Best Lawn Mower Wall Storage Hooks Under $50 (Vertical Push Mower Storage)

A walk-behind mower takes up more garage floor than almost anything else that is not a car. With the handle up it is about five feet long, it cannot share its spot with anything, and in winter it sits in the one corner you need for the snow blower, the bikes or the recycling. Vertical storage fixes that. Fold the handle, stand the mower on its rear wheels against the wall, and the footprint shrinks to roughly the width of the deck and a foot or so of depth. Toro says its SmartStow design saves up to 70 percent more space in the garage, and most fold-handle battery mowers can be stored the same way. The part most guides skip is that not every mower is allowed to stand on end, and very few are light enough to lift onto a hook. An ordinary gas mower tipped up can leak fuel and push oil into the air filter, and a typical battery mower weighs 50 to 60 pounds before you add the battery. So the best under-$50 setup is usually not a hook that carries the mower at all. It is a pair of stud-mounted hooks and a strap that keep an upright mower from falling over, plus a few hooks and a shelf for the battery, bag and blade kit. This guide covers which mowers can be stored vertically, what each one weighs, the four setups that work, how to prepare a gas or battery mower before it goes up, and where it belongs in the garage.

Shop lawn mower wall storage on Amazon

Who this is for

• Owners of a Toro SmartStow, an EGO, a Greenworks or another fold-handle mower whose manual allows upright storage
• Anyone with a manual reel mower or a light corded mower that could hang off the floor entirely
• Single-garage and shed owners who need the mower corner back for winter gear
• Anyone wondering whether their ordinary gas mower can be stood on end, and what to do instead if it cannot

Quick answer

First check the manual: store a mower on end only if its maker says it can be stored vertically. Toro’s SmartStow gas mowers, and most fold-handle battery mowers from brands such as EGO and Greenworks, are designed for it; an ordinary gas mower is not. For those that are, fold the handle, stand the mower on its rear wheels with the deck against the wall, and screw two coated utility hooks into neighboring studs about two-thirds of the way up the mower, with a strap across the mower between them so it cannot tip. The floor carries the weight; the hooks and strap only keep it upright. A reel mower of around 20 to 30 pounds can hang fully off the floor on two hooks. Remove the battery and store it separately, keep fuel at or below the level the manual allows for vertical storage, and keep any gas mower away from water heaters, furnaces and pilot lights. Check ratings, fit and current prices on the listing before you buy.

Quick picks

• Best overall: a pair of heavy-duty coated utility hooks screwed into neighboring studs, with a short ratchet or cam strap between them, so a mower that its maker says can stand upright rests on the floor and simply cannot tip into the room.
• Best for EGO-style battery mowers: a model-matched push mower wall bracket with mounting holes 16 inches apart for lag bolts into two studs or a GearTrack-style rail. Check that the listing names your mower series, and expect a few of these to cost a little over $50.
• Best for reel mowers: two deep vinyl-coated hooks in two studs, so a manual reel mower of around 20 to 30 pounds hangs completely off the floor by its handle.
• Best for a track rail garage: a rail-system outdoor power equipment hook. Craftsman lists its VersaTrack version at 50 pounds, which suits a reel mower or the trimmer beside it, not a 60-pound battery mower.
• Best for keeping the floor clean: a rubber wheel chock or a shallow boot tray under the rear wheels, so an upright mower cannot slide on a smooth slab and any drips stay off the concrete.
• Best add-on: a short lipped shelf on two stud brackets for the battery, charger, blade wrench and spare blade, plus one coated hook for the grass catcher so it hangs open and dries.

Quick comparison

Push mower wall mount bracketsHeavy-duty coated utility hooksBreathable lawn mower covers

What to look for

A mower that is allowed to stand on end

This is the deciding question, and the answer is in the operator’s manual. Toro’s SmartStow manuals include a section on storing the machine in the vertical-stow position and warn not to store any machine with fuel and oil vertically if it is not designed for that purpose. Murray’s storage advice says the same: do not store a mower vertically unless the fuel and oil have been drained, although some mowers are built for it. EGO’s manuals say its fold-handle mowers can be stored upright or flat, and Greenworks describes upright storage for its fold-handle 40V mowers. If your manual says nothing, store the mower flat.

