Makita rechargeable lawn mower. STRONG SELF-PROPELLING LAWN MOWER

DOUBLE THE MOWING AREA WITH BATTERY-POWER

DLM532 is a battery-powered self-propelling lawn mower, designed to mow large areas at a time. Mowing area can be doubled up to 2300 m², thanks to four 18 V battery ports. The mower can also be used with only two batteries. Strong steel frame of the machine makes it durable, and large tires makes mowing easy even in muddy or bumpy yard.

DLM532’s many features make it versatile and convenient. The mowers cutting height can easily be set between 20. 100 mm with just one pull of lever. Cutting width of 530 mm and self-propelled speed of 2,5. 5,0 km/h make mowing your yard quick and easy. Brushless motor delivers up to 2800 RPM, and the motor automatically varies its speed depending on load conditions of the blade for longer runtime. Silent mode lowers the rotation speed to 2300 RPM making mowing quieter, therefore DLM532 is an excellent choice for residential areas.

FEATURES

Cutting, collecting, mulching or side discharging — choose your way of mowing

DLM532 is equipped with popular mulching head for bio-cutting. The mower is also equipped with 70 L grass box with grass level indicator for collecting grass and side discharge to avoid clogging.

Powerful convenience

No Load speed varies up to 2800 RPM on standard mode, and on low noise mode the speed is constant at 2300 RPM.

Easy lawn mowing with self-propelling

Self-propelling feature makes mowing more comfortable and lighter. Propelling speed can be adjusted between 2,5 5,0 km/h.

Adjust cutting height with one lever

Centralized cutting height adjustment allows selecting the cutting height with just one pull of a lever! Height can be set between 20. 100 mm.

While DLM532 can run with only a pair of 18V LXT® batteries, it can be used with two pairs of batteries to double the runtime and mowing area. The mower is equipped with battery selection switch, which allows the user to choose which pair of batteries is being used. This makes managing the battery charge level easier, when not all of the batteries are used at the same time.

Each battery’s charge can be easily checked from the LED indicator on the handle of the lawn mower.

The 3 Best Cordless Lawn Mowers of 2023

We did firsthand comparative testing of 7 of the best cordless lawn mowers on the market so that you can easily find the optimal machine for your needs and budget. As consumers ourselves, we understand that there are dozens of cordless lawn mowers to choose from and that marketing claims can be inconsistent and confusing. To remedy this problem, we bought the most promising machines and subjected them to a rigorous direct comparison analysis. We hope this review will simplify the market for you, making the selection of a cordless mower a breeze.

Keeping up with the yard requires a range of tools for maintenance. That’s why our expansive list of reviews cover basics like top-ranked garden hoses and shovels to cordless tools like the best cordless leaf blowers and the best cordless string trimmers, our favorite chainsaws, and of course, our select picks of the best tools. And if you need help knowing when you’ll get that ideal mowing window, we have also tested weather stations and rain gauges.

Editor’s Note: We updated our cordless lawn mower review on March 31, 2023 to share information on how we scored our testing metrics.

Best All-Around Lawn Mower

Ego LM2102SP

Few lawns are too demanding for the Ego LM2102SP. With a 5 amp-hour, 56-volt battery and a mammoth cutting deck, this machine can mow down the toughest of turfs and mulch with the best of them. The Ego has all the important features you want in one of these products — like self-propulsion, a wide range of cutting heights, and easy folding and storing — to make cutting your lawn that much easier.

We have little to criticize this burly machine for other than its size — it’s massive. This means it’s going to require more storage space. Additionally, for those with smaller lawns, this is probably too much machine. And though it’s not astronomically expensive, it’s certainly not the cheapest model out there. These are minor gripes, and we feel that this electric marvel is far superior to its gas-powered relatives and rules the roost among cordless mowers.

Best Bang for Your Buck

Greenworks 25322

This economical machine is a good choice for those with moderately demanding lawns and modest budgets. Unlike some other affordable models, the Greenworks 25322 is not burdened with a short runtime (we clocked 73 minutes of runtime per charge). Nor does the mower suffer from a long recharge interval (we topped its battery off in an hour). To round things out, this machine packs enough cutting power to mulch well-managed lawns.

