Looking for a great-value rotary lawn mower to cut your grass in the UK? In this guide, I’ve shared my top recommendations for the best lawn mowers with rotary blades, based on their quality of performance, durability, customer feedback, and overall value for money.
Brand: Bosch
Price: ££
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 34cm
Cut height range: 20-70mm
Weight: 11.09 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Power: 1300 W
Brand: Webb
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 33cm
Cut height range: 25-65mm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Power: 1300 W
Brand: Hyundai
Price: ££
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 38cm
Cut height range: 20-70mm
Weight: 13.79 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Power: 1600 W
Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cut height range: 25-65mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
Brand: Mountfield
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 39cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 19 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 78.5cm x 47cm x 106.5cm
Engine power: 123cc
Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 51cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 29 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 96cm x 38cm x 101cm
Engine power: 140cc
Table of Contents
Best Rotary Lawn Mowers
Best Overall: Bosch Rotak 34R Electric Lawnmower
Best Budget: Webb Classic WEER33 Electric Rotary Lawnmower
Best Electric: Hyundai HYM3800E Corded Electric Rotary Lawnmower
Best Cordless: Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower
Best Petrol-Powered: Mountfield HP41 Petrol Lawnmower
Best Self-Propelled: Murray EQ2-500X Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
📊 Comparison Chart of Best Rotary Lawn Mowers
| Product | Brand | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Cut Height Range | Weight | Grass Box Capacity | Power | Dimensions (DxWxH) | Engine Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Rotak 34R Electric Lawnmower | Bosch | ££ | Electric corded | 34cm | 20-70mm | 11.09 kg | 40 litres | 1300 W | - | - |
| Webb Classic WEER33 Electric Rotary Lawnmower | Webb | £ | Electric corded | 33cm | 25-65mm | 8.8 kg | 35 litres | 1300 W | - | - |
| Hyundai HYM3800E Corded Electric Rotary Lawnmower | Hyundai | ££ | Electric corded | 38cm | 20-70mm | 13.79 kg | 40 litres | 1600 W | - | - |
| Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower | Flymo | ££ | Battery | 34cm | 25-65mm | 11.2 kg | 35 litres | 40-V battery (2x 20V) | - | - |
| Mountfield HP41 Petrol Lawnmower | Mountfield | ££ | Petrol | 39cm | 25-70mm | 19 kg | 40 litres | - | 78.5cm x 47cm x 106.5cm | 123cc |
| Murray EQ2-500X Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower | Murray | £££ | Petrol | 51cm | 25-70mm | 29 kg | 75 litres | - | 96cm x 38cm x 101cm | 140cc |
⭐ Reviews – Best Rotary Lawn Mowers of 2024
In my opinion, the Bosch Rotak 34R Electric Lawnmower is the best overall rotary mower available today.
From my own experience using the mower, I think it’s one of the most reliable and durable rotary lawn mowers in the affordable price range available today. The fact that you get 1,300 watts of power, a decent 34cm cutting width, and a high-capacity 40-litre grass box for just over £100 is undeniably impressive.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Bosch
Price: ££
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 34cm
Cut height range: 20-70mm
Weight: 11.09 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Power: 1300 W
Best For:
Anyone with a smaller lawn who’s looking for the best-value, most efficient lawn mower that’s easy to use and helps to keep lawn maintenance as hassle-free as possible.
Pros:
When I tested the Bosch Rotak 34R Electric Lawnmower, I was impressed with its lightweight design (it weighs just 11 kilograms) which makes it a breeze to manoeuvre, so I could squeeze into tight spots and turn the mower effortlessly – even with my limited turning space.
Setup took no time at all. While I do have a lot of experience in mower assembly, I think the Rotak 34R shouldn’t present any major assembly challenges for most people. And when I started the mower the first time, I was pleasantly surprised with how quiet the motor is. No need to worry about disturbing your neighbours with a gratingly loud engine.
I was also impressed with the mower’s 1,300-watt cutting power, which is plenty for a mower of this size. After several runs of my lawn, I determined the quality of cut to be high – grass was cut cleanly every time, without the uneven cut of a less powerful mower, and I appreciated being able to adjust the cutting height right down to 20mm for a closer cut.
The mower’s compact design makes it easy to store in limited space. I didn’t have to make much room in my shed for the mower, and the handle folds to further minimize its footprint.
