Cutting edge: The best cordless lawnmowers that make lawn care effortless

If you're looking for a cordless lawnmower that can make short work of larger lawns, this Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Lawn Mower is our top choice. Our tester used it on a not-so-perfect domestic lawn and said the Ryobi cut the grass in half the time his previous mower took with good results. He liked that there were no cables to get in the way or accidently mow over!

The main selling point is the interchangeable One+ battery system. If you or a loved one has Ryobi's Power Share range, you can use the batteries in any one of their garden power tools. Note that batteries were not included with our tester's lawnmower and he had to purchase it separately. This lawnmower can be powered on one 5Ah battery, but if you add a second you get more power and it will cut for longer. This put to bed any reservations that our tester had about cordless lawnmowers having less powerful motors than petrol and electric models. The Ryobi cut with ease and was manoeuvrable, even on tricky parts of the lawn.

However, at 18.6kg it is a heavy lawnmower, especially if you have to carry it over gravel to get to your lawn, for example. Our tester also felt the grass collector was fiddly to attach and it falls off if you don't get the balance right. Also, because of the angle it sits at, grass spills out when you try and remove it for emptying. Alternatively, you can use the mulching function to distribute grass cuttings back onto your lawn.

It took about two hours to recharge the batteries, albeit this depends on the efficiency of the charger. The control panel in the centre of the handle tells you the battery status, along with power levels and warning lights. It's clear and intuitive.

In short, with its 40cm cutting width, the Ryobi is a good choice for medium gardens, although it might be a little too heavy for some.

The Kärcher cordless mower has a fast-charging battery and a 2-in-1 feature whereby you can use the grass catcher box or spread clippings back into the lawn as an all-natural fertiliser. It has a foam grip handle that's height adjustable for your comfort. Customers love the space-saving collapsible design and agree that it's fast and convenient to be cable-free. However, some had issues charging the batteries.

Yours gave it a spin around the garden we were impressed with how easy the lawnmower was to assemble, with just a couple of clicks and two screws. It's also easy to adjust the handle, depending on your height. Additionally, it can fold down, so it takes up less space in the shed.

Our tester commented that the battery took two hours to fully charge and had a run time of 24 minutes. This is ample for a small-to-medium size lawn. The 45-litre capacity meant that our tester did her front and back lawn without taking a single trip to the garden waste bin.

All-in-all, our tester was impressed with the ease at which the Kärcher gave a consistent finish to the lawn, even on the tricky edges.

However, she did struggle to insert the battery and it took her a while to get the knack of clicking it into place. Also, although it was more flexible than a traditional mower, she felt it was a little heavy to move around. But the joy of being cable free was a novelty that has yet to wear off!

Read our full review of the Kärcher Cordless Mower.

With a cutting width of 43cm this Webb Cordless Rotary Lawnmower means you can get the lawn cut faster because it requires less passes. We recommend this as a good cordless lawnmower for medium-to-large lawns. It has a 35 minute run time on a full charge and boasts a 60-litre grass collector bag – the largest capacity we've found in top-notch cordless mowers. Do bear in mind that this makes it one of the heavier models at 26.6kg, which offers a great workout but may be too heavy for some.

Get a wonderful striped lawn finish with the rear roller. Also, this model offers versatility whereby you can collect, mulch or discharge grass clippings. Additionally, there are six cutting heights which, again, is more than other models. You can easily adjust the cutting height with a single lever.

Customers comment that they've made the switch from petrol to cordless and have been delighted to say goodbye to mess and fumes. However, some reviews comment that the battery life is short and it's best suited to regular lawns rather than uneven and irregular lawn shapes.

With two batteries, this Greenworks 40V Cordless Lawnmower can cut an area equivalent to two tennis courts on a single charge. It has a simple push button to start. Plus, a single lever adjusts the blade height from 20mm to 70mm, which is handy if you've got a lawn that's got tall and needs cutting down to size.

A customer comments that she liked how it collects the grass rather than throwing grass everywhere, like her previous mower. Additionally, customers agree that this is a lightweight, easy to use lawnmower and the battery life is good. However, a couple of customers comment that they found the cutting height lever a little difficult to move. Also, this mower is best suited to even terrain and easy-to-mow grass. A more robust lawnmower is required for tougher grass.

This lawnmower is Amazon's Choice with 2,000 reviews rating it 4.3 out of 5.

The Bosch CityMower is purpose-designed to cut small lawns that are flanked by walls. It has grass combs and narrow wheels so you can mow right up to a vertical edge and get a neat result. Customers are impressed with the performance of this lightweight (9.4kg) mower. With two batteries a customer was able to cut a lawn that's 400m², whilst others effortlessly cut lawns between 200m²–300m² on a single battery.

The specially-designed ErgoFlex make you stand in an upright posture while mowing and reduces stress on arms and wrists. We recommend this CityMower for anyone who needs a mower that is manageable and performs. It does stand out for the positive comments about battery quality and ease of use.

Do bear in mind, if you're cutting long or wet grass the battery won't last as long. As the name implies, this model is ideal for small, manicured lawns.

