Category: Comparison Guides

The place to compare lawn tools side-by-side

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We Bought & Compared Worx and Black & Decker String Trimmers

black decker string trimmer

Worx and Black + Decker are two super popular string trimmers for folks like you and me on a budget. The WORX GT Revolution is a better overall weed eater for homeowners, but the Black and Decker comes in at a lower price point.

The Black and Decker can turn on its side with a wheel.

The WORX GT Revolution and Black and Decker 14 inch weed eater are two of the best budget-friendly and lightweight weed eaters you can buy. Let’s break down which is better for you.

Jump ahead using the below links:

Feature comparison

Now that we understand what we are looking for, we can roll up our sleeves and compare these two. Let’s start with comfort.

Worx is a more comfortable trimmer than Black & Decker

As mentioned previously, comfort is super important in a string trimmer. You frankly have to hold the trimmer at a weird angle, which ends up torqueing my upper back. 

Both of these trimmers have adjustable handles, meaning you can change the ANGLE but not the LOCATION of the handle. Changing the location would be ideal, but changing the angle will get you close enough. 

Let me show you the below picture and ask you: which do you think is more comfortable? 

The battery beneath the handle on the Worx, but behind the handle on the Black + Decker.

While the Black and Decker handle looks more like a typical power drill handle, it’s actually going to give you more problems than the Worx trimmer. You see, the battery location being at the very tip of the handle means that it is going to weigh that end down. This then forces your other arm to push down on the handle (which is super close), and causes you to pull up on the trigger. 

This action-counteraction is normal, but starts to really wear down your back when you are trimming over a long period of time or being particularly meticulous. Frankly, it makes it hard to control. 

The Worx battery is just under the handle, which is still going to cause the action-counteraction we saw in the Black and Decker, but to a lesser degree.

The more comfortable string trimmer is the Worx GT Revolution.

Black and Decker has more tools to use with the batteries

Let me get this out of the way right now – battery life is super hard to measure in tools like these. So instead, I am going to talk about batteries more broadly. 

Worx and Black and Decker both have 20V batteries with 2 Amp Hours (measure of power). They are going to be very similar in battery life and power output – so no concern there.

This is kinda convenient.

One area that you want to be sure to watch out for is how many other products you can swap out the battery for. Work has a ton of other products that use the same battery, but honestly – Black and Decker might be the best in the game at this.

Black + Decker has power tools, lawn tools, and even home cleaning tools that all can take the 20V battery used on this trimmer. That means one plug, one charger, and you’re good to go. 

This is nice.

Worx is growing their line, but doesn’t quite have the scale or the dominance in this space that Black and Decker has had for decades.

The advantage here is clear: Black and Decker wins this round.

The Worx String Trimmer has some cool advantages

Something neat about both of these trimmers is that they come with a funny looking wheel on the top. Well, the wheel isn’t just for toying around with – it can serve as a guide wheel for a relatively light-duty edger. 

While most edgers come with a big metal blade, much of the simpler jobs can be done with the normal string trimmer. Simply turn the tool on its side, let the wheel balance, and let it rip. This will give you nice, clean lines around your driveway or sidewalk.

One thing that gives Worx a *slight* advantage in this category is the brush guard that it has. 

The trimmer head on the Worx string trimmer with a collapsible brush-guard.

This metal thing is collapsable, so when you convert it from a string trimmer to an edger, simply push it in and keep going. The metal brush guard helps you from running the string into brick or wood that quickly deteriorates the integrity of the trimmer line. 

Price comparison

The Worx WG163 GT trimmer is for sale right now for a super low price. It includes two batteries and a charger as well.

The Black and Decker is on sale for even less here. This comes with one battery – but can also use the battery from any of the Black and Decker tools you might already own. 

The overall review: Worx vs Black and Decker String Trimmer

We have reviewed the comfort, battery life, usability, and price of the Worx string trimmer and the Black + Decker string trimmer that we thought was super light. I’ve gotta say – this is one of the tougher comparisons I have done.

Overall, I think the Worx is the better tool. BUT is it $30 better? It depends. If you already have a Worx piece of equipment and can reuse the battery, I say go with Worx. 

If you are completely new to battery powered cordless lawn equipment, then I would grab the Black + Decker for a lower price. Once you have the battery, then this will help you as you choose your next set of tools.

Why we review string trimmers

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. 

We take tool testing seriously.

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.

Worx and Black and Decker: A history

A LOT of people are buying these trimmers – and for a good reason (we will get to that in a minute).

Worx has some crazy tools.

Something that many of you may be scratching your head around is….what is Worx? It isn’t quite the household name that Dewalt, John Deere, or some of the other big name brands. Worx has quietly been creeping into the marketplace and has found their niche in electric lawn tools. 

Black + Decker is also a ubiquitous household name. Virtually every garage has some sort of Black and Decker tool stored away in it. One of the first tools I owned was a Black and Decker power drill that I still use to this day. 