Not forgetting my favourite aspect of this Bosch model: its value for money. It offers all the essential features of a rotary mower at a lower price point than similar models, so you can spend less upfront and enjoy the same powerful, reliable performance that you’d get on a more expensive model.
Cons:
The grass box is a bit flimsy.
Some of the grass ended up back on the lawn when I was mowing, so this Bosch model isn’t 100% efficient in collecting grass.
If you have a smaller budget but don’t want to compromise on performance quality, longevity, or motor power, I think you can’t go wrong with the Einhell GE-EM 1233 Electric Lawnmower.
Like the Bosch Bosch Rotak 34R, this Webb model has a 1,300-watt motor. Its cutting deck is slightly narrower (by 1 centimetre) and its grass box is 5 litres smaller, but it’s also cheaper, at less than £100 upfront. Some of the features of this mower that I love are the 5 cutting heights (so you can adjust according to your preferences), and its super lightweight 8.8-kilogram design for easy manoeuvrability.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Webb
Price: £
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 33cm
Cut height range: 25-65mm
Weight: 8.8 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Power: 1300 W
Best For:
People with smaller budgets who are looking for an affordable rotary lawn mower with a high-quality design and powerful motor for smaller lawns.
Pros:
I’ve found that spending less money upfront on a lawn mower sometimes means you end up with a design that simply won’t last (the saying “buy cheap, buy twice” definitely applies here), but in this category, the Webb WEER33 doesn’t disappoint. The mower has a sturdy design that feels nicely weighty in your hands – it’s clearly built to last.
With that said, at just 8.8 kilograms, this Webb model is effortlessly easy to zip around a smaller garden. Mowing tight corners and weaving around flowerbeds was easier than with the Bosch model, which has virtually the same cutting width but is almost 3 kilograms heavier.
Assembly-wise, I was able to get the mower out of the box and up and running within 15 minutes. The height adjustment is a useful feature and lets you cut as high as 65mm (handy if you’ve let your grass grow long before a cut). I was pleased with the quality of cut – and the lack of effort it took to achieve a mown lawn!
I found the WEER33 easy to store in my shed thanks to its space-saving design, and the folding handle is useful, even if it takes a bit more effort because you have to unscrew it first.
Cons:
The height adjustment feature needs some tweaking. I found it fiddly to use, and it wasn’t always obvious what height setting I was on.
The cable is black, which means it blends in with my lawn. I’d prefer it to be a bright orange or yellow colour so it’s always obvious where it is, reducing the risk of mowing over it.
I came across the Hyundai HYM3800E when I was reviewing electric rotary mowers, and it impressed me so much that it became my pick as the best corded electric rotary mower for UK lawns.
This mower has a more powerful 1,600-watt engine and a wider cutting deck of 38cm, so it covers more ground with every pass – I’d say it’s best for small-to-medium lawns. There were a few unique features of this mower that I was pleased to see, too, including a rear roller, which you can pair with the lowest cut setting for a manicured, striped lawn.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Hyundai
Price: ££
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 38cm
Cut height range: 20-70mm
Weight: 13.79 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Power: 1600 W
Best For:
People with medium-sized gardens who want the best rotary electric mower that makes quick and easy work of cutting grass, while still being lightweight enough to easily manoeuvre.
Pros:
From my firsthand experience testing the Hyundai HYM3800E, I felt that it offered good value for what you get. I’ve always got on well with Hyundai’s mowers for their ease of use, and the HYM3800E is no different – it’s been carefully designed so that every aspect of using the mower, from adjusting the height to the physical pushing, is as simple as possible.
I loved the additional features included with this mower, including the mulch plug (so you can bypass the grass box and save time by mulching straight back onto your lawn) and the rear roller (for those oh-so-appealing lawn stripes). You won’t find these features on other entry-level electric lawn mowers.
I found the assembly process pretty easy, which is significantly aided by the installation video (there’s a link to the video in the user manual). If you’re a visual learner like me, you’ll appreciate being able to see exactly where the components are supposed to go.
The 1,600-watt motor makes this Hyundai model more capable of cutting thick or long grass. I tested it on the highest setting on a patch of long grass near my lawn border and it cut and collected the grass with ease.
Cons:
Something I did notice was that the roller didn’t seem to make much of a difference, so I question whether it’s even worth including. It needs to be bigger and weightier to leave noticeable stripes with every pass.
I also struggled with collecting all the grass with this mower. Once again, a small percentage of the cut grass clippings ended up on my lawn, and I had to re-mow these areas to collect up the grass.
