Greenworks 48V 21" Review
Brushless Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with LED Headlight, Dual 5.0Ah Batteries and Dual Port Rapid Charger
94Superb!
4.4 / 5 from 1694 users
$471.12
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We spent 9.5 hours reading reviews from customers and experts. In summary, here's what users think:
8 reasons to buy
The Greenworks 48V 21" mower has shown to be very powerful, able to cut through tall and thick grass with ease, without stalling or losing power. (38 reviews)
“This thing has eaten through five yard's worth of high grass and weeds without so much as a whimper.”
“The motor is powerful and cuts the lawn with ease in mulching mode.”
“First of all, it definitely has power. A LOT of power.”
“It effortlessly cuts through the grass, delivering a clean and even finish.”
“It is very powerful. I have no problem cutting the thickest grass on my yard.”
“The edge trimmer actually scared me at first use... just as powerful as any gas model I've used.”
“The sharp blade and powerful motor easily went through thick long grass.”
Being electric, there's no need for gas or oil, reducing maintenance requirements and making it environmentally friendlier. (35 reviews)
“No gas or oil required; just a long extension cord or two.”
“really didn't want to deal with a gas mower: fuel, 2-stroke/engine oil, carb, spark plug, leaks, pull-start, choke, prime, exhaust, heat, smelling up the garage”
“I appreciate that it operates quietly, without the noise and fumes associated with gas-powered mowers.”
“WAY quieter than the old gas mower I had”
“I so happy that I do not have to buy and store gas. Change motor oil, spark plugs or gas filters.”
“Simple plug & play battery packs, no need to keep hot cans of gas around the garage”
“no more messing with gas, oil, sparkplugs, batteries, etc.”
“So glad to finally have a suitable replacement for my gas mower. No more gas, or oil changes, spark plugs or air filters. Just plug in, and away you go!”
“No gas, no oil, no spark plugs to worry about.”
“I got sick of the struggle with pull cord starting which sometimes refuses to work at all, that and the gas/oil/filter/etc headache of the gas mower”
The mower is noted to be lightweight, making it easier to maneuver around the yard, similar to the feel of using a reel mower. (32 reviews)
“It's light weight makes mowing easier (if it weren't for the cord, it's light weight feels like your using a reel mower).”
“It’s easy enough to use and light enough that it was easy enough to maneuver.”
“mower itself is not cumbersome”
“Light weight”
“despite still being a full-metal chassis, and being bigger than my previous mower, it's *lighter* too”
“Very light and maneuverable”
“It is self propelled and light weight.”
“so light weight”
“I have very bad knees and I could operate this mower with ease.”
“I am happy to have a lightweight mower that I can start without hurting my back and shoulder when pulling a cord.”
Starting the mower is simple, usually involving just the push of a button and the pull of a handle for an instant start. (28 reviews)
“Starting: Easy. Push a button and pull back on a handle. Instant start.”
“starts with the push of a button”
“Runs great and love not having to mix gas or run a cord. Charge the battery and go!”
“Simple to assemble, simple to stow away when not in use.”
“The motor starts right up, almost instantly”
“Just push the button and it starts. You can stop whenever, for whatever reason, and just push the button to resume.”
“Easy start.”
“Loved that this mower is easy to use”
“I love this mower. I have very bad knees and I could operate this mower with ease.”
“It starts right away every time, no more messing with gas, oil, sparkplugs, batteries, etc.”
Assembly of the Greenworks 48V 21" mower is straightforward and quick, with minimal effort needed to get the mower ready for use. (22 reviews)
“Assembly is super simple, consists of attaching top portion of handle bar and tightening of two bolts, and also tightening of two bolts of lower portion of push bar.”
“No-tool-light-assembly necessary (screwing on the handles) and this thing is ready to go in less than 5 minutes!”
“easy to assemble”
“Assembly was very easy and I didn't really have to read the manual to figure out how to get this operational in a few minutes.”
“Simple to assemble”
“Instructions are clear on how to assemble”
“Easy to assemble.”
