2024’s Best Rototillers for Soil Prep and Garden Maintenance, Tested
Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about 2024’s Best Rototillers for Soil Prep and Garden Maintenance, Tested and hope the blog can help you.
A rototiller can help you loosen and aerate compacted soil to create an ideal growing environment for your plants.
When it comes to gardening, a rototiller can save an incredible amount of time and effort. Good soil preparation is a key component to successful gardening, but manually turning the soil can be a slow, arduous process. That’s where rototillers come in handy. We tested seven rototillers of different sizes and prices, tilling more than 4,000 square feet of soil in the process. To find the best rototillers on the market, we used each tiller in a variety of ways, such as tilling existing garden beds, cultivating weedy garden paths, aerating compost piles, and breaking ground to create new garden spaces.
A good rototiller or cultivator for any garden must be able to comfortably maneuver through the space while loosening and aerating compacted soil, removing weeds, and incorporating soil amendments. For some users’ needs, this may call for a small battery-powered cultivator, while others may require a large gas rototiller. Our favorite of the group, the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT Garden Tiller, turned a high volume of soil faster than any of the others. It was easy to operate for extended use, and it caused negligible physical strain and operator fatigue.
This guide includes large, medium, and small tillers and cultivators powered by gas and electricity. Each has been garden tested and evaluated for digging power, maneuverability, and user comfort. Whether your garden calls for a heavy-duty rear tine tiller, a powerful front tine model, or a compact garden cultivator, this roundup of the best rototillers could help you find the right one for your garden space.
- BEST OVERALL: Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT Garden Tiller
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Toro 10″ 2-Cycle 43cc Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BATTERY-POWERED: Greenworks 10″ 40V Cordless Cultivator With Battery
↓ Jump to Review - BEST CULTIVATOR: Honda 9″ Mini-Tiller/Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FRONT TINE: Craftsman 24″ 208cc Gas Front Tine TIller
↓ Jump to Review - BEST SMALL: Kobalt 80V Lithium-Ion Cordless Electric Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review - MOST VERSATILE: Earthquake MC440 4-Cycle Cultivator
↓ Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Rototillers
Rototillers are mostly used to turn brand-new ground that is currently covered with established vegetation, or for seasonal tilling and cultivation in an existing garden. We marked out two testing plots: 2,500 square feet in an existing garden and 1,500 square feet in an established lawn. After assembling the tillers, we used each one to turn up sections of both test plots—first at a shallow depth, then at the maximum depth.
After the test runs, we noted our observations on a scoring rubric. To be included in this guide, a tiller had to be comfortable to operate and powerful enough to penetrate hardpan soil. In addition to noting specifications like power ratings and dimensions, we assessed ease of use, performance, durability, and perceived value. Finally, we assigned superlative awards for each model that passed our criteria.
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 8 |
| Hours spent testing | 25 |
| Tests performed | 6 |
| Price range | $250 to $750 |
Our Top Picks
A rototiller quickly turns hard-packed soil into a crumbly and plant-friendly haven. Whether you’re breaking new ground for an expansive veggie garden or refreshing a small flower bed for seasonal color, one of our tested tillers could be just the tool for the job. In the reviews ahead, find out how each model performed in testing.
Best Overall
Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT Garden Tiller
Photo: Tractor Supply Co.
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Performance 5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Engine/motor: 208 cubic centimeter (cc) 4-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 184 pounds
- Tilling dimensions: 16 inches wide, 6 inches deep
What We Like
- Counter-rotating tines designed to break up new ground and hard-packed soil
- Balanced design facilitates easy 1-handed operation
- 13-inch ag tires and power reverse make it easy to navigate around obstacles
- Powerful engine and lots of torque for bed prep and seasonal cleanup
What We Don’t Like
- Wheels must be repositioned for nontilling transport to and from the garden
- Not suitable for detailed cultivation around fragile young plants
Our top choice for the best rototiller came down to power. The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco CRT garden rototiller features a 208cc gas engine and counter-rotating rear tines that easily churn through compacted soil without bouncing around as it climbs over roots and rocks. In our tests, it performed the best in terms of breaking new ground. It made the toughest seasonal tilling projects incredibly easy.
