Looking for the best affordable, durable lawn mower for a small garden? We’ve researched and compared all the popular lawn mowers available today to make this list of the best lawn mowers for small gardens.
Brand: Bosch
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 32cm
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Weight: 6.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 31 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 35.5 x 6.5 x 6.5cm
Power: 1200 W
- Brand: Gardena
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 22cm
Cut height range: 30-50mm
Weight: 6.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: N/A
Dimensions (DxWxH): 38 x35 x 12.5cm
Power: 18 V battery (not included)
- Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 32cm
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Weight: 9.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 30 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 42.9 x 15.7 x 37cm
Power: 1000 W
- Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Electric cordless (battery-powered)
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 30 litres
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Dimensions (DxWxH): 111.8 x 37.6 x 90.4cm
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
- Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded (hover)
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Cut height range: 10-30mm
Grass box capacity: 20 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 57.1 x 31.9 x 29.1cm
Power: 1700 W
- Brand: Webb
Price: £
Power source: Manual
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 9.1 kilograms
Cut height range: 10-40mm
Grass box capacity: 17 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 53 x 39 x 27cm
Power: N/A
- Brand: Flymo
Price: £££
Power source: Electric (battery-operated)
Cutting width: 16cm
Weight: 6.9 kilograms
Cut height range: N/A
Grass box capacity: N/A
Dimensions (DxWxH): 54 x 49 x 38cm
Power: 18V Lithium-ion battery
Table of Contents
Best Lawn Mowers For Small Gardens
Best Overall & Best Corded Electric: Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Rotary Lawnmower
Best For Tiny Lawns: Gardena Battery Lawnmower HandyMower
Best Budget-Friendly For Small Lawns: Einhell GE-EM 1032 Electric Lawnmower
Best Cordless For Small Lawns: Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower
Best For Bumps & Unusual Lawns: Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Collect Lawn Mower
Best Manual Mower: Webb WEH30 Sidewheel Manual Hand Push Cylinder Lawnmower
Best Robotic Mower: Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower
📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Mowers
Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart
| Brand | Price | Power source | Cutting width | Cut height range | Weight | Grass box capacity | Dimensions (DxWxH) | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Lawnmower | £ | Electric corded | 32cm | 20-60mm | 6.8 kilograms | 31 litres | 35.5 x 6.5 x 6.5cm | 1200 W |
| Gardena Battery Lawnmower HandyMower | ££ | Battery | 22cm | 30-50mm | 6.2 kilograms | N/A | 38 x35 x 12.5cm | 18 V battery (not included) |
| Einhell GE-EM 1032 Electric Lawnmower | £ | Electric corded | 32cm | 20-60mm | 9.2 kilograms | 30 litres | 42.9 x 15.7 x 37cm | 1000 W |
| Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower | ££ | Electric cordless (battery-powered) | 30cm | 20-60mm | 8.8 kilograms | 30 litres | 111.8 x 37.6 x 90.4cm | 40-V battery (2x 20V) |
| Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Collect Lawn Mower | £ | Electric corded (hover) | 30cm | 10-30mm | 8.8 kilograms | 20 litres | 57.1 x 31.9 x 29.1cm | 1700 W |
| Webb WEH30 Sidewheel Manual Hand Push Cylinder Lawnmower | £ | Manual | 30cm | 10-40mm | 9.1 kilograms | 17 litres | 53 x 39 x 27cm | N/A |
| Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower | £££ | Electric (battery-operated) | 16cm | N/A | 6.9 kilograms | N/A | 54 x 49 x 38cm | 18V Lithium-ion battery |
| Brand | Price | Power source | Cutting width | Cut height range | Weight | Grass box capacity | Dimensions (DxWxH) | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Lawnmower | £ | Electric corded | 32cm | 20-60mm | 6.8 kilograms | 31 litres | 35.5 x 6.5 x 6.5cm | 1200 W |
| Gardena Battery Lawnmower HandyMower | ££ | Battery | 22cm | 30-50mm | 6.2 kilograms | N/A | 38 x35 x 12.5cm | 18 V battery (not included) |
