Best Lawnmowers 2026 UK: Cordless, Electric & Petrol

It’s the first warm Saturday of spring, the grass is already ankle-high, and the lawnmower you’ve been putting up with for the last five years has finally given up. You need a new one, the garden centre has thirty options, and the bloke at B&Q is telling you about lithium-ion cells while you’re just trying to work out if you need a rotary or a cylinder. Here’s what actually matters.

In This Article

• The Quick Recommendation
• Types of Lawnmower Explained
• Cordless vs Corded Electric vs Petrol
• Best Lawnmowers for 2026
• Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-750 — Best Cordless Overall
• Flymo EasiStore 340R — Best for Small Gardens
• Einhell GE-CM 36/43 Li — Best Value Cordless
• Honda HRX 476 — Best Petrol
• Webb WERR17 — Best Budget
• Choosing the Right Cutting Width
• Rotary vs Cylinder Mowers
• Features That Matter (and Ones That Don’t)
• Battery Life: The Real Numbers
• Maintenance: Keeping Your Mower Running
• Frequently Asked Questions
• The Bottom Line

The Quick Recommendation

For most UK gardens (50-200 square metres), a cordless rotary mower with a 36V battery is the right choice. No cables to run over, no petrol to mix, enough power for typical grass growth, and quiet enough to use on a Sunday morning without your neighbours hating you. The Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-750 is the one I’d buy — it handles everything from a tidy weekly cut to the post-holiday jungle rescue without complaint.

Types of Lawnmower Explained

Before getting into specific models, it helps to understand the main types available.

Push Mowers

You provide the power by pushing. These come in two subtypes:

• Hand-push cylinder mowers — the traditional reel mower with no engine or motor. Environmentally friendly, silent, and give the best cut quality. But they’re hard work on anything beyond a bowling-green-flat lawn, and they struggle with long or wet grass
• Wheeled rotary mowers — have a motor (electric or petrol) that spins the blade, but you push the mower forward yourself. The most common type for UK gardens

Self-Propelled Mowers

The motor drives the wheels as well as the blade, so you just guide it. Essential for larger gardens, slopes, or anyone who doesn’t fancy a workout every time they mow. They cost about £50-150 more than equivalent push models.

Hover Mowers

Ride on a cushion of air rather than wheels. Lighter, more manoeuvrable around obstacles, and handle slopes sideways better than wheeled mowers. The trade-off is a rougher cut and no grass collection — the clippings scatter. Flymo made this design famous, and they’re still the brand to beat in this category.

Robotic Mowers

Set them up, define the boundary, and let them mow autonomously. Excellent results with zero effort, but the upfront cost is steep (£400-2,000+). Our guide to robotic lawnmowers covers these in detail if you’re interested in the hands-off approach.

Cordless vs Corded Electric vs Petrol

This is the first decision, and it determines everything else.

Cordless (Battery)

The fastest-growing category, and for good reason. Modern 36V lithium-ion batteries provide enough power for most gardens, with none of the hassles of petrol or trailing cables.

• Best for: Gardens up to 400 square metres. Weekend mowing of typical UK grass
• Runtime: 30-60 minutes depending on battery size and grass conditions. That’s enough for most gardens in one charge
• Noise: Quiet enough for early mornings and Sunday use. Typically 75-85dB
• Cost: £200-500 for a good model with battery and charger
• Downsides: Battery eventually needs replacing (£60-120 after 3-5 years). Less powerful than petrol in thick, wet grass

Corded Electric

The cheapest powered option. Unlimited runtime (it’s plugged in), lightweight, and low maintenance.

• Best for: Small gardens under 100 square metres where you’re always within cable reach of a power socket
• Runtime: Unlimited — as long as the plug’s in, it runs
• Noise: Similar to cordless (75-85dB)
• Cost: £60-200
• Downsides: The cable. You’ll trip over it, mow over it (at least once — ask me how I know), and spend half your time managing where it goes. Gardens with lots of obstacles make corded mowing frustrating

Petrol

Raw power, unlimited runtime, and no dependency on electricity. The choice for large gardens, tough conditions, and professional use.

