10 Best Electric Tillers To Buy In 2021

As the soil is getting warmer, you are probably thinking about your backyard which would be smiling with flowers and vegetables real soon. If you have some experience with gardening, you must know how difficult it is to break new ground or remodel an old one and make it fertile again.

Mixing and managing soil over time can be very exhausting and it can take a toll on your back if you don’t have the right supply. It is time to replace traditional gas-powered tools with extra-efficient electric tillers and get your job done with ease!

Electric tillers make the work very easy by bringing a power boost to your manual work and get it done faster. They use rotating blades for crushing soil and prepare efficient garden beds. Finding the right tiller for your chore is very important as it can either make a beautiful garden or destroy the soil.

If you are a beginner, choosing the right tiller might be difficult. There are corded or cordless tillers, battery-powered or electric tillers, light or heavy-duty tillers, small cultivators, and so on. To help you with this, we have reviewed the 10 best electric tillers on the market. We also have the buyer’s guide and FAQs just for you!

Check out the 10 best electric tillers to buy in 2021 right away!

10 Best Electric Tillers To Buy In 2021

1. Earthwise Corded Electric Tiller

Earthwise tiller is a powerful corded electric tiller ideal for small to medium-sized gardens. It has an 8.5 amp electric motor, 4 tine cultivator, and a long handle to make it convenient for the user. The powerful motor provides an excellent run time and it can last for years. 

The cultivator comes with a single lever switch and the handle has a soft ergonomic grip that provides extra support to the user. With 11 inches cultivating width and 8 inches cultivating depth, this convenient tiller can function well in your home garden. Don’t try it on wet soil as it would form clumps and lumps and the soil particles won’t break.

Weighing just 2.2 pounds, the device can be used to crush small pebbles, improving the quality of the soil. We love how this little monster can chew through everything—grass, clay, shrub roots, compost, small pebbles, and so on. You will never regret buying this one! 

Pros:

• An affordable tiller considering the features. 
• The material is sturdy and well made.
• Can also work on rocky soil. 
• Comes with a powerful 8.5-Amp motor. 
• Lightweight and easy to assemble.

Cons:

• The device will not work on wet soil. 
• If it’s stuck somewhere, it would go on digging deeper. Pulling it backward would be the only choice. 

2. Sun Joe Garden Tiller

If you are planning to start a vegetable garden, this electric garden tiller by Sun Joe has got your back! A whopping 13.5 Amp motor, 6 steel, angled tines, and a folding handle makes an amazing combination and it can crush absolutely anything. 

The steel tines promise durability and the angled design ensures the best performance. With 6 tines, it can dig up to 8 inches deep and 16 inches wide. The long, functional handle can be folded for convenient storage and easy transport. The device also comes with a wheel adjustment feature and it can be regulated as per your requirement. 

The unit is very powerful in terms of crushing. It can work well on rocks, tough grass, and roots without much effort and you can use it to dig holes in good topsoil. We love how it can uproot any neglected lawn as the tines rotate faster than many of its competitors and you can get rid of an overgrown garden with very little manual work! 

Pros:

• Adjustable wheel design. 
• Foldable handle, hence very easy to store. 
• 13.5-Amp motor, extremely powerful. 
• Can work well on hard and rocky soil. 
• Comes with good customer service and a warranty. 
• It can chew through rock-hard clay without extra effort. 

Cons:

• Weighs about 27 pounds which could be heavy for some users. 
• Produces lots of dust while tilling. 
• Usage not recommended on wet soil. 

3. TACKLIFE Advanced Electric Tiller

With an advanced tilling mechanism, this electric tiller from TACKLIFE has tilling width that can be adjusted according to your requirement. The energy-efficient design has a working width ranging from 12.5 to 18 inches and you can use either 4 or 6 tines. 

The 13.5 Amp copper motor can speed up to 380 Rpm which is enough to crush anything and everything. For extra safety, it has quick buttons like on/off trigger, brake switches to prevent accidental start. 

