What are the best cordless lawn mowers and are they a good option?
Battery technology has made huge strides in the last decade. As an alternative source of energy, it is cheaper, quieter, cleaner and renewable.
The cordless lawn mowers on this list are all powered by batteries. Compared to petrol mowers, they need little or no servicing.
Our TOP Cordless Mowers Picks
Best Battery Lawn Mowers
Here are our top recommendations for the best cordless lawn mowers that are available now:
- EGO LM1903E-SP
- Metabo Cordless
- LawnMaster Cordless
- Mountfield Electress
- Bosch Cordless
- Murray Cordless
- Einhell GE-CM
- Greenworks G40LM41K2X
EGO LM1903E-SP
Key Features:
- Coverage: 800m²
- Batteries: 1 x 56V (5Ah) lithium-ion
- Rapid charger: Yes
- Brushless motor: Yes
- Weight: 16.2kg
- Cutting Width: 47cm
- Cutting heights: 3 (25-80mm)
This mower has a self-propelled option so you don’t have to push, just steer. While not cheap, it is less expensive than some of the cordless mowers out there and delivers as much – if not more – value for money.
EGO’s lithium-ion battery is 40% stronger than other batteries in its class. Its proprietary Arc design dissipates heat more efficiently than the traditional brick shape. Automatic, variable-speed cutting means that the motor slows down and speeds up depending on the terrain.
This mower is light and manoeuvrable enough for small gardens. At the same time, its power makes it suitable for both professional gardening services and the owners of large properties. The brushless motor goes a long way towards eliminating wear and tear, ensuring that this mower is going to last. It also reduces noise and improves efficiency.
It comes with a generous 5-year domestic-use warranty on the mower, a 3-year domestic-use warranty on the battery, and a 1-year professional-use warranty on both the mower and the battery, but you have to register to qualify.
Pros:
- Self-propelling
- A brushless motor
- A proprietary lithium-ion battery
- An onboard battery management system
Cons:
- Expensive
Metabo RM 36-18 LTX BL 36 (601716850) Cordless lawn mower
Key Features:
- Coverage: 350m²
- Batteries: 1 x 18V (4Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: No
- Weight: 12.6kg
- Cutting Width: 36cm
- Cutting heights: 5 cutting heights from 25-80mm
This lightweight, inexpensive mower is ideal for small gardens. It has built-in lawn combs for accurate edge work. The Metabo comes replete with carry handles and a double bow folding push handle making it easy to store when not in use.
If the mower fails to perform as advertised in the first 30 days, Metabo will replace it free of charge. Should it be found to be defective in materials or workmanship within 3 years, they will replace or repair it.
If any of their lithium-ion 18V or 36V Ultra-M batteries (2.6Ah or higher) or any of their chargers fail in the first three years because of defects in the workmanship or materials, Metabo undertakes to replace them, regardless of how many cycles of charge and discharge they’ve been through.
Pros:
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
Cons:
- The motor is not brushless
- The charger is not of the rapid variety
LawnMaster 48V 41cm Cordless Lawn mower
Key Features:
- Coverage: 450m²
- Batteries: 4 x 24V (4Ah)
- Rapid charger: 2
- Brushless motor: No
- Weight: 18.9kg
- Cutting Width: 41cm
- Cutting heights: 6 cutting heights from 20-75mm.
This mower uses innovative technology to do the job of a much bigger, heavier mower. It makes up for its price tag by including 4 MX lithium-ion batteries and 2 rapid chargers that reduce the recharge time to one hour.
Other features include a mulching facility, grass combs, and a rear roller to produce the striped finish so beloved by homeowners.
A battery management system automatically adjusts the power to match prevailing conditions, increasing output when the grass is long or wet and decreasing it during lighter cutting. The battery management override allows you to control the power output manually while a string of LED lights shows the percentage of battery charge remaining.
The domestic use warranty covers the battery and charger for 1 year while the mower itself is covered for 2 years. For commercial use, the warranty period is 30 days.
