A soft, springy lawn might seem ideal when it comes to lounging around on hot, summer days or walking barefoot in the cool morning dew, but it’s also a sign that your lawn needs a bit of attention. A build-up of moss and lawn thatch in the grass is often the cause of this spongy feeling, which not only makes turf look patchy, but prevents water, nutrients and air from reaching the grass’s root system. The result can be an unhealthy lawn, which has lost its vigour and struggles to withstand year-round wear and tear. However, all is not lost as the problem is easily tackled by a process called scarification, which means getting rid of the unwanted moss and thatch. This job is carried out in spring or autumn, and can be done manually with a rake, or mechanically with a powered machine.

Need to show your lawn some TLC? Take a look at our round up of the best lawn aerators and expert tips on how to improve your lawn in 12 weeks.

Looking for the best lawn mowers? Read our guides to the best cordless lawn mowers, the best robotic lawn mowers and the best electric lawn mowers. If you have a small lawn, our round-up of the best hand push mowers may prove helpful, and why not keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best lawn edging.

Best lawn scarifiers to buy at a glance

• Best buy for manual performance: Darlac DP888 lawn scarifier
• Best buy for safety: Stihl RLA 240 cordless lawn scarifier

Jump to:

• Best buy lawn scarifiers
• Best of the rest
• What is a lawn scarifier and what does it do?
• Types of lawn scarifiers
• How to choose the best lawn scarifier
• How we tested lawn scarifiers

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best lawn scarifiers, below.

Best buy lawn scarifiers

RRP: £40.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros:

• Adjustable handle
• Smooth pulling action
• Easy to control how deep or shallow the blades cut into the turf
• Lightweight
• Good for storage

Cons:

• Hard work and tiring – not suitable for larger gardens
• No safety cover for blade tips
• Less suitable for large gardens

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for manual performance, the Darlac DP888 Scarifier is an excellent choice if you’re up for scarifying your lawn by hand. Its adjustable handle is a great feature, extending from 97cm to 1.5m, and is made from high-quality steel treated with anti-corrosion protection, so it’s lightweight but durable, and feels sturdy to use. The head is 32cm wide and features 11 sharp blades, which you can push into the turf at varying depths by raising or lowering the angle of the handle. It also has two wheels to help it move smoothly along the lawn. It comes with a 35 year guarantee.

Read the full Darlac DP888 Scarifier review

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RRP: £74.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Wolf Garten and Amazon

Pros:

• Super easy to attach handle
• Smooth pulling action
• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Good for storage

Cons:

• Hard work and tiring
• No safety cover for blade tips
• Not ideal for large gardens

Part of the Wolf Garten Multi-Change® tool system, this manual scarifier is made from high-quality plastic and rust-proof aluminium, so it’s lightweight and easy to use. The blades are made from hardened steel, so they’ll stay sharp over their lifetime, and the head is 30cm wide. It’s a really effective tool with a smooth action, but it’s best suited to small gardens because it doesn’t have a soft grip handle, which can make it uncomfortable to use after a while, especially given it’s hard work to remove moss and thatch in this way. It comes with a 35 year warranty.

Read the full Wolf Garten Multi-Change® Roller Moss Removal Rake review

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RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Vonhaus

Pros:

• Easy to manoeuvre
• Lightweight
• Compact
• Folding handles and removable collection box for storage
• Dual start system for safety
• Four depth settings

Cons:

• Tips over when not in use
• Protruding screws base handle
• The collection box doesn’t pick up all the debris

The Vonhaus 1300W Electric Lawn Rake is lightweight, compact and a good step up from a manual scarifier if you have more than a very small patch of lawn to tackle. It features a dual start safety system as well as a thermal cut out that kicks in to prevent it from overheating, folding handles for storage and four depth settings. The scarifying drum is 32cm wide with  steel blades and, depending on how much moss and thatch you’re dealing with, there are four depth settings to choose from: -15mm, -11mm, -7mm and +1mm. Weighing 9kg, it’s noticeably lightweight – in fact it has a tendency to tip backwards when not in use and it’s also noisier than some of the others we tested, reaching 98dB. It comes with a 28L collection box and a 10m cable, which makes it best suited to a small to medium sized garden. It has a two year warranty.

Read the full Vonhaus 1300W Electric Lawn Rake review

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RRP: £149.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Vonhaus and Amazon

Pros:

• Easy to manoeuvre
• Lightweight
• Folding handles and removable collection box for storage
• Interchangeable drums are easy to remove and install
• Dual start system for safety
• Five depth settings

Cons:

• The collection box doesn’t pick up all the debris
• Noisy – 104dB

The Vonhaus 2-in-1 scarifier is a sturdy machine with a robust but lightweight plastic body, which weighs 16.1kg. Powered with a 1800W motor, it’s a little noisy at 104dB, but removes moss, thatch and other organic lawn debris very efficiently. It has two interchangeable drums to switch between aerating and scarifying modes and has a working width of 38cm. It has folding handles for easy storage, a dual start system for safety, and a built-in thermal cut out if it overheats. There are five depth settings, ranging from -12mm, -9mm, -3mm and +6mm – although we found the lowest setting made the lawn look quite ravaged. At 60cm wide it’s one of the largest machines we tested, but is still easy to manoeuvre and comes with a 10m cable. The generously-sized 55L collection bag is moderately efficient, but misses some debris as there is a gap between the box and the blades. It has a two-year warranty.

Review the full Vonhaus 2-in-1 Electric Scarifier review

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RRP: £159

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Stiga and Mowers Online

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight and compact
• Folding handles and removable collection box for storage
• Interchangeable drums easy to remove and install
• Dual start system for safety
• Four depth settings
• Quiet at 91dB

Cons:

• 15m cable isn’t included
• The collection box doesn’t pick up all the debris

The Stiga Essential SV 213E Electric Lawn Scarifier is light, compact and efficient at tackling moss and thatch in the lawn. It comes with two interchangeable drums, one each for scarification and aeration, a dual start safety system and can be adjusted to four depths, ranging from -6mm to +4mm, which is shallower than other models we tested. We found that the 40L collection bag left some debris behind and the 15m cable – the longest in the group we tested – is an additional cost. It’s compact and easy to fold the handles for storage, and comes with a two year warranty.

Read the full Stiga Essential SV 213E Electric Lawn Scarifier review

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RRP: £360.99

Our score: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros:

• Comfortable to use
• Very effective
• Quick to charge

Cons: 

• Scalps the lawn
• Very poor instructions

The Cobra S3840V Cordless Lawn Scarifier is big and the wheels are a little stiff, but it handles well and at 92dB, it’s relatively quiet, too. The 40V 5Ah battery charges quickly, in just 90 minutes and offers 40 minutes of  use and it’s easy to use, with a comfortable, soft handle, and we love being able to see the charge indicator through the transparent window. The aerating blades slit well, neatly cutting through the soil and getting most moss and thatch, however, the spring tine scarifying drum lifts moss and thatch, but catches a lot of living grass, no matter which of the 5 heights from -10mm to +5mm you choose. The instructions are also poor, so it took a while to get this tool working. At 38cm wide, it covers a large area, but its size makes this scarifier very bulky and difficult to store. 

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What is a lawn scarifier and what does it do?

A scarifier is essentially a comb for your lawn – strong tines, on either a manual spring-tine rake or a rotating drum, pull through the grass, removing moss and organic debris, also known as lawn thatch. Scarifying is worth doing at least once a year – twice if you’re having to deal with a lot of moss, and the best scarifiers have different settings so you can adjust their height to avoid tearing up your lawn. However, depending on the extent of the moss invasion and debris, you may have to put up with seeing a bit of soil where larger clumps have been removed – if this is the case, simply sow some lawn seed in any areas of the lawn you’re concerned about.

Types of lawn scarifiers: ways to scarify your lawn

There are four types of scarifier, including manual and powered versions, and each have their own pros and cons. Some brands refer to their powered range as lawn rakers, which simply means a powered lawn rake with a plastic cylinder, lined with metal tines. 2-in-1 powered scarifiers, on the other hand, feature two interchangeable drums, one with scarifying tines to rake through the grass and remove thatch as well as organic debris, while the other has metal blades, which cut into the turf creating shallow slits to aerate the soil surface. This helps air and water to move through this top layer of the soil and is also helpful if you’re feeding or sowing seed into your lawn.

However, if your lawn is struggling due to compaction or you have a heavy clay soil, your lawn will benefit from deeper aeration which is the process of opening up the soil by spiking it with long metal tines. See our review of the best lawn aerators for 2021.

• Manual scarifiers. Best for small lawns, or if you just have a few patches of moss to tackle, they’re also handy if you don’t have lots of storage space. A spring-tine rake is one option, as the sharp, hard tines will pull away moss and thatch, but it’s hard work and tiring, even on a small lawn. A manual lawn scarifier is the other alternative, which is similar to a rake, but has stronger blades, rather than tines, and often features wheels, which help to drag it over the lawn. Neither of these options come with a collection box, so once you’ve finished raking the lawn, you’ll have to collect the moss and thatch using a mower with a collection box, or scoop it up by hand and put it on the compost heap or in your green waste bin. Although these scarifiers are very hands-on, they’re a quieter alternative to mechanical machines, will keep you fit and are better for the environment too.
• Powered lawn rakers. These are ideal if you have a small or medium-sized garden. Choose from corded, if you have a nearby power supply, or cordless. They feature a cylinder lined with sprung metal tines that’s capable of combing through the lawn and pulling out moss, thatch, and horizontal grass stalks. They also come with a collection box, so there’s no need to get out the mower or rake to gather up the cuttings.
• Powered scarifiers. Available as either corded, where you’ll need a power supply, or cordless, these have knife blades attached to their cylinders rather than tines, making them effective at removing moss and thatch. Used on the lowest setting, they create slits in the turf, which helps aerate it.
• Powered 2-in-1 aerators and scarifiers. Either corded, where you’ll need a power supply, or cordless, these save buying both types of machine, which is great in terms of money and storage, and feature interchangeable drums with spring tines for scarification and blades for aeration.

How to choose the best lawn scarifier

Once you’ve worked out which type of lawn scarifier will suit your needs, there are several key features to look out for:

• Manual scarifiers – in addition to strong, good-sized blades, a telescopic handle is a useful feature to make it as comfortable as possible to use – a soft-grip is also a bonus. Some types are designed so you can adjust how deeply the blades rake through the grass and thatch, which is extremely useful.
• Powered lawn rakers and mechanical scarifiers – strong, good-sized blades and a collection box are worth looking for. If storage is an issue check whether the handles collapse down so it takes up less space..
• 2 in 1 combination aerator and scarifiers – Check that it’s easy to remove and install each drum.

How we tested lawn scarifiers

To see how well lawn scarifiers perform, the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Reviews team tested a range of models across a range of garden situations – removing moss, lawn thatch and other organic debris. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the grass and organic debris on the lawn surface. The lawn scarifiers were compared, and the following criteria used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Set-up & storage: We looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the cable length.
• Handling: We assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features.
• Performance: This considered the strength of the blades, as well as how well the spring tines removed moss and thatch in the scarifying mode. For the 2-in-1 machines, we also evaluated how well the blades created slits in the lawn to aerate it.
• Value for money: We reviewed all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP and the length of warranty.

For more information on our testing process see How we Review.

This review was last updated in February 2025. Unfortunately, prices change and things go out of stock so we apologise if anything has changed.

A lush, green lawn is a source of pride and joy for many gardeners but it’s often where all the action takes place in the garden. The focal point for gatherings with friends and family, it can suffer from overuse and too much wear and tear. Terrific turf needs a good lawn care regime to achieve it and while regular mowing and watering will take you so far, there are a couple of additional tasks for your to do list, which will help keep your lawn in tip-top condition.

Regardless of how often you cut your lawn, over time the soil underneath the turf becomes compacted, while above ground a thick, impenetrable layer of thatch and organic debris develops around the roots. This undesirable combination prevents air, water and nutrients from reaching deep down to the grass’ root system and ultimately weakens its growth, leaving the plant susceptible to pests and diseases.

Scarifying your lawn will help remove thatch and debris, but if you need to relieve compacted soil underneath the turf, it’s best to aerate it. Aeration is the process of making air holes in the lawn to create ventilation. In small lawns a simple garden fork can be used to push holes into the ground but you can also buy manual aerators, either solid or hollow tined, which require the same effort as a fork. However, if you have a lot of lawn and not much time, other types of aerator are probably the best option. Whether you’re pushing a roller covered in spikes, or using a powered machine, these aerators are a labour-saving version of the trusty garden fork, mechanically making a series of holes in the lawn.

Time to show your lawn some TLC? Check out our round up of the best lawn scarifiers and expert tips on how to improve your lawn in 12 weeks. You can also keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best lawn edging.

In addition to aerators and scarifiers, we’ve tested a range of lawn mowers, including the best cordless lawn mowers, the best robotic lawn mowers and the best electric lawn mowers and the best grass trimmers. For those with small lawns, our guide to the best hand push mowers will be helpful.

The best lawn aerators to buy at a glance

• Best aerator for manual hollow tined aerating: Kent & Stowe 4 Prong Lawn Aerator
• Best aerator for manual aerating: Greenkey Lawn Aerator
• Best combination aerator for safety: Stihl RLA 240 Cordless Lawn Scarifier

Jump to:

• Best Buy lawn aerators in 2024
• The best of the rest
• What is a lawn aerator and what does it do?
• Types of lawn aerator
• How to choose the best lawn aerator
• How to get the perfect lawn
• How we tested lawn aerators

In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best hedge trimmers below:

Best lawn aerators in 2024

RRP: £36.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Marshalls Garden, Amazon, Bents

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Removes good whole soil plugs

Cons:

• Needs strong treading to work 

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for manual hollow tined aerating, this simple aerator from Kent & Stowe works well. The smooth, FSC-grade ash handle is comfortable, lightweight and doesn’t rub, even after using it for a while. The handle runs into a single-riveted steel socket above wide steel treads and these treads are great for striking and pushing into soil. However, the 9cm, stainless steel tines don’t go in smoothly every time, despite being pointed. Its best feature is that it produces good, solid plugs of soil that are great for breaking down and reusing as topsoil.

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RRP: £49.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon and Crocus

Pros:

• Adjustable height
• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Good for storage
• Plastic caps to cover the spikes when not in use

Cons:

• Needs assembling – though it’s straightforward
• Hard work, so best suited to small gardens

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for manual aerating, the Greenkey Rolling lawn aerator is basic but does the job well. Lightweight with sturdy spikes, it’s just the tool if your small lawn needs aeration. Made from aluminium and plastic, it’s lightweight but feels substantial and features a T-bar grip as well as an adjustable shaft to suit different height users. The drum is 30cm wide, which covers a lawn quickly and easily, and there are 30 x 4.5 cm spikes to ensure deep, even aeration. It comes with a two year warranty.

