Choosing a cordless lawn mower

Cutting width and lawn size

The wider the mower, the fewer passes you make. As rough manufacturer guidance: about 30–34 cm for small lawns up to around 200–300 m², 36–40 cm for medium lawns and 46 cm or more for larger areas.

Check what the manufacturer recommends for each model. Many manufacturers state a recommended area in m² per battery charge. A narrower mower is lighter and fits more easily between borders and paths.

A robot mower is a separate category: it mows on its own within a marked-out area. This guide covers mowers you push yourself.

Battery: voltage and capacity

Cordless mowers run on 18 V, 36 V (often two 18 V batteries together, 2×18 V), 40 V or higher, such as 56 V from EGO. Some brands state nominal voltage, others maximum voltage, so the figures are not always directly comparable.

The energy in a battery is voltage × capacity. A 36 V 4 Ah battery holds 144 Wh, the same as two 18 V 4 Ah batteries. More watt-hours means longer mowing. How many m² you get per charge also depends on the grass: long or wet grass takes more energy.

If one charge doesn’t cover your lawn, a second battery helps: you swap and carry on. A fast charger refills an empty battery sooner. The charging time is in the specifications.

The same battery platform

If you already own drills or other cordless tools, you can often use the same batteries. Makita offers mowers on LXT, including models using two 18 V batteries. Einhell offers mowers within Power X-Change, Ryobi on ONE+ and its 36V line, and Bosch Home & Garden on 18 V and 36 V.

A mower sold without a battery is handy if you already have suitable batteries and a charger. Batteries from different brands are not generally interchangeable. Always check with the manufacturer which batteries a model takes.

Cutting height, grass box and mulching

You set the cutting height with a single central lever or at each wheel. A central lever is quicker if you change height often. Look at the range in millimetres and the number of positions.

Grass box capacity is given in litres. A larger box needs emptying less often but makes the mower bigger. When mulching, finely cut clippings stay on the lawn; the mower needs a mulching function or mulching plug for this.

You push most cordless mowers yourself. A self-propelled mower has wheel drive, which helps on slopes and large lawns. That drive also draws power from the battery.

Weight, storage and maintenance

Many cordless mowers have a folding handle, and some can be stored upright. That saves space in a shed or garage. Weight is in the specifications, sometimes without the battery, so watch for that when comparing.

A cordless mower is quieter than a petrol mower because there is no combustion engine running. The mower’s sound power level is shown on its rating label and in the manual.

Always remove the battery before cleaning the mower or touching the blade. Keep the blade sharp and replace it as the manual describes.

Comparing on ToolRango

Mowers are sold as a bare tool and as a kit with battery and charger, sometimes with a second battery. Each version has its own EAN or order number. ToolRango compares per version, so you know whether a battery and charger are included.