Sun Joe MJ403E Review
Mow Joe 17-Inch 13-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower/Mulcher
90Great!
4.2 / 5 from 1137 users
$179.99$209
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We spent 8.9 hours reading reviews from customers and experts. In summary, here's what users think:
9 reasons to buy
The Sun Joe MJ403E is noted for being incredibly light, making it very easy to carry and maneuver. This is particularly beneficial for those with physical limitations. (60 reviews)
“This mower is really small, really lightweight like a toy but it really works!”
“With the convenient handle, small size and light weight, I can easily carry the mower in and out of the shed (as well as get it on and off the shelf).”
“Incredibly light - HUGE pro”
“This mower is lightweight, easy to maneuver”
“Very lightweight and powerful. Easy to push because it's so lightweight.”
“it is pretty light so it's very easy to maneuver in tight spaces”
“The first thing you’ll notice is how light the unit is. It’s so easy to move around.”
“Its so light weight, even with a back, neck, and shoulder injury I can mow my own lawn again!!!”
“This mower is very maneuverable and won’t wear you out”
“It's super lightweight though. It's super easy to maneuver.”
Users enjoy the freedom from the typical maintenance that comes with gas mowers, such as dealing with gas, oil, and spark plugs. (25 reviews)
“Much quieter than a gas mower and no gas fumes.”
“I’ll never have to worry about engine issues like oil, spark plugs, carburetor, or nasty exhaust.”
“No gas, oil, spark plugs, or emissions”
“No string to pull and no gas to store!”
“However, it is nice that I don’t have to deal with oil, gas or a pull cord start.”
“I love the almost zero maintenance, just wheel it out and push the button.”
“Zero maintenance.”
“I didn't want to deal with a gas mower any longer”
“not much maintenance needed (no oil at all!!)”
Reviewers have mentioned that the mower is easy to set up, with some stating it takes literally seconds to assemble and begin using. (24 reviews)
“It's easy to set up (literally seconds).”
“Easy to assemble”
“it was relatively easy to assemble”
“Assembly was pretty easy”
“You just plug it in and it goes”
“It was not hard to assemble using the instruction guide enclosed. I put it together in less than 10 minutes.”
“Assembly was pretty easy, but helped to have another set of hands.”
“it was a snap to put together on shipping”
“I quickly assembled the mower, it was very easy.”
“easy to assemble”
Some reviews point out how well the mower mulches, which is good for keeping your lawn healthy and cutting down on waste. (20 reviews)
“It mulches well. I don’t even bother with the grass bag. The mulching plug does the job”
“We haven’t tried the mulching yet, but what we’ve seen so far has been impressive.”
“The grass catcher bag is also bigger on this model, and it comes with a mulching insert if that's what you want to do.”
“my yard LOVES the trimmings..the mulch is very fine....this little mower eats it up!!”
“It mulches very well, better than the Sears.”
“I can mow by sucking up whole leaves into the detachable bag, or I can mow over leaves and mulch them into shreds (by replacing the bag with a small attachment).”
“Then I tried the mulching function without the bag and am happier with that.”
“We have chosen to use the mulch more often than we thought.”
“I do not use the catch in the back, which makes it even lighter and it mulches well so why use the catch anyway.”
“mulches great”
Being electric, the MJ403E doesn't produce gas emissions. This makes the mower an eco-friendlier option than gas-powered ones. (19 reviews)
“Much quieter than a gas mower and no gas fumes.”
“I’ll never have to worry about engine issues like oil, spark plugs, carburetor, or nasty exhaust.”
“and, it has all the pros of an electric mower”
“No gas, oil, spark plugs, or emissions”
“I didn't want the price or hassle of a gas powered mower”
“No string to pull and no gas to store!”
“However, it is nice that I don’t have to deal with oil, gas or a pull cord start.”
“The choking fumes are gone and the dust is less too.”
“I wanted something electric, not gas.”
“I'm happy i won't have to store gas anymore”
Several reviewers have found the mower to be powerful enough to handle thick and wet grass, which is impressive for an electric model. (18 reviews)
“The SunJoe made short work of the dense grass”
“On first use, our yard was a little overgrown... But with our cord plugged in, the mulching plug removed, the bag attached, and the trigger pulled, this mower tackled it like a champ.”
“ability to cut through even the longer wet grass of early spring”
“It has successfully stood up amazingly well to abuse from converting a horrible neglected garden of weeds into a real garden with front and back lawns.”
“my grass is super thick and it often gets over 100*f outside but this mower makes the job so easy!”
“I have yet to encounter anything it can't power through”
“seemingly effortlessly slices through even grass that has perhaps inadvertently been given time to grow in an unruly fashion.”
“It cut every frkg weed in my path without any problem.”
