A lawn mower may be one of the first purchases we make when getting a garden of our own, but that doesn’t mean finding a good quality one is easy. There are so many models and brands on the market to choose from, including corded electric and petrol, but as their range increases and prices fall, cordless, battery-powered models are an increasingly popular option.
Light and compact compared with traditional petrol models, cordless mowers are simple to use, easy to manoeuvre around the garden, and have none of the maintenance and servicing needs or costs of petrol lawnmowers. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which charges up quickly and won’t lose power in storage, they’re also quiet and emission free.
To compare these cordless mowers against other types of mower, we’ve reviewed the best lawn mowers, robotic lawn mowers, electric lawn mowers and push mowers, too. And if your lawn needs a bit of attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers.
Keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best strimmers, the best garden shears and the best lawn edging, and if you’re thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.
For your next DIY project, have a look at the best cordless drills.
The best cordless mowers to buy at a glance
- Best buy for ease of use 2023: Husqvarna Aspire LC34 P4A
- Best buy for budget 2023: Greenworks GDG24LM33
- Best buy for small to medium lawns 2022: Yard Force LMG37A
- Best buy for very small lawns 2022: Gardena Handymower
- Best budget buy for extra features 2022: Powerbase 34cm 40V
- Best budget buy for ease of use 2022: Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li
Cordless mowers – Buyer’s Guide video
Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.
Our expertise
Getting the best cordless lawn mower for you means ensuring it has the correct cutting width, range of cutting heights, and weight plus a battery run time that matches the size of your lawn. We’ve tested a range of cordless push mowers, putting them through their paces across a range of grass and terrains, to help you find the right one for your garden.
Each mower has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and storage, handling, mowing and value for money. Every mower in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.
In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best cordless lawn mowers, below.
Best Buy cordless mowers
Husqvarna Aspire LC34-P4A
RRP: £359
Our rating: 4.9 out of 5
- Buy now from Husqvarna and Landpower Machinery
Pros:
- Quiet
- Cuts even long grass with ease
- Battery level visible while mowing
- Small and compact for easy storage
- Part of the POWER FOR ALL cordless range
Cons:
- Only four cutting heights
- 95 minutes charge time
Part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, this 34cm mower is powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. These are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed.
Great for small gardens the mower comes ready to go, there’s no assembly or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and even comes with a handy hook. The 30l grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. The Aspire is light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy and it has an adjustable handle to suit different height users. It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm and changed easily with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas that works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, just carries on cutting the grass. While you mow the battery charge level is always clearly visible so you know how much battery you have left and when it needs charging. It comes with a two year warranty and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2023 for ease of use.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 95 mins; run time – 500sqm. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 25-65mm. Grass box – 30 litre.
Buy the Husqvarna Aspire C34-P4A cordless mower from Husqvarna and Sam Turner
Greenworks GDG24LM33
RRP:£229.99
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and use
- Comfortable padded handle
- Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
- Interchangeable battery with Greenworks 24V family
Cons:
- Short handle for taller users
- Struggles on long grass
Ideal for smaller gardens this sturdy, great value cordless mower is easy to put together, well thought out and simple to use. Thanks to a padded handle it’s comfortable to push, although it did feel a little short for our taller tester, and it’s light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and beds and borders. There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever and it offers the choice of collecting clippings in the 30 litre fabric grass bag or inserting the mulching plug and leaving them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass. It mows well but doesn’t like very long grass, with the battery cutting out occasionally but its long lasting brushless motor offers a a decent run time of 46 minutes and it charges in two hours. Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more in the future. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget cordless mower in 2023.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 46mins. Cutting: width – 33cm; height – 25-70mm. Grass box – 30 litre.
- Buy now from Greenworks and Robert Dyas
Yard Force LMG37A 40v 37cm
RRP:£259.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Buy now from Wickes and Robert Dyas
Pros:
- Rear roller
- Double folding handle for easy storage
- Quickest charge time
- Part of the Yardforce GR40 cordless range
Cons:
- Assembly slower than some
This sturdy mower has a 37cm cutting width and useful features including a rear roller for those much desired stripes. Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for small to medium lawns, clippings are collected in the large 40 litre fabric grass bag. It offers a wide choice of seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm, and is easy to fold away at the end of the day. The 40V battery is quick to charge, taking just 50 minutes and when full it has the capacity to cut a 400m2 lawn.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 50 mins; run time – 400sqm. Cutting: width – 37cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 40 litre.
Buy the Yard Force LMG37A 40V 37cm cordless mower from Yard Force, Amazon and Wickes
Read the full Yard Force LMG37A cordless mower review
Gardena Handymower
RRP:£259.98
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Small and light to carry and store
- Pivoting handle very easy to manoeuvre
- Easy to check battery charge
- Part of the Power For All Alliance
Cons:
- Battery and charger are purchased separately
- Cuts out if handle pushed into upright position
Gardena Handymower Best Buy review – video
Reviews Editor Kay Maguire explains why the Gardena Handymower was awarded BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy status.
