There are however a plethora of electric mowers available on the UK market and it can be a daunting task trying to work out which one best suits you personal requirements. But no need to worry, I am here to help you find your next electric mower that is not only best suited to small lawns, but also best suited to your requirements, lawn type and of course, your budget.
If you have already decided that you want to purchase an electric mower for a small lawn, because you do not want to worry about the maintenance of a petrol mower or charging batteries on a cordless mower, that is a good start. However, there are other aspects you need to consider to ensure your hard earned cash is well invested, which is covered in my short guide below.
Once you know what options are available to you and know what to look out for, you can go ahead and use my lawn mower selection tool to shortlist and narrow down my fully reviewed electric lawn mowers. Not only will this shortlist include electric mowers that are perfect for small lawns, but also ones that meet your storage requirements, cut your lawn in the way or ways you want, have the features that are important to you, are well built, suitable for the task at hand and are also great value for money.
OK, let’s get down to business finding your next electric mower.
In A Hurry?
Here are my top pick selections of electric mowers suitable for smaller lawns.
Last update on 2023-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
5 Best Electric Lawn Mowers For Small Lawns / Gardens
Select your requirements by ticking the applicable boxes below so I can help you pick the perfect electric lawn mower for a small sized lawn.
Guide
What Makes A Good Electric Lawn Mower For A Small Lawn?
There really is no point in having a huge petrol mower for a smaller lawn, and that is why electric powered mowers are so popular here in the UK.
The fact that you need to accommodate a cord and provide a power source to the mower means that you would somewhat be limited by the cord if you had a large lawn. For smaller lawns this would not be an issue, but what is classed as a smaller lawn? When we are considering electric lawn mowers, I would say that anything less than 200m² (slightly smaller than a tennis court) would be considered as a small lawn, that can be accommodated perfectly by an electric lawn mower.
Below are the considerations I would take into account specifically relating to a smaller lawn when you are considering your next purchase of an electric lawn mower.
Deck & Lawn Size
The first and most important decision is to get the deck size right that suits not only your lawn, but also your storage requirements. You also need to consider any obstacles or narrow passages on your lawn that will need to be navigated. I would be considering a deck size of 28cm to 34cm for a smaller lawn, and even a 36cm deck if your lawn is around the 200 metres squared mark, if you have no narrow passages and have the storage space required. Below is a table that can guide you to ensure you choose an appropriately sized deck for your sized lawn.
Lawn Sizes to Lawn Mower Deck Guide
| Size of lawn | Square metres (Square Feet) | Deck Size |
|---|---|---|
| Small lawn | Less than 200m² (2200 Sq. Ft.) | 30cm to 34cm (12" to 14") |
| Medium lawn | 200m² to 350m² (2200 to 3800 Sq. Ft.) | 34cm to 40cm (14" to 16") |
| Large lawn | 350m² + (3800 Sq. Ft. +) | Over 40cm (Over 16") |
Power
So whilst power doesn’t directly relate to the size of your lawn, it is something that needs to be considered carefully. In my experience, the power of the motor should be chosen based on the condition of the lawn you are planning to cut and your lawn maintenance schedule. If your lawn is left to grow long and there are large gaps between each mow, then you are going to need more power to cut the lawn. Likewise, if the grass is thick and dense then again you are going to need something more powerful. Some will argue that you simply need to raise the cutting height of the electric mower and do multiple cuts, decreasing the cutting height each time. Yes, this will work for sure with a lower powered electric mower, however who wants to be mowing the lawn three times when you can achieve the same result in once pass with a more powerful mower.
In my opinion, I would never consider purchasing a motor with a power rating of less than 1200w. Yes, you may get away with a 1200w motor if you are going to cut your lawn religiously on a weekly basis, however when you come back from your summer holiday, you are going to struggle. If you are looking for an electric mower that will deal with more challenging conditions then you should consider a motor around 1600 watts and above.
Features
There are many features available, but with a small lawn they are simply not needed. As a result you could end up paying extra for your new electric mower supplied with features that you will never use. For example self propulsion, variable speed, side discharge are options that will certainly not be required for a small lawn.
On the other hand there are some features that will be highly beneficial and therefore should be considered for your next purchase. With a small garden you are likely to be limited on storage, therefore features such as folding handles, vertical storage, folding grass collection bag may be essential for you.
