Author: Alex @ TLR

Alex is not a lawn care natural. He had to learn things the hard way. But after stumbling through his first few seasons of lawn care, he learned a lot. Mostly - what not to do. Alex has become one of the country's advocates of battery-powered lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other highly visible publications. Alex started The Lawn Review with his friend Tyler - who you may see in some of the videos on this website - to help normal people like you understand how to take care of their lawn themselves with the best tools possible. Alex has thousands of hours of experience using hundreds of different lawn tools and has found exactly what to look for in each type of tool. He speaks with deep experience not only about the boring technical specifications, but what the tool actually feels like when you are using it, what to look for before you make a purchase, and how the lawn tool measures up when you factor in price.
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Greenworks 80V Backpack Leaf Blower: 2024 Reviews

battery backpack blower greenworks

Greenworks’ 80V Backpack Leaf Blower is a super interesting tool. These suckers are going to be the next big thing for homeowners and I can’t wait to tell you why.

Bottom Line: While just about any gas powered backpack blower is more powerful, the Greenworks 80V backpack blower is quiet, convenient, odorless, and pretty inexpensive. You can check the price here on Amazon.

My first time using this was an eye opening experience. For starters, I have a Stihl BR600 – one of the most powerful gas backpack blowers on the planet. While this isn’t quite the same amount of power, it is the right amount of power, cost, and ease of use.

I’ll break it down below:

My experience with blowers

I have been fortunate enough to own and use dozens of blowers. I’ve had a Stihl BG 86 C handheld gas blower, a few backpack blowers like the Stihl I mentioned above, an EGO 765 CFM handheld electric blower, some corded blowers, and even some blower and vacuum combos.

But without a doubt – this is the most puzzling and interesting one I have owned. I’m bullish on the battery powered backpack leaf blower market because they are going to become less expensive, last a really long time, and are SO DANG EASY to use. Don’t believe me – check out my experience with this Greenworks 80V backpack blower.

Greenworks 80V Backpack Leaf Blower Breakdown and Review

I was so excited to use this because this was my first electric backpack blower. I took it for a test ride over the course of a couple weeks and jotted down some notes about what it felt like. Here are my thoughts on this blower.

Greenworks backpack leaf blower Power

If you’ve ever used a backpack blower, then you know these suckers are built for absolute power and speed when moving from jobsite to jobsite. I don’t want to frame this blower up as a weakling, but to be honest – most homeowners just don’t need power like that. 

At 610 CFMs and 180 MPH, the Greenworks 80V backpack blower is on the lower end for a backpack blower. But in relation to all blowers, this is definitely in the top 10-15%. That is some serious power and airspeed that will blast your leaves across the yard without much problem. 

Since I tested this one out mostly on grass clippings, many of which were still wet, I was able to get a good feel for how it did with sticky, wet debris. It crushed it without a problem. 

Is it the most powerful thing in the world? No. Will it get the job done for a homeowner? Yes. 

This blower is easy to use

When it comes to actually strapping this thing on and getting started, there couldn’t be a better experience. And when compared to gas (both handheld and backpack) – there really isn’t any competition. 

Given the fact that I unboxed this, strapped it on, and was blowing around my yard all within five minutes should be a testament to how easy it was to get started.

It has really great adjustable straps, comes with a longer blowing tube add-on, and uses a handheld joystick just like any other backpack blower. With the joystick, you can control the speed of the blower perfectly and aim it all around. It also has a cool turbo button that pumps you up to the maximum amount of CFMs and MPHs for when you need the extra boost.

Compared to gas, this sucker is really light. Eerily light. But that also makes the job slightly more pleasant. Lastly, this blower had a very distinct noise to it. I wouldn’t say it was pleasant, but it was definitely much quieter than a gas-powered blower. With a sleeping baby at home I was very, very happy.

A quick comment on battery life

The most common complaint I get about battery powered tools is the run time. While I agree that battery technology has a long way to go before it can be used for commercial applications, I think it is in a great spot for homeowners. 

With this Greenworks battery powered backpack blower, you’ll get about 20-25 minutes of run time with the lowest 2.0 Ah battery. If you want it to go for a full hour, you can upgrade to the 5.0 Ah battery. These also have rapid chargers that get you back to 100% pretty quickly.

Battery backpack blower comparison to gas backpack blowers

Other than looking kind of similar and blowing some air, these two machines couldn’t be more different. Gas backpack blowers are definitely more powerful. They’re heavier, loud as all get out, and can run all day as long as you gas them up.

And honestly – they’re overkill for homeowners. Cool toys, no doubt – but not necessary unless you have multiple acres. They’re also a pain in the butt to maintain and extremely loud.

The Greenworks 80V Backpack Blower is “just right” for the average homeowner with a slightly larger yard or just looking for some comfort and convenience. I’ll always remember when I used to wake up and sit on my front porch (before I had kids). One morning at probably 6 AM on a normal day of the week, my neighbor was out in her front yard using her backpack blower. I about went and slashed her tires…but I didn’t. 

Battery backpack comparison to the handheld 80V Blower

I’ve obviously used my Greenworks handheld 80V leaf blower a TON and even made a really long Youtube video about it. The thing is a beast. A freak of nature. And a really good price. They also have a great 60V Blower.

But if you are out blowing your yard for any extended period of time, it is REALLY nice to have a backpack blower that can allow you to just “chill”. As far as power goes, there isn’t a huge difference between the two. This one is just slightly more comfortable and much more fun to play with. 

Cost and where to buy the Greenworks 80V Backpack Blower

The Greenworks 80V Backpack Battery Leaf Blower MSRPs for about $350. Right now, it is on an insane sale on Amazon that seems to come and go.

My recommendation would be to grab it on Amazon. If you already have the battery, you can get it for an absolutely crazy price that is totally justifiable to your wife (like under $200) by grabbing the tool-only version.

My recommendation and review: Greenworks 80V Backpack Blower

Is this going to replace your gas powered backpack blower? Maybe. It you’re a homeowner and yours is requiring a lot of maintenance and is mostly overkill – then sure it can. But if you are a pro landscaper – I’d pass on this.

For me, this will be my go-to leaf blower for this Fall. It is super easy and I’d rather it take a little longer or require recharging the battery than have to deal with the headache of a gas-powered blower. 

What to look for in a battery powered backpack blower

Cordless blowers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes but there are three basic things you need to understand:

CFM 

Cubic feet per minute. This is a measure of air output on the blower. Higher CFM = more power, but not necessarily more miles per hour. High CFM with a wide nozzle = lower MPH. High CFM with a narrow nozzle = high miles per hour. Ideally, you want both a high CFM with a narrow to medium nozzle for most residential jobs.

Usability 

What is the point of having a blower if it is hard to use? Have to get one that is lightweight, easy to start, and has some functions that make your life easier.

Motor type

Brushless motors reign supreme. Cooler running motors with more torque, a longer run-time, and last many more years. Brushless is a no brainer when picking a blower.

These are three things you need to pay attention to when looking through the specifications. 

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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3 Self-Propelled Battery Mowers That Make Your Life Easy

Self-propelled battery lawn mowers are sweet tools that can make your job super easy. I used to never use self-propelled mowers and actively spoke out against them. But I really like the Milwaukee M18 FUEL battery mower because it is extremely powerful and cuts better than my Honda gas mower.

But my mind has been changed. I got a few self-propelled electric mowers and put them to the test. The functionality has a bunch of different ways of working – from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive and all kinds of cruise controls.

My experience using self-propelled mowers

I started using self-propelled mowers only recently. I’ve always been a push guy and haven’t minded pushing the mower all around the yard. But after I tested one out for one of my Youtube videos – I became a believer. These things are sweet and take quite the load off. 

One thing I found after testing out a few of these is that there’s actually a bunch of variety in how these work. Some are easy to use, others have weird functions – they all are better than pushing the dang mower. 

I created the Lawn Review to make sure folks like you could see through the confusing marketing.

Ranking the top Self-Propelled Battery Mowers

I’ve been lucky enough to own and test several self-propelled mowers and distilled this list down to only three. I did this to NOT waste your time and give you the pure facts – with everything in mind – price, ease of use, durability, etc. Let’s get started.

