Lawn mower box dimensions. Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review 2823-22HD

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Review 2823-22HD

After taking a comprehensive look at the Milwaukee 2823 M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, we believe it’s the most capable professional-grade battery-powered options currently available. It has legitimate professional gas-replacement power and a build that can handle professional use, though there are still a few minor areas for improvement in the design. If performance has been your major sticking point against battery-powered lawn mowers, Milwaukee has breached that barrier.

Milwaukee Delivers Outstanding Performance in First-Gen M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

Milwaukee Tool fanatics had requested two tools in particular since we started writing about them in 2008: an M18 Fuel track saw and a Milwaukee M18 Fuel lawn mower. Finally, both those tools have come to fruition. With respect to the Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, it sports everything you might expect from the folks whose parent company put out a product that made the cut for our best lawn mower article. The question that remains is… Who is this mower for?

Pros

• Solid, durable construction
• Outstanding power
• Excellent cut quality
• Variable speed drive dial and thumb bar
• 180° LED lights
• Easily visible LED battery level indicator
• High lift mode for bagging a leaf collection
• Recessed presence bar

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Cutting Power

As we build our case for Milwaukee’s target user, we have to start with cutting power. Fortunately, that’s something we can quantify. We’ve seen high-end electric lawn mowers reach above 8 ft-lbs of torque. That’s an impressive number that beats some gas mowers.

Milwaukee uses two M18 batteries to reach 36V power and rates their self-propelled lawn mower at 10.0 ft-lbs of torque—more than you get from a 200cc gas engine. You have to have two batteries to run the mower. While you can use any two packs to run, the best performance and runtime come from two 12.0Ah High Output batteries.

We went out and tested in St. Augustine and Bahia that dominate our central Florida landscape. We hadn’t mowed our test lawn for about a month in anticipation of this test. With grass in some areas still 8 inches tall, we dropped the deck down to its lowest height (1-inch) to see how far it can go before clogging and stopping. It never stopped. The blade kept turning high RPMs and discharging the grass without a problem.

It’s obvious to our team that this mower has a ton of power and it’s clearly the strongest battery-powered lawn mower we’ve tested.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Cut Quality

Before we jump into cut quality, there are two modes to work with that affect the performance. Standard mode runs exactly the way we’re used to from battery mowers: the brushless motor throttles down under light loads and automatically kicks up when the grass gets thicker (2800 – 3300 RPM). It has an impressive response time to the changing conditions and shifts more quickly than most mowers we’ve tested.

The second mode is specifically a high-RPM mode to increase the blade lift (3300 RPM constant). If you’re bagging your clippings or vacuuming leaves, it’s a more effective way to run even when the load is light.

The M18 Fuel mower has all the standard cutting options: mulch, bag, and discharge. With the mulch plug in, the mower does an excellent job of keeping the grass up in the deck and cutting it multiple times before dropping the small pieces back down to the grass. It’s interesting that Milwaukee didn’t go with a stacked blade system, but it doesn’t look like it would be much more of an advantage for mulching.

As we mentioned above, bagging is most effective in high-lift mode and it produces a ton of airflow into the bag. We didn’t have other mowers on hand to test side-by-side, but it’s obvious Milwaukee’s design is among the leaders in bagging efficiency.

Side discharge is something every design team has to decide on. On one hand, discharging clippings out the side of the deck does the best job of spreading them. On the other, you get better deck airflow for bagging and mulching without it.

Milwaukee’s team chose to go with a rear-mounted discharge. In our tests, it threw the grass about 8 feet. Since it’s a back-angled throw, it makes the spread closer to 5 feet to the side. That’s not as effective as high-end conventional side discharging. However, it’s better than most rear discharge mowers we’ve used and the design doesn’t add width to the mower.

As far as the finished look goes, we had a few straggling blades popping up, but overall, the cut was very even.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Runtime

With the questions of power and cut quality out of the way, we turned to runtime. Milwaukee offers some helpful estimates. In standard cutting mode with a pair of 12.0Ah High Output batteries, expect runtime up to an hour. That assumes you’re mulching, removing one inch of grass, and running the drive at 3.0 MPH. In terms of professional lawn crew use, that’s enough to cover three homes sitting on 1/4-acre lots.

When you’re running in high-lift mode, that estimate drops to 40 minutes.

We went out and cut our test lawn in mulching mode, taking 4 – 6 inches in most areas with several thicker sections. It’s what we expect from 8 – 10 days of growth and far tougher than a standard maintenance cut. By the time the mower quit, we ran for 43 and a half minutes. Given our testing conditions, Milwaukee’s 60-minute estimate in maintenance cut conditions seems right on.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawnmower Design and Features

As we unboxed the mower and assembled the handle, we were impressed by the quality of the build. The steel deck is solid and there’s very little flex in the frame.

The tires have a slightly softer feel that gives them excellent grip and the wheels spin smoothly without the wobble you get from some mowers.

Overall, this is one of the best-built battery-powered mowers we’ve seen.

Self-Propelled Drive

The mower is adjustable up to 4.0 MPH with an infinite roller adjustment. Just down from your left hand during operation, you roll the dial to the speed you want. It’s stiff enough to hold its position while you’re bumping around the lawn, but not so stiff that it’s difficult to adjust on the fly.

To engage the drive, you press a thumb bar down in the center. It’s large enough to accommodate multiple hand positions and overmold keeps your thumbs from slipping off. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of thumb bars because they tend to cause some fatigue during use and that’s the case for Milwaukee as well. I greatly prefer a second bar that pulls up to the main handle with a more natural grip.

However, Milwaukee did something that’s unusual for a self-propelled lawn mower. In addition to the roller dial speed adjustment, the thumb bar is also a variable speed controller. If you come across a section of grass you need to slow down for, just ease up on the drive bar instead of reaching over to adjust the roller.

Some mowers have chronic issues releasing the wheels to pull the mower back. We had the wheels stick on us a couple of times in our initial tests, but the majority of the time they release easily.

