How to Choose the Right Walk-Behind Lawn Mower: The Definitive Guide

Choosing the right walk-behind mower can feel overwhelming with so many options to choose from: petrol, battery or electric? mulching or collection? cylinder or rotary? In this article I will break down the process into a clear, step by step guide to help you find the perfect mower for your lawn, lifestyle and budget.

1.    Step 1: Electric, Battery or Petrol?

Possibly the biggest decision is the choice between electric, battery or petrol. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences between each:

Petrol walk-behind mowers

✓ Best for sustained power in the toughest conditions. Deals with long, thick or wet grass better than an electric mower.  

✓ Better for larger lawns as you can simply re-fuel and continue.

✓ Often cheaper initially than a battery mower but requires maintenance for petrol, oil, filters, spark plugs and other potential failures.

✕ Higher maintenance costs when compared to battery or electric push mowers

✕  Usually heavier and more physically demanding to use

✕ Usually a lot louder

✕   Produces exhaust fumes and the smell of petrol (but varies based on fuel type)

Electric (corded) walk-behind Mowers

✓  The most affordable type of mower you can buy since there is no additional cost for a battery or need for engine maintenance and oil changes

✓  Ideal for smaller gardens where the cable length won’t become an issue

✓  Unlimited runtime, no need to recharge a battery or refill on fuel

✓  Significantly quieter than petrol models (around 75-85dB)   

✕ Best for very small lawns close to the house where the power cord won’t become an issue

✕ The power cord can be a safety hazard and may require constant repositioning to avoid running over it

✕ For larger lawns or professional use, petrol mowers are able to cover a wider area

Battery walk-behind Mowers

Typically uses a rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack

✓  Incredibly easy to start and use

✓  The quietest type of mower (Generally 75dB or less)

✓  If you own other battery powered tools from the same brand, batteries can often be shared between devices

✓  Safer because there is no risk of running over a power cord or fuel related hazards

✓ Zero direct emissions, making them the best choice for the environment

✕ Typically limited to 30-60 minutes per charge

✕  Batteries will eventually degrade and need replacement

✕  High upfront cost for battery, but low maintenance

Consider your individual lawn size

Possibly the biggest consideration when deciding which of the three to choose is the area covered. For larger areas (over 500m²), a petrol mower is best. It isn't limited by a cord or battery life, allowing you to refuel in minutes and continue mowing. For medium sized lawns (200m²-500m² ), a battery powered mower is ideal because it won’t be limited by battery life and allows freely manoeuvring around obstacles without a cord. And for smaller lawns (<200m² ) a corded Electric mower is the cheapest option, and the power cable shouldn’t become a huge problem on such a simple layout.

Step 2: Cylinder, Hover or Rotary?

Cylinder/Reel

✓  Gives the best finish with perfect stripes due to their scissor-like cut and rear roller

✓  Gives a superior, more precise cut

✓  Excels at cutting at lower heights but struggles with taller grass

✓  Some models allow you to swap the regular cylinder blade for other units such as scarifiers, aerators, verticutters, dethatchers etc. allowing you to have an all-in-one system

✕  Can struggle with more rough and uneven terrain, even a small bump or stone can potentially damage the cutting mechanism and ruin the cut

✕  Can be more difficult to transport and store due to weight and size

✕  Usually requires much higher maintenance than other types of mower

Hover

✓  Best for steep slopes and banks due to floating on a cushion of air which makes them lightweight and highly maneuverable

✓  Glides over bumps and uneven surfaces which would cause a wheeled mower to scalp the lawn or get stuck

✕  Can lack cutting power to deal with long grass etc

✕  Not designed for effective grass collection, they typically mulch the clippings and discharge them back onto the lawn, and will struggle with longer grass

✕  Requires more frequent mowing

✕  Doesn’t create striped finish like a traditional mower with a roller

Rotary

✓  Available at every price point, but keep in mind they may need regular maintenance long term

✓  Handles rough terrain better than other types of mower

✓  Doesn’t struggle as much with long grass and irregular cutting that might stall other mower types

✓  More forgiving of lawn condition such as wet grass

✓  Often more lightweight than other types of mower

✓  Often has options for mulching and side-discharge so you can adapt to the length of lawn and desired finish

✕  Cut quality can be lower than a cylinder mower since the blade can tear the grass rather than gently slicing it, but regular maintenance can help prevent this

✕  Can struggle and clog easily when mowing wet grass (varies by model)

✕  With uneven ground, it can cut grass too short in patches

Key questions to ask when deciding:

What kind of terrain do you have?