Read the full Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator review

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RRP: £224 (without battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Available from Just Lawnmowers and Stihl

Pros:

• Excellent safety features
• Easy to use
• Comfortable

Cons:

• Struggles with inclines 

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for safety, this combination machine is powered by a 36v, 4.8Ah battery. It takes 205 minutes to charge, but is easy to plug in and has a helpful charge indicator, although this is faint in daylight. The battery also has great safety features – it won’t work without a safety key, and there’s a lock on the powerbar for an effective dead-man switch – and it lasts long enough to cover a 250m2 lawn, about the size of a tennis court. Thanks to smooth, high-quality wheels, it feels lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, which is surprising given that it weighs 15kg. Powerful aerating blades cut through the top layer of soil well, to help improve lawn health, rather than relieve compacted soil or open the structure of heavy clay, and in doing so, also tackle most of the thatch and moss in the lawn. The scarifying drum attachment was effective on moss too, though not as efficient with thatch. Although, this machine struggles with inclines, catching on the surface and shutting itself off if your lawn isn’t level, this isn’t too much of a problem, because you can easily adjust the heights – +7.5 mm to -9.5 mm – to avoid this problem, and this automatic shutdown is also a great safety feature.

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Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

RRP: £159

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Mowers Online and B&Q

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight and compact
• Folding handles and removable collection box for storage
• Interchangeable drums are easy to remove and install
• Dual start system for safety
• Four depth settings
• Quiet at 91dB

Cons:

• The 15m cable isn’t included
• Collection box doesn’t pick up all the debris

The Stiga Essential SV 213E Electric Lawn Scarifier is light, compact and efficient when it comes to tackling moss and thatch in the lawn. It has two interchangeable drums, one with spring tines for scarification and the other with blades for shallow aeration, which is designed to help improve lawn health, rather than relieve compacted soil or open the structure of heavy clay. It also has a dual start safety system and can be adjusted to four depths, ranging from -6mm to +4mm, which is shallower than the other models we tested. We found that the 40L collection bag left some debris behind and the 15m cable – the longest in the group we tested – is an additional cost of £21.71. It’s compact and easy to fold the handles for storage, and comes with a two year warranty.

Read the full Stiga Essential SV 213E Electric Lawn Scarifier review

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RRP: £360.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Keen Gardener

Pros:

• Comfortable to use
• Very effective
• Quick to charge

Cons: 

• Scalps the lawn
• Very poor instructions

The Cobra S3840V Cordless Scarifier handles well. It’s big, and the wheels are prone to being a little stiff, but it’s lightweight and has a soft-grip handle, which makes it comfortable to use. At 92dB, it’s relatively quiet, too. The 40V 5Ah battery charges quickly in just 90 minutes, and offers 40 minutes’ use. The machine itself is easy to use, and we loved being able to see the charge indicator through the transparent window. The aeration blades and spring tine scarifying drum can be set at five heights, which range from -10mm to +5mm. Unfortunately, the instructions are poor, so it takes a while to get this machine up and running. On the plus side, at 38cm wide, it covers a large area of lawn, reducing how long you spend on the job, but its size makes this combination machine very bulky and difficult to store.

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What is a lawn aerator and what does it do?

Aerating your lawn is part of a spring and autumn lawn care regime and there are two different methods of aerating your lawn:

• Spiking – this involves using solid spikes to create holes in the lawn, which are a couple of millimetres in width and several centimetres deep, to help relieve compacted soil.
• Hollow tining – as it sounds, hollow tines are pushed into the ground to remove cylindrical plugs of turf, around a centimetre wide and a few centimetres deep. Depending on the soil type, you may wish to fill these holes with a sandy mix or leave them to let the soil expand and close the holes, which helps with waterlogged clay soil.

Types of lawn aerators: the different ways to aerate your lawn

There are four types of aerator, each with their own pros and cons:

• Spike shoes – these are cheap and easy to use and most effective on soft – but not soggy – ground in small gardens.
• Manual aerators – although these are useful tools, which can do specific jobs (see above), using them requires a lot of effort as it gets tiring, even on a small lawn. But they’re cheap, and a great idea if you’re after a workout.
• Manual Rolling Drum Aerators – these are time and labour saving, as you simply walk across the lawn pushing the roller
• Powered Aerators – the obvious advantage of using these is that they’re labour saving. They’re also almost always available as part of a 2-in-1 combination machine that scarifies as well, so you get two jobs done for the price of one. However, it’s important to note these mechanical aerators don’t aerate in the same way that a manual aerator does – they use metal blades rather than spikes or tines. These blades create shallow slits rather than deep holes, and although they will help maintain a healthy lawn, by allowing air and water to move through this top layer of soil, they won’t improve your lawn if it’s compacted or you have heavy clay. Mechanical aerators are quite an investment too, as you’re using them twice a year at the most – even if they’re a 2-in-1 combination of aerator and scarifier – and they require more space to store than the other alternatives.

How to choose the best lawn aerator

Depending on the type of aerator you’re going to choose, there are several key features to look for:

• Manual hollow tine – look out for strong, solid tines that will cope with compacted turf, a decent tread to prevent your foot from slipping, and a soft-grip handle for comfort.
• Manual rolling drum – ideally you want a good number of metal spikes on the drum to create plenty of holes – as a guide, 27 spikes will give you about 180 spikes per square metre. The spikes should also be at least 5cm long to ensure they penetrate the ground deeply.
• Mechanical aerator – go for strong, good-sized blades and a collection box. If storage space is an issue look for handles that fold down and a collapsible collection box rather than a solid one.

How to get the perfect lawn

It’s not just aerating that will improve the quality of your lawn, look at our other tips below:

• Always rake up clippings when mowing at the start of the year, so they don’t smother younger, emerging shoots
• Neaten edges with a lawn edger
• Dig up small weeds like plantain and dandelions with a hand trowel
• Use a spring-tined lawn rake to rake out dead grass and moss in areas where there is poor growth
• Once the lawn is established, and later in the year, leave the clippings in place to act as a nutrient-rich mulch that will feed the grass
• If you notice bare patches, break up the soil, scatter grass seeds then sprinkle with potting compost. Cover newly sown seeded areas with netting
• When mowing on hot, dry days, raise the mower’s cutting height and make sure newly sown areas are watered.

How we tested lawn aerators

To see how well lawn aerators perform, the GW reviews team tested a range of models across a range of garden situations – creating holes and slits in different turf and ground conditions. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the grass and organic debris on the lawn surface. The lawn aerators were compared, and the following criteria used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Set-up & storage: We looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the cable length.
• Handling: We assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features.
• Performance: Considered the strength of the tines or blades, as well as how well they created holes and slits in the lawn. For the 2-in-1 machines, we also evaluated how well the spring tines removed moss and thatch in the scarifying mode.
• Value for money: We reviewed all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP and the length of warranty.

For more information on our testing process see How we Review

This review was last updated in February 2025. Unfortunately, prices change and things go out of stock so we apologise if anything has changed.

Increasingly popular with UK gardeners, robotic lawn mowers are a welcome, hands-free alternative to traditional petrol and electric lawn mowers. Because a robotic lawn mower is fully automatic, it can be a brilliant option for gardeners who have mobility concerns, are away from home a lot, or simply find mowing a chore. Powered by rechargeable Lithium-ion batteries, most mowers are guided by a boundary cable laid around the edge of the lawn, which helps the robotic lawn mower identify where to mow and to avoid flower beds, trees and other obstacles.

While we tested models from a number of different brands, note that all of them offer a range of mowers with varying sizes, capabilities and features.

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To compare these robotic models against other types of mowers, see our reviews of the best cordless lawn mowers, the best electric mowers and the best push mowers. And, if you’re looking to give your lawn a bit of TLC, our experts have tested a range of manual and powered aerators and scarifiers – check out the best scarifiers and best aerators reviews. You can also keep edges looking neat with our tests of the best strimmers or pick of the best lawn edging.

Best robotic lawn mowers at a glance

• Best robotic mower for performance 2024: Stihl iMOW 5
• Best robotic mower for wire free mowing: Segway Navimow i105E
• Best robotic mower for installation and features 2023: Worx Landroid Vision L1300 WR213E
• Best robotic mower for features 2022: Husqvarna Automower 405X
• Best robotic mower for small lawns 2023: Flymo EasiLife Go 500
• Best robotic mower for medium lawns : Stihl iMow 422P Robotic Mower

Jump to:

• Best robotic lawn mowers
• Best of the rest
• How does a robotic lawn mower work?
• What are the benefits of a robotic lawn mower? 
• How to choose the best robotic lawn mower
• How to clean a robotic lawn mower
• How we tested robotic lawn mowers
• Top tips for lawn care

Best robotic lawn mowers

RRP: £1729

Our rating: 4.8/5

Pros

• Easy to set up on app
• Wide range of cutting heights and cuts even longer grass well
• Quiet
• Good features including rain sensor, anti-stuck and 40% slope capacity
• Long warranty

Cons

• Need to be tech/app savvy
• No mobile connectivity for price
• Installation kit sold separately

The iMow 5 is the smallest in a new range of six robotic mowers from Stihl that cover three sizes of larger garden – 1500m2, 300m2 and 500m2. Together with the iMow 5,6 and 7 there is also the iMow EVO range that covers the same size lawns with the same features but also has mobile connectivity, allowing you to connect to your mower even when you’re not at home.

When you purchase an iMow you have the choice of instalment by a Stihl approved dealer (the cost of this will depend on the size of your garden), or installing it yourself and purchasing an additional installation kit. To cut down on waste, different size installation kits are available and as well as the standard fixing pins which hold the wires in place, there’s also the option to purchase bio pins, made from 100% biodegradable material that gradually break down in the soil. Like many robotic mowers the iMow requires a boundary wire around the perimeter of the lawn and a guide wire through the middle of the lawn to help it find its way back to the docking station. The mower comes with a clear instruction booklet plus there are helpful guides on the Stihl website if you need them, and laying the wires in our 1250m2 test garden took 3-4 hours. When laying the wires, it’s worth noting that the boundary wire needs to be 37cm from paths, a deck or fence, unless they’re level with the lawn and then it can be right up against them and 100cm from a pond. You also need a clear 2m area straight in front of the docking station for the guide wire and 37cm either side before you start laying the wires.

Once the wires are laid, it’s easy to programme the mower via its app – as long as you’re comfortable with this kind of tech. There’s no control panel as such on the new iMows, so there’s no need to bend over a control panel to set mowing times, heights and zones etc. All of this is programmed through the My iMow app, which is pretty simple and intuitive to use, but only works via your own wifi at home, if it reaches into your garden, or by Bluetooth when you’re standing next to the mower. There are also four large control buttons on the mower that allow you to stop, start, unlock, and send the mower home without using the app, and an info button that talks to you and gives you status updates.

Like many other robotic mowers, the iMow has three free-swinging blades and it cuts very well. The lawn was quite long before it was installed but with an impressively wide cutting height range of 20-60mm it didn’t struggle, and after a few days the whole lawn looked good with no tufts of uncut grass and it continues to look good. Unlike the Husqvarna Automower, once you’ve laid the boundary wire you can’t completely alter mowing zones and would have to lift and relay to change this, but you can divide your lawn into zones by directing the mower to only mow on one side of the guide wire. It cuts close to the edge so there’s no need to tidy up afterwards and if it comes across an obstacle, it gently bumps into it and then turns away. It also has a feature that helps it manoeuvre out of a situation if it does get stuck, it can cope with slopes of 40%, has an anti-theft alarm and a rain sensor feature, which you can adjust that interrupts, or does not start, mowing if it’s raining. You can choose what degree of rain you want it to mow in and when the sensor on the top of the mower dries it automatically begins mowing.

The iMow comes with a five year warranty and there are a host of accessories available including spare wire, pins and clips, a sun canopy for the docking station and upgrade wheels for the EVO range to enable them to cut slopes of up to 60%.
For the size of larger lawn it cuts, this is a reasonably priced mower that’s packed with features and cuts very well. We are particularly impressed with the range of cutting heights, its ability to cut longer grass and the simplicity of its design and awarded it a BBC Gardeners’’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance.

Buy the Stihl iMOW 5 from a Stihl approved dealer

RRP: £949

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Navimow

Pros

• At 58 dB, it’s almost silent when cutting
• More than enough cable to position the GPS antenna included
• The app offers live help and features
• Cuts in straight lines so fewer tufts are left behind

Cons

• The default light settings are far too bright
• You need to find a place for a large GPS antenna in your garden
• It makes a lot of unnecessary beeping noises until you turn them off

The latest addition to Navimow’s fleet of robot lawn mowers has built on the success of the previous H series. They’ve listened to criticism and tweaked this new mower to work better in the garden with easy setup and impressive features. Because of this we’ve awarded the i105N a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for wire free lawn mowing.  Not only is the GPS that helps guide it around the garden( the Exact Fusion Location System ) the upgraded 2.0 version, its camera technology can detect and avoid all sorts of obstacles in the garden.
It’s a simple addition, but you now get 20 metres of antenna and power cable, which makes placement of the GPS receiver much simpler, and all without the need to buy extra wires. The app can also help you to find the ideal place to position both the GPS antenna and the charging station in your garden.
They’ve kept in our favourite features, like the brilliant app that lets you drive the mower around like a remote control car to define the shape of your lawn. You can also watch the mower work in real time, and it lets you know immediately if there are any problems. The mower also checks the weather via the internet and adjusts the mowing program accordingly. The i105N model can happily cut moderate sized gardens up to 500 m², and thanks to the large orange wheels with an aggressive tread pattern, it can cope with slopes up to 30%. The quality of cut is just as good as the previous mower, but now comes with a class-leading 20 – 60 mm range of cut depth. It still cuts the lawn in pleasing straight lines as well, which helps to avoid untouched tufts of grass.

Buy the Segway Navimow i105E from Navimow

RRP: £2199.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Buy now from Amazon

Pros

• No boundary cable to install or GPS antennae to deal with
• Cuts as close to the boundary as possible with a robot mower
• It cuts lawns up to 1300 m²
• You can control multiple Landroid mowers via the app

Cons

• A significant expense for a lawn mower

A rather astonishing leap forward in robotic mowing technology, the Worx Landroid mower does away with boundary cables and tricky GPS receivers and uses cameras and AI technology to mow your lawn instead. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for installation and features. This big and futuristic looking mower is installed in seconds and connects to your phone or tablet via the Landroid app, although you can also control most of the functions via the onboard LCD screen and dial if you like. Using cameras rather than boundary wires, it knows where your lawn ends, keeps an eye out for obstacles, and even avoids hitting wildlife or pets. The cutting height ranges from 30 – 60 mm and you can adjust this via the app or the LCD screen, but the Landroid also self-levels the cutting deck to ensure that uneven ground is cut properly. The three blades underneath are offset, allowing the mower to cut close to the edge of hard boundaries and big knobbly wheels help the mower keep a good grip on slopes up to 35%. It cuts to an excellent finish and after a few days mowing, there are no tufts or patches of uncut grass. It creates its own mowing schedule to suit the time of year and uses a standard Worx battery that you might find on one of their drills or saws. Packed with features and clever technology, the only thing that might put you off is the price. However, it’s capable of tackling huge gardens up to 1,300 m², so it’s ideal for very large lawns, and could even replace a ride on lawnmower. The mower comes with a two year warranty that can be extended to three years.