Deck Height

Milwaukee’s 21-inch steel deck ranges from 1 – 4 inches with a single-point adjustment in 7 increments. It’s a little unusual for such a well-built mower to opt for a single-point over 2 or 4-point, but we’ll take the more convenient operation. Time will tell if there’s any downside, but we don’t have any cause for concern at this point.

LED Lights

The fact that there are LED lights on the front of the mower isn’t a big deal. The fact that there’s another set on the side is. Instead of just lighting up what’s in front of you, the additional lights on the side give you a much better picture of what you’re mowing.

When you’re not mowing in low or no light conditions, just leave the lights off. There’s an on/off button right next to the speed adjustment.

There’s another set of LED lights facing you as you mow. These red bars are battery level indicators and it’s SOOOO nice to be able to just look down and have an idea of how much capacity is remaining.

Additional Features

• Handle easily folds for vertical storage
• Bag fits between the handle frame, making installation and removal easier
• Drive system engages even if the blade is off
• Presence bar recesses into the handle
• 3 handle height positions
• Front and rear deck handles make storage and trasportation easier
• Weighs 85 pounds with two 12.0Ah batteries

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Price

The last piece of the puzzle is the price. You can get Milwaukee’s mower for 1099 with two 12.0Ah batteries and a dual-port Rapid charger. At the time we’re updating this article, Acme Tools still has it for 999, though. There’s no bare tool option at the moment.

Is that expensive? Yes. If you’re comparing it to even high-end residential mowers, it’s an eye-popping number. But Milwaukee is targetting professional lawn care crews, and that’s a whole different class. Those mowers can start north of 800 and run 1300 or more for a similar 21-inch build.

Note that Milwaukee’s warranty is 3 years on both the mower and the batteries.

Replacement stock blades are available for 24.99 each. There’s also a more aggressive high lift blade that’s 29.99.

The Bottom Line

After taking a comprehensive look at the Milwaukee 2823 M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower, we believe it’s the most capable professional-grade battery-powered option currently available. It has legitimate professional gas-replacement power and a build that can handle professional use, though there are still a few minor areas for improvement in the design. If performance has been your major sticking point against battery-powered lawn mowers, Milwaukee has breached that barrier.

So what do YOU think about this new lawn mower from Milwaukee Tool? Share your thoughts in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below—we’d love to hear from you!

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Specifications

• Model: Milwaukee 2823-22HD
• Power Source: 2 x M18 batteries
• Voltage: 36V
• Deck: 21-inch steel
• Deck Height: 1 – 4 inches
• Grass Management: Bag, mulch, rear discharge
• Drive Speed: 0 – 4.0 MPH
• Weight: 85 lbs with two 12.0Ah batteries
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: 1099 kit

This is the very best small lawnmower for smaller outdoor spaces

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If you only have a small yard, but it is too much to maintain with a weed eater, you need to invest in the best small lawn mower. Because let’s be honest: a heavy-duty mower is probably overkill — in price, noise, and size — for your tiny yard, but there are plenty of compact mowers designed to maintain smaller spaces. As we just said, this one we reviewed from Worx did wonders on our small yard.

While some small lawnmowers are gas-powered, this one works on two batteries to be kind to the environment — and so that you never run out of power. Small lawn mowers offer different mulching options so that you can feed your lawn as you mow, and this one that we love gives you the choice to either bag it up or mulch your grass back into the ground.

Yes, the Worx WG779.E Power Share from Amazon is pretty amazing. Our reviewer loved it and found it so easy to use to trim her unruly but small lawn. It’s a great option for people who have an ample lawn, but lack the space to store a larger machine as it folds, and even if your yard isn’t small (we’re jealous!) it can be used to mow up to 1/8 acre (AKA 5000 sq ft). Wow!

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid

The Worx Power Share 40-Volt 14-in Mower is small but mighty. At only 29 lbs, this mower is easy to move around, and even lighter when you remove the batteries for storage and transit.

Equipped with patented torque technology, you have the capability to increase the power of this mower to Turbo if you’re cutting thick grass (but remember, this will use up more battery). For regular use, we found Eco mode was competent, especially for regular trims. The cutting base is 14 inches across and there are six height adjustments that range between 2.5 to 3.5 inches with an easy-to-use lever for height adjustments. You can either mulch your grass or bag up to.85 bushels before a ‘full bag indicator’ alert notifies you it’s time to empty the bag.

To get started, simply insert the safety button, depress then pull the handle lever and you’re ready to mow. The Worx lawnmower runs on two 20V 4.0 Ah batteries. Power Share advertises that this mower can mow 5,000 square feet with just one charge. However, this wholly depends on various factors like the thickness or height of your grass. Just keep an eye on the battery meter to know when you need to juice up and keep spares on charge. We found it capable of doing a good half hour or more of mowing before it was time to recharge which is plenty for the average yard.

So while we think this is the best small lawn mower, as we’ve already mentioned: you could find it a good choice for a larger yard too.

You can read our full Worx WG779E 40V Cordless Lawn Mower review for more.

How to choose a lawn mower for your small yard

If you have opted for a small lawn mower then it is likely your main concerns will be around how much power and ease of use you can get into a compact package. At one time, electric lawn mowers, including cordless battery-powered models were quite big and heavy to accommodate large battery packs for optimal run time. Luckily, technology has advanced and things like more efficient batteries and brushless motors mean you get greater run time in a smaller package.

Next, consider the cutting width. Most range from 12 inches to 21 inches. It might be tempting to go smaller for ease of movement and storage space limitations, but with edge-to-edge cutting, even the largest model on our list is a great choice if you are looking for a particularly compact lawn mower. That said, bigger will tend to mean weightier, so if you are concerned about lifting — perhaps due to a bad back — take the narrower model and be prepared for a couple of extra runs of your yard.

