Black + Decker BEMW472BH Electric Lawn Mower review: a corded electric lawn mower with easier steering
Spring is here, and many of us are now on the hunt for a new lawn mower to get our lawns ready for the warmer weather.
As you browse the best lawn mowers on the market, you’ll notice many of these machines look pretty similar. The Black + Decker BEMW472BH (or BEMW471ES-GB as it's known as in the UK) is one of only a few that really stand out, thanks to an innovative ‘EasySteer’ steering assembly that promises easier control. Slightly different models are sold in the US and other territories, but the core benefit is the same: you steer the mower with upright handles that make it easier to navigate in awkward areas, such as nearby to trees or plant pots.
The difference between the US and UK lawn mower models here is that they have different upright steering handles. The handles of the model available in the UK are more elongated, and they pivot, whereas the handles of the Black + Decker BEMW472BH do not pivot, and protrude a bit less. Otherwise, it's the same lawn mower.
Regardless of these (very) subtle differences between the UK and US models, they sure do look the part—but I was keen to find out how well it measures up against its advertised claims of ‘precision handling’ and ‘cutting-edge performance’. So, I opted to put the mower to the test by using it to mow my lawn on multiple occasions. I used the ‘EasySteer’ handles to navigate around obstacles such as plant pots, and I also tested a variety of cutting heights to assess the effect on mowing performance.
In-keeping with most of the Black + Decker yard care products I've used, the BEMW472BH promises effective performance at a fairly low price point. It’s important to note that this is a corded electric lawn mower, meaning it runs off household electricity. If you’d rather use a cordless model, you'll find a battery-powered model via our roundup of the best electric lawn mowers.
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: price & availability
One of the key incentives to choose this Black + Decker lawn mower is price. The BEMW472BH is RRP'd at $169.99 in the United States, and frequently dip lower during seasonal sales. At the time of writing, the mower is available for $140.40 via both Amazon and The Home Depot.
Meanwhile, British buyers can pick up the BEMW471ES for £140 at Argos, while the mower is listed for as little as £186.90 at Amazon UK.
Official replacement blades for the mower are available via Black + Decker and third parties.
Score: 4.5 out of 5
EGO Power+ LM2135SP: setup
The BEMW472BH arrived in perfect condition, efficiently packaged in robust cardboard. I was pleased to note that all the materials used to pack the mower were recyclable—except for a few tiny pieces like the cable tie around the power cable.
Some parts of the mower come flat-packed in the box, so the package is less bulky than it might’ve been. The mower itself is relatively lightweight, so two reasonably fit people (or one strong person) should be able to move the box without much difficulty. Just take a moment to get a solid grip around the bottom of the box, as it doesn't have handles.
Setting up the BEMW472BH proved relatively straightforward—although I did encounter a few fiddly tasks along the way. Putting together the two halves of the grass collector box was a challenge, in particular. Assembling components such as the cable tidies that clip onto the metal bars proved much easier. The parts all click together, or fasten using the winged screws provided. You don’t need any tools whatsoever to complete assembly.
Overall, I managed to complete the setup (single-handedly) in about 20 minutes, which is fast by my standards! This was thanks in part to the instruction manual, which gives good, clear directions on how to assemble the mower and use its features, in both diagram and written form.
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: Design
Tough, good-quality plastic is used throughout this mower, except for parts of the handle assembly and the mowing blade, which are metallic. At about 35 lbs, it’s pretty lightweight for a mid-sized lawn mower—a big win for users who want to minimize the physical strain of mowing the lawn.
This is a nicely-finished, sporty-looking machine, in Black + Decker’s instantly recognizable black, orange and gray. The design looks quite elongated due to the upright/EasySteer handle assembly used to control the mower, and you’ll notice the added length when you push the mower from behind.
EasySteer is by far the most unusual and interesting feature this mower has to offer. Basically, it’s a sporty-looking steering handle that you can use to turn the mower left or right, more easily than with a standard bar-style handle. I found this feature to be quite useful when steering around plant pots at the edge of the lawn—and I expect it could be a bit of a game-changer if you find it tough to maneuver lawn mowers with regular handles. Admittedly, it takes a little while to get used to this novel lawn mower steering method, though.
So, those upright handles could prove helpful—especially for users who have potential obstacles on their lawn, such as trees or mid-lawn flower beds. However, the extra length it adds to the mower has one big drawback: it may impair your ease of movement when mowing in tight spaces, such as in front of overhanging tree branches.
This mower does not come with a cover, and it is not designed to be stored outdoors. With that said, the low proportion of metal parts could make this mower relatively rust-resistant. Still, it would be best to store the mower indoors, in a space such as a garage or shed.
