Robot mower vs cordless push mower

Example models compared

These four models come from our robot and cordless guides. The figures are taken from their listings, so the rated areas are the makers' own claims.

See the best robot lawn mowers →

Time and effort

Time is the main reason people buy a robot. Once installed, it mows on a schedule, returns to its station to charge and carries on without you. Your jobs shrink to clearing toys and fallen branches, cleaning the underside now and then and changing blades.

A cordless push mower needs you to walk the lawn, empty the box and charge the battery, typically once a week in the growing season and more often in late spring. On a small lawn that might be twenty minutes; on a larger one, much longer. Many owners enjoy it, and a push mower needs no installation at all.

Setup is the robot's hidden time cost. A wired robot needs a boundary wire laid round the lawn, which takes a few hours on a small garden. See our guide to installing a robot mower boundary wire to judge whether you would do it yourself.

Lawn finish and grass health

A robot trims a few millimetres at a time and leaves fine clippings that disappear into the lawn. The result is an evenly short, dense lawn without stripes. Because it cuts so often, it naturally follows the RHS advice to remove no more than a third of the grass height at any one cut.

A push mower gives you more control. You can collect clippings, mulch them, lower the height for a neat summer finish or raise it in dry spells. With a rear roller you can create stripes. The risk is letting the grass get long and then cutting too much in one go, which stresses the lawn. Our one-third rule tool shows how low you can safely cut and how many cuts it takes to reach your target height.

Edges, obstacles and awkward spots

Neither option finishes edges perfectly. A robot keeps a set distance from walls and raised borders, so it leaves a strip to trim, though some models cut closer to the edge than others. Push mowers such as the Ryobi OLM1833B have an edge comb that lifts grass next to walls, but you still need to trim along fences and round trees.

Robots struggle with very bumpy lawns, deep holes and steep banks beyond their rating, and they cannot cope with long grass after a holiday without a cut first. A push mower handles all of these if you can walk them. For tidy edges with either option, a cordless strimmer helps; see our best cordless strimmer guide.

• Choose a robot for: regular, hands off mowing on a fairly even lawn.
• Choose a push mower for: stripes, collection, long grass and rough or awkward lawns.
• Either way: plan on a strimmer or shears for the edges.

Upfront cost, running and noise

A robot costs several times as much as a decent cordless push mower, and a wired model needs installation time or a fee. A cordless push mower, especially one that shares batteries with your other tools, is the cheaper way to cut a small lawn. See our cordless mowers for small gardens guide for compact options.

Both are cheap to run in electricity terms, since their batteries are small, but robots charge almost every day in the growing season while a push mower charges once or twice a week. Both are far quieter than petrol, and robots like the Gardena Sileno minimo list a noise level of 57 dB(A), quiet enough that many owners barely notice them.

Note:Always remove the battery from a cordless mower before clearing the deck or checking the blade. With a robot, switch it off and use the stop button first. Wear gloves for blade work, keep children and pets away while either mower runs, and follow the maker's manual.

Frequently asked questions

Should I buy a robotic lawn mower? If you want the lawn kept short with minimal weekly effort, have a fairly even lawn and accept a higher upfront cost and some setup, a robot is a good buy. Our article on whether robot mowers are worth it goes further.

Does a robot mower cut as well as a push mower? It gives a uniformly short, dense finish without stripes. A push mower gives more control and can collect clippings and add stripes.

Can a robot mower replace a push mower completely? On many lawns, yes, but some owners keep a small cordless mower for long grass after holidays, awkward corners and the first cut of spring.

Which is better for a small garden? For lawns of a few dozen square metres, a compact cordless mower is usually the practical choice. Small robots suit owners who value time over cost.