“I wanted to see how it handled cutting 4-6 inch tall, overly wet grass. To my surprise it did exceptionally well, leaving very few clumps.”
“Wet heavy shaggy grass cut and bagged.”
This electric mower is much quieter than gas mowers, making it a great choice for people who don't like loud noises or need to mow in areas where loud noises aren't allowed. (14 reviews)
“Much quieter than a gas mower and no gas fumes.”
“The Mow Joe is more powerful, and noisier than the Sears, but nowhere near a gas mower's noise.”
“Noise is so much less and gas mowing was always a pain in so many ways.”
“It is relatively quiet and its cutting edge easily leaves a uniformly evenly cut swath.”
“Fairly quiet”
“Quiet and cuts clean”
“Quieter than a gas mower”
“quieter than a gas.”
“it was light, relatively quiet, easy to lug around the yard”
“lower noise level than gas machines”
“Very quiet & well balanced.”
“love how quiet it is compared to a gasoline-powered mower”
Users like how easy it is to adjust the cutting height with this mower's simple height adjustment feature. (12 reviews)
“The cut height is simple to adjust.”
“Height adjust on this model, worth the extra few bucks over the smaller SunJoe”
“The best thing about this is the way it changes cutting height - a simple notched lever setup right on the upper surface of the mower that adjusts to seven different heights.”
“The height adjustment is fantastic feature.”
“It has 7 height adjustments that is easy to switch heights.”
“nice height adjustments”
“It's easily adjustable”
“I like the height adjustment range”
“Nice selection of mowing heights”
“The trim height adjustment is fantastic as well.”
“blade height is super easy to adjust”
The small size of the mower is a pro for users with limited storage space, as it can fit on a shelf or in a small shed. (9 reviews)
“I needed a mower that was small enough to fit on a shelf in my shed”
“it's smaller size”
“Once the handles are folded in I can lift it with one hand and put in into my shed”
“it has a small footprint”
“Easy to store”
“Light weigh to pick up and put away”
“I have a small city yard and this mower's size works out very well.”
“It's a little bigger than I thought it would be but definitely a space saver!”
“Would be great for under 1/4 acre.”
3 reasons not to buy
The mower is made with a lot of plastic, and some people are worried that it might not last very long. For example, some users have said that parts like the wheels broke the first time they used it. (25 reviews)
“I figured a lightweight mower made of mostly plastic wouldn't be incredibly durable”
“this mower has more plastic than my previously owned electric mower... i suspect this one will not last as long as the first two did, as we used it for the first time today, and the wheel broke”
“The shroud and cover are plastic so durability might be an issue long term”
“Little flimsy, body should be heavier”
“The green twist-on knobs that hold the handle in place, are plastic and come loose while using the mower.”
“The Mow Joe also has a plastic blade holder to fix the blade to the shaft. It will also wear out.”
“I give it low marks for its construction. I constantly have to re-tighten all screws and many of the trim parts have fallen off”
“My only complaint really are the plastic knobs for tightening the handles.”
“The plastic cowl flexes and the mower's spinning blade has obliterated the right side close to the ground.”
“Only hesitation is it's 90% plastic. So the light weight might be it's downfall down the road.”
Some users have found issues with the grass bag's design. It's small, mostly plastic, and the handle has popped out several times because the wet grass is too heavy, indicating it's not very strong. (14 reviews)
“Plus, if you let the bag get full the plastic handle releases from the bag when you try to remove it from the mower. I've learned to empty the bag very quickly so that there is very little weight in the bag to tip the mower backwards or to cause the handle to release again.”
“Grass bag. It's small, it's mostly plastic. The handle popped out a few times due to the weight of the damp grass.”
“And the handle on the bag doesn’t seem to want to stay out. It kept falling off when holding the full bag.”
“The bag attachment is very impractical as its small and fills up quickly; and the handle on it won't take the weight of the grass without falling off when you try to empty it.”
“The grass catcher handle is junk. It won't stay attached.”
“But when I used the bag the first time and picked it up the handle fell off.”
“the handle on the bag for discharge, comes off extremely easy! With the weight of 10 Pounds or less in the discharge bag the handle will not stay on.”
“The plastic handle to the grass catcher may also require a little patience to make sure that it seats properly and remains in place.”
“The handle to the grass catcher was somewhat difficult to slide into the slots. Also, there was no mention of how to install it in the directions.”
“The handle on the collection bag pops off frequently when carrying grass which is a little annoying.”
“Bagger wasn’t functional. Bag too small and grass jammed the chute.”
The mower's narrow cutting width and small bag mean it takes longer to mow and you have to empty the bag more often compared to bigger models. This can be a hassle for some users. (11 reviews)
“This means that the small cutting area of the mower, combined with the really small little bag and the fact that I have to empty the bag so often means that cutting even a small yard takes much longer than my bigger electric B&D mower with full size bag.”
