The Best Electric Lawn Mowers For Small And Large Gardens
Corded mowers to suit every lawn size and budget from small plots to large gardens.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best electric lawn mower is the Bosch AdvancedRotak Electric Lawn Mower. It came close to petrol performance in our testing, and on a big lawn its wide cut and large grass box save you runs and emptying stops. For a small garden, the lighter Bosch Rotak 36 R Electric Lawn Mower is easier to push, turn and store, and its rear roller leaves neat stripes.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Bosch AdvancedRotak Electric Lawn Mower
Best For Large Gardens
Bosch AdvancedRotak Electric Lawn MowerLarger lawns where a wide cut and big grass box save time
- Check price of Bosch Rotak 36 R Electric Lawn Mower
Best For Small Gardens
Bosch Rotak 36 R Electric Lawn MowerSmall and medium lawns where light weight and easy storage matter
- Check price of Flymo EasiStore 380R Rotary Lawn Mower
- Check price of LawnMaster 1800 Electric Lawn Mower
- Check price of Flymo EasiGlide 300
- Check price of Einhell GE-EM 1032 Electric Lawn Mower
On a small plot, a wide deck is more hindrance than help, as it's heavier and fiddly round beds, while on a big lawn it saves you a lot of runs. Garden shape decides the rest. Hover mowers glide over slopes and curved edges, and a rotary collects better and leaves stripes on a flat lawn when it has a rear roller.
We look after lawns of every kind at the rentals and Airbnbs we own, from small flat plots to bigger sloping ones. The six below cover every size of garden and budget.
How We Rated These Electric Lawn Mowers
Looking after several gardens means the mowers get proper use, from the premium Bosch AdvancedRotak down to the lightweight Flymo EasiGlide. We cut grass of all lengths with them, on flat lawns and on slopes, and judged build quality, cutting performance, design, ease of use, cutting heights, grass collection and comfort.
The Bosch Rotak features in our photos and video. The two below show it on a lawn beside a stone wall, where the roller has left stripes behind it.
We've also used the AdvancedRotak and the Flymo EasiGlide hover mower, both pictured below.
In the short video below, the Rotak is light enough that we're pushing it around with one hand.
Electric Lawn Mowers Have Improved A Great Deal & We've Tested Multiple To Help You Find The Best!
Storage, noise, warranty and value for money were all part of the final ranking. Where a figure like a noise reduction or warranty length comes from the manufacturer, we've said so.
The Best Electric Lawn Mowers For UK Gardens
All six mowers below run on mains power, so you'll need an outdoor socket or a suitable extension lead with an RCD. They run from our large-garden pick down to the budget option.
Best For Large Gardens
Bosch AdvancedRotak Electric Lawn Mower
Best for: Larger lawns where a wide cut and big grass box save time
Check Price On AmazonThe AdvancedRotak is Bosch's flagship electric mower, and in our testing it beat our expectations with performance close to a petrol mower. The 40 cm cutting width and 50 litre grass box mean fewer passes and fewer trips to the compost bin, and there are 7 cutting heights from 25 to 80 mm that change at the push of a button.
The handlebars have four buttons, any of which starts the mower, so you can hold it however suits you. The narrow wheel design lets the blade get closer to the edge of the lawn, and it'll collect and shred autumn leaves as well as grass. Bosch says its ProSilence technology makes it up to 75 percent quieter. The trade-off is weight. At 16 kg it's heavy, and on a small lawn it can feel bulky to turn.
What we like
- 40 cm cutting width
- 50 litre grass box for less emptying
- 7 cutting heights from 25 to 80 mm with push-button adjustment
- Four start buttons on the handlebar
- Collects and shreds leaves as well as grass
- Narrow wheels let it cut close to the lawn edge
- Up to 75 percent less noise according to Bosch
What to know
- Most expensive electric mower in our roundup
- Heavy at 16 kg
Our verdict
The AdvancedRotak is our first choice for a large garden. It's the closest thing to petrol performance here, and a big lawn is where that pays back the extra cost. If your lawn is small, it's more mower than you need, and the lighter Bosch Rotak 36 R will be easier to push, turn and store.
