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Greenworks 25322 Review

An affordable, battery-powered mower designed for efficient lawn care in compact outdoor spaces
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Greenworks 25322 Review
Credit: Clark Tate
Price:  $300 List
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Manufacturer:   Greenworks
By Clark Tate, Nick Miley, and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Oct 23, 2024
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#7 of 13
  • Mowing - 35% 5.5
  • Power Performance - 25% 5.0
  • Handling - 20% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 8.0
  • Noise - 5% 7.3

Our Verdict

Affordable and easy to set up and use, the compact, battery-powered Greenworks 25322 is a solid option for anyone with a smaller yard. With its 16-inch deck and 15.5-inch blade, it's lightweight and easy to handle, making it suitable for maneuvering around tight spaces. Unfortunately, its engine struggles with taller grass and the deck does not do well in uneven terrain. If you let your grass get too long, you'll need to make multiple passes for a consistent cut. The mower excels in bagging, but its mulching performance left some of the largest grass piles during our testing and declines in quality as the battery drains. While the mower offers decent runtime, having a second battery would make it more practical for larger lawns. Despite a few drawbacks, it's a well-priced, eco-friendly option for those with smaller lawns. To see how it compares to the others, head over to our list of the top-ranked lawn mowers
REASONS TO BUY
Lightweight and compact
Facilitating easy maneuverability
REASONS TO AVOID
The cutting deck is narrow
It's not self-propelled
And it has a less powerful motor
Editor's Note: We tested the original version in the past. For our Fall 2024 update, we tested the brushless motor.

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greenworks 25322
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Greenworks 25322
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An Affordable Fuel Version
 Top Pick Award
A Trusty & Reliable Classic
 
Price $300 List
$299.00 at Amazon
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Bottom Line An affordable, electric mower that's perfect for small yardsSturdily built with a trusted engine, this high-performing motor should lastThis great mower can't overcome the fact that mowing with a cord is annoyingA solid manual option for those with small yards and simple tastesThis easy-to-use manual reel mower was dull and required some adjustment
Rating Categories Greenworks 25322 Troy-Bilt TB110 Greenworks 25022 American Lawn Mower... Great States 204-14
Mowing (35%)
5.5
8.0
6.0
3.0
2.0
Power Performance (25%)
5.0
9.0
4.0
3.0
3.0
Handling (20%)
7.0
8.5
6.0
6.5
4.0
Ease of Use (15%)
8.0
5.0
3.0
9.0
9.0
Noise (5%)
7.3
4.7
5.8
9.5
9.5
Specs Greenworks 25322 Troy-Bilt TB110 Greenworks 25022 American Lawn Mower... Great States 204-14
Power Source 40V, 4Ah Lithium Battery Gas 12 Amp Electric - Cord Reel Reel
Cutting Deck Width 13 3/4" 21" 16" 14" 14"
Self-Propelled No No No No No
Measured Cutting Gap 1" 1/4" 1/4" N/A N/A
Measured Recharge/Refuel Time 65 min 2 min n/a n/a n/a
Measured Decibel Reading 72 dBa 79 dBa 76 dBa 66 dBa 66 dBa
Watt Hours 160 N/A N/A N/A N/A

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Greenworks 25322 has a relatively long runtime, a wide range of cutting heights, and is relatively quiet. Unlike our favorite options, though, it's not self-propelled. And, since it's not the most powerful mower we've gotten our hands on, it can be tiring to push. The narrow deck is also slower to cover ground, leaving you working longer and harder than you would with the top-scoring models.

Performance Comparison


This compact electric mower works best on small, frequently trimmed lawns. If you let the grass go a bit too long, using the bagging function can save you from large clumps.
Credit: Clark Tate

Mowing


This 16-inch deck mower is less powerful than the top-performing battery options, often forcing us to retrace our steps for a consistent cut. The 15.5-inch blade is also one of the shortest in the test, meaning that you cover less of your yard with each pass. As a result, we only recommend this machine for quite a small yard, one you wouldn't mind walking over one and a half times to get a good trim.


That's especially true since you have to overlap your passes. If you trace the same wheel path walking up and down your yard, the mower leaves a mohawk of grass between. In thick grass taller than five inches, the engine tends to bog down, and you have to slow down to get a decent cut and keep the motor from shutting down.

