If your lawn isn’t as green as you’d like, dull lawn mower blades are likely the culprit.
While sharpening is usually the move, eventually the blades will dull, and need replacement. Or, maybe you hit a rock or driveway and they’re bent out of shape, and out of balanced – that’s dangerous (and I’ve done this many many times over my 20 year career as a landscaper.
Dull lawn mower blades also put excess wear and tear on the motor because it has to work harder. And replacing a lawn mower is way more expensive than buying a set of lawn mower blades.
But thankfully, there are a ton of replacement lawn mower blades to choose from, and most will fit different brands of lawn mowers. I’ve collaborated with several professional lawn maintenance professionals – owners and operators who literally mow thousands of lawns every month – in order to determine 8 of the best blades that you can replace on your mower. The primary factors we took into account are as follows: durability, ability to keep a sharp edge, mulching capabilities, weight and price.
At a Glance – Our Top Picks.
The 8 Best Lawn Mower Blades – Reviews
1) Rotary Blades
Made to fit Deck, Craftsman, Poulan, and Husqvarna lawn mowers, this set of blades will work on 48-inch deck versions of these mowers.
Why We Like Them
- High lift throws clippings better
- Works with bagger
- Made in the USA
Specs
- Dimensions: 16.75 inches long, 2.5 inches wide, 0.204 inches thick
- Compatible makes: Deck, Craftsman, Poulan, Husqvarna
- Type of mower: Walk-behind
- Mulching: No
- Number of blades: 3
Our Verdict
If you have a large lawnmower, these are some of the best blades around.
Editor Rating: 4.5/5
2) Toro 22 Inch Recycler Mower Replacement Blade 59534P
If you need a mulcher blade for your 22-inch Toro mower, this is a great choice for your Toro mower.
Why We Like Them
- It’s rust-resistant.
- It produces extremely fine mulch.
- It’s affordable.
Specs
- Dimensions: 2.25 inches wide, 0.1500 inches thick, 21-11/16 inches long
- Type of mower: Walk-behind
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 1
Our Verdict
If you hate raking leaves and prefer mulching them to nourish your lawn over the winter season and own a Toro mower, this is an excellent purchase. Note that it only works on Toro 22-inch mowers made during the years from 2002 to 2015 and not other brands of that size.
Editor Rating: 4/5
3) MaxPower 331740S Mower Blade
Owners of Craftsman, Husqvarna, and Poulan 22-inch mowers will be happy to know that there’s a blade that works just as well as their OEM blades.
Why We Like Them
- It’s easy to install.
- Made in the USA.
- Stays sharp longer than OEM blade
Specs
- Dimensions: 22 inches long, 2.5 inches wide
- Compatible makes: Craftsman, Husqvarna, and Poulan
- Type of mower: Walk-behind
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 1
Our Verdict
In terms of non-OEM blades, MaxPower is a brand you can trust. Owners rave about how great their lawns look after using this blade. Plus, it is easy to replace. We should note that it has a 5-point center hole for attaching the blade, so check your mower before purchasing it.
Editor Rating: 5/5
4) Honda 72531-VH7-000 + 72511-VH7-000 Lawn Mower Blade Set
Made for Honda HRX 21-inch lawn mowers, this replacement mulching blade set gets top marks from just about everyone who buys them.
Why We Like Them
- No sharpening needed out of the box.
- It provides superior mulching.
- For OEM blades, they are affordable.
Specs
- Dimensions: 20.75 inches long
- Compatible models: HRX 21-inch
- Type of mower: Walk-behind
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 2
Our Verdict
We looked for a bad review, but we couldn’t find one for this set of mulching blades. Everyone raves about how well they mulch, how easy they are to replace, and how sharp they stay.
Editor Rating: 4.5/5
5) Oregon 95-057 Lawn Mower Blade
Did you know that Oregon is one of the top non-OEM blade manufacturers in the world? Well, now you do. This blade will work with Craftsman, AYP/Poulan, Honda, and many other 21-inch mowers.
Why We Like Them
- It’s a high quality, non-OEM blade.
- Extremely durable
- Stays sharper, longer.
Specs
- Dimensions: 2.75 inches wide, 21 inches long, 0.134 inches thick
- Compatible models: Check the Oregon website.
- Type of mower: Walk-behind
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 1
Our Verdict
Oregon uses a 26 point quality checklist to make sure their blades are just as good as OEM blades. And users seem to agree that this blade is an excellent substitute for their mower at a better price.
Editor Rating: 5/5
6) MR Mower Blades 195-005
Made for 42-inch AYP Sears, Craftsman, Poulan, and Husqvarna riding mowers, this set of blades is an excellent option for owners who don’t want to buy OEM blades.
Why We Like Them
- Highly effective mulching with dual-bevel design
- Made in the USA
Specs
- Dimensions: 2.25 inches wide, 21 inches long, 0.140 inches thick
- Compatible makes and models: HUSQVARNA 532134149, 134149 and Sears Craftsman 131419
- Type of mower: Riding
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 2
Our Verdict
Thanks to the extremely sharp blades, you will get super-fine clippings that will rapidly compost and nourish your lawn. These blades also fit a wide range of riding mowers, so don’t worry if you don’t see your mode listed.
Editor Rating: 4/5
7) USA Mower Blades
Another replacement blade we highly recommend is a set of 21-inch blades made by USA Mower made to work with a number of brands of 42-inch riding mowers.
