20 Best Garden Tillers (Rototillers) To Buy in 2024

Last Updated: March 1, 2024

To till or not is no longer a question if your yard is piled up with castoffs and is making your house look bad. If you have space for a garden, then you definitely deserve a beautiful one! So get out and loosen that ground to have a sanctuary of your own. If you are checking out this article, then you are probably looking to buy a new tiller. So, without wasting much time; here are the reviews of top 20 tillers we came across and in our experience, are the best tillers of 2024.

Contents

Top 20 Garden Tillers of 2024 (our Top Picks)

1. Earthwise TC70001 – Best Tiller For Your Garden

Earthwise TC70001 Electric Garden Tiller

A revolution in the world dominated by Gas-Powered Tillers, Earthwise TC70001 is a great alternate with an 8.5 Amp motor.

The powerful steel tines with a cutting depth of 8 to 11 inches can pulverize the dirt seamlessly without much noise.

The handle bar is just 22 lbs and makes it very easy to use this tiller across the garden. If you are thinking to buy a tiller now, you should definitely consider this rototiller.

2. Sun Joe TJ603E – Most Popular Rototiller

Sun Joe TJ603E is a sleek, easy-to-work-with tiller which saves the trouble of handling a bulky machine.

It has a robust 12 Amp motor which rotates at 340 rpm, making its tines slice through the tightly packed dirt and rock.

I can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed if you choose to buy this tiller.

3. Mantis 7940 Tiller Cultivator – For Hard Grounds

A hard ground that has never been tilled before requires something robust like the Mantis 7940 Tiller Cultivator. This garden tiller uses a powerful 25 cc Honda Motor.

The motor runs on gas and does not require you to mix water or oil to it. The light weight (just 24 lbs) makes it easier to move.

Also, the 4 cycle blades show their magic by upturning the entire ground soil like never before.

4. Sun Joe TJ604E Electric Garden Tiller

The 16” wide and 8” deep blades of the Sun Joe TJ604E Electric Garden Tiller will leave you stunned by its action on the toughest grounds.

The 13.5 amp power with adjustable wheels make it less taxing physically and the 16-inch tine takes lesser time to till the ground.

You can checkout this garden tiller online at Amazon.

5. VonHaus Front Tine Electric Tiller & Cultivator

Vonhaus Rototiller

This ultra-powerful 7 Amp tiller with an 850 watt motor leaves no room for worries and the 12.5” width is an advantage when it comes to moving it in tight spaces. 

VonHaus Electric Tiller machine is best suited for quick tilling as it runs at a speed of 380 rpm. The compact design doesn’t let storage to be a problem as well.

If you want your garden to look beautiful again, you can definitely consider choosing this garden tiller.

6. Mantis 7920 Tiller & Garden Cultivator

If taking care of the electric cord while tilling is keeping you from stepping out, then you must replace your tiller with the Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller Cultivator 7920 which is gas/oil powered

Each of its blades have 10 sharp edges, leaving no room for another lump but the roots of your plants from flourishing in your garden. You can never go wrong with this Mantis Tiller.

7. Sun Joe TJ601E Tiller

The Sun Joe TJ601E is lightweight and has a unique blade design. Durability is one of its best feature.

It comes with drilling width of 18 inches which helps you cover a large area in a single run.

It has a speed of 400 rpm and fulfills American safety standards, thus being a quick tiller for your garden.

8. GreenWorks 27072 Tiller (Corded)

GreenWorks 27072 has an 8 Amp motor which easily tills the most difficult of soils (like clay).

It is definitely one of the top performing tillers in the market.

Its adjustable tilling depth varies from 5” to 10” and is an added advantage that makes it easier to work with in different conditions.

9. Husqvarna FT900-CA Front Tine Tiller

Husqvarna FT900-CA Front Tine Tiller

When working with gas tillers, the last thing you ask is a fuel tank that needs to be refilled again and again.

But Husqvarna FT900-CA comes with a gas tank that is large enough to ensure you don’t have to take many breaks for refueling.

An OHV engine makes it environment friendly, quieter, fuel efficient and durable. This environment-friendly gardening tiller is available at an affordable price on Amazon.

10. BLACK+DECKER LGC120 Garden Tiller

With BLACK+DECKER LGC120 you can till as you chill as this tiller is battery powered and will suffice all your daily tilling needs.

It doesn’t require you to spend more on either electricity or fuel.

As it is rechargeable, it causes no harm to the environment and ensures a great consistency of the soil for the plants to grow without any hassle.

