Stihl Rma 460 vs 510 – What’s The Better Lawn Mower?

Stihl RMA 460 vs 510 – What’s The Better Lawn Mower?

There are a lot of good reasons to choose an electric, battery-powered mower. For one thing, they are quieter. For another, there are no emissions. But choosing the right electric mower can be difficult.

And the right choice matters because some have really poor runtimes that can be very frustrating. In the following comparison review, we will be going over the performance, pros, cons and merits of the Stihl RMA 460 and the Stihl RMA 510 lawnmowers.

Stihl RMA 460 Vs Stihl RMA 510 Overview

The Stihl RMA 460 and the Stihl RMA 510 mowers are both battery-powered electric mowers that would be good for mid to large lawns and yards. At the end of the day, it will probably come down to size and cutting capacity for most consumers.

In a nutshell, the Stihl RMA 510 is the beefier and more capable lawn mower.

Quick Facts

	Stihl RMA 460	Stihl RMA 510
Cutting width	18”	20”
Max cutting height	3.9”	3.5”
Weight	55lbs	59 lbs

Key Differences Between the Stihl RMA 460 and the Stihl RMA 510

One thing that consumers should take note of is the batteries. The Stihl RMA 460 mower runs off of the smaller AK series of batteries while the Stihl RMA 510 uses the Stihl AP batteries.

This makes a difference not only for battery life but weight as well. When the AP battery is loaded into the 510, it weighs a total of 63.3lbs. When the AK battery is loaded into the 460, the total weight is 58 lbs.

Stihl RMA 460 Key Features

AK 30 Battery – The smaller AK 30 battery of the Stihl RMA 460 gives you about 45 minutes of runtime.
Folding Handle – The folding handle makes it easier to fit the Stihl RMA 460 into small storage spaces.
Automatic Resistance Sensors – It senses when you are mowing lighter grass and adjusts power accordingly.

Stihl RMA 460 Pros & Cons

Pros:

Can be outfitted with a mulching plug
Side discharge
Lightweight
Eco mode saves battery
Very sharp blades

Cons:

2nd dummy battery slot
Poor actual battery life

Overall Score: 94/100

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Stihl RMA 510 Key Features

Steel Deck – The 510 features a durable steel deck and a 20” cutting width.
Adjustable Handle – The handle of the Stihl RMA 510 can be adjusted to three different heights.
Additional Battery Bay – You can store another battery so you can quickly switch out the drained one.

Stihl RMA 510 Pros & Cons

Pros:

Can be stored vertically
Up to 50 minutes of runtime
6 cutting heights
Durable cutting deck
Handles all kinds of grass well

Cons:

Can’t take two batteries at a time
Heavy battery

Overall Score: 96/100

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Who SHould Buy Each One?

If you have a larger property to mow, the Stihl RMA 510 with its better runtime would be better for you. The Stihl RMA 460 is suitable for up to about 2500 square foot lawns.

Price Comparison

The Stihl RMA 460 sells for around $500 and the Stihl RMA 510 retails in the ballpark of $600.

Weight & Handling Comparison

Neither of these mowers are self-propelled which was a bit of a bummer but the Stihl RMA 460 was lighter overall by about 5 pounds.

Power Comparison

The battery of the Stihl RMA 510 is beefier and will give you longer runtimes but both mowers cut equally well.

Cutting Comparison

Both the Stihl RMA 460 and the Stihl RMA 510 achieve very good blade tip speed and are able to handle hardy, tall grass. The Stihl RMA 460 actually has a higher cutting height though – 3.9 inches vs 3.5 inches.

Efficiency Comparison

The Stihl RMA 460 will give you significantly less runtime (about 25 minutes in ECO mode) so overall, it is the less efficient mower.

Durability Comparison

Both mowers seemed equally durable. They both have steel cutting decks which is nice to see in a time when many manufacturers are going cheap and using plastic cutting decks.

Other Lawn Mowers to Consider

WORX Nitro WG753 40V Power Share PRO 21″

One significant advantage that this mower has is that it is self-propelled. It is capable of tackling yards up to about 4900 square feet because it has a wide 21” cutting deck and the battery runtime is excellent.

The WORX Nitro WG753 40V Power Share PRO 21″ can also detect the length of the grass it’s mowing and adjust battery consumption accordingly.

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Greenworks 40V 21″ Brushless (Smart Pace) Self-Propelled Lawn Mower

The Greenworks 40V 21″ Brushless (Smart Pace) Self-Propelled Lawn Mower has an adjustable, 7-position cutting height and features a steel deck. So it’s durable but not so much lightweight. The runtime was a bit disappointing though – only about 40 minutes on a full charge for both batteries.

Still, this is a cool little self-propelled electric mower that can automatically adjust to your walking pace. The handles also fold down for easy storage.

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Sun Joe 24V-X2-21LMSP 48-Volt iON+ Cordless Self Propelled Lawn Mower

This is another self-propelled lawn mower that comes with a collection bag. It also works as a side-discharge mower; but the chute is made of hard plastic. The deck can be adjusted to 7 heights and is 21 inches wide. It creates really clean, uniform cuts and has a powerful motor. The only caveat is that the runtime is poor – about half an hour max.

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Final Assessment

While cutting capability and options (mulch plug, collection bag and discharge) are the same with these two mowers, the runtime of the Stihl Rma 460 really hurt it in our eyes.

The Stihl Rma 510 had better runtime and it would be more suitable for large yards thanks to the wider cutting width. If you have the option to spend about $100 more, we suggest going with the Stihl Rma 561. But if you have a yard in the range of about 2500 square feet, the Stihl Rma 460 will likely be enough for you.