Briggs & Stratton

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American manufacturer of small gasoline engines and outdoor power equipment.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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First read: Nov 4, 2026
Latest read: Nov 4, 2026

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Overview

Briggs & Stratton is an American manufacturer best known for compact gasoline engines used in lawn mowers, garden machinery, portable generators, pressure washers, snow throwers and other outdoor power equipment. Founded in 1908 by inventor Stephen Foster Briggs and investor Harold M. Stratton, the company initially pursued opportunities connected with the developing automobile industry before concentrating on automotive components and small engines. Its long-term importance came from making relatively compact, mass-produced engines available to equipment manufacturers and consumers at scale. The company developed a particularly strong position in the North American lawn-and-garden market. Its engines were supplied to original-equipment manufacturers and sold through equipment brands, while the Briggs & Stratton name also appeared prominently on many finished products. The business expanded its manufacturing capabilities through aluminum-engine technology, commercial-duty engine families, twin-cylinder designs and improved ignition and starting systems. The company’s products were sold in more than 100 countries, and by the mid-2010s it reported annual engine production averaging roughly 10 million units, supported by a network of facilities in the United States and several overseas markets. Briggs & Stratton also used acquisitions, licensing arrangements and joint ventures to broaden its portfolio. It entered the consumer-generator business through Briggs & Stratton Power Products, acquired or added outdoor-equipment brands including Murray, Simplicity and Snapper, and purchased the Victa lawn-care business in Australia. It also experimented with international engine ventures involving Farymann Diesel, Daihatsu, Mitsubishi and Komatsu Zenoah. These efforts produced mixed results: some helped the company access new technologies or markets, while others were constrained by differences in production economics, exchange rates or market positioning. The company’s history includes several notable engineering developments. It introduced an aluminum engine in 1953 and later developed all-aluminum and sleeved-cylinder variants. Easy-Spin starting technology reduced starting effort, Synchro-Balanced designs addressed vibration, and Magnetron electronic ignition reduced maintenance associated with breaker points. In 1977, the company introduced twin-cylinder engines to respond to growing competition from Japanese manufacturers. Briggs & Stratton also developed a gasoline-electric hybrid concept vehicle in 1979, although its principal commercial identity remained small engines and power equipment. After years of competitive pressure, changing consumer demand and financial strain, Briggs & Stratton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on July 20, 2020. KPS Capital Partners acquired a controlling interest through the bankruptcy process, completing the transaction in September 2020. The restructuring reduced the company’s substantial debt and separated the post-bankruptcy business from its former public-company structure. Briggs & Stratton continues to operate as a private business and remains associated with engines, generators, lawn and garden equipment, commercial power products and related service parts. The brand’s present identity combines its historic small-engine reputation with a broader outdoor-power-equipment portfolio.

History

Briggs & Stratton began in Milwaukee in 1908, founded by Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton. The company’s early development centered on manufacturing and mechanical innovation, eventually leading it toward compact engines suitable for a broad range of consumer and industrial applications. Its location in Wisconsin placed it within an important American manufacturing region and helped connect the business to the expanding market for mechanized household and agricultural equipment. During the twentieth century, Briggs & Stratton became one of the most recognizable names in small gasoline engines. The company’s engines powered equipment made by numerous lawn and garden manufacturers, especially walk-behind lawn mowers and riding mowers. This supplier role was strategically important: consumers frequently encountered the Briggs & Stratton name on an engine label even when the machine itself carried another manufacturer’s brand. The company built its reputation around compact design, accessible servicing, broad dealer support, and dependable operation. As residential lawn care expanded in the postwar period, the company participated in the growth of powered mowing and garden maintenance. Its applications broadened to include tillers, snow throwers, pressure washers, pumps, and other outdoor machines. Briggs & Stratton also developed finished products and expanded through brands and businesses serving both homeowners and professional grounds-maintenance operators. Simplicity and Snapper became associated with residential lawn and garden equipment, while Ferris developed a stronger position in commercial mowing and turf-care equipment. Billy Goat added specialty equipment used for leaf collection, debris management, and related grounds work. The company’s business later extended into electrical power generation. Portable generators and standby generators gave Briggs & Stratton a presence in backup power and emergency preparedness, complementing its traditional engine business. It also maintained replacement-engine and service-oriented product lines, allowing consumers and equipment professionals to repair or repower machines rather than replace them entirely. Briggs & Stratton’s long-standing internal-combustion-engine model encountered several structural challenges. Outdoor equipment markets became more competitive, regulatory requirements for emissions grew stricter, and demand began shifting toward lower-noise and lower-maintenance battery products. The company also experienced financial stress. In 2020, it sought protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. KPS Capital Partners subsequently acquired the operating business, and Briggs & Stratton continued as a privately held company under the new ownership. Following the ownership change, the brand retained its engine, generator, and outdoor-equipment heritage while emphasizing a broader power-solutions portfolio. Its public product scope now includes gasoline engines, portable and standby generators, batteries, battery-powered equipment, residential lawn products, commercial turf-care machinery, and specialty outdoor equipment. The company’s current strategy reflects both continuity and adaptation: combustion engines remain central to its identity, while electrification and battery systems address changing consumer preferences and equipment requirements. Briggs & Stratton therefore occupies a hybrid position in the outdoor-power market, combining a historic component-engine business with branded finished equipment and power-generation products.

