Standing in a garden centre aisle — or scrolling through hundreds of Amazon listings — trying to pick a lawnmower can feel completely overwhelming. Petrol or cordless? Rotary or cylinder? Self-propelled or push? The jargon alone is enough to make anyone’s head spin.
We’ve spent time testing and researching mowers across every category so you don’t have to. This guide cuts through the confusion and walks you through everything you need to know: the different types of mower, what features actually matter, how much to spend, and which models are worth your money in 2026. By the end, you’ll know exactly which lawnmower is right for your garden.
Lawnmower Types at a Glance
| Type | Best For | Typical Price | Noise Level |
| Cordless Electric | Small–large lawns, convenience | £120–£650 | Low |
| Corded Electric | Small–medium lawns, budget buyers | £60–£200 | Low–Medium |
| Petrol | Large lawns, heavy-duty use | £200–£600+ | High |
| Robot Mower | Set-and-forget convenience | £300–£2,000+ | Very Low |
| Cylinder | Formal, striped lawns | £60–£400+ | Low–Medium |
| Hover | Awkward shapes, slopes | £50–£130 | Low–Medium |
| Ride-On | Very large gardens (half acre+) | £1,200–£5,000+ | High |
Types of Lawnmower Explained
Cordless (Battery-Powered) Mowers
Cordless mowers are now the most popular choice for the average UK gardener, and it’s easy to see why. They’re quiet, produce no emissions, need minimal maintenance, and have improved dramatically in power and run-time over the last few years.
Modern cordless mowers run on lithium-ion batteries, typically 18V to 82V, with higher voltages delivering more power for thicker or longer grass. A mid-range model will comfortably handle a medium-sized garden on a single charge, while premium brushless motors rival petrol performance. Most entry-level models start around £120–£150 for a bare tool, while top-tier self-propelled versions from Ego or Bosch can reach £500–£650 with battery.
Best for: Anyone with a small to large garden who values convenience and low maintenance. Particularly good if you store your mower in a shed without a power socket nearby.
Corded Electric Mowers
Corded electric mowers are the budget-friendly option for smaller lawns. They’re lightweight, straightforward to operate, and because they run directly from the mains, you never have to worry about battery life.
The main drawback is the cable — it limits your range, requires careful management while mowing, and can be a genuine nuisance on larger or more complex gardens. For a neat, rectangular lawn up to around 100–150 square metres, though, a corded mower between £60 and £150 does a perfectly respectable job.
Best for: Small gardens, tight budgets, and anyone who mows regularly and doesn’t want the hassle of charging batteries.
Petrol Mowers
Petrol mowers remain the gold standard for power and endurance. They’ll tackle long, wet, or tough grass that would slow down an electric model, and they’re not limited by battery life or cable length. For larger gardens — anything over 400 square metres — a petrol mower is often the most practical choice.
The trade-offs are real, though. They’re heavier, noisier, and require annual servicing (oil change, spark plug, air filter). You’ll also need to store and handle petrol safely. That said, a well-made Honda or Mountfield will run reliably for fifteen or twenty years with proper care — a level of longevity that battery-powered tools are still working to match.
Best for: Medium to large gardens, gardens with thick or unruly grass, and anyone who wants maximum cutting power without worrying about run-time.
Robot Mowers
Robot mowers are the ultimate in lawn care convenience. Once installed, they mow your lawn automatically, returning to their charging station when the battery runs low. Because they cut little and often, the clippings are so fine they simply fall back into the lawn as a natural mulch — no grass box to empty.
Installation requires laying a boundary wire around your lawn’s perimeter, which takes a few hours the first time. Running costs are low and the mowing itself is near-silent, making them popular with neighbours who appreciate a quiet Sunday morning. Entry-level robot mowers start around £300–£400 for small lawns, while models capable of handling larger or complex gardens with multiple zones can cost £800–£2,000 or more.
Best for: Gardeners who want a consistently tidy lawn with minimal effort, or those with limited mobility.
Cylinder Mowers
A cylinder mower uses a series of rotating blades that cut against a fixed bottom blade in a scissor action — a very precise cut that produces the finest finish of any mower type. They’re the tool of choice for lawn enthusiasts who want that classic, closely mown, striped lawn.
