Ryobi Lawn Mower: 18V vs 40V, the Recall, and Amazon Picks
Lawn mowers
Ryobi builds its mowers on the 18V ONE+ and 40V battery systems and sells them through Home Depot, so there is no Ryobi lawn mower on Amazon. Here is what the 2025 recall covered and the three cordless mowers worth buying on Amazon instead.
Our picks
The best cordless mower for most small yards is the Greenworks 40V 16-inch, and the reason is simple: it is light, it starts with a button, and it fits through a gate. Ryobi does not sell on Amazon, so if you searched for a Ryobi lawn mower and landed here, this page tells you what the Ryobi platform is, what the 2025 recall covered, and the three cordless mowers you can actually buy on Amazon tonight.
This guide sits inside the lawn mower guides. If you want the small-yard breakdown by brand, read our best lawn mower for a small yard guide. If you would rather never push a mower, compare the best robot mower for a small yard.
Which Ryobi lawn mower is better, the 18V or the 40V?
Ryobi splits its mowers by battery. The 18V ONE+ line covers compact 12- to 13-inch trim mowers for a small, tidy lawn, and the 40V line carries the full-size 20- and 21-inch walk-behinds with the power and run time for a real yard. For most buyers, the 40V system is the one to price.
The 40V HP label is the high-performance version of the same platform. It uses a brushless motor and a bigger battery, and Ryobi rates the 21-inch self-propelled model at about 45 minutes on a 4Ah pack and up to 75 minutes on the larger packs.
What the 18V ONE+ mowers are for
The 18V ONE+ mowers are compact machines rather than full-size lawn mowers. The 12-inch 3-in-1 kit runs a mower, a trimmer, and an edger on one battery, which suits a patio, a townhouse strip, or a garage that wants a single battery for every tool. It is not a machine built to mow a lawn every week through the summer.
Where the 40V platform starts to make sense
A 40V mower is where Ryobi gets serious about cutting grass. The batteries run from 2.0Ah to 8.0Ah, so one pack can run the mower, then drop into a 40V trimmer, blower, or snow blower. That shared platform is the reason to buy into Ryobi at all, and it is the part you cannot take with you if you switch brands later.
Is Ryobi only sold at Home Depot?
In the US, yes. Ryobi is a Home Depot house brand, and its mowers, batteries, and parts sell through Home Depot and Direct Tools Factory Outlet. That is also why there is no Ryobi lawn mower on Amazon to link here, and why the picks below are the cordless mowers Amazon actually sells against the same search.
That matters because Amazon has its own answer for a Ryobi shopper. Search "ryobi lawn mower" on Amazon and the top result is a Greenworks 40V 16-inch push mower rather than a Ryobi. Shoppers who research Ryobi mowers end up buying a Greenworks, and a Reddit thread comparing the two brands comes down on Greenworks for price and cutting power.
So this page has two jobs. The first is to answer the Ryobi questions you cannot get from a product page. The second is to point you at the three cordless mowers on Amazon that do the same work, so you are not stuck if a Home Depot run is a hassle or you would rather have the mower delivered.
Why were Ryobi mowers recalled in 2025?
Ten Ryobi 40V brushless 21-inch walk-behind mowers were recalled on February 6, 2025. A push-on connector inside the powerhead could overheat and start a fire. About 217,500 mowers were affected in the United States, the remedy was a free replacement mower, and the serial range is published so you can check yours.
What the recall actually covered
The recall list holds ten models from the RY401014, RY401015, RY401020, and RY401200 families, including the models sold in Canada. The affected serial numbers run from KC21032D010001 to KC21327N999999, and the label sits under the battery door.
The mowers were sold from February 2021 through January 2025 for between $500 and $700. The Consumer Product Safety Commission counted 97 reports of overheating, five fires, and two minor burn injuries before the recall. Every recalled mower has a black cutting deck with a gray top housing.
