Looking to buy a new lawn mower for your big garden? We’ve put together this guide to help you make the smartest investment, based on our own extensive research of the best lawn mowers for big lawns available today.
- Brand: Hyundai
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 51cm
Cut height range: 25-75mm
Weight: 43.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 70 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 62.2 x 21.7 x 41.3cm
Engine power: 196cc
- Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 56cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 34.1 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 96cm x 38cm x 101cm
Engine power: 161cc
- 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)
- Brand: Sprint
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 46cm
Cutting height: 28-92mm
Weight: 25 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 60 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 157 x 50 x 107cm
Engine power: 125cc
- Brand: Einhell
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 53cm
Cutting height: 25-70mm
Weight: 40.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 80 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 170 x 75 x 103cm
Engine power: Not Specified
- Brand: Webb
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 46cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 33 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 55 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 78 x 54 x 44cm
Engine power: 141 cc
- Brand: WORX
Price: £££
Power source: Electric (battery-operated)
Cutting width: 18cm
Cut height range: 20-50mm
Weight: 14.01 kilograms
Grass box capacity: NA
Dimensions (DxWxH): 55.8 x 40.4 x 20.5cm
Power: 20V Lithium-Ion battery
Table of Contents
Best Lawn Mowers For Large Gardens
Best Overall: Hyundai 20″/51cm 196cc Electric-start Self-propelled Petrol Lawnmower
Also Great: Murray EQ2-700X self-propelled 4-in-1 22″/56cm petrol lawnmower
Best Battery-Powered: Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower
Best Non-Self-Propelled: Sprint 460P Push Petrol Lawn Mower 46cm
Best Grass Collection: Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
Best Budget: Webb WER460SP 18″/46cm Self Propelled Rotary Petrol Lawnmower
Best Robotic: WORX Landroid L WR155E Robot Lawn Mower
📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Mowers For Large Gardens
Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart
| Model | Brand | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Cut Height Range | Weight (kg) | Grass Box Capacity (litres) | Dimensions (DxWxH) | Engine Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai 20"/51cm 196cc | Hyundai | £££ | Petrol | 51cm | 25-75mm | 43.8 | 70 | 62.2x21.7x41.3cm | Electric-start Self-propelled |
| Murray EQ2-700X Self-Propelled 4-in-1 | Murray | £££ | Petrol | 56cm | 25-70mm | 34.1 | 75 | 96x38x101cm | 161cc |
| Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 | Einhell | ££££ | Battery | 47cm | 25-75mm | 30 | 75 | 63x22.8x40.6cm | 72-V battery (4x 18V) |
| Sprint 460P Push Petrol Lawn Mower | Sprint | £££ | Petrol | 46cm | 28-92mm | 25 | 60 | 157x50x107cm | 125cc |
| Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E | Einhell | £££ | Petrol | 53cm | 25-70mm | 40.2 | 80 | 170x75x103cm | Not specified |
| Webb WER460SP 18"/46cm | Webb | ££ | Petrol | 46cm | 25-75mm | 33 | 55 | 78x54x44cm | 141cc |
| WORX Landroid L WR155E | WORX | £££ | Electric (battery) | 18cm | 20-50mm | 14.01 | NA | 55.8x40.4x20.5cm | 20V Lithium-Ion battery |
| Model | Brand | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Cut Height Range | Weight (kg) | Grass Box Capacity (litres) | Dimensions (DxWxH) | Engine Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai 20"/51cm 196cc | Hyundai | £££ | Petrol | 51cm | 25-75mm | 43.8 | 70 | 62.2x21.7x41.3cm | Electric-start Self-propelled |
| Murray EQ2-700X Self-Propelled 4-in-1 | Murray | £££ | Petrol | 56cm | 25-70mm | 34.1 | 75 | 96x38x101cm | 161cc |
| Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 | Einhell | ££££ | Battery | 47cm | 25-75mm | 30 | 75 | 63x22.8x40.6cm | 72-V battery (4x 18V) |
| Sprint 460P Push Petrol Lawn Mower | Sprint | £££ | Petrol | 46cm | 28-92mm | 25 | 60 | 157x50x107cm | 125cc |
| Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E | Einhell | £££ | Petrol | 53cm | 25-70mm | 40.2 | 80 | 170x75x103cm | Not specified |
| Webb WER460SP 18"/46cm | Webb | ££ | Petrol | 46cm | 25-75mm | 33 | 55 | 78x54x44cm | 141cc |
| WORX Landroid L WR155E | WORX | £££ | Electric (battery) | 18cm | 20-50mm | 14.01 | NA | 55.8x40.4x20.5cm | 20V Lithium-Ion battery |
⭐ Reviews – Best Lawn Mowers For Large Gardens 2024
In our opinion, the best lawn mower for large lawns is Hyundai 20″/51cm 196cc Electric-start Self-propelled Petrol Lawnmower.
