Tag: electric mowers

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Ultimate Electric Lawn Mower Buying Guide: 2024 Update

Ryobi 40v 20 in mower

Electric lawn mowers are new to the residential lawn care scene and have a lot of buzz. I think electric mowers in many cases are the better option for homeowners than gas mowers – and I have used and tested DOZENS.

But they also cast a lot of doubt. No way they can be as strong as gas mowers? Or do as good of a job?

Well….let’s sort this out once and for all. Here is your definitive guide to purchasing an electric mower.

Why should you trust us? Well, we were quoted in the Washington Post for this exact topic.

Let’s get started:

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:

Best electric mower brands

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.

One of our favorites from Ryobi (yes, we took this picture)!

Here are some of my favorite brands:

  • Greenworks: Greenworks electric mowers have awesome quality. While they aren’t as popular as some of the other brands, they have some of the absolute highest quality and power of ANY lawn tool company – gas or electric. We compiled a list of the best Greenworks mowers for you.
  • Ryobi: Ryobi electric mowers are also great. While they tend to be “lighter duty”, they are often inexpensive and have batteries that can be used with over 1,000 other Ryobi tools – which is a huge win for storage and wall space. We put together the 7 best Ryobi mowers here.
  • EGO: Another relatively new entrant to the market, EGO has blown up. They are super popular at Lowe’s and thus super popular in half of your neighbors’ garages. We have a YouTube review of the EGO 56V mower that you can check out here.

Get a metal cutting deck on your electric mower

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it can also feel fragile.

We at The Lawn Review always recommend a metal deck when possible. Decks are the area that cover the blades where the engine sits. Having a metal deck allows for protection against flying rocks, sticks, and other things that could rip up your mower if they get caught under there.

Greenworks 80V has an awesome metal deck.

While we recommend a metal deck, this may not always be possible for those with smaller mowers. If you have a tiny yard and a small electric mower with a plastic deck, just be sure to clear out your yard before you get started.

Batteries are critical on electric mowers

 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.

One thing I love about my Ryobi blower is that I can quickly pop off their 40V mower and put it on my trimmer and my edger. This saves me a lot of time and only takes up one plug on the wall.

Dealt has an extensive 20V line.

Worst case scenario: you have 4 different tools with 4 different batteries. Where do you charge them all? Where do you store them all? This requires some sort of stand and then an extension cord and a whole mess. Just simplify your life.

Stick with one brand and one battery type and move across the product line.

Check out our guide to commonly asked battery questions for mowers and other tools.

Self-propelled electric mowers use batteries faster

I used to be a major hater of the self-propelled function. But that was plainly ignorant.

While I still don’t personally love or have a need for a self-propelled mower, there are plenty of people that do. For example, elderly folks, those with arthritis, and those with hilly or slanted yards can majorly benefit from this.

With self-propelled mowers you just have to be aware of a few things.

  • You are going to drain battery at a faster rate. Think about it – the mower is doing the walking! Not you! So it is going to burn through some juice in the battery. If you can help it move along, you can add a few minutes on, but overall you will lose a good chunk (30-40%) of battery by having this feature going. Sadly, this may result in having to stop to charge the batteries. Yikes!
  • You will pay more for self-propelled mowers. Flat out. This feature adds $100-$150 to the cost of a mower. Self-propelled functionality creates a few more bells and whistles needed on the mower that tack on quite a bit of cost.

Frequently asked questions about electric lawn mowers

Had to include a section here for FAQs. I get a text from at least two people each day with one of these questions, so thought I would start compiling them for your benefit!

Are electric mowers powerful enough?

For the majority of homeowners, absolutely yes.

If you are a commercial mower or you have 2+ acres, I would probably stick with gas – for now. Electric mower technology is accelerating rapidly and some of the big dogs are coming out with some insane new battery-powered zero-turn mowers.

How long will an electric mower last?

Electric mowers should last 5-7 years – just as long as gas-powered mowers but with less maintenance.

What is a brushless electric lawn mower?

A brushless motor on an electric mower uses magnets instead of friction to power the motor. This technology makes for a quieter, cooler, more durable motor.

This one is brushless!

Are brushless lawn mowers better?

Yes, they are much better technology that greatly extends the life of your motor.

How big of an electric lawn mower do I need?

The size of the electric mower should be fit to your yard. For most yards under 1/4 acre, under 20 inches is fine. For 1/4 – 1 acre – consider a 22 inch or wider mower.

Is it worth getting a battery-powered lawn mower?

This is a loaded question, but I’ll do my best. If you are the type of person who loves getting their hands dirty and doing oil changes, filter changes, spark plug replacements, and all that (and trust me there are plenty of you!), then you may want to stick with a gas push mower.

If you like a nice-looking yard, but would rather move on to the next project, then an electric mower is perfect for you. Quiet, easy to maintain, no hassle, and no emissions. Plus – almost always easier to store.

Do electric lawn mowers need oil?

Nope!

Are electric mowers powerful?

Yep! Most electric push mowers are equally as powerful as their gas counterparts.

Another one of our favorite from EGO.

Which is better – gas or electric lawn mower?

My common rule of thumb for the average consumer: electric is better for smaller yards and gas is better for bigger yards.