Read about some of our most trusted electric and battery mower brands.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Self-Propelled Mower

Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL lawn mower – almost exclusively. It is an interesting case because it stands alone as their sole mower offering for now. It’s as if they assembled a dedicated team of dorks and rednecks, brainstormed ideas to create the ultimate mower, and simply went for it without looking back.

Here are some of my favorite features:

  • It boasts serious power comparable to a 200cc lawn mower, surpassing even the classic Honda push mowers.
  • The mower features a robust steel deck, setting it apart from the more common plastic decks in the electric mower market
  • Rapid acceleration allows it to reach full throttle in less than a second – like a Lambo
  • The inclusion of a brushless motor is a must-have for being at the top of this list
  • The utilization of two 18V Milwaukee batteries offers compatibility with over 200 other M18 tools from Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL outperforms many of the others that come in at a lower price point. However, it is worth noting that this superior performance comes with a higher price tag. With a retail price of over $1,000 at Home Depot (if you get it with the batteries), it might be considered one of the more expensive push mowers available. Nevertheless, for Milwaukee enthusiasts or those genuinely seeking peak battery-powered mower performance, this model unquestionably stands out as the best.

For a side-by-side comparison, one may find it insightful to evaluate how the M18 stacks up against the Ryobi 40V HP, another mower that also made it onto this list.

Greenworks Pro 80V Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

It would be really hard to keep this one off the list since I made a huge mower comparison video that had this one at number one. This mower is the biggest, baddest Greenworks mower on the market. Coming in at 21 inches with a nice steel deck, this mower is ready for any size job. In fact, it’s larger than my current gas push mower.

The only reason this one comes in at number two on this list is because the self-propelled function is a little wonky. It prevents the wheels from moving backward, so before you approach a turnaround, you have to let it go and give the wheels time to unlock. This isn’t an awful thing, just takes some getting used to.

It is also self-propelled, meaning it can help move along the job for you. Not to mention the brushless motor. The Greenworks Pro 80V mower is simply the Cadillac of electric mowers. 

Another thing I love about this product is that the 80V battery can also be used with a ton of other tools that Greenworks offers, and they are all the most powerful and longest lasting. One of my favorites that pairs well with this mower is the compatible 80V blower.

You can grab the mower alone, or with an edger, trimmer, or blower. If you already have the 80V battery, you can buy just the mower alone and save a ton of money (like $200 of savings).

This mower is on sale right now and Amazon says it is a “Limited Time Deal”, so if you are in the market – I would grab this one today.

EGO LM2156SP Mower with TouchDrive technology

The LM2156SP is obviously the Cadillac of EGO mowers. It comes with every bell and whistle. The belle of the ball. But it comes with a price.

Here are some of the features that make this one COMPLETELY unbeatable:

  • Select Cut XP functionality means that this is the highest torque EGO mower on the planet 
  • It also has Touch Drive self-propelled functionality, making it the easiest to use and control
  • Longest run time at 75 minutes because it comes with 10.0 Ah batteries, basically double the Ah of their other mowers

So this is the most powerful, longest running, easiest to control EGO mower. It is truly probably the best battery powered mower available from a technical specification perspective. But it doesn’t have a steel deck, which makes me sad. And is ultimately the reason that it fell to number three on this list.

As far as overall power goes, this one is almost TOO powerful. If you max out the self-propelled function on this, it will absolutely pull you forward. If you’re the type of person still looking for a workout and don’t want to push, this EGO mower will have you speed walking around your yard.

You can buy this one from Amazon, where I found it for the best price.

What to look for when buying a battery-powered lawn mower

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each. For example, Greenworks sells like 60 mowers, only a handful of them would I ever consider for this list. EGO also sells a bunch of mowers, and only a few are within an acceptable price range to be on this list.

Metal where it matters: the deck 

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

 A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often come with a higher price tag.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

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Orbit Sprinkler Review and DIY Installation Guide: 2024

Orbit’s In-Ground Sprinkler System was a super easy choice for me to buy. I love doing my lawn myself and getting this thing for super cheap on Amazon was enough motivation for me to finally set one of these up.

Whenever I used to pass by someone in my neighborhood with an in-ground sprinkler system, my immediate thought was always “can’t hide money!”. In-ground sprinkler systems and big money go hand-in-hand. But let me tell you what – it doesn’t have to be that way. You can get a great system and set it up yourself for something I call “middle class fancy”. 

Let me explain more – or you can watch our full YouTube video guide here, where we tested the entire process.

Here are the quick steps for setting up your Orbit In-Ground Sprinkler System:

  1. Buy the system (duh)
  2. Test your hose faucet pressure
  3. Design your set-up
  4. Assemble the sprinkler heads
  5. Adjust the sprinkler heads to the right range
  6. Lay out the assembled system above ground
  7. Give it a test run
  8. Dig the sprinkler pathway
  9. Place system in and fill in the dirt.

Setting up the Orbit In-ground Sprinkler System

Let me walk you through exactly how I set up my Orbit in-ground sprinkler system from start to finish.

Step 1: Buy the system (skip if you’ve already done this)

Sounds obvious, but trying to do any pre-work here will majorly mess you up. Going out and digging up a pathway will only bite you in the butt if you haven’t bought the system yet. I got mine from Amazon and it was absurd how cheap the whole kit was. 

Step 2: Test your hose faucet water pressure

Fortunately, Orbit sends you a nice little pressure gauge that you can hook to your hose faucet that tells you how much water pressure your hose puts out. Simply screw this on, measure the pressure, and keep note of the measurement.

Just a warning here – if your pressure is below 35 PSI, this thing may be super wimpy and not worth it. If your PSI is above 80, then you may want a pressure reducer as it might be too strong for this system.

Step 3: Design your sprinkler set up

Orbit has a guide that correlates how much pressure your faucet puts out with how far apart you need to set up your sprinklers. Since mine was on the high end, I am putting each one of my sprinkler heads 24 feet apart. 

This takes some careful mapping and spacing in your yard. Orbit recommends a U shape in your yard for you to get optimal spacing and watering. I mapped mine out with some yard stakes to make sure it was all even Steven before doing any kind of digging. 


Quick tip: While mapping this out, let the blue hose that comes with the system lay out in your yard and relax and “melt”. This will help kill any tension once you start laying it down.

Step 4: Assemble all the sprinkler heads

The sprinkler head set up is pretty straightforward and provided in the attached instructions. You simply clip on the blue caps to the base hose adaptor connector and screw those on. I bought some plastic stakes and zip tied the sprinkler heads to those. I’ll explain more later.

Step 5: Adjust sprinkler heads

Once you’ve got your sprinkler heads attached to your stake and in the spot you want them in your lawn, remove the inner sprinkler component (with the green cap). Pull down the spring and set the parameters of the sprinkler. To do this, you get a flathead screwdriver and tighten it until you have a good range. 

This takes some trial and error to figure out exactly how this needs to be set up for your yard, but basically functions like a complex parameter range on any other sprinkler (even the oscillating sprinklers).

Step 6: Lay out the hose above ground

It’s really important to make sure you set up the full system before doing any digging. This means actually getting the hose out, cutting it, and connecting it to the sprinkler system. Orbit sends a nice tube cutter that lets you easily cut down the hose to the size you need. Some important tips here that I learned the hard way is to push the blue hose in as far as possible to make sure you don’t get leakage.

Step 7: Give the Orbit Sprinkler System a test run

Before you dig, make sure the system works! Connect it to your hose and let it run. Make sure there aren’t any leaks and that each spring-loaded sprinkler head actually does its job. This is a critical time to make any last minute adjustments to the sprinkler range.

Pro tip: Make sure you get that head-to-head coverage on your sprinkler. This is recommended by Orbit to ensure you don’t miss any spots and can fully get your yard soaked.

Step 8: Digging the Sprinkler System in

There’s a hard way to do this and a harder way to do this. The hard way is to rent a trencher and dig a nice trench to fill your hose in with. The harder way is to use a flat shovel and do it the old fashioned way. I chose to rent a trencher. 

This process took quite a while, but was definitely better than doing it with a shovel. It also gave me super clean, evenly distributed trenches to drop the hose down into. 

Pro tip: Dig 8-10 inches and put the pipe in for the best results.

Step 9: Refill the dirt

Once you’ve laid the pipe (no jokes, please), then simply test it out and then fill it back with dirt. This is another laborious process to get the dirt back into the hole, compact, and level. 