The bottom line is that you're going to spend more time mowing with this machine than with larger, more powerful, and usually more expensive options. Luckily, it's light enough that the work doesn't feel too hard, especially on a smaller property. This mower works best if you're good at keeping your lawn under control by trimming it often.

greenworks 25322 - this small, light mower excels in tight spaces.
This small, light mower excels in tight spaces.
Credit: Clark Tate

Evenness and Terrain Management


The 25322 has a lightweight plastic deck, which is great when you're lugging it across a lawn, but not so awesome when it comes to getting an even cut across undulating terrain. Since the mower has so little heft and tends to bounce over small hills or dips instead of tracking them, it leaves patches of longer, unmowed grass behind on uneven sections of lawn. It doesn't mow perfectly over flat terrain either, often leaving taller tuffs or single flags of grass in its wake. It's especially inconsistent just before the battery dies.

greenworks 25322 - the lightweight plastic deck tends to bounce over undulations in...
The lightweight plastic deck tends to bounce over undulations in terrain instead of tracking them, this makes for an inconsistent cut.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Mulching


This mower leaves large clumps of grass behind more often than any other gas or battery option that we tested. We raked some of the piles, spreading them out to avoid damaging the lawn. They're also messy to walk through, leaving grass sticking to our shoes whenever we venture into the yard for days. The quality of the mower's mulching also suffers as the battery begins to die, leaving more piles of grass behind than ever. The mulching mode works best if you mow your lawn at least once a week, leaving you with fewer clippings overall. If you get behind often, this isn't your best bet.

greenworks 25322 - this little mower is one of the worst mulchers of the bunch, leaving...
This little mower is one of the worst mulchers of the bunch, leaving large clumps of grass behind, particularly when your grass has grown too long or the battery is low.
Credit: Clark Tate

Bagging


This mower is an impressive bagger, packing grass into the bag efficiently and holding an impressive amount. It's noticeably better than all but the top battery and gas-powered options. On the other hand, more cut grass escapes the bag than any other option in the test. As with any mower, when the bag is full, the engine loses power, prompting you to empty the grass, which is easy enough to do.

While mulching grass is better for your lawn, retaining nutrients and moisture, this mower is much better at bagging. We find that using mulching mode on a weekly basis and switching to bagging mode if your grass gets away from you is a good strategy for this mower.

You can watch some of the cut grass escaping the bag and bunching up behind the rear wheel.
Credit: Clark Tate

Side Shoot


The 25322 we tested doesn't come with an attachment to convert it into a side shooting mode; mulching and bagging are your only options.

Cutting Deck Width and Height


As we've mentioned, the 16" deck and 15.5" blade don't cover ground very quickly. We like it best for compact spaces like inside a garden plot or a fenced-in dog kennel.

The blade hangs 0.25" above the deck bottom, which is pretty standard. And you can adjust the bottom of the deck to five height settings ranging from 0.5" to 3.25", giving you a 2.75". We used the middle, #3 setting, which sits 1.75" above the ground by the front tires, and 2" in the rear.

greenworks 25322
Credit: Clark Tate

Power Performance


This mower uses a 40-volt lithium battery with four amp hours, which equals 160 watt-hours. When you compare it to the other battery-powered options we tested, it's a respectable mid-range option. Still, it's a far cry from the 400-odd watt hours from the most powerful options in the test.


Run Time


We tested this mower's runtime twice. During both tests, temperatures were in the low to mid-70s, and the grass was between five and seven inches high. During the first test, it ran for 35.5 minutes. During the second, it ran for 46 minutes, for an average of 40.8 minutes. We chalk the disparity up to running through denser patches of grass during the first test than the second.

greenworks 25322 - the small battery ran for an average of 40 minutes in our test...
The small battery ran for an average of 40 minutes in our test. That's just or nearly enough to cover about a quarter acre of well-maintained grass.
Credit: Clark Tate

In 30 minutes, this 15.5-inch blade will be able to cut about 0.19 acres of grass if you walk at a three-mile-per-hour pace. Since the average American lawn size is s about a quarter acre according to Home Advisor, you might just make it. Investing in a second battery would make sure you do.

Charge Time


This mower's battery takes an average of 66 minutes to charge. If your yard is small enough to finish on one charge, this number isn't that important. If you have a larger lawn, it means you'll have to wait over an hour anytime you run out of juice.

If you invest in a second battery, you could finish even a slightly above-average yard in one fell swoop. For large yards, however, you will need to take a 20-minute break between charging the first battery after you run the second one down. They aren't cheap, though.

Handling


The 25322 earns a middle-of-the-road handling score. It doesn't have the design features, like larger wheels in the back than the front, or the bells and whistles, like self-propulsion, to be a top contender in this metric. But it is small and light enough that it never feels challenging to move around.


Pushing


This mower has a comfortably cushioned handle at a height that works well for most adults. You can also change the handle angle fairly easily to alternate between using your arms primarily, or your core.

Though it's lightweight, this mower can still force you to power up a hill or through thick patches of grass, where it slows down noticeably. That makes it difficult for this mower to compete with self-powered options.

greenworks 25322 - mowers with larger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the...
Mowers with larger wheels in the back and smaller wheels in the front are the easiest to maneuver. This mower's similarly sized wheels aren't particularly nimble, but it's small and light enough that it doesn't much matter.
Credit: Clark Tate

Turning


With a compact wheelbase, the 25322 has a tight turning radius and is fairly easy to navigate around obstacles. The front and rear wheels are similar in size, though, and we find that the mowers that turn on a dime have much larger wheels in the back than the front.

