8 Best Cordless Lawn Mowers UK 2020 – An Expert Buyer’s Guide

A cordless lawn mower is ideal if you have a lawn that measures 200 square meters or larger. That’s about the size of a tennis court and an electric plug-in mower will struggle to reach the faraway areas with a lawn of this size. A petrol lawnmower can also be considered but many people wish to opt away from these as they are loud, they give off fumes and they require a lot of upkeep. They are heavy and can be difficult to get started so many people prefer to opt for electric.

This review is looking in-depth at the best cordless lawn mowers available in the UK and why they make cutting the grass so much easier.

I’ve covered the top five options out there as well as putting together a handy buying guide to help you know what to look out for. After that, we have some more great options that haven’t quite made it into the top 5.

Each product has the basic stats plus an in-depth review and if you like the look of any of them simply click on the “Price & Reviews” button to go to the buying page.

Top 5 Best Cordless Lawn Mowers

• Top Choice – Bosch Rotak 430 li
• Runner Up – Greenworks Tools G40LM41K2X
• Best Budget Option – SWIFT 40V EB132CP2
• Best For Medium Lawns – BLACK+DECKER Lithium-Ion Lawn Mower
• Best Compact Mower – Flymo Mighti-Mo 300 li

1. Top Choice – Bosch Rotak 430 li

For our top choice today we have the Bosch Rotak mower with two 36 volt, lithium-ion batteries.

With its steel blade and airflow technology, this mower can handle thicker lawns with ease. 43cm of cutting width will easily handle medium to large lawns and you’ll get up to 450 square meters cut on a single charge. This mower comes with 2 batteries so you can switch them out when one runs low on power.

The batteries take 140 minutes to fully charge so if you have a bigger lawn you can get the whole lot done in a day if you set the spare battery to charge whilst your busy mowing.

It’s a really nice mower to use as it has specially designed ergoflex handles that fit comfortably in the palm of your hands. The cutting height is easily adjusted from 20-70mm so you’ll get a perfect finish every time.

The only issue with this mower is it does have quite a specific set of steps to follow to turn it on so some people struggle a bit with this. Basically, you have to turn the batteries on as well as the mower, so if it isn’t starting up this is probably the issue!

Otherwise, this is good-sized, powerful mower that makes cutting the grass a breeze.

2. Runner Up – Greenworks Tools G40LM41K2X

Next up we have the Greenworks Tools with this powerful, cordless, electric lawnmower. With mulching feature, you can choose to nourish the grass as you mow or divert grass clippings to the spacious 50 litre grass box. The only thing to be aware of with mulch is that it can lead to the spreading of weeds so I wouldn’t use the mulching plug if you have issues with unwanted plants on your lawn.

The mower comes with 2 li-ion 2Ah batteries plus a charger. If you have any other Greenworks 40V power tools you’ll be encouraged to find out that all their 2Ah and 4Ah batteries are compatible across their range. 4 LEDs will alert you as to how much power the batteries have left and in dry conditions, you should be able to cover up to 600 square metres.

This mower has a 5 step height adjustment so can tackle longer grass as well as giving a neat finish to shorter lawns. It has an ergonomic handle that makes it easy to carry and store (even if storage space is tight) so is a great all-rounder for medium to large gardens.

3. Best Budget Option – SWIFT 40V EB132CP2

If you’re trying to watch those pennies then this next mower is the one for you. This Swift model features an advanced brushless motor can power through 250 square metres on a single charge so perfect for small gardens. If you have a larger area needing done you can pay a bit extra for a spare battery to switch out when it runs flat.

The battery doesn’t last very long at all so it has a short runtime of around 20 minutes and it takes 4 hours to re-charge. If you decide to go for the cheaper option with only one battery this is only a good mower for small lawns.

It has a 5 step height adjust and the handle folds for easy storage. It’s compact and pretty powerful so if you don’t mind waiting for the battery to charge then this a fantastic mower for the price.

4. Best For Medium Lawns – BLACK+DECKER Lithium-Ion Lawn Mower

If you have a medium to large sized lawn then a battery lawn mower is preferable to corded electric mower. The cordless models reach further than plug in ones and are more eco friendly and lightweight compared to petrol lawn mowers.

This Black & Decker lawnmower has enough power behind it to handle larger lawns as well as long grass. It comes with two long lasting 2Ah batteries that charge in around 2 hours but you can swap them out, and charge one whilst using the other, to give yourself plenty of time to cut the whole lawn.

It has 6 height adjustment settings from 30 to 80mm so you can optimise cutting height to ensure good lawn health.

The only downside with this mower is the grass collection box is pretty small but it does have a side discharge option to save you constantly emptying out the grass cuttings. You’ll will need to rake up the clippings afterwards or use a leaf blower to get a nice, clean finish.

5. Best Compact Mower – Flymo Mighti-Mo 300 li

If you struggle with maneuvering lawnmowers due to their weight then this one is worth considering. This Flymo cordless rotary mower is extremely lightweight as it weighs less than 10kg.

It doesn’t cover a massive area on a single charge but it only takes 2 hours charge time to restore battery power so you can cut a medium-sized lawn in a day with a nice break for lunch. This model has the option to include a grass trimmer if you pay a bit extra which is a great option to get a really neat finish.

It has 5 cutting heights from 25 to 65mm and the handle folds up for easy storage.

This mower isn’t the biggest or longest lasting of all the mowers out there but it is light and easy to use so a great option if you’re keen to move away from large, heavy mowers.