This great little mower was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for very small lawns. It’s light, compact and easy to manoeuvre around the lawn and is ideal for the regular cutting of small areas of grass. There’s minimal assembly needed, you just screw the handle into the body and once the battery is charged it’s ready to go. There are three cutting heights to choose from and rather than collecting the clippings, this mower mulches, dropping them back onto the lawn where they break down and fertilise the grass – so you don’t need to spend time emptying a grass bag and your grass gets fed. A pivoting handle helps it get into tight spots really easily and it also copes surprisingly well with bumpy ground. While you’re mowing, the battery charge is clearly displayed on the mower. The battery and charger come separately, which does push the price up but this mower is part of the Power for All Alliance, which includes Gardena, Flymo, Husqvarna and Bosch battery powered tools and will save you money if you invest in cordless tools in the future.
Specs: Battery: run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 22cm; height – 30-50mm. Grass box – N/A.
Buy the Gardena Handymower from Currys, Amazon and Tooled-Up
Read the full Garden HandyMower Li-18/22 cordless mower review.
Powerbase 34cm 40V
RRP: £189.00
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Front and side combs, and rear roller
- Double folding handle for easy storage
Cons:
- Awkward to manoeuvre
- Not part of a battery system
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for best budget mower for extra features, this mower is well thought out and simple to use. It’s easy to assemble and the handle folds down flat over the body of the mower so it takes up very little room in storage. There’s a choice of five cutting heights, easy to adjust with a single lever and there are several features to ensure a neat, sharp cut, including front and side combs and a rear roller for elegant stripes. The 40V battery takes 120 minutes to fully charge and will cover a 200 m2 lawn. It comes with a three year warranty.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 200sqm. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 35 litre.
Buy the Powerbase 40V cordless lawnmower from Homebase
Read the full Powerbase 40V cordless lawn mower review
Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li
RRP:£199.95
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Light and simple to use
- Choice of handle heights
- Large rear wheel turns easily
- Part of the Einhell Power – X Change battery system
Cons:
- Lacks features
- Handle only folds in half for storage
This simple, light, well priced mower was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for best budget mower for ease of use. It’s simple to assemble, with a choice of handle heights to suit different users, and the handle also folds in half helping it take up less room in storage. It moves smoothly across the lawn and manoeuvres well and offers a choice of five cutting heights that are easily adjusted with a central lever. The 18V battery takes just 75 minutes to charge and has the capacity to cut a lawn 200 m2. The 33cm cutting width mows neatly and efficiently, tackling longer grass with ease.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 75 mins; run time – 200sqm. Cutting: width – 33cm; height – 25-65mm. Grass box – 30 litre.
Buy the Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li cordless mower from Amazon, Toolstation and Wickes
Read the full Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li cordless mower review.
Previous Best Buy winners
We regularly test core gardening tools to ensure we keep up with new introductions and developing technologies. Our previous Best Buy winning cordless mowers, all still deserving our award and available, are listed below:
Stiga Collector 136 AE
RRP: £189.99
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Quick to assemble, no tools required
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Compact and simple to store
- Generously-sized grass bag
- 2 x 2Ah batteries interchangeable with other Stiga 20V products and can be upgraded to 4Ah
Cons:
- No safety-key
- Battery level not visible when mowing
With all the features you would want from a cordless mower, the Stiga Collector 136 AE was a worthy BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner in 2021 for ease of use. Easy to assemble, it’s quick to fold away, six cutting heights give plenty of choice and it comes with a generous 35 litre collection box. Light but sturdy, it’s perfect for smaller lawns and great value for money given the batteries can be used in other Stiga ePower tools.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 60 mins; run time – 30 mins. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 35 litre.
Buy the Stiga 136 AE Kit cordless mower from Amazon and Mower Magic
Read the full Stiga 136 AE Kit cordless mower review
Worx WG779E
RRP:£239.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy assembly and storage, long warranty
- Turbo and Eco modes
- Robust, light and easy to manoeuvre
- Battery and charger interchangeable with other Worx 20V tools
Cons:
- Long charge time
- One handle height
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for small lawns, our testers found this lawnmower easy to assemble and it handily folds away for storage when not in use. There’s a 30 litre ready-made grass bag and six cutting heights to choose from, which are easily changed with a single lever. We were impressed with the amount of features packed in for the price and it comes with a three-year warranty.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 120 mins; run time – 35 mins. Cutting: width – 34cm; height – 20-70mm. Grass box – 30 litre.
Buy the Worx WG779E cordless mower from Amazon and Homebase.