To add more confusion, these two brands even have the same color scheme. And to take things even further (!), the color scheme is the same as Home Depot. I mean, c’mon people, get it together. 

Check out our full review of the WORX WG163 GT 3.0 AKA the “Revolution” here.

What to look for in a string trimmer

I have an electric string trimmer. It’s a Ryobi 40V string trimmer that can handle attachments and it gets the job done. But I have had some ups and downs and learned things the hard way. 

Some fancy, expensive Ryobi trimmer.

As someone who didn’t grow up with a green thumb, I am a self-taught lawn tool expert. Which means I have made a lot of mistakes and wasted a LOT of money. You don’t have to be like me – so check out what to know before you buy.

  1. Make sure you buy a tool that has a battery that fits other tools
    • Why waste time and wall space with a million different batteries in your garage? Simply flip the same one in and out and get on your merry way. 
  2. Comfort is king – find a trimmer that has some adaptability with the handles to tailor it to your fit
    • I am very, very tall. The mixture of my height with the weird, stiff handle on my Ryobi 40V means that I often finish trimming in pain. Don’t do that. 
  3. Find a trimmer with easy-to-advance trimmer line.
    • This means when you inevitably lose some of the trimmer line, you can easily bring out more trimmer line without having to slow down too much. 

If you’re looking to upgrade your weed eater, make sure you right-size your weed eater string.

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Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V Mower Comparison Guide

If you are in the market for a new battery-powered mower, you are probably choosing between the Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mowers. These are two of the most popular battery powered mowers on the market. I like the Greenworks 80V mower because it has a strong metal cutting deck that EGO’s mower does not have.

Before you make your decision, make sure to read my word of caution on both of these and understand what you are buying. Lawn mowers are investments, so be sure to understand where your money is going.

Jump ahead:

SPOILER***: We went with the Greenworks 80V mower because of the steel deck and cheaper price point.

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mower: Breakdown

Okay – enough about the brand, let’s figure out the fundamental pieces of knowledge we need to make an informed decision about these two mowers. We need to understand power, battery-life, durability, and the bells and whistles. Let’s get started.

Power of Greenworks mower compared to EGO mowers

Greenworks has a handful of 80V mowers, so I am going to pick one of the most popular (and our #1 ranked), the 21” brushless self-propelled mower with two batteries. Each battery has about 4 Ah of power coming out, giving this a total of 8 Ah. This is about all the power you will need for small-to-medium sized jobs around the yard. 

The EGO 56V 21-in self-propelled mower is their best selling mower on Lowes website. The EGO 56V 21-in mower has about 7.5 Ah of power in its battery, just slightly below the Greenworks mower. While these are comparable, the Greenworks has a bit of an edge. 

Pretty nice!

To be fair, it is hard to call a winner in this battle because both have almost identical power output. At the same time, they are both on the upper end of power when it comes to self-propelled battery-powered mowers. I can tell you from using the EGO, it feels powerful. It is relatively heavy and when you engage the self-propelled function, it really jerks you forward.

Both have a brushless motor, which means their motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a longer life than their brushed counterparts (shoutout Dennis for the correction!).

Nice wide metal deck on the Greenworks.

I think we have a tie on our hands, with EGO perhaps having a slight edge in the “feel” of power, especially if you get the Select Cut XP version – which just means it has extra torque.

Battery life: EGO 56V vs Greenworks 80V mowers

The Greenworks 80V mower has a battery life of up to 60 minutes, as does the EGO 56V mower. One thing that gives the EGO a slight edge here is that its power system is just a single battery. The Greenworks requires two separate batteries and two separate chargers (which means two separate wall plugs). 

Their batteries last a long time and fit many tools.

One thing that I would recommend for both of these is to not use the self-propelled function if you have a big job on your hands. While it can be kind of nice, the self-propelled function will massively drain the battery.

Nice side by sides on the Greenworks 80V mower.

If you want to finish the job, turn the dang self-propelled function off. If you have spare batteries, then make sure you’ve got a stack of them fully charged before activating self-propelled functions.

EGO battery works with a lot!

Because of the single battery, I am going to give the EGO 56V 21-in mower the edge here. 

Durability: EGO’s plastic deck vs Greenworks’ metal deck

When I am evaluating durability on a mower, I am looking at spots where the mower can easily break. The most frequent spot here is going to be the deck. The deck is the area of the mower that covers the blades as they spin. Traditional gas mowers have a metal decking to help prevent rocks or roots from ripping through the engine.

The Greenworks 80V 21” mower has a nice steel deck, making it highly durable and long-lasting. Unfortunately, the EGO+ 56V 21-in mower has a plastic deck. This leaves it vulnerable to stress and breakage.

Big steel deck on the Greenworks!

I am also a huge fan of simplicity. If you put the Greenworks and the EGO 56V right next to each other, the Greenworks mower would look much simpler. The EGO 56V has a ton of extra parts that make it look cool and robotic, but ultimately add weight, more things that can break, and probably extra cost. 

