Trying to decide between corded and cordless electric lawn mowers?
In this corded vs cordless mower comparison guide, we’ve broken down what you need to know about both of these mower types, including how they work and their pros and cons, to help you choose the best option for your garden.
✅Key Takeaways:
The main difference between corded and cordless mowers is that corded mowers have an electrical cord, while cordless lawnmowers use a rechargeable battery.
You may prefer a corded mower if you don’t want to mow your lawn on a time limit.
Cordless mowers are best for folks who want to avoid the hassle of navigating around a cord.
Table of Contents
❓Are Corded Or Cordless Mowers Best? Short Answer
There is no definite best choice between cordless mowers and corded mowers, but each mower type is best for specific situations.
Choose a corded lawn mower if you don’t want the hassle of charging batteries or you like to take your time mowing your lawn rather than trying to do it all before the battery goes flat.
Choose a cordless lawn mower if you prefer the convenience of being able to mow at any distance away from your home and you want to avoid the hassle of navigating around a cord.
🤔What Are Corded Lawn Mowers?
Corded lawn mowers are a type of electric mower with a power cord.
When a corded mower is plugged in and switched on, you’ll be able to start the engine. The machine will only work when it’s plugged into a power source.
Most corded mower models have a 10-metre power cord, but they can be plugged into an extension cord to extend the distance they can travel from the power socket.
Pros of Corded Lawn Mowers
Corded electric mowers are more powerful because they get their power straight from the source.
You can run a corded mower as long as you need to – there’s no cutoff point as long as you have power.
You don’t have to charge batteries in advance, so your mower is ready to go whenever you need it.
There’s no heavy battery, so corded mowers tend to be the lighter option and better for folks with mobility restrictions.
A corded mower is cheaper than a cordless model.
Cons of Corded Lawn Mowers
The running cost of a corded mower is higher.
Navigating around a cord can be annoying.
There’s only so far you can move away from the power plug before the cord reaches its maximum range.
If you have a medium-to-large garden, you’ll probably need to buy a long extension cord, at extra hassle and expense.
- Brand: Flymo
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 34cm
Cutting height: 25-65mm
Weight: 11.2 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 35 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 47.5 x 39 x 95cm
Power: 40-V battery (2x 20V)
- Brand: Hyundai
Price: ££
Power source: Electric corded
Cutting width: 38cm
- Cut height range: 20-70mm
Weight: 13.79 kilograms
Grass box capacity: 40 litres
Dimensions (DxWxH): 42 x 37 x 107cm
Power: 1600 W
🔌 What Are Cordless Lawn Mowers?
Cordless lawn mowers are another type of electric mower that runs off a rechargeable battery.
The battery sits in a compartment in the mower and is removed and placed in a special charger for charging.
Most cordless lawn mowers come with two batteries, each with a lifespan of around 35 minutes. That means you should get up to 70 minutes of mowing with two fully-charged batteries.
Pros of Cordless Lawn Mowers
On average, it’s cheaper to charge batteries for a cordless mower than it is to operate a corded mower plugged into your power.
Ditching the cord means it’s easier to navigate around obstacles, and you can take the mower as far from your home as you want without needing an extension cord.
Plus, because there’s no cord to accidentally mow or trip over, cordless mowers are safer than corded models.
The battery life of a cordless lawn mower is ideal for small gardens.
Cons of Cordless Lawn Mowers
A cordless mower costs about £250-400 more than a comparable corded model because of its convenient design.
You’ll need to remember to charge the batteries before you get your mower out.
You only get around 1 hour of total run time before you’ll have to recharge both batteries. That means cordless electric mowers aren’t the best for big gardens.
Rough lawns cause the battery to die faster.
The large battery contributes to the mower’s weight. Battery-operated mowers tend to be heavier than corded models.
The rechargeable batteries don’t last as long as the mower. Most need replacing after 7 years of use.
Buying new batteries is an expensive business.
🧐Corded Vs Cordless Mowers: Main Differences
Let’s take a look at the main differences between corded and cordless lawn mowers.
🛠 Maintenance
Both cordless and corded mowers require the same maintenance as any electric mower, including sharpening the mower blades, making sure all nuts, bolts and screws are tightened, and replacing worn or damaged parts when necessary.
A cordless lawn mower has one additional maintenance task: battery charging. While a corded lawn mower will work at any point as long as it’s plugged in, a cordless mower will only work when the battery is charged.