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RRP: From £1849.00

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Buy now from Husqvarna

Pros:

• Unobtrusive colour
• Easy, mobile connectivity
• Clever mowing features
• GPS theft tracking

Cons:

• High price
• Short warranty

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, the Automower 405x boasts a huge range of features that help the mower cut well and make the experience easy for the user. These include, three different start points, switching mowing pattern according to where it’s mowing, such as through a narrow passage, frost guard and weather time that automatically adjusts the height according to the grass growth, and its new Rewilding Zone where you can leave 10% of the lawn aside to grow for pollinators.

It’s available to buy as a bare mower, which is then installed by a dealer for an additional cost, or with the installation kit included and you install it yourself. Suitable for smaller gardens 600m2, the mower operates with both a boundary wire and a guide wire and unlike some other mowers, has a more flexible docking station, which doesn’t need a wide, clear space around it – ours was tucked neatly into the side of a hedge. It’s also easy to set up via the intuitive keypad or the impressive Automower Connect app, which allows you to change the schedule, adjust the height of cut, check on the mower’s progress and receive notifications, simply and quickly no matter where you are. As an X model, the mower also has a built in SIM so you have both remote and voice controlled control.  Our only confusion with set up was working out the scheduling needed, which took a couple of weeks to establish, and that the height of cut on the app is listed as 1-9, when it cuts between 20mm and 50mm.

The mower can cope with 40% slopes, which should suit most gardens. The slope in our test garden has a tendency to get muddy and slippery so at the installer’s advice, we used the spiked Terrain wheels which stop the wheels slipping. Only occasionally did the mower fail to get up the slope and when the weather was really wet we simply removed that zone from the work area. The mower cut consistently well and is very quiet, the only perceptible sound is the whirring of the blades as they cut. It occasionally missed spots on the lawn but overall this is a very easy to use and high performing mower.
The Automower 405x is just one in a large range of Husqvarna mowers to suit different size lawns. A host of accessories are also available, including a cover for the docking station and wheel brushes, as well as spare parts, from batteries and blades to wheels. Both the mower and the battery come with a 2 year warranty.

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RRP: £1359.00

Our rating: 4.8/5

• Buy now from Harland Robotic Lawnmowers

Pros:

• Light weight, simple to use and adjust
• Fast efficient cut
• ‘Park’ button on docking station
• ‘Intelligent’ performance and charging
• Long warranty

Cons:

• No Smart connectivity
• Occasionally struggled on wet grass

This great value mower has an impressive finish. Nippy and quiet, the iMow has a single, steel rotary blade that’s excellent for mulching and cuts efficiently and well, with a great finish, although it does get stuck occasionally on damp ground. The mower adjusts its speed itself according to the conditions, grass length and terrain and can tackle slopes up to 40 per cent.We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for medium lawns.

Read the full Stihl iMow 422P Robotic Mower review.
Buy the Stihl iMow 422 P from a Stihl approved dealer

RRP: £689

Our rating: 4.3/5

• Buy now from Amazon

Pros

• Incredibly quiet during use
• Small and easy to move around
• Supplied with plenty of boundary cable and spare connectors
• Spot mowing function for problem areas
• An affordable robotic mower for smaller gardens

Cons

• Installing the guide wire correctly can be tricky
• Lacks a screen
• Changing mowing height isn’t quick
• Setting multiple mowing zones takes a while

This compact yet capable little robotic lawnmower is an ideal choice for small to medium sized gardens and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for small gardens.
With more than half a century of experience in the garden, Flymo know a thing or two about mowing and their EasiLife Go 500 is marvellously small and lightweight and uses three pivoting blades for an even cut. To help with installation there’s an online video, which you should watch before you start as the mower needs both a boundary wire and guide wire pegged down. This can be a bit tricky but is easier if you plan ahead. Unlike some mowers, instead of an LED screen, you get five buttons on the top of the mower that control all the basic functions. For everything else, there’s the Flymo EasiLife app. It’s easy enough to programme and cuts regular shaped lawns with ease. It mows in a random pattern, so every piece of grass is cut eventually but there’s also a spot mowing function if any are missed. You can also set the mower to cut different sections of your garden, including narrow passageways although this is a bit fiddly to master. The cutting height ranges from 20-50mm and the wheels can cope with slopes up to 25% and a slightly bumpy terrain, but it’s much happier on flat lawns. Due to the small cutting width of just 16 cm, it’s only really suitable for small gardens up to 500 m². It’s one of the more affordable mowers in our test and comes with a two year warranty.

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Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest robotic lawn mowers on test.

RRP: £1849

Our rating: 4 out of 5

• Buy now from Mowers Online and Felthorpe Lawnmower Services

Pros

• The quality of cut is excellent
• It mows in pleasing straight lines rather than in random directions
• The app is powerful and fun to use
• No boundary wires to install

Cons

• Setting up the GPS receiver can be tricky
• You need clear space for the antennae to work properly
• The charging station needs to be within Wi-Fi range
• Power cord and antennae leads are both too short

Coming from a company famous for its two-wheeled vehicles, the Navimow H1500E cuts lawns up to 1500 m² and the best thing about this mower is the app. Not only do you drive the mower around like a remote control car to define your garden’s boundaries, but it shows you exactly where the mower is in real time via the onboard GPS system. Once you get past the fiddly setup, the mower cuts your lawn in strips rather than in a random pattern as well as offering spot cutting and boundary cutting modes. It cuts grass from 30 – 60 mm, the onboard camera helps to detect obstacles before it hits them, and it can tackle slopes up to 45%. It comes with a one – three year warranty for the mower body and batteries.

Buy the Segway Navimow H1500E from Mowers Online

RRP: £663.99

Our rating: 4/5

• Buy now from Keen Gardener and Cobra

Pros

• Simple install with minimal tools
• Basic but easy to use app
• Generous amount of boundary wire included
• Wide range of cutting heights

Cons

• Only two cutting blades
• Multi area lawn is complicated to set up
• No spot mowing feature for trouble spots

A straightforward robotic mower that can tackle decent size lawns, the Cobra Mowbot 800 is ideal for low effort lawncare. All you need to do is install the boundary wire and press go- either on the machine or via the basic “Robot Mower” app. It can maintain a lawn up to 800 m², has a cutting width of 18 cm, cuts grass from 20 – 60 mm high, and the wheels can deal with slopes up to 36%. One of the best things about this mower is that it’s nice and quiet, running at just 66 dB maximum. It won’t wake you up if you set the mowing schedule earlier than your alarm clock, and if you want to add some flair to your robot, there are several fun covers that you can purchase separately. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Cobra Mowbot from Keen Gardener and Cobra

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How does a robotic lawn mower work?

Robotic lawn mowers are powered by rechargeable lithium ion battery and designed to cut the grass regularly, little and often so the lawn always looks neat. Clippings are mulched down back onto the grass, feeding the lawn and there are no grass piles to deal with or collection bags to empty.

Most robotic lawn mowers work by detecting the edge of perimeters via sensors or a boundary wire. The latter is laid out around the edge of the lawn — as well as any obstacles such as trees or island flower beds  — to tell the lawn mower to stay within that area. When the mower senses the boundary wire, it will change direction to avoid leaving the lawn. Many have collision sensors so that if they bump into an object, the robotic lawn mower will automatically turn around and head off in another direction.

Some models mow randomly, eventually covering the entire lawn before returning to the docking station. Others use a more sophisticated GPS system that allows you to programme specific paths. Robotic mowers are programmed with a pin pad on the front of the mower but many models can  also be controlled via an app, which allows you to monitor the mower’s progress, schedule cutting times and let you know when servicing etc is required, easily and remotely. Once the mower has finished mowing, or if the battery is running low, the lawn mower will automatically return to its docking station, connect, and recharge.

These fully automatic mowers can save you hours of mowing time throughout the spring and summer, are great fun to watch and emission free. However, they are expensive, require an outside power source and careful installation, may not be appropriate for every style of garden and will not create stripes.

What are the benefits of a robotic lawn mower?

There are a number of benefits to buying a robotic lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models.

These benefits include:

• Less work for you: Once installed and programmed, the robotic mower will automatically cut the grass according to your specific schedule. The lawn will always look tidy and the mower will return to its dock on its own when it needs recharging.

• Zero emissions: Unlike petrol mowers, they emit no emissions because they’re powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery.

• Quiet:The lack of an engine also makes the mowers incredibly quiet.

How to choose the best robotic lawn mower

Price and size ranges for robotic lawn mowers

Robotic lawn mowers are expensive, especially when compared to cordless or electric lawn mowers. Prices start around £600 with premium models for large gardens costing anything from £3000 up.
Most brands include a range of mowers to suit gardens of different sizes, from small 400m2 lawns up to large gardens and estates up to  5000m² in size and beyond.

Robotic lawn mower features

Beyond being fully automatic, the additional features on the best robot lawn mowers vary depending on model. They can include weather sensors, GPS navigation and smart connectivity, which is increasingly popular and useful for making the mower easier to programme wherever you are. Readily available as an app on your mobile phone, you can adjust the schedule and set up your phone without having to bend over the mower’s PIN board but you can also check on your robotic lawn mower while you’re away, track it if it’s stolen and see when it needs servicing.

Good security is essential when paying for a machine in this price range and all mower have security features as standard. Some simply require a PIN code to start the mower, while others have lift sensors, alarms and a GPS tracker.

The latest innovation in the robotic mower world is the arrival of of a number of mowers that cut without the need for a boundary wire. Although some mowers could already do this they were primarily for very large open lawns or small gardens with particular types of boundary such as paving or raised beds. Now there are mowers that can identify exactly where they are, with the help of pin-point positioning via GPS or, are able to identify grass as well as other obstacles to work out where to mow.
We are currently testing some of these new mowers, so keep checking this page for updates and our latest reviews.

Robotic lawn mower requirements

Although they’re fully automatic, once set up robotic lawn mowers are more complex initially compared to a traditional, petrol, electric and cordless mower.
A robotic lawn mower requires an outside power source to connect the docking station to and this ideally needs to be positioned out of direct sun and level. Most also need a clear area around them — typically two metres to the front and a metre each side, which can limit where you place the docking station, especially in a small garden.
Accessing the layout is also essential before purchasing a robotic lawn mower. Some models can struggle with narrow passages, uneven ground and steep slopes.

Finally, they need installing and the boundary wire and sometimes a guide wire too, laid. You can either do this yourself, which takes time or get a dealer to do it for you, which is usually an additional cost, although some models include installation by a dealer in the price. They will assess your lawn, lay your boundary wire for you and show you how to programme and operate the keypad. If you’re installing the mower yourself, take care to follow the instructions precisely for the robotic lawn mower to run correctly.

How to clean a robotic lawn mower

Despite being fully automated, a robotic lawn mower should still be checked, cleaned and serviced regularly.

• To clean, make sure the machine is switched off and turn it over to check the blades for damage. Clean the chassis and blades with a brush, or a garden hose if dirt is more stubborn.
• Grass may need removing from the wheels and give the body a wipe down with a damp cloth.
• Blades should be able to pivot freely and damaged blades should be replaced. All blades should be replaced at the same time to ensure a balanced cut.
• A service each year is encouraged so that dealers can update software. They will also clean and replace any worn parts, including batteries.

Top tips for lawn care

Here are some top tips for keeping your lawn looking fresh and healthy:

If your lawn is young, ensure it’s well-watered but be careful not to overwater as this will cause the grass to root shallowly. Use rainwater if possible, or grey water from your bath or washing up bowl. Sprinklers are effective but use lots of mains water. Don’t worry if your lawn is established and goes brown, it will green up again after some rain.

Weed your lawn – keep an eye out for plantains and dandelions which have wide, flat leaves, and can smother large areas. Remove with a hand trowel or daisy grubber. Avoid weedkiller if possible. Find out more about weeds.

Compacted ground can prevent grass growing well, and lead to bare patches or muddy spots. Relieve compaction and aerate the soil with a garden fork, pushing it about 10cm deep every 10cm, and gently rocking back and forth on the fork handle. Take a look at our pick of the best lawn aerators and the best scarifiers.

Edge your lawn for a neat finish, this satisfying job can be carried out with long-handled sheers. It will also stop grass from growing in your borders. See our review of edging shears.

You might also like to keep edges neat with a physical border, take a look at our picks.

For more tips on keeping your lawn looking good, look at our article on top tips for lawn care.

A lawn mower may be one of the first purchases we make when getting a garden of our own, but that doesn’t mean finding a good quality one is easy. There are so many models and brands on the market to choose from, including corded, electric and petrol, but as their range increases and prices fall, cordless, battery-powered models are an increasingly popular option.

Light and compact compared with traditional petrol models, cordless mowers are simple to use, easy to manoeuvre around the garden, and have none of the maintenance and servicing needs or costs of petrol lawnmowers. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which charges up quickly and won’t lose power in storage, they’re also quiet and emission-free.

If you’re on the market for a new cordless mower then we’ve reviewed a selection of models to find the best cordless mowers to buy in 2025. There are a variety of cordless mowers to choose from which suit a variety of price points, garden types and ease of use. Whether it’s your first purchase of a lawn mower or you’re looking for an upgrade, there’s sure to be one for you in our comprehensive list.

If you’re still unsure about the type of mower you want, you can compare our cordless mower selection with our reviews of the best lawn mowers, robotic lawn mowers, electric lawn mowers and push mowers.

And if your lawn needs a bit of attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers. Also, keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best strimmers, the best garden shears and the best lawn edging, and if you’re thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.

For your next DIY project, you could also have a look at the best cordless drills and best multi-tools.

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The best cordless mowers to buy at a glance

• Best for ease of use 2024: Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower
• Best for ease of use 2023: Husqvarna Aspire LC34 P4A
• Best for budget 2023: Greenworks GDG24LM33
• Best for small to medium lawns 2022: Yard Force LMG37A
• Best for very small lawns 2022: Gardena Handymower
• Best budget buy for ease of use 2022: Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li

Jump to: 

• Best Buy cordless mowers
• Previous Best Buy winners
• The best of the rest
• What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?
• How to choose the best cordless lawn mower
• What can I expect to pay for a cordless mower?
• How long will the batteries last?
• How we tested
• Top tips for mowing your lawn

Cordless mowers – Buyer’s Guide video

Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best cordless lawn mowers, below.

