10 Best Rototiller Review In 2023 [Buying Guide Included]

With the right machines, gardening can be fun and less tiring. One of the hardest operations in the garden is tilling. With the advent of mini tillers, also known as rototillers, gardening enthusiasts can work efficiently on grounds to make them soft enough for easy penetration of plant roots.

Deciding on the best rototiller to buy may not be an easy task as there are a lot of models to choose from. 

Therefore, we have put together a review of the top 10 quality rototillers to help intending buyers decide which of them would serve the buyer best.

Quick Answer:- 

For those who wants to skip straight to the final verdict, here are our top picks.

Why should you buy a Rototiller?

Tilling can be a very daunting task if approached manually. Also, a tractor-pulled tiller may not be adequate for a small garden. Rototillers are modern solutions for garden enthusiasts to reduce the amount of effort and time required to work on compacted soil.

Apart from being easy to use, rototillers are relatively cheaper and affordable. Once bought, they are available for use all year round without major problems.

Moreover, rototillers are easy to assemble and operate. With a small instruction guide, anyone can learn how to assemble and work with such tillers. Rototillers are also easy to manage and store as many models come with adjustable tires and foldable parts.

Because the tines of rototillers can be easily adjusted, they can carry out various functions other than just loosening the soil.

Table of comparison

We have designed a comparison table below for your easy reference.

10 Top Rated Broadcaster Reviews

1. Sun Joe TJ603E 16-Inch 12-Amp Electric Tiller And Cultivator

Sun Joe TJ603E comes with six strong and perfectly inclined blades which are made of high-quality steel. It is two-in-one equipment. It can serve as both a cultivator and a tiller. Its three wheels are well-positioned and adjustable to suit users' needs anytime, anywhere.

With a powerful 12 Amp motor which is capable of making up to 340 revolutions per minute, it helps slice through and breaks clods of soil up to 8 inches deep. Its foldable handles make it easy to transport and save storage space.

Apart from being lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, its start button is always ready for action when called upon by the user. To ease users' worry over durability, this power rototiller comes with a 2-year warranty.

2. Earthwise TC70001 11-Inch 8.5-Volt Corded Electric walk behind tiller - Best tiller for the money

This walk behind tiller comes with four durable steel tines which are capable of reaching soil depth of up to 8 feet and width of 11 feet. Its tires can flip up and down to allow for easy transportation and storage.

The American Lawn Mower Company constructed its electric engine for reliable performance. 8 Amps powerful motor ensures this device delivers better tilling and cultivation experience to owners of small gardens. 

It's On/Off lever is quite easy to use. However, users are required to release their grip on the equipment with one hand. This may lead to loss of control of equipment, especially for new users. 

3. Schiller Grounds Care Mantis 7940 4-Cycle - Best Small Tiller

If you need a quiet and easy to start and use a tiller, Mantis 7940 4-Cycle Tiller Cultivator is your best pick. You can dig holes, do precision weeding and till on any garden soil.

Despite its small size, it can break through clods of soil twice faster than many other tillers of similar category. Its curvy tines can be adjusted to give variable depths of 2, 3 and 10 inches. This means more flexibility for users. 

Also, its infinite speed feature helps users to determine how fast they want the machine to work. Leisure gardeners can have more time with the user-friendly device. When you need to rest or refuel during operation, you can rest this best small tiller on its handy kickstand. There is no need carrying the equipment about or looking for where to place it.

4. Black+Decker Lgc120 20-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless - Best Garden Tiller

For gardeners who desire an environment-friendly approach to both tilling and cultivation, the Black and Decker LBXR20 should do. It comes with 20-volt MAX lithium-ion battery which saves charge for longer when compared with ordinary batteries.

Its tines are paired to give powerful penetration and cover as much ground as quickly as possible. These tines counter-oscillate to prevent weeds from hooking them down in the soil.

Apart from being noisy and always making a rattling sound when in contact with impossible obstacles, this handheld tiller is able to cultivate up to 325 square feet when it is fully charged. Say goodbye to trailing cords and greenhouse culprits.

5. Greenworks 10-Inch 8 Amp Corded Tiller 27072 - Self Propelled Tiller

The Greenworks 27072 gives gardeners a lot of flexibility when it comes to tillage depth and width. Although the tines can only go 5 inches maximum depth, the width can be adjusted to help cultivate in between rows and beds. Removing a specific number of tines will give a specific width that is suitable for the user. 

Because it is light, it may buck when confronted with tough obstacles. Hence this equipment is better used to cultivate already tilled soil or soft soils. On soft grounds, this self propelled tiller propels itself forward, so users need only little effort to guide its operation.

6. Earthquake 31635 Mc33 Mini Cultivator - Best Mini Tiller

The Earthquake MC33 Mini Cultivator is gas-powered. You don’t need an extension cord to connect it to an electrical source. Its depth and width may not reach as far as other tillers, but its price and efficiency still make it a good deal.

This mini tiller is better at handling obstacles when compared with the Greenworks 27072. It can work on tougher grounds due to its powerful 2-cycle Viper engine.

Due to its enhanced control features, it is very versatile. It can be used to till, weed and mix compost or fertilizer perfectly with your garden soil. As this device uses a recoil starting system, push and start button lovers may find it a bit harder to start. There is also the need to mix gas and oil as specified in the users manual.