• Best for: Gardens over 300 square metres. Thick, wet, or overgrown grass. Rough terrain
• Runtime: As long as there’s fuel in the tank
• Noise: Loud. 90-100dB. Your neighbours will know you’re mowing
• Cost: £200-700 for a quality model
• Downsides: Heavier, noisier, requires annual maintenance (oil, spark plug, air filter, fuel). Starting a cold petrol mower on a damp March morning is character-building

For a deeper comparison of the main cordless brands, our Flymo vs Bosch vs Einhell comparison breaks down the differences.

Best Lawnmowers for 2026

These picks cover every garden size and budget. All prices are typical UK retail (Amazon UK, B&Q, Screwfix, Argos).

Bosch AdvancedRotak 36-750 — Best Cordless Overall

Price: About £350-420 (with 4.0Ah battery and charger)

The AdvancedRotak is Bosch’s premium cordless rotary, and it justifies the price through build quality and cutting performance. The 44cm cutting width handles medium gardens efficiently, the ProSilence motor is noticeably quieter than competitors, and the LeafCollect system with rear roller gives a cleaner finish than you’d expect from a rotary.

What Makes It Stand Out

• ProSilence motor — 75dB, which is as quiet as cordless mowers get. You could mow at 8am without guilt
• 44cm cutting width — wide enough for efficient mowing but narrow enough to navigate around beds and borders
• 50-litre grass box — large capacity means fewer trips to the compost bin
• Rear roller — creates those satisfying lawn stripes that cylinder mowers are known for
• ErgoSlide guide system — the handle adjusts for different heights and the mower glides rather than pushes

The Downsides

At £350-420, it’s at the top end of the cordless market. The 4.0Ah battery gives about 40-50 minutes of mowing — enough for most gardens but tight for larger plots. And if you’re already invested in a different battery platform (Makita, DeWalt, Einhell), buying into Bosch’s 36V system means another charger and battery set.

Flymo EasiStore 340R — Best for Small Gardens

Price: About £180-220 (corded electric)

If your garden is under 100 square metres — a typical terraced house back garden — the Flymo EasiStore does the job for half the price of a premium cordless. The 34cm cutting width is ideal for tight spaces, it folds almost flat for storage, and Flymo’s reliability at this price point is hard to argue with.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Compact storage — folds to 56cm tall, which means it fits in a cupboard rather than needing shed space
• Lightweight at 11.5kg — easy to carry through the house if your only access is through the back door
• Reliable motor — Flymo have been making this class of mower for decades. The motor is proven
• 35-litre grass box — adequate for small gardens before needing emptying

The Downsides

It’s corded, which means managing a cable in every direction. The 34cm cutting width is fine for small gardens but slow for anything larger. The grass box fills quickly if the grass is long. And the plastic deck, while durable enough, doesn’t have the reassuring solidity of a metal-decked mower. For the price, these are acceptable trade-offs.

Einhell GE-CM 36/43 Li — Best Value Cordless

Price: About £200-260 (with 2x 2.5Ah batteries and charger)

Einhell has quietly become one of the best value tool brands in Europe, and this cordless mower punches well above its price. Two 18V batteries combine for 36V power, the 43cm cutting width matches premium models, and the PXC (Power X-Change) battery platform works across Einhell’s entire cordless range — hedge trimmers, drills, strimmers, the lot.

What Makes It Stand Out

• 43cm cutting width — same as mowers costing twice the price
• Battery platform compatibility — if you already own Einhell tools, you already have the batteries. Just buy the mower body for about £140-160
• 6-stage height adjustment — 25-75mm in clearly marked increments
• 63-litre grass box — the largest on this list. Fewer emptying trips
• Brushless motor option — the brushless version costs £20-30 more but runs more efficiently and lasts longer

The Downsides

The two-battery system means swapping batteries mid-mow on larger gardens (each gives about 20-25 minutes). The build quality is functional rather than refined — the plastic feels a grade below Bosch. And the wheels are smaller than premium models, which means it can struggle on bumpy or uneven ground. For the price though, it’s remarkable value.

