I still remember the Sunday morning ritual. The reluctant trip to the garage, the hunt for the greasy gas can, the careful pour to avoid spilling fuel everywhere. Then came the real workout: yanking the pull-cord again, and again, and again, until the gas engine sputtered to life with a deafening roar that announced to the entire neighborhood that I was, once again, cutting the grass. The vibration, the fumes, the constant maintenance—it was a chore I dreaded. I found myself putting it off, letting the lawn get a little too shaggy, simply to avoid the hassle. That’s the moment the search began for something quieter, cleaner, and infinitely simpler. The promise of a battery-powered mower felt like a glimpse into the future of lawn care, a future where a weekend chore could feel less like a battle and more like a satisfying task.
- CORDLESS 20” LAWN MOWER – Get more done, faster, with Greenworks electric lawn mowers. This 40V push mower provides the power you need with up to 45 minutes of run-time on a fully charged 4.0Ah...
- LIGHTWEIGHT, EASY TO USE – a lightweight 20” cutting deck allows for easy maneuvering through small to medium yards (up to ½ acre) more efficiently
- TWIN BLADES - offer better cut quality, superior mulching, and bagging capabilities
What to Consider Before Buying a Walk-Behind Lawn Mower
A walk-behind lawn mower is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for maintaining the health and beauty of your lawn, transforming an overgrown patch into a manicured outdoor living space. The primary benefit is gaining control over your property’s curb appeal without the expense or scheduling conflicts of a landscaping service. Choosing the right mower means less time working and more time enjoying your yard. It eliminates the stress of wrestling with outdated, unreliable equipment and provides the satisfaction of a job well done with a tool that fits your needs and physical abilities.
The ideal customer for a battery-powered model like this is someone with a small to medium-sized yard (typically up to half an acre) who values convenience, quiet operation, and minimal maintenance. If you’re tired of storing gasoline, changing oil, and dealing with the noise and fumes of a traditional mower, you are the target audience. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large properties (over half an acre), as battery life can become a limiting factor. Likewise, if your lawn is exceptionally rough, hilly, or frequently overgrown with thick, tough weeds, the raw, unyielding power of a high-end gas mower might still be a better, albeit more cumbersome, choice.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Consider the cutting width, or “deck size.” A wider deck, like the 20-inch one on this model, means fewer passes to cover your lawn, saving you time and effort. Also, look at the mower’s storage footprint. Models with folding handles are a godsend for those with limited garage or shed space, allowing for compact vertical storage.
- Capacity/Performance: For battery mowers, this comes down to voltage (V) and amp-hours (Ah). Voltage is like the engine’s horsepower, indicating overall power. Amp-hours represent the fuel tank’s size, determining runtime. A dual-battery system, as seen here, is a significant performance feature, extending mowing time by automatically switching to a second battery when the first is depleted.
- Materials & Durability: Mower decks are typically made of stamped steel or a durable composite plastic. Steel is heavier and more traditional, offering excellent durability but susceptible to rust if not cared for. Modern composite decks are surprisingly tough, rust-proof, and significantly lighter, which greatly improves maneuverability.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: This is where electric mowers shine. Look for features like single-lever height adjustment, push-button start, and low weight. The long-term care is minimal—no oil changes, spark plugs, or fuel stabilizers. The primary maintenance involves keeping the underside clean and sharpening the blades annually for the best cut.
Keeping these factors in mind, the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower stands out in several areas, particularly in its balance of performance and user-friendly design. You can explore its detailed specifications here.
While the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
Our Comprehensive Review of the Best Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers
- Effortless Power for ½ Acre Yards- Experience gas-like performance without the hassle—35 minutes of continuous runtime from a single 4.0Ah battery (full charge in 2 hours). Perfect for small to...
- POWERED BY A RELIABLE B&S ENGINE: Equipped with a powerful 140cc B&S engine, known for its smooth start-up, consistent performance, and long-term durability—ideal for tough mowing jobs.
- Powerful & Easy-Start Gas Engine: Get going quickly with the reliable 144cc 4-stroke OHV engine on this gas lawn mower. Features a convenient primer button for simplified cold starts, delivering...
Unboxing a Greener Way to Mow: First Impressions
The box arrived, and I was immediately struck by how manageable it was. Having wrestled with heavy gas mowers in the past, the relatively light package was a welcome surprise. Inside, the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower was mostly assembled. The process was refreshingly simple and tool-free; it involved unfolding the handle and tightening a few cam locks. In less than five minutes, it was ready to go. The included 4.0Ah and 2.0Ah batteries clicked securely into their ports, and the charger got to work. My first impression of the build was one of practical design. The 20-inch deck is made of a sturdy composite plastic, which explains the mower’s low 42.5-pound weight. It felt solid without being cumbersome. The single-lever height adjustment, which controls all four wheels simultaneously through five positions, felt robust and clicked satisfyingly into place. It was clear from the start that this mower was engineered for convenience.