Based on my testing, the best cordless lawn mower with rotary blades is the Flymo EasiStore 340R Li Cordless Rotary Lawn Mower.
This Flymo model proves that battery-powered mowers are worth paying attention to, with a powerful 40-volt battery, a large 35-litre grass box, and three optional cutting heights. Plus, it costs less than £200 (at the time of this review), so it’s on the lower end of the price scale for a mower of its kind.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cut height range: 25-65mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
Best For:
Anyone specifically looking for the convenience of the best battery-powered rotary lawn mower for a small-to-medium lawn.
Pros:
I’ve tested a few battery-powered mowers in the past that simply can’t compete with corded models, power-wise, but the Flymo EasiStore gives electric mowers a run for their money with its powerful 40-volt battery. The cut quality is superb, and I didn’t feel the mower struggling on thicker or longer grass.
If you’ve only ever used coded rotary lawn mowers until this point, you’ll love the freedom and flexibility of the EasiStore mower’s cordless design. I find that setup and the actual mowing process are easier when you don’t have the faff of getting your extension lead out and navigating around the cord while mowing.
I found that battery life was another advantage of this Flymo model. A single battery lasts at least 35 minutes, and there are two batteries included in the box. My advice is to keep them both charged, so you can switch from one battery to the other if you’re cutting a big area.
At 11.2 kilograms, the EasiStore is actually lighter than some of the electric models we’ve reviewed, even with the extra weight of the battery. I had no issues using this mower on my lawn’s steep hill or getting around my flowerbeds.
Cons:
If I’m honest, battery mowers – even the best models, like the Flymo EasiSrore – aren’t for everyone. You might not want the extra task of making sure the mower battery is charged before every use.
I found the height adjustment a bit fiddly. Rather than using a lever to make the adjustment, you have to squeeze and move the wheel axles.
If you’re looking for the best petrol-powered rotary lawn mower, I think the Mountfield HP41 Petrol Lawnmower can’t be beaten.
After trying out this petrol push mower myself, I found it to be the ideal size and power for medium-sized lawns, with a wide 39-centimetre cutting width and 123cc engine that made much quicker, easier work of cutting my grass than any electric rotary mower I tested.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Mountfield
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 39cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 19 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 78.5cm x 47cm x 106.5cm
Engine power: 123cc
Best For:
Anyone who prefers the additional speed and power capabilities of the best petrol rotary lawn mower that’s more affordable than the larger models on the market.
Pros:
During my own testing, I found that the Mountfield HP41 is more capable when it comes to performance and cut quality. The mower’s powerful 123cc engine outshines standard electric mowers and cuts grass the first time around, so I only had to go over my lawn once, without the back-and-forth of a less powerful mower type.
The quality of my cut grass was exceptional, and I appreciated having the choice between 5 cut heights (the cut height adjustment system is easy to use, if not a little flimsy).
Value for money is another thing that I love about this Mountfield mower. If your lawn isn’t giant, I don’t think you need to spend £300+ on a self-propelled petrol mower, when a conventional push mower like the HP41 will still offer the speed and efficiency benefits of a petrol engine- and at less than £250.
I was pleased with the mower’s ease of use, too. As a petrol lawn mower, its assembly process involves a few more processes than an electric model, but setup is still relatively quick and painless, despite the unhelpful user manual. Throughout my testing period, the mower started on the first or second pull, so you shouldn’t have to waste time or energy cranking the cord.
Cons:
One of the setbacks of the Mountfield HP41 I noticed was that it’s not the most robust petrol mower out there. It has a plastic-heavy design, similar to most electric mowers, while other petrol mowers use more durable metal design materials.
As I mentioned above, I also found the instructions in the user manual to be pretty poor.
I recommend the Murray EQ2-500X as the best self-propelled petrol rotary lawn mower for anyone who wants a powerful, reliable mower to use on a larger lawn.
During my testing, I found this mower to be great quality and reliable. It starts and runs well, and the powerful 140cc engine cuts grass effortlessly and provides plenty of drive to the self-propulsion system, which eliminates the effort of physically pushing the mower along your lawn.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Murray
Price: £££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 51cm
Cut height range: 25-70mm
Weight: 29 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 75 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 96cm x 38cm x 101cm
Engine power: 140cc
Best For:
People looking for the best lawn mower with a petrol engine and self-propulsion in the rotary mower category, which is designed to minimize the time and effort of cutting a medium-to-large lawn.
