Master mulching in 2024: our pick of the best mulching lawn mowers for lush grass

When mowing your lawn it’s well worth considering the range of benefits a mulching mower can have on the health of your green space. Instead of simply cutting the grass and disposing of the clippings, a mulching lawn mower produces a finer cut before pushing the loose grass back into the surface of your lawn. Here it will decompose, releasing nitrogen and other nutrients into the soil.

As grass is largely made up of water this means the lawn will require less watering and should grow to be healthier and greener. As well as saving you time, mulching the grass instead of collecting and disposing of the clippings elsewhere is also better for the environment.

Jump to:

• What is mulching power?
• What to look for in a mulching mower

Best mulching lawn mowers in 2024

Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless Lawn Mower

Best all-rounder

Buy the 37cm deck model...

Pros: electric, lightweight, collection box

Cons: more expensive than some other options

Ryobi is one of our go-to brands when it comes to gardening equipment. Its range of well-designed tools tend to use the same batteries, so you don't need to buy more if you already own a model from the cordless range.

This option is extremely lightweight, so it should be easy to manoeuvre around the garden.

Customer review: "One of the best purchases I have made. Easy to setup. Simple to use. Picks up and mulches really well."

LawnMaster MX 24V Mower

Best lightweight mulching mower

• Battery powered
• Six cutting heights
• 32L collection bag and mulching function
• 11.4kg

Pros: electric, lightweight, collection box, rear roller

Cons: smaller collection box than others

If you're after a compact mulching mower you can fit in a cramped shed or garage, consider this one, with its collapsible grass collector box and folding handles to save space. Other plus points include the built-in rear roller to create neat lawn stripes, and the upper carry handle, making it easier to manoeuvre in the garden.

Customer review: "Fantastic, lightweight, easy to transport in a car, great value mower that’s easy to clean and packs away nicely in the shed. The battery pack lasts well (4ah) and comes with a spare"

Stihl RMA 2 RV Self-Propelled Cordless Mulching Mower

Best compact mulching mower

• Battery powered
• Self-propelled
• Six cutting heights
• Variable speed mulching function
• 23kg

Pros: electric, compact, eco mode

Cons: no collection box, heavier than other electric models

The compact, minimal design makes Stihl's mulching mower easily recognisable, but it also comes with several handy features, including an eco mode, which limits the power according to the job to boost battery life. The mower also has a sturdy aluminium casing for durability.

GardenTek 15"/38cm Mulching Mower

Best affordable mulching lawn mower

• Electric - 10m power cable
• Five cutting heights
• 40L collection box and rear discharge
• 13kg

Pros: electric, lightweight, collection box, inexpensive

Cons: smaller collection box than others

This GardenTek mulching mower from Hyundai sits in the more affordable price range without compromising too heavily on its features. The mower has a 380mm cutting width, making it a suitable choice for small or medium-sized lawns.

Customer review: "Aside from being a little noisier than expected, just about everything about this mower is great. Easy to adjust height, easy to attach catcher, wide cutting zone, light and easy to maneuver."

Discover our pick of the best lawn mowers in 2024.

Mountfield SP555V Mulching Mower

Best petrol mulching mower for a large lawn

Buy from Just Lawnmowers (£649.00)

• Petrol
• Self-propelled
• Seven cutting heights
• 70L collection bag and side/rear discharge
• 45kg

Pros: self-propelled, large collection bag, seven cutting heights

Cons: heavy, petrol powered

If you have a large garden, this may be the best mower for you. It has seven pre-set cutting heights, which are easy to adjust with a single lever, and a 53cm cutting width supported by 240mm rear wheels, which means it will take on large sections of longer grass with ease.

Customer review: "Nice mower, so far so good."

Yard Force Compact 400RiS Robotic Mower

Best robotic mulching mower

• Battery powered
• Variable cutting heights
• 15kg

Pros: automatic, lightweight, battery powered

Cons: no collection bag

The Yard Force Compact 400Ri prides itself on the most advanced collision detection around, with ultrasonic iRadar sensors as standard (rather than an option or add-on) that will detect and avoid obstacles rather than bump into them and make an escape or – worse – steam-roller over anything flat enough to climb over.

Customer review: "What I like about this is that you can control it via the [app] but also use the control panel on the [mower]."

The Yard Force Compact Robotic Lawnmower was shortlisted in our review of the best robot lawnmowers.

Also consider... Hyundai 38cm 1600w Electric Lawnmower

• 10m power cable
• Five cutting heights
• 40L collection bag and mulching function
• 12.5kg

Pros: electric, lightweight, rear roller, inexpensive

Cons: smaller collection box than others

An alternative to the many electric mulch mowers with rechargeable batteries, this Hyundai model comes with a cable, so you can keep mowing without worrying about losing power. It's 10m in length, making this option best suited to small and medium-sized gardens.

Customer review: "It is nice and light so easy to push (additional benefit for people who get out of breath easily). Handle folds away nicely and there is a convenient handle on the top of the mower for lifting. Can store it upright to save space in your shed."

What is mulching power?

Mulching works with the help of a purpose-built blade or mower add-on that cuts the grass more finely than a regular lawn mower. If the mower is not powerful enough to effectively chop the grass to a fine mulch and push it into the ground, this can create clumps on the lawn which can cause damage to the plants beneath.

What to look for in a mulching mower

Choosing a mulching mower can be overwhelming, so here are the key elements to consider and compare when making your decision.

Corded vs battery vs petrol

While some mulching mowers are petrol-powered, we'd always recommend considering electric models, which are fairly powerful these days. You'll have the option to choose between a corded version and battery-powered alternatives, including robotic mulchers.

Battery-powered designs are a great option if you don't want to work with plug sockets and extension cables, while corded choices offer reliable power immediately - no need to charge batteries ahead of time.

Of course, some robot mowers automatically return to their charging deck when they're running low, so there's no need to charge them yourself.

Self-propelled?

Choosing a self-propelled lawn mower can save you a lot of effort when it comes to mulching your lawn. However, they can be heavier and bulkier than other models, so they're ideal for large areas of grass where you won't need to manoeuvre them much.

Cutting width

The wider the cutting deck, the fewer journeys across your lawn you'll need to make. Just make sure you choose a mower narrow enough to fit around paths and other garden features.

Height adjustment

The best mulching lawn mowers give you a choice of cutting heights, which you can select by adjusting the deck. If you have a specific grass length you prefer, or want to be able to change it according to the season, look for mowers with plenty of height options.

Weight

Mulching mowers range in weight from about 10kg for robotic models, all the way up to over 50kg for bulkier choices. Even if you choose a self-propelled option, you'll still need to manoeuvre it around your garden features and take it in and out of the shed or garage, so it's a good idea to make sure you'll be able to lift it comfortably.

Collection box vs side/rear discharge

One of the benefits of mulching your grass clippings is to let them decompose and fertilise the lawn, but you may want to opt for a mower with a collection box if you want to have more control over when and where you spread the mulch or add it to the compost heap.

For flexibility, choose a mower with a detachable clippings box and a side or rear discharge function.

Price

Most mulching lawn mowers cost at least a couple of hundred pounds, and many come in at up to £1,000, so it's important to set a budget as you compare models. Luckily, lots of the less expensive choices come with plenty of useful features, so there's no need to miss out if you have a lower budget.

Check out our selection of the best ride-on mowers and lawn scarifiers to keep your grass healthy.