Best Garden Tillers
Top garden tillers ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Mantis 7940 4-Cycle Tiller Cultivator
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Honda engine with no fuel mixing
- Fast 240 RPM tines dig where others scratch
- 24 lb weight is easy to lift into beds
Cons
- Narrow 9-inch pass means more trips in big plots
- Tines wrap with long grass and vines
Don't buy this if…
- Skip a mini tiller if you are breaking a quarter acre of compacted sod, where a rear-tine machine belongs.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Adjustable width covers rows and full beds
- Stable geometry tames front-tine hop
- 5-year warranty on a proven Viper engine
Cons
- No reverse gear
- Assembly instructions could be clearer
Don't buy this if…
- Do not expect it to behave in rock-studded soil, where any front-tine tiller will buck and lurch.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Strong 16-inch cut for a corded machine
- No oil, gas, or winterizing ever
- Folds flat for shelf storage
Cons
- Cord management is a chore around beds
- Bounces off hard-packed clay on first pass
Don't buy this if…
- Avoid it for gardens more than 100 feet from an outlet, since long extension cords rob the motor of power.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Counter-rotating tines shred compacted sod
- Self-propelled wheels do the pushing
- Strong value against Troy-Bilt rear-tine pricing
Cons
- 165 lb weight needs a ramp for truck loading
- Overkill for maintaining loose beds
Don't buy this if…
- Skip a rear-tine machine for narrow raised beds, since its 19-inch swath and turning radius need open ground.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Legendary GX25 engine reliability
- Attachment system adds edging and aerating
- Compact enough for townhouse gardens
Cons
- Costs more than larger front-tine tillers
- Attachments are each a separate purchase
Don't buy this if…
- Do not buy it hoping to break new ground cheaply, because you are paying a premium for the engine, not tilling width.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Battery shared across the 80V tool family
- Instant start with no cords or fumes
- Light enough to lift into raised beds
Cons
- 5-inch depth suits cultivating, not deep tilling
- Runtime drops fast in heavy soil
Don't buy this if…
- Skip it as your only tiller for new gardens, since the shallow cultivator depth cannot prep virgin ground.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Converts between tiller and cultivator widths
- Gear drive beats chain drives for longevity
- Bridges the gap between mini and full-size
Cons
- 79cc engine labors in wet clay
- Wheels are small for rough yard transport
Don't buy this if…
- Avoid it for tilling slopes, since the short wheelbase and front tines make hillside control tricky.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Lowest price for a 16-inch electric till
- Simple lever-switch operation
- Flip-down wheels ease transport
Cons
- Plastic tine guard cracks on rock strikes
- Motor thermal-cuts in dense soil
Don't buy this if…
- Do not point it at ground that has never been tilled, because the budget motor is built for maintenance passes.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
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