You’ve landed on this page because you want to know what is a brushless lawn mower, am I right?
Simply put, a brushless lawn mower is one where the motor can automatically adjust to the power needs of the job. The benefit is a mower that produces less heat, is quieter, and generates better performance.
If the motor’s technology senses less resistance needed, then it will output less power for the task, whereas if it senses the need for more power, it can torque up and handle the load.
But, why does this even matter? I’ll explain:
(Want to skip ahead? You can see my two favorite brushless mowers below!)
What's a Brushless Lawn Mower Good For?
With the rise of battery powered equipment, lawn mowers with brushless tech have become quite popular. They’re exceptionally good at:
- Requiring less maintenance
- Less wear and tear on the mower motor
- Generating more power
- Not being as noisy
Brushless Motors Explained: How They Work
Diagram by Renasas
Brushless motors are considered “intelligent motors”. Why do I say this? Because motors that are brushless contain a circuit board and intelligent controller which monitors the motor and tells it exactly what it needs to do.
Even though brushless motors on lawn mowers are “smart”, they still run similar to a brushed mower and need magnets to operate correctly.
The difference is that on a motor that’s brushless, the brushes have been eliminated (as the name implies) and the permanent magnets are attached directly to the rotor, while the electromagnets attach to the stator that’s surrounding the rotor.
A computer is then used to power the electromagnets as the shaft turns
Brushless vs Brushed Mowers - Are They Really Better?
So, are brushless lawn mowers better than a brushed mower?
The short answer is, YES!
Ya’ see, a mower with a brushless motor doesn’t produce as much friction or dips in voltage compared to a traditional, brushed mower. This will keep the motor cooler, therefore extending its’ life and giving a boost in performance.
In my opinion, any time you can get battery powered or electric mower that’s brushless, then you’re going to be investing in a piece of equipment that will last you a long time.
Let’s quickly do a comparison of the two in the table below:
Brushless Mower
- Smart motor technology
- Cooler running motor
- Quieter
- More power
- Higher price point upfront
Brushed Mower
- Easier to repair
- Less expensive
- Noisy
- Motor runs hot
- Routine maintenance required
To me, there really are no cons to buying a mower that is brushless, other than the fact that it is going to be more costly upfront.
But, you also need to remember that with a brushed mower, while it may be less expensive upfront, it’s going to cost more (in the long run) to maintain.
My Final Opinion
“If your an everyday homeowner who is looking for a mower that’s going to be reliable, not require as much maintenance, and last you a really long time… then get a brushless mower!
For the little bit of added upfront cost, you’re getting a piece of lawn equipment that has the newest, most efficient technology available.
You won’t regret it!”
The Best Brushless (Cordless) Mowers You Need To See!
So, you’ve decided you want to check out some of the top battery powered mowers with brushless motor technology… awesome!
Below, I’ll share my absolute favorites, their features and break down some of the pros and cons to expect with each one
Ready? Let’s roll!
MOST AFFORDABLE!
+ Quiet motor
+ Cuts small to medium yard
+ Very light weight
– Can’t handle larger yards
– Only 40 minute battery life
THE "CUT IT ALL" BEAST!
+ 60 minutes mow time
+ 21″ pro, steel deck
+ Compacts for vertical storage
– Bag is hard to empty
– Need an extra battery
Sun Joe ION 40-Volt 16" - Best Battery Powered Lawn Mower for the Money
If you’re looking for an affordable, moderately sized (16″) mower with a brushless motor, then the Sun Joe ION 40-Volt 16″ cordless mower is the best you can get!
And with a company like Sun Joe, you know you’re going to be taken care of with a quality, top of the line product.
With an (almost) silent motor, the ability to handle any small to medium sized yard, and extremely light weight frame, this mower is the absolute best you can get for the money.
Whisper Quiet Motor
I know you’ve been sleeping in bed on an early, Saturday morning, just to be jolted awake by the sound of a loud mower echoing through the neighborhood from a mile away.
That same loud mower at 7am isn’t always exactly the wake up that your neighbors want, either. Luckily, the Sun Joe ION 40-volt is not only cordless, but brushless… so you’re going to get that extra, whisper quiet motor, and you’re neighbors will never hear a thing.
Mow on, my friend… 🙂
Small to Medium, You're Covered
Do you live in town with a small yard, or even the suburbs with a medium sized lot (front and back) to mow?
Either way, you’ll be equipped with a 16″ deck to finish the job, meaning Sun Joe’s ION battery powered mower will be perfect for you.
You’ll be able to quickly and quietly mow your lawn in one charge (up to 40 minutes) and get the job done fast.
Lightweight and Maneuverable
If you’re used to a gas powered lawn mowers, or even other electric and battery powered mowers, you’re in for a surprise with just how lightweight the Sun Joe ION16LM actually is:
Coming in at only 34lbs., this is likely to be your lightest mower yet.