Read the full Worx WG779E cordless mower review
Stihl RMA 248
RRP: £590.51
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy now from Just Lawnmowers, (£390, body only)
Pros:
- Steel deck
- 55-litre grass box with fill level indicator
- Seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm
- Eco-mode
- Handle folds for storage
- Battery level indicator
- Battery compatible with Stihl AK tools
Cons:
- Grass box is a bit fiddly to assemble
- Relatively long charge time (205 minutes)
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for value, this mower will cut 250 m2 in a single charge, but takes a relatively slow 205 minutes to charge. However, there’s a battery level indicator, which is visible during mowing so you can see how much time you have left, as well as storage for a second battery on the mower itself, although an additional battery will cost an extra £139 from Just Lawnmowers. Well-designed, it has a powder-coated steel deck, which means it’s more durable than the plastic alternatives we tested, and with a 46cm cutting width and seven cutting heights, it cuts the lawn quickly, cleanly and efficiently. Packed with features, this mower has an eco-mode to extend battery life, a generous 55-litre grass box and folding handles for easy storage. It also comes with a five-year warranty. Despite being the second most expensive mower on test, for the features and durability of the deck, we think it represents great value.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 205 mins; run time – 250sqm. Cutting: width – 46cm; height – 25-75mm. Grass box – 55 litre.
Buy the Stihl RMA 248 now from Just Lawnmowers (£390, body only)
Read the full Stihl RMA 248 cordless review.
Husqvarna LC 247iX
RRP:£499.00
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy now from Sam Turner & Sons (£429, body only)
Pros:
- Comes assembled and folds flat for storage
- Battery power level clearly visible on handle
- Cuts well
- App for service needs and run time
- Battery compatible with Husqvarna products
Cons:
- Heavy
- Long charge time
Our expert testers felt this was a well-designed mower with a host of great features. It has a battery level indicator on the handle, plus an Eco mode and it even connects to an app. On the lawn it handles well and cuts efficiently. A one year warranty is included and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for medium sized lawns.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 130 mins; run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 47cm; height – 20-75mm. Grass box – 55 litre.
Buy the Husqvarna LC247ix from Sam Turner & Sons
Read the full Husqvarna LC 247iX cordless mower review
Makita DLM460PT2
RRP: £649.95
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Pros:
- Battery power level on handle
- Fast charge time
- Ten cut heights
- Adjustable handle height
- Robust steel deck
Cons:
- Heavy
- Assembly awkward for the price
The Makita model has a 46cm cutting width, the choice of ten cutting heights and a mulching option. The aluminium deck feels robust and the mower cuts well, with an optional quiet mode. The battery power level is displayed on the handle and it charges in 45 minutes, which was faster than most of the other models we tested. It’s guaranteed for a year and overall we felt this was great value. We judged this model a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for bigger lawns.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 45 mins; run time – 800sqm. Cutting: width – 46cm; height – 20-75mm. Grass box – 60 litre.
Buy the Makita DLM460PT2 from FFX and Amazon
Read the full Makita DLM460PT2 cordless mower review
Ego LM1701E
RRP: £479
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and folds for storage
- Adjustable handle height for different users
- Sturdy and easy to handle
- Clear visibility of battery power levels
- Battery and charger interchangeable with other Ego Power+ tools
- Wide range of cutting heights
Cons:
- Short run time on battery supplied
Our testers thought this was a well-thought out lawnmower with plenty of great features. It’s simple to assemble and fold away for easy storage. The mower cuts and manoeuvres well and is a pleasure to use. There are seven cutting heights and it has collect, mulch and rear discharge features. Although it charges quickly in 30 minutes, it has a run time of just 20 minutes. A generous five-year warranty is included and we awarded this a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2020 for extra features.
Specs: Battery: charge time – 30 mins; run time – 20 mins. Cutting: width – 42cm; height – 20-80mm. Grass box – 55 litre.
Buy the Ego LM1701E cordless mower from Amazon and Ego Power Plus
Read the full Ego LM1701E cordless mower review
The best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.
Gtech CLM 2.0
- RRP: £420.00, Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy the Gtech CLM 2.0 from Very
- Read the full Gtech CLM 2.0 cordless mower review
Hayter Osprey 46 60V
- RRP: £649.00, Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Hayter Osprey 46 60V Cordless lawn mower from Mowers Online
Read the full Hayter Osprey 46 60V review
Cobra MX3440V
- RRP: £232.99
- Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Cobra MX3440V from Just Lawnmowers, Mowers Online and Amazon
Ryobi One+ RLM18X33B40
- RRP: £219.99
- Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Ryobi One+ RLM18X33B40 from Very and Ryobi
Greenworks 48V 36cm
- RRP: £229.99
- Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Greenworks 48V 36cm cordless mower from Amazon and Wickes
Flymo Mighti Mo 300 Li
- RRP: £234.99
- Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Flymo Mighty Mo 300 Li cordless mower from OnBuy
- Read the full Flymo Mighti Mo 300 Li cordless mower review
Greenworks G40LM41 40
- RRP: £349.99
- Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Buy the Greenworks G40LM41 40 cordless mower from Mowers Online and Amazo
What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?