Finally, if storage is your main reason for buying the best small lawn mower, look at foldable options. Many compact lawnmowers have a foldaway handle and don’t forget the grass box. Our favorite one has a soft material grass box that flattens down. Some mulching mowers have no grass box at all.

Tips for getting the most from your small lawn mower

Lawnmowers aren’t as scary as you think. They’re easy to use if you know the right tips and tricks.

Energy reserve You don’t want to be halfway through mowing your lawn only to discover that you’ve run out of juice. If you purchase a gas-powered lawn mower, make sure you top up before each use and have a gas container with gas stored in your garage or shed in case you need more.

For those who buy a battery-powered lawn mower, you might want to consider buying a backup battery. The harder a battery-powered lawn mower has to work (like a lawn where the grass is higher or thicker), the quicker the battery will die out. If your main battery runs out of charge mid-way through mowing the lawn, just pop in the backup battery.

Never mow a wet lawn If your lawn is wet from morning dew or rain, make sure you wait until it’s dry before you mow the lawn. For one, wet grass is heavier so the lawn mower won’t be able to cut the lawn to the best of its ability. Dry grass stands straight up making it easier to cut. Secondly, wet grass clippings can damage the mower which is an easy way to ruin your day.

Clean the lawn mower deck Every once in a while, turn the lawn mower over and clean under the deck. Grass and grime can build up under there and on the blades, making your lawn mower less effective over time. If you have a gas-powered mower, make sure the gas tank is empty and the spark plug wire is disconnected if you decide to clean the deck with the garden hose. It’s not a bad idea to blow off the lawn mower with your blower after each use.

Be careful what you mow over Before mowing your lawn, try to pick up sticks and other debris that could ruin your lawn mower blades. It’s best to avoid stumps and vines as these can also damage or get wrapped around the blades.

Grass clippings are good for the yard Although some people hate the sight of grass clippings left on a yard, they can actually be beneficial to your yard’s health as they’re a natural fertilizer. A mulching feature on a lawn mower is a good option because it breaks down leaves and grass and helps it to decompose quicker. That said, bagging clippings – especially weeds or grass that’s really high – could be helpful at certain times.

How we review small lawn mowers

Yes, this small lawnmower has been tested by a Real Homes reviewer. Our Content Director of Lifestyle Ecommerce tested it for us in her backyard, and as you can already tell: she loved it.

Lindsey has been writing about homes since 2013, when she joined the Homebuilding Renovating team. Now, she spends her time reviewing and managing several homes titles, including Homes Gardens and Livingetc, helping with best practices for our ecommerce content.

Lindsey reviewed the Worx lawnmower back in 2023, and when speaking about it says With an impressive battery life, good range of movement, and edge-to-edge cutting, this cordless lawn mower is great value for money. Easy to use and store, I almost can’t wait to mow the lawn again.

What type of mower is best for small lawn?

Definitely go for a smaller size lawnmower, and one that’s cordless if you can for total convenience, otherwise a corded model will still work. just check its cord is long enough to reach around your lawn. Try and get one that folds if you don’t have much storage space for your lawnmower, and do consider its cutting width — the higher this number, the faster you’ll be able to mow your lawn. But remember, the bigger the width of the mower, the bulkier it will be to store. We’d always say to go electric over gas for the environment and for convenience and ease.

Can I use a trimmer instead of a lawn mower?

If you want to follow the won’t take up any room route to its logical conclusion, it may be tempting to just use your trimmer instead of a lawn mower. After all, if it’s just a small lawn, how hard can it be? Trust us, it’s very hard work, and you won’t get an even trim no matter how hard you try. Even tiny lawns need lawnmowers, although if yours is really very small, a hand-push one will probably suffice.

If you really don’t want to mow though, don’t! We love the look of a wildflower meadow — as do any garden visitors like bees and small creatures.

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Cordless Lawn Mower Head-To-Head | 2022

Like Ricky Bobby says ” If you ain’t first then you’re last.” While we love the spirit of that statement, we feel that does not hold true when it comes to the Best Cordless Mower. We feel that there is a place for cordless mowers, whether it is in a small backyard, large backyard, or even a commercial field!

Cordless Lawn Mowers continue to be the most popular OPE (outdoor power equipment) in retail stores. The buzz is real and everyone is competing for a seat at the top when it comes to best in class. The field is ever-changing, even in the 2 years since our last 2020 Cordless Mower Head-to-Head there have been new models and technology improvements.

In this best cordless lawn mower head-to-head we compared 16 cordless mowers from 14 manufacturers. We put these mowers through specific tests against each other to crown the Best Cordless Mower.

Benefits Of A Cordless Mower

Gas-powered mowers require a lot of maintenance, such as oil changes, fuel filters, spark plugs, and air filters. Not to mention rising gas prices. Let’s be honest, most people don’t properly maintain their gas mowers, and put off service until the mower won’t start! Anyone who has had to get a small engine fixed understands how inconvenient and time-consuming it can be. All of the above-mentioned maintenance, as well as last-minute fuel purchases, are eliminated with cordless mowers, which are also quieter to operate.

Cordless Lawn Mowers Tested

We reached out to 14 of the top cordless lawn mower manufacturers and asked if they would like to participate in our best cordless mower head-to-head article. The models we tested included:

Black and Decker

Model: CM2043C Voltage: 40V Deck Size: 20″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 47 Lbs Price: 265.95

DeWALT

Model: DCMWSP255Y2 Voltage: 20V x 2 (40V) Deck Size: 21-1/2″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 92 Lbs Price: 669.00

Echo

Model: DLM-2100SP Voltage: 56V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 69.5 Lbs Price: 499.00

EGO

Model: LM2156SP Voltage: 56V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 2 Weight: 68 Lbs Price: 799.00

Greenworks

Model: 2533402 Voltage: 80V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 74 Lbs Price: 749.00

Hart

Model: HLPM061US Voltage: 40V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 89 Lbs Price: 498.00

Kobalt

Model: KMP6080-06 Voltage: 80V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 87 Lbs Price: 599.00