The limitations are worth understanding before you buy. Cylinder mowers work best on flat, even surfaces and need to be used regularly (at least once a week during the growing season). They struggle with long or overgrown grass and aren’t suited to rough or uneven ground. Manual (push) cylinder mowers start around £60–£100 and are surprisingly effective for small, well-maintained lawns. Powered versions cost more but handle a wider cutting width.
Best for: Formal lawns, flat gardens, and gardeners who take real pride in a fine, striped finish.
Hover Mowers
Hover mowers float on a cushion of air and glide in any direction — forward, backwards, side to side — which makes them uniquely versatile on awkward shaped lawns or sloping banks. The Flymo brand is virtually synonymous with this style in the UK.
They’re lightweight, easy to store, and inexpensive. Most are corded electric models in the £50–£130 range. The downside is that they tend to produce a rougher finish than rotary or cylinder mowers, and the grass box is often small (or absent entirely on some models, leaving the clippings on the lawn).
Best for: Slopes, irregular shapes, small gardens, and tight storage spaces.
Ride-On Mowers
Ride-on mowers are a category apart, designed for very large gardens, smallholdings, and estates. If your garden is much over half an acre, spending an hour pushing a standard mower starts to feel less like gardening and more like a sponsored walk.
Prices start around £1,200–£1,500 for entry-level sit-on models and rise well above £5,000 for professional-grade machines with larger cutting decks and more powerful engines. They’re not a realistic option for most suburban gardens but are worth considering if you’re managing a significant amount of grass.
Best for: Large country gardens, smallholdings, and estates with at least half an acre of lawn.
How to Choose the Right Lawnmower for Your Garden
Lawn Size
Lawn size is the single most important factor in choosing a mower. As a rough guide:
- Under 100 sq m (small): A hover mower, compact corded electric, or entry-level cordless will handle this easily.
- 100–400 sq m (medium): Most cordless mowers will cope well. Look for a cutting width of at least 33–40cm and a run-time of 30–45 minutes.
- 400–800 sq m (large): Consider a self-propelled cordless mower with a larger battery, or move up to a petrol mower.
- Over 800 sq m (very large): A petrol mower is typically the most practical choice, or consider a robot mower to handle the ongoing maintenance automatically.
Terrain and Slope
Flat, even lawns can be handled by almost any mower type. If your garden has slopes, a hover mower is easiest to manoeuvre sideways across inclines. For uneven or bumpy ground, a rotary mower with good wheel traction (or a self-propelled model) will save your back. Cylinder mowers need flat, even terrain to work at their best.
Storage Space
Think about where the mower will live when it’s not in use. Corded and cordless rotary mowers typically fold up relatively compactly. Hover mowers are the most space-efficient — they hang neatly on a wall hook. Petrol mowers tend to be the bulkiest. If storage is tight, look for a foldable handle and vertical storage capability.
How Often You’ll Mow
If you’re disciplined and mow every week during the growing season, almost any mower will do the job. If your lawn has a habit of getting away from you between cuts, you’ll want a rotary mower (rather than a cylinder) with a decent power source. Petrol models in particular handle long, overgrown grass far more easily than electric alternatives.
Key Features to Look For
Cutting Width
The wider the cutting deck, the fewer passes you need to cover the lawn. A 30–33cm deck suits small gardens. For medium lawns, look for 36–42cm. Large gardens benefit from a 44cm+ deck. Keep in mind that wider mowers are also larger and heavier to manoeuvre.
Grass Box Capacity
The bigger your lawn, the more important a large grass box becomes — you want to empty it as few times as possible per session. Compact mowers have boxes of around 30–40 litres; larger models offer 50–60 litres or more. Some mulching-only models have no box at all, instead finely chopping clippings back into the lawn.
Mulching Function
Mulching mowers chop grass clippings into very fine pieces and return them to the lawn rather than collecting them. This feeds the lawn naturally and means no grass box to empty. Many modern mowers offer a 3-in-1 function: collect in the box, mulch, or rear-discharge. If you have a medium or large lawn, a mulching function is a genuinely useful feature.