11. Troy-Bilt TB154E Electric Garden Tiller

If you are looking for an easy to use, compact and hassle-free tiller which tears the soil apart in a jiffy then Troy-Bilt TB154E is something you should invest in. The tines designed in the tiller dig as deep as 8 inches and serve the three-fold purpose of tilling, tearing and moving the soil on either side, out of its way. The steel design of this troy bilt tiller is again a plus for this machine as it makes it a lot more durable and easy to use for the novices in gardening.

12. Mantis 7250-00-03 Electric Tiller

Mantis 7250-00-03 comes with a powerful 3-speed, 540-watt motor which makes it as powerful as the gas tillers which are quite difficult to operate.

The machine serves as a multi-purpose tool as it can switch between three different modes, namely: tillingcultivating and weeding.

Plus, the compact design of the machine makes it easier to transport, store and most importantly move around in smaller spaces.

13. Sun Joe TJ600E Tiller Cultivator

With a tilling width of 14”, Sun Joe TJ600E is equipped with a safety switch which protects you from sudden jerks while dealing with hard grounds.

The 6.5 Amp capacity motor ensures that you have a good time watching the sods of soil turning into a garden you always desired to have.

And with a warranty of two years, this might be one of the best garden tiller in the market.

14. Mantis 7225-00-02 Gas Tiller

Mantis 7225-00-02 Gas Tiller

Mantis 7225-00-02 is a commercial grade tiller which has a sleek design with the tines that can dig from as shallow as 2-3 inches to as deep as 10 inches.

The 2-cycle engine uses gas as fuel, which makes it a heavy-duty tiller, that can till across the toughest of grounds.

The tiller is also CARB compliant.

15. GreenWorks 27062 Cordless Cultivator

GreenWorks 27062 Cordless Cultivator

If you are looking for a garden tiller with utility, then you should go for GreenWorks 27062 G-MAX as the 40V, 4Ah lithium-ion battery ensures that it doesn’t lack in performance.

Once it is fully charged, it can till your garden up-to 40 minutes and that’s what people look for in a cultivator-cum-tiller.

It has 8, 4” adjustable tines which provide the tilling width of 8.25 to 10 inches.

16. Mantis 7262-00-02 Gas-Powered Tiller

Mantis 7262-00-02 Gas-Powered Tiller

Our next pick is a heavy duty tiller – Mantis 7262-00-02.

This tiller enables you to till the rockiest and the most clayey soils one could ever come across.

The 25 cc Honda engine powers the motor to move at an incredible speed of 240 rpm and every stroke is strong enough to turn the sods of soil upside-down.

17. Southland SRTT196E Rear Tine Tiller

Southland SRTT196E Tiller is a blessing in disguise for those who are planning to get rid of the junk flourishing in their yards and transform it into a beautiful garden.

It is a strong tiller that can cut across the tightly-packed soil and rocks easily.

The counter rotating rare tines offer you a tilling depth of 11 inches and width of 18 inches, which makes sure that this is a great bargain for your garden.

18. Earthquake MC43 Mini Cultivator Tiller

Earthquake MC43 Mini Cultivator Tiller

Why opt for just the tiller if you can go for a tiller-cum-cultivator.

The Earthquake MC43 43cc which will not only be a great tool to treat the garden soil but will also be a cure for aerating and de-weeding as well.

The tiller comes with 2 inner blades and 2 detachable blades which makes using it a way lot easier.

19. Sun Joe TJ599E Aardvark Electric Garden Cultivator

Sun Joe TJ599E Aardvark Electric Garden Cultivator

Sun Joe TJ599E Aardvark 2.5-Amp Electric Garden Cultivator is safe to handle as it fulfills all north American safety standards.

The handle bar helps to facilitate easy use with minimal jerks and better digging.

The speed ranges according to the type of soil and the air-filter design keeps the engine from catching dirt, making it more durable.

20. New Power Glide Electric Garden Tiller

New Power Glide Electric Garden Tiller

The New Power Glide Electric Tiller is easy to use and cheap as well.

It weighs just 13 lbs and can be used as a tiller or cultivator. Even an old man can use it without any hassle.

It works great for a tiller this small with 24 tines and tilling width of 6”.

Best Tiller Buying Guide

A garden tiller or a cultivator is used to loosen and grind compact soil, either to aerate it for planting or to remove weeds from the plant’s top soil.