Best Buy cordless mowers

RRP: £299.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Marshalls and Amazon

Pros

• Quiet, comfortable, and smooth to handle
• Long run time
• Great for storage
• Spare parts available

Cons

• Battery level not visible when mowing
• No safety plug

Easy to put together, this mower just needs the handle attaching and the 50L fabric grass bag has already been assembled. There’s a choice of three handle heights and it double folds snugly over the mower so it takes up very little space in storage. The two 20V 4Ah batteries have a charge indicator on the end and although there’s no way of seeing this when the mower’s in use, the approximately 60 minute run time means there’s time to finish the cutting of most small to medium lawns. The handle is padded for comfort and this mower is smooth and easy to push, even over longer, bumpier lawns. It cut very well in our test and the six heights of cut, from 25-75mm are easy to adjust with a single lever. At 96db the mower is reasonably quiet and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for ease of use.It also feels durable and sturdy with spare parts readily available from Webb and it comes with a three year warranty.

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RRP: £339

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

Available from Husqvarna

Pros:

• Quiet
• Cuts even long grass with ease
• Battery level visible while mowing
• Small and compact for easy storage
• Part of the POWER FOR ALL cordless range

Cons:

• Only four cutting heights
• 95 minutes charge time

Part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, this 34cm mower is powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. These are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed.

Great for small gardens the mower comes ready to go, there’s no assembly or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and even comes with a handy hook. The 30l grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. The Aspire is light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy and it has an adjustable handle to suit different height users. It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm and changed easily with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas that works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, just carries on cutting the grass. While you mow the battery charge level is always clearly visible so you know how much battery you have left and when it needs charging. It comes with a two year warranty and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2023 for ease of use.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 95 mins; run time – 500sqm. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 25-65mm. Grass box – 30 litre.

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RRP: £144.99 (with 2Ah battery)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon, Currys, Tooled Up, B&Q

Pros:

• Easy to assemble and use
• Comfortable padded handle
• Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
• Interchangeable battery with Greenworks 24V family

Cons:

• Short handle for taller users
• Struggles on long grass

Ideal for smaller gardens this sturdy, great value cordless mower is easy to put together, well thought out and simple to use. Thanks to a padded handle it’s comfortable to push, although it did feel a little short for our taller tester, and it’s light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and beds and borders. There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever and it offers the choice of collecting clippings in the 30 litre fabric grass bag or inserting the mulching plug and leaving them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass. It mows well but doesn’t like very long grass, with the battery cutting out occasionally but its long lasting  brushless motor offers a a decent run time of 46 minutes and it charges in two hours. Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more in the future. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget cordless mower in 2023.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 46mins. Cutting: width – 33cm; height – 25-70mm. Grass box – 30 litre.

• Buy now from Amazon and Robert Dyas

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RRP: £259.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q, Amazon

Pros:

• Rear roller
• Double folding handle for easy storage
• Quickest charge time
• Part of the Yardforce GR40 cordless range

Cons:

• Assembly slower than some

This sturdy mower has a 37cm cutting width and useful features including a rear roller for those much desired stripes. Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for small to medium lawns, clippings are collected in the large 40 litre fabric grass bag. It offers a wide choice of seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm, and is easy to fold away at the end of the day. The 40V battery is quick to charge, taking just 50 minutes and when full it has the capacity to cut a 400m2 lawn.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 50 mins; run time – 400sqm. Cutting: width – 37cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 40 litre.

• Buy now from Amazon

Read the full Yard Force LMG37A cordless mower review

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RRP: £174.99 (+ battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon, Tooled-Up

Pros:

• Small and light to carry and store
• Pivoting handle very easy to manoeuvre
• Easy to check battery charge
• Part of the Power For All Alliance

Cons:

• Battery and charger are purchased separately
• Cuts out if handle pushed too close to the upright position

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Gardena Handymower Best Buy review – video

Reviews Editor Kay Maguire explains why the Gardena Handymower was awarded BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy status.

This great little mower was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for very small lawns. It’s light, compact and easy to manoeuvre around the lawn and is ideal for the regular cutting of small areas of grass. There’s minimal assembly needed, you just screw the handle into the body and once the battery is charged it’s ready to go. There are three cutting heights to choose from and rather than collecting the clippings, this mower mulches, dropping them back onto the lawn where they break down and fertilise the grass – so you don’t need to spend time emptying a grass bag and your grass gets fed. A pivoting handle helps it get into tight spots really easily and it also copes surprisingly well with bumpy ground. While you’re mowing, the battery charge is clearly displayed on the mower. The battery and charger come separately, which does push the price up but this mower is part of the Power for All Alliance, which includes Gardena, Flymo, Husqvarna and Bosch battery powered tools and will save you money if you invest in cordless tools in the future.

Specs: Battery: run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 22cm; height – 30-50mm. Grass box – N/A.

• Buy now from Amazon and Tooled-Up

Read the full Garden HandyMower Li-18/22 cordless mower review.

RRP: £206.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from B&Q, Wickes, ManoMano

Pros:

• Light and simple to use
• Choice of handle heights
• Large rear wheel turns easily
• Part of the Einhell Power – X Change battery system

Cons:

• Lacks features and battery and charger purchased separately
• Handle only folds in half for storage

This simple, light, well priced mower was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for best budget mower for ease of use. It’s simple to assemble, with a choice of handle heights to suit different users, and the handle also folds in half helping it take up less room in storage. It moves smoothly across the lawn and manoeuvres well and offers a choice of five cutting heights that are easily adjusted with a central lever. The 18V battery takes just 75 minutes to charge and has the capacity to cut a lawn 200 m2. The 33cm cutting width mows neatly and efficiently, tackling longer grass with ease.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 75 mins; run time – 200sqm. Cutting: width – 33cm; height – 25-65mm. Grass box – 30 litre.

Read the full Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li cordless mower review.

• Buy now from Amazon, Wickes and Toolstation

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Previous Best Buy winners

We regularly test core gardening tools to ensure we keep up with new introductions and developing technologies. Our previous Best Buy winning cordless mowers, all still deserving our award and available, are listed below:

RRP: £199.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q, Very Amazon

Pros:

• Easy assembly and storage, long warranty
• Turbo and Eco modes
• Robust, light and easy to manoeuvre
• Battery and charger interchangeable with other Worx 20V tools

Cons:

• Long charge time
• One handle height

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for small lawns, our testers found this lawnmower easy to assemble and it handily folds away for storage when not in use. There’s a 30 litre ready-made grass bag and six cutting heights to choose from, which are easily changed with a single lever. We were impressed with the amount of features packed in for the price and it comes with a three-year warranty.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 35 mins. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 20-70mm. Grass box – 30 litre.

• Buy now from Amazon

Read the full Worx WG779E cordless mower review

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RRP: £592.00 including battery and charger

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Just Lawnmowers, Stihl

Pros:

• Steel deck
• 55-litre grass box with fill level indicator
• Seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm
• Eco-mode
• Handle folds for storage
• Battery level indicator
• Battery compatible with Stihl AK tools

Cons:

• Grass box is a bit fiddly to assemble
• Relatively long charge time (205 minutes)

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for value, this mower will cut 250 m2 in a single charge, but takes a relatively slow 205 minutes to charge. However, there’s a battery level indicator, which is visible during mowing so you can see how much time you have left, as well as storage for a second battery on the mower itself, although an additional battery will cost an extra £139 from Just Lawnmowers. Well-designed, it has a powder-coated steel deck, which means it’s more durable than the plastic alternatives we tested, and with a 46cm cutting width and seven cutting heights, it cuts the lawn quickly, cleanly and efficiently. Packed with features, this mower has an eco-mode to extend battery life, a generous 55-litre grass box and folding handles for easy storage. It also comes with a five-year warranty. Despite being the second most expensive mower on test, for the features and durability of the deck, we think it represents great value.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 205 mins; run time – 250sqm. Cutting: width – 46cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 55 litre.

• Buy now from Just Lawnmowers

Read the full Stihl RMA 248 cordless review.

RRP: £549 (+ battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Sam Turner & Sons

Pros:

• Comes assembled and folds flat for storage
• Battery power level clearly visible on handle
• Cuts well
• App for service needs and run time
• Battery compatible with Husqvarna products

Cons:

• Heavy
• Long charge time

Our expert testers felt this was a well-designed mower with a host of great features. It has a battery level indicator on the handle, plus an Eco mode and it even connects to an app. On the lawn it handles well and cuts efficiently. A one year warranty is included and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for medium sized lawns.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 130 mins; run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 47cm; height – 20-75mm. Grass box – 55 litre.

• Buy now from Sam Turner & Sons

Read the full Husqvarna LC 247iX cordless mower review

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RRP: £608.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon, Ray Grahams

Pros:

• Battery power level on handle
• Fast charge time
• Ten cut heights
• Adjustable handle height
• Robust steel deck

Cons:

• Heavy
• Assembly awkward for the price

The Makita model has a 46cm cutting width, the choice of ten cutting heights and a mulching option. The aluminium deck feels robust and the mower cuts well, with an optional quiet mode. The battery power level is displayed on the handle and it charges in 45 minutes, which was faster than most of the other models we tested. It’s guaranteed for a year and overall we felt this was great value. We judged this model a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for bigger lawns.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 45 mins; run time – 800sqm. Cutting: width – 46cm; height – 20-75mm. Grass box – 60 litre.

• Buy now from Ray Grahams

Read the full Makita DLM460PT2 cordless mower review

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RRP: £529

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon 

Pros:

• Easy to assemble and folds for storage
• Adjustable handle height for different users
• Sturdy and easy to handle
• Clear visibility of battery power levels
• Battery and charger interchangeable with other Ego Power+ tools
• Wide range of cutting heights

Cons:

• Short run time on battery supplied

Our testers thought this was a well-thought out lawnmower with plenty of great features. It’s simple to assemble and fold away for easy storage. The mower cuts and manoeuvres well and is a pleasure to use. There are seven cutting heights and it has collect, mulch and rear discharge features. Although it charges quickly in 30 minutes, it has a run time of just 20 minutes. A generous five-year warranty is included and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for extra features.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 30 mins; run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 42cm; height – 20-80mm. Grass box – 55 litre.

• Buy now from Amazon and mowers-online

Read the full Ego LM1701E cordless mower review

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RRP: £259.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Worx

Pros:

• Height of cut very easy to change
• Cuts to the edge
• Auto cut adjusts to grass length
• Part of the Worx Powershare range

Cons:

• Long charge time
• Feels heavy to turn
• Noisy and vibrates in the hands

Simple and quick to put together, with clear diagrams showing how to attach the handles and grass box, this sturdy cordless mower is also easy to store, with a double folding handle that collapses over the body of the mower. It comes with two 20V batteries and a double charger that are part of the Worx PowerShare range, saving you money if you invest in any of their 20V, 40V 0r 80V tools in the future.

Although it has a long charge time of almost four hours it has a run time of around half an hour depending on what you’re mowing. It’s reasonably light at 15.3kg, with a carry handle to help you lift it into the shed, but it feels quite chunky to manoeuvre and turn and isn’t as smooth as some in our tests. It has a padded handle but it does vibrate in the hand particularly when the mower’s auto cut increases to cut longer grass. But, it cuts well, with a cutting width of 37cm and six heights of cut from 20m – 70m to choose from, each easily adjusted with a single, smooth lever. It also has a mulching plug, so you can opt to either collect the clippings in the generous 40 litre grass bag or leave them to mulch the grass, and has grass combs so it cuts close to the edge of walls, paths and fences.

It’s useful for medium size lawns, 300-550m2, is durable and well made, has a brushless motor and comes with a five year warranty.

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Hayter Osprey 46 60V

• RRP: £715, Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Hayter Osprey 46 60V Cordless lawn mower from Hayter and Amazon.
• Read the full Hayter Osprey 46 60V review

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Cobra MX3440V

• RRP: £232.99
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Cobra MX3440V from Just Lawnmowers

Ryobi One+ RLM18X33B40

• RRP: £219.99 (+battery and charger)
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Ryobi One+ RLM18X33B40 from Amazon.

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Greenworks 48V 36cm

• RRP: £289.99
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Greenworks 48V 36cm cordless mower from Amazon and Wickes

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Kärcher LMO 18-36 Battery Set

• RRP: £379.99
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Karcher LMO 18-36 battery set lawnmower from Kärcher
• Read the full Kärcher LMO 18-36 Battery Set cordless mower review

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Mountfield Electress 30 Li Kit

• RRP: £179
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Mountfield 30 Li kit cordless mower from Amazon and Mowers Online
• Read the full Mountfield 30 Li Kit cordless mower review

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Honda IZY HRG416XB 36V

• RRP: £510
• Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
• Buy the Honda IZY-ON 416XB cordless mower from Just Lawnmowers
• Read the full Honda IZY-ON 416XB cordless mower review

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What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?

There are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models, including:

• Easy to manoeuvre: Without a cord, these mowers are typically easy to move around the lawn and can get to parts of the garden a cord may not stretch to. Without an engine, they’re lightweight and there are a large variety of models to choose from so you can be particular about weight, handle size, and ease of storage.
• Quiet: Powered by lithium-ion batteries, they’re much quieter than petrol-engine mowers. It’s worth noting that the bigger the mower, the more noise it will likely make, so if you’re looking for a very quiet mower keep this in mind.
• No emissions: As they don’t use petrol, they don’t emit emissions. Being battery powered cordless mowers are also better for the environment as they use electricity rather than fuel.
• Minimal maintenance: Cordless mowers don’t need the typical upkeep of petrol mowers. You don’t need to refill cordless mowers or worry about engine problems. They are typically easier to start up as well, requiring just a push of a button.