Self-Propelled vs Push
A self-propelled mower drives itself forward — you just guide it. This makes an enormous difference on larger lawns, on slopes, or if you have any joint issues. Push models are lighter and less expensive, but require more physical effort over a large area. On a small, flat lawn the difference barely matters; on a large sloping garden, it’s transformative.
Adjustable Cutting Height
Most decent mowers offer at least four or five cutting height settings, typically from around 20mm to 70mm. Being able to raise the cutting height in dry weather (to reduce stress on the lawn) or lower it for a smart, formal finish is a valuable feature. Look for single-lever adjustment rather than individual wheel clips, which is much more convenient in practice.
Brushless Motor (Cordless Only)
On cordless mowers, look for a brushless motor. Brushless motors are more efficient, quieter, generate less heat, and last longer than brushed alternatives. They’re now standard on most mid-range and premium cordless tools.
How Much Should You Spend?
Budget: Under £150
At this price point you’re looking at basic corded electric mowers, entry-level hover mowers, and compact cordless models such as the Greenworks GD24LM33 (around £120–£150). These are perfectly capable on small, well-maintained lawns. Don’t expect large cutting widths, big grass boxes, or self-propulsion at this price.
Mid-Range: £150–£350
This is where the choice gets genuinely interesting. Solid cordless mowers from Bosch, Worx, and Makita sit in this bracket. The Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-750 (around £250–£350 with battery) is a particularly well-regarded option, offering a good cutting width, rear roller for stripes, and the reliability the brand is known for.
Premium: £350–£650
Premium cordless mowers from Ego and Bosch dominate this bracket, along with quality petrol models from Honda and Stiga. The Ego LM1702E-SP (around £550–£650 with battery) is widely considered one of the best cordless mowers on the market — genuinely petrol-matching power in a clean, quiet package. Honda’s IZY HRG416 (around £380–£450) offers legendary petrol reliability for a mid-to-large garden.
Premium Petrol: £300–£600+
For large garden petrol mowers, Mountfield and Stiga offer well-built machines with Honda or Briggs & Stratton engines. The Mountfield SP53 self-propelled petrol mower (around £280–£350) is a popular mid-range choice, while top-spec Honda self-propelled models can reach £500–£600 and are built to last a generation.
Lawnmower Care and Maintenance
A little routine maintenance goes a long way towards keeping your mower running well and lasting longer.
Cordless mowers are the easiest to maintain. Keep the underside of the deck clean by scraping off dried grass after each use — built-up clippings restrict airflow and reduce cutting efficiency. Check and sharpen or replace the blade each spring, and store the battery at around 50% charge over winter if possible.
Petrol mowers need a bit more attention. Before the start of each season, change the engine oil, replace or clean the air filter, and fit a new spark plug. Drain the petrol tank at the end of the season (or use a fuel stabiliser) to prevent the carburettor from gumming up over winter. Sharpen the blade annually. With this basic routine, a Honda or Mountfield petrol mower should give you fifteen to twenty years of reliable service.
Robot mowers need their perimeter wire and docking station connections checked periodically, and the blades — which are typically small, replaceable cartridge blades — swapped out every few months during the mowing season. Keep the charging contacts clean.
Cylinder mowers require the sharpest attention. The bottom blade (the fixed cutting plate) needs to be correctly adjusted against the cylinder, and the blades should be back-lapped (sharpened) annually. If you’ve never done this before, most garden machinery dealers offer a servicing and sharpening service.
Our Top Mower Recommendations for 2026
Based on current availability and real-world performance, here are our shortlisted picks across key categories:
Best cordless for most gardens: Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-750 (around £250–£350 with battery) — reliable, well-built, and produces a tidy striped finish thanks to its rear roller.
Best premium cordless: Ego LM1702E-SP (around £550–£650 with battery) — the closest thing to petrol performance in a cordless package, with a generous 42cm cutting width and self-propelled drive.
Best budget cordless: Greenworks GD24LM33 (around £120–£150 bare tool) — a compact, capable mower for small gardens that won’t break the bank.
Best petrol for reliability: Honda IZY HRG416 (around £380–£450) — the go-to petrol mower for long-term reliability, with Honda’s legendarily dependable engine.