This petrol lawn mower is an unbeatable value compared to its closest competitors, offering more features at a better price. It’s ideal for mowing large gardens because it has a massive 51cm cutting width, a powerful 196cc engine, and self-propulsion, so you can cover more ground with every lap without exerting energy on pushing the mower yourself. Plus, it has an electric start, so you can start mowing instantly, without the hassle of cranking a cord.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Hyundai
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 51cm
Cut height range: 25-75mm
Weight: 43.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 70 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 62.2 x 21.7 x 41.3cm
Engine power: 196cc
Best For:
People looking for the very best petrol lawn mower for quickly and efficiently cutting a large lawn, that’s more powerful and has better features than comparable models.
What Customers Think:
The Hyundai Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower is one of the best-selling lawn mowers for large lawns, with over 750 reviews averaging a 4.4 out of 5 rating on Amazon (at the time of writing). Customers called the mower “an absolute unit” and “a brilliant workhorse”, praising it for its well-built, sturdy design, its wide cutting deck, and its ability to travel well on slopes and rough grass. A few reviewers said that maneuvering the mower around bends is difficult due to its heavy design.
Pros:
If your priority is finding a powerful lawn mower for a large garden, the Hyundai HYM510SPE can’t be beaten. The mower is the biggest and most powerful of the Hyundai range, with a 196cc engine that provides plenty of power for the self-propulsion, helping you to get around a big garden faster. Few other mower brands offer push mowers that match this Hyundai model in power and size.
Another feature that’s great for large lawns is the 51cm cutting width, which reduces the number of laps you need to do when mowing, shaving time off the job.
We also love the multiple cutting functions, including mulching, which eliminates the extra time required to empty the grass box – ideal for quickly cutting a large garden with few interruptions.
Cutting grass of any height is easy thanks to the mower’s 6 cutting heights, and the large 70-litre grass box carries more grass clippings at a time, reducing your trips to the garden waste bin.
Cons:
You pay more for a mower with all the best features. The HYM510SPE’s upfront price tag may be out of some people’s budgets.
The mower has a weighty design, which makes mowing around tight corners a bit of an arm workout.
Another lawn mower that you can’t go wrong with for large gardens is the Murray EQ2-700X Self-Propelled 4-in-1 Petrol Lawnmower.
This self-propelled petrol mower is even wider than the Hyundai model, with a 56cm cutting width and a roomy 75-litre grass box. The reason why this mower takes the second spot on our list is that it’s not quite as powerful as the HYM510SPE’s (it has a slightly smaller 161cc engine) and it doesn’t have a quick electric start, but it costs around the same price.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 56cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 34.1 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 96cm x 38cm x 101cm
Engine power: 161cc
Best For:
Folks who want the widest self-propelled petrol lawnmower that covers the most ground and speeds up the process of mowing a large lawn.
What Customers Think:
The Murray EQ2-700X is another customer favourite on Amazon, with a 4.3-star rating from more than 700 reviews. Customers said that the mower is a “reliable product” that “feels like it’s really well made”, commenting that the mower’s powerful engine makes cutting a large garden easier. A couple of customers said that starting the mower takes a few pulls.
