Quick verdict
Obstacles reward a light, narrow push mower with a short body and a handle that lets the operator pivot. The Worx WG743 is the best steerer with the shortest body; the Greenworks 40V 17-inch brushless has more runtime; the Greenworks 40V 16-inch fits where nothing else does. None are self-propelled, which is right, because self-propel fights the operator in a corner.
Worx 40V 17-Inch Cordless Mower WG743
At 35 pounds with a compact body Worx designed for narrow pathways, the WG743 turns around a post or a bed edge in one motion, and Intellicut raises blade speed when it meets a dense patch so the cut stays even in and out of corners. Two 20V 4 Ah packs are shared with the Worx Power Share range and the handle collapses fully for storage.
The best mowers for tight corners and obstacles: Worx 40V 17-inch WG743, Greenworks 40V 17-inch brushless and Greenworks 40V 16-inch, compared on body length, weight, deck width and runtime.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worx 40V 17-Inch Cordless Mower WG743 | Best for Steering Around Obstacles | 8.6 | Check price |
| Greenworks 40V 17-Inch Brushless Push Mower | Best Brushless Compact | 8.5 | Check price |
| Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Brushless Push Mower | Best for the Tightest Spots | 8.4 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Worx 40V 17-Inch Cordless Mower WG743
At 35 pounds with a compact body Worx designed for narrow pathways, the WG743 turns around a post or a bed edge in one motion, and Intellicut raises blade speed when it meets a dense patch so the cut stays even in and out of corners. Two 20V 4 Ah packs are shared with the Worx Power Share range and the handle collapses fully for storage.
Reasons to buy
- 35 pounds, compact body
- Intellicut adjusts speed to grass
- Fully collapsing handle
- Power Share packs
Reasons to avoid
- Eighth-acre rating
- Plastic deck
- Two-in-one only
Greenworks 40V 17-Inch Brushless Push Mower
A brushless 40V motor under a light 17-inch deck with six heights and a quarter-acre rating, the Greenworks 17-inch is nimble enough for beds and posts and has more runtime than the Worx at 35 minutes on the 4 Ah pack. Push-button start and a quiet motor suit a yard with neighbors close.
Reasons to buy
- Brushless motor
- Six heights
- Quarter-acre rating
- Quiet
Reasons to avoid
- No cut-to-edge deck
- Plastic deck
- Narrow bag
Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Brushless Push Mower
The 16-inch brushless Greenworks is the narrowest mower here with a five-position lever from 1.25 to 3.375 inches, a 30-minute runtime on the 4 Ah pack and a rating up to a half acre in light grass. An inch narrower than the 17-inch mowers is the difference between fitting between two shrubs and trimming the gap by hand.
Reasons to buy
- Narrowest deck in the group
- Brushless motor
- Single-lever height
- Light
Reasons to avoid
- 30 minutes of runtime
- Five heights
- More passes on open lawn
What a yard full of obstacles needs
Beds, posts, a swing set, a shed, a fire pit and a dozen shrubs turn a lawn into a maze, and a 21-inch self-propelled mower is the wrong tool for a maze. It bridges the curves of a bed, leaves a ring of long grass around every post and fights the operator every time the handle is swung. What works is a push mower that is light, short in the body and narrow in the deck, so it pivots around an obstacle in one motion and passes between two shrubs without lifting. The three mowers here are that.
This guide is built from the published specifications and manuals of each mower and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these mowers ourselves.
How the three compare
| Mower | Deck | Weight | Motor | Runtime claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worx WG743 | 17 in | 35 lb | Brushless with Intellicut | 1/8 acre |
| Greenworks 40V 17 | 17 in | Light | Brushless | 35 min |
| Greenworks 40V 16 | 16 in | Light | Brushless | 30 min |
Worx WG743: the best steerer
Worx built the WG743 body short for narrow pathways and kept it to 35 pounds with both packs fitted, which is why it pivots around a post better than anything else here. Intellicut senses dense grass and raises blade speed, so the cut stays even going from open lawn into the thick grass that grows around a bed edge. Two 20V Power Share packs run a trimmer and a blower too. The rating is an eighth of an acre, which is honest for a yard this complicated.
Greenworks 40V 17-inch brushless: more runtime
The Greenworks 17-inch is a touch wider in the body than the Worx but adds up to 35 minutes of runtime, six heights and a quiet brushless motor. For a yard of obstacles that is also a quarter acre, the extra minutes matter more than the extra inch of body. Push-button start and low noise suit close neighbors.
Greenworks 40V 16-inch brushless: fits anywhere
One inch narrower is the difference between passing between two shrubs and trimming the gap by hand, and the 16-inch brushless Greenworks is the narrowest mower here. A single lever sets five heights from 1.25 to 3.375 inches and the 4 Ah pack gives about 30 minutes. It is the pick for a yard where the gaps are the problem.
Mowing around obstacles well
Mow the open areas first, then circle each obstacle once with the deck edge close. Approach posts from the side rather than head on. Raise the height a notch near beds, where the ground is often soft and uneven. Trim after mowing, not before, so the mower picks up the trimmings. And edge beds with a spade once a season so the mower wheel has a clean line to follow.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Worx WG743 for the shortest body and the best steering. Buy the Greenworks 40V 17-inch brushless for more runtime on a bigger obstacle-filled lot. Buy the Greenworks 40V 16-inch for the tightest gaps.
How we research
This guide is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of each product and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these products ourselves; where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Weight and body length
A short, light mower pivots around a post. Under 40 pounds and a compact housing are the targets.
Deck width
Sixteen or seventeen inches passes between shrubs and around beds that a 21-inch mower bridges.
Push, not self-propelled
Self-propel pulls straight when you want to turn. Around obstacles, push is faster.
Handle
A handle that collapses fully stores in a small shed; a handle with a soft grip is turned a hundred times a mow.
Our verdict
Obstacles reward a light, narrow push mower with a short body and a handle that lets the operator pivot. The Worx WG743 is the best steerer with the shortest body; the Greenworks 40V 17-inch brushless has more runtime; the Greenworks 40V 16-inch fits where nothing else does. None are self-propelled, which is right, because self-propel fights the operator in a corner.
FAQs
Self-propel drives the wheels straight and resists pivoting. In a yard of beds and posts a light push mower is faster and less tiring.
Sixteen or seventeen inches. A 21-inch mower bridges beds and leaves a ring of long grass around every post.
About a quarter more passes than a 21-inch mower. On a lot under a quarter acre that is a few minutes.
Approach from the side so the deck edge passes the post, circle once, then trim the last inch with a string trimmer.
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