I get asked "which mower should I buy?" more than any other question. At barbecues, in emails, even by my neighbour over the fence last Tuesday. The honest answer is always the same: it depends entirely on your garden.
A £150 cordless mower is perfect for a 100m² back lawn. That same mower would be utterly useless on a 1,000m² paddock. This guide walks you through exactly how to figure out what you need.
Before you even look at a single mower, you need to know the size of your lawn. This is the most important factor, and it's the one most people skip.
Walk the length counting steps. Each stride is roughly 0.75m. Multiply length x width x 0.75 x 0.75. So 30 paces x 20 paces = 22.5m x 15m = 337m².
Satellite view, right-click, "Measure distance," trace your lawn. Takes two minutes.
If your lawn is under 400m², a cordless mower is almost certainly your best option in 2026. Modern 40V batteries handle 250-400m² on a single charge, cutting performance rivals petrol on maintained lawns. No fuel, no pull-cord, significantly quieter. See our cordless mower guide or battery mower reviews.
For gardens over 400m², slopes, or thick grass. Consistent power, wider decks, unlimited runtime. Trade-offs: heavier, louder, annual maintenance. See petrol mowers for large gardens.
I'll be straight: the cable is annoying. But they're £60-120, incredibly light, and never run out of power. For a small rectangular lawn under 100m², they work perfectly well.
Latest models use GPS — no perimeter wire. Set boundaries in an app and walk away. Best for 200-1,500m². See robot mower reviews.
Walking behind a mower at that scale takes hours. See ride-on reviews or best mowers for 1 acre.
| Lawn Size | Cutting Width | Mower Type |
|---|---|---|
| Under 100m² | 30-33cm | Corded or compact cordless |
| 100-250m² | 33-37cm | Cordless |
| 250-400m² | 37-43cm | Cordless or petrol |
| 400-800m² | 43-51cm | Petrol self-propelled |
| 800m²+ | 51cm+ or ride-on | Petrol or ride-on |
Yes if: garden over 300m², any slopes, or mower over 25kg. No if: small flat garden with a lightweight cordless.
Purely cosmetic but absolutely superb when done right. See best mowers with rollers or rear roller petrol reviews.
Mulch in summer, collect in spring and autumn. Summer mulching feeds the lawn. Spring/autumn clippings are too wet and long — collect and compost.
| Budget | What You Get | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Under £100 | Corded electric or manual push | Tiny lawns, minimum spend |
| £100-200 | Budget cordless (Einhell, Flymo) | Small gardens up to 200m² |
| £200-350 | Mid-range cordless or budget petrol | Medium gardens — best value tier |
| £350-500 | Premium cordless with roller, or mid-range petrol | Larger gardens, stripes, longevity |
| £500-1,000 | Premium petrol, entry robot, Honda cordless | Large gardens, slopes, demanding conditions |
| £1,000+ | Premium robot, ride-on, flagship petrol | Very large gardens, hands-off, professional results |
General advice: buy the best you can comfortably afford. A cheap mower that breaks after two seasons costs more than a mid-range one that lasts eight.
Is your lawn under 200m²?
Hate mowing? Skip everything and get a robot mower. Life's too short.
"First mower, small garden, tight budget"
Einhell GE-CM 18/33 — ~£150. Lightweight, simple, gets the job done.
"Family garden, ~300m², want it done quickly"
Worx WG737E 40V — ~£300. 40V power, IntelliCut, 25-minute sessions.
"Large garden, 600m²+, serious about the lawn"
Hyundai HYM530SPE — ~£400. 53cm, electric start, eats everything.
"Want stripes without petrol hassle"
LawnMaster MX 24V — ~£190. Cordless with rear roller. Proper stripes.
"Never want to mow again"
Segway Navimow i2 AWD — ~£900. Wire-free, AWD, 20-minute setup.
"Money no object, best cut possible"
Honda HRX 537 HZ — ~£1,600. The last mower you'll ever buy.
Weekly during the growing season (April-October). Twice weekly in May-June if you want it looking its best. In winter, leave it alone.
For most UK gardens under 400m², yes — genuinely. 40V cordless mowers match mid-range petrol on maintained lawns. Petrol still wins above 600m² or in very thick grass.
30-40mm in summer, 40-50mm in spring/autumn. Never below 25mm unless you have fine fescue. Higher is always safer than lower.
If you mow 45 minutes weekly for 30 weeks, that's 22.5 hours per year. Over 5 years, 112 hours. A robot at £800 costs ~£7/hour of saved time. Worth it if you value your weekends.
For cordless: buy wherever is cheapest. For petrol, especially £400+: a local garden machinery dealer is worth the premium — proper assembly, servicing, and advice when things go wrong.