Pros:
Everything about the Murray EQ2-700X Self-Propelled 4-in-1 Petrol Lawnmower makes it ideal for mowing large lawns. It has the widest cutting width of all the mowers on this list – 56cm – so you can mow your lawn in as few laps as possible. Plus, the 161cc engine is powerful enough to mow large expanses, and the self-propulsion means you can set a speed and simply walk behind the mower – no pushing required.
The 75-litre grass box is also a great size, with room for plenty of grass at a time, so you can limit your empties and get the job done faster.
Despite its large size, this petrol lawn mower is around 10 kilograms lighter than the Hyundai model, so it’s the better choice if you want a mower that’s more easily manouverable around obstacles and corners. Plus, the folding handle reduces the mower’s footprint, saving space in your shed.
You also get the choice between various cut options on this mower, including mulching, so you don’t have to waste time emptying the grass box. There are six cut heights to help you achieve your preferred look, and the single centralized lever makes it quick and easy to change heights.
Cons:
The engine isn’t quite as powerful as the Hyundai mower’s, so this mower isn’t as capable when mowing up hills or on thick, rough terrain.
There’s no electric start, so you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way with a cord. It might take a few pulls to get the mower started.
If you hate petrol-powered mowers but you’re still looking for a powerful, capable self-propelled lawn mower for a large lawn, we recommend the Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower.
This battery-powered lawn mower is one of the largest and the most powerful cordless mowers we’ve reviewed, offering twice the power of a conventional battery mower because it uses an extra battery (two 36-volt batteries at a time), providing more juice for bigger jobs. The 47cm cutting width is about as wide as it gets for a battery mower, and the self-propulsion takes the hard work out of manual pushing.
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 best cordless battery-powered lawn mower that gives petrol mowers a run for their money for mowing medium-to-large lawns.
What Customers Think:
Customers have plenty of positive things to say about this Einhell mower, awarding it 4.3 stars out of 5. Reviewers called the mower an “excellent piece of kit” and a “good all round mower”, praising it for its long battery life that lasts even for cutting large lawns, its mulching plug for faster mowing with no interruptions, and its large cutting deck. A few customers commented that they had difficulties folding the mower for storage.
Pros:
With its two-battery design, the Einhell Power X-Change 36/47 Cordless Lawnmower is powerful enough to handle mowing a relatively large garden (between 400 and 450m²) in one go, without having to switch out the batteries. However, you can also use this mower on even larger lawns (up to 750-800m²) if you swap one set of batteries with a freshly charged set mid-way through the job.
It’s great to see that this battery-powered mower competes with the best petrol mowers for so many of its features. It has a self-propelled drive, which takes the hard work away from mowing a big garden, as well as an optional mulching plug, so you can eliminate trips to the compost heap.
The 47cm cutting width is a great size for a cordless battery mower, and you’ll be able to fit plenty of grass in the 75-litre grass box if you prefer to collect.
We also love the 6 cutting heights for a precise cut, and the petrol-free motor that’s quieter, better for the environment, and much easier to maintain.
Cons:
Since this mower is powered by batteries, not petrol, it’s not quite as powerful or capable as a similar petrol mower, so it may be slower up hills and less capable of cutting very long grass.
This Einhell model is more expensive than any of the petrol mowers on this list because it comes with 4 costly batteries.
If your garden is big, but not huge, and you don’t want to spend extra cash on a self-propelled petrol lawn mower, we recommend the Sprint 460P Push Petrol Lawn Mower 46cm as the best petrol mower with no self-propulsion for large gardens.
This push mower is more affordable than many of its self-propelled competitors, but – importantly for a large lawn – it’s still large and powerful, with a 46cm cutting width and a 12cc engine that makes it ideal for mowing medium-to-large spaces up to 1,000m².
Quick Specs:
Brand: Sprint
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 46cm
Cutting height: 28-92mm
Weight: 25 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 60 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 157 x 50 x 107cm
Engine power: 125cc
Best For:
Anyone who, for whatever reason, prefers push mowers to self-propelled mowers, and wants the best conventional petrol-powered mower that’s big and powerful enough to quickly mow a large space.
