Updated on Oct. 15, 2024
Do you enjoy a freshly mowed lawn but hate to do the mowing? We reviewed the best robot lawn mowers to help you find the perfect pick.
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Most people like a well-maintained lawn, but that doesn’t mean they enjoy doing the actual maintenance. Robot lawn mowers are battery-powered lawn mowing devices that drive around your lawn, keeping the grass under control.
The best robot mowers have been rapidly improving, with each new model featuring improved performance and dependability. They operate day and night and many robot mowers can operate in the rain with no problem. I tested out several of the best robot lawnmowers in my yard. With each pass of the robot mower, I felt my skepticism slowly slip away. These robot mowers were giving my lawn a surprisingly good cut.
Here are our top picks for the best robot lawn mower options for your yard.
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The Husqvarna Automower 430XH is the smartest mower that Husqvarna offers, making it our pick for the overall best robot lawn mower. As one of the top-end robot mowers from a big, well-known brand, the Automower 430XH has a ton of high-quality features that you would expect from a brand like Husqvarna.
The robot mower can cover up to 0.8 acres making it ideal for medium to large yards. It re-charges itself in about an hour and seamlessly integrates with Google Home and Amazon Alexa to schedule, adjust and track. When I compared the Husqvarna Automower 430XH to some of the other robot mowers, the Husqvarna had a bit more “zip” in it that allowed it to cut just as well but move much more quickly. I also liked the Automower 430XH’s sleek design. If you have never used a robot mower before, one thing you will notice right away is that these are always mowing— night and day. The understated, low-profile design helps the 403XH not be an eyesore in my yard.
Senior Shopping Editor, Caroline Lubinsky, also tested the Husqvarna Automower and says, “The Automower dutifully goes out multiple times per day to lop off small pieces of grass rather than going in for one massive, weekly mow. This results in an uber-quiet (almost noiseless) mower that ambles around the yard, constantly keeping your grass in check.”
Able to handle slopes of up to 45 degrees, this mower also comes with GPS-assisted navigation and theft detection, remote object detection and LED headlights. It can navigate narrow areas and is weatherproof, making it perfect for a variety of terrain year-round.
Power source: Batter powered | Weight: 32 lbs. | Dimensions: 30 x 25 x 13 in. | Cutting width: 9 in. | Lawn capacity: 0.8 acres | Operation mode: Automatic
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The Gardena Sileno Minimo robot mower is budget-friendly, making it one of the best robot lawn mower options for your wallet. Once I got this robot mower connected to its app, it did a good job of providing a thorough mow in an area of my grass that had been previously mowed to a shorter length. However, the robot mower had a hard time mowing my tall fescue.
Compared to some of the others on this list, the Gardena Sileno Minimo will be noticeably weaker and smaller. But, this robot mower does have a sleek design and good intentions with its mobile app. It’s quiet and can mow lawns up to 2,700 sq. ft. on the smaller model or 5,400 square feet on the larger model. This affordable robot mower is great for folks who don’t want to spend a ton of money to help keep the grass cut.
5-star reviewer, Rodrick, loves the Gardena saying, “I can put it to work outside in this extreme heat and keep my grass cut without having to do it myself. My backyard lawn isn’t very big, but this robot mower does a good job keeping things nice and uniform. The app is good for controlling it and checking up on it to see what it’s doing and it even charges itself back up when it’s done doing the job.”
Power source: Batter powered | Weight: 13.2 lbs. | Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.38 x 8.66 in. | Cutting width: 6.2 in. | Lawn capacity: 2,700 sq. ft. | Operation mode: Automatic, Manual
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Worx is one of the major robotic lawn mower brands, and they offer several models to choose from. The WR165 Landroid is my second favorite robot mower that I tested. Something great about this robot mower is that you can use the same 20V Power Share battery from Worx across all their other 20V tools. With other robot mowers, the battery is built-in and cannot be removed.
This best robot lawn mower for easy use is great for lawns that need to be cut to a shorter length. With height adjustment from 1.5 inches up to 3 inches, folks with bermudagrass or other southern grasses will find that this mower can cut as low as they need. For me and my tall fescue, the Landroid cut a little lower than I normally like.
The digital interface on top of the mower as well as the easy height adjustment knobs made this mower simple to use. With its orange color, it was also easy to spot it in the yard and make sure it stayed out of trouble from getting stuck. Control the robot lawn mower with the Landroid app over a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection to adjust mow schedules on the fly and get immediate notifications should any issues arise.
In our Landroid review, we noted that this robot mower has additional smart features and accessories such as the optional anti-collision control system for avoiding obstacles and the GPS anti-theft device that locks down your mower until you retrieve it.
Power source: Batter powered | Weight: 43.5 lbs. | Dimensions: 21.97 x 21.26 x 12.2 in. | Cutting width: 8 in. | Lawn capacity: 5,445 sq. ft. | Operation mode: Manual
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The Husqvarna Automower 315X Robot Lawn Mower is another premium entry in Husqvarna’s line of robotic mowers. It excels at complicated lawns with obstacles, slopes and narrow passages. One of the biggest differences between this model and our best overall pick is the 315X is intended for lawns up to just under half an acre. All X-series robot mowers are designed for warm-season grasses with shorter cutting heights.
