Electric lawnmower buying guide

Electric lawnmowers are particularly well suited to surface areas of less than 700 m²; beyond this point, go for a petrol-powered mower or even a ride-on mower for the biggest gardens. Electric lawnmowers offer a number of advantages: they require next to no upkeep, are quiet, lightweight and compact and offer easy start-up. In terms of performance, they compare favourably to a medium-range petrol lawnmower as they can be just as efficient but are much less noisy.

The main drawback of electric lawnmowers is the power cable which does limit their range of motion. This means you will usually have to use an extension cord which can be bothersome for gardens with a lot of flower beds and trees. Similarly, battery-powered lawnmowers rarely have a long enough battery life for covering large areas. Furthermore, they are much more expensive and the batteries do wear out over time.

How to choose an electric lawnmower

Main characteristics of an electric lawnmower:

• power rating, depends on the cutting width and size of the garden;

• battery power, a high ampere hour (Ah) rating will guarantee a longer battery life;

• push models can be used for flat gardens of under 500 m²;

• self-propelled models can be used for sloping gardens and/or those measuring over 500 m²;

• mulching prevents you from having to gather the grass which is chopped up and left behind as fertiliser;

• grass box: your mower may or may not feature one; can be made of plastic or cloth; capacity of 30 litres for gardens under 400 m² and 50-60 litres for larger spaces;

• less than 46 cm for lawns measuring less than 400 m²;

• from 46 to 53 cm for gardens measuring 400 to 700 m²;

• cutting width, depends on the size of the lawn:

• cutting height, from 20 to 60 mm depending on your preferences (40 mm for a classic lawn);

• folding and adjustable handlebar;

• anti-vibration system;

• grass comb for working against walls and edging;

• Leaf Collect system for gathering dead leaves as you mow;

• additional options:

• warranty and after sales care: for a long-lasting purchase.

There are several types of electric lawnmowers:

• rotary mowers;

• cylinder mowers;

• hover mowers;

• battery-operated mowers;

• push mowers;

• self-propelled mowers;

• mowers with mulchers;

• robotic mowers.

Each of these electric lawnmowers offers a different set of features and is designed for a specific application.

Electric cylinder mowers

While less common than other models, electric cylinder mowers are becoming more and more popular. Offering excellent cutting quality, they provide the ideal solution for more demanding users.

The main downside of these models is their price which will be higher than the cost of a rotary mower.

Rotary electric lawnmowers

The most popular type of mower, these models offer a range of advantages. Rotary blade mowers are easy to use, lightweight and more affordable.

Hover lawnmowers

Designed for small gardens, hover lawnmowers are lightweight, powerful, easy to handle, compact and offer a clean and tidy cut.

These models do not feature wheels and will not collect cut grass as they operate using a mulching system. They hover thanks to a fan system.

Electric push mowers

Along with hover mowers, electric push mowers are among some of the most affordable models available. They are straightforward to use, lightweight and easy to handle. However, they do work best on small, flat gardens.

Self-propelled mowers

Electric self-propelled mowers are recommended for areas of 500 m² or more, or those with a gentle slope.

The automatic propulsion offered by these models allows you to guide the machine without having to push it. These models are not absolutely necessary if your space is small or flat.

Mowers with mulchers

Mulching offers an great alternative to traditional mowing. It involves cutting the grass up very finely in order to reintroduce it back into the soil where it is used as a natural fertiliser.

Some models are designed to mow exclusively in this way while others alternate this mode with traditional mowing using a grass box.

If you are thinking of buying a mulch-only model, you should know that you will have to mow more often as this type of mowing is not suitable for long grass. If that poses no problem, mulching will be a sensible and cost-effective choice.

Battery-operated or cordless mowers

The advantage of these models is their lack of power cable; dealing with a cable around your feet can be tedious. Generally speaking, battery-operated mowers will perform as well as other models. However, they will only run as long as the battery lasts, they weigh slightly more and the battery will eventually wear out (even though this usually takes some time).

Before choosing this type of mower, you need to make sure that your battery will last the length of the time needed to mow your lawn. However, batteries have come a long way.

It's always a good idea to have at least one replacement battery so keep this in mind when it comes to deciding between models. Some will include a second battery, others will only provide one. It is therefore necessary to read the product specifications carefully.

Lawnmower batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are the most commonly used batteries for cordless mowers. These batteries are the most efficient on the market and are more or less standard; they offer quick charging, no memory effect and a long service life. There are two characteristics to compare:

• the voltage indicated in volts (V): the higher the voltage, the more powerful the mower;

• the amperage indicated in ampere hours (Ah): the higher the Ah, the longer the battery will run.

