In this best cordless lawn mower review, we’ve shared our top recommended choices for the best cordless lawn mowers in the UK for small-to-medium-sized lawns.
You’ll also find information on how to choose the right cordless lawn mower for you, including key considerations to make before you spend your money.
- Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cutting height: 25-65mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 47.5 x 39 x 95cm
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
- Brand: LawnMaster
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cutting height: 20-70mm
Weight: 11.4 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 32 liters
Dimensions (DxWxH): 38 x 23 x 97cm
Power: 48-V battery (2x 24V)
- Brand: Bosch
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 32cm
Cutting height: 30-60mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 31 liters
Dimensions (DxWxH): 32 x 30 x 81cm
Power: 18-V battery (x1)
- Brand: Bosch
Price: £££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 37cm
Cutting height: 25-70mm
Weight: 16 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 71 x 42 x 38.5cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
- Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 44cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 14 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 50 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 80 x 50 x 41cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
- Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 30cm
Cutting height: 30-70mm
Weight: 9.3 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 25 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 61 x 39 x 37cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
- Brand: Einhell
Price: ££££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 47cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 30 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 63 x 22.8 x 40.6cm
Power: 72-V battery (4x 18V, mower takes 2 batteries)
Table of Contents
Best Lawn Mowers
- Best Overall Cordless Mower: Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower
- Best For Small Lawns: LawnMaster MX 24V 34cm Cordless Lawnmower
- Runner-Up For Small Lawns: Bosch Cordless Lawnmower CityMower
- Best For Medium Lawns: Bosch Cordless Lawnmower EasyRotak 36-550
- Best For Large Lawns: Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 44cm Cordless Lawn Mower
- Best Budget: Einhell Power X-Change 18/30 Cordless Lawnmower
- Best Premium: Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower
📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Mowers
Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart
| Product | Brand | Star Rating | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Cutting Height | Weight (kg) | Grass Box Capacity | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawnmower | Flymo | 5/5 | ££ | Battery | 34cm | 25-65mm | 11.2 | 35 litres | 40-V battery (2x 20V) |
| LawnMaster MX 24V 34cm Cordless Lawnmower | LawnMaster | 4.5/5 | ££ | Battery | 34cm | 20-70mm | 11.4 | 32 liters | 48-V battery (2x 24V) |
| Bosch Cordless Lawnmower CityMower | Bosch | 4/5 | ££ | Battery | 32cm | 30-60mm | 11.2 | 31 liters | 18-V battery (x1) |
| Bosch Cordless Lawnmower EasyRotak 36-550 | Bosch | 4.5/5 | £££ | Battery | 37cm | 25-70mm | 16 | 40 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 44cm Cordless Lawn Mower | Murray | 4.5/5 | £££ | Battery | 44cm | 25-75mm | 14 | 50 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Einhell Power X-Change 18/30 Cordless Lawnmower | Einhell | 4/5 | £ | Battery | 30cm | 30-70mm | 9.3 | 25 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower | Einhell | 5/5 | ££££ | Battery | 47cm | 25-75mm | 30 | 75 litres | 72-V battery (4x 18V, mower takes 2 batteries) |
| Product | Brand | Star Rating | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Cutting Height | Weight (kg) | Grass Box Capacity | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawnmower | Flymo | 5/5 | ££ | Battery | 34cm | 25-65mm | 11.2 | 35 litres | 40-V battery (2x 20V) |
| LawnMaster MX 24V 34cm Cordless Lawnmower | LawnMaster | 4.5/5 | ££ | Battery | 34cm | 20-70mm | 11.4 | 32 liters | 48-V battery (2x 24V) |
| Bosch Cordless Lawnmower CityMower | Bosch | 4/5 | ££ | Battery | 32cm | 30-60mm | 11.2 | 31 liters | 18-V battery (x1) |
| Bosch Cordless Lawnmower EasyRotak 36-550 | Bosch | 4.5/5 | £££ | Battery | 37cm | 25-70mm | 16 | 40 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 44cm Cordless Lawn Mower | Murray | 4.5/5 | £££ | Battery | 44cm | 25-75mm | 14 | 50 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Einhell Power X-Change 18/30 Cordless Lawnmower | Einhell | 4/5 | £ | Battery | 30cm | 30-70mm | 9.3 | 25 litres | 36-V battery (2x 18V) |
| Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower | Einhell | 5/5 | ££££ | Battery | 47cm | 25-75mm | 30 | 75 litres | 72-V battery (4x 18V, mower takes 2 batteries) |
⭐ Reviews – Best Cordless Lawn Mowers of 2023
In our opinion, the best cordless lawn mower available today is the Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower.