Weight against the job the hardware does

Walk-behind mowers are heavy. Toro lists its 22-inch Recycler SmartStow model 21445 at 70 to 72 pounds depending on the document, EGO lists its 21-inch LM2130 at 50.3 pounds and the self-propelled LM2150SP at 55.6 pounds without the battery, and Greenworks lists its 21-inch 40V mowers at roughly 58 to 62 pounds. A manual reel mower such as American Lawn Mower’s 16-inch 1415-16 is listed at about 22 pounds. Hooks rated at 50 pounds are fine for a strap or a reel mower; they are not for lifting a battery mower off the floor.

A restraint, not a lift

EGO’s manuals warn that if a mower tips over from the upright position it can be damaged or injure someone, and tell owners to keep an upright mower stable and out of the reach of children, or lay it flat if possible. That is what the wall hardware is for. The mower stands on the floor and the hooks and strap stop it rocking forward into the room when a child, a dog or a car door bumps it.

Fixings that go into framing

Anything holding a 50-to-70-pound machine against a wall should be screwed into studs or into masonry with anchors rated for the load. BennettBuilt’s EGO mower mount, for example, puts its mounting holes 16 inches on center for lag bolts into two studs or bolts into a Gladiator GearTrack rail, and the maker says it does not recommend drywall anchors because of the mower’s weight. The same rule applies to a pair of strap hooks.

Clearance for the upright footprint

Toro’s manual for model 21445 lists the operating dimensions as about 62 inches long, 24 inches wide and 40 inches high. Folded and upright, the mower needs a strip of wall roughly as wide as the deck, a little over two feet, and about a foot to a foot and a half of floor depth, with the folded handle lying across the deck. Check that nothing above it, such as a shelf or the garage door opener rail, is in the way of the handle as you stand it up.

Finishes that protect the deck

Vinyl- or rubber-coated hooks and a padded or webbing strap will not chip the paint on a steel deck, and a chipped deck is where rust starts. If you cover the mower, use a breathable fabric cover: EGO’s manuals warn against covering a mower with a solid plastic sheet, because plastic traps moisture and causes rust and corrosion.

Can your mower be stored vertically?

Gas mowers built for it

A few gas mowers are designed to stand on end. Toro’s Recycler SmartStow models fold, lock and stand upright, and Toro’s spec sheet lists the 22-inch SmartStow model with a Briggs & Stratton Mow N’ Stow engine, built for that position. Even then the manual sets rules: the fuel must be no higher than the level the engine maker recommends, the mower must sit at exactly 90 degrees and never beyond, and it must not be started or transported upright.

Battery mowers with folding handles

Most current battery mowers have handles that fold flat over the deck, and many manuals allow upright storage. EGO’s manuals say the mower can be stored upright or flat once the handle is folded into its locked storage position, with the warning to keep it stable and to lay it flat if possible. Greenworks describes the same for its fold-handle 40V mowers: remove the battery and grass bag, fold and lock the handle and stand the mower up. With no fuel or oil, the main risks are the mower falling over and the battery being left in it.

Ordinary gas mowers

A standard gas mower is not designed to stand on end. Toro’s manuals warn against storing any machine with fuel and oil vertically unless it is designed for that, and Murray says not to store a mower vertically unless the fuel and oil have been drained. Even tipping one for cleaning has rules: MTD and Briggs & Stratton manuals say to keep the spark plug side up, because tipping the wrong way can cause smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling and an oil-soaked air filter. Store these mowers flat, and use the wall above them for everything else.

Reel mowers and light electric mowers

A manual reel mower has no fuel, no oil and no battery, and most weigh well under 35 pounds, so it can be hung completely off the floor. Some light corded electric mowers can be too, but check the weight and what the manual says about the handle before hanging one by it.

