Rotary mowers are the most popular of all types of lawn mowers. They come in a variety of configurations from push, ride-on, self-propelled, roller and manual.
Large lawns require mowers with sufficient battery time and corded electric or petrol mowers.
Smaller lawns require smaller rotary mowers that are easy to control and get into small spaces between garden beds.
Our TOP Rotary Mowers Picks
Best Rotary Lawn Mowers
- Hyundai 17″/43cm 139cc Self-Propelled Petrol Roller Lawnmower
- Black+Decker Electric Lawn Mower, 10-Amp, Corded (BEMW472BH)
- Greenworks 40V Cordless Push Lawn Mower
- Hyundai 196cc Petrol Lawn Mower
- Mountfield HP42 Four-Wheeled Push Rotary Mower
- Greenworks G40LM41K2X Cordless Battery Powered Lawn Mower
- Flymo Easimow 300R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower
- Worx WG743 40V Power Share 4.0Ah Cordless Lawn Mower
- Nexus NX42SP Self Propelled Petrol Lawn Mower
Hyundai 139cc Self Propelled Petrol Roller Lawnmower
Key Features
- Power Source: Petrol-powered Hyundai 4-stroke engine
- Material: Alloy Steel
- Colour: Blue
- Weight: 33 kg
- Cutting width: 43 cm
- Number of positions: 6
- Grass Collector Bag: 45 L
The Hyundai 139cc self-propelled mower has a 430mm / 17″ cutting width making it ideal for small to medium lawns. This motor is extremely fuel efficient and provides low fuel consumption.
The large 45L grass collector box minimises the number of times you must stop and empty the collection box.
Foldable handles make it easy to adjust to your height allowing for a much more comfortable self-propelled steer. The foldable handles also make the Hyundai compact for easy transport and storage.
A split rear roller enables you to mow your lawn into the traditional striped British lawn often seen at sports grounds.
Lawn height can be set using the 5 cutting heights.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy to assemble
- Sturdy
- Low fuel consumption
- 3-year Hyundai home-use / 1-year commercial warranty
Cons
- Only suitable for small to medium lawns
Black+Decker Electric Lawn Mower BEMW472BH
Key Features
- Power Source: Electric corded
- Colour: Orange / black
- Weight: 18 kg
- Cutting width: 38 cm
- Number of positions: 6
- Operation mode: Manual
- Grass Collector Bag: 45 L
The Black+Decker Electric Lawn Mower BEMW472BH is a lightweight corded electric mower with a 38 cm blade.
Starting the mower is easy by using a push button.
The blade has enhanced clipping collection wings improving the grass collection by up to 30%.
Powered by a 10 Amp electric motor allows you to power through difficult grass.
Setting the height for your lawn is a simple task adjusting it into 6 positions ranging from 1 inch to 3 inches.
Black+Decker offers this mower with 2 comfortable bike handlebar design grips. These grips decrease friction and boost mobility.
You can also choose a pivot handle which is similar to the bike handle with a further pivot point halfway down the handle. This increases the convenience of pushing the mower from lower corners.
Grass collection in the steel skeleton and mesh 45 L grass box makes it ideal for smaller lawns.
Pros
- The winged blade increases clipping collection by 30%
- Push-button start
- Grass collection bag included in the purchase
Cons
- The handlebars can be quite fragile
Greenworks 40V Cordless (3-In-1) Push Lawn Mower
Key Features
- Power Source: Battery powered
- Colour: Black, green
- Weight: 24 kg
- Cutting Width: 48 cm
- Number of Positions: 7
- Operation Mode: Manual
Cordless lawn mowers let you mow your lawn without the hassle of having to track the cord and having to move the cord consistently.
This can take the form of petrol-powered or battery-powered configurations.
The Greenworks 40V push mower is powered by batteries and comes standard with 2 batteries (4.0Ah and 2.0Ah) to provide up to 60 minutes of run-time when both batteries are fully charged.
Batteries are included in the purchase price.
It is easy to start with the push button and a safety lever that must be depressed before starting.
The 48 cm cutting width enables you to mow even large lawns quickly. For a perfect finish, the cutting height can be set to 7 pre-selected heights using a single lever.
Greenworks’ 3-in-1 design allows you to mulch cuttings, discharge the cuttings on the side of the mower, or into a rear grass bag.
This lawn mower is virtually maintenance-free as it uses no petrol or oil and therefore produces no emissions.
Confidence in their product allows Greenworks to offer a 3-year tool limited warranty as well as a 3-year battery warranty. The batteries are limited in compatibility and are only compatible with G-MAX 40V Battery Models 29462 and 29472.
