Who Builds Craftsman Lawn Mowers? The Honest Truth

It was a very hot summer day. My grass was getting way too tall. I pulled the start cord on my old mower. The string snapped right in my hand. That was the sad end of my old machine. I knew I had to buy a new one fast.

I drove to the local Lowe’s store. A shiny red machine caught my eye right away. It was a brand new Craftsman mower. I bought it on the spot and took it home. The price was fair and it looked very nice. But looking at the box got me thinking.

The Big Question: Who Builds Craftsman Lawn Mowers?

When I got home, I looked close at the box. I started to wonder about the famous brand. Who builds Craftsman lawn mowers today? I did some digging online to find out. The answer surprised me quite a lot.

The brand has changed hands over the years. Sears used to own the big name. Now, a different company holds the keys. Stanley Black and Decker bought the brand a few years ago. They own the rights to the whole name now.

But Stanley Black and Decker does not build the gas mowers. They hire another huge company to do the heavy work. That company is called MTD Products. MTD is a giant in the yard tool world. They make parts for many top brands we all know.

If you buy a gas Craftsman today, MTD likely built it. They have large factories all over the country. Knowing this made me feel better about my choice. MTD knows exactly how to build strong yard tools.

Gas Mower Builders

What About Electric and Battery Mowers?

Gas mowers are great, but things are quickly changing. Many folks want battery power for their yards now. I looked into who makes the battery models. Stanley Black and Decker takes charge here. They build the electric ones themselves.

They make famous tools like Dewalt and Black plus Decker. So, they use their own tech for these cordless mowers. It makes perfect sense to me. They know battery power better than almost anyone else.

If you buy a battery mower, you get their direct tech. The batteries swap out very fast and charge up quick. I almost bought a battery model for myself. But I just love the sound and power of a gas engine.

Battery Mower Builders

My Real Experience Using My Craftsman Mower

Let me tell you about my own yard. I have a normal green suburban lawn. It is mostly flat with a few small hills. I mow once a week during the hot summer. My new Craftsman handles the tough job very well.

The engine starts on the first pull every single time. It cuts the tall grass neatly and leaves a clean look. I am very happy with how it chops the grass. It never bogs down when the weeds get thick.

No machine is perfect, of course. I want to be totally honest with you here. The whole mower feels a bit light to me. The plastic wheels seem a little cheap and weak. I worry they might wear out too fast over time.

However, the main steel deck is very strong. The bagger works well and holds a lot of grass. It is a good mix of tough parts and basic parts. It fits perfectly into my weekly yard routine.

Pros and Cons of My Mower

Where Do They Make These Mowers?

You might wonder where these big factories are. Most Craftsman mowers are put together in the USA. They use small parts from all over the world, though. The strong engines often come from big names like Briggs and Stratton.

Sometimes they use tough Honda engines too. I like knowing that American workers put the final product together. It makes me feel good about my big purchase. It supports jobs right here in our own country.

My dad had an old Craftsman mower years ago. He bought his from Sears about thirty years ago. That old thing was built heavy like a tank. Today, the new mowers feel a little bit different.

They are much lighter and use more plastic parts. But they also have much better safety features. They are much easier to start and push around. Times change, and the yard tools change right with them.

Factory Locations

Digging Deeper Into The Mower Features

Let us talk about riding mowers for a quick minute. My neighbor has a huge Craftsman riding tractor. He loves it for his giant front yard. Who makes those big machines? The answer is exactly the same.

MTD builds the Craftsman riding mowers too. They use heavy duty steel frames and strong motors. My neighbor says his tractor handles steep hills with total ease. It is nice to know the good quality stays the same.

I also looked at the self propelled walk behind mowers. I chose a simple push mower for my flat yard. But the self propelled ones are really neat. They pull themselves forward as you walk behind them.

This saves you from pushing too hard on hot days. MTD builds these neat models as well. They put strong drive belts inside them to turn the wheels. They are a great choice if you have a steep yard.

Let us think about the cutting modes next. This mower is a true three in one machine. I can bag the dead grass if I want to. I can also mulch the grass into tiny pieces.

Or, I can just shoot the grass out the side door. I mostly use the simple mulching mode. It feeds the lawn and saves me lots of time. I do not have to stop and empty a heavy bag.

Taking Care of My New Machine

Taking good care of the mower is quite simple. I change the dark oil once every year. I put in a fresh spark plug every single spring. I also make sure to clean the deck after I mow.

This simple step stops gross rust from forming on the metal. A little bit of extra care makes the machine last longer. I plan to keep this red mower for a very long time.

Checking the air filter is a total breeze on this machine. You do not need any tools to do it. You just pop open a small plastic door on the side. The filter is made of thick folded paper.

If it looks dirty, you just pull it right out. A new filter costs only a few dollars at the store. A clean filter keeps the engine running very strong. It breathes clean air and runs much cooler.

One minor detail I like is the oil dipstick. It is bright yellow and very easy to see. The tube is long, so adding fresh oil is simple. You do not need a tiny funnel to do it right.

The fill line is marked super clearly on the stick. Little things like this show that someone really thought about the user. It makes the messy chores go much faster for me.

Final Thoughts on My Purchase

Bringing the mower home was a fun quick trip. The box fit perfectly in the back of my car. I lifted it out and cut the thick white straps. Putting it all together took only ten fast minutes.

I just had to unfold the handle and tighten two nuts. I poured the oil from the small bottle they gave me. It was so easy that anyone could do it. I was ready to mow in no time.

So, who builds Craftsman lawn mowers? It is a giant mix of big reliable brands. Stanley Black and Decker owns the famous name. MTD builds the loud gas models for them.