Honda HRX 476 — Best Petrol

Price: About £650-750 (Honda dealers, B&Q)

When you need a petrol mower, Honda is the benchmark. The HRX 476 is self-propelled, has a 47cm cutting width, and runs the GCVx170 engine that starts reliably even after winter storage. It’s built for gardens of 300-1,000 square metres where cordless batteries can’t keep up and you need power to handle thick, wet British grass.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Honda GCVx170 engine — arguably the most reliable small engine in the world. Starts first or second pull, runs smoothly, lasts 10-15 years with basic maintenance
• 47cm cutting width — covers large areas efficiently
• Versamow selective mulching — adjust a lever to choose between collecting clippings and mulching them back into the lawn. No attachments to swap
• Self-propelled — variable-speed rear-wheel drive makes slopes and long sessions effortless
• Roto-stop blade brake — the blade stops when you release the handle, but the engine keeps running. Lets you empty the box or move obstacles without restarting

The Downsides

It’s heavy (33kg) and loud (95dB). The price is steep — £650-750 is the cost of two decent cordless mowers. And unless you have a large garden, it’s overkill. The annual maintenance (oil change, air filter, spark plug) adds about £15-25 per year in consumables plus half an hour of your time. But if you need petrol power, the Honda engine alone justifies the investment.

Webb WERR17 — Best Budget

Price: About £90-120 (Argos, Amazon UK, B&Q)

The Webb is the mower for people who need to cut grass and don’t want to think about it more than that. A basic corded electric rotary with a 34cm cutting width, it does what it says at a price that won’t cause regret if it lives in a rental property shed.

What Makes It Stand Out

• Under £100 — the cheapest decent mower you’ll find
• Lightweight at 9.5kg — anyone can handle it
• Simple controls — on/off switch and height adjustment lever. Nothing to configure
• 5-stage height adjustment — 20-60mm covers most lawn preferences

The Downsides

The grass box is small (30 litres) and the plastic feels accordingly budget. The corded design limits you to socket range. And the motor is adequate rather than powerful — thick or damp grass requires multiple passes. For a first mower, a spare for a second property, or a rental flat where you mow once a fortnight, it’s perfectly fine. Just don’t expect it to handle a country garden.

Choosing the Right Cutting Width

Cutting width determines how quickly you can mow your garden. It’s one of the most important specs and one that people often overlook.

• 30-34cm — small gardens under 100 square metres. Manoeuvrable in tight spaces but slow on larger lawns
• 36-40cm — medium gardens, 100-250 square metres. The sweet spot for most UK gardens
• 41-46cm — larger gardens, 250-500 square metres. Covers ground efficiently without being unwieldy
• 47cm+ — large gardens over 500 square metres. More passes to cut but fewer minutes per pass

Our guide on choosing a lawnmower for your garden size has a detailed sizing chart if you want to match your garden dimensions to the ideal cutting width.

Rotary vs Cylinder Mowers

Most UK gardens use rotary mowers, but cylinder mowers have their place.

Rotary Mowers

A single blade spins horizontally at high speed, slicing grass on impact. This is what 90% of home mowers use.

• Pros: Handles all grass lengths and types, works on uneven ground, copes with weeds and rough patches, low maintenance
• Cons: Cut quality is good but not bowling-green perfect. The blade tears rather than scissors the grass

Cylinder Mowers

Multiple blades on a rotating cylinder cut against a fixed bottom blade, like scissors. This is what groundskeepers use on cricket pitches and formal lawns.

• Pros: The finest cut quality available. Creates the sharpest stripes. Cuts at lower heights than rotary mowers (down to 6mm)
• Cons: Requires a flat, well-maintained lawn to work properly. Struggles with long, rough, or wet grass. More expensive for equivalent quality. Blades need professional sharpening

For most people: buy a rotary. Cylinder mowers are for people who maintain their lawn like a hobby, not a chore.