Orbit In-Ground Sprinkler System Review: My Experience

After getting it all set-up, I’ve actually loved having this sprinkler system in my yard. I’ve got it set up with a timer to run super early in the morning. After I got it installed, I haven’t had to touch any of the sprinkler heads (although it has only been a few weeks).

Mowing for the first time wasn’t too much of a hassle and the grass is starting to come back in on the areas I dug up. I’ll report back after more time has passed, but so far I am extremely pleased with how the set up is going.

This $200+ dollar system is a small item that makes you feel like you are rich. A really cheap way to get a great looking yard without having to go out there with a sprinkler and do it manually. 

Common questions and troubleshooting Orbit In-Ground Sprinklers

Here are some common questions I get (and had myself) when I first got my In-Ground Orbit System.

How do you adjust orbit in ground sprinklers?

You can adjust the range of the orbit sprinklers by opening the sprinkler head, pulling down the spring, and using a flathead screwdriver to adjust the range on the top of the sprinkler head.

How do I make my sprinklers shoot farther?

To get your in-ground sprinklers to shoot farther, you need to increase the overall water pressure in your hose faucet. Anything below 30 PSI will make for a very weak sprinkler.

Why is my Orbit sprinkler head not rotating?

If the Orbit sprinkler head is not rotating, there is likely dirt or debris stuck in the head. Open it up, clear it out, and ensure the appropriate rotation range settings are in place.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

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My Experiment With Budget Robotic Mowers (Mind Blown)

Robotic lawn mowers are here to stay whether you like it or not. But they are REALLY expensive compared to a normal mower.

That’s why I went on Amazon and bought the three top selling robotic lawn mowers for under $1,000. Ones that are still in the reasonable price range that may make not having to go out into the heat and mow for an hour worth it. I put these to the test and had them do a three-way battle for the best cut for the best price.

The results were…interesting. Here are the three

budget friendly robotic mowers under $1,000, ranked:

  1. Husqvarna Automower 115 H Robot mower
  2. Worx Landroid S 20V WR 165 Robot lawn mower
  3. Gardena Sileno Minimo Robot mower

My experience with robotic lawn mowers

Frankly, I am just a normal dude who really likes mowers. I’ve used a billion gas powered push  mowers, dozens of battery powered mowers, but NEVER a robotic mower. Until now.

But I think that helps you realize I am not a biased source here. I do not have stake in a robotic mower company. I was not paid to create this review – and I didn’t even get these for free (am I doing something wrong?).

I know a thing or two about mowing the grass, though. And that will help me provide a super unbiased review of my experiences with these three robotic mowers. Let’s get started.

Testing out budget-friendly robot mowers

I looked at a few factors when ranking these mowers, so let me break down each one, how I tested it, and how it ultimately performed.

Breaking down the Worx Landroid S 20V Robotic Mower

The Worx Landroid is powered by a 20V battery, which took about 60 minutes to charge each time it made it back to the base station. This one is able to mow about ⅛ of an acre, or about 5400 square feet. If you have no clue or context for what that means in your lawn, you can go to www.measuremylawn.com and get it figured out really quickly.

The height adjustment on this goes all the way down to 1.5 inches all the way up to 3 inches, which is easily adjustable using a knob on the top of the mower. You may note right off the bat here that this isn’t an acceptable height for folks with tall fescue or other grass types that require you to mow high. At 1.5 inches, you’re at a great height for bermudagrass or warm season grasses. This one can also do a 20% slope, which was the lowest of the three. This means it isn’t a great mower for steep lawns or bumpy backyards. It also has a cutting width of about eight inches, which is less than half the width of a normal residential push mower.

This one is available on Amazon for sale right now for a really good price.

Gardena Sileno Minimo: Overview

The Gardena Sileno is the one I had the most reservations about going into this. I’ve done a ton of reviews of Worx products and Husqvarna products, but have never heard of Sileno. I had to get this one because it is one of the top sellers on Amazon for under $1,000.

Much to my surprise, this thing is manufactured by Husqvarna. The charging station even has “Husqvarna” written on the side. The Sileno Minimo takes about 65 minutes to fully charge and runs for about 65 minutes until it heads back into the charging station. Gardena’s Sileno Minimo covers about ⅛ of an acre, which is exactly the same as the Worx above.

The height setting on this one was tough, which cuts between 0.8 inches and up to 2.0 inches. This cut height is ideal for warm season grasses but will get you into major trouble for longer grass types, like transitional or cool season grasses (think Tall Fescue). 

This thing was tiny though – with a cutting width of about 6.5 inches which is well below the Worx which means it will take a while longer to cut the same amount of grass as the Worx above. At a really good price over on Amazon – this one is cheaper than the Worx and still in a decent price range. 

Lastly, I couldn’t really get the mobile app to work on this thing. 

Husqvarna Automower 115 H Robot Mower: Analysis

The Husqvarna Automower is the “OG” of the robotic mower space because Husqvarna has been at this for a while and has a full spectrum of more expensive (but better) robotic mowers.

The specifications on this one are quite a bit more impressive. It takes about 60 minutes to charge but can cover 0.4 acres, which puts it well above the Worx Landroid and Gardena Sileno Minimo robotic mowers. The Automower also had a noticeable speed difference and zoomed across my yard relative to the other two mowers.

The height adjustment settings on this one go from 2 inches to 3.6 inches – putting it in a much better category for cool season grasses and overall making it great for both cool and warm season grass. The Automower can also handle a slightly steeper slope – rating at 30 degrees of incline before spinning its wheels. 

Best of all, the Husqvarna Automower has a 9 inch cutting width which is the widest. It also comes in at the lowest price point – right at $700 on Amazon. 

Ranking Robotic Mowers Based On My Backyard Experience

Alright – now that I’ve provided an overview, here are my rankings of the most affordable robotic lawn mowers on Amazon.

3. The Gardena Sileno Minimo

It was basically unusable on my cool season grass so it didn’t get the best chance. Besides it not fitting my lawn, it was extremely buggy, the app never worked, and it was slow and tiny. Even in a short, warm season grass – this thing would be a total wimp compared to the other two.

When I first got it, I could barely get it to operate and spent a bunch of time on the phone with customer support who tried to get me to do a hard reset on it or plug it into my USB drive of my computer. It was a really hectic process and it ultimately couldn’t get the job done.

It also doesn’t have a screen so its hard to operate it without the app (which never worked). If you are interested in learning more, you can check it out on Amazon.

2. Worx Landroid S 20V Robotic Lawn Mower

Coming in at number two is the Worx Landroid. I liked the rugged look of this one but it only cuts up to about 3 inches, which isn’t going to cut it in my lawn. It also kept getting stuck and lost in my yard. It was essentially an expensive turtle that kept getting flipped over on its back. 

It made it through my lawn eventually, but needed a lot of support to get the job done. Overall, the power isn’t there with this one. I was able to download the app on this one that let me schedule the cuts and also had a funny “party” mode. 

I did like the height adjustment knob on this one that was really intuitive, but overall I can’t give the Landroid the number one spot. This one is still pretty good and goes on sale on Amazon from time to time.

1. Husqvarna Automower 115H Robot Lawn Mower

The Husqvarna Automower 115H took the top spot in budget robotic lawn mower rankings based on my experience. It looks sort of goofy, but I’ll be darned – the mower worked. As compared to the Worx, which stalled out a few times, the Husqvarna was really good at “unstucking” itself. Whenever it got into a tough or tight spot, it could always find its way out and never needed my assistance.

It was cutting so fast and often, which was surprising to me, but it did a great job and really turned me from a skeptic to a bit of a believer in robotic mowers. If you want to spend some more money, you can grab a better Automower – but for the money – this one cannot be beaten. 

You can grab this one for a really low price on Amazon, where I got mine.

Final thoughts: Would I use a robotic mower forever?

I really thought these things would totally suck and was happy to be proven wrong. The Husqvarna was pretty cool but also did a great job and my lawn looked awesome.

In the long term, I would not use a robotic mower. Regardless of how good of a job they can do, I love putting the sweat equity into my yard and doing it myself. If you’re like me, then you understand.

