A robot lawn mower under £500 may be hard to come by, but they’re out there. They’re perfect for preserving small to medium gardens, providing adequate cutting and shaping of your lawn. After all, there are plenty of lawn mowers designed for smaller budgets, bringing all the advantages of this clever robot tech to us part-time outdoor enthusiasts. We’ve found the best that £500 (or thereabouts) has to offer.
Though still a major purchase, it’s worth considering all the options when buying a robot lawnmower. After all, how your lawn looks is an important aspect of garden maintenance. However, many of us dread pushing a heavy mower around the garden and struggling with a cable. Fortunately, mower tech has propelled both robot and cordless lawn mowers into the spotlight.
Best robot lawn mower under £500 at a glance:
• Best overall robot lawn mower under £500: LawnMaster L10 – View on Amazon UK
• Best affordable robot mower: Yard Force EasyMow 260B – View on Amazon UK
• Best for large lawns: LawnMaster L12 – View on Amazon UK
Of all the technological advances of the modern age, this is undoubtedly our favourite – aside from the ride-on lawn mower. Revolutionary, this hassle-free device will free you from cutting grass and for those of us who are greeted with hay fever in the high-pollen months, we are surely thankful that we have to chance to avoid any more sniffles and sore eyes. Like many high-tech devices, the robot mower tends to be quite pricey, so finding budget mowers – specifically under £500 – was a big task.
At Modern Gardens Magazine, we’ve recruited the help of contributors Geoff Hodge and Jill Morgan to help us find you the most cutting-edge models at a bargain price, of course. Plus, their expertise has helped us debunk some robot mower myths, which are all in the FAQs below. If you don’t fancy an electric lawn mower, below, is an extensive guide to the best robot lawn mower under £500.
Best robot lawn mower under £500
Best overall robot lawn mower under £500
First, we recommend the LawnMaster L10. According to Amazon reviews, it's pretty solid and reliable. With the usual features such as adjustable cutting height and mulching, this model has some extras that'll pique your interest. You can PIN-code protect your mower to prevent any unauthorised use. How smart. Not only that, but it's waterproof.
Customer Review: "This thing is a great little product. Maybe 90 minutes to set it up depending on the area, then 5 minutes here and there for the first week as you find it stuck and trim something or move a peg. After that, it just works. I had quite long grass, to begin with as the previous traditional petrol mower packed up.
"After a day my lawn was neat. Ran the Lawnmaster during the day for the first week as I probably had to make 3-4 adjustments with my perimeter. But after that no problem. It’s quiet too. Much quieter than expected. I now run it at night time, so I never actually see it cutting. My lawn is just magically a consistent 35mm long 24/7."
Pros
- PIN-code protected for use
- Tough, durable and waterproof
- Complete with two sensors
Cons
- Some customers found set-up tricky
Best for smaller gardens
www.ebay.co.uk
Packed with additional features to make your life easy, we love the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO. It's ideal for smaller gardens and is a compact wonder. With almost zero effort, programme your new piece of kit - and watch it go, silently. Use the app to help, too. Sensational.
Customer Review: "Best purchase made this year. Once programmed through the app, "ASIMOV" has been working away silently for the last 3 weeks. Faultless operation and unbelievably quiet. I have it set to mow from 8 am and with windows open, you cannot hear it - that's how quiet it is. I've not had any reason to call tech support, but online support is not great. I had to resort to YOUTUBE to answer any questions I may have had. That's why they get 3 stars on that, which is still good, I think.
"The app is good but not great, it lacks a few features that would make it more user-friendly. It is quite basic. The installation instructions are pretty clear and I didn't have any problems laying the boundary wire and the setup. Having seen Asimov at work, I think I can probably move the boundary wire a bit further outwards. I would buy another Flymo if I ever need to."
Pros
- Quiet lawn mower at 58dB
- Can tackle a second lawn
- Easy to programme and use
Cons
- Some customers found instructions tricky
- The app lacks a few user-friendly features
Best affordable robot mower
Ideal for small to medium gardens, this affordable model is another great option. The Yard Force EasyMow 260B is fully app-controllable via Bluetooth. The sharp blades of this model create mulching for a healthier-looking lawn, thanks to variable cutting heights. Not only that. we love the additional protection the multiple sensors bring.
Customer Review: "Robots how cool!. Give them time and they become excellent. Tip when buying: don't expect this to work without some tweaking and spending time getting the boundary wire correct. Yes, it got stuck quite a few times at first and cut boundary lines. All are part of the learning process. At first, you need to babysit it to sort out issues. sorted out the boundary wire and it now cuts fine with no issues and no getting stuck.
The Radar works great which is missing from the other budget models. It does not like bumpy uneven lawns but now I sorted the few places it goes well. I have now since buried the boundary wire around the lawn so no more cutting and I can now leave him to his job on his own. I love mine and my robot hoover. Great it you stick at it."