What Customers Think:
The Sprint 460P Push Petrol Lawn Mower has an average rating of 4.4 stars, with customers saying that the mower is a “good quality product” and “value for money”. Reviewers praised the mower for being easy to assemble, great at handling overgrown grass, and suitable for mowing large gardens. A few customers said that starting the mower from cold was difficult.
Pros:
This Sprint model is one of the biggest non-self-propelled petrol lawn mowers that we’ve come across, with a wide 46cm cutting width and a spacious 60-litre grass bag, so you can mow for longer between empties and finish the job faster.
We think this mower is particularly ideal for people who are too busy to mow often and often have to tackle an overgrown lawn. The 92mm maximum cut height is around 15mm higher than any other mower on this list, so the mower can better handle long grass without cutting too much off at once (which is bad for grass health). There are 6 cut heights in total, so you can go much lower if you prefer.
You can rely on this mower season after season thanks to its durable steel build and its Briggs & Stratton 450E Series 125cc engine. Briggs & Stratton engines are renowned for being reliable and consistent in starting.
Cons:
Being a conventional push mower, this Sprint model takes more effort from you when mowing a large space.
The pull-cord start isn’t as reliable as an electric start.
Love Sprint as a manufacturer but prefer self-propelled mowers? You can upgrade to a self-propelled version of this exact lawn mower, which also has a ReadyStart feature to eliminate cord-pulling. See here: Sprint 460SPX Self-Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower 46cm
For folks who prefer to collect their grass clippings but want to limit their trips to the garden waste bin, we think the Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower is the best mower on offer.
This self-propelled petrol lawn mower has a massive 80-litre grass box – that’s bigger than any other mower on this list – that can hold more grass at once, so you can mow for longer with fewer empties. Plus, the 53cm cutting width means you can mow your lawn with fewer passes, and the powerful 4-stroke engine makes quick and easy work of mowing large spaces up to 1,800 m².
Quick Specs:
Brand: Einhell
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 53cm
Cutting height: 25-70mm
Weight: 40.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 80 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 170 x 75 x 103cm
Engine power: Not specified
Best For:
People who prefer to collect grass for the sake of a neat and tidy lawn, and want the biggest lawn mower grass box capacity to limit the emptying frequency when mowing a large garden.
What Customers Think:
The Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E isn’t as widely reviewed as the other mowers in this guide, but the reviews so far are promising, averaging a 4.3-star rating out of 5. Customers agreed that this mower is easy to assemble, quick to start (thanks to the electric start feature), and efficient for mowing large lawns. Some customers complained that the electric start doesn’t restart the mower after emptying the grass box.
Pros:
We think the Einhell GE-PM 53/2 S HW-E is ideal for people who want to mow a large lawn faster and with fewer interruptions. The mower is an efficient, practical solution for open areas of lawn thanks to its 53cm cutting width, and the 80-litre grass box holds more grass than any similar mower.
It’s easy to see when the grass does need emptying – just check the handy level indicator.
The four-stroke engine is powerful enough to mow lawns up to 1,800 m² and can handle long, thick grass with no hassle. The self-propulsion means you don’t have to put in the physical pushing effort when mowing a big space.
We think this mower has a good chance of lasting a long time with its robust, sturdy, lithium-ion body.
Cons:
This Einhell model is bulkier and less manoeuvrable due to its large grass box and very wide cutting deck, so it’s not ideal for lawns with tight corners, obstacles, or flower beds.
There’s only one speed of self-propulsion, which may not be compatible with your preferred walking speed.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on a self-propelled petrol lawn mower for large gardens, as proven by the Webb WER460SP, which costs a fraction of the price of its competitors.
This mower is a great size for mowing medium-t0-large lawns, with a 46cm cutting width and a powerful 141cc engine that’s designed for rough grass and uneven lawns, with a generous 55-litre collection bag that takes you further. Plus, there are seven heights of cut, so you can tailor your lawn height to your preferences.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Webb
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 46cm
Cutting height: 25-75mm
Weight: 33 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 55 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 78 x 54 x 44cm
Engine power: 141 cc
Best for:
Anyone with a smaller budget who needs a powerful, sturdy mower for cutting large gardens and wants to spend less upfront without compromising on quality.