Pros:
- Innovative technology
- Comes with two extra batteries and an extra charger
- Rich in features
- An automatic battery management system
Cons:
- While not the heaviest, it does weigh more than most cordless mowers
- The motor is not brushless
Mountfield Electress 34 Litre Cordless Lawnmower
Key Features:
- Coverage: 250m²
- Batteries: 2 x 20V (4Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: No
- Weight: 11.6kg
- Cutting Width: 34cm
- Cutting heights: 6 cutting heights from 25-75mm
Economically priced, lightweight, and manoeuvrable, this cordless mower has everything you need to maintain a small lawn, whether you live in a townhouse or a semi-detached, it is a popular choice.
The weight makes it nimble and nifty. The six cutting height options should work for most gardens and the 34cm cut width is ideal for a smaller lawn.
It comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on the battery, charger, and mower.
Pros:
- One of the lightest cordless mowers on the market
- A 2-year warranty on all components
Cons:
- The motor is not brushless
- It doesn’t come with a rapid charger
Bosch Cordless Lawnmower AdvancedRotak 36-850
Key Features:
- Coverage: 850m²
- Batteries: 1 x 36V (6Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: Yes
- Weight: 17.5kg
- Cutting Width: 44cm
- Cutting heights: 7 cutting heights from 25-80mm
This is the muscle car of cordless mowers. Everything is bigger on the Bosch: the lawn coverage, battery output, capacity, the number of cutting heights, and the cutting width.
Like everything Bosch makes, this mower is one tough customer: built to last and capable of tackling anything you throw at it. It’s a purpose-built machine from a name-brand company famous for its power tools, the extra expense offset by exceptional design, features, and ergonomics.
In case you were in any doubt, it even comes with a proprietary LeafCollect blade specifically designed to shred and dispose of leaf matter. So, if your lawn is in proximity to, say, oak or loquat trees, this mower is definitely worth some close scrutiny.
It’s a handsome beast, striking in appearance. It’s not often you can say that about a lawn mower.
It has a 2-year warranty, 3 if you register.
Pros:
- Brushless operation for extended motor life
- Powered by a 6Ah battery
- Bosch ProSilence technology reduces engine noise by 60%
Cons:
- It’s the heaviest mower on the list, weighing in at just under 17.5kg
- It’s not cheap!
Murray 2 x 18 V (36 V) Lithium-Ion 44 cm Cordless Lawn Mower
Key Features:
- Coverage: 640m²
- Batteries: 2 x 18V (5Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: Yes
- Weight: 13.5kg
- Cutting Width: 51cm
- Cutting heights: 6 cutting heights from 20-70mm
If the Bosch had a little brother, it would be the Murray. While somewhat more expensive than other mowers in its class, the inclusion of a leaf blower and a cordless hedge trimmer that work off the same batteries as the mower make it an integrated system that takes care of all of your cutting, mowing, and trimming needs.
The warranty is impressive. You get a 5-year limited warranty on the mower, and 3 on the battery and charger.
Pros:
- A brushless motor
- A whopping 51cm cutting width
Cons:
- Bundling the mower, leaf blower, and hedge trimmer is great if you’re an absolute beginner but many of us already own these tools and are happy with what we’ve got. It would be nice if one could buy the mower separately rather than having to pay for everything twice.
Einhell GE-CM
Key Features:
- Coverage: 150m²
- Batteries: 2 x 18V (5Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: Yes
- Weight: 13.5kg
- Cutting Width: 30cm
- Cutting heights: 3 cutting heights (30-70mm)
It has an onboard power management system that automatically monitors and adjusts the mower’s operational performance.
A similar technology is employed by Einhell chargers to adjust the charge cycle, ensuring optimal performance and extending battery life as far as possible.
The Einhell Power X-Change system is designed so that all rechargeable batteries and chargers are interchangeable with any products in the Power X-Change range.