Best For Small Gardens
Bosch Rotak 36 R Electric Lawn Mower
Best for: Small and medium lawns where light weight and easy storage matter
Check Price On AmazonThe Rotak is the mower in most of our photos and our video, where we push it round with one hand. It comes in 34 or 36 cm cutting widths, and its light build makes it easy to steer round flower beds and turn at the end of each run.
Bosch has added several useful touches. The rear roller leaves stripes, the grass comb at the front catches blades growing over the lawn edge, and the handle folds down while the grass box stacks onto the mower for storage. There are cutting heights from 20 to 70 mm and 8 grip positions on the handlebar. Our one complaint is the grass box. It feels a bit flimsy and doesn't line up perfectly with the back of the mower, so some cuttings get thrown out rather than collected.
What we like
- Light enough to push one-handed in our testing
- Rear roller for a striped finish
- Grass comb trims growth at the lawn edge
- Fold-down handle and stackable grass box
- Cutting heights from 20 to 70 mm
- Available in 34 or 36 cm widths
What to know
- Grass box felt flimsy and let some cuttings escape in our testing
Our verdict
Light, easy to store and good at striping, the Rotak 36 R is the mower we'd suggest for most small and medium lawns. It'll manage a bigger garden too, it just takes longer. The grass box is the weak point, as some cuttings escape out of the back rather than being collected.
Best Value
Flymo EasiStore 380R Rotary Lawn Mower
Best for: Small to medium lawns where storage space is tight
Check Price On AmazonThe Flymo EasiStore 380R is built for small to medium lawns, and it gives a lot for the money. You get a 45 litre grass box, bigger than the one on the heavier LawnMaster, and Flymo sells it in 30, 34 and 38 cm cutting widths with heights from 20 to 60 mm.
Its party trick is storage. The mower folds and stands upright, taking up very little floor space in a shed or garage. There's a rear roller if you want stripes, and dual-lever handles let you use either hand. At 12.6 kg it's light enough to lift into a shed without fuss, and Flymo has built it to a good standard for the price. The one gap is cutting height. The tallest setting is 60 mm, so long grass takes more than one pass to bring down.
What we like
- Folds upright to save storage space
- 45 litre grass box
- Rear roller for an optional striped finish
- Dual-lever handles for either hand
- Light at 12.6 kg
- 2 year warranty
What to know
- Maximum cutting height of 60 mm makes long grass harder work
Our verdict
Storage is where the Flymo EasiStore 380R wins people over, folding upright into a corner of the shed, and it brings a 45 litre box and a rear roller at a price that makes it our best value pick. Its 60 mm top height is the compromise, so a lawn that gets left to grow long suits the Bosch Rotak 36 R better.
Best With Roller
LawnMaster 1800 Electric Lawn Mower
Best for: Medium to large lawns where bold stripes matter
Check Price On AmazonPlenty of mowers have a rear roller, but few of them leave stripes you can see from the house. In our testing the LawnMaster 1800 did, and we put that down to its integrated roller combined with its extra weight. Other roller mowers we tried couldn't match the finish.
The 1,800W motor adjusts its torque to the conditions, and the 40 cm cutting width suits medium and large lawns. You can collect the clippings in the 40 litre box, which collapses for storage and has a full indicator, or mulch them back into the lawn. There are 6 cutting heights from 20 to 70 mm, and the handlebar has a soft grip. The weight that gives such good stripes also makes it harder to steer, and at 15 kg it's a workout on a sloping lawn.
What we like
- Left the clearest stripes of any mower we tested
- 1,800W motor with adjustable torque
- Collect or mulch the clippings
- 6 cutting heights from 20 to 70 mm
- Collapsible 40 litre box with a full indicator
- 40 cm cutting width
What to know
- Heavy at 15 kg and harder to manoeuvre
- Costs more than the Flymo EasiStore and Einhell
Our verdict
The LawnMaster 1800 is the mower for anyone who wants a properly striped lawn on a medium or large plot. It's heavy, so it's not one for a small garden or a steep slope. If you want stripes in a lighter package, the Bosch Rotak 36 R does a decent job, and for big lawns where speed comes first, choose the AdvancedRotak.
