If you haven’t heard, Toro released a new 60V electric TimeCutter – a modern twist on their classic gas-powered Toro TimeCutter SS4225.
Bottom Line: While the gas-powered Toro TimeCutter is better for commercial use or very large yards, the new 60V electric TimeCutter is better overall – providing a quieter, easier ride and even moving a bit faster.
Luckily, I got my hands on both mowers for a nice side-by-side comparison of both gas and electric Toro TimeCutters. While they look nearly identical, they have some stark differences that you should be aware of before you pull the trigger. Let’s dive in:
But the electric TimeCutter, the 60V eTimeCutter, felt just as strong. I tested both of these in my backyard and my neighbors backyard and cut grass, wet grass, went over sticks, and even mulched leaves. The eTimeCutter did a bang up job.
While I think that on the upper end of power the gas version is probably more powerful, you wouldn’t notice a difference in power between the two mowers on a day-to-day basis. Basically, if you’re a normal homeowner and use the electric version of the TimeCutter, you’ll be fine.
One important note – my friend and I did a drag race comparison of the two mowers and the electric one is faster by about 1.5 MPH. It has some serious zip and acceleration that blew my hat off my head (not kidding).
The gas Toro TimeCutter is more comfortable
As much as I wanted the electric TimeCutter to be more comfortable – it just wasn’t. The gas TimeCutter SS4225 comes with armrests and a crazy suspension system called MyRIDE. The MyRIDE suspension system connects the footplate and the chair in one unit. The unit is connected to a core suspension spring that is pretty bouncy – but in a good way. Basically it has the seated component of the mower separated from the rest of the mower in a way that I’ve never seen before.
It only makes sense when you’ve stepped onto the mower. Once you’re on it, you can really appreciate the MyRIDE suspension system’s ability to make the bumps and turbulence basically nothing. If you’ve ever been in a car with a great suspension system, like a Ford Raptor or similar, you will get the same feeling.
What about the eTimeCutter?
The eTimeCutter surprisingly doesn’t have much of a suspension system at all and doesn’t have arm rests. Boo! It looks like the eTimeCutter was built on the body of last year’s gas-powered TimeCutter – the same frame and suspension system they’ve used for the past few years. Not bad, but not the upgrade that the gas version got.
The battery system on the new eTimeCutter is great
The eTimeCutter comes with 4 60V 10 Ah batteries, which is a ton. These are huge and come with cool handles that allow you to pull it out of the back of the mower with ease. It takes a lot of battery to run a zero-turn, so I’m not surprised to see the massive batteries on this one.
You can get around two acres of cut time with the batteries fully charged. Obviously if you compare this to gas, the gas mower reigns supreme as you can just quickly fill it up with more gas.
But when it comes to run-time, it doesn’t matter as much as you would think. If you have a 42 inch zero turn mower, then you probably aren’t mowing more than two acres at a time. For example, if you have a three acre property, I wouldn’t use anything less than a 52 inch zero turn like the Ariens IKON XD 52.
So – if you have between 1-2 acres, I recommend the electric version just because it is easier to maintain.
My overall recommendation: Gas or electric TimeCutter zero-turn?
The recommendation is dynamic: if you are a normal homeowner, the eTimeCutter is supreme because it requires no maintenance and is just as good for under two acres. If you have more than two acres or are a professional landscaper, then the gas version is better.
But if you are meeting the requirements to get a gas mower, why wouldn’t you go with a bigger one from someone like John Deere or Husqvarna?
What we look for in zero-turn mowers
A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost.
Cutting width
Blade size and cutting width are important to keep consistent with the size of your lawn. Obviously longer blades are best for larger lawns, but begin to sacrifice a little bit of the agility afforded by a smaller blade.
Transmission type
Transmission is also an important consideration for a zero-turn mower. Most zero turn mowers do not have manual transmissions, but have either automatic or hydrostatic transmissions. Automatic works just like an automatic car does with a gas pedal and belts. Hydrostatic transmissions use fluid to transfer their power to the blades and the rest of the engine. I prefer and recommend hydrostatic transmissions because they typically require less maintenance and have a longer life (plus it sounds cooler).
Cost and value
Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time when compared to a riding tractor or push mower. Zero turn mowers are an upfront investment, but reap a huge return over time.
Stihl and EGO both make great battery powered mowers. I own both the Stihl RMA 510 V and the EGO Select Cut mower with Touch Drive – two of the most popular electric mowers in the game right now.
