Best lawn mowers to buy in 2021
Our round up of the best lawn mowers, as tested by our experts.
Choosing the best lawn mower can be a tricky task, with so many models on the market and such a wide range of brands. There are four main types of mower available at hugely varying prices and all with different features that need to be considered.
To make things easier, we focus on some of the key points to look for when choosing a lawn mower and explain some of the benefits and drawbacks of the different types.
We’ve also included a list of ten of our best lawn mowers across the board, as tested by our experts. All the models on our list have been awarded Best Buy status after being thoroughly put through their paces. Every one of them has scored a minimum of 4.5 out of 5 overall, so you can be assured that you’re looking at one of the best machines in its category.
There are a range of styles on the list including both corded and cordless mowers, all of which offer various functions and additional features. To make things as clear as possible, we’ve included a list of pros and cons for each model, so you can make an informed choice on the best lawn mower for you.
Best lawn mowers at a glance
- Worx WG779E cordless lawn mower
- Ego LM1701E cordless lawn mower
- Mountfield Princess 34 electric corded lawn mower
- Webb Weer 33 electric corded mower
- Husqvarna LC 247iX cordless lawn mower
- Gardena PowerMax 1200/32 electric corded mower
- Ryobi RLM13E 33S electric corded mower
- Gardena Comfort hand mower push mower
- Flymo Hover Vac 250 electric cord lawn mower
- Wolf Garten WPCM-F hand push cylinder mower
How to choose a lawn mower
There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing the right lawn mower for you. Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a corded electric, petrol, battery-powered cordless or push mower.
- Corded electric mowers are generally in the mid-price range and are relatively light and quiet. You will need a charging point and possibly an extension cord and the electric cable can get in the way. Take a look at our pick of the best electric lawn mowers.
- Petrol lawn mowers are powerful but tend to be loud, heavy and are less environmentally-friendly. They need an annual maintenance check up and a supply of petrol and oil.
- Battery-powered cordless lawn mowers are the newest type of mower and are the most lightweight and manoeuvrable. You need to remember to keep the battery charged and they can be expensive, although prices are starting to come down. Take a look at our pick of the best cordless mowers.
- Push mowers are cheap and manually powered, so they are the most eco-friendly mower you can buy but, they can be hard work for the user, particularly if strength and mobility are an issue. Take a look at our pick of the best hand push mowers.
Once you've decided which type of mower is right for you, think about what extra features you might need.
Check the size of the mower. The wider the cutting width, the more area of lawn can be covered in one go.
The capacity of the grass collector will dictate how often you need to stop mowing to empty it and although larger bags mean fewer trips to the compost heap they will make the mower heavier to operate as they fill up, which is worth bearing in mind.
Some models require assembly when you first get them. Cheaper models particularly, often need handles and grass bags assembled before use, which can be fiddly.
If you are particularly tall or small, check whether the handle can adjust for different user heights and if storage space is an issue, if it can be folded down and easily tucked away.
Other features like the range of cutting heights, whether a fast charger is included and inevitably, price will need to be taken into consideration, too.
Finally, robotic mowers are another option not included here. If you're interested in this type of mower, we've got a list of the best robot lawn mowers you can browse, or take a look at our full list of individual lawn mower reviews.
Best lawn mowers to buy in 2021
Browse some of our top-rated Best Buy lawn mowers on test below.
Worx WG779E
Our rating: 4.75 out of 5
Pros:
- Easy assembly and storage, long warranty
- Turbo and Eco modes
- Robust, light and easy to manoeuvre
- Battery and charger interchangeable with other Worx 20V tools
Cons:
- Long charge time
- One handle height
Our testers found this lawnmower easy to assemble and it handily folds away for storage when not in use. There’s a 30 litre ready-made grass bag and six cutting heights to choose from. It’s ideal for smaller lawns and we were impressed with the amount of features it packs in, considering the price. It also comes with a generous three-year warranty.
Read the full Worx WG779E cordless mower review
Ego LM1701E cordless lawn mower
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Buy now from Gardenlines (£319)
Our testers found the Ego mower sturdy and easy to handle and manoeuvre. It has a range of seven cutting heights and comes with a 55 litre capacity grass bag. The mower charges in just 30 minutes but the run time with the included battery is relatively short at 20 minutes. Larger batteries are also available to buy separately. The battery power level is clearly visible when mowing. This mower comes with a five year warranty.
Pros:
- Easy to assemble and folds for storage
- Adjustable handle height for different users
- Sturdy and easy to handle
- Clear visibility of battery power level
- Wide range of cutting heights
- Battery and charger interchangeable with other Ego Power+ tools
Cons:
- Short run time on battery supplied
Read the full review: Ego LM1701E review
Mountfield Princess 34 electric corded lawn mower
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
This mower is powerful yet surprisingly quiet and our testers found a number of the additional features useful. There’s a mulching option, rear roller, vision window in the grass collector to check levels and more. There’s also a choice of six cutting heights and our experts found that the mower handles well on the job.
