Many of us grow up seeing our Dads as the Pontiffs of DIY jobs around the house – whether that’s lawncare, power washing the driveway and walkways, building fences, patios, gazeebos, etc. – and if your Dad is anything like mine, he is likely using the same tools from 10+ years ago out of familiarity, lack of funds, or – as mine likes to say – “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But electric tools have come a long way in the last decade alone, especially with gas-powered equipment now rivaled by battery-powered counterparts to not only make getting tasks done easier, but also without extra financial obligations like keeping a five-gallon gas cannister regularly filled in your garage (or using gas to drive to a station to then fill the cannister and/or car). That’s why we’ve curated this handy little guide together for a full rundown on some of the best electric tools and equipment to refresh Dad’s tool shed.
Lawn Mowers
I know plenty of Dads who consider mowing their lawns one of the purest moments of zen in the week. And I get it, sometimes the best way to deal with stress or find answers to maddening problems is to just zone out into routine and letting the body’s memory take over. Now, most folks I know who are using the same old tired mowers often site money as the key factor in when and what they buy, but if you’ve ever heard the phrase “being poor is expensive,” then you know only buying the cheapest models often will result in you needing to pay constant money to repair or replace it. But its 2024, and quality electric mowers have come a long way, with Greenworks offering some of the best at affordable rates, like the 80V 21-inch Cordless Electric Push Mower, currently at $348, down from $500.
Equipped with a brushless motor and powered by a 4.0Ah battery, this mower provides an hour of runtime on a single charge (though if you already have some Greenworks batteries, a quick change will keep it going for longer). It features a seven-position height adjustment for whatever environment may need a trim, starts up with the simple push of a button, and has a 3-in-1 functionality for debris collection – rear bagging, side discharging, or mulching. You can also find a bundle option for this mower along with an axial leaf blower that has a variable speed trigger for effortless control and is able to produce 500 CFM of air flow reaching up to 125 MPH – now for just $480.
And if you truly want to surprise your Dad with the best the brand has to offer, be sure to check out the latest 60V 42-inch Cordless Electric CrossoverZ Zero Turn Riding Mower for $3,800, Greenworks’ most comprehensive mowing solution that is designed to handle up to 1.5-acres of land on a single charge with the four included 8.0Ah batteries. Sporting a TRUBRUSHLESS motor that is the equivalent of a 24 horse-power gas motor, its main claim to fame is the effortless zero-turn maneuverability that lets you hit ever corner and edge without repositioning. If the zero-turn capability isn’t anything you’re concerned about, there’s the more standard-like 60V 42-inch Cordless Electric CrossoverT Riding Mower for $3,497.
String Trimmers/Edgers
Now that the lawn has been tamed, we definitely don’t want to forget about those spots that mowers just won’t be able to hit – along fences, under decks or porches, and near the gardens and delicate flora. This is where the string trimmers come in – led by the EGO Power+ ST1521S 15-Inch String Trimmer for $174, down from $250. With a shaft built out of the toughest carbon-fiber that also folds for easier storage, this 56V trimmer was the first of the brand’s line to incorporate POWERLOAD tech that lets you feed a new line into its head with a simple push of a button.
With those hard-to-reach parts of the lawn now trimmed up, lets get the edges in line with the Worx Electric Lawn Edger at $36 off for $94. Now, this is a corded model, providing a reliable tool for cleaning up the sideburns of your lawn (as my dad liked to call the borders) at a price much lower than a cordless model. It hits up to 4,700 RPMs with three adjustable depth levels and a cutting line indicator to keep Dad guided on the straight and narrow path that elevates the lawn to professional-grade appearances. There’s also the 3-in-1 Worx GT Revolution 20V 12-inch Trimmer/Edger/Mini-Mower for $99 that gives him everything he needs to clean up and highlight the yard’s beauty in one convenient device. It has seven handle adjustment options for added comfort while the six rotating head settings offer added flexibility.
Hedge Trimmers
Now moving into the garden areas, hedges deserve as much love, albeit at a less frequent rate, as the lawn. And one of the best bang-for-your buck corded models out there is the BLACK+DECKER 17-inch Electric Hedge Trimmer for $40. It weighs just 3.9 pounds, meaning far less fatigue in your arms during longer-lasting hedge jobs, while its 17-inch, dual-action steel blades produce less vibration and can slice through branches up to 5/8-inches thick. To do away with cords, BLACK+DECKER also has the 40V MAX 22-inch Cordless Electric Hedge Trimmer that gets the job done for $117. The dual-action blades have been extended here to 22-inches and can handle branches up to 3/4-inches thick, with a wrap-around auxiliary handle for extra comfort no matter what position you may have to be in to get that perfect cut.
