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Best Gas Tillers

Updated May 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Tazz 35310 Tiller/ Cultivator
Tazz
35310 Tiller/ Cultivator
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Most Versatile
Bottom Line

A powerful and fuel-efficient motor makes this a solid pick.

Pros

The tiller design can be quickly changed to a cultivator without tools. The 79cc engine is fuel-efficient for great run time. Can be utilized in 21, 16, or 11-inch widths. Doesn't bounce much.

Cons

Can take 2-3 hours to fully assemble.

Best Bang for the Buck
Tazz 33cc 2-Cycle Viper Mini Cultivator
Tazz
33cc 2-Cycle Viper Mini Cultivator
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Easiest to Use
Bottom Line

A heavy-duty unit for small- to medium-size jobs.

Pros

This is a fairly compact machine that has a 33cc 2-cycle engine that is capable of breaking up even the toughest soil. Simple to maneuver in and out of rows and around plants.

Cons

Assembly is somewhat challenging, and the instructions lack clear details.

Mantis 2-Cycle Tiller & Cultivator
Mantis
2-Cycle Tiller & Cultivator
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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

A compact machine perfect for smaller gardens.

Pros

The engine is easy to start and turn off. Tills 9 inches wide and 10 inches deep. The 21cc engine packs a good amount of punch for smaller jobs. Easy to use in smaller spaces.

Cons

It does not have wheels which makes it hard to handle.

Mantis 4-Cycle Gas Powered Cultivator
Mantis
4-Cycle Gas Powered Cultivator
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Top Performance
Bottom Line

If you're serious about raising your own produce and have a moderate-sized garden, this is a lightweight yet extremely capable tiller.

Pros

The 4-cycle engine means no mixing of oil and gas. Finger-activated throttle offers great speed control and ease of operation. Has kickstand and folding handles for storage. Comes with a 2-year limited warranty.

Cons

The initial pass can be a little tougher depending on the condition of the soil.

Earthquake MAC Tiller Cultivator
Earthquake
MAC Tiller Cultivator
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Best for Beginners
Bottom Line

This mid-level tiller is a capable, easy-to-use soil-turning machine that works well for many home gardeners' needs.

Pros

This dependable tiller earns high marks in terms of convenience, as it's easy to assemble, start, and use. Lightweight and perfect for small, raised flower beds. Sturdy build with a 33cc 2-cycle Viper engine.

Cons

Not powerful enough to work in hard or clay soil, and not the best pick for large gardens.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

30
Models
Considered
155
Consumers
Consulted
8
Hours
Researched
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Buying guide for best gas tillers

A quality gas tiller is a versatile tool that can turn a tired lawn into a productive vegetable plot, aerate your soil, make short work of weed growth, and quickly incorporate compost and fertilizer. They save hours of your valuable time and are way easier on your back than trying to dig over your ground by hand.

Two-cycle models are lightweight and deliver excellent performance from relatively modest capacities. Large four-cycle motors drive heavy-duty machines capable of tilling the biggest plots with minimal effort. No electric motor currently available comes close.

Far from being the difficult beasts of yesteryear, a raft of user-friendly features has made them infinitely more manageable and easier to live with. And while there's always an argument against the environmental impact of a gas motor, modern versions are more efficient than ever and many comply with stringent emissions standards.

To learn more, keep reading our guide. If you’re ready to buy, take a look at our recommendations, which cover a wide range of prices and performance options.

Content Image
Pull cords are by far the most common way to start a gas tiller — but there are a few with electric starts if you're looking for that added convenience.

Key considerations

Motor

When you need consistent, reliable power delivery — and the freedom to cover large areas — there's no substitute for a gas motor. Two-cycle (also called two-stroke) gas tillers offer an excellent power-to-weight ratio and are easy to manage. While these modest-capacity motors can certainly be capable of creating new beds and borders from unbroken ground, you also need to look at tilling width and depth to get an overall picture of suitability. If you have hundreds or thousands of square feet to work, a large-capacity four-cycle motor will deliver more power and so won’t overstrain the engine. [Looking for more help in the garden? Check out our recommendations for garden fertilizers, gloves, and kneeler benches.]

Tilling width and depth

A greater tilling width means fewer passes over a given patch of ground — but it's nice to have adjustability so that you can narrow down the track for working in and around plants without disturbing them. Do you need this flexibility, or would you be better with a wide, fixed width that will help you turn over large plots faster?

A good tilling depth is useful for initial digging of new ground, but less important for maintenance tasks. It's usually set via a simple bar and cotter pin at the rear.

