Skil PWR Core 40 Brushless 40V 20 in Self-Propelled Mower Kit

Setup and first impressions

I put the Skil 40V self-propelled mower together in a few minutes without tools. The handle telescopes, locks solidly, and folds down for vertical storage—handy if you’re tight on space. One small note that can trip you up on day one: the mower won’t start unless the handle is fully extended and locked. Once you’ve done that, a push-button start and a standard bail lever bring the blade to life. Controls are intuitive, and the battery bay under the top hatch is easy to access.

The kit includes a 5.0Ah PWRCORE 40 battery and an Auto PWRJUMP charger. The charger uses a cooling fan, so expect some fan noise during charging. While not silent, it’s no louder than a small desktop fan.

Ergonomics and controls

The adjustable, telescoping handle makes it easy to dial in a comfortable height. The self-propelled drive uses a thumb-friendly dial to set pace and a separate lever to engage. I appreciate that you can engage the drive without running the blade, which helps reposition the mower at the end of a pass or move it across hard surfaces. The speed range spans very slow (almost creeping) to a brisk walking pace. At the highest setting, it doesn’t surge or run away from you, and at the lowest, it’s probably slower than most will need—but that range is helpful for slopes or tight trimming.

Noise-wise, the mower is far quieter than a gas counterpart. The blade has a steady, muted whir; the self-propel system adds a distinct, higher-pitched whine that’s normal for this style of drive. I didn’t need hearing protection, but the sound profile is present.

Cutting performance

With a 20-inch deck and a brushless motor, the mower cuts confidently in routine, weekly conditions. On typical suburban turf at 2.5–3 inches, cut quality is even, and the mower leaves a neat finish with good vacuum. Edge-to-edge cut alignment is solid; I didn’t see the scalloping that lighter decks sometimes produce.

Tall or dense grass demands the same approach you’d use with a gas mower of similar deck size: raise the deck and slow down. On overgrown sections and damp spring grass, the mower handled better when I bumped the height up a notch and eased my pace. The motor ramps power as load increases, but pushing fast into wet, 6–8 inch grass will cause it to bog more than a mid-sized gas walk-behind. Two-pass mowing (high first, then your target height) works well and prevents clumping.

The single-lever, 7-position height adjustment is excellent—one-handed and positive. The 1.5–4 inch range is adequate for most cool-season lawns. If you prefer a taller summer cut (4+ inches), you’ll be at the upper end of its range.

Bagging and mulching

The mower is a 2‑in‑1: mulching or rear-bagging. The included mulching plug fits snugly; swapping between modes takes seconds. Mulching performance is strong in weekly conditions and struggles in the usual scenarios (wet leaves, very tall grass) where bagging is the smarter option anyway. The 1.7-bushel (60 L) bag is sized well for a 20-inch deck. It fills evenly and lifts out easily by the top handle. With spring growth or leaf pickup, you’ll empty it frequently, but the trade-off is a lighter, easier-to-manage bag.

Airflow is good enough to vacuum up light debris along hard edges—useful for tidying acorns and dry leaves after a mow.

Self-propel drive and handling

Drive engagement is smooth and predictable; traction on typical turf is fine. Because the mower is light compared to many gas models, it’s easy to pivot and steer, but you may notice a bit of “bounce” across very uneven or thatchy sections. If you want a planted, heavyweight feel, this isn’t that; if you prefer an easy-to-maneuver machine, it’s a plus.

One quirk to learn: if you release the drive right at the very end of a pass, the drivetrain can momentarily bind when you pivot. Let go of the drive lever just before you stop, and it rolls freely. After a couple of sessions, this becomes second nature.

Battery life and charging

Real-world runtime depends on turf height, moisture, and how much you lean on the self-propel. With the included 5.0Ah battery, I consistently cut around 30–45 minutes in mixed conditions using self-propel most of the time—enough for roughly a third of an acre of actual mowing. Lighter loads and a slower pace extend that; thick, wet grass or fast walking speed shorten it. The battery’s cooling wrap seems to keep temperatures in check, which helps maintain performance through the session.

The Auto PWRJUMP charger prioritizes a quick top-up. The published 0–30% in ~15 minutes is based on a smaller 2.5Ah pack; with the 5.0Ah, expect proportionally more time. In practice, I could add enough charge for a few final passes while I emptied the bag and tidied the edges. If you regularly mow over a third of an acre or cut infrequently (taller growth), a second battery will make life easier.

Build quality and maintenance

The weather-resistant plastic deck won’t rust and helps keep weight down. The chassis doesn’t feel flimsy; the height lever is sturdy, and wheel play is minimal. While a steel deck would be more rigid, I had no flex issues during cutting. The battery door closes securely and keeps debris out.

Vertical storage is a highlight: fold the handle, tip it up, and the footprint shrinks dramatically. It also makes deck cleaning and blade inspection easier. Routine maintenance is simple: keep the blade sharp, knock off built-up clippings from the underside, and avoid storing the battery in extreme temperatures.

What I liked

• Easy starting and intuitive controls
• Variable-speed self-propel that doesn’t lurch or run away
• Single-lever, 7-position height adjustment
• Respectable cut quality with good vacuum and leaf pickup
• Compact vertical storage and a genuinely useful telescoping handle
• Rapid top-off charging that gets you back out to finish

What could be better

• The self-propel whine is audible; not loud, but noticeable
• Runtime, while solid for a 20-inch 40V mower, won’t satisfy larger lawns without a second battery
• Lightweight chassis can “skip” a little over very uneven lawns
• Drive can bind momentarily if you release it right at a full stop—timing matters

Who it’s for

• Small to mid-sized lawns (up to roughly a third of an acre per battery)
• Homeowners who want self-propel convenience without the heft of a gas mower
• Anyone short on storage space—the vertical footprint is genuinely compact
• Regular, weekly mowing where mulching shines

Who should look elsewhere

• Larger properties that demand an hour-plus of continuous mowing without battery swaps
• Users who frequently mow very tall, wet grass and expect gas-like torque at a fast pace
• Those who prefer the planted feel of a heavy steel-deck mower

The bottom line

The Skil 40V self-propelled mower hits a sweet spot for smaller suburban lawns: it’s easy to live with, easy to store, and confident in typical cutting conditions. The combination of a brushless motor, a well-executed self-propel drive, and a truly user-friendly height adjuster makes everyday mowing straightforward. It won’t transform wet, overgrown turf into a perfect finish in one pass, but used with the right strategy—slower pace, higher first cut—it delivers a clean result and a tidy yard with a fraction of the noise and zero gas fuss.

Recommendation: I recommend it for homeowners with modest lawn sizes who value convenience, compact storage, and good cut quality over extended runtime. If your yard routinely takes more than 45 minutes to mow or you often tackle tall, wet growth, budget for a second battery—or consider stepping up to a higher-capacity system. For everyone else, this is a practical, well-thought-out electric mower that makes weekly mowing simpler and more enjoyable.