The Best Battery Yard Tool Systems

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When you buy a battery yard tool, you are really buying into a battery. A good 5.0Ah pack can cost a big share of what the tool does, and it only fits one brand’s line. Pick the wrong system and every new tool means another set of batteries and chargers.

So the useful question is which platform fits your yard and the tools you already own. The single best tool matters less.

I work with tools and blades in my workshop, and I use EGO battery tools on my own lawn. I have not tested every platform’s full line. The comparison below is based on the published specs and owner reviews. To compare like with like, I use each platform’s handheld blower as the example tool, because blowers have the clearest published numbers (CFM and MPH).

The picks

The platforms at a glance

Voltage on its own doesn’t tell you much. Higher voltage helps a maker deliver more power without huge currents, but motor design, battery size and the tool matter just as much. Milwaukee’s 18V blower is the weakest on paper here, yet Milwaukee’s M18 FUEL trimmer is rated at 1.76 HP, so 18V can still run serious tools with a big battery.

1. EGO POWER+ 56V: best all-round yard system

EGO is a yard-first brand, and it shows. The LB7650 blower is listed at 765 CFM and 200 MPH with a 5-year tool warranty and a 3-year battery warranty, per EGO. EGO says its 56V tools take all EGO 56V batteries, so the pack from a mower drops into the blower or trimmer.

Pro Tool Reviews measured the LB7650 at 25.3 newtons of force, the highest handheld figure in their EGO blower roundup. EGO’s trimmer line has features no other brand here matches, like the LINE IQ auto-feed with POWERLOAD.

This is the system I use on my own lawn, which is one reason I watch it closely. It is not the cheapest.

Strengths:

• Top-end performance in blowers and trimmers.
• Long tool warranty.
• One battery across mowers, trimmers, blowers and more.

Weak spots: prices sit at the higher end, and big batteries add up fast. EGO isn’t a power-tool brand, so there are no EGO drills to share batteries with.

My EGO lawn mower review and EGO leaf blower review go deeper.

2. Greenworks 80V: best value system

Greenworks’ 80V line is big. Its site filter shows 127 tools in 80V, including walk-behind, riding and zero-turn mowers, and the blower page says the battery fits over 75 80V tools. The BL80L02 blower is listed at 730 CFM and 170 MPH with a 4-year tool warranty, per Greenworks.

Strengths:

• Near-flagship numbers for less money.
• Battery riding and zero-turn mowers on the same platform, which few systems offer.
• Frequent sales on Greenworks’ own site.

Weak spots: the 730 CFM blower weighs about 8.8 to 9 lb, and Pro Tool Reviews noted Greenworks’ 77 dB rating on the kit version. Greenworks also sells separate lower-voltage lines, and batteries don’t cross between voltages, so check the voltage on every box. I could not confirm current details for the 60V and 40V Greenworks lines for this guide.

3. Ryobi 40V HP: best for big-box convenience

Ryobi’s 40V HP line covers the main yard tools at mid-range prices. The RY404014K blower is listed at 650 CFM and 160 MPH, per Ryobi. Ryobi’s 40V trimmers carry a 5-year tool warranty, and its attachment-capable trimmer works with the EXPAND-IT attachment system, per the RY40HPST01B page.

Strengths:

• Wide range, easy to find in stores.
• Whisper Series models target lower noise.
• EXPAND-IT attachments turn one power head into several tools.

Weak spots: Ryobi’s pages often leave out weight and dB. Several 40V models have been discontinued and replaced, so model numbers change often. Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ line is a separate battery family.

4. DeWalt 60V MAX FlexVolt: best for DeWalt power-tool owners

DeWalt’s FlexVolt batteries are the draw here. The DCBL772B blower is listed at 600 CFM and 125 MPH, runs on 60V MAX FlexVolt batteries and carries a 3-year limited warranty, per DeWalt. Pro Tool Reviews’ kit included a “20V/60V Max FlexVolt” battery, and they measured the blower at 17.0 newtons and 91 dB at the ear in their DCBL772 review.

Strengths:

• FlexVolt packs also run DeWalt’s 20V MAX tools, so they work in the shop too.
• Tough, jobsite-style build.
• Pro Tool Reviews notes a year of free service after registration.

Weak spots: the yard tool range is smaller than EGO’s or Greenworks’. The blower is loud and heavy in testing.