Best petrol mid-range: Mountfield SP53 (around £280–£350) — a self-propelled workhorse well-suited to medium and larger UK gardens, available through Amazon and garden machinery dealers.
Best for awkward gardens: Flymo EasiGlide 360V (around £70–£100) — light, easy to manoeuvre, and ideal for slopes or irregular lawn shapes.
Best robot mower: Husqvarna Automower 105 (around £600–£750) — the entry-level model from the most established name in robot mowing, covering up to 600 sq m fully automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best type of lawnmower for a small UK garden?
For a small garden (under 100 sq m), a compact cordless mower or corded hover mower is usually the most practical choice. They’re lightweight, easy to manoeuvre, simple to store, and perfectly powerful enough for a modest lawn. The Greenworks GD24LM33 or Flymo EasiGlide are popular options at this end of the market.
Is a cordless lawnmower as good as a petrol one?
For most UK gardens, yes — a good cordless mower from a brand like Ego or Bosch will cut just as well as a petrol model. The key advantages of petrol are run-time (no battery limit), power in very tough conditions, and proven long-term durability. For a large garden with thick grass, petrol still has the edge. For everything else, cordless is now a genuine match.
How often should I mow my lawn?
During the growing season (roughly April to October in the UK), once a week is the standard recommendation. In spring and early summer when grass grows fastest, you may need to mow twice a week to keep on top of it. In hot, dry summers, raise the cutting height and mow less frequently to avoid stressing the lawn. Cylinder mowers specifically need more frequent use — at least weekly — to stay effective.
Should I mulch or collect my grass clippings?
Both approaches have merit. Collecting clippings produces a neater finish and removes them from the lawn, which is important if you’re applying lawn treatments or want a very formal look. Mulching — finely chopping clippings back into the lawn — returns nutrients to the soil and saves time emptying the grass box. If you mow regularly so clippings are short, mulching is a great low-maintenance option.
What cutting height should I use?
A height of around 25–40mm suits most UK lawns for regular mowing. Go lower (15–20mm) only for formal lawns with fine grass cultivars, and raise to 50–60mm during dry periods to protect the lawn from drought stress. Never remove more than a third of the blade length in a single cut — scalping the lawn weakens it and creates brown patches.
Can I use a cordless mower in wet grass?
Most cordless mowers can handle lightly damp grass, but cutting soaking wet grass isn’t advised — it tears rather than cuts cleanly, sticks to the underside of the deck, and can clog the grass box. It’s also harder on the motor. Petrol mowers handle wet conditions better, but even then, dry grass always gives a cleaner cut.
How long do lawnmower batteries last?
A quality lithium-ion battery from Ego, Bosch, or Greenworks should last 500–1,000 charge cycles before performance noticeably degrades — roughly five to ten years of normal seasonal use. Storing batteries correctly (cool and dry, not fully discharged) extends their lifespan. Replacement batteries are available for most brands, though they’re not cheap — another argument for choosing a brand with a wide ecosystem of compatible tools.
Related Reviews
If you’re ready to look at specific models, our detailed reviews cover every category:
- Best Cordless Lawnmower UK 2026 — our top picks across all budgets
- Best Petrol Lawnmower UK 2026 — the best petrol mowers for medium and large gardens
- Cordless vs Petrol Lawnmower – Which Should You Choose? — an in-depth head-to-head comparison
- Best Robotic Lawnmower UK 2026 — the best set-and-forget options reviewed
- Best Budget Cordless Lawnmower Under £200 UK 2026 — top picks for price-conscious buyers
Final Verdict
The right lawnmower really does depend on your garden. For most UK gardeners with a small to medium lawn, a cordless mower in the £200–£400 range — such as the Bosch AdvancedRotak or a mid-range Ego model — offers the best balance of performance, convenience, and value. Step up to petrol if your lawn is large, regularly gets away from you, or if you want a machine that’ll outlast everything else in the shed. And if you genuinely hate mowing, a robot mower will transform your garden routine entirely — once you’ve got past the initial setup.
Whatever you choose, buy from a reputable brand, keep the blade sharp, and give it a basic service each spring. A well-chosen, well-maintained lawnmower is one of the most satisfying tools in the garden.