There are some negatives worth mentioning. The Greenworks isn’t self-propelled, which can be a pain if you have a sloping lawn. Also, it has a meager 13 ¾ cutting deck compared to the competition, which means you’ll make more passes to cut the same amount of turf. And, surprisingly, this slim mower is not as easy to maneuver as we expected. A plus to its small size is that it’s easy to fold and store.

Best for Easy Handling

BlackDecker CM2043

The BlackDecker CM2043 is not a high-end mower, but it has several characteristics that make it worth consideration. First, the price is well below average. Second, it’s maneuverable, excelling in tight spots such as inside corners. Finally, it supplies enough power for moderately demanding jobs, which is good because the cutting deck covers a wide range.

On the other hand, it disappoints in several key areas that negate its usefulness for high-demand lawns. Of chief concern is this mower’s short battery, which is only capable of cutting ~6,457 ft² (~80′ x 80′ area). Exacerbating this issue is a prolonged recharge interval of 300 minutes. We should also point out that the BlackDecker is not self-propelled. But if you have a small lawn, perhaps one with an irregular shape, then this little guy can get the job done while leaving enough money in your wallet to do something fun when the chores are all done.

Why You Should Trust Us

We’re passionate about evaluating the full range of battery-powered tools, from string trimmers and pressure washers to chainsaws, leaf blowers, and drills. Our Senior Research Analyst Austin Palmer has been tearing apart electronics with an eye for quality design and engineering for most of his adult life in our laboratory and the field.

• Mowing tests (35% of overall score weighting)

• Battery tests (25% weighting)

• Handling tests (25% weighting)

• Ease of Use tests (15% weighting)

Also contributing to this review is Senior Review Editor Nick Miley, who draws on his research experience in university laboratories to build a predictive runtime/cutting square footage model for the mowers. He draws on 10 years of product testing, not to mention the half-acre lawn that he mowed as a kid, to analyze these machines.

Analysis and Test Results

We devise a comprehensive set of testing categories or metrics to standardize and quantify all of our product evaluations. To determine the best cordless lawn mowers for each user, these metrics are mowing (35%), battery (25%), handling (25%), and ease of use (15%).

Value

There are two ways of looking at value. The first is assessing which models offer more to the consumer. This more could be features, quality, or aesthetic appeal. The second is to identify two or more products that offer the same features and compare their cost. The Makita XML03 and the Greenworks 25322 offer comparable features and performance but sell for markedly different prices. The Greenworks offers significant value over its peers.

Mowing

The performance of the mowers while they’re in use is the meat and potatoes of this review. It includes cutting efficiency based on the maximum cutting width minus the minimum overlap required to eliminate a cutting gap. (The cutting gap is the space between the end of the blade and the outer edge of the cutting deck). This metric also covers the range of cutting heights compared to the claims of the manufacturer. Last, we field-tested the mowers’ ability to power through shaggy and weedy knee-high grass while mulching. Mulching is the recutting of clipped grass repeatedly so that the clippings can be deposited deep into the turf.

The mowing metric makes up a whopping 35% of the overall score for each mower, and each model’s performance here mirrors its final ranking. The Ego topped the class.

Battery

These cordless lawn mowers run on lithium-ion battery cells, and we consider performance here second only to mowing. We measured runtime as the time it takes a stationary mower with the blade spinning to exhaust a fully charged battery. Recharge time is simply the time it takes for a dead battery to regain its full charge. Interestingly, some models with the longest runtimes (like the Makita) also displayed the shortest recharge times.

Unfortunately, the runtime measurement tells us fairly little about the longevity of a battery charge when the mower is actually cutting grass. This is harder to measure. Some of these cordless mowers, like the Ego and Makita, can cut tens of thousands of square feet of turf on a single charge. We didn’t have access to a field of grass of sufficient size and uniform length to conduct a cutting-grass battery test. Instead, we used a statistical model based on runtime and the dimensions of each cutting deck to render square footage estimates.

What our model reveals is a fairly wide range of square footage cutting estimates. Unsurprisingly, one of our favorite models, the Ego, crushed the competition with an estimated 14,275 sq.ft. of turf trimmed on a single charge. The average square footage for the class is 9,270 sq.ft.

