Corded, cordless or petrol mower?

Corded suits small gardens near a socket, cordless gives freedom for small to medium lawns, and petrol has the power and run time for large gardens. Match it to your lawn size rather than buying the biggest.

What cutting width do I need?

A wider cut means fewer passes and a quicker job, which suits bigger lawns. Small gardens are fine with a narrow cut, which is also easier to manoeuvre and store.

Rotary or cylinder mower?

Rotary mowers are the versatile all-rounders that suit most gardens. Cylinder mowers give a finer, striped finish but are best on flat, well-kept lawns.

How to Choose a Lawn Mower: Match It to Your Garden

A lawn mower is a long-term buy, and the right one turns a chore into a quick job while the wrong one makes it a weekly battle. The single biggest factor is your garden size, which points you straight at the type of mower you need. Here’s how to choose without overbuying.

The short version

Match the mower to your lawn: corded or cordless for small to medium gardens, petrol for large ones. Pick a cutting width that keeps passes reasonable, and a grass box size that suits how often you mow.

Start with your garden size

This decides almost everything:

Corded electric is light, cheap and low-maintenance, ideal for small gardens within reach of a socket.
Cordless battery gives you freedom from cables and suits small to medium lawns. Watch the battery run time against your lawn size.
Petrol offers the most power and run time for large gardens, at the cost of more weight and maintenance.

Buy for the lawn you have, not the biggest mower you can afford.

Petrol power suits large lawns where run time matters. Check price on Amazon →

Cutting width and grass box

A wider cutting width covers more ground per pass, which saves time on bigger lawns but adds bulk. On a small garden, a narrow cut is easier to steer and store. The grass box size matters too: a bigger box means fewer trips to empty it, handy if you mow a large or fast-growing lawn.

Rotary or cylinder?

Most people want a rotary mower, the versatile all-rounder that copes with typical garden grass and uneven ground. Cylinder mowers give that fine, striped bowling-green finish, but they suit flat, well-maintained lawns and a bit more effort.

Features worth having

Adjustable cutting heights let you tackle long grass and then keep it neat. A mulching option feeds cuttings back into the lawn and saves emptying. And if storage is tight, look for a model that folds down compactly.

Ready to choose?

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