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The best robot lawn mowers for hands-free gardening, tried and tested
The mow-bots are coming
Tested by Blossom Boothroyd, Marcus Strong and Jasmin Joyce
The prospect of never mowing the lawn again sounds great, but can a robot really do a better job than a traditional lawn mower? Well, here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts have tested the latest robot lawn mower models – and it's safe to say, we're seriously impressed.
The best robot lawn mowers are a doddle to set up, can navigate around obstacles and most importantly, will leave your garden looking pristine without you having to lift a finger. While they can vary significantly in price, there are more affordable options out there – and if you hate maintaining your lawn, they’re well worth the investment.
Best robot lawn mowers to buy in 2026
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Testing robot lawn mowers isn't just about mowing the lawn – we get granular. Our experts assess things like ease of set-up, the evenness of the cut on long and short grass, and how long it takes for the mower to get the job done. You’ll find a more detailed run-down of how we test robot lawn mowers below our reviews.
Pros
- No perimeter wire needed
- Docking station doesn’t need to be placed on grass
- The wheels ran freely over the grass and left no marks
Cons
- Mower battery must be kept in a cool, dry place, making it tricky to use during hot summers and hard to store over winter
Score: 95/100
We love Eufy’s robot vacuums, so we were excited when the brand launched its very first robotic lawn mower. Thankfully, we weren’t disappointed as it delivered a stellar performance in testing with its wire-free set-up, detailed instructions, and impressive cutting skills.
Both long and short grass cut equally well, with an even finish and no bald spots. The robot successfully navigated around obstacles, even avoiding a ball that rolled into its path. And if you thought that was impressive, just wait – once the ball had been picked up, the mower then returned to the patch of grass and finished off the job.
The intuitive app lets you add no-go zones, monitor the built-in web camera, manually control and drive the robot, and check the battery level. Once mowing is complete, the robot automatically returns to the docking station to re-charge, so it’s ready to go again whenever you need it.
We only had a few niggles overall, including how much space the docking station took up and that the robot mulches rather than collects the cuttings. However, this is a worthy winner that makes lawn maintenance a breeze.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 800m2 |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 25-75mm |
| Width of cut | 20.3cm |
| Maximum slope | 40% |
| Run time | 1 hour and 50 minutes |
| Charge time | 1 hour and 30 minutes to 1 hour and 50 minutes |
| Noise level | 66.5dB |
| Boundary wire | No |
Husqvarna Automower Aspire R6V Robot Lawn Mower
Husqvarna Automower Aspire R6V Robot Lawn Mower
Pros
- Wire-free installation with AI vision and satellite navigation
- Excellent mowing performance
- Reliable self-docking
Cons
- Needs good WiFi coverage across your entire garden
- Initial set-up is quite time-consuming
Score: 93/100
There’s no need to set up perimeter wires or a beacon with this robot mower, which is one of the smartest models we’ve tested so far. We were impressed with the easy-to-use app, which makes it simple to schedule mowing, create no-go zones and monitor battery life.
During testing, it tackled both long and short grass with ease, leaving a consistently neat finish and returning to thicker patches that needed extra attention. It also navigated around unexpected obstacles and reliably docked itself every time. If you want to adjust the cutting height, you have to do it manually – but you only need to turn a handle on the top.
Maintenance is easy – simply hose it down to clean and store it in a dry, frost-free area like a shed over winter (some robot mowers need to be taken indoors!). An anti-theft alarm will also go off if your robot gets kidnapped.
Although this model doesn’t require boundary wires, the initial set-up does still take some time and involves manually driving the robot around the garden while confirming the areas you want it to trim. But once this is done, you can sit back, relax and enjoy fully hands-off mowing.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | 600 m² |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 20-50 mm |
| Width of cut | 22 cm |
| Maximum slope | 40% |
| Run time | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Charge time | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Noise level | 63.4 dB |
| Boundary wire | No |
Ecovacs GOAT O600 RTK Robot Lawn Mower
Pros
- Straightforward to set up with no perimeter wire
- Good value for a wire-free model
- Sturdy and well-built
Cons
- Requires good WiFi coverage across the whole garden
- Must be stored indoors above 10°C over winter
Score: 91/100
If you’re looking for a more affordable model designed for slightly smaller spaces, this competent robot mower will keep up to 600 square metres of lawn neat and tidy. You don’t need to set up boundary wires – just an RTK station (a fixed beacon on a post for wire-free navigation) – and the helpful app will walk you through getting started.
