Best lawn mowers 2024: 11 designs for lawns and budgets of all sizes

Finding the perfect lawn mower can be a daunting task with numerous options available. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the different types of lawn mowers to find the ideal fit for your garden. From push mowers to robotic models, we'll explore the features, benefits, and considerations of each type.

Whether you have a small urban garden or a large property, we'll provide the knowledge and insights you need to make an informed decision. Join us as we uncover the best lawn mowers to transform your outdoor space into a pristine sanctuary.

Looking to achieve a flawless lawn this summer? Discover the best lawn spreaders that will assist you in evenly applying fertilizer and grass seed, ensuring a beautifully manicured result.

The best lawn mowers to buy in 2024

Bosch AHM 38 G Hand Push Cylinder Lawn Mower

Best budget push mower for small gardens

Key specs:

• Weight: 6.9kg
• Cutting width: 38cm
• Cutting heights: 3 adjustable
• Collection bag: 25L
• Range/capacity: N/a

Perfect for petite gardens – this lightweight mower is especially easy to manoeuvre around your green space and should be just as easy to store away as it wont take up much space in your shed.

It's hand-powered which brings with it a set of advantages, including the fact there are no cables to trip over, no wires to run from inside your house and no petrol needed. This also means it's especially transportable so can be carried to any corner of your garden.

With an impressive 25 litre collecting storage box and three adjustable cutting heights, this is great value for its simple design and excellent functions.

Pros: Affordable, easy to store, eco-friendly.

Cons: More hard work than powered models.

Customer review: "Works extremely well on my small lawn. Easy to construct once I got the logic of it. Glad now to not be using fossil fuels."

See our pick of the best push mowers

AL-KO 38.1 HM Comfort Hand Mower

Best push mower for simplicity

Key specs:

• Weight: 7.7kg
• Cutting width: 38cm
• Cutting heights: 14-35mm
• Collection bag: No
• Range/capacity: N/a

If you're looking for something that's both simple and sleek so you can tackle ling grass on a quiet morning, you can't go far wrong with the AL-KO 38.1 HM Comfort Hand Mower.

A manual hand mower that is especially easy to use and importantly, it's designed to be comfortable too which means it can be used over an extended period of time.

Cut your lawn and enjoy a workout at the same time. The five blade spindle moves quietly and without any exhaust emissions, making it perfectly suitable for use in small gardens.

Pros: Lightweight, sleek, quiet.

Cons: More hard work than powered models.

Customer review: "I bought this for my garden which is about 70 x 30ft [...It's] a really good product and I did the whole garden in under 40 minutes. Blades are really sharp and the lawn is now like a carpet. Absolute bargain and it folds up nicely to go in the shed."

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Hyundai 46cm Petrol Lawnmower

Best versatile mulching mower

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Key specs:

• Weight: 34kg
• Cutting width: 46cm
• Cutting heights: 25-75mm
• Collection bag: 70L
• Range/capacity: 2.6kW (3.5hp) capacity Hyundai OHV 4-stroke 139cc Euro II engine, lawn size: 200m2

With a petrol-powered motor, the Hyundai OHV 4-stroke 139cc Euro II engine in this mower guarantees effortless starting and minimal fuel consumption. Its 2.6kW (3.5hp) capacity, combined with a 46cm cutting width and rear wheel drive, makes it ideal for spacious lawns.

The mower offers multiple cutting options, including mulching, rear discharge, and side discharge. It also provides six cutting heights ranging from 25mm to 75mm. Additionally, for non-mulching situations, a 70L grass-collector bag is included, reducing the need for frequent emptying while allowing uninterrupted mowing.

Pros: Multiple mulching options, self-propelled, low fuel-consumption.

Cons: Large and heavy.

Customer review: "Great delivery, easy to erect, strong and sturdy, quiet and extremely light to use. Excellent quality."

See our pick of the best mulching lawn mowers.

Bosch CityMower 18

Best lightweight cordless mower

Key specs:

• Weight: 9.9kg
• Cutting width: 37cm
• Cutting heights: 30-60mm
• Collection bag: 31L
• Range/capacity: 300m2

The CityMower, with its compact size and convenient storage capabilities, is the ideal choice for individuals with small-to-medium lawns. The Bosch 'Power For All' 18V battery and charger allow for approximately 40 minutes of runtime, covering an impressive area of around 300m2 (note that this must be purchased separately).

What sets this mower apart is its compatibility with a wide range of Bosch cutters, strimmers, and power tools, thanks to the interchangeable battery system. It's lightweight design, reputable brand, and battery interchangeability make it an attractive choice for those seeking a reliable and convenient solution for their small-to-medium lawns.