For farmers and gardeners, a garden tiller is a valuable tool as it makes the task of pulverizing and preparing the soil easier and quicker without utilizing much of their energy.

Thus, when purchasing a tiller, you must choose a reliable and reputed brand with at least a 1-year warranty. Apart from that, there are many things which you must know to purchase the best tiller and we will discuss about it below.

First, let us begin with the tiller types. Tillers are categorized according to their tine types – tines are basically parallel prongs or spikes used to dig into the soil. Without tines, tilling is not possible. So, the following are the two main types of garden tillers.

Front-Tine Tillers

As the name suggests, front-tine tillers have their tines at the front and wheels on its rear.

Who Are the Basic Users of Front Tine Tillers?

These tillers are best suited for gardeners as well as homeowners who own a small to medium-size gardens or grounds.

What Tasks Can You Accomplish Using Front Tine Tillers?

Front-tine tillers are efficient for breaking up smaller grounds and can-do tasks like preparing the soil and removing weeds.

When Should You NOT Buy Front Tine Tillers?

It’s difficult to break into a hard and rocky ground using a front-tine tiller as its blades cannot dig into the soil causing a lot of sudden jerks.

Rear-Tine Tillers

The tines in rear-tine tillers are located on the rear of the machine.

What Is the Purpose of Rear Tine Tillers?

These tillers have a large engine, are suitable for larger gardens or ground areas. They can easily break into the hardest of grounds and make the soil ready for plantation.

The engine-driven wheels of these tillers make it easier for the user to control its speed and motion. The tines in rear-tine tillers apart from being rotated regularly can also be counter-rotated, depending on the task.

Why Buying a Rear Tine Tiller Might Not Be A Good Idea for You?

If you are a beginner then you shouldn’t invest in a rear-tine tiller just yet as these are more expensive, complicated and require certain amounts of expertise.


Caring Tips For Your Rototiller

  • All garden tools get dirty easily because of their use on mud, and so does a rototiller. Therefore, to ensure the longevity of the machine, you must invest time to keep them clean.
  • After using the device, remove the roots and other stuff from the tines with a garden hose.
  • The tines might lose their sharpness overtime. Therefore, to sharpen them again, you can turn them over and file them with metal.

Frequently Asked Question About Rototillers

What Is A Rototiller?

Rototiller is the gardening tool for those who want to transform their boring yards into lush green gardens. They make soil soft and moist, allowing the roots to penetrate the ground easily.
Rototillers run on motor and hence they are easier to operate than hand tools which take a lot of time and effort to operate.

Difference Between Tilling And Aerating?

Tilling and aerating are similar processes but tilling is done before the plants are sown in the ground to give them room to grow. Aerating is done after the plants start growing to remove weeds and keep the soil full of oxygen.
1. Tilling is the process of loosening the soil to make it suitable for roots of the plants to penetrate the ground.
2. Aerating is a technique to pull out weeds and keeping soil loose enough to keep it oxygenated.
Tillers are used to till the soil and cultivators are used for aerating. Cultivators are smaller in size than tillers so that they don’t harm the plants while aerating and de-weeding the ground.

Difference Between A Cultivator And Tiller?

Both tillers and cultivators are used to improve the soil, but a tiller is used to improve the consistency of the soil for sowing seeds.
The cultivator is used after the plants have grown to de-weed the ground and keep the soil airy. Latter is small to save the plants and their roots from harm.

Why Buy A Rototiller?

A spade, trowel or even a hand fork can till a piece of land if one has the time and energy. Plus, lifting and handling these tools involves serious risk to the back health (spine). 
Rototillers with motors are a blessing if you want a perfectly tilled garden with a uniform soil consistency in no time. They can also enrich the soil with fertilizers, compost manure and other additives.

What Should You Look For In A Tiller?