Built with manganese steel, the tines are sturdy, durable, and gives a stable performance. The lightweight device has an ergonomic folding handlebar with an anti-vibration system that reduces arm fatigue. The foldable design of the tiller allows easy and efficient storage.

Pros:

• Powerful—can crush almost everything. 
• Cheaper in comparison to competitors. 
• Super easy operation. 
• Adjustable width with 4 or 6 tines. 
• Foldable.
• It works well on dense clay. 

Cons:

• Heavyweight.
• Be careful while changing the tines as they might break if mishandled. 

4. Earthwise 16 inch Corder Electric Tiller

A bigger and sturdier version of the first one on this list, this tiller from Earthwise also comes with adjustable tines. It has a powerful 13.5 amp motor that guarantees to crush rock-hard soil particles with less effort from the user. The 6 tines can be adjusted to move about in the range of 11 to 16 inches and 8 inches working depth. 

The 16 inches comfortable handle has an ergonomic zone that reduces arm strain and makes it convenient for the user. The product is very easy to assemble, and the units can be separated for easy storage. 

This tiller has a single-lever switch that starts the machine without any jolt or disturbance. It doesn’t emit any harmful fumes like gas tillers and you can make easily make flower beds or get rid of weeds and cultivate your garden with this device. 

We appreciate tillers that can work on clay soil without consuming much power and this product ticks all the boxes. You can easily work on established grass, small roots, rocks, and more without burning the motor and what else does one need?

Pros:

• Value for money.
• Can cut through concrete dust with some extra effort. 
• High performance and limited maintenance. 
• Adjustable width as the tines can be changed. 
• Relatively bigger handle.
• Can crush weeds very efficiently. 

Cons:

• You might experience heavy jerks while digging deep. 
• The cord is not long enough. 

5. Mantis Electric Cultivator

A powerful 9 Amp electric tiller, this device can operate at variable speeds. There is a high-speed option, mainly for tilling, and a low-speed option that is apt for cultivating. The variable speed delivers extra power and quickly refreshes existing beds or creates new, perfect planting beds. It is a lightweight device compared to similar tillers and is just as efficient. 

The best thing about this tiller is the adjustable handle. The handle can be made shorter or longer according to the convenience of the user and the chore. It also has an ergonomic zone which is mainly for ease of use and it also acts as a shock absorber. 

Without any oil or gas and more importantly, no harmful fumes, you can do the job of cultivating your garden with plenty of power. Retractable, multi-position wheels and comfortable grips ensure fast digging and weeding. 

The aluminum wheels can be adjusted in 3 different positions and the design ensures that your chores are made fun and easy.

Pros:

• Very powerful and sturdy device. 
• Can run for 8 hours with very few stops. 
• Lightweight and supports easy storage. 
• Comes with a variable speed option. 
• The handle is foldable. 
• It is tailor-made for customized tilling and cultivating. 
• Perfect for gardening beds. 

Cons:

•  Due to its lightweight, you might experience jerks while tilling. 
• It has an exposed shaft. 
• The power switch is not smooth.

6. Sun Joe Small Cultivator

Here is something to recover and flourish small or mid-sized flowerbeds and gardens. The small cultivator by Sun Joe has a powerful 6.5 Amp motor that can work up to 14 inches in width and can dig 7 inches deep. Custom made to work on small home gardens, this tiller and cultivator has got all your needs covered. 

It has 4 steel tilling blades that promises high performance and maximum durability. Backed by the Start/Stop switch, the angled tines work efficiently to chew every particle. The device is maintenance-free, with no gas or fumes, no tune-ups, just effortless tilling! 

With a long handle, the entire mechanism ensures easy usage and the manual work would reduce significantly if you know the right technique. The compact design is not collapsable, but it can fit in any standard vehicle. Moreover, it comes with a 2 years warranty and the trust of Sun Joe. This adds an edge to all the features as any electrical device can get non-functional and this one is failsafe for 2 years! 

Pros:

• Works better than similar gas tillers. 
• Can work on rocky grounds without offending. 
• Lightweight and suitable for casual tilling. 
• Easy to assemble and considering the size, extra powerful. 
• Comes with a relaxing grip. 