Most battery-powered models come with two lithium ion batteries, so you can use one while the other is charging. The average charging time for a single battery is 1 hour. Battery charging isn’t difficult maintenance, but remembering to charge your cordless mower’s battery before use might be a hassle.
Verdict: A corded lawn mower is lower maintenance than a cordless mower because it doesn’t have a battery to charge.
🏁 Mowing Range
Cordless mowers technically have a larger mowing range than corded models, but both have their limitations.
A corded electric mower is restricted by the length of its power cable. You can extend your mowing range with an extension cord, but keep in mind that the electrical resistance in a cord longer than 100 feet will reduce the motor power and prevent it from being able to properly cut your grass.
A cordless lawn mower doesn’t have the restriction of a lead, so you can take it as far as you like from your home – but it is restricted by battery life. So, you could mow in a straight line as far as you wanted with this type of mower, but it’d eventually cut off when the battery ran out.
Verdict: Cordless models allow you to go physically further away from your home, but their battery limitations mean they’re restricted in a different way.
🟢🟩 Size & Design
Corded and cordless mowers are similar in design, size, and appearance.
However, cordless models have a dedicated chamber for the battery, so they’re slightly bulkier and heavier than corded mowers.
The average weight of a cordless lawn mower battery is 3-10 pounds, depending on the battery size. The bigger the battery capacity (i.e. the longer its run time), the larger and heavier it’ll be, so it’s not always best to choose the lightest-weight model you can find.
Despite its extra weight, a cordless mower is still easy enough to maneuver. To compare, cordless mowers are still around 20 to 30 pounds lighter than gas mowers.
The cordless mower design is also more convenient because there’s no cord to be concerned with, so you’re not tethered to a power supply and you won’t cut your path off with the cable.
Verdict: Corded electric mowers are up to 10 pounds lighter than cordless models because they don’t have a heavy battery. However, cordless lawn mowers have a more convenient design.
💰 Cost
What costs more: a cordless or corded electric lawn mower?
A cordless lawnmower is the higher-priced mower of the two because of the perks of its cordless design and the cost of two expensive batteries included with the mower. However, the price jump isn’t significant – usually around £60 compared to a comparable corded model.
The cost of maintaining a cordless electric mower is also higher because of its need for battery replacements.
You’ll need to buy new batteries for your mower every 5-7 years, so this isn’t a super-frequent cost – but it’s still more than you’ll pay for a corded lawn mower. You might choose to buy additional batteries, too, so you always have spares if one runs out.
However, it costs more to run a corded electric lawn mower than a corded model. A conventional corded lawnmower costs 40-80p per hour when it’s in use, compared to the cost of charging a cordless mower’s battery, which is just pennies.
Verdict: A cordless mower is about £40-£60 more expensive than a corded electric mower upfront. Cordless mower models also cost more to maintain, but they’re cheaper to run.
💪 Performance Power
If you want the most powerful mower that gives the best-quality cut, we recommend a corded lawnmower.
Corded mowers connect right up to the power source, so they’re more powerful than cordless models, which store all their power in a single battery.
However, you should still get enough power from a cordless lawnmower to cut your grass in a normal situation – it just might struggle more with long grass compared to a corded model.
Verdict: Corded mowers are more powerful than cordless lawnmowers, but this power difference is minimal and shouldn’t make a difference for most small-to-medium lawns.
📊Which Mower Is Best For Which Lawn Type, Size, & Use Points?
Wondering what type of lawn mower you should choose based on your lawn type?
We’ve outlined the common UK lawn types, sizes, and use points, and which mower is best for each, below.
| Electric Corded Mowers | Cordless Mowers | |
|---|---|---|
| Power Source | Mains electricity | Battery |
| Mobility | Limited by cord length | Cordless and more mobile |
| Operation time | Unlimited | Limited by battery life |
| Battery lifespan | N/A | Limited by battery lifespan |
| Maintenance | Low | High (recharging battery) |
| Noise level | Relatively loud | Quieter |
🏔 Rough Terrain & Uneven Surfaces: Corded Lawn Mower
Corded electric lawnmowers are the best choice for rough terrain and uneven surfaces. They offer an endless supply of power that won’t drop no matter what terrain you’re dealing with.