How to choose the best cordless lawn mower

Your budget and the size of your lawn will be pivotal in deciding which brand and model of cordless lawn mower best suits your needs. Think about the following points before you buy:

• Where are you cutting? The type of lawn you’re cutting will dictate the mower features you’ll need. Push mowers require you to provide the momentum, so manoeuvrability is key, particularly if your lawn slopes or you have play equipment, beds and trees to navigate. A mower that cuts to the edge gives a neat finish and saves time with the shears or trimmer later. For a sharp, neat look opt for a low cut height, but if you lack time to mow regularly, a higher cut will tackle longer grass. A rear roller gives neat stripes, while a mulching plug lets you choose between collecting clippings or mulching them. It saves you emptying the collection box but mulching only works if the lawn is cut regularly.
• What’s the battery charge and run time? Lithium-ion batteries vary in size, from 18V to 40V and from 2Ah to 5Ah in our test, and this determines the cutting power and run time on a single charge. Match the run time to the size of your lawn. Most mowers have a recommended maximum lawn size or run time (although this depends on the conditions on the day) and ideally a fully charged battery will last long enough for you to finish the job. Some models use two batteries at the same time so you can mow for longer and most brands also sell batteries separately. Fast charge times allow you to get mowing again quicker.
• Is it easy to use? Most mowers should just need the handles attaching and the grass box assembling, with fabric bags simpler to construct than plastic box-style collectors. Switching between cutting heights should be easy. Some mowers need to be turned over and the entire axle moved, but a single lever simply moved through the range is ideal.
• Is storage space limited? If you don’t have much room, check how far the handle folds down and how easily. Most can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat or can be hung or stood up vertically. Fabric bags also collapse while plastic grass boxes are tricky to take apart. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, check its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier.
• What do you get for your money? The quality of materials often relates to the price. Budget models made from lightweight plastic as opposed to higher-end machines with metal decks are unlikely to last long. Brushless motors are powerful, efficient and longer lasting, and buying another mower later rather than one robust model now is bad for your wallet and the environment. Warranty length can vary – some brands require the mower to be registered to get the longest warranty period and some differ between the mower, battery and charger.

How long will the batteries last?

How long the battery lasts on a single charge depends on the model, the terrain and mowing conditions on the day and some mowers have an eco or power saving mode to help extend the battery life. A battery can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over two hours to charge although Lithium-ion batteries can be used when partly charged if you’re in a rush. Always check the charge time too as these can also vary widely. Many brands have fast chargers, which are usually available separately but can cut the waiting time down considerably and are useful if you need to get back to the job quickly.
Lithium-ion batteries typically last between three and five years (or 500 charges) before they need replacing and always check with the manufacturer if they will take back their batteries for recycling rather than you putting them into landfill.

How we tested cordless lawn mowers

When we test cordless mowers, each is unpacked, assembled, and then used to cut grass over a wide area, and wheeled up slopes and in and out of storage to see how they fared. They are assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

• Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly and clarity of instructions, the battery charge time and how easy the mower is to store.
• Handling. Focused on comfort and ease of use, handle-height adjustment and how to change the height of cut, weight, noise levels and run time.
• Mowing. Assessed cutting width, the range of cutting heights, collection-bag capacity and features such as cutting to the edge or mulching.
• Value for money. Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price, which includes the battery and charger. For example, the Worx WG779E was awarded Best Buy for the range of features it offered at its low price point. 

For more information on our testing process see How we Review

Top tips for mowing your lawn

1. Mow when it’s dry. If you mow when the ground is sodden it can lead to compaction, the mower will smear and rut the soil and wet grass clippings will clump and smother your lawn
2. Remove any obstacles. Make sure furniture is moved off the lawn to make it easier to mow, and check for any items in the lawn that could damage the blades
3. Adjust the cutting height of your mower and aim to only reduce the lawn height one third every time you mow
   Start around the edge so you can clearly see how much lawn needs mowing. Then mow up and down in straight lines, overlapping slightly, to achieve a neat finish
4. Empty the clippings bag regularly so material doesn’t build up around the mower blades. You can compost them or deposit in small piles around the garden, such as at the back of borders, to help earthworms. To compost your grass clippings, see our review of the best compost bins
5. For a neat finish, re-cut your lawn edges each spring with a half moon tool, and trim overhanging grass after mowing with edging shears. To keep edges looking neat browse our pick of the best strimmers, the best garden shears and the best lawn edging.

If your lawn needs a bit more attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers. and if you’re thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.

This review was last updated in January 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Grass trimmers are a great tool for tidying up straggly grass, as well as areas a lawn mower can’t reach, such as path and flower bed edges, and around the base of trees. They can also help clear overgrowth if you’re starting a new garden, and trim vegetation on steep slopes.

For more lawn tool reviews, check out our reviews of the best lawn mowers, particularly our tests of the best cordless lawn mowers. For more cutting, trimming, or pruning help, see our reviews of the best garden shears, the best hedge trimmers, the best secateurs and the best loppers.

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Kate’s wildlife care

Our wildlife editor, Kate Bradbury, has some advice on using a grass trimmer responsibly.

“Always​ check before you trim. Use a broom or rake to sweep the grass before you start, taking care to look out for small critters like frogs and slow worms, but also larger animals like hedgehogs. Hedgehogs frequently sleep in long grass during the day and can suffer terribly from trimmer injuries, so it pays to check before you trim.”

Grass trimmers – Buyer’s Guide video

The best grass trimmers to buy at a glance

• Best lightweight grass trimmer: Stihl FSA 30 grass trimmer 
• Best budget grass trimmer: Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer, 30cm
• Best grass trimmer for performance: Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer
• Best  grass trimmer for features: WORX WG184E Dual Battery Cordless Grass Trimmer
• Best  grass trimmer for ease of use: Gtech Grass Trimmer GT50
• Best grass trimmer for large areas: Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A

Jump to:

• Best Buy grass trimmers
• The Best of the Rest
• What’s a grass trimmer used for?
• What are the different types of grass trimmer?
• Can I use a grass trimmer to mow the lawn or trim hedges?
• What are the key features to look out for?
• How we tested grass trimmers

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best grass trimmers below.

Best Buy grass trimmers

RRP: £144

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Stihl

Pros

• Very light and easy to use
• Adjustable shaft, handle and head
• Battery level indicator
• Spare blade storage
• Interchangeable battery with AS system

Cons

• Only 19 minute run time
• Lacks wheel for edge trimming

This little grass trimmer is powered by the tiny Stihl AS battery which charges in 70 minutes and has a run time of 19 minutes. It’s very easy to set up and use – just the handle and spacer bar need screwing on and it has an adjustable handle and a telescopic shaft so it’s simple to ensure this trimmer is comfortable to use for all users. The head can also be adjusted to four different angles plus it rotates 90 degrees for trimming edges, although unlike other trimmers it doesn’t have a well to enable this with ease.
This is a blade trimmer, so it cuts with two plastic polycut blades that are easy to click in to place, but you can also use a line cartridge or feed cut length of line into the trimmer if you wish instead. Six spare blades are included with the trimmer and are stored neatly on the trimmer for when you need them.
Thanks to the small battery this trimmer is really light and although it doesn’t have the power that bigger more substantial grass trimmers do it performs surprisingly well. We think it’s ideal for trimmer around trees and boundaries and along the edges of beds and borders in small gardens. Once you’re finished trimming it has an eyelet in the handle for hanging the trimmer up for storage.
The battery is interchangeable with other Stihl AS tools including a hedge trimmer, powered pruners and mini chainsaw and it comes with a two year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best grass trimmer for those that lack strength.

RRP: £59

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Pros:

• Great cut
• Both trimming and edging function
• Wheels to help edging
• Comfortable, soft-grip handle
• Spare spool and storage on the machine
• 30cm cutting width
• Good value

Cons:

• Short 10m black power cable is hard to see in the grass
• Heavy to use
• Stiff to switch between trimming and edging modes

This corded trimmer won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for the best budget grass trimmer. A double line trimmer, it gives a fantastic cut, and thanks to its generous 30cm cutting width, tackles the job quickly and efficiently. It’s particularly good when edging due to wheels that help take the strain, so you can achieve a precise cut. The soft-grip loop handles on its telescopic shaft are comfortable and there’s a helpful loop for tucking the cable away when you’re moving around. It has an automatic feed and we love that there’s a storage compartment on the shaft for the spare spool, so it’s close-at-hand when it needs replacing. However, gardeners with limited mobility should note that this grass trimmer weighs 3.1kg, which is over a kilo more than the lightest machine on test, the Gtech GT50, and it doesn’t come with a strap to help take the weight. The black power cable is only 10m, so you’ll need an extension cord if you plan to trim further from a power source, and it’s tricky to see it in the grass. It also requires some heft to move between the trimming and edging modes as the mechanism is stiff. That said, it’s good value, gives a great cut, and comes with a generous three-year warranty.

Buy the Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer from Homebase

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RRP: £159 (£321 including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Buy now from Stiga

Pros:

• Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
• Both trimming and edging function
• Support wheels for vertical edge cut
• 50 minute fast charge
• Battery level indicator lights
• Powerful performance
• Part of the Stiga ePower cordless range

Cons:

• Heavy to use
• Guard is awkward to attach
• Battery and charger must be bought separately
• Comparatively expensive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this trimmer has a generous 30cm cutting width, and the durable nylon double line automatic feed keeps working, so you don’t have to bump line out. The head is easy to rotate for use as an edge trimmer and the wheels help to support the weight of the body, ensuring it cuts at a consistent height. However, as it doesn’t come with a support strap, it’s eventually tiring to use. It’s powered by a large 2Ah 48V lithium-ion battery, which along with the charger is sold separately, making this significantly more expensive than other models in the test. That said, after a fast 50 minute charge it runs for 20 minutes, cutting powerfully and efficiently. It copes well with large patches of long grass, as well as hard to reach areas, and cuts lawn edges cleanly. Light indicators on the battery let you know how much time you have left to finish the job, the telescopic shaft separates in two for easy storage and it comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer from Stiga

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RRP: £199.99 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
• Both trimming and edging function
• Comfortable handle
• Variable speeds
• Support wheels for vertical edge cut
• Automatic feed
• Battery level indicator on the shaft
• Part of the Worx 20V Powershare tool system
• Three year warranty

Cons:

• Weighs 3.9kg, the heaviest in the test
• No support strap

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, the Worx WG184E grass trimmer includes variable speed settings, an adjustable handle and shaft, an automatic feed and wheels. Powered by two 20V lithium-ion batteries, it has a 20-minute run time from a one hour charge, and there’s a battery level indicator on the shaft, so you can see how much power you have while you’re using the trimmer. The cutting head rotates to convert to an edger, and the wheels provide support and ensure a neat, consistent cut along an edge. We like the different speed settings, so you can boost power for longer grass, or reduce it to conserve the battery life if you’re just neatening up edges. The 33cm cutting width makes this the widest model in the test. That said, at 3.9kg it’s also the heaviest in our test, but the telescopic shaft and adjustable loop handle help to balance this trimmer and make it comfortable to hold and manoeuvre. However, it doesn’t come with a strap for additional support and becomes tiring after use in the trimmer mode. It comes with a generous three year warranty.

Buy the WORX WG184E from Amazon

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RRP: £149.99 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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Pros:

• Lightweight
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable loop handle
• Ergonomic harness
• Battery level indicator
• Safety switch
• Good value

Cons:

• Long four-hour charge
• Battery only compatible with 2 other Gtech tools

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, the Gtech grass trimmer GT50 is a well-designed tool. It includes a safety switch, an ergonomic harness, an adjustable loop handle, a swivel head to change from trimmer to edger, and easy-to-fit plastic blades. Weighing just 1.8kg, it’s the lightest in the group we tested, but has a relatively narrow 23cm cutting width, so it takes longer to cover ground than the Worx, with its generous 33cm head. On test it tackled long grass and thin woody weeds on uneven terrain, as well as leaving lawn edges looking neat. However, you’ll need to plan ahead for trimming sessions as the 18V lithium-ion battery takes a lengthy four hours to charge to give 30 minutes of power, though there are helpful indicator lights on the battery to keep track of how much time you have left. As it includes a battery and charger, it’s comparatively cheaper than some other cordless trimmers, but the battery is only compatible with two other Gtech cordless tools, the HT50 hedge trimmer and SLM50 lawn mower , which doesn’t represent the best value for money. Other cordless systems have more battery-sharing tools available. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Gtech GT50 from Gtech, Amazon, and Robert Dyas

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RRP: £179.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

• Buy now from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and World of Power

Pros:

• Incredibly light weight and portable
• Long run time
• Low noise level at just 78 dB
• Power button and charge level indicator on the handle
• Metal plant guard to protect delicate flowers and shrubs
• Batteries compatible across many cordless brands

Cons:

• No wheel attachment for easy edging
• No adjustable cutting head
• Smaller cut capacity of 28 cm

This is a lightweight and powerful cordless grass trimmer with a telescopic shaft. Even with the large 4.0 Ah battery installed, it weighs just 3 kg, which earns it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for large areas.
It comes in all cardboard packaging and it’s easy to assemble too – a couple of screws attach the blade guard, and you’re ready to go. The battery charge time is a respectable 60 minutes and the run time a generous 50 minutes, which is almost the longest in our test. An auto-feed double line trimmer, it cuts beautifully through even thick grass, and with minimal vibration transmitted through to your hands. You can brace the end of the trimmer against your elbow on a rubberised section as well, which makes it particularly comfortable, even without a shoulder strap. The loop handle is comfy enough to hold on to, but it’s a bit small so you get less leverage for angled cutting. It comes with a handy storage hook that can be directly screwed into a shed wall or hung on the Husqvarna’s Storage Rail system, which is a great way to get it up off the floor and save some space. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and World of Power

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

RRP: £161.99 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Pros:

• Quietest on test at 88.5dB
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable bump guard
• Charges quickly
• Includes shoulder strap
• Rotating head
• Battery compatible with more than 100 other Makita tools

Cons:

• Loud charger, which can be annoying
• No spare line included
• No charge indicator on battery

This single-line cordless model from Makita is easy to set up thanks to clear instructions. It has several adjustable features, so you can alter the length of the shaft from 115 to 133cm, change the angle of the trimmer head, and rotate this head to trim the edges of the lawn. Even the bump guard is adjustable with a screwdriver, so if you have a variety of obstacles to trim around you can get the distance exactly right. There’s a safety button, which must be pressed to turn it on, and at 88.5dB this was the quietest trimmer on test, compared to the Powerbase trimmer, which was the loudest at 95dB. It cuts quickly and efficiently despite a small cutting width of 26cm, and comes with a shoulder strap, so it feels light and manoeuvrable despite weighing nearly 3kg. However, the charger for the 18V, 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery emits a high pitched whine, which would be annoying if you have to charge it in the house, rather than in the garage or shed. It also doesn’t come with any spare line, and unlike some of other battery powered grass trimmers, there is no indication of the battery level as you work. As with all Makita tools, it comes with a generous three-year warranty, and the battery is compatible with a wide range of other Makita garden and power tools.

