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An electric tiller uses a series of blades to loosen and aerate hard soil, enabling it to both drain properly and maintain adequate moisture that keeps plants hydrated. Sometimes known as rototillers, garden tillers, or cultivators, these garden tools also help create favorable soil conditions for symbiotic organisms like beneficial bacteria and worms. Their use even aids in weed prevention and facilitates mixing in soil amendments like fertilizer.
Tillers come in a range of sizes and with various features, so we put 10 popular products through a series of tests to learn more about their ability to prepare and maintain garden beds. We also spoke with landscaping expert David McCary to get his opinions on corded and battery-powered tillers. Based on his insights and our tests, we chose the Kobalt 80V Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Cultivator as our top pick. It’s easy and comfortable to use, performs well in a variety of soil types, and charges quickly to ensure you’ll be able to get your soil ready in time for growing season. Read on to understand more about it, our other picks, and the criteria we think you’ll want to consider when choosing between the best electric tillers for your next project.
- BEST OVERALL: Kobalt 80V Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Sun Joe 24V Cordless Garden Tiller/Cultivator Kit
↓ Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: Greenworks 40V 10″ Cordless Tiller/Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MINI: Black+Decker 20V MAX Lithium Garden Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Earthwise 120V 16″ Corded Tiller/Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 10 |
| Time spent testing | 7 hours |
| Tests performed | 7 to 8 |
| Price range | $100 to $350 |
Our Top Picks
The following curated picks are our favorites from our tests. To help you choose the right one (and prevent you from searching for information on how to till a garden without a tiller), we include ratings in several categories as well as aspects of each we like and don’t.
Best Overall
Kobalt 80V Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Cultivator
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Power source: 80V (volt) lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Tilling width: 10 inches
- Weight: 29.2 pounds
What We Like
- Compact size makes it easy to use and store
- Battery charges in just 30 minutes
- Pick-style tines do well in rocky soil
What We Don’t Like
- May be too small for tilling new beds
Small battery-powered electric tillers are ideal for seasonal soil maintenance in flower beds and garden plots. Though this 80V 2 Ah Kobalt model is relatively compact and lightweight, it boasts an efficient 10-inch tilling width and 5-inch tilling depth. In our tests, its modified pick-style tines made fast work of compacted, rocky soil.
In addition to its maintenance-free electric motor, several features make this model a comfortable and convenient choice. Its padded loop handle offers a sturdy and slip-resistant grip that’s easier to control than bicycle-style grips. It’s also incredibly easy to start—simply push a button and squeeze a lever. The included rapid charger replenishes the battery in just 30 minutes.
The only real downside to this model is that its smaller size, pick tines, and limited battery power aren’t well suited for breaking ground for new garden beds. Users looking to till an untouched plot will want a heavier-duty option.
What our tester says: “Right out of the box, the Kobalt 80-volt cultivator impressed us with its compact size and sturdy feel. It was easy to assemble, charged fast, and did a great job preparing our compacted garden beds.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Kobalt electric tiller at Lowe’s.
Best Bang for the Buck
Sun Joe 24V Cordless Garden Tiller/Cultivator Kit
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.75/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Power source: 24V lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Tilling width: 4.1 inches
- Weight: 6.2 pounds
What We Like
- Very lightweight and compact; easy to operate and store
- Runs 30 minutes per charge and recharges in under 1.5 hours
- Versatile enough for light tilling and power weeding
What We Don’t Like
- Not suitable for tilling large areas
While this Sun Joe cordless model’s smaller size and lower power rating are best for cultivating and power weeding, the tool also capably tills small sections of soil. It employs a 24V rechargeable lithium-ion battery that cultivates paths 4.1 inches wide and 6 inches deep. Its telescoping shaft adjusts the length of the ergonomic handle for comfortable operation. The machine doesn’t have wheels, but its lightweight body makes it easy to handle with minimal effort.
In our garden tests, this 24V Sun Joe handheld electric tiller proved quite capable. It did a great job breaking up small plots of soil as well as ripping out weeds from hard-packed pathways. The battery delivered a runtime of about 30 minutes per charge and recharged in under 1.5 hours. With a weight of just 6.2 pounds, a compact size, and versatile capability, this is a nice tool to keep around for quick maintenance tasks.