5. Milwaukee M18: best if you own pro power tools

Milwaukee’s M18 is a huge power-tool system. Its blower page says 250+ tools and its trimmer page says 275+. The 3017-20 blower is listed at 500 CFM, 120 MPH and 54 dB(A), at 5.1 lb without the battery, per Milwaukee. The M18 FUEL 16″ trimmer offers three speed modes and a 14 to 16-inch swath.

Strengths:

• If your drills and impact drivers are red, your batteries are already paid for.
• Quiet published blower numbers.
• QUIK-LOK attachment system for trimmers, edgers and pole saws.

Weak spots: the blower is the least powerful on paper here. Big yard jobs want Milwaukee’s large and costly HD or FORGE batteries. Milwaukee’s lineup is built around trades, so yard choice is narrower.

6. Toro 60V MAX Flex-Force: best for Toro mower owners

Toro’s Flex-Force line is best known for its mowers. The 51822 blower kit is listed at 605 CFM and 157 MPH, with a 60V 4.0Ah battery and charger and a 3-year limited warranty on both tool and battery, per Toro. Toro says the batteries power 75+ tools.

Strengths:

• Kits include a battery.
• Toro’s dealer network and the MyToro app for manuals and service reminders.

Weak spots: Toro lists the blower at 13 lb, which is heavy, and says it isn’t sold online. The handheld tool range is smaller than EGO’s.

7. Stihl AK: best dealer-serviced system for suburban yards

Stihl splits its batteries into tiers. Its blower buying guide describes AK for homeowners and routine cleanup, AP for demanding and commercial work, and AS for light, quick jobs. Stihl’s AK battery chart lists AK tools including the BGA 60 blower, FSA trimmers, HSA hedge trimmers, MSA chainsaws and RMA mowers, and says AK tools suit “frequent use around suburban yards.”

The BGA 60 blower is listed at 459 CFM, 154 MPH, 5 lb and 56 dB on Ace Hardware’s listing.

Strengths:

• Local dealer setup, service and advice.
• Light, quiet tools with a wide range, including chainsaws.
• A clear path up to AP if you need more power later.

Weak spots: the lowest blower numbers here. AK and AP batteries are separate systems, so plan which tier you want before you buy.

How to choose a battery system

1. Start with what you already own

If you have even two or three batteries from one brand, the math usually favors staying. Batteries are the expensive part.

2. Match the system to your biggest tool

The mower is the biggest battery draw. Choose the platform whose mower fits your lawn, then add the handheld tools. See my best cordless lawn mowers guide and the EGO vs Ryobi vs Greenworks comparison.

3. Count the tools you’ll actually use

Most homeowners need a mower, trimmer and blower. Some add a hedge trimmer, chainsaw or snow blower. Check that your platform makes good versions of all of them.

4. Look at warranty and service

EGO and Ryobi list 5 years on the tools I checked, Greenworks 4, and DeWalt, Milwaukee and Toro 3. Battery warranties are often shorter. Dealer brands like Stihl and Toro give you a local place for repairs.

5. Buy big batteries, not more tools

One large battery plus one small one covers most yards. A large pack in the mower and a small one in the trimmer is a common setup.

How many batteries do you need?

• Small yard (under 1/4 acre): one mid-size battery often covers mowing, trimming and blowing in one session, with a recharge between tools.
• Medium yard (1/4 to 1/2 acre): two batteries, one large.
• Large yard: two large batteries, or a platform that runs dual-battery mowers.

Runtimes in the specs are usually at the lowest setting. Plan on less.

Battery care that adds years

• Store indoors in winter, away from freezing garages and hot attics.
• Store partly charged if the maker recommends it.
• Let hot batteries cool before charging.
• Use the maker’s charger.

Will battery tools replace gas for you?

For lots up to about half an acre, a battery system covers mowing, trimming and blowing for most homeowners. For larger properties, a battery riding mower or robot mower may fit better. See electric vs gas lawn mowers and are robot mowers worth it.

My pick

If you’re starting fresh and want the best yard tools, choose EGO 56V. If you want the widest range for less money, including battery riding mowers, choose Greenworks 80V. If you already own Milwaukee M18 or DeWalt FlexVolt batteries, stay put and buy their yard tools. Toro and Stihl make most sense if you value a local dealer.