Battery powered mowers Archives

July 31, 2023April 9, 2024

Finding The Best Electric Mower At Home Depot: My Search

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

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:

Milwaukee M18 Mower
Ryobi 40V Mower
Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower
Makita LXT 18V Electric Mower
Dewalt 20V Max 21.5in Mower

My experience buying and testing electric mowers

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

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

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

5 Electric Mowers at Home Depot That Absolutely Slap

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

1. Milwaukee M18 Battery Powered Mower

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

Here are some of my favorite features:

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

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

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

2. Ryobi 40V HP Whisper Series Mower

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

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

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

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

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

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

3. Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Makita LXT 18V Electric Mower

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch battery powered mower

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

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

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

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

Common questions about electric mowers at Home Depot

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

What are the disadvantages of an electric lawn mower?

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

How long do electric lawn mowers last?

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

What is the average price for an electric lawn mower?

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

Do electric mowers cut better than gas?

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

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

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

Battery-powered mower brand quality

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

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

Metal where it matters: the deck

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

Battery interoperability.

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

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

Self-propelled or not

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

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

January 26, 2023April 3, 2024

EGO 56V vs Kobalt 80V Electric Mower Comparison

EGO vs Kobalt lawn mowers is the age-old decision – especially if you’re standing inside a Lowe’s scratching your head. I like EGO, but the Kobalt 80V mower is superior because of its strong metal deck.

EGO mowers are extremely popular right now, but Kobalt has been around a bit longer and comes at a lower price point.

Both are stellar battery-powered mowers that come in at a similar price point. So how do you pick between the EGO 56V and Kobalt 80V mower series?

For starters, there are a TON of different EGO 56V mowers, so I’ll pick the most comparable to the Kobalt 80V mower, which is the EGO LM2102SP mower.

Let’s get started!

What to look for in a battery-operated mower
Power comparison
Durability review
Usability and comfort
Price and Warranty
Winner: Kobalt vs EGO mower

Kobalt mowers vs EGO mowers: Head-to-head comparison

Kobalt and EGO mowers are both beasts in the lawn mower game. To ensure we are doing the best like-to-like comparison from both brands, we’ve chosen the Kobalt 80V 21-inch mower (model KMP 6080D-06) and the EGO 56V 21-inch mower (model LM2102SP). We felt these were the most similar comparison in price, size, and features.

Which is more powerful, EGO or Kobalt mowers?

We are diving head-first. We want to know which one of these has the most power. At the same amount of resistance, higher voltage means more power delivery. Therefore, the Kobalt is the clear winner as it is an 80V system.

In reality and out of the worlds of physics nerds, there’s more than just a simple equation. There is certainly a reality around how much power is put out by the spinning of the blades, but that doesn’t always translate to how powerful the mower feels.

Even outside of science, this EGO mower doesn’t have quite the power that the Kobalt 80V mower has. Here’s why:

The Kobalt 80V mower has a higher voltage on the battery
The Kobalt mower is about 20 lbs heavier, giving more momentum to the cutting motion and keeping the blades from bouncing off rough patches of grass
Kobalt’s mower has an auto-sensing technology that adjusts the performance of the motor depending on the grass conditions.

As much as I initially thought EGO was going to crush the Kobalt with power, I’m surprised to say that Kobalt objectively wins the battle. As someone who compared the EGO 56V and Ryobi 40V mowers, the EGO felt so much more powerful because of its sturdiness. But Kobalt just happened to one-up them.

Winner: Kobalt’s 80V Max lawn mower

Well, which mower is more reliable? EGO vs Kobalt

When I evaluate the reliability of a mower there are two main things I look at: the motor type and the deck construction. As I mentioned earlier in this post about what to look for in an electric lawn mower, the motor type NEEDS to be brushless.

Brushless motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a longer life than their brushed counterparts. Up until recently, every electric motor was brushed. You’ll see some of the more premium brands using brushless now, but it will soon be the standard.