Cons:

• The tiller won’t switch off automatically. 
• The construction is not sturdy enough. 
• Not heavy-duty, the motor might burn if used for tilling in bigger gardens. 

7. Greenworks Corded Tiller

A powerful and reliable tiller with an 8 Amp motor, this electric device is very easy to use as it eliminates the need for mixing gas and works with recoil cords. It has four 8 inch forward rotating tines that guarantee high performance while digging with no compromise on the quality of the crushed soil. 

Like the last one, this device is designed with an adjustable tilling width in the range of 8.25 inches to 10 inches and a digging depth of 5 inches. The design needs no assembling and the adjustable tilling makes the chore super quick. The big handle is collapsable and it folds down for easy and convenient storage and transportation. 

There are no batteries involved, and no charging—just an easy plug-and-go mechanism. Weighing 29 pounds, this device is quite heavy and is unlikely to bounce or jerk while digging. The package comes with an instruction manual with diagrams which makes it easy to understand. 

This little monster from Greenworks can crush anything—small rocks, pebbles, broken pottery, pieces of bricks, and so on. With good stability, this powerful machine supports cultivating due to the adjustable width and you have nothing to worry about while working on your new garden bed!

Pros:

• It has a smooth start switch. 
• The device has good stability. 
• It supports both tilling and cultivating. 
• The tilling width can be adjusted. 
• Comes with an instruction sheet with pictorial representations. 
• Works well on rocky soil. 

Cons:

• The ring pins are not sturdy enough. 
• Cannot be used for large gardens or yards. 

8. Sun Joe Tiller and Cultivator

With a 24 volt powerful battery, this rechargeable tiller and cultivator from Sun Joe is here to surprise everyone with its compact design. The Lithium-Ion battery provides up to 30 minutes of runtime when fully charged and supports dual tilling. 

The device has 6 inches, durable and sturdy tilling blades that can cultivate 4.25 inches in width and can dig up to 6 inches deep. At just 6 pounds, this tiller is lightweight than any heavy-duty tilling machine and is perfect for working on small gardens or yards. 

The best part about this design is the telescopic handle. The pole length is adjustable from 28.3 inches to 37.3 inches for extra efficiency. The auxiliary handle has an ergonomic layer that absorbs the jerk and you won’t be down with elbow grease after a tiring yard chore. 

We are in love with the compact design and the said ease of use. When we think about tilling and cultivating supplies, they are expected to be big and heavy. This one is lightweight, comes with a rechargeable battery, can do all the crushing and grinding work with ease, and has an adjustable handle. 

Pros:

• Lightweight and compact design. 
• Comes with a 24-volt rechargeable battery. 
• It has an uninterrupted runtime of 30 mins. 
• Eliminates the fuss of electric chords. 
• No harmful fumes and mixing like gas tillers. 
• Ideal for small gardens or backyards. 

Cons:

• The operation is not smooth enough. 
• The material is not sturdy and durable. 
• Overpriced in comparison to all the features. 

9. Scotts Outdoor Power Tools

A powerful and durable outdoor tool, this tiller has a whopping 10.5 Amp motor to support hours of tilling and cultivating. It can work on medium to large gardens without any hassle if you allow it to cool down in between. 

The versatile cultivator can work on weed control for any garden or lawn and crush every particle to make a smooth flower bed. The device comes with 4 adjustable tines that are made of alloy steel which can last a lifetime. The whole setup is easy and you don’t have to assemble anything, just press the start switch and you are good to go. 

The small tiller can be operated with a comfortable grip as the auxiliary handle as an ergonomic grip for extra support. The rear wheels can be flipped for easier handling and the cord length can be extended up to 50 feet to ensure maximum efficiency. Also, this outdoor tool is powerful enough to work with clay and dirt, it’s a whole package you see. 

Pros:

• Powerful and consistent electric device. 
• It can dig deep and quickly. 
• The device can chew through hard clay. 
• Lightweight and highly efficient. 
• Tiller blades are very strong. 