This Flymo cordless lawn mower offers a performance that rivals the conventional corded mower models, with two 20-volt batteries, three optional cutting heights, and a built-in rear roller for those oh-so-desirable lawn stripes. It’s the perfect size for the average UK garden, with its 34 cm cutting width and large 35-litre grass box.
We appreciate that this mower gives you all the features that you want in a battery-powered model. It’s also affordable, so you don’t have to pay a premium for the perks of cordless lawn mowing, and reliable, so it should pay for itself within a few years.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cutting height: 25-65mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 47.5 x 39 x 95cm
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
Best For:
Folks who want to invest in the best-value cordless lawn mower available today, with all the desirable features without the hefty price tag.
What Customers Think:
Customers have plenty of positive things to say about the Flymo EasiStore mower, with over 4,000 reviewers giving an average 4.2-star rating on Amazon (at the time of writing). Customers praised the mower for its high quality of cut, good maneuverability, and easy assembly. Some users had a few minor issues with adjusting the handle and folding it for storage.
Pros:
We think the Flymo EasiStore is the best value-for-money cordless mower you can get today. At just £170, it packs in all the features of a cordless lawn mower that you need, including a large 35-litre grassbox, a 2.5-6.5cm cutting height, and close-edge cutting.
The decent 34cm cutting width means you can cut your lawn with fewer laps, and batteries last around 35 minutes – just above average for this mower type. Plus, there are two of them, so you can swap one battery for the other if you have a sizeable lawn.
We love the extra features of this mower, including the full grass box indicator, which means you don’t have to guess at when to empty out the grass clippings, and the rear roller, which you can use to add stripes to your lawn.
You get a 2-year warranty when you buy this mower, so your investment is protected.
Cons:
Some customers said the handle was stiff, making it hard to fold it down when not in use.
The batteries take a long time to charge (around 180 minutes)
We found that the best cordless lawn mower for small lawns is the LawnMaster 24V 34cm Cordless Lawnmower. With its lightweight design and two 24-volt batteries, this nifty little mower is ideally suited for speeding around small gardens, without the bulkiness or maneuverability restrictions of a larger model.
What else should you know about this mower? It has a super-fast battery charging time of around 1 hour, as well as intelligent battery management for more efficient running and a durable carbon steel blade for a high-quality cut. It truly is a premium pick for small gardens, with the very best features for the price – and for that reason, it costs about £100 more than our top pick Flymo model.
Quick Specs:
Brand: LawnMaster
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cutting height: 20-70mm
Weight: 11.4 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 32 liters
Dimensions (DxWxH): 38 x 23 x 97cm
Power: 48-V battery (2x 24V)
Best For:
People looking for the very best cordless lawn mower for a small garden, which has great battery power and gets the job done quickly but doesn’t take up too much space.
What Customers Think:
Customers praised the LawnMaster Cordless Lawnmower for being easy to use and maneuver due to its lightweight build. According to reviewers, changing the cutting height is easy with one simple lever, and each battery has enough charge to cut an entire small lawn in one go. However, customers said that the rear roller isn’t substantial for creating striped lawns.
Pros:
We love this LawnMaster mower’s intelligent battery management, a unique feature that adjusts the power delivery to suit the mowing conditions. More power is used in tougher conditions, while the battery is reserved for lighter cutting, so the mower lasts longer between charges.
