All The Cordless Battery Walk-Behind Mowers of 2019

• Higher voltage labeled on the hood of the mower does not mean it’s a better mower and will cut better!
• Higher Amps listed on the battery does not always mean longer runtimes.
• The Wh number in small print on the battery label is the best way but that’s not always accurate either.
• Simply put – more watt-hours (Wh) = more “fuel” and longer run times. That can be hard to figure out without a little education. Please read the next few paragraphs to get yourself up to speed.

There are three metrics you need to know about to make an accurate decision on which battery is the best for you. Volts, Amp-hours, and Watt-hours.

Higher voltage does not mean a better product! All the brands use amp-hours (Ah) consistently but many have decided to list a voltage in big bold letters on the battery instead of Ah. The marketing department wants you to think that voltage is the measure of their batteries’ performance.  But, some list voltage when the battery is fully charged, others list the battery voltage when the battery is being used, and a few just pull a number out of a hat. In reality, just listing the voltage is meaningless. You need more information to make an accurate comparison.

Fortunately for you and I, Lithium-ion cells operate a certain way. Lithium-ion batteries have more voltage when they are fully charged than they do when they are being used. Each individual cell in these multi-cell batteries has about 4 volts fully charged, 3.6 volts when you are using it and 3.2 volts when fully discharged. Your battery is made up of groups of these individual cells so a 40volt MAX battery will have 10 cells or a 60volt MAX battery will have 15 cells, etc.

So how do you tell which battery is the best? The most meaningful metric is watt (W), which is calculated as voltage (V) multiplied by the current in amperes (A): W = V x A. This combination of voltage and current, rather than a single metric alone, is a constant value that you can use to determine in the power of a cordless mower battery.

A few Examples:

• 80 Volt Max is the same as 72 Volt. Working voltage is actually 72 volts. So a 3Ah battery gives you 216 Wh of power.
• 60 Volt Max is the same as 56 Volt. Working voltage is actually 54 volts. So a 4Ah battery gives you 224 Wh of power.
• 40 Volt Max is the same as 36 Volt. Working voltage is actually 36 volts. So a 6Ah battery gives you 216 Wh of power.
• 20 Volt Max is the same as 18 Volt. Working voltage is actually 18 volts. So a 12Ah battery gives you 216 Wh of power.

Four different batteries with different voltages and amps but with everything else being equal they will all mow the same amount of lawn.

My Choice! Self-Propelled: 22-inch Personal Pace Recycler Deck with 7.5 AH battery. Buy at The Home Depot. Good for homeowners with up to 1/2 acre lots. If you think you may want the new Toro snow thrower later this year this is the best choice. Buy this mower and buy the bare-tool snow thrower this fall. The 7.5 AH battery costs $100 more than the 6.0 AH but it will give you 33% more runtime in the snow thrower.

Self-Propelled: 22-inch Personal Pace Recycler Deck with 6.0 AH battery. Buy at The Home Depot. Good for homeowners with 1/3 acre lots.

Push: 22-inch Push Recycler Deck with 6.0 AH battery. Buy at The Home Depot. Good for homeowners who mow their lawn with a rider and just need a walk-behind for trimming (or like to push:)

• 22 inch Cut
• CUTTING HEIGHT 1 in. – 4 in.
• Steel Deck with washout port
• Mulch, Bag Side Discharge
• Brushless Motor
• The battery can be used in other homeowner and professional cordless tools.

Toro has taken the proven #1 selling mower platform, added the latest brushless motor tech, and the best Lithium-ion battery tech and made a mower that cuts better, bags better, mulches better, and stores in your garage better than any other cordless walk-behind mower.

