To help you find the best tiller and cultivator for your gardening or farming needs, we have tried out a multitude of top models, testing them for efficiency in both tilling and cultivating, preferring models that excelled with both practices. We also loved tillers and cultivators that were highly adjustable, with plenty of tine options, and those that were lightweight and easy to push along soil. This is a great lawn and garden essential that you can get.
The best tiller and cultivator that we tried was easily the Earthwise TC70016 Tiller and Cultivator. This tiller/cultivator hybrid features a powerful 13.5 amp motor and has an adjustable width from 11” to 16”. We also loved the lightweight design, comfortable ergonomic handle and 6 adjustable tines. Keep reading to learn more about other high-grade tiller and cultivators available for purchase.
Top 7 Best Tiller and Cultivators
#1 Earthwise TC70016 Tiller and Cultivator
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Heavy duty design for medium-sized and small gardens, plots, and flower beds, with a powerful 13.5 amp motor, and easy one-button operation and a bevy of adjustment options, including 6 adjustable tines.
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- Easy one-button operation
- Adjustable tilling width of 11″ to 16″ and tilling depth of 8″
- Powerful 13.5 amp motor efficiently breaks soil
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- Corded design, though does feature retention hook
- Does not do so well with weeds, so take care of them first
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This Earthwise TC70016 is the best tiller for breaking new ground, thanks to a powerful 13.5 amp motor that excels at shifting soil. We loved the easy one-button operation and the ergonomic handle, which makes it easy to move the tiller and cultivator around vegetable gardens and plots of land. This powered machine also features an adjustable tilling width of 11 inches to 16 inches with a tilling depth of 8 inches, along with six adjustable steel tines.
Though this is a fairly lightweight tiller and cultivator, at 29 pounds, it is a corded electric design, which means you’ll have to invest in some extension cords if your plot is far from a power outlet. Additionally, this model doesn’t do so well with the removal of weeds, so we’d recommend using a weed whacker before use. This tiller and cultivator will be extremely helpful when you’re maintaining your lawn and garden.
#2 Sun Joe TJ603E Tiller and Cultivator
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Can easily be stored, thanks to a foldable design, and features a 3-position wheel adjustment and an instant start button, along with a top notch safety switch.
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- Foldable handle for easy storage
- 3-position wheel adjustment
- Instant start button and built-in safety switch
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- 12 amp motor, which is slightly less powerful than some models
- Not a variable speed model
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This Sun Joe tiller efficiently tills and cultivates an area 16 inches wide and up to 8 inches deep in seconds and is highly adjustable, for ease of use, with 3-position wheel adjustment capabilities and shipping with six steel angled tines. We also loved the instant start button, which is highly intuitive, and the built-in safety switch. This tiller and cultivator’s handle also folds for easy storage, making this one of the best roto tillers that we tried.
Though this electric garden tiller and cultivator is plenty powerful for most small and medium-sized gardens and plots, the 12 amp motor is slightly less powerful than some models that are available for purchase and works best with loosened soil. Also, this is not a variable speed model, which could impact certain use scenarios. For more hands-on gardening work, you might be better off with the best garden root slayer.
#3 Greenworks 27062 Tiller and Cultivator
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST ELECTRIC DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Cordless design that boasts a powerful 40V lithium ion battery that gets nearly an hour of use out of a single charge, with a motor that creates 2,000 strikes per minute and an adjustable tilling width.
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- Motor creates 2,000 strikes per minute
- Features 4 8” rotating tines, for maximum digging power
- Durable gear drive transmission handles tough areas
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- Maximum 5” depth on lower side
- Somewhat heavy, at nearly 40 lb
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This Greenworks 27062 Tiller and Cultivator is a fantastic cordless option for those with gardens or plots far away from a power outlet. The built-in 40V lithium-ion battery can get nearly an hour of use out of a single charge and it is Energy Star rated, to help save on electricity bills. We also loved the durable gear drive transmission, which can easily break up tough areas of soil, and the motor, which creates 2,000 strikes per minute.
Though the four steel rotating tines are of an extremely high quality, the maximum depth with this tiller and cultivator is just five inches, which is on the lower side. Additionally, this is a somewhat heavy model, clocking in at nearly 40 pounds. For the rest of our lawn care, you should also read our guide to the best electric lawnmower.
#4 Tacklife Advanced Tiller and Cultivator
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST FOR STORAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely easy to store, thanks to a foldable design and removable blades, with a powerful 13.5 amp motor and multiple safety protocols, including brake switches.
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- Tines can easily be switched out, to suit different needs
- Powerful 13.5 amp motor makes short work out of tough soil
- Safety buttons and brake switches offer double protection
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- Somewhat awkward backwards operation
- Company does not sell replacement tines
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This Tacklife Advanced Tiller and Cultivator can easily be stored in a shed, garage or in the home itself, thanks to a highly foldable design and removable components. The 13.5 motor is powerful for most home-garden or farm-related tasks and the tines can easily be switched out, from four to six, for maximum adjustment. We also loved how safe this tiller is, with dual safety buttons and brake switches.
Though this is a highly safe model, it does require to be operated backwards, which is somewhat awkward until you get the hang of it. Also, Tacklife does not sell replacement tines, which is something of an oversight. If you’re looking for a place you can keep your lawn/garden equipment you should also read our guide to the best outdoor storage.