It should be noted that Einhell is a close competitor to Bosch and makes a variety of power tools – everything from vacuum cleaners to angle grinders.
Another inexpensive option for people living in semi-detached housing, townhouses, and other small properties.
The warranty is a fantastic 10 years. Registration is all that is required.
Pros:
- Powered by twin 18V 4Ah batteries
- Comes with an Einhell Power X-Twincharger for fast turnaround
- Equipped with a lawn comb for edge trimming
- As a part of the Einhell Power X-Change range, it enjoys all of the same benefits (power management and battery technology)
Cons:
- Its coverage could be greater. You don’t get much smaller than 150m²
- Limited cut height options
Greenworks G40LM41K2X
Key Features:
- Coverage: 500m²
- Batteries: 2 x 40V (5Ah)
- Rapid charger: No
- Brushless motor: No
- Weight: 20.4kg
- Cutting Width: 41cm
- Cutting heights: 3 cutting heights (30-70mm)
Since grass is an excellent fertiliser, an optional onboard mulching function spreads the cuttings over the lawn instead of catching them in the collection bag.
This is a robust mower designed for big lawns. It comes with a 2-year domestic warranty.
Pros:
- A battery charge display lets you monitor capacity while in use
- Compact and easy to store
- The lithium-ion batteries are compatible with Greenworks’ other garden equipment
Cons:
- While not overly expensive, it’s not exactly cheap
How to Buy the Best Cordless Mower
Here are some things to consider when buying a cordless mower:
Battery Charge and Capacity
This is in direct relation to the size of the lawn you want to cut measured in square metres (m²). If the specs say that a mower is designed to cut 500m², that means that it will cut 500m² on a single charge.
Since all batteries decline in performance over the course of their lifetimes, it makes sense to prefer mowers that come with batteries that are high-capacity and deliver the strongest charge.
It is worthwhile remembering that, in general, fast-charging shortens a battery’s lifespan and fails to achieve full capacity, although in recent years this deficit has been offset by ‘smart-charging’.
Smart-charging takes into account the type of battery, what it’s made of, and how it’s put together. This is why most manufacturers of cordless equipment make their own brand of rechargeable battery. The charger’s programmed microchip controller takes advantage of these custom-built batteries to ensure optimal performance and an extended lifespan.
Some owners of cordless mowers complain that their brand-new out-of-the-box mower can’t cut the advertised area on a single charge; that they have to stop and either replace the spent battery with one that has been freshly charged or wait an hour or two (depending on whether or not they have a rapid charger) until the battery has been recharged.
This complaint is based on a misconception, one that we will deal with fully in the section on cutting height.
Coverage
Coverage is how large a lawn it will cut on a single charge. If the mower is rated for 800m² and your lawn is only 250m², chances are it’s going to complete the task regardless of how long the grass is or how uneven the terrain is. Consider too that you might find yourself moving to a larger property at some point, in which case you’ll come prepared!
Weight
Weight speaks to ease of use and manoeuvrability. It also speaks to storage.
Because cordless mowers don’t have combustion engines and lots of moving parts, you can literally hang them on the wall when they’re not in use, rather than parking them awkwardly in a corner of the garage where you have to move them every time you’re looking for something but can’t because the car is in the way so you have to move the car first but can’t because you have to fetch the keys first. (These little frustrations, I feel, are exactly what shortens your lifespan.)
Note: If the weight and the strength needed to move it is an issue for you, you might want to consider a self-propelling mower, like the EGO, first on our list.
Cut width
The wider the cut width, the sooner you’re finished. But keep in mind that you might prefer a narrower cut width for strips of grass between, say, a flowerbed and a stone path. Bigger isn’t always better.
Cutting Height
As any lawn care specialist will tell you, and a Google search will confirm, if you want the best outcome – a beautiful, thick, soft, luscious, healthy, springy lawn – you cut it progressively, in stages, not all at once.