Length and Position of Tines
Tines are the most important feature of any garden tiller as they loosen the soil in the garden. They have to be positioned the right way to ensure that the soil is getting cut properly.
The front-positioned tines are easier to push through loosened soil, whereas, rear-positioned tines cut deep into the soil and are good for a very tough ground.
Electric, Gas, Battery-Operated or Hand-Powered Tiller?
Before buying a tiller, it is very important to consider its power source. If you have a small garden, it is advisable to go for an electric tiller as you will never have to worry about the fuel. Then again, you will have to stay near the power source or might have to invest in a longer power cord if you own a larger piece of land.
Gas tillers are more powerful than electric ones and can till the soil of the toughest grounds easily. They can cut deep through compact patches of dirt, rocks and roots but are harder to push and take a lot of arm strength to operate. They can also be a handful to maintain and consume oil and gas even when not in use. So be sure to fill-in no more than needed fuel. Also, check-out these tips to better maintain your garden tiller.
Battery operated tiller is a great option to avoid the use of electricity (and gas) and are safer too. But they can turn out to be less durable. Therefore, it is advisable to go through the customer reviews before buying one for your garden. Plus, the ones with a Ni-cad Battery will run out soon so, it is better to go for the ones with Lithium-Ion batteries.
For those of you with small gardens that don’t require frequent tilling, hand-powered tiller is a great option. Although they require more physical work to operate, they are perfect for weed removal, loosening soil and are cheaper compared to gas and electric-powered tillers.

Difference Between A Front-Tine, Mid-Tine And Rear-Tine Tiller?

Front Tine Tiller
Front-Tine rototiller has two metal prongs protruding from the front of the machine wheels and is directly under the engine. They require a lot of strength to operate and are suitable for land area of less than 1000 sq. feet. They can be quite tough on your back and knees but are a cost-effective option.
Mid-Tined Tiller
Mid-Tined Rototillers are easier to move (compared to front tine) as the engine is placed exactly above the tines, making the tiller more balanced and easy to operate across the garden. Though they are quite pricey as compared to the front-tined tillers but the comfort they offer is worth the price.
Rear Tined Tiller
Rear-Tined Rototillers are available in either counter or standard rotation, and in some, the digging direction can be reversed to make the process of upturning the ground easier. They are a great option for large gardens and are easy to steer and control.

What Kind Of Tines Should My Garden Tiller Have?

1. If you own a garden which is small and the soil is not very compact, then you can go for front-tined tillers. They will do the job well and won’t cost much.
2. But, if your garden is about a 1000 sq. feet with lumps of dirt for soil, then you should definitely go for a Mid-Tined Tiller which won’t be a burden on your back and knees as they are easy to work with.
3. While for a tough ground which needs serious tilling, a rear-tined tiller will be the best option as they are easy to control and are heavy duty tillers to deal with densely tight rocks and lumps.
Rototillers can have counter-rotating tines which work in opposite direction to the wheels, and forward rotating tines, which work in the same direction as wheels. A counter-rotating tine digs deeper and is tough to the tightly packed ground. Dual Rotating Tines are also available in Rear-Tines Tillers but, even powerful ones are Vertical Dual Rotating Tines, which face downwards and rotate, making them the quietest of all.

What’s The Range Of Tilling Width In Rear Tined Tillers?

The tilling width of a tiller depends on its size and type of tines. The width range varies from 6 inches in a small tiller to up-to 20 inches or greater in a heavy-duty tiller. The rear-tined garden tillers are available in the width range, which varies from 16 to 18 inches.

How Deep Can They Dig?

The Rear-tined tillers have adjustable digging capacity, with an option to change to suit the ground requirements. For a comparatively shallow ground with compact soil, a 6-8-inch depth would do but for a ground which has never undergone tilling before, a 10-inch-deep-digging tiller is the best option.

What Is A Rear-Tined Tiller’s Drag Bar For?

It is important to have a steady drag bar to keep the rototiller digging at a consistent level. You can adjust it according to your height. A good rototiller will always come with a drag bar to help you keep the ground even and keep the tiller balanced as well.

How Important Is A Counterweight?

If the terrain you want to tiller is quite rough and has rocks, then the counterweight can save you from jerks it might experience. The counterweight will ensure that the weight of the tiller has a good balance, stability and the wheels are heavy enough to keep the tiller on the ground.

What Should I Look For In A Rototiller’s Transmission?

A garden tiller which you can move smoothly is important. The transmission has to be durable, cast-iron with a bronze gear drive, or seal chain. Also, the ability to go forward or backward, which fastens the tilling process is a result of good transmission.

When Should You Till Your Garden?

This depends on your location and the climate of that place. It’s recommended to till any garden when its soil is dry and not wet. If you till on a wet soil you could compact the soil and potentially damage the tines – which makes your task harder.
Tilling at the beginning of the planting season makes the soil consistent and perfect for the roots to penetrate. It also helps to de-root the weeds and mix the decaying matter back into the dirt to keep the ground fertile. Thus, fall is the season to till the garden soil as the leaves shed by trees get tilled along with the soil and it gets enough time to settle before the spring arrives.

Different Power Options For A Rototiller?