Buy the Makita DUR181RT from B & Q

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Price: £179.99

Our rating: 4/5

• Buy now from B & Q and Screwfix

Pros:

• Solid build quality
• Large 5.0 Ah battery lasts for ages
• Battery features a charge level indicator
• Powerful brushless motor
• Weighs just over 3.5 kg

Cons:

• No edging attachment included
• You can’t adjust the length of the shaft
• No support strap for longer use

Lightweight, capable, and built for big gardens, the Erbauer EGT18 is a useful piece of kit. It didn’t take long to get up and running, there’s just a few screws to attach the shaft and blade guard. Supplied with a big 5.0 Ah battery and a wide cutting capacity of 30 cm, this double string auto-feed trimmer is well suited to large patches of grass or awkward garden areas. You can comfortably trim a garden on a single charge, and you can charge it back to full within an hour as well, which is very efficient. The large loop handle is comfortable and gives you extra leverage in tight corners, but it’s not designed for edging work. There’s a fair bit of vibration during use, and you’ll definitely need ear protection as it’s rather loud at 96 dB. You can fold the shaft in half for storage, but you need to undo a bolt and not lose it in between jobs. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Erbauer Brushless Cordless Grass Trimmer EGT18-Li – KIT from Screwfix and B & Q

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RRP: £79.99 (includes battery and charger)

Our rating: 4 out of 5

• Buy now from B&Q (£62)

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Both trimming and edging function
• Cuts well
• Comfortable to use when edging

Cons:

• Stiff to switch between modes
• Stiff bump guard
• Loud
• Part of a cordless system, but only 6 other tools available

At just under 2kg, this trimmer feels lightweight and easy to move around the garden and it achieves a fast, efficient cut. It’s especially comfortable to hold when edging, has a simple automatic feed, and a relatively generous 28cm cutting width – the widest in the test was the Worx WG184E with 33cm. The 18V, 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery charges in 75 minutes and covers 250 square meters on a single charge. However, we found all its parts stiff to adjust – particularly lifting the bump guard up and down – and it’s fiddly to switch between the trimming and edging modes and to extend the telescopic shaft. Furthermore, the noise level is one of the loudest at 96dB, and this noise is noticeably high-pitched. It has a two-year warranty, and though it’s part of a cordless system, only six other tools are available.

Buy the Mac Allister 18V LI 280mm cordless grass trimmer from B&Q

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RRP: £44.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

• Buy now from Vonhaus (£54.99)

Pros:

• Cuts well and quickly
• Great value
• Blade storage

Cons:

• Uncomfortable handles
• No edging function
• Loudest machine on test
• Battery compatible with only three other tools

Despite its narrow 21cm cutting width, this grass trimmer gives a good cut. The plastic blades tackle grass and woodier material well, and the 30-minute run time is one of the longest in our test. We like the storage feature under the handle for the included spare plastic blades, which are bright pink and easy to spot if they snap off into the grass. However, while it’s efficient, this machine is the loudest on the test at 98dB, and the handles are uncomfortable too. It also takes an hour and a half to charge, which though less than the 4 hours of the Gtech model, is much longer than the 45 minutes of the Makita DUR181RT and Mac Allister 18V LI 18V 280mm. The 12V, 2.0Ah F-Series lithium-ion battery is compatible with just three other Vonhaus tools – a hedge trimmer, garden saw, and handheld hedge and grass trimmer – which can save you money if you buy these in the future, but is limited compared to other cordless systems such as the dozens of compatible tools in the Worx PowerShare cordless system. Crucially, this trimmer also has no edging function, so if you’re after neat lawn edges you should look elsewhere. Because it’s just 12V, the battery is less powerful than others on test, but if you need to tidy up a small garden on a budget, it will do the job well, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Vonhaus F-Series Grass Trimmer from Amazon and Vonhaus

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What’s a grass trimmer used for?

Trimmers cut the long grass and weeds that a mower can’t reach. They’re great for cutting in tricky places, such as around the base of a tree, the corner of a lawn, or on steep slopes. Depending on their power and their blade material, they can also tackle woodier growth like ivy, brambles, and stinging nettles. Many grass trimmers can also be used to tidy up along the edges of a lawn by adjusting the angle of the cutting head.

What are the different types of grass trimmer?

• Line (or string) trimmers. These trimmers cut by spinning a plastic or nylon cord at high speed. This cord wears down gradually over time, and is either replaced automatically (automatic feed) or has a button on the bottom of the trimmer you can bump on the ground to reel out more cord (bump feed). They are either single-line, using one line of cord, or double-line, which uses two lines of cord. Generally, the line is designed to wear down gradually rather than completely break, but if the cord catches a rock and snaps, just reel out more cord. However, these fragments of plastic aren’t good for the environment, and once you run out of cord, the spools can be fiddly to replace. Although powerful enough to cut long grass and weeds, line trimmers aren’t as strong as blade trimmers, and are therefore less effective on tough, woody material.
• Blade trimmers. These trimmers cut using two blades, which on domestic models are usually plastic. This makes them more effective on woodier material than some line alternatives, but if they catch on a rock or tough bark the blades can snap and get lost in the grass, which can damage the mower next time you cut the grass. Trimmers with metal blades avoid this problem, but they’re more expensive and not as widely available.
• Petrol trimmers. Powered by petrol these typically have steer handles – explained in more detail below – and a curved, angled shaft. Because they use fuel, they’re often more powerful than corded and cordless trimmers, but petrol is polluting and messy to store and use. They’re also heavy, noisy and need regular servicing. Thanks to the rise of cordless batteries, they’re less common nowadays, particularly for home use.
• Electric corded trimmers. Corded trimmers use a power cable connected to mains electricity. Depending on the length of the cable, these trimmers are more suitable for smaller gardens, but you can expand their reach with an extension lead. They’re also more dangerous than cordless trimmers because you run the risk of accidentally cutting the cable.
• Electric cordless trimmers. Cordless trimmers are powered by lithium-ion batteries rather than mains electricity. Because of this, you can use them anywhere in the garden, but you’re restricted by run time and how long the battery takes to charge. They also tend to be less powerful and more expensive than corded trimmers, but they can be excellent value if their batteries are part of a cordless system and can be used in other power tools.

What are the key features to look out for?

Before you buy think about the following :

• Cutting head. The cutting head is the most important feature on a trimmer. It should be adjustable, so you can change the angle of the cut to cope with inclines and fiddly jobs. In most models, the head turns 90°, so you can trim along the edges of paths and flowerbeds. In the very best models, the cutting head also has wheels to help guide along edges and support the weight of the trimmer.
• Adjustable shaft. The best trimmers have a telescopic shaft, so you change the height to suit you. In some models, the shaft is angled rather than straight to help you manoeuvre into tricky spots. If space is an issue, it’s also helpful if you can break down the shaft and cutting head after use for storage.
• Line feed and blade replacements. It’s useful if a blade trimmer comes with spare blades, so you don’t run out if one breaks in the middle of a job. You should be able to get a new spool of line for a line trimmer or replace the whole head. With both types it’s helpful if the spare blades or line can be stored on the tool.
• Handle types. There are two types of trimmer handles. The most common is a round, circular handle on the shaft of the trimmer, called a loop handle. It makes the trimmer easy and comfortable to control, and on the best models, it can be slid up and down the shaft, so you can adjust it to your height. Alternatively, there are ‘steer’ handles – two handles rather than a loop. These offer more control and let you use a comfortable scything motion when you cut, but they take up room, and can be a little more expensive. They’re also far more common on brush cutters and petrol trimmers than electric or cordless trimmers, so you might not find steer handles on many domestic models.
• Straps and safety harnesses. A shoulder strap or safety harness is an excellent bonus feature. It takes some of the weight of the tool, making it more comfortable to use, and also helps balance it, for better manoeuvrability and a more precise cut.
• Bump guard. Some trimmers have metal guards on the head, called bump guards, which prevent the trimmer from cutting beyond a certain point. This protects your garden, as it stops you from nicking a tree or garden furniture but it also protects your trimmer line or blades by preventing them from catching on a fence or wall and breaking. The best bump guards can be adjusted, so you can control how closely you cut.

How we tested grass trimmers

We tested a range of grass trimmers, putting them through their paces on lawn edges, sloped areas and big and small gardens. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

• Preparation. Assessed how easy the grass trimmers were to assemble, how long this took and if any extra tools were needed, and how easy the instructions are to use. We also looked at how easy and quick it was to charge the batteries and store the trimmers. 
• Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a safety button, the runtime, and noise.
• Performance. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut. We also assessed power and any extra functionality.
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above plus any special features, RRP and warranty.

For more information on our testing process, see How We Review.

This review was last updated in January 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

The lawn is often a point of pride for gardeners and keeping it manicured and well-kept is a top priority. Whether it’s the front or back, big or small, maintaining a trimmed lawn is much easier when you have a quality mower. However, choosing a mower isn’t always easy as there are so many on the market with differing features. The most common mower is an electric corded and these are generally chosen for their ease of use – you just plug in and go. They’re quiet, light and simple to manoeuvre plus they’re clean, with no fuel fumes or regular servicing needed and simply need a power point, although you are tied to the length of the cable and it can get in the way. They are the cheapest powered mowers you can buy  but do you get what you pay for?
To find out if paying less means you lose out on features or performance our gardening experts tested a range of corded electric lawnmowers that won’t break the bank. We’ve also got some advice on how to choose the electric lawnmower that best matches your needs.

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Want to compare these to others, or shopping for a different type of mower? See our reviews of the best cordless lawn mowers, best robotic mowers and best hand-push lawn mowers.
For other help with lawn care, take a look at our reviews of the best grass trimmers and the best aerators, or check out our guide to the best lawn edging. 

Planning a DIY project in the garden, have a look at the best cordless drills.

Budget Mowers Buyer’s Guide- video

Follow our tips on choosing a budget mower to fond the right one for your garden.

Best electric mowers to buy at a glance

• Best budget electric mower: Mountfield Electress 38
• Best electric mower all round:  Webb WEER33
• Best electric mower for ease of use: Gardena PowerMax 1200/32
• Best electric mower for cable safety: Ryobi RLM13E 33S
• Best electric mower for features: Cobra GTRM34

Jump to

• Best Buy electric mowers
• Best of the rest
• How to choose an electric mower
• How we tested electric mowers

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best electric lawn mowers, below:

Best electric lawn mowers

RRP: £129

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B & Q and  Amazon UK

Pros

• Long cable
• Good choice of cutting heights
• Choice of handle heights
• Wide cutting width

Cons

• No cable safety clip

This sturdy electric mower feels robust and has a wide cutting width of 38cm, helping you mow the grass quickly, with fewer passes up and down the lawn. It’s simple to put together, offering the choice of three handle heights to suit different users and has a useful six heights of cut, from 25-75mm, which are easy to change with a single lever. It manoeuvres well around the lawn despite its weight and is simple to use producing a neat cut. It comes with a large grass collection box of 40L too so you’re not constantly emptying clippings on the compost heap. When you’ve finished mowing it’s easy to store, with a handle that folds flat over the body of the mower, so it takes up very little room and a detachable cable that can be hung up or stored in a drawer. It has a long 15m cable, which should reduce the need for an extension lead, and only its black colour and lack of cable safety clip let it down. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best budget mower in 2023.

Specifications

• Cutting width: 38cm
• Power: 1400W
• Weight: 11kg
• Noise: 95dB
• Warranty: 5 years

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RRP: £129.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Tool Station and Amazon

Pros

• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Cuts to the edge
• Height of cut simplest to change
• Orange cable easy to see

Cons

• Grass box tricky to assemble

This mower is well thought out with excellent features. It’s easy to assemble and folds for storage with a comfortable, foam handle which can be adjusted to a variety of heights. There are five cutting heights to choose from and these are easily changed by a single lever. The grass collection bag has a generous 35L capacity and a full indicator that lets you know when it needs emptying. The mower is relatively quiet and it cuts well, right up to the edge. It’s lightweight and comfortable to manoeuvre and our only quibble is the black mower cable, which could be a brighter colour so it’s easier to see. For just £99.99, this is a a great value mower and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best electric mower all round in 2021.

Specifications

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 8.8KG
• Noise: 89dB
• Warranty: 2 years

Read the full Webb Weer 33 review

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RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros:

• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Cuts to the edge
• Height of cut simplest to change
• Orange cable easy to see

Cons:

• Grass box tricky to assemble

This mower offers incredibly precise cutting – it cuts between 20-60mm in 5mm increments and this height of cut is very easy to control with a simple twist of a dial making it great for gardeners who lack strength or dexterity. It’s light and easy to manoeuvre, with a tight turning circle and we love the bright orange power cable, which is easy to spot in the grass. The grass box is easy to empty and indicates when it’s full, however, we found it a little tricky to assemble. The handle which folds for easy storage is a little short for taller users. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use in 2021.

Specifications

• Cutting width 32cm
• Power 1200W
• Weight 8.3kg
• Noise 94dB
• Warranty 2 years

Read the full Gardena PowerMax 1200/32 mower review

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RRP: £119.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from B&Q and OnBuy 

http://vhttps://www.onbuy.com/gb/p/ryobi-rlm13e33s-33cm-corded-rotary-lawnmower-1300w~p56470734/

Pros:

• Comfortable foam handle
• Light and easy to move
• Cuts to the edge
• Best cable relief clip
• Orange cable easy to see

Cons:

• Noise high pitched

This mower is simple to assemble and simple to use. Its handle folds for storage and can be adjusted to a choice of heights and it’s light and comfortable to use. There are five cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 20-60mm, and these are easy to change with a simple lever. Its best feature however is a convenient and effective cable relief clip, which keeps the cable tucked safely out of the way while you mow and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best for cable safety in 2021. Though one of the quietest machines on test, the motor on this model is very high-pitched.

Specifications

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 9.9kg
• Noise: 89 dB
• Warranty: 3 years

Read the full Ryobi RLM13E 33S review

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RRP: £122.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Just Lawnmowers 

Pros:

• Simple to assemble
• Comfortable and easy to use
• Cuts efficiently
• Cable relief clip for safety
• Rear roller
• Folds for easy storage

Cons:

• Doesn’t cut to the edge
• Heavier than some

Easy to put together, this mower has a 34 cm cutting width and a rear roller for those ever desirable stripes. Although it’s reasonably heavy and may be harder to lift and carry than some of the mowers in our test it feels well balanced and cuts and collects even long grass very well. There’s a choice of seven cutting heights and this is easy to change with a single lever located on the deck. The fabric grass bag has a 35L capacity and it compacts down flat for easy storage, as does the mower, which has easy-clip levers on the handle and double folds down over the body of the mower. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features in 2021.

Specifications

• Cutting width: 34cm
• Power: 1300W
• Weight: 13 kg
• Noise: 96dB
• Warranty: 2 years

Read the full Cobra GTRM34 electric corded mower review

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

RRP: £179

Our rating: 4/5

Available from Just Lawnmowers

Pros:

• Sturdy and robust
• Quick empty grass box
• Long warranty

Cons:

• Long assembly
• Drive lever very stiff
• Black cable hard to see

This mower does the basics very well. It’s well thought out with an adjustable, folding handle for storage and a handy cable relief clip and it has five cutting heights from 25-65mm, which are simple to change with a single lever. The grass box opens right up for easy emptying and has indicator that lets you know when it’s full. It feels sturdy and moves smoothly but we found the drive lever a little uncomfortable and stiff. It was also the longest mower to assemble in our test.