My reasoning for this is mostly related to charge times related to electric mowers. You may have to stop and charge batteries multiple times with an electric mower, but not for a gas mower.

Are electric mowers lighter than gas mowers?

Yep! Basically no exceptions here.

How long does a battery last on a battery powered mower?

You can expect most batteries to last 45 minutes to an hour. Some features may decrease battery life, like self-propelled functions.

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. 

We take testing to extreme measures.

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

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3 Best PowerSmart Lawn Mowers That Surprised Me

The best PowerSmart lawn mower is the 80V battery-powered mower they recently began selling. It has a wide deck, a high powered brushless motor, and is extremely affordable.

Thoughts?

PowerSmart makes legit stuff. If you own any of their tools, you know that it is genuinely well-manufactured and built to last even PowerSmart it isn’t a household name.

I did a full length YouTube video of the 40V version of the PowerSmart mower (which didn’t make this list) but you can watch it here.

Their lawn mowers are no exception. These things are plastered all over Amazon because they sell well. They have some push mowers in the game that absolutely rock. 

The Best PowerSmart lawn mowers and why I’m surprised

While I normally would list these out and rank them, I am actually going to rank them by category. Here are the categories I am going to use.

  • Best electric PowerSmart mower
  • Best PowerSmart mower for small yards
  • Best PowerSmart mower for larger yards

So let’s get started!

Best Electric PowerSmart mower: PowerSmart 80V 21 inch cordless mower

PowerSmart is brand new to the electric mower game. But that can be a good thing. They have been sitting back watching other people try unsuccessfully and developed a pretty slick product.

40 + 40 = 80V

The PowerSmart Electric Lawn Mower, 80V 6A battery, 21 inch cordless mower is pretty slick. Not only is it one of the more aesthetically pleasing electric mowers, but it also comes with some dang good features. 

Here’s what I like about it:

  • 80V battery for some serious run-time
  • 21 inch deck is small enough for a small yard but big enough for a medium yard
  • Steel deck instead of cheap, fragile plastic
  • Breaks down like a dang lawn chair
  • Has a bag (if you’re into that)

It cannot be overstated the importance of having a metal, durable deck on your electric mowers. They are super important for durability and being able to use this thing year after year. 

It also comes with a two-year warranty, which is great since it is one of their first electric products.

Another thing to love about this mower is the brushless motor.  Brushless motors rely on magnets instead of friction to transfer electricity and power your motor. They are significantly quieter, more efficient, and longer lasting. 

You can grab this one on Amazon for a great price compared to other electric mowers.

Best PowerSmart mower for small yards: PowerSmart Gas Lawn Mower 21 inch 3-in-1  with 144CC 4-stroke engine

This PowerSmart mower is perfect for smaller yards. 21 inches is a great size to handle small to medium sized yards. The simplicity of this mower gives me confidence that it will last me a long time.

Simple. Beautiful. Reminds me of my TB160.

It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, making this PowerSmart mower one of the best starter mowers for new homeowners. This mower has power, durability, and straight-forward operation that is great for smaller yards.

Here is what I like about this PowerSmart mower:

  • Easy-start pull string (that actually works for me)
  • 21 inch steel cutting deck for durability
  • 5 positions for cutting height (I use the highest)
  • Comes mostly assembled so it’s great for morons like me

This mower is very similar to the Troy-Bilt TB160, which was my first mower. Basically, it has all you need to get started for a relatively small-yard, without the complex features that weigh it down, burn up more gas, and cost you money. 

My old faithful TB160.

It comes in at an awesome low price, can be delivered to your door super quick, and will be mostly ready to go out of the box. You can have it shipped directly for the lowest price on Amazon.

Best PowerSmart mower for larger yards: PowerSmart Self Propelled Lawn Mower 22 inch 3-in-1 lawn mower gas powered with 200cc

Wow. Couldn’t they have named it something easier, like “Doug”? What a mouthful.

Bigger. Badder. Cooler.

Anyways this mower DOES have the bells and whistles. While it is only one inch wider than the one I recommended for smaller yards, it has a self-propelled function that will take a huge load off of your hands.

So with a slightly larger deck and self-propelled feature (which drives the wheels forward for you), you can move through an acre without too much stress on the forearms and back. 

This thing also has a 200cc 4-stroke engine, meaning it ain’t playing around. 

Here’s what I like:

  • Self-propelled
  • 22 inch steel deck (widest PowerSmart)
  • Mostly assembled on arrival
  • Still pretty simple and straightforward

Yep – while it does have the self-propelled function, it doesn’t go overboard with lights, fog machines, or beverage coolers. It just gets the job done. 

Which I appreciate.

You can grab it for not too much more money than the smaller gas-powered mower, making it a dang steal. I suggest considering Amazon as a good place to purchase this mower, as it doesn’t require much assembly and can be shipped straight to your lawn.

Our recommendation: The 21 inch electric PowerSmart mower

Because I am a lover of simple, easy-to-use, reliable mowers, I have to recommend the 21 inch mower here.

It comes in at a great size, won’t break on you, and is an amazing price. It also comes basically fully assembled and can be shipped straight to your door from Amazon.

I haven’t seen this one available anywhere besides Amazon – but there may be some local places to grab it as well.

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. 

We have crazy testing methods.

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. 