A tiller can have either an Electric Motor or a Gas-Powered Motor. The power options for a rototiller are:
1. Electric Powered Tillers
2. Gas Powered Tillers
3. Hand Powered Tillers
4. Solar Powered Tillers

Difference Between A 2-Cycle And A 4-Cycle Engine?

The number of cycles or strokes a tiller engine has is also a feature to look out for. The rototillers come in two variations, 2-cycle and 4-cycle engine. The difference between the two is that the 4-cycle engine is more ecologically efficient, lasts longer and makes the work easier.
While, the 2-cycle engine gets a better power boost, which is better for the soil. They are cheap and lighter versions which might last very long. If you can invest more, then go for the former, 4-cycle engine as the durability will pay off.

What Kind Of Engine Is Best For A Garden Tiller?

The electric engines aren’t powerful enough to support heavy-duty tasks, thus most of the powerful rear-tined tillers are gas-powered. Engines manufactured by Honda, Briggs and Stratton are the best ones in Gas Engines and some generic ones like the ones in Southland’s are also quite durable.

Should You Choose a Hand Operated Tiller For Your Garden?

Hand-operated garden tillers come handy to till small areas like back lawns, home gardens etc. Big machines require power to operate unlike hand-operated tillers which can be used anytime, anywhere.
In places where electricity supply is inefficient, the garden can easily be tilled with the aid of hand-operated tillers.
These tillers allow a chance to precisely examine the ground conditions on our own and make the required small changes, if needed. Thus, it allows efficient handling with better precision.
Apart from all that, in today’s tech-savvy world – these tillers allow us to have a little physical exertion which is important as well. It allows us to do something on our own, without any tech-based gadget. Moreover, it increases our chances of being tied to the nature closely.

What’s The Benefit Of An OHV Engine?

OHV Engines stand for ‘Overhead Valve’ Engines. A rototiller with OHV Engine has many advantages over a non-OHV Engine. They consume less fuel, provide higher torque, don’t over-heat easily, last longer and most importantly, they are cleaner engines. They are better for environment as they consume less fuel and are less expensive to maintain and operate.

How Much Power Should the Tiller Have?

The power of the tiller you need depends on the task you want to use it for. A corded electric tiller is less expensive and is best for your garden or backyard needs. The electric powered motors strength is in amps, the smaller ones range from around 5 to 6 amps while larger ones can be of up to 10 amps. And some can go even up to 12 amps.
Gas-Powered Rototillers are more powerful than electric-powered tillers. Although they are more powerful, but they are less eco-friendly as they cause more pollution and are much louder.

What Is The Right Rototiller Blade?

The right blade depends on what you want to do with the tiller. Here are a few you can choose from:
1. Bolo Blade: Goes deep into the soil and is used in the basic tine design
2. Slasher Blade: It cuts through the flowerbeds you think have overgrown.
3. Pick and Chisel: A blade designed specially to deal with the tightly packed ground.

Which Tiller is the Best?

As discussed above, the choice of a garden tiller depends on many factors such as:
1. The task for which you need a tiller.
2. Your expertise with gardening tools.
3. Soil condition and garden/farm size.
For a beginner, the most basic tiller can be beneficial especially if you want to maintain your garden or backyard.


Conclusion

So, here was a detailed guide to help you select the best rototillers of 2021. We are sure you can now choose the right tiller that can help you get your garden ready for the planting season!

Being able to purchase the best tiller for the right task can save your time, energy and money while keeping your gardens and farms well maintained.


More Articles on Garden Tillers:

6 Useful Tips to Maintain and Care For Your Tiller

Using a garden tiller makes it much easier to prepare your garden for the plantation period. Tillers take much lesser time to upturn the soil compared to the traditional tools. But you need to make some effort to keep your tiller running smooth – you need to keep it clean and well maintained. Try following the steps below for a long and fulfilling life of your garden tiller. [ click here to read more ]

4 Things To Consider Before Buying a New Tiller for Your Garden

Gardening is a mindful job which many of us take very seriously. Caring for the garden is like taking care of a baby. Thinking about the various products to use, different plants to buy and the fertilizers/pesticides they need is quite a full-time job.

Although, preparing the soil for plantation is a fun work to do by hand. But the availability of garden tillers that are fast, lightweight and fun to use is changing the way conventional gardening is done.

Tillers are an essential gardening tool that every avid gardener must have. Here are some points to remember before buying a new tiller for your garden. It will surely help you make the right choice. [ click here to read more ]