There are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models, including:
- Easy to manoeuvre: Without a cord, these mowers are typically easy to move around the lawn. Without an engine they’re lightweight, too.
- Quiet: Powered by lithium-ion battery, they’re much quieter than petrol-engine mowers.
- No emissions: As they don’t use petrol, they don’t emit emissions.
- Minimal maintenance: They don’t need regular servicing like petrol mowers.
How to choose the best cordless lawn mower
Your budget and the size of your lawn will be pivotal in deciding which brand and model of cordless lawn mower best suits your needs. Think about the following points before you buy:
- Where are you cutting? The type of lawn you’re cutting will dictate the mower features you’ll need. Push mowers require you to provide the momentum, so manoeuvrability is key, particularly if your lawn slopes or you have play equipment, beds and trees to navigate. A mower that cuts to the edge gives a neat finish and saves time with the shears or trimmer later. For a sharp, neat look opt for a low cut height, but if you lack time to mow regularly, a higher cut will tackle longer grass. A rear roller gives neat stripes, while a mulching plug lets you choose between collecting clippings or mulching them. It saves you emptying the collection box but mulching only works if the lawn is cut regularly.
- What’s the battery charge and run time? Lithium-ion batteries vary in size, from 18V to 40V and from 2Ah to 5Ah in our test, and this determines the cutting power and run time on a single charge. Match the run time to the size of your lawn. Most mowers have a recommended maximum lawn size or run time (although this depends on the conditions on the day) and ideally a fully charged battery will last long enough for you to finish the job. Some models use two batteries at the same time so you can mow for longer and most brands also sell batteries separately. Fast charge times allow you to get mowing again quicker.
- Is it easy to use? Most mowers should just need the handles attaching and the grass box assembling, with fabric bags simpler to construct than plastic box-style collectors. Switching between cutting heights should be easy. Some mowers need to be turned over and the entire axle moved, but a single lever simply moved through the range is ideal.
- Is storage space limited? If you don’t have much room, check how far the handle folds down and how easily. Most can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat or can be hung or stood up vertically. Fabric bags also collapse while plastic grass boxes are tricky to take apart. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, check its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier.
- What do you get for your money? The quality of materials often relates to the price. Budget models made from lightweight plastic as opposed to higher-end machines with metal decks are unlikely to last long. Brushless motors are powerful, efficient and longer lasting, and buying another mower later rather than one robust model now is bad for your wallet and the environment. Warranty length can vary – some brands require the mower to be registered to get the longest warranty period and some differ between the mower, battery and charger.
What can I expect to pay for a cordless mower?
Traditionally this type of mower has been expensive and although prices are comoing down, a substantial amount of their cost is down to the battery and charger.
For an entry-level cordless lawn mower, you can expect to pay between £150 and £300. A mid-range mower costs £300-£500 and a premium machine’s price can be up to £950.
While most are sold in a kit with the battery and charger, this is not always the case so check you’re getting everything you need before you buy. Lots of mowers are part of a brand’s cordless system which means the battery and charger are also compatible with their other cordless tools, such as hedge trimmers and leaf blowers, even DIY tools, and will save you money when you invest in the future.
How long will the batteries last?
How long the battery lasts on a single charge depends on the model, the terrain and mowing conditions on the day and some mowers have an eco or power saving mode to help extend the battery life. A battery can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over two hours to charge although Lithium-ion batteries can be used when partly charged if you’re in a rush. Always check the charge time too as these can also vary widely. Many brands have fast chargers, which are usually available separately but can cut the waiting time down considerably and are useful if you need to get back to the job quickly.
Lithium-ion batteries typically last between three and five years (or 500 charges) before they need replacing and always check with the manufacturer if they will take back their batteries for recycling rather than you putting them into landfill.
How we tested cordless lawn mowers
When we test cordless mowers, each is unpacked, assembled, and then used to cut grass over a wide area, and wheeled up slopes and in and out of storage to see how they fared. They are assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:
- Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly and clarity of instructions, the battery charge time and how easy the mower is to store.
- Handling. Focused on comfort and ease of use, handle-height adjustment and how to change the height of cut, weight, noise levels and run time.
- Mowing. Assessed cutting width, the range of cutting heights, collection-bag capacity and features such as cutting to the edge or mulching.
- Value for money. Considered all of the above as well as quality, design, warranty and price, which includes the battery and charger. For example, the Worx WG779E was awarded Best Buy for the range of features it offered at its low price point.
For more information on our testing process see How we Review
This review was last updated in May 2023. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
from BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://ift.tt/akuwr6d
