Mowing the lawn is sweaty work – but it doesn’t have to be that way. The best electric lawnmowers are lightweight, low-maintenance and will leave your lawn looking pitch-perfect. Plus, they do it all without using too much electricity or making loads of noise (the neighbours will be thrilled).
So, treat your garden to some TLC with the help of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s best electric lawn mower. You’ll find our experts’ top picks below – but read on to find out why these mowers are the pick of the crop.
How we test electric lawnmowers
To test lawn mowers… you’ve guessed it, we mow the lawn! Our experts assess each mower’s ability across a range of different grass heights, using the full range of settings.
These are the things we consider:
Cutting performance: We grow out the lawn until it the grass is roughly 10cm tall and then score the mower’s cut on evenness, any chewing or flattening, straight cutting, and whether it produces a visible stripe on the grass. We also look at how good the mower is at collecting the grass as it goes. We carry out this test on the highest and lowest height setting.
Noise level: We use a sound meter to measure the decibels produced by each lawn mower when cutting because you want to know how much you’re going to disturb the neighbours.
Energy consumption: For corded lawnmowers, we use an energy reader to measure usage throughout testing. For cordless lawnmowers, we record how much energy each model uses to recharge the battery from empty as well as how long it takes to recharge and the overall battery life.
Ease of use: We also consider how easy each machine is to use, noting its manoeuvrability on different surfaces, design, controls, and any adjustable parts and settings.
Instructions: We look for clear guidance, helpful diagrams, and useful maintenance tips in the manual.
We then bring all this data and information together to score each one out of 100.
Hearst Owned
Kärcher Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower
Score: 92/100
Our winning electric lawnmower is a cordless model that left our lawn looking neat and tidy with some clear mower stripes. We were impressed with its performance across a range of cutting settings, with only a little more loose grass left behind on the lowest setting (30mm) – but a few extra sweeps did the trick.
The mower was easy to steer and manoeuvre under benches thanks to the mower’s short body and an emptying handle made removing and emptying the grass box trouble-free. There’s a mulch kit too if you’d prefer the grass to be redeposited on your lawn.
We’d have liked the handle to more easily adjustable (you need to unscrew elements to change the height) but this would only be a regular annoyance if people of significantly differing heights are tackling your lawn. Otherwise, it’s a sturdy, reliable machine that needed just two hours to recharge from empty.
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Kärcher Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower
amazon.co.uk
£199.99
Gtech CLM50 Cordless Lawnmower
Score: 91/100
Our tester was able to get up and mowing quickly with this cordless model as it arrived mostly pre-assembled – you just need to build the collector box – and comes with detailed instructions to help you on your way.
Out on the lawn, there was no sense of the mower simply flattening the grass; instead, it cut evenly on both the highest and lowest settings and left the garden looking mess-free. The Gtech also features an ‘intelligent’ blade that rotates faster when it senses extra power is required, as well as a self-propelled function to help with tackling slopes.
On close inspection, we did notice a few missed blades of grass and less prominent stripes on shorter grass, but that’s being picky.
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Gtech CLM50 Cordless Lawnmower
amazon.co.uk
£299.99
WORX Cordless Lawn Mower
Score: 90/100
If you want to treat your lawn to a close cut, this Worx model is ideal. It operates at six different heights and goes as low as 20 mm – perfect for super flat lawns and achieving a lovely, well-defined stripe. Our tester found the 30 mm height provided a better cut for a normal lawn, and liked how the mower automatically adjusted its power to provide extra oomph in thicker grass.
It impressed with its ability to cut close to the edge of the lawn, and testers liked that you can use its two batteries with Worx’s other tools. However, they would have preferred a single 40V battery that charged more quickly than the nearly four-hours recorded on test. Judged on its grass-cutting alone, however, it’s a wonderful tool for your garden shed.