Fortunately, both the EGO and Kobalt mowers have brushless motors. We can go ahead and check that box in both categories.

When it comes to deck size, these two are very different. The EGO mower (just like most of the EGO mowers) has a tough plastic decking. While most folks don’t have to worry about this, there are definitely durability issues that can impact this mower. Rocks, branches, and root systems can make this decking more vulnerable to breakage. Fluctuations in temperature will also wear down on plastic over time.

On the other hand, the Kobalt mower has a metal decking that is much more durable than plastic.

Winner: Kobalt 80V Mower.

Usability and comfort

When it comes to usability, there are a lot of different features to evaluate that are relatively subjective. Let’s take a look at the usability features of both:

Kobalt’s features:

Self-propelled, rear wheel drive
Variable speed control
7-position height adjustment
LED headlights
Foldable for storage

EGO’s features:

Self-propelled
Variable speed control
6 position height adjustment
LED headlights
Foldable for storage

They’re essentially the exact same if you’re just looking at the specifications. But we want a winner, so let’s look a little closer.

We personally like EGO’s height adjustment for the handles. I’ve heard from several short people that they like to push the handle bars down almost like they’re preparing to store it, but then pushing the mower from the condensed position. I can’t relate, but appreciate that people have found flexibility with this mower using that function.

It’s honestly a tie here, but I could give a slight edge to the EGO mower.

Price and warranty

Just to make things tough for us, the EGO mower and the Kobalt mower both come in at the exact same price.

The Kobalt mower can be found on Lowe’s website (or at a Lowe’s near you) for about $699.

The EGO is available on Amazon for the same price, but tends to go on sale frequently, so click here to check the latest price.

Both come with a limited 5-year warranty on the tool and 3-year warranty on the batteries. You can save some serious money on both if you buy the tool-only version. Here is an identical version of the EGO mower without the battery and charger for over $200 cheaper.

Final Winner: EGO vs Kobalt mower

Picking a winner between EGO and Kobalt is tough. I came into this thinking that the EGO was far and away the better choice, but after getting our hands on more and more Kobalt products – we were wrong. The Kobalt is the clear winner of this face-off because it has more power, better construction, and is available at the same price.

EGO is still a great option though and is the winner if you already own an EGO product with EGO batteries as it is much cheaper.

You really can’t go wrong with either, but if we are just evaluating the two as though you don’t own any tools – the Kobalt pulls away.

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.

What to look for in a battery-powered lawn mower

EGO and Kobalt brand quality

EGO is known for making seriously high quality, dense lawn tools. Yeah, we used the word dense here because when you pick up their tools they feel solid as a rock. We’ve reviewed a ton of EGO products and made YouTube videos covering EGO’s leaf blowers and EGO’s mowers.

Kobalt lawn mowers are known for being super reliable tools, including their Kobalt string trimmers and leaf blowers (all of which we have reviewed).

Metal where it matters: the deck

EGO sadly makes quite a few mowers with plastic decking, but a couple with metal decks. While I prefer metal decks, EGO’s reinforced plastic is actually quite durable. It won’t kill you to use a plastic deck, but it can help it last much longer.

Battery interoperability on EGO and Kobalt

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. Luckily with EGO, they only have a 56V battery line, which can be used across all of their products. The only difference you’ll see is in the amp-hours, which increases the amount of time you can spend doing the job.

The Kobalt 80V battery can also be used in their sweet blower.

Kobalt has a few different battery lines, with their 80V line being the premium line usable with other 80V products.

If you have more questions, check out our guide to electric lawn mowers.

May 1, 2022April 27, 2024

Ryobi’s Classic 40V Mower is Low Priced and Looks Nice

The Ryobi 40V 20 inch brushless, cordless, self-propelled lawn mower is a great, inexpensive, lightweight option for the thrifty homeowner.