Specifications

• Cutting width: 33cm
• Power: 1200W
• Weight: 13kg
• Noise: 93dB
• Warranty: 5 years

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How to choose an electric lawn mower

Not all budget electric mowers are basic machines. Consider the following points to help you choose the right electric mower for you:

• Where are you mowing? A convenient power socket is essential for an electric mower but you may need an extension lead too. Check that the length of the cable is long enough to reach all parts of your lawn. If your lawn runs right up to walls, fences or raised beds look for a model that cuts to the edge or you’ll need to invest in a grass trimmer to neaten them up afterwards. Mowers typically offer between three and seven different cutting heights to choose from depending on where you’re mowing and the time of year. Changing height should be easy, preferably with a simple lever.
• What size mower do you need? The wider the cutting width, the quicker the mower will cut your lawn. However, there is a trade-off. Mowers with a wider width have a bigger deck and are heavier and less easy to manoeuvre around trees or furniture. A wider cutting width is therefore best for large expanses of grass while smaller models are ideal for nipping up and down little lawns and negotiating beds and borders. Bigger mowers typically have larger grass collectors, which will save you time going back and forth to the compost to empty the clippings. Either plastic or fabric, many have a window or indicator that lets you know when they’re full. PLastic boxes can be tricky to put together a even less easy to dismantle so fabric collection bags take up less room in storage.
• Is it safe? Electric mowers have a two-stage start for safety – pressing a push button and grasping the drive lever, but the electric cable is an obvious safety hazard. If you’re concerned about tripping over the cable or cutting it accidentally when you’re mowing, look for a model with a brightly coloured lead that’s easy to spot. A cable relief clip will help to keep it tucked out of the way of the blade and will also prevent it being snagged and ripped out. For safety always use an RCD (Residual Current Device) plugged into the electric socket before plugging in your mower.
• Where will you store it? No matter the model, these are fairly bulky machines. However, the handles of most mowers can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, make a note of its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier.
• What do you get for your money? The quality of materials is often relative to the price. ightweight plastic is unlikely to last as long as a metal deck and brushless motors are more powerful, efficient, and longer lasting. Warranty length also varies, with some brands also offering a longer warranty if the mower is registered.

How we tested electric lawn mowers

When we test lawn mowers, each one is unpacked, assembled, and then used to cut grass over a wide area, and wheeled up slopes and in and out of storage to see how they fare. They’re assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

• Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly and clarity of instructions and how easy the mower is to store.
• Handling. Focused on comfort and ease of use, handle-height adjustment and how to change the height of cut, weight and noise levels.
• Mowing. Assessed cutting width, the range of cutting heights, collection-bag capacity and features such as cutting to the edge or mulching.
• Value for money. Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price.

For more information on our testing process see How we Review

This review was last updated in January 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

With so many lawn mower models on the market and such a wide range of brands, choosing a mower for your garden can be a tricky task. Not only that, there are also four main types of mower available, at hugely varying prices and all with different features that need to be considered:

• Corded electric mowers are generally in the mid-price range and are relatively light and quiet. You’ll need a charging point and possibly an extension cord and the electric cable can get in the way. Take a look at our pick of the best electric lawn mowers.
• Battery-powered cordless lawn mowers are the newest type of mower and are the most lightweight and manoeuvrable. You need to remember to keep the battery charged and they can be more expensive than corded mowers, although prices are coming down. Check out our pick of the best cordless mowers.
• Push mowers are cheap and manually powered, so they’re the most eco-friendly mower you can buy but, they can be hard work for the user, particularly if strength and mobility are an issue. Read our round up of the best hand push mowers.
• Robotic mowers automatically mow your lawn. Set to a regular mowing schedule a robot mower constantly clips the lawn, saving you the job and keeping it neat and tidy. However, they are the most expensive type of mower on the market – even budget options will set you back about £500. Learn more with our tests of the best robotic mowers.

Powerful petrol lawn mowers are also available, but they tend to be loud, heavy and are less environmentally-friendly. They also need an annual maintenance check up and a supply of petrol and oil.

To help you choose the right mower for your garden, we’ve brought together our top picks of our award winning Best Buy mowers from our reviews, including the best cordless mowers, the best electric, the best robotic mowers and the best hand push mowers, all tested by our experts.
Every mower has scored a minimum of 4.5 out of 5 overall, so you can be assured you’re looking at one of the best machines in its category, and each has a list of pros and cons, so you can see straight away what the stand out features or issues are with each mower.

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For more help with lawn care, take a look at our reviews of the best strimmers and the best aerators, or check out our guide to the best lawn edging.

Lawn mower Buyer’s Guide – video

Follow our tips to find the right lawn mower for you

Best lawn mowers at a glance:

• Best cordless mower for ease of use 2023: Husqvarna Aspire LC34 P4A
• Best cordless mower for ease of use 2024: Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower
• Best cordless mower for very small lawns and allotments: Powerbase 20V City mower 
• Best cordless mower for budget: Greenworks GDG24LM33
• Best cordless mower for small to medium lawns 2022: Yard Force LMG37A
• Best budget electric mower: Mountfield Electress 38
• Best electric mower all round:  Webb WEER33
• Best budget hand push mower: Webb 30cm Autoset sidewheel
• Best hand push mower all round: Gardena Comfort Hand Cylinder 400C
• Best robotic mower for performance: Stihl iMOW 5
• Best robotic mower for wire free mowing: Segway Navimow i105E
• Best robotic mower for installation and features: Worx Landroid Vision L1300 WR213E

Best lawn mowers to buy in 2024

RRP: £349

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

Available from  Just Lawnmowers (£249), Cordless Power (£249)

Pros:

• Quiet
• Cuts even long grass with ease
• Battery level visible while mowing
• Small and compact for easy storage
• Part of the POWER FOR ALL cordless range

Cons:

• Only four cutting heights
• 95 minutes charge time

Part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, this 34cm mower is powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. These are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed.
Great for small gardens the mower comes ready to go, there’s no assembly or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and even comes with a handy hook. The 30l grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. The Aspire is light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy and it has an adjustable handle to suit different height users. It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm and changed easily with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas that works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, just carries on cutting the grass. While you mow the battery charge level is always clearly visible so you know how much battery you have left and when it needs charging. It comes with a two year warranty and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2023 for ease of use.

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RRP: £269.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Marshalls and FFX

Pros

• Quiet, comfortable, and smooth to handle
• Long run time
• Great for storage
• Spare parts available

Cons

• Battery level not visible when mowing
• No safety plug

Easy to put together, this mower just needs the handle attaching and the 50L fabric grass bag has already been assembled. There’s a choice of three handle heights and it double folds snugly over the mower so it takes up very little space in storage. The two 20V 4Ah batteries have a charge indicator on the end and although there’s no way of seeing this when the mower’s in use, the approximately 60 minute run time means there’s time to finish the cutting of most small to medium lawns. The handle is padded for comfort and this mower is smooth and easy to push, even over longer, bumpier lawns. It cut very well in our test and the six heights of cut, from 25-75mm are easy to adjust with a single lever. At 96db the mower is reasonably quiet and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for ease of use.It also feels durable and sturdy with spare parts readily available from Webb and it comes with a three year warranty.

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RRP: £119

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Homebase

Pros

• Small and light to lift and use
• Great for storage
• Pivotal handle easy to manoevre
• Surprisingly powerful for such a small mower cutting long grass well
• Battery level visible when mowing +USB charging option
• Long run time

Cons

• Limited use
• Only 3 cutting heights

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for very small lawns and allotments this little mower is light, compact and easy to manoeuvre. It’s ideal for the regular cutting of small areas of grass or for keeping the paths on your allotment in trim. Minimal assembly’s needed, you just screw the handle together and into the body and once the battery is charged it’s ready to go. It has a cutting width of 21.5cm and just three cutting heights, from 30 – 50mm and rather than collecting the clippings, this mower mulches, dropping them back onto the lawn where they break down and fertilise the grass – so you don’t need to spend time emptying a grass bag and your grass gets fed. A pivoting handle helps it get into tight spots really easily and it also copes surprisingly well with bumpy ground and long grass. This is a powerful little mower with an impressive battery run time of 50 minutes. While you’re mowing, the battery charge is clearly displayed on the mower and the battery can not only be charged by the included charger but it has a USB charge point too for ease. It comes with a three year warranty.

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RRP: £219.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon (£179), Currys (£179), Tooled Up (£179.95), B&Q (£179.99)

Pros:

• Easy to assemble and use
• Comfortable padded handle
• Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
• Interchangeable battery with Greenworks 24V family

Cons:

• Short handle for taller users
• Struggles on long grass

Ideal for smaller gardens this sturdy, great value cordless mower is easy to put together, well thought out and simple to use. Thanks to a padded handle it’s comfortable to push, although it did feel a little short for our taller tester, and it’s light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and beds and borders. There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever and it offers the choice of collecting clippings in the 30 litre fabric grass bag or inserting the mulching plug and leaving them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass. It mows well but doesn’t like very long grass, with the battery cutting out occasionally but its long lasting  brushless motor offers a a decent run time of 46 minutes and it charges in two hours. Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more in the future. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget cordless mower in 2023.

Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 46mins. Cutting: width – 33cm; height – 25-70mm. Grass box – 30 litre.

• Buy now from Amazon (£119.99) and Robert Dyas (£149)

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RRP: £259.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon (£229.99), B&Q (£229.99), OnBuy (£259.99)

Pros:

• Rear roller
• Double folding handle for easy storage
• Quickest charge time
• Part of the Yard Force GR40 cordless range

Cons:

• Assembly slower than some

This sturdy mower has a 37cm cutting width and useful features including a rear roller for those much desired stripes. Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for small to medium lawns, clippings are collected in the large 40 Litre fabric grass bag, it offers a wide range of seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm and is easy to fold away at the end of the day. The 40V battery is quick to charge, taking just 50 minutes and when full it has the capacity to cut a 400m2 lawn.

Buy the Yard Force LMG37A 40V 37cm cordless mower from Yard Force, Amazon and Wickes

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RRP: £159

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from ManoMano (£169), Just Lawnmowers (£169), B&Q (£177.65)

Pros:

• Light, quiet and manoeuvrable
• Cut, collect or mulch
• Rear roller and anti-scalp plate
• Easy to adjust

Cons:

• Collector slightly fiddly to assemble

This mower is powerful yet surprisingly quiet and our testers found a number of the additional features useful. There’s a mulching option, rear roller, vision window in the grass collector to check levels and more. There’s also a choice of six cutting heights and our experts found that the mower handles well on the job.

Read the full review: Mountfield Princess 34 review

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RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Wickes (£99), OnBuy (£99.95), Tooled Up (£99.95), Toolstation (£99.98), B&Q (£99.99)

Pros

• Comfortable and easy to use
• Cable relief clip for safety
• Great features
• Cuts efficiently
• Cuts to the edge

Cons

• Black cable hard to see

This mower is well thought out with excellent features. It’s easy to assemble and folds for storage with a comfortable, foam handle which can be adjusted to a variety of heights. There are five cutting heights to choose from and these are easily changed by a single lever. The grass collection bag has a generous 35L capacity and a full indicator that lets you know when it needs emptying. The mower is relatively quiet and it cuts well, right up to the edge. It’s lightweight and comfortable to manoeuvre and our only quibble is the black mower cable, which could be a brighter colour so it’s easier to see. For just £99.99, this is a great value mower.

Read the full Webb WEER 33 electric corded mower review

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RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Pros:

• Comfortable to push and hold
• Cuts all grass smoothly and tightly
• Front loading grass bag catches clippings well
• Quiet

Cons:

• Short cutting width

Easy to put together and use this simple hand push mower is comfortable, thanks to rubber grip handles, even when pushing over longer grass. It has six cylinder blades offering four cutting heights that are easy to change. The mower cuts from 40mm right down to 10mm, so it gives a precise, neat clip but also cuts longer grass well. It’s quiet,  copes with even bumpy ground easily and the 17 litre front collector was the best at collecting clippings in our test. We gave it a BBC GardenersWorld Magazine Best Buy for the best budget push mower in 2023.

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RRP: £139

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up (£136.95)

Pros:

• Easy height-of-cut adjuster
• Large grass collector that catches clippings well
• Feels sturdy and well designed
• Cuts well

Cons:

• Heavy
• Grass collector is sold separately
• There’s more to assemble on this model than with other hand push mowers but our testers found that the instructions were clear to follow. The comfortable-to-use handle also folds easily for storage. In use, the mower feels sturdy and our experts thought it was well-designed, although the 49 litre grass collector has to be purchased separately. There’s a warranty of two years on this model.

Read the full Gardena Comfort hand mower review

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RRP: £1699

Our rating: 4.8/5

Pros

• Easy to set up on app
• Wide range of cutting heights and cuts even longer grass well
• Quiet
• Good features including rain sensor, anti-stuck and 40% slope capacity
• Long warranty

Cons

• Need to be tech/app savvy
• No mobile connectivity for price
• Installation kit sold separately

The iMow 5 is the smallest in a new range of six robotic mowers from Stihl that cover three sizes of larger garden – 1500m2, 300m2 and 500m2. Together with the iMow 5,6 and 7 there is also the iMow EVO range that covers the same size lawns with the same features but also has mobile connectivity, allowing you to connect to your mower even when you’re not at home.
When you purchase an iMow you have the choice of instalment by a Stihl approved dealer (the cost of this will depend on the size of your garden), or installing it yourself and purchasing an additional installation kit. To cut down on waste, different size installation kits are available and as well as the standard fixing pins which hold the wires in place, there’s also the option to purchase bio pins, made from 100% biodegradable material that gradually break down in the soil. Like many robotic mowers the iMow requires a boundary wire around the perimeter of the lawn and a guide wire through the middle of the lawn to help it find its way back to the docking station. The mower comes with a clear instruction booklet plus there are helpful guides on the Stihl website if you need them, and laying the wires in our 1250m2 test garden took 3-4 hours. When laying the wires, it’s worth noting that the boundary wire needs to be 37cm from paths, a deck or fence, unless they’re level with the lawn and then it can be right up against them and 100cm from a pond. You also need a clear 2m area straight in front of the docking station for the guide wire and 37cm either side before you start laying the wires.
Once the wires are laid, it’s easy to programme the mower via its app – as long as you’re comfortable with this kind of tech. There’s no control panel as such on the new iMows, so there’s no need to bend over a control panel to set mowing times, heights and zones etc. All of this is programmed through the My iMow app, which is pretty simple and intuitive to use, but only works via your own wifi at home, if it reaches into your garden, or by Bluetooth when you’re standing next to the mower. There are also four large control buttons on the mower that allow you to stop, start, unlock, and send the mower home without using the app, and an info button that talks to you and gives you status updates.
Like many other robotic mowers, the iMow has three free-swinging blades and it cuts very well. The lawn was quite long before it was installed but with an impressively wide cutting height range of 20-60mm it didn’t struggle, and after a few days the whole lawn looked good with no tufts of uncut grass and it continues to look good. Unlike the Husqvarna Automower, once you’ve laid the boundary wire you can’t completely alter mowing zones and would have to lift and relay to change this, but you can divide your lawn into zones by directing the mower to only mow on one side of the guide wire. It cuts close to the edge so there’s no need to tidy up afterwards and if it comes across an obstacle, it gently bumps into it and then turns away. It also has a feature that helps it manoeuvre out of a situation if it does get stuck, it can cope with slopes of 40 %, has an anti-theft alarm and a rain sensor feature, which you can adjust that interrupts, or does not start, mowing if it’s raining. You can choose what degree of rain you want it to mow in and when the sensor on the top of the mower dries it automatically begins mowing.
The iMow comes with a five year warranty and there are a host of accessories available including spare wire, pins and clips, a sun canopy for the docking station and upgrade wheels for the EVO range to enable them to cut slopes of up to 60%.
For the size of larger lawn it cuts, this is a reasonably priced mower that’s packed with features and cuts very well. We are particularly impressed with the range of cutting heights, its ability to cut longer grass and the simplicity of its design and awarded it a BBC Gardeners’’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance.

