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Investing in a quality lawn mower is a crucial aspect of property maintenance. A battery-powered, self-propelled model is ideal for most residential yards. Two popular contenders are EGO Power+ and Makita. Both brands are heavyweight names in the lawn mowing industry, so choosing between them can be challenging. How does the Makita self-propelled lawn mower vs. EGO 56V mower compare? Find out which is best for you.
Makita Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Vs. EGO 56V Mower: Side-by-Side Comparison
Makita 36V LXT (self-propelled lawn mower) is a good choice for residential and commercial purposes. While its power pack isn’t the most powerful, investing in two or more battery sets will allow you to mow large lawns without interruptions. EGO 56V has a powerful battery and many appealing features, even if the deck is not commercial grade. Here’s how the two compare.
| Makita Self-Propelled Lawn Mower | EGO 56V Mower | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Yards up to ¼ acres | Yards up to ½ acres |
| Operation mode | Self-propelled | Self-propelled |
| Cutting width | 21” | 21” |
| Cutting height settings | 10 | 7 |
| Cutting heights | 1-1/4” – 4” | 1.5″- 4″ |
| Waste management | Mulching, bagging, rear discharge | Mulching, bagging, side discharge |
| Battery | 36V (2x18V, 5.0Ah) | 56V (7.5Ah) |
| Runtime | Up to 40 minutes | Up to 60 minutes |
| Motor type | Brushless | Brushless |
| Speed | 1.5MPH – 3MPH | 0.9MPH – 3.1MPH |
| Headlights | No | Yes |
- Folding handles for easy storage
- Zero emission and lower noise
- Up to 40 minutes runtime per charge
- Quick height adjustments
Makita Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Vs. EGO 56V Mower: What’s the Difference?
At first glance, Makita’s self-propelled lawn mower and the EGO 56V don’t seem very different, aside from the battery pack. However, certain features of the latter make it a more popular choice.
Deck and Cutting
Undeniably, a mower’s ability to cut grass to perfection is a crucial buying factor. Makita and EGO can deliver impressive results, but the former wins this round.
While both lawn mowers have a 21-inch deck, Makita features more cutting height adjustments (ten vs. seven on the EGO) and a wider cutting height range, between 1.25 to 4 inches. EGO has a maximum height adjustment of four inches and a minimum height of 1.5 inches. This difference makes Makita a better choice for warm-season turfs that generally require a cutting height of 1.25 inches or less in spring and fall and even shorter in the growing season.
For cool-season grasses, either lawn mower would do. Depending on the season, turfs typically require a cutting height between two and three inches. You can adjust both mowers to suit the specific cool-season grass in your yard.
Power and Runtime
The next most important things to consider when buying a lawn mower – especially a battery-powered one – are the power and runtime. In this aspect, EGO’s 56 volts have the upper hand, even if the brand uses the battery’s max voltage for advertising its product.
In reality, EGO’s battery outputs about 50.4 volts. Even so, it is still more powerful than Makita’s 36V nominal voltage. EGO has more power to cut through long turf blades, at least in theory. Despite its weaker battery, Makita usually beats EGO in cutting power.
Where it fails is the runtime. In fact, the self-propelled mower from Makita promises around 40 minutes of runtime. EGO says its battery delivers up to an hour of uninterrupted work. If you have owned any battery-powered tool, you probably know you’ll get less than that from both brands. However, EGO still wins with its longer-lasting battery.
However, even if the battery lasts longer, it charges much slower than Makita. That’s because Makita’s self-propelled lawn mower uses two 18-volt 5.0Ah batteries that recharge in about 45 minutes. EGO’s 5.0Ah batteries need about 80 minutes of charge, while the 7.5Ah battery equipping the mower requires up to 145 minutes of rapid recharging.
Both lawn mowers come with interchangeable batteries compatible with all batteries in their brand’s ecosystems.
Waste Management
When mowing a lawn, you have three possible waste management options. You can bag the clippings and dispose of them later (if the mower has a bag), discharge them on the lawn, or turn them into mulch. Mulching essentially refers to turning the grass blades into tiny shreds that can act as fertilizer and barriers against weeds and pests.
