DeWALT lawn mower key. DeWALT Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

DeWALT Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

You may be aware of DeWALT’s extensive line of battery-powered outdoor equipment products, but what about gas? DeWALT has a line of zero-turn lawn mower options designed specifically to meet the needs of professional crews. We’re teaming up with DeWALT to tell you more about them!

DeWALT Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers and Pro Support Hub

Whether you’re starting your own lawn care business or looking for a mower built for long hours on large properties, DeWALT commercial zero-turn lawn mowers are designed with you in mind. The line covers stand-on options up to 54 inches and ride-on models up to 60 inches. We’ll get into more specific details on those in a moment.

One big advantage is DeWALT’s Pro Support Hub. Using the website or app, this service experience takes commercial ownership to a different level. You can call, text, or use the online platform to get experienced one-on-one support for your maintenance and troubleshooting needs. There’s even video call capability so your support tech can see what you see.

In addition to guidance, you’re able to get help with part recommendations and purchases. The Pro Support Hub also lets you keep track of your purchases and store product information for future reference.

Of course, sometimes it’s more convenient to visit a local dealer or service center. The Pro Support Hub can help you find those closest to you and help provide priority service once you arrive.

From the Pro Support Hub to your local dealer, it’s all about reducing your downtime and keeping your equipment running.

DeWALT Z260 60 in. Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

DeWALT’s flagship model in the commercial zero-turn lawn mower lineup is the Z260. It’s designed to tackle 4 to 10 acres with professional results.

It starts with a 24 horsepower Kawasaki® FS Series V-twin engine paired with a ZT-3400™ hydrostatic transmission that delivers up to 500 ft-lbs of output torque and tops out at 9 MPH (3.5 MPH in reverse).

The deck is 60 inches with 17 height positions (1 – 4.75 inches) and is constructed from reinforced fabricated 10-gauge steel. You can also grab the same mower with a 54-inch deck as the Z254.

For comfort and fit, an impact-absorbing seat, wide foot pan, and adjustable lap bars help tackle long days.

If you need another reason to pull the trigger on the Z260, DeWALT builds them in the USA using global materials.

Additional Highlights

• Electronic PTO (power take off) switch
• 1.5 x 3-inch tubular steel frame
• 23 x 12-inch rear wheels
• 13-inch offset front caster wheels
• Rollover protection bar
• Seat belt
• 5.5-gallon fuel tank

Price: 7999 MSRP (7499 MSRP with 54-inch deck)

DeWALT X554 54 in. Stand-On Commercial Zero-Turn Mower

When you need the quick mounting and dismounting of a stand-on with a large mowing deck and a smaller trailering footprint, take a look at the DeWALT X554. It features a 26 horsepower Kawasaki® FT730v EFI Series engine with an electronic throttle, 12cc Hydro-Gear® pump, and Parker® Wheel motor transmissions for precise control through turns. It boasts an impressive up to 10 MPH forward speed and up to 5 MPH in reverse.

The X554 is the largest in the stand-on line, with a 54-inch 10-gauge fabricated steel deck. It’s capable of mowing from 1 to 5-inch heights and 2 – 4-acre properties are in its wheelhouse. There’s also a 48-inch version (X548).

To improve your comfort level, there’s an oversize, thick hip pad with two inches of height adjustment. A wide platform also gives your feet plenty of room to find a comfortable ride.

The wheels are worth noting because of their size. The rear wheels are a beefy 24 inches and the front caster wheels are 13 inches, helping you manage bumpy terrain.

Like the Z260, this model is also made in the USA using global materials.

Additional Highlights

• Electronic PTO (power take off) switch
• Tool-free access to key maintenance areas
• 5-gallon fuel tank

Where You Can Buy DeWALT Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

You can find DeWALT commercial mowers at The Home Depot in-store and online. Look for expansion into select Farm Outdoor Power retailers along with independent dealers throughout 2022.

DeWALT Commercial Zero-Turn Lawn Mower Warranty Service

DeWALT backs these mowers with a commercial warranty and there are some differences between some of the models.

• X536, X548, X554 Stand-On Mowers: 2 years, unlimited hours
• Z148, Z160 Zero-Turn Mowers: 4 years, 600 hours
• Z254, Z260 Zero-Turn Mowers: 4 years, 800 hours

DeWALT® AND GUARANTEED TOUGH® are registered trademarks for DeWALT power tools, outdoor equipment and accessories. As required by Kawasaki, horsepower tested in accordance with SAE J1995 and rated in accordance with SAE J2723 and certified by SAE International.

Hydro-Gear® is a registered trademark of Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership.

Kawasaki® is a registered trademark of Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Parker ® is a registered trademark of Parker Intangibles, LLC.

Review: DeWALT Cordless Mower (2x20V)

I’ve been mowing my yard with the new DeWALT 2x20V brushless mower since the middle of July and I figured it’s about time I actually reviewed it. My test sample was delayed until the middle of summer, giving me the opportunity to purchase and spend some time with the EGO LM2101 push mower, reviewed here while I waited.

One aspect of this mower that people get confused about is the actual operating voltage — what does 2x20V mean? It means that the two batteries are in series, and so the mower actually runs at 40V Max (36V nominal). This is the same voltage as their 40V mower.

I’ll start out like I usually do, with a rundown of some relevant specs:

• 19″ cut width
• 20″ metal deck
• 1.5″ – 3.4″ cutting height
• Runtime is not specified
• Brushless motor
• Requires two 20V Max batteries
• Mulching, bagging, and rear discharge
• 2 position handle
• Folds for compact storage
• Single-lever 5-position deck height adjustment
• 3 year Warranty

Right now the mower is only sold in one form, as a kit with batteries and a charger. Specifically, it comes with two 5Ah 20V Max (DCB205) batteries, a single bay charger (DCB112), collection bag, mulching plug, and safety key for 399.

Interestingly, as I was searching for links, I found a Home Depot page for a DeWALT 2x20V mower with a “bonus” of two 5Ah batteries for 677. What? That’s 277 dollars for two “bonus” batteries? That’s well over what you’d pay if you bought the original mower and just went and purchased 2 additional 5Ah batteries.

I’m wondering if they created this listing to counteract so many of the bad reviews due to poor battery life. It still doesn’t address the batteries heating up so much that you can’t charge them right away, or the 5 hour recharge time for a pair of 5Ah batteries.

Features

The handle has two mowing positions and one storing position. I was a bit skeptical of the long fixed-length handle at first, as it does take up more vertical space when stored, but I found the solid handle really improves the responsiveness of the mower.

There are two knobs on the side of the mower that you pull and twist one-quarter turn to move the handle.