#5 Tazz 35310 2-in-1 Front Tiller and Cultivator
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Made from extremely high-quality components to maximize multiple-season durability, with a bronze gear transmission, forged steel tines, and a steel handlebar that is adjustable along four positions.
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- Handlebar is adjustable to suit a variety of heights
- Maximum width adjustment up to 21”
- Bronze gear transmission and forged steel tines are highly durable
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- Extremely heavy, over 80 lb, though maneuverable
- Loud during use
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This Tazz 35310 2-in-1 Front Tiller and Cultivator is durable enough to withstand the elements and last through multiple seasons of gardening and farming, thanks to high-grade components such as a bronze gear transmission and forged steel tines. We also loved the powerful gas and oil 79cc 4-cycle motor and the adjustable handlebar, which can be adjusted to four positions to suit a variety of heights. This tiller and cultivator can also help you save time by allowing for a maximum width of 21 inches and a maximum depth of 11 inches.
All of the high-quality components do come at a slight cost, however, as this is an extremely heavy model, clocking in at over 80 pounds. Additionally, this is a louder-than-average tiller and cultivator, resembling that of a lawnmower when in use. Speaking of lawnmowers, you might also want the best robot lawn mower for your yard.
#6 Black+Decker MAX Tiller and Cultivator
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly mini tiller with plenty of high end features, with a cordless and battery-powered design and a lightweight design, 8 lb, that offers plenty of maneuverability.
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- Cordless design
- Weighs just 8 lb and easy to maneuver
- Counter-oscillating tines prevent weeds from tangling
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- Motor is not powerful enough for rocky soil
- 4” depth capacity
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This Black+Decker MAX Tiller and Cultivator comes in at a budget-friendly price point while offering some features in line with higher priced competitors, including a cordless design that is powered via lithium ion battery, allowing for around 40 minutes of use on a single charge. We also loved just how lightweight this tiller and cultivator is, weighing just eight pounds with the battery installed and offering easy and efficient maneuverability. The counter-oscillating tines also help to prevent weeds from tangling up in the motor, which was much appreciated.
Though the motor is plenty strong for common gardening and farming tasks, it doesn’t do so well with rocky soil, so it may be best to stick to raised beds. Also, the maximum depth capacity here is four inches, which is certainly on the lower end.
See Also: Remember to also take a look at the best soil ph meter before you start cultivating.
#7 Mantis 7250-00-03 Electric Tiller and Cultivator
Award: BEST FOR TIGHT SPACES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Excellent for tight spaces, thanks to a compact 9” width and a design that maximizes maneuverability, with reversible and curved tines that can reach 10 inches down in the soil, in addition to cultivating the topsoil.
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- Curvy tines can reach 10” deep
- 3-speed 540 watt motor
- One-button start and quiet operation
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- No tires, so can be fatiguing for long periods of use
- Corded design
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This Mantis tiller and cultivator is great for gardens and plots with plenty of tight spaces, with a compact nine inch width and a lightweight design that offers supreme maneuverability. We loved the powerful 540 watt motor, which offers three speeds of operation, and the curved steel tines that can reach a maximum depth of ten inches, in addition to offering a reversible design for cultivating the topsoil of one to two inches deep. The easy one-button start and quiet operation were also much appreciated as we went about testing this tiller and cultivator.
Though this tiller and cultivator is light and compact, there are no tires whatsoever, so much of the force provided must come from the user, which can be fatiguing during long term use sessions. Additionally, this is a corded design, so take that into consideration if your garden or plot is far away from an outlet.
Related: Having the best wheelbarrow when tilling and cultivating will also make your work quite easier.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we focused primarily on tillers and cultivators that were powerful enough to handle small and medium-sized gardens and plots of lands for farming. To that end, we made sure to populate the list with a nice mix of corded, cordless, and gas-powered designs, to suit a wide variety of consumer types.
We liked tiller/cultivator hybrids with plenty of adjustabilities on offer, in both width and depth. Width is important for time-saving, as a larger maximum width means you’ll spend less time cultivating and tilling large plots of land. Depth is important for tilling deep soil, as the depth is an important consideration when weighing a cultivator vs a tiller.
The above tillers and cultivators are all made from high-grade long-lasting components, including steel tines, durable metal handlebars, and copper engines. Finally, we liked lightweight models, for ease of use, and those that could easily be folded and collapsed, for the purposes of long-term storage.
Best Tiller and Cultivator Buyer’s Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Width and Depth
Maximum width and depth are two extremely important considerations when it comes time to choose a tiller and cultivator to purchase. Models that offer extreme widths, in the 10 to 12 inches range, can help save you time as they can adequately till and cultivate large amounts of soil at one time. On the other hand, units that offer maximum depth, of as much as ten inches, can truly till the soil deep down, so as to make sure your farm or garden is maximizing its nutrient intake. - High-Quality Components
You are going to want to make sure that whatever tiller and cultivator you choose is made from ultra-durable components. This is important for several reasons. First of all, you want to make sure that the tines are of high-quality so they won’t be damaged by rocky soil or weeds. Additionally, these tend to be expensive purchases and you’ll want to ensure that the tiller and cultivator can last multiple seasons. - Design Type
Tiller and cultivators come in all manner of design types. Some are electrically powered, while others offer cordless and battery-powered, or even gas-powered, designs. There are front tine tillers and rear-tine tillers, which arrange the tines in the back for the purposes of maneuverability. The best rear tine garden tillers are often used in professional farms while the best front tine tillers are often appropriate for home garden use, or with smaller plots of land.