Get the Sun Joe electric tiller at Walmart.
Upgrade Pick
Greenworks 40V 10" Cordless Tiller/Cultivator
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Power source: 40V lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Tilling width: 10 inches
- Weight: 21 pounds
What We Like
- Cordless construction offers freedom of movement
- Lightweight body is easy to carry
- Width is adjustable to suit different areas
What We Don’t Like
- Battery recharge takes 2 hours
While corded tillers offer plenty of advantages, cords can get in the way during operation and limit work not located near an outlet. With its 40v rechargeable lithium battery, this Greenworks cordless tiller cultivator is a great alternative to a plug-in model. Its four tines till to a depth of 5 inches and are adjustable to a max width of up to 10 inches. Since it’s compact in size and relatively light at 21 pounds, it’s a good choice for smaller gardens and those wanting a tool that’s easy to operate and store. The tiller will run for up to 40 minutes on a single charge and takes about 2 hours to recharge.
We were impressed that this battery tiller proved as effective as the corded models we tested. It was fast and aggressive, even in our hard-packed garden paths and clay-based soil. The padded hand grip was comfortable and made it easy to control the machine. It also features a 1-second delay before its tines begin turning, ensuring you have time to get both hands set after pressing the start button and pulling the lever. Also, this Greenworks tiller can be configured with two or four tines, which changes the tilling width from 8.25 inches for close cultivation to 10 inches for general tilling. As a powerful, easy-to-use, and compact tool for use and storage in tight quarters, this tiller is well-suited to a wide range of users.
Get the Greenworks electric tiller at Amazon, Northern Tool + Equipment, Walmart (tool only), or Greenworks.
Best Mini
Black+Decker 20V MAX Lithium Garden Cultivator
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4/5
Product Specs
- Power source: 20V lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- Tilling width: 7 inches
- Weight: 11.73 pounds
What We Like
- Lightweight and easy to use; unlikely to cause fatigue
- Gentle stirring action thoroughly cultivates soil
- Budget-friendly price compared to similar tiller models
What We Don’t Like
- Short runtime per charge of just 20 minutes
- Recharging takes 8 hours
With its compact profile and user-friendly design, this compact tiller from Black+Decker is a great tool for a small garden or tilling around plants. It comes with two 20-volt batteries, each capable of tilling up to 325 square feet on a single charge, to power its dual tines.
In our tests, two main attributes of this Black+Decker light-duty cultivator stood out. First, its lightweight, balanced design virtually eliminates user fatigue. Second, its uniquely designed tines spin on a vertical axis, like eggbeaters, instead of on a horizontal shaft like other tiller tines. It essentially stirs the soil to remove weeds and break up crusted surfaces. Unfortunately, its runtime is short at about 20 minutes, and it takes a whopping 8 hours to recharge, meaning some want to consider purchasing an additional battery. Overall, we think this mini model offers a great way to reduce weed pressure quickly among garden seedlings.
Get the Black+Decker electric tiller at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Best Heavy-Duty
Earthwise 120V 16" Corded Tiller/Cultivator
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.8/5; Performance 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Power source: Corded 13.5-amp electric motor
- Tilling width: 16 inches
- Weight: 29.1 pounds
What We Like
- Tills up to 16 inches wide and 8 inches deep
- 13.5-amp motor is powerful enough for tough tasks
- Corded operation enables unlimited runtime
What We Don’t Like
- Too large for cultivation in tightly planted areas
- Not as effective as a garden hoe for breaking up roots
Those with medium-sized and larger gardens may need a bigger, more powerful tool to prepare their soil quickly and efficiently, and this Earthwise 16-inch electric tiller cultivator could be just right for the job. It has a powerful 13.5-amp corded electric motor and six steel tines that till a 16-inch-wide swath 8 inches deep, making it an excellent choice for breaking new ground, especially in heavy clay-based soils. It also features an ergonomic padded handle that reduces vibration and eliminates slippage for more comfortable operation.