This tiller started up easily—normally on the first pull of the cord—and was easy to control with one hand. The tines had no problem grinding up our hard clay-based soil and returning it to the tilling path in a nice, crumbly texture. When it encountered larger rocks (up to the size of a baseball), the machine ejected them smoothly without jumping or surging.
This is not the largest rear tine tiller on the market, as it has a maximum tilling width of 16 inches and tills 6 inches deep. But the relatively modest size was ideal for our rectangular 1,500-square-foot test garden. That being said, it is designed to work in long, straight lines. Navigating turns in small and oddly shaped beds became cumbersome.
Get the Troy-Bilt rototiller at Tractor Supply Co. or The Home Depot.
Best Bang for the Buck
Toro 10" 2-Cycle 43cc Cultivator
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.3/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Engine/motor: 43cc 2-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 33 pounds
- Tilling dimensions: 6 to 10 inches wide, 8 inches deep
What We Like
- Adjustable width for easy mobility and precise cultivating between plants
- Overhead handles designed to minimize bouncing over rocks and roots
- Ideal for in-season garden maintenance and small garden bed soil prep
- Affordable price for a durable and dependable garden cultivator
What We Don’t Like
- 2-cycle engine requires a fuel mixture of gasoline and 2-cycle oil
For smaller garden beds that you don’t want to turn by hand, a compact and maneuverable tiller is necessary. This cultivator from Toro makes soil preparation and plant cultivation easier with the help of its lightweight, streamlined design. As a bonus, it has the lowest price of all the rototillers we tested.
The cultivator features onboard wheels with a locking spring mechanism that lets the operator raise and lower them for improved depth control. The tiller can be used with all four tines in place or just the inner two, resulting in a 10-inch or 6-inch tilling width, respectively. The overhand design on the handles gives the operator greater control and reduces bucking over rocks and debris in the soil.
We were pleasantly surprised to find that this garden cultivator actually operated much like a bigger rototiller, albeit with modified bolo-style tines and a slower rotation speed. It produced an impressive amount of torque for the size, which allowed it to break up compacted garden soil and root out weeds fairly easily. But unsurprisingly, it was underpowered and underweight for breaking new ground. The upright handle design definitely helped to reduce bucking, but it also transferred that energy to our hands, arms, and shoulders, so it’s best for working existing garden beds—or for busting up the clumps after breaking new ground with a spade.
Get the Toro rototiller at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., or Ace Hardware.
Best Battery-Powered
Greenworks 10" 40V Cordless Cultivator With Battery
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.8/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Engine/motor: 4-amp motor
- Weight: 21 pounds
- Tilling dimensions: 8.25 to 10 inches wide, 5 inches deep
What We Like
- Convenient and easy-to-use battery-powered electric cultivator
- Included battery provides up to 40 minutes of running time and charges in 2 hours
- Pick-style tines for optimal performance in rocky soil
- Compact and lightweight; easy to transport and store
- Ideal solution for occasional use in small spaces
What We Don’t Like
- Less digging power than corded electric and gas-powered options
The Greenworks cordless electric cultivator has a 4-amp motor and comes with a battery charger and a 40-volt 4 amp hour (Ah) battery that can power the tiller for up to 40 minutes on a single charge. Instead of having to deal with the pull-cord start typical of gas-powered tillers, this battery rototiller has an easy-to-operate push-button start.
The rototiller weighs about 21 pounds and is supported by a pair of 6-inch wheels for easy transport. The four front tines till to a maximum depth of 5 inches, and the tilling width is adjustable between 8.25 inches and 10 inches.
With modified pick tines capable of striking 2,000 times per minute, this cultivator moved quickly through our compacted garden soil. The smaller tilling area and shallow depth allowed us to safely cultivate near garden plants. It did a nice job of weeding as well as blending compost and fertilizer into the soil surface without damaging plant roots. However, like the other small tillers we tested, this one is not equipped to break ground in a brand-new garden bed.