The metal handle with the metal plate and the positively locking knobs really make the handle feel like a part of the mower deck. The whole assembly is very rigid. The deck responds instantly when you press down on the handle to lift the mower — there is no slop at all. This makes mowing a much more pleasant experience, especially when you are tired.

Speaking of storing position, the mower folds up and rests on the back and takes up very little space. I can fit both the DeWALT and Ego mower in a smaller foot print than my old gas mower.

The mower weighs 26.30 kg, or about 58 pounds with the two 5.0 Ah batteries installed.

The dual battery meters are very visible when you are pushing the lawn mower.

To adjust the height of the mower, there’s a single lever with 5 notches.

Something that surprised me about the mower was the inclusion of a safety key. The mower will not run without the key in place. For the life of me I can’t figure out how this makes the mower any safer. My Ego mower doesn’t have a safety key. I just see this as something that would be frustrating to lose.

If you need to work on the mower safely, you take the batteries out, just like any other battery powered tool.

At the Craftsmen launch I asked one of the mower people why they included the safety key on the Craftsman and DeWALT mowers. He said it was required by law. I asked specifically which law, and I’m still waiting for that response.

It also doesn’t appear to be a theft deterrent, as I found a simple jumper between the terminals will allow the mower to operate normally. Stuart will probably make me put a disclaimer here like: DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME!

Issues Out of the Box

I was already aware of the handle pinching the cable thanks to Travis over at toolsbydesign on Instagram. And the first time I tried lifting the handle into place, it pinched the wire.

The pinching cable seems like such a small matter, but I know from experience that over time a small issue with the mower’s cables can turn into long term frustrations with the mower. My old Toro had a cable that kept moving around on my and catching on things. No matter how I moved it or strapped it down, eventually it worked it’s way back to where it was in the way. After 8 years with the mower, it drove me crazy.

What’s worse about this pinching cable is that if it’s not fixed, it’s going to fail, and it’s not going to take 8 years. You’ll be lucky if it lasts a season. Plus, Murphy says that it’s going to fail when you are already in a hurry, or are in a bad mood.

My third and final fix was to 3D print a new bracket that holds the cable far enough inside the handle to where it doesn’t want to catch. You can also see the 3D printed ball on the cable, that was my first try. I thought the ball would be thick enough that it would jump out of the way if it got pinched.

I did discover later when I tried bagging that this solution can interfere with the bag. @toolaholic on Instagram came up with a much simpler solution. He simply twisted the wire so that the loop faced away from the joint where it was pinched and held the wire in place with a few wraps of electrical tape. Sorry I don’t have any photos of that fix because it was from a temporary story of his.

Another issue that was pointed out to me by Travis was that the height adjustment lever gets in the way of the handle release knobs if you have the deck height set to 2 or 3. The easiest fix for this is to change the height.

Run Time With Included Batteries

DeWALT does not specify a run time, so here is what they do say:

It is perfect for properties up to 1/4 acre. For optimal performance, the battery-powered lawn mower can be paired with high capacity 20V MAX DeWALT batteries or FLEXVOLT batteries for extended runtime.

I felt is was important to use their own words, because this mower has been widely panned for it’s abysmal run time with the included 5Ah batteries. That’s not the only issue.

Once you have exhausted the 5Ah batteries, they get quite warm. Now 120°F might not be too hot to run in the mower, but they are too hot to charge right away.

When I put the two batteries into a charger, you can see the hot/cold light is on. The charger won’t charge these batteries until they cool down.

That brings us to another issue. I’m charging the batteries on the Portable Power Station because DeWALT only ships a single bay 2A charger (DCB112) with the mower.

This means that it will take at 2.5 hours to charge a single battery. If you bought this kit and weren’t already in the DeWALT 20V Max ecosystem, that means that you’d have to wait at least 5 hours to run this mower after you ran out of juice — and that’s if you remembered to switch batteries on the charger at the 2.5 hour mark.

So how long was I able to mow with the included 5Ah batteries? I don’t have very thick grass and that I mow it every week so I’m not making the mower work very hard. With that in mind I was able to get somewhere around 20- 25 minutes of mowing before the mower would quit.

This amount of time only allowed me to mow about 3500 sq. ft., or about half of my front yard. To finish the yard, I ended up using other DeWALT batteries that I have. Changing the batteries halfway through became frustrating, especially after being spoiled by the the long run time of the EGO LM2101 cordless mower that I reviewed here.

Run Time With 9Ah FlexVolt Batteries

We knew in advance of receiving the mower that people were complaining about the short run time, so we asked DeWALT for two 9.0Ah Flexvolt batteries to test with the mower, but I didn’t receive them until the end of August.

When the 9.0Ah Flexvolt batteries arrived, I charged them up and was able to mow my entire front yard, which is about 6600 sq. ft. Every time I mowed thereafter I was consistently finishing after 40 to 45 minutes with one bar left on both batteries.

There isn’t much left after that one bar though. One day I started mowing my back yard after I finished my front yard, but I only was able to mow a few rows before the 9.0Ah batteries were depleted.

The other bonus was that the Flexvolt batteries did not overheat. Their temperatures never measured over 82°F and I was always able to put the batteries on the charger right away.

Blade vs. Deck Size

On the DeWALT 2x20V mower the blade is 19″ and the deck is 20″.

There seems to be an industry standard in battery powered lawn mowers to use the size of the deck and not the cut width as the size of the mower. Whereas on gas mowers, the cut width is the size of the mower, or at least that was what I thought. To confirm this I went to several stores with my tape measure and measured the blades of every gas mower I could find.

Without exception, the gas mowers used the blade length to describe the size of the mower.

I found that Menards even goes as far as to specify the cut width on the placard in front of their gas mowers. Of course I double checked and measured the blade myself and found it to be 21″. I forgot to check the battery mowers though.

Noise

For an electric mower, the DeWALT 2x20V seems a bit on the loud side. While it has no gas engine, I measured 84 dBA at the handle approximately 1 meter away. This is too loud for me to hear my headphones and almost on the threshold of needing hearing protection if you were able to run it all day.

Bagging, Mulching, Rear Discharge

The mower has a mulching plug behind the rear door. It needs to be in place for mulching. Otherwise for bagging and rear discharge, it needs to be removed.

Here’s what the mower looks like with the mulching plug removed.

For rear discharge the mulching plug is removed and the rear door swings down back into place. The grass is actually deflected downward by the rear door onto the rubber rock catcher.

In the above video you can see how the grass and leaves are shooting out onto the rubber rock catcher, but quickly accumulate and start to block the rear discharge.