Features That Matter (and Ones That Don’t)

Worth Paying For

• Rear roller — creates lawn stripes. Only available on certain rotary and all cylinder mowers. Adds £30-50 to the price but makes a visible difference to how your lawn looks
• Self-propelled drive — essential for slopes, large gardens, or if you’d rather not push 25-30kg around. Worth every penny on a petrol mower
• Height adjustment with clear markings — you’ll change cutting height with the seasons (higher in summer drought, lower in spring). Single-lever central adjustment is the most convenient
• Mulching capability — chops clippings finely and returns them to the lawn as fertiliser. Saves emptying the grass box and feeds your lawn. The RHS lawn care guidance recommends mulching when conditions allow

Not Worth Paying Extra For

• LED headlights — you’re not mowing in the dark
• Bluetooth connectivity — on a push mower, this is a solution looking for a problem
• Fancy colour schemes — the mower lives in a shed. Nobody’s impressed by the colour
• Ultra-wide cutting on a small garden — a 46cm mower on a 60-square-metre lawn is like driving a Range Rover to the corner shop

Battery Life: The Real Numbers

Manufacturer claims for battery life are measured in ideal conditions — dry, short grass, flat terrain. Real-world performance is different.

What to Expect

• 2.0Ah battery: 15-25 minutes of real mowing
• 4.0Ah battery: 30-50 minutes of real mowing
• 5.0Ah battery: 45-60 minutes of real mowing

Wet grass, long grass, slopes, and cold weather all reduce battery life. A realistic rule of thumb: halve the manufacturer’s claimed runtime for worst-case conditions, and add 20% for best-case.

How to Maximise Battery Life

1. Mow regularly — shorter grass uses less battery than hacking through a jungle
2. Keep the blade sharp — a dull blade forces the motor to work harder
3. Mow when dry — wet grass clogs the deck and drains the battery faster
4. Store batteries at room temperature — cold sheds reduce lithium-ion performance
5. Don’t let batteries drain completely — recharge when the low-power warning appears

Maintenance: Keeping Your Mower Running

After Every Mow

• Clear grass clippings from the underside of the deck. A stick or plastic scraper works — don’t use metal on a plastic deck
• Wipe down the grass box
• Check for any damage to the blade or deck

Monthly During Mowing Season

• Check the blade for nicks, bends, or dullness. Sharpen with a flat file or take it to a garden centre for professional sharpening (about £5-10)
• Clean the air filter on petrol mowers
• Check wheel height adjusters move freely

End of Season

• Give the deck a thorough clean
• Sharpen or replace the blade
• Petrol mowers: drain or stabilise the fuel, change the oil, replace the spark plug
• Cordless mowers: charge the battery to about 50% and store indoors
• Corded mowers: check the cable for damage, clean the motor housing vents

Frequently Asked Questions

What size lawnmower do I need for my garden? For gardens under 100 square metres, a 30-34cm cutting width is fine. For 100-250 square metres, go for 36-40cm. For 250-500 square metres, choose 41-46cm. Over 500 square metres, consider a 47cm+ petrol or robotic mower. When in doubt, go one size up — a slightly wider mower saves time on every cut.

Are cordless lawnmowers powerful enough? Modern 36V cordless mowers handle typical UK grass without issues. They’re not as powerful as petrol in very thick or wet conditions, but for regular weekly mowing of a maintained lawn up to 400 square metres, they’re more than adequate. The technology has improved enormously in the last five years.

How often should I mow my lawn in the UK? Once a week from March to October in a typical year. During peak growth (April-June), twice a week gives a better finish. In hot, dry summers, reduce to every 10-14 days and raise the cutting height to 40-50mm to protect the grass. Never cut more than one-third of the grass height in a single mow.

Should I mulch or collect grass clippings? Mulching returns nutrients to the lawn and saves you emptying the grass box. It works best when you mow regularly and the grass is dry. Collect clippings if the grass is long, wet, or diseased — mulching long clippings smothers the lawn beneath.

How long do lawnmower batteries last before needing replacement? Lithium-ion batteries typically last 3-5 years or 500-1,000 charge cycles, whichever comes first. Store them at room temperature, don’t fully drain them, and they’ll last toward the upper end of that range. Replacement batteries cost £60-120 depending on the brand and capacity.

The Bottom Line

For most UK gardens, a cordless rotary mower in the 36-43cm range is the right choice. The Bosch AdvancedRotak if you want the best, the Einhell if you want value, the Flymo if you want simplicity. Petrol only if you have a large garden or regularly face thick, wet grass that would drain a battery.

Don’t overthink it. A lawnmower’s job is to cut grass reliably for 10+ years. Buy one that fits your garden size, keep the blade sharp, and mow regularly. The grass doesn’t care what brand is cutting it.