Regardless of your preference, the Makita and the EGO self-propelled lawn mowers offer mulch, bagging, and discharging. The main difference is how each mower discharges the clippings. Makita wins the round with rear discharge. EGO has side discharge, which means you’ll have to carefully plan the path to avoid obstacles such as flower beds and other lawn fixtures on which you wouldn’t want the grass clippings to land. Meanwhile, Makita allows you to take the most efficient patch and trim the grass around flower beds or sidewalks without worrying about making a mess.
Maneuverability
Typicaly of self-propelled lawn mowers, Makita and EGO are easy to maneuver. However, the latter adds features that can improve maneuverability. A wider speed range and the presence of headlights can make a difference when mowing.
As far as speed goes, EGO features a variable speed control from 0.9MPH to 3.1MPH. It is easy to understand that a higher speed means that you’ll finish the chore faster, but a lower speed actually improves control and maneuverability. This could be essential for beginners, women, and seniors.
Makita also has a variable speed control, but the narrower speed range from 1.5MPH to 3MPH makes it a better choice for more experienced users. This lawn mower also lacks headlights, which might not be essential but can improve results when mowing in low-light conditions. For storage and transport, both lawn mowers are collapsible.
Build Quality
A major difference between Makita’s self-propelled lawn mower and the EGO 56V mower is its construction. The former is designed with heavy-duty use in mind. It’s made from commercial-grade materials, including a commercial-grade steel deck and an all-metal body. Because of its superb build, Makita can resist whatever you throw at it and still provide dependable service as long as you maintain it properly.
EGO 56V mower features a steel deck, but the rest of the body is plastic. Overall, the build quality is great, but the material is weaker than metal. It can also become brittle in time, especially if you don’t have a shed and store the mower outside, under the elements.
On the bright side, the material choice sheds off some weight on the EGO mower. It weighs 54.5lbs, whereas Makita has a heft of 88.4lbs. The almost 34lbs of difference further improves EGO’s maneuverability.
Price
Makita is built from stronger materials and is designed to resist heavy use. So, it’s not surprising that it costs more than EGO. The difference is minimal, so this should be the last factor to consider when comparing these two lawn mowers.
Makita Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Vs. EGO 56V Mower: 5 Must-Known Facts
- Makita 36V LXT and EGO 56V are two self-propelled lawn mowers suitable for light to heavy residential use.
- Both lawn mowers come bare as standard. Bundle options with battery and charger packs are available from both manufacturers.
- Both Makita and EGO use interchangeable batteries within their respective ecosystems.
- Makita LXT features an all-metal construction but fewer speed controls. EGO 56V has a plastic case but provides improved speed control and maneuverability.
- More cutting height adjustment and a wider cutting height range make Makita a better choice for warm-season grasses.
- Simple, automatic operation
- Adjustable handle height
- Self-propelled mower with easy start button
- No noise, fumes, or mess
Makita Self-Propelled Lawn Mower Vs. EGO 56V Mower: Which One Is Better?
Makita self-propelled lawn mower and EGO 56V mower are two worthy options, but choosing the best for you doesn’t have to be complicated. If you have never used a self-propelled lawn mower or have a larger lawn, up to half an acre, the EGO 56V mower is the best for you. It’s easier to maneuver than Makita and comes with a larger battery.
However, if you need a commercial-grade lawn mower or have warm-season turf, Makita is a better choice. This self-propelled lawn mower features rear discharge, meaning you can optimize the route regardless of the lawn layout and obstacles. The runtime is shorter, but a second battery pack can optimize runtime, too. EGO 56V is the best if you want to save a buck, but Makita delivers higher performance.
- Folding handles for easy storage
- Zero emission and lower noise
- Up to 40 minutes runtime per charge
- Quick height adjustments
- Simple, automatic operation
- Adjustable handle height
- Self-propelled mower with easy start button
- No noise, fumes, or mess