For a perfectly flat lawn, cylinder mowers are ideal and they will give you both a better cut and neater finish, however if your lawn is uneven or sloped ground, then a cylinder mower will struggle and it would be better to stick with either a rotary- for bumpy terrain or a hover mower - for sloped terrain.

Do you care about finish?

Cylinder mowers give perfect stripes with their scissor-like cut and rear roller, but they are limited to flat, even terrain. For more rough terrain, a rotary mower will produce distinct stripes, but they will be less sharp than those made by a cylinder mower.

Step 3: Mulching or Collection?

Mulching kit for rotary mower

If you are conscious of lawn health and want to maintain a healthier, greener lawn, mulching is a strong consideration. Some cylinder and rotary mowers are capable of both mulching and collection, and some require purchasing a mulching kit or mulching blade separately. Be sure to check the capabilities of each individual mower you look at for details on whether it has facilities for mulching. You can also buy mowers specifically designed for mulching, which if you know you are able to mow regularly may be the best option.

View our guide to mulching here

Mulching

✓  Mulching returns clippings that are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients back to the soil, promoting healthier growth and reducing fertilizer needs

✓  Saves time emptying a collection bag

✓  Prevents lawn disease and pests

✓  Shreds leaves in autumn

✕ Requires more regular mowing since cutting longer grass will leave heavy clumps. (Ideally keeping with the “1/3 rule”)

✕ Difficult to mulch in wet weather since grass will clump together instead of being finely chopped

✕ If you are dealing with a weed or moss problem then it must be dealt with first since mulching can worsen the problem

Collection

✓  Provides a clean appearance instantly, without the need to wait for mulch to decompose.

✓  More forgiving if you mow less frequently or miss a mowing session since it won’t struggle so much with longer grass

✓  Better for mowing wet grass as it avoids the clumping that mulching could create

✓  Collected clippings can be reused as compost, providing nitrogen that can help break down things like leaves and cardboard

✕ Removes nutrients from the soil that can lead to less healthy grass and a dependency on synthetic fertilizer

✕ Takes more time as you need to empty the collection bag when full

Step 4: Select Your Must-Have Features

1.    4 wheeled or Rear Roller?

Rear roller mower

Another important decision when deciding between rotary models is whether you get a 4 wheeled or rear roller mower. Both have distinct advantages and disadvantages but in general, a 4 wheeled mower is designed for functionality and ease of use, whereas a rear roller mower is designed for lawn health and appearance.

4 wheeled:

✓ Lighter and easier to push

✓ Better for slopes or uneven ground

✓ Generally less expensive

✕ Less professional stripes

✕ Can compromise in lawn health because it doesn’t give such a clean cut

Rear roller

✓  Classic striped lawn appearance

✓  Most models have a brush bar that lifts the grass upright before it cuts them, giving more of a scissor-like cut rather than a tear

✕ Generally heavier and compromises in manoeuvrability

✕ Generally more expensive

✕  Can struggle with bumpy and sloped ground

2.    Self-propelled or Push mower?

Tired of feeling exhausted after mowing a lawn? Then you might be using the wrong tool for the job. A self-propelled is able to move itself forward at the press of a button, meaning all you need to do is guide the mower where you want to go. If you are worried about physical effort and fatigue, or have a large or sloped lawn, then a self-propelled mower might be a smart investment in your time and energy. Keep in mind that this convenience comes at a cost. The drive system makes them more expensive and heavier than their push-mower counterparts and can require additional maintenance. They are ideal for sloped terrain where it requires more effort to mow and so can be an unnecessary expenditure for a perfectly flat lawn.

3.    How often are you able to mow?

Cutting frequently is essential for cylinder and dedicated mulching mowers, which can struggle to cut long, overgrown grass. Whilst a cylinder mower or mulching mower might leave you with the best results and finish, they will struggle to deal with longer grass, so if you are not planning to cut often it would be better to stick to a standard rotary mower or a hover mower which will be more forgiving to a less regular mowing schedule.

4.    What width of cut do you want?

Needless to say, a wider cut will greatly affect the time it takes to mow a lawn. For larger lawns, it is worth looking to get a mower with a wider cut (20” and above) since the time and effort saved will be substantial. It is also worth taking into consideration the layout of the lawn, since if it has a complex shape with many flower beds, trees or tight corners, the increased manoeuvrability will be more important than simply raw speed.

5.     What is your budget?

Mowers will vary a lot in price depending on power type, brand, mowing method and other features. On a low budget, a corded electric rotary mower would likely be your cheapest option both in terms of upfront cost and maintenance. And whilst a petrol mower offers the highest power and area covered, it comes with a high upfront cost and long term maintenance costs, so it is important to consider whether the additional capabilities are really necessary for your garden, or whether it might even be worth considering alternatives like robot mowers or ride-ons instead at a similar price point. Cylinder mowers also tend to be much more expensive than alternatives, so it is worth considering whether the benefits it provides outweigh the additional costs.