What mowers actually weigh

Gas SmartStow mowers, about 70 pounds

Toro’s brochure lists the 22-inch Recycler SmartStow 21445 at 72 pounds, its product page at 71 and its operator’s manual at 70, and the self-propelled Personal Pace SmartStow 21465 at 83 pounds. That is far too heavy to lift onto a hook, and it is why SmartStow mowers stand on the floor.

Battery mowers, about 50 to 62 pounds

EGO lists its 21-inch LM2130 push mower at 50.3 pounds and its self-propelled LM2130SP and LM2150SP at about 55 pounds, all without the battery; a large battery adds several pounds more. Greenworks lists its 21-inch 40V push and self-propelled mowers at roughly 58 to 62 pounds. Taking the battery out before storage makes the mower lighter and safer to stand up.

Reel mowers, about 20 to 35 pounds

American Lawn Mower’s 16-inch five-blade 1415-16 is listed at about 22 pounds assembled, and most 14-to-20-inch reel mowers fall somewhere around 20 to 35 pounds. That is light enough to lift with a straight back and hang on two hooks.

Why this matters

Lifting a 60-pound machine above waist height to hang it is how backs get hurt and hooks get pulled out of drywall. For almost every powered mower, the right wall hardware keeps the mower upright on the floor rather than carrying it.

The four setups that work

Upright with a strap to two stud hooks

This is the cheapest and most flexible setup. Fold the handle, stand the mower on its rear wheels with the deck against the wall, then screw two coated utility hooks into the studs either side of it, roughly two-thirds of the way up the upright mower. A short cam or ratchet strap hooked between them, across the folded handle or the top of the deck, stops the mower tipping forward. It works with any mower whose manual allows upright storage, and it costs a few dollars.

A model-specific wall bracket

Some brackets are made for one family of mowers, most often EGO’s push mowers. BennettBuilt’s aluminum EGO mount spaces its holes 16 inches on center for lag bolts into two studs or bolts into a GearTrack rail, and generic EGO-compatible brackets copy the same layout. They hold the folded mower tidily against the wall, but they fit only the models they list, and the maker-direct versions can cost a little more than $50.

Two hooks for a reel mower

For a reel mower, screw two deep vinyl-coated hooks into neighboring studs at a height you can reach comfortably, lift the mower by its handle bar and rest the bar over both hooks. The reel and wheels hang below, off the floor and out of the way. Make sure the reel blades face the wall, or fit a guard, so nobody brushes against them.

A rail hook

If your garage already has a channel rail, a rail-system outdoor power equipment hook is the quickest option for a reel mower and the trimmer or blower next to it. Craftsman lists its VersaTrack outdoor power equipment hook at 50 pounds with a latching design and a non-slip coating. Rail hooks only fit the brand of rail they were made for, and the rail itself must be screwed into studs. Our comparison of track rail hooks explains how the systems differ.

Matching the setup to the mower

Toro SmartStow and other gas mowers built for it

Stand it upright on the floor following the manual, add a strap to two stud hooks, and put a chock or boot tray under the rear wheels on a smooth slab. Do not hang it: at about 70 pounds, it is not a wall-hook load.

EGO, Greenworks and other fold-handle battery mowers

Take the battery out, fold the handle, stand it upright and strap it, or use a bracket made for your model. If you have small children, consider the manufacturer’s own advice and lay it flat instead, or strap it lower and tighter.

Reel mowers

Hang them fully off the floor on two coated hooks, blades to the wall. The space underneath becomes a spot for a bag of grass seed or a spreader.

Ordinary gas mowers

Leave it flat on its wheels, ideally on a boot tray, and make the wall above it work: string trimmer and leaf blower on hooks, oil and fuel stabilizer on a shelf, the grass bag on a hook. The mower keeps its floor spot, but nothing else needs one.

Preparing a SmartStow gas mower for vertical storage

Check the fuel level first

Toro’s manual says to store the mower vertically only when the fuel is no higher than the level the engine maker recommends, as shown on the decal on the engine, and to drain any excess into an approved fuel container. Too much fuel in the tank can leak when the mower stands on end.

Set the cutting height and fold the handle

Toro asks for a cutting-height setting of 3-5/8 inches or lower before folding. Disengage the handle locks, fold the handle fully forward with the cables routed outside the handle knobs, and lock it again. Folding carelessly can damage the cables, which Toro warns can make the mower unsafe.

