Black & Decker 40V MAX Cordless Lawn Mower with Battery and Charger Included

Why I reached for a cordless 40V mower

I’ve used enough gas and corded mowers to know their quirks: fumes and seasonal maintenance on one side, leash-and-outlet management on the other. The Black+Decker 40V mower hits a practical middle ground for small lawns—quiet, compact, and ready to go without cords or pull-starts. After a season of regular use, I’ve got a clear picture of where it shines, where it compromises, and who will be happiest with it.

Setup and first impressions

Assembly is straightforward: unfold the handle, secure the knobs, drop in the blade plug you want (mulch, bag, or side discharge), and charge the two included 40V MAX lithium-ion packs. The mower is light for its size at just over 53 pounds, and the 20-inch deck gives you a meaningful bump in productivity over the common 16–19 inch decks in this class.

Build quality is a mix of sturdy enough and obviously plastic. The deck, wheels, and much of the hardware are polymer to keep weight and cost down. It’s not fragile, but you can’t muscle it around like a steel-deck gas machine. Treat it like a piece of power equipment rather than yard furniture and it holds up fine.

The EDGEMAX deck design—the way the cutting path lines up near the wheels—lets you get tight to fences, beds, and sidewalks. In practice, I could trim my borders closer than with many mowers, which shaved a few minutes off weed-trimming. The single-lever height adjustment is excellent: one motion moves all four wheels through a 1.5 to 4-inch range, clicking positively into each setting.

Cutting performance

On a weekly schedule, cut quality is clean and consistent. The blade speed and torque are tuned for typical suburban turf; it doesn’t clump, and it distributes mulch evenly when the grass is kept in check. I used all three modes:

• Mulching: Best results when you’re taking off less than a third of the blade. It leaves a tidy finish and avoids dealing with a bag.
• Bagging: The bag fills evenly and detaches easily; for leaf pickup or a neater look along the front walkway, it’s handy. Expect slightly shorter runtime because the mower works harder moving clippings into the bag.
• Side discharge: This is the mode I use when I’ve let the lawn go a week too long. It helps the mower avoid bogging by ejecting material quickly.

If you hit spring growth or a stretch of rain and the grass is long, a two-pass strategy works: make a high cut first, then drop the height and make a second pass. Trying to chew tall, dense grass in one low pass shortens runtime dramatically and can leave a less uniform finish—this is true of most battery mowers in the 40V class.

Because the chassis is relatively light, it doesn’t leave pronounced wheel tracks. The upside is a cleaner look; the downside is you rely more on sightlines to overlap passes, or you may leave small uncut slivers if you get sloppy.

Power, runtime, and charging

This mower ships with two 2.0Ah 40V MAX batteries (nominal 36V), for a combined 80Wh of energy. Real-world runtime per pack varies with grass height and cutting mode:

• Short, dry weekly cut, mulching: roughly 18–22 minutes per battery
• Taller or damp grass, bagging or side discharge: often 12–18 minutes per battery
• Aggressive, low-height single-pass in thick growth: expect less

For a small lawn up to about a quarter-acre with typical conditions, the two packs are usually enough for one session if you keep a consistent schedule. On the edge of that size, or if your lawn is dense or hilly, plan on swapping batteries mid-mow and consider a coffee break while one cools before charging. The included charger brings a depleted pack back in roughly 90 minutes, but lithium packs prefer to cool down first, which can add a few minutes to the turnaround time.

If you’re already invested in Black+Decker’s 40V ecosystem, extra packs make this mower far more flexible. With only the two included batteries, you’ll appreciate disciplined lawn care: mow frequently, avoid mowing when the turf is wet, and use the two-pass method for overgrowth.

It’s worth noting this is a push mower, not self-propelled. The upside is longer runtime and less complexity; the downside is you provide the effort on slopes. At 53.6 pounds and with large rear wheels, it’s easy to maneuver on flat ground and manageable on moderate grades.

Ergonomics, controls, and storage

The bail and safety key are familiar and reliable; startup is immediate. The handle is comfortable and the mower balances well over the deck. Noise sits well below gas machines—neighbors won’t mind an early weekend mow, and you can hear yourself think.

The single-lever deck height control is a standout feature. Less refined are the handle adjustments. Folding the handle is straightforward, but it’s not a one-flick mechanism; you’ll work a couple of knobs and hinges. Adjusting handle height takes a bit of fiddling to get right, and I found myself leaving it in one position rather than changing it for different users.

Storage is compact. Fold the handle and stand the mower upright against a wall—no fluids to leak means you can stash it in tight spaces. There’s a secondary compartment to stow the spare battery onboard. The door and fit are on the tight side; it keeps things secure, but seating and removing a battery takes firm, straight alignment.

Durability and maintenance

Plastic isn’t automatically a problem; it’s about the quality of the design and how you use the tool. The deck and wheels have held up fine. Where I’m most careful is around the battery bays and latches. The rails and catch are plastic, so I align the pack squarely and avoid slamming it home. Keep debris out of those areas and you’ll reduce strain on the parts.

Maintenance is minimal: keep the blade sharp, clear clippings from the deck, and store the batteries out of extreme heat. There’s no oil to change, no spark plug, and no fuel stabilizer to remember. The simplicity is a major part of the appeal.

Efficiency tips I learned along the way

• Mow often. Staying ahead of growth preserves runtime and gives the best cut.
• Use the right mode. Mulch for weekly cuts; side discharge for overdue ones; bag for leaves or a spotless finish.
• Mind your overlap. The light chassis doesn’t lay tracks, so use the deck edge as a visual guide to avoid uncut stripes.
• Rotate batteries. Alternate packs to let one cool while the other runs; it helps longevity and keeps charging predictable.
• Keep the blade sharp. A fresh edge reduces load on the motor and extends runtime.

Where this mower fits

The Black+Decker 40V mower is tailored for small residential lawns—think townhomes, urban/suburban front-and-back setups, or a quarter-acre lot maintained weekly. It’s especially appealing if you value low noise, easy storage, and the absence of gas hassles. If you already own other 40V Black+Decker tools, the shared battery platform is a plus and additional packs stretch the mower’s capabilities.

If you routinely tackle thick, fast-growing turf, want to cut very low in one pass, or mow more than a quarter-acre at a time, you’ll push the limits of the included batteries. You can overcome that with extra packs, but at that point you should weigh the total cost against higher-voltage or self-propelled options.

Recommendation

I recommend the Black+Decker 40V mower for small lawns maintained on a regular schedule, especially for users who value quiet operation, easy storage, and straightforward controls. Cut quality is good, the 20-inch deck is efficient for its size, and the single-lever height adjustment and EDGEMAX edging make weekly mowing quick and tidy. Be realistic about runtime: the two included 2Ah packs are best suited to up to a quarter-acre of typical turf. If your yard is larger, denser, or you prefer to mow infrequently, plan on buying additional 40V packs or consider a higher-capacity mower. Used within its design envelope, it’s a pleasant, low-maintenance way to keep a small yard looking sharp.