We use cookies to allow us and selected partners to improve your experience and our advertising. By continuing to browse you consent to our use of cookies. You can understand more and change your cookies preferences here. In this article. Backed by our independent, rigorous tests, our expert guide explains the pros and cons of cordless electric mowers, petrol lawn mowers and ride-on mowers.
We also have the details on top features to consider when buying. Before you part with your hard-earned money, consult our advice on selecting a cutting width, and how to get a striped finish on your lawn. Want to know which lawn mower you should buy right now? Go straight to the top-scoring best lawn mowers in our independent tests. Our video below offers up some expert tips on how to choose the best lawn mower for your needs and budget. Make more of your garden - get our free Gardening newsletter for top tips from our experts.
These mowers are often the cheapest option and many will do a good job of cutting grass. Corded electric lawn mowers will cut for as long as you need them to with no need to charge or buy fuel. Cons of corded electric lawn mowers:. See our corded electric lawn mower reviews. Hover mowers glide over the grass on a cushion of air, but many don't pick up the clippings so you'll have to rake them up.
Cons of hover lawn mowers:. The battery running time will limit how long you can mow for. Some cordless mowers have a cutting time of more than 30 minutes, while others will run out of charge within 20 minutes. Cons of cordless lawn mowers:. Go to our pick of the top five cordless lawn mowers. Petrol lawn mowers are powerful enough to tackle large lawns and suitable for bumpy or sloping ground.
These lawn mowers tend to be heavy machines, weighing more than 30kg. Self-propelled models are easier to push. It's good practice to empty the fuel tank as much as possible — and completely if not in use over winter. Petrol is better stored in a bespoke container rather than in the machine. Cons of petrol lawn mowers:.
See our petrol lawn mower reviews. Ride-on mowers allow you to attach accessories such as trailers, broadening their range of use. You'll also need to get your ride-on lawn mower serviced annually. Cons of ride-on lawn mowers:. See our guide on how to buy the best ride-on mower.
A robot mower isn't cheap, but it makes mowing hassle free. Once installed, it will mow your lawn with little input from you, cutting regularly and mulching clippings back into the lawn so there are no clippings to deal with. Use your robot mower during daylight to reduce the risk to wildlife. It really all depends on whether or not you have the right type of lawn mower for the job. Google will let you know roughly how large the area is.
The other way to estimate your area is to go take a walk around your yard. An acre is 42, square feet. Anything over that, and you might want to think about upgrading to something you can ride on. Rear engine riding mowers , might be the next logical step in this progression.
These will likely fit the bill if you need something more than a walk-behind mower, but less than a full-blown lawn tractor. You can usually get a good idea of how much acreage these can handle by taking the deck size and dividing by twelve.
Zero Turn Mowers Finally, we come to the queen mother of residential mower options: the zero turn mower. This type of mower has gained a ton of popularity in recent years, both on the professional and residential level. This owes a lot to the fact that these mowers are not just highly maneuverable, but they can also tackle a lot of acreage quickly. This type of mower has a design that operates a bit more like a tank and less like your steering-wheeled traditional lawn tractor.
Because the steering is generally controlled with lap bars that toggle dual hydrostatic transmissions, your forward and reverse movements are controlled independently from one another, meaning that the steering allows for pivoting in one place hence the name. The result is a mower that is easy to turn quickly and maneuver in and out of tighter spots. Because these mowers typically come with anywhere from about cc to cc engines that can crank out between 12 hp to 25 hp, they can cover a lot of ground quickly.
Battery power is all the rage these days, but is it right for you? For a more in-depth discussion of the gas vs battery power debate, check out our article on this very subject. You might find that there are some particular features that will make your next mower purchase a whole lot easier to figure out. There are tons of options out there, from front caster wheels and integrated wash-out fittings to larger fuel tanks and improved transmissions.
Some folks like the extra exercise that comes with shoving a 75 lb mower across a yard, but we prefer the mower to do the hard work for us. You even have options between front wheel drives, rear wheel drives, and all-wheel drives. Steel is pretty much the default, but some manufacturers have started to use poly and plastic materials to construct their decks.
These tend to be a good deal lighter than steel, but they will also be less durable. Some of your higher-end models will include a blade brake clutch, which will allow you to take your hands away from the operator controls without the engine shutting off. A ride on mower does all of the hard work for you. Before buying a ride on lawn mower you must bear in mind that they require more care and servicing than other lawn mowers, very like your car.
Have a look at our guide Which Ride on Mower? View our full range of ride on lawn mowers. If you have a large flat or regular lawn or several smaller areas of lawn and find the chore of lawn mowing tedious and time comsuming, then why not think about a robotic mower? They take the hard work out of keeping your grass neat and come with a range of features including rain sensors, GPS tracking and anti-theft devices.
Have a look at our range of robotic mowers. Choose the lawn mower type you want to buy: Buy a cylinder lawn mower if you:. Buy a rotary lawn mower if you:. Buy a hover lawn mower if you:. Buy a cordless lawn mower if you:. For further lawn care articles why not view: Lawn care calendar , Winter lawn care tips and Lawn scarifying guide View our full range of lawn mowers , grass trimmers and leaf blower vacuums.
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Fulltext search. Buying Lawn Mowers Depending on Lawn Size Buying Lawn Mowers for Small Lawns If you buy an electric lawn mower you are likely to find that they are smaller, lightweight and easier to move around than heavier petrol lawn mowers. Early on in the year you will need to use the highest cutting height and then gradually lower it as the growing season progresses Length of the cable — consider the distance from the power point to the furthest point of the lawn. This can be helpful for large areas of grass that do not need to be kept neat Self propelled — these lawn mowers propel themselves taking the stress off the mower operator, making easier work of cutting the grass.
Consider this if you have a large lawn to mow. Bear in mind that most self-propelled mowers have a set speed that is roughly equivalent to a smart walking pace.
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