After using both mowers extensively, I like the EGO Select Cut mower better because it provided a better cut and has a more extensive battery series.
Comparing EGO Select Cut to the Stihl RMA 510 V electric mower
I took both of these mowers into my backyard for a little side-by-side comparison. Here’s what I found.
The EGO Select Cut mower is more powerful than the Stihl battery mower
It is always difficult to quantify the power output of an electric mower. Gas mowers are easy to compare because they have horsepower or ccs or other metrics. One metric that EGO advertises is torque.
EGO claims that their Select Cut mower puts out about 8.9 ft. lbs of torque. I am not quite sure that that means but it is a claim EGO uses to show that this mower is more powerful than gas mowers. After using the EGO Select Cut I can tell you that it feels more powerful than gas.
The Stihl RMA 510 V mower doesn’t have an advertised torque amount, but it felt like a pretty standard mower on par with gas.
Side-by-side the EGO mower is definitely the more powerful mower of the two. It’s hard to describe the feeling but it really feels solid, doesn’t miss a cut, and pulls you forward when you use it.
The winner: EGO Select Cut Battery Powered Mower
EGO Select Cut is cheaper than the Stihl RMA 510 V mower
Let’s get straight to the point – which one is a better price, the EGO Select Cut or the Stihl RMA 10 V?
The Stihl RMA 510 V is about $800 and can be found on Acme Tools website (no affiliation).
It is clear that the EGO Select Cut is the less expensive option here.
The winner: EGO Select Cut Battery Powered Mower with Touch Drive
The Stihl RMA 510 V has a more durable build than EGO
Stihl’s RMA 510 V mower comes with a great metal cutting deck that is 21 inches wide. Metal cutting decks are great for a few reasons. For starters, metal cutting decks are more durable than plastic cutting decks (regardless of how thick they are).
Metal cutting decks also provide more weight to the mower. Weight on a walk-behind mower like the Stihl RMA 510 V is not always a bad thing. The additional weight helps keep electric mowers grounded and stabilized.
The EGO Select Cut has a thick, plastic cutting deck. While this is still pretty durable, I prefer the classic metal decks for appearance, durability, and added stability.
With EGO’s 56V battery lineup, you can use the same battery to power the Select Cut mower that you would to power your blower, edger, and dozens of other tools. If you grab a something like their attachment system that can swap out a ton of different tools, you can literally use the one battery and power head for like 8 different tools.
Stihls AP 300 battery system is still relatively new – just like Stihl’s presence in the electric and battery powered lawn tool game. You don’t quite get the breadth and variety of tools with Stihl that you would with EGO.
The winner: EGO Select Cut battery powered mower
The EGO feels easier to use than the Stihl mower
While the Stihl mower is a perfectly fine mower, I noticed a huge difference when I switched back and forth between the two. The EGO feels much more powerful, likely from its construction feeling really “solid”. It is a hard thing to put into words, but the EGO feels like it is just really well built.
One other noticeable difference is the self-propelled function on the EGO Select Cut. The self-propelled function is so hardcore that it literally pulled me forward when I started it. This allows you to mow your lawn really quickly and reliably compared to the slower, weaker feeling Stihl RMA 510 V.
Overall Review: EGO Select Cut vs Stihl RMA 510 V mower
The EGO Select Cut battery mower is better than the Stihl RMA 510 V battery mower because it is less expensive, more powerful, and has a bigger battery system. The Stihl has a more durable metal cutting deck and is a fine mower – but still isn’t quite up to par with EGO.
I tested out the EGO Select Cut mower and the Stihl RMA 510 V in my backyard. I put both through thick grass while lowering the cutting deck, ran them until they died, took them over sticks and rocks, and cranked the self-propelled function all the way up.
The reason we started The Lawn Review 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.
What to look for in an electric mower
If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter on the mower. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you.
Below are my main criteria when buying a mower.
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.
Luckily, Greenworks is on this list so we are in good shape!
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.
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
Both gas and battery powered backpack blowers are absolute powerhouses. I’ve had the pleasure of using a few different types of both and have developed some controversial opinions.
Basically, here are a few of my thoughts (with video evidence to help support it).