“Also the bag fills awfully fast. Even in our second mowing with less overgrowth, it still had to be emptied quite a few times.”
“I should have purchased a wider one, the 17" is a bit small”
“Don't be tempted by the lower price of the narrower mower versions, unless you have a very small yard. My parents have a 13" model, and it takes them forever to mow.”
“The bag capacity is fairly small as well. This works great for a small Campground lot but wouldn't be ideal for a larger yard especially if you're going to be picking up your clippings.”
“Initially, I had trepidations about giving up an additional 4 inches in width in the swath the machine cut, since my previous mower cut a swath 21 inches wide.”
“The 17 inches is narrower than I thought causing it to take longer to cut the lawn due to more passes required”
“If it was wider, that would be the only thing I would change so I could get more coverage.”
“The mulching bag fills up pretty fast”
“It is a smaller frame so it does take longer to mow than a larger machine”
“The cut oath is to narrow. Would be great for under 1/4 acre.”
Bottom Line
The Sun Joe MJ403E is a lightweight, easy-to-use electric mower ideal for those who want hassle-free lawn care. It's perfect for people with physical limitations, as it's easy to handle and doesn't require gas, oil, or spark plug maintenance. Quick to set up and eco-friendly, it efficiently mulches and handles tough grass while being quieter than gas models. Height adjustment is simple, plus it saves storage space. However, its plastic build and small grass bag may affect durability and require frequent emptying.
Facts
| Brand | Sun Joe |
|---|---|
| Cutting Width (in) | 17 inch |
| Features | Electric Start, Mulching, Bagging |
| Max Cutting Height | 2-87/100" |
| Min Cutting Height | 49/50" |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Category | Push Mowers |
| Warranty | 2 Year Limited Manufacturer |
| Weight | 31.5 Pounds |
| Additional Info | Convertible Function, Rugged All-Terrain Wheels, Grass Indicator Window |
Video Reviews
Tips for Sun Joe MJ403E
- For easier cord visibility and management, use an orange outdoor extension cord.
- To avoid moving over the cord, plot your course beforehand and mow away from the power source.
Special Features
- Powerful 13-amp Motor: This mower has a strong engine that doesn't need gas, so it can easily cut through your lawn without any trouble.
- 17-inch Mow Joe Cutting Path: The mower covers a 17-inch wide area in one go, which means you'll finish cutting the grass quicker.
- 7-Position Height Control: You can easily change how short you want to cut your grass, just like adjusting a chair to get comfortable.
- Mulching + Mowing: The mower can spread out cut grass to nourish your lawn (that's the mulching part) or just collect the clippings in a bag to throw away.
- Detachable Grass Collection Bag: There's a bag attached to the mower to gather the grass as you cut. It's easy to take off and empty when you're done.
- Light and Easy to Handle: The mower isn't heavy, so it's not hard to push around or put away in your shed when you're finished using it.
- Eco-Friendly with One Push Start: No need to mess with gas or oil; just push a button to start mowing, which is better for the planet and a whole lot cleaner.
- Speedy Mowing with 3500 rpm: This mower works fast, spinning its blades super quick to get the job done in no time.
- Perfect for Small to Medium Yards: It's made for yards that are not too big or too small (between 1/4 and 1/2 acre), so it's just right for most homes.
- Low Maintenance: You won't need to do much to keep this mower running. There's no oil to change or spark plugs to mess with, just some basic cleaning.
FAQ
- Q:
Is the Sun Joe MJ403E self-propelled?
- A:
No, the mower is self-push and is extremely light and easy to push.
- Q:
How does the mower perform on bermuda grass?
- A:
The mower does well in bermuda grass. It is recommended to mow slow and maintain the grass regularly for easier mowing.
- Q:
Where can I purchase replacement blades for the mower?
- A:
- Q:
What are the mower’s weight and dimensions when boxed?
- A:
The mower’s box dimensions are 35” x 18.5” x 15” and weighs 36.5lbs.
- Q:
Is the mower’s handle adjustable?
- A:
No, the handles are fixed and are not adjustable.
- Q:
Can this mower mulch leaves?
- A:
Yes, the mower can mulch leaves very well.
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| Name | Black & Decker BEMW482BH | Craftsman CMEMW213 | Black & Decker MM2000 | Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO | American Lawn Mower Company 50514 |
| Final Score | 85 Good! | 93 Great! | 92 Great! | 92 Great! | 89 Good! |
| Category | Push Mowers | Push Mowers | Push Mowers | Push Mowers | Push Mowers |
| Power Source | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric | Corded Electric |
| Cutting Width | 17 inch | 20 inch | 20 inch | 14 inch | 14 inch |