One of, if not THE most popular electric lawn mowers is back. And sleek. And sexy.

Electric lawn mower? Sexy? Yes – it’s the Tesla of mowers. And we have loved using it.

Despite what people say, these mowers actually have some decent power.

But I don’t want to spoil it yet.

Electric mowers 101
Benefit review: Ryobi 20 in 40V mower
The official review: Ryobi mower
Our list of top Ryobi mowers

Ryobi RY40190 cordless electric lawn mower: Benefits

Now that we have the basics out of the way, let’s check out the things that make this Ryobi cordless mower special.

Brushless Ryobi Motor makes it super durable and efficient

The Brushless Ryobi Motor is going to allow for a few things. First, the brushless motor is going to cause less friction and heat inside of the engine. Instead of relying on friction to transfer electrons from the battery to the motor, brushless motors use magnets.

Less friction and less heat in this Ryobi 40V mower mean that the motor will last you much longer than other electric mowers. Brushless motors are also quieter – often included in Ryobi’s “Whisper” series.

Ryobi 40V battery fits a ton of other tools

The 40V Battery on the Ryobi RY40190 cordless 20 inch mower can be used with a TON of other Ryobi products.

I also own a Ryobi 40V blower as well as a their 3-in-1 trimmer and edger. I can pop the battery onto each of these tools. Heck yeah. This saves a ton of time and most importantly – precious wall outlet space in your garage.

The battery is great and can generally last for about 45 minutes or so – but may decrease when the self-propelled function is active. I have a smaller yard so can quickly mow, blow and trim in under 45 minutes. If I add on something like the occasional edging, then it usually requires a recharge.

Ryobi 20 in 40v Mower’s Self-propelled function

I know I have been on the record as a big critic of the self-propelled function. I don’t like it mainly because it can drain the battery more quickly than without and because I don’t mind pushing.

But not everyone shares this feeling. Definitely more elderly folks, people with larger yards, and smaller-framed people can benefit from a self-propelled function. It can tremendously offload a portion of the pushing.

Self-propelled mowers are also great for those of us with hills, a slanted yard, or lots of small holes or divots.

The self-propelled function on the Ryobi 20 inch 40 Volt brushless mower is front-wheel drive, pulling the mower over grass and uneven textures.

One complaint: The plastic deck

The only real complaint I have with this mower is that it has a plastic underbelly. Most heavy duty mowers have a metal deck that protects from extreme temperatures, rocks and sticks that could fly into the blades, and deterioration.

Didn’t even make the newer version metal.

I generally recommend looking for a mower that has a metal deck. These plastic decks are not going to snap in half or anything, I just always like knowing that the steel decks are more durable.

Ryobi 20 in. 40V mower cost and value

The price has a huge range from what I can tell on Amazon.

Anywhere from $450 to $600 seems like a decent deal – just verify that you are getting the tool only version if you already have the battery, and the battery + charger if you don’t.

This price range is about average. I do think the Ryobi series makes some good products and I doubt you will have any regrets – we didn’t!

We also reviewed another Ryobi mower that is slighty larger here.

The official review: Ryobi 40V 20 in. 6 Ah lithium-ion brushless cordless battery

Pretty good! Has just about everything you would want in an electric mower, other than a steel deck.

But this Ryobi mower has all the bells and whistles. Grab yours today for a great price at Home Depot where it is exclusively sold.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

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.
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.
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.
Self-propelled or not.
- I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature as much as others.. It doesn’t help you that much and it can drain the battery some. Older people and those with hills seem to love them, though.

We do a thorough dive into each of these topics in our electric lawn mower buying guide.

February 2, 2022April 1, 2024

7 Ryobi Lawn Mowers We Absolutely Love

Ryobi battery-powered lawn mowers have burst onto the scene and are now one of the leaders in the electric mower world. The best Ryobi battery-powered mower is the Ryobi 40V Brushless SmartTrek mower because it is the most affordable while still maintaining really high quality.