Cons: 

• Creates more noise than standard electric tillers. 
• The extra-long cord can create a fuss if you are a beginner. 

10. Black+Decker Max Tiller

Slightly unique in design from the rest, this powerful tiller comes with dual tines that break up the soil to allow nutrients and water to reach plant roots. The max tiller by Black + Decker could be a nice choice if you don’t want electric chords coming in your way during the tilling chore. 

Powered by a 20 Volt MAX Li-Ion battery, it has a good battery life and charge retention that ensures a longer lifespan. The device can cultivate up to 325 square feet per charge and that is huge. With the trust of Black + Decker, the tiller has a 2-year limited warranty and an easy-to-understand instruction manual. 

The rotating tines have a counter-oscillating mechanism that can work on weeds without tangling them. The lightweight, upright design and adjustable handle prevent arm fatigue and ensure maximum comfort for the user. 

Weighing 11.73 pounds, the tiller can work on clay and it is better if the soil is wet, so you can water the area before trying to loosen any weed or soil patches. From landscape beds to weeding and preparing existing garden beds, it can crush almost everything with ease. 

Pros:

• Can break clogged dirt easily. 
• The width capacity is about 7 inches. 
• It works better as a cultivator. 
• An amazing choice to clean weed. 
• Rotating blades that encourage superior cultivating.
• A very handy tool for small garden spaces. 

Cons: 

• The battery takes about 5 hours to charge fully. 
• The battery life is about 30 mins, and it is not good enough.

What is an Electric Tiller and Why Do You Need One? 

A tiller is a mid-range tool mainly used for maintaining gardens. It is used to crush hard-packed soil in lawns and gardens to prepare garden beds with smooth and refined soil. Tillers can be powered by gas, battery, or directly from electricity. Electric tillers are the ones directly powered by the electric mainline and it moves around with a cord. 

An electric tiller can be used to turn sod or maybe weeding earth between vegetable or fruit rows into functional plots. Modern tillers can do the job of tilling and cultivating with ease. So, if you want to break new ground or maintain a formed garden bed, the tiller has got your back! 

Different Types of Electric Tillers: What Type Should You Get? 

Before you pick one tiller for your garden, you must be familiar with every type. Based on the work and the level of power, here are some options you can consider:

1. Cultivator

Relatively lightweight and affordable tools, cultivators can do the job of stirring soil from already established gardens. They are light-duty tools and they cannot break new grounds to form a garden or flower bed. They are relatively easy to maintain, inexpensive,  and you can use them without any hassle due to their lightweight. 

2. Front Tine Tillers

One of the widely used tillers, front tine tillers have two tines located under the engine and this design makes it easy to maneuver. If your sole purpose of using tillers is groundbreaking, this won’t be a good choice as they are great for weeding between rows or mixing soil. You will have a hard time breaking new ground with these as they are less powerful than garden tillers.

3. Rear Tine Tillers

A better option for breaking ground than front-tine tillers, this type of tiller is more powerful and can work around tough soil to break grounds for a new garden. Rear tines tillers have large wheels with tines located on the rear side of the machine. They offer vivid motions in terms of direction—they can rotate forward or counter-rotate and some designs can do both.

4. Garden Tillers

One of the best tools to break ground and bring useful soil to the surface by stirring and plowing, garden tillers are the most powerful of the lot. These tillers are either gas-powered or run by electricity and come in a range of sizes, costs, power levels, and other factors. If you want to work in big gardens, go for this one. 

5. Vertical Tine Tillers

These tillers can cut forward through the soil and make the work faster and easier. You can work on breaking ground on new gardens or even plowing and stirring soil. Also, you don’t have to pull it back to ensure forward movement. 

Things to Look for in a Good Electric Tiller: Buyers Guide

You are now familiar with all the types of electric tillers, let’s talk about some deciding factors for choosing a tiller. These factors should be considered to make sure you are going with the right design. 

Corded or Cordless?