Front or rear tines

Front-tine machines have the tines mounted directly underneath the engine. The wheels (if fitted) are to the rear. These are usually smaller, lightweight machines, and most have variable width, making them easy to maneuver in tight spaces. Rear-tine machines have wheels at the front and large-diameter tines at the rear. These provide a track of as much as 26 inches wide for digging over large plots. However, many are not adjustable.

Drive

It’s the rotation of the tines that pulls the machine forward. Added versatility comes from dual rotating tines — so the machine can dig backward as well as forward. This is a feature only found on rear-tine tillers and is particularly good for breaking up heavily compacted or clay soils. Some large tillers provide a reverse gear that allows you to back up without actually digging. A few high-end tillers have multiple forward speeds, so you can run slowly when working new areas and speed up for turning existing plots.

Wheels and tires

Some lightweight gas tillers have no wheels. It's important not to run these across hard surfaces like tarmac, because you'll bend the tines. Mid-range models have wheels with solid tires. The largest have pneumatic tires, which make them easier to steer over uneven terrain. Some rear-tine models also have counterweights on the front to improve overall balance and make a big machine easier to handle.

Safety

We came across a couple of four-cycle models that have a low–oil pressure shut-off, a valuable safety feature that stops the engine before lack of oil can do any damage.

Storage

Front-tine tillers often have fold-down handles so you need little space to store them. Unfortunately, rear-tine tillers are just big — but if you've got a yard large enough to warrant one, you've probably got a substantial shed or barn to keep it in.

Gas tiller prices

Inexpensive: Entry-level tiller/cultivators start at, or just below $200. You'll get 20 to 50cc two-cycle engines capable of handling aerating and weeding tasks but that don't have the outright power for a lot of ground breaking.

Mid-range: The medium-sized tillers that are the ideal all-round solution for most gardeners cost between $250 and $350. This will give you a choice of two- or four-cycle machines and cutting widths of around nine to 12 inches.

Expensive: Powerful four-cycle machines that can handle substantial plots cost $500 and up. You can pay $1,400 or more for electric start models and up to $2,500 for the largest models — but these are rated for yards of several thousand square feet.

Maintenance tips

Tiller maintenance is not difficult, and a little care will extend the working life of your tool.

  • Don't put your tiller away dirty. Remove tangled weeds or roots and wash it down.

  • Check the tines. Although they don't need to be razor-sharp, if there's damage or they're worn, a quick rub over with a file can make a big difference to digging performance.

  • Engine maintenance will vary depending on whether it's a two-cycle or four-cycle motor. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for recommended air, fuel, or oil and oil filter changes.

  • If starting is difficult, check the spark plug. If it's dirty, give it a quick scrub with a wire brush. If it's cracked, chipped, or burned, it will need replacing.

  • Check drive belts for wear and replace if necessary.

  • If you've got pneumatic tires, check air pressures.

  • Check nuts, bolts, and other fasteners are done up tight. These machines do vibrate a bit, and they can work loose.

Other products we considered

Most of our recommendations focus on tillers for small to medium-sized gardens, but we also looked at a few high-power models for larger yards.

Many tillers with large four-cycle engines are rear-tine models, but the 212cc Champion 22-Inch Tiller is a front-tine model that combines 16- to 22-inch tilling width with dual rotation to make it easier to break up tough ground.

The Yardmax YT4565 is another dual rotating model, this time rear-tined. It sports the popular and reliable 208cc Briggs & Stratton motor. Tilling width is 18 inches, though it's not adjustable.

The Troy-Bilt Pony ES has a 250cc Briggs & Stratton engine. This machine with a 16-inch tilling width is one of a few that offers an electric start.

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Four-cycle engines tend to be more durable, as long as they are maintained properly. Two-cycle engines are lighter and usually cheaper — but often louder.

FAQ

Q. Are two-cycle (two-stroke) motors legal in California?
A.
Two-cycle motors tend to have higher emissions than four-cycle models, but as far as we know, there's no particular ban on gas-powered garden tools. If you're concerned, check that the motor is CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant. Fifteen states have now adopted this standard.

Q. Is a front-tine tiller better than a rear-tine version?
A.
It's really a question of the type of work you'll be doing most of the time. Rear-tine tillers are usually big, powerful (and relatively expensive) machines designed for initial creation of a plot or the annual cultivation of large, unplanted areas. They aren't so good at maintenance work in and around existing planting. In those situations, a front-tine tiller provides the greater maneuverability you need.

Q. What's the difference between a tiller and a cultivator?
A.
Landscape professionals look at a tiller as a machine capable of digging through clay or stony or compacted soil in order to create new planting areas, whereas a cultivator is only used for reworking an existing bed. With consumer models, the difference has become blurred, and tiller/cultivators are dual-purpose machines capable of performing both tasks. However, if it's just called a cultivator, don't expect it to break new ground.