The Greenworks mower has a 4 year warranty whereas the EGO mower has a 5 year limited warranty. 

I am going to give Greenworks the medal because of the metal. Gotta go with Greenworks steel deck. 

Bells and whistles

It is definitely important to have bells and whistles – but they have to matter. This means they need to add value to the mower and to the task at hand. 

Some of the bells and whistles on the Greenworks 80V 21-in mower (that we tested extensively here) are the EZ fold handles that allow for easy storage, a turbo button that sets the mower at full speed, 7-position height adjustment, an on-board battery indicator, and some nice LED headlights. 

The EGO 56V mower has headlights, foldability for storage, 6-position cutting height adjustments, and push-button start. 

Can fold like a lawn chair!

While Greenworks might just have better marketing, they seem to have more bells and whistles that actually help. I can’t see much on the EGO 56V besides it looking like it might have more functions because of how bulky it is. 

Kinda rocks.

The advantage here is going to Greenworks once again. 

Price comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The Greenworks 80V 21in with two batteries is currently on sale for about $530 (now $499). The EGO 56V 21” is for sale for almost a slight bit more than the Greenworks over on Amazon.

The advantage here is obvious: Greenworks is less expensive and can be found for a great deal on Amazon. 

The final comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The winner is clear: Greenworks 80V 21-in is the superior mower to the EGO 56V 21″. It isn’t a huge margin of victory, but due to the steel deck and price, I have to hand this one over to Greenworks.

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. 

Literally how we spend our time now.

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.

We also compared the EGO and Kobalt lawn mowers that are found at Lowes and the Greenworks mower from this post to a comparable Ryobi mower.

About battery-powered mowers

Before buying a battery-powered mower, make sure you understand the pros and cons. They are hot tamales right now and a bunch of folks are buying them. Below, I list out the pros and cons of battery-powered mowers:

We wrote an extensive buying guide for people interested in electric mowers.

Pros of battery powered mowers

  • Easier to store and start:
    • After a long winter, starting up a traditional gas mower requires the pull cord to be pulled no less than 1.4 million times. It usually has some stale gas and blows out a cloud of thick black smoke. Electric mowers, however, you simply attach the battery, press the button, and continue on with your day. 
  • No emissions:
    • Tired of breathing in fumes? Are you the type of person that throws blood on people wearing furs? Well, battery-powered mowers might just be for you.
  • Less noise
    • Most folks wear ear protection when mowing the lawn because it is pretty dang loud. Electric mowers make way less noise, to the point where you can’t really hear them going around. I’m about to buy one for my neighbor who mows his lawn every Monday morning when I’m on work calls. 

Cons of battery powered mowers

  • Less durable
    • Many of the battery powered mowers have plastic decking, or the piece that covers the blades. This leaves them vulnerable to rocks ripping through them or other accidents that can crack the deck, leaving the whole mower useless
  • Batteries
    • Batteries drain. You won’t always be able to cover the whole yard (depending on the size) in one trip AND use the batteries for anything else after. Charging takes a while as well.
  • Expensive
    • Compared to simple gas mowers, electric mowers are generally more expensive. You can save a bit of money if you already have the batteries for another tool and buy the tool-only version.

Greenworks vs EGO brand review

Personally, I am more familiar with Greenworks’ line of products. They have some of the top selling battery-powered equipment, and advertise a ton over there as well. EGO is pretty big with Lowes and with a handful of online retailers

EGO has a distinctive brand look – very transformerish.

Greenworks is what I would consider a higher-end product line. They have some pieces of equipment, like one of their blowers, that has tremendous power and quality. EGO is less established and has a little bit of a plastic-y toy feel to it. Both are great, however.

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Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower Comparison

The Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225 mower is a true battle of the giants. Think Godzilla vs. King Kong – except much more is at stake. These mowers are two of the hottest zero-turn mowers on the market for homeowners. Today, we are going ringside to battle it out.

Bottom line: Both the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1 are great mowers, but I really like the bells and whistles provided by the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Everyone when they see the ZT1 and the TimeCutter.

Check out our review of the new electric 60V Toro TimeCutter zero-turn mower here.

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter: A breakdown

Okay – now that we have done some background information, let’s hop on to brass tacks. These are two beasts that are super popular. Make sure you understand their power, comfort and ridability, and cutting experience before making a purchase. 

Power comparison: Cub Cadet vs Toro TimeCutter

One of the most important components of a zero-turn mower is power (duh). The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has a 22HP Kohler Engine (if you get the 42 inch version, Kawasaki if you get the 50). Kohler and Kawasaki make great small engines. This one can get your mower up to 8 mph in forward motion, and 4 in reverse, making it a pretty speedy lawn mower.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 has a 22.5 HP V-twin engine, manufactured by Toro. In most cases, I like when companies outsource their engines to folks like Kohler, Kawasaki, or Briggs & Stratton. 