What We Like
- Extremely lightweight design makes it easy to push and maneuver around obstacles.
- Dual battery ports with automatic switching provide extended, uninterrupted runtime.
- Twin-blade system offers superior mulching and a finer cut quality.
- Virtually zero maintenance: no gas, no oil, no pull-cords.
- Surprisingly quiet operation, allowing for early morning or evening mowing without disturbing neighbors.
Drawbacks
- Cut quality can be less than perfect on thick, tough grasses like St. Augustine, sometimes leaving stray blades.
- The brushed motor is less efficient and powerful than modern brushless alternatives.
A Deep Dive into the Greenworks 40V Mower’s Performance
A mower’s worth is proven on the lawn, not in the box. Over several weeks, we put the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower through its paces on a variety of conditions—from lush, well-maintained turf to patches of thicker, weed-filled grass we’d let grow a bit too long. We tested its mulching and bagging capabilities, pushed its batteries to their limits, and evaluated just how “smart” its technology really is. Here’s our detailed breakdown.
The Twin-Blade System and Cut Quality
The standout feature of this mower is its “Twin Force” dual-blade design. Instead of one long blade, it uses two smaller, 10-inch blades that overlap. The theory is that these smaller, faster-spinning blades create more lift and finer clippings, resulting in better mulching and a cleaner cut. In our testing on standard cool-season grasses like fescue and ryegrass, this proved to be largely true. The cut was remarkably clean and even, leaving behind a well-manicured lawn. The mulching performance was particularly impressive; the mower chewed up leaves and grass clippings into tiny particles that disappeared back into the lawn, providing a natural fertilizer. We found, as one user noted, that a slightly smaller overlap on each pass yields the best results, ensuring every blade of grass is cut uniformly.
However, the system isn’t without its quirks. Echoing the feedback from some owners, we tested it on a patch of dense St. Augustine grass and noticed the mower’s one significant flaw: it sometimes leaves behind stray, uncut blades. We tried various speeds and cutting heights, and while slowing down helped, the occasional rogue blade would remain standing. It seems the suction from the composite deck, while good, isn’t always powerful enough to lift every single blade of this particularly tough, sideways-growing grass. For 95% of the lawn, it was perfect, but that remaining 5% could be frustrating for perfectionists. For most common grass types, though, the cut quality is excellent and a clear step up from many single-blade electric mowers.
Dual Batteries and Real-World Runtime
Range anxiety isn’t just for electric cars; it’s a real concern for anyone with a cordless mower. Greenworks tackles this head-on with an ingenious dual battery port system. The mower comes with one 4.0Ah and one 2.0Ah battery. You can load both at once, and when the primary battery is depleted, the mower automatically switches to the second one without missing a beat. This is a game-changer, effectively eliminating the need to stop mid-mow and swap batteries.
Greenworks claims a runtime of up to 70 minutes. As with any battery-powered tool, “your mileage may vary.” In our real-world testing on a typical suburban lawn of about 1/3 of an acre with moderate grass height, we consistently got around 45-55 minutes of total runtime from the combined 6.0Ah of battery capacity. This was more than enough to complete the job with power to spare. We then tested it on a tougher scenario: taller, thicker grass that hadn’t been cut in two weeks. This is where the Smart Cut Technology kicked in, audibly ramping up the blade speed to power through the dense patches. In this high-demand situation, the runtime dropped to about 35-40 minutes, which is still respectable. Many users confirm this finding, noting that for regular weekly maintenance, the included batteries are perfectly adequate, but for tackling a jungle, a recharge might be necessary. The key takeaway is that for its intended use on small to medium lawns, the battery system is robust and reliable.
Lightweight Design and Supreme Maneuverability
This is where the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower truly excels and wins people over. At a mere 42.5 pounds, it feels closer to pushing a toy than a serious piece of lawn equipment. This is a dramatic departure from hefty gas mowers that can weigh twice as much. The lightweight nature, combined with its large wheels, makes it incredibly easy to maneuver. Weaving around flower beds, trees, and other obstacles was effortless. Pushing it up a slight incline felt like a brisk walk rather than a workout. This makes it an outstanding choice for users who may lack the physical strength to wrestle with a heavy machine or for those with complex yard layouts.