Kobalt

Model: Model KSPM-1040A-03 Voltage: 40V Deck Size: 20″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 65 Lbs Price: 429.00

Makita

Model: XML11CT1 Voltage: 18v x2 (36V) Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 88.5 Lbs Price: 499.00

Makita

Model: XML08Z Voltage: 18v x2 (36V) Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/4″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 94 Lbs Price: 699.00

Milwaukee

Model: 2823-22HD Voltage: 18V x2 (36V) Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 80.5 Lbs Price: 999.00

Ryobi

Model: RY401210 Voltage: 40V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1.5″ Number of Blades: 2 Weight: 74 Lbs Price: 799.00

Skil

Model: SM4910-10 Voltage: 40V Deck Size: 20″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 60 LBs Price: 449.00

Snapper

Model: 1687982 Voltage: 82V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 71.5 Lbs Price: 658.36

STIHL

Model: RMA 510 V Voltage: 36V Deck Size: 20″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 64 Lbs Price: 699.99

Toro

Model: 21566 Voltage: 60V Deck Size: 21″ Max Cutting Height: 4″ Min Cutting Height: 1-1/2″ Number of Blades: 1 Weight: 81 Lbs Price: 799.00

Best Cordless Lawn Mower Head-to-Head Comparison

While this isn’t a professional testing facility and we are not a professional testing crew, we did gather measurements, analyze each mower in a variety of categories, and rank them against one another.

We always strive to figure out how to make our Head-To-Head tool tests uniform, reproducible, and fair when we start putting them together. In order to give you the Best Cordless Lawn Mower, we looked at the following 10 categories.

• Noise
• Run-Time
• Speed Test
• Ergonomics and Features
• Handle Comfort Adjustment
• Amount of Grass Mowed
• Maneuverability
• Deck Height Adjustability
• Compact Storage

Cordless Mower Cut Quality

There was no BIG discernible difference in the cut quality of the mowers. The grass we mowed was field-quality, green, and approximately 6-7 inches high. As a result, the grass plant type was not particularly uniform. This made the cut quality hard to determine, and since we did not have a sod-quality lawn, we did not rank this category.

Editor’s Note – Both the Ego and Ryobi have multiple cut blades which enhance the quality of the cut. All the other mowers that we tested had single-blades.

Ego has three blade sets included in your purchase. A set of Mulching Blades for shredding grass into fine bits. For all-around performance, the extended runt time blades set provides a perfect blend of cut quality and duration. Finally, they include their “High Lift Bagging Blade” set, which provides greater suction for bagging and leaves your yard free of clippings.

The Ryobi mower comes with stacked, two crosscut blades making the quality of the cut better, by creating smaller grass clippings.

Quietest Cordless Mower Winner – STIHL

One of the most often asked topics concerning cordless mowers seems to be how much noise they make.

To gain a relative comparison of noise, we ran a basic decibel test to measure the loudness of the mowers in a controlled environment. The test consisted of running each mower in our barn, on a concrete surface with the deck lifted to its full height. Each mower was tested in the same spot on the floor, and the decibel meter was at the same height and relative position as an average user.

Note: the mowers were tested on top of a concrete slab. In practice, when utilized on a lawn, these mowers are significantly quieter.

When the ECO mode is selected, the mower operates at a lower RPM for situations requiring less power. This increases energy efficiency and battery runtime as well as reduces the noise of the mower. To switch the ECO mode on, swing the battery cover open and hit the ECO select button, and then close the lid.

We ran the test for enough time to have the mowers reach a maximum and stable rpm speed. Many of the mower motors start at a high RPM and then cycle down to a slower speed to save energy. The quietest mower we tested was the STIHL which measured in at 79 decibels.

A three-way tie for second at 80 decibels was Greenworks, Snapper, and Toro. Coming in the loudest mowers were the Ego and Makita XMLCT1 at 88.5 decibels.

There are five mowers that have a turbo feature which increased the noise decibels between 3.5 to 5.0 DBS. Milwaukee, Echo, STIHL, Greenworks, and Toro. When in turbo mode, which Milwaukee calls “High lift mode,” the Milwaukee was the loudest mower we tested at 90.0 decibels. High lift mode uses a higher blade speed to achieve additional airflow and increased grass lift to deliver better quality mulch or bagging results.

Cordless lawn mowers allow you to cut your lawn efficiently and quietly, with none of the noise, gas, oil, or maintenance that comes with gas-powered solutions ~ ROB

Gas vs Cordless Mower | Noise

For comparison, the average gas lawnmower produces 95–100 decibels. The noise measurements for our test mowers averaged 82.6 decibels. When compared to a loud gas mower, these cordless mowers cut sound energy by over 20 times when compared to a 100 dB noise level.

Many towns have enacted noise ordinances that limit the times of day you can mow with a gas mower. Cordless mowers are unaffected by these ordinances.

Most Grass Cut | Cordless Mower Run-time

Run-time used to be a big question in the minds of people considering the purchase of battery-powered tools. Huge advancements in battery technology have made cordless mowers a viable option for users. The million-dollar question on everyone’s mind is how much grass will a cordless mower cut on a battery charge? Mowing run time will vary greatly depending on the height of grass, the thickness of grass, and the type of grass.

Best Cordless Mower Run-time Procedure

We measured and marked mowing lanes for each mower and kept track of the time and total distance that each mower traveled.

Grass Conditions: The grass we mowed was field-quality, green and white clover, and approximately 6-7 inches high. Every mower was set at its highest cut setting, 4″. We set each mower to its maximum speed if it were self-propelled. We asked the operators of non-self-propelled mowers to move at a comfortable pace. It was interesting to note that a 40-year-old man in good shape pushing a mower was faster than most of the self-propelled mowers.)

If any mower completed mowing its entire marked lane, we lowered the mower deck by one additional inch and re-cut that lane. Once the mower stopped running, we used a measuring wheel to measure its final resting spot. Some mowers have dual batteries that will operate separately. In this instance, if the batteries were provided in the kit, we doubled the calculations to come out with our total distance mowed.