So go ahead:
Walk at a fast pace and watch the mower keep cutting, mow one handed and effortlessly continue getting those straight lines, or pick it up and move it in and out of storage without a sweat!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Lightweight
- Quiet, brushless motor
- Easy height adjustment
- Amazing for smaller yards
Cons
- Not for large yards
- 40 minute battery life
My Final Thoughts
This is a great little mower with a brushless motor, and at an amazing price point. Granted, the deck is on the smaller side (only 16″), so I recommend this for somebody who has a small to medium sized yard (townhouse or moderate, suburban lot.)
The only drawbacks are that it can’t handle large yards since the deck is too small, and it has 40 minutes of run time on one charge, but this can easily be remedied with a spare battery.
If you want a brushless mower, have a smaller yard and don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can’t go wrong with the Sun Joe ION.
Go see all the Amazon reviews and you’ll quickly understand why this is considered a best seller!
Greenworks PRO 21" 80V - Favorite Brushless Mower That Handles It All!
If you’re looking for a true workhorse of a mower for any large size yard and only want the best, then the Greenworks PRO 21″ 80V mower is going to be your new favorite piece of equipment in the shed, I guarantee it.
With up to 60 minutes of mow time on one charge, a large, durable 21″ steel deck, and the ability to compact down for easy storage, this is the ultimate battery operated lawn mower with a brushless motor!
Ready to hear all about it?
Charged and Loaded
Isn’t it a pain knowing that the battery (or maybe you’re still running gas) on your mower can’t handle the job you need it to do? Does it feel like you gotta’ keep charging the batteries or filling it up with more gas?
Well, with the Greenworks PRO 21″ , you’re not going to have to worry about that anymore.
Not only does it have up to 60 minutes of mowing time per charge on 2 fully charged 2AH batteries, but it also gives you a 30-minute quick charge, as well. This means you’re good to go.
Just want to be upfront: keep in mind that run times will vary depending on temperature, height of lawn that you’re cutting, etc.
So, do yourself a favor and rest easy knowing you’ll have some decent, reliable battery life – the Greenworks 80V PRO mower has ya’ covered!
Professional, Steel Deck
As soon as you pull this bad boy of a mower out of the garage or shed, I promise your neighbors will be staring.
Why? Glad you asked:
Not only does it look like a sleek sports car, but you’ll be running a mower that sports a professional, 21″ steel deck. Ya’ know, the same sized deck that most commercial landscape mowers are running.
So, whatever size your yard is (half an acre… even up to an acre!), this little gem of a brushless mower is going to be able to cut it up and spit it out like nobody’s business.
Amazing Vertical Storage
There’s a lot of mowers out there that claim to be professional, and maybe they are, but we all know that when a mower’s not in use, you want it to be as compact and “storage friendly” as possible.
Maybe you need to put it in a tightly packed shed or want your garage to stay as neat and clean looking as possible.
I totally get it… I’m the same way.
One of the best features of this battery powered mower is the ability to have vertical storage! Ya’ see, the handle bars easily fold over the base which makes it super simple for fast, compact storage.
Winter time storage? No problem!
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy, vertical storage
- Fast battery charging
- Can handle larger yards
- Professional, 21″ steel deck
Cons
- Up front cost
- Need a spare battery
- Bag can be hard to empty
My Final Thoughts
If you want the best brushless lawn mower and don’t mind spending the money for a quality product that you’ll own for a long time, you owe it to yourself to take a look at this mower.
There is an upfront cost, but remember, you’re getting a mower with a brushless motor.
Also, I recommend getting a spare battery, because let’s be honest, run times are never always as advertised and with varying conditions, I always like to have a spare so that I don’t have to worry about completing the job.
Also, the mower is very efficient at packing grass in the bag, so it can be hard to empty at times.
All in all, there are not many cons to this mower. If you want a feature packed, professional, brushless, battery operated mower that’ll actually last and make you the talk of the neighborhood every time you mow your lawn, then the Greenworks PRO 21″ 80V is your new best friend.
So, What's Next?
We’ve gone over what a brushless mower is, the pros and cons between brushless vs brushed, and I’ve even recommended some of my favorite mowers with brushless motors.
Now it’s your turn:
I’d love to hear from you in the comments below and let me know:
What did you decide? Do you think a brushless mower is worth it? Did you end up getting one?
Leave a comment, and I look forward to talking with you! 🙂
Extras
Make sure to see my guide on the best tiller for breaking new ground as well as a how to post where I show you a step by step approach to DIY lawn grading and leveling.
What’s your opinion of Rhobi 40vt?
I am using your brushless explanation in my blog post at properlandscaping.com with link credit. Thanks, Vas
westcoastlandscapepro.com