There are numerous features that make this mower ideal for use in small lawns, including its lightweight design (it weighs just over 25 pounds), which makes it not only easy to maneuver but also easy to store in any orientation – even hanging on a wall.
Despite its compact size, the 34cm cutting width means you can mow your lawn quickly and in only a few laps.
The 2-year warranty is nice and reassuring.
Cons:
The rear roller isn’t weighty enough to mow noticeable stripes in your lawn.
We still think this mower could use extra features to make it even simpler to use, like a quick-release folding mechanism for the handle, rather than having to undo the wingnuts to fold the handle down.
In our research, we came across one other cordless mower that rivaled the LawnMaster model for being the best for small lawns: the Bosch Cordless Lawnmower CityMower.
This mower is about £50 cheaper than the LawnMaster mower, but many of its features are slightly downgraded: the battery power is just 18 volts (compared to 24 volts) so has a shorter use time between charges, the cutting width is 2 cm shorter at 32 cm, and the grass bag is slightly smaller, with a 31-litre volume.
However, if you have a smaller garden of up to 300 meters squared, you might prefer to save money and go for the Bosch model, since larger features might not be suitable for your lawn size anyway.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Bosch
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 32cm
Cutting height: 30-60mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 31 liters
Dimensions (DxWxH): 32 x 30 x 81cm
Power: 18-V battery (x1)
Best For:
Anyone looking for a cordless mower that’s made for gardens up to 300 meters squared, sold by a reputable brand and offering all the convenience of a compact, lightweight, ergonomic, and powerful mower.
What Customers Think:
The Bosch CityMower has more than 1,000 customer reviews, with reviewers agreeing that the mower is an attractive, lightweight machine, with a long-lasting battery, and is comfortable to use thanks to its ergonomic design. Some customers said the mower parts were a bit flimsy.
Pros:
We love how easy it is to use this mower. Every stage of the mowing process is well thought-out, from the ergonomic handles that reduce arm and back strain to the simple height adjustment (from 3 to 6 cm), the easy-charge battery (simply lift the front cover to remove it), and the folding of the handle for easy storage.
You can mow a small lawn to perfection with the Bosch CityMower. The grass combs make it possible to mow right up to the edges of your lawn, so there’s no need for separate strimming.
The 31-litre grass box capacity means you should be able to mow your entire lawn in one go without having to stop to empty the grass cuttings.
The 2-year warranty rivals the warranties from other brands.
Cons:
This mower only comes with 1 battery, so you’d have to buy a second battery separately if you prefer to have multiple batteries on the go.
You get all the basic features on this mower, but no extras, like a rear roller or mulching plug.
If you have a medium-sized lawn up to 550 meters squared, we recommend the Bosch Cordless Lawnmower EasyRotak 36-550 as the best cordless lawn mower for your needs.
This mower is larger than the standard-sized battery-operated mowers, with a 35-minute use time between charges, a wide 37 cm cutting width for efficient mowing with fewer laps of your lawn, and a spacious 40-litre grass bag to reduce the need for emptying, and 5 flexible cutting heights (from 2.5 to 7cm). It’s about £100 more expensive than the smaller models, but you pay for the bigger and better features.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Bosch
Price: £££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 37cm
Cutting height: 25-70mm
Weight: 16 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 71 x 42 x 38.5cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
Best For:
Folks looking for a good-sized cordless lawn mower from a reputable brand that has the power and size required to cut a medium-sized lawn as quickly and efficiently as possible.
What Customers Think:
Reviewers were generally satisfied with the EasyRotak 36-550, commenting that it’s easy to assemble and lightweight (even for its slightly larger size), and with a good battery charge time and a good battery life of 35-40 minutes. Some customers had various issues with flimsy parts.