Most Grass Cut | Run-time Winner – Milwaukee

The winner of the most grass mowed in this year’s Best Cordless Mower Head-to-Head goes to Milwaukee. The M18 mower runs on two 18V 12 Ah batteries. These power banks propelled Milwaukee to run for 14,936 feet or 2.83 miles. The total cutting area was 26,138 square feet, a truly impressive amount of grass for a battery-powered mower. The final ranking is based on the area the mower can cut with the total batteries on board. We also showed a column of data on area per watt-hour just as additional information. Ultimately what users are most interested in, is how much area can I mow on a single charge.

Just behind Milwaukee was the Kobalt 80V, mowing a distance of 14,017 feet and 24,540 square feet in our test. The Kobalt is powered by a single 6 Ah battery.

Rounding out the top three was the EGO mower. A single battery powers the EGO like the Kobalt and this kit came with a 10 Ah battery. The EGO was able to run for 10,868 feet or 2.06 miles, cutting grass over a 19,000 square foot area.

Watt-Hours

It’s important to note that all 16 of these mowers have different battery Amp-Hour, capacities, and voltages. Comparing one tool’s battery capacity to another by referencing “Amp Hours” is a common practice but an inaccurate and misleading one. Watt-Hours is calculated by multiplying the voltage (actual load voltage, not the MAX that some companies advertise) by the battery pack Amp-Hours. This calculation allows us to compare the total energy available to do the work based on both the voltage and size of the battery pack (amp-hours).

For example, we can take a look at the two leaders of the runtime/area mowed test, Milwaukee and the Kobalt 80V. The Milwaukee uses two batteries at 18V and 12 Ah a piece. Each battery has 18V12Ah equaling 216 Watt Hours capacity. Adding both batteries together yields 432 WH onboard and supplied with the kit. The Kobalt has a single 80V Battery rated at 6Ah with a Watt-Hour capacity of 480. The takeaway here is that even though the Milwaukee has two batteries each with an advertised 12 Amp Hour, and the Kobalt has a single with “only” 6 Amp Hour, the Kobalt has a larger/more energy-rich battery.

Since we already gathered the data we went ahead and calculated the Area (sf) / watt-hour mowed for each mower kit in the test. This value is a crude measurement of the efficiency of the mower at cutting grass given its battery capacity.

While an interesting exercise that helps explain how some mowers with smaller batteries outperformed those with larger ones, we feel that this data and any kind of battery normalized performance is irrelevant in this case. We set out to find which mower “Out of the Box” could cut the most grass. If you already own batteries of a particular mower platform, this could greatly swing your decision to invest in a particular mower if run-time and cutting area is a concern.

Speed Test – Winner – Milwaukee and Toro

After performing our runtime test, many of the mower operators shared that they wished that their mower moved faster. We decided to test the highest setting propelled speed of the mowers. We set up a 100-yard dash to see who was the fastest. Two crew members were assigned per mover; one operator and one to record the time.

Because many of the mowers require several feet to ramp up speed, we started every mower 6 to 8 feet in front of our timing line. Once the wheels hit the orange line the timer started. Once the wheels hit the 100-yard mark the timer stopped. We tested each mower twice and recorded the average time. There were two mowers that were not self-propelled, the Black and Decker and the Kobalt 40V. These mowers did not compete in this test.

Milwaukee and Toro tied as the fastest mowers, with an average time of 51 seconds.

Echo and Ryobi tied for third place, with an average time of 57.5 seconds, and the turtle in the race was the Snapper mower coming in at 78 seconds.

Ergonomics and Features– Winner Ryobi

All 16 mowers have fairly similar features, we considered the following features for this category…

• Handles
• Propulsion
• Controls
• Foldability / Storage
• Deck Adjustment
• Mulching
• Bagging

For the ergonomics/features, we evaluated seven areas. These included the adjustability of the handle, the effort of maneuverability, human factor in the ease of foldability and storage, deck adjustment, ergonomics, and propulsion/control ergonomics.

The Ryobi shined in this category with 10-points. This 40V HP brushless whisper series 21″ all-wheel-drive mower, has a super easy push-button start, and an onboard lever to choose from: mulching, or bagging. The 7-position single point height adjustment quickly changes the height from 1″ to 4″. We thought the handle was super comfortable with no hot spots or pinch points. The self-propelled paddle lever being adjustable is a nice feature allowing the user to pick their desired setting. The variable speed control is in a perfect position to adjust on the go without having to take your hand off the handle.

The external fuel gauge ensures was clear and easy to see the battery charge and the one-touch aluminum folding handles store this mower horizontally or vertically into a more compact package.

EGO came in a close second place at 11-points, with its simple and intuitive adjustments and controls. EGO provides an excellent user experience. Most of the control and adjustment buttons or levers are bright green making them easy to find. Our crew also liked how quick and easy the mower handle folds for storage, as well as, the comfortable rubber over-mold handle grip.

Echo came in third with 13-points, with simple, intuitive, and ambidextrous controls. The contoured handle, while comfortable does not allow multiple gripping positions, and the crew noted that while the controls were easily accessed, they were spread out a bit, requiring the operator to remove the hand from the handle. There is NO variable speed paddle, and it has a separate on/off the headlight switch.

Notable Mentions

The DeWALT mower has an “average ” 45-degree pronated grip. The propulsion control lever has little to no modulation. Fine control is difficult to achieve and appears to be a mechanical clutch mechanism. The auto-adjusting speed slows down the mower blade over easy-to-cut grass, and because the propulsion is based on a mechanical clutch it also slows down your pace (at exactly the time when you want to speed up). Slow speed necessitates the operator to extend and hold their fingers, which is awkward and causes hand fatigue. When walking over gravel while pushing the mower, it cannot be propelled without the blade spinning, which could result in a flying item hazard.