Lift it to exactly 90 degrees

Lift the front of the mower by the handle and stand it on its rear in the storage spot. Toro is specific that the mower must sit at a 90-degree angle and never beyond vertical, or fuel may escape. Lay it down again to move it any distance, and never try to start it while it is upright.

Off-season fuel

For winter, Toro’s manual says to add fuel stabilizer on the last refuel of the year, then run the mower until it stops and try again until it will not start. Briggs & Stratton’s general winterizing advice is to store a mower with a full tank of stabilized fuel; for a mower stored vertically, follow your mower’s own manual and its fuel-level limit, not general advice written for mowers stored flat.

Protect the cylinder

Toro’s storage steps finish by disconnecting the spark plug wire, removing the plug, adding about one fluid ounce of engine oil through the plug hole, pulling the starter rope slowly a few times, and loosely refitting the plug. Tighten all nuts, bolts and screws before it goes against the wall.

Preparing a battery mower

Take the battery out

EGO’s manuals say to remove the battery pack and store it separately in a cool, dry, clean place, and not next to corrosive materials such as fertilizer or rock salt. EGO’s support pages add that its batteries discharge themselves to an optimum storage level of about 30 percent after 30 days unused, have no special winter temperature requirement and should be kept dry.

Fold to the storage position

EGO’s LM2130 manual describes removing the grass bag, setting the cutting height to its lowest position, collapsing the side rails and pivoting the handle forward until the lock pin engages in the storage position. Your model may differ, so follow its manual, but the pattern is the same: bag off, deck down, handle locked.

Clean, lubricate and check the blade

EGO’s storage steps include cleaning the mower, inspecting and sharpening or replacing the blade, and lubricating it as the manual describes. A clean, sharp blade going up in November is one less job in April.

Know the storage range

EGO lists a storage temperature range for its mowers of about -4 to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, so an unheated garage is fine for the mower itself. Keep the battery somewhere dry and away from the water heater, furnace and fuel cans.

Clean the deck before it goes up

Make it safe first

Disconnect the spark plug lead on a gas mower or remove the battery from an electric one before you put your hands anywhere near the deck. Never use your hands or feet to clear clippings from around the blade; Briggs & Stratton suggests a wooden stick or similar tool.

Wash off the clippings

Briggs & Stratton’s storage advice is not to store an engine dirty: clean debris and grass off the engine surface, then, with the spark plug lead removed, wash residual clippings off the deck with a garden hose. Toro’s SmartStow manual includes washing out the underside with the mower in the vertical position, which is one of the nicer side effects of upright storage.

Dry it fully

Let the deck dry before the mower goes against the wall. Wet clippings packed under a steel deck hold moisture against the metal all winter, and a damp deck pressed against drywall can mark it.

Where it belongs in the garage

Away from heat and flame

Gas mowers hold fuel vapor even when the tank is low. Keep them, and the fuel can, well away from water heaters, furnaces, dryers and anything else with a pilot light or an open flame. Briggs & Stratton also tells owners to store a removed mower battery away from gas cans, water heaters and furnaces. Our guide to fire extinguisher wall mounts covers keeping an extinguisher by the garage door.

Near the yard door, beside the yard tools

Stand or hang the mower on the wall nearest the door you push it through, with the trimmer, leaf blower and wheelbarrow on the same stretch of wall. Our guides to string trimmer hangers, leaf blower hangers and wheelbarrow wall hangers cover the rest of a yard station.

Out of reach of bumpers and car doors

An upright mower sticks out a foot or more from the wall. Keep it out of the car door swing and away from where a reversing bumper or a bike handlebar can catch it.

Where children cannot pull it over

EGO’s manuals tell owners to keep an upright mower stable and out of the reach of children. A strap set above the mower’s center of gravity, a chock under the wheels and a corner spot away from the play area all help.

