Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower review

Greenworks 48V 20-inch brushless lawn mower is perfect for small backyards, with easy storage and great maneuverability.

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower 1313802 review
(Image: © Greenworks)

Top Ten Reviews Verdict

The Greenworks 48V 20-inch mower is perfect for smaller yards, and will fit in nicely if you use the Powerall battery system of tools. Those with larger yards should look elsewhere, though.

Pros

  • +

    Small, light, and easy to handle

  • +

    The Powerall system is excellent

  • +

    Relatively quiet cutting

Cons

  • -

    Limited range

  • -

    Limited cutting power

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

The battery-powered Greenworks 48V 20-inch cordless lawn mower is built with smaller backyards in mind, and slots into Greenworks’ wider platform of battery-operated products. So, the batteries you use for your lawn mower can be swapped seamlessly to power your drill, hedge cutter, or pressure washer, saving you money and space. It’s a super-handy ecosystem for garden tools that’s also great for the environment.  

Greenworks 48V: Key specs

Dimensions: 60" x 20.5" x 39" 

Deck size: 20 inches

Battery: Two 24V Batteries (48V)

LED headlights: Yes

Dual battery: No

Self-propelled: N

Max cutting height: 4 inches

Min cutting height: 1 inch

Warranty: 3 years

Energy Star Certified: No

Our review breaks down the features and performance of the Greenworks 48V 20-inch cordless lawn mower, so that you’ve got the full lowdown before you commit to purchase. And if it isn’t the right lawn mower for you, there are plenty more options in our buying guide to the best electric lawn mowers.

The Greenworks 20-inch Mower aims to make mowing smaller yards as easy as possible. With a lightweight body and easy assembly, the device can be up and mowing incredibly quickly. Adjustable handles and 8-inch rear wheels make for a smooth pushing experience, which is coupled with a battery life ideal for smaller lawns. 

The batteries are a particular draw for this product. Greenworks’ 24-Volt lithium-ion power sources are used in a wide variety of its products, and two batteries are used here to provide 48V power to this mower. Interestingly, the batteries can also function as portable chargers while you mow, making the mower even more multipurpose. 

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower: Design

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower 1313802 review

(Image credit: Greenworks)

The Greenworks 20-inch mower is designed around easy storage and portability to help you maneuver small gardens. When working with a less sizable lawn space, maneuverability is key. As such, mowers that are easy to move around and compact are ideal for this type of lawn. 

Greenworks’ mower perfectly fits this brief. The light frame makes it easy to move, as do the fully collapsible handlebars. Further to that, the mower has a vertical storage option, which both makes it easier to store and also move. The LED lights that frame the outside of the mower are also useful, particularly on dim days, and are similar to those we talk about in our EGO Power+ 21-inch LM2100 review.

By designing the mower around Greenworks’ battery concept, the company makes it particularly convenient for customers already invested in its battery-based appliance platform. This design does not make it inconvenient, however, for users who only have the mower - in fact, battery charging and storage is much easier with this mower than many other competitors. 

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower: Features

Battery power has many benefits compared to gas power - yep, even the very best gas lawn mowers pose environmental issues. For the Greenworks 20-inch, battery power makes startup much easier. 

Another huge benefit is that the batteries make the mower extremely quiet. When you have a smaller garden, keeping noise pollution to a minimum is essential - especially if you’re looking to keep the neighbors on side! 

Each of the two Powerall batteries have USB slots to allow for mobile device charging. When used like this, the 24V batteries each become a 30,000 mAh power bank. Moreover, the mower comes with a free drill, also powered by the same battery. 

Putting this mower above other competitors like the Craftsman 105 is the 4-in-1 bagging/mulching function. The extra setting is a ‘turbo’ mode that speeds up leaf pickup. The seven position single lever height adjustment allows for an impressive range of cutting height. All of these features are backed up by a three year limited tool and battery warranty.

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower 1313802 review

(Image credit: Greenworks)

How could it benefit you?

There are numerous benefits to a smaller mower using a replaceable battery rather than a gas or standard electric motor. It solves a lot of problems with other types of mower, especially if you have a smaller garden. 

The Greenworks Powerall battery solution is one that works particularly well for this. It even adds some extra features not usually seen together in other electric mowers, including:

  • A 4-in-1 bagging/mulching system, with a ‘turbo’ function speeding up mulching.
  • The two 24V batteries are quieter than regular mower engines.
  • These batteries also have USB slots each, allowing for portable charging.
  • Collapsible handles and small frame allow for easy storage and maneuverability.

For another mower with mulching capabilities, take a look at the EGO Power 21-inch mower instead - this machine offers gas-level muscle but is actually battery powered instead.

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower 1313802 review

(Image credit: Greenworks)

Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower: User reviews

This particular version of the Greenworks 24V mower, the 1313802 model, has fewer reviews than other Greenworks products, but it follows the same trend of mostly positive ratings. Across the company’s own website, it has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, with 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon and a 100% recommendation rate on Home Depot’s website. 

In general, customers who leave reviews praise the efficiency and ease granted by not having a cord. According to these reviewers, battery operation makes it much easier to set up initially. For this price range, being easy to assemble and start is a huge boon for a mower. The reviews for this product imply that the Greenworks mower is exactly that. 

An interesting use case for the mower is also brought up by several reviews. Many mention that the Greenworks 20-inch works as a great supplemental mower for larger gardens. 

Some larger gardens have odd areas that are difficult for most mowers to cover. One of the reviewers that mentioned this use also remarked that the mower had no problem dealing with 10-inch grass. 

Should you buy the Greenworks 48V 20-inch Brushless Lawn Mower?

The Greenworks 48V 20-inch cordless lawn mower is a solid investment for smaller lawns and backyards. Its simplicity in design and operation, combined with its maneuverability, means it simply gets on with the job at hand. 

Yet this mower is still a versatile piece of kit, tackling mulching, bagging, leaf pickup and more, quietly and efficiently. And the fact that its two batteries can power up other essential gardening tools is an environmental, space-saving bonus. It’s also easy to fold up and store away when not in use. 

These extra features, alongside its relatively affordable price, make the Greenworks 48V 20-inch cordless lawn mower a winner for us. 

If this product isn't for you

For small-to-medium lawns, the EGO Power+ 21-inch LM2100 battery mower offers gas-level power while operating quietly and efficiently, thanks to the large 7.5Ah battery. 

The tiny yet efficient Sun Joe MJ401E-PRO 13 offers great value for money, packing a 14-inch blade into a 16-inch body, alongside a potent, 13-amp motor.

If you have acres to cover, then you may prefer hitching a lift on your electric mower and getting a ride on. The Ryobi RY48ZTR100 has a whopping three-hour battery life and a 42-inch cutting deck, and is perfect for large backyards.  

Martin Docherty

Martin is a freelance writer, editor, and podcaster specializing in gaming, tech, home and garden content. Writing insightful reviews and features for Top Ten Reviews' Home & Garden section, Martin also worked in China as an English teacher. 

With contributions from