The Makita (not PRO) has excellent controls that are easily accessed on the top of the handle assembly. You do however have to move your hand from the handle to access them. It does have an easily adjustable deck height and the handle is all metal making it very durable.

In the last two years, the biggest upgrade to mowers seems to be in the lower tier mowers – Ethan

The Makita Pro has similar features as the other Makita but is way more solid a build. The crew noted that the speed control is a bit off the reach, making awkward adjustments on the fly. It has excellent controls, easily accessed on top of the handle assembly, you do have to remove your hand from the handle.

Overall the crew felt that the Makita Pro was easy to use, maneuvered fine and the self-propulsion can be left on its turn as the mower speed is slower. The mower is a bit slow on the speed-up – ramp-up speed which is one reason many of the crew users did not turn off the self-propulsion on turns.

The crew noted that the mower bogged down in 7” inch clover set at 4” deck height. Operating on two batteries, this mower has a compartment for 4 batteries with a switch between the 2 with a knob on the motor, so you do not have to open the lid to access it. A battery led shows all 4 battery charges at the same time.

When set at mid-range [or lower] we noted that the front right wheel was not touching the ground. The crew all felt that in terms of cut quality it would have a negligible difference on the cut, as this measurement off was 1/8” strong.

The Makita Pro has two handle height adjustments that require a tool to set. This is a heavy machine, with front and rear lift points, it is truly built for daily Pro use.

The TORO has what they call a “Personal Pace” self-propel drive, which is a sliding handle grip that slides along with the handle frame – as you push it forward, it starts propulsion and controls it. It definitely takes some getting used to. The arched [rounded] shaped handle is unique looking, and comfortable but has side-to-side slop possibly causing it to rack. Other than the propulsion system this mower is no-frills and could use an upgrade. (Cannot be propelled without the blade spinning, requires each wheel lever to adjust the deck height Handle does not telescope).

The SNAPPER has a self-propelled sliding handle similar to the Toro, Snapper calls it “step-sense” The Snapper has a variable speed that is built into the Step-sense handle feature. Unlike the Toro, the variable speed can be locked out with a locking knob on the handle deck. Lightweight. This is a no-frill mower, with no lift points.

Maneuverability Winner – Black and Decker and Kobalt 40V

Because they were not self-propelled, the Black and Decker and Kobalt 40V mowers were more maneuverable than the others. To move tightly with self-propelled machines, the user must disconnect the propulsion. The operator must press against the propelling mechanism to turn the mower tightly.

The Black and Decker is super light, very maneuverable, and great for smaller framed people or folks who might have issues with a heavier mower. Because of the weight and no propulsion, this makes trimming around gardens and trees incredibly easy.

The same can be said about the Kobalt 40v, due to the not having a self-propulsion, this mower is geared to smaller yards or a yard with lots of maneuvering around planting beds. Milwaukee took 2nd place and was the best maneuverability in the self-propelled mowers. This was due because of the short wheelbase front to back. The mowers with the longest wheelbase ranked towards the bottom.

The maneuverability of push mowers is especially important when trimming around gardens, trees, and other landscaping features. The ease with which the mower turns is largely due to the wheels and mower weight.

EGO took third place, and the crew noted that by applying pressure with your palm you can easily engage the self-propelled system. When mowing, users discovered that easing up on the drive button made for smoother, tighter turns.

The Hart mower lost a wheel on one of our maneuvering tests. It looks like the nut /washer on the wheel could benefit from a Nylock nut. Based on this, Hart received a low score in the fit and finish the scoring. The mower itself once repaired maneuvered well.

Deck Height Adjustability Winner – Kobalt 40V and Kobalt 80V

All of the mowers, with the exception of one, we tested include a single-lever, deck height adjustment feature. This sure does beat adjusting each wheel like the old-style mowers we grew up with.

The winners of this category were the Kobalt 40V and 80V due to a combination of their large lever, they both have a strong return spring and are easy to engage. They both feature a 7 deck-height adjustment option, ranging from 4″ at its highest to lowest at 1-1/4″ setting.

Ryobi, Milwaukee, and STIHL came in a close second due to their large handle levers, spring-assisted, and easy-to-use lifting and lowering levers.

The only mower that still has individually adjustable wheels is the Toro. Due to this, we had no choice but to put it in last place for deck adjustability – that’s just archaic.

“Come on Toro! Individually adjustable wheels? Nobody has time for that… it’s 2022!” – SCOTT

Notable Mention

The crew liked the EGO deck adjustment height lever. It has a nice handle but agreed that it was tough to actuate. We assume in time the spring might loosen up and might be easier to raise and lower.

Some mowers had knuckle-busting setups that would cause the user to hit the lower part of the handle assembly when adjusting the mower for taller cutting.

Compact Design Storage Size Winners – EGO and Ryobi,

Garages tend to get taken over by mowers, trimmers, and tools throughout the summer, so foldability and storage are crucial to some people. Furthermore, cordless mowers CAN be stored upright without the worry of spilling gas or filling the engine cylinder with oil.

The entire crew considered factors such as; telescopic handles, pivot points, grab handles, and the ability to stand upright on its own while evaluating how easy it was to set up and fold down each mower.

We examined these aspects and attributes as a group and then scored them on a scale of one to five, with one being the best.

There was a three-way tie for the most compact mower in this category. When folded, the EGO, Ryobi, and Hart have the smallest storage space. They are incredibly compact and can easily be stored vertically or horizontally.

EGO

The EGO mower is easy to fold and store compact. You can hang it from the front handle or store it upright. The handle can be telescoped in and out using two side levers. To fold the handle down horizontally, simply pull a large, easily accessed lever. If needed, the EGO additionally has two handles for easy carrying.

Ryobi

The Ryobi mower has a single pull lever to open to fold the handle. Once folded it is very compact and easily stands vertically. The Ryobi had one rear carrying handle the no telescoping features.

HART

The “fast-fold” feature on the Hart mower is a lever that pulls up for a quick, smooth handle fold. There is no need for a telescoping feature because of the short handle, and it folds up extremely compact.