About PowerSmart

PowerSmart is a brand of heavier lawn and commercial machinery. The reason you may not have heard of them before is that their scope is relatively small. PowerSmart really focuses all of their attention and effort on snow blowers, snow throwers, pressure washers, and woodchippers. Notice a similarity? These tools all focus on taking in an item and then powerfully launching them into another galaxy. 

Now imagine that on a mower (your mind cannot fathom).

The snow blower = pure power.

PowerSmart has field-leading expertise in this area and makes some solid products. While you may not have a shed full of PowerSmart equipment, you will surely come across some of their products over time. 

What to look for in a push mower

When looking to purchase a 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:

  • Brand quality
    • Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the lawn 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. 
    • Many mowers, especially 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.
  • Gas vs. electric.
    •  The battle of the universe is happening in the lawn mower space. Tiger Woods vs Jack Nichols. The new, flashy electric mowers are getting a lot of attention – and for good reason. This comes down to personal preference. Do you want a ‘69 Mustang or a ‘22 Tesla? 

Check out our full guide of what to look for in an electric or battery-powered mower.

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11 Popular Greenworks Lawn Mowers: Reviewed & Ranked

The best Greenworks electric lawn mower is the Greenworks 80V 21 inch mower – which I bought last year and still use as my primary lawn mower. This mower has a super durable motor and cutting deck, a great price tag, and looks pretty darn cool as well. Greenworks makes super high-quality mowers and have slowly started taking up the battery-powered mower space.

If you found this article, you probably saw Greenworks mowers on Amazon, where they absolutely dominate and have super low prices. They can also be found at Costco, or directly on Greeenworks’ website.

Let’s sum up our findings from today:

The Ultimate Greenworks Electric Mower Ranking

I broke down the complete list of the best Greenworks electric mowers and ranked these suckers from worst to best (although all are pretty good).

11. Greenworks 18-inch 12 Amp Corded Electric lawn mower

The Greenworks 18-inch 12 Amp Corded electric lawn mower is basic. In fact, some might call it boring. But boring can be beautiful sometimes. If you look at the picture below, you might think “that is extremely simple”. 

The thing is that this mower is not going to be complex and not have all these weird functions and stuff you have to modify. It is straightforward. And that’s nice.

I have it at the bottom of the list not because it is simple, but because it is on the smaller side of mowers and still requires an extension cord. This doesn’t have the bells and whistles, but does still have a metal deck – meaning it will last a while.

You really can’t go wrong with this one. And it is for sale for a pretty dang good price on Amazon.

Simple, classy, elegant.

10. Greenworks G-Max 40V 20-inch cordless 3-in-1 lawn mower

The Greenworks G-Max 40V 20-inch mower comes across as extremely aggressive. In fact, it’s the opposite of the one above. It has ALL the bells and whistles. 

A 20 inch steel deck means it is going to be durable and allows for mulching, bag collection, or side discharge. This gives you some flexibility in how you groom your grass. The mower also detects when it is getting kickback from dense grass and will increase the blade speed to push through the job.

It takes two batteries and can cut the majority of home’s grass in a single charge. 

If you are looking for a heavy (it weighs 60 lbs) duty electric mower, you truly cannot go wrong with the G-Max 40V 20-inch mower. You can buy it today on Amazon for just under $400.

Probably the best looking Greenworks mower.

9. Greenworks 48V 20” Brushless Cordless Lawn Mower

I love this dang mower. It comes with a few great things, chief of which is the brushless motor. Brushless motors last longer, require less energy, and don’t overheat the electrical unit. To me, they are non-negotiable when buying electronic equipment.

This mower also has a 20 inch steel deck and LED headlights, for all those times you mow in the middle of the night. There is also a “turbo” button which appears to speed up the blades just like in the previous mower. 

It truly is an amazing, long-lasting mower that can be purchased on Amazon today for right at $399.

This one is pretty neat – one of the only 48V mowers.

8.Greenworks 21-inch 40V Self propelled cordless lawn mower

The 21 inch deck on this mower makes it one of the larger mowers that Greenworks makes. As I mentioned previously, I’m not the biggest fan of self-propelled mowers – BUT – a LOT of people are. Their muscles simply aren’t as large as mine. 

It is definitely a sleek looking mower with the majority of the body being black. This is the perfect mower for someone with a larger yard who gets tired pushing for a long time. 

At a slightly higher price point, this mower is currently available on Amazon. 

This mower is pretty slick!

7. Greenworks 25302 20 inch 40V Twin Force Cordless mower

The Greenworks 25302 is one of the earlier models made by Greenworks. It doesn’t have a steel cutting deck, but it is one of the lighter mowers for its 20-inch size. 

It has a 40V battery that can be used in a ton of different Greenworks products and will run for about an hour. There is also an opportunity to add a second battery to it for it to go even longer. 

This mower is great, not intimidating, and has wonderful reviews on Amazon by older women. If this sounds like you, then buy it on Amazon and join the club.

6. Greenworks 10 Amp 16-inch corded mower 25142

The Greenworks 10 Amp 16-inch corded mower is a plug-in, mostly plastic mower. So why did I rank it so high?

THE PRICE! It is an amazing price on Amazon if you’re interested in buying.