| Einhell GE-EM 1032 Electric Lawnmower | £ | Electric corded | 32cm | 20-60mm | 9.2 kilograms | 30 litres | 42.9 x 15.7 x 37cm | 1000 W |
| Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower | ££ | Electric cordless (battery-powered) | 30cm | 20-60mm | 8.8 kilograms | 30 litres | 111.8 x 37.6 x 90.4cm | 40-V battery (2x 20V) |
| Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Collect Lawn Mower | £ | Electric corded (hover) | 30cm | 10-30mm | 8.8 kilograms | 20 litres | 57.1 x 31.9 x 29.1cm | 1700 W |
| Webb WEH30 Sidewheel Manual Hand Push Cylinder Lawnmower | £ | Manual | 30cm | 10-40mm | 9.1 kilograms | 17 litres | 53 x 39 x 27cm | N/A |
| Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower | £££ | Electric (battery-operated) | 16cm | N/A | 6.9 kilograms | N/A | 54 x 49 x 38cm | 18V Lithium-ion battery |
⭐ Reviews – Best Lawn Mowers For Small Gardens 2023
In our opinion, the Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Lawnmower is the best lawn mower for small lawns. We think this mower is the best-value choice for folks looking to speedily mow a small garden thanks to its powerful 1200-watt engine and lightweight design – and at a bargain price of just £80.
You’ll find all the features you need in a capable, durable mower for small lawns, including a 32cm cutting width that covers more space per lap without being too bulky to turn, a foldable handle for neatly storing in small sheds, and an adjustable cutting height from 2 to 6cm, so you can get the perfect cut height based on your preferences.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Bosch
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 32cm
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Weight: 6.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 31 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 35.5 x 6.5 x 6.5cm
Power: 1200 W
Best For:
Anyone who wants to spend their money sensibly on the best-value lawn mower for small gardens, with better features, a sturdier design, and a more powerful performance than most comparably priced mowers.
What Customers Think:
The Bosch Rotak 32R currently (at the time of writing) has more reviews than any other mower on Amazon, with an average 4.3-out-of-5-star rating – so it’s certainly popular. Reviewers were pleased with this mower’s quick assembly, easy storage, and powerful performance. The grass box could do with work, though – a few customers said that it was flimsy.
Pros:
You won’t find a better lawn mower for a small lawn. This Bosch model has everything we value in a mower for small gardens, including a slim build that makes it easy to maneuver and get into tight spots, space-saving design features, and a quiet motor that shouldn’t disturb your neighbors.
The Rotak 32R weighs just 6.8 kilograms – that’s lighter than most of the mowers on this list – so you won’t put your back out hauling it around and it’s suitable for use by people over the age of 60 and folks with mobility restrictions.
Small size doesn’t have to mean a weak motor. This mower’s 1,200-watt motor is surprisingly powerful and is more than capable of cutting even longer, thicker grass.
We love to see the 2-year warranty, especially since you can extend it by an extra year if you register the mower online with Bosch.
Cons:
There are a few parts of the Rotak 32R mower that could be more sturdily designed, such as the grass box.
The lightweight design of this mower means it’s a struggle to keep the front end down when mowing over uneven ground.
If you only have a tiny lawn smaller than 50 m² or a patch of grass in front of your home that you need to keep tidy, the Gardena Battery Lawnmower HandyMower is our top recommended mower for you.
This compact mower is only as big as it needs to be, so it won’t take up valuable storage space in your shed, and it’s easier to carry and transport than a conventional mower. You still get all the essential features of any high-quality mower, including three adjustable cutting heights and a powerful battery-operated motor.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Gardena
Price: ££
Power source: Electric cordless (battery-powered)
Cutting width: 22cm
Cut height range: 30-50mm
Weight: 6.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: N/A
Dimensions (DxWxH): 38 x35 x 12.5cm
Power: 18 V battery (not included)
Best For:
Folks with small cutting areas who don’t want the excess bulk or hassle of a conventional mower and prefer the convenience and portability of the best lawn mower for tiny lawns.