Pros
- Affordable robot mower
- Smartphone compatible
- Equipped with multiple sensors
Cons
- Mows in random patterns
- May need to manually trim the edges
Best for complex gardens
www.ebay.co.uk
Perfect for complex and irregularly shaped gardens, this multi-area mowing Einhell Power X-Change FREELEXO 400 BT is one-of-a-kind. Control via the app and set your requirements easily. You can even PIN-code protect and activate a warning signal to this model. This robot lawn mower is packed with everything you need to keep your lawn trim.
Customer Review: "We really couldn’t recommend enough this auto mower. Surprisingly within just 2 weeks, we can already see a marked improvement; developing our grass into a lawn. The app is straightforward and easy to use. Although we had a few issues with surface perimeter wire, after burying it we’ve had none since."
Pros
- The control app is user-friendly
- Multi-area mowing, complex gardens
- Automatic return to charging unit
Cons
- Some customers mentioned issues with the wire
Best for large lawns
Easy to install, the LawnMaster L12 makes a great piece of kit for your garden's needs. The L12 is tough, durable, IPX5 rated to be fully waterproof and comes with a 2-year manufacturer's warranty. With PIN-code protection to prevent unauthorised use and sensors to keep it sound, you're assured that this model does the job and stays in one piece, too.
Customer Review: "I’m totally in love with this mower!! It’s easy to follow instructions to put the cable around the garden. Very easy to set the mower (he’s called Dennis)."
Pros
- Simple keypad to programme mower
- Tough, durable and waterproof
- Auto charging when the battery is slow
Cons
- No smartphone connect
Best with handy sensors
Maintaining a healthy, well-groomed lawn has become very easy with the Yard Force Compact 300RBS. Simply, set a programme and it will depart its base station - to wow your neighbours. It's fitted with three super-sharp steel mulching blades and has a series of ultra-sonic sensors to keep your new piece of kit safe, secure and performing well.
Pros
- Packed with six different sensors for safety
- Powerful, long-lasting and fast-charging
- Super-sharp blades produce a fine mulch
Cons
- Suitable for smaller gardens
Best for lawns with hard borders
Lawnmaster/Amazon This is another choice suited to smaller gardens. This convenient option needs no boundary wire as it uses a grass recognition camera and ultrasonic sensors to mow your lawn, but it will only work successfully on lawns with hard borders such as gravel, paving, decking, or raised edges such as sleepers and fences. This comes with a fast, one-hour charger. On full charge this will mow a lawn of up to 100 square metres in a random pattern for up to four hours. As it mows, this drops the grass clippings on the lawn to help feed the grass. You can choose from cutting heights of between 20mm and 60mm.
Customer review: "My wife and I are in our seventies and our 100sqm lawn was becoming difficult to manage. This product is a godsend, so light, easy to use and does a fantastic job. It literally is a drop and go mower. A quick strim around the edges beforehand and the result is amazing. After two cuts our lawn has never looked better with no grass cuttings to dispose of. It only takes an hour to recharge. We call ours 'Merlin' as it does such a magical job!"
Pros
- Fast charge functionality
- Only 6.6 kilograms
- Five different cutting heights
Cons
- Needs a hard border to work
How we chose the best robot lawn mowers under £500
All of these budget robot lawn mowers have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered size, power, and functionality in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching robot lawn mowers to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
Verdict: Which budget robot lawn mower is best?
Our top pick is the LawnMaster L10. It’s solid, reliable and has plenty of additional features that’ll help your garden look fabulously lush and trim. It’s waterproof, PIN-code protected and will mulch your grass, meaning a healthy lawn – and an envious neighbour. What’s not to love? If you love the L10 but have a larger lawn to mow, grab the LawnMaster L12, instead.
FAQs
What do I look for when choosing a robot lawn mower?
When you’re making a purchase of this size, it’s great to weigh up your options and reflect on your needs. Luckily, Geoff and Jill have thought this through and given us some help on what you need to consider when choosing a budget robot lawn mower to care for your lawn.
Lawn size
As you may have realised, robot mowers have a “maximum lawn size that they can cut without having to continually recharge,” says Geoff and Jill. What is our advice? Well, that’s easy: measure your lawn and ensure that you order the correct mower with enough supplied perimeter wire.
Lawn finish
Different blades will garner different results. A speedy blade with cut finely, whereas a double-bladed model will chop the grass into a finer, mulch-like cut. Our experts recommend checking “to see what grass-cutting height options are available.” Most models will offer heights of 3 to 6 cm.
Lawn shape and style
This may differ depending on which budget robot lawn mower you finally opt for. After all, some mowers can handle “sharp angels and oddly shaped nooks and crannies,” and others will not. For this, read customer reviews and expect a near-perfect result with a budget buy.