“It is pretty easy to assemble and it is mostly assembled and you just need to install the handle.”
“Assembly was simple”
“This one just unfolds the handles and folds them back up with a quick release when you are done”
While not silent, the mower operates quieter than many gas-powered alternatives. (18 reviews)
“is quieter than gas (I hear my neighbors' mowers over this one!)”
“Not as loud as a gas powered mower”
“I appreciate that it operates quietly, without the noise and fumes associated with gas-powered mowers.”
“WAY quieter than the old gas mower I had”
“The mower operates quieter than many gas-powered alternatives.”
“Quiet enough I'm not worried about annoying my neighbors”
“This mower is also fairly quiet”
“Now it’s so quite I can go at 7am and before the heat of the day.”
“much quieter”
“It was quieter than I expected even being an electric mower.”
Offers convenience with a single lever used to adjust the blade height, a feature appreciated by users. (11 reviews)
“Also, the single lever blade-height adjustment is something that's been a long-time coming.”
“I do want to say that I’m really pleased with how easy it is to change the height on the blade.”
“This is SO easy to use. There is one handle that you just slip into the next higher or lower position.”
“The adjustable height lever is so easy to move.”
“Love the one touch control to raise and lower the cutting level”
“The ease of changing height settings is ideal.”
“it's super easy to adjust the height; just move one control and it goes up or down as you wish”
“Also, it's super easy to adjust the height; just move one control and it goes up or down as you wish.”
“I very much like the adjustment control for the mowing deck: one lever allows me to change the height without any trouble or injured fingers.”
“really easy to adjust height”
The sturdy metal frame is a point of satisfaction for some users, indicating a solid build. (8 reviews)
“this is a heavy duty metal deck mower”
“The frame is made of metal and heavy, which is a relief as review of other electric mower I crossed shopped have plastic body or not sturdy.”
“The whole thing just exudes quality-of-build”
“It is not plastic but metal housing.”
“Also, wanted to have a metal body on the mower - most all others were plastic”
“There’s a lot more metal than plastic, which is comparable to gas mowers.”
“Not all plastic the deck is metal.”
“Feels powerful enough and well made.”
3 reasons not to buy
For the battery-operated Greenworks 48V 21" mower, battery life seems to degrade over time, leading to a decrease in mowing time per charge. (30 reviews)
“Battery run time is 45 minutes (Not great for large lawns)”
“They need to improve battery life because I now need to buy two 24volt back ups so always have extra just to do a yard.”
“The charge only really lasts about 45 minutes, then it takes about 3 hours to recharge.”
“I cannot mow all three on one charge. I can only do half before recharging.”
“Batteries and chargers are very hard to find and expensive. One set of batteries does not complete our quarter acre.”
“I can only seem to do about 2/3 of my yard before the batteries die. . . I'm wondering if the batteries have just worn out a little”
Some parts appear to be made from cheap plastic, raising concerns about the mower's long-term durability. (7 reviews)
“Now the main reason it’s cracked is because it’s made of a cheap plastic. It feels pretty cheap to be honest.”
“Plastic too completely broke off on its own. Cheaply made plastic and could not fix.”
“one back wheel is a little bent. It was shipped this way.”
“Item arrived in a box that has seen better days. Minus a significant gouge on the mower deck there didn’t seem to be any major issues.”
“The plastic locking handle and plastic hut/hubs/knobs arrived stripped/broken so the handle would not stay open”
“The plastic around it broke off on both sides and it became wobbly after a few uses.”
“Never got to find out because when the new one arrived the right rear wheel was bent out of alignment. (Front end pointing into the mower)”
The handlebar assembly is described as weak and wobbly, potentially affecting the user experience and mower stability. (6 reviews)
“handle screws are definitely too short for the "folding" purpose: can't tighten enough to prevent folding during use(if you squeeze the handles together during assembly you can catch the next threads and get a good fasten)”
“I noticed the entire handle bar assembly was very weak and wobbly. To be specific, the adjustable latch is supposed to hold the top handle bar tight to the lower bar assembly, yet allows you to fold the top bar down for storage. It was so flimsy that pushing it only a few feet felt like it was going to fall apart.”