In the photo above, I had a few more leaves in the mix and it completely plugged the rear discharge.

I usually never bag my grass unless I’m collecting leaves in the spring and fall, but I put the bag on and collected grass for a few rows.

The mower does a pretty good job of throwing the grass to the rear of the bag. This way, it fills from back to front and doesn’t start to block the clippings before the bag is full.

I mulch most of the time and the mower also did a pretty good job of this. I would mow some decently thick grass and there weren’t windrows of grass left over.

As for cut quality, my lawn isn’t very good for determining this. Unless I mow on the lowest setting and scalp my grass, I haven’t used a mower either electric or gas that really does a good job. I think I would need one of those professional models they use to stripe baseball fields before you’d notice any difference.

The DeWALT 2x20V pretty much cut the same as my EGO, and my Toro, and my Lawn Boy before that.

Summary

I really like the feel of the mower. The handle is solidly attached to the deck with almost zero slop. This makes the mower respond instantly. This is a huge plus over my EGO LM2101 where there is a ton of slop in the handle.

Despite the smaller 19″ cut width, it really doesn’t take me much longer to cut my yard, so I don’t think that the smaller blades size should scare anybody away.

While I was at Craftsman, I asked about the battery life issues (it’s no secret that Craftsman borrowed from the DeWALT OPE team). I specifically asked why, with having only 28.6% less watt hours available than the Ego 5.0Ah battery, it can only run about half the time. I was given two answers: 56V gives you a bit more efficiency than 40V, and the DeWALT mower is actually geared lower to handle thicker grass.

I think a third reason is the heat buildup. The Flexvolt and EGO batteries are designed for this kind of sustained load and the 5Ah 20V max batteries aren’t.

Despite a few annoying quirks, this is a good mower packaged with inadequate batteries and charger. It’s further puzzling that they marketed the mower as being “perfect for properties up to 1/4 acre,” then only be able to mow about 1/12 of an acre every 5 hours.

I see two solutions to the run time issue. Offer a bare tool at a discount for people that already have a few 9Ah or 12Ah FlexVolt batteries. Or offer the mower with 9Ah Flexvolt batteries and let’s not forget a dual charger like the DCB102 so you don’t have to swap batteries during charging.

Thank you to DeWALT for providing the review sample.

About Benjamen

Benjamen Johnson grew up watching his dad work as a contractor and woodworker. He became an electrical engineer and took an interest in woodworking. Check out Ben’s projects at Electronsmith’s 3D Prints or Instagram.

54 Комментарии и мнения владельцев

They released this on their 40v line. I bought one at Lowes this summer, I didn’t experience any of the issue that Benjamin complained about. The battery didn’t overheat, I could mow around 1/5 of an acre on the 6ah battery it came with. My only complaint compared to my 21″ troybilt is the bag had to be emptied a couple of more times per mowing, which actually is quite bothersome over a summer of mowing.

I wonder if the “key” is a safety feature for children? I know my kids (4 5) would be unable to start a gas mower but its seems like it would be easier to accidentally “start” an electric one.

That just might be the reason. My toddler has grabbed the drive lever on my SP Ego a few times in the yard and been shocked to discover the mower starts moving. The key makes a whole lot more sense now.

Seems wise to me. I’ve had a Neuton mower for 10 years now that came with a key. The key is on a little lanyard that I wrap around the battery handle when I remove the battery so it always stays with the battery. Without that, I am sure it would have been lost long ago. To the point about kids not being able to start a gas mower easily, I would replace “kids” with “everyone”- I think that’s why most of us use battery powered mowers

Yep, same concept as removable switches on some stationary power tools. You can unplug them but not too difficult for a kid to figure that one out. Now if you remove the switch and lock it in a drawer, that’s going to be much more of a deterrent to starting the tool. Same concept on the mower.

I’lI still say the removable battery is the safety feature, the fob is an unneeded extra annoyance. You’re not going to lose the battery as easy as a fob. You already have to remove the battery when you are done mowing so that you can charge it — you want it to be fully charged for next time. There’s already a sequence of events that has to happen to start the mower: you push the start paddle and pull down on the bail. It’s only been 6 years since my youngest was 5, so I’m not that far removed from the dangerous years where they can get into trouble as fast as it takes to turn your head, but frankly if a 4 or 5 year old kid can find the battery, insert it into the mower, and go through the start up sequence, you have more problems on your hands than just a lawnmower — like them finding and plugging in your power tools.

Think of it this way – the key is something small and easy to take with you in case, say, you need to run into the house and take a bathroom break while the kids are out playing in the yard. You can take the key and have peace of mind one of the kids isn’t going to go over there and mess with the mower and injure themselves or others. It’s likely more about liability than anything – you know the company would be on the hook for not providing such a disabling device if/when someones kid died or was injured from operating an unattended mower. Plus, like most other powered things, it’s good to have an emergency kill switch within reach – if letting the handle go doesn’t shut it off, you can pull the key. I too hate nanny state stuff, but from a safety perspective, it can make sense, particularly when others or people with kids are involved.

I agree, it’s for the kids. My 3 year old loves mowing, he gets his gloves glasses and ear muffs and pushes his toy mower around the opposite side of the yard while I do the real mowing. But as soon as I go to empty the bag or grab some water he runs over to the gas mower and tries to pull the cord like Daddy. 100% he would figure out the two action start. And, I keep all the batteries up high because he has already demonstrated the ability to grab a drill off the bench and insert a battery. Just remember, they know how to do it, they just aren’t big enough. But they will be big enough long before they understand the danger.

My 2 year old is the same way. He follows with his mower while mom is watching him. Sometimes I have to stop mowing to move a branch or an unexpected doggie delight. Those are the times he can dart in and grab the drive lever which is always live if the battery is in. Removing a simple key would be much easier to render the mower safe than pulling the battery out 3x per mowing session.

It seems silly to design a mower that has to use two batteries, and not include a dual charger. How much extra would it have really cost SBD to include a dual fast charger? Seems like the target competitor is the Ego which is also 399, but only needs the one battery. It feels like DeWALT is screwing over the uninformed customer.

I think you are confused. The question is how much extra would it have cost the customer and would they be willing to pay for it. All companies (pretty much regardless of the industry) need to make about the same profit margin in order to continue existing. So at 399 price, the product has a set “cost” based on that price. So if the charger you proposed costs more then only two things can happen. Either the retail price goes up or some other “features” are removed to compensate for the cost. No, most customers are not going to pay more than a competitive unit unless they know they are getting more (and maybe even not than). So you can’t increase the price to justify the charger. So now you have to look at what to remove to afford the fast charger at 399. Maybe there isn’t anything than is transparent enough to the user to be removed without giving the competition a noticeable advantage. So again, the question is how many people would have realistically paid more than the EGO just to have the fast charger? My guess is that if we are honest with ourselves, none of us would. Hence, slow charger it is. But, but, but why can’t SBD just make less money. Sure they could do that, but you can only do that so many times before you stop having money to survive as a business. That’s just not how it works.