What Customers Think:
The Webb WER460SP is a hit with customers, with a 4.4-star rating from more than 150 reviews. Customers praised the mower for its quick, 5-minute assembly, easy height adjustment, and great value for money – but some reviewers said that the mower was heavier than expected.
Pros:
We think this Webb mower’s obvious selling point is its affordability. If your budget is tight but you need a powerful solution for a large lawn, look no further.
You’ll find all the features you’re looking for in a mower for big gardens, including a wide 46cm cutting width with a big blade that cuts a larger swathe for speedy mowing, and the 141cc engine that gives a clean cut from start to finish, even on long or wet grass.
The self-propulsion feature takes the pushing work off your hands and makes the mower feel lightweight to use (essential for long mowing sessions), and the four large wheels offer great maneuverability over a variety of terrains.
You get 7 cut heights, from 25 to 75mm, so you have options for cutting overgrown grass when needed. You can choose to bag your clippings in the 55-litre collection bag, mulch them using the mulching plug (a super time-saving feature that means you don’t have to empty the bag or rake the clippings after mowing), or discharge to the side or rear.
Cons:
The collection box and cutting width aren’t the largest we’ve seen, so if you have a very big lawn, this mower isn’t our top recommendation.
There’s only one self-propelled speed, which might be too fast or too slow for you.
Want to stop mowing your large lawn altogether? A robot mower will do the hard work for you – and the WORX Landroid Robot Lawn Mower is our top recommended choice for autonomously mowing a big garden.
This beast of a mower is the most rugged and capable robot mower we’ve reviewed, designed for mowing gardens up to 2,000 m² and pre-programmed with a schedule that ideally suits your lawn size. The mower has more, and better, features than any of its competitors, including edge cutting (so you don’t have to get the strimmer out separately), large wheels to navigate all terrain, and cut heights from 20 to 50 mm.
Quick Specs:
Brand: WORX
Price: £££
Power source: Electric (battery-operated)
Cutting width: 18cm
Cut height range: 20-50mm
Weight: 14.01 kilograms
Grass box capacity: NA
Dimensions (DxWxH): 55.8 x 40.4 x 20.5cm
Power: 20V Lithium-Ion battery
Best For:
Folks with big lawns and big budgets who want to eliminate the need for manual mowing with the best, most capable and reliable robotic lawn mower.
What Customers Think:
The WORX Landroid is rated 4.2 stars on average from around 350 reviewers. Customers were pleased with this mower’s robust design and ability to mow big spaces, and the convenience of not having to collect the grass post-mow (the grass clippings are small enough to decompose naturally because the mower mows every 1-2 days). Some customers struggled with the mower setup.
Pros:
Most robot mowers are only intended for gardens up to 500-700m², but the WORX Landroid is suitable for mowing lawns as large as 2,000m², with the bulk, battery power, and intelligence for a big job.
The mower has a 20V rechargeable battery that’s plenty powerful for a large lawn (other robot mowers have an 18V battery as standard). The mower’s 22cm cutting width is a couple of centimetres wider than other robot mowers, too, so it covers more ground and takes less time to mow a big space.
There are so many other unique features that elevate this mower above similar models on the market, including the small, unobtrusive charging station, the smart self-programming that fine-tunes the mower’s cutting schedule based on your grass growth, and the off-set blades that allow for cutting right up to your lawn edges.
The mower connects to a Bluetooth app, so you can monitor its progress and schedule a manual mow if you think one is needed.
Cons:
Robot mowers are expensive as it is, but buying the largest mower for a big lawn will set you back over £1,500 – that’s too expensive for many people.
Setting up a robot mower is a learning curve if you’ve never done it before.
Methodology: How We Selected The Mowers In This Guide
Looking to learn more about how we selected and reviewed the mowers in this guide? Here’s our methodology to explain our process.