MOST gas powered backpack blowers are more powerful than battery powered blowers
There are a few battery powered backpack blowers that get close
Battery powered backpack blowers are a million times more convenient and easier to use than gas powered backpack blowers
I don’t recommend battery backpack blowers for landscapers or people with massive yards
Read or watch more about my experience with these blowers here:
This is easily the most contentious part of this comparison. Battery and gas powered backpack blowers both move a lot of air. The volume of air flow leaving the blower is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. The speed of the air coming out is measured in miles per hour, MPH. MPH and CFM are often confused, because higher CFM doesn’t always mean higher MPH and vice versa on leaf blowers.
According to my research, gas powered backpack blowers get up to about 800-900 CFMs and around 200 MPH. Battery powered backpack blowers on the other hand, bring about 600-700 CFMs and 175 MPH.
Winner: Gas powered backpack blowers
Usability and maintenance on electric and gas powered backpack blowers
The battle between gas and electric backpack blowers swings in the other direction when it comes to usability and maintenance. Like all other electric blowers, the usability is really far and away MUCH better than a gas powered blower. For starters, you can just walk into your garage or shed, grab the blower, pop on a battery, and get started.
Gas powered backpack blowers are different in that they require the right fuel mixture and anywhere between 3-20 pulls of the starting cord. This can be an awkward process with backpack blowers as you have to keep it on the ground with your foot while cranking away at the cord.
When it comes to maintenance, it is a totally unfair comparison. Battery powered backpack blowers have no maintenance. None. This one is an easy decision.
Winner: Battery powered backpack blowers
Comfort and usability comparison
Both backpack blower types – gas and battery – are worn just like backpacks (duh). They have straps, are made to be worn for a long time, and have a tube that comes around the back and is held in either your left or right hand for blowing.
From a usability perspective, they operate nearly identically once you have them up and running. I will give battery-powered backpack blowers a few points here because they are WAY quieter. And everyone knows the annoying situation where you have a whole loud landscaping crew outside your home or office. Another benefit of battery powered backpack blowers is that they don’t emit any fumes – meaning you have no smell after.
But when it comes to weight, the two are almost the same after you add in the batteries. The average gas powered backpack blower is about 25 lbs with gas. Battery powered backpack blowers are closer to 10 lbs without batteries, but when you add the batteries it gets closer to 20 lbs. Not as nice as I would have expected, but battery powered blowers have a slight edge here.
Winner: Battery powered backpack blowers
Cost comparison
Lastly – comparing the costs between the two, a nice Stihl BR 600 blower will cost about $550. These things are fully loaded and top of the line gas blowers. Battery powered backpack blowers like the Greenworks 80V 610 CFM blower are about $200 less.
Up close view of the Greenworks backpack blower.
That’s a big price difference, but the difference grows as you start factoring in gas and part replacement. The battery powered blower here wins by a wide margin.
Winner: Battery powered backpack blowers
Final ruling: Gas vs Battery Powered Backpack Blowers
The evidence is clear – for the average homeowner – battery powered backpack blowers are a great choice. For landscapers and folks with massive yards, I would go with a gas powered backpack blower.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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:
Husqvarna Automower 115 H Robot mower
Worx Landroid S 20V WR 165 Robot lawn mower
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.
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.
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.
They’re basically giant Roombas with razor blades attached on a spinny disk
They mow in random patterns all throughout your lawn
They are almost constantly running when they aren’t charging
Most require boundary wires to set up the perimeter (all of these do), but others use GPS technology to set a perimeter
Your lawn gets cut…….eventually
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.
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:
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Corded and cordless hedge trimmers are great options for speeding through some dang brush. But both have trade-offs when compared to the other. Today, I want to break down which types of hedge trimmers I prefer, while carefully weighing the pros and cons of both.
Got hedges, shrubs, bushes, and trees that need to be trimmed and pruned? Clipping each branch manually just isn’t feasible, especially if you have a lot of landscaping plants. A power tool is the only way to get the job done in a reasonable time. Does the idea of a noisy, gas-powered hedge trimmer give you a headache? Are you worried about working too hard with a trimmer that’s bulky, heavy, and tiring?
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.
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.
How do electric hedge trimmers compare to gas?
If you’ve primarily used gas-powered lawn and garden equipment, you may have concerns about using a battery powered tool. But, rest assured that these hedge trimmers can get the job done. The truth is, these tools are just as effective as their gas-guzzling cousins, but they offer several other advantages as well including:
Lighter Weight – Without a heavy motor and fuel, both corded and battery powered trimmers are relatively lightweight. That means you can work longer with less fatigue and strain on your body.
More Versatile – Because of their lighter weight, battery and electric hedge trimmers can get into places a gas trimmer may not be able to.