Pros:
You won’t find a better cordless mower for medium-t0-large gardens for the price. You can spend less time cutting your lawn and dealing with grass clippings thanks to the 37cm cutting width and 40-litre grass bag, and the 5 cutting heights give you ultimate flexibility in achieving the perfect cut.
You get 35-40 minutes out of each battery in this mower – that’s enough time for mowing a moderately sized lawn. If you’re a bit more of a perfectionist or you like to take your time, simply swap the flat battery for the second battery.
We love that you can add an extra year onto the standard 2-year warranty for this mower if you register your purchase online.
Cons:
The Bosch Cordless Lawnmower EasyRotak is about 10 pounds heavier than the smaller mowers in this guide, which may affect your storage options and reduce the mower’s maneuverability.
The battery won’t charge instantly after use – it needs to cool for a while first.
In our opinion, the Murray 2x18V (36V) Lithium-Ion 44cm Cordless Lawn Mower is the best cordless lawn mower for large lawns (up to 640 meters squared).
This mower has a large 44cm cutting deck, so you can cut a wider expanse of lawn with every lap, and the 50-litre grass box is about as big as it gets for home lawn mowing, reducing the number of empties you’ll need to make. Plus, this Murray model has the best warranty of any mower on this list (5 years).
Quick Specs:
Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 44cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 14 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 50 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 80 x 50 x 41cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
Best For:
People who are happy to spend slightly more money on the best cordless lawn mower that they can use to quickly cut a large lawn with fewer laps and emptying stops.
What Customers Think:
More than 1,300 customers gave the Murray Cordless Lawn Mower an average 4.4-star rating, with reviewers agreeing that the mower is easy to start and use, quiet, functional, and powerful, with easy cleaning and cutting height adjustments. However, some customers said they expected the battery life to be longer.
Pros:
If you want the biggest mower for your lawn, this Murray model is the solution. You’ll cut your lawn faster with the 44cm cutting deck, and the 3 cutting heights let you tailor the cut to your preferences.
Don’t think that its larger size makes the Murray Cordless Lawn Mower significantly heavier. It weighs just over 30 pounds – that’s actually 5 pounds lighter than our top pick mower for medium-sized lawns – so you won’t put your back out handling this machine.
There are a few features of this mower that we love, including the handy battery status check on the handle so you know when the battery is getting low, and the soft-grip handles that give a comfortable mowing experience with minimal vibration.
The 5-year warranty is the best of all the warranties on this list.
Cons:
We would have liked to have seen a slightly more powerful battery than 18 volts included with a mower for large lawns.
You pay more money for this mower’s size and speed. Not everyone can afford to spend over £400 on a mower.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a high-quality, reliable cordless lawn mower, and the Einhell Power X-Change 18/30 Cordless Lawnmower is proof.
This affordable lawn mower costs just over £100, but doesn’t sacrifice any features – you still get a decent 30 cm cutting width and 25-litre grass box, 3 adjustable cutting heights (from 3 to 7 cm), and a powerful 18-volt battery. Plus, the mower uses a brushless motor, which is better than conventional electric motors because it provides enough power for the terrain you’re cutting while maximizing efficiency, so you get more use after every charge.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 30cm
Cutting height: 30-70mm
Weight: 9.3 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 25 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 61 x 39 x 37cm
Power: 36-V battery (2x 18V)
Best For:
People with lawns up to 150 square meters who have tight budgets or simply don’t want to spend £150+ on the best cordless lawn mower.
What Customers Think:
The Einhell Cordless Lawnmower is incredibly popular with customers, likely because of its affordability. It has nearly 10,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.3 stars, and customers agree that the mower is the more convenient option for smaller lawns because of its cable-free design. Reviewers also said the mower was lightweight and quick to use, but some people said that assembling the grass box and loading the battery is challenging.
Pros:
The biggest pro of this Einhell mower model is its price. You won’t find any other cordless lawn mower that costs just over £100, while offering all the necessary features of a more expensive model.