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WORX Cordless Lawn Mower
amazon.co.uk
£179.99
VonHaus Cordless Lawnmower 40V
Score: 89/100
While this mower lands on the smaller side in both cutting width and general stature, it still packs power. It managed to cut grass evenly, creating visible stripes on our lawn, and easily collecting dry grass behind it. Ranging from 25-65mm in cutting height, there are plenty of options to help you create your perfect lawn.
It achieved almost full marks when it came to design, as well. The four wheels rolled along effortlessly without leaving tracks on the grass and it boasts an adjustable handlebar with an easy grip handle that our testers loved.
It’s worth noting that the mower arrived with the mulching feature installed, so you’ll need to remove the stopper if you want the cut grass to be fed into the collection box. That aside, it’s the perfect mower for small gardens.
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VonHaus Cordless Lawnmower 40V
amazon.co.uk
£189.99
RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower
Score: 89/100
Note that this mower needs a 18V ONE+ Lithium+ battery to work (these can be used across all tools in RYOBI’s ONE+ gardening range). The mower is sold on Amazon without the battery, but you can buy the battery & charger kit separately from Ryobi for £109.99.
Boasting seven cutting heights between 25 and 75mm, Ryobi’s cordless mower can deliver a wide range of finished looks. There’s also a decent 40cm cutting path that creates lovely wide strips, along with the brand’s ‘Brushless technology’, which helps to reduce friction between the grass and the mower, something our tester appreciated massively as it was smooth to push and easy to steer.
We had to make multiple sweeps in more overgrown patches to cut and pick up all the grass, but for your average mow, the Ryobi shone, leaving our lawn beautifully striped and evenly-cut.
Putting the mower away wasn’t an issue either as the handle folded down neatly, making it easy to store in the garden shed. Just remember to charge the battery before putting it away.
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RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower
amazon.co.uk
£359.95
Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750
Score: 88/100
Cordless and compact, this mower has a collapsable handle making storage easy – perfect if your garden shed or garage is packed full of other garden tools.
It achieved consistent results on long and short grass, while the ‘GrassCombs’ feature helps cut closely around border edges and along walls by guiding the grass blades towards the cutting bowl. It also has the largest cutting width of all the lawnmowers we’ve tested, meaning less traipsing up and down the garden.
The handle could have been more comfortable to hold, and testers would have liked more detail in the manual, but otherwise it’s an effective all-rounder.
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Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750
amazon.co.uk
£389.00
EGO Power Self-Propelled 42cm Cordless Lawnmower
Score: 88/100
This solid, premium mower arrived pre-assembled (except for the grass collector) and impressed our tester from start to finish. On both long and short grass, the cordless machine cut well, leaving a nice, even finish across the lawn.
What makes this electric lawnmower stand out is its self-propelled motor function. Our tester found it took all the hassle out of mowing and tackled sloping lawns well. It’s a much-needed feature here though, as the mower is very weighty and tricky to steer otherwise.
All in all, it’s a pricey but worthwhile buy with a large grass collection box, adjustable handle and quick charging battery that made mowing an enjoyable task, rather than a chore.
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EGO Power Self-Propelled 42cm Cordless Lawnmower
amazon
£557.99
Black + Decker 38cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower
Score: 87/100
Another fantastic mower, this corded model didn’t let itself down when tackling long or short grass across its different cutting heights. On the highest setting off the ground, we noticed a few loose grass cuttings, but it was nothing an extra sweep over couldn’t fix.
The brand claims that the mower’s innovative EasySteer handle offers better manoeuvrability around the garden, and this was certainly something our tester appreciated. Moving around hedges and fences proved no trouble and the four wheels helped with pushing it over gravel paths.
Note, this is one of the noisier lawnmowers we’ve tested and it’s quite heavy, but all the controls were accessible, intuitive and easy to use, so it’s still a reliable buy.