Pros
- 3-year tool limited warranty
- 3-year battery warranty
Cons
- Only compatible with G-MAX 40V Battery Models 29462 and 29472
Hyundai 196cc Petrol Lawnmower
Key Features
- Power Source: Petrol powered
- Colour: Blue
- Weight: 38.7 kg
- Cutting width: 51 cm
- Number of positions: 6
- Grass Box: 70 L
The powerful 196cc Hyundai 4-stroke petrol engine is easy to start with recoil pull start and is self-propelled.
Hyundai provides advanced petrol technology resulting in low fuel consumption.
A 51 cm cutting width makes this lawn mower ideal for medium to large lawns. To get an even length across your lawn there are 6 adjustable cutting heights.
The mulching option makes for an effective collection of cuttings into the large 70 L grass collector bag.
A foldable handle converts the petrol lawn mower into a compact size that is easy to transport and store. Peace of mind is offered by the Hyundai 3-year platinum warranty.
Pros
- 3-year warranty
- Low fuel consumption
- The folding handle makes for easy storage
- Large 70 L grass box
Cons
- A bit heavy
Mountfield HP42 Four-Wheeled Push Rotary Mower 41cm (2021 Model)
Key Features
- Power source: Petrol
- Colour: Red / black
- Weight: 23 kg
- Cutting width: 41 cm
- Number of positions: 6
- Grass box: 60 L
This four-wheeled push rotary mower is powered by a STIGA 123cc petrol engine. It is light and nimble making it easy for anyone to use.
A 41cm cutting width will make any small to medium-sized lawn a breeze to mow while collecting the cutting in a large 60 L textile grass collector. Cuttings are mulched to provide optimum space usage in the grass box.
Lawn height can be set to 6 different heights for ultimate control over the length of the lawn.
Pros
- Large grass box
- Lightweight
Cons
- Not self-propelled
Greenworks G40LM41K2X Cordless Battery Powered Lawn Mower
Key Features:
- Power Source: Battery powered
- Colour: Green, black, and grey
- Weight: 20.80 kg
- Cutting width: 41 cm
- Number of positions: 5
- Grass bag Capacity: 50 L
This mower comes standard with a 50 L Grass Bag, 2x 2Ah Lithium 40V Batteries, and 1x Charger.
Only 1 battery is used at a time while the second battery is charging to increase the range of the lawn mower.
Every battery can mow up to 250 m2, therefore you can mow a large lawn of 500 m2 without any concern.
The mower can be set to 5 different heights between 25mm and 80mm.
Cuttings are collected in the grass box or through the 2-In-1 mulching plug.
Pros
- Can mow large lawns up to 500m²
- 50 L grass bag minimises the stoppage time to offload cuttings
- 3-Year Guarantee
- 2-year Greenworks battery warranty
- 41cm cutting width
Cons
- Heavy weight
Flymo EasiMow 300R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower
Key Features
- Power Source: Corded electric
- Colour: Orange and Grey
- Weight: 8.4 kg
- Cutting width: 30 cm
- Grass box: 30 L
The Flymo EasiMow 300R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower may be small, but the powerful 1000W motor enables you to tackle lawns that are in urgent need of maintenance.
It is aimed at smaller gardens hence the smaller cutting width of 30 cm and a 30 L grass box.
The electric cord is 10 m long providing ample freedom and flexibility to get into all nooks and crannies.
A dual lever handle makes the lawn mower flexible enough to be operated with one hand at a time without sacrificing manoeuvrability.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Ideal for small lawns
- Manoeuvrability
Cons
- Small footprint
- Small grass box
Key Features:
- Power Source: Battery powered
- Colour: Black and orange
- Weight: 16 kg
- Cutting Width: 43 cm
- Number of Positions: 6
The Worx WG743 patented Intellicut technology, Torque On Demand, increases the power output as the grass gets thicker making it easier to cut a variety of conditions.
When grass gets thinner the power can be turned lower, thereby reducing battery power consumption.
There are 6 cutting heights that can be set using the single-lever adjustment.
The Worx WG743 cut-to-edge design allows you to cut closer to fences thus reducing the trimming required on the edges.
Furthermore, a battery charge indicator ensures you know exactly how much power you have available to complete mowing the lawn.
The Full Bag indicator notifies you when the grass box must be emptied taking the guesswork out of the disposal of the cuttings.
Storage is made easy with a collapsible handle. This also assists in the transportation of the mower in a car.