The basics of how these robotic mowers work

Here are a few things I learned that all of these things have in common. They are all way more alike than they are different, but have nuances that ultimately make one better than the other two.

  1. They’re basically giant Roombas with razor blades attached on a spinny disk
  2. They mow in random patterns all throughout your lawn
  3. They are almost constantly running when they aren’t charging
  4. Most require boundary wires to set up the perimeter (all of these do), but others use GPS technology to set a perimeter
  5. Your lawn gets cut…….eventually
  6. Each mower has all the controls you need on top of the mower itself 

Setting up the robotic mowers

Unboxing and setting up the robotic mowers was basically the same thing over and over again. The cheaper (under $1,000) robotic mowers all use boundary wires. I believe the high-end robotic mowers have some sort of GPS technology that keeps them in a defined area.

But these cheaper ones have boundary wires and stakes that are used to define the perimeter of your yard. You simply put the stakes into the boundary wire and hammer them down. You can bury them if you’d like, but I didn’t find that necessary as the grass and soil will overtake them after a bit of time passes. One major differentiator in this process is that the Husqvarna Automower and the Gardena Sileno Minimo both require a guidewire that tells the mower how to get back to the charger, whereas the Worx Landroid uses the outer perimeter wire to get it back home to the charger. 

Each of these robotic mowers had the exact same setup process – including the perimeter wire, stakes, and instructions on how to set up the mower via an app that they like you to download. One tip to keep in mind with the boundary perimeter wire is that you will want to be cautious not to clip it with your weed eater or edger. 

I have to give the advantage in this section to the Worx Landroid robotic mower. Not having to set up the guidewire back to the charging station made the process a bit more straightforward and saved me some time.

Common questions about robotic mowers

Here are some common questions I had before I bought and tested these robotic mowers.

How much does a robot lawn mower cost?

Robotic lawn mowers have extremely high ceilings, but for residential use you can grab one for $700-$5,000.

Are robotic lawn mowers worth buying?

Robotic mowers are worth buying if you hate cutting your grass and want to spend more time doing other things.

Why are robotic lawnmowers so expensive?

Robotic mowers have a ton of tech inside that make them really expensive despite being so small.

What are the disadvantages of a robotic mower?

Robotic mowers have limited cut heights, don’t cut your lawn in a specific pattern, and can be quite expensive.

Do robot mowers cut well?

Robot mowers actually cut pretty well but not in a specific pattern.

How long do robot mowers last?

The jury is still out, but robot mowers likely last between 5-7 years.

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Finding The Best Electric Mower At Home Depot: My Search

Electric mowers at Home Depot are a dime a dozen. If you’ve ever been to the store (which I don’t recommend) then you may have noticed there is a whole aisle with electric mowers side-by-side.

Look familiar?

Walking down this aisle is dizzying and extremely unhelpful. It seems like the only things that differentiates the mowers is the price tag and colors.

How on planet Earth are you supposed to pick one? Well – we did the hard work and figured it out by buying basically all of them. Home Depot does have some of the best-selling mower brands.

Here are our favorite electric mowers at Home Depot:

  1. Milwaukee M18 Mower
  2. Ryobi 40V Mower
  3. Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower
  4. Makita LXT 18V Electric Mower
  5. Dewalt 20V Max 21.5in Mower

My experience buying and testing electric mowers

The reason I started reviewing mowers in the first place is because I was standing in Home Depot, just like you. I was walking the aisles with my wife trying to figure out what kind of mower we needed for our first home (about 5 years ago). 

We had no clue. The only thing that drove us to end up getting a gas-powered mower (my Troy Bilt mower) was because it was so dang cheap. While it wasn’t a total mistake, I wish I would have gone electric at the time.

Since then, I’ve bought and used over a dozen electric mowers. Yes – it has been insane and expensive but it has also been a LOT of fun.

5 Electric Mowers at Home Depot That Absolutely Slap

We took the time to review a bunch of these battery powered mowers from Home Depot. It was NOT cheap but it was pretty fun. Check out our Youtube channel if you want to see more mower reviews, including a ton of them in this article.

1. Milwaukee M18 Battery Powered Mower

Home Depot sells Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL lawn mower – almost exclusively. It is an interesting case because it stands alone as their sole mower offering for now. It’s as if they assembled a dedicated team of dorks and rednecks, brainstormed ideas to create the ultimate mower, and simply went for it without looking back.

Here are some of my favorite features:

  • It boasts serious power comparable to a 200cc lawn mower, surpassing even the classic Honda push mowers.
  • The mower features a robust steel deck, setting it apart from the more common plastic decks in the electric mower market
  • Rapid acceleration allows it to reach full throttle in less than a second – like a Lambo
  • The inclusion of a brushless motor is a must-have for being at the top of this list
  • The utilization of two 18V Milwaukee batteries offers compatibility with over 200 other M18 tools from Milwaukee.

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL outperforms many of the others that come in at a lower price point. However, it is worth noting that this superior performance comes with a higher price tag. With a retail price of over $1,000 at Home Depot (if you get it with the batteries), it might be considered one of the more expensive push mowers available. Nevertheless, for Milwaukee enthusiasts or those genuinely seeking peak battery-powered mower performance, this model unquestionably stands out as the best.

For a side-by-side comparison, one may find it insightful to evaluate how the M18 stacks up against the Ryobi 40V HP, another mower that also made it onto this list.

2. Ryobi 40V HP Whisper Series Mower

The Ryobi 40V HP whisper series mower is good for a few reasons. Back in the day, the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless battery-powered mower was my favorite electric mower from Ryobi! Yeah, it was my first-ever try with electric, and I thought it rocked. But you know how it goes, my taste got more sophisticated, and now I’ve become considerably wiser after testing dozens of these things.

Anyway, it still earned a spot on this list, though I gotta say, it’s a bit too lightweight for my liking. One bump into thick grass or a pesky stick, and it goes off-track like, “Whoa, hold up!”. I don’t like how light it is because the weight helps hold it glued to the ground and keeps it even over any rough patch.

But let me tell you about the best part! You can totally use the same Ryobi 40V battery with a bunch of other tools they offer – and they are plentiful. They have a ton of blowers and string trimmers that rock and can use the same system as this mower.

Oh, and don’t sleep on the mower itself. It’s got a brushless motor, sweet 6.0 Ah batteries, its super easy to start and maintain, and even a self-propelled mode. Seriously, it’s got all the fancy stuff that the Milwaukee one above has.

Even though it isn’t number one, the Ryobi 40V is still an absolute beast of a mower! If you’re into Ryobi, which I know a ton of folks are, this is a great option.

Oh, and heads up – you can snag this bad boy for a sweet deal at Home Depot.

3. Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower

Toro’s battery-powered mowers are a real beauty, no doubt about it. But, being completely honest – they can be a bit pricey. Still, if you’ve been spotting these vibrant red mowers in your neighborhood or garage, you’re definitely not alone. Toro is super popular and has amazing brand recognition. Basically the Kennedy of lawn mowers.

Not Bad!

Toro earned their reputation for making some of the most popular mowers out there, and what’s even more impressive is that these bad boys last for ages. But when they finally joined the battery game, they went all out and created the 60V Recycler mower. This one is built for the modern homeowner that has a small to mid-sized yard. If you want to really amp it up (pun intended), then you should check out their super recycler.

Let me drop some factoids on the cool stuff we liked about this new battery-powered beast:

  • It packs a punch similar to a 175cc gas mower. It  is for really-real.
  • That shiny red metal deck is not only recognizable, but way tougher than those plastic ones you see everywhere else.
  • The Recycler cutting system works magic, shredding the grass into tiny bits that your lawn will thank you for. They call them “Lawn Vitamins” and literally patented the term.
  • And check this out – they added a slick air intake valve on top that sucks in air, making the grass stand tall and giving you the smoothest cut ever. The downside is that when I put it to the test, it didn’t really do anything. Pure fiction!

Toro made a reliable mower that provides a good cut. While I definitely prefer other mowers, this one is not a bad option.

But hey, no worries! You can still grab this bad boy (currently $80 off!) at Home Depot, either online or in-store. Don’t miss out on this gem!

4. Makita LXT 18V Electric Mower

The Makita LXT mower was a bit of a head scratcher for me. Assembly-wise, the Makita LXT mower took a bit longer than I’d like, with a few tools required whereas others kind of just snap in place or have some hand screws. Starting it up was a little complex too, but I can appreciate the safety features required to stop a kid from chopping his hand off.