Budget friendly options: Corded electric rotary mowers, Electric Hover mowers

Mid-range options: Battery powered rotary mowers

High range options: Petrol mowers, Cylinder mowers, Rear roller mowers

High range alternatives: Robotic mowers, Ride-ons

ROBOT MOWER GUIDE

Quick Decision-Making Guide

What is your priority?	Ideal walk behind mower
Cost	Electric mowers are lowest maintenance and cost, but are limited by their need for a cable.
Area covered	A Petrol mower with capability for mulching would be ideal since it can run for long amounts of time without the need to charge or frequently empty a collection bag.
Low maintenance	A battery powered rotary mower would have no need for engine maintenance, and it is much easier and cheaper to sharpen the single blade of a rotary mower compared to a cylinder mower.
Noise	Battery powered mowers are the quietest at around 65-75dB compared to 70-80dB from a corded electric and 90-95dB from a petrol mower.
Effort required/Ease of use	A Battery powered, self propelled mower has no need for a primer or choke to start up and tends to be lighter and easier to manoeuvre than petrol or electric alternatives.
Uneven terrain	A rotary mower is designed to “float” over the ground, making the entire deck tilt and avoiding scalping, and it can deal with obstacles or overgrown areas with a lower risk of damaging the mower.
Sloped terrain	Hover mowers are the safest option for slopes as there is no risk of tipping over, and they are lightweight and easily manoeuvrable. Alternatively, a mower that is self-propelled will reduce the physical effort required.
Best for infrequent mowing	A petrol rotary collection mower would be best, as it provides the highest sustained power and it is designed to power through overgrown grass that would struggle with.
Environmental Impact	A hand/manual reel or cylinder mower would be best as it has zero emissions or electricity use, but for practicality, a battery powered mower with mulching options would be ideal.
Finish	Cylinder mowers leave the sharpest and neatest stripes in the lawn, but are limited by terrain type.
Lawn health	A cylinder mower with a mulching unit would be ideal since it gives the cleanest cut and returns nutrients back to the soil.
Storage space and portability	A cordless electric rotary mowers often have handles that fold down and have no need for a heavy engine or power cable.
Smell	Any non-petrol mower would be a good option, for petrol mowers we recommend using aspen fuel as it has none of the aromatic hydrocarbons found in standard petrol
Safety	A battery rotary mower would be ideal as it has none of the risks associated with engines or cables from electric and petrol mowers.

Conclusion

It doesn’t have to be a chore to choose the right walk-behind mower. By looking at your individual lawn and needs, and breaking down the decision into a few key choices, you can narrow down your options to find the mow

er that is perfect for your garden. To summarise the most important considerations:

1.      What power source is best? – For larger lawns, petrol mowers provide unstoppable performance, and for small and medium sized lawns, battery and electric mowers are both strong considerations.

2.      What type of mower fits your terrain? For flat terrain and sharp, crisp stripes, cylinders are ideal, but for bumpy or sloped terrain a rotary or hover mower would be more suitable.

3.      Mulching or Collection? For better lawn health, mulching is recommended, but it requires a consistent mowing schedule and isn’t fit for wet conditions. I’d personally recommend having a mower that has capabilities for both mulching and collection, so that you can adapt to whatever condition of lawn.

4.      What other features are needed?

• For an easier mow, a self-propelled mower is worth considering.

• A wider cutting deck can save on time, especially on larger open areas.

• If storage space is a concern, it is worth making sure there is an easy-fold or quick-store handle.

• For rotary mowers, a rear roller will give a better finish quality whereas 4-wheel drive is better for maximum traction and hill-climbing ability.

• It is also worth considering the deck material - If you are bothered by steel rusting, you should look out for Aluminium or Xenoy decks which are rustproof alternatives.

• If you are interested in mulching, it is worth checking to see whether a mulching kit is available for the specific model you are interested in.

• For battery mowers, it is worth considering whether extra batteries are necessary for increased runtime on a larger lawn.

• For petrol mowers, it is worth considering whether electric start is necessary, as it removes the need for yanking a starter cord. Additionally, a blade brake clutch is a feature on some petrol mowers that allows you to stop the mower’s rotating blade without turning off the entire engine.

There is no single 'best mower' for everyone, it all depends on your individual lawn and needs. By using this guide as your checklist, you can confidently choose a mower that will keep your lawn looking its best for years to come.

VIEW OUR RANGE OF WALK BEHIND MOWERS