It handled both long and short grass well, creating an even, tidy cut with minimal chewing and flattening. We did notice some edge areas were missed, and on the shorter grass setting, clippings were sometimes left in rows instead of distributed evenly. However, we were impressed by how effectively the AI navigated around obstacles, leaving only a small uncut area around them.
At 58 decibels (dB), it’s relatively quiet, so it won’t be unpopular with the neighbours. Just note that due to a multi-direction cutting pattern, the mower doesn’t leave behind a striped lawn. And before you buy, make sure your garden has WiFi coverage and that you have somewhere to store it over winter (as advised by the brand).
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 600m² |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 30-80 mm |
| Width of cut | 19 cm |
| Maximum slope | 40 degrees |
| Run time | 112 minutes |
| Charge time | 150 minutes |
| Noise level | 58 db |
| Boundary wire | No |
Pros
- Controls are accessible and easy to change
- Cleaning the robot was simple
Cons
- Some slightly uneven grass clipping spreadings
- Information was missing from the manual on a few advanced settings, which meant our tester had to search for them online
Score: 83/100
Our tester appreciated the sturdy design of this robot. It boasts a brushless motor, which reduces friction with the grass, increasing efficiency and the lifetime of the lawn mower, as well as free-running wheels and a well-camouflaged perimeter wire.
You do need to line the perimeter, but this model can then be connected to Bosch’s Smart Gardening App where you can manage your mowing schedule and settings with ease, something our tester found easy to navigate.
Overall, the robot tackled grass cutting effectively. It uses Bosch’s LogiCut technology to help it find the most efficient route across your lawn, reducing the time it spends out of the docking station. We did notice it missed the grass close to the station, but this is a quick fix with a grass trimmer.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 700m2 |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 30-55mm |
| Width of cut | 19cm |
| Maximum slope | 27% |
| Run time | 1 hour and 15 minutes |
| Charge time | 1 hour |
| Noise level | 58dB |
| Boundary wire | Yes |
Pros
- Clear instructions with a quick start guide that was very helpful
- Easy to set up
Cons
- If the PIN code to the mower is forgotten, you must contact customer services to reset
- The perimeter wire is black so may not blend in with the garden well
Score: 82/100
Capable of mowing for up to two hours and tackling lawns up to 800m2, this robot mower is a great pick for large spaces. It’s one for more complex gardens too as it can navigate slopes up to 35% inside the boundary and features wheel sensors that allow the machine to bump into and back away from fixed objects such as garden furniture or bird baths – something our testers found useful.
The actual mowing was impressive too, with the robot cutting evenly on both long and short grass and dispersing the mulching well. It struggled a little on bumpier terrain and our tester did say it threw itself down the garden steps at one point, so you’ll have to be careful when mapping your no-go zones, but otherwise it’s an easy-to-use, well-designed robot.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 800m2 |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 20-60mm |
| Width of cut | 18cm |
| Maximum slope | 35% |
| Run time | 2 hours |
| Charge time | 1 hour and 40 minutes |
| Noise level | 68dB |
| Boundary wire | Yes |
Yard Force MB400 Robotic Lawn Mower
Yard Force MB400 Robotic Lawn Mower
Pros
- Excellent cutting performance for the price
- Straightforward to set up despite boundary wires
Cons
- Obstacle detection was quite unreliable – often bumped into things
- Green boundary wires are quite conspicuous
Score: 81/100
This affordable little robot is a great pick for simple lawns. We found it delivered a neat and even cut on both short and long grass, with just a couple of chewed areas where our lawn was very thick. It also dispersed grass clippings evenly, leaving a tidy finish, without making excessive noise.
You don’t get features like AI vision or satellite navigation – you’ll need to set up boundary wires – and the obstacle detection isn’t that refined (it tends to bump into things before going around them). There isn’t a rain sensor either, and our testers noted that the plastic construction feels less robust than more premium models.
Set-up is straightforward, though, and the Bluetooth app makes scheduling simple. We also found that the mower consistently returned to its charging station after each session. Overall, it’s a competent model at a great price – ideal for first-time robot buyers.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 400 m² |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 20-55 mm |
| Width of cut | 16 cm |
| Maximum slope | 30% |
| Run time | 60 minutes |
| Charge time | 1 hour 40 minutes |
| Noise level | 62 dB |
| Boundary wire | Yes |
Pros
- One of the quieter models we’ve tested
- Easy to schedule mowing times
Cons
- App was slightly difficult to navigate
- No visible stripes on the lawn as the mower moves in multiple directions to achieve its full cut
Score: 79/100
While many other robots on this list require you to lay a perimeter wire, this Worx lawn mower works without, which means limited installation is needed before you can set the robot free in your garden.