The real nuance provided by the Makita mower that turned this one into a “luxury mower” is the little dashboard near the handles. It’s got a battery indicator that’s super handy, unlike some others that make you remove the battery to check or go down near the blades and press a button. Plus, there’s a lever for controlling the self-propelled speed, ranging from turtle to rabbit mode. But that “quiet mode” button sticks out, I’m not entirely sold on its purpose. Not sure of many, if any, use cases for having an extra quiet feature on an already quiet electric mower.

Here’s what sets this mower apart – the steel deck. I’m not a fan of plastic decks, so this was a big win for me. The single height adjustment is a game-changer, saving me from the hassle of adjusting each wheel separately. This is low-key a really nice function to have. Oh, and those six-inch wheels are solid and don’t feel flimsy like others I’ve tried.

When it comes to battery power, I put it to the test. With two batteries, I got about 38 minutes and 29 seconds of mowing, enough for my front yard and part of the back. But with four batteries, you can expect a full 80 minutes of mowing.

Now, the charge time was a bit longer than what they claimed – took about an hour and five minutes instead of 45 minutes. C’mon people!

Pricing-wise, it ranges from $689 to $789 depending on the size and batteries included. You can grab it at Home Depot, and they sometimes have sales, so keep an eye out for savings! It looks like it is $200 off right now, which is huge.

5. Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch battery powered mower

Dewalt’s 20V Max mower is one I was intrigued by, especially since Dewalt transitioned from 40V to 20V batteries for their outdoor equipment. I’ve tested various 20V Dewalt products, and they usually deliver. So, let’s break down the benefits and features:

  • Longest run-time among battery-powered mowers (75 minutes).
  • Lightweight and easy to use with a push-to-start button and self-propelled function.
  • Durable with a wide steel deck, backed by a three-year warranty and a money-back guarantee.
  • Compatible with other Dewalt tools, offering over 200 products that use the same 20V battery.
  • Made in the USA, supporting American-made products
  • Easy storage with a foldable design that saves space.

Overall, the Dewalt Self-Propelled Mower impressed me a lot, and its compatibility with other Dewalt tools sweetened the deal. 

If you have a smaller yard, it’s highly recommended, but for larger lots, keeping spare batteries around might be necessary. You can find it at Home Depot’s website for online purchase or in-store pickup.

Common questions about electric mowers at Home Depot

Here are some common questions we get from folks who are searching for a new electric mower from Home Depot:

What are the disadvantages of an electric lawn mower?

Electric lawn mowers require recharging the batteries and can often be less powerful than their gas-powered counterparts. But that is quickly evolving and changing.

How long do electric lawn mowers last?

Most electric lawn mowers last for 7–10 years. They can run for around 45-50 minutes on a single charge.

What is the average price for an electric lawn mower?

The average electric lawn mower price is around $400 in 2023.

Do electric mowers cut better than gas?

Electric mowers can often cut just as well as gas mowers for small yards.

What to look for when buying a battery-powered lawn mower at Home Depot

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each. For example, Greenworks sells like 60 mowers, only a handful of them would I ever consider for this list. EGO also sells a bunch of mowers, and only a few are within an acceptable price range to be on this list.

Metal where it matters: the deck 

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

 A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it

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EGO Select Cut XP Lawn Mower Review (LM2150SP)

The EGO Select Cut XP self-propelled mower is an absolute tank. EGO did it again – and this mower has all of the bells and whistles. 

If you have never heard of EGO, you’re missing out on a modern day cult. Everybody that has one of their lawn tools is obsessed and promises to never go back. Heck, we did a five-way head-to-head matchup with a bunch of mowers and the EGO flock came out in full force to represent. 

Bottom line: The EGO Select Cut XP is the cream of the crop when it comes to EGO mowers. It has powerful torque, a great self-propelled function, and is pretty durable. Psst….you can grab one of these for a really good price on Amazon instead of Lowes.

Let me break down my review of the EGO Select Cut XP – the model number LM2150SP or LM2156SP (whatever that means). I also compare the EGO Select Cut to the Stihl RMA battery mower.

Jump ahead:

My experience with EGO mowers

I’ve had the good fortune of using a few EGO mowers. They have a noticeable trait that makes them stick out: they are absolute tanks. They feel like a man’s mower. Bulkier, sturdier, more powerful – a self-propelled function that truly pulls you forward. 

I’ve gotten to use a few and compare them across a bunch of other electric mowers – probably well over a dozen now. EGO is always one of my favorites because of how popular they are. Needless to say, I’m experienced when it comes to using these. In fact, I walked one of them on the street in my neighborhood until it died. It was well over an hour – that’s dedication.

My favorite EGO mower is the new EGO LM2200SP mower that is incredible – read more here.

EGO LM2150SP Select Cut XP Electric Mower Review

The EGO LM2150SP has a lot to love. Let me do a rundown of my experience using this mower to help you see if you would want to snag one of these. I’ll start by breaking down the power.

Power and feel on the EGO LM2150 / LM2156 mower

The EGO LM2150SP Select Cut XP is one of the best analogs to gas-powered mowers that I have come across. For starters, it just feels like a gas powered mower despite looking nothing really like one. When EGO says Select Cut XP – they mean that this is their highest torque mower. At 8.3 lbs/ft – the EGO Select Cut XP puts out more torque than just about any normal residential gas mower. More than Honda’s lineup of push mowers for sure.

One thing I love about the LM2150SP is that the self-propelled function is super easy to use and control – even when in use. You simply roll up this little cylinder to toggle the self-propelled function’s speed. Something that stood out to me the first time I used EGO’s Touch Drive technology was how it truly pulls you forward, whereas others are a bit underwhelming and still require a good bit of pushing. 

Lastly, this mower has multiple blades. Two at a time will run on this bad boy, which means it will be tough to miss a blade of grass. The mower comes with three blades that can be swapped out depending on if you are bagging or mulching.

EGO 56V Battery performance

I put a ton of elbow grease and time into this series of tests. Like I mentioned earlier, I actually walked this mower around my neighborhood until it died to see how it compared to four other mowers. This isn’t the most scientific test in the world, but it does help you see how it is relative to other mowers (if you are shopping around). 

Once the battery was dead, I plugged it into the charger to see exactly how long it took for the 10 Ah battery to recharge. 

Here were my results:

  1. The EGO ran for an hour and thirty one minutes before dying – not bad!
  2. The 56V 10Ah battery took the least amount of time to fully recharge, compared to the other mowers – an hour and four minutes.

Battery time will vary wildly depending on many factors, like the load you are cutting – but is entirely dependent on the amp-hours (Ah) of your battery. The more Ah, the more run time. If you are grabbing this mower, make sure you have some higher Ah batteries to ensure it runs as long as you need. Mine came with 10.0 Ah, but I have smaller EGO batteries as well that fit into the 765 CFM blower and their Multi-Head tool.

EGO Mower Durability

One thing I dislike about the EGO, and most EGO mowers in general, is that they have plastic cutting decks. Traditional gas push mowers have metal decks – it is just the name of the game for heavy duty lawn mowing.

The LM2150SP from EGO is no different. A plastic cutting deck – I really prefer metal decks. I haven’t had a bad experience (yet) with these decks, but am always worried about cracking, chipping or otherwise just breaking in half. 

To be fair, I’ve read hundreds of Youtube comments from folks who have their EGO mowers for 8+ years without the slightest damage to the plastic cutting deck. Otherwise, I haven’t heard or experienced any issues with durability. These things are built like tanks and will only leave you worrying about changing the batteries every 5-7 years.

Value and cost of the EGO mower

The EGO Select Cut XP (LM2150SP) comes in at around $450 for the tool-only version on Amazon, where I found it for the lowest price. That means if you already own the battery and don’t need an extra, you can get it for an absurd steal.

If you want to get it with huge batteries and a turbocharger (the LM2156SP version), you’re going to pay a lot more but can grab it on Amazon nonetheless.

My recommendation: EGO Select Cut XP Self-propelled

The EGO Select Cut XP is a really, really good mower. In fact, it has changed the hearts and minds of hundreds of thousands of skeptics who now are obsessed with it (me included). It has some pretty fancy functionality, is way more durable than I thought, is powerful as all-get-out, and if you get it tool-only, is a heck of a price.

