Quick verdict
A 28-pound corded push mower with a 14-inch deck, a 12.5 amp motor, six cutting heights from 1 to 3 inches and a 10-gallon bag. It suits a flat lawn small enough to mow within reach of an outdoor outlet, with a cord you manage yourself. The caveat is that 14 inches and a cord limit it to the smallest yards, and the extension cord is not included.
Strengths
- Light at a stated 28.2 pounds
- 12.5 amp motor, a step above the common 11 amp class
- Six cutting heights from 1 to 3 inches on a one-touch control
- 10-gallon catcher is generous for a 14-inch deck
- Handle adjusts between three heights, 35.4 to 42.1 inches
Weaknesses
- 14-inch deck means many passes on anything but a small lawn
- Corded, and no extension cord in the box
- No side discharge, only mulch and bag
- Lesser-known brand with limited parts and service presence
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Who this mower is for
A townhouse front lawn, a rental with a patch of grass out back, a small corner lot with an outlet on the porch: these are the lawns a 14-inch corded mower exists for. You plug in, mow for twenty minutes, and hang the mower on the garage wall. PowerSmart’s 14-inch 12.5 amp model is a light, simple entry in that class, with a bigger motor and a bigger bag than most of its direct rivals.
This review is based on the maker’s published specifications and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run this product ourselves.
What you get
The mower, the 10-gallon grass catcher and the mulch plug. The maker lists a 14-inch cutting deck, a 12.5 amp copper-wound motor, six cutting heights from 1 to 3 inches on a one-touch control, a handle that adjusts between three heights from 35.4 to 42.1 inches, and a weight of 28.2 pounds. Dimensions are given as 17 by 39 by 42 inches. The listing is clear that the extension cord is not included, and it does not state a blade speed or a warranty term.
Cutting and power
Most 14-inch corded mowers run 11 amp motors. PowerSmart fits a 12.5 amp motor and says the copper winding resists heat better, which matters on a corded mower because the usual failure is a motor that cooks itself in long grass on a thin cord. The extra current gives a little more reserve when the grass is thick, though a 14-inch blade is still a 14-inch blade: it takes narrow passes and it will bog if you push it into a month of growth at the lowest setting. Owners of this class describe a tidy cut in weekly maintenance and a slow, stop-and-restart job after a vacation. Cut high first, then come back down.
Cord, reach and the lawn it suits
The cord is the real limit on any corded mower. Plan the mow so you work away from the outlet and sweep back and forth with the cord on the cut side, and buy a 12-gauge outdoor cord if you need 100 feet. A lawn that needs more than one outlet, or that has beds and trees to snag the cord, is a better fit for a small battery mower. The upside is that there is no battery to fade, charge or replace; this mower delivers the same power on the last pass as on the first.
Height, bag and mulching
Six positions from 1 to 3 inches is a useful range for a small mower, and the one-touch control moves all four wheels together. The 10-gallon catcher is the standout number: many 14-inch mowers ship with bags around half that, and the larger bag means fewer trips to the bin on a lawn this size. Mulching is available with the plug fitted and works in dry, short growth; there is no side discharge.
Build, handling and ergonomics
At 28.2 pounds this is a mower a teenager or an older owner can push, lift up a step and hang on a hook. The three-position handle height is a feature usually missing at this price and makes a difference for tall users on a short mower. The deck is plastic, as on nearly all mowers in the class, which keeps weight down but will not forgive a root or a buried sprinkler head. PowerSmart is a value brand sold mainly online, so parts and service will be slower than with Greenworks or Black+Decker.
Living with it
Keep the blade sharp; a dull blade on a small motor is the main cause of poor cut and tripped breakers. Unplug before clearing the deck. Store the cord loosely coiled and out of the sun. Check the product page for the warranty term, since the listing does not state it.
Alternatives to Consider
The Greenworks 12 amp 20-inch corded mower cuts far wider for a little more money if the lawn is more than a strip. The Sun Joe MJ401E 14-inch 12 amp is the established rival at the same size with a longer track record and easier parts. PowerSmart’s own 14-inch ergonomic-design version adds a bullhorn handle with soft grips on the same deck.
Verdict
Buy the PowerSmart 14-inch 12.5 amp mower if the lawn is small, flat and within cord reach, and you want a light machine with a bigger bag and motor than the typical 14-inch model. Skip it if you have more than a few thousand square feet, obstacles that snag cords, or you want a brand with a dealer network behind it.
Full specifications
PowerSmart 14-Inch 12.5 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower with Ergonomic Handle and 10-Gallon Catcher FAQs
None is included. For a 12.5 amp motor use a 12-gauge outdoor cord up to about 100 feet, or 14-gauge for 50 feet or less. A thinner cord drops voltage and makes the motor run hot.
The maker says small lawns. In practice that means a yard you can cover from one or two outlets, roughly a few thousand square feet, with the cord as the real limit rather than the motor.
It is a 2-in-1 mulch and bag design. Mulching with a 14-inch deck works in dry weekly growth; taller or damp grass is better bagged, and the 10-gallon catcher holds more than most mowers this size.
No. The six positions run from 1 to 3 inches. That covers most cool-season lawns kept short, but warm-season lawns mowed tall will be at the top of the range.