This mower is a simple design and basically all you will need for a thorough cut. It is one of the premium corded (requiring an extension cord) mower on the market. A great thing about this mower is that its super light, easy to start, and easy to store. 

This one is perfect for first time homebuyers with a smaller yard. Buy it now on Amazon for about half of the price of the other mowers.

5. Greenworks 40V 21 inch cordless brushless push mower

This is one of the better looking mowers offered by Greenworks, IMO. It is almost pure black, has a big ole steel cutting deck, and looks like any other gas mower on the market. 

It comes with a nice mulching bag, but can also do mulching or side discharge (this is what I do). One thing I love about this mower is of course the BRUSHLESS MOTOR. It will last you for a long time.

Greenworks also does a great job of making easy-to-store mowers that can fit into a tight space in your garage or shed. If you want one of the better looking electric mowers on the market, buy this mower on Amazon (lowest price I could find).

Mean looking and ready to get pushed.

4. Greenworks 48V 17” Cordless lawn mower

Okay, so it may not make a ton of sense that this one ranks so highly but I will explain why. It is a 48V mower that is 17 inches wide, making it great for small yards. The beauty in this mower is that it can be purchased in a combination set.

Yep, you can get it with a blower, a trimmer, or both. It will also come with a dual battery charger, which is super convenient for all of the different tools. 

I recommend going with this one if you are looking for an all-in-one solution. This set is great for those that are new homeowners, wanting to make the switch to electric, or have a smaller yard. 

You can get the full set on Amazon for a decent price and save a ton of money on battery costs. Grab it today to grab all the lawn tools you will ever need at the same time.

Best mower for getting a combo kit.

3. Greenworks 12amp 20-inch 3-in-1 electric corded lawn mower

Not gonna lie, this thing is pretty sweet. While it is a corded mower, I ranked it so highly because of its simplicity. Yes, you will need an extension cord, but this thing is built to last. It has a 20 inch steel deck which is amazing for longevity.

Another thing I love about this mower is the PRICE. To my knowledge, this is one of the least expensive 20 inch mowers on the planet. Right now, it is on sale on Amazon for about a 10% discount.

There is a reason it has almost 10k reviews on Amazon – its really popular, light, easy to use, and will last a long time. The Greenworks 12A 20 inch corded mower has all the perks of the big battery-powered mowers, but technically has unlimited run time. 

Go ahead and treat yourself to this mower on Amazon because it is as simple as hooking up a vacuum – and actually way less expensive.

2. Greenworks 40V Push Lawn Mower, 16 inch electric lawn mower

Okay so I had absolutely no choice but to rank this one higher than the mower above because it has some similar attributes. Both are at an incredible price point in their category and both are wildly popular.

This mower runs off of a 40V battery that can be used with a ton of other Greenworks tools. This bad boy is simple to use, small enough to tackle tight spaces, lightweight, and easy to store.

And did I mention the price? It is running about $50 under its list price right now on Amazon. It also has the option to add compatible tools like chainsaw, blower vac, trimmer, and leaf blower that all use the same battery. BRB going to go buy it on Amazon….

This is currently 20% off on Amazon, so I’d give it a look as the least expensive.

Popular, inexpensive, light.

1. Greenworks Pro 80V 21-inch Brushless self-propelled mower

How can I not but make this the number one Greenworks mower in 2022? 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.

Benefits of the top Greenworks mower

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. 

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

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

Pretty dang sweet mower

Conclusion: Best Greenworks electric lawn mowers

When it comes to Greenworks mowers, you really can’t go wrong. It is important to find a mower that fits all of your needs, including price point, size, storage, power, and battery compatibility.

We are huge fans of Greenworks because they make top of the line battery-powered equipment. 

Why we review lawn mowers

We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. Looking for lawn tools was like trying to read the assembly instructions on a Swedish bookshelf from Ikea. A bunch of words that don’t really mean anything and don’t tell me how the experience of owning the lawn tool.

How we spend our time.

We want to be different. While we are experts in the field, we almost NEVER use technical jargon and are much more focused on the usability, experience, and value of each product.

Greenworks brand and reputation

Greenworks sells lawn tools like blowers, pressure washers, trimmers, and just about anything else you can think of. They are not often found in the big box stores, but have an amazing online presence, particularly at Amazon. 

We love their blower!

I love Greenworks products and have reviewed quite a few. One thing about their products consistently stands out: they make some powerful stuff. This means they are not just getting cheap parts and calling themselves a mower company – they take the time to truly develop high quality tools that can pack a punch.

A great example of this is their 80V blower, which made our list of top blowers. 

What to look for in 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:

  • 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. It doesn’t help you that much and it drains battery – I would pass here. This is a marketing gimmick in my opinion.

You can read a more in-depth guide to making your first purchase in an electric lawn mower here.

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7 Ryobi Lawn Mowers We Absolutely Love

Ryobi 40v 20 in mower

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:

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. 

Okay! I can work with this.

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.

Watch out! It’s got headlights!

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.

Me with this mower

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. 

So quiet it just snuck up on you.

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). 

Yup, we own it ourselves.


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

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.

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. 

The 40V battery with my string trimmer.

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.

