DeWalt 2x20V MAX 21 in. Brushless Cordless Rear-Wheel-Drive Self-Propelled Mower Kit

Why I reached for this mower

I’ve been migrating more of my lawn care to battery power, so the DeWalt 21-inch self-propelled mower immediately piqued my interest: steel deck, dual blades, two big 10 Ah batteries in the box, and a rear-wheel-drive transmission. After several weeks cutting a mixed cool-season lawn (~1/3 acre) with a blend of flat areas, mild slopes, and a few bumpy sections, I’ve got a solid feel for where it shines—and where it still trails a strong gas machine.

Setup, storage, and first impressions

Assembly was quick. The handle pops into place and the one-touch folding/telescoping mechanism is excellent. It’s the best storage experience I’ve had with a mower: collapses quickly, stands up compactly, and feels secure when stowed. If garage space is at a premium, this matters a lot.

The deck is 15-gauge steel, which gives the unit a sturdy feel underfoot and better stability when bumping over roots or edging around beds. That steel comes with a bit of extra weight compared to plastic-deck electrics, but the self-propelled drive offsets it while mowing.

Fit and finish is mostly what I expect from DeWalt, though I’ll note one weak spot: the rear wheel mounting uses stamped metal forks rather than a full-width axle. Mine hasn’t bent, but I can flex the assembly slightly by hand. If you habitually hop curbs or slam into obstacles, keep that in mind.

Controls and the LED dashboard

Controls are intuitive: push-button start, a thumbwheel to set self-propel speed, and a single-point height lever with six settings. The height range is roughly 1.25 to 3.75 inches. I typically mow cool-season turf at 3.25–3.5 inches in summer; the top setting works, but I’d love a true 4-inch option when it’s hot and growth is aggressive.

The LED dashboard is more useful than I expected. It shows battery status, a load indicator (helpful for pacing or choosing a slower drive speed in heavy patches), and a blade-wear icon. I didn’t trigger the blade end-of-life indicator during testing, so I can’t vouch for its accuracy, but the load indicator taught me to ease the self-propel a tick on thick passes to maintain blade speed and cut quality.

Cutting performance and the dual blades

Cut quality is very good on a typical weekly schedule. The dual-blade setup produces fine clippings and a clean, even finish when the grass isn’t overly tall or wet. On days where I pushed it—damp morning dew or an extra-long interval—the mower kept up, but I did see some clumping and a few stragglers that a second pass cleaned up. That’s not unusual for battery mowers, and frankly many gas walk-behinds also benefit from slowing down or raising the deck in those conditions.

Where you notice the gap versus a high-horsepower gas mower is in fast growth over bumpy sections. If the deck dips into an uneven spot or you drive too fast into a thicker swath, the motor will bog briefly before recovering. It never felt underpowered for normal maintenance cuts, but it rewards a steady pace and smart height choices more than a gas brute force approach.

Striping is respectable with the rear-wheel drive’s weight bias and the steel deck, though there’s no dedicated striping kit. The cut is consistent edge to edge, and the dual blades help minimize windrows.

Mulching, bagging, and rear discharge

• Mulching: The mower’s default for me. On routine cuts, clippings are finely chopped and disappear well. When I stretched the interval or cut damp, I had to slow down to avoid leaving a light trail. If you’re a strict mulcher and often mow tall or wet grass, plan to raise the deck one notch and/or reduce your pace.

• Bagging: The included bag is nicely sized and fills evenly. I was impressed by how much it holds before airflow starts dropping. In heavy, damp clippings the chute can load up (again, pretty standard) but a quick lift-and-shake clears it.

• Rear discharge: Handy for rough areas or for knocking down tall patches before a finish pass. It’s not something I use every week, but it’s good that the mower ships ready for all three modes.

Self-propel, traction, and handling

Rear-wheel drive is the right call here. Traction is reliable on my slopes, and the mower tracks straight without torque-steer. The speed dial has enough range to accommodate a relaxed or brisk walking pace. Engagement is smooth, though I learned not to pin the speed in dense turf; pairing a moderate drive speed with the motor’s load response produced the best cut and battery life.

Despite the steel deck, the mower feels nimble. The balance and handle geometry make turning at the end of a pass easy, and it’s simple to tip the nose up slightly when navigating onto a sidewalk. The telescoping handle also finds a comfortable height quickly, which reduces fatigue on longer sessions.

Runtime and charging

DeWalt’s approach—running one 20V pack at a time and switching to the second automatically—works seamlessly. With the two included 10 Ah batteries, I consistently finished my 1/3 acre on a single “cycle” with charge left. On ideal days (dry, weekly cut) I had enough energy to trim and blower-clean afterward using one of the same batteries.

On tougher cuts (longer intervals, damp grass), I still made it through the lawn, but the second battery did the heavier lifting. For planning purposes, I’d call it realistic to get 60–80 minutes of mowing in typical conditions before hitting the chargers.

Charging on the included 4 A chargers isn’t fast with 10 Ah packs—think an evening or overnight top-up rather than a quick turnaround. That’s fine for my schedule, but if you want rapid back-to-back sessions, consider having a third pack or a higher-output charger in your kit.

Noise, vibration, and comfort

The mower is legitimately quiet compared to gas. I’m comfortable mowing early without feeling like I’m waking the block. Vibration at the handle is minimal, and the overall sound is a steady hum with a bit of pitch change as the load increases. Ear protection is still smart practice, but it’s a much less fatiguing experience than a gas walk-behind.

Durability and maintenance

The steel deck inspires confidence and should outlast plastic in a rough yard, provided you keep it clean and dry to prevent rust. The underside is easy to access for scraping. The dual blades are simple to remove for sharpening, and the deck’s design sheds buildup decently if you avoid mowing sopping wet grass.

I do have a watch item: the rear wheel forks. Treat them with care—avoid side impacts and hopping curbs—and periodically check the hardware for tightness. A dab of grease on the wheel bushings/washers keeps things turning freely.

Battery care is the other maintenance topic. These 10 Ah packs are substantial investments; store them in moderate temperatures, don’t leave them fully discharged, and charge after use rather than months later. DeWalt’s warranty is solid, but long-term battery replacement is a cost to budget for.

What I’d change

• Add a higher top cutting height (a true 4 inches) for summer heat stress on cool-season lawns.
• Beef up the rear wheel mounting with a cross-axle or thicker bracketry.
• Offer a faster charger option in the kit—or a single dual-bay charger—to simplify the charging footprint and reduce total charge time.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners maintaining up to about 1/2 acre who mow regularly and want a quiet, low-maintenance routine.
• Anyone who values compact, upright storage and a steel-deck feel without a gas engine’s upkeep.
• Users already invested in DeWalt 20V MAX who appreciate pack interchangeability and the included high-capacity batteries.

Who should look elsewhere: If you routinely tackle overgrown, wet, or very uneven lawns and prefer to bulldoze at max speed, a high-power gas mower still has the edge. If you need a 4+ inch cut height, this deck tops out just shy of that.

Recommendation

I recommend the DeWalt 21-inch self-propelled mower for small-to-mid lawns where quiet operation, tidy storage, and consistent weekly cut quality are priorities. It delivers strong runtime on the included 10 Ah batteries, a cleaner mulch than many single-blade electrics, and a well-thought-out control layout that makes mowing easier. I’d keep an eye on the rear wheel hardware and wish for a higher top cut, but those are manageable trade-offs. If you stay on a regular mowing cadence, this mower is a dependable, low-noise upgrade that’s easy to live with week after week.