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11 best electric lawnmowers for a tidy garden to make your neighbours jealous

Maintaining a pristine lawn has never been so easy

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best electric lawnmowers
Good Housekeeping UK

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.

Best electric lawnmowers

best electric lawnmowers

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.

Best overall and best cordless lawnmower

Kärcher Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower
Best overall and best cordless lawnmower

Kärcher Battery 18-36 Cordless Lawn Mower

Pros

  • Instructions include helpful diagrams and good safety advice
  • Controls are very easy to operate

Cons

  • Some longer patches of grass needed going over more than once to remove all traces of cut grass

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight13.3kg
Cutting heights available30-70mm
Number of cutting heightsFour
Cutting width36cm
Volume of grass box45L
Average noise level79.9 dB
Time for full rechargeTwo hours and seven minutes
Other featuresMulch kit, grass catcher container, filling level display, integrated carrying handle
Best electric lawnmower for ease of use

Gtech CLM50 Cordless Lawnmower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
CLM50 Cordless Lawnmower
Best electric lawnmower for ease of use

Gtech CLM50 Cordless Lawnmower

Now 55% Off

Pros

  • Compact and foldable for easy storage
  • Adjustable elements of the mower are green-coloured making them easier to find and use

Cons

  • The self-propelled speed knob is very sensitive

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight13.5kg
Cutting heights available30-80mm
Number of cutting heightsSix
Cutting width42cm
Volume of grass box50L
Average noise level74 dB
Claimed run timeUp to 40 minutes
Time for full rechargeOne hour and 15 minutes
Other featuresSelf-propelled function, built-in LED headlights, full box indicator, battery status
Best budget electric lawnmower

WORX Cordless Lawn Mower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Cordless Lawn Mower
Best budget electric lawnmower

WORX Cordless Lawn Mower

Now 20% Off

Pros

  • Feels sturdy and well-built
  • Large 40L collector capacity

Cons

  • More complicated set-up than others – for example, it mulches grass as a default, rather than collecting it automatically, so you’ll need to set that up if desired

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight15.3kg
Cutting heights available20 - 70 mm
Number of cutting heights Six
Cutting width 37cm
Volume of grass box 40L
Average noise level 79dB
Claimed run time Not specified
Time for full recharge Three hours and 50 minutes
Other features Brushless motor, automatic power adjustment for longer grass, mulch functionality
Best for small lawns

VonHaus Cordless Lawnmower 40V

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Cordless Lawnmower 40V
Best for small lawns

VonHaus Cordless Lawnmower 40V

Now 14% Off

Pros

  • Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
  • Grass collector is easy to remove, empty and replace

Cons

  • The front of the mower is so lightweight that it tips back when the grass box is completely full

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight10.4kg
Cutting heights available25-65mm
Number of cutting heightsFive
Cutting width33cm
Volume of grass box30L
Average noise level70 dB
Claimed run timeUp to 25 minutes
Time for full rechargeOne hour and 55 minutes
Other featuresBattery compatible with other tools in VonHaus’ 40V Garden Power range
Best electric lawnmower for range of cutting heights

RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower
Best electric lawnmower for range of cutting heights

RYOBI ONE+ Cordless Brushless 40cm Lawnmower

Pros

  • Easy to manoeuvre
  • Large grass collection box

Cons

  • Our tester’s hands ached slightly after holding down the controls for an extended period

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight19.79kg
Cutting heights available25-75mm
Number of cutting heightsSeven
Cutting width40cm
Volume of grass box50L
Average noise level78 dB
Claimed run timeUnspecified
Time for full rechargeOne hour and a half
Other featuresFoldable handle, brushless motor, mulch function
Best for large gardens

Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750
Best for large gardens

Bosch AdvancedRotak 36V-44-750

Pros

  • Quick and effective at cutting without chewing up the grass
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • A little tricky to push on paths or on surfaces off the lawn

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight16.5kg
Cutting heights available25 - 80 mm
Number of cutting heights Seven
Cutting width 44cm
Volume of grass box 50L
Average noise level 68dB
Claimed run time Unspecified
Time for full recharge Three hours and 10 minutes
Other features Grass bag-full indicator, grass edge cutting technology, foldable handle, brushless motor
Best self-propelled lawnmower

EGO Power Self-Propelled 42cm Cordless Lawnmower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Power Self-Propelled 42cm Cordless Lawnmower
Best self-propelled lawnmower

EGO Power Self-Propelled 42cm Cordless Lawnmower

Pros

  • Compact and foldable for easy storage
  • Full grass indicator on the collection box

Cons

  • Expensive

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight24kg
Cutting heights available20-80mm
Number of cutting heightsSeven
Cutting width42cm
Volume of grass box55L
Average noise level75 dB
Claimed run timeApproximately 35 minutes
Time for full rechargeOne hour and 15 minutes
Other featuresMulch function, LED headlights, adjustable handle, self-propelled motor
Best corded lawnmower

Bosch Universal Rotak 37-565 Electric Lawn Mower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Universal Rotak 37-565 Electric Lawn Mower
Best corded lawnmower

Bosch Universal Rotak 37-565 Electric Lawn Mower

Now 14% Off

Pros

  • Easy to manoeuvre, with lightweight build and large wheels
  • Corded model – no need to charge the battery
  • Effective grass collection

Cons

  • 10-metre cable is best for smaller spaces
  • Grass box feels flimsy

Score: 87/100

There's no need to worry about running out of battery with this corded mower, which our tester described as “user-friendly and agile”. It’s pleasingly lightweight and easy to steer, and the large wheels, adjustable handle height and responsive controls all contribute to a comfortable mowing experience.