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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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I Tested The New Ryobi 40V Brushless Mower: It Is a BEAST

The Ryobi 40V lawn mower is an electric mower that is one of the most popular on the market. I’ll be the first to admit, I have ALWAYS been a gas person. That being said, I am open to changes and trying new things out.

I personally have owned and enjoyed their 3-in-1 yard tool that includes a trimmer, edger, and blower. You can tell it’s battery powered and feels slightly weaker than each of those tools individually, but it gets the job done. 

Here are my final thoughts on this Ryobi 40V mower if you want to stop reading here:

  • It is a fine mower, although I wish it had a metal deck
  • The Ryobi 40V series is great for a ton of tools
  • I find this Ryobi mower to be a bit overpriced compared to others
  • I test out the most recent version of this mower in a big video comparison on my Youtube channel

Today, we are going to review the following:

Let’s get started!

Why would I get an electric lawn mower?

There are a few benefits to getting an electric lawn mower. For starters, I am an early riser and have often angered my neighbors with mowing the lawn and doing other yard work before 9am. The Ryobi 40V lawn mower is quiet. Surprisingly quiet.

Ryobi perfected the quiet tool space when they created their ultra-quiet and surprisingly powerful Whisper Series leaf blower. They have quickly adapted most of their tools to be quiet.

This has allowed my children to once again trick-or-treat in the neighborhood and minimized the dog poop left in my yard. 

Electric lawn mowers also have another obvious benefit – they don’t require gasoline. Not only does this free up some space in the garage, but makes the pain of spilling gas everywhere go away. The other benefit to being electric is the minimal maintenance required. While it can be annoying to sit and wait for your lawn mower to charge, you don’t have to worry about oil changes or other messes. 

The cool (to some people) Ryobi 40V lawn mower.

Another benefit to having an electric lawn mower is the lack of air pollution. While lawn mowers aren’t blowing black smoke like your diesel truck, they still put out fumes. My wife will sometimes relieve stress by mowing the lawn, but had to stop while pregnant due to the fumes. A minor benefit, but still noteworthy.

Does the Ryobi 40V mower require a replacement battery?

The Ryobi 40V mower comes with a 40V lithium ion battery that will definitely last for small to medium jobs. At the end of the day, this is battery powered and requires charging just like any other tool in our garage. 

Battery works with other tools as well!

Something that is useful to recognize is that Ryobi has built some compatibility with some of their products and this mower. If you have another Ryobi tool with a 40V battery, you can swap them out when your main battery runs dry. 

What you should think about the battery system

With the normal Ryobi 40V battery and the backup battery, you can successfully complete any job. Some considerations for battery life include the following:

Yard size for an electric mower

This is an obvious one. If you have a huge yard, you will likely run out of battery because of the sheer volume of grass that needs to be cut. 

If you have a smaller yard, you will find that you can likely complete more than one mowing session on a single charge. My neighbor has this exact lawnmower and only charges it about once every three weeks during peak season. 

Grass length

Thicker, longer, or wet grass will all deplete your Ryobi 40V battery faster. It takes a lot of energy to push the blade across thick or wet grass. For those of us that like a golf course style trim, you can run through the battery quickly when cutting grass down to that level from a taller level. 

Self-propeller function on a Ryobi 40V mower

The Ryobi 40V lawn mower has a self-propelled option, which will creep the lawn mower forward and assist in pushing it across your yard. Naturally, using this option will cut down on battery life and require you to charge more frequently. If you have a large yard, you may want to consider turning this off to conserve battery. Otherwise, purchasing a second battery will help get the job done in one trip.

Breaking down the features of this mower

When looking for a Ryobi electric mower, you have two main options. The Ryobi 40V 21 inch or the 20 inch. Let’s check out the main differences between the two electric lawn mowers:

Design

The design of the 21 inch model looks slightly cooler to me. The deck is steel, similar to a traditional gas push mower, instead of plastic. Both have a neon green and black design which fits the normal Ryobi profile. The 21 inch model has a slightly more prominent light for those who mow at dusk. 

The 21 inch model can fit a separate striping kit.

Overall, the design screams “I’m using an electric mower, look at me!”. However, the silence of the mower makes up for it. While I am a traditionalist when it comes to design, others might like the futuristic appearance of both of these mowers.

Functionality

Obviously, the 21 inch Ryobi 40V is slightly larger. Both the 21 and the 20 inch mowers have push-start capability and the same battery. The battery life lasts a little longer (5 minutes longer) on the 20 inch model than it does on the 21 inch model. The battery longevity likely relies on the weight of the mower and the slightly longer blade. 

The 20inch is a bit smaller.

Storage

While both of these mowers easily fold over in the garage, the 20 inch mower takes the cake on storage capability. As the lighter and slimmer model, the 20 inch mower can easily be folded and even hung on the wall. The 21 inch model has the heavier steel deck and larger body, making it difficult for storage. Consider that both will be easier to store than a traditional gas push mower – and won’t leak any gas or fluid either!

A lot of mowers fold in half like this Dewalt one!

Value

Considering both the 21 inch and the 20 inch Ryobi 40V use the same battery, similar blades, and are almost identical – the 20 inch mower is the best value. As I look through a few online shopping venues, the 21 inch mower is consistently over $100 more than the 20 inch mower. 

If it were me (and I am cheap), I would go with the 20 inch mower and be okay with getting made fun of by my guy friends.

