Why you should trust this review
I have run cordless mowers across three seasons on a third-acre suburban lot, with prior testing time on the older Ryobi 40V, the EGO LM2156SP, and the Greenworks Pro 80V. The Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch arrived as Ryobi’s answer to the EGO LM2156SP at a lower price, and I ran it across a full spring including two crew cuts on tall first growth and one wet mow after an overnight storm. We purchased the unit at retail.
This review uses the same test lot and the same stopwatch and sound meter as our EGO LM2135SP and older Ryobi 40V reviews so the numbers are directly comparable. See our methodology for the standardized protocol.
How we tested the Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch
- Three full mowing sessions on dry 3 inch fescue at 3 inch cut height.
- One wet mow after overnight rain on roughly 5 inch tall grass.
- Self-propel speed measured against a 100 ft chalked path using a stopwatch.
- Operator ear noise reading at 3 ft using a calibrated sound meter at the handlebar.
- Battery runtime per 7.5 Ah pack across multiple full mows.
- Charger time from empty to full measured against the wall clock.
Who should buy the Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch?
Buy the Ryobi if:
- You have a third of an acre or smaller suburban lot.
- You want the lowest priced cordless mower that still feels grown up.
- You already own Ryobi 40V tools and you want the battery to share with the trimmer or blower.
- You are okay with a slightly less refined drive feel than the EGO.
Skip the Ryobi if:
- Your lot is over half an acre. The EGO LM2135SP handles longer mows with margin to spare.
- You hate slow chargers. The 90 minute charge time will frustrate you on multi-pack runs.
- You mow heavy wet grass weekly. The 40V motor bogs more than 56V or 80V competitors in those conditions.
Cut quality: clean for the price
On dry 3 inch fescue at a 3 inch cut height, the Ryobi produced clean even tips across the entire lawn with no obvious tearing. The 21 inch steel deck handles the airflow that mulching needs and the included high-lift blade did not require sharpening across the test season.
On wet first mow conditions the motor briefly bogged twice on the densest patches and recovered within about a second once we eased the dial. That is slower recovery than the EGO 56V (about half a second) and similar to the Greenworks Pro 80V on its less powerful settings. Side discharge in wet grass threw clippings cleanly. Mulching mode required two passes in those conditions which is normal for any mulcher.
Drive feel and ergonomics
The variable speed self-propel dial is the right control. Top speed measured 3.0 mph against a 100 ft path which matches Ryobi’s claim. The dial response is acceptable but not as linear as the EGO LM2135SP across the bottom third of the range.
Handle vibration is moderate. After a full half acre I felt mild hand fatigue. The handle clamp itself is plastic and felt slightly less premium under heavy folding cycles. After a season the clamp held tight, but I do not love it.
Battery and runtime
The 7.5 Ah pack delivered 49 minutes average cut time on dry grass across three runs. Wet first mow at 5 inch grass dropped runtime to about 35 minutes which is expected. Charge time on the included standard charger ran about 90 minutes from empty to full, which is the longest of any current cordless 21 inch mower kit.
That charge time is the most defensible criticism of the Ryobi. If you mow back to back lots or you cycle through two packs in a session, the slow charger will catch up to you. The mower itself does not bog significantly until the last 10 percent of pack capacity which is good cell management.
Storage and folding
Folded for storage, the Ryobi stands vertically on its rear wheels with the handle locked in place. That trick saves about 4 sq ft of garage floor. The handle release uses two side levers which fold the handle in roughly 8 seconds with practice. Vertical storage holds securely on the included rear pads.
Build quality and noise
The deck is steel, like the EGO. The handle and clamp hardware is plastic which feels less premium under repeated folding. Operator ear noise measured 75 dB at the handle at full motor load, roughly the same as the EGO and well below a typical gas mower.
After a full spring of cycling, the battery tested at about 95 percent of day one capacity. Normal lithium-ion behavior. The 5 year tool warranty plus 3 year battery warranty matches the EGO and beats every gas mower in this price band.
Value vs the EGO and Greenworks
The Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch lands at $449 retail which is $200 below the EGO LM2135SP and dead even with the Greenworks Pro 21-inch 80V. Against the EGO the savings are real and most owners will not notice the small drive refinement gap. Against the Greenworks the choice is closer. The Greenworks runs longer per charge but the Ryobi shares its battery with a much wider 40V tool family. If you already own Ryobi tools, this is the obvious pick.
Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Deck | Battery | Runtime | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-Inch | ★★★★☆ 4.4 | 21 in | 40V 7.5 Ah | 50 min | $449 | Best Value |
| EGO LM2135SP 21-Inch | ★★★★★ 4.6 | 21 in | 56V 7.5 Ah | 60 min | $649 | Top Pick |
| Greenworks Pro 21-Inch 80V | ★★★★★ 4.5 | 21 in | 80V 5 Ah | 60 min | $449 | Editor's Choice |
| Sun Joe MJ401E Corded | ★★★★☆ 4.0 | 14 in | Wired | Unlimited | $129 | Best Budget |
Full specifications
| Deck width | 21 inches steel |
| Voltage | 40V brushless |
| Battery (included) | 7.5 Ah |
| Runtime | About 50 minutes |
| Cut heights | 1.5 to 4 inches, 7 positions |
| Mode | 3 in 1 (mulch, bag, side discharge) |
| Self-propel | Variable speed up to 3 mph |
| Weight | About 76 lb with battery |
| Folding | Vertical storage |
| Charger | Standard 90 minute |
| Warranty | 5 year tool, 3 year battery |
Should you buy the Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-Inch Self-Propelled Cordless Lawn Mower?
The Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch self-propelled is the best value cordless mower in 2026. It cuts cleanly on dry grass, handles short wet patches without bogging, and runs about 50 minutes on the included 7.5 Ah battery. It does not match the EGO 56V on absolute power or build refinement, but it costs roughly $200 less and most owners will not notice the difference.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Ryobi 40V Brushless 21-inch worth $449?+
Yes for most suburban lawns up to about a third of an acre. It does not match the [EGO 56V](/reviews/ego-power-plus-lm2135sp-mower) on absolute cut power, but at $200 less it is the value pick. The 5 year warranty is identical.
How does it compare to the older Ryobi 40V we reviewed?+
The brushless 21-inch outpowers the older [Ryobi 40V](/reviews/ryobi-40v-mower) by a meaningful margin. The deck is wider, the motor handles tall grass better, and the runtime per Ah is improved. If you already own a 40V battery system, this is the upgrade.
Will the Ryobi handle tall first mows of spring?+
Yes if you slow down. The 40V brushless motor will bog if you push it through 6 inch wet grass at full speed. Drop the dial to about 40 percent, raise the cut height by a notch, and stop to clear the chute every few rows. It works the way every cordless mower at this voltage works.
How long does the 7.5 Ah battery actually last?+
We measured 49 minutes of cut time on dry 3 inch fescue and about 35 minutes in tall wet grass. Charge time is roughly 90 minutes on the included standard charger which is slower than the EGO 550W rapid charger.
Jamie Rodriguez
Jamie Rodriguez writes for The Tested Hub.
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