Pros:
I always appreciate the convenience of self-propulsion, and the Murray EQ2-500X ticked my boxes in this department. Its self-propelled system means you simply walk behind the mower and steer, which I found invaluable from a manoeuvrability perspective.
I found the engine to be a good starter, and in my experience, the mower handled thicker grass with ease (no engine stalling as you might get with less powerful mowers). The sizeable 75-litre grass box limited my trips to the garden waste bin – or you could switch to the mulching plug if your grass is relatively short already and you’d rather not empty the box at all.
This mower is ideal if you want to cover more ground and shave time off mowing a larger lawn. I found the 51cm cutting deck a good size for increasing my mowing efficiency, without being so wide that tighter spots are a struggle. It’s not too heavy, either, at around 29 kilograms, so getting it in and out of storage shouldn’t isn’t a big hassle.
Cons:
I found it a bit frustrating to have to work at the pre-set self-propulsion speed, which is quite fast (a brisk walking pace). I wish there was a way to adjust the forward speed.
The assembly instructions are really bad. Thankfully the setup process is pretty quick and easy – just fix the handlebar and fill the fuel and oil. There’s an online video that’s much better than the instructions.
🧾 Buyer’s Guide: How I Picked The Mowers In This Guide, What To Consider When Buying A Rotary Mower, & More
If you want to know more about my testing process for the rotary lawn mowers in this guide, keep reading.
🟩 My Lawn
Here’s some information you should know about my testing location: my lawn.
My garden is slightly bigger than the average UK garden, but half of it is taken up by a catio (not pictured), so the lawn area itself is fairly small.
There’s a gentle, short slope towards the middle of the lawn. I have flowerbeds at the bottom of the lawn, and a manhole I have to be careful cutting around.
As you can see, my lawn is by no means perfect. It’s a blend of grasses and clover at the moment. Buttercups and daisies pop up in the spring and early summer months.
🧐 Methodology: How I Shortlisted The Mowers In This Guide
Here, I’ve outlined the processes I used to shortlist the mowers featured in this guide.
Step 1: Researching All The Products Available
First, I took to Google and researched all the rotary lawn mowers available. There were hundreds – as you can imagine! I made a list of all the mowers I found, along with their defining features, using the information readily available online.
I compared the list of mowers and their key performance features, and was able to reduce the list by over half straight away. Rotary mowers that didn’t offer a performance in line with their competitors at the same price point were eliminated.
Step 2: Reading Customer Reviews
Next, I looked on marketplaces like Amazon and DIY sites like B&Q to find customer reviews about each mower.
These reviews gave me information that I couldn’t find from the product description alone, including a mower’s ease of use, durability, and generally how it lived up to customer expectations. They also gave me an insight into the manufacturer’s customer service, since some customers had stories to share in that respect. At this stage of the process, I eliminated rotary mowers with repeatedly poor feedback.
Step 3: Conversations With Manufacturers
Step 3 of my methodology involved contacting manufacturers, posing as a regular customer, to gather some of the information that I couldn’t find online. This gave me more data to use for comparison purposes and also enabled me to have a first-hand experience with customer support teams.
From these conversations, I further reduced my list of shortlisted mowers based on the new information that I’d gathered. I also eliminated mowers sold by manufacturers that offered poor-quality customer support – including a few that never responded to my emails or messages!
Step 4: Personally Testing Our Shortlisted Mowers
Finally, I purchased all the mowers on this list and used them in my own garden. I gave each mower a minimum of three test runs before forming a definitive opinion of its performance.
I used the following ranking metrics when testing the shortlisted lawn mowers:
✂️ Quality Of Cut: 30%
Since the whole point of buying a lawn mower is to efficiently and capably cut a lawn, quality of cut was my number one metric when ranking the rotary mowers in this guide.
💰 Price: 20%
In my opinion, value for money is another really important feature in a rotary lawn mower. You want the mower to be priced according to the quality of its design and features, so cost was the second-most important consideration I made when producing this review.
🔌 Ease Of Use: 20%
Regardless of your age or fitness level, you want a rotary lawn mower to be easy to use. I considered a mower’s weight, manoeuvrability, cutting width, and ease of using specific features (like the cut height adjuster) when determining its overall ease of use.
🔩 Design Durability: 20%
The quality and durability of a mower’s design go hand-in-hand with its overall value for money, so I looked specifically for rotary lawn mowers with sturdy, solid designs when making this list.