We agree with customers that the Einhell Cordless Lawnmower is perfect for quick use and easy storage, thanks to the integrated carry handle for one-handed lifting, the 30cm cutting width for speedy mowing, and the folding handles for space-saving storage.
There are a few specific advantages to using a smaller, lighter model: it’s easier to maneuver as well as being kinder to your lawn in all seasons.
The 2-year warranty is good coverage just in case you need it.
Cons:
You only get one battery (that lasts about 30 minutes per charge) upfront, so you’ll need to buy another if you want to cut a bigger lawn in one go.
Assembling the grass collection box is tricky.
If you’re looking for a cordless lawn mower with a selection of all the best features and a few extras, we recommend the Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower. This mower is the big, burly older brother to our top Einhell budget model, with an upgraded design that’s packed with all the extra features you could want.
This Einhell mower model comes with 4 batteries and 2 twin chargers, so you can mow your lawn in one go with no messing around – just swap the batteries out when you need to. You also get a massive 47cm cutting width and 6 different cutting heights, so you can cut even a large lawn quickly and exactly to your tastes.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Einhell
Price: ££££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 47cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 30 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 63 x 22.8 x 40.6cm
Power: 72-V battery (4x 18V, mower takes 2 batteries)
Best For:
Folks with big budgets who want to invest in the very best premium cordless lawn mower that money can buy, with additional features to make the lawn mowing process faster and more convenient.
What Customers Think:
Customers are generally impressed with this Einhell mower, giving it an average 4.3 rating out of 5 stars. Reviewers agree that this mower is worth the extra cost due to its sturdy feel and well-built design, its additional functions (including mulching) and large size, and its self-propelled feature. A few customers said that folding the mower for storage is difficult.
Pros:
We love all the extra – and genuinely useful – features of this Einhell mower. The self-propelled drive takes the hard work away from mowing a big garden and the built-in mulching feature gives you a different way to cut.
This mower uses a set of two batteries (rather than 1, like most standard mowers), which gives you a longer cutting time without needing to swap out the batteries. Plus, its 47cm cutting width is generous, and the 75-litre grass box is massive, so it’s great for big lawns.
A few other features that we love are the 6 cutting heights for a super-precise cut, the large, lawn-friendly wheels that reduce the impact on your grass, and the brushless motor that gives a powerful, efficient performance with reduced mechanical wear.
There’s a 3-year warranty should you need it.
Cons:
Since this mower has all the extra features, we’d expect to see a rear roller included – but sadly not.
While we think this Einhell model is a great value for money, £600+ for a lawn mower is still expensive.
Our Lawn
Below, we’ve shared a few pictures of our lawn so that you can understand our typical mowing conditions. It’s pretty average-sized for a garden in the UK, and the terrain isn’t particularly difficult to navigate. The lawn is on a slight slope and there are several difficult borders, but on the whole, it’s easy to mow.
Methodology: How We Selected The Mowers In This Guide
Here, we’ve discussed everything we did when choosing the best cordless mowers to feature in this guide.
Step 1: Researching All The Products Available
To begin, we researched our options. We found just over 50 manual lawn mowers sold online (we only looked on reputable websites). Many of these mowers had a number of different sizes and configurations of the same model for us to choose from.
Step 2: Reading Customer Reviews
Once we had a list of lawn mowers and their most important features (cutting width, battery power, etc.), we moved on to reviewing customer feedback. We checked reviews on websites like Amazon, making note of any positive or negative feedback that was brought up repeatedly.
Step 3: Conversations With Manufacturers
In step 3, we looked beyond the information available online and contacted manufactures to gather more data. This gave us the information we needed to properly compare our shortlisted mowers and also helped us to understand the quality of the manufacturer’s customer service.
Step 4: Testing A Selection Of Lawn Mowers
Finally, we were able to test a few cordless lawn mowers ourselves. All the mowers in this guide were ranked using the following considerations:
- Cut quality: 25%
- Battery power & life: 20%
- Ease of use: 20%
- Price: 15%
- Weight & manoeuvrability: 10%
- Assembly & maintenance: 10%
🏁 Best Cordless Lawn Mowers Buyer’s Guide
Here, you’ll find everything you should know before you spend your money on a cordless lawn mower for your home.