Step 1: Researching All The Products Available
First, we did a broad search online to find all the lawn mowers currently available that, based on features including their cutting widths and engine power, fit the description of mowers for large lawns. We made a list of these mowers and noted their most important features.
Step 2: Reading Customer Reviews
Our next step was to read customer reviews online to learn more about the mowers we’d found. We wanted to know off the bat about the customer experience with the available mowers for large lawns because a trend in positive or negative feedback helps us to decide whether or not a mower is worth our own review.
Step 3: Conversations With Manufacturers
For the mowers we decided to keep on our list, we compiled the data we needed for our comparisons, then contacted various manufacturers with further questions about the mowers in question. Our conversations with manufacturers helped us to fill important information gaps and assess the quality of the brand’s customer service.
Step 4: Testing A Selection Of Lawn Mowers
Finally, we tested a number of our shortlisted lawn mowers for large lawns. We reviewed all the mowers in this guide with the following ranking factors:
- Mowing speed & efficiency: 25%
- Ease of use: 20%
- Cut quality: 15%
- Price: 15%
- Manoeuvrability & weight: 15%
- Assembly & maintenance: 10%
📝 5 Features Of The Best Lawn Mowers For Large Gardens
Here are the five most important features to look out for on the best lawn mower for large gardens.
📐 Wide Cutting Deck
One of your top priorities when shopping for a lawn mower for large gardens is a wide cutting deck.
A mower’s cutting width is a measure of how wide the mower’s deck is. The wider the deck, the wider the mower blades, and the more ground the mower covers with every pass.
We recommend looking for a mower with a cutting width of at least 46cm if you have a large lawn. Some of the best mowers for large gardens have a cutting width of 51-56cm.
Mowing with a wider cutting width will help you save time when tackling a large space because the mower will give wider coverage with every lap, so you’ll be able to get the job done in fewer laps.
Keep in mind, though, that a mower’s width also affects its maneuverability. If you have lots of obstacles, tight bends, or small spaces to navigate in your lawn, you need to decide whether it’s more practical to look for a mower with the widest cutting deck or choose a slightly smaller mower that’s best suited to your space.
🚀 Self-Propulsion
Self-propulsion is another feature that we highly recommend on a lawn mower for large gardens.
A self-propelled petrol lawn mower will make mowing quicker and easier because you can set the mower to move forward independently, without being physically pushed by you. You can simply walk behind the mower and steer it in the right direction.
Large mowers for big gardens tend to be bulkier and heavier by default, but you won’t feel the extra weight while mowing if you choose a self-propelled model.
That means you can mow for longer without getting tired – essential if you have a big lawn – and you won’t over-exert yourself in tough mowing conditions, such as mowing long grass or inclines.
♻️ Mulching Function
If you want to minimize your mowing time and reduce interruptions while mowing a large lawn, we advise looking for a lawn mower with a mulching plug.
Mulching mowers have a special attachment that cuts grass into smaller pieces than when the grass is collected in the mower’s box or bag.
These smaller grass cuttings are dispersed along your lawn as you mow. You can leave them where they are – they’ll decompose within a few days and provide a source of nutrients to the growing grass on your lawn.
Mulching allows for faster, more efficient mowing than grass collection or rear/side discharge because you don’t have to stop to empty the grass box and you don’t have to rake up the clippings post-mow. This is especially ideal for mowing large gardens, which take longer to mow because you have more space to cover.
Not all mowers have a mulching function, but many of the best mowers on this list have multiple cut options, including mulching.
📦 Large Grass Box Capacity
If you do prefer collection to mulching, look for a lawn mower that has a large grass box capacity.
The bigger the grass collection bag or box, the more grass cuttings it’ll be able to hold at once. That means you can mow for longer periods before the grass collector needs to be emptied.
We recommend choosing a mower with a grass collector that’s at least 60 litres. Some of the best lawn moweers for large lawns have grass collectors with a 70-80-litre capacity.
A large grass box will weigh down your mower, especially when it’s full. But this won’t be a problem if you choose a self-propelled mower, which will take the strain off your back and shoulders while you mow.
🏎 Powerful Engine
Finally, make sure your chosen lawn mower for a big garden has a powerful engine.
