For home use, battery-powered models make far more sense than petrol models and are all that we’ve listed here. Battery models are easier to maintain, have more than enough power, are quieter and, most importantly, don’t produce that petrol smell.
All cordless lawnmowers have spare batteries available. The advantage is that you can continue mowing before your battery has finished charging. If your provided battery won’t last for your entire lawn, then look to buy a spare battery. Be careful with cheaper machines, since replacement batteries are often expensive and you may be better off spending the money on a longer-lasting, more expensive lawnmower.
Look out for different battery charger options, too. Slow chargers that take hours are fine if you mow your lawn once a week. If you need your batteries sooner, then a faster charger makes more sense.
The rating of the lawnmower’s electrical system will only give you a rough idea of power: we’ve seen 36V mowers that are more powerful than 40V ones. Our reviews will indicate how well each lawnmower copes in a variety of scenarios.
If you have a straightforward lawn, you can get away with a less powerful lawnmower. If you’ve got a lot of rough areas, you’ll need a more powerful model instead.
The cut width describes the width of the strip that the lawnmower can make in one pass. The wider the cut, the faster you can cut, as each strip gets more grass. For small lawns, something around 30cm will be fine. Look for around 40cm for mid-sized lawns, and 45cm-plus for the largest of lawns.
For larger lawnmowers, buy a model that is self-propelled. These use a motor to drive the wheels, so you have to do exert less effort to cut nicely.
A mulching option can be useful to help keep your lawn in good shape It mulches the grass clippings and spreads them around the lawn, acting as a feed to keep your grass healthier.