FeatureCub Cadet Ultima ZT1Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Horsepower22 HP22.5 HP V-twin
Engine typeKohler, KawasakiToro
Speed8 FWD, 4 REV7 FWD, 4 REV
Transmission TypeHydrostaticHydrostatic

While the TimeCutter has slightly more power output, the ZT1 has a little bit more speed. For this round, I’ve gotta give it to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1.

Comfort and Rideability comparison: Toro vs Cub Cadet

Comfort isn’t everything, but it is incredibly important. You can have all the power in the world, but want to get back inside in five minutes because you are insanely uncomfortable. When picking a zero-turn, I look for things like a high seat back, arm rests, and a cup holder. It sounds bougie, but it makes a difference if you can have a nicer ride.

Nice little handles.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has details like an anti-vibration floor mat that helps provide a smooth ride. This zero turn mower also has a fully adjustable 18 inch seat back, adjustable arm rests, and ergonomic hand groups that allow for more comfort.

The nice suspension system on the Toro TimeCutter.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 also has an 18 inch seat back with arm rests. The TimeCutter (one of my favorite from Toro) also comes with a beer holder and a little storage cubby under the seat for storing other things (like your tired arms). 

This is a super tough call, but I think I’m going to have to call it a tie between the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Cutting experience on Cub Cadet ZT1 compared to Toro TimeCutter

Both of these mowers are fantastic cuts. When taking these for a spin, the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 feels slightly cheaper or “stock” compared to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, but overall the cut seems exactly the same.

One thing I dislike about both of these machines is that they lack an hour meter. Hour meters are used to measure how long you’ve been riding and help you figure out when you need an oil change. 

I also dislike that the Cub Cadet lacks a fuel meter – you are kind of flying blind. Another thing that bothers me about the TimeCutter SS4225 is that it has a “hand crank” deck height lever. Most of the more advanced zero-turns have a knob or something more sophisticated. 

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is like Honey Bee from Transformers.

All-in-all, I can’t complain too much about either of these machines. They are both very reliable, have great warranties, and come from higher-end, trusted brands. 

Price comparison: Toro TimeCutter vs Cub Cadet ZT1

Now that we know these machines are both quality and comfort, let’s see how they stack up on price.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 is for sale from some retailers for around $3,000 – about $3,200 at Home Depot right now.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is for sale for about $3,500 as well, and it sells almost exclusively at Home Depot.

The final ruling: Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225

FeatureCub Cadet ZT1Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Power+++++++
Comfort+++++++
Cutting Experience++++++++
Price++++

This is super, super close. Basically these are identical lawn mowers. To me, it comes down to reliability over the long term and I’m going to have to go with the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1. The engine being from Kohler/Kawasaki just makes me feel more secure going with them. 

To see our full review of the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, click here.

To see our full review of the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 featured in this post, click here.

We also compared the Toro to a classic John Deere Zero turn mower here.

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. 

Things sometimes get out of hand.

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.

Zero-turn mowers 101

People love zero turn mowers because they are generally faster than your traditional lawn tractor and provide much more agility. Zero turn mowers are especially popular for commercial lawn mowing companies as they provide much more speed and power, have larger gas capacity, and are more nimble than the traditional lawn tractor. 

Iconic.

Zero turn mowers have continued to grow in popularity but are still intimidating to others. While lawn tractors have a steering wheel similar to any other automobile, zero-turn mowers have large handles that stick up and meet in the middle of the mower. To operate the mower, you push forward and use the individual horizontal handles to either push the mower to the right or to the left. 

What to look for in a zero-turn mower

Zero-turn mowers are all about comfort and size. If you are a commercial landscaper, you will likely want a mower with a large deck. The deck houses the blades and the wider the deck, the wider the blade. 

For us residential mowers, we will want to take into account yard-size into our selection process. For those with less than one acre of land, I don’t often recommend zero-turn mowers. They take up too much space for smaller lots and are difficult to store. For those with more than one acre, zero-turn mowers are great. The larger the acreage, the wider the deck you will want. 

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13 Best Electric Lawn Mowers for Small Yards

The best all-around electric mower for small yards is the EGO 56V 21 inch mower. It is a great size, very powerful, and can cut a small lawn for months on a single charge.

Electric mowers are one of the hottest items to buy because they tend to be cheaper, easier to store, and quieter than gas mowers.  First time home buyer? Recently downsized? Live in California? Sick of gas prices? Me too.

While there are a TON of electric mowers out there, some of them are crap and some of them are rip-offs. So, let’s cut through the noise as usual.

We’ve summed up our findings here:

Best electric mower for small yards: Ranked

There are so many options of electric mowers out there that it was tough to narrow it down. Luckily, I am a huge nerd about this stuff.

1. EGO Power+ LM2101 21 inch 56 V electric mower

Number one! The Ego Power+21 inch 56V mower is the one of the best electric mowers on the market. EGO makes a ton of different lawn tools and the mower is top of the line. EGO basically only makes electric lawn tools, so you know they have mastered the mower.