All-in-all, this one gets the TLR stamp of approval. If you’re going with EGO and have money to spend, this is probably the top of the line option and will definitely turn your neighbors’ heads.

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5 Battery Mowers with Durable Metal Cutting Decks

My favorite battery powered mower with a metal cutting deck is EGO’s new aluminum deck mower. I’ve used this battery powered mower extensively and it is easily the best value for the money. I also made a full YouTube review video highlighting the top battery mowers here.

Battery-powered mowers with metal cutting decks simply provide too many benefits and have the best comparison to their gas-powered counterparts. I love them for a lot of reasons, which I will get to – and have also used dozens of battery powered mowers. You can grab the number one choice, the Greenworks 80V mower here.

So here are my favorite battery mowers with metal decks:

  1. EGO 56V LM2200SP Walk-Behind Mower
  2. Greenworks Pro 80V Battery Powered Mower
  3. Milwaukee M18 18V Battery Powered Mower
  4. Dewalt 20V Max Self Propelled Mower
  5. Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower

Honorable mention, but a little expensive: Stihl RMA 510 V battery powered mower.

5 Sweet Electric Mowers with Metal Decks

Alright y’all – let me start with my very top choice. I’ve been reluctant to name this electric mower brand number one because I had an initially rocky experience, but after using dozens of others AFTER this one, it turned out to actually be the best for the price.

1.) EGO 56V LM2200SP 22-Inch Walk Behind Mower

Folks this new mower from EGO – the LM2200SP – is the best electric mower on planet Earth. It is the newest EGO mower and has a nice 22-inch aluminum cutting deck that makes it the most durable EGO mower. The LM2200SP also comes with Touch Drive technology and Select Cut (two blades). Touch Drive technology is simply an easy way to control the speed of the self-propelled mower.

Aluminum rules.

We don’t just sort mowers by the best seller and then regurgitate the specifications to you. We are actually going to break down exactly why this one is our absolute favorite. 

If I could draw up the perfect lawn mower in a lab, this one would be darn near close. It has all of my favorite things including:

The only EGO mower with a metal deck – which rockets it up the list in my opinion. Metal decks are way more durable, temperature resistant, and provide a little more weight to keep the mower balanced. 

  • Of course it has the brushless motor and 56V battery system with a massive 10 Ah battery
  • Easy push button start that gets you going
  • Folds in half for storing in the winter or tight spaces around the garage or shed
  • A top run time at over an hour! (70 minutes)
  • More powerful than the average gas push mower at 11.1 lbs of torque

This mower is incredible and easily gives any mower – gas or electric – a run for their money. You can check the price here on Amazon.

2.) Greenworks Pro 80V Brushless Electric Mower

I love the Greenworks Pro 80V electric mower, although I didn’t always. The first one I purchased had some sort of error that made it difficult to learn. But I swapped it out and had a great experience with the replacement. 

Greenworks makes this mower with a nice 21 inch steel cutting deck that looks and feels like a gas-powered push mower. A few other things I like about this mower:

  • A really nice dashboard that shows you battery life and allows you to toggle the speed of the self-propelled function
  • A brushless motor
  • It also has a turbo button that allows you to amp up the power (literally) to take on thicker grass
  • Great battery life
  • An 80V battery lineup that can also accommodate their 80V blower

This one has really grown one me, to the point of it being my go-to every weekend mower. Yeah, that’s right. I own 11 push mowers and this is the one I grab every time.

You can grab yours on Amazon for a great price or get it at your local Costco if you’re a member.

3) Milwaukee M18 Battery Powered Mower

Honestly, the Milwaukee M18 mower is the best battery powered lawn mower I’ve ever used. 

It has everything I look for in a mower: a steel deck, really great battery life, batteries that can be used across hundreds of tools, supreme power, and all the bells and whistles. I got to use it extensively when I did a full review of it on Youtube.

My favorite thing about this mower is that it is built solid as a rock. It is heavier than most electric mowers on the market, which I actually like. Some of the lighter electric mowers have a propensity to bounce around with every little divot in the grass. With the M18, you will have an experience extremely similar to a gas powered mower.

You’re probably wondering, “If he is so obsessed with this mower, then why is it not number one?”. And that would be a great question.

The only – and I mean ONLY – downside to the Milwaukee M18 mower is that it has a hefty price tag. If you don’t own the batteries already then you can expect to pay well over a grand for this bad boy. 

Don’t worry – it goes on sale from time to time at Home Depot if you want to check it out.

4.) Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch lawn mower

I gotta say, I love Dewalt. They make some great tools – from their sweet Dewalt weed eaters, their leaf blowers, and even their air compressors – all of which I’ve had the opportunity to review.

Their mower is really well built. They made it to mimic a gas-powered mower and it actually looks exactly like one. It has a lot to like, including:

  • A wide 21.5 inch steel deck which is right in the gas-powered range
  • Some nice functionality, like a self-propelled function and increased torque when you get to thicker patches of grass
  • Some cutting heights that give you a lot of range for short grass like Berumuda

But my favorite part is that it comes with two massive 12 Ah batteries. This gives you an absurd amount of run time. I’m talking well over an hour of run time.

Where most mowers fall short and die after about 30-45 mins, this one will lap them completely and get you on to your next task faster. The mower is dang sweet and comes in at a reasonable price point if you grab it at Home Depot online.

5.) Toro Recycler SmartStow Battery Mower

Toro’s 60V Recycler Mower has a lot of really great bells and whistles. Frankly, it has all the features I would want in a battery powered mower. It has:

  • A steel deck
  • A nice 6 Ah battery
  • This cool function that pulls air up so you can cut the grass better
  • Patented LawnVitamins mulching system
  • Personal Pace technology, which adjusts the speed of the mower on your ability to push the mower

But it also has a few downsides. For example, Toro doesn’t have a huge selection of battery tools. That means you don’t get the upside of buying a battery kit and using it across power tools and outdoor power equipment. 

I also felt like some of the features of this mower were a bit gimmicky. The “Vortex” air flow technology doesn’t really seem to do anything. The Personal Pace feature was kind of annoying and unsettling, and the batteries took FOREVER to charge.

This is a good option if you already own a Toro battery or are for some reason a Toro loyalist. Otherwise, there’s a reason it is number five on this list.

You can check the price at Home Depot here.

My experience with battery powered mowers with metal decks

When it comes to evaluating battery powered mowers, I’m VERY seasoned. For starters, I filmed a Youtube video of me testing out five of the most popular in a head-to-head matchup. On top of that, I’ve done countless other Youtube reviews of battery mowers. 

Given all this personal experience with electric mowers, I feel pretty confident that I can tell you exactly what you should be looking for in an electric mower. And most importantly – what to avoid. There is a lot of garbage and marketing gimmicks out there, so let me break down for you exactly what to look for.

What I look for in battery powered mowers

If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower (which you are), you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you. If you’re like me, you will tune them out.

Below are my recommendations:

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each.

Metal where it matters: the deck 

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

 A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our purchasing an electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it.

Why we started The Lawn Review

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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3 EGO Mowers That Are Better Than Gas

EGO lawn mowers are the most popular battery powered mowers. Maybe not in terms of sales, but I’ve never heard of someone really disliking EGO’s mowers. The best EGO lawn mower is the new EGO LM2200SP mower with an aluminum cutting deck because it has a super strong build with all the premium bells and whistles.

Maybe I’m talking to the wrong people, but whenever we post a review with an EGO product in it on our Youtube channel, the EGO cult comes out in full force. The only downside to EGO lawn mowers is that there are a ton of different models and they all look and sound the same.

I created The Lawn Review to decipher that lingo and give you my opinion on the best EGO lawn mower on the market.

EGO Lawn Mowers: Better and stronger than gas (!)

I’ve had the chance to use multiple EGO mowers which makes me #blessed. But I’ve also used a ton of other electric mowers. Here are my favorite EGO lawn mowers.

1.) EGO Power+ LM2200SP Walk-behind mower

Folks this new mower from EGO – the LM2200SP – is the best electric mower on planet Earth. It is the newest EGO mower and has a nice 22-inch aluminum cutting deck that makes it the most durable EGO mower. The LM2200SP also comes with Touch Drive technology and Select Cut (two blades). Touch Drive technology is simply an easy way to control the speed of the self-propelled mower.

