9 best lawn mowers tried and tested UK 2024: electric and cordless
SUMMER is a busy time of year in the garden, not least because the grass grows incredibly quickly; it can feel like a constant battle with nature to keep it under control and your lawn looking good.
However, you can make your life a bit easier with one of the best lawn mowers.
Whether you prefer a traditional corded or a cordless model, you’re going to want something that’s easily manoeuvrable and will tackle all lengths of grass.
You’ll want a mower that’s able to collect a fair amount of cuttings so you don’t have to constantly stop to empty it, as well as being simple to store.
An added bonus on some models is a mulching attachment that return the clippings to your garden as plant food.
Below we’ve rated some of the best models we’ve tested.
Best lawnmowers at a glance:
- Best lawnmower overall: STIGA Collector 140e Kit
- Best budget lawnmower: Vonhaus 1800W Electric Lawn Mower
- Best cordless lawnmower: Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower
- Best corded lawnmower: Stihl RME 443 Electric Lawn Mower
- Best lawnmower for small gardens: Titan TTI836LWM 18V Brushless Cordless 34cm Lawnmower
STIGA Collector 140e Kit
STIGA Collector 140e Kit, £269
Pros: Easy to manoeuvre, extremely lightweight, batteries and battery charger included, six cutting heights
Cons: Grass box smallest of those tested
Rating: 5/5
Even though this mower has the smallest grass collector of all those tested at 40 litres, I’ve still given it top marks because in all other respects it is a total dream to use.
I think this Stiga mower would be ideal if you have problems with your hands such as arthritis just because it is so light, but make no mistake, it is no lightweight in the grass-cutting stakes – it delivers a powerful performance and a lovely cut!
The two batteries don’t take long to charge and according to Stiga, there’s enough power in them to cut a 350sqm lawn in one go. I don’t know how big my garden is but I ran the mower for 20 minutes and there were still three bars of power left (out of four), which means I won’t need to charge it for cutting the grass next time or probably the time after that.
It has a 38cm cutting width and you can adjust the cutting height (six levels); the handle has a comfortable grip and it has two positions. When not in use the handle folds down for easier storage.
Even when the grass box is full, it’s still light to push and pull.
There’s even a five-year guarantee.
However, the very best thing about this mower is that it comes with two batteries and a charger included in the price, which makes it a bargain – especially for something that performs so well – and a fabulous introduction to the world of cordless mowers.
Mower type: cordless, Cutting width: 38cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 91dB(A), Weight: 12.257kg, Guarantee: five-year manufacturer warranty
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Stihl RME 443 Electric Lawn Mower
Stihl RME 443 Electric Lawn Mower, £290
Pros: Long power cable, chunky fittings, hinged grass box, wide cutting width, good cut, easy to move, five-year guarantee
Cons: None
Ratings: 5/5
This mower is so well-made. The clamps on the handle that loosen to fold it down and tighten to straighten it back into position are so chunky and so much bigger than those on most of the other mowers I tested.
As you’d expect from Stihl, it gives a great cut, is easily manoeuvrable and needs no effort to push. The 41cm cutting width means it didn’t take long to mow the lawn and the 55-litre grass box is the largest of all those I tested. This opens fully on a hinge so the grass simply tumbles out without getting clogged in a small opening as happened with so many of the others.
The mower has six cutting heights to suit the state of your grass and you choose one with the push of a button, rather than having to wrestle a lever into place; sweet!
Even the electric cable is impressive; at 17m it’s the longest on any of the mowers I tested.
There is a mulching kit for the RME 443, but you have to buy it separately.
Mower type: corded, Power: 1500W, Cutting width: 41cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 96dB(A), Weight: 20kg, Guarantee: five-year manufacturer warranty
Titan TT1836LWM
Titan TT1836LWM 18V Cordless 34cm Lawnmower, £159.99
Pros: Cuts well, great price, lightweight and easy to move, fast charging, good battery life
Cons: Small grass box and narrow cutting width
Rating: 4.5/5
This is a lovely little mower if you have a small garden. It’s neat, it’s compact, it’s really lightweight and a pleasure to use.
The cut is good – there are six different cut levels to choose from depending on the length of your grass – and I found it easy to push and pull across the different grass heights in my garden. The grass box is small though – 35L, but that’s why I think it’s ideal for smaller spaces, rather than large lawns.
I ran the mower for around 25 minutes and there was still plenty of power left. Charging fully takes 75 minutes, which is on the quicker side of those I tested.
The price is excellent and the handle folds down so you can store it upright to save space.