My point is that at 399, the EGO and the Makita, offer a better experience out of the box. The EGO has one battery and good charger the Makita has 2 batteries but a dual fast charger. So SBD is the only company that offers a charging solution that is not appropriate for the use. It means that they either expect people to buy based on the equipment they already own, or expect the consumer to not know any better. The cost difference beteeen a single slow charger and a dual fast charger, to SBD, can not be significant enough to cut features. If so, then it is a poorly designed mower for the sub 500 market.

Have had this mower now for about three months. I run it on 9ah FlexVolt batteries, have two dots left on each battery by the time finishing front and back yards. Works great, wish the bag was a bit larger though, fills pretty quick. Amazing that all my tools run the same batteries. Pretty darn happy, and no gas and minimal noise.

Not sure will help the debate any but there’s a few differences between the US and UK/EU versions: 1) Over here, you can buy the mower ‘bare’. I did this although we still end up paying almost as much as the US kit package. So I just throw in a pair of 9Ah batteries and mow away. 2) We don’t get the rubber ‘rock catcher’ but we do get a rear roller as us Brits love a striped lawn (I guess!)

Does any company make a self-propelled battery powered mower? Can’t say I would ever buy a battery powered mower unless it did everything my Honda self-propelled can do. Not everyone has a flat yard, I would hate to mow mine and push the darn thing the whole time. The other real test is how long these will truly last until needing to be replaced. You can easily expect 15-20 on a Honda mower. My crappy Murray mower was totally neglected on maintenance for 12 years, would start every season and still worked when iI gave it away. I just don’t see any of these plastic, battery powered mowers lasting 10 years. I would also imagine cost of ownership to be much higher than a simple Honda gas powered mower. Batteries crap out and these high amp lithium packs are expensive.

My gas mowers have all lasted longer than my battery ones. I’d say too many places where strength was sacrificed for lower weight. Mine have all been 24V dual 12V lead acid battery models. I have a small yard so when batteries died ( two-five yrs) I use 7ah replacements that are only about 25 a pair due to usage in many UPS units. I now use a Home Depot house brand that seems sturdy but is way too loud. I’ll try a lower lift blade for need season.

That Ego model looks to have great reviews and 5 year warranty seems quite good. Nice to know they do exist, but not many models though for self propelled yet.

I have owned the LM2102SP for 3 summers and am very happy with it. I mow about 6000 sq ft of very hilly grass with it and the self propel doesn’t even blink at the hills. It’s actually perfectly capable of dragging me up the slope if I don’t drop the speed down. The 7.5ah battery will usually have enough power remaining that I can slap it on my string trimmer and do touch up trimming. I cut my Minnesota bluegrass/fescue lawn to 3″ and it mulches pretty nicely. It will bag leaves pretty well too. So far I don’t see any cause for durability concern.

Ego makes self propelled mowers.and steel.decks…these mowers will last as long as you take care of it like any tool…

On a different note, I think yellow color looks really bad once dirty?! Sorry, but I think DeWALT could have done much better. I think it is ludicrous to supply this with 5AH batteries. Theyv’e shot themselves in the foot with this. This should have been 2×40 or 2x60V from the start. It would take me at least 2 days to mow my 10000 sq ft yard with this. and I doubt if it’ll handle the springtime very thick and “juicy” grass. As loud as this is, I’ll stick with my Honda for now. It starts on first pull, even first time in the spring. Dual blades mulch tall grass like no other, and it is not as loud as some (I can hear my earbuds at a moderate volume level). And… it is self propelled!

Point taken. However, it does not seem capable of even finishing the advertised quarter acre. If you figure half the property is taken up by structures, you still end up around 5000 sq ft. That’s at least 30-minutes of mowing (with a 21″ mower) and two battery cycles. A better description would have been “Perfect for yards up to 3000 sq. ft” If you buy this thinking it’ll save you the hassle of dealing with gas mower, it sounds like you’ll be disappointed. I know the technology will keep improving, and sometimes I am an early adopter myself and pay the premium, but in this case, the technology is already here to make it practical. but DeWALT chose not to use it. Finally, all manufacturers exaggerate the claims, but exaggerate unrealistically or relegate too much to the fine print, and it leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

yeah 10000 square feet is DEFINITELY not the market DeWALT is going for dude. Clearly. That’s like complaining “this stupid Tesla can’t handle my 450 miles of commuting every day”. Well, uh, yeah.

I suppose calling people stupid is easier than comprehending a point of view. I never said it was target for my yard’s size. The stupid mower can barley finish a 3500 sq. ft yard, which is not the claimed 1/4-acre, while others on the market can do twice as much. And yes, with a dual flex-volt and dual fast charger, or 2x EGO batteries you can do 10000 sq foot yard with electric and have enough left to trim the yard. And no you don’t need a riding mower for that size, unless you are immobile. I used to do 15000 with push mower – no problem.

“It would take me at least 2 days to mow my 10000 sq ft yard with this. and I doubt if it’ll handle the springtime very thick and “juicy” grass.” And just for clarification, never called you or anyone else stupid. Maybe a better analogy to your complaint is you need to cut down and chop 4 trees so instead of buying a chainsaw you buy a jigsaw. This mower would be the wrong tool for the job of 10000sq feet. Sheesh.

That would be true if most home owners properly mulch cut their lawns. If you’re cutting more than 1/2 inch off a normal home owner quality “mulching” mower is not mulching, its just leaving dead grass. This translates to more fungal issues, chocking out your grass, and more costs in chemicals to get through that layer of dead grass (often mistaken for thatch). The “benefits” for mulched grass is over exaggerated unless you’re mulching it fine that you can not even detect the grass cuttings. The lawn won’t be able to process the clippings quick enough by the next time you cut if you’re doing it weekly. Commercial equipment get through this with HP and size and most of these home products are not even close to the job unless you’re doing this at least twice a week and/or keeping height cuts 1/2 inch and less. I won’t argue that mulching with your mower is a huge time and labor cutting way, but there is a huge cost (in your ) if not done correctly.

I have never bagged either. Just mow. I don’t rake leaves either, just run them over with the lawn mower. My grass grows so fast in the spring and 1st half of summer that it’s almost hard to keep up with. I swear it will grow 6″ in a week.