What Customers Think:
Customers awarded the Gardena mower a respectable 4.3 stars, praising the mower for its ease of use and cleaning, and its suitability for gardeners with back issues. However, a few customers pointed out that they would prefer to buy the battery with the mower, rather than as a separate purchase.
Pros:
We love how compact and convenient this mower is compared to a conventional mower. It’s much slimmer, without the bulk of a standard-sized model, and at 6.2 kilograms, it’s lightweight enough to push with just one hand.
The mulching function is a major benefit of this mower. Gardena understands that you don’t want the extra hassle of a heavy grass collection box when you’re mowing a tiny space, so the mower’s mulching blade cuts grass up smaller than normal and disperses the clippings across your lawn as a natural fertilizer.
You get a great-quality cut from this mower at a height that suits you, with three cutting heights (from 3 to 5cm) to choose from.
Cons:
The HandyMower doesn’t come with a battery – it’s sold separately.
This mower isn’t the best at handling long or thick grass due to its smaller blades and battery operation.
Buying an affordable lawn mower shouldn’t mean compromising on quality. We’ve found that the best budget-friendly mower for small lawns is the Einhell GE-EM 1233 Electric Lawnmower.
This mower is the cheapest on this list, costing just £70 – but it still boasts all the best features of a £100 corded electric mower, including a 32cm cutting width for speedy mowing of lawns up to 300 m² with fewer laps, and a roomy 30-litre grass box to reduce emptying frequency, so you can get the job done faster. Its 1,000-watt motor isn’t quite as powerful as our top-pick Bosch model’s, and it’s around 3 kilograms heavier, but it’s still an unbeatable mower for price alone.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 32cm
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Weight: 9.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 30 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 42.9 x 15.7 x 37cm
Power: 1000 W
Best For:
Anyone with a small budget or people who want to spend as little as possible on a reliable, capable electric mower for a small garden.
What Customers Think:
The Einhell GE-EM 1233 is another respected mower on Amazon, with an average star rating of 4.4. Customers praised the mower for its compact design and easy maneuverability, as well as its affordable price point. However, a few reviewers complained that the user manual was poor and didn’t provide clear assembly instructions.
Pros:
We think this mower has a lot going for it considering its low price. It has a sturdy yet compact frame, and the 32cm cutting width offers the ideal balance between mowing quickly with fewer back-and-forth runs and easy turning and maneuverability.
You still get all the performance features you need in a mower for smaller lawns, including three cutting heights (from 3 to 7cm), a roomy grass collection box, and a foldable handle for simple storage in a small shed or outhouse.
No need to sacrifice purchase protection for a mower that costs less upfront. The GE-EM 1233 comes with a 2-year warranty, or 3 years if you register online with the manufacturer.
Cons:
The motor is slightly less powerful at 1000 watts, so it might struggle with longer, thicker grass compared to other models.
The mower’s slightly heavier design (just under 10 kilograms) might not suit you if you’re looking for the most lightweight model for easy use and storage.
Based on our research, we recommend the Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower as the best battery-powered lawn mower for small gardens.
This cordless mower eliminates the hassle of a power cord, so you can mow freely without having to watch your path – but you don’t have to compromise on power or performance. The EasiStore mower’s powerful 20-volt battery means it does a great job of mowing grass of various thicknesses and heights, and the large 35-litre grass box reduces your trips to the compost heap, so you can finish up faster.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Electric cordless (battery-powered)
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 30 litres
Cut height range: 20-60mm
Dimensions (DxWxH): 111.8 x 37.6 x 90.4cm
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
Best For:
Folks looking for the best battery-operated lawn mower for small gardens that isn’t tethered by a power cable and allows for free mowing in any location.
What Customers Think:
The Flymo EasiStore electric mower has an overall star rating of 4.2, and reviewers were pleased with the mower’s ease of assembly and powerful performance, and the convenience of using a battery-operated model. However, some customers said their batteries didn’t last as long as advertised.
