Fancy a go at mowing the lawn without fussing with petrol or plugging things in? A manual push mower could be the ticket. As the name suggests, these mowers are powered solely by one’s own force – no petrol, electric or batteries required. Beyond being better for the environment, manual mowers offer the convenience of portable, quiet operation that won’t disturb the neighbours. They also produce a well-trimmed finish with sharp, even cuts thanks to their spinning cylinder blades.
In this guide, I’ve taken a look at some top manual push mowers available in the UK. You’ll find individual reviews with purchase links, as well as a handy comparison table to help you pick the best choice based on garden size and needs. Keep reading for mower specs, buying tips and all you need to know to select the right manual push mower.
Find the Right Push Mower: My Favourites for Manually Trimming Your Lawn
Comparison Table
Last update on 2025-06-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Purchasing Guide
However, since many people are so accustomed to using a powered tool, when it comes to making the change, they often find themselves struggling to make a decision on the right mower. But choosing a manual mower isn’t too much different from selecting a petrol or electric model.
In this guide to buying a manual push mower, I will be showing you what to look out for and why making this change will benefit you and your lawn.
What Are The Advantages Of A Manual Mower?
Manual push mowers offer plenty of perks over powered mowers. Some top advantages include:
- Low maintenance – As they’ve no engine, manual mowers don’t need petrol, oil changes or tuning. A sharpen of the blades usually does the trick.
- Better for the environment – By not using fossil fuels, manual mowers reduce air and noise pollution. They provide a green lawn care solution.
- Savings to be had – Manual mowers have a lower initial cost than petrol or electric mowers. Plus there’s no ongoing fuel costs.
- Quiet operation – With no engine racket, a manual mower lets you enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature while mowing.
- Exercise bonus – Pushing a manual mower provides a full-body workout that can burn calories whilst tackling your gardening.
- Safety first – Manual mowers have fewer moving parts than powered mowers, reducing safety hazards and risk of injury.
Manual push mowers also offer convenience compared to other options:
- Portability – Being lightweight and not needing cords or petrol cans, manual mowers are highly portable and easy to manoeuvre.
- Easy peasy start-up – Simply push the mower into place and start mowing. No priming, choking or waiting for an engine to warm up required.
- More suitable for youngsters – The lower safety risks make a manual mower suitable for older children to use, with supervision. This can turn mowing into family time.
- Perfect for small plots – Compact and lightweight, manual mowers are well-suited for small urban lawns that don’t require a larger powered mower.
How A Manual Mower Works
OK, there’s nothing terribly innovative about it; this type of equipment uses scissor-like blades which roll across the lawn, cutting each blade of grass. But the results are something to be admired.
Unlike other types of mower that can put a lot of stress on your lawn, a manual mower is pretty gentle. With that, it still delivers a very effective and clean cut which means that the grass is able to heal much more quickly. What does this mean for you? Healthier, greener and more dense lawn that looks incredible.
Things To Consider When Buying A Manual Mower
I will point out that there are times when a manual mower might not be suitable, so before you commit to anything, be sure to look at your situation to determine if this will be a beneficial piece of equipment for you and your lawn.
Typically, manual lawn mowers work much better on level ground. If your garden is sloped or particularly bumpy, you might want to consider a powered model.
Moreover, because these mowers require a lot of physical strength and will need you to cut your lawn more often, they might be better for smaller gardens. That being said, there is no reason you cannot use one on a larger lawn, if you wish to do so.
Your physical ability should also be a consideration as you certainly don’t want to over exert yourself if you don’t have to.
With that in mind, let’s explore some of the important factors that you should look at when purchasing a model like this.
Grass Collection
A lot of cylinder mowers do not come with a grass collection bag and are typically used for mulching. This is where the grass clippings are delivered back to the lawn where they will decompose. As this happens, nutrients are put back into the grass, allowing it to grow greener and lusher. This is one of the main reasons that a lot of people go for this type of lawn mower.
However, there are indeed models that come with a grass collection bag, although this often doesn’t have the capacity of those that come with powered models.
Does it Move Easily?
As I have mentioned, you are going to need to use your physical strength to maneuver the manual mower around your garden. Gone are the days where these lawn mowers are a nightmare to push, would rust up and become unusable. Modern push manual mowers are typically much easier to use and much more reliable.
However, there may be exceptions and you should ensure that you are easily able to operate the equipment before taking it home.