At 29.1 pounds, this was one of the heaviest tillers we tested, but the added weight helped it to power through tougher areas smoothly. However, we encountered a few things you may want to be aware of before getting to work. When its significant size and weight prompted us to attempt tilling an area with tall, coarse weeds, the tines quickly became clogged with thick roots and vegetation. Also, when adjusting the tilling width down to 11 inches, the tine shield partially obscures the view of the soil, though it does allow access to narrower spaces.
What our tester says: “This would make a great tool for a gardener who mainly intends to use it for bed preparation and pathway maintenance.”—Mark Wolfe, Product Reviews tester and writer
Get the Earthwise electric tiller at Amazon or Walmart.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Electric Tillers
We tested three types of electric tillers: corded and cordless tiller/cultivators with wheels and cordless handheld cultivators. While they are all designed to do the same basic thing—i.e., turn garden soil—each type has unique features designed to solve specific garden problems. As such, we set up our garden test site to evaluate basic functionality and specialized features.
Electric garden tillers are used to break up soil for planting and weed control. We tested each electric tiller/cultivator in three areas, including previously unbroken clay-based soil, established garden beds, and a weedy garden pathway. We also used each electric hand tiller to cultivate and weed among seedlings in a recently planted garden patch.
For the wheeled tillers, we were looking primarily for the ability to break up hard soil. Bonus points were given for smooth operation, easy control, and operator comfort. Since lightweight handheld cultivators are designed for light-duty tilling of existing beds and as weeding tools for use among garden plants, we assessed them for ease of use, a high level of control, and a well-balanced design for operator comfort.
What to Consider When Choosing an Electric Tiller
There’s no one-size-fits-all electric tiller for solving the question of how to till a garden. According to David McCary, owner of Seattle Sustainable Landscapes, the types of projects you need a tiller for play the biggest part in choosing one. “The most important thing to consider is what is important to you, how will you use the tool, how frequently will you use the tool?”
To answer these questions, you’ll want to look at the factors that affect the tiller’s performance. Its power source, tines, size, power and speed capabilities, and ease of use impact how well it will operate in your project.
Corded vs. Cordless
Electric garden tillers come in both corded and cordless (battery-powered) models, each offering different power outputs and runtimes. “Electric tillers are ideal for homeowners who do not need to use the tiller all day or who do not have a huge project that requires more power than an electric tiller can produce,” says McCary. Those with large-scale projects may want to consider renting a motorized tiller that runs on gas for a project’s initial phases and buying a corded or battery-powered tiller for ongoing work.
Most corded tillers are more powerful and less expensive than their battery-powered counterparts. They also offer virtually unlimited runtime, unlike cordless tillers, whose runtimes depend on battery capacity. However, corded tillers only cover as much ground as the power cord or extension cord can reach, and dragging a cumbersome electrical cord around the garden can be inconvenient and a safety hazard.
To address these limitations, retention hooks on corded tillers keep the cord away from the machine’s wheels and blades. Still, cordless tillers offer unbeatable portability and maneuverability. These models usually have runtimes between 30 and 60 minutes, but gardeners can extend that by keeping a few spare batteries on hand.
Tines
On a garden tiller, a set of blades or rotating tines churns the soil. While tillers may include two, four, or six individual tines, most models have four tines, either at the rear of the tool, on the front, or in the center, directly under the motor.
- Rear-tine tillers usually pack the most power and can cut deep into soil. They are an ideal option for heavier and more compacted soils.
- Front-tine tillers, the most common type, bring less power than rear-tine options, but that reduction in power tends to make them easier to push and maneuver.
- Mid-tine tillers offer a combination of the power of a rear-tine tiller and the ease of use of a front-tine tiller, making them a popular general-purpose option. However, mid-tine electric tillers aren’t as common as other types.
Size
A tiller’s size refers to the cutting tines’ width and depth of penetration into the ground. As a general rule, the wider the tiller, the fewer passes users must make to till a desired area. The size of the tines determines the maximum depth a tiller can penetrate into the soil. Larger tines go deeper into the soil but tend to make these gardening tools more difficult to maneuver.
The width of electric tillers’ cutting tines typically runs between 6 and 20 inches. Some models include adjustable tines to manipulate the width, which makes the tiller more versatile. Although wider tillers cover more ground, their bulkier size makes them more difficult to maneuver in tight spaces. Small garden tillers are narrower and work well in raised beds and between rows of plants.