Pros:
We think this Flymo mower’s biggest benefit is the fact that you can take it anywhere, whether that’s around the front or back of your home, to a family member’s garden, or to an allotment, without having to worry about plugging in a power cord. Simply charge the battery and start mowing.
You get about 35 minutes out of a charged battery – plenty for a small lawn. The 30cm cutting width means you won’t waste time with too many laps of your lawn, but there’s a second battery included in the upfront cost, so you can swap one for another if you like to take your time on the job.
It’s great to see a built-in rear roller to achieve a striped lawn with no extra effort as you mow.
The warranty for this mower is a decent 2 years.
Cons:
Folding and storing the mower is more difficult than it should be due to the stiff handle.
The price of this Flymo model is an obvious disadvantage. It’s over double the price of the corded electric mowers on this list. You pay for the convenience of cordless operation.
Hover mowers are a great choice for unusually shaped small lawns, bumpy surfaces, or gardens with lots of obstacles and tight spaces – and our top pick for the best mower in this category is the Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Collect Lawn Mower.
This mower floats on a cushion of air rather than sitting on four wheels, so you can freely move it in any direction. Plus, it has a 1,700-watt motor – very impressive given its compact size and 30cm cutting width – so it’s more powerful than any other mower on this list and should handle longer grass or thick terrain with ease.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded (hover)
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Cut height range: 10-30mm
Grass box capacity: 20 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 57.1 x 31.9 x 29.1cm
Power: 1700 W
Best For:
Anyone who has a bumpy or unusually-shaped small lawn and wants the most agile, easily-maneuverable hover mower for the job.
What Customers Think:
The Flymo EasiGlide 300 has a 4.4-star average rating from thousands of reviews and users agreed that this mower is the most powerful, reliable hover mower for small gardens. Customers praised the mower for its easy assembly and even mowing – but some reviewers said that cleanup took longer due to the mower’s inefficient grass collector.
Pros:
There are a few specific advantages of using a hover mower like the Flymo EasiGlide 300 for your small lawn: it’s lightweight and agile and can be moved in any direction for convenience, and won’t leave wheel ruts in your lawn.
The mower’s agility and maneuverability make it a great choice for lawns with lots of obstacles, unusually-shaped lawns, or gardens with tight spaces, and it’ll do a good job of cutting a bumpy lawn because the mower floats above the grass, so won’t get knocked about on uneven terrain.
The 1,700-watt motor is super powerful and should power the blades to cut even tough, thick grass with ease.
The 2-year warranty is a great vote of confidence from the manufacturer.
Cons:
Flymo EasiGlide 300’s hover design reduces its efficiency in collecting grass cuttings, so there’ll be more grass to remove from your lawn after mowing.
The 20cm grass collector is a bit smaller than the other compact mowers on this list, so you’ll need to empty it more frequently.
Manual mowers are ideally built for small gardens thanks to their small, convenient size and their ability to mow your lawn without access to a power outlet or battery charging. We’ve found that the Webb WEH30 Sidewheel Manual Hand Push Cylinder Lawnmower is the best manual mower for a small lawn because it’s narrow, lightweight, and compact.
This mower uses a cylinder blade with a mulching function, which means you can remove the front-facing grass box to cut out the hassle of emptying while you mow. Instead, fine grass clippings will shoot out of the front of the mower and be dispersed across your lawn – a great natural lawn fertilizer.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Webb
Price: £
Power source: Manual
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 9.1 kilograms
Cut height range: 10-40mm
Grass box capacity: 17 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 53 x 39 x 27cm
Power: N/A
Best For:
Anyone with a small, flat lawn who’s looking for the best manual mower that eliminates the hassle of batteries and power cables and allows for quick, easy lawn mowing with no messing around.
What Customers Think:
The Webb WEH30 is another mower that’s averaging at 4.3 stars on Amazon, with reviewers agreeing that this mower is sturdy, easy to use, and built to last, with sharp, durable blades that cut cleanly and neatly. However, some customers warned that using this mower to cut long grass is difficult.