I would like a Dual Flexvolt self-propelled version that is a little bigger. That said, if my Craftsman mower dies or I can no longer get parts for it (I bought extras of the frequent offenders) I will get this mower if there is not a superior DeWALT offering and it is available as a bare tool. I have no use for more 5ah batteries or more slow chargers and everyone is right those batteries are silly for a mower. I use my push mower for our few highly sloped areas and running one pass around the fence border and corners, trees, where the riders do not fit, etc. At this point, I am firmly in the DeWALT system, and am not interested in adding additional battery platforms.

Thanks for the review! I’ve been considering this one for when my Troy Bilt Honda push mower finally gives out. 12 years old now and it’s still going! The Troy Bilt self propelled used to be my primary mower for my 1/3 acre sloped yard but a few years back I got the Craftsman Neighborhood Rider so now the Troy Bilt I use to get the areas that are too steep or the rider cant get into. When the Troy Bilt quits, I wanted to get this one since all my other cordless power tools, including my weedeater, blower, and hedge trimmer are DeWALT 20v. I see this as being ideal for my application as a secondary mower to a rider. 20-25 minutes of runtime would be fine for my needs of just finishing up the areas that my rider cant do. Thanks for the tip on the cord! I’ll be sure to watch out for that when I get around to getting one!

When you say your Ego mower has “slop” in the handle – what are you describing? I’ve had the 20″ Ego push mower for 2 seasons now – and its been fantastic and I don’t have a single complaint or issue with it. Ok, I do have two gripes: I’d like to run the mower without the handles fully extended (in a sort of short handle config) I wish that the pre-set angles for the handle were slightly different Other than that – I think its a fantastic product. The charger recharges the battery in no time flat (faster than it takes to drain the one in the mower/blower/edger). The headlight is useful for mowing in the dark (which I do on occasion). It stows in a small space easily. It starts right up every time without any fuss. It mows like a champ through normal and thick/high grass.

I really didn’t have any complaints about the Ego either, but after using the DeWALT mower I noticed the Ego handle (at least on mine) has two things I’d consider slop. First on a hard surface with the handle locked into position and extended, lift the end up and down. My handle moves up and down about an inch. Second even when the handle is all the way down in the bracket, it still bends a little before the front wheels will come off the ground. With the DeWALT mower, the handle locks solidly into the bracket on the deck so there is no movement and it does not flex noticeably. I’m just saying that if I use the DeWALT mower then switch to the Ego mower the Ego feels cheaper. Kind of like when you step into a normal car and you start turning the steering wheel, you can turn the steering wheel through a certain arc before the wheels start turning, whereas on a sports car the wheels respond instantly to the slightest touch of the steering wheel.

Good writeup, Benjamen. Glad I live in an apartment and don’t need one of these. Definitely going in my list of DeWALT tools that make no sense to me. AKA “The Marketing Folks are on Drugs” list.

I dunno, i think that reply: “DeWALT mower is actually geared lower to handle thicker grass” to cover for the battery and motor inefficiencies is a bad answer because it certainly doesn’t achieve the ability to handle thicker grass. Any more so than the competition. I’ve seen plenty of in action videos and this one frequently stalls out on anything but short and completely dry grass. At least from the research I’ve done myself. I don’t think this mower is there yet. I think if you’re just pushing it with 1 bar left and a few passes after the front yard, by next season at least it won’t be able to complete the full front yard. The wear on the batteries is pretty extensive here. The heat (and don’t forget how much hotter this is during summer months in addition to the work load heat) and the full dumping of power from 100% to 0% every time is going to really cut its maximum runtime in short order.

I bought the Snapper 82 volt. Comes with two batteries and is awesome. I really wanted to use the DeWALT since I have several 20v batteries but this was a better mower on paper. I believe it is actually a Briggs and Stratton.

I bought the 40V to supplement my JD, and it works perfectly. I got the 40V because my string trimmer and blower are 40V to keep up with the size of my property, and so this only made sense that when I needed a mower to trim the small areas that the big deck can’t get to, to get the DeWALT 40V. Since I’m just trimming the edges of my property with it run time isn’t an issue, either, and with the other 40V tools I always have a spare battery charged anyway.

I will stick with gas. It takes a tank of gas to mow my yard if I am only cutting a few inches off, if it gets really long, it’s at least a tank and a half. I like pouring and going, and don’t want to waste hours waiting for batteries to charge.

I don’t understand why SBD doesn’t just charge more for the DeWALT and be done with it. When you compare a lot of power equipment it is quite obvious that one of the major manufacturers chose yellow paint because yellow looks better than red or black and it’s the cheapest pigmented paint. They were kind of the first out there so even today the recognized “leader” in the industry is Cat, even when their product is inferior over the competitor. And most other construction equipment is also painted yellow for the same reason (cheap paint, associated with construction). So everyone associates yellow paint with heavy duty construction equipment no matter which manufacturer it is but it also gets used on yellow colored electrical meters which are sold at a much higher profit margin as well as power tools that SBD sells at a huge margin over the competitors. Prior to EGO battery powered OPE was basically a joke. If DeWALT wants to compete they need to be at least on par with those guys because let’s face it the majority of their buyers are either going for the yellow plastic or because they already own a bunch of other yellow plastic, or because unless you know about them, EGO sounds like some Asian knock off junk product that nobody has heard of over the DeWALT professional line of tools. Sorry SBD…missed the mark “by that much” on this one.

A very wise man once told me a joke that would fool the whole world. There’s almost as much hypocrisy in going green as there is in religion. It’s a joke that gets funnier every time I think about it. Except it’s not a joke, it’s the truth. But it seems that’s all they can come up with to manufacture and sell an inefficient replacement for your gas powered lawnmower amongst everything else that’s made for the sake of going green. I can go to any gas station to purchase and fill up any gas powered mower for less than 10. And it will run all day and it will take less than 5 minutes to put gas in it and continue to mow for several hours. Efficient time management. I cannot go to any gas station and purchase a brand specific readily available charged battery for less than 10 although I paid almost double for my battery powered mower. I’m now forced into waiting an hour or more until the battery is charged for which will again be dead in less than an hour. Inefficient spending habits and Inefficienct time management. The efficient gas mower can still run on the same tank of gas from 2 days ago. But hey, we got tricked into thinking that we’re going green. Yay! You won’t see one of these on a lawn service/landscaping truck or trailer anytime soon. Well they must not care about going green. Shame on them.

That’s one way to look at it or you could choose to look at it in the long term. If you buy the electric mower and 2 batteries for example. Your spending is capped there. You will be buying spark plugs and fuel for a gas powered mower for the life of it. To me it sounds more like poor planning with just one battery instead of buying a spare.