Pros: Compatible with other Bosch tools, eco-friendly, lightweight.

Cons: Not the best for large lawns.

Customer review: "Easy to put together and up and running in no time. Gives a really nice cut and I love the way it can cut so close to edges."

See our pick of the best cordless mowers.

GardenTek Corded Electric Mulching Mower

Best affordable mulching mower

This mower is a great choice if you want mulching power at a lower price than you'd usually find. It comes from Hyundai, and it's got a 10-metre power cable, so it's best suited to small and medium-sized lawns.

Other benefits are the five adjustable cutting heights and the rear roller, which helps create a smart striped look in your lawn. We also love the lightweight design of this mower; it's under 13kg in total, so it shouldn't be difficult to move it around your garden.

Customer review: "Easy to adjust height, easy to attach catcher, wide cutting zone, light and easy to maneuver."

WORX WG779E.2

Best cordless mower for battery life

Key specs:

• Weight: 12.1kg
• Cutting width: 34cm
• Cutting heights: 20-70mm
• Collection bag: 30L
• Range/capacity: 460m2

Introducing the WORX WG779E.2, a versatile mower that operates on its own battery system. This mower includes two 20V 'Powershare' batteries and a convenient double charger, providing an impressive cutting range of 460m2. The batteries can also be used in other tools from the same manufacturer, adding to their versatility.

With the Intellicut system, you have the flexibility to adjust the power according to the grass thickness. Boost the power for tackling tougher grass and reduce it for lighter trims, extending the range of the mower. The WG779E.2 stands out with its large cutting capacity and the ability to fold down for convenient storage.

Prospering from its compatibility with a battery system, this mower offers a seamless experience. While it may come at a higher price point, its exceptional features and cutting performance make it a valuable investment.

Pros: Large range, flexible cutting power, compatible battery system.

Cons: More expensive.

Customer review: "This is lightweight and easy to use. No hassle with classic long cables as batteries used."

Looking for more cordless garden tools? Check out the best cordless strimmers we've found.

WORX WR141E M500 Landroid Robotic Mower

Best value robotic mower

Key specs:

• Weight: 9kg
• Cutting width: 18cm
• Cutting levels: 20-50mm
• Collection bag: No
• Range/capacity: 500m2

The Landroid is a cutting-edge robotic mower that revolutionizes lawn care. With a 500m2 cutting capacity and Worx's 'Cut To Edge' technology, it ensures precise coverage without missed edges.

This intelligent device features an onboard processor connected to cloud computing, enabling it to learn and calculate your lawn's specifics for efficient grass cutting. It even receives weather updates to avoid mowing during rain.

The Landroid offers module compatibility for additional features like obstacle detection and a Find My attachment. While not waterproof, its lawn mapping, weather features, and expandability make it a smart choice for hassle-free mowing.

Pros: Lawn-mapping, weather feature, opportunity for extra features.

Cons: Not waterproof.

Customer review: "My grass has never looked as good or been as healthy, the little clippings dropping into the grass seem to be good for it."

See our pick of the best robotic mowers.

Gardena Sileno Life

Best robot mower for large gardens

Key specs:

• Weight: 8.3kg
• Cutting width: 22cm
• Cutting levels: 20-50mm
• Collection bag: No
• Range/capacity: 1000m2

The Gardena Sileno Life is a high-performance robotic mower that sets a new standard in lawn care. With a cutting capacity of 1000m2 and impressive manoeuvrability, it effortlessly handles inclines up to 35 degrees. Unlike other models, the Sileno is completely waterproof, enabling it to mow even during rain showers and easily withstands cleaning with a hose. Its ability to navigate tight spaces, including narrow pathways, is unmatched. Control and customize your mowing schedule using the Bluetooth app. Despite its power, the Sileno promises to operate quietly enough for you to use it at night time.

Pros: Large range, waterproof, quiet operation, works well in intricate spaces.

Cons: Price.

Customer review: "Key factors which make this mower stand out a bit [are its] very quiet operation, automatous operation, and associated app."

Stihl RMA 235 cordless lawn mower

Best quiet lawn mower

Key specs:

• Weight: 14kg
• Cutting width: 33cm
• Cutting levels: 25-65mm
• Collection bag: 30L
• Range/capacity: 300-400m2

Awarded the Quiet Mark certification, the Stihl RMA 235 cordless lawn mower operates at a quiet 89db, it ensures peaceful mowing sessions during summer evenings without disturbing neighbours.

