Best Tillers & Cultivators for DIYers
A tiller breaks and loosens soil for new garden beds; a cultivator mixes and aerates established beds. Corded electric offers the best power-for-value for most gardens, with cordless for small beds and gas for big plots.
What to look for
- ·Tillers break new ground with deeper, wider tines; cultivators are lighter for mixing soil and weeding established beds.
- ·Corded electric gives strong, unlimited power for most home gardens; cordless suits small and raised beds; gas handles big plots and tough clay.
- ·Match tilling width and depth to your garden, and a narrower machine maneuvers better between rows.
Quick comparison
| Product | Tier | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun Joe TJ604E Electric Tiller | Editor's pick | $130 to $180 | The best all-around value |
| Honda FG110 Mini Tiller | Editor's pick | $350 to $450 | Compact gas power |
| BILT HARD 46cc Gas Tiller | Editor's pick | $250 to $400 | Large plots and tough soil |
| Greenworks 40V Cordless Cultivator | Best value | $120 to $180 | Cordless value |
| LawnMaster Corded Tiller | Best value | $110 to $160 | Wide-width corded value |
| Earthquake Gas Cultivator | Best value | $200 to $320 | Value gas cultivating |
| Alloyman 20V Cordless Tiller | Budget pick | $80 to $130 | Budget raised beds |
| Store-Brand Electric Cultivator | Budget pick | $60 to $100 | Budget light cultivating |
| Mini Corded Tiller | Budget pick | $50 to $90 | Lowest-cost small gardens |
Editor's pick
Sun Joe TJ604E Electric Tiller
$130 to $180
A test-dominating corded tiller with a 13.5-amp motor that handles compacted soil and clay, with a 16-inch width ideal for most garden beds. The pick for power and value.
Best for: The best all-around value
Typically available at Amazon, Home Depot.
Honda FG110 Mini Tiller
$350 to $450
A small-but-mighty gas mini tiller, far more capable than its size suggests and reliable. The pick for a compact, dependable gas cultivator.
Best for: Compact gas power
Typically available at Home Depot, Honda dealers.
BILT HARD 46cc Gas Tiller
$250 to $400
A 4-cycle gas tiller with commercial-grade power for large plots, with no oil mixing and sustained torque. The pick for big gardens and tough ground.
Best for: Large plots and tough soil
Typically available at Amazon.
Best value
Greenworks 40V Cordless Cultivator
$120 to $180
A top cordless pick with good performance across soil types and quick charging on the 40V platform. A strong value for raised beds and small gardens.
Best for: Cordless value
Typically available at Amazon, Lowe's.
LawnMaster Corded Tiller
$110 to $160
A powerful 13.5-amp corded tiller with an 18-inch width, 9-inch depth, and overload protection at a value price. A strong value for bigger beds.
Best for: Wide-width corded value
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Earthquake Gas Cultivator
$200 to $320
A capable gas cultivator for mixing and aerating beds at a value price. A dependable mid-value pick for gardeners who prefer gas.
Best for: Value gas cultivating
Typically available at Tractor Supply, Amazon.
Budget pick
Alloyman 20V Cordless Tiller
$80 to $130
A compact 14-pound cordless tiller with a 9-inch width, perfect for beginners and raised beds. A budget pick for light garden work.
Best for: Budget raised beds
Typically available at Amazon.
Store-Brand Electric Cultivator
$60 to $100
An inexpensive corded cultivator for mixing and weeding small beds. Basic but serviceable for light garden tasks on a budget.
Best for: Budget light cultivating
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Mini Corded Tiller
$50 to $90
The cheapest small corded tiller for occasional bed prep and weeding. Limited power, but the lowest cost to loosen soil in a small garden.
Best for: Lowest-cost small gardens
Typically available at Amazon, Walmart.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a tiller and a cultivator?+
A tiller has stronger, deeper-digging tines to break new ground and turn compacted or unworked soil. A cultivator is lighter, for mixing in amendments, aerating, and weeding soil that is already loose. For starting a new bed, you want a tiller; for maintaining one, a cultivator.
Electric, cordless, or gas tiller?+
Corded electric tillers offer the best power-for-value for most home gardens, with unlimited runtime and low maintenance. Cordless models give freedom for small and raised beds but have limited runtime. Gas tillers deliver the most power for large plots and tough clay, at the cost of noise and upkeep.
What size tiller do I need?+
For raised beds and small gardens, a compact mini-tiller or cultivator (around 9 to 12 inches wide) is plenty. For larger garden beds, a 16 to 18-inch electric or a gas tiller works ground faster. Match the width to your beds and the rows you need to fit between.
How deep should I till?+
For most garden beds, tilling 6 to 8 inches deep loosens the root zone without bringing up too many weed seeds or disturbing soil structure excessively. Go deeper only when breaking compacted new ground. Many gardeners now till lightly or use no-till methods to protect soil life.
Is tilling bad for soil?+
Heavy, frequent tilling can disrupt soil structure and beneficial organisms over time, which is why some gardeners prefer minimal or no-till approaches. Tilling is useful for breaking new ground and incorporating amendments; after that, lighter cultivating maintains beds with less disturbance.