What Does Brushless Mean on a Lawn Mower?

On this page (7 sections)

1. What does brushless mean on a lawn mower?
2. What can a brushless motor change?
3. Which brushless lawn mower suits your yard?
4. How should you compare brushless mowers before buying?
5. How do you set up and care for a brushless mower?
6. Which mistakes matter more than the brushless label?
7. What does brushless mean for your final mower choice?

On a lawn mower, brushless means electronic controls replace carbon brushes to switch current through the motor. This removes a source of wear and can improve efficiency, but it doesn't tell you how much lawn the mower can finish.

For buying purposes, treat brushless as a useful motor feature, then check the battery, cutting width, clipping options, and effort needed to push the mower. Those details decide whether mowing takes one comfortable session or several stops.

What does brushless mean on a lawn mower?

Brushless describes how the motor switches electrical current. A brushed motor uses carbon contacts that rub against a rotating part, while a brushless motor uses electronics to control current through stationary coils.

Those coils create a changing magnetic field that turns the rotor and drives the blade. Removing the rubbing contacts eliminates brush replacement and reduces one source of friction.

Brushless doesn't mean cordless, self-propelled, or maintenance-free. For the wider buying picture, our complete cordless lawn mower buying guide explains how the battery, deck, and controls work together.

What can a brushless motor change?

The main benefits are less brush wear and the potential for better efficiency. Cutting strength, runtime, and noise still depend on the complete mower.

Does a brushless lawn mower mean more cutting power?

Brushless alone doesn't guarantee more power. A small motor with a small battery can still struggle when the blade takes on too much grass.

WORX says the WG752's Brushless Motor 2.0 delivers 40% more power and 10% longer runtime than its first-generation brushless motors. That is a comparison within WORX's motor range, not a ranking against every competing mower.

For thick lawns, consider mowing frequency and available cutting height alongside power. Our guide to whether electric lawn mowers are powerful enough explains how to match the mower to the workload.

Can a brushless motor extend runtime?

Better motor efficiency can help a battery last longer, but grass load often changes how much ground you cover. Tall growth, damp clippings, repeated turns, and overlapping passes all use time and energy.

Compare runtime with the included battery, rather than the largest optional battery. Our guide to cordless mower battery life explains the difference between minutes per charge and finishing your whole yard.

Does brushless mean a quieter mower?

Motor design affects sound, but the spinning blade and moving air also make noise. Don't use the brushless label to decide whether hearing protection is needed.

Greenworks describes the 40V LMF417 motor as supporting quiet operation. See how loud an electric lawn mower is for more on mower noise.

Which brushless lawn mower suits your yard?

Choose by lawn layout and handling needs before comparing motor claims. These 4 models are push mowers, so you supply the effort to move them.

WORX WG752: for open lawns and flexible clipping control

The WORX WG752 suits an open lawn where you want to switch between mulching, bagging, and rear side discharge. Its Intellicut control adjusts cutting speed with grass density, while WORX says the vented Aerodeck helps reduce clumping and improve bag collection.

It includes 2 20V 5.0Ah PowerShare Pro batteries and a dual charger. Existing WORX PowerShare users have a reason to consider it because the batteries also work across that platform.

Choose it if you want a wider mower and vertical storage with a collapsible handle. Skip it if your main concern is lifting weight or pushing on slopes: it weighs 55.6 lb and has no powered wheel drive.

Greenworks 60V: for tight spaces on the 60V platform

The Greenworks 60V 17-Inch Push Mower suits smaller lawns with narrow passages and frequent turns. It weighs 37.5 lb, and its actual cutting width is 16.14 in, so expect more passes across an open lawn than with a wider mower.

The included 4.0Ah battery has a claimed runtime of up to 40 minutes and a full charge time of 90 minutes. Mulching and rear bagging cover routine clipping needs, and Greenworks backs the tool and battery with a 4-year limited warranty.

Choose it for compact handling or compatibility with Greenworks 60V tools. Skip it if side discharge is essential or your grass needs a cutting height above its 3.15 in maximum.

Greenworks 40V: for small lawns and easier lifting

The Greenworks 40V LMF417 suits a small lawn where lifting and turning matter more than covering wide strips. At 33.5 lb, it's the lightest of these 4 options, with a 15.67 in cutting width.

It includes a 4.0Ah battery and charger, offers mulching and rear bagging, and uses one lever to select 5 cutting heights. Greenworks backs the tool and battery with a 3-year limited warranty.

Choose it for a compact yard or an existing Greenworks 40V tool collection. Skip it if you need a quick recharge between mowing sections: a full charge takes 120 minutes, and Greenworks gives conflicting runtime figures of up to 30 and 45 minutes.