Robot lawnmowers

The latest models to arrive on the market, robot lawnmowers present an interesting option to anyone who doesn't have much time to mow and is willing to pay the price.

These battery-powered devices are miniature automatic mowers that are either guided by a boundary wire or by sensors that allow them to avoid obstacles. Robots that operate using a boundary wire will be less costly but do require more time to set up.

The boundary wire should be installed in advance. However, there is a risk of accidentally cutting through this wire when gardening.

Robot lawnmowers with sensors are more independent and mean you won't have to install a wire. However, you will have to set down borders or other objects to create a barrier that the robot is able to sense or it will run right into them.

The size of your lawn is an important factor to take into account when choosing a robot lawnmower; it will be indicated by the manufacturer but will never exceed 2000 m².

After you have decided on a type of electric lawnmower, you will need to weigh up a few important factors to make the right choice of model.

Power rating of corded electric lawnmowers

The power of electric lawnmowers is measured in watts (W). Your lawnmower must be powerful enough to cover the lawn it will be mowing.

For an area of 300 m², you'll need a power rating of 100 to 1300 W; go for 1400 to 1800 W for areas of up to 700 m².

Lawnmower battery life and power

In order to evaluate the performance of lawnmower batteries, you'll have to think about both battery life and power.

The voltage (battery power) is indicated in volts (V) while the amperage (battery duration) is measured in ampere hours (Ah). The higher these values, the more powerful and long-lasting your machine will be.

Compare the following battery types in terms of lawn size:

• for a lawn measuring 300 m² or less, you will need around 18 V and 2 Ah;

• for gardens measuring 300 to 500 m, you will need 36 V and 3 Ah of power;

• for lawns measuring 500 to 700 m², go for 36 V and 5 Ah.

Please note that there's nothing stopping you going slightly beyond these values, especially when it comes to the ampere hour rating as this represents battery life.

Cutting width

The cutting width of a lawnmower is linked to the size of your garden and determines how many times you will have to go back and forth.

• For small gardens measuring less than 400 m²: opt for a cutting with of 35 to 46 cm.

• For lawns measuring 400 m² to 700 m²: go for a width of 46 to 53 cm.

Cutting height

The cutting height of lawnmowers will vary from 20 to 60 mm, depending on the model. Nonetheless, be sure to consider the cutting height of each model. Some lawnmowers offer a minimum cutting height of just 30 mm, which will prove frustrating for fans of short lawns!

It's worth nothing that the standard lawn height ranges from 35 to 45 mm, a short lawn or green will go from 20 to 30 mm while a pasture will be around 50 to 60 mm.

Pay close attention to the cutting height of lawnmowers: most models have 3 to 8 height settings. The idea is to adjust the cutting height to match the length of your grass. It's worth noting that an overgrown lawn will have to be mowed twice or even three times using different height settings.

Grass box

Depending on the model, the capacity of the grass box may range from 30 to 60 litres. For a small garden (less than 400 m²), a grass box with a 30-litre capacity will suffice. For larger gardens, you'll need 50 or 60 litres.

Some are made of plastic, others are made of fabric. The latter option is lighter but must be sprayed down with water regularly, unlike plastic boxes.

Weight

Electric lawnmowers generally weigh between 6 and 15 kg. If you're looking at push lawnmowers, you simply need to compare the weight of different models and go for the lightest one.

Most lawnmowers come with a range of practical options that should help guide you in your decision.

Handlebars

The type of handlebar is an important considering in terms of user comfort, storage and transport.

Some models are equipped with an adjustable handlebar which allows you to adapt the height of the handle to suit the user. A number of lawnmowers offer the option to fold down or even remove the handlebar in order to make the machine easier to move around and store.

Additional options

The more high-end the lawnmower, the more straightforward and efficient the equipment will be to use. Your lawnmower may come with attachments such as:

• cutting height adjustments via a single knob or button;

• a grass box with a level indicator or one that can be folded for storage;

• ergonomic handle grips: used for quick and pleasant handling;

• an anti-vibration system made up of specially designed materials;

• a grass comb: this device allows you to cut right to the edge of walls and edging as the deck is the same width as the outside of the wheels.

• a Leaf Collect mode to gather dead leaves using a special blade.

Warranty and after-sales care

The most efficient and reliable lawnmowers available usually offer a longer warranty period than other models. Opting for a well-known brand means you will usually be able to find replacement parts.

Of course, lesser known brands may offer replacement parts and lawnmowers of the same level of quality. However, they sometimes take longer to be delivered. If you have any doubts, contact the manufacturer before purchase.

Caring for electric lawnmowers

Maintenance boils down to cleaning the cutting system and sharpening or replacing the blade on a regular basis.