What Is A Cordless Lawn Mower?
A cordless lawn mower is an electric lawn mower that doesn’t use a power cord. Instead, this mower type is powered by rechargeable batteries, which each have an average battery life of about 30 minutes.
You can buy different cordless mower models for different-sized gardens, but they’re typically best suited to small-to-medium lawns.
We’ve kept this section short and sweet because if you’re on this guide, you probably already know what a cordless lawn mower is. But if you want more information, read our article on how cordless lawn mowers work.
🤷 Why Choose A Cordless Lawn Mower?
There are a few reasons why you should consider choosing a cordless mower instead of a conventional corded electric lawn mower.
Cordless mowers are more convenient to use because there’s no power lead that gets in the way or tethers you to a power outlet in your home. They’re also easy to maneuver and you can use them in any remote location, such as an allotment or a garden across the road from your home.
Compared to a petrol mower, a cordless mower is quieter, lighter, easier to start and use, and better for the environment, while offering the same convenience of remote, cord-free operation.
👍 👎 Pros & Cons Of Cordless Mowers
Cordless models have a lot going for them, but they have their setbacks, too. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using cordless mowers compared to other mower types.
✅ Cordless Mower Pros:
🔌 Not Tethered By A Cord
Cordless lawn mowers are the best lawn mowers for you if you don’t want the hassle and inconvenience of an electric power cord. These mowers can easily be used on small-to-medium lawns, or even larger lawns (as long we you have enough charged batteries at the ready) without restricting your movements with a cord.
🏁 Quicker Mowing
Cordless lawn mowers are quicker to set up and use because you don’t have to fuss about with a lead before you get started or navigate around the lead when you’re mowing.
🎧 Quiet Operation
The cordless mower’s battery system is quieter than a mains-powered electric mower or a gas-powered petrol mower. That means you can mow as frequently as needed without worrying about disturbing your neighbours.
♻️ Eco-Friendly
A cordless lawn mower doesn’t release toxic fumes like a petrol mower, and it uses less energy than a corded mower, so it’s a good mower type for the eco-conscious.
🛠 Easy To Maintain
Maintaining a cordless mower is easy – just charge the batteries when needed, clean out the grass collection box when it gets full, and sharpen the blade when it starts to get dull. You don’t have to top up the mower with oil or fuel, or service the mower annually.
❌ Cordless Mower Cons:
💪 Not As Powerful
Cordless mowers don’t quite have the same cutting power as electric or petrol mowers because they’re battery-operated, so they may struggle with longer grass, wet grass, or challenging landscapes.
🔋 Limited Battery Life
The battery life of even the best cordless mowers is limited to about 30 minutes. You can switch batteries to continue cutting your lawn, but you’ll need to make sure that you have a spare battery that’s charged and ready to go.
💰 More Expensive
Cordless lawn mowers are more expensive than conventional corded mowers. The cost of the mower plus a lithium-ion battery (or two lithium-ion batteries, which is the norm) is about £50-£100 higher than a comparable corded mower with no battery.
🟩 Not Ideal For Very Large Lawns
Most cordless lawn mowers are designed for smaller gardens. This mower type isn’t the best for a very large lawn, unless you buy a high-spec model.
🧾 10 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Cordless Lawn Mower
When you’re choosing between the best cordless lawn mowers for your garden, make sure to consider the following things:
💰 Your Budget
Before you look for any other feature or benefit, consider your budget.
Knowing what you can afford to spend upfront will help you to make a smarter buying decision that’s best for your lawn mowing needs and your wallet.
The average price range for a cordless lawn mower is £150-£300. Some mowers are a bit cheaper, and others are more expensive. It depends on their features and their size.