I got one of these when they launched, I wanted to like it, I didnt like the idea of another battery system to sit around all winter and go bad. I also had the batteries get too hot to hold Went through about 10-12 total misc DeWALT 20v packs, most of them 3ah or more. Had the rear axle bent when it arrived via UPS due to the packaging design as much as anything Left lots of mohawk style strips even when I made sure to walk plenty slow. In the end, I took it back to DeWALT factory service center within the 90 day period about 2 months ago. STILL waiting on my check back from DeWALT. Purchased a 80v Kobalt mower and haven’t looked back with a lowes 10% off deal when you move so it was actually less than the DeWALT out the door. Cuts better, decent cooling fan in the charger that times it just right, so when one pack dies, the other is ready to use off the charger. Best warranty in the industry. That said, I havent had to use theirs yet.

This is almost target marketed to someone like me. I use a walkbehind to supplement my rider. so it goes around the house – the play set – the mail box, and twig 2. then the rider does the rest of the acre plus. I use a gas husquvarna right now but when it starts to act up some day I’m getting some flavor of electric. I was leaning toward Echo – but their customer service is rather lacking so I might lean over to something else. The key I bet is a requirement for maybe Europe or some other place. And like said before not the worst idea considering many people don’t remove the batteries out of a tool when they are done with them. My dad doesn’t – despite my insistence.

Just got the DeWALT DCMWP 233 s x 20V Max mower. Lasted 10 minutes, then stopped abruptly. Charged the batteries — overnight. Indicator light on charging units said they were charged. Put them in and nothing. I’ve heard there’s a dead-man’s switch, but I’m at a loss as to how this would have been triggered. Any clues?

I’m not sure what you mean by dead man’s switch? There is a dongle that has to be inserted into the bottom of the handle. If that is not fully inserted, then the mower won’t run. I haven’t encountered it with the mower you have yet, but the previous version would stop if the blade encountered too much resistance. Then you’d let go of the bail on the handle, make sure the obstruction is gone, then restart the mower. This might be a warranty issue…

Thanks. Yeah, in addition to the key, there’s a curved piece of plastic that springs in and out from a slot just below where the cord runs up the right handle. I’m not sure of the purpose. I saw one YouTube video that referred to it as a ‘dead man’s switch.’

Ah, I was wondering what that weird junction was for. It is definitely a switch. When the handle is locked down it is open, then when you move the handle it springs out and closes the switch. I just put in batteries and tested this. It seems like another poorly implemented safety feature. It only prevents you from turning the mower on when the handle is locked in the down position, once you move the handle a few degrees, it’s closed and you could start the mower bypassing any protection it provides. A better design would have been for the switch to only be closed when the handle is locked in one of the two mowing positions.

The best riding mowers: Mow your lawn faster

Up your summer lawn care game with a riding mower that makes for a faster, more eco-friendly mowing experience.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Riding mowers are a popular mower choice for homeowners, especially if you have a big property to maintain every summer. They have cutting decks measuring from 42 to 72 inches, so you can make short work of everything from typical lawns to large properties, like sports complexes and golf courses.

Unlike their push mower counterparts, riding mowers have more features to consider in order to find the right fit for your yard. You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, so you can set and forget your speed or operate your mower like a car. You can even get riding mowers with cruise control or all-wheel drive for better traction.

While gas engines are far more common among riding mowers, there is a wide selection of battery-powered models if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly solution for lawn care. My pick for the best overall riding mower is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP for its 24HP engine, 54-inch cutting deck, and ability to mow up to four acres with a full gas tank. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as well as our other top picks.

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP

Best riding mower overall

• 24HP engine
• 54-inch cutting deck
• Automatic transmission
• Attachments and accessories available

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kohler | Cutting width: 54 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 4 acres

The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP riding mower is an excellent choice for a variety of lawns. It’s built with a 24HP Kohler engine and a 54-inch cutting deck to let you handle inclines and rough terrain or haul tools, mulch, and potting soil around your property.

The hydrostatic, automatic transmission makes operation similar to a typical car, so you can spend more time actually cutting your grass and less time learning how to drive your mower. With a 3-gallon tank, you’ll be able to mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Best electric riding mower

• 2.5 acre max range
• Quick-charge batteries
• LCD heads-up display
• USB charging ports

Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor tech specs: Engine: 80V brushless electric | Cutting width: 46 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 2.5 acres

Electric riding mowers have become more popular in recent years as homeowners and landscaping professionals look for ways to make lawn care more eco-friendly. The Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor features a 46-inch cutting deck and enough power to let you mow up to 2.5 acres on a single charge, and you can recharge your mower batteries in as little as 2.5 hours.

This means you can take care of other tasks, like weeding or landscaping, while you’re waiting for your mower to recharge. An LCD screen gives you a heads-up display of run time, battery levels, and reminders to inspect and sharpen your mower blades. It even has two USB ports for charging your phone while you mow.

Toro Titan Max

Best zero-turn riding mower

• Mows up to 7 acres at once
• Highly maneuverable
• 10-gauge steel construction
• Tool-free air filters

Toro Titan Max tech specs: Engine: 26HP Kohler 7000 | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 7 acres

Zero-turn riding mowers are popular with homeowners who have larger properties or lots of obstacles like trees or specialized landscaping. The Toro Titan Max’s exceptional maneuverability and larger cutting decks make quick work of yards up to 7 acres in size, while the 26HP Kohler 7000 engine uses a dual hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive operation.

Toro also made regular maintenance a bit more streamlined with tool-free air filters. The deck and mower body are made from tough, 10-gauge steel to stand up to dings, rocks, run-ins, and anything else your lawn can throw at it.

Cub Cadet CC30E

Best compact riding mower

• Battery-powered
• Great for yards up to 1 acre
• Compact design great for small storage areas and narrow spaces
• Push-button cruise control

Cub Cadet CC30E tech specs: Engine: 56V electric | Cutting width: 30 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 1 acre

Compact riding mowers like the Cub Caded CC30E are great for suburban lawns on the smaller side. The CC30E features a smaller design that is perfect for storing in multi-use sheds and garages or maneuvering through gates and narrow spaces. The 30-inch cutting deck and 56V battery let you mow up to 1 acre (or one hour) at once.

It uses a hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive driving while the 18-inch turning radius lets you easily mow around trees and other obstacles. It even features a push-button cruise control, so you can set-and-forget your forward speed and concentrate on mowing around obstacles, as well as staying aware of your surroundings.