Starting/Stopping


The bail bar on this mower is intuitive and easy to hold in place. Once you let it go, the blade stops promptly, though not immediately, taking about a second to slow. To fire up the engine, simply press and hold the start button, then pull and hold the bail bar back.

Simply press the start button.
Simply press the start button.
Then pull the bail bar back.
Then pull the bail bar back.

Ease of Use


This simple lawn mower is one of the easiest in the test to put together, set up, and start. The short and simple directions are easy to follow, though they didn't give much information about cutting height options. While some battery-powered options shipped the battery separately, this one arrived in the package with the 25322. The bagging accessory arrived assembled as well. Like all the mowers we tested, this one arrived set up for mulching mode. Folding it for storage isn't as smooth as other models, though.


Changing Mowing Heights and Modes


You can change the deck height of the mower to accommodate various grass heights with one hand. Simply shift the single handle to one of five settings, and it adjusts all four wheels at once. To switch between mulching and bagging modes, you just need to remove a plug from the rear of the deck and add a bag. Reversing the process is just as simple.

Changing the deck height is delightfully easy. Just move this one...
Changing the deck height is delightfully easy. Just move this one lever to the desired setting, and it adjusts all four tires for you.
The mower arrives with this plug in the back of the deck. It keeps...
The mower arrives with this plug in the back of the deck. It keeps cut grass from exiting the machine and leaves it in place as mulch. To switch to bagging mode, simply remove it.
Then simply hook the prebuilt bag on the back of the machine. Simple...
Then simply hook the prebuilt bag on the back of the machine. Simple instructions guide you through the intuitive process.

Placing and Reading the Battery


Charging, placing, and removing the battery is easy and intuitive for all of the mowers we tested. This one is no different. It isn't easy to read the battery while you're mowing, however, and we didn't notice any audible or visible indication of a low battery. The motor simply slowed down, losing power and cutting less effectively, before dying altogether.

greenworks 25322 - the battery takes over an hour to charge, leaving you with some time...
The battery takes over an hour to charge, leaving you with some time to kill if you run out of juice mid-project.
Credit: Clark Tate

Maintenance


Battery mowers are relatively new on the market, meaning we have less information to assess their long-term maintenance needs and durability. We don't anticipate any immediate issues with this mower, but our experience repairing small battery-powered engines is limited.

What we do know is that there are very few maintenance tasks while it's working well. Simply remove the battery for storage. We also know that the battery will die eventually, and you'll need to buy a new one, which is expensive, and find the most responsible way to dispose of the old one.

greenworks 25322 - the process of folding the mower for storage is clunkier than we'd...
The process of folding the mower for storage is clunkier than we'd like.
Credit: Clark Tate

Adjusting and Folding


Adjusting the handle on this mower can be a bit of a hassle. To loosen the lower handle, you need to pop it out of its groove by pressing it either inward or outward, depending on the model. This process can be tricky, and it's easy to accidentally catch and pinch the cord in the process, adding to our frustration.

The upper handle, while easier to fold, folds in the opposite direction we expected it to. These quirks can make setup and storage more cumbersome than they should be.

greenworks 25322 - the plastic tires don't give you much traction, but you don't need...
The plastic tires don't give you much traction, but you don't need to worry about keeping them inflated either.
Credit: Clark Tate

Noise


We measured how loud the 25322 is at head height when you're pushing the mower. It registered at 71.9 decibels or one of the quietest options in the test. Since the World Health Organization suggests keeping noise levels below 80 decibels, this is an ear-friendly mower.


Should You Buy the Greenworks 25322?


This compact battery-powered mower is one of the most affordable options in the test, making it a good option for those with small yards and tight corners. It's best for folks who mow their lawns often since it doesn't deal well with longer grass.

What Other Lawn Mowers Should You Consider?


If you have a small yard and are good at cutting it frequently, the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is a less expensive option. A reel-style mower is purely mechanical and requires no gas or electric power to work. That means you have to push it a bit hard to work through thick patches, though. It will save you money in the short and long term but does require more strength to use. The larger deck will save you some mowing time, but we wouldn't pay much more for it. The corded Greenworks 25022 is more powerful and a more consistent cutter, but the cord is so annoying that we'd rather mow the entire yard twice.

greenworks 25322 - while mulching grass is better for your lawn long term, if you let...
While mulching grass is better for your lawn long term, if you let the grass get too high, this mower's excellent bagging skills are a blessing.
Credit: Clark Tate

Clark Tate, Nick Miley, and Austin Palmer