🛠 Assembly & Maintenance Requirements: 10%
The easier a mower is to assemble and maintain, the better. Ease of assembly and maintenance was the final important metric I considered when making this guide.
🤷♂️ What Are Rotary Mowers?
Rotary mowers are lawn mowers that cut grass with a single horizontally spinning blade.
Most lawn mowers for domestic use are rotary. You can find a variety of mower types, including electric lawn mowers, petrol lawn mowers, and battery-powered lawn mowers, with rotary blades.
🤔 How Are Rotary Mowers Different From Cylinder Mowers?
Rotary mowers are different from cylinder mowers because they cut grass with a single spinning blade rather than several vertically spinning blades.
A rotary mower is better equipped to cutting longer, thicker grass, and the price of rotary mowers is significantly cheaper than the price of cylinder mowers, which are usually used for commercial purposes (such as mowing golf courses).
Check out a comprehensive list of differences between rotary and cylinder mowers in our rotary vs cylinder mower guide.
Rotary Lawn Mower
Cylinder Lawn Mower
🧾 5 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Rotary Lawn Mower
Before you buy a rotary lawn mower, make sure to consider the following things:
💰 Your Budget
Start by considering your budget.
The average cost of a rotary lawn mower is £75-£350. Price depends on several factors, including:
The mower size
The mower power type
The mower’s features (including non-essential features like a rear roller and grass combs)
We’ve discussed these factors in more detail later.
📏 Mower Cutting Width/Your Lawn Size
Also consider your required lawn mower cutting width based on your lawn size.
The bigger the mower and the wider the cutting deck, the more ground the mower will cover per lap, and the faster you’ll get the job done. But that doesn’t mean that a large mower is best for all situations. If you have a small lawn, a smaller mower with a narrower cutting deck will be best for turning in smaller spaces and getting into narrow spots.
Check out our lawn mower size guide to learn what size lawn mower you need for your garden.
🦾 Mower Power Type
There are various different types of mowers available today. The most common rotary lawn mower power types are:
Petrol mowers
Battery mowers
Electric corded mowers
Make sure to consider the right type of mower for your situation.
Generally, I recommend a corded electric lawn mower for people with smaller lawns. Or, if you don’t like being restricted to a cord, upgrade to a cordless lawn mower.
I think a petrol lawn mower is best for you if you have a large lawn or you just want the most efficient way to cut your lawn, particularly if you often end up cutting longer grass.
You might also want to look for additional features to enhance your lawn mowing experience. Some petrol-powered mowers are self-propelled, reducing the physical effort of pushing the mower.
🧰 Assembly & Maintenance Requirements
Make sure to check a mower’s assembly and maintenance processes before you spend your money.
If you want a mower that’s easy to set up and requires minimal maintenance, go for a battery or electric lawn mower.
If you don’t mind a few extra setup and maintenance tasks, including filling the oil and fuel tank, cleaning the spark plug, and other engine maintenance jobs, you can also consider a petrol lawn mower.
💬 Customer Feedback & Manufacturer Reputation
Finally, make sure the rotary lawn mower you choose has plenty of positive customer feedback.
All manufacturers want to convince you that they’re selling the very best lawn mowers available today, but customer reviews might tell you otherwise.
My general rule of thumb is to only buy a mower with at least 100 reviews on Amazon, with a minimum star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
✅ Is A Rotary Mower Right For You?
If you answer “yes” to at least 5 of the following questions, a rotary lawn mower should be right for you:
Would I rather spend a few hundred pounds on a lawn mower than thousands?
Equally, do I have a flexible budget that stretches to afford my preferred mower power type?
Is my main priority to get my grass cut as quickly and efficiently as possible, without the increased mowing frequency required by a cylinder mower?
Am I looking to mow in a residential situation (i.e. my back garden) rather than commercially (i.e. golf courses and sports pitches)?
Do I prefer to have a smaller, lighter-weight model that’s easier to store in my garden shed?
Am I prepared for the maintenance jobs required by a rotary mower, including sharpening the rotary blade around once per season?
Do I want to have the choice between different mower power types and additional features, including a rear roller, grass combs, a mulching plug, and self-propulsion?
🏁 Final Word
I wrote this guide because I’ve spent the past 10 years using, testing, and comparing my fair share of rotary mowers, and I knew I could offer valuable insight into the best models currently available for UK lawns. Hopefully, my reviews inspire you to make a considered purchase, or at the very least help you to better understand the features to look for in the best rotary lawn mowers. Happy shopping!
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.