No Fumes – You won’t have to worry about dangerous exhaust and emissions.
Cleaner Refueling – Gas powered equipment can be messy to operate and store.
Cheaper Fuel – It costs much less to recharge a battery or plug in a hedge trimmer than a gas engine powered hedge trimmer.
Quieter Operation – One of the key advantages of electric and battery-powered equipment and tools is that they are much quieter than gas engines.
No maintenance – no oil or filter changes, no new spark plugs – just press the start button and you’re good to go
Corded electric hedge trimmers: Weighing pros and cons
Corded electric hedge trimmers are the old school electric lawn tool that I still use often today. Sort of like corded leaf blowers, these tools tend to be inexpensive while still packing a punch. Let me break it down right here:
Pros of corded electric hedge trimmers
Corded electric hedge trimmers have a lot to like. Here are my favorite things about them:
They are less expensive than battery-powered hedge trimmers
Corded hedge trimmers can run as long as you pay your utility bill
They are super lightweight since they don’t have a battery
For some reason, they last FOREVER. Like too long. I want a new one but my corded electric hedge trimmer from the 90s just won’t die.
Cons of corded electric hedge trimmers
While corded electric hedge trimmers have a lot of positives, they have one main negative. With the cord constantly providing tension to the entire unit, it can be difficult to control the trimmer. Most of these trimmers have a way to tie the cord into the back so that it doesn’t pull out of the back of the hedge trimmer, causing you to stop and plug it back in.
Despite these hooks, you can still pull the cord out from the wall which is even more frustrating. With corded hedge trimmers, you definitely will sacrifice a bit of control.
Cordless hedge trimmers: Benefits and downside explained
Cordless or battery-powered hedge trimmers are sweet tools – but just like corded hedge trimmers, they have some good and some bad. Let me explain.
Pros of cordless hedge trimmers
Cordless hedge trimmers have several benefits that make them absolutely bad-as-heck tools. I love using them and here’s why:
They are super easy to control. No cord weighing you down means you have 360 degree control of whatever it is that you are trimming.
You can use the battery on a cordless hedge trimmer with other tools. That means you can save big by buying the tool only version of a hedge trimmer.
Despite being beautiful and easy to control machines, they do have a few downsides such as:
Cordless hedge trimmers can be slightly heavier due to the batteries. They will weigh you down a bit compared to a corded hedge trimmer.
They’re often more expensive than their corded counterparts. Batteries cost money!
Cordless hedge trimmers don’t have infinite run time, you have to recharge the batteries. Fortunately with cordless trimmers, you have a decent amount of run time compared to a mower or other battery powered lawn tool.
Corded electric hedge trimmer: My recommendation
My favorite corded hedge trimmer is the Worx 24 inch 4.5A hedge trimmer. I was looking at a bunch of different hedge trimmers, but this one has some serious innovations that make it a beast. When you look at electric hedge trimmers, Black and Decker hedge trimmers seemingly dominate the market.
Here are a few things I like about the WORX corded electric hedge trimmer that led to me ranking it number one:
Perfect length at 24 inches
Dual action blades – this is standard on most hedge trimmers now and basically just means the blades move up and down in both directions, increasing efficiency
Extremely light at only seven pounds
Has an in-line motor – which basically means the motor is in line with the handle and not off to the side. This makes it basically feel like a big sword instead of a motor with some blades coming out.
Rotating cutting head – means you can rotate the entire set of blades sideways on either side, making it easy to handle when doing precision cutting. This is a unique feature to this hedge trimmer and is a big reason why it ranked number one.
Worx has some innovative tools out there despite not really being a household name. This is one I would definitely check out.
My favorite battery hedge trimmer (in my opinion) is the Milwaukee M18 FUEL hedge trimmer. I like this one because it is super solid and has some really cool features. I’m not surprised to see a Milwaukee tool at the top because Milwaukee’s M18 mower is also a freaking beast.
This Makita is not bad, either!
Not only is it the perfect length at about 24 inches, but it has a ton of other great features:
Super low vibration and smooth handling
3,400 movements per minutes (it moves quickly)
A brushless motor
The REDLINK plus system that improves performance between the battery and motor
The ability to use the batteries with a TON of Milwaukee 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.
Gas vs battery powered riding mowers is a question nobody would have contemplated 10 years ago. Heck, even five years ago. Battery powered riding mowers have made significant improvements that make them a better choice for homeowners.