Pros:
We think the Webb WEH30 is ideally designed for small lawns. It doesn’t have the bulk of a conventional mower, and has a tight turning circle that makes it easy to maneuver in small or tight spaces. Plus, it’s lightweight at 9.1 kilograms, and slim enough to store in a vertical position in your shed.
You get all the unique benefits of a manual mower, including soundless mowing that won’t disturb your neighbours, free operation without the electricity costs of running a corded mower or charging a battery-powered model, and an environmentally-friendly performance that doesn’t emit toxic fumes as you mow.
You can enjoy a better quality of cut thanks to the cylinder blade. A cylinder mower cuts grass more cleanly than a conventional electric rotary mower, and there are also four cutting heights to choose from (between 1 and 4cm).
Using the Webb WEH30 couldn’t be easier. No need to plug it in or charge its batteries – just position it on your lawn and get started. Changing the cutting height is easy, too, thanks to the adjuster knobs on either side.
Cons:
Like any manual mower, the Webb WEH30 isn’t a good choice for folks with bumpy lawns, or anyone who lets their grass grow long between cuts. It’ll produce an uneven cut on bumpy lawns and will be too difficult to push on grass over 10cm tall.
We have a few issues with the grass box: it’s pretty small and has an open top, so it needs emptying frequently and doesn’t collect all the clippings (some will fly out of the sides). We recommend this mower for mulching instead – it’s much better at that, and your grass will thank you for it.
Robotic lawn mowers are the ultra-convenient solution for lawns of any size – and in our opinion, the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO is the best root mower for small gardens available today.
You can choose between eight different mower sizes depending on your lawn size. For most smaller lawns in the UK, the 150 GO – intended for lawns up to 150m² – is ideal. Or, upgrade to the 200 GO or the 250 GO if your garden is slightly bigger. This autonomous mower cuts your grass entirely independently, so you can wave goodbye to your lawn mowing duties for good.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: £££
Power source: Electric (battery-operated)
Cutting width: 16cm
Weight: 6.9 kilograms
Cut height range: N/A
Grass box capacity: N/A
Dimensions (DxWxH): 54 x 49 x 38cm
Power: 18V Lithium-ion battery
Best For:
Anyone who wants to ditch their lawn mowing duties and rely on the best robot lawn mower to provide a high-quality autonomous cutting performance based on a predetermined schedule.
What Customers Thin:
The Flymo EasiLife 150 GO is one of the most popular robot mowers, with an average rating of 4.3 stars and praise from customers for its good coverage, high-quality cut, and ability to mow on a variety of terrains. However, as with any robot mower, customers mentioned that this mower struggles with longer grass and can get confused when mowing lawns with lots of obstacles.
Pros:
There are a few reasons why we think this robot mower is better than the other robotic lawn mowers for small gardens. It’s more affordable than similar models and offers more features than the more basic robot mowers, including remote scheduling and monitoring via the Flymo Bluetooth app.
We get the hype of robot lawn mowers: they truly are a premium lawn mowing solution, and the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO is one of the models with the best track record. You can count on the mower to make an appearance every 1-3 days to mow, so you’ll always enjoy a neat, manicured lawn.
We’ve seen a few robot lawn mowers that can’t handle slopes or uneven turf, but this Flymo model is capable of navigating bumps and rough terrain with an incline of up to 25%.
Cons:
The biggest setback of this mower is price. Most mowers for smaller lawns are suitable for small budgets, but even the smallest Flymo EasiLife model will set you back around £550.
Setting up this mower, as with any robot mower, takes some work. You’ll need to place the boundary wire around your lawn, download the Bluetooth app and connect your mower, and establish a mowing schedule.
📡 4 Features Of The Best Lawn Mowers For Small Lawns
Wondering which features you should look out for in a mower for a smaller lawn? We’ve shared four must-have features to look out for below.