A Dual-Port Charger allows both batteries to be charged simultaneously.
Pros
- Full bag indicator
- Cut-to-edge design
- Patented Intellicut technology, Torque On Demand
Cons
- Relatively small cutting width
Rotary ride on mower
NEXUS NX42SP Self-propelled Petrol Lawn Mower
Key Features:
- Power Source: Fuel powered
- Colour: Grey / red
- Weight: 25.2 kg
- Cutting width: 41 cm
- Number of positions: 6
Everyone with a large lawn desires a ride on lawn mower to take the stress and sweat out of pushing a lawn mower in the heat.
One such lawn mower is the NEXUS NX42SP petrol lawn mower which is powered by a reliable Briggs & Stratton 300E Series engine.
The adjustable ergonomic handlebar on the NEXUS NX42SP offers settings to three heights and it is foldable, minimising the storage space required.
Height can be set to 6 height-of-cut positions that require two levers to be adjusted.
Cuttings are collected in the rear with a 2-in-1 Cutting System which includes Rear Discharge and Collecting of clippings.
Pros
- 2-Year Limited consumer warranty
- Ride-on reduces the amount of energy you have to expend
- Reliable Briggs and Stratton engine
Cons
- Rather pricey
Frequently Asked Questions
Rotary or hover mower?
Rotary and hover mowers use the same cutting technology using a rotating cutting disc. However, the difference is in the way that it is manoeuvred over the lawn.
Rotary mowers have wheels that allow you to push it on the lawn, or steer it if it is self-propelled, while hover mowers generally float on a cushion of air that is created below the rotary blade.
Both types are available in electric, battery-powered and petrol-driven motors.
Rotary lawnmowers are generally more suitable for larger lawns that are level and require little manoeuvrability.
The hover mower is more manoeuvrable and easier to steer in any direction required. This is ideal for smaller gardens with many undulations, substantial slopes, or areas near water.
Cylinder vs rotary mower
Cylinder and rotary lawn mowers work on completely different technology.
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Cylinder lawn mower
A cylinder lawn mower generally has between five to twelve exposed blades in the front end of the mower that traps the grass between the blade and the bottom plate of the mower. This creates a scissor-like cutting of the lawn. Generally, the cutting box is located at the front near the blades.
Cylinder lawn mower blades rotate forwards and backwards depending on the direction it is pushed. It is ideal for well-maintained lawns but struggles on lawns that have high or thick grass.
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Rotary lawn mower
Rotary lawn mowers have a single high-speed rotating blade at the bottom of the mower and are normally covered by the base of the mower.
This cuts the lawn at the desired level due to the high speed of the blade sending the grass out the back into the grass box.
What is a rotary mower used for?
Rotary mowers contain an extremely sharp horizontal blade located in the deck of the lawn mower. This is generally driven by a powerful electric, petrol or battery-driven motor that spins extremely fast and chops the grass on contact.
Cuttings are discarded into a grass box making it easy to keep the lawn clean from cut grass. Rotary motors are the most popular lawn mowers and approximately 95% of mowers purchased fall into this category.
How to Buy the Best Rotary Mower
Here are a few considerations one should think about before investing in a rotary mower:
Stripes or not?
If you want to mow stripes on your lawn, you’ll need a rotary lawn mower with a roller at the back.
The roller flattens the grass in the direction that the lawn mower is moving. Returning in the opposite direction will flatten the grass the other way, hence the difference in the way the two cuts look.
The shape of the lawn
Irregularly shaped lawns with loads of indentations in the garden will fare better using a hover mower as it is easier to control in multiple directions due to the air cushion below the mower.
However, irregularly shaped lawns require several short movements to mow the lawn in tough spaces.
The weight
Heavy lawn mowers can become quite laborious to move across the lawn, especially if they hover. This can become rather tiresome if you keep swinging it from side to side. The air pocket may reduce the weight somewhat, but you still must manoeuvre it from side to side.
Rotary lawn mowers with wheels are generally easier to move around without becoming too heavy after a while.
Slopes
Lawns with many slopes and undulations will do well with hover lawn mowers or self-propelled rotary mowers than with push rotary lawn mowers.
Conclusion
Our choice for the best overall rotary lawn mower is the Hyundai 17″/43cm 139cc Self-Propelled Petrol Roller Lawnmower as it is self-propelled, easy to use, easy to assemble, sturdy, has low fuel consumption and eases your mind with a 3-year Hyundai warranty.
Please drop us a comment or any questions you may have in the section below.
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