Ease of Use

This metric evaluates the mower features that are not critical to a machine’s performance but make using the mower more enjoyable. It includes the noise level of a running mower, the battery charge meter, battery removal, and mower storage.

One of the big benefits of an electric mower is the lower noise level. Gas mowers roar, electric mowers purr — a significant difference.

Deciphering the Decibel (A) Scale The A-weighted decibel (dBA) scale measures the pressure vibrations in the air, referred to as sound intensity. The decibel scale is not linear, like measurements of distance or mass. Instead, it’s logarithmic and scaled so that an increase of three decibels represents a doubling of sound intensity.

To get an objective measurement of the noise output coming from the cordless lawn mowers, we used a sound pressure level meter that records sound intensity in decibels (dBA). We found a relatively substantial difference in the sound intensity within the class that worked out to a 7.4 dBA spread between the loudest and quietest models. The Makita is the quietest of the group at 70 dBA, with the Ego coming in a close second at 71 dBA. The Federal Aviation Administration describes 80 dBA as what one can expect from a busy urban area during the day. The takeaway here is that these mowers are, in comparison to their gas-powered counterparts, quite a bit less noisy.

Let’s move on to look at the battery charge meter and battery removal. Although it may seem insignificant, evaluating these two details is necessary because they frequently come up when we ask people how they like their purchase after a few uses. The Greenworks placed the battery meter under the battery cover, and the batteries themselves require two hands to remove.

Although the battery charge meter and battery removal system may seem like minor details, the folding/ unfolding mechanism is not. These mowers — even the smaller ones — take up a lot of space when stored. Old gas-powered models usually allowed you to fold the handle, but the oil and gas reservoirs prevented them from being stored in a vertical position. This is not the case for the electric models, which can take up far less storage space when not in use. Unfortunately, models like the Sun Joe iON16LM and, to a lesser degree, the BlackDecker make folding and unfolding quite difficult and time-consuming.

Handling

The handling metric complements the ease of use evaluation. Both are concerned with the effort required to perform the task of mowing the lawn. The difference is that the handling evaluation focuses on the core task of mowing the lawn and not those aspects of a product that support this function. Specifically, we assess the starting mechanism. Is it easy to engage? Is there a lag in the start-up process? Next, we evaluate how much effort goes into directing the mower around the turf. This is a general assessment of maneuverability. Finally, we dig into the bail — which is the lever that engages the blade — and how it feels when gripped.

As far as starting goes, these machines all start up pretty much the same way. One simply pushes the start button. The difference from one mower to the next is in the starting delay once the button has been pushed. The Ego fires up immediately. Some mowers take longer. Despite some delay, all the models reviewed here start up without a problem.

We saw more variance in the maneuverability of these machines than we did with the starting mechanisms. The first big difference is in the propulsion of the mowers. Some machines, such as the Ego, are self-propelled. Others have to be pushed if you want them to move. Both options offer pros and cons. In general, self-propelled models cost more, but if the lawn is large or inclined, it’s probably worth the extra money. On the other hand, some models like the Ego can — even at their slowest setting — be a bit fast for tight spots or corners. While one can simply disengage the drive system in such scenarios, the Ego delivers some resistance when it is pushed.

Whether you are interested in a self-propelled cordless lawn mower or not, activation of the cutting blade is controlled by a component called a bail. This is a spring-loaded bar that is connected to the handle. When the bail is depressed, the blade is engaged. When released, the blade stops spinning. Although this component may seem uniform across mower models, this turns out not to be the case. The shape and resistance of the bail can cause discomfort, especially on longer jobs. As such, we paid close attention to the feel and functionality of the bail during our various field tests.

While most of the bails went unnoticed — which is a good thing — a few were quite stiff and taxing to grip for prolonged periods. The primary offender in this evaluation is the Makita. Its stiffness seems to result from firm springs that return the bail to the off position when one’s grip is loosened. It remains to be seen if these springs will loosen in time.

Conclusion

The above review covers every aspect of cordless lawnmowers, from handling to mowing power. We hope that this analysis provided you with all the information to allow you to confidently select the perfect mower. over, we hope that this article will shed a bit of light on some aspects of these machines that will improve your overall experience. We have had a great time testing and writing about these machines and hope that our work will help you better enjoy your time in the backyard.

