Skil Brushless 40V 20 In. Self-Propelled Mower Kit

Why I chose this mower

I wanted a compact, self-propelled cordless mower that could live vertically in a tight garage, start with a button, and handle weekly suburban grass without fuss. The Skil 40V mower ticks those boxes and then some. After several weeks of cutting in mixed conditions—dry, damp morning dew, even some leaf pickup—I’ve formed a clear picture of where it shines and where it doesn’t.

Setup, build, and first impressions

Out of the box, assembly is simple. The telescoping handle slides into place and locks with two side levers, the grass bag frame snaps into the mesh sleeve, and the mulching plug installs with a firm push. The battery sits under a spring-loaded “trap door,” which seals well and keeps clippings out of the compartment.

The deck is plastic, which keeps weight down and makes lifting the mower easy, but it doesn’t feel flimsy. Skil calls the design weather-resistant; I had no concerns cutting dewy lawns, but I still avoid mowing in active rain or washing the underside with a hose. Build quality is clean and purposeful—nothing rattly, all the pivoting points feel tight, and the single deck-height lever (seven positions from roughly 1.5 to 4 inches) glides without resistance. That lever is the star of setup; you can change cutting height for your entire yard in seconds.

One early tip: fully extend and lock the telescoping handle. There’s a safety interlock tied to the handle—if it’s not fully locked, the mower won’t start. Once I learned that, starting became second nature.

Controls and ergonomics

Controls are straightforward: press the red start button, pull the blade bail, and you’re mowing. The self-propel system is engaged by a separate lever with a speed dial under your right thumb. The range is broad; the lowest speed is very slow for careful trimming, and the top speed is a comfortable brisk walk. I never felt the mower “run away” from me at full speed.

The self-propel system is rear-wheel drive and has a noticeable electric whine—normal for this type of drive. Blade noise is far quieter than a gas mower; overall sound is mild enough for early-evening mowing without annoying the neighborhood. I did find it helpful to release the self-propel lever a moment before stopping at the end of a pass; that keeps the transmission from loading if you stop abruptly. If you forget, rocking the mower back an inch frees it.

Weight and balance are light and nimble. Tight turns, backing up, and threading along landscaping borders are easy. The trade-off is that on very bumpy patches, the front can “skip” a little at low cutting heights; slowing the drive speed and raising the deck a notch solved that for me.

Cutting performance

In typical weekly growth, the Skil 40V mower cuts cleanly and leaves a tidy surface. The 20-inch deck is a touch narrower than some 21-inch competitors, but it didn’t slow me down in a suburban yard. The blade tips are sharp out of the box, and airflow through the deck pulls clippings into the bag effectively. Even with damp grass, bag fill was consistent, with fewer clumps than I expected for a plastic deck.

In heavier growth (say, grass pushing 6–8 inches, or patches of wet, thick fescue), I had to use a little strategy. Raising the deck one notch for a first pass, then dropping back to my usual setting for a second pass, produced a clean result without bogging. This is a 20-inch, 40V system—reasonable expectations help here. If you routinely reclaim overgrown areas, plan on slower ground speed or two passes. For normal maintenance, it behaves like a mid-tier gas mower, just much quieter.

Mulching is good in average conditions. When the lawn was damp or growth was heavy, I preferred to bag—it protects the cut quality and avoids trailings. The included 60 L bag is easy to remove and rehang, and its capacity is generous for the mower’s size.

A pleasant surprise: leaf pickup. With the bag attached and deck height dropped a notch, it vacuums up dry leaves very well, sparing me an extra pass with a blower.

Runtime and charging

My kit shipped with a 40V battery; configurations vary, but the charging behavior is similar across the platform. On a single full charge, I consistently cut around a quarter acre of mixed turf with bagging, or roughly 35–45 minutes of continuous operation, depending on how much I leaned on the self-propel drive and how heavy the grass was. In lighter conditions, I stretched past 45 minutes. In thicker, damp sections with a lot of bagging, runtime dropped into the low 30s. That aligns with what I’d expect for a 20-inch, 40V class mower.

The included fast charger is legitimately quick to top off. I appreciated its “get-me-going” rapid partial charge; popping the pack on while I trimmed edges gave me enough juice to finish a larger session. The charger has a cooling fan you will hear on a countertop—normal behavior, and worth the faster turnarounds. Skil’s pack design includes cell cooling measures; I noticed the pack stayed relatively cool to the touch, even after sustained cutting.

If your lawn is closer to one-third acre, you’ll likely finish on one charge with moderate bagging. At a half acre, I’d recommend a second battery, or plan on a mid-mow top-off.

Storage and maintenance

The telescoping handle and vertical storage are excellent. With the handle collapsed and the mower stored upright, the footprint is small enough to tuck beside a garage refrigerator. The latch points feel sturdy; I had no fear of it tipping.

Maintenance is straightforward: knock off clippings under the deck with a brush, wipe the housing, and keep the blade sharp. The battery bay stays clean thanks to the sealed door. As with any battery tool, avoid storing the pack in extreme heat or cold.

Things I’d change

• No side discharge: It’s a true 2-in-1 (bag/mulch). I didn’t miss a chute for weekly cuts, but it would be handy for rough, tall material.
• Light front end: The low overall weight is mostly a positive, but on very uneven ground with low cut heights, the deck can bounce a bit. Slowing down or raising the deck helps.
• Self-propel whine: Normal for an electric drive, but it’s more audible than the blade at times. Not a problem, just an expectation to set.
• Safety interlocks are particular: Make sure the handle is fully extended and locked or the mower won’t start. Once you know, it’s a non-issue.

Who it suits best

• Small to mid-size suburban lawns up to about one-third acre on a single battery.
• Owners who value easy storage, quick setup, and low noise.
• Anyone who needs a genuinely useful self-propel system with a wide speed range and intuitive controls.
• Users switching from gas who want similar cut quality and a painless starting experience.

If you routinely tackle overgrown, wet turf, or you want a steel-deck, 3-in-1 machine with side discharge and extra weight, this may not be the ideal fit. For most weekly mowing, though, it’s a strong performer.

The bottom line

The Skil 40V mower delivers the cordless experience I want: push-button starts, a variable self-propel drive that actually helps, clean cut quality in normal conditions, and smart storage that saves space. Runtime is in line with its class, bagging works better than expected, and the single-lever height adjust is a joy to use. The lightweight build trades a bit of planted feel on rough ground, and you’ll still want to bag or double-cut when the lawn gets away from you, but those are reasonable compromises for the convenience.

Recommendation: I recommend this mower for small to medium lawns where weekly maintenance is the norm. It’s an easy-living, well-thought-out package that covers the essentials—start, cut, collect, store—with minimal friction. If you need all-day, heavy-growth capability or side discharge, look to a heavier, higher-voltage alternative. Otherwise, this is an excellent, space-saving self-propelled option at a sensible price, backed by a mature 40V platform and a fast charger that keeps you moving.