But more than this, you will want to look at how easily the mower turns and whether there are any restrictions on where it can cut. For example, will it reach into awkward parts of the garden, or cut evenly around lawn ornaments or pathways?
Build Quality
While a manual mower is far less expensive than other types of mower, you still don’t want to be parting with any of your hard-earned cash for something that will rust or fall apart after a few uses.
Maintenance
The beauty of a manual lawn mower is that there is barely any maintenance involved. You don’t need to charge batteries, you don’t need to service an engine and there are no power cables to check.
That being said, there are a few things that you will need to do to keep your mower in tip top condition. Occasionally, the blades will need sharpening, although with modern models, this isn’t very often. There are some out there whose blades will run for years without needing to be sharpened.
You will also need to keep your mower clean so easy access to all components is a must. Not only will this keep it looking nicer, but it will also prevent damage from dirt, debris and lodged pieces of grass.
Conclusion
A manual lawn mower, sometimes called a cylinder or a push mower is a great alternative if you want something less noisy and more environmentally friendly. What’s more, these mowers are much cheaper to buy and require far less maintenance. They are easy to use and are certainly healthier for your grass. Did I mention that they provide outstanding results too? What’s not to love?
I have written a dedicated article explaining in full the advantages and disadvantages of hand push mowers.
There may be times that a manual mower isn’t suitable but in the main, they will serve you well if you have a smaller, flat garden. Before buying, be sure to check out this guide, providing details on everything you should be looking for, to get the right model for you and your lawn.
FAQ’s
Are Hand Push Lawn Mowers Any Good?
A manual lawn mower is a good choice for people who have a small amount of grass to maintain and want a simple tool to do it with. Owing to the lack of power, you won’t get the same efficiency as a petrol or electric mower, but they’re also much simpler to use and can provide a very close cut, thanks to the cylinder blade method of cutting. Provided that you keep to a good mowing schedule, a manual lawn mower is a great tool and will provide you with a clean, neat and close cut.
Are Manual Lawn Mowers Hard To Use?
The old style manual lawn mowers were fraught with problems and were difficult to use. This put many people off using them, but modern hand push mowers have come a long way and are largely much easier to use than their old counterparts. That said, you should keep in mind that you will need to have some level of strength to operate a manual lawn mower. If you have mobility or strength issues then you might find it a little too much hard work, but for relatively fit and healthy individuals, there shouldn’t be any problems at all.
How Much Does A Manual Lawn Mower Cost?
One of the advantages of a manual lawn mower is that they are generally much more affordable due to the lack of a power system and their simple design. It is more than possible to pick up a manual lawn mower for under £100 and even at the higher end of the scale, you’d be getting a very good quality piece of equipment. On average, you would expect to pay between £50 and £70 for a standard hand push manual lawn mower, but I have seen them as low as £30. It’s always important to take quality and features into account when choosing a manual lawn mower and get the best value for money.
What Are The Benefits Of A Manual Lawn Mower?
One of the biggest benefits of using a manual lawn mower is that this is the most eco-friendly way of mowing your lawn. If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint then there’s no other mowing tool that will be as effective as this. These mowers also create very little noise, so are preferable if you don’t want to disturb the neighbours while mowing your lawn. They’re also much cheaper so if you’re on a tight budget you can still get a good quality piece of equipment without breaking the bank. Another key benefit of the manual lawn mower is that it gives a nice clean and close cut, as long as you mow your lawn regularly. What’s more, you’ll need to exert a little more effort than when using a powered lawn mower, so it’s a good workout! And finally, a manual push lawn mower can be used anywhere without the need for a power source, so ideal if you have allotment etc.
Can Manual Mowers Cut Long Grass?
Most manual lawn mowers come with a small selection of cutting heights and setting it to the highest one will allow you to cut taller grass. However, it’s generally accepted that anything over around 6cm won’t be suitable for this type of mower. You could cut it gradually, but depending on the model, you may find that the mower struggles with very long grass.
How Long Will A Manual Mower Last?
Provided that you keep your manual mower well maintained, there is no reason that it should not last for up to ten years. This means keeping the mower clean and preventing it from being exposed to moisture as well as ensuring regular blade sharpening.
Do Manual Lawn Mowers Work On Uneven Ground?