🏡 Space-Saving
If your lawn is small, you probably also have a small shed or outhouse with limited space for your gardening tools.
For that reason, it’s important to find a small lawn mower that’s compact and suitable for storing in tight spaces.
The best lawn mowers for small gardens have space-saving features, like foldable handles to reduce their footprint, and hooks for hanging them from walls, helping you to save valuable floor space.
🤏 Slim
Mowing in a small space means you have less room to turn, and your garden might have a few tight spots that a big, bulky mower simply won’t fit in.
Prioritizing maneuverability will help you to mow your lawn quickly and efficiently, so stick to slim, compact mower models that have a small turning circle.
The best small lawn mower models for smaller gardens have a cutting width of around 30-32 cm, which allows for efficient mowing in fewer laps without making it difficult to turn at either end of your lawn.
🏋🏻♂️ Lightweight
If you find a mower that’s slim and space-saving, it’s likely also lightweight – another convenient feature for mowing small gardens.
A lightweight mower is easier to use and requires less arm strength, which is important when mowing a smaller lawn, which requires more frequent turns at the end of each lap.
Ideally, a good small lawn mower shouldn’t weigh any more than 10 kilograms, so it’s easy to push on rough grass or sloping lawns.
Manual mowers tend to be the most lightweight option available, but keep in mind that these rely on your pushing power to turn the blades, so they offer more resistance than electric and battery-powered mowers.
🎧 Quiet
If you have a small lawn, there’s a good chance that you’re in closer proximity to your neighbours than someone with a vast, sprawling field of a back garden.
So, it’s worth making sure you find a lawn mower that’s on the quieter end of the spectrum, so you won’t disturb your neighbours’ peace – or damage your eardrums!
All mowers for domestic use have a low-decibel operation and sound-muffling features that make them suitable for home gardening. The best small lawn mowers are generally quieter than their larger counterparts because their motors are smaller and run more quietly.
If you want to avoid any sort of noise while you’re mowing, opt for a manual lawn mower, which has a virtually soundless operation.
🧾 7 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Lawn Mower For A Small Garden
Now you know what to look for in the best lawn mower for a small garden, let’s move on to the more general considerations you should make before spending your money:
💰 Your Budget
First and foremost, you need to have a budget.
Most small mowers for smaller gardens cost £70-£175 on average. These mowers are typically cheaper than average because they have smaller motors and narrower cutting widths.
The cost of the mower depends on the power type, with corded electric mowers and manual mowers being the most affordable option.
Battery-powered mowers cost more because of their expensive batteries. The best cordless lawn mower for small gardens costs around £200-£275.
Make a note of your budget before you start your search. That will mean you can narrow down your search within your price range, so you’re less likely to get tempted by an expensive model that you can’t afford.
The more flexible your budget, the more options you can consider. If you’re open to any mower type, regardless of cost, consider a robot mower, which offers the ultimate convenience of automated lawn mowing.
But if you just want a conventional mower, there’s no need to spend a fortune – you can get a great electric mower for a small lawn, with a powerful motor and all the necessary features, for less than £100.
🤷♂️ Your Preferred Mower Type
Budget aside, you might be drawn to a particular mower type due to personal preference.
The best mower types for small gardens are electric mowers, cordless mower models, hover mowers, manual mowers, and robot mowers.
We’ve shared an overview of each of these mower types, and in what circumstances you might choose a particular mower, below.
Corded electric mower – For folks who want a mower that’s affordable, powerful, and easy to use.
Hover mower – For people who have awkwardly shaped lawns or lots of obstacles to maneuver around, and want a mower that can be easily moved in any direction.
Cordless lawn mower – For anyone who doesn’t want the hassle and potential safety issues of a mower with a cord.
Robot mower – For folks with high budgets who are prepared to spend hundreds of pounds on a mower that will alleviate their need to mow their lawns manually.
Manual push mower – For people who are happy to put a bit of extra effort into lawn mowing for the perks of electricity and battery-free operation.