Yep we own this one as well.

One of the main benefits of this mower is the wide deck, meaning it has a decent cutting area with each pass you make. The larger the yard, the larger the cutting area.

21 inches is a perfect happy medium for small yards because it allows you to cover a good amount of ground while still being nimble.

This has all of the features you look for in an electric mower: a nice interoperable battery, easy to fold and store, durable, and powerful. Give it a look on Amazon (it is still kind of a secret). 

2. Greenworks 80V 21 inch Cordless Push Lawn Mower

I like Greenworks’ mowers because they tend to be pretty thoughtfully made. Their Greenworks 21-inch mower with an 80v battery is definitely up there for me. As one of the more popular electric mowers on the market (almost 6,000 reviews). 

This mower has dual blades, allowing for a better cut and for finer mulching. This is pretty equivalent to a gas mower, except the electric version where you can’t really tell a difference. Greenworks also has some super powerful tools like their blowers where this battery can be super helpful. The Greenworks 80V 21 inch mower has a great quality cut and is super quiet.

Highly recommended and a nice kick-off to our top three.

This is one of the most popular ones sold on Amazon (with almost 6k reviews). Don’t believe us? Go check out the other reviews at Amazon.

We like Greenworks because of their distinguished high-quality products.

3. Makita XML03CM1 Brushless 18” lawn mower

Makita makes really high quality power tools and so when they release an under-the-radar electric Makita mower with surprising power , you know it is going to be good. This sucker comes with 4 batteries, a metal deck, and a brushless motor. Basically everything you could like about an electric mower, the Makita has. Compared to most other mowers, this has a significantly longer run time.

For those with smaller yards, the 18 inch metal deck is just about ideal.

Love it.

The fact that you won’t burn all your batteries means that you will have plenty of juice left for your other Makita tools. 

The Makita XML03CM1 is just about perfect. If you get it without all the batteries, its actually pretty dang affordable on Amazon.

4. Ryobi 40V Brushless 20 inch electric lawn mower

The Ryobi 40V series lawn mower is part of a 40V battery series that makes a ton of good tools that you can use, including blowers and weed eaters. You can also use the battery in this mower for those. That is the type of interoperability I’m talking about!

This also has a brushless motor, is super simple to use, but sadly has a plastic deck – which is keeping out of the top 3. This is one of the most popular electric mowers in the world, so if you do go ahead with this purchase: you are in good company.

It is another medium sized mower that will get just about any small to mid sized yard done easily. Great purchase here, IMO if you can get it from an online retailer and ship it.

Our favorite Ryobi.

5. Black and Decker 40V Max Cordless Lawn mower

While I’m not a huge fan of black and decker, this is basically a mirror of the Ryobi mower. They are virtually identical in every aspect. Black and Decker also has a yuuuuuuuge collection of tools that take a 40v battery. 

This mower is slightly more versatile in that it has a thing called EDGEMAX that allows you to mow super close to other surfaces, which is nice. Otherwise, this one is orange and black colored, which I tend to favor more than the neon green of Ryobi. 

This one is also for sale on Amazon, but the price is hidden, so go check it out for yourself.

I recommend this one to anybody with Black and Decker tools already.

Can’t go wrong with this one.

6. Toro Recycler 22in SmartStow 60V max mower

There are a lot of things to like about this mower. First of all, I love Toro and have reviewed a ton of their mowers. They are always dependable and do an incredible job. This isn’t number one on this list for a couple of reasons.

It’s pretty big – maybe bigger than you need for a teeny tiny yard, but good for a small-medium yard. Another thing that is working against the battery version of the Toro recycler is the lack of battery interoperability. There just aren’t enough popular tools that the Toro battery works with. As a standalone, this is still a great option, however.

7. Dewalt 21.5 in 20V Max push mower

I like the Dewalt 21.5 in 20V mower because it is so simple. Dewalt has a jillion tools that you can use the battery with. If you look at this product, it is the most standard looking lawn mower in the world, other than the fact that it is bright yellow. 

This thing is pretty sweet.

The Dewalt 21.5 in 20V mower has a brushless motor as well, making it longer lasting and quieter. It has a big metal deck as well, which means you won’t have rocks cutting through the deck and breaking it completely. It is a pricier electric mower (around $550), but I think you get what you pay for here. 

For our full review, check out this post on our experience with the all-new Dewalt 20V mower review.

8. Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V 16in cordless mower

This one has so much potential! It has all the bells and whistles that you would want in an electric mower, but has a plastic deck still. The Ryobi ONE series is pretty popular and has a good amount of tools in it, but not as many as the 40V series from Ryobi. 