EGO LM2114: for wider passes on an open lawn

The EGO LM2114 suits an open lawn where its 21 in cutting width can reduce the number of passes. EGO claims up to 55 minutes with the included 56V 6.0Ah battery, which charges in 80 minutes with the included charger.

It supports mulching, side discharge, and bagging, with cutting heights from 1.25 to 4 in. The included battery also works with EGO power tools.

Choose it if you want wider coverage and plan to use the EGO battery platform. Skip it if carrying the mower or pushing uphill is a concern: its stated weight is 82 lb, and the LM2114 is a push model.

How should you compare brushless mowers before buying?

Check your route, physical effort, and battery needs first. A mower that fits through the gate and finishes your usual cut is more useful than one chosen mainly for voltage.

• Measure access points. Compare the mower's overall width with gates and storage entrances, not just its cutting width.
• Consider pushing effort. Slopes, soft ground, and a filling grass bag add work; brushless refers to the blade motor, not powered wheels.
• Check battery compatibility. Match the brand and battery family, since Greenworks 40V and 60V are separate platforms.
• Allow runtime margin. Avoid choosing a kit whose claimed maximum barely matches your usual mowing time.
• Match clipping modes. Bagging collects clippings but adds emptying stops; mulching returns them to the lawn.

If pushing effort is the deciding factor, read self-propelled versus push mowers. For clipping choices, our guide to what mulching means on a lawn mower explains when returning clippings works well.

Use the cordless mower buying guide to compare complete kits. If charging breaks would disrupt your routine, our comparison of electric and gas lawn mowers covers the broader trade-offs.

How do you set up and care for a brushless mower?

Follow the manual for assembly, then start with a charged battery and a sensible cutting height. Secure the handle, fit the correct bag or clipping attachment, and clear stones, toys, and branches from the lawn.

For the first pass through tall grass, raise the deck and walk slowly enough that the mower keeps cutting steadily. Aim to remove no more than about one-third of the grass height at a time, with a later cut if needed.

Mow when the grass is dry to reduce clumping. If the motor slows or the mower leaves clumps, take narrower passes or raise the cutting height instead of repeatedly forcing it through the same heavy patch.

Before clearing a blockage or cleaning underneath, remove the battery and any safety key, then wait for the blade to stop. Keep the blade sharp and balanced according to the manual, and avoid spraying water into electrical parts.

Store batteries in a dry place within the temperature limits in their instructions. A brushless motor removes brush care, but battery care and a clean deck still matter.

Which mistakes matter more than the brushless label?

The biggest mistakes are choosing by voltage alone and expecting maximum runtime in every lawn. Voltage isn't a fair power ranking across different brands, and runtime figures may use different cutting conditions.

Don't compare amp-hours alone across different voltages either. Battery energy depends on both, while the mower's workload determines how quickly it uses that energy.

Also separate deck size from cutting width. The WORX is sold as a 21 in mower but specifies a 20 in cut, so use cutting width when estimating passes.

Finally, don't mow too low to save a future trip. Removing too much grass at once increases the cutting load and can leave the lawn stressed.

What does brushless mean for your final mower choice?

Brushless on a lawn mower means electronic motor control; your yard determines which model to buy. Choose the WORX for flexible clipping control, the Greenworks 60V for compact handling on that platform, or the Greenworks 40V for easier lifting around a small lawn.

Choose the EGO for wider passes when you're comfortable pushing its weight. If slopes make any of these push mowers a poor fit, prioritize powered wheel drive over the motor label.

Read whether battery lawn mowers are any good to decide whether cordless mowing fits your charging routine and lawn size.

Frequently asked questions

What does brushless mean on a lawn mower?

On a lawn mower, brushless means electronic controls switch current through the motor instead of carbon brushes contacting a rotating part. This removes brush wear and can reduce energy losses, but the term doesn't describe the battery size, cutting width, wheel drive, or mowing time.

Is a brushless lawn mower better?

A brushless motor is a useful advantage when comparing otherwise similar mowers because it removes brush wear and can improve efficiency. Choose the mower that fits your yard first, though: a smaller brushed mower may suit a tight space better than a heavy brushless model with features you don't need.

Do brushless lawn mowers need less maintenance?

Brushless motors have no carbon brushes to replace, so they remove one wear item. You still need to clear clippings, keep the blade sharp, check fasteners, and follow battery care instructions; remove the battery and any safety key before working near the blade or clearing a blockage.

Does brushless mean a lawn mower has more power?

No, brushless describes the motor design rather than a fixed level of cutting power. Motor size, battery output, electronic controls, and the blade all matter, so compare complete mowers suited to your grass rather than assuming that any brushless model will outperform every mower with brushes.