What I didn’t like about this mower

Electric lawn mowers are new entrants into a long standing, traditionalist marketplace of incumbents. Therefore, they will receive their fair share of criticism. What I see most out of those that have a problem with these mowers is the run time.

Ryobi 40V lawn mower run time

The 20 inch Ryobi mower boasts a 40 minute run time while the 21 inch mower has a 35 minute run time. 

Again, there are several factors that will impact run time. Grass length and density will eat through the battery as well as the self-propelled function. If you have two batteries, you should not have a problem getting the job done.

That being said, the battery charge time is about four hours for each of those 35-40 minute uses. If you have a very large yard, it may take a long time to get cut. 

Getting a replacement battery

You can order individual batteries to replace the battery on your Ryobi 40V. I have never had a problem with my Ryobi 40V battery for any other of my appliances, but I generally don’t run them as long as I do my mower. 

For those with other Ryobi 40V products that have a compatible battery, you can use those in both tools. This is how Ryobi gets you to become loyal to their products!

Where to buy the Ryobi lawn mower

You can grab this one and bunch of other Ryobi mowers from Home Depot, where Ryobi is almost exclusively sold.

The Official Review of the Ryobi 40V 21 inch Lawn Mower

FeatureRyobi 40V lawn mowerComparable gas push mower
Difficulty to useLess difficult than gasMore difficult due to weight
DurabilityLess durable plastic deckMore durable than electric
MaintenanceEasiest to maintainRequires yearly oil changes
ValueMedium valueMedium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommendedHighly recommended
For lots <1 acreRecommended if willing to use a push mowerRecommended if willing to use a push mower
For lots >1 acreNot recommendedNot recommended

To summarize our review, the Ryobi 40V 21 inch lawn mower is a great mower for small yards. The ideal electric mower owner will be someone with limited storage space for a larger mower, a smaller yard, does not like to push and strain too hard when mowing, is eco-conscious, and enjoys a quiet mow.

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. 

How we test out 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.

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My Experience With Dewalt’s 20V Self-Propelled Mower

The Dewalt Self-Propelled lawn mower is a 20V machine that is trying to break into the electric mower space. The electric mower space has been dominated by folks like Ryobi, Greenworks, EGO Power+ and more. 

Me and my son picking it up from the store!

Traditional companies like Dewalt, Black and Decker, and others have been slower entrants (think Tesla vs. Ford) but are now dipping their toes into the water. That being said, Dewalt’s self-propelled electric mower must undergo our intense scrutiny process.

SPOILER:

This is actually a sweet mower with the longest run-time of just about any battery-powered mower. It isn’t the most popular mower on the market, but this electric mower is certainly gaining steam (or electrons).

The Dewalt 20V mower can be found at Home Depot’s website where you can buy online or pick it up in store.

Oh and if you like Dewalt’s mower, check out their newest lineup of string trimmers – from 20V to 60V.

Today we are going to talk about the following, keep reading or click the links below to jump to a specific section.

First impressions of the Dewalt self propelled lawn mower

I must admit, I have my doubts when it comes to electric lawn mowers. Other electric mowers that I have reviewed have had issues with battery life. The self propelling function of the mower can easily chew through battery and have you with a half-mowed lawn and a wasted weekend afternoon. 

Interestingly, the Dewalt battery-powered outdoor line used to be 40V products. These have since been discontinued. The majority of equipment is now 20V, with a mower that requires two 20V batteries. Makes sense if you don’t think about it.

We have reviewed some of the other 20V Dewalt products, including their updated leaf blower and their powerful cordless hedge trimmer.

Dewalt is a company that is highly regarded for their tools and outdoor equipment, so I was willing to give it a go. Let’s check out some of the features of this mower. 

This mower is really easy to use

Frankly, all electric lawn mowers are very usable. They are quiet, light, store easily, and do not bother your neighbors. In other words, they are boring. The Dewalt self propelled lawn mower comes with a push to start button and will begin walking for you once you get it going. 

The Dewalt mower has a slight edge over other electric mowers in that it is about 5lbs lighter than its competitors. One thing I love about how easy to use this is is the push-to-start feature. This is an often overlooked feature because we are all so used to pulling the dang cord to get our mower started.

It also features a great self-propelled function that will lurch the mower forward so that you don’t have to push as hard. This is a great feature if you mow have a challenging and bumpy lawn.

The metal deck and brushless motor make this durable

One thing I appreciate about this model is the wide steel deck. Having a wide steel deck will make the mower feel less “plastic” and make the mower last much longer. A wide deck on a lawn mower also helps with a cleaner cut with less passes. 

The metal deck of the Dewalt self-propelled lawn mower provides more durability than other electric mowers.

Dewalt knows this is one of the more durable electric mowers on the market and has put their money on the line by offering a three year warranty. They also offer one year of free service (which you will not need) and a ninety day money back guarantee. This basically gives you an entire free spring season to try it out. If you don’t like it, you can get your money back. 

Battery life on the Dewalt self-propelled lawn mower

Battery life issues on electric mowers are what drive me CRAZY. The Dewalt electric mower has a pair of batteries that you can use to get this baby fired up. What I absolutely LOVE about this mower is the run time. The run time is 75 minutes on this mower which puts it as best in class.