What you should do if you own one
Turn the mower off and stop using it, then find the model and serial number under the battery compartment lid. Contact TTI at 800-597-9624 or use the Ryobi safety page, enter both numbers, and you will get either an all-clear or instructions for a free replacement 21-inch mower. Ryobi replaced the mower rather than shipping a part, so there is nothing to install.
The best small-yard pick on Amazon: Greenworks 40V 16-inch
The Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Lawn Mower is the best cordless mower for a small, flat yard. It weighs about 38 pounds, cuts a 16-inch path, and runs on a single 40V 4.0Ah battery and charger that both come in the box.
The cutting height adjusts across five positions from 1-1/4 to 3-3/8 inches on a single lever. It mulches or bags with a rear collector, and the handle folds so the mower stands upright against a shed wall. The battery is part of the Greenworks 40V line, so the same pack runs a 40V trimmer, blower, or chainsaw once you add one.
Who it is for: A quarter acre or less, with beds and a gate to work around. Skip it if your lawn is closer to a third of an acre, where a 20- or 21-inch deck finishes in fewer passes.
Shop: Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower on Amazon
The best slope pick on Amazon: Greenworks 60V 21-inch self-propelled
The Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower is the pick when the small yard is not flat. The 60V brushless motor drives a 21-inch steel deck, and the kit ships with two 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger.
The self-propel drive does the pushing on an incline, and the deck adjusts across seven cutting heights on one lever. It folds upright for storage, handles mulch, bag, side discharge, and leaf pickup, and runs on the Greenworks 60V line so the packs also feed a 60V trimmer or blower. The tool and the batteries carry a four-year warranty, and the kit is discounted from list, which makes it a good buy if the yard has a slope.
Who it is for: A yard with a slope, a ditch, or uneven ground, up to about three quarters of an acre. Skip it if the lawn is flat and under a quarter acre, where the lighter 40V mower is easier to handle.
Shop: Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower on Amazon
The best big-lot pick on Amazon: Greenworks 60V 25-inch
The Greenworks 60V 25-Inch Self-Propelled Mower is the cordless pick for a big lot. It runs the widest deck in the Greenworks residential line, a 25-inch steel deck with a variable rear-wheel drive that moves between 3.5 and 4.5 mph.
Two 4.0Ah batteries run the mower and cover up to three quarters of an acre per charge, and the dual-port design draws from one pack at a time. The deck adjusts across seven positions, and the mower mulches, bags, and picks up leaves. It carries the same four-year tool and battery warranty as the 21-inch model.
Who it is for: Half an acre to about three quarters of an acre, or a lawn that a 21-inch deck takes too long to finish. Skip it if the lot is small, because the extra weight only helps when there is ground to cover.
Shop: Greenworks 60V 25-Inch Self-Propelled Mower on Amazon
Can you mow when the grass is wet?
You can, but it is usually a mistake. Wet grass clumps under the deck, clogs the bag, and leaves a ragged cut, and a wet slope is slick underfoot. If you have to cut, raise the deck one notch, walk slower, and clean the underside of the deck before the clippings dry hard.
A sharp blade matters more on wet grass than on dry, because a dull blade tears the blades of grass instead of slicing them and leaves a brown tip behind. If a wet cut is unavoidable, plan to sharpen the blade sooner.
The other case for waiting is the mower itself. An electric deck that is caked in wet clippings draws more current, and a battery that would run 45 minutes on dry grass can fade closer to 25 minutes on a soaking lawn. Mowing a day later on dry grass is faster and cheaper.
What does it cost to charge a cordless mower?
A few cents a charge. A 40V 4.0Ah pack holds about 160 watt-hours, which is about 2.7 cents of electricity at the US average of roughly 17 cents a kilowatt-hour, and two 60V 4.0Ah packs hold 480 watt-hours, about 8.2 cents a charge.
What a season of cutting costs in electricity
Twenty-five mows on the 40V 16-inch mower is about 68 cents of electricity for the season. The same 25 cuts on either 60V mower runs about $2.05. Compare that with a small gas mower that burns about 0.15 gallons for a third of an acre, and the same 25 mows cost about $13 of fuel. The battery mower costs far less to run than the gas one, season after season, long before the first pack wears out.