Things To Consider When Buying A Cordless Lawnmower

Size of lawn

The size of your lawn is a key decider when choosing the right lawnmower for your garden. To help you estimate the size of your lawn, a tennis court is about 200 square meters. The maximum area each mower can cover is listed in the product description. Mowers work better on shorter grass and in dry conditions so a thick, long, damp lawn will use more power and the mower won’t get as far.

Power

The power of the lawnmower dictates how well it will cut longer, thicker grass. Generally, the power is calculated from the voltage and the amps of the mower. The higher the number the more power the mower will have.

Grass Collector Size

A larger grass collector will mean less time mowing the lawn as you’ll not be stopping so often to empty it. One thing to be aware of with a large grass collector is that when it is full it will add weight to the mower. Make sure you balance up the size relative to how well you cope with a heavy mower.

Storage

Your storage options will need to be considered when you set out to buy a new lawnmower. If you have a nice sized garden shed then you won’t need to worry. If you don’t have outside storage, consider getting a garden storage box as lawnmowers are too dirty to be stored in the home.

Height Adjust

Adjustable cutting decks are a great feature as they allow you to control how close you cut the grass. If you cut the lawn too short it can end up drying out in patches which doesn’t look great. Adjust the mower to remove the top third of the blade of grass to ensure it stays healthy. This height will vary a lot with the seasons and weather so there’s no one size fits all.

Look for a mower that has a central height adjust or easy access lever as this is a lot simpler to do than removing the wheels to adjust the cutting height.

Battery Life

If you have a larger lawn then a short battery life will have you very frustrated when you’re trying to get the mowing done. Make sure you choose a mower that has a good optimal area per charge, a quick re-charge time, and ideally, a replacement battery.

Warranty

As with any large purchase make sure you read the manufacturers policy (found in the product description on Amazon) on returns. No matter how well designed a particular lawnmower is, they are all susceptible to faults so end sure you activate your year warranty card as soon as you receive the product.

F.A.Q.s

Which are better, corded or cordless lawnmowers?

This depends on the size of your lawn. A small lawn of 100 square meters or less can be tackled with an electric plug-in mower. A little larger area and you may get away with adding an extension cable. For anything above 200-250 square meters you really need a cordless battery or petrol mower.

How long do cordless lawnmower batteries last?

The batteries generally last anywhere between 15 to 40 minutes depending on lawn conditions.

Is 20v or 40v better?

40v batteries are generally more powerful than 20v batteries and usually perform better. It’s worth mentioning that the amps (Ah) also need to be considered when deciding which battery is more powerful.

Is higher Ah battery better?

The higher the Ah the longer the battery will run on a single charge so higher Ah usually considered better for battery lawn mowers.

Are battery powered lawnmowers any good?

Battery lawnmowers are lighter to move and more eco friendly than petrol ones. They cover a wider area compared to plug-in mowers. To ensure you get more for your money, make sure you choose a model that can handle the size of the lawn you have.

Other Cordless Lawnmower Reviews

WORX WG779E.2

This lawnmower by Worx does not pack as much voltage as our other models but it does run two batteries together so you end up with more power overall. It also has the option of switching the 2Ah battery for a 4Ah which will double the working time.

The mower comes with two of the 2Ah batteries as standard and the double charging port is really useful as you get to re-charge them both at the same time.

Another great feature that helps this mower perform is the intellicut technology. This automatically adjusts the speed of the blade depending on the grass conditions so helps keep performance optimal.

A simple lever adjusts the cutting height between 20-70mm and close to edge cutting removes the need for trimming afterward.

It folds up really small for compact storage and at only 12kg in weight, it’s a nice lightweight option.

Gtech Cordless Lawnmower CLM021

Gtech boasts a run time of 40 minutes and only 1 hour of charging for this impressive lawnmower. The thick, carbon steel blade draws from the 48 volts and is designed to enhance airflow so this allows it to move grassclippings into the bag with ease.

It’s a really big mower but the large diameter wheels make it easy to handle and you can easily adjust the height by 10mm increments between 30 and 80mm.

Despite the large size of this model the double folding handle and lightweight frame make it easy to store away.

One issue with this mower is, despite it’s large size it does struggle with very uneven lawns. I would only opt for this one if you have a nice smooth lawn to start with.

Ryobi RLM18X41H240 ONE+

This compact yet powerful mower by Ryobi is a serious contender. With easy edge grass combs it cuts extremely close to the lawn edge giving you a neat finish alongside the 5 position, single point height adjust.

It has a large cutting width and metal blade that can handle long grass with ease.

The 4Ah lithium batteries each have a voltage of 18V but work in combination to give a powerful combined 36V plus long running time.

The telescopic handle means anyone can use this no matter what height you are and it folds up for easy storage. The mulching plug is good to help nourish your lawn but if you’d rather not use this, the 50-litre grass bag can hold enough to keep you going for ages.

It’s a heavy mower at 23kg so not ideal if you struggle to move heavy objects and at this weight, you could consider a petrol mower.

Take Home

For an easy lawn cutting experience that doesn’t require petrol or extension cables consider choosing a battery lawnmower. Make sure you weigh up the battery life in Ah as well as the voltage to ensure you make decent headway through that grass. I hope this review has helped clear up any questions you may have had and has given you some food for thought when it comes to choosing the best cordless lawnmower for your garden.

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