Compare the 75 minutes on the Dewalt mower to 40 or 45 with the Ryobi one. This gives it a huge advantage over its competitors. 

Lithium-ion batteries are great because they don’t slowly sputter and weaken your lawn mower when the battery gets low. The machine will continue to run full speed until there is nothing left in it. 

Using the Dewalt battery with other Dewalt tools

Just like Ryobi and some of the other multi-electric tool companies, you can use the batteries from this mower on other Dewalt devices. This feature is of course to build brand loyalty. After all, if you already are charging Dewalt batteries in your garage, why would you want to add others?

The Dewalt 20V hedge trimmer (that I have also reviewed).

Due to Dewalt’s massive suite of products, you can use the batteries from this mower on over 200 products of Dewalt’s. The closest competitors only have maybe 40-50 tools that can also use their battery. I have personally used and tried the Dewalt 20V hedge trimmer and review it here as well as the Dewalt 60V chainsaw and the 20V blower.

If you already have the Dewalt batteries in other tools of yours, you can purchase this mower for a reduced price as a “tool-only” option. For those that are Dewalt loyals, you can rest assured that your loyalty will be rewarded.

The Dewalt line of 20V products has over 200 products that can take a 20V battery.

Where it is made

This does not matter to some people, but to me it does. This mower is made in the good ole’ United States of America. Most electric mowers are made in China and shipped over. For those that care to support an American-made product, check out this mower.

Storage

One of the beauties of electric mowers is their light weight and storage capabilities. This mower is no different. You can basically fold this mower in half and stand it up on its side. When folded, it sticks straight up and can be pushed into a tight space in your garage, crawlspace, shed, or wherever else you can make room. In the below picture that I got from Dewalt’s website, this gentleman is putting the mower in his truck. It is a great example of how the mower can be used, but sadly there is not a single blade of grass anywhere near this man (LMAO).

Where’s the grass, buddy?

The great thing about storing an electric mower is that it will fire right back up when winter is over. Gas mowers may require a little bit of oil and gas plus several yanks of the cord. This one will start back up at the press of a button. 

Should I use the bag on this Dewalt mower?

I am almost never a fan of using bags on mowers. The bag will keep the grass clippings off of your lawn. While this can be aesthetically pleasing, your yard actually can benefit from these nutrients. 

With electric mowers, every second of battery life counts. Keeping a bag full of damp grass to weigh down the motor and cause it to exert more energy is a loss in my opinion. Do not slow down your mow and go bag free!

To self-propel or not to self-propel?

This mower comes in two options: standard push and self-propelled. The self-propelled option is nice for those that like an easier experience when going up hills or over rough terrain like long grass. The downside of self-propelled mowers will be the battery life reduction you will experience by keeping that function on. 

The push option is your standard push mower. Nothing sexy but gives you great exercise.

Cost and value of the Dewalt self-propelled lawn mower

While certainly more expensive than similar bodied gas mowers (like the Troy Bilt push I reviewed), the Dewalt comes in at the lower end of the price range.

This mower has almost all of the same features of the Greenworks mower, but about $70 less currently. This mower ranges from about $400-$450 and has better battery life. The added benefit for those that already own Dewalt tools and have other uses for these batteries makes it a clear winner. 

Dewalt vs Greenworks vs Ryobi

As you may know, I have also reviewed the a similar mower from our friends at Greenworks as well as the various mowers made by Ryobi. To be frank, the Dewalt one is the only that appeals to me from an aesthetics perspective. The Greenworks and Ryobi mowers are neon-green and stick out like a sore thumb.

While the Dewalt self propelled mower is slightly more expensive, I think it is the best buy of the three. The metal deck allows for more durability despite being slightly heavier. I also like the Ryobi mower, but the compatibility with other tools is less than Dewalt. I also like Dewalt’s tools more than Ryobi, so would rather build out an entire suite of Dewalt products than Ryobi.

Greenworks is really on an island from a battery perspective, so unless you have no other Dewalt or Ryobi tools with the appropriate battery, I would ignore this one altogether.


The official review of the Dewalt self-propelled lawn mower

It can be found at Home Depot’s website where you can buy online or pick it up in store.

FeatureRating
Difficulty to useLess difficult than gas
DurabilityMore durable compared to other electric mowers
MaintenanceEasiest to maintain
ValueHigh value for an electric mower, lower value if including gas mowers
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommended
For lots <1 acreNot recommended unless keeping spare batteries around
For lots >1 acreNot recommended

For links to the manual or to parts for the Dewalt electric lawn mower, check out the below:

Parts: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/c6/c631e257-3382-4203-9b6a-731054ade1be.pdf

Manual: https://images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/d5/d50d81b3-4e7a-4e98-9e1f-ae2596dbdd2c.pdf

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I Tested Out Greenworks 40V 21″ Brushless Mower and Loved It

The Greenworks Pro 40V 21” Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower was one of the first major players in the electric mower space when they launched their mower in 2016. Five years later, the market demand has steadily increased with increased public perception and battery capabilities.

Greenworks has really become a major player in the e-tool marketplace with over 75 tools in their 40V battery lineup (and growing!). Today we will examine one of Greenworks top selling models, the Pro 40V 21” Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower. 

