Robot Lawn Mowers
Best Prices & Latest Robot Lawn Mowers
Buying a robot lawn mower means wading through specs and features you've never encountered before. GPS navigation. Boundary wires. Multi-zone programming. What actually matters? This guide strips away the marketing fluff and focuses on what determines whether a robot mower will suit your garden and save you hours every month.
Robot mowers cost £200 to £3000. That's a substantial investment. Get it right and you'll wonder why you wasted weekends pushing a traditional mower. Get it wrong and you'll have an expensive paperweight gathering dust in the shed.
Start with your lawn area. Measure it properly. Pacing it out gives you a rough figure. Manufacturers rate mowers by maximum area coverage. A mower rated for 400m² will struggle with a 400m² lawn. Obstacles, slopes and irregular shapes reduce effective coverage. Buy a mower rated 25-30% higher than your measured lawn size.
Runtime determines how much lawn a mower cuts per charge. Entry models run 60-90 minutes. Premium mowers operate 120-180 minutes. They return to base, recharge and resume cutting. A 500m² garden takes several sessions. That's fine. The mower works whilst you're at work.
Complex gardens with narrow passages and separate lawn areas need more capacity than simple rectangles. Add 30% to your lawn size if your garden has complicated shapes or multiple cutting zones.
Slopes kill cheap robot mowers. Standard models handle 15-20 degree inclines. That's roughly 27-36% gradient. Steeper than that and wheels slip. The mower gets stuck. Premium models tackle 35-45 degrees. Measure your steepest slope before buying.
How do you measure slope? Use a smartphone app or a simple level and ruler. A 20-degree slope rises 36cm over 100cm horizontal distance. Most UK gardens have gentle slopes under 15 degrees. Banks and steep areas need premium mowers.
Two navigation types dominate. Boundary wire systems use a physical wire buried or pegged around lawn edges. The mower stays inside this boundary. Installation takes 2-4 hours. Once done, it's permanent and reliable.
Reliable, affordable, proven technology. Requires initial installation work.
No wire installation. Maps your garden. Premium models only. Costs more.
Combines wire and GPS for optimal coverage and efficiency.
GPS models sound convenient but work best on simpler lawns. Complex gardens with narrow passages still benefit from boundary wires. GPS struggles in areas with poor satellite coverage like beneath trees or close to buildings.
Lithium-ion batteries power all modern robot mowers. Battery capacity determines runtime. A 2.0Ah battery runs 60-90 minutes. A 5.0Ah battery manages 150+ minutes. Larger batteries cost more but mean fewer charging cycles.
Capacity: 2.0-2.5Ah
Runtime: 60-90 minutes
Charge time: 60-90 minutes
Best for: Small gardens under 300m²
Capacity: 4.0-5.0Ah
Runtime: 120-180 minutes
Charge time: 90-120 minutes
Best for: Large gardens 500m²+
Battery lifespan matters. Quality lithium batteries last 2000-3000 charge cycles. That's 3-5 years of regular use. Replacement batteries cost £60-150. Factor this into long-term ownership costs.
Robot mowers use small pivoting blades. Unlike rotary mowers with large fixed blades, robot mower blades are tiny razor-sharp discs. They cut grass tips frequently. This mulches clippings finely back into the lawn.
Quality robot mowers operate in rain. They're waterproof to IPX4 or IPX5 standards. Rain sensors detect wet conditions and send the mower home. This protects your lawn from damage and reduces cleaning needs.
Some owners disable rain sensors. The mower runs regardless of weather. This works fine if your lawn drains well. Waterlogged lawns get damaged by mowing. The mower wheels create ruts. Let your lawn dry before cutting.
Modern robot mowers connect to WiFi. Smartphone apps let you control schedules, adjust settings and monitor progress remotely. You can start, stop or redirect the mower from anywhere.
App features sound excellent. In practice, most owners set schedules once and forget about them. Apps add convenience but aren't essential. Don't pay £200 extra just for WiFi if you're budget-conscious.
Robot mowers are theft targets. They sit outside unattended. Quality models include PIN codes. Someone lifts the mower and it demands the PIN. Without the code, it's useless.
Essential feature. Makes stolen mowers worthless to thieves.
Premium feature. Tracks mower location if stolen. Aids police recovery.
Loud alarm when lifted without PIN entry. Deters opportunist thieves.
Visible deterrents help too. Many owners add small security signs near charging stations. Thieves want easy targets. Make yours harder to steal than next door's.
Robot mowers run quietly. Most operate at 55-65 decibels. That's quieter than normal conversation. You can mow early mornings or evenings without annoying neighbours. Traditional petrol mowers hit 90-95 decibels.
Check noise ratings if you plan dawn or late evening mowing. Models under 60dB are barely audible from 10 metres away.
Specifications overwhelm buyers. Focus on three things: Does it cover your garden size comfortably? Can it handle your slopes? Does it fit your budget including long-term costs? Everything else is secondary to these fundamentals.
Entry-level robot mowers start around £250. They work fine for small simple lawns. Premium models reach £2500-3000 with GPS, app control and advanced features. What's sensible for most UK gardens?
Entry level, small gardens, basic features, boundary wire systems
Sweet spot! Medium gardens, quality build, essential features, proven brands
Large gardens, GPS navigation, premium features, maximum reliability
Don't forget running costs. Blade replacements cost £20-40 yearly. Battery replacement every 3-5 years costs £60-150. Electricity consumption is minimal - perhaps £5-10 per season. Total annual running costs typically under £50.
Husqvarna invented robot mowers in 1995. They dominate the premium market. Build quality is exceptional. Expect 10+ years from a well-maintained Husqvarna. They cost more for good reason.
Worx offers outstanding value. Models perform well at half the price of premium brands. Gardena provides German engineering quality. Flymo suits budget buyers wanting reliability. Bosch brings innovative features to mid-range prices.
The best robot mower matches your garden's needs without exceeding your budget. A £300 mower on a 200m² flat lawn performs brilliantly. A £2000 mower on that same lawn wastes £1700. Match specification to situation.
Boundary wire installation takes 2-4 hours for a typical garden. You can hire installers for £100-200. DIY saves money but requires patience. Wire must lie flush with grass to avoid cutting damage.
Charging station placement matters. Position it on level ground with clear access. The mower follows the boundary wire back to base. Keep the approach route simple and obstacle-free.
Visit a garden centre and see mowers running. Watch how they navigate. Check how easily you can access controls. Feel the build quality. Specifications matter but hands-on experience reveals whether you'll actually enjoy using the mower daily.
A robot mower saves 2-4 hours weekly. That's 100-200 hours yearly. Value your time appropriately. Even a £1000 mower pays for itself in saved time within 2-3 seasons. Choose wisely.