Cutting Options
All electric mowers will have the ability to cut and collect, however there are other cutting methods that you may want to consider.
Mulching is highly beneficial to the health of your lawn and there is no grass clipping waste to worry about. Again, ensure that you fully understand the advantages of mulching, as if you want to utilise this function you will have to ensure that you purchase an electric mower with a specially designed blade and a mulching plug.
Rear and side discharge are not suitable for small lawns, so you don’t need to worry about these.
Cutting Heights
All mowers are supplied with a range of cutting heights. However, the range can vary up to 60%. If you like to keep things simple and are happy with 3 cutting options from 30mm to 60mm, that is fine for small lawns, however some homeowners like more options and the versatility to accommodate the changing seasons and conditions of their lawn. There is no right or wrong answer, but again if you want to cut your grass at a certain length make sure that your new electric mower is capable to deliver.
Also, another point to look out for is if there is a single lever changing all four wheels at the same time, or if you need to change the height on each wheel separately. The latter is for obvious reasons more time consuming and less user friendly.
Value For Money
Everyone likes to get a bargain, however when it comes to mowers, in general, the more features you want, the higher the price tag. As well as features there are other factors that will affect the price such as the length of warranty, the build quality and the brand. In all my reviews I talk about value for money and the reasons you should or shouldn’t purchase a particular electric mower.
There are some premium brands that are considerably more expensive than others, but this may not make them automatically better compared to a more cost effective brand. Do also consider not just the mower, but the aftersales support and service provided. Another consideration should be the availability of spare parts, as there is nothing more frustrating than not being able to source a replacement blade when one is needed.
What Are The Advantages Of Electric Lawn Mowers?
The main reason that electric mowers are so popular is not only because they are lightweight, easy to manoeuvre around your lawn, inexpensive to purchase, but mainly they are easy and reliable to start with little or no maintenance required. Furthermore, they do not have a limited run-time compared to their cordless or petrol counterparts.
In addition, many models are equipped with additional features you would normally only expect to see on high end, more expensive models. With some you can mulch your grass and benefit from a healthier, greener and thicker lawn or use the rear roller for that beautiful striped lawn appearance.
You may be surprised to learn that some electric lawn mowers also have a leaf collect function, larger rear wheels for additional grip and handy grass box full indicators, letting you know when the box needs to be emptied. The vertical storage, not normally found on other powered mowers, is also becoming a rather popular option.
As with any product there are a few disadvantages; the main one being that you are somewhat restricted by the power cable. However, as you only have a smaller lawn this will not be an issue compared to those with much larger lawns. It is still worthwhile checking the length of the cable provided with the mower you are considering, if you do not want to use an extension lead. Normally the power cables supplied are between 10m to 15m in length.
Pros & Cons Of Corded Electric Lawn Mowers
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| More powerful than cordless models | The cord may not reach all areas of the lawn, requiring an extension cord |
| Provides uninterrupted power as long as it is plugged in | Limited mobility due to the need for an electrical outlet |
| Longer run time compared to cordless models | Cord can be a tripping hazard and needs to be managed |
| Lower cost compared to cordless models | Requires an electrical outlet, which may not be available in some areas |
| Easier to maintain and prepare for use compared to petrol | |
| Environmentally friendly as no emissions are produced | |
| Low noise levels compared to petrol mowers | |
| Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre |
In summary, if you have a small lawn there is no point, in my opinion, spending many hundreds of pounds on a cordless or petrol mower that will in the end produce the same results compared to a significantly cheaper electric mower. As well as the benefits listed above, you are by no means limited in terms of features, functions, power and performance by that of a good quality electric lawn mower.
Do You Need Help Choosing?
If you are still unsure about what is the perfect electric mower for you and your lawn, why not head over to my best mower selection tool, by clicking the link below. It will select the perfect mower in seconds, based on your specific requirements.
Conclusion
I hope that after reading the above guide you can see than an electric mower is an excellent choice for a small lawn and I have no doubt that it will serve you well for years to come.
They are the most cost effective power sourced mower available, are lightweight, reliable, easy to start, low maintenance and the list goes on. It is no wonder that they are so popular especially for small gardens here in the UK.
They are supplied with all the features and functions that you can find on petrol and cordless mowers enabling you to choose an electric mower that fits in with your lifestyle and requirements.