If you have a small, well-kept lawn and really do require a mower that's ultra light, this Yard Force 40V 32cm Cordless Lawnmower is a top option. For anyone who struggles to lift their mower from the shed to the lawn, at 10.5kg this is one of the lighter models in cordless mowing. However, customers comment that it doesn't cope so well on long grass and in some cases is almost too light. But for a perfectly petite manicured lawn, this is ideal.

It's user-friendly too, with an indicator to show how much charge is left and soft-grip handle for comfort. Customers, in general, agree that the battery and charge are good – both for fast-charging and holding a charge. Because it has a smaller cutting width, it's easy to manoeuvre this mower around the edges of flower beds and pathways.

The hybrid grass collector bag compacts clippings, so although it's on the smaller side, at 30-litres, it will compress grass so it doesn't need frequent emptying.

For a great all-round mower, the Hyundai 32cm Cordless Lawnmower is more than reliable. In particular, it boasts one of the fastest charging times and run time. It has a run time of 40 minutes to lightly cut grass, whilst on damp grass that run time is reduced to 20 minutes.

Reviews comment on this mower as being a great option for a medium size lawn. Customers are pleased with their purchase and praise the Hyundai as being easy to assemble, lightweight and cutting grass well. Additionally, it can collect leaves too – simply suck up autumnal leaf fall with no bother or strain using a rake.

It's quiet running, so it won't disturb the neighbours or alarm pets. Features, such as the easy to fold handles, have been designed to make it convenient for you to assemble, adjust and store away in a collapsed position.

All-in-all we recommend this cordless lawnmower as an excellent all-round model for medium size gardens.

Take the pressure of your knees and back with this lightweight Murray 2x18V Cordless Lawn Mower. Time and time again, customers praise this model as being so much easier than their previous petrol mower. Additionally, it offers much more freedom than a corded electric model. With two batteries, it has enough power to deal with large gardens. Also, the dual charger has a battery charge status indicator so you know how much charging time is left. The padded handles absorb vibration, 25cm rear wheels mean it's easier to push and the motor is quiet – making mowing a much more pleasant experience for you.

Customers agree that this lawnmower did a super speedy job of cutting the lawn. In general, they agree that it's easy to assemble, lightweight and manoeuvrable. A customer commented that the larger cutting width meant less passes of the lawn. However, another commented that the lowest cutting height was higher than they would have liked.

Einhell Power X-Change Cordless Lawnmower is one of the smallest cordless lawnmowers and can even be picked up in one hand. At just 9.32kg its plastic casing keeps the overall weight down.
It comes pre-assembled and generally customers agree that this is a lightweight and low noise mower. The Power X-Change battery is compatible with other power tools in the range, plus there's a range of battery sizes to choose from. This makes this cordless mower an possibility for tackling larger lawns; if you use the 8.0AH battery it can cut an area that's 450m². Though, do note that the battery that's supplied with it is intended for an area of 150m².

Customers found that the grass box was difficult to assemble, but once you know how the parts click into place, it is full-proof. Also, be ware that taller users may find this a little too small.

It's an Amazon's Choice recommended product with over 6,800 reviews rating it 4.1 out of 5.

The Worx 40V Cordless Lawn Mower is unique for its Intellicut feature that allows you to increase power so you can mow through tough grass and on lighter lawns you can dial back the power to preserve the battery. In addition, Worx claim this lawnmower is their easiest to manoeuvre. It cuts edge-to-edge so it means less manual trimming after mowing. It has a rear roller too, so you can achieve perfect lawn stripes.

Customers praise it for performing well (even on longer grass), quiet running and at 11.1kg it's lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. However, a customer felt frustrated that additional batteries were expensive to purchase. The batteries can power any garden tool in Worx' Power Share range, so they may be worth the investment if you or a loved one is an avid DIY-er.

This Worx model has over 1,100 reviews rating it 4.1 out of 5 on Amazon.

The swift 32cm Cordless Lawnmower suits an older person that's looking for a lightweight and easy to use mower. Because the cutting width is narrow it keeps the overall weight of the mower down, so it's easier to lift than a wider, heavier model. Customers comment that they were able to mow their lawns twice over on a single charge. The cutting height lever is easy to grip and change the height of the cutting deck, so your lawn can be the height that you like it.

The swift mower weights 13kg and is well balanced on four wheels so it's easy to manoeuvre. It comes with a mulch plug, so you have the option to mulch or collect grass clippings. Note, that the cutting blade is more like a hover mower than a rotary blade. A customer comments that it coped well with cutting a steep bank of grass, so it's worth considering this mower if your lawn is on a gradient.

With over 1,300 reviews rating it 4.3 out of 5 it's a solid cordless lawnmower under £200 for small gardens.

At 3.5kg it's Gtech's lightest lawnmower and in fact the lightest mower in our round-up. Everything about the design is innovative, from the single-handle operation to its incredibly compact build.

Customers love the fact that it can be folded and stored away. For people with arthritis the single-handed operation makes this easier to grip; it's more like using a vacuum cleaner. Resoundingly, they love how light this mower is and it's easy to whip out and give the lawn a quick mow.

One or two customers would prefer the shortest cutting height to be a bit lower, but otherwise we recommend this mower if you have a small lawn to maintain and you need a lawnmower that's effortless to push.