An electric tiller’s maximum working depth typically falls between 6 and 8 inches, with greater depths more suitable for breaking ground. Small tillers for gardening typically operate at shallower depths more in line with seasonal loamy soil preparation and maintenance needs.
Power and Speed
An electric tiller’s power is measured in amps for corded tillers and volts for cordless ones. A corded tiller will usually have power ratings between 2.5 and 14 amps, and a cordless electric tiller generally has a rating of 20V or 40V. Naturally, larger tillers require more power to accommodate the greater demand.
An electric tiller’s speed is determined by how many revolutions per minute the tines make when tilling the soil. Tines churn the soil fastest and most effectively at a higher rpm. An electric tiller’s tines can turn at rates of 150 to 400 rpm, but 150 usually isn’t enough. The best rototillers will operate at a minimum of 180 rpm to reap the full benefits of tilling.
Ease of Use
Naturally, a larger and heavier tiller will be more difficult and cumbersome to use than a smaller and lighter tiller. Larger tillers cover more ground more quickly, but they require more effort on the part of the gardener to do so. A tiller with adjustable tines lets gardeners find the ideal middle ground between performance and ease of use.
Many of the best electric tillers include sturdy wheels that help them move with greater ease over hard surfaces. They may also have ergonomic handles to make extended use more comfortable. Some tillers feature adjustable handles that allow users of various heights to extend or retract them, and models with collapsible handles make the tiller easier to store when not in use.
Safety
Any piece of equipment with exposed, fast-spinning blades requires special safety considerations. To minimize the risk of injury, look for an electric tiller with safety features that include a push-button motor start as well as metal guards behind the tines, which prevent rocks and other potential projectiles from hitting you.
Keep the following safety tips in mind when preparing the area for tilling and operating the tool:
- Before using the tiller for the first time, read the provided user manual to familiarize yourself with the tiller’s controls and operating procedures.
- Practice shutting the motor off quickly in case of an emergency.
- When operating a tiller, wear the appropriate safety gear, including safety glasses, proper footwear (closed-toe and nonslip), long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and earplugs.
- Before tilling the soil, remove stones, sticks, and other foreign objects from its path.
- Be mindful of any gas, electric, or water lines that might be buried in the area to avoid damaging them.
FAQs
Still want more info about electric tillers? Discover answers to several of the most frequently asked questions below to avoid making any gardening mistakes that can kill your plants.
The main difference in cultivators vs. tillers is their size, which impacts how they’re used. Cultivators, usually smaller than tillers, are primarily designed to mix and loosen shallow sections of soil that have been tilled previously. Tillers, on the other hand, break up larger sections of harder soil. Tillers aid in creating new garden beds, while cultivators help prepare existing beds for planting.
The tilling capacity of an electric garden tiller refers to how deep and wide it can till.
Tilers aren’t the best choice for removing grass because they cannot get the entire job done. Ideally, to remove established lawn grass, rent a sod cutter for large areas, or for smaller portions of grass, use a garden spade to slice the roots beneath the surface. A heavy-duty gas-powered tiller can partially remove grass by freeing the roots from the soil and breaking large sections of sod into smaller chunks. Unfortunately, you’ll still have to remove the smaller chunks with a garden fork or a shovel after using a gas tiller.
Walk-behind tillers, both electric and gas, are designed to work in a forward direction. Attempting to pull them backward can lead to injury. The forward rotation of the tines usually provides adequate forward momentum, so it is normally not necessary to push the machine. Depending on soil conditions, it may be necessary to rock the machine forward or hold back on forward momentum for best results.
Electric tillers are great for ongoing maintenance and smaller projects. According to McCary, “Performance is typically best for gas-powered equipment, both in power and longevity of use.” However, gas tools are generally harder to start, require winterization, and create sound and air pollution.
The electric tillers included in this guide cost between approximately $100 and $350.
Meet the Tester
Mark Wolfe is a writer and product tester with a background in the nursery and landscaping industry. For more than 20 years he mowed, edged, planted, pruned, cultivated, irrigated, and renovated beautiful landscapes. Now he tests and writes reviews about the latest outdoor power equipment, hand tools, lawn-care products, and other outdoor-living goods.
