Skil 40V Brushless 20 In. Push Mower Kit

Why this compact Skil stood out in my yard

I’ve spent the past few weeks putting the Skil 40V mower through the same routines I use to test gas and battery mowers: weekly cuts on cool-season turf, a couple of “missed-week” recovery cuts in thicker growth, damp morning passes, and a mix of bagging and mulching. It’s a straightforward, no-frills push mower—no self-propel, no exotic modes—and that’s part of its appeal. Light weight, quick setup, and simple controls are the story here. If you want a cordless mower that’s easy to live with, this one gets a lot right.

Setup, build, and storage

Unboxing to first cut took me about 10 minutes. The handle telescopes and locks confidently, and the deck-height lever operates all four wheels in one motion. The deck is a rigid plastic composite that feels sturdy, not flimsy, and it helps keep the overall weight down. The grass bag is mid-size and snaps on/off with one hand. I also appreciate true vertical storage; fold the handle, set it upright, and it occupies a fraction of the floor space—handy in a crowded garage.

IPX4 weather resistance isn’t an invitation to mow in a downpour, but it shrugged off dewy mornings and light splashes. After damp cuts, clippings didn’t stick excessively to the underside of the deck, and cleaning with a brush was quick.

Ergonomics and maneuverability

This is a push mower, and it’s easy to push. The low weight pays dividends on slopes and tight turns around beds and trees. The handle telescopes to a comfortable height, and the bail bar action is smooth and not overly stiff. If you’re on uneven ground, the lightweight deck can bounce a bit at speed; a slightly slower, steadier pace keeps the cut consistent. Wheel size and tread are adequate for typical residential lawns, and turns feel nimble, more so than most steel-deck gas mowers in this size.

Power and runtime

Under the hood is a brushless motor with load-sensing that ramps up when the grass gets dense. In normal weekly maintenance cuts, the mower runs at a relatively modest pitch and sips power. When I intentionally let the lawn run tall and thick, the motor spun up promptly and maintained blade speed, but like most 20-inch cordless units, it benefits from pacing: push too fast into heavy, uneven clumps and you can trip the overload protection. Backing off the pace a touch and taking a second pass at a lower height solved it every time.

With the included 40V 6.0Ah pack, I consistently finished a typical suburban lawn on a single charge. On an even-paced, weekly schedule, I covered roughly 7,000–10,000 square feet per charge depending on height, moisture, and how much bagging I did. Bagging uses more power than mulching, and tall, wet grass is the biggest battery drain. The pack stayed warm but never hot; Skil’s thermal management seems to be doing its job.

Charging on the included Auto PWRJUMP unit is pragmatic rather than miraculous. In my testing, a full charge from empty took right around an hour (a bit over on some cycles). The quick-boost feature delivered a meaningful top-up in about 15 minutes—enough for a small section or to finish a missed patch—but it’s not a 15-minute full charge.

Cut quality: bagging and mulching

Blade tip speed and deck airflow matter more than raw voltage for bagging, and here the Skil does well. With the bag attached, pickup is notably strong, even when I overlapped less than I normally would. Clippings packed efficiently into the 1.7-bushel bag without snow-coning at the back, and I could often fill it close to capacity before airflow dropped off. On damp turf, I saw fewer clumps than expected for a plastic-deck 20-incher, and the chute clears nicely when you keep the pace reasonable.

Mulching results were good, especially at maintenance heights. If you’re knocking down an overgrown lawn, a two-pass strategy—first high, then your target height—produces far better mulch size and finish. The single-lever height adjustment makes that workflow painless. The cut-to-edge is average for a mower this width; you’ll still want a trim pass along fences and beds, but the left side gets reasonably close.

The 7-position height range (1.25–4 inches) covers most cool- and warm-season needs. I’d love a notch above 4 inches for midsummer heat protection on some grasses, but 4 inches is sufficient for most homeowners.

Noise and vibration

Noise level is closer to a loud shop vac than a gas mower. I could carry on a conversation during lighter loads and didn’t feel beat up after a longer session. I still recommend hearing protection for extended mowing—it’s a power tool—but this is night-and-day quieter than any gas unit in my shop. Vibration at the handle is minimal, adding to that “lighter than it looks” feel.

Controls, safety, and convenience

A push-button start and bail bar is the whole interface. It’s intuitive and reliable—no choke, no pull cord, no fuel issues. The safety circuitry errs on the conservative side and will shut the motor down if the blade bogs into dirt or heavy thatch. That can be surprising the first time it happens but it’s an easy restart and, frankly, a useful reminder to lift the deck or slow the pace.

The single-lever deck adjuster is a standout. It’s a firm, positive action with clear clicks at each height. Both bagging and mulching swaps are tool-free and quick; I preferred to bag in spring and mulch in mid-summer, and switching modes didn’t slow me down.

Maintenance and ownership

There’s not much to manage beyond sharpening the blade a couple of times per season and keeping the deck clear of buildup. With no gas, oil, or carb to fuss over, seasonal storage is essentially charging the battery to a partial state and parking the mower vertically. The battery pack seated securely every time, and contacts remained clean in wet conditions.

Because it’s part of Skil’s 40V lineup, the battery’s usefulness extends beyond mowing if you’re invested in that ecosystem. That can be a real value play if you plan to add a blower or trimmer.

Where it shines—and where it doesn’t

Pros:
- Lightweight, easy-to-push design that’s friendly on slopes and tight turns
- Strong bagging performance for a 20-inch cordless mower
- Quiet operation with low vibration
- Simple setup, push-button start, and reliable single-lever height adjustment
- Compact, stable vertical storage
- Solid runtime with a 6.0Ah pack; effective load-sensing
- IPX4 rating handled dew and light splashes without drama

Cons:
- Can trip overload if you rush thick or uneven sections—pace matters
- Top height maxes at 4 inches; some users may want more in peak heat
- Full charge is about an hour; the quick-boost is helpful but not a full refill
- Lightweight deck can “hop” over bumps if you push too fast
- 20-inch deck means more passes than a 21–22 inch mower on larger lawns

The bottom line

The Skil 40V mower is a dependable, user-friendly push mower that prioritizes the day-to-day experience: easy starts, strong bagging, compact storage, and enough runtime for typical suburban lots. It won’t bulldoze through knee-high turf in a single pass, and it rewards a measured pace in heavy sections, but that’s true of most mowers in this class. If you value a light, maneuverable machine over raw size and you’re okay with a 20-inch deck, this is a well-executed choice.

Recommendation: I recommend this mower for small to medium lawns and anyone ready to retire a finicky gas unit in favor of a quieter, cleaner routine. It’s especially strong for homeowners who bag regularly and want straightforward maintenance with vertical storage. If you regularly mow more than about a quarter to a third of an acre on one charge or insist on a top height above 4 inches, consider a larger deck or a self-propelled, higher-capacity option. For most homeowners, though, this Skil hits the mark on performance, convenience, and value.