative: no motor, no cord, no battery — a 4-blade push reel mower that genuinely lists under $100 at most retailers.
- 14-inch cutting width, 4 steel blades
- Adjustable cutting height
- No motor, cord, or battery required
- Push-powered reel design
- Reliably priced under $100, unlike almost every electric option
- Zero running cost, no charging, no extension cord to manage
- Cuts by scissor action rather than raw power — struggles with tall or thick grass
Greenworks 25012 (18-Inch, 12-Amp Corded)
A step up in deck size from the Sun Joe, still corded and 12-amp, for a slightly bigger yard than the compact 14-inch models cover well.
- 18-inch cutting width, 12-amp motor
- Adjustable cutting height
- Mulching capability
- Corded, no battery to manage
- Wider deck cuts a small-to-medium lawn in noticeably fewer passes than a 14-inch mower
- Still well under $200, if over $100
- Above the $100 target, though closer than most full-size corded mowers
Greenworks 25022 (20-Inch, 12-Amp Corded)
Greenworks’ 20-inch version of the same 12-amp corded platform, for a full-size lawn rather than a small patch.
- 20-inch cutting width, 12-amp motor
- Adjustable cutting height
- Mulching capability
- Corded, no battery to manage
- Widest deck on this list for fewer passes on a full-size lawn
- Same reliable corded-electric simplicity as the smaller Greenworks model
- Furthest from the $100 target of the electric options here
Great States 415-16 Reel Mower
A second manual reel option with a wider 16-inch cut and a T-style handle, for a slightly bigger yard than the American Lawn Mower 14-inch model handles well.
- 16-inch cutting width, 5-blade ball-bearing reel
- T-style handle
- Adjustable cutting height
- Heat-treated steel blades
- Wider cut than the 14-inch reel mower for a bit less walking
- No motor or cord — same zero-running-cost appeal as the smaller reel mower
- Priced above $100, so it’s not actually a budget pick despite being non-electric
BLACK+DECKER BEMW213 (20-Inch, 13-Amp Corded)
A mainstream big-box corded mower with a wider deck and stronger 13-amp motor, for a buyer who’s decided to flex the budget for full-size electric cutting power.
- 20-inch cutting width, 13-amp motor
- 6-setting height adjustment
- 3-in-1 cutting versatility (mulch, bag, side-discharge)
- Collection bag included
- Widest deck and strongest motor on this list for a full-size lawn
- 3-in-1 versatility (mulch/bag/discharge) that the smaller mowers here don’t all offer
- Priced well above $100 — only worth it if you’ve decided to prioritize deck size and power over budget
Buying tips
- If $100 is a hard ceiling, buy the manual reel mower (American Lawn Mower 1204-14), not an electric one — no electric mower reliably holds that price point new, and the Sun Joe MJ401E is the only one that comes close.
- A reel mower only cuts well on grass kept fairly short and mowed regularly; if your lawn tends to get long between cuts, the scissor-action blades struggle and a motor becomes worth the extra cost.
- For anything beyond a small yard, deck width matters more than motor amperage — the 18-20 inch Greenworks and BLACK+DECKER models cut a mid-size lawn in far fewer passes than the compact 14-inch Sun Joe.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.