There’s a few more options across brands worth considering – especially for interchangeable battery ecosystems like with Worx or Greenworks tools, with any of them making equally great gift ideas.
- Worx 20V 8-inch Cordless Electric 2-in-1 Hedge Trimmer: $79 (Reg. $100)
- Greenworks 40V 24-inch Cordless Hedge Trimmer: $150
- Worx 20V 20-inch Cordless Pole Hedge Trimmer: $150
Pressure Washers
With the yard and its sideburns showing off its fresh new cut and the hedges shaped up just right, lets talk about the grime caked on your driveways and walkways. A popular choice for many that I’ve noticed over this last year is the Greenworks 1900 PSI Electric Pressure Washer Combo Kit for $140, down from $220, with the price dropping another $30 if you have a My Best Buy membership. Coming in a more compact and portable form than most the others we’ve collected here, this tool hits 1,900 PSI at a 1.2 GPM flow rate and comes with 20 feet of non-marring, high-pressure hose, a surface cleaner attachment, and four varying nozzle sizes that conveniently hide away inside the washer’s onboard storage compartment.
- Greenworks 1,700 PSI Upright Electric Pressure Washer: $105 (Reg. $150)
- Worx 1,700 PSI 13A Electric Pressure Washer: $112 (Reg. $130)
- Greenworks 2,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer with onboard soap tank: $170 (Reg. $200)
- Greenworks 3,000 PSI Electric Pressure Washer: $499 (Reg. $679)
- save an extra $19.01 with a My Best Buy membership
Power Tools
Now that the big-picture jobs are tackled and out of the way, what has Dad been using for the repairs and/or carpenter-focused work around his home? Well, the DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Power Tool Combo Kit has fallen $100 to $139 for a rare chance to save major bucks on one of the brand’s most popular combo kits. Here, you’ll be getting both the cordless 20V max 1/2-inch drill/driver and 1/4-inch impact driver, as well as two 20V batteries, the charger, and a tool bag to neatly store it all away. If you’re just looking to grab the 1/2-inch drill/driver – you can grab it, a single battery, and the bag for $99. Or you can downsize further with the Worx 4V 3-Speed Cordless Screwdriver for $35.
There’s one other larger combo kit worth considering too, though this is definitely pushing the envelope into a place where the term “affordable” becomes more subjective – after all, when you add up the price of the individual tools that make up these kits, its kind of a surprise how much more you’ll really be saving. A combo crown piece is the DEWALT 20V MAX 9-Tool Combo Kit at $799, as opposed to its $949 price tag. Covering a wide array of needs and uses, this kit includes a 1/2-inch drill/driver, a MAX 1/4-inch impact driver, a MAX reciprocating saw, a MAX circular saw, an oscillating MAX XR multi-tool, an LED work light, a MAX 4.5-inch grinder, a compact job site blower, and a job site Bluetooth speaker. It also comes with two batteries, a charger, and two tool bags.
Auto Tools for on-the-go needs
And to round out these gift ideas, taking a note from my Dad’s playbook that “the most underappreciated tools are the ones that save you from unexpected emergencies,” I want to point out a few great on-the-go gifts – tools/devices that you’d rather have and not need, rather than need and not have. One very such tool that has saved my butt after extreme weather has sapped my car’s battery is the NOCO Boost Plus 1000A Car Battery Jump Starter for $100. With it fully charged, Dad will be able to manage up to 20 jump starts (with its indicator lights giving him a battery readout before even attaching the clamps) – with plenty of safety features built in to prevent sparking and protect you from reverse polarity. It can even be used as a power bank for charging your personal devices, plus it has a bright LED flashlight with seven lighting modes built right in. If you’d prefer a standard, old-fashioned jumper cable, you’ll find one from Energizer for just $20.
And last on this list, but certainly not least, is the Greenworks 24V Cordless Tire Inflator for $102. This multi-purpose tool comes with multiple adapters to cover inflation needs for cars, motorcycles, bicycles, RVs, air mattresses, boats, sports equipment, and everything else – pretty much anything inflatable. A nice feature about this device is that you don’t have to worry if you stow it away in your car for long enough that the battery drains from heat or cold, as it can be powered by its 2.0Ah battery or through a 12V vehicle power outlet.
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