Mounting it so it stays put

Studs or masonry, never drywall alone

Screw strap hooks and brackets into studs, usually about 16 inches apart, or into concrete or block with masonry anchors rated for the load. Our comparison of adhesive and screw-in hooks for garage walls explains why adhesive hooks are no use here: a mower leaning on a strap puts a sudden, sideways load on the hooks every time it is bumped.

Set the strap high

Put the strap roughly two-thirds of the way up the upright mower, above its center of gravity, so it holds the mower against the wall instead of acting as a pivot. Pull it snug, not tight enough to bend the folded handle or the cables.

Chock the wheels on a smooth slab

A sealed or epoxy-coated garage floor can be slippery. A rubber chock, a strip of anti-slip mat or a shallow boot tray under the rear wheels stops the base sliding out from the wall.

Check it each season

When the mower comes down in spring, check that the hooks are still tight, the strap is not frayed and the coating on the hooks is intact. Replace a worn strap before winter, not after the mower has fallen.

Batteries, bags and the small kit

A shelf for the battery and charger

Put a short lipped shelf on two stud brackets above or beside the mower for the battery, the charger and the manual. Keep the battery dry and off the cold concrete, and away from fuel. Our guide to power tool battery wall mounts and racks covers a few tidy ways to keep packs together.

A hook for the grass bag

Empty the grass catcher, knock out the dust and hang it open on a coated hook so it dries and does not grow mold over winter. The mulch plug and side-discharge chute can hang on the same hook or sit on the shelf.

Blade tools and spares

A blade wrench, a spare blade in its sleeve, a spark plug and a small bottle of oil or fuel stabilizer for a gas mower all belong on the same shelf, so spring maintenance happens in one spot.

Covering an upright mower

Breathable, not plastic

A cover keeps dust and bird droppings off, but only a breathable fabric one. EGO warns that solid plastic sheeting traps moisture around the mower and causes rust and corrosion. Many mower covers are cut for a mower on its wheels, so check the size against the upright mower or use a loose fabric drape.

Let it cool first

Always let the engine cool fully before covering or storing it. A hot muffler under a fabric cover is a fire risk, and Toro’s storage safety section says to shut off the machine, wait for all moving parts to stop and let it cool before storing it.

Getting it back down in spring

Lay it down to move it

Unstrap the mower, lower it back onto its wheels and only then roll it outside. Toro says not to transport a SmartStow mower in the vertical position.

Check the handle, cables and battery

Unfold the handle carefully, check that no cable is kinked or pinched, and charge the battery fully before the first mow. Toro advises contacting an authorized service dealer if a cable is damaged.

Fresh fuel and a quick service

Toro’s manual calls old fuel the leading cause of hard starting. Fill a gas mower with fresh fuel, check the oil, refit the spark plug lead and check the air filter before the first start.

Three sample setups

Single garage, Toro SmartStow

A 22-inch SmartStow mower of about 70 pounds stands upright in the corner by the side door, rear wheels on a rubber boot tray, with a webbing strap clipped between two coated hooks in the studs either side. Above it, a short rail holds the string trimmer and the leaf blower, and a small shelf carries fuel stabilizer, a spark plug and the blade wrench. The fuel can sits on the floor at the far side of the garage from the water heater.

Two-car garage, EGO battery mower

A 21-inch battery mower stands upright on a model-specific bracket lagged into two studs beside the yard door. The battery and charger live on a lipped shelf at chest height, the grass bag hangs open on a coated hook, and the wheelbarrow stands next to it on a latch holder.

Shed, reel mower

A 16-inch reel mower of about 22 pounds hangs fully off the floor by its handle on two coated hooks screwed into the shed framing, blades to the wall. Beneath it sit a bag of grass seed and a push spreader.

How to set it up in an afternoon

1. Read the storage section of your mower’s manual and confirm it may be stored vertically; if not, plan to store it flat.
2. Remove the battery or, on a gas mower, bring the fuel to the level the manual allows and let the engine cool.
3. Disconnect the spark plug lead or keep the battery out, then clean and dry the deck.
4. Set the cutting height and fold the handle into its locked storage position, keeping cables clear.
5. Pick a spot near the yard door, away from heaters, pilot lights and the car door swing.
6. Stand the mower up at 90 degrees, mark the wall about two-thirds of the way up and find the studs either side.
7. Screw two coated hooks or the model-specific bracket into the studs and fit the strap snugly across the mower.
8. Put a chock or boot tray under the rear wheels on a smooth floor.
9. Add a shelf for the battery and small kit and a hook for the grass bag, and check everything again in spring.