Aluminum rules.

We don’t just sort mowers by the best seller and then regurgitate the specifications to you. We are actually going to break down exactly why this one is our absolute favorite. 

If I could draw up the perfect lawn mower in a lab, this one would be darn near close. It has all of my favorite things including:

The only EGO mower with a metal deck – which rockets it up the list in my opinion. Metal decks are way more durable, temperature resistant, and provide a little more weight to keep the mower balanced. 

  • Of course it has the brushless motor and 56V battery system with a massive 10 Ah battery
  • Easy push button start that gets you going
  • Folds in half for storing in the winter or tight spaces around the garage or shed
  • A top run time at over an hour! (70 minutes)
  • More powerful than the average gas push mower at 11.1 lbs of torque

This mower is incredible and easily gives any mower – gas or electric – a run for their money. You can check the price here on Amazon.

2.) EGO Power+ LM2133 21-Inch Select Cut Lawn Mower

Next up on the list is the LM2133 mower from EGO. This one does have some bells and whistles, but doesn’t go too overboard. 

The LM2133 has all of the standard beautiful features in an EGO mower (56V battery, 21 inch deck, brushless motor), but also has some nice extras.

This EGO mower has the Select Cut functionality, which if you reference our dictionary above, would know that it has multiple cutting blades. The multiple blades help work together to finely mulch the grass, allowing you to move faster and make fewer passes in your yard. It also helps you avoid leaving any spare grass blades behind and having a rough looking lawn.

This one also has TouchDrive technology, allowing you to easily control the self-propelled function with the palm of your hand instead of with triggers. Not bad. You just swipe up on it and get it going – no need to stop or even press buttons. See how this function compares to the Stihl RMA 510 V mower.

You can grab this one on Amazon as well for a great price. If you want to boost the run time from 45 minutes to 65 minutes, get the tool-only version and buy a separate 7.5 Ah battery. This one comes with a 5.0 Ah battery that may not fully get you where you need to go.

3.) EGO POWER+ 21″ Select Cut XP Mower with Touch Drive LM2156SP

The LM2156SP is obviously the Cadillac of EGO mowers. It comes with every bell and whistle. The belle of the ball. But it comes with a price.

Here are some of the features that make this one COMPLETELY unbeatable:

  • Select Cut XP functionality means that this is the highest torque EGO mower on the planet 
  • It also has Touch Drive self-propelled functionality, making it the easiest to use and control
  • Longest run time at 75 minutes because it comes with 10.0 Ah batteries, basically double the Ah of their other mowers

So this is the most powerful, longest running, easiest to control EGO mower. It is truly probably the best battery powered mower available from a technical specification perspective. But it doesn’t have a steel deck, which makes me sad. 

You can buy this one from Amazon, where I found it for the best price.

What I look for in battery powered mowers

If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower (which you are), you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you. If you’re like me, you will tune them out.

Below are my recommendations:

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each.

Metal where it matters: the deck 

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

 A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it

Common questions I get about EGO lawn mowers

Is EGO made in China?

Yep, sadly EGO manufactures their products in China. EGO is owned by the parent company Chervon which also makes FLEX and SKIL. They capitalize all their tool brands, I guess.

There are very few American made electric mower manufacturers despite it easily being the largest market. 

How long does an EGO mower last?

It depends! EGO mowers will last for quite a while as long as you take care of them. If you use these very often, you are more likely to burn through the parts. With standard use, I would imagine most EGO mowers will last a good 7-8 years before you will be too tempted to buy a newer model.

Is it okay to leave an EGO battery in the mower?

It is fine to leave the EGO mower battery inside the mower as long as you don’t have kids running around your garage trying to fire up mowers. It is a safety hazard to leave it fully loaded.

Is it okay to leave an EGO battery on the charger?

You typically don’t want to leave batteries on the charger beyond when they are charged, but I’ve done it forever and never had a problem. Some people will read this and get mad – I’ve had no problems.

How long will a 7.5 Ah EGO battery last?

It totally depends on how much grass you are mowing but I’d say a typical mow with a 7.5 Ah battery will last you about 50 minutes.

My experience with EGO lawn products

I’ve used a ton of EGO products. My favorite thing about them is that they are really high quality and all use the same 56V battery. Some other brands have 40V, 18V, and others across all of their tools that limit the ability to share batteries and chargers among tools. It also costs more money having to buy different battery types.

I have extensively reviewed some of EGOs blowers, their weed eaters, the amazing multi-tool power head they have, and more.

They all slap.

Breaking down EGO’s vocabulary

EGO has a bunch of homegrown vocabulary, much like us Southerners. The downside is that it makes it difficult to differentiate the products because they have so many random names attached. Here is our translation guide for their EGO lawn mowers:

Power+ naming

Power+ just references EGO’s battery powered line of tools. Basically everything of theirs is Power+. It’s their standard naming convention and basically EGO’s last name. 

Self-propelled function on EGO lawn mowers

The self-propelled function is an optional function you can use to move the mower forward using a trigger on the handle. It is really nice for moving the mower over banks and hills or for adding some additional power to a thick cut of grass. The downside is that it can drain your battery – use carefully!

EGO Touch Drive Explained

Touch Drive is a function that allows you to more easily control the self-propelled function. Whereas self-propelled EGO lawn mowers without touch drive use a squeeze trigger, Touch Drive mowers have a trigger inside the handle that allows you to use your palm to initiate the self-propelled function, then a speed dial to adjust how quickly it moves.

EGO Peak Power mower Explained

Peak power allows you to combine any two EGO batteries to operate the mower (saving you money if you already own one).

EGO Select Cut mower Definition

Select Cut refers to more than one mower blade on the bottom of the mower.

EGO Select Cut XP mower Definition

Select Cut XP is a designation given to the highest torque Select Cut option that EGO offers.

EGO Speed IQ mower definition

Speed IQ is a tool that automatically adjusts the speed of the self-propelled function based off of the terrain. It will slow down to make sure thicker areas get fully cut and speed up over areas that you may have already passed or aren’t as resistant.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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Makita 18V LXT 21 inch Mower Review + Video

Makita’s 21 inch 36V LXT brushless mower is a beauty to look at. They make awesome power tools, some really good lawn tools, and amazing mowers….right? I was underwhelmed with this Makita mower.

I got my hands on the new Makita 36V LXT mower and put it to the absolute test. In fact, over on our Youtube channel this mower was the MOST requested mower review we’ve ever done. Tons of folks were leaving comments on our other mower videos asking about this Makita LXT mower because it looks sweet, is a decent price, and is front and center at just about every Home Depot in the country.

Let me give you my honest thoughts on a number of categories.

The Makita 36V (18 x 2) Brushless Electric Mower Review

I went and grabbed the Makita mower from my local Home Depot. Many people think I get these things sent for free. I do not. So you can trust my experience on this one as the old wallet took a big hit.

Set-up and starting the Makita LXT mower

Unlike most electric mowers these days that have a super easy set-up process that doesn’t involve any tools, the Makita LXT had a few tools I had to use to get it all assembled. While it wasn’t overall difficult to assemble, it did take about twice the time as some of the other mowers I assembled. In fact, I did a 5-way head-to-head electric mower challenge and this one was the longest set-up.

Starting the mower is a little bit complex, too. I appreciate the safety aspects, but it was pretty cumbersome to get started. You press down the red button on the right side of the mower, then pull the handle bar down which engages the blade, then pull another bar over to get the self-propelled function. 

Using the Dashboard on the Makita LXT electric mower

One thing I really liked about the Makita mower is that it comes with a little dashboard panel near the handles. It has a battery light indicator that is super helpful compared to others, some of which make you take off the battery to check how much juice is left. It also has a lever that allows you to control how quickly the self-propelled function goes (ranging from turtle to rabbit).

Lastly there’s this little button that acts as a “quiet mode” which really doesn’t serve much of a purpose. It sends the RPMs down to a lower level, which basically makes the mower less effective. I don’t really get it.

The frame and body of the Makita LXT mower

One thing that this mower has that a lot of the competition doesn’t: a steel deck. So many electric mowers have plastic decks which I am not a huge fan of. I like the weight of a steel deck as well to help keep the mower on the straight and narrow.