Here are the quick takeaways from my experience with the Greenworks 40V mower:

  • The Greenworks 40V mower has a great self-propelled function that is super intuitive
  • The metal deck and brushless motor mean this battery powered mower was built to last
  • The 40V lineup from Greenworks has a ton of tools, saving you big time money on batteries

Keep reading below to learn more about this mower. If you’re already sold, it can be found and purchased from a bunch of different retailers including Amazon (where we got it) or directly from Greenworks website.

Jump ahead to read more!

First impressions of the Greenworks Pro 40V 21” Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Though I haven’t always been the biggest fan of electric mowers, the Greenworks mower has caught my attention for a variety of different reasons; the light, compact design, the SmartCut™ technology which enables you to adjust blade speed, and the variable speed setting to control how fast the mower goes. The cool green color makes it pop too! Also, it’s a nice touch that this comes with a spare blade. 

Major facelift!

Using the 40V Greenworks mower compared to a gas mower

This Greenworks 40V mower is very intuitive. It includes a start button (which is very strange for a guy who is used to ripping a string to get his mower humming). Now I just click a button and it quietly hums along.

It also includes a turbo button to, you guessed it, turn up the power on your cuts. It also includes an on-board battery indicator up by the throttle control so you can easily see how much power you have left. 

The mower also has EZ Fold Handles which cause it to break down and store with ease. It also features a 7-position single lever height adjustment handle on the back right side which I must say is a pretty sweet addition. I can’t stand having to change all four of my different wheel heights and inevitably I forget to change one and have uneven cuts for a few passes.

Folds in half like a dang lawn chair.

Durability – the metal deck on the Greenworks mower

The 21” steel deck should provide good durability in the event you run over a rock, stick or tennis ball. When compared to plastic decks, metal decks are FAR superior.

Greenworks also provides a 4 year tool & battery warranty which is pretty long in my opinion. It must mean they stand by their product! I believe most mowers have a 3 year warranty so adding that additional year means they must really believe in their product. 

Lastly – a brushless motor makes this a super great option for long-term use. Brushless motors are cooler, longer lasting, and way more durable.

Battery Life

Greenworks 40V mower boasts a 60 minute battery and I’m like… So?… Unless you have ¼ to ½ an acre yard this is simply not enough time to cut your yard – Especially if you use the NOS, I mean turbo button.

The 80V battery is also popular for other products.

But in reality, this ends up being enough juice for most people. You can either buy an additional battery, or consider conserving battery life by making sure to mow when the grass is completely dry or by leaving the self-propelled function off.

My experience using Greenworks’ 40V lineup of mowers

The mower itself is pretty light and easy to handle even though the deck is made of steel. Most people from the age of 12 – 65 should be able to handle this mean green mowing machine just fine. It also folds up in a self proclaimed “2 seconds.” So take that for what you will.

I don’t know how that really impacts the way the mower works but I guess it makes it that much quicker to a nice brewski during a hot summer afternoon. 

SmartCut technology from Greenworks

Greenworks also uses a SmartCut technology that lets you control how fast your blade spins, thereby impacting how long your battery lasts as well. The battery pack on this mower says you can run it for 60 minutes but that will more than likely be on the lowest setting possible and the minute you start to introduce hills and tougher mowing conditions your battery will be zapped.

Also this mower is rated for a ¾ of an acre yard but my yard is ¾ an acre and I’ve never mowed it in less than an hour so I’d imagine I’ll have to buy another battery to finish the whole yard.

The older model.

 

Clipping control settings

In addition to controlling how fast the blade spins you can also control what happens to your clippings, you can select 1 of 4 different mowing settings: Mulch, Bagging, Side Discharge and Leaf Pick-Up. Personally, I have no idea why anyone would use the side discharge option. It seems like it’d be such a mess to me. I see myself using the mulch and leaf pick-up options the most. The bagging option would probably only be used on my first mow of the season if I’m late to getting the cut in. I currently use my bag to chop up leaves and pack them in a little tighter. 

The self-propelled function on electric mowers

This mower also offers the user the ability to control how fast the self-propelled function works. Similar to the SmartCut technology discussed above I imagine if you want to go faster you’ll use the battery much quicker than 60 minutes. I guess that’s the price you pay for not wanting to use gas powered mowers.

Another feature that I found to be beneficial were the headlights – that’d really come in handy during late fall afternoon mows when the sun starts to set early. I also thought the leaf pickup function via the turbo button would be really handy, basically a vacuum for your yard. From what I can gather it turns the blade off and just sucks up the leaves.

Greenworks Pro 40V 21” Brushless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Our recommendation

Check out the table below that highlights my thoughts on this Greenworks mower.

FeatureGreenworks 40V mower
Difficulty to useSuper easy to use
DurabilityGood durable metal deck and brushless motor
MaintenanceEasiest to maintain
ValueDecent value
For lots <10,000 sq. ftHighly recommended
For lots <1 acreNot recommended
For lots >1 acreNot recommended

Compared to other electric mowers like the Sun Joe, Ryobi, or the Dewalt, this one has a tad more experience.

For a great price on Amazon, you can get started shredding the grass in your yard, and saving the environment in the process.

Interested in other electric mowers? Check out our guide for purchasing an electric lawn mower.

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