A well kept-lawn is a point of pride for gardeners. A simple, manicured lawn is a joy and maintaining it should be one of the easiest tasks in the garden.
There’s a huge choice of different mowers on the market with a whole host of features. Electric corded mowers are the most common and they’re also one of the easiest to use. They’re quiet, light and easy to manoeuvre plus they’re clean with no fuel fumes or regular servicing needed. They’re also the cheapest, but do you get what you pay for?
To find out if paying less means you lose out on features or performance our gardening experts tested a range of corded electric lawn mowers that won’t break the bank. We considered assembly, storage features, ease of use and cutting performance as well as overall value for money and only mowers that scored four stars out of five or above, have been included here so you can be sure you’re picking from the best mowers on the market.
Want to compare these to others or shopping for a different mower? Check out our reviews of the best cordless lawn mowers, best robotic mowers, and best hand-push lawn mowers. For other help with lawn care, take a look at our reviews of the best strimmers and the best aerators, or check out our guide to the best lawn edging.
Best electric mowers at a glance
Buy now:
- Best Buy: Webb WEER33
- Best Buy: Gardena PowerMax 1200/32
- Best Buy: Ryobi RLM13E 33Sc
- Best Buy: Cobra GTRM34
- Stihl RME235
- Einhell GE-EM 1233
How to choose the best electric lawn mower
How does an electric lawn mower work?
All the lawn mowers in our test were rotary mowers – an electric motor spins a blade, which cuts the grass. These blades are angled upwards to create lift, which pulls cut grass away and into the grass collector.
What to consider when buying an electric mower
Not all budget mowers are simple, basic machines. Consider the following points to help you choose the right electric mower for you:
- Where are you mowing? A convenient power socket is essential for an electric mower but you may need an extension lead too. Check that the length of the cable is long enough to reach all parts of your lawn. If your lawn runs right up to walls, fences or raised beds look for a model that cuts to the edge or you’ll need to invest in a grass trimmer to neaten them up afterwards.
- What size do you need? The wider the cutting width, the quicker the mower will cut your lawn. However, there is a trade-off, mowers with a wider width have a bigger deck and are heavier and less easy to manoeuvre around trees or furniture. A wider cutting width is therefore best for large expanses of grass while smaller models are ideal for nipping up and down little lawns and negotiating beds and borders.
- Is it safe? An electric cable is an obvious safety hazard and if you’re concerned about tripping over the cable or cutting it accidentally when you’re mowing, look for a model with a brightly coloured lead that’s easy to spot. A cable relief clip will help to keep it tucked out of the way of the blade and will also prevent it being snagged and ripped out. For safety always use an RCD (Residual Current Device) plugged into the electric socket before plugging in your mower.
- Where will you store it? No matter the model, these are fairly bulky machine. However, the handles of most mowers can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, make a note of its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier.
Find out how to maintain your mower, in our easy to follow, step-by-step guide, and for more advice, check out our budget lawn mowers Buyers’ Guide.
Best electric lawn mowers in 2022
Webb Weer 33
Our rating: 4.8/5
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Price: £99.99
Pros
- Light and easy to manoeuvre
- Cuts to the edge
- Height of cut simplest to change
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons
- Grass box tricky to assemble
This mower is well thought out with excellent features. It’s easy to assemble and folds for storage with a comfortable, foam handle which can be adjusted to a variety of heights. There are five cutting heights to choose from and these are easily changed by a single lever. The grass collection bag has a generous 35L capacity and a full indicator that lets you know when it needs emptying. The mower is relatively quiet and it cuts well, right up to the edge. It’s lightweight and comfortable to manoeuvre and our only quibble is the black mower cable, which could be a brighter colour so it’s easier to see. For just £99.99, this is a a great value mower.
Specifications
- Cutting width: 33cm
- Power: 1300W
- Weight: 8.8KG
- Noise: 89dB
- Warranty: 2 years
Read the full Webb Weer 33 review
Gardena PowerMax 1200/32
Our rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
- Light and easy to manoeuvre
- Cuts to the edge
- Height of cut simplest to change
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons:
- Grass box tricky to assemble
This mower offers incredibly precise cutting – it cuts between 20-60mm in 5mm increments and this height of cut is very easy to control with a simple twist of a dial making it great for gardeners who lack strength or dexterity. It’s light and easy to manoeuvre, with a tight turning circle and we love the bright orange power cable, which is easy to spot in the grass. The grass box is easy to empty and indicates when it’s full, however, we found it a little tricky to assemble. The handle which folds for easy storage is a little short for taller users.