Pros:
- Light, quiet and manoeuvrable
- Cut, collect or mulch
- Rear roller and anti-scalp plate
- Easy to adjust
Cons:
- Collector slightly fiddly to assemble
Read the full review: Mountfield Princess 34 review
Webb WEER 33 electric corded mower
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Buy now at Crocus (£99.99)
Pros
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Cable relief clip for safety
- Great features
- Cuts efficiently
- Cuts to the edge
Cons
- Black cable hard to see
This mower is well thought out with excellent features. It’s easy to assemble and folds for storage with a comfortable, foam handle which can be adjusted to a variety of heights. There are five cutting heights to choose from and these are easily changed by a single lever. The grass collection bag has a generous 35L capacity and a full indicator that lets you know when it needs emptying. The mower is relatively quiet and it cuts well, right up to the edge. It’s lightweight and comfortable to manoeuvre and our only quibble is the black mower cable, which could be a brighter colour so it's easier to see. For just £99.99, this is a great value mower.
Read the full Webb WEER 33 electric corded mower review
Husqvarna LC 247iX
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Buy now from Husqvarna, (£499.99)
Pros:
- Comes assembled and folds flat for storage
- Battery power level clearly visible on handle
- Cuts well
- App for service needs and run time
- Battery compatible with Husqvarna products
Cons:
- Heavy
- Long charge time
Our expert testers felt this was a well-designed mower which had a host of great features. There are warning lights plus an Eco mode and it even connects to an app. On the lawn it handled well and cut efficiently through the grass. There’s a one year warranty included and we awarded this Best Buy status for medium sized lawns.
Read the full Husqvarna LC 247iX cordless mower review
Gardena PowerMax 1200/32 electric corded mower
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
Buy now at Amazon (£108.95)
Pros
- Light and easy to manoeuvre
- Cuts to the edge
- Height of cut simplest to change
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons
- Grass box tricky to assemble
This mower offers incredibly precise cutting - it cuts between 20-60mm in 5mm increments and this height of cut is very easy to control with a simple twist of a dial making it great for gardeners who lack strength or dexterity. It’s light and easy to manoeuvre, with a tight turning circle and we love the bright orange power cable, which is easy to spot in the grass. The grass box is easy to empty and indicates when it's full, however, we found it a little tricky to assemble. The handle which folds for easy storage is a little short for taller users.
Read the full Gardena PowerMax 1200/32 electric corded mower review
Ryobi RLM13E 33S electric corded mower
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Buy now at Argos (£90)
Pros
- Comfortable foam handle
- Light and easy to move
- Cuts to the edge
- Best cable relief clip
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons
- Noise high pitched
This mower is simple to assemble and simple to use. Its handle folds for storage and can be adjusted to a choice of heights and it's light and comfortable to use. There are five cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 20-60mm, and these are easy to change with a simple lever. Its best feature however is a convenient and effective cable relief clip, which keeps the cable tucked safely out of the way while you mow. Though one of the quietest machines on test, the motor on this model is very high-pitched.
Read the full Ryobi RLM13E 33S electric corded mower review
Gardena Comfort hand mower
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
There’s more to assemble on this model than with other hand push mowers but our testers found that the instructions were clear to follow. The comfortable-to-use handle also folds easily for storage. In use, the mower feels sturdy and our experts thought it was well-designed, although the 49 litre grass collector has to be purchased separately. There’s a warranty of two years on this model.
Pros:
- Easy height-of-cut adjuster
- Large grass collector that catches clippings well
- Feels sturdy and well designed
- Cuts well
Cons:
- Heavy
- Grass collector is sold separately
Read the full Gardena Comfort hand mower review
Flymo Hover Vac 250 electric cord lawn mower
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
The new design of this Flymo Hover Vac includes a grass collector and metal blade. Our experts were impressed with how easy the mower was to manoeuvre, particularly over edges and on slopes. The handle also adjusts to suit different heights, which went down well with testers.
Pros:
- Versatile, very light, powerful for its size
- Grass collector compacts clippings
- Hangs up for neat storage
Cons:
- Fiddly to adjust cut height
- Short warranty
Read the full review: Flymo Hover Vac 250 review
Wolf Garten WPCM-F hand push cylinder mower>
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
This hand push mower was easy to assemble from the clear instructions provided. Testers found it lightweight, easy to move around and it has four, simple to change cutting heights. It has a small 15 litre grass collector and comes with a warranty of three years.
Pros:
- Light and easy to move
- Good cut
- Front-loading grass collector catches clippings well
- Low height of cut (from 10mm)
Cons:
- Small grass collector
- Grass collector impedes view
Read the full Wolf Garten hand push cylinder mower review