Makita LXT 36V vs XGT Lawnmower: Is the Upgrade Worth the Money?

Introduction

Cordless mowers get expensive fast, and the hardest decision usually is not which mower to buy, but which battery platform to commit to. After nearly two years with the Makita LXT 36V lawnmower, the question of whether to move up to the newer XGT mower comes down to power, runtime, and a surprisingly large price gap.

Two Years with the Makita LXT 36V Mower

The LXT 36V mower has handled almost two years of regular use, including plenty of one-time cuts on seriously overgrown backyards and side yards. Pushed right into heavy, thick grass, it does a genuinely good job, though it could be more powerful in those conditions. Its biggest weaknesses show up in runtime and in wet grass, where it tends to struggle a bit.

Reliability has been strong. The only issue so far is the electronic brake, which makes a slight squeaking sound when the handlebars are released. It still stops the blade as intended, so it is more of a nuisance than a fault.

The Makita XGT Mower: More Power at a Price

The XGT mower is the obvious step up for anyone who wants more muscle for thick, overgrown growth. The catch is cost. The cheapest XGT mower in a kit runs around 700 dollars, while the cheapest LXT mower kit sits at about 400 dollars, essentially half the price.

Batteries: The Real Cost of Switching Platforms

The battery math is what makes this decision tricky. The LXT mower kit includes four 18V 4Ah batteries, each roughly 72 watt hours, for about 288 watt hours total. The XGT kit includes two 40V max 4Ah batteries at 144 watt hours each, which works out to the same overall energy. The differences come down to the motor, tool weight, and the type of grass being cut, but both should cut a similar area per charge.

That means the XGT is not a dramatic runtime leap. And for anyone already deep into the LXT ecosystem, buying enough additional XGT batteries to match existing LXT capacity gets expensive quickly. Matching roughly an hour of runtime through heavy overgrown grass is estimated at around 3,000 dollars between the mower and extra batteries, versus simply buying another LXT mower for about 400 dollars.

Who Should Stay on the LXT Platform

If you already own a stack of LXT batteries, the LXT mower at half the price does the same job with only slightly less power. It remains a sensible choice even after two years of hard use. The XGT makes more sense if you are starting fresh, have a larger yard, or already own XGT batteries and can cover the whole cut on the included 4Ah packs.

Buying Advice: Which One Should You Choose

If your entire yard can be done on the included batteries and you already have other XGT packs on the shelf, the XGT mower is a comfortable fit. If you are invested in LXT, buying a second LXT mower for about 400 dollars is the more practical path than rebuilding your battery collection around XGT.

Conclusion

Both mowers can cut the same grass, but the value equation depends entirely on the batteries you already own. The LXT 36V is the budget-friendly workhorse with proven durability, while the XGT offers more power for those willing to pay for a new platform. Match the mower to the batteries in your garage and the decision usually makes itself.