If you’ve been thinking about switching from gasoline to battery-powered lawn equipment, now is as good a time as ever.
Consumer Reports testers say today’s battery-powered tools don’t just go head-to-head with gas—they sometimes outperform them. From trimmers to chainsaws, we’ll show you which brands cut through the competition.
Whether you need a chainsaw, drill, lawn mower, or all three, choosing a battery-powered model is cleaner, quieter, and could save you money over time. Consumer Reports explains how to make the switch.
The appeal of a battery platform is that you can buy all of your tools from a single brand, then use the batteries interchangeably and save about 30% on the purchase price.
With most of the major power equipment manufacturers in the battery game, choosing can be overwhelming. That’s where CR comes in!
Before buying, consider the projects and chores you want to tackle.
If lawn and garden are your top priorities, you’ve got plenty of options! The tools from Ego’s Power Plus 56-Volt Battery platform, the Ego POWER+, which starts at $209, consistently earn top marks from CR’s testers.
Since many brands offer multiple options for each tool, you can choose based on your budget and needs. For example, the recommended self-propelled Ego LM2123SP-2 mower starts at $600.
Another option is the Ryobi RY401170VNM push mower, which costs $329 and runs on a Ryobi 40V HP battery, which starts at $145. The platform also offers top-performing string trimmers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, and chainsaws.
If you have a long list of fixes and house projects on your docket, consider the Makita LXT platform, which starts at $145. It powers a suite of DIY-friendly tools, including the heavy-duty Makita Cordless Drill XFD16T, which costs $354 and aced CR’s tests.