The one mower that does not fold is the Makita PRO grade. We believe that commercial mowers are not meant to store. They are put in a trailer and come off at every site. With that being said the Makita Pro mower has front and rear lift points and is truly heavy duty! A workhorse for sure!

Best Cordless Mower Price Winner – Black and Decker

One of, if not the most sought question is going to be how much money are these mowers. We always mention that one big factor is what battery platform you are working off of. Well, we think that for cordless mowers that might not be the case. There are several brands on this list that do not manufacture power tools and the majority of the ones that do have larger voltage systems for their mowers.

At the time of publication, these are mowers that come in a kit form. Some of these mowers can be purchased in big box stores, or on the web at Acme Tools, or other retail websites. Below is a chart of how these mower kits are sold and the components in each kit.

Coming in at the lowest cost is the Black and Decker CM2043C which will run you 347.0.0 and is a great mower for someone who is mowing a smaller area. The mower deck is plastic and is a “no-frills” mower that will get the job done for your average homeowner. Cutting at roughly 1/4 acre on a single charge, this mower can handle your weekly lawn cut!

With a price of 399.00, the Skil mower comes in second place as the lowest-priced mower. Powered by Skil’s PWRCORE 40V battery, this mower covered a lot of grass on our tests! Covering more than 1.5 miles of mowed grass, this Skil finished mid-pack. It is lightweight and has a telescoping handle for great storage.

The Kobalt 40V mower is the third-ranked lowest-priced mower at 429.00. This mower also has a steel deck and provides about 45 minutes of continuous cut on a 40V 6.0Ah battery. This is a good choice if you are already using other 40V Kobalt Outdoor Power Equipment!

On the flip side, the Milwaukee 2823-22HD comes in at the highest mower and will run you 999.00. That being said, it shined in our area mowed testing, it won the fastest mower test and has some sick features like multiple LED lights. This mower ships with (2) M18 12.0 Ah batteries which probably make up half the cost of the mower!

Best Cordless Mower – Milwaukee

These tests and evaluations are very difficult, take a lot of time, and are ultimately limited in scope as we’re not a professional testing company. We also cannot do long-term testing that would shed light on durability. In order to choose the best cordless mower, all six [6] evaluated categories were scored and ranked 1 through 16, to define the winner. We then tallied those category numbers to come up with a total number. The lower the number the better.

The Milwaukee M18 21″ Self-Propelled Dual Battery Mower took the crown on Best Cordless Mower of 2022. This mower is powerful, running on (2) M18 12.0Ah batteries! It was super fast in our speed test and it covered over 14, 936 feet mowed. That is 2.83 miles of mowing. It ran at full speed for over 44 minutes which is up at the top of the pack when it comes to run time. The team really appreciated its great ergonomics, foldability, maneuverability, and nicely thought-out design!

The team was impressed with the fit and finish of the handles, controls, steel deck, and overall durable design of this mower. The r ear wheel self-propelled drive allowed this mower to move fast and maneuver well.

Many of the crew members who used the mower commented on how quick the throttle to the motor reaction was.

Milwaukee claims that its optimized steel deck design, higher blade speed, and airflow deliver increased lift which reduces missed grass blades and clumps for better quality grass cutting. Our team noted that the mower’s higher blade speed helped, and did not stall the mower in taller grass.

T he blade and propulsion reached full throttle in under 1 second. The throttle or “Active Speed Management Paddle,” as Milwaukee refers to it allowed us to easily adjust mower speed to walking pace. The Milwaukee delivers 10 ft-lb cutting torque and a variable speed self-propel: 0 MPH – 4 MPH.

Many of the crew liked and commended the futuristic 4 location LED light design, although we all agreed that lights on a mower are not an important feature.

As a Milwaukee cordless tool user, I immediately recognized that the two 12Ah batteries with this unit separately cost 500, and can be used in my other high-demand tools. That makes this mower much more attractive to me and puts it in the 400 range. ~ ROB

Lastly, the single-point height adjustment, 2-point carry handles, and easy vertical storage allowed this mower to rise quickly to the top. As professional contractors, we also like that the Milwaukee mower batteries will run Milwaukee tools.

Our hats go out to The EGO POWER 21″ Select Cut™ XP Self-Propelled Mower which continues to crush its competitors when it comes to outdoor power equipment. This mower is no slouch and it finished right under the winner. It has great ergonomics, cut just over 2 miles at 10,868 ft on a single 56V 10.0Ah battery. This machine will cut anything you throw in front of it. Having the ability to turn off the self-propel feature avoids accidental flying hazards while moving the mower over non-grass areas.

The team liked that you can engage the “Touch Drive™” self-propel function with the touch of your palm, and control the variable speed with a dial with your other hand. The Ego delivers 8.3 ft-lb cutting torque and a variable speed self-propel:.9 MPH – 3.1 MPH

The Ego also has a 7-position cutting height adjustment from 1.5″- 4″ and bright LED headlights. Ego’s Select Cut™ Multi-blade Cutting System is equipped with three, interchangeable lower blades; the Mulching Blade, High Lift Bagging Blade, and Extended Run-time Blade.

Ryobi and STIHL tied for third with 30-points.

The Ryobi was the only all-wheel-drive lawn mower. It features two interactive battery ports, and a fast and easy 7-position single-point height adjustment from 1″ to 4″. The crew appreciated the external fuel gauge, LED lights, and one-touch folding handles but were impressed by the integrated mulch plug which engages with a simple one-handed lever.

The STIHL RMA 510 V performed exceptionally well in all of our tests with exception of the speed test. Users wished that this awesome mower self-propulsion was a little faster.

The STIHL was highly maneuverable with an easy-to-use variable speed setting control, allowing mowing speed between 0.6 mph to 2.8 mph. Our crew was impressed with this mower’s fit and finish, especially the durable, 10-inch rear wheels and 8-inch front ball-bearing wheels.