• Full 22-inch cut steel deck! I know from experience that most of you will buy a 22-inch mower over a smaller one if given the chance. This mower’s actual cutting width is a full 2 inches wider than the nearest competitor’s steel deck cordless mower.
• Proven Toro Recycler Deck. The Recycler cutting system mulches the best and provides a healthier, better-looking lawn.
• Brushless DC motor. Provides more power, more runtime, and longer life.
• RunSmart battery tech. Automatically adjusts power to match cutting conditions. (like the governor on your gas walk-behind but more responsive)
• Battery options for 1/3 and 1/2 acre lots! If your home sits on a 1/3 or 1/2 acre lot 6.0 AH and 7.5 AH battery options are available.
• Personal Pace. The Personal Pace self-propel is the easiest to use, most reliable system in the industry. Simply stand behind the mower, grab the handle and begin walking – the Personal Pace automatically adjusts to the speed you want to walk. The Personal Pace is rear-wheel drive so you get the best traction on slopes.
• Don’t want Personal Pace? A Push style mower is also available.
• 11 inch rear wheels! Both the Personal Pace and push mowers use larger 11 inch rear wheels
• Smart Stow. Save Storage Space in your garage or shed. Simply fold, lock and store upright and save up to 70% over your old gas walk-behind.
• Bag on Demand. Like all the other Toro Recycler mowers you can easily switch to bagging if needed or bag all the time if preferred.
• Clean with your garden hose. Has a both a Washout Port or you can flip the handles into the SmartStow position, tip the mower up and spray the bottom with your garden hose. (This is a big deal to me. The closest competitor requires that you DON’T spray the mower with water. They require you to clean the mower and under the deck with a brush!)
• Good Value. $100 less than the competition. (Comparing the 22-inch Flex-Force Personal Pace mower with 7.5 AH to competitor’s 20-inch steel deck self-propelled with 7.5 AH battery)
• Parts already listed on Toro.com. Buy parts online through Toro.com or at your local Toro Dealer!
• Economical! Buy your mower with a 6.AH or 7.5AH battery and use the battery this winter in the new Toro snow thrower!

The entire Toro Flex-Force line is available at your local dealer and The Home Depot

HUSQVARNA LE221R

Mowers come with two 36 volt (36-volt working) BLi20 4.0 Ah Batteries. 144Wh each for total 288Wh.

• 20 inch
• CUTTING HEIGHT 3/4 in. – 3 in.
• Steel Deck
• Mulch, Bag Side Discharge
• Brushless Motor
• Runs on one battery but has a compartment for two. Both compartments are powered.

The steel deck on this mower is very similar – if not exactly – like the gas-powered Husqvarna self-propelled mower you know and love. It also looks very similar to the “Pre-MTD” Craftsman that got some of the highest ratings in around 2014. Like Toro – Husqvarna has been making quality walk-behind mowers for many years. So I have no problems recommending it over most other cordless mowers made by tool and electronics companies.  This mower does not come with a large battery but Husqvarna uses one battery style for all Husqvarna battery products. The battery can be used in a wide variety of homeowner and professional cordless tools. In addition, most Husqvarna batteries charge faster than you normally use them up so two or three batteries can essentially give you all day use. Batteries are available up to 9 Ah for extended run times.  (See the complete line here: Husqvarna Battery Tools

EGO

Mowers come with one 56V (54-volt working) 5.0Ah 270Wh, two 5.0Ah 540Wh or one 7.5Ah 405 Wh Batteries.

• 21 inch
• CUTTING HEIGHT 1 3/8 in. – 3 3/4 in.
• Steel Deck
• Mulch, Bag Side Discharge
• Brushless Motor
• The battery can be used in other EGO branded homeowner cordless tools.

The mowers listed here all are highly rated by both the owners and Consumer Reports. The only negative I want to mention is they are not designed to clean with a garden hose. EGO recommend that you clean them with a dry cloth and/or brush. EGO continues to develop a line of cordless yard tools including edgers, snow throwers and even a Power Station that uses their batteries to operate USB and 110-volt products. See their complete line here: EGO at the Home Depot

Snapper cordless

Mowers come with two 80V-volt (72-volt working)  2.0Ah (144Wh x 2=288Wh)  or one 5.0Ah (360Wh)

Makita 18-Volt X2 LXT Brushless

 The Makita 18-Volt X2 LXT Brushless Mower is a small trim mower and requires two 18-volt batteries for operation. It’s also expensive. ($348 for the bare tool) but if you have 18-volt Makita tools, just need a trimming mower, and don’t want another battery platform it may be the best choice for you. They do have a comprehensive line of commercial blowers, trimmers, chainsaws, and even a powered wheelbarrow to compliment their battery line. Makita L&G at Amazon