Specifications
- Cutting width 32cm
- Power 1200W
- Weight 8.3kg
- Noise 94dB
- Warranty 2 years
Read the full Gardena PowerMax 1200/32 mower review
Ryobi RLM13E 33S
Our rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
- Comfortable foam handle
- Light and easy to move
- Cuts to the edge
- Best cable relief clip
- Orange cable easy to see
Cons:
- Noise high pitched
This mower is simple to assemble and simple to use. Its handle folds for storage and can be adjusted to a choice of heights and it’s light and comfortable to use. There are five cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 20-60mm, and these are easy to change with a simple lever. Its best feature however is a convenient and effective cable relief clip, which keeps the cable tucked safely out of the way while you mow. Though one of the quietest machines on test, the motor on this model is very high-pitched.
Specifications
- Cutting width: 33cm
- Power: 1300W
- Weight: 9.9kg
- Noise: 89 dB
- Warranty: 3 years
Read the full Ryobi RLM13E 33S review
Cobra GTRM34
Our rating: 4.5/5
Pros:
- Simple to assemble
- Comfortable and easy to use
- Cuts efficiently
- Cable relief clip for safety
- Rear roller
- Folds for easy storage
Cons:
- Doesn’t cut to the edge
- Heavier than some
Easy to put together, this mower has a 34 cm cutting width and a rear roller for those ever desirable stripes. Although it’s reasonably heavy and may be harder to lift and carry than some of the mowers in our test it feels well balanced and cuts and collects even long grass very well. There’s a choice of seven cutting heights and this is easy to change with a single lever located on the deck. The fabric grass bag has a 35L capacity and it compacts down flat for easy storage, as does the mower, which has easy-clip levers on the handle and double folds down over the body of the mower.
Specifications
- Cutting width: 34cm
- Power: 1300W
- Weight: 13 kg
- Noise: 96dB
- Warranty: 2 years
Read the full Cobra GTRM34 electric corded mower review
Stihl RME235
Our rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Sturdy and robust
- Quick empty grass box
- Long warranty
Cons:
- Long assembly
- Drive lever very stiff
- Black cable hard to see
This mower does the basics very well. It’s well thought out with an adjustable, folding handle for storage and a handy cable relief clip and it has five cutting heights from 25-65mm, which are simple to change with a single lever. The grass box opens right up for easy emptying and has indicator that lets you know when it’s full. It feels sturdy and moves smoothly but we found the drive lever a little uncomfortable and stiff. It was also the longest mower to assemble in our test.
Specifications
- Cutting width: 33cm
- Power: 1200W
- Weight: 13kg
- Noise: 93dB
- Warranty: 5 years
Einhell GE-EM 1233
Our rating: 4/5
Pros:
- Double folding handle for easy storage
- Easy to manoeuvre
- Cable relief clip for safety
Cons:
- Assembly instructions unclear
- Single drive lever
- Black cable hard to see
This mower is easy to manoeuvre and easy to store. It mows right up to the edge of a lawn and its 30L capacity is good for a mower of this size. There’s a choice of five cutting heights and a mulching option if you prefer to leave the clippings to break down on the lawn. However, the black cable is hard to spot against the grass and the one-handed drive lever is uncomfortable, particularly for left-handers.
Specifications
- Cutting width: 33cm
- Power: 1250W
- Weight: 11.5kg
- Noise: 96dB
- Warranty: 3 years
How we tested electric mowers
We assemble each lawn mower to see how long it takes, and to see how much packaging it uses, and check how useful its instructions are. Once this is assessed, we test its safety.
We check the length of its cable and its visibility, and consider the height of the arms and handle. We look at the build quality and durability of its parts.
When using the mower, we assess how cleanly and efficiently it cuts and how efficiently it picks up cut grass. We note its cutting width and height and the grass collector capacity. We see how heavy and noisy it is, and how well it cuts along an edge.
Finally, we consider how easy it is to use – how smooth the mechanisms are, if it’s easy to adjust the height of the mower, and easy to empty and store. We note how comfortable it is and how easy to use it might be for those with mobility problems.
This review was last updated in June 2022. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