You might also prefer a certain mower type for how it looks, how much space it takes up, and its specific features (such as the cylinder blade on a manual mower or the lack of wheels on a hover mower).
We haven’t included petrol lawn mowers on this list because, although they’re the most powerful option, they’re also the loudest, the heaviest and bulkiest, and the most in need of frequent maintenance, so we think they’re not worth the hassle for a small lawn.
📐 Cutting Width & Heights
You’re searching for the best mower for small gardens, so we know already that you have a smaller lawn.
But there are still differences between mower cutting widths within this category, so it’s important to choose the right-sized mower for the space you need to cut.
If your garden is smaller than 50 metres squared, a mower with a narrower cutting width of around 30 cm or less will be perfect. You’ll get the job done quickly with a mower of this size, without the bulk and maneuverability issues of a larger model.
If your garden is around 150-200 metres squared, consider a mower with a slightly wider cutting width of 32 cm, which will cover more ground and speed up your mowing without making it too hard to turn the mower and get into tight spots.
As for cutting heights, look for a mower with at least three different height options – ideally five-to-seven.
The more cutting heights a mower has, the better you can cut grass to your tailored specifications. So, if you have very long grass, to avoid damaging your grass by cutting too much at once, you could mow once on a higher setting, then once again on a lower setting.
👷🏻♂️ Safety
Safety is something you should prioritize in any mower, and the best mowers for smaller gardens should all have the necessary features to greatly minimize your risk during operation.
A few of these features include:
A rear guard to prevent objects (like your feet) from coming into contact with the spinning blade
A safety lever that shuts off the motor if you let go of the handle during mowing
These features are legal requirements for mowers sold in the UK. So, you know you’ll be protected from harm if you ever trip, lose control of the mower, or let go of the handle.
Some mower types might have unique safety features specific to their design, such as robot mowers, which have features to stop the blades spinning if they’re lifted, a low centre of gravity to prevent them from toppling on inclines, and sensors that detect objects and direct them away, preventing impact.
👀 Appearance
The appearance of the best small lawn mower isn’t as important as its features and performance capabilities. However, you probably still want your mower to look attractive, not ugly, when it’s out on your lawn.
Different brands have different colour schemes, including orange, red, blue, green, and black.
Generally, mowers for small gardens are slim, compact, and streamlined.
You might have a personal preference for certain colours or design features, so consider what you like when you’re choosing a suitable model. You’ll be more inclined to get the mower out if you can admire its appearance while you’re mowing.
📡 Additional Features
There are a few additional features that you might find on a mower for smaller lawns, depending on the mower type.
For instance, an electric or cordless lawn mower might come with a rear roller, to give you lawn stripes as you mow.
Or, the mower might have a mulching function, so you can eliminate the hassle of filling and emptying grass clippings from a grass collection bag.
A cordless mower might come with an additional battery to double the battery life – a useful feature if you like to take your time when you’re mowing.
And finally, compact mowers for small gardens should have easy storage features, like foldable handles and hooks for hanging them from walls.
Make a list of the features that you’re interested in, which will help you to narrow down your selection when you’re choosing between similar mowers.
🏠🛠 Your Installation & Maintenance Preferences
The good news is that the average push mower for a small garden is easy to set up and doesn’t have many maintenance requirements.
A conventional electric mower will just need its blades sharpened about once a year, or when you deem it necessary.
A cordless lawn mower is the same, except it also needs battery charging (typically after every mower use, depending on battery life).
Robot mowers will handle battery charging themselves, but they have more blades, which need sharpening and replacing more frequently.
Manual mowers just need their cylinder blades sharpened around twice a year.
There are a few things you can do to reduce your mower’s maintenance requirements, including:
Avoid mowing long grass or thick, overgrown lawns
Store the mower in a dry location between uses
Clean the mower base and grass collector thoroughly after every mowing session
All mower types require some form of maintenance, but if you’re only mowing a small lawn, your mower use time will be lower, which will reduce general wear and tear and minimize your maintenance duties.
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.