How many passes a 16-inch deck takes
A 16-inch deck covers about 1.33 feet of grass per pass, so a 100-foot-wide lawn is roughly 75 passes with no overlap. A 21-inch deck cuts that to about 57, and a 25-inch deck to about 48. That difference is the real reason a wider deck feels faster, even on a lawn that looks small from the driveway.
Ryobi or a Greenworks mower: which should you buy?
Stay with Ryobi if you already own 40V Ryobi batteries and other Ryobi tools, because the platform is the whole reason to buy in. Buying a Greenworks mower would mean starting a second battery line from scratch.
Buy the Greenworks mower instead if the mower is your first cordless tool, if you want a 16-inch deck for a small gate or a 25-inch deck for a wide lawn, or if you would rather have it delivered than make a store run. The 40V 16-inch is the cheapest way into a cordless mower, and the two 60V machines cover a slope and a big lot.
Bottom line
The Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower is the best cordless mower for most small yards, with a light frame, a 16-inch deck that fits a tight gate, and a battery and charger in the box. The Greenworks 60V 21-Inch Self-Propelled is the pick for a slope, and the Greenworks 60V 25-Inch Self-Propelled is the one for a bigger lot.
If you are already deep in the Ryobi 40V system, that platform is still worth staying with, and the recall only covers mowers built between February 2021 and January 2025, so check the serial range if you buy used. For more coverage, browse the lawn mower guides, the best battery lawn mower for a small yard, and the best electric lawn mower for a small yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ryobi lawn mower is better, the 18V or the 40V?
The 40V system is the one for real mowing. Ryobi's 18V ONE+ mowers are compact 12- to 13-inch machines for a patio or a trim mower, while the 40V line carries the full-size 20- and 21-inch walk-behinds with the power and run time for a normal yard. If you are mowing a lawn and not just edging one, price the 40V.
Is Ryobi only sold at Home Depot?
In the US, yes. Ryobi is a Home Depot house brand, and its mowers, batteries, and parts sell through Home Depot and Direct Tools Factory Outlet. That is why there is no Ryobi lawn mower on Amazon, and why the picks in this guide are the cordless mowers Amazon sells against the same search.
Why were Ryobi mowers recalled in 2025?
Ten Ryobi 40V brushless 21-inch walk-behind mowers were recalled in February 2025. A push-on connector inside the powerhead could overheat and start a fire. About 217,500 mowers were affected in the US, and the fix was a free replacement mower.
Can you mow when the grass is wet?
You can, but it is a bad trade. Wet grass clumps under the deck, clogs the bag, and leaves a ragged cut, and a wet slope is slick underfoot. If you have to cut, raise the deck a notch, walk slower, and clean the underside before the clippings dry in place.
What does it cost to charge a cordless mower?
A few cents a charge. A 40V 4.0Ah pack holds about 160 watt-hours, which is about 2.7 cents of electricity at the US average of roughly 17 cents a kilowatt-hour. Two 60V 4.0Ah packs hold 480 watt-hours, about 8.2 cents a charge.
Is a 16-inch deck big enough for a small yard?
For most small suburban lots, yes. A 16-inch deck covers a quarter acre or less comfortably and fits through a garden gate. Step up to 20 or 21 inches once the lawn passes a third of an acre, because a wider deck means fewer passes.
How long does a Ryobi 40V mower run on a charge?
Ryobi quotes about 45 minutes on a 40V 4Ah pack and up to 75 minutes for the bigger 40V HP mowers, which Ryobi says is enough for about three quarters of an acre. Grass height, moisture, and deck height all pull run time down in real use.
Should I buy a Ryobi mower or a Greenworks mower?
Stay with Ryobi if you already own 40V Ryobi batteries and other Ryobi tools, because the platform is the whole point. If you are buying mower-first and shop on Amazon, the Greenworks 40V and 60V mowers here cost less per deck inch and ship without a trip to the store.