2020
Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing
Briggs & Stratton entered Chapter 11 proceedings amid financial pressure and changing conditions in the outdoor power-equipment market.
2020
Acquisition by KPS Capital Partners
KPS Capital Partners acquired the company’s operating business through the bankruptcy process.
1908
Company founded in Milwaukee
Stephen Foster Briggs and Harold M. Stratton established the company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Products and positioning

A long-established American power-equipment brand focused on dependable engines, outdoor power equipment, generators, turf-care machinery, and increasingly battery-powered solutions for residential and professional users.

Engines
Small gasoline engines
The company’s historic core consists of compact engines for walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, tillers, snow throwers, pressure washers, pumps, and other outdoor machines. These engines are sold both for original equipment applications and as replacement power units.
Outdoor power equipment
Lawn and garden equipment
Briggs & Stratton and its associated brands offer residential equipment such as walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, zero-turn mowers, snow throwers, and other lawn-maintenance products. The portfolio addresses homeowners seeking complete equipment rather than standalone engines.
Professional outdoor equipment
Commercial turf-care equipment
Commercial products include professional mowing and turf-maintenance equipment marketed for landscapers, contractors, municipalities, and grounds-care operators. Ferris is particularly associated with commercial zero-turn and ride-on mowing applications.
Power generation
Generators
The generator portfolio covers portable units for temporary or mobile power and standby systems designed to provide backup electricity for homes and other installations. These products extend the company’s engine expertise into resilience and emergency-power applications.
Battery-powered outdoor equipment
Battery and electrified equipment
Briggs & Stratton has added lithium-ion battery systems and battery-powered outdoor equipment to complement its combustion-engine range. These products support quieter operation and reduced direct emissions while allowing the company to participate in the market’s transition toward electrification.
Grounds-maintenance equipment
Specialty outdoor equipment
Through brands including Billy Goat, the broader portfolio includes specialty machines for leaf collection, debris handling, and other grounds-maintenance tasks. These products primarily serve professional users and specialized residential applications.

Brand decisions

2020
Chapter 11 restructuringOther
Background
Briggs & Stratton faced financial stress while operating in a competitive outdoor power-equipment market affected by changing demand, regulatory requirements, and the transition toward battery-powered products.
Action taken
The company filed for Chapter 11 protection and pursued a sale of its operating business through the restructuring process.
Aftermath
KPS Capital Partners acquired the operating business, and the brand continued under private ownership with engines, generators, outdoor equipment, turf-care products, and battery solutions.
Expansion into batteries and electrificationStrategy
Background
The outdoor power-equipment industry has been moving toward quieter, lower-maintenance battery-powered products alongside conventional gasoline equipment.
Action taken
Briggs & Stratton expanded its public product portfolio to include lithium-ion batteries and battery-powered outdoor power solutions.
Aftermath
The brand now presents a broader power portfolio spanning internal-combustion engines, battery systems, generators, and complete outdoor equipment.
Source

Recent events

2020.09.17
Reported2020.09.17
Briggs & Stratton revises planned Burleigh plant job cuts[2]Briggs & Stratton 调整 Burleigh 工厂裁员计划biztimes.com
Briggs & Stratton said it would now cut around 100 jobs as it moves production of certain product lines from its Burleigh Street factory to facilities in New York State. The company said the remaining cuts were planned for November 25.
2020.07.20
Reported2020.07.20
Briggs & Stratton files for bankruptcy protection[3]Briggs & Stratton申请破产保护khl.com
Briggs & Stratton filed for bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Missouri.
2019.10.08
Reported2019.10.08
Briggs & Stratton announces Vanguard battery and engines[4]Briggs & Stratton宣布Vanguard电池和发动机产品prnewswire.com
Briggs & Stratton announced that it would introduce the Vanguard Commercial Lithium Ion Battery pack and the Vanguard 400 and 160 single-cylinder engines at GIE+EXPO 2019. The 400 was stated to be available in November 2019, with the 160 following in Spring 2020.

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