Mower type: cordless, Battery: 18V, Cutting width: 34cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 88dB(A), Weight including battery: 12.8kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty
Vonhaus 1800W Electric Lawn Mower
Vonhaus 1800W Electric Lawn Mower, £149.99
Pros: Great price, cuts well, large-capacity grass collector, 12m power cable, orange power cable is easy to see in the grass, wide cutting width, mulcher included, five cutting heights
Cons: None
Rating: 4.5/5
The Vonhaus electric mower is lightweight, the large grass collector means you don’t have to empty it so often and the 43cm cutting width makes short work of mowing your lawn. All in all, it’s a dream to use.
It won’t cost you a fortune either, it’s one of the cheapest mowers I tested but it performs as well as more expensive models. At 12m, the cable is a great length and it’s orange, so you can see it lying in the grass, which is handy as it’s a visual warning not to run over the line.
This mower had one of the largest grass collectors of all those I tested – an impressive 52L – and it has five cutting levels. You can even choose to forego the grass box and attach the mulcher instead, which deposits the chopped grass back on to your lawn, nourishing your garden.
The main handle is foam padded for comfort and also adjustable so you can fix it to best suit you.
Mower type: corded, Power: 1800W, Cutting width: 43cm, Guaranteed sound power level: Unknown, Weight including battery: 13.15kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty
Ryobi 18V ONE+
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower, £329.99
Pros: Manoeuvrable, powerful, long-lasting battery charge, seven cutting heights, generous grass collector, mulcher included, can be stored upright, the battery can be used with other Ryobi tools
Cons: Expensive when you add in the price of the charger and battery
Rating: 4.5/5
I have to confess I am a fan of Ryobi. I love how you can use one battery across multiple products and they do what they’re supposed to, with good features and battery power that lasts until you’ve finished the job – and then some.
This mower is a delight to use; it’s lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, cuts through light and tougher grass, and has seven cutting heights.
The grass collector has a 50-litre capacity and there’s a mulcher supplied, which means you can let the clippings fall to your lawn to naturally nourish the grass if you prefer, which of course also means you don’t have to get rid of the cut waste. You can also mow to the edge of the lawn, thanks to the grass combs.
The handle folds down when not in use and if space is an issue then this mower can be stored vertically.
I used this mower on my garden several times, from the first cut of the year to shorter grass and the battery charge was impressive – I didn’t need to recharge between uses and there was still some power left in the batteries even after using twice.
You’ll need to buy a battery, which costs around £100 and a charger from £63.99, but you will be able to use them with other Ryobi garden tools, which in effect, spreads the cost.
Mower type: cordless, Cutting width: 40cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 95dB(A), Weight: 19.79kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty (three years if you register your mower)
Gtech Lawnmower CLM50
Gtech Lawnmower CLM50, £599.99
Pros: Pre-assembled, good battery life, light to use and carry, generous 50L grass box, rapid charging, comfortable padded handle
Cons: Expensive
Rating: 4/5
This mower has a bit of a racing car vibe going and a performance to match. It is extremely lightweight and a dream to move, even when the grass box is full.
What I really love about this mower is that it works straight out of the box. All you have to do is pull the handle into place and tighten with the pre-attached locking handles; no faffing around with screw, bolts, springs or washers, it’s just ready to go.
The 48V lithium-ion battery also charges quickly and it lasted a good 37 minutes the first time I used it, with power left over when I’d finished.
The main handle is foam coated so is comfortable to push and pull, even when laden. I used the mower on long and short grass so worked my way through the six easy-to-read settings and found changing the cut level simple with the metal lever (with some mowers this is not always the case, especially if the grass box is filling up).
Going over a clump of longer grass or grass and weeds caused a change in the sound of the mower, but this is because the blades can sense when extra power is needed and so increase their rotation speed – how cool is that!?
Mower type: cordless, Cutting width: 42cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 96dB(A), Weight: 13.5kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty
Husqvarna LC347iVX
Husqvarna LC347iVX, £749
Pros: Good for larger gardens, drive function, robust design and features, good cut, generous 55-litre grass collector, six cutting levels
Cons: Price
Rating: 4/5
This is one beast of a mower and perhaps what you need if you have a garden that’s on the larger side.
It’s powerful and has an adjustable speed, self-propelled drive function that means you don’t have to push to mow, the machine just pulls away from you. At first I kept forgetting to let go of the handle to stop the drive, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a doddle. The only thing is, without the drive activated it is very heavy to move, so I found the best thing to do was mow the length of the garden then turn around and mow all the way back again (rather than using a vacuum cleaner-type motion of short back and forth movements).
There’s an automatic power boost that kicks in when you’re mowing longer or tougher grass, which is handy and the onboard computer shows you how much juice you have left in the battery. The mower also has two battery slots for uninterrupted operation.
It’s robust and well-made, which is reflected in the price. You also have to buy the battery separately, which adds at least another £128 to the cost so it is expensive but if you have a large garden and you’re serious about your equipment, it’s likely to suit you.