Best Hover
Flymo EasiGlide 300
Best for: Sloping or oddly shaped lawns where you need to move in any direction
Check Price On AmazonThe Flymo EasiGlide 300 is a hover mower, riding on a cushion of air instead of wheels, so it glides side to side as easily as forwards. That makes it the one to pick for a sloping bank or a lawn full of curves where a wheeled mower keeps catching. The EasiGlide in our photo by the conifers is one of these hover mowers, though you can't tell from the picture which width it is.
The EasiGlide range comes in 30, 33 and 36 cm widths with a 1,700W motor. At 8.2 kg it's very light, and the handles fold flat so you can hang it on a wall. Cable hooks make winding the lead up quick, and the grass box is easy to empty. The box only holds 20 litres, though, so you'll be stopping to empty it several times on anything but a small lawn, and the cutting heights run from 10 to 30 mm, which leaves it unsuited to longer grass.
What we like
- Hovers on a cushion of air for easy movement in any direction
- Light at 8.2 kg
- Handles fold flat for hanging on a wall
- Cable storage hooks
- Simple to empty grass box
- 2 year warranty
What to know
- Small 20 litre grass box needs emptying regularly
- Cutting heights only run from 10 to 30 mm
Our verdict
A hover mower earns its place on a sloping bank or a lawn full of curves, and the Flymo EasiGlide 300 is light enough to swing in any direction and hang flat on a wall afterwards. On a flat lawn of any size, the small grass box and 30 mm top height hold it back.
Best Budget
Einhell GE-EM 1032 Electric Lawn Mower
Best for: Small flat lawns on the tightest budget
Check Price On AmazonThe Einhell GE-EM 1032 is the cheapest mower we'd recommend, and its performance is decent for the price. Einhell sells the range with 1000, 1250 or 1500W motors, and backs it with a 3 year warranty once you register it, which is longer than either Flymo here.
It's a simple machine. There are 3 cutting heights set with a quick clamp, a 30 litre grass box and high-grade steel blades. The handle folds down for storage. Where it fell short in our testing was the plastic parts, which let the build quality down. That's fine on a small, flat lawn cut every week or two, but it isn't one we'd push hard on a big or bumpy garden.
What we like
- 3 year warranty when registered
- Choice of 1000, 1250 or 1500W versions
- Quick clamp height adjustment
- Folds down for storage
- 30 litre grass box
- High-grade steel blades
What to know
- Plastic parts let the build quality down in our testing
- Only 3 cutting heights
Our verdict
Pick the Einhell GE-EM 1032 if you have a small, flat lawn and want a mower from a known brand for as little as possible. Stretch to the Flymo EasiStore 380R if you can, as it's better built with more features, and for anything bigger, the Bosch Rotak 36 R is worth the extra.
How To Choose An Electric Lawn Mower
Lawn size is the starting point, but the shape of the garden, where you'll store the mower and how fussy you are about the finish all play a part. These are the points we look at.
Cutting Width For Your Lawn Size
A 30 to 34 cm cut is plenty for a small lawn and keeps the mower light and easy to turn. Medium lawns suit 36 to 38 cm, and for larger gardens a 40 cm deck like the AdvancedRotak or LawnMaster cuts down the number of runs. Going too wide on a small plot just makes the mower harder to steer round beds.
Rotary Or Hover
Rotary mowers run on wheels, collect well and many come with a rear roller for stripes. Hover mowers like the Flymo EasiGlide float on air, which makes them brilliant on slopes and curved lawns but weaker at collecting and limited to shorter cutting heights. Most people with a flat, rectangular lawn are better off with a rotary.
Cutting Heights And Grass Collection
A wide range of heights lets you leave the grass longer in dry spells and drop it for a smarter finish in spring. If the grass gets long between cuts, look for a top setting of 70 mm or more. New lawns need extra care, and our guide to cutting new grass for the first time explains how high to set the blade.