“Only noticeable issue was handle attach hardware. Knobnuts are quite small and make tightening handle sufficiently, quite difficult. Also, upper quicklatching type bolts are short. In order to get threads to engage upper and lower portion of handle, a firm grip or clamps are needed to tightly match handle together to get knobnuts to thread correctly.”
“I had to duct tape the handle in the open and locked position in order to mow my lawn.”
“Btw, I did read where a few people were not happy with the design of the handle bar assembly.”
“The folding handle will give you some grief, as the retaining mechanism isn't very tight, and the handle will try and fold on you during use.”
Bottom Line
The Greenworks 48V 21" is a robust, electric mower that cuts thick grass effortlessly. It's maintenance-friendly with no gas or oil needed, and it's light and easy to handle. You can start it with a button push, and it's quieter than gas mowers. It's got a sturdy build and simple height adjustment, but the battery may weaken over time, and some parts could be more durable.
Facts
| Brand | GreenWorks |
|---|---|
| Cutting Width (in) | 21 inch |
| Features | Electric Start, Rear Discharge, Mulching, Bagging, Side Discharge |
| Max Cutting Height | 3 3/4" |
| Min Cutting Height | 1 2/5" |
| Power Source | Battery |
| Category | Self Propelled Mowers |
| Warranty | 3 Years |
| Weight | 77 pounds |
Video Reviews
Special Features
- Dual 24V Batteries for 48V Power: Imagine it like having two strong horses pulling together to give you a powerful machine, but they're part of a team of horses (batteries) you already have.
- 45-Minute Run-Time with 5Ah Batteries: You can keep mowing your lawn for the length of a TV show without needing to stop and recharge.
- Self-Propelled Rear Wheel Drive: The mower pushes itself so you don't have to break a sweat pushing it up hills or around your yard.
- Variable Speed Control: You're in control, like having a throttle - go faster or slower depending on what you need.
- Efficient Brushless Motor: This engine is like the strong, silent type. It does the hard work without making a lot of noise and lasts longer.
- 4-In-1 Mowing System: It's like a Swiss Army knife for your lawn – you can cut the grass, collect it in a bag, throw it out the side, or shred it into natural fertilizer.
- Simple Push-Button Start: Starting this mower is as easy as turning on the TV, just push a button and you're ready to go.
- 7 Height Positions: You can easily adjust how short you cut the grass, like picking the right wrench for the job.
- Built-In LED Light: Got a headlight so you can see what you're doing, even when it's getting dark out.
- USB Ports on Batteries: The batteries can charge your phone or other gadgets while you're out working, just like a power bank.
- One-Battery System for 100+ Tools: You can use the same batteries for a bunch of different tools, like having one key for every lock.
- Eco-Friendly with No Fumes or Noise: It's tough on grass but not on your ears or lungs, giving off no stinky fumes or loud noises.
- 3-Year Tool/Battery Warranty: You've got three years of not worrying if something breaks, they've got you covered.
FAQ
- Q:
Why is this model not listed on the official Greenworks website?
- A:
The model in question is a newer version created exclusively for Amazon, hence its absence from the Greenworks website. This updated model features a brushless motor, an all-steel deck, and utilizes improved materials. Despite these enhancements, the core functionality remains unchanged.
Similar Products
 |  |  |  |  | |
| Name | Greenworks 80V 21" | Greenworks MO80L510 | Greenworks 40V 21" | EGO Power+ LM2102SP | KT 80-Volt Max |
| Final Score | 97 Superb! | 93 Great! | 92 Great! | 99 Superb! | 92 Great! |
| Category | Self Propelled Mowers | Self Propelled Mowers | Self Propelled Mowers | Self Propelled Mowers | Self Propelled Mowers |
| Power Source | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery | Battery |
| Cutting Width | 21 inch | 21 inch | 21 inch | 21 inch | 21 inch |