Makita electric mowers are bursting onto the scene. Makita, a trusted power tool manufacturer, has decided to bring its quality into the lawn tool space.
It’s about time.
You may have seen these mowers plastered all over your Home Depot or Lowe’s. They are here to compete.
Let’s check out the best electric Makita mowers on the market + our favorite.
**SPOILER**
Best electric Makita mower for small yards: Makita XML05Z lawn mower
Best electric Makita mower all-around: Makita XML03Z 36V cordless lawn mower
The Best Makita Electric Mowers
Makita has a handful of mowers that use 18V batteries either by themselves or two at a time, making it a 36V. Some even take 4 18V batteries, making the math too difficult for me to even say.
Makita XML03CM1 and XML03Z 36V cordless lawn mower
The Makita XML03CM1 and XML03Z are two of the same mowers. The difference between the XML03CM1 and XML03Z is that the CM1 comes with four batteries, whereas the XML03Z comes without batteries (for people that already have them).
The features on this Makita electric mower
The Makita XML03 series are 18 inch lawn mowers powered by two 18V batteries, making it a 36V mower.
It has a steel alloy cutting deck surrounding the blades. This mower can cut over ⅓ of an acre in 43 minutes.
The XML03 boasts a brushless motor that spins the blades at 3,300 rotations per minute. Brushless motors are great because they are durable, long-lasting, and quiet.
These mowers also come with a “quiet mode” that allows for a reduced rotations per minute (2,500) that outputs less noise.
The benefits of this Makita electric mower
A lot to like in this Makita lawn mower. Let’s start with the 18 inch steel deck. 18 inches is perfect for small to medium sized yards (no larger than ⅓ acre). The steel metal deck is a huge plus as compared to other electric mowers. Most have a plastic deck, leaving it vulnerable to cracks and chips. Metal decks prevent this.
I also like the brushless motor that will be a much longer-lasting, quieter, and durable motor than non-brushless. The quiet mode is a nice perk as well, which your neighbors will enjoy.
Potential downsides
These Makita mowers are great for most homeowners, but if you have a very large yard (> 1 acre), this might not be enough mower for you.
Otherwise this mower has all the goods!
How to buy
One of the best places to frequently check the price and compare features is also the most obvious – Amazon. Click here to go directly to these Makita mowers to see if they are still on sale.
Makita XML05Z 36V and XML05PT1 36V electric mowers
The Makita XML05Z and XML05PT1 mowers are 36V mowers that are a bargain. Reminiscent of both Greenworks and Ryobi mowers in design, let’s see how they stack up in comparison.
The features
The XML05 series comes with a 18 inch deck with a compact shape (instead of round). This deck is made of plastic and has a 17 inch cutting width.
The motor here spins the blades at about 3,600 rotations per minute. The mower itself is coated in something called XPT, which is a proprietary protective seal that wards off any debris from getting inside the mechanical components of the motor.
The benefits
The Makita XML05 series is definitely built for smaller yards. Looking at the size of the deck plus the compact design, this is really made for small yards and will do great around a lot of obstacles like garden beds.
Another thing I like about this mower is the price. This one is definitely on the affordable side of the spectrum for Makita products. You can get the quality and brand reputation of Makita without having to get bells and whistles that you won’t use.
Potential downsides
This mower is not going to do as well with medium to large sized yards. Typically, larger yards will require a 21 inch deck or larger.
Another thing I don’t love about this deck is the plastic material. These are prone to cracks, breaks, and degradation – meaning it might not last as long as you would like.
The last potential downside I will call out is the lack of a brushless motor. Again, this is something that signifies a shorter lifespan in electric mowers.
How to buy
The Makita XML05 series is available on Amazon – you can grab the tool-only version for the lowest possible price by following this link.
Makita XML10CT1 36V electric mower kit
The XML10CT1 36V Lawn Mower Kit is a supercharged version of the XML05. Let me break down some of the unique benefits to this electric upgrade.
The features
With a 21 inch cutting deck that still manages to be compact, this is definitely on the larger end of the spectrum for ANY electric mower.
The XML10CT1 can run for about 50 minutes on a single charge and is made of lightweight material. It also comes with a 2 bushel capacity grass collector that can be strapped on to the back.
This Makita mower also has the added feature of being able to fold in half.
The benefits
The XML10CT1 means business. At 21 inches wide, this mower can fit just about any normal residential yard.
I really love that this mower can fold in half as well. My gas mower does not, so it takes up a ton of room in our garage and I’m always worried I am going to hit it with my truck.
This mower also takes regular Makita 18V batteries, meaning you can repurpose the 18V batteries on any of your other Makita tools to run it.
Potential downsides
Similarly to the XML05 series, the XML10CT1 comes with a plastic deck. This allows for it to be lightweight, but also opens up the opportunity for cracking, degradation, etc..
While this is a relatively large mower, it comes in at a whopping 82 lbs. It is definitely as lightweight as humanly possible, but it still is going to feel like a mower.
How to buy
If you are wanting to upgrade your existing gas mower to an electric mower, it’s hard to beat the quality of Makita. This one is definitely able to replace a gas push mower of any size and can be found on Amazon – with the 4 batteries and a charger – for a darn good deal. Click here to go directly to the sale.
Our recommendation: Best Makita Mower
After reviewing each series of these Makita mowers, we have to recommend the XML03 series, including the XML03CM1 and XML03Z mowers.
We picked these because of the brushless motor, the steel decking, and the two battery requirements (versus four).
The XML03 series will be the longest lasting, highest quality Makita mowers you can get.
Find yours today on Amazon for a great price.
Why we review lawn tools
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.
Makita is making lawn equipment?
Yep, Makita has been around since 1915 and started making power tools back in 1958. They are best known for their pneumatic tools, their drills, and other construction site tools.
They’ve always had great corded and cordless tools, so I am honestly surprised it has taken them this long to make a push into the cordless lawn tool space.
But not that they’re here, they aren’t going anywhere. With competitors pouring into the space like Dewalt and Milwaukee, it only makes sense to take what they do best (battery powered tools) and put them in mowers, blowers, and more.
Check out our other Makita reviews by following this link to check out some of our top Makita blowers breakdown or this one to our best Makita weed eater comparison.
But why is Makita making lawn equipment NOW?
Good question. One thing I can tell you is that it is currently March of 2022 and Makita has a relatively small presence and market share in the lawn tool space.
Please bookmark this page and see where they are in 2023. We have it on good authority that they are making a massive push into this space.
So – sit back and watch them take over.
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:
- 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 more about what I recommend you looking for in an electric mower here.