Why We Like Them
- Has a high-lift style for getting a fresh-cut look
- Made in the USA
- Good for tall, dense grass
Specs
- Dimensions: 2.2 inches wide, 21 inches long, 0.06 inches thick
- Compatible makes: AYP, Ariens, Craftsman, Husqvarna, McCulloch, Poulan, Viking
- Type of mower: Riding
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 2
Our Verdict
With heat-treated steel blades coated with a layer of epoxy, this set of USA Mower blades is up to the task of mowing through thick grass and staying sharp as long as original OEM blades, but at a fraction of the price.
Editor Rating: 5/5
8) Stens 340-066 Mulching Blades
With this 4-pack of high-quality, non-OEM blades made to fit 42-inch riding mowers, you will have a backup set of blades when it comes time to replace them.
Why We Like Them
- They are durable.
- Fit a wide array of riding mower brands.
- Easy to install.
Specs
- Dimensions: 2.25 inches wide, 21 inches long, 0.134 inches thick
- Compatible makes: Craftsman, Poulan, AYP, or Husqvarna
- Type of mower: Riding
- Mulching: Yes
- Number of blades: 4
Our Verdict
We believe that you’ll be extremely happy with these replacement mower blades. One user said, “they cut through the grass like butter.” Another said that they were just as good as the original manufacturer blades, but are far more affordable.
Editor Rating: 4/5
Buying Guide
Different Types of Lawn Mower Blades
There are two main types of lawn mower blades to choose from, mulching and discharging blades.
Mulching Blades
This type of blade is curved and has many cutting surfaces on the blade’s edge. The higher the number, the finer the debris (or clippings) will be. Some refer to mulching blades as 3-in-1 blades because you can use them on lawn mowers that discharge clippings from the side, bag the clippings, or mulch them.
Most people prefer mulching blades because the clippings are so small, they degrade quickly and provide your lawn with the nutrients from the decaying matter without suffocating your grass.
Because this type of blade is more in demand, we decided to review more mulching blades than the discharging blades above. You can always use a bag to catch the debris if you don’t want to leave it on your lawn.
Note that unless your mower has a specific mulch setting that allows the mulching blade to generate the proper airflow for optimal mulching and dispersion of the debris, you may find your results aren’t going to live up to the promise made by the manufacturer. That is, it may grind up the clippings, just not as fine as you were expecting them to be.
Discharging Blades
Also known as 2-in-1 blades, discharging blades are the kind you’d find on older push mowers. They either discharge the grass from the side of your mower or shoot it into a bag for disposal if your mower is designed to do that.
You might also see these referred to as “high lift” blades because they lift the grass up as they cut it, allowing for easier discharge into a bag or out to the side.
How to Choose the Best Lawn Mower Blade
Some other things you need to keep in mind before you buy a set of blades are the blade length, blade width, the number of blades needed, how big your mower’s deck size is, and how they attach onto your mower.
Blade Length
Blades range between 16.75 inches to 22 inches in length. You’ll find most are 21 or 22 inches, but you’ll want to make sure which size blades your mower uses before buying one from our guide. If they’re too short, they won’t cut as wide of an area, and if they’re too wide, they won’t fit.
Blade Width
The width of the blade is just as important as the length. If they’re too wide for your mower, they may damage it. The range can be anywhere from 2.25 inches to 3.5 inches.
Deck Size
This will depend on the type of mower you have. A push mower ranges in size from 16 to 30 inches, while riding lawn mowers only go up from there.
Number of Blades
If you have a riding mower, you will want to buy a set of blades to match the width of your mowing deck. Most push and self-propelled mowers may only need one blade.
Blade Holes
Some blades have a 5-point opening, and others have a 6-point opening. Be sure to check which kind your mower takes, even if the manufacturer says the blades work with your make and model. Also, make sure that the size of the opening is the same.
The Shape of the Blade
Before you buy a set of replacement blades, take a close look at your original blades. Are they perpendicular blades or parallel? How are they shaped? Getting blades that match as closely as possible will give you the best performance, but it’s not mandatory to have blades that exactly match.
Changing Mower Blades
If you’ve never learned how to change a mower blade, I highly recommend you do yourself a favor and watch this video below. It’s trickier than it looks, and if done wrong you could lose a finger. Whatever you do, always detach the spark plug first!
FAQ
In terms of price, quality, and satisfaction, our top pick is for best lawn mower blades is this set made by USA Mower Blades. They are heavy-duty blades that fit most brands of mowers and are easy to replace when the time comes.
Generally, you should sharpen or replace your blades every season, or every 20 uses. Assuming you’re sharpening after every season, you should replace your blades every 4 years.
A replacement lawn mower blade generally costs between $15 and $40.
Conclusion
Top Pick
In terms of price, quality, and satisfaction, our top pick is for best lawn mower blades is this set made by USA Mower Blades. They are heavy-duty blades that fit most brands of mowers and are easy to replace when the time comes.
Premium Choice
If price isn’t an issue, we recommend the MaxPower 331740S Mower Blade. You definitely get what you pay for, with some users saying these blades do a better job than the original blades that came with their mowers.
Great Value
Are you on a tight budget? Then we recommend the Oregon 95-057 Lawn Mower Blade. But don’t worry about sacrificing quality for the price. Most users were extremely pleased with their purchase and added they’d happily buy them again when the time comes.
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