You don’t have to buy the most expensive mower on the market to get a reliable performance and a good cut. However, we do recommend spending at least £100 on a battery-operated mower, since price is also linked to quality and durability of materials, and you want your mower to last.
🟩🏔 Your Lawn Size & Surface Type
Your lawn size affects a few of the features you should look for in a cordless lawn mower.
For a start, you’ll need a mower with a suitable cutting width that helps you to efficiently and practically cut your lawn.
We recommend the following cutting widths for the following lawn sizes:
Lawns smaller than 200m²: 30-34cm cutting width
Lawns between 200m² to 350m²: 34-40cm cutting width
Lawns larger than 350m²: 40cm+ cutting width
Make sure to measure your garden size before getting started if you’re unsure. Buying a mower that’s too small for your lawn means you’ll spend longer mowing because you’ll have to do more laps of your garden. In the case of a battery-operated mower, that probably means the battery power will run out before you can finish the job.
Also consider your lawn’s surface type when comparing the best cordless lawn mowers. Keep in mind that tough surfaces will kill your mower’s battery faster because the motor will need to work harder to power the blades.
If your lawn has a few tough spots, look for a mower that has a powerful battery and a brushless motor, which enables your mower to operate more efficiently by conserving battery life when possible.
😎 Your Preferred Lawn Appearance
How do you want your lawn to look after it’s mowed? Do you prefer very short cut grass or slightly longer grass? Ask yourself these questions when deciding on the best cordless mower for you.
Most cordless models offer at least two different cutting heights, and the best mowers offer three or more. The height range is usually between 2 and 7cm, so if getting a precise cut is important to you, look at a mower with five or six cutting height options.
Also learn about the cutting height lever and how the cutting height can be adjusted. Some mowers need to be taken apart to adjust the height of cut, while others have a central lever that controls all 4 wheels.
🏋🏻 Mower Weight & Maneuverability
Some cordless lawn mowers are easier to move and carry than others.
If you want a mower that’s easy to maneuver, go for one that weighs 25 pounds or less. You should be able to push a mower of this weight without too much exertion and navigate corners and obstacles with relative ease.
The bigger the mower, the heavier it is. So, if you need a big mower for a large garden, but you have mobility restrictions, consider a self-propelled mower, like the Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower. This mower type has motors that drive the mower forward at a steady speed, so you don’t have to put in the pushing effort.
Regardless of the mower size, a cordless mower will always be easier to maneuver than a conventional corded mower because it gives you complete freedom of movement, without the hassle of a cable.
However, even the best cordless mowers are slightly heavier than comparable corded models because they contain a battery that adds to the overall weight.
🛡 The Mower Brand
Not all mower brands are worth your money, and it’s important to look for mowers sold by a reputable brand with a history of making high-quality gardening machinery that customers love.
We recommend Bosch, Flymo, Murray, Einhell, and LawnMaster for cordless lawn mowers. These brands are at the top of their game in the home gardening sector, and they have an abundance of positive feedback – both from professional reviewers and customers like you – to prove it.
Another advantage of many of these brands is that their batteries are typically universally compatible with their other products, like strimmers, rotavators, and other cordless tools.
That means once you have a few batteries (we recommend two, so one can charge while the other is in use), you don’t need to spend extra money on tools with included batteries if you stay loyal to one brand.
🔋 Battery Type & Lifespan
There are a few different types of cordless lawn mower batteries, and they’re not all of equal quality.
Lithium-ion batteries are the most common battery type for cordless mowers because they provide consistent power between charges, so you get the same motor power from the first 1 minute of the cut to the last 1 minute of battery life. These batteries will also last longer than other battery types if they’re stored properly.
Lead-acid batteries are another battery type used in cordless mowers. These batteries are cheap to make but don’t provide consistent power as effectively as lithium-ion batteries.
Different cordless mowers use various battery types with different voltages. The standard voltage range for a cordless mower battery is 12-24 volts. Most mowers use a single battery, but some larger models have space for 2 batteries, doubling the battery life.