In order to maintain your lawn, you need the right kind of lawn and garden equipment. If it’s time for you to upgrade to a riding lawn mower, you’ll have a lot of choices to make.
How much horsepower do you need? How big should the cutting width be? Do you need a zero-turn or a lawn tractor? You’ll also have to decide whether you want a gas or battery powered rider. This final decision may, in fact, be the most important. Let’s break it down.
My experience with gas and battery riding mowers
When I was a kid and it was my older brother’s turn to mow the lawn, I remember my parents screaming at him for having the speed all the way up to “bunny” when it should have been on “turtle”. The mower was dang fast and my brother took every chance he could to max that thing out.
And at the risk of sounding old, they don’t make them like they used to. But there are still some great brands out there that make awesome riding mowers. Between zero turns and lawn tractors, you can get a high quality piece of equipment that is still made with serious care. I’ve had the pleasure of using dozens of different mowers and have found consistencies across some that have stuck with me over the years.
Choosing between gas and battery powered riding mowers
While gas mowers have long been the only choice, battery power is fast becoming nearly as popular (for homeowners). You may be wondering whether it’s best to buy a gas powered mower or if battery power is best.There are several reasons to focus your attention on the type of fuel your riding mower uses including price, performance, and durability and most notably – maintenance.
Here are a few pros and cons for each fuel source you should take note of:
Pros of Gas Power for Riding Lawn Mowers
All the commercial folks and really anybody above 55 rolls their eyes at me any time I put a piece of content out about electric riding mowers. And that is for one simple reason: the majority of the riding lawn mowers in use today are equipped with a gas engine. They’re strong, effective machines that can operate for long periods to accomplish large scale mowing tasks.
One main pro is that as long as you have gas, you can cut all day long. Not a single electric or battery powered tool can say the same. Any batteries will require downtime for recharging. If you run a commercial landscaping company, you better have a solution for this or you will struggle to put food on the table.
Cons of Gas Power for Riding Lawn Mowers
One of the biggest drawbacks of operating a gas-powered riding lawn mower is the noise. These things are dang loud. But, that’s just the beginning. Because it burns gas and oil, the mower also releases toxic exhaust into the air, harming the environment.
Yeah, I get it. Your riding mower probably isn’t putting enough exhaust out to cause the polar bears to lose their homes, but it definitely isn’t helping. The other difficult thing about gas mowers is the maintenance schedule. These things are practically cars. In fact many of these cost more than many cars I’ve purchased. But maintenance on them can be complex. New filters, new tires, oil changes, spark plugs, and batteries (yes, even gas-powered lawn tractors and zero-turns have batteries).
All the maintenance is costly, but also just plain annoying.
Pros of Battery Power for Riding Lawn Mowers
As you can imagine, a battery-powered riding lawn mower is much quieter than a gas mower. That means you can keep the lawn mowed without disturbing the neighbors or your family.They’re perfect for smaller lots in cozy neighborhoods. Eco-conscience homeowners may also find this option attractive.
One reason I like battery powered riding mowers is that I can pop in some Airpods and rock out. I also like that I don’t smell like gasoline and exhaust when I am done.
But my absolute favorite part of battery powered riding mowers as compared to gas is the lack of maintenance. There is no oil to change, there are no spark plugs, filters, or really anything else. And after a long winter, these just require a quick pop of the battery and you’re good to go.
If you’re a homeowner, it kind of makes a LOT of sense.
Cons of Battery Power for Riding Lawn Mowers
Despite the many benefits of battery power, there are some negatives. First, batteries have a much shorter life than a tank of gasoline. Therefore, it takes longer to get the same amount of work done. Once the battery runs out, it takes time to recharge. Batteries are also super expensive, so despite not having to fill up gas anymore, you still have to shell out a good chunk of change for new batteries. Oh – and they need to be charged, too.
For residential and commercial landscapers, this is a huge problem. Landscaping companies live off of moving from job to job and going quickly. Stopping to charge batteries is going to present a major problem if they can’t find a way to keep them charged and ready to go. And that gets expensive and requires a custom trailer build or some sort of super amped up (literally) rig.
Gas or Battery Powered Riding Mower: My recommendation
Knowing the key differences between gas and battery power riders is important. After reviewing the information here, you can make an informed decision that suits you. For me, I recommend a battery powered riding mower for homeowners and a gas powered mower for landscapers. I think battery technology will only improve, so over the long term I think the battery wins out. In fact, some states like California are banning gas powered lawn tools in general.
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.