DeWALT Z160 Commercial

Best riding mower for large properties

• Mow up to 10 acres
• 5.5 gallon gas tank
• Dual hydrostatic drive
• Great for hills and inclines

DeWALT Z160 Commercial tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 10 acres

The DeWALT Z160 Commercial zero-turn riding mower is designed from the ground up to handle large properties. The 60-inch cutting deck and 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin engine let you mow up to 10 acres at once, making it an almost perfect choice for rural properties or landscaping professionals. The dual hydrostatic drive makes operation smoother, though the twin-stick steering does take some getting used to.

With 22-inch rear wheels, you can easily take on inclines and rolling hills that may be on your property. A 5.5-gallon fuel tank means you’ll spend more time actually mowing and less time refueling. And if you opt for the bagger attachment, you’ll be able to gather up to 11 bushels of clippings before you need to empty.

What is the best riding mower?

I chose the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as the best riding mower you can buy. It features a 54-inch cutting deck and 3-gallon fuel tank, letting you mow up to 4 acres in a single go. The 24 horsepower engine also lets you take on steeper inclines and rough terrain or haul tools and gardening supplies around your property. The hydrostatic drive makes operation similar to a typical car, while an LED display gives you accurate usage hours for streamlined maintenance.

Best riding mower

Cutting width

Transmission type

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Which is the right riding mower for you?

Other than your budget, there are a lot of features and scenarios you have to consider while shopping for a new riding mower. The size of your yard will determine how wide the cutting deck should be, though either a 42 or 46-inch version will be more than enough for most yards.

You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission. A manual model lets you set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS, while hydrostatic models operate more like cars, going faster the harder you press the pedal. This makes them more intuitive to operate but also more expensive.

Zero-turn mowers are designed for mowing in oddly-shaped areas or around lots of obstacles like trees, lamp posts, and lawn ornaments. They’re called zero-turn because they have a zero-inch turn radius; you pivot around either rear wheel for ultra-tight turning.

Buy this best riding mower.

If you need.

A well-rounded riding mower. The 54-inch cutting deck and 24HP engine let you mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

An all-electric riding mower. The electric engine requires less maintenance than gas models, making your lawn-care routine more eco-friendly.

An excellent zero-turn riding mower. Precision maneuvering lets you mow around trees, landscaping, and other obstacles with ease.

A compact riding mower. The 30-inch deck and smaller build make this riding mower perfect for smaller suburban lawns.

A riding mower that can handle larger properties. This commercial-grade, zero-turn riding mower lets you cut up to 10 acres at once.

How did we choose these riding mowers?

I used to work for MTD Products (now owned by BlackDecker), which assembles a variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other powered lawn equipment. Using the expertise and knowledge I gained during my time there, I looked for riding mowers with these qualities:

• Motor size: You’ll want a riding mower with at least a 10HP engine to give you enough power to handle minor inclines and lawns up to half an acre. Larger riding mowers like the John Deere Z530M have more powerful engines, often topping out over 20HP to let you tackle rough terrain and even haul equipment.
• Cutting width: Many riding mowers have either a 42 or 46-inch cutting deck, which is great for lawns between.5 and 1.5 acres. However, if you have a large, multi-acre property, you’ll want to choose a larger cutting deck. Many brands have options between 50 and 72-inch cutting decks.
• Transmission type: The less expensive riding mowers will have either a 6 or 7-speed manual transmission. This means you will use a dedicated lever to set your engine’s forward and reverse speeds, with a single brake pedal for stop control. The more expensive models feature a hydrostatic drive, which operates in a similar way to an automatic transmission in a typical car or truck.
• Accessories: Lawn care goes beyond regular mowing. I chose riding mowers that have the ability to hitch small trailers or wagons for hauling tools, mulch, or potting soil. I also chose mowers from brands that make after-market add-ons, like rear bagging units for collecting grass clippings, mulching kits for re-feeding lawns, and snow plows for year-round use.

How do you decide which riding mower to buy?

Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similarly to how a car drives: You push the pedal and it moves forward or backward. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

And finally, you’ll want to consider the power source for your new riding mower. Gasoline engines are far more common, but there is now a wider variety of battery-powered models to choose from. The perks of a gas engine are that you’ll get near-infinite run times (as long as you have enough fuel to keep the engine going) and a bit more power for handling steep inclines and rough terrain. The downsides are dealing with exhaust emissions and maintenance that can be a time and money sink. Electric models don’t need engine maintenance, so you save a bit of money in the long run. But they usually have a maximum run time of about an hour, which means that you may have to plan your mowing over several days if you have a larger yard.

How big of a yard do I need for a riding mower?

Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you’ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.

If you’re right on the threshold, you can get what’s known as a mini rider. They usually have compact bodies for easier storage and 30-inch cutting decks to make short work of lawns that are just a touch too large for a push mower.

How long should a riding mower last?

No matter if you choose a gas or battery-powered riding mower, proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your mower. For gas engines, you should change the oil and filters, clean the spark plugs, and sharpen the blades before you mow for the first time in the spring. And you should use fuel treatments like STA-BIL to prevent gas in the tank or extra jerry cans from going bad from moisture contamination. This prevents buildup of gunk that can ruin your engine, improves engine performance, and gives you a cleaner cut for a healthier lawn.

Electric mowers don’t need engine maintenance, but you should perform thorough inspections at the start of mowing season to check for battery damage, corrosion on battery contacts, damage to the battery housing, and also to sharpen the blades. If you do regular maintenance, not only will you save money by avoiding big repairs from worn-out parts, but you can also expect your riding mower to last 10 years or more.- which is great news, since they can be an expensive investment.

What is the cheapest riding mower?

Unfortunately, riding mowers aren’t ever really what we consider budget-friendly. However, there are models like the Murray MT100 that retail for less than 2000 without sacrificing power or cutting width.

Are there alternative riding mowers worth considering?

Whether you’re shopping at a big-name DIY store like Lowe’s, a local hardware store, or an authorized brand dealer, there are tons of options for a new riding mower. You can choose either gas or battery-powered models, cutting deck widths from as small as 30 inches to as wide as six feet.

Here’s a short list of other riding mowers I thought were great choices:

John Deere Z530M

The John Deere Z530M features a 60-inch cutting deck for making quick work of large properties. Exceptional maneuverability lets you mow around trees, lawn decor, and other obstacles with ease.

Husqvarna YTH1942

The Husqvarna YTH1942 features an updated, 19 horsepower engine and 42-inch cutting deck to take on inclines and haul dirt, mulch, and gardening equipment.