With a 33cm cutting width, it suits smaller lawns perfectly. The flow-optimized blade effortlessly trims grass while conserving battery power. The grass catcher box features an innovative design that allows easy opening and emptying, with a convenient level indicator to signal when it requires emptying. The mower's foldable handlebar and carrying handle ensure convenient storage and transportation.

The mower comes complete with its own Stihl AK20 lithium-ion battery and charger. The AK20 battery delivers a cutting range of 300m2, while the optional AK30 battery extends it to 400m2.

Pros: Quiet Mark certification, flow-optimized blades, foldable for easy storage.

Cons: Not the best for larger gardens.

Customer review: "I’m quite particular on my front lawn, the Stihl made it a breeze to cut at a level height."

See our pick of the best quiet lawnmowers.

Mountfield MTF 84M Petrol Ride-On Lawn Tractor 352cc

Best value ride-on lawn mower

Key specs:

• Weight: 159kg
• Cutting width: 84cm
• Cutting levels: 25-80mm
• Collection bag: 200L
• Range/capacity: 4.3kw (5.80hp), lawn size: 3000m2

Mountfield are the go-to choice for a durable, robust ride-on mower. The Mountfield MTF 84M is a compact ride-on mower designed to fit through standard garden gates while covering up to an acre and a half of land. With a key start engine, reverse function and manual gear box, simply hop on and mow any garden up to 0.75 acres with ease.

The manual transmission features five forward gears and one reverse gear. Powered by a 352cc OHV engine, it includes a 200L cuttings bag and a safety seat for added comfort.

Pros: Robust, good value price, mulching option.

Cons: Not as large capacity as other ride-on mowers.

Customer review: "[It's] doing a good job of cutting the quarter acre of grass. Looking very neat. Appears economical with the fuel. Fun to use. Built in cup holders. Emptying is easy from sitting position."

See our pick of the best ride-on mowers.

Weibang iON 81 RC Battery Ride On Lawn Mower

Best electric ride-on mower

Buy from Mowers Online (£4,199.00).

Key specs:

• Weight: 174kg
• Cutting width: 81cm
• Cutting heights: 25-130mm
• Collection bag: 190L
• Range/capacity: 6000m2

The Weibang Electric Mower is powered by a 72V/31Ah battery, offering a runtime of 150 minutes after a 12-hour charge. With an 81cm cutting width and 10 cutting heights, it provides efficient and customizable mowing. The mower includes a 190L cuttings bag and mulching kit, giving you options for waste disposal. Experience the convenience and versatility of the Weibang Electric Mower, powered by electric technology.

Pros: Electric, large capacity, mulching kit.

Cons: Expensive.

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What to consider when buying a lawn mower

Types of lawn mower

Push mowers

Ideal for smaller gardens and those seeking an eco-friendly option, push mowers offer simplicity and affordability. They require manual effort to operate but provide precise control over cutting height and direction.

Mulching mowers

Designed to finely chop grass clippings and disperse them back onto the lawn, mulching lawn mowers promote natural fertilization. They eliminate the need for bagging or raking, saving time and enhancing soil health.

Cordless mowers

Offering freedom from cords and petrol, cordless lawn mowers are powered by rechargeable batteries. They are environmentally friendly, emit lower noise levels, and provide the flexibility to manoeuvre easily around obstacles.

Robotic mowers

The future of lawn care, robotic lawn mowers autonomously maintain your lawn. These intelligent machines navigate predetermined boundaries and automatically return to their charging stations. They require minimal human intervention and deliver consistently well-groomed lawns.

Quiet mowers

Perfect for noise-sensitive environments, quiet mowers operate at lower decibel levels, minimizing disturbance to neighbours and allowing for peaceful mowing sessions, especially in the early morning or late evening.

Ride-on mowers

Ideal for larger gardens and properties, ride-on mowers provide a comfortable and efficient mowing experience. With powerful engines and wider cutting decks, they cover more ground quickly, making them suitable for extensive areas of grass.

As you explore the world of lawn mowers, consider the unique features and benefits offered by each type. Assess your specific needs, such as lawn size, terrain, and desired level of maintenance, to make an informed decision. Whether you prefer the traditional approach of a push mower or the advanced technology of a robotic mower, there is a perfect choice for every lawn enthusiast.

How we picked the mowers

When updating this article, we do in-depth research to find the best lawn mowers across a range of categories. We compare product specifications and customer reviews, and use our own knowledge and expertise to cover the top brands and models available today. We also keep an eye out for new product releases and gardener favourites.

We aim to include a range of brands and mowers to suit every garden and gardener, including manual, electric and petrol models, as well as robotic designs.

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