You need a mower that will sustain a powerful performance and produce a high-quality cut from start to finish.
This is particularly important if you have a larger lawn, because you have more space to cover and you need a mower that can handle long periods of operation.
The best mowers on this list have engines sized up to 191cc, providing plenty of power for mowing large gardens, even with rough, long, and overgrown grass.
If you’re specifically looking for a cordless mower with battery operation, you need to focus on battery power. The bigger the battery, the more powerful the mower’s performance and the longer the battery life.
However, cordless mowers are typically less powerful than petrol mowers because they have a number of energy-conserving features to help extend their battery life. So, if your lawn has thick or long grass, a petrol mower is your best solution.
🧾 11 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Lawn Mower For Large Gardens
When you’re shopping for the best lawn mowers for large gardens, make sure to consider the following things:
💰 Your Budget
Before you start looking at lawn mowers, establish your budget.
The average price range for a lawn mower for large gardens is £240-£550.
The mower’s price depends on its features and mowing type. Petrol lawn mowers are cheaper than similarly-sized cordless electric mowers.
If you have the flexibility to purchase a mower on the higher end of the price scale, you’ll open yourself up to additional features that are particularly handy for mowing large lawns, like self-propulsion, a mulching plug, and an electric start (on petrol models).
If your budget is on the lower end, you can still find a large mower that’s good for your lawn size, but the mower’s engine will likely be less powerful, and it might not have self-propulsion or multiple-cut options.
🤷♂️ Your Preferred Mower Type
Your preferred mower type is another thing to consider when deciding between the best lawn mowers for large lawns.
There are three mower types that we recommend for cutting a large garden:
Petrol lawn mowers
Cordless lawn mowers (only self-propelled)
Robot mowers
Petrol mowers are ideal for large lawns because they’re more powerful than any other mower type, so they’re faster and provide a higher-quality cut, helping you to get the job done quicker and to a higher standard.
Ideally, look for a self-propelled petrol lawnmower, which will eliminate the arm work that goes into pushing the mower.
You can also consider cordless self-propelled lawn mowers if you can stretch your budget a little more, and robot mowers if money is no object.
We don’t recommend corded electric mowers because the cord will only get you so far, and using a super-long extension lead will simply reduce the mower’s power and act as an extra obstacle for you to navigate around, slowing down your mowing time.
Battery Rotary Mower
Corded Electric Rotary Mower
🚜 Front Vs Rear Wheel Drive
Most self-propelled petrol mowers are either front-wheel or rear-wheel drive.
For mowing a large garden with slopes or uneven spots, we recommend a rear-wheel drive lawn mower. This type of mower has the benefit of better traction because its power comes from the back.
Or, if you have a flat, even lawn with lots of obstacles or turns, a front-wheel drive lawn mower, which uses the front two wheels to propel the mower forward, will provide great maneuverability when mowing.
Got a particularly bumpy or uneven large lawn? Go for a four-wheel drive lawn mower, which has superior traction and maneuverability on all terrain.
📐 Cutting Height Range
Choosing a mower with multiple cut heights is important regardless of your lawn size.
Being able to choose between different heights of cut means you can cut higher if your lawn is overgrown, or cut lower if you want to achieve a neat, short cut.
Most of the lawn mowers on this list have at least 5 cut heights, and some have up to 7, typically ranging from 25 to 75mm.
The more cut heights a mower has, the more closely you can fine-tune your end result. Most people will be fine with a minimum of three cut heights – one for super-long grass, one for moderately tall grass, and one for a closer cut.
👨🏽🎓 Ease Of Use/Comfort
Comfort and ease of use are especially important in a lawn mower for a large garden.
You’ll be mowing for an extended time, so you need a mower that feels comfortable to push and doesn’t aggravate issues with your hands, wrists, neck, shoulders, or back.
We recommend looking for lawn mowers with an ergonomic handle that can be adjusted to your comfortable mowing height.
A self-propelled mower will also reduce the likelihood of neck or shoulder strain while you’re mowing because you won’t have to physically push the mower.