A fully charged battery in a cordless mower lasts 20-35 minutes on average, and the standard charging time is 60-120 minutes.
The running time of a battery depends on:
The terrain type – Rougher terrain causes the battery life to drain faster
Battery age – Older batteries have a reduced battery life compared to new batteries
Your care & maintenance – Certain habits, such as storing the battery in poor conditions or keeping the battery in the charging port when it’s fully charged, could diminish battery life at a faster rate
Most lawn mowers that are battery-powered come with two batteries as standard, so you can replace one battery with another if one runs out while you’re still mowing. You could also upgrade to a more powerful battery if you want to minimize the need for battery charging as much as possible.
The average overall lifespan for a cordless mower battery is 5-7 years. Once you’ve owned and used your mower for this amount of time, the battery life between charges will likely be insufficient to mow your lawn.
🛠 Maintenance Requirements
Cordless lawn mowers require minimal maintenance, but there are still some maintenance tasks that will extend the mower’s lifespan and give you the best quality cut for longer.
Before mowing, you should:
Inspect the hardware & tighten if necessary
Check the vents
Check for damage or wear and tear around the mower, especially if this is your first use of the year
During mowing, you’ll need to:
Empty and clean the grass collection bag/box
Keep an eye on the battery life and swap batteries when needed
After finishing mowing, wait for the machine to come to a complete stop, then:
Clean out the undercarriage and grass collection box
Wipe down the handles
Sharpen the blade when necessary
You should also look after your mower by only mowing in the right conditions. Avoid mowing wet grass or longer grass, which will cause the motor to work harder and reduce the life of the battery system.
Why is maintenance important for cordless lawnmowers? Regular maintenance will ensure your mower works optimally, and different maintenance tasks have different benefits.
For instance, sharpening the blade will offer a consistently clean cut that supports grass health, and cleaning the mower after every use will prevent blockages and cut down on the spread of lawn diseases.
👷🏻 Safety
Safety features are important in any mower type, and the best cordless mower should be designed for safe operation with minimal risk of injury.
There are a few different safety features that you should find on a cordless mower:
Safety levers – These are handle levers that only allow the mower to be operated while they’re engaged. If you let go or lose grip on the safety lever, it’ll cut off the mower engine immediately.
Back flaps – These are found at the rear of the mower and prevent objects (including your feet!) from getting into the mower blade while it’s spinning.
Push operation – A cordless lawn mower is a push-operated mower, which means it’s pushed from behind, giving you more control over the mower’s navigation.
Manufacturers test cordless lawn mowers extensively before they even make it onto the market. There are certain safety standards that manufacturers must legally adhere to, so you can be certain that a new cordless mower is safe to use. Be wary if you’re buying on the second-hand market, where safety isn’t a guarantee.
💃 Appearance
Appearance probably isn’t your biggest priority, but you still want your cordless mower to look the part, too.
You can find cordless mowers in a variety of colours, shapes, and sizes, so there should be something to suit your tastes.
Whether you want a flashy, colorful mower or something a bit more understated, you should find a cordless mower that’s aesthetically pleasing to you.
Most cordless mowers are made from heavy-duty plastic, which helps to keep them lightweight, but some of the plastic parts of the cheaper models might affect durability. You can read cordless lawn mower reviews from customers to learn of a mower’s practicality and durability with regular use.
📡 Additional Features
Finally, consider whether you want a mower that has any specific additional features, and whether you’re happy to pay extra for these.
Some of the additional features found in some cordless mowers are:
A mulching plug – A mulching plug spreads grass cuttings evenly across your garden as you mow, which acts as a natural fertilizer.
A rear roller – A rear roller gives your lawn a striped finish, so you can take even more pride in your work.
Self-propelled function – A self-propelled function drives the mower’s wheels without you needing to push, so it’s a great option for the heavier mowers for larger lawns.
Important note: this review was last updated in July 2024. We apologise if pricing or availability has since changed for any of the products mentioned above.