Mower type: cordless, Power: 0.75kW, Cutting width: 47cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 95dB(A), Weight including battery: 26kg, Guarantee: two-year warranty
Black + Decker BEMW471BH-GB 38cm 1600W Corded Mower
Black + Decker BEMW471BH-GB38cm, £170
Pros: Good cut, comfortable grip handles, long cable, push-button start, roller for striped lawn design
Cons: Not as lightweight as some of the other mowers tested
Rating: 4/5
This is a good mower, though not as easy to manoeuvre as some of the others I tested, especially when the grass box fills up. It has a 38cm cutting width and a 45-litre grass collector, which while smaller than some of the others, is still pretty generous.
The simple push-button start function makes a change from the button and lever combinations on all of the other mowers, while six cutting levels deal with grass of different heights.
I love the handles, which are different in that there’s two of them and they look rather like cycle handles. They’re covered with a soft grip material that is very comfortable to hold while using the machine.
The cable is 10m, so it’s quite long though you’re still probably going to need an extension, and it’s orange so you can see it in the grass, which is useful from a safety point of view.
Mower type: corded electric, Cutting width: 38cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 95dB(A), Weight: 18.1kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty
Flymo EasiStore 380R Cordless Lawnmower
Flymo EasiStore 380R Cordless Lawnmower, £314.49
Pros: Lovely cut, lightweight mower, easy to manoeuvre, large grass collector, rear roller for a striped finish
Cons: Short battery life
Rating: 3/5
I had high hopes for this mower as Flymo is a brand that’s been around for years and is synonymous with lawn care. It was one of the first mowers I tested and the experience started off well – it gives a clean cut, works well on high and low settings, and was no bother at all to push, pull and change direction.
Then the battery died after only 12 minutes. I was disappointed but I tried again and the machine came back to life, but only for a few seconds. I recharged the batteries and had another go: same thing happened.
I did test the Flymo on the first cut of the year, so that may have had an effect. However even with replacement batteries and several more cuts over subsequent weeks on now short grass, the batteries struggled to get past 13 minutes. Flymo states the batteries should last an average of 25 minutes on a full charge, but that wasn’t my experience.
It’s such a shame because the mower is lightweight, has a good 38cm cutting width, five cutting levels and a 45-litre grass box. It also stands upright for easy storage if you haven’t much space, which is handy.
The price includes the two batteries you need and two chargers, which is more than you get with some brands and you can also use the batteries across a range of tools. However, if the batteries aren’t up to the job then that lets the machine down.
If your lawn is very small then 12 minutes may be all you need, but for me, it was a total pain.
Mower type: cordless, Battery: 18V x 2 (so 36V), Cutting width: 38cm, Guaranteed sound power level: 89dB(A), Weight: 11.9kg, Guarantee: two-year manufacturer warranty
How we tested the products
I used all of the mowers several times over the course of a few months. The weather dictated when I could mow the lawn and April’s rain meant opportunities were few and far between, however when the sun put in more of an appearance I was able to get out there and put them through their paces.
My garden is not massive but it’s basically all lawn so each mower had a good run, from the first cut of the year, to shorter growth, to long growth again (thanks to the wet weather). I ran through the different height levels and all managed well, though some were better than others.
When it came to the cordless models, how long the charge lasts was key. All except for the Flymo excelled themselves here. After all, who wants to have to keep stopping to recharge batteries – and buying spares is expensive.
The size of the grass collector also makes a difference, but all of the mowers were capable of holding a good amount of grass cuttings. A couple of them came with mulchers, which was a surprise to me but I soon came around to the idea and think they’re a good thing as they return nitrogen to your lawn, nourishing the grass – and it means less waste for your composter or garden bin.
Where to buy electric and cordless lawnmowers in the UK
Online is probably the best place to start looking for a lawnmower, especially in the research stage so you can narrow down possible models to suit the size of your garden.
You will also find a good selection in larger DIY stores and garden centres, such as B&Q, Screwfix, Toolstation and Homebase. Homewares stores such as Robert Dyas and Argos also stock mowers, especially during the summer and you may even find a couple in your local supermarket, in the seasonal aisle.
We found the lawnmowers reviewed in our round-up at:
How much do lawnmowers cost?
There’s a great variation in cost when it comes to lawnmowers, but you should be able to find something to suit your budget.
Basic mowers can be found for less than £100, though if you’re looking for a lightweight model and ease of use, you’re probably looking at around £150+. Cordless mowers cost more than corded versions and often they don’t come with a battery or charger, so you have to factor in the price of those too.
The lawnmowers in our feature range in price from £149.99 to £618.
All mowers cut grass, but you pay more for extra features, such as auto-drive, more power, larger grass collectors and portability – some mowers have fold-down handles and can be stood vertically when not in use, which makes storing them easier if you’re short on space.