Best Earthwise Electric Tillers (2026)

The TC70016EW sits at the sweet spot of the corded range. A 13.5 amp motor works out to about 1,600 watts, which is enough to turn 16 inches of soil at up to 8 inches deep, the measurements that matter for a vegetable bed. It uses fixed steel tines, which means they ride up and pull the machine forward rather than digging in aggressively.

The controls are plain and sensible: push-button start, a single lever operating switch and a padded grip. A dual-action start protects against accidental running, which is a safety feature worth noticing on any tiller.

Compared with the 18 inch TC70018EW it is narrower and lighter, so the pair differ mostly in how many passes a bed requires. Because it is corded you will need a heavy extension, ideally 12 or 14 gauge for up to 100 feet, since a thin lead causes voltage drop and motor heat. Clean soil from the tines after each use, and let moist soil dry off the housing before storage. Check that the tine shaft spins freely by hand before each outing, since packed soil behind the guard is the commonest hidden cause of a slow start.

The TC70018EW widens the cut to 18 inches while keeping the 8 inch depth, and trades a slightly bigger motor at 14 amps for it. That extra width means fewer passes across a long bed, which is the real saving on a large plot, since a tiller that makes eight passes instead of ten is meaningfully less tiring.

It keeps the same fixed steel tines and the push-button, single-lever operation as the TC70016EW, so the controls feel identical. The difference is weight and momentum: the wider head needs more care at the turn, and it feels heavier to manoeuvre in a tight raised-bed layout.

An electric motor at this size still struggles in dry clay or sod, so work moist soil and make a shallow first pass. Keep a heavy extension cord of 12 gauge and no more than 100 feet. Plan your passes so the cord always trails behind you on tilled ground and never in front of the tines. After every session unplug it, scrape tines clean and check the cord for nicks.

The TC70090 is the machine for smaller gardens that still want a proper corded motor. At 9 amps it draws roughly 1,080 watts, well below the 13.5 amp models, but it keeps the 8 inch depth and a 12 inch width. A long handle helps with leverage on the lighter frame.

Its four steel tines are sufficient for soil that has been dug before, and it suits small to medium gardens, which is exactly how the maker describes it. Against the 16 inch TC70016EW it makes more passes and has less reserve in tough soil, but it is cheaper and lighter to handle.

Treat it as a refresh tool: till in spring when the soil is moist, keep the cord short and thick, and clear any grass wrapped around the tines before it hardens. It stores easily because of its compact footprint. The handle folds or comes apart for a shelf, and the modest weight makes it easy to carry up steps to a terrace bed.

The TC70040EW is the cordless Earthwise that makes sense as a primary machine. It ships with a 40 volt 4.0Ah lithium-ion battery and charger, and quotes an 11 inch width and 8 inch depth with four steel tines, which are the figures that matter for a vegetable bed.

Lithium cordless tillers typically give 30 to 45 minutes on a 4Ah pack, so it handles a normal bed but not a full-day job unless you buy a second battery. The freedom from a cord is the real gain: you can till a plot far from an outlet without 100 feet of heavy extension.

Battery platform lock-in matters here, because this 40V pack will not fit your 20V tools. Keep the pack charged to about half for winter storage, and keep tines clean. It sits at the high end of the price range, so you pay for freedom. Buying a second pack is the practical way to stretch it into a full afternoon of work.

The TC722011 uses two 20 volt 4Ah batteries together and matches the 11 inch width and 8 inch depth of the 40V model. The advantage is that 20V packs are the most common platform, so the batteries may work with other Earthwise tools you already own.

Two packs in the box also double your run time if you swap, so a long session is realistic. That is the appeal over the single-pack 40V model, though it sits in the highest price tier of the range.

Store the batteries partially charged and cool, and brush soil from the tines each time. Because the cutting spec is identical to the 40V unit, choose between them on battery platform and what you already own. If you own none of the other tools, the 40V single-pack model is simpler.

The TC70020IT is a mini cultivator on a 20 volt battery, with four steel tines cutting a 7.5 inch width. It is aimed at flower beds and mixing in amendments, not at turning over a vegetable plot.

Its 2.0Ah battery gives short run time, so plan on small jobs. Compared with the 11 inch cordless models it is far lighter, which suits gardeners who find a full tiller heavy.

It is easy to store, and the lack of a cord is a real comfort around fragile plantings. Clean tines after each use and charge the battery before storage. Keep it away from heavy soil, because the small motor will stall if you push it into packed ground.

The TC70025 is the smallest and cheapest Earthwise, a 2.5 amp corded cultivator with four steel tines, a 7.5 inch width and 6 inch depth. It works as a weed control tool in small to mid-size gardens and flower beds.

At 2.5 amps the motor draws about 300 watts, so it is a light-duty machine. It will chew soft, worked soil but will not break compacted ground, and it is never a substitute for a 13.5 amp model.

Its price is the lowest of the range, and its corded power means no battery to maintain. Use it between rows, wipe the tines after each session and keep the cord out of the path. It works best on soil that has been loosened recently, and on weeds when they are small.