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Black + Decker 38cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower
amazon.co.uk
£229.99
Husqvarna Aspire™ LC34-P4A
Score: 86/100
Husqvarna’s cordless electric lawnmower scored almost full marks for its design in our testing. The body of the mower felt robust and well-built, yet it still felt lightweight, making it very easy to push and steer. Our tester also loved the adjustable and foldable handles, which made the mower both comfortable to use and fuss-free to store away. It can even be stored vertically on the wall of your shed or garage.
In terms of cutting power, the lawnmower performed well, trimming grass evenly and only missing a few blades of grass in the process. On close inspection, our tester did notice some small areas where the grass had a ripped or chewed appearance rather than a clean cut; however, this was minimal, and the lawnmower still delivered a good finish with visible stripes.
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Husqvarna Aspire™ LC34-P4A
amazon
£339.00
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
We’ve been testing products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for 100 years, so we are experienced at reviewing electronics and household appliances, both inside and out, to ensure they live up wot their claims.
The protocols for our electric lawnmower tests were developed by our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, to assess each model fairly against the competition and its claims, so you can shop with confidence.
Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, has written hundreds of product reviews and has her own garden to maintain, so knows exactly what you should be looking for when buying a new lawnmower. She’s also spent time researching the most innovative machines on the market, talking to brands and scouting out the new launches.
Hearst Owned
How to choose an electric lawn mower
When shopping for an electric mower, there are a few factors to consider. We’ve outlined these below:
Corded or cordless: Corded electric lawnmowers won’t run out of battery and tend to be cheaper. On the other hand, cordless lawnmowers let you roam around the garden without being tied to a cable (and you also won’t run over it). They do need charging, though.
Cutting width: Having a wider blade width allows you to cut more grass with each pass. If you have a large garden or don’t want to spend as much time walking up and down, look for a mower with a larger width.
Adjustable cutting heights: Mowers have different cutting settings to give you more control over how long you want your grass to be and the finished look of your lawn. If you’re cutting a pitch, you’ll want a shorter height (around 20mm) but for a regular garden, a height of 30mm should do the trick.
Grass box volume: Grass boxes sit at the back of your mower and collect the cut grass rather than spitting it back out onto the lawn. A larger grass box will mean you won’t have to empty it as often or need to stop mid-mow to decant the chopped grass.
Self-propelled mowers: If you struggle to push a lawnmower or simply get tired halfway through trimming the grass (we hear you), a self-propelled model could be a good pick. These mowers feature a drive-system that pushes the machine forward once the lever has been engaged – all you have to do is steer! The downside though is that the system adds extra weight and contains more parts that are at risk of wear and tear.
What size electric lawn mower do I need?
You’ll want a lawnmower that suits the size of your garden. The cutting width, or deck size, refers to how much grass you can cut in a single pass. If you don’t want to spend hours walking up and down your garden, check out our rough guidance below.
Small gardens: Up to 100m2 – cutting width of 30cm to 34cm
Medium gardens: 100m2 to 300m2 – cutting width of 34cm to 40cm
Large gardens: 300m2 and up – cutting width of over 40cm
For reference, a standard tennis court measures 260m2 with the average UK garden measuring 226m2.
Are electric mowers quiet?
Noise levels can vary lots from mower to mower, but electric models are (thankfully) much quieter than petrol lawnmowers. You’ll never get a lawnmower that’s whisper quiet, sadly, but in comparison to some other gardening tools, they’re one of the quieter ones.
In testing, the quietest electric mower was the Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750 at 68dB, which is similar to that of a vacuum or washing machine. The loudest measurement came from the Husqvarna Aspire™ LC34-P4A at 96dB, which is the equivalent to the noise level of a drill.
Hearst Owned
The verdict: Which electric lawnmower is best?
We were impressed with all of the electric lawnmowers we tested; however, our winner, the Karcher Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower, stole the top spot thanks to its even cut and easy steering design. It was very simple to use too, and there’s no cable to worry about!
If you don’t want to deal with the faff of charging a battery though, opt for the Black+Decker Corded EasySteer Lawnmower.
Hearst Owned
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