Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Market

Market Overview

The global walk-behind lawn mower market size was valued at USD 9.38 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD 15.07 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.41% during the forecast period (2023–2031). The global walk-behind lawn mowers market is influenced by residential and commercial construction, expansion of green acreage, and weather conditions. The demand for landscaping services rises along with interest in gardening and lawn care activities, which in turn pushes up demand for walk-behind lawnmowers among landscaping service providers.

Walk-behind lawn mowers are the equipment for lawn maintenance used to trim grass. These self-propelled or manual push lawnmowers have a minimum mowing width of 12 inches. The user walks behind the mower and gives commands to the equipment. Consequently, these are ideal for lawn areas of 10,000 to 11,000 square feet and for mowing areas of approximately 10,000 square feet, as a person must walk for 2 to 3 kilometers. 

In addition, these mowers utilize a variety of blade types for mulching vegetation, depending on the terrain and mowing requirements. There are walk-behind mowers with and without collection receptacles. Lawnmowers with collection bins save time by collecting grass clippings concurrently with mowing. 

Market Dynamics

Global Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Market Drivers

Growth in Commercial Construction

The commercial sector witnessed a significant fall in 2020, primarily attributed to the adverse impact on the hotel and motel industry, as well as sports and conference centers. The commercial sector has experienced consistent growth since the reopening of the economy in 2021. Developing hotels, amusement parks, private and government offices, and sports and convention centers bolsters the commercial construction industry.

Hotels and resorts are also primary contributors to the market demand for walk-behind lawnmowers. The construction of various hotels is expected to support the market growth. In India, more than 85 million sq. ft. of office space will present renewal opportunities in 2022. Hence, the expansion of the office space is expected to fuel the green acreage across large office buildings, which is expected to expand the market size.

Growing Landscaping Industry

Due to the need to provide aesthetic appeal to commercial and residential landscapes and gardens, the demand for landscaping services is increasing globally. This has manifested in a worldwide increase in the landscaping of outdoor yards and spaces. The construction of decorative structures, patios, ponds, and green winding paths is gathering traction on the global market for outdoor landscaping.

The demand for landscaping services is significantly higher from the commercial segment due to the large size of lawns and landscapes. Corporate properties are one of the key users of landscaping services. The bigger budgets of commercial properties compared to residential units also boost the demand for these services. Hence, the above factors are driving the demand for walk-behind lawnmowers from landscaping companies worldwide.

Global Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Market Restraint

Rise in Xeriscaping

Xeriscaping is a form of landscaping that requires using rocks, natural or drought-tolerant plants, and other fillers. There is a rise in the uptake of xeriscaping, especially in drought-prone areas, due to restrictions set by the government to save water. For instance, California's Waterworks Districts offer a rebate to customers for removing water-inefficient grass with drought-tolerant landscaping, which is expected to hinder the growth of the global walk-behind lawn mower market.

Global Walk-Behind Lawn Mower Market Opportunities

Increasing Adoption of Green Spaces and Green Roofs 

Green spaces promote community interaction and provide recreational opportunities. Given that green spaces also provide aesthetic benefits, numerous gardens, parklands, and public green spaces are continuously integrated into urban planning. Governments and non-profit organizations have undertaken numerous initiatives to expand urban green space. As these initiatives typically involve larger land areas and require consistent landscaping services, the market for walk-behind lawnmowers is anticipated to experience robust growth over the forecast period.

Green roofs are also an efficient solution; end-users worldwide have increasingly adopted this concept. There is much space available for green roof adoption in the world. For example, initiatives by the German government have boosted the area under green roofs. In 2019, Germany added over 7,217,000 sq. m. of green roofs and is witnessing promising growth in green buildings. Thus, these green roof initiatives would drive the market for walk-behind lawnmowers during the forecast period.

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

Based on region, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is bifurcated into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant global walk-behind lawn mower market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.92% during the forecast period. Numerous golf courses and a sizable residential sector in the region augment the demand for the equipment. North America has the highest concentration of golf courses in the globe. The combined total of golf courses in the United States and Canada exceeds 18,700. In 2019 and 2020, more than 25 new golf courses opened across the United States. Most golf courses in the United States are public facilities that permit free play, encouraging increased participation. Hence, many golf courses across the region are expected to support the growth of walk-behind lawnmowers during the forecast period.

In addition, the residential sector supports the demand for walk-behind lawnmowers across the region. The country's residential sector is witnessing significant growth with the rising demand for single-family housing units. Various factors, including high household income, government stimulus, and increasing demand for home improvement, are expanding residential units across the country.

Europe is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.26% over the forecast period. In developing European nations, constructing public gardens, parks, and commercial business complexes will likely propel market expansion. New residential construction will increase demand for landscaping services, which will spur the replacement of older lawnmowers. This is expected to drive the demand for walk-behind lawnmowers. It is anticipated that the presence of numerous large and small firms in the landscaping industry that specialize in the construction and design of landscaping maintenance equipment will result in increased market competition. In Eastern and Central Europe, however, the residential segment will experience sluggish demand due to the low popularity of garden and landscape embellishment among households.