🏋🏼♂️ Lawn Mower Weight
Regardless of its comfort features, keep in mind that a lawn mower for large gardens will be heavier due to its larger, bulkier design.
The heavier the mower, the more difficult it’ll be to carry it in and out of storage and transport it to various parts of your garden.
The average weight of a petrol lawn mower for large gardens is 25-40 kilograms. Mowers with larger engines and additional features, including self-propulsion, are on the heavier end of this range.
Make sure you’re comfortable getting the mower in and out of storage, and make a plan for how to do this with as little effort as possible if you have mobility restrictions.
📡 Cutting Functions
We’ve mentioned that mowers with a mulching function can shave time of cutting a large lawn, but you might prefer to have the option to also collect grass or simply discharge the clippings on your lawn as you mow.
In this case, look for a mower that has multiple cutting functions that you can easily switch between depending on your circumstances and preferences.
We love mowers that mulch, but mulching isn’t always suitable, so it’s good to also be able to collect grass clippings in a grass collection bag or box.
It depends on what cutting style you think is most efficient for mowing your outdoor space – but it’s nice to have the option of both mulching and collection.
There’s another feature that you might find on some cordless and petrol lawn mowers: rear/side discharge. We don’t recommend using this feature because you’ll have to collect up the grass clippings after mowing, which will take an age if you have a huge space. Discharge isn’t the same as mulching – the grass cuttings are much larger and will smother your lawn if you leave them there.
✅ Design Quality & Durability
The design quality and durability of a lawn mower is also important to consider for mowing large gardens.
You need a sturdy, well-built mower that will withstand long mowing sessions and last season after season with only a small amount of normal wear and tear.
Most of the mowers on this list have a durable steel build. Steel is harder-wearing than plastic, although it is prone to rusting when stored in the wrong conditions.
Plastic is still durable, but it withstands less pressure than metal, so it’s not as well suited to mowing a large space.
🤼♂️ Manual Mowing Vs Autonomous Mowing
Manually mowing a large lawn takes a lot of effort, and you might ultimately decide that you would rather invest in a robot mower that will mow your lawn autonomously.
Robot mowers are expensive. If you want a mower that’s capable of cutting a lawn up to 2,000m² in size, you’ll have to be prepared to spend over £1,000 on the mower up front.
However, for many people, the perks of a robot mower outweigh the initial expense.
Robot mowers mow independently, meaning that once you’ve set up the boundary wire and programmed the mower’s interface, you don’t have to have any input in mowing your lawn again.
The mower will appear every one-to-three days to mow your grass, so it’ll never grow long, and the short, left-behind clippings will fertilise your lawn and keep it in great condition.
In our opinion, robot mowers offer the ultimate convenience, especially for mowing large lawns. Hopefully, once these mowers become more popular on the market, manufacturers will reduce their prices and make them more affordable for everyone.
📻 Additional Features
There are a few additional features that you might find on a lawn mower for large gardens, depending on the mower brand and upfront cost.
These include:
A rear roller – For achieving a striped lawn
Easy storage features – Including a foldable handle to reduce the mower’s footprint
Leaf collection – Collects and shreds leaves, saving you the hassle of raking them before mowing
Edge-cutting capabilities – Some mowers have grass combs that allow you to mow right up to the edge of your lawn
Generally, the more features a lawn mower has, the more expensive it’ll be. Think about the features you will genuinely use in a mower – there’s no need to spend as much money as possible on a mower with all the add-ons if your only priority is to cut your grass quickly!
🛠 Maintenance
If you have a large garden, there’s a good chance that you’ll end up with a petrol lawn mower.
A petrol mower is more like a car in the maintenance it requires: it needs regular servicing, including oil/fuel changes, checking/cleaning the spark plug, and cleaning the air filters.
Hate maintenance with a passion? Consider the alternative mower for large gardens: a self-propelled cordless mower.
Cordless mowers are easier to maintain than petrol mowers because they just have more basic maintenance requirements, including charging the battery before every use, and cleaning the mower deck once you’ve finished mowing.
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.