This is one of the nicer looking, mid-sized electric mowers on the market. It comes with two batteries that can be used in a bevy of other tools. It overall is a great mower, but gets dinged by me for not being a part of the 40V series and having a plastic deck. Still a good purchase if you are someone that has existing Ryobi ONE+ 18V batteries. You can find it for a decent price on Amazon if you get the tool-only version (meaning you use your same battery).

9. Greenworks PRO 17 inch 48V battery mower

Now that we are in the top 10, our game has stepped up quite a bit. This is another great Greenworks mower with a 17 inch deck (slightly larger than the previous Greenworks corded mower). It comes with two 24v batteries which appear to work with a couple of other Greenworks products, but not all of them.

This one will last you significantly longer than the other mowers and be able to take on much more work. The Greenworks PRO 17 inch 48V battery mower also offers a brushless motor, which makes it last much longer and is overall much quieter. It does still have a plastic deck, which I absolutely despise – so it is staying in the back half of this list.

Right now, Greenworks is selling mowers for a great price on Amazon, giving you a really good deal heading into the mowing season.

10. Greenworks 10A 16-inch corded electric mower

Alright, if you are looking for a slight step up from the Sun Joe MJ401E (reviewed above), this is it. It is still powered by an extension cord but is a couple of inches bigger and has a few more customizable features. This one could definitely get you much further than the Sun Joe and actually has a mulching feature as well. 

Greenworks is a little better than Sun Joe as a brand in my opinion. They make heavier-duty mowers and blowers and focus just on yard tools. Sun Joe is an outgrowth of Snow Joe, which was the original brand that made things like snow shovels.

This one is slightly more expensive than the Sun Joe, but still a steal (lol). Right now, it’s on sale at Amazon for a really good price.

11. Sun Joe MJ401E Mow Joe 14 inch electric mower

While this mower does get a couple dings from me, its price makes up for it. The first ding is that its plastic and looks like a turtle. Everything is plastic and likely won’t last a super long time. It is also tiny and requires an extension cord. 14 inches is not a big mower. 

Some other good Sun Joe swag.

But here are a few things I do like. This is perfect from people who live in a townhome or condo and have a little bit of grass. It’s going to cut the grass fine, but it’s not going to handle tough terrain or tall weeds. If you’re looking for something super cheap and easy to use, this is basically a little yard vacuum.

This one is EXTREMELY affordable and can be shipped straight to your house from Amazon.

12. Worx Power Share 14 in 40V cordless mower 

I’ve actually grown to love WORX products, including their mulcher and electric edger

One benefit to this mower is that the two 20V batteries can be used on most of their other products.

It’s plastic all over and only cuts ⅛ acre per charge. If you do like the Worx series however, you can use these batteries with any of their tools – which can save you a lot of money. The price tag is also around $300, making it a decent deal.

As one of the more affordable options, grab this one today on Amazon.

13. Green Machine 62V Cordless electric mower

Using our ranking criteria, this one would actually rank decently. It is missing in a couple big areas, however. The Green Machine 62V Cordless Mower is a no-name brand (sorry), and has a 62V battery that is not usable with probably any equipment you own today. 

A few positives: it has a metal deck and looks pretty nice. It has a decently large cutting deck as well, at 22 inches. This puts it in the higher end of our list if you have a small-to-medium sized yard. This mower seems to sell exclusively at Home Depot and exclusively online – and you can grab it here.

Why we review electric lawn mowers

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. Always feel free to leave a comment or request a review using the form you see at the top of this page.

What to look for in an electric 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:

  1. Brand quality. Quality is going to be super important here. 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.
  2. Metal where it matters. 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.
  3. 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. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
  4. Self-propelled or not. I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature. It doesn’t help you that much and it drains battery – I would pass here. This is a marketing gimmick in my opinion.

Here is our full guide to buying an electric lawn mower – including some of the most common questions.

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Sun Joe SPX3000 vs SPX3001 Pressure Washer: Buying Guide

Sun Joe’s SPX3000 and SPX3001 are two pressure washers that have absolutely blown up in sales. I recommend the SPX3000 over the SPX3001 because it won’t topple over as easily.

And you are in the market for a new pressure washer. The Sun Joe SPX3000 seems to be the most popular pressure washer of all time, but right before you check out…..what’s this?

The SPX3001? Is it better? Do I need it? Let’s settle this once and for all.

Jump ahead:

The Sun Joe SPX3000 vs 3001: Breakdown

I am going to repost a bit from our full review of the Sun Joe SPX3000, because, well, all of the specifications are the same on the SPX3000 as they are on the SPX3001. Meaning they will be an absolute TIE in every category (except for one major difference, and not just the additional “1” in the name). 

Usability and attachments

The Sun Joe SPX3000 comes with five different attachment tips. A zero degree, fifteen degree, twenty five degree, forty degree and soap tip. The larger the degree of tip you have on the front of this pressure washer, the weaker the spray and the larger the area of coverage. 

The classic SPX3000

If you are pressure washing an outdoor metal fence, you can use the zero degree tip to blast away anything that is not metal. If you want to clean off your car, try the forty degree or soap tip as to not hurt the paint or any of the trim features.