In Asia-Pacific, the urbanization of developing nations is anticipated to increase the demand for gardens and recreational parks, thereby driving the demand for lawn and garden care equipment over the forecast period. Additionally, multifamily residential properties are gaining popularity in the region. These properties are largely characterized by widespread green areas, promoting the demand for garden equipment in the market. While Australia and China are the major markets for lawn and gardening equipment, countries like India are expected to witness great demand due to the improving quality of real estate.

In the Middle East, the walk-behind lawn mowers market is nascent. The region has many stadiums for various sports, including cricket, football, and others. The region stages numerous international sports competitions. For instance, Qatar hosted the FIFA 2022 World Cup. Hence, the high utilization of sports arenas will likely drive market growth for landscaping services, thereby boosting the market revenue in the Middle East and Africa region during the forecast period.

Segmental Analysis

The global walk-behind lawn mower market is segmented by product, end-user, fuel type, blade type, drive type, start type, and distribution channel.

Based on product, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is bifurcated into self-propelled, push lawn mowers, hover mowers, and reel/cylinder. 

The self-propelled segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.84% over the forecast period. In contrast to a manual push mower, a self-propelled mower uses a gearbox linked to either the front or rear wheels to autonomously propel the mower forward. Such mowers are simple to handle, as users need to guide them with directions, which results in a less back-breaking lawn-mowing experience. Unlike push mowers that go only as fast as you push them because the user propels the wheels, a one-speed self-propelled mower goes 3 miles per hour. A self-propelled mower could dramatically minimize the time spent on mowing chores.

Based on end-users, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is segmented into residential, professional landscaping services, golf courses and other sports arenas, and government and others. 

The residential segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.80% during the forecast period. Rising demand for walk-behind lawnmowers in the United States and Germany, two of the world's largest garden equipment markets, is expected to drive market expansion. Numerous sellers have been supplying these regions with specialized products. In the residential sector, backyard beautification and landscaping are becoming increasingly famous as the demand for backyard gatherings and barbecues increases.

Based on fuel type, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is divided into gasoline-powered, electric cordless, electric corded, and propane-powered. 

The gasoline-powered segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 5.30% over the forecast period. Gas-powered walk-behind lawnmowers have engines that run on petrol. Hence, these are ideal for large areas that lack mains cable switches and restrict the usage of corded mowers. These lawnmowers are more powerful, which makes them suitable for thick, tall, and dense grass. They get the mowing job done in a shorter period than other mowers. Moreover, issues related to mowing time are eliminated with gas walk-behind lawnmowers; however, the battery-based models require frequent charging.

Based on blade type, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is divided into standard blades, mulching blades, lifting blades, and cylinder blades. 

The standard blades segment is the largest revenue contributor to the market and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.92% over the forecast period. Standard blades are also referred to as straight blades. The most prevalent type of blade found in lawnmowers is one that rotates horizontally. The slightly curved edges of these blades create a constant airflow as the blade rotates, generating suction and cutting action. These blades are commonly found on lawnmowers with a side-discharge mechanism. These blades are suitable for yards with dense patches of grass.

Based on drive type, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is divided into RWD, FWD, AWD, and manual drive. 

The manual drive segment is the most significant contributor to the market and is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 4.91% over the forecast period. The manual drive is a traditional gear lever (or stick-shift) system. It comes with several gears, usually including reverse, and a range of speeds depending on the number of gears provided. In manual drive mowers, the shifting of gears is done manually, which makes the manual drive mowers difficult, where a substantial amount of turning is demanded. Push, reel/cylinder, and hover mowers are categorized as mowers driven by the operator through manual push.

Based on start type, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is bifurcated into key start, push start, recoil start, and no start. 

The push-start segment dominates the global market and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 5.52% over the forecast period. Push-start walk-behind lawnmowers utilize an electrical circuit to swiftly and easily start the engine. However, this does not imply that push-button starts are exclusive to electric-powered lawnmowers. It is also present in gas- and propane-powered walk-behind lawnmowers.

Based on distribution channels, the global walk-behind lawn mower market is divided into offline and online channels. 

The offline segment contributed the highest market share and is predicted to exhibit a CAGR of 4.82% throughout the forecast period. The offline distribution channel currently dominates the market and is expected to have substantial growth in the projected timeframe. This can be attributed to buyers prioritizing a comprehensive understanding of a product's features and uses before making a purchase decision. Moreover, since walk-behind lawnmowers involve high prices, the preference for the offline channel is high to lower the risk of receiving damaged products.

Recent Developments

• February 2023- Scag Power Equipment,the sector leader in commercial and residential stand-on, riding, and walk-behind lawnmowers, announced that they became the Official Outdoor Power Equipment Provider of the National Hot Rod Association.
• April 2023- ECHO Incorporated, a prominent manufacturer of professional-grade, high-performance outdoor power equipment for residential and commercial use, introduced the ECHO DLM-2100, a battery-powered 3-in-1 push lawn mower.