Buy the Stihl iMOW 5 from a Stihl approved dealer

RRP: £949

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Navimow (£949)

Pros

• At 58 dB, it’s almost silent when cutting
• More than enough cable to position the GPS antenna included
• The app offers live help and features
• Cuts in straight lines so fewer tufts are left behind

Cons

• The default light settings are far too bright
• You need to find a place for a large GPS antenna in your garden
• It makes a lot of unnecessary beeping noises until you turn them off

The latest addition to Navimow’s fleet of robot lawn mowers has built on the success of the previous H series. They’ve listened to criticism and tweaked this new mower to work better in the garden with easy setup and impressive features. Because of this we’ve awarded the i105N a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for wire free lawn mowing.  Not only is the GPS that helps guide it around the garden( the Exact Fusion Location System ) the upgraded 2.0 version, its camera technology can detect and avoid all sorts of obstacles in the garden.
It’s a simple addition, but you now get 20 metres of antenna and power cable, which makes placement of the GPS receiver much simpler, and all without the need to buy extra wires. The app can also help you to find the ideal place to position both the GPS antenna and the charging station in your garden.
They’ve kept in our favourite features, like the brilliant app that lets you drive the mower around like a remote control car to define the shape of your lawn. You can also watch the mower work in real time, and it lets you know immediately if there are any problems. The mower also checks the weather via the internet and adjusts the mowing program accordingly. The i105N model can happily cut moderate sized gardens up to 500 m², and thanks to the large orange wheels with an aggressive tread pattern, it can cope with slopes up to 30%. The quality of cut is just as good as the previous mower, but now comes with a class-leading 20 – 60 mm range of cut depth. It still cuts the lawn in pleasing straight lines as well, which helps to avoid untouched tufts of grass.

Buy the Segway Navimow i105E from Navimow

RRP: £2199.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

• Buy now from Homebase (£2199.99), Amazon (£2199.99)

Pros

• No boundary cable to install or GPS antennae to deal with
• Cuts as close to the boundary as possible with a robot mower
• It cuts lawns up to 1300 m²
• You can control multiple Landroid mowers via the app

Cons

• A significant expense for a lawn mower

A rather astonishing leap forward in robotic mowing technology, the Worx Landroid mower does away with boundary cables and tricky GPS receivers and uses cameras and AI technology to mow your lawn instead. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for installation and features. This big and futuristic looking mower is installed in seconds and connects to your phone or tablet via the Landroid app, although you can also control most of the functions via the onboard LCD screen and dial if you like. Using cameras rather than boundary wires, it knows where your lawn ends, keeps an eye out for obstacles, and even avoids hitting wildlife or pets. The cutting height ranges from 30 – 60 mm and you can adjust this via the app or the LCD screen, but the Landroid also self-levels the cutting deck to ensure that uneven ground is cut properly. The three blades underneath are offset, allowing the mower to cut close to the edge of hard boundaries and big knobbly wheels help the mower keep a good grip on slopes up to 35%. It cuts to an excellent finish and after a few days mowing, there are no tufts or patches of uncut grass. It creates its own mowing schedule to suit the time of year and uses a standard Worx battery that you might find on one of their drills or saws. Packed with features and clever technology, the only thing that might put you off is the price. However, it’s capable of tackling huge gardens up to 1,300 m², so it’s ideal for very large lawns, and could even replace a ride on lawnmower. The mower comes with a two year warranty that can be extended to three years.

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This review was last updated in July 2024. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

If you’re looking for a straightforward lawn trim, then a traditional hand push mower could be the garden tool for you. With no battery, fuel or electricity to worry about, manual lawn mowers are a more environmentally-friendly option.
These pedestrian powered machines are pushed along the lawn and the cylinder blades rotate to trim the grass as you move. They do require a little more push power than automatic mowers, and walking briskly will give a better cut so you’ll get a workout and burn calories each time you mow. And although a push mowers isn’t for every garden – they’re best for small to medium-sized (up to 250m²) lawns on flat ground with few bumps, the exercise will help keep you fit and they’re generally much more of a budget option compared to their high-tech counterparts. They’re kind to your neighbours too, as they’re much quieter than powered mowers. Cylinder mowers generally give a smoother, sharper finish than rotary mowers and their rear roller creates elegant stripes.  Usually small, they’re easy to store and light enough to manoeuvre well around the garden.

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If you’re not sure which type of lawn mower is best for you, take a look at our reviews of the best electric lawn mowers and the best cordless lawn mowers.

Best Buy hand push lawn mowers at a glance

• Best budget hand push mower: Webb 30cm Autoset sidewheel
• Best hand push mower all round: Gardena Comfort Hand Cylinder 400C
• Best value hand push mower: Cobra HM381
• Best hand push mower for performance: Webb WEH18

Jump to:

• Best Buy hand push mowers 
• The best of the rest
• How to choose a push mower
• How we tested push mowers

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best cordless lawn mowers, below.

Best Buy hand push lawn mowers

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Pros:

• Comfortable to push and hold
• Cuts all grass smoothly and tightly
• Front loading grass bag catches clippings well
• Quiet

Cons:

• Short cutting width

Easy to put together and use this simple hand push mower is comfortable, thanks to rubber grip handles, even when pushing over longer grass. It has six cylinder blades offering four cutting heights that are easy to change. The mower cuts from 40mm right down to 10mm, so it gives a precise, neat clip but also cuts longer grass well. It’s quiet,  copes with even bumpy ground easily and the 17 litre front collector was the best at collecting clippings in our test. We gave it a BBC GardenersWorld Magazine Best Buy for the best budget push mower in 2023.

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RRP: £132.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Very easy height-of-cut adjuster
• Large grass collector that catches clippings well
• Feels sturdy and well designed
• Cuts well

Cons:

• Heavy
• Grass collector is sold separately

While there is more to assemble with the Gardena push mower, our tests found the instructions for putting it together clear to understand. The shaped handle was comfortable to use and folds down simply for easy storage. Our experts were impressed with the four easy to adjust cutting heights displayed on a clearly visible scale. The grass collector has a 49 litre capacity but is sold separately. This mower is guaranteed for two years and we gave this a BBC GardenersWorld Magazine Best Buy for the best push mower all round in 2022.

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Read the full Gardena push mower review

RRP: £65.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Compact and light
• Quiet
• Comfortable
• Easy to adjust the height of cut
• Good value

Cons:

• Some parts feel flimsy

We awarded this a BBC GardenersWorld Magazine Best Buy for the best value push mower in 2022  and found it easy to put together with clear instructions. It’s compact and lightweight making it easy to push and operate and the handle is padded for extra comfort. There are four cutting heights ranging from 13-38mm, which can be simply adjusted and a 26 litre grass collector is included. It comes with a two year warranty.

Read the full Cobra HM381 push mower review

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RRP: £159.99

Our rating: 4.5 out 5

Pros:

• Quiet
• Nine heights of cut
• Wide cut
• Very simple height-of-cut adjustment
• Tackles long grass
• Effective front grass collector

Cons:

• Heavy and not so easy to manoeuvre
• Doesn’t cut grass short (minimum 25mm)

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best for performance, this traditional cylinder mower design has a solid, heavy rear roller and a 22 litre collection box. The instructions for assembling it are clear and it’s light, easy to manoeuvre and quiet to use. There’s a generous choice of nine cutting heights, which are easily adjusted and range from 25-76mm, which is the highest in our test and ensures it handles long grass well.  The front-loading grass collector on this model collects clippings well and it comes with a warranty of two years .

Read the full Webb push mower review

• Buy now from Robert Dyas (159.99) and YouGarden (159.99

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The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

RRP: £74.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

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Pros

• Easy to carry and store
• Cuts all grass well
• Wide cutting width

Cons

• Assembly a little tricky
• Collection box spills

Unfortunately, this push mower is a little fiddly to put together because performance wise it cuts very well. With five cylinder blades, a choice of three cutting heights across a broad range of 15-50mm and a cutting width of 38cm, this tackled all grass in our test, even cutting longer grass to a neat clipped finish. The upturned handle design is comfortable and easy to puh, although we would prefer a padded grip to ease the stress of pushing and it folds in half or you can hang it up for storage. It’s also easy to change the height of cut, with a simple blade adjustment. Like most of the others in our test the grass collector spilt clippings but if you cut often enough you could leave these on the lawn to break down as a mulch.
It comes with a two-year warranty, three if registered.

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RRP: £109.99 (+ £29.99 grass bag)

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Pros

• Wide cutting width
• Comfortable to push and hold
• Cuts all grass smoothly

Cons

• Awkward to carry
• Additional grass bag lets it down

Easy to put together with just the handle needing attaching, this push mower is comfortable to push and hold, with rubber grip, bike-style handles, and large wheels to help it manoeuvre around the lawn. However, it’s awkward to lift up steps and into the shed if you need to, and is best hung up out of the way in storage as the handle won’t fold down. It has a wide 40cm cutting width, five cylinder blades and a choice of four easy-to-change cutting heights from 12-38mm, and it cut all the grass in our test smoothly and well. Our main criticism with this mower is the grass bag, which isnt included like all the other mowers in our test, and despite having a large collection capacity of 45 litres, is hard to assemble and then fails to work, collecting hardly any clippings.  The mower comes with a two year warranty.

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RRP: £164.99

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Pros:

• Comfortable handle and adjustable heights
• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Good, efficient cut, and tackles longer grass

Cons:

• Height of cut adjustment difficult
• Roller doesn’t touch the ground
• Grass collector sold separately

This Husqvarna hand mower requires more assembly than most and tools are required plus, our testers found that the instructions could have been clearer. However, the mower is comfortable to use with handy flexible handle heights and it’s a quick and efficient mower. Testers weren’t keen on the height of cut adjuster. The grass collector has a large capacity of 45 litres but it’s sold separately and doesn’t collect all the clippings, especially when windy. It comes with a one year warranty but if you register, this is extended to two years.

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RRP: £79.95

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Quiet
• Simple to change height of cut
• Adjustable handle height

Cons:

• Grass collector doesn’t catch all the clippings and they fall out when emptying
• Not as smooth a mow as some

Our expert testers liked that the handle on this manual lawn mower had a choice of two heights and that it was padded for extra comfort while in use. Clear instructions are included and assembling the model is relatively simple. There are four cutting heights to choose from which can be easily swapped using a lever. The grass collector is included and has a 26 litre capacity. It’s guaranteed for two years.

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RRP: £45.00

Our rating: 4 out of 5

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Pros

• Easy to carry and store
• Simple to change height of cut

Cons

• Doesn’t cut long grass or on bumpy ground
• Uncomfortable handle
• Grass collector fails to collect clippings

This simple little mower is easy to put together and for ease of storage, the handle hangs up or double folds and the 23-litre grass bag flattens down. It’s quiet and light to push and easy to change the three cutting heights from 18-33mm. However, the handle lacks grip, which can be uncomfortable, and the mower doesn’t cut long grass or on bumpy ground. The grass collector also doesn’t really hold the clippings, which tend to fly straight over the top or round the sides. A reasonable budget mower, this is best suited to keeping rough grass in trim rather than obtaining a neater cut. It comes with a one-year warranty.

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How to choose a push mower

Before you choose a push mower think about the following:

Have you got the right lawn?
Cylinder mowers need an even surface for the scissor action of the blades to work well, so your lawn must be fairly bump free and 250m² or below. Simpler shapes are easier, unless you opt for a compact model with a smaller cutting width that can be manoeuvred more easily around trees and island beds and under shrubs.

Do you like mowing the lawn?
Hand push mowers take more effort than powered mowers, but they are easier to push if the grass isn’t too long. Cylinder mowers work best on fairly short grass and will struggle or not cut long grass at all. So you need to cut regularly or choose a mower with a high height of cut to let you catch up if you miss a mow now and then.

Can you look after your mower?
Cylinder blades need regular checking and adjusting to ensure a precise cut and prevent the mower chewing the grass rather than cutting it. Adjustment isn’t difficult, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re not mechanically minded.

Do you need a grass collector?
Most mowers come with one, but some are sold separately and nearly all the grass collectors in our test failed to catch clippings well, particularly when windy. Although front collectors work best, they block your view. If you’re happy to mow regularly (twice a week in the growing season), you may not need one at all and can simply let the short clippings fall down onto the grass and act as a mulch.

Do you have storage?
These mowers must be kept indoors to prevent the blades rusting, so if storage space is tight, choose a model that’s light enough to hang up or has folding handles.

How we tested push mowers

All the mowers in our test are cylinder-type, with blades and a rear roller. Each mower was unpacked, assembled and tested on a flat, circular lawn and on a sloping, less even, shaped lawn to see how ell they performed. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

• Setup and Storage. Assessed the ease of assembly and clarity of instructions and how easy the mower is to store.
• Handling. Focused on comfort and ease of use, handle height adjustment and how to change the height of cut, its weight, the effort needed and manoeuvrability.
• Cutting performance. Looked at cutting width, the range of cutting heights, collection capacity and the quality of cut.
• Value for Money. Considered all the above as well as quality and design, warranty and price.

For more information on our testing process see How We Review.

This review was last updated in May 2023. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.