Our team liked that it offers seven adjustable cutting heights, and the handlebar adjusts to three height positions for user comfort. The STIHL is priced 100 less than the Ego and Ryobi, and 300 less than the Milwaukee.

Best Cordless Mower Value Winner – Greenworks

The Echo mower is our best value winner. This mower competed with the big boys for sure. It scored 6th in the overall finish scoring and came in 5th with a cost of 499.00.

The Echo scored top three in the fit and finish speed, and ergonomics categories. It has simple, intuitive, and ambidextrous controls. This machine gives you seven adjustments for cutting increments between 1 and 4-inch cutting heights and an auto-switch dual-battery dock.

Overall the team thought you would get the best bang for your buck, or should we say “cut for your green.”

Final Thoughts

The noise, odor, and maintenance that come with owning a gas-powered mower are no longer an issue for cordless mower owners. Coupled with other cordless outdoor power equipment, you can now keep the gas to your cars. Cordless outdoor power equipment has come leaps and bounds since its inception and it continues to impress us.

Gas mowers have been around for over 100 years but with powerful lithium-ion battery technology, they are really competing with gas-powered mowers!

Thanks for following and please check out our other Head 2 Head tests!

WORX 20″ 3-in-1 cordless lawnmower review

REVIEW – The last couple of springs I’ve been researching cordless electric lawnmowers because my trusty gas-powered model seemed to be on its last legs. Well, this spring it finally died. As luck would have it, I received a review offer for the WORX 20″ cordless lawnmower. Needless to say, I was very excited to see if an electric mower could perform as well as a gas-powered one.

What is it?

The WORX 20” 3-in-1 cordless electric lawn mower is a lawnmower that’s powered by 2-20V batteries instead of gas.

What’s in the box?

Design and features

The mower came pretty much pre-assembled in the box. The only thing I had to do was extend and tighten the handle and charge the batteries.

At first glance, the WORX 3-in-1 looks like a typical lawnmower minus the gas tank and oil dipstick. The battery compartment is located where you’d normally find the gas tank.

The mower is powered by 2-20V 5.0Ah Lithium-ion batteries giving the mower 40V of cutting power.

There’s a battery life indicator located just behind the battery compartment that allows you to check the battery life with the push of a button.

Charging the batteries is done by sliding them into the included dual charger. While charging, the indicator lights flash green. When the batteries are fully charged, the lights will remain solid. Fully charging the batteries takes about 2.5 hours.

The mowers batteries are also part of WORX Power Share. This means you can share the 20V batteries with other WORX garden and lawn tools.

The mowers outer housing and wheels are made of lightweight, durable plastic. The 20″ cutting deck is made of steel and gives the mower a cutting width of 19″. Steel is not only more durable, but it’s also more mulching friendly as grass slides off steel better than plastic or aluminum.

The handle is fully collapsible for compact and easy storage.

When folded you can stand the mower up on end so it can easily be placed up against a wall. I love this because it makes it easier to store in my shed where space is at a premium.

The ergonomic handle is also padded, making it more comfortable to maneuver while cutting.

One of my favorite features is the single lever height adjustment. It allows you to quickly adjust the cutting height from 11/4” to 4” using a single lever. Much easier than my gas powered mower which required each wheel to be adjusted individually. I can’t begin to tell you what a pain that was.

The mower offers 3 different cutting methods. You can mulch, bag, or side discharge. Mulching is done by installing the included mulching plug at the back of the mower. If you choose to bag your clippings as I do, you can use the included 1-bushel bag which easily installs at the back of the mower. Lastly, you can use side discharge by installing the side discharge attachment.

Performance and use

Using the mower couldn’t be easier, just drop the batteries into the battery compartment, and you’re ready to mow. To start it, insert the plastic safety key and hold down the start button while engaging the operating bail handle. For safety, the motor stops as soon as you let go of the operating bail handle.

This mower is amazingly quiet and lightweight compared to my gas-powered model. It sounds like you’re cutting the grass with a fan. You can actually have a normal conversation with someone without having to yell over a loud engine. And its light enough that my 74-year-old mother said that even she could cut the grass using it.

Performance wise it simply blew me away. It cut my lawn every bit as good as my old gas-powered mower. It powered through tall grass and damp grass without issue. And pushing it around was like a walk in the park. Below is a video showing how easy the mower is to start and use.

I used the bagging function, and the bag was easy to take off and empty. It’s a smaller size (1 bushel) then I’m used to so I did have to empty it more often, but that wasn’t a big deal.

My lawn grows uneven, and some areas have taller grass, being able to adjust the cutting height with a single lever was easy and time-saving.

I was also remarkably impressed by the battery life. I was able to cut my front, side, and back lawn (approx. 6,000 square feet) and still had more than half of a charge left.

No gas, no oil, no maintenance… no brainer

Maybe the best thing about this mower is that it’s pretty much maintenance free. Especially compared to a gas-powered mower. No more buying gas, changing oil or replacing air filters. About the only thing you have to do is keep it clean and maintain the blade. Over time this mower will pay for itself with the money you save on gas and other maintenance.

Final thoughts

The WORX 20” cordless lawnmower is the perfect choice for small to medium size yards, and it doesn’t cost much more than a high quality gas-powered mower. I like products that make everyday tasks we dread doing easier and in the case of the WORX cordless mower, a tad bit more enjoyable. Personally, I love using this lawnmower, and I’ll never go back to gas again.

Update 7/5/20

This is my second season using the WORX 20″ cordless lawnmower, and my opinion of it hasn’t changed. The mower is great! And starting a new season without having to change oil, filters, or fill it with gas was awesome. Just pop in the batteries and start mowing. I’ve also not seen any reduction in the battery’s power or consumption over last year. If you want to make the switch from gas to electric, look no further than the WORX 20″ cordless lawnmower.

Price: 349.99 currently marked down to 319.99 on the WORX site. Where to buy: WORX and Home Depot Source: The sample for this review was provided by WORX.