Slopes
Luckily, most models will be able to cope with a gentle incline, says Jill and Geoff. However, if your lawn “steeply slopes, some models will happily tackle angles of up to 45°.” To ensure you’re picking the correct robot lawnmower for the incline of your space, we’ve included slope capabilities.
Obstacles
You’ll be required to move things around for your new piece of kit. After all, you don’t want your precious new mower to face any problems along the way. For hard-to-move obstacles like statues, we recommend a model that uses a virtual boundary or sensors instead of a perimeter wire.
Run time
Generally, most lithium-ion battery-powered models will “give 45-60 mins of cutting time from each full charge, in as little as 30 mins.” Handy, right? Run-time can be determined by the output and power of the battery, also. Some robot mowers even remember where they left off before charging.
Rainy days
Budget options tend not to be able to cut grass in wet conditions. On the other hand, the higher-grade models are more likely to have this capability. Plus, some models have “a rain sensor and return to their dock when the rain starts falling, and resume when it stops,” says Geoff and Jill.
Lawn use
This goes without saying: keep your pets away from the garden when in use. Or, on the other hand, consider a model with an “obstacle sensor” if the pets and wildlife are free to roam your space.
Noise level
Importantly, we don’t want to annoy the neighbours. There’s nothing worse than waking up early on a Sunday morning to a lawn mower blaring outside your window. Luckily, some of the newer models “are incredibly quiet, emitting nothing more than a satisfying hum,” says Geoff and Jill.
Security
Gone are the days of mower theft. Some higher-tech models come with built-in anti-theft measures, says Geoff and Jill. Handy, right? They add: “These include alarms if the mower is moved outside of its perimeter boundary, security sensors, PIN codes and GPS tracking to monitor its location.”
How do robot lawn mowers work?
Thanks to Jill and Geoff, we can answer this question in detail:
According to the pair, robot lawn mowers are powered by rechargeable batteries, usually lithium-ion), and “use a charging station, dock or home that it returns to once it’s finished cutting or the battery is depleted and needs recharging.” However, the charging port requires mains power. They add that you need to set up this mower “within reach of a weatherproof power outlet.”
Despite this, Geoff and Jill agree that the robot lawn mower is an easy piece of kit to set up. This will be influenced by “the size and shape of your lawn and whether there are any obstacles to manoeuvre around”, though. Luckily, most mowers work within an electronic perimeter wire, which will orientate and guide the mower, laid “around the lawn edge just under the surface of the turf.”
Often, when approaching set-up, you may be greeted with something user-friendly – and some models have smartphone connectivity capabilities, working with an app or Alexa. These features may come in handy, coming in the form of “status updates, such as whether the mower is charging or cutting, even when you’re away from home”. These features are less likely with budget models.
Are robot lawn mowers any good?
Well, for a fantastic piece of technology, we can’t deny that there are a few drawbacks. Nothing is perfect, after all. So, to give you a better insight into robot lawn mowers, we’ve enlisted the help of My Robot Mower to speak about the pros and cons of these high-tech garden maintenance devices.
Pros:
You’ll never have to cut your lawn again. Just imagine your free time. When we have busy lifestyles, it’s hard to fit in tasks that’ll take a decent chunk of your afternoon. Well, no more.
Your lawn will look better. With a robot mower, you can regularly cut the grass and some models mulch the clippings, returning them to the lawn, which provides “nutrients to the growing grass.”
They are much safer. My Robot Mower claims: “Safety features of robot lawn mowers far surpass conventional mowers.” After all, there is no user interaction and sensors will prevent any accidents.
They can work out cheaper. Though a teeth-gritting investment, robot mowers can work out cheaper in the long run, due to “decreased maintenance requirements and lower operating costs.”
They’re great fun. Though not a practical element to consider, My Robot Mower explains that it provides a great conversation topic and the free time provides “a continued sense of satisfaction.”
Cons:
You need to install a perimeter wire. Most models use these to mark the edge of your lawn. Unfortunately, this is an unavoidable, manual task. So, installation can take a little while.
The edges of your lawn won’t be perfect. Yes- it’s true. Most models may leave some grass at the edge of your lawn, says My Robot Mower. So, we recommend tidying up with an electric strimmer.
The upfront cost is higher. As mentioned above, the robot mower is an investment. They can range from £300 and climb all the way up to an eye-watering £3000. However, it can work out cheaper.
Limited battery life. This is another gripe we have with these mowers. As they are powered by batteries, they need charging, so a sweep of a larger lawn may take a little longer than expected.
What to read next:
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Piper Huxley is a Homes, Garden and Wellness Product Writer for Modern Gardens Magazine, an all-rounder. When she’s not writing about houseplants, she’s tending to her own growing collection…