This Sun Joe SPX3000 and SPX3001 also have a twenty foot hose, allowing you to extend your work over a modest sized difference.

The SPX3000 and SPX3001 + soap

This pressure washer has two different detergent tanks that you can use to infuse the water in the pressure washer with soap. This means you can easily switch from your car (normal soap) to your deck (a bleach mixture). 

Noise and the auto-stop feature

If your neighbor has ever used a pressure washer, well you would know because it is overly loud and obnoxious. I was walking with my wife in our neighborhood and could hear a neighbor about seven houses down using his pressure washer. As we approached his house, he stopped using the pressure washer and tried talking to us. 

Let go of the trigger and the whole thing stops.

We were basically screaming at each other in the middle of the street until my wife faked a massive diarrhea attack and we took off to avoid the conversation (this is a lie). 

The beauty of the Sun Joe is that it is a relatively quiet piece of equipment. For whatever reason, gas pressure washers are loud when they are in use and somehow loud when not in use. 

The SPX3000 and SPX3001 have a feature that turns off the whole machine, then turns it back on when you squeeze the trigger. This feature is super similar to a car that turns off at red lights and kicks back on when you press the gas. While not a huge selling point, it makes a difference with your ears and with your neighbors.

Storage and maintenance

This product only weighs about 28 lbs, meaning it will fit into just about any portion of your garage, shed, or even inside your house. Being an electric device means that very little maintenance is required. You simply plug it in and it will do its thing, unlike gas powered pressure washers that rely on…gas. 

Wheel this thing away!

The Sun Joe SPX3000 and SPX3001 are both super light, making them easy to store and maintain.

These pressure washers also come with a full two year warranty. While this is great, keep in mind that folks usually only use their pressure washer a couple of times per year. Make sure to get as much use out of it as possible for the two years are up in case anything is going to go wrong.

Sun Joe SPX3000 vs SPX3001: Final ruling

So…what is up with the 1? Should I make the upgrade?

It depends. The real difference between the SPX3000 and the SPX3001 is the hose reel attachment that comes with the SPX3001. Basically, the 3001 has this little hose reel attachment at the top that allows you to reel in the hose and pull it from that spot.

The SPX3000 looks very clean.

Hose reel attachments are great…..if they work. Sadly, the 3001 has the hose reel at the top of the piece of light equipment, so most pulls on it are going to topple it over. Frankly, this is pretty useless when pressure washing, but is nice for storage. 

My final verdict: save a few bucks and go with the SPX3000 unless storage is a really big deal to you.

Knock it off your weekend checklist and grab it on Amazon. I’ve included the blue one below (which is just over $100).

Check out the best deal we found on Amazon.

Honestly though, there’s one that’s even better – the Sun Joe SPX3500 is by far the best version of their electric pressure washers.

Why we review electric pressure washer

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. 

How we test out some tools.

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.

Things to consider before buying a pressure washer 

Some common considerations for those looking for a pressure washer include the following:

  • Ability to add soap to the hose instead of schlepping around a bucket with soap
  • Multiple nozzle types for whichever job you need
  • Length of pole (if cleaning exterior of house, not having one of these could limit how high you can reach)
  • Storage capability and maintenance requirements
  • PSI level for either commercial or residential use

What to look for in a pressure washer

When looking for a pressure washer, you want to have a good understanding of the jobs you want to get done. Most people use pressure washers to deep clean their patio, porch, driveways, windows, or other external surfaces around the house. Most pressure washers are good for these jobs as they are relatively light work and do not require excessive force.

Soap canisters are a nice plus!

For those of us cleaning the spray paint off of our cars from our crazy ex-girlfriends, you might want one that has a little more “umph” behind it. Something with 3000 PSI with a wide nozzle that is gas powered like this Dewalt one.

About Mr. Joe and his sun equipment

Sun Joe produces electric lawn and home care equipment. They are popular for their super convenient and inexpensive dethatcher (you wouldn’t believe how satisfying it is), and of course their pressure washer. You likely found out about the pressure washer because it has more reviews than I thought humanly possible on Amazon. As of today, it has almost 45,000 reviews and 73% of them are five stars. 

People love the SPX3000 but I can tell you right now, it is not for everyone. While one of the least expensive items on the pressure washer market, it certainly has a target demographic. I’ll break down who the target audience is and why this is so popular.

We did a video review of the SPX3000 – check it out!

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Greenworks vs Sun Joe Dethatcher: Comparison Guide

The Greenworks dethatcher vs Sun Joe dethatcher is exactly like Tom Brady vs Peyton Manning. Both absolute greats, but Peyton clearly being the best. I like the Greenworks dethatcher better because it comes in at a lower price point.

My Greenworks dethatcher that I used when comparing against the Sun Joe dethatcher.

Just kidding – kind of. When looking for a lawn dethatcher, there are a few really important things to keep an eye on, and we will look at all of those here today. 

