Top Picks in Yard Care & Outdoor Living for 2024

Battery chainsaws are more powerful than they’ve ever been, and they now dominate many of the gas saws in our ratings. We think they’re the logical choice, but we’ve included a single gas model here for those who need to cut lots of firewood (or to fell limbs for storm cleanup) and simply can’t pause to charge a battery. For more gas and electric options, see the best chainsaws of the year.

Cordless drills are more powerful than ever, so much so that they’ve rendered corded models obsolete. The batteries used in these tools are more versatile than ever, too, and can power other workshop essentials like multi-tools and impact drivers, and, in a few cases, outdoor lawn tools like leaf blowers and string trimmers. For more options, see the best cordless drills from our tests.

Building or updating a deck can boost the value of your home, and help create a wonderful outdoor living space that’s relaxing, attractive, durable, and easy to care for. There are several options for decking, including both wood and composite materials, so check our deck board ratings to find the one that fits your budget. For more options that will hold up for the long haul, see our complete list of the best decking from our tests.

Gone are the days when you simply had to choose between a gas or charcoal grill—we now test six kinds of grills, and find advantages to each. Here we’ve highlighted a great gas grill, pellet grill, and kamado grill. Plus, we’ve got The Better Deal for charcoal.

For full grill coverage (including help on deciding which kind of grill is right for you) see our grill buying guide. If you’re ready to compare models, check out our complete grill ratings, which we begin to update in March each year.

Battery walk-behind mowers are increasingly the norm. But this year we also saw (and tested) a staggering number of electric riding mowers, including the first offering from John Deere. We update our lawn mower ratings each spring, and if the three Top Picks below aren’t quite right for your yard, check best walk-behind lawn mowers or best riding lawn mowers.

We feel a bit like a broken record, but it’s true here, too: Battery leaf blowers are every bit as capable as their gas counterparts, and, they’re infinitely quieter and better for the environment. Here we highlight two handhelds, plus a powerful backpack blower. We blow about 2,500 pounds of leaves each year to find the best models, and you’ll find our most up-to-date picks in best leaf blowers of the year.

The best pressure washers can erase months or even years of stains with a brief blast. And we test several types—gas, electric, and battery-powered—so check our pressure washer ratings and buying guide to see the best type for your needs. We review even more options of gas, electric, and battery options in our roundup of the best pressure washers.

Battery snow blowers were among the last outdoor tools to lag behind their gas counterparts. No more. This was the year that two-stage battery snow blowers proved that they could really move snow as well as some of the biggest gas machines. Here we feature two such options, plus a gas blower that’s capable of clearing quickly. We test new snow blowers each fall, and you can always find our current favorites in our compilation of the best snow blowers of the year.

Battery string trimmers have outsold gas models for years, and frankly, there’s little reason left to go with gas. We feature three battery trimmers here, all of which offer great performance. For more great string trimmers, including gas and corded options, see the best string trimmers of the year.

Wood stains can add a layer of beauty and protection to decks, fences, and exterior doors. CR tests solid, semi-transparent, and clear sealer wood stains over a period of three years in our Northeast HQ to see how well they hold up to everything from ice storms to blistering heat and high humidity. You can see how well each of the 30-plus stains fare in our wood stain ratings. Here’s a comprehensive list of the best and the worst.

Bye, Bye, Dirty Grill Grates
Grill Daddy Grill Brush, $79
Keeping grill grates clean is no fun, but neither is eating food that’s flavored by last weekend’s burnt-on barbecue. The right brush makes cleanup much easier. The Grill Daddy has a water reservoir that creates steam to help soften hard bits so that the brushes (it has two, a large flat one for the grate surface and a small angled crevice brush) can scrub grime from warm grates.

Lawn Care Assistant
Gardena Sileno Minimo, $650
Imagine sitting back while a robot manicures your lawn. It’s not just a daydream: A robotic mower can get the job done while you relax. The Gardena Sileno Minimo runs for up to 70 minutes on a single charge (it knows when its battery is low and returns to its dock to recharge) and is best suited to smaller yards.

Pizza Night Goes Gourmet
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven, $299
If you’re ready for a dedicated outdoor pizza oven, the Ooni is a smart choice. You can cook with charcoal, wood, or gas (the gas burner is sold separately), and the oven is compact. The chimney damper helps you regulate airflow while a tight-fitting door keeps heat in, so there’s plenty of cooking control.