Get the Greenworks rototiller at Amazon, Northern Tool + Equipment, or Greenworks.
Best Cultivator
Honda 9" Mini-Tiller/Cultivator
Photo: Amazon
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.8/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.3/5
Product Specs
- Engine/motor: 25cc 4-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 26.8 pounds
- Tilling dimensions: 9 inches wide, 8 inches deep
What We Like
- Compact and lightweight, yet strong enough to break new ground
- Powered by a commercial-grade Honda GX25 4-stroke engine
- Highly maneuverable for close cultivation and tilling smaller garden beds
- Fast and aggressive 294 revolutions per minute (RPM) tine speed
What We Don’t Like
- Higher price than other small gas-powered rototillers
When it comes to outdoor power equipment, Honda consistently excels. The Honda FG110 mini tiller/cultivator is no exception. Powered by a clean-running commercial-grade GX25 engine, this model delivers surprisingly aggressive groundbreaking capabilities despite its small size. It packs the power to help with tough weeding chores, or to incorporate fertilizer and other soil amendments into the garden.
This tiller features plow-style handlebars with an on/off switch conveniently located next to the hand grips. It comes with modified bolo-style 6-point tines that can be configured in either 6-inch or 9-inch widths. Moving at 294 RPM, they easily chew up weeds and compacted soil, as well as break ground for new garden beds.
While this was the most expensive of the three smallest gas rototillers we tested, it was also arguably the most capable. The 25cc engine produced higher RPM, and the tines chopped more aggressively through tough soil and weeds, making it the most efficient cultivator of the bunch. It also held its own as a tiller for breaking ground, but it tended to bounce a bit more over rocks and roots due to the lower handle angle.
Get the Honda rototiller at Amazon or Lowe’s.
Best Front Tine
Craftsman 24" 208cc Gas Front Tine Tiller
Photo: Lowe’s
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.3/5; Performance 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Engine/motor: 208cc 4-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 116 pounds
- Tilling dimensions: Adjustable (13, 22, 24 inches wide), 7 inches deep
What We Like
- Deep tines and wide tine assembly make quick work of large gardens
- Excellent maneuverability allows users to easily turn at row ends and avoid obstacles
- Large transport wheels and adjustable depth stake
- Adjustable tine width for added versatility
What We Don’t Like
- Operator must wear gloves to prevent the engage lever from pinching hand
Traditional front tine rototillers offer the soil-churning power required for larger garden plots, along with convenient mobility for working around obstacles. This front tine tiller from Craftsman boasts an adjustable-width tine set and a 208cc gas engine, resulting in an abundance of power and versatility.
Weighing 116 pounds, this front tine tiller has plenty of weight to dig deep and prevent bouncing off hardpan soil and subsurface rocks. It can be configured to operate with two tines for a 13-inch tilling width or with four tines set at 22 or 24 inches wide. The recoil start system has an adjustable throttle lever with positive stops in the low and high settings. The tines are engaged by means of a grip lever on the left handle.
The Craftsman front tine tiller had plenty of power to turn the compacted soil in our established garden using the widest tine configuration and the deepest depth stake setting. To break new ground, we narrowed the tines to 22 inches and tilled at half depth. In both scenarios, the torque and tine speed were more than adequate.
As expected with front tine tillers, navigating curves and turns was much easier with this one than with a rear tine model. But the tradeoff was that the bumps and jostling we experienced when we encountered rocks and roots transitioned to our hands and bodies, increasing fatigue.
The only fault we found in this machine was due to the configuration of the tine engagement lever. The user activates it by squeezing it against the left handle, but doing so tends to pinch the hand. The best solution is to wear gloves while tilling, but a better solution would be for Craftsman to redesign this feature to eliminate the pinch point.
Get the Craftsman rototiller at Lowe’s.