Black & Decker Electric Lawn Mower, Corded, 13-Amp, 20-Inch

I spent a season mowing a modest suburban patch with Black & Decker’s MM2000 corded mower, and it reminded me why corded electrics still have a place—and where they come up short. This 20-inch, 13‑amp push mower is all about straightforward convenience: no fuel, no batteries to charge, and no pull cords. You plug in, set your height with a single lever, and go. On lighter to medium growth, it cuts cleanly and quietly. In thicker conditions and over the long haul, there are some caveats.

Setup and ergonomics

Out of the box, the MM2000 is painless. Assembly is a few knobs and clips, the handle folds without tools, and the 13‑gallon fabric bag snaps on and off easily. At about 50 pounds, it’s lightweight for its deck size and easy to muscle around tight spaces. Two integrated carry handles make lifting into a shed or up steps simple.

The single‑lever height adjustment is one of my favorite touches. You can move through seven settings (1.5 to 4 inches) with one hand, and the detents are positive enough that it doesn’t drift. I typically mow cool‑season grass at 3 to 3.5 inches; the mower holds those heights consistently and doesn’t scalp on mild bumps.

Storage is friendly: the handle folds down in seconds and the footprint is small enough for a narrow shed. The fabric bag collapses flat, and the mower can be tipped on end for even tighter spaces (after cleaning out clippings).

Cut quality and deck design

The 20‑inch deck hits a sweet spot for small to mid‑size yards—wide enough to keep passes down, but not so wide that maneuvering is clumsy. Black & Decker’s EDGEMAX design lets the blade get close to the right side of the deck; in practice, I could clean up along fences and garden borders much closer than with many plastic‑deck electrics. I still needed a quick trim here and there, but fewer passes with the string trimmer is always welcome.

The MM2000 supports three modes: mulch, bag, and side discharge. Here’s how they shook out in use:
- Mulching: With regular weekly mowing, it atomizes clippings into a fine confetti that disappears into the lawn. In thicker or slightly damp growth, you’ll see some clumping; slowing down or raising the deck a notch helps.
- Bagging: The 13‑gallon fabric bag fills evenly and doesn’t puff excessive dust. On heavy spring flushes, I emptied it more often than a large hard‑shell bag, but it’s easy on and off and sits securely.
- Side discharge: Handy for quick knockdowns or when the lawn is simply too tall for mulching. It reduces load on the motor compared to mulching and is a good “rescue mode” after a vacation.

Blade changes are straightforward, and keeping the edge sharp makes a noticeable difference in both finish and load on the motor.

Power, runtime, and thermal behavior

A 13‑amp, 120‑volt corded motor gives you continuous runtime as long as your extension cord reaches—no battery management and no engine maintenance. Noise is a gentle hum rather than a roar; neighbors won’t hate you for late‑evening passes. Vibration through the handle is minimal.

That said, electric motors have thermal protection, and you can push this one to its limit under the wrong conditions. In heavy, tall, or damp grass—especially when mulching at a low deck setting—I could trip the thermal cutout. It’s not dramatic; the motor simply stops. After a short cool‑down, it restarts. The fix is technique, not brute force:
- Raise the cutting height and take a “tall then normal” two‑pass approach.
- Use side discharge or bagging instead of mulching in heavy growth.
- Slow your walking pace and overlap passes a bit more to reduce load.
- Keep the underside of the deck and cooling vents clean so the motor can breathe.

One important detail that often gets overlooked: use the right extension cord. For a 13‑amp tool:
- Up to 50 feet: 14‑gauge (or heavier) cord.
- 50–100 feet: 12‑gauge cord.
Undersized cords cause voltage drop, which makes the motor run hotter and trip protection sooner.

Cord management

If you’ve never mowed with a cord before, expect a learning curve. I run the cord over my left shoulder, start closest to the outlet, and work away from it in a U‑shaped pattern so the cord trails behind me and not underfoot. A bright, heavy‑duty outdoor cord helps visibility. After a couple of mows, it becomes second nature.

Build quality and durability

The MM2000 uses a composite deck and plenty of plastic. The upside is weight savings and corrosion resistance; the downside is that it doesn’t feel as rugged as steel‑deck gas machines. The wheels and adjusters have held up for me, and the folding hardware hasn’t loosened during a season of weekly use.

Where I’m more cautious is the motor’s lower bearing and general debris management. Fine clippings and dust can accumulate around the motor housing over time. On one long‑term unit, I began to hear a faint bearing whine late in the second season followed by increased drag and heat during mowing. Cleaning the motor area and deck religiously helped, but it didn’t reverse the wear. That experience, combined with how quickly thermal protection trips if the mower is overworked, makes me think this model is happiest on modest, well‑kept lawns—not as a brush‑clearing substitute or for consistently overgrown turf.

The 2‑year limited warranty is a safety net, but you still want to set yourself up for success:
- Clean the deck and cooling slots after each mow (a shop vac and a plastic scraper work well).
- Avoid hosing water into the motor area.
- Store the mower in a dry place.
- Keep the blade sharp to reduce motor load.

Who it’s for

• Best fit: Small to medium, flat suburban lawns you cut weekly; owners who value quiet operation, compact storage, and never having to buy gas or charge batteries.
• Acceptable with caveats: Slightly larger lawns within 100 feet of power; users willing to mow more frequently and adjust technique for heavy growth.
• Not ideal: Lumpy or expansive lots, consistently tall or wet grass, or anyone who wants a set‑and‑forget tool to muscle through neglect. In those cases, a more powerful corded unit, a high‑voltage battery mower, or a gas machine will be a better match.

Everyday usability

• Starting and stopping is instant with the bail handle.
• The handle height is comfortable for average‑to‑tall users; shorter users may prefer the lower setting.
• The bag empties cleanly and the cloth breathes well, which helps maintain airflow while bagging.
• Edge performance is genuinely good—fewer trim passes along hardscapes were needed in my yard.

Pros and cons

Pros:
- Clean, quiet cut with continuous runtime
- Excellent single‑lever height adjustment
- EDGEMAX deck gets convincingly close to edges
- Lightweight, folds small, and easy to carry
- Three practical mowing modes with easy transitions

Cons:
- Thermal cutout trips if you push too hard in heavy or damp grass
- Composite build feels less robust than pricier alternatives
- Long‑term motor/bearing durability is a question mark on tougher duty cycles
- Requires proper, heavy‑gauge cords and thoughtful cord management

Recommendation

Conditional recommendation. I recommend the MM2000 for small to mid‑size, well‑maintained lawns where quiet operation, compact storage, and plug‑and‑mow simplicity matter most. Used within its comfort zone—weekly cuts, appropriate height, and a properly sized extension cord—it delivers a neat, close‑to‑edge finish with low fuss and no fuel costs. If your yard routinely gets tall, you dislike cord management, or you expect a mower to power through heavy growth without technique adjustments, this isn’t the right match. Likewise, if durability under harder use is your top priority, you’ll be better served by a more robust battery or gas model.