To assist you with choosing the best electric lawn mower for small lawns, you can either use the quick picks above that I have tested in terms of performance, quality of cut, build quality, durability, mowing methods and ease of operation and much more. Alternatively you can use my lawn mower selection tool on the link above, that again will provide a shortlist of suitable electric mowers based on your exact needs.
Electric Lawn Mowers For Small Lawns FAQs
Which Lawn Mower Is Best For A Small Lawn?
An electric lawn mower is a great choice for a small lawn because you can easily move around the garden without the power cable being a hindrance. For larger gardens, you might need a long extension cable, which can cause a tripping hazard and get in the way. However, for smaller lawns, this isn’t a problem and the lightweight, convenient design and low cost of the electric mower is perfect.
How Big Is A Small Lawn?
When talking about the size of a lawn, we usually refer to this in comparison to the size of a tennis court. A small lawn would be anything that was less than the size of half a tennis court, but certainly less than 200m² for an electric mower.
What Size Electric Mower For A Small Lawn?
When buying your electric lawn mower, it’s important to look at the cutting width. For a small lawn, there is no need to buy anything overly large as something more compact will help you easily move around the lawn. Generally speaking, a cutting deck that measures between 25cm and 34cm, depending on the size of the lawn.
Why Are Electric Mowers Bad?
This is a common misconception. Electric lawn mowers are excellent tools that are perfect for maintaining a small domestic garden. However, they don’t have as much power as a petrol lawn mower, and this is why some people don’t like them. That said, you won’t need huge amounts of power to take care of your small sized lawn, if kept well maintained. The only time it would be a problem is if you were trying to cut very dense or long grass that has been neglected.
How Long Do Electric Mowers Last?
If you’ve purchased an electric lawn mower for your small lawn, then you’ve got a tool that should stand the test of time. As a rule of thumb, you might expect the machine to last up to ten years, but that is provided that you take good care of it and keep the mower well maintained.
Is There Any Maintenance On An Electric Mower?
One of the greatest things about the electric mower is that it doesn’t require as much maintenance as a petrol mower. Although that doesn’t mean that you can just throw it in the garden shed and forget about it. You will need to make sure that you regularly clean the lawn mower with a soft bristle brush to remove any debris and grass. You will also need to ensure that you check the blades and sharpen them as necessary, as well as checking electrical components for damage or wear, replacing and having repaired as needed.
Should I Switch To An Electric Mower For My Small Lawn?
If you have been using a petrol mower for a small garden, then switching to electric will make life much simpler. These machines are far less hassle in terms of maintenance and much more convenient especially when you’re only going to be mowing for such a short amount of time. What’s more, electric mowers are far better for the environment thanks to a lack of fumes.
Is It Safe To Cut Wet Grass With An Electric Mower?
Water and electricity do not mix, therefore it stands to reason that cutting your lawn when it’s wet is not a good idea. Not only is there a risk of moisture getting into the motor or electrical parts of the lawn mower which could cause irreparable damage, but the grass may clump when you cut it making it more difficult to get into the collection box. This is not to mention the health and safety aspect of cutting wet grass, always consult your manual for safe use of your mower.
Can I Use A Trimmer To Cut A Small Lawn?
In theory, you could use an electric trimmer to cut your lawn if it’s only a small area. They’re cheaper than a mower and more compact, so are easier to store. However, the results will be far less uniform and by the time you’ve finished attempting to get everything even, you’ll probably have spent more time than you would if you’d have used an electric lawn mower.
Are Electric Mowers Quiet?
One of the great advantages to using an electric lawn mower for your small lawn is that they operate with very low noise levels. Typically speaking, the average electric mower runs at 75 decibels which is quiet, especially compared to a petrol model.
Do Electric Mowers Need Oil?
Electric lawn mowers do not need oil. They are powered solely by electricity and not an engine with moving parts that would require oil like you’d find on a petrol lawn mower. This is one of the reasons that a lot of people prefer electric mowers as there’s far less involved in running and maintaining them.
Can Electric Lawn Mowers Overheat?
It is possible for an electric lawn mower to overheat, but they are designed not to. There are air vents on the machine to ensure good airflow and avoid overheating, so if you notice that your mower is getting hot, this could be because one or more of the vents is blocked. When mowing a small lawn, the time the mower is running shouldn’t cause it to overheat.
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