Cordless tools are becoming more powerful with each passing day and they have several extra advantages when compared to corded designs. However, are you okay with the price? Can you deal with the recharging process? 

There are so many things to consider here. Most of the corded models are heavy-duty and can be used for tilling and digging without much jerk. The only disadvantage would be the cord length and you cannot daisy-chain them due to safety issues. Though corded tillers offer better performance, the key here is to analyze your requirements and pick one.

Soil type and Garden Size

The geographical conditions of where you live have a lot to do with how challenging or stressful your gardening chores will be. Soil is one of the factors that brings a major difference in gardening tasks and you must choose a tiller accordingly.

If you are working with heavily packed, clay soil, it would need a powerful garden tiller to crush it while soft and loose soil would need relatively lower power to dig and plow through it. Rocky soil requires special attention as you must use special tines that won’t be easily damaged by flying rocks and pebbles. 

Next comes the garden or lawn size. If you are looking for a gardening tool for domestic use, light to medium power tools would be enough. Many backyard gardens are small and simple and using heavy-duty rear tine tillers on them might be overkill. So, according to the soil and the purpose, choose a tiller or a cultivator.

Tilling Width and Depth

You should go for a tiller that has an adjustable tilling width so that it can be used on narrow locations like flower beds or vegetable rows and wider areas as well. 

Similarly, a tiller with a good digging reach would be helpful if you are breaking soil. The maximum depth gives us an indication of the power of the machine and how efficiently we can use it. 

Cost and Storage

The amount of power a tiller provides would determine its cost. While cultivators are in the lower range, heavy-duty models like front-tine and rear-tine tillers can cost up to 500 bucks. Some other features like brand reputation, the material of the body, longevity, rotating wheels and so on would also affect the cost. For domestic uses, it is better to go with cultivators or front-tine tillers that would cost around 200 dollars with all modern features. 

Even tillers and cultivators need a space for storage and you can use your garage for storing these gardening tools. If your space is limited, go for collapsable tillers.

Safety and Maintenance

Since tillers are powerful tools, you must consider all the safety hazards before you buy one. Check all the instructions and make sure you know the signs of an overheating engine, power failure, and so on. 

As electric tillers are relatively lower maintenance, you would just have to keep the tines clean and sharpen them from time to time. Proper care and maintenance would increase their lifespan.

5 Benefits Of Using A Electric Tiller

You might ask why to go for electric tillers, so here are 5 benefits that you must know:

1. Electric tillers are lightweight, compact in design, and easy to transport around your garden. 
2. Electric tillers are quiet when in operation and they have unlimited runtime. 
3. They require less maintenance as compared to gas tillers like no oil changes or cleaning the greased parts. 
4. They do not emit harmful fumes and are environment-friendly. 
5. Most of the designs have small tines with variable widths which makes them super flexible. They can work between crops and plants with minimal risk of damage. 

FAQ’s

How much does an electric tiller cost?

The cost of electric tillers can range anywhere between 100 to 500 dollars. As said earlier, the cost is directly proportional to the device’s power.

What is the difference between a tiller and a cultivator?

A tiller is slightly different from a cultivator. A cultivator is a light-duty tool used for maintenance and it cannot break new ground whereas tillers can do everything a cultivator can and also break grounds to form a garden bed.

What is the benefit of purchasing an electric tiller over a gas-powered tiller?

Most of the electric tillers come with a start switch which makes them easy to operate. Moreover, they are earth-conscious, low-maintenance, and easy to store. 

Are electric tillers as powerful as gas tillers?

Electric tillers have an edge over gas tillers in many distinct ways, but they aren’t as powerful. They are only good at medium to light-duty tilling tasks. 

Can you use a tiller on wet ground?

You can use a tiller on wet ground, but it is not recommended. Tilling in wet soil encourages soil compaction which causes poor root penetration when you are growing plants. A semi-dry soil is good and some tillers work well on them. 

Conclusion

After going through all the specifications, we would recommend corded tillers with variable width for domestic gardening over cordless ones. They are more durable, efficient, and long-lasting in comparison to others and you can use them for years without any hassle.