The 8 Best Battery-Powered Lawn Mowers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Sage McHugh has written for Dotdash Meredith since 2019. With over a decade of experience in consumer-oriented content, Sage has a passion for products and how they enhance our everyday lives.

Andrew Hughes is a certified arborist, member of the International Society of Arborists specializing in tree heal care, and reviews tree content on The Spruce’s Gardening Review Board. He founded and runs Urban Loggers, LLC, a company offering residential tree services in the Midwest and Connecticut.

Jenica Currie is an expert content manager, producer, writer, and editor with over a decade of experience cultivating online communities.

Cordless and environmentally friendly, a battery-powered lawn mower is generally easier to maintain and operate than a gas-powered model, and it is especially suited for small to medium-sized lawns. “The best battery-powered lawn mower for your yard is one that suits your specific needs,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI). He suggests asking yourself the following before selecting a mower: “What is the size of the property and job? What features are needed for the job? What is your ability to handle the machine?”

We researched and tested a variety of lawn mowers in our own yards including corded, cordless, gas, electric, push, riding, and self-propelled options. For this list of the best battery-powered lawn mowers, we evaluated products based on their setup, design, performance, usability, safety, and value and included the best options we’ve tested. Throughout our testing process, we carefully observed the mowers’ ability to navigate around obstacles, inclines, and tall grass with ease. Additionally, we conducted a thorough evaluation of the lawn‘s appearance to ensure a consistently trimmed finish. As we compiled this list, we also considered the mowers’ runtime, cutting options, charging time, and cutting width.

Best Overall

Ryobi 40V HP Brushless 21-Inch Dual-Blade Self-Propelled Mower

• Powerful performance
• Long run time and fast charging
• Lightweight, foldable, and compact
• Easy to set up and start
• Quiet operation

The RYOBI 40V HP Brushless 21 Inch Cordless Self-Propelled Mower is the best battery-powered lawn mower we tested because it is just as powerful as some gas models, lasts for up to 70 minutes on a single charge, and is very easy to operate and maintain. We were surprised by how quiet this mower was (almost like weight noise) and lightweight (almost delicate), and easy to start (push-button compared to pulling a cord) compared to gas mowers we’ve used in the past. However, once we got it started and found the right height for an uneven lawn, thanks to the self-propelled technology, it was very powerful and easy to maneuver around, even over hills. By moving a slider from high to low, we could easily adjust the mower’s speed that we needed, depending on the terrain. Finding the right speed takes a bit of getting used to at first, especially on straight, flat rows where the mower was going almost too fast. But overall, we appreciated the power and found it really made mowing much easier, especially on hilly terrain.

This mower has an impressive 70-minute run time, and comes with two 40V batteries. Only one battery is needed at a time, and you can charge the other one with the included Rapid charger and switch them out when needed. We mowed for 45 minutes to an hour each time and had no issues with the mower running out of batteries. However, we will point out a few small issues we came across with the bag. This mower allows you to mulch, bag, or side discharge. The first time we used the mower for the season, the grass was pretty high and the bag filled up very quickly (after mowing about 25-30 feet with taller grass). However, the next few times we used it when the grass wasn’t as overgrown, we did not have that issue. Removing the bag to empty is simple, but when it was full, we did find that it spilled easily. Also, we did notice occasionally that grass would come out of the bag when it was full (just a few blades at a time). While in the mulching mode, we also noted that it did not seem to break up older leaves very well, but we did appreciate overall how well it cut the grass, and we appreciated the seven adjustable cutting heights (1.5 to 4 inches).

We also loved how compact and easy this mower is to store. We had no issues pulling the lever to fold the mower for vertical, space-saving storage. The safety features are also a big plus. The mower has a key, so even though it’s easy to start with just a press of a button, the key does need to be inserted in the mower behind a flap, so you can remove the key when you don’t want someone else using it. You also need to grip the lever when you start or use the mower, or it will not work. The LED headlights also provide extra light should you need it. Overall, if you are looking to switch from a gas to a battery-powered mower or want an easy-to-use mower for your lawn (ideally up to 3/4 of an acre), we found this to be a great choice.