The X-line features GPS tracking to alert you to potential theft, as well as assist with navigation, LED headlights and a stylish front bumper. Husqvarna’s Automower Connect app allows you to track and interact with the mower from anywhere in the world.
Not only does the 315X have a nice sleek design and low profile, but it also has well over two hours of run-time on a single charge, making it an ideal choice for small yards.
Power source: Batter powered | Weight: 20.94 lbs. | Dimensions: 24.8 x 20.1 x 9.8 in. | Cutting width: 8.7 in. | Lawn capacity: 0.4 acres | Operation mode: Automatic
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The MowRo RM24A-Smart robot lawn mower has a 9.5-inch cutting width, allowing it to get through smaller paths without becoming so narrow that it takes longer to mow the lawn. It’s one of the wider robotic lawn mowers available with many competitors in the 7.5-to-8-inch range.
At 65 dB, it’s slightly louder than most of the other mowers on this list, but still significantly quieter than a gas-powered push mower. (Most homeowners would still be able to run it at night without getting complaints from the neighbors.)
A rain sensor sends the mower back to the cover of its mower station for charging if rain is detected. Recommended for 0.25 acres, the MowRo can handle up to a 30-degree slope and cut between 1 inch to 2-1/2 inches of lawn height. It has a one-year limited warranty on the mower and six months on the battery.
Power source: Batter powered | Weight: 23 lbs. | Dimensions: 26 x 17.75 in. | Cutting width: 9.5 in. | Lawn capacity: 0.25 acres | Operation mode: Automatic
When buying the best robot lawn mower, consider what will work for your yard. The best robot mowers will take yard size, installation, maintenance, noise, price and more into account. Larger yards need a mower with a longer battery life. If the battery is too short-lived, it will need to recharge halfway through mowing, leaving you with a patchy, half-cut lawn. Most robotic mowers have a manufacturer’s recommended yard size, usually around a half acre.
Installation: While the actual mowing is hands-free, robotic mowers do require work to set up. Robot mowers use low-voltage wire to establish a perimeter and mowing zones (much like a dog’s invisible fence). The low-voltage wire is powered by the mower’s charging base, and the mower can emerge on command or at regular intervals to trim the grass. Installing the charging dock and low-voltage wire is a great way to save money, but it can be time-consuming. DIYers should plan on spending about half a day on installation.
Landscaping and obstacles: Not surprisingly, robotic mowers work best on flat, level lawns. Most robotic mowers can handle gentle slopes and can traverse flat pavement without incident. If you have gravel, mulch or other irregular surfaces, you’ll want a mower with either multiple start points (so it won’t mow over those materials) or to invest in more low-voltage wiring to define the mowing zones. If you have many trees, bushes, furniture or other obstacles, look for a mower with avoidance detection, and consider one with a narrow wheelbase.
Cleaning and maintenance: Robotic mowers are relatively light, so you can simply flip them over and hose them off to clean away grass clippings. Batteries will probably last three to five years. Blades may need to be sharpened or replaced every year. This maintenance schedule is minimal compared to a gas-powered lawn mower.
Remote controls: Most mowers have physical controls to start, stop, and adjust the mowing height. More complex command entry depends on the model; some use an on-board interface while others rely on an app, often through a computer, smartphone or voice assistant.
Rain sensors: Mowing in the rain can lead to grass clumps or clogs. Some models have rain sensors that direct them to return to the charger if they detect precipitation.
Noise: A robotic mower is far quieter than a gas-powered mower, but they’re not silent. Most models produce about 60 decibels (dB) while mowing, which is about as loud as a conversation in a restaurant. Some models are even quieter, which makes them a great choice for operating at night.
Clippings: All robotic mowers are mulchers and tend to make many passes, taking just a little off the top of the grass. This enriches the soil and makes for fewer grass clogs.
Theft prevention: Robotic mowers are expensive pieces of equipment that are stored outside. That makes them very attractive to thieves. Manufacturers have a variety of theft prevention techniques, ranging from PIN codes and loud alarms to geo-fencing.
Price: Expect to pay around $1,000 to $3,000 for a robotic mower. There are models available for as little as $800 and as much as $5,000.
As full-time testers and critics of all things lawn tools, we’ve spent over 6,000 hours using lawn mowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers and more. As a former owner of a landscaping company and now a battery lawn tool expert, you can trust that I have put my hands on hundreds of lawn tools. A portion of this article was also contributed by Dan Stout, a former residential remodeler, commercial site supervisor and maintenance manager.
Most robot mowers can mow anywhere from 0.4 acres to up to 2 acres, and their capabilities continue to expand every year.
Robot mowers can cut wet grass and even mow in the rain. However, we don’t recommend letting them run in the rain making your yard muddy.
Robot mowers mow your lawn on a schedule that you set and run continually. You can set them to quietly mow at night so that you wake up to a freshly cut lawn!
Additional information was contributed by Dan Stout, Family Handyman writer.
