5 Things to Know About Extension Cord Gauge for Lawn Mowers

Use 12-gauge cord for lawn mowers The longer the cord, the thicker it needs to be to prevent voltage drop. A lawn mower pulls significant current, especially when starting or cutting thick grass.

14-gauge cord only works for short runs A 14-gauge cord is fine for a 25-foot run. Beyond that, the mower may run sluggish, trip breakers, or overheat the cord.

14-gauge at 100 feet causes problems A 14-gauge 100-foot cord can make a mower sound like it’s struggling. Switching to 12-gauge at the same distance fixes the issue.

The price difference is small 12-gauge cord costs only a few dollars more than 14-gauge. Don’t pinch pennies here.

12-gauge is the safe bet for yard work If you’re dragging the cord across the yard, get 12-gauge. For mowing within 25 feet of an outlet, 14-gauge is fine.