Craftsman CMEMW213 Review

Electric Lawn Mower, 20-Inch, Corded, 13-Ah, Red

93Great!

Final Score

4.4 / 5 from 793 users

CRAFTSMAN CMEMW213 | Tools Official
CRAFTSMAN CMEMW213 | Tools Official
CRAFTSMAN CMEMW213 | Tools Official
Amazon

$219

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We spent 9.4 hours reading reviews from customers and experts. In summary, here's what users think:

8 reasons to buy

  • The Craftsman CMEMW213 mower is noted for being very light, making it easy to handle and maneuver, especially on slopes. (35 reviews)

    • “I really like this mower, it's super light and easy to maneuver, and for me it's a lot easier on my back.”

    • “This thing is *really* light, which makes it easy to handle on slopes, which I need. That is the best feature.”

    • “Its lightweight enough to toss in the back of my SUV if need be. (And I'm a 67 year old woman with bad knees)”

    • “It IS as light as a dang feather!”

    • “Lightweight quick and easy no gas oil or batteries, It works for me.”

    • “It is very easy to use because how light it is. You can even maneuver it using one hand.”

    • “Although this mower weighs a miniscule 20 pounds, it's lightweight plastic construction seems sturdy enough under normal grass cutting situations.”

    • “The mower was as advertised, and better. Light weight, easy to assemble and use.”

    • “I love how lightweight this mower is.”

    • “As the mower is very light, this adjustment is also very easy, and even people without much strength in their hands should be able to manage.”

  • Several reviews highlight that this mower is perfect for small yards. (20 reviews)

    • “My front yard is small and has mostly Burmuda and Buffalo grass and a million little sticks from the trees. I finished it in less than half the time it used to take.”

    • “This mower is perfect for what I need.”

    • “Works well for the front yard smaller area lawn not as thick.”

    • “I just need a small mower for a small enclosed area where my pets enjoy the outdoors.”

    • “Reliable mower for a small yard”

    • “It's perfect for my 1/4 acre yard.”

    • “I have a small front and back yard and this is fine.”

    • “Perfect size mower for a small to medium sized lawn.”

    • “I have a small yard and it cuts even and with little work. Nice cut”

  • Customers find the mower to be easy to assemble, often taking a short amount of time with no tools required. (19 reviews)

    • “Easy to assemble.”

    • “It was easy to assemble right outta the box. Just be sure to have the proper gauge extension cord (I think mine is a 12 gauge, 50 feet long) and 10 minutes after you open the box, you'll be mowing!!”

    • “It's easy to assemble”

    • “Assembly was done in 5 minutes with no tools.”

    • “Easy to put together, few parts.”

    • “Light weight, easy to assemble and use.”

    • “All you have to do is put the handle on.”

    • “I attached the upper handle, plugged it in and mowed by back yard, and it's not even noon!”

    • “It was VERY easy to assemble. In fact it took me less than five minutes”

    • “The lawnmower is easy to assemble”

  • The body is mostly made of thick plastic, contributing to the lightness and ease of use. (12 reviews)

    • “Mostly thick plastic.”

    • “it's lightweight plastic construction seems sturdy enough under normal grass cutting situations.”

    • “This thing is made completely of plastic; body, frame, and wheels.”

    • “The body is mostly made of thick plastic”

    • “The main body is constructed out of a hard and very sturdy plastic”

    • “The mower is made of a plastic material so it’s really lightweight and easy to push.”

    • “The mower is largely plastic”

  • The Craftsman CMEMW213 offers five cutting levels for different grass heights, allowing for versatile lawn maintenance. (8 reviews)

  • The mower efficiently mulches grass clippings, according to user experiences. (5 reviews)

    • “It mulches well.”

    • “But the power of it is very impressive both for cutting grass & mulching leaves/clippings).”

    • “Of course, you don't have to use it if you just mulch the grass.”

    • “Clumps of grass drop out from beneath the mower when you mulch.”

    • “or a side mulching exit attachment (also included).”

  • The handle can fold for storage. You can also store the mower standing up or on its side without worrying about leaks, because it doesn't use engine oil. (5 reviews)

    • “So much easier to clean without engine oil spilling everywhere.”

    • “The handle folds easily, and the mower stands up against the wall on two wheels, No gas or oil to leak, Also laying it on one side allows a quick sweeping of the residue.”

    • “easy to store”

    • “I find the handle a bit difficult to collapse and set back up for storage purposes”

    • “Can fold handle for easy storage in the garage.”

  • The grass catcher is mentioned as being of good size and easy to dump, increasing convenience during mowing. (4 reviews)

    • “This one is bigger, more powerful and the grass bag holds a really decent amount of clippings. And it's way easy to put on and take off.”

    • “The grass catcher is a good size and easy to dump.”

    • “The catcher bag is easy, intuitive.”