7. Craftsman C405 12-Inch 29cc 4-Cycle Gas Powered Cultivator/Tiller

The Craftsman comes as a lightweight and versatile gas cultivator. Its 29cc, 4-cycle engine gives it enough power to work on hardened soil with fewer obstacles. Its six strong steel tines can be adjusted to their maximum height and width to meet different needs of users.

While working, it produces less noise and offers the operator a range of control options. It also comes with an Easy Start feature to ensure a simpler pull starts. There is also an advanced 2-step starting option where the operator just Prime and Pull to simplify starting.

The engine eliminates the need to mix gas and oil and is ready to use anytime. Also, it can loose the soil, weed the garden, and incorporate fertiliser or manure into the soil.

8. Southland Outdoor Power Equipment Sftt142 Front Tine Tiller

The Southland SFTT142 Front Tine Tiller comes with adjustable 11-inch, 16-inch, and 21-inch tilling widths to give users a variety of options for quickly working through various kinds of landscape.

Because of its sheer weight, it’s able to work through tough and compact soils. It has pneumatic tires to enable the device to work perfectly on all kinds of terrain. The tines are self-sharpening so operators need not worry that tines may get blunt with use.

Its body parts are made of coated steel and plastic to ensure durability. Its manual-recoil, easy-start fuel delivery system makes it easier to get the device working. It also comes with a gear drive system which uses a poly-V belt to ensure longevity.

9. Troy-Bilt TB146 EC 29cc 4-Cycle Cultivator With Jumpstart Technology - Best Tiller for small garden

Troy-Bilt TB146 does not go down very deep into the soil. However, it is powerful enough to cultivate gardens. Unlike some other gas-powered cultivators/tillers, it does not require mixing gas and oil. Its six steel tines have an adjustable width to help operators move rapidly between various types of landscapes to save time.

Operators can start the device without pulling the cord, thanks to its SpringAssist JumpStart feature. The handle can be folded to reduce storage space and thus, ease transportation. This tiller is best for small gardens with relatively soft soil.

10. YARDMAX Tiller - Best For large gardens

With a highly powerful Briggs & Stratton 4 cycle engine, Yardmax delivers quite an impressive amount of groundbreaking power in reduced time. It comes with well-threaded tires to work on both rough and smooth landscapes.

Its easy to handle control helps the operator to stand and steer from either side of the device. It also comes with adjustable side and rear shields to protect the operator's body from accumulating flying debris. It is suitable for use in moderate size gardens and best for large gardens.

Buying Guides of Rototillers

With so many tiller brands and products out there, buyers may find it difficult to narrow down on which rototiller is best to serve their peculiar gardening needs. Below are some tips worth considering when trying to pick the best among so many alternatives.

Gas-Powered Tiller vs. Electric-Powered Tiller

For garden enthusiasts who place a high value on convenience, an electric-powered tiller is an excellent choice. You need to press the start button to get them working, and they can keep running as long as there is electricity.

They are quite appropriate for small-sized gardens. The major issue with electric tillers is the need for the trailing extension cord, which supplies power to the device. One can only work as far as the cord permits.

Gas-powered tillers are known to be relatively stronger devices which can work through very tough and compacted soil. However, many gas-powered models require mixing oil and gas to fuel the machine. Also, occasionally stopping to refuel can take its toll on gardener's patience.

Generally, gas-powered tillers tend to be heavier and harder to push due to extra weight imposed by fuel and the fuel tank. This difference in weight can make some customers go for the lighter alternative.

Just like many other devices, the gas-powered models are usually more expensive than electric models. However, there are affordable candidates to choose from our list whether you need the gas-powered or electric model.

Front-Tine Tiller vs. Rear-Tine Tillers

The blades of front-tine tillers are attached in the front of the device, and they propel the machine by rotating forward. They are mainly used in small gardens to till the soil and weed the beds. Their performance depends on how the operator angles the tiller from behind.

They usually have a better effect on the soil when their tines are angled downwards. For front-tine tillers, penetrating deep into very hard clods of soil can be very hard as the front tines tend to slip and slide over the clod.

Because these machines require a lot of power, they are majorly powered by gasoline engines as electric power seems quite inadequate. Rear-tine tillers are sturdier and easier to manoeuvre than front-tine tillers. However, it takes time for beginners to understand. They are suitable for work in larger gardens.

Device Versatility

Tillers and cultivators may look similar, but they are quite different. The tiller is majorly built to loosen hardened soil while the cultivator is designed to get rid of weeds. However, many rototillers serve as both tiller and cultivator because of the adjustable tines.

As not all rototillers can serve both functions properly, buyers may need to consider their major need for the device. Tillers with removable and adjustable tines tend to be more capable of serving a dual purpose as tiller and cultivator than those with fixed tines.

Warranty

As almost all tiller models claim to be very durable, users can gauge by considering their warranty period. The warranty period for rototillers typically ranges from a year to three years. Some tiller models have no warranty. It is common knowledge that products that come with warranty periods tend to last longer than those without warranty. 

It is also important to consider warranty conditions to get clarity on what is covered in the warranty.

Price

Most rototillers have similar features. However, differences in engine power, tine depth, width, and adjustment as well as tiller type (electric/gas-powered), account for the varied prices. It is advisable to choose a reasonably priced rototiller with just enough capacity to serve your gardening needs.

Final Verdict