On the other hand, a cordless lawn mower’s motor will have to work harder on rough, difficult, and uneven surfaces, causing the battery to drain faster – not ideal if you want to get the job done as quickly as possible.
🤏 Small-To-Medium Gardens: Both Mower Types
Both corded and cordless models are a good choice for small-to-medium gardens.
A cordless mower is ideally suited to smaller lawns because the battery capacity should be just enough for a complete mow.
You can simply pop the charged battery in the mower, cut your grass, and put the mower back in storage, with no need to deal with the hassle of a cable.
Corded lawnmowers are also a good solution for small-to-medium gardens because their cables should be long enough to allow you to cover the entire lawn without having to use an extension lead.
🏕 Large Gardens: Neither Mower Type
If you have a very large garden, we don’t recommend a corded mower or a corded mower. Both have their disadvantages when used in large spaces.
The problem with using corded lawnmowers in big gardens is that you’ll need a fairly substantial extension lead to give you extra room to mow as far and wide as you need to.
A cordless lawn mower presents its own problems: while it isn’t restricted by a lead, it’s only able to mow for around 30 minutes before the battery runs out, so it’s not the best choice for gardens that are any bigger than half an acre.
For the sake of speed, power, and convenience, gas-powered mowers are generally best for very large gardens.
🏪 Commercial Purposes: Corded Electric Lawnmower
In most commercial situations, a corded electric mower is the best solution. You get a fast, powerful performance, a better cut, and 100% reliability, which is essential if you want to set a certain standard to impress your customers.
The only exception is if you need to mow in remote areas that don’t have accessible power sockets. In this case, it might be best to bring a cordless mower – along with a stash of charged batteries – to get the job done. However, we think that gas mowers would probably be better in this respect.
And, of course, if your mowing area is bigger than standard garden size, a ride-on mower will likely make a lot more sense.
🔌🔋 Should You Choose A Cordless Mower Or A Corded Mower?
When deciding on whether to buy a corded mower or a cordless mower, consider your own personal preferences.
It’s worth asking yourself the following questions:
Would I rather avoid the hassle of battery charges but deal with the inconvenience of a power cable, or would I prefer to charge batteries than have my mower constantly plugged in?
How far of a distance from the nearest power socket do I need to mow? Would I be happy to use an extension cord or would it be easier for me to use a battery-operated mower?
Can I stretch my budget to consider a cordless mower or can I get better value from a corded model?
Ultimately, the decision is yours – and you probably won’t regret it either way. When it comes down to it, corded mowers and cordless mowers offer essentially the same performance, and they balance one another out with their individual benefits and inconveniences.
Just remember, regardless of the mower type you’re drawn to, make sure to spend your money wisely on one of the best-reviewed mowers from a reputable company. The last thing you want is to be let down by a poor-quality product.
Pros And Cons Of Electric Mowers In General
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Environmentally friendly - no gas emissions | Need to be plugged in at all times |
| Quiet operation compared to gas-powered mowers | Power cord can be a hindrance and limit movement |
| Low maintenance and easy to start | Not ideal for large lawns |
| Lightweight and easy to maneuver | May not have as much cutting power as gas-powered mowers |
| No need to store fuel or perform oil changes | May not have as long of a lifespan as gas-powered mowers |
🤷♀️ Corded Vs Cordless Mower FAQ
🛑 What is a major disadvantage of the battery operated lawn mower?
The biggest disadvantage of a battery-operated mower is that the battery has a limited capacity. Many cordless mowers will only run for 35 minutes, max, before the battery runs out. If you have a moderately-sized garden, you might not be able to finish cutting before the battery dies.
🔋 How long do corded electric lawn mowers last?
Corded electric mowers last about 10 years, or up to 15 years with good care. In terms of running time, they last as long as you need them, providing you have a consistent supply of electricity.
🔌 What are the cons of a corded lawn mower?
Some cons of a corded lawn mower are that they use slightly more power than battery-powered models, they’re tethered by a power cord, and you might need to buy an extension lead to give you plenty of cable length to cut a medium-to-large garden.
⛈ Can I mow wet grass with an electric mower?
No, it’s wise to avoid mowing grass that is wet with an electric mower. Not only will wet grass clog your mower, but it’ll also increase your likelihood of electrocution. As with all electrical appliances, water and electricity don’t mix. It’s safest to wait for a dry day to get the lawn mower out.