Unfortunately, most manual lawn mowers will struggle on uneven ground. It’s not that the mower can’t go over uneven ground, but is more to do with how difficult it is to move them over this type of terrain. Moreover, you may find that, even if you are able to get the mower across the ground, the result is not even, so you may need to go back over certain areas. You will also need to bear in mind that due to the fact that manual lawn mowers use cylinder blades, you will risk scalping the turf where there are bumps in your lawn.
How Often Should You Mow With A Manual Lawn Mower?
Mowing with a manual mower requires you to set a regular mowing schedule. During the height of the mowing season, you’ll need to cut your grass between every seven and ten days.
What Size Garden Do I Need For A Manual Lawn Mower?
A manual lawn mower is, without doubt, the most exerting type of lawn mower as the user has to do all of the physical work. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend a manual lawn mower for large gardens, as it’ll simply be too much of a task for the user. That said, if you have a small lawn and don’t want to waste money on a huge, powered mower then a manual lawn mower is a great choice. You might even purchase one alongside your powered mower for touch ups in between cuts, as you can just take it out of the shed, whizz around and you’re done.
Can You Mulch Leaves With A Push Reel Mower?
While most manual lawn mowers are pretty adept when it comes to chopping through debris on the ground, you may find that the blades struggle to cope with lots of leaves. If there are just a few on the ground then it should be OK, but I’d recommend clearing the lawn before mowing. If nothing else, it will prolong the life of the blades.
Can You Mow Wet Grass With A Reel Mower?
Since there is no power, you’re not going to cause any damage to your manual lawn mower if you try to cut wet grass. Aside from potential corrosion of the metal, if you do it all the time, but it’s not recommended. When grass is wet, it’s much more difficult to cut even with a powered lawn mower; using a manual just makes the job more tasking than it needs to be. Moreover, there is a risk of pulling up soil and damaging the very structure of your lawn. My advice would be to allow the grass to dry and then get outside and mow.
Does The Rear Roller On A Manual Mower Create Lawn Stripes?
Generally speaking, the answer is no. When using a manual lawn mower, you tend to mow in a forward and reverse motion as opposed to straight lines going forward. Even if you were to mow in one direction, a manual lawn mower is not heavy enough to produce long lasting defined stripes on your lawn.
What Is The Minimum Cutting Height On A Manual Lawn Mower?
The minimum cutting height on a manual lawn mower varies from machine to machine, however if you are looking for a close cut, you can purchase manual mowers that go down as low as 10mm.
Is It Better To Have The Collection Bag On the Front Or The Back Of A Manual Mower?
Having the collection bag on the front or the back of a manual lawn mower really makes no difference as to its ability to efficiently collect the grass cuttings. However, it is my personal preference to have the grass collection bag at the front of the mower. The reason for this is that any cuttings that are projected outside of the collection bag are picked up again as the mower passes over them. On the flip side, you will not be able to get as close to the edges of your lawn due to the box protruding to the front, therefore you will need to cut any fence and wall edges horizontally.
How Do You Maintain A Manual Mower?
Looking after a manual lawn mower is extremely easy. You will need to make sure you hose it down and brush away any grass or dirt after each use. Also be sure never to store it when wet as this may cause the metal to rust. You’ll also need to regularly sharpen and adjust your blades. As a rule of thumb, you’ll want to sharpen them for every 25 hours of mowing. When adjusting your blade you need to make sure that the cutting edge makes light contact with the cutting plate. Too much contact will make mowing the lawn harder, not close enough will simply provide a poor cut.
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.
Great site, thank you for putting this together, it’s exactly what I needed to help me decide what’s right for me and my garden. Uncomplicated, easy to understand information that gets straight to the point. Really helpful.
Thank you for your positive feedback and comments, so pleased your found my article useful.
Decided on the Bosch after reading your guide, managed to find a slight second to make it even better value, works like a dream, very quick and easy to use and perfect for a smaller lawn. One thing not mentioned in the guide is the collected grass, the more precise cutting than a rotary mower means the grass is dry and fluffy, so much easier to deal with. I only have a 2 small front lawns always get people asking about my new mower.
Thanks very much for sharing your experience of the Bosch mower, it is much appreciated.
I am really impressed with with your product information regarding manual lawn mowers. Its the best, and ultra comprehensive description, and reviews, I have come across. This has given me the confidence in deciding to make the right purchase. Well done !
Many thanks,
Clive.