For a simple garden layout, all you need to do is plug in the base station and turn the power on. The robot will then need to perform an initialisation process to explore and discover the cutting zone ahead of the first cut – note, you’ll need to connect to the companion app for this. Plus, if you want to mark out ‘no-go zones’, you’ll need to mark these using magnetic strips to flag the borders.
When cutting, the mower achieved full marks on both long and short grass and our tester appreciated how easy it was to view the battery life. This model also boasts LED headlights, helping it ‘see’ nocturnal animals and stay away from them.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 800m2 |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 30-65mm |
| Width of cut | 19cm |
| Maximum slope | 30% |
| Run time | 1 hour and 30 minutes |
| Charge time | Unspecified |
| Noise level | 57dB |
| Boundary wire | No |
Flymo EasiLife 250 GO Robotic Lawn Mower
Flymo EasiLife 250 GO Robotic Lawn Mower
Pros
- Lots of pegs available to help guide the perimeter wire
- Good safety and security features including a PIN code and large stop button
Cons
- Sustained some wear-and-tear
- Wasn’t the best at avoiding obstacles
Score: 73/100
Despite being one of the more affordable robot lawn mowers we’ve tested, the Flymo EasiLife robot still did an impressive job at cutting grass evenly, with no flattening or chewing of the grass in sight. We did notice that the shortest setting (20mm) was too short, leaving the grass brown, so we’d recommend using a taller height to prevent patching.
Our tester also found set-up complicated, taking over an hour to plan and install the boundary wire and connect the wires to the docking station. However, once sorted, the Flymo app was easy to navigate, allowing you to change settings, see the battery life, and see how the mower is working. We found the robot a breeze to clean post-mow, too.
Key specifications
| Recommended lawn size | Up to 250m2 |
|---|---|
| Height of cut | 20-50mm |
| Width of cut | 16cm |
| Maximum slope | 25% |
| Run time | Unspecified |
| Charge time | Unspecified |
| Noise level | 67.4dB |
| Boundary wire | Yes |
How we test robot lawn mowers
These are the factors we consider when deciding which robot lawn mowers make the cut.
- Set-up: Our experts note how easy each robot is to set up, assessing the process of installing boundary wires or the RTK station, as well as drawing out no-go zones on an app.
- Performance: We see how well each model can mow both long (75mm) and short grass (25mm). Our experts take into account the evenness of the cut, checking for any bald patches and whether the mower has cut or just chewed and flattened the grass. We also time how long it takes to mow a long and short patch of grass and check noise levels.
- General design and extra features: Finally, assess the overall design and easy to use the mower is to use, including the performance of its self-docking station and any other tech features such as apps and voice commands.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
We’ve been testing products at the Good Housekeeping Institute for over 100 years and have always been at the forefront of new products, trends and innovations.
Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, has spent years testing and designing protocols at our dedicated testing facility so knows exactly how to put a product through its paces. Once a robot lawn mower has been through our meticulous tests, our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, translates everything into these easy-read reviews.
Megan has spent time researching the latest robot mowers on the market, talking to the brands and scouting out their latest launches. Plus, she also looks after our other garden product reviews including the best electric lawn mowers, so she is an expert in all things lawn cutting.
How to choose a robot lawn mower based on your lawn
Here’s everything you should consider before committing to purchasing a robot lawn mower.
- Garden size: Choosing the right robot lawn mower starts with the size of your lawn. Those with small gardens can get by with compact models, but larger lawns need longer battery life, and a mower designed to cover more ground efficiently. If you pick an undersized model, it may end up spending more time charging than mowing!
- Slopes: Not all robot lawn mowers handle hills equally well, so it’s important to check the maximum slope rating before buying. To navigate steeper gardens, your mower will need stronger traction and more powerful wheels to avoid slipping and getting stuck.
- Lawn layout: A simple rectangular lawn is easy for any robot mower to navigate, but more complicated gardens can pose a challenge. If you have complex planting schemes, paths or separate lawn areas, smarter navigation features are a must. GPS mapping, obstacle detection and multi-zone mowing help the mower move around your space and tend to make the overall mowing process more hands-off.
- Boundary system: Some robot lawn mowers use boundary wires, while newer models are wire-free and rely on GPS or cameras instead. Wire-free models are easier to set up and adjust, especially if your garden layout tends to change over the seasons, but bear in mind they usually come with a higher price tag.
- Smart features: Many robot lawn mowers now include app control, scheduling, weather sensors, and anti-theft technology. These features let you manage mowing remotely and can help the mower adapt to changing conditions.