A bigger grass box means fewer trips to the bin. Mulching mowers like the LawnMaster chop the clippings finely and drop them back into the lawn, which feeds the grass as long as you mow every week or so.
Rollers And Stripes
Stripes come from the roller bending the grass in one direction. A heavier mower with a full-width roller gives the boldest result, which is why the LawnMaster beat the lighter mowers in our testing. If your lawn is lumpy, rolling it first with one of the best garden rollers makes the stripes far more even.
Cable Safety And Storage
Mow away from the socket so you're always walking towards the cable rather than over it, and always use an outdoor socket or lead with an RCD. Check how the mower folds and how much it weighs if it lives in a small shed. If you're still deciding on power type, our comparison of petrol or electric lawn mowers sets out where each one makes sense.
Questions About Electric Lawn Mowers
Are electric lawn mowers as good as petrol?
Electric lawn mowers are as good as petrol for most UK gardens, and the best models like the Bosch AdvancedRotak came close to petrol performance in our testing. They're lighter, quieter and need no servicing. Petrol still wins on very large lawns, on rough ground, or anywhere a cable won't reach from the nearest outdoor socket.
What size electric mower do I need?
The size of electric mower you need depends on your lawn. A 30 to 34 cm cutting width suits a small garden, 36 to 38 cm suits a medium lawn, and around 40 cm is best for larger gardens. A wider deck saves time on big lawns, but it's heavier and harder to steer round tight beds and borders.
Is a hover mower better than a rotary mower?
A hover mower is better for sloping banks and oddly shaped lawns because it moves in any direction on a cushion of air. A rotary mower is better for flat lawns, as it collects grass more reliably, offers taller cutting heights and can have a rear roller for stripes. Most households with a regular lawn will be happier with a rotary.
Which electric mowers give the best stripes?
Electric mowers with a heavy, full-width rear roller give the best stripes. In our testing, the LawnMaster 1800 left the clearest stripes, helped by its 15 kg weight. The Bosch Rotak and Flymo EasiStore also have rear rollers for a lighter striped finish. Cutting in straight, overlapping runs makes the biggest difference.
Which of these would you buy for a sloping lawn?
The Flymo EasiGlide 300. As a hover mower it floats on a cushion of air, so you can swing it across a sloping bank or round curves where a wheeled mower would catch, and at 8.2 kg it's easy to handle. Keep the grass short, though, as the cutting heights only run from 10 to 30 mm and the 20 litre box needs emptying regularly.
Is the Bosch AdvancedRotak too big for a small lawn?
Yes, it's more mower than a small lawn needs. At 16 kg it feels bulky to turn on a small plot, where the Bosch Rotak 36 R is the better fit. The AdvancedRotak comes into its own on a large garden, where the 40 cm cutting width and 50 litre grass box save passes and trips to the compost bin.
What's the downside of the Bosch Rotak 36 R?
The grass box. It feels a bit flimsy, and because it doesn't line up perfectly with the back of the mower, some cuttings get thrown out instead of collected. The rest of the Rotak 36 R worked well for us, and its light build, striping roller and fold-down storage are why it's still our small-garden pick.
Is the Einhell GE-EM 1032 good enough or should I stretch to the Flymo EasiStore 380R?
The Flymo EasiStore 380R is the better built mower, with a rear roller and upright storage on top, so stretch to it if you can. The Einhell GE-EM 1032 is the cheapest mower we'd recommend, but its plastic parts let the build quality down in our testing. On a small, flat lawn cut every week or two it does the job, and Einhell gives a 3 year warranty once you register it.
Our Electric Lawn Mower Verdict
For a large lawn, the Bosch AdvancedRotak is the electric mower we'd buy, with a wide cut, a big box and performance that stands up to petrol. Most smaller gardens are better served by the Bosch Rotak 36 R, which we push round one-handed in our video and which folds away neatly afterwards.
The Flymo EasiStore 380R is the best value if you're watching the budget, and the LawnMaster 1800 is the one for show stripes. Buying from an established brand also makes spare blades and parts easier to find later on.
Archie is our gardening specialist. He started out as an apprentice at a gardening firm, built up his own knowledge from there and now writes most of our garden content.