If your grass is 5cm long and you cut down to 1cm in one go, you’re going to damage it. There is no lawn mower blade in the world sharp enough to cut that much grass cleanly without ripping it up and tearing it. This becomes obvious when you see the frayed edges and bald spots that result from aggressive mowing.
Rather, your strategy when dealing with an overgrown lawn should be to mow it a couple of times, each time cutting it shorter by an increment of a few mm down to the required height.
The ancillary benefits to this approach are manifold: your mower’s mulching facility can now use the shorter grass to fertilise the lawn and, because there’s less of it, the mulch doesn’t smother the lawn by blocking out the sun. It also means that you don’t have to bother with how big the grass bag is or ever having to empty it because the cuttings are already spread out the grass, nourishing it.
Warranty
The warranty is a sure indication of the company’s confidence in its product.
Where cordless mowers are concerned, the warranty varies widely between manufacturers. Some provide a separate warranty for the mower and the battery or batteries while others may suggest terms but leave it up to the retailer to decide what they’re comfortable with. In this case, you have the opportunity to negotiate the terms yourself.
To be clear, with regard to cordless mowers, the warranty that really counts is the one that applies to the battery. Batteries are complex and it’s only natural that a faulty one will roll off the assembly line from time to time. The fault might not be apparent at first and only become manifest in the course of time, so a warranty is essential to your peace of mind.
The mower itself is unlikely to need attention. They’re made for the most part of specifically engineered polymer plastics that will probably be around a long time after you and I are fertilising the lawn in Shady Acres Memorial Park.
If the motor is of the brushless variety, the only servicing it will ever need is the occasional blade sharpening (unlikely if you follow the mowing strategy suggested above) and whatever maintenance requirements (light cleaning) are contained in the handbook.
Cordless mowers don’t have spark plugs to retime, fuel pumps that wear out, or engines that burn petrol to produce what are basically tiny controlled explosions in the combustion chamber.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, a battery or petrol lawn mower?
Battery is better in every way. Petrol lawn mowers are loud, dirty, and expensive: battery mowers are quiet, clean, and cheap. Petrol mowers need regular servicing and, because they have more moving parts, there’s more to go wrong.
What is the best voltage for a cordless lawn mower?
In a cordless mower, the makes of battery are not interchangeable. You can’t put a Bosch battery in an Einhell mower and vice versa. This is because manufacturers’ batteries are tool-specific.
They are designed to work with a limited number of models within each range to achieve optimal performance. The ‘best voltage’ for any particular model of mower is whatever the manufacturer says it is. And they should know: they designed, built, and tested it.
How long does it take to charge a lawn mower battery?
Rapid chargers take roughly an hour while regular chargers take two or more.
How long do lawn mower batteries last?
This depends on how often you mow. Once your lawn has been cut to the desired height, a weekly trim is all you need to keep it immaculate. If you follow my advice, your batteries should last at least two years.
What does brushless mean on an electric mower?
Brushed motors run on Alternating Current (AC) which is the same as mains electricity. Brushless motors run on Direct Current (DC), the kind supplied by batteries.
Simply put, a brushless motor means that there are no brushes to wear out, which is why the operational lifespan of a brushless motor is so much longer than the brushed variety.
Conclusion
If you enjoy messing around with oil and petrol, if the 100-decibel roar of a small combustion engine is music to the ears of both you and your neighbours, if the stink of exhaust fumes is like the finest French perfume, don’t buy a cordless lawn mower.
If, however, you like getting the job done quickly and cleanly, with no muss and no fuss, go cordless or even robotic. It has all of the benefits and none of the deficits.
If you have any comments or questions, please let us know below.
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Charl is a full-time writer with a range of passions and expertise in lawn mowers and other garden power tools. After many years in the corporate rat race, he decided to follow these passions. When not writing, Charl can be found in his garden, tending to or propagating plants, keeping the lawn near perfect, and enjoying the outdoors with his dogs. He is also fascinated by emerging technology and tries to squeeze in a round of golf as often as possible.
