Electric Lawn Mowers | Cordless Lawn Mowers | Robot Lawn Mowers

A good electric lawn mower is one that finishes the lawn on one charge and goes back in the shed without a fight. That depends less on the photo and more on a few plain facts: the cutting width, the battery, what is in the box and how the mower deals with the clippings. This guide walks through those facts and the kinds of mower we sell.

Start with the lawn

Think about the lawn before the mower. How big is it, is it flat or sloping, and how far is the nearest power point? A courtyard or a strip of lawn beside a townhouse is a job for a mini or compact mower. A typical suburban front and back lawn suits a 32 to 37 cm mower. A larger block, or one on a slope, calls for a wider deck, a self-propelled mower or a robot. Pace the lawn out once, because the maker's lawn area figures are given in square metres.

Cordless or corded

A cordless mower runs on a lithium battery. There is no lead to drag and no power point needed, which is why most people buy one. The trade-off is run time, usually 20 to 45 minutes per charge, and a higher price. A corded mower plugs into an outdoor-rated extension lead and runs as long as you like for less money, but you have to keep the lead behind you and clear of the blade, and the lawn has to be within reach of a power point. Both are far quieter than petrol and need no fuel, oil or pull cord.

Cutting width and cutting height

The cutting width is how wide a strip the mower cuts in one pass. A 22 cm mini mower takes twice as many passes as a 46 cm mower, which matters on a big lawn and does not matter on a small one. The cutting height range and the number of settings decide how short you can cut and how easily you can adjust for the season. A wider range, say 25 to 75 mm, lets you cut high in summer heat and low in spring. Where the maker gives these figures, the product page shows them.

Batteries, volts and run time

Volts tell you the power of the system: 18V and 20V suit small lawns, 36V and 40V suit medium lawns and thicker grass. Amp hours tell you how big the tank is: a 4Ah battery runs roughly twice as long as a 2Ah one on the same mower. The maker's run time is measured on their test lawn, so expect less in long or wet grass. Check whether the battery and charger are in the box, because a bare tool is sold without them, and check which other tools from the same maker share the battery.

Push, self-propelled or robot

A push mower is the lightest and cheapest and is fine on a flat lawn. A self-propelled mower drives its own wheels, so you steer rather than push, which helps on slopes and with a heavier steel deck. A robot mower cuts a little every day on a schedule and docks itself to charge. The wire-free kind uses satellite positioning and a camera instead of a buried boundary wire, so setup takes an afternoon rather than a weekend, but it needs a clear view of the sky and a power point for the dock.

Grass box, mulching and discharge

Most electric mowers collect clippings in a grass box, and the box size decides how often you stop to empty it. A mulching plug chops the clippings fine and drops them back on the lawn as feed, which saves emptying but is best on short, dry grass. A few mowers also side discharge for long grass. A 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 mower gives you the choice. The page says which the mower does.

Hover mowers

A hover mower floats on a cushion of air instead of running on wheels. It is light, swings in any direction and copes with slopes and awkward shapes that a wheeled mower cannot. It does not collect clippings as neatly and does not give the striped finish of a rotary mower with a roller. It suits a small lawn with banks and curves.

Lawn tools that finish the job

A mower leaves the edges, the fence line and the hedge. A line trimmer (whipper snipper) tidies the edges and around posts, and one with an edging wheel also cuts a clean line along paths. A hedge trimmer keeps hedges square. A leaf blower clears the clippings off the path. All three come cordless with their own batteries, and the page lists what is in each box.

Buying on time

Most orders arrive within 3 to 7 working days of the order date, and regional addresses can take longer. Working days leave out weekends and public holidays. If the lawn has to be done before a set weekend, order at least two weeks ahead. Delivery is free on orders of R750 or more and a flat R250 under that.

Looking after an electric mower

Read the maker's manual before the first cut. Charge the battery fully before use and store it indoors, out of direct sun, with some charge left. Brush the deck clean after mowing rather than hosing a battery mower, and keep the blade sharp, because a dull blade tears grass and drains the battery faster. Keep children and pets clear while mowing. This guide is general information, not electrical or safety advice.

Your mower buying checklist

Measure the lawn. Decide cordless or corded. Read the cutting width and the cutting height range. Check the volts, amp hours and run time. Look at what is in the box, and add a second battery if the lawn is large. Note the grass box size and whether it mulches. Check the weight and how it stores. Then check the delivery window against the date you need it.

The short version

Buy for the lawn, read the facts on the page, and leave enough time for delivery. Every product page here lists the maker's details (cutting width, battery and run time, cutting heights, weight and what is in the box) so you can decide before you order, and you have 14 days from delivery to change your mind.