How It Performed Long-Term

After three months of use, we’ve found the self-propelled feature to be especially helpful when mowing on hills and uneven terrain. We were able to use it up to four times on a single charge, which is quite remarkable. Although it may struggle with heavier weeds, it does an excellent job of cutting grass and collecting clippings

Price at time of publish: 799

Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 75 pounds | Run Time: 70 minutes | Charge Time: 1 hour | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge

Best Self-Propelled

EGO Power Select Cut 56-Volt 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower

• Self-propelled feature is easy to use
• Lightweight and easy to maneuver
• Foldable and compact for vertical storage
• 60-minute runtime

A self-propelled lawn mower can make mowing your lawn an easier task because the mower does most of the work for you—you simply guide it over your terrain while you walk at a comfortable pace that you set on your mower. After testing the EGO POWER Self-Propelled Mower, we selected it as our best self-propelled pick because it was easy to turn the feature on and off when you needed it, and it made mowing the lawn feel less of a pain (especially on our backs!) compared to using a heavy gas mower. If you are new to self-propelled mowers, this will take a little getting used to (including this mower), but we think it will be well worth the initial time spent. In fact, when we first started using this mower, we thought the mower might run away (even on the lowest setting) because we were only used to a gas push mower. Once we figured out how to run the mower without the self-propelled feature, it allowed us to get used to the mower itself and all of its features. We found that the lowest setting was all we needed for parts of our lawn, even small hills, and when we felt like that feature wasn’t necessary (navigating around obstacles), it was easy to switch it off at the top of the handle.

Aside from the self-propelled option, this mower offers many great features, making it a great choice for your lawn. We found it easy to adjust both the handle’s height (two options) and angle (three options) with just one hand. Adjusting the cutting height was also a simple and easy task with six settings available, ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches. This mower comes with one EGO 56V ARC Lithium battery that has a 60-minute runtime and takes about the same amount of time to charge. It took us 50 minutes to mow our lawn, and we did not run out of batteries. We also like that you can choose from the bag, mulching, and side-discharge option for your grass clippings and use the LED headlights when mowing early in the morning or later at dusk. The handle can easily be folded, and the mower can be stored vertically in your garage or shed. And like most battery-powered mowers, you’ll get the advantage of a quick, push-button start with no cord and no fumes.

The only downside we reported was the learning curve with using a self-propelled mower. But once we figured out how to navigate the feature and the power it provides, we found it to make mowing the lawn an easier task. If you have a small, flat lawn with a lot of obstacles, this might not be the best option for you. Also, note that we found this lawn worked great on dry and damp grass, but we did experience one time where the mower would not start (the light blinked orange to indicate an issue), but when we moved it to a less wet area, it worked fine. While this mower has many of the same features as our best overall, it has slightly less of a runtime, is heavier, and only comes with one battery. However, it is a bit more budget-friendly, so if you don’t need as much power or as long of a runtime, this could be the better option, especially if you have other EGO tools with compatible batteries.

How It Performed Long-Term

We’ve been using our lawn mower for about three months now and we’re very pleased with its performance. One of the standout features is the battery life. we can mow the lawn three times before needing to recharge. What’s more, it handles thick and tall grass like a champ. we even let the lawn go for 10 days once, and it had no trouble at all. It’s also very effective at dealing with damp grass and leaves.

Price at time of publish: 549

Cutting Width: 21 inches | Weight: 93.61 pounds | Run Time: 60 minutes | Charge Time: 1 hour | Cutting Options: Bag, mulch, side-discharge

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Home » Latest Tool Reviews » Lawn Garden » Lawn Mower » Makita Cordless Brushless Lawnmower XML08PT1

Makita LXT X2 Cordless Lawnmower XML08PT1

Makita Cordless Brushless Lawnmower XML08PT1

Manufacturer: Makita Model number: XML08PT1 Price: 699.00 Power source: 36v [2-18v] Motor size: cordless

Makita has made a big push into the outpower equipment/lawn and garden department lately. While the XML08PT1 is a mower that is geared towards the professional landscaper it is worth a look for anyone who wants a very solidly built cordless battery-powered lawnmower, especially if they’re on the Makita 18 volt LXT battery platform.

Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT® Lithium‑Ion Brushless Cordless 21″ Self‑Propelled Lawn Mower Kit with 4 Batteries (5.0Ah) XML08PT1

Specifications and Features

• Drive Type: Rear Wheel Drive Self Propelled 1.5 to 3 MPH
• Deck Size: 21″
• Cutting Height: 1-1/4″-4″
• No gas, emissions, oil mixing, or pull starts
• Self-propelled with variable speed (1.5 MPH – 3 MPH)
• 4 bay battery system for 2 times more run time
• Powered by (2) 18V LXT® batteries with the option to insert (2) additional batteries for extended run time
• Commercial-grade steel deck
• 3-in-1 design allows for mulching, bagging, or side discharge
• 2,800 RPM
• Quiet mode reduces noise by providing constant speed control at 2,300 RPM
• Grass catcher bag holds up to 2 bushels of grass

First Impressions of the Makita XML08PT1 21″ Lawnmower

I was able to do some extended testing with the Makita after our cordless lawnmower head-to-head. The Makita has the look and feel of a mower that was built for daily nonstop use by professional landscapers. The Makita features large-diameter rubber over-molded wheels, a steel deck, and everything about it is tight and made to stand up to some hard use. Screws and bolts hold everything together including the handle (which is not adjustable or foldable without a wrench). Almost all of the moving parts are metal. In short, this high-quality tool is made for the long haul.

Getting lost in the weeds

During this testing I used this mower for work is was not designed for. Knocking down a field of very tall weeds and grass. This was a torture test for sure and while the mower did bog down occasionally it still completed the task with little complaint and usually just requiring some grass and weeds to be cleared out of the chute. Mowing in more normal situations was easy, and other than the much quieter motor and lack of gas fumes felt just like using a gas-powered mower.

The old-school style metal handle and safety bar are no frills but I personally find this style more comfortable than the fatter, rubber over-mold handles found on many cordless electric mowers.

This mower is heavy with the heavy-duty steel deck and 4 batteries on board but it was easy to maneuver in and around obstacles. The self-propelling feature keeps the mower moving at a good clip and makes larger mowing jobs go quicker and easier. The bagging feature works great and collects the vast majority of clippings during use. During our head to head, we did a runtime test, the Makita XML08PT1 ran 83 minutes, and mowed 35,000 Sq. Ft. with 4 6.0 Ah batteries.

Noise

One of the biggest questions readers have asked about cordless mowers seems to be how much noise do they make?

We did a basic decibel test to measure the sound pressure of this mower to get an idea of how much noise it makes. The test consisted of running the mower with the deck raised to its midpoint level sitting on the concrete slab floor in a large barn decibel meter at approximately user height. The decibel meter used an ITU-R 468 frequency rating.

We ran the test for enough time to have the mower reach a maximum and stable rpm speed. Makita registered at only 80.5 dB about the same as garbage disposal. This is well below the OSHA limit requiring hearing protection over a period of an 8-hour shift.

For reference, the average gas lawnmower produces approximately 95 – 100 dB. Compared to a 100 dB noise level, the Makita XMLPT081 mower reduces the sound energy you hear by over 20 times compared to a loud gas mower. (decibels are a logarithmic scale, 14 decibels difference is approximately 20 times louder). Many communities have adopted noise restrictions that limit the time that you can mow with a gas mower. Please note that the sound pressure value was measured while running on top of a concrete slab. In practice, the Makita mower would be much quieter when used on a lawn.

Storage and Transport

The design intent for Makita’s engineers and designers was to produce a mower for the pro-market. To this end, the Makita’s handle does not fold for storage. This makes for a mower that has fewer moving parts and therefore fewer potential points of failure. Pro landscapers are all about efficiency and speed so a folding handle is a no-go as that keeps them from getting on and off the job more quickly. For the home user, this may be a non-issue if you have a good amount of space and don’t want to fiddle with a folding handle. But it could be a deal-breaker for some.

One of the nice things about this mower is the big handles on the front of the deck and the back of the mower. Allowing it to be easily picked up and put in the back of a truck or trailer.

Overall

This is a great mower designed and built with the professional in mind and the price and reflects that. The only downside I can find to this mower is the lack of a folding handle If you are in the market for a self-propelled mower take a look at the Makita XMLPT081