The handle folds down completely with the flick of two cam levers, allowing the mower to be stored vertically against a wall in the garage. This compact storage is a massive advantage for anyone tight on space. While some users express concern over the plastic deck, we found it to be a high-quality, durable composite material. It won’t rust like steel, and it’s a primary contributor to the mower’s featherlight feel. After several mows, including running over the occasional small twig, the deck showed no signs of damage, assuaging our initial durability concerns. If you’ve ever dreaded mowing because of the physical effort involved, the effortless experience offered by this lightweight and agile machine could completely change your perspective on lawn care.
What Other Users Are Saying
After compiling our own test results, we looked at feedback from a wide range of users to see how our experience compared. The consensus is overwhelmingly positive, with most praise centered on the mower’s core strengths. One owner, who switched from a Honda gas mower, celebrated being “tired of dealing with” gas and oil, and was “very pleased” after two months of use. Another enthusiastically stated, “I can’t think of a purchase I’ve made recently that I’m more enthusiastic about. This mower is simply amazing!” The quiet operation is a recurring theme, with many noting that it’s quieter than a vacuum cleaner, allowing them to mow early in the morning without waking the neighbors.
On the critical side, the feedback aligns perfectly with our own findings. The most common complaint comes from users with St. Augustine grass, who, like us, experienced the frustrating issue of “random solo blades of grass it leaves standing up EVERYWHERE.” This suggests a design limitation with specific turf types. A few users also reported issues with batteries or chargers failing prematurely, highlighting the importance of registering the product to make use of the two-year manufacturer warranty should any problems arise. One user initially gave it a one-star review because it wouldn’t start, only to update it to five stars after realizing they weren’t following the proper starting sequence—a good reminder to always read the manual.
How Does the Greenworks 40V Mower Compare to the Alternatives?
The Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower occupies a sweet spot in the market, but it’s not the only option. Depending on your priorities—be it power, budget, or ecosystem—one of its competitors might be a better fit.
1. Greenworks 40V Brushless Mower Blower String Trimmer Kit
For those looking to dive headfirst into a cordless ecosystem, this Greenworks kit is a compelling alternative. While the mower’s deck is smaller at 16 inches, making it better suited for smaller lawns, it features a more advanced brushless motor. Brushless motors are generally more efficient, powerful, and durable than the brushed motor in our review model. The real value here is the bundle: you get a capable mower, a leaf blower, and a string trimmer, all running on the same 40V batteries (also a 4.0Ah + 2.0Ah set). This is the perfect choice for a new homeowner or anyone wanting to replace all their gas-powered tools at once with a convenient, all-in-one solution.
2. Scotts 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
If your primary motivation for going electric is environmentalism and simplicity, the Scotts Reel Mower takes it to the logical extreme. This is a completely manual mower—no motor, no battery, no cord. It’s powered purely by you. It’s silent, emission-free, and provides a gentle, scissor-like cut that’s very healthy for the grass. However, it’s only suitable for small, flat, and well-maintained lawns. It struggles with tall grass, weeds, or twigs. This is a niche product for the purist who enjoys the exercise and wants the absolute simplest lawn care solution available.
3. CRAFTSMAN 20-Inch Corded Electric Lawn Mower
This CRAFTSMAN model offers a direct trade-off: unlimited power for limited range. Being a corded model, you never have to worry about a battery dying mid-mow. It delivers consistent, strong power as long as it’s plugged in. It shares the same 20-inch deck size as the Greenworks model and offers similar 3-in-1 functionality (mulch, bag, side-discharge). The major drawback, of course, is the cord. You’re tethered to an outlet, and you have to constantly manage the cord to avoid running over it. This is a great, budget-friendly option for those with small, simple-shaped yards where cord management isn’t a significant hassle.
The Final Verdict: Is the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower Right for You?
After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower is an exceptional machine that delivers on its promise of making lawn care easier, quieter, and cleaner. Its lightweight design is its greatest asset, making it an absolute joy to push and maneuver. The dual-battery system is brilliantly executed, providing ample runtime for the small to medium-sized lawns it’s designed for. While the cut quality on tough grasses like St. Augustine isn’t flawless, its performance on more common lawn types is excellent, especially when mulching.
This mower is for the homeowner who is ready to break up with their noisy, high-maintenance gas mower. It’s for anyone who values convenience, low-effort operation, and a quieter neighborhood. If you have a lawn up to half an acre and are tired of the pull-cords, fumes, and weekend-disrupting noise, this mower is one of the best investments you can make for your home. It transforms a dreaded chore into a quick and satisfying task.
If you’ve decided the Greenworks 40V 20″ Twin Blade Mower is the right fit, you can check its current price and purchase it here.
Last update on 2025-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API