Jump ahead:

***Spoiler: Both are great, but we recommended the Greenworks dethatcher because of the price point. If you want a nicer version, check out the new cordless Greenworks dethatcher that I tested out here.

Greenworks dethatcher vs. Sun Joe dethatcher

Now that we know the how and why of dethatching, let’s roll up our sleeves and compare the top two choices. We will do a head-to-head comparison of the Sun Joe dethatcher vs the Greenworks dethatcher to make sure YOU make the best choice for YOU. 

To read our full product reviews, click here for the Sun Joe dethatcher and here for the Greenworks dethatcher.

The Sun Joe is slightly more powerful

Let’s start here with expectation setting. These tools are not yard beasts. They require an extension cord (remember those?) and a bit of time and patience. When looking at power, the difference is really marginal.

The Greenworks dethatcher comes in at about 10A of power, whereas the Sun Joe offers 12A. A here stands for Amperes, or units of electrical power output. In reality, this difference will not be very noticeable or even necessary. Power is not the name of the game, but being methodical and patient are. 

We tried it for real!

When it comes to this head to head, I’d love to make it a tie but the numbers just don’t work.

Sun Joe takes this round.

Usability comparison for these dethatchers

Alright, both of these operate basically the same. You plug them both in, press a button, then start slowly walking. When it comes to using a dethatcher, the most important aspect of the usability is really how much time you are going to be out there.

The amount of time you are out there is dependent on how wide the dethatcher is. Just like with mowers, the larger the blade size is, the larger the cutting path. The same is true with dethatchers. While they are notoriously small, every inch matters. 

The width of the Greenworks dethatcher is 14 inches, whereas the Sun Joe is only 12.6 inches. For usability, I am going to go with Greenworks dethatcher.

Slightly wider!

Add-ons to both Sun Joe and Greenworks dethatchers

The Sun Joe comes with a couple of add-ons that the Greenworks Dethatcher does not. Sun Joe offers a scarifier attachment and a bag for the thatch.

I don’t really think you need either. Definitely not the bag – the bag is useless because it is so small it gets full after about five feet of pushing. This will end up getting tossed. 

The scarifier is an attachment that you can put on the dethatcher that has a few blades on it that can cut up the thatch before using the dethatcher. I’m iffy on this one as well and don’t ever use it. Others seem to like it, but I never have time for it. 

The Greenworks is a bit cheaper

The Greenworks dethatcher comes in at a slightly lower price than and the Sun Joe dethatcher will cost you a slight bit more last time I checked.

As a reminder, the Greenworks does not have the attachments that the Sun Joe dethatcher has, but is wider. 

Our ranking table comparison

Hands down – the Greenworks dethatcher is the way to go here, folks.

CategoryGreenworks dethatcherSun Joe dethatcher
Power++
Usability++++++
Price++++++
Appearance+++++
Overall++++++

The Value of My Dethatcher

Dethatchers are a lesser-known lawn tool but that’s because most folks don’t care enough about their yard to use one. If you are reading this post, you are in the elite subgroup of yard enthusiasts who give a darn and are about to be the envy of all of your neighbors.

Dethatchers work by pulling up dead grass that is stuck to your lawn’s soil. 

“Wait a second, that stuff is bad?”

Well, maybe not BAD, but it limits the amount of nutrients your soil can take in. We go out and pull weeds in the garden bed because they can overtake our flowers and bushes. The same goes for our grass. The thatch is not going to take over your yard and is dead, but it is still taking up valuable real estate that could help grow more grass.

Thatch when it sees any open space in the soil.

When to dethatch your lawn

Dethatching your lawn should take place just prior to aerating and overseeding – so generally in the fall. For those of us that live in the South, this is sometime around mid to early October. If it’s too hot, the seed will dry up and not thrive. If it’s too cold, well, it is too late.

You can also dethatch at the end of a brutal winter to allow your soil to open up and breathe again before it warms up. So many lawns continue to limp into the spring because they are mushy and have a ton of moist thatch just clogging up the yard. Get rid of that.

Electric Dethatchers 101

Okay, let us make our way into the meat of this post. Old-school dethatchers are fine-toothed rakes that require you to physically make your way across the yard and pull up all the dead grass like a cave man. I do not recommend this to anybody that enjoys having a back. 

Doing my best.

On the flip side, there is a reason that motorized dethatchers are not gas-powered. Dethatchers, even motorized ones, require a slower movement across the yard. And honestly, that is a good thing. There’s no way to go through the process quickly. If you had a gas-powered dethatcher, you would basically till your entire yard and you might as well plant something else if you do that. 

Check out our web story about electric dethatchers and how satisfying they are.

Electric dethatchers are perfect because they are super light, easy to use, and simply hover across your yard, pulling up all the dead thatch. The two most popular electric dethatchers are the Greenworks dethatcher and the Sun Joe dethatcher. 

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