Mistakes to avoid

1. Standing an ordinary gas mower on end with fuel and oil in it when the manual does not allow vertical storage.
2. Storing a SmartStow mower upright with more fuel than the manual allows, or tipped past 90 degrees.
3. Trying to lift a 50-to-70-pound mower onto hooks above waist height.
4. Leaving an upright mower free-standing with no strap where children, pets or car doors can knock it over.
5. Fixing strap hooks or brackets into drywall alone, or using adhesive hooks.
6. Leaving the battery in the mower all winter, or storing it next to fuel, fertilizer or the water heater.
7. Putting the mower away hot, dirty or with wet clippings packed under the deck.
8. Wrapping the mower in a solid plastic sheet that traps moisture against the steel.

Related guides

Browse the hub: Garage wall storage under $50 - all guides

• Best Wheelbarrow Wall Hangers Under $50 for Garage & Shed
• Best String Trimmer Wall Hangers Under $50 for Garage
• Best Leaf Blower Wall Hangers for Garages Under $50
• Best Hedge Trimmer Wall Mounts Under $50 for Garage & Shed
• Best Power Tool Battery Wall Mounts & Racks Under $50
• Best Affordable Garage Track Rail Hooks Under $50
• Best Fire Extinguisher Wall Mounts Under $50 for Garage
• How to Do a Fall Garage Cleanout with Wall Racks Under $50
• Adhesive Hooks vs Screw-In Hooks for Garage Walls Under $50

FAQ

Can you store a lawn mower vertically?

Only if the manual says so. Toro’s SmartStow mowers and many fold-handle battery mowers, including EGO and Greenworks models, are designed to be stored upright. Ordinary gas mowers are not; Toro warns against storing any mower with fuel and oil vertically unless it is designed for that purpose, so store those flat.

What happens if you store a regular gas mower on its end?

Fuel can leak from the tank and oil can run where it should not. MTD and Briggs & Stratton manuals warn that tipping an engine with the spark plug side down can cause smoking, hard starting, spark plug fouling and an oil-soaked air filter. Keep an ordinary gas mower flat on its wheels.

Can I hang a lawn mower on a wall hook?

A manual reel mower of around 20 to 30 pounds can hang fully off the floor on two coated hooks in two studs. Most powered mowers weigh 50 to 85 pounds, so they should stand on the floor, upright if the manual allows, with wall hooks and a strap only stopping them tipping over.

How do I stop an upright mower from falling over?

Screw two coated utility hooks into the studs either side of the mower about two-thirds of the way up, and clip a cam or ratchet strap between them across the folded handle or the top of the deck. Put a rubber chock or boot tray under the rear wheels if the floor is smooth.

Should I take the battery out of a cordless mower for winter?

Yes. EGO’s manuals say to remove the battery pack and store it separately in a cool, dry, clean place, away from corrosive materials such as fertilizer and rock salt. Keep it away from fuel cans and the water heater as well.

How much fuel can be in a SmartStow mower when it is stored upright?

No more than the level the engine maker recommends, which Toro says is shown on the decal on the engine. If there is more, drain the excess into an approved fuel container before standing the mower up, and never tip it beyond 90 degrees.

Bottom line

The best lawn mower wall storage under $50 is usually not a hook that carries the mower, but two stud-mounted hooks and a strap that keep an upright mower from falling over. Stand a mower on end only if its manual allows it: Toro SmartStow models and most fold-handle battery mowers can, ordinary gas mowers cannot. Hang only light reel mowers fully off the floor, take the battery out, respect the fuel-level limit on a SmartStow, keep gas mowers away from pilot lights, and give the battery, bag and blade kit their own shelf and hook beside it. Check ratings, fit and current prices on the listing before you buy.

Shop lawn mower wall storage on Amazon