It was a strong performer, especially on long grass, where it delivered an even cut without flattening, while remaining reasonably quiet and manoeuvrable. On short grass, it struggled just a little on bumpy zones and thicker patches, but the final result was tidy with a visible stripe. It was great at collecting clippings too, although the grass box feels a little flimsy.

If you have a larger garden, the 10-metre power cable may feel limiting, in which case you could consider Black + Decker’s corded model below (which offers an additional two metres) – or break free with a cordless design.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCorded
Weight12 kg
Cutting heights available25-70 mm
Number of cutting heights 5
Cutting width 37 cm
Volume of grass box 40 L
Average noise level 87 dB
Cord length10 m
Other features Adjustable and foldable handle, edge cutting, carry handle

Black + Decker 38cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
38cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower

Black + Decker 38cm Corded Rotary Lawnmower

Pros

  • Ergonomic handle was comfortable to use
  • Not battery-powered so don’t need to remember to charge it

Cons

  • Cable-retaining clip wasn’t overly effective at holding the cable securely

Score: 87/100

Another fantastic corded mower, this 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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCorded
Weight16.7kg
Cutting heights available20-70mm
Number of cutting heightsSix
Cutting width38cm
Volume of grass box45L
Average noise level90 dB
Cord length12m
Other featuresRear roller, folding handle

Flymo 18V SimpliMow 320 Cordless Lawn Mower

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
18V SimpliMow 320 Cordless Lawn Mower

Flymo 18V SimpliMow 320 Cordless Lawn Mower

Pros

  • Lightweight and compact – easy to manoeuvre and store
  • Simple, responsive controls and easy-start mechanism
  • Good grass collection

Cons

  • 20-minute run time is best for small spaces
  • Less consistent on uneven ground

Score: 87/100

This compact cordless lawnmower is great for small-to-medium gardens, especially if you're low on shed space. At a very lightweight 10.6 kg, it’s easy to steer and get round tight corners – just note that because of the light build, it requires some correction to maintain straight lines.

It performed best on long grass, where it produced a clean cut with only minor chewing on thicker patches. Its results were still strong on short grass, and it left behind visible stripes – it was just a little less consistent on uneven ground and thick clumps.

It was excellent at collecting clippings, and the grass box is easy to remove and empty, with a plastic tongue to help prevent spills. The built-in carry handle is also useful for moving the mower in and out of storage – just as well, as the small wheels struggled a little to move across gravel. A competent, straightforward pick for smaller spaces.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight10.6 kg
Cutting heights available30-60mm
Number of cutting heights 4
Cutting width 32 cm
Volume of grass box 30 L
Average noise level 86 dB
Claimed run time 20 minutes
Time for full recharge 1 hour 53 minutes
Other features Adjustable handle, battery compatible with other power tools, carry handle
Best electric lawnmower for quick charging

Husqvarna Aspire™ LC34-P4A

UK Approved(Esquire,Red,HB,GH,Country Living,Prima)
Aspire™ LC34-P4A
Best electric lawnmower for quick charging

Husqvarna Aspire™ LC34-P4A

Pros

  • Very easy to push and steer
  • Very quick charging time

Cons

  • Grass box collector is on the smaller side

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.

Key specifications

Corded or cordlessCordless
Weight11.8kg
Cutting heights available25-65mm
Number of cutting heightsFour
Cutting width34cm
Volume of grass box30L
Average noise level96 dB
Claimed run timeNot specified
Time for full recharge37 minutes
Other featuresAdjustable handle, lifting handle at the front and rear, automatic power boost, battery status display
best electric lawnmowers

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.

best electric lawnmowers

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.

best electric lawnmowers

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 our best corded model, the BOSCH Universal Rotak 37-565 Electric Lawn Mower, which is also good value buy.

Headshot of Megan Geall
Megan Geall
Senior Homes and Lifestyle Writer

Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.

When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between. 

Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.

Headshot of Jasmine Vorley
Jasmine Vorley
Homes Writer

Jasmine is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. With a background in design, she is committed to sorting the good products from the great –and helping Good Housekeeping readers do the same.

Throughout her career, Jasmine has written extensively about product quality, craftsmanship and sustainability, and is passionate about consumer rights. She previously worked as a writer and researcher at the product longevity platform Buy Me Once.

If she isn’t reviewing the latest gadgets for your home, you can probably find Jasmine cooking elaborate meals or crafting something weird and wonderful!

Headshot of Blossom Boothroyd
Tested byBlossom Boothroyd
Homes Testing Manager

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.  

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