Murray MT100

For under 2000, you’ll get a 13.5 horsepower engine, a 42-inch cutting deck, and a 6-speed manual transmission with the Murray MT100.

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Home » Latest Tool Reviews » Lawn Garden » DeWALT 2X20V MAX Cordless Mower Review

DeWALT Model DCMWSP255 2X20V MAX Cordless Mower Review

2X20V MAX Cordless Mower

Manufacturer: DeWALT Model number: DCMWSP255Y2 Price: 799.99 Power source: 20V MAX Li-Ion Batteries Weight: 75.0 Lbs.

This year DeWALT added a new model to their cordless battery-powered lawnmower lineup. This tool review will FOCUS on the new DeWALT Model DCMWSP255Y2 2x20V MAX cordless mower. This mower features a rear-wheel drive self-propelled operation system powered by the proven 20V MAX battery platform. Additionally, the DCMWSP255 is cross-compatible with the FLEXVOLT series of batteries which provide extended runtime. Speaking of runtime, the 2X20V designation means that this mower uses two batteries in series to provide up to 70 minutes of continuous use per charge.

In June ToolBoxBuzz posted a new updated Head-2-Head comparison where we evaluated a total of sixteen cordless lawnmowers. The DeWALT DCMWSP255Y2 was featured during this test and I will reference information from the H2H as well as my own experience in this review. Check out the full Best Cordless Mower 2022 article for more details.

DeWALT 2X20V MAX Cordless Mower Features

• Brushless Direct Drive Motor
• Top Folding Handle for Storage
• 21.5″ Cutting Deck
• Front Lift Handle
• Options for Mulching, Bagging, and Side Discharge of Clippings
• Cutting Height Settings From 1 1/2″-4″ Tall
• Single Lever Deck Height Adjustment
• CONTINUOUS SPEED/Auto Sensing Technology

Operation and Controls

The small black override key is pictured pointing downwards from the yellow housing. The mower will not operate without this safety key.

The Start-up and operation of the DeWALT MAX mower are similar to a traditional gas-powered mower. Only without the potential wrenching of the operator’s back and spewing of obscenities after it doesn’t start after three, four, or even five-plus pulls. The DeWALT uses a large easy-to-reach main power switch that is activated in conjunction with the spring-loaded safety bar pictured above. Releasing the safety bar will shut the mower off automatically.

The included grass collection bag. Rear plug option for mulching or side discharge of clippings. Spring-loaded cover on the side of the deck.

DeWALT describes the DCMWSP255Y2 as a 3-in-1 machine. Essentially the mower comes from the factory with options for side discharge of clippings through a chute, rear bagging, and also mulching using a rear plug and spring-loaded side cover. The rear bagging option installs and removes with one hand while holding up the spring-loaded door with the other. Whatever your preference for lawn care, the 2X20V MAX mower gives you options.

Battery Life and Performance

During our Head-2-Head test, the DeWALT took fourth place overall in our Run-Time Performance category. We found that the DeWALT MAX cordless mower is capable of over 18,000 square feet of mowing on a single charge. The 2X20V battery system draws from two 20V batteries in series. Therefore the two included 12.0 Ah FLEXVOLT batteries work together to greatly extended the runtime. In fact, the mower is good-to-go for almost two miles of marathon grass cutting. I used the DeWALT primarily as a trim mower, for cleanup in areas my larger zero-turn can’t get to. Typically a full battery charge lasted for three to four separate cuttings.

Better stay hydrated. We’re going to be out here for a while.

While the performance of the 2X20V MAX system is excellent, I do have an issue with the included hardware. DeWALT includes two DCB107 battery chargers with the mower. One for each battery. This charger is extremely slow charging the large 12.0 Ah batteries. Charging the batteries completely took approximately eight hours when I first unpacked the mower for review.

Both batteries are inserted into the motor housing. A spring-loaded plastic cover protects them from dust and debris. The two included batteries pictured with the DCB107 chargers. Batteries charging. See you tomorrow!

Given the extended run-time performance of the DCMWSP255Y2, the ability to recharge batteries fast shouldn’t be an issue for the majority of homeowners with average size lawns. However if planning to cut multiple properties or use the same batteries in other tools, a larger and faster battery charger would be desirable.

CONTINUOS SPEED System

As mentioned before, the 2X20V MAX mower features a self-propelled drive mechanism. The mower is rear-wheel drive and is propelled by the 11″ solid plastic wheels. DeWALT included what they describe as their CONTINUOUS SPEED system as well. This feature acts as an automatic load-sensing system. During use, the self-propelling feature is activated by squeezing a control lever built into the handlebar housing. The more pressure/squeeze applied, the faster the mower will travel. This is excellent for adjusting for a comfortable walking pace for the user.

However, the CONTINUOUS SPEED system will monitor the amount of load the motor is experiencing and will then automatically adjust the speed of the mower to optimize performance. This results in the mower slowing during use, regardless of the amount of pressure placed on the drive controls. This feature saves battery life and protects the motor and electronics, but can be frustrating at times during use. Another data point to this is that the self-propel system will only engage while the cutting deck is engaged. So if traveling across grass that you do not wish to cut, be prepared to push the mower manually.

The CONTINUOS SPEED slowdown described above was far less noticeable when side discharging clippings, due to the mower experiencing less resistance. When mulching or bagging clippings, the speed adjustment is more common because the mower is working harder to move the clippings. The decrease in speed does result in a cleaner and more uniform cut.

Overall Impressions

The benefits of battery-powered lawnmowers are well known and thoroughly discussed here at ToolBoxBuzz. They are quiet, easy to maintain, fold easily for storage, and eliminate the hassle of fuel. The DeWALT 2X20V MAX cordless mower embodies all of those qualities. I thoroughly enjoyed using it and evaluating it during the review process. It is large and well-balanced and feels nearly identical to a traditional gas-powered mower. There are a few areas of improvement to be pointed out. Given the cost of the mower, a higher-quality dual-port battery charger should be included. The ability to turn off the CONTINUOS SPEED system and also engage the self-propel drive without turning on the cutting deck would also greatly enhance the user experience.

So how much does it cost? The current MSRP at the time of writing this article is 799.99 for the full kit. This includes the mower, two batteries, two chargers, and all of the other accessories. Overall I think this is a good value for individuals currently invested in the 20V MAX or 60V FLEXVOLT platform. Two 12.0 Ah batteries can provide a lot of additional work output if considering other battery outdoor power equipment such as a trimmer or blower. This mower as a kit would also be an excellent entry purchase for someone considering investing in the DeWALT platform.

Below is a Buy Now link to purchase the DeWALT DCMWSP255Y2 from our friends at ACME Tools.