    • “The option to attach a basket to collect grass clippings (included)”

3 reasons not to buy

  • With the Craftsman CMEMW213, as with many corded mowers, managing the extension cord can be troublesome, although some users have adapted to it. (13 reviews)

    • “And it avoids the pollution of gas mowers at the cost of managing cordage, which is a PIA, but worth it.”

    • “I can mow one handed if I want to manage the cord with the other.”

    • “Just watch out for the cord and all is well.”

    • “Being a corded electric mower the extension cord is cumbersome at best and it requires constant attention and maneuvering.”

    • “Takes a bit to get used to the cord, but not bad.”

    • “It took a little while to get used to a cord but with time and attention I have gotten used to it”

    • “takes getting used to working around a cord”

    • “The only major oversight is the lack of a cord manager.”

    • “Please know that a long enough outdoor extension cord will be needed, that can go around your property, since the lawnmower needs to remain plugged in while cutting the lawn.”

    • “So, the cord bit is pretty annoying.”

  • The mower has been reported to struggle with cutting through very tall or thick grass, requiring multiple passes or a narrower cutting path. (9 reviews)

    • “It has a very lightweight blade, so there is little momentum to the rotation, and it will bog quickly in heavy grass, slowing down and partial cuts help.”

    • “I could only do about a 4 inch swath each round, I had to empty the bag about every 10 or 12 feet and it did bog down a few times. But we're talking about knee high weeds here.”

    • “it loose power in tall grass”

    • “Not for a thicker lawn or larger.”

    • “Powerful motor bogs down a little in tall grass.”

    • “Have to slow down over thicker grass, but still cuts.”

    • “For long grass I tilt it up if it starts to slow down and then it speeds right back up.”

    • “but if your grass has any high'th to it at all, it tends to die on you. You have to pull back and restart it, then go forward, pull back when it starts to die so you don't have to restart it and this continues, unless the grass is short.”

    • “Difficult to mow longer, damp grass.”

  • The safety bail, which must be held down to operate the mower, is noted as uncomfortable and can spring up easily. (4 reviews)

    • “the bale that is you have to hold down to keep it on is not very comfortable and seems to really want to spring up and turn off”

    • “Plus, you need to always be grabbing the bar in the very middle to keep the mower going. And you have to really grasp it. You can't relax your hands on the sides of the bar.”

    • “I found that the ignition bar was very uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time.”

Bottom Line

Get your yard looking sharp with the Craftsman CMEMW213 mower. It's a lightweight champ perfect for small lawns, offering easy assembly and a sturdy plastic body. With 5 cutting heights, it adapts to your grass length, mulches with ease, and has a decent-sized, simple-to-empty catcher. Folding handles allow for leak-free vertical or sideways storage. Watch out for the tricky cord management, and be ready for extra swipes on tall grass. The safety bail could be comfier, but this machine is still a solid pick for no-fuss mowing.

Facts

BrandCraftsman
Cutting Width (in)20 inch
FeaturesRear Discharge, Mulching, Bagging, Side Discharge, Electric Start
Max Cutting Height3.50"
Min Cutting Height1.50"
Power SourceCorded Electric
CategoryPush Mowers
Warranty3 Years
Weight20.83 lbs

Video Reviews

Special Features

  • Powerful 13 Amp Motor: Like a strong engine in a truck, this motor can cut through tough, tall grass without a problem.
  • 3-in-1 Capacity (Rear Bagging, Mulching, Side Discharge): Choose how you want to handle the grass clippings: collect them, cut them up to feed your lawn, or shoot them out the side.
  • Winged Blade: This special blade chops up grass better, so your lawn looks neater and you can pick up more grass in the bag.
  • 20-Inch Plastic Deck: The mower's cutting area is wide, like a big toolbox, so you can get the job done quicker, and it's tough like a hard hat.
  • Easy Fold Handle for Vertical Storage: This handle lets you fold the mower up to stand tall in your garage, saving space like a good tool organizer.
  • Easy Transport Handle: It's got a handle that makes it easy to move around, like a dolly for your lawn mower.
  • 3-Year Limited Warranty: It comes with a promise from CRAFTSMAN that they'll help fix problems for 3 years, like a good service plan for your work gear.
  • 4-Year Warranty and 90-Day Money-Back Guarantee: CRAFTSMAN is betting this mower will last at least 4 years, and they'll give you your money back within 90 days if you're not happy, like a solid handshake deal.

FAQ

  • Q:

    Does the motor feature a brushless design?

  • A:

    The lawn mower is equipped with a motor that utilizes brushes.

  • Q:

    What material is used for the lawn mower's body?

  • A:

    The lawn mower's body is constructed from molded plastic.

  • Q:

    What is the maximum length and required gauge for a compatible extension cord?

  • A:

    The lawn mower can be used with an extension cord up to a hundred feet in length. It is advisable to use a heavy-duty cord, commonly available and identifiable by its orange color.

  • Q:

    Is the lawn mower self-propelled or manually pushed?

  • A:

    The lawn mower requires manual pushing.

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