For efficient storage, I'd recommend folding up the mower’s handle assembly. Otherwise, it will take up a needlessly large space.
Design: 4 out of 5
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: key specs
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: Performance
Let's cut to the chase; I was pleased with the mowing performance of the Black + Decker BEMW472BH. Operating at 1,600W, it offered plenty of power to mow the grass efficiently (and also to cut through tough weeds like dandelions—the bane of my lawn and I).
Given its ample cutting power, you should be able to use this mower to cut lawns up to 1⁄8 acre (or 600 ㎡) in area. The cutting width of the mower’s blade is similarly well suited to medium-sized lawns, at 15" (38 cm).
Of course, because the mower is corded, there’s no fear of it running out of power mid-mow—and the affordable price point is due in part to that corded design, too. In other respects, the presence of the power cord is a moderate inconvenience. Moving the cable safely around the lawn is a chore, I found, and the need to avoid running over it was never far from my mind during testing.
With that said, the BEMW472BH does more to help with cable management than some other corded mowers do. The bright orange color of the power cable helped me to keep it in sight, while the handle-mounted cable clips reduced the risk of entanglement.
Meanwhile, this lawn mower's 45ltr grass collection box gathers cuttings pretty effectively, although I did notice some cuttings were dropped during testing. You should expect to empty the box at least a couple of times while mowing a medium-sized lawn, which is what I found anyway. Handily, there’s a status indicator which flips open when the box is getting pretty full—so you’ll know when to empty out the clippings.
The mowing height was simple to adjust, using the height selection lever on the left-hand side of the mower. Switching between mowing heights created an appreciable difference in cutting, as you would hope. Shorter mowing height settings seemed to produce a more uniform cut than the highest settings did, during our hands-on testing. .
Bearing in mind that this is a corded electric mower (powered by household electricity), you definitely should not use it in wet conditions, due to the risk of electrocution.
In terms of noise levels, this powerful mower sits towards the noisier end of the spectrum. My sound meter gauged the noise level of the mower at somewhere between 79 and 81 dB, which is around the same level as a noisy restaurant.
Score: 4 out of 5
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: Cleaning and maintenance
After mowing, it’s a good idea to clean out the mowing deck using a cloth or brush, in order to remove left-over grass cuttings. Do be careful to avoid touching the cutting blade, while you clean.
The lawn mower blade will need to be sharpened (read about how to sharpen lawn mower blades) about once per 25 hours of use, in order to preserve optimal mowing performance. In terms of mower maintenance, that's about all this mower needs, since it doesn't have batteries requiring charging, or gas engine components that need changing from time to time.
Black + Decker BEMW472BH: User reviews
Online customer reviews of Black + Decker's lawn mower are generally good – especially considering the mower's reasonable price.
Black + Decker customers in the United States gave the BEMW472BH an average rating of 3.5 stars, with some buyers remarking upon the mower's easy handling and lightweight build.
Meanwhile, Amazon customers in the UK and US had overwhelmingly positive views on the BEMW472ES variant of the mower, with ratings averaging out at 4 stars. Like our reviewer, many buyers highlighted the mower's light build and maneuverability.
Should you buy the Black + Decker BEMW472BH?
Buy it if...
Don't buy it if...
How does the Black + Decker BEMW472BH compare?
While Black + Decker's mower is well worth your consideration, there are plenty of other mowers out there that we can recommend, too.
If you're looking for a higher-spec model, the EGO POWER+ LM2135SP could be a smart pick. Retailing at $749 (U.S.), this feature-packed mower offers cordless operation, self propulsion and impressively quiet mowing.
One of the key benefits to the Black + Decker BEMW472BH is its easy handling, which comes thanks to its lightweight construction and innovative handle assembly. Another, very different, mower that's easy on the arms is the Troy-Bilt XP 21, a gas-powered, self-propelled model designed for mowing small-to-medium lawns, which costs $549 at RRP.
Closer to the affordable price point of the BEMW472BH, the Greenworks 25022 ($229.99, Amazon) offers comparable performance in a slightly more powerful package, with a 20" cutting width that's better suited to larger lawns.
How I tested the Black + Decker BEMW472BH
Used rigorously for several springtime mows
Challenged with mowing in tight spaces, around obstacles such as tree trunks
I tested the Black + Decker BEMW471ES by using it to mow my lawn on several occasions during spring 2024, including that difficult first cut of the year. The model is nearly identical to the BEMW472BH, which is sold in the United States.
Because the mower is advertised as an easy-to-steer model, we tested the mower in awkward areas around the edge of the lawn, including near plant pots and the bases of tree trunks. Read more about how we test.