How does a robotic lawn mower work?
Robotic mowers work in a very similar way to robot vacuums, essentially keeping on top of lawn maintenance by mowing little and often and then returning to their charging station when they're done.
To get your robot up and running, most will require you to install a boundary wire around your garden's perimeter and any no-go zones such as trees, flower beds or garden furniture.
The mower’s charging station emits a signal through the boundary wire and lets the robot know when it’s approaching the boundary, making it stop, turn, and change direction.
Some mowers can now function without a boundary wire, though. These work via an app and must be connected to WiFi while mowing the grass. In the app, you can map out your garden – in essence, creating a virtual boundary wire – as well as changing the settings and getting access to things like lawn care tips and guides.
Are robot lawn mowers any good?
The robot lawn mower market is growing quickly for a reason. You will be getting a clever machine that keeps on top of regrowth, happily munching its way across your garden before stowing itself away at the end of a job well done.
What are the benefits of robot lawn mowers?
If you’re considering buying a robot lawn mower, these are the just some of the ways it can make your life easier.
They save you time and effort: These mini gardeners can be programmed to trim your grass every day if you wish, so you always have a pitch-perfect lawn. You won’t have to worry about emptying a grass box either as the robot will cleverly disperse any clippings over your lawn to keep it fertilised and looking healthy. And think, all that spare time spent not mowing can be used to relax, read a book, or cook a delicious BBQ.
They’re very compact: No more battling to squeeze your chunky mower in the garden shed. These little machines have small docking stations that can be discreetly placed in a corner of the garden and during winter, they can even be hung on a wall or stored in a cupboard indoors if you prefer.
They’re low-maintenance: Once installed and scheduled, the robot takes care of itself, mowing the grass happily and recharging at the docking station. You may need to hose off the undercarriage occasionally and change the blades once or twice a year but, all in all, maintenance is a breeze.
They’re quieter than their traditional counterparts: Thanks to their smaller, lightweight blades, they require less motor power than full size electric lawn mowers, leaving you to read your book in peace.
What should I consider before buying a robot lawn mower?
Sadly, the robot life isn’t for everyone and there are a few things to take note of before shopping.
They’re expensive: This is the biggest sticking point. The ones on our list go up to £1,800, with most somewhere between £500 and £800. That said, electric mowers can often cost between £200 and £350 so for a little extra investment, you can have something that takes this summer chore of your to-do list.
They’re limited by hills and sloping gardens: If your garden isn’t flat, you’ll need to double check the maximum gradient of your robot lawn mower as most cannot be used on steep incline. Typically, robot mowers are limited to slopes under a 25% gradient.
Set-up can be complicated: You might love your beautiful flowerbed, water fountain and winding gravel path, but your robot mower won’t. While these exclusion zones can be set with a boundary wire, it will take time and effort to draw these out if your garden’s design is complicated. Robot mowers can go across some paths, but this is dependent on the material and generally isn’t advised as it could damage the cutting blades.
The verdict: What is the best robot lawn mower?
These funky little robots are hard workers in the garden. Our winner, the Eufy E15 Robot Lawn Mower, delivered an impressively even cut, was easy to set up thanks to its wire-free design and was a breeze to use.
Our runner-up, the Ecovacs GOAT O600 RTK Robot Lawn Mower, is also wire-free at a good price.
And while robot lawn mowers are generally expensive, the Yard Force MB400 Robotic Lawn Mower is currently under £300, making it a great-value buy.
More Tried & Tested gardening buys
- Prefer not to outsource your lawn care to a robot? Check out our best electric lawnmowers
- For edges, tight spaces and overgrown areas, read our best strimmers roundup
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.
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!
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.
Marcus Strong is the Homes Operations Manager at the Good Housekeeping Institute, overseeing product testing programmes and helping ensure readers receive trusted, evidence-based buying advice. With experience at leading retailers including Marks & Spencer Home and IKEA, he brings extensive expertise in home products, quality assessment and consumer needs.
Marcus works closely with testing and editorial teams to deliver rigorous evaluations across a wide range of household categories, combining operational excellence with a passion for helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
Jasmin is a Household Product Specialist at the Good Housekeeping Institute, with extensive experience testing products across kitchen, sleep, laundry care, household cleaning, refrigeration, dish care and more. Her work ranges from detailed performance analysis of washing machines, dishwashers and refrigeration appliances to hands-on assessments of cookware, cleaning products and sleep essentials.
With a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Imperial College London, Jasmin combines technical expertise with a strong aptitude for interpreting large datasets to deliver clear, evidence-based consumer insights.