One huge benefit of this is the single height adjustment. For folks that don’t know, they make mowers now that can be adjusted at one side of the mower to set the height for the whole mower. I only realized how great this was after having a mower that required it to be adjusted at each wheel separately. Such a nightmare. The heights range from 1.25 inches to 4 inches – great for bermuda or tall fescue. 

The wheels on this Makita mower are also a nice, solid six inches and don’t look or feel plastic-y like some other mowers out there. I also like that the battery housing holds four 5 Ah 18V batteries from Makita, which should get you a decent amount of time. When you want to switch between the first set of batteries to the second, you have to stop and switch a knob that indicates which batteries you want to draw from. Not unusual, but still kind of inefficient.

Battery run time and charge time tests on the Makita mower

Makita can claim whatever they want about the run-time of this mower. I am going to put it to the test to see what is real.

With this mower, I ran it in my yard with a timer to see exactly how long I could mow before the batteries died. With the first set of two batteries, I only got basically my front yard and part of my back – with 38 minutes and 29 seconds. With four batteries, you can probably get a full 80 minutes.

When it comes to charge time, it is also important to see how quickly you can reuse the batteries after a mow (or in the middle of it if they die). I popped two of these dead batteries on the charger and found that it took them about an hour and five minutes to charge (not 45 minutes like advertised).

Cost and value comparison for Makita LXT

The cost of the Makita LXT mower varies by size and batteries, but the one I got that came with two batteries and a 21 inch cutting deck cost about $689. Fully loaded with 4 batteries will run you about $789. 

You can grab any of these variations at Home Depot and adjust the price, where it often goes on sale.

Would I recommend the Makita 36V LXT mower?

This is a tough one. On paper, this is a fantastic mower. Steel deck, Makita’s great brand quality at places like Home Depot, a bunch of bells and whistles, and some great batteries.

But man – this thing was a disappointment when I actually used it. Not a great cut, some weird functions that didn’t make sense like the “quiet mode”, and a huge price tag. To be honest, I think you can do better with one of the best battery powered mowers we wrote about.

I WOULD recommend this mower to someone who already has some nice Makita 18V batteries that can save a ton of money by purchasing the tool-only version from Home Depot for a lower price.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

My experience with battery powered mowers

What I’m about to say may be extreme, but I think I may be the most experienced battery-powered mower reviewer (if that is a word) on the planet. I’ve used just about every battery mower on the market and consider myself a snob.

In fact, I own 11 mowers – which my wife of course loves (just kidding). Eight of them are battery powered push mowers and five of them are all 2023 models. It has been a weird year.

Anyways – I saved you the time of having to compare and contrast all the meaningless specifications and thought I could translate it into plain English.

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Ultimate Electric Hedge Trimmer Buying Guide: 2024

Hedge trimmers are great tools for keeping a crisp, clean looking lawn. My wife always calls it a well-manicured lawn and it is the standard that we keep for getting “curb appeal”.

Yeah…these will get the job done!

Keeping your yard and garden neat and tidy means regular maintenance. One essential task is trimming and shaping hedges and other shrubs and bushes. If you only have one or two plants, a manual trimmer or garden shears will work. But, for longer hedgerows, grouped shrubs, and other established plantings, a hedge trimmer will make trimming and maintenance easy.

My experience with electric hedge trimmers

Probably my favorite outdoor chore growing up was trimming the bushes. Picking up the leaves after was another story, but there is something so satisfying about shaping a bush into exactly the shape you want. I also like that there is a color-change aspect to trimming a bush as well, making it super satisfying.

Hedge trimmers that are older than I am and still work.

I’ve used a ton of corded electric hedge trimmers and a few cordless. I grew up constantly worrying about the extension cord getting cut in half or falling out. When I switched over to cordless, I had to worry about the weight distribution and running out of juice. 

Both are great options in my experience, but I want you to make up your own mind.

What Is a Hedge Trimmer?

This special tool has a blade that ranges from five to 26 inches long (like this Greenworks 60V hedge trimmer).This is the ideal length for cutting through shrub branches up to 3/4-inch thick. Hedge trimmers are powered by one of three sources; gas, electricity, or battery powered.The type of fuel that powers the trimmer will have an impact on how easy it is to use and how well it performs.

What Can I Do With a Hedge Trimmer?

As the name implies, a hedge trimmer is a tool for keeping hedges trimmed. However, that’s not all it can do. In fact, a hedge trimmer can help with a variety of garden chores. Just a few include:

  • Trim and shape bushes
  • Prune perennials and tall ornamental grasses,
  • Trimming ground cover
  • Cutting small little bushes
  • Cutting large, dry weeds and overgrowth
  • Pruning small trees and branches
  • Cutting debris and small sticks
  • Removing unwanted vines and other foliage

As you can see, a good hedge trimmer makes sense. In fact, we think it’s a pretty wise investment. But, before you get your credit card out, find out what to look for in a hedge trimmer.

Hedge Trimmer Features to Look For

If you’re in the market for a reliable new hedge trimmer, there are a few features you’ll want to take note of:

Weight and ease of use

The overall weight of your hedge trimmer fully fueled is a very important consideration. A gas hedge trimmer will weigh the most, battery-powered units are moderately heavy and electric plug-in hedge trimmers are the lightest.

Maneuverability is also a huge component as you want one that gives you flexibility, is two-sided, and can be used comfortably for a long period of time. For this reason, a good solid grip is really important.

Blades 

Hedge trimmers come in single or double action. Single action means one blade moves while another is still. In a double action trimmer, both blades move. I prefer double action blades because you can go up and down a bush without having to restart at the top or move into a different position.

Safety Features  

All of your lawn and garden tools pose a threat if not handled properly. Look for a hedge trimmer with safety features such as a quick power-off button and blade guard. Blade guards are great for storage and some tools have guards near the handle that protect from stray brush flying back into your face if you are getting really into a bush.

Nice brush guard on this one.

Value for the Money

New lawn tools are fun, but they should also be practical. Get yourself a hedge trimmer that’s got all the power you need without spending a fortune. It is easy to find the best hedge trimmer on the market, but its another to find the absolute best hedge trimmer for the money. A lot goes into the value equation. For example, there’s a great WORX hedge trimmer that is corded electric that is absolutely phenomenal.

Different types of hedge trimmers explained

Hedge trimmers surprisingly don’t come in all shapes and sizes, but there are a few notable types out there to understand. Let’s get into it.

Corded vs cordless vs gas hedge trimmers

I’ve done a full post that breaks down corded vs cordless hedge trimmers, but I’ll share my thoughts here.

I think corded hedge trimmers can be great since they are cheap, have unlimited run time (as long as you pay your bills) and seem to last forever.  The downside is that they have limitations with mobility and tend to become unplugged.

Cordless hedge trimmers are more expensive and have a fixed run time, but are way easier to operate without any limitations. They are great tools that can be bought for pretty cheap if you already own the batteries on another tool from the same lineup.

Gas hedge trimmers are more common for professional use, but I suppose could have some use around the house as well. The main downside to gas powered hedge trimmers is the maintenance schedule. 

Get Ready for More Beautiful Hedges, Bushes and Shrubs

Now that you’re a hedge trimming expert, you can confidently make the investment. You’ll have beautifully sculpted hedges, perfectly pruned bushes, and gorgeously shaped shrubs your neighbors will envy in no time.

Next thing you know, you’ll be shaping your bushes into various statues and looking quite exquisite.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

Common questions about hedge trimmers

How much does a hedge trimmer cost?

A good hedge trimmer will cost anywhere from $100 to $300 depending on whether you get corded or cordless versions.

What size hedge trimmer do I need?

A great hedge trimmer size for home use is around 22 inches up to 26 inches.

What are the popular types of hedge trimmers?

Popular hedge trimmer types include corded, cordless, and gas powered hedge trimmers – with corded being the most popular.

How often should I oil my hedge trimmer?

I oil my hedge trimmer yearly, but only trim a few times per year. If you have a LOT of bushes, I would bump it up to about 2-3x per year.

What are some popular hedge trimmer brands?

Popular hedge trimmer brands include BLACK+DECKER, Dewalt, and Makita.

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