Lawn mower buying guide
There are loads of options out there when it comes to buying a lawn mower. Who’d have thought that something as simple as mowing the lawn could have so many choices? Well, every lawn is different, and it’s worth taking the time to make sure the lawn mower you buy is suited to your space. Let’s go over all the basics so you can find your perfect lawn mower today!
By Alex- 22nd April 2026
- 7min read
Lawn mower power types
Petrol lawn mowers
A petrol lawn mower is the most powerful option you can buy, offering superior cutting power and no need for a power cable. They’re ideally suited to challenging lawns, long grass, and large lawns – as long as they’re filled up with petrol and oil, they can run for a long time and make light work of even the most overgrown of lawns!
Power does come at a price – petrol can be expensive, and their heavier weight makes them slightly more cumbersome to transport than an electric alternative.
Electric lawn mowers
The ultimate easy-to-use mower, it’s as easy as ‘plug in and go’ with an electric lawn mower. Corded lawn mowers connect to a power supply, allowing you to take your time with lawn care. Compared to a petrol lawn mower, they’re cheaper to run, quieter, and a more environmentally friendly choice.
Though the supplied cables are a decent length, you still may find that they’re not quite long enough if you have a really long lawn. Similarly, trailing a cable behind isn’t always ideal if your lawn is a funny shape and has nooks and crannies – in which case, a petrol or cordless mower gives you more manoeuvrability.
Cordless lawn mowers
Cordless lawn mowers run on rechargeable batteries. They’re lightweight, low-maintenance, and brilliant for quick and easy lawn mowing. They’re also great at getting into awkward spots and working around corners.
There are two numbers to look for when buying a cordless lawn mower:
Volts (V) refers to the power of the motor. The higher the number, the faster and more efficiently it’ll cut through your grass.
Ampere hours (Ah) are the battery’s run time. A higher number means the battery will last longer between charges.
Running on a battery certainly has its advantages, especially if your mower is part of a set where the battery works for other power tools like hedge trimmers. However, they may lack the power that a corded or petrol mower has, and you’ll need to wait a while to recharge the battery if it runs out mid-mow. That’s why it’s important to always keep your batteries charged up and ready to go!
Lawn mower types
Rotary mowers
Most of the mowers you find out there are rotary, meaning they have a blade underneath that spins at high speed to cut through grass. They’re pretty easy to maintain by keeping them clean and free of debris, oiling any moving parts, and sharpening/replacing the blades when necessary. Budget models usually use plastic blades, which are easy to replace but lack cutting quality, whereas more expensive options will come with hard-wearing metal blades.
Cylinder mowers
These use a cylindrical cutting system with spiralled blades which turn as the mower is pushed forward, making contact with another cutting blade. Instead of slicing through the grass with one blade like a rotary mower, a cylinder mower cuts your grass like a pair of scissors, resulting in a smooth and even cut – perfect for people who want a flawless lawn! Some models don’t even need a power supply, so you can mow your lawn in near silence.
Cylinder lawn mowers work best on flat and even lawns, as their cutting mechanism doesn’t do too well with lumpy lawns. However, if that’s something you’re trying to fix, we have a blog on how to level a lawn!
Hover mowers
These machines float on a cushion of air, meaning they can move in any direction – including side-to-side. You’ll find that small to medium mowing jobs will be done in a jiffy, especially on any oddly shaped lawns or uneven terrain.
Though perfectly suited for small and quick jobs, you may find that hover mowers lack the power and efficiency of wheeled mowers, especially if you want to get fancy and add stripes to your lawn.
Robot mowers
You may have heard of robot vacuum cleaners for your home, but did you know you can also get robot lawn mowers? If you want to take the manual labour out of mowing, or if you’re unable to do it yourself for whatever reason, a robotic lawn mower is the perfect choice.
Using one couldn’t be simpler. Once you’ve set up its dock in your garden, the robotic lawn mower maps your lawn and memorises its shape. Then it’s simply a case of pressing a button and letting it do its thing while you head out, do some housework, or just sit back with a cuppa and watch it do the hard work for you!
Ideal for people with busy schedules, mobility issues, or those who simply don’t like mowing the lawn, a robotic lawn mower is a fuss-free and low-maintenance choice – though the cutting quality may not be as good as other options. They’re only little, after all!
Hand push mowers
Hand push mowers need to be manually pushed in the right direction, which gives you ultimate control over the speed and direction of your mowing.
Self-propelled mowers
If your lawn has inclines or you need a bit of a hand moving it around, self-propelled lawn mowers have motors which power the wheels as well as the cutting blade. All the heavy lifting is done for you – you just need to steer it in the right direction.
Features to look for
Grass box size
The box on the back of your lawn mower is measured in litres. The larger the cutting box, the fewer times you’ll need to empty it while mowing.
Cutting width
If you want to get the job done quickly, a wider cutting width will mean fewer passes with the lawn mower. However, if you have a smaller lawn and still want to have some neat lawn lines, there’s nothing wrong with a narrow cutting width. Smaller lawn mowers will also be easier to store, perfect if storage is lacking.
Rear rollers
Found on many cylinder mowers in particular, rear rollers will lightly press the grass down after it’s mowed in the direction you’re travelling. It’s how you can achieve those lovely lawn stripes and make your garden look like a football field!
Mulching
Some mowers automatically deposit some of the grass clippings back onto your lawn instead of directly into the grass box. This is a fantastic way of adding an all-natural, nutrient-rich fertiliser back into the soil as you mow, leading to a happy, healthy, and fantastically green lawn.
How to mow your lawn properly
Start with a strim
Use a grass trimmer to neaten up any edges before mowing your lawn. If the grass is particularly long, we’d recommend using it to cut the lawn down to length as well.
Mow a border
Everyone’s technique is different, but we like working around the perimeter of the lawn first.
Mow in lines
Working from one end to the other, mow up and down your lawn in straight lines to get the bulk of the grass cut. Mowing in different directions will give you pleasing lawn stripes, too.
Start the mower on its highest setting for the first mow
If it’s your first mow after winter, don’t be tempted to mow too much off, or you risk shocking the grass and killing it. Start high and gradually work your way down in the coming weeks.
Save your grass clippings
All the cut grass can be sprinkled back onto the lawn to act as a fertiliser, added to the compost bin, or used as mulch on flowerbeds.
Don’t forget the maintenance
Check the blades regularly for signs of wear, oil any moving parts, and keep your petrol topped up and batteries charged. When not in use, always keep your lawn mower in an outbuilding or under a cover.
FAQs
What’s the best type of lawn mower for a large garden?
Petrol lawn mowers are generally the best for large gardens due to their portability, long run time and efficiency. They can be a little loud, so a cordless lawn mower with a good battery life (look for a higher Ah number) will also work well.
What’s the 1/3 rule for cutting grass?
To avoid stressing out your grass and keeping it healthy, you shouldn’t cut more than one-third of a grass blade’s height when mowing.
What are the best mower brands?
There are plenty to choose from! Flymo, Webb, Draper and Einhell are trusted brands you can rely on to get the job done, and there are also Yard Force and Powerbase, which offer brilliant-value mowers for every garden.
What’s the best time of day to mow the lawn?
Aim for mid-morning or late afternoon to cut your grass. This way, you avoid morning dew which can clog up your mower, as well as intense midday sunshine.
Don’t forget we’ve got everything you need to get your outdoor jobs done in our Garden & Outdoor page.
We’d love to see your lawn before-and-afters! Get in touch with us on Get in touch with us on: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & X.
