The 10 Best Electric Tillers
Special Honors
DR Tow-Behind Pro 36T Compatible with a variety of ATVs, riding mowers, and lawn tractors, and built for cultivating large swaths of land, the DR Tow-Behind Pro 36T has 24 steel tines and features a convenient electric start. It is equipped with a powerful Briggs & Stratton engine that delivers over 9 foot-pounds of torque, allowing it to power through tough sod in much less time than most ordinary walk-behind tillers. A battery-powered actuator makes it easy to adjust the tilling depth with the included remote control, so you can raise or lower the machine up to 100 times on a single charge. This one is also equipped with a hitch to absorb shocks and jolts, ensuring that any inconsistent motions aren't transferred to your towing vehicle. drpower.com
Orec Gardenquake Designed as a rear tine tilling machine, the Orec Gardenquake uses forward-rotating blades to break up stubborn soil into fine clumps for easy cultivation. This compact gardening tool is equipped with a Honda GX200 engine, depth adjustment bar, differential lock lever to keep the wheels moving in a straight line, and sturdy all-terrain tires with deep treading for stability when rolling over muddy ground. orecamerica.com
Editor's Notes
August 20, 2020:
I've always considered yard and garden work a form of custodianship. Cultivating, maintaining, optimizing, and even repairing land aren't easy jobs. It takes time, effort, patience, and the right tools to get the desired results. In terms of maintaining established land and keeping it manicured, lawn mowers and string trimmers are certainly valuable tools for such projects. But when you have to really dig down and "massage" the underlying soil to make it viable for creating and growing something, these electric tillers are the appropriate tools for the job.
We've removed the LawnMaster Deluxe, VonHaus Cultivator, and SereneLife Handheld due to availability issues, while the Powerworks 60V had some reported quality control issues.
Both the Sun Joe TJ604E and Tacklife Classic offer height adjustable wheels, the latter of which has a top speed of 400 revolutions per minute and large tines for deep trenching.
We've also added the Black & Decker LGC120 for its counter-oscillating tines, which come in handy for preventing clogs when working in areas with a lot of overgrowth.
Newly added this year is the SuperHandy Portable, which delivers a 30:1 reduction ratio that is designed for increased torque to power through extremely compacted soil.
We've included the Wen TC0714 with 16 large blades capable of reaching a depth of up to eight feet. This one also has integrated overload protection, automatically shutting off its motor upon contact with rocks and other obstacles.
Finally, we've added the Sun Joe TJW24C for its slender design and ability to run continuously for up to 60 minutes.
November 09, 2018:
Added the Mantis 7250 for its durable worm gear construction and ability to power through tough soil. Also included the Powerworks 60V due to its adjustable height settings for accommodating terrains of varying thicknesses. The 3-way tine system on the Troy-Bilt Cultivator is ideal for aerating gardens. Also included the dual-handled VonHaus Cultivator for pinpointing specific and isolated locations for tilling.