I first got my hands on my Ryobi mower back in 2022 when my friend let me borrow his for one of my YouTube video reviews. I loved that I could quickly pop off the 40V battery and put it in my Whisper series blower.

Here are my choices for best Ryobi lawn mowers in 2024 after testing:

Best Ryobi riding mower: Ryobi 38 inch Rear Engine Mower
Best Ryobi ONE+ battery-powered mower: Ryobi 16 inch Brushless
Best Ryobi 40V battery-powered mower: 40V Brushless Smart Trek mower

How I tested these Ryobi mowers

As I mentioned earlier, I got the Ryobi 40V mower from a friend last year and fell in love – so started trying out a bunch of different ones that I could grab from my local Home Depot. I’ve spent a lot of money buying lawn mowers and testing them, documenting it all on Youtube.

When I am testing these mowers, I am looking for a few things: power, ease of use, battery-run time, and the right technical specifications, which I try to break down in plain English.

7. Ryobi 38 inch 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Lawn Mower (RY48111)

The Ryobi 38 inch riding mower is extremely unique. In fact, I didn’t even know it existed before I did all of this research. This is not your typical riding lawn mower. The unique design on the 48V Brushless 38 in riding mower allows for a nice clean cut for much larger lawns.

I know what you’re thinking – how does this thing run on batteries? Well, it is much different than other battery-powered mowers in that it plugs in like a dang Tesla. And it can run for up to 2.5 hours on a single charge.

The more I read up on it, the more I love it. When I first sat on this one outside of Home Depot (they let me ride it around), I was shocked at how comfortable it was and how intuitive it was to use – just like my truck. I actually think this is one of the better (if not best) electric riding mowers I’ve seen. Good job Ryobi!

The absolute beast of an electric riding mower – the Ryobi Ry48110.

This one is available at Home Depot for a surprisingly good price.

6. Ryobi 13 in ONE+ 18V Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower

Sorry y’all – I am a little biased here. I am not the biggest fan of the 18V ONE+ series and am a much bigger fan of the Ryobi 40V series.

The 13in mowing deck on this mower is simply tiny. When thinking about mowing your lawn, think about how wide of a path you need and the number of those paths to complete your yard. At just over a foot wide, this will leave you outside in the sun for longer than you may like.

My neighbor let me borrow this one for testing since he has Ryobi’s super lightweight weed eater – the 18V ONE+. This uses the same battery and was equally lightweight for a mower.

A little too small! (Photo Cred: Home Depot)

If you have a small yard however, this may fit you really well – just like it did for my neighbor. But for the price, I think you can do better. Check out our guide to mowers for small lawns – you may find a better one over there.

This one is for sale from Home Depot.

5. Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless 16in. Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Mower

This one is similar to the one above, but a few inches wider. If you have a <10,000 sq.ft plot of land, then this is actually a great mower. It is small enough to navigate nooks and crannies, but wide enough to knock out a few more passes in the yard.

The one positive I will say about the 18V ONE+ series is that the battery can easily be popped back into the other indoor tools you may already own. While I like the longer battery life of the 40V, I can see the appeal of the 18V series for folks with smaller yards/projects.

If I’m picking a mower in the ONE+ HP 18V series, I’m going with this one. Go buy it online and pick it up at Home Depot.

4. Ryobi RY40180 40V Brushless Lithium-Ion Cordless mower kit

Okay, now we are talking! My Ryobi 40V Brushless Lithium-Ion mower (why are the names so dang long?) is a great mower. The cutting deck is a nice 20 inches, meaning you can cover much more ground than the mowers in the ONE+ series.

This mower is really light, and folds in-half for a super compact storage design. This would fit underneath some stairs in your garage, or in a shed or even a closet. It also comes with a nice bag for collecting grass clippings.

And the best part – you can pop off the 40V battery and stick it right onto your Ryobi trimmer or blower.

3. Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21 in. Mower

Another mouthful of a mower, but it is pretty sweet. This is far and away the heaviest duty push mower that Ryobi offers. It has dual blade technology, similar to the rival EGO 56V mower. It is actually probably a direct response to the competition from EGO, since it has almost all of the same exact features, including the higher price.

The beautiful things about this mower:

21 inch cutting deck
40 V battery that can be used with a ton of other Ryobi tools
Incredibly quiet
Self-propelled
Comes with two batteries
Dual blade technology adds some more power.

You can’t go wrong with this one if you are looking for a high end mower and are a Ryobi loyalist. It isn’t available on Amazon from what I can tell, but I have seen it at Home Depot for a reasonable price.

2. Ryobi Lawn Mower 20in 40V Lithium-Ion Brushless mower

This is similar in voltage and size to the mower above, but comes in at a way lower price point. It is essentially a barebones Ryobi mower, with still some of the features we love. It doesn’t have a self-propelled function, but it does have a brushless motor.

It doesn’t sacrifice quality for price, but it does sacrifice bells and whistles. It’s a great, quality mower that is on the lower end of the price range.

Brushless engines on Ryobi’s lawn mowers are manufactured to be quieter, use less energy, and last longer than standard electric motors. When it comes to electric mowers, you want something that will last you for a long time – just like gas mowers do.

With the Ryobi 20in 40V brushless mower, you get a battery-powered mower that is an absolute unit. We recommend grabbing it from Amazon for a great price (compared to >$500 for other brands) or buy it online from Home Depot.

They’ve recently updated this one for 2024 and made it look a little bit cooler, with a darker tint over the battery and a boxier look. It is honestly the same exact thing but costs $100 more! Don’t fall for it. See how this one stacks up against the Greenworks 48V mower.

1. Ryobi 20in 40-Volt Brushless Smart Trek Self-Propelled Walk Behind Mower

Yep – it is official. Love at first sight is real. This Ryobi 40V mower which I wrote extensively about here is very similar to the mower above (both have brushless engines, 20 inch cutting decks, and 40V batteries), but has a few key differences.

The first difference – it is black! And looks way cooler than the other ones (in my opinion).

The second difference – the Smart Trek self-propelled feature. For those that have never used a self-propelled mower, they are awesome. Basically, they move for you – only light pushing and steering required. I ranked this number one because it has the most luxurious experience, best motor, and great interchangeable battery. When I was testing it, I loved how light it felt and how surprisingly well it did with my tall fescue.

As compared to other mowers like the EGO 56V mower, this one is lighter and easier to control. We did a full YouTube video review of this one if you want to check it out.

The Ryobi 20in 40V Self-propelled Mower from Home Depot, where it is almost exclusively sold!

Why I started The Lawn Review

Ryobi tool batteries used for mowers

You may have found this page because you already have a bunch of Ryobi tools and have the batteries. If you didn’t know, you can buy the tool-only version of Ryobi mowers and save a ton of money.

Tool-only versions come without any batteries and can accept ones you have from other tools. They are way less expensive and allow you to pop your battery off another tool right into your mower (and vice versa).

Another benefit of tool-only products is that you won’t take up another plug on the wall in your garage. Avoid the mess!

Make sure you know exactly what to look for in an electric lawn mower by checking out our guide.

Are Ryobi Lawn Mowers any good?

In short, yes they are great lawn mowers but differ widely in their style and application. You also get what you pay for with Ryobi lawn mowers – if you are expecting to spend under $300 – you will get a budget mower (albeit a good one).

Ryobi makes great products in general and if you go with the 40V battery line, you can build out your entire shed with the a single battery, saving you tons of money.

Conclusion: My Experience with Ryobi Mowers

My Ryobi mowers actually rock! They are quiet, hold their charge, and tend to last longer (if you get Brushless). We highly recommend getting one of these mowers if you are looking for a nice mower to complement your Ryobi collection.