Lawnmowers: How to buy the best lawnmower

Which? has mowed its way through miles of short, long, damp and rough grass to find the best lawnmowers on the market. We've tested lawnmowers from big brands including Flymo, Black & Decker, Hayter and Bosch - but which lawnmower model is best suited to you and your garden?

Choosing a lawnmower

To help you decide, our lawnmower shopping checklist outlines the main factors you need to take into consideration to find a lawnmower that's a cut above the rest.

Once you've decided which type of lawnmower you want, use our product finder tool to filter our lawnmower reviews by lawnmower type, price range or brand.

Types of lawnmower

Rotary lawnmowers

Rotary lawnmowers are the most popular choice for homeowners with a typically-sized and shaped family lawn. They use a fast-moving blade which acts like a scythe, making them good at coping with longer grass.

Rotary mowers are usually electric mains-powered, though petrol-powered and rechargeable cordless rotary lawnmowers are available too - handy for mowing large lawns where a power point isn't easily accessible.

Mulching mowers, meanwhile, re-cut the clippings into tiny pieces and blow them back on to the lawn, where they break down and feed the grass.

Petrol mowers are more expensive than electrics - with prices starting at around £200. You can buy a Best Buy electric rotary lawnmower from around £60 for a small model.

The best type of lawnmower for you depends on the size of your garden

Cylinder lawnmowers

Cylinder mowers have a cylinder with several moving blades that cut against a fixed blade, like scissors - making them good for a close cut on neat, frequently mowed lawns, but less effective on longer or rougher grass.

This type of mower can be electric or petrol-powered; or you could go for a hand-pushed model, which you move around yourself.

Hand cylinder models start from around £30 for a basic model - expect to pay upwards of £100 for an electric model, or much more for a petrol lawnmower.

Hover mowers

Hover mowers are similar to rotary lawnmowers, but ride on a cushion of air instead of wheels. They don't usually come with a grass collector, making them light and manoeuvrable - good for awkward-shaped lawns. They're generally quick and easy to use and suited to well-used gardens where a quality finish is not a priority. Hover mowers are a good option for small lawns.

On the downside, not collecting clippings could be a drawback if you have young children or pets.

Prices range from around £30 for an own-brand hover mower, going up to around £200 for a branded mower with a grass collector.

Choose the right lawnmower for your garden size

Match the type of lawnmower you choose with the size and shape of your garden.

• For small lawns, up to 50 sq m, an electric lawnmower with a 30-33cm cutting width or a hand cylinder mower is suitable.
• For medium lawns, up to 150sq m, go for an electric lawnmower with a 35-40cm cutting width.
• For larger lawns, up to about 250 sq m or if your lawn is a long way from a power socket, a small petrol lawnmower is the best option. They start at about 40cm wide.
• For lawns larger than 250sq m, look for a petrol lawnmower with a cutting width of 46cm or more. If you have a large lawn and find pushing a petrol mower too hard work, opt for a self-propelled version. Some come with a self-start version too, which means you don’t have to struggle with a starter cord.

Check the height of the lawnmower handle is comfortable

Lawnmower ease of use

It's important that your lawnmower is simple to operate and move around. Ease of use is one of the factors we rate each lawnmower on in the Which? labs - look for a model that scores four stars or above for ease of use in our lawnmowers review.

There are a few preliminary checks you can make in the shop when you're looking for a lawnmower.

• Check whether the height of the lawnmower's handle can be adjusted.
• Make sure the hand grip and switch are comfortable - you might find a single-handed switch feels awkward. 
• Most petrol lawnmowers and some electric ones are heavy, so make sure they're easy to lift and carry, especially if you have to negotiate steps to access the lawn.

Storage space for a lawnmower

If storage space is tight, choose a lightweight hand cylinder lawnmower that can be hung on a hook, or a compact lawnmower with space-saving features, such as foldable handles or a grass box that can be stacked on top of the lawnmower.

Lawnmower extras to look out for

• A grassbox to collect the grass as you mow - the bigger the box the less often you'll have to stop to empty it. You might have to buy a separate grass catcher on some hand cylinder models.
• A rear roller to give your lawn a tidy striped finish.
• A cable tidy to help pack long cables.
• A lawnmower with a wide cutting range. This is useful if you have to mow the lawn when it's at different heights, or at different times of year.

Choose a Best Buy lawnmower

Our Best Buy lawnmowers are quick, easy to use, and give a neat, even finish on your lawn, whatever size your garden - find a top-rated Which? Best Buy rotary, cylinder or hover mower in our lawnmowers review. 

More on this...

• Our lawnmower FAQs have top tips on looking after your lawnmower and how to get a perfect lawn.
• Learn how to cut the perfect lawn
• Subscribe to Which? Gardening magazine