Petrol Or Electric Lawn Mower? How To Choose The Right One
The size of your lawn and the effort you'll put into upkeep decide which type of mower suits you best.
Written by Archie Rich
Updated
The short answer
A petrol lawn mower is the better choice for large lawns, slopes, rough grass and plots with no power supply, thanks to its power, wider cutting decks and no cable or battery to limit how far you mow. An electric lawn mower suits smaller, flatter lawns, as it's lighter, quieter, starts with a button and needs far less maintenance than a petrol engine.
Further down this page you'll see our petrol mower parked next to a corded electric model, and the gap in size between them says a lot about how differently they handle. Neither type is right for every garden, though. The choice comes down to the size and shape of your lawn, how long the grass gets between cuts, how far it is to the nearest socket and how much maintenance you're happy to take on.
Petrol Lawn Mowers For Big Lawns And Rough Grass
Petrol mowers have long been the go-to for larger gardens and tougher mowing, as they keep cutting where a small electric mower gives up. Engine sizes vary, and many models add self-propelled drive, heavy-duty steel decks and wider cutting widths than you'll find on most electric mowers. Our round-up of the best petrol lawn mowers covers machines for every size of garden.
Petrol Mower Pros
- Power: A petrol engine copes with long, wet or thick grass and uneven ground that would bog down a small electric mower.
- No cable: There's no extension lead to drag around, so you can mow as far as the garden goes.
- Run time: A full tank keeps going longer than most cordless batteries, and topping up takes seconds.
- Wide decks: Bigger cutting widths cover more ground with each pass.
- Remote plots: For allotments and gardens with no power supply, petrol is the practical option.
- Lifespan: A well-maintained petrol engine keeps running for many years.
Petrol Mower Cons
- Noise and fumes: They're louder and give off exhaust fumes, which neighbours notice on a quiet evening.
- Cost: They cost more to buy than a typical corded electric mower and need fuel and oil to keep running.
- Upkeep: Oil changes, spark plugs and air filters come with owning one.
- Weight: They're heavier and bulkier to push, lift into a car and store, as the side-by-side photo below shows.
The servicing sounds worse than it is. Our petrol lawnmower servicing guide shows the whole job on our own mower, and if pull starting is new to you, we've also covered how to start a petrol lawnmower step by step.
Electric Lawn Mowers For Smaller Gardens
Electric mowers have become a popular choice for smaller gardens because they're light, quiet and easy to live with. They come in two types. Corded mowers run off the mains through a cable, while cordless mowers run on a rechargeable battery and do away with the lead altogether. Our pick of the best electric lawn mowers includes both.
Electric Mower Pros
- Cleaner: There are no exhaust fumes at the mower and no petrol to store in the shed.
- Quieter: Far less noise than a petrol engine, so an evening cut won't bother the neighbours.
- Less upkeep: No oil changes, spark plugs or stale fuel to deal with, only a sharp blade and a clean deck.
- Easy starting: Press a button or squeeze a lever instead of pulling a cord.
- Lighter: Easier to push, carry up garden steps and hang up in the shed.
Electric Mower Cons
- Cable reach: Corded mowers only go as far as the lead, and keeping it out of the blade's path gets awkward in bigger gardens.
- Battery life: Cordless models stop when the battery runs flat, so a large lawn can mean waiting for a recharge or buying a spare.
- Power supply: A corded mower is no use without a socket nearby, which rules it out for allotments and remote plots.
- Long grass: Smaller electric mowers struggle with grass that's been left to grow long or is wet.
Petrol Vs Electric Lawn Mower At A Glance
| Feature | Petrol Mower | Electric Mower |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Large lawns, slopes and rough or long grass | Small to medium lawns that are fairly flat |
| Power | Copes with thick and wet grass | Fine for regular cuts but struggles in long grass |
| Starting | Pull cord, with a primer bulb on many models | Button or lever |
| Noise and fumes | Loud with exhaust fumes | Much quieter with no fumes at the mower |
| Maintenance | Oil, spark plug, air filter, fuel and blade | Blade and deck, plus battery care on cordless models |
| Range | As far as you like, with a quick refuel | Limited by cable length or battery charge |
| Weight and storage | Heavier and bulkier | Lighter and easier to store |
Which Lawn Mower Is Better For You?
For a big lawn, a sloping garden or grass that gets long between cuts, a petrol mower is the better tool. Its power and wider deck get the job done in fewer passes, and self-propelled drive takes the strain on hills.
For a small to medium lawn that's fairly flat and within reach of a socket, an electric mower makes more sense. It's lighter, quieter and needs next to no maintenance. A cordless model sits in between, giving you freedom from the cable without the upkeep of an engine, as long as one charge covers your lawn.
Whichever you choose, keep the blade sharp and the cutting height right, especially on a young lawn. Our guide to cutting new grass for the first time explains why it matters.
Watch Us Do It
Electric Lawn Mowers Have Improved A Great Deal & We've Tested Multiple To Help You Find The Best!
More Questions Answered
Is a petrol or electric lawn mower cheaper to run?
An electric lawn mower is cheaper to run than a petrol one. A corded or cordless mower uses a small amount of electricity, and there's no oil, spark plug or air filter to replace. A petrol mower needs fuel and a yearly service with fresh oil, a new plug and a filter, which adds to the cost each season.
Are electric lawn mowers powerful enough?
Electric lawn mowers are powerful enough for regular cutting on small and medium lawns. They struggle with long, wet or overgrown grass, which a petrol engine handles more easily. Mowing regularly so the grass never gets too long keeps an electric mower working well, but for large or rough areas petrol is still the better choice.
How long does a petrol lawn mower last?
A petrol lawn mower that's serviced once a year keeps running for many years. The engine wears faster when oil changes are skipped, the air filter clogs or stale fuel is left in the tank over winter. Changing the oil, fitting a new plug and filter and sharpening the blade each spring keeps it in good order.
Is a cordless lawn mower better than a corded one?
A cordless lawn mower is better if you want freedom from the cable and a quick setup, while a corded mower suits small lawns close to a socket where you don't want to worry about charging. Cordless mowers are limited by run time per charge, so check one battery covers your lawn or plan on buying a spare.
What's the main downside of a petrol mower for a small garden?
Mostly the size and weight. Our photo of the two side by side shows how much bulkier a petrol mower is, and on a small lawn you're pushing, lifting and storing all that machine for not much grass. Add the noise, the fumes and the yearly servicing, and an electric mower is the easier choice for a small, flat garden.
Is a petrol mower the only option for an allotment?
Petrol is the practical choice for an allotment with no power supply. A corded mower is ruled out without a socket, and a cordless one can only do as much as its battery allows before it needs taking home to charge. With petrol, a full tank outlasts most batteries and a top-up from a can takes seconds.
Will an electric mower cope if the grass gets long?
A smaller electric mower will struggle with it, especially when it's wet. Electric mowers do their best work on grass that's cut regularly, so keeping on top of the mowing is the answer. If your lawn tends to get away from you between cuts, a petrol engine has the power to chew through it.
Is the servicing a petrol mower needs really that bad?
No, it's a once-a-year job you can do at home. You'll be changing the oil and fitting a new spark plug and air filter, which is no harder than basic car maintenance. Our petrol lawnmower servicing guide walks through it on our own mower, and our guide to starting a petrol lawnmower covers the pull cord if that's new to you.
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.