Best Overall
Husqvarna Automower 450XH
- It has an accompanying app that is compatible with smart home devices, and it can run for 270 minutes on one charge.
It has an accompanying app that is compatible with smart home devices, and it can run for 270 minutes on one charge.
- You’ll need to install boundary wires to make sure the mower stays in your yard.
You’ll need to install boundary wires to make sure the mower stays in your yard.
Our best overall pick is the Husqvarna Automower 450XH. It’s ideal for medium-sized yards up to 1.25 acres, and it’s also fairly quiet at 50 to 60 decibels, so it’s much quieter than a traditional lawn mower.
After charging for an hour, it can run up to 270 minutes on one charge (which is the longest run time on our list), and it will automatically return to its charging dock when the battery is depleted. It has a maximum cutting height of 3.5 inches and a minimum cutting height of 2 inches. If your yard is sloped, this mower can operate on 40-degree slopes with no problem.
Similar to some robot vacuum cleaners, this robot lawn mower has object detection so if something is in its path, like a swing set or a raised garden bed, the mower will move around it without damaging the item. It’s also weather resistant and can mow in the rain if needed.
There is an accompanying app you can use with this robot lawn mower, and you can set a schedule and customize it based on your lawn needs. Additionally, it’s compatible with smart home devices, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home, to make it even easier and more convenient. If you prefer not to use apps, there is a keypad on the mower where you can manage the settings instead.
To help prevent your mower from theft, it’s also equipped with built-in security features. When set, if the mower is lifted an alarm will sound that can only be silenced with a PIN code. We also love that since it’s electric, it doesn’t produce any carbon emissions while it’s running.
Keep in mind that while some lawn mowers use GPS, this lawn mower relies on a boundary wire to keep it on your property.
Product Details: Yard Size: 1.25 acres | Maximum Cutting Height: 3.5 inches | Minimum Cutting Height: 2 inches | Battery Run Time: 270 minutes
Key Terms to Know
- Cutting Width: The amount of lawn blade can be cut in one pass; typically the width of the blade. A large chassis often equals a larger cutting width.
- Chassis: This is the frame upon which the mower’s engine, blade, and mechanical parts are mounted.
- Volts: The metric by which the flow of electricity is measured.
- Mowing Zone: This is determined either by wire boundary or by boundaries created in-app. It's often measured in acres or square feet.
Best Budget
Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Mower
- This robot lawn mower is very quiet at just 57 decibels.
This robot lawn mower is very quiet at just 57 decibels.
- This robot lawn mower requires boundary wires.
This robot lawn mower requires boundary wires.
The Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Mower is our pick for the best robot lawn mower for those on a budget. At under $1,000, it is the most affordable robot lawn mower on our list, but it still has many convenient features.
This robot lawn mower has a charging time of 60 to 75 minutes and a run-time of 65 minutes, and it will automatically return to its charging dock when the battery is depleted.
We like that this lawn mower is quiet at only 57 decibels, which is about the volume of a few people having a conversation. It’s much more quiet than a traditional lawn mower (either battery-powered or gas), which can run from 75 to 95 decibels. This means you can run your mower without being too worried about disturbing your neighbors.
While the other mowers on this list do not require boundary wires, keep in mind that the Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Mower does. For those looking to stay within a budget, a model with a boundary wire is typically more affordable.
This lawn mower uses the boundary wires to determine where to cut, and it promises not to leave streaks in your lawn with AI-Precise, which can reliably cut tight corners and passages as narrow as 24 inches.
It also has built-in sensors to avoid obstacles along the way, and has a safety feature that stops the mower’s blades automatically when it is picked up. It can also navigate grassy terrain with up to a 19-degree incline.
Because this lawn mower is weatherproof and can function in the rain, it is also easy to clean by using a hose and simply rinsing off the debris underneath the mower.
Product Details: Yard Size: 2,700 square feet | Maximum Cutting Height: 1.8 inches | Minimum Cutting Height: 0.8 inches | Battery Run Time: 65 minutes
Best Splurge
EcoFlow Blade Robotic Lawn Mower + Sweeper Kit
- It can mow without a boundary wire, and it can also sweep away debris, leaves, and sticks.
It can mow without a boundary wire, and it can also sweep away debris, leaves, and sticks.
- It takes up to 130 minutes (over two hours) to charge.
It takes up to 130 minutes (over two hours) to charge.
Our pick for the best robot lawn mower overall is the EcoFlow Blade Robotic Lawn Mower + Sweeper Kit because it accurately mows, avoids obstacles, and does not require a boundary wire.
This robot lawn mower does not require a boundary wire, instead using virtual boundary setting to keep your mower from wandering out of your yard. Setting these boundaries is user friendly thanks to the EcoFlow app. Not only can you set boundaries for the perimeter of your yard, you can also indicate objects that you want your mower to avoid, or even link two lawns.
If you do find that your yard has a few obstacles, the robot lawn mower uses visual sensors and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) to avoid small and large obstacles. This mower is ultra-precise, and can avoid obstacles within an inch of its route.
With a cutting range of 0.78 to 3 inches and a cutting width of 26 centimeters (about 10 inches), this lawn mower can mow for up to 240 minutes on a full charge. If you don’t have an outlet nearby to charge the battery, there is an included battery to power the charging station on the go.
When it comes to performance in the elements, this lawn mower has a built-in rain sensor that sends the mower back to its charger. When it comes to cleaning this lawn mower, it’s as simple as using a hose on low-pressure to dislodge any soil or debris. Additionally, because this robot lawn mower has 4G, GPS, and an integrated eSim, you are able to track it wherever it goes.
This robot lawn mower also has a sweeper kit that removes debris from your backyard, such as leaves, sticks, and waste. This could be a helpful feature if your yard is surrounded by trees. The downside to this mower is that it takes 130 minutes to charge, which is almost double the amount of time it takes to charge other options like the Gardena Selino Minimo Robotic Mower.
Product Details: Yard Size: Not listed | Maximum Cutting Height: 3 inches | Minimum Cutting Height: 0.77 inches | Battery Run Time: 240 minutes
Best for Small Yards
Worx Landroid Vision Robotic Lawn Mower
- Its high definition camera detects obstacles and learns over time how to better identify them.
Its high definition camera detects obstacles and learns over time how to better identify them.
- If your yard is up against your neighbors, you will have to put down an included magnetic strip to create a boundary.
If your yard is up against your neighbors, you will have to put down an included magnetic strip to create a boundary.
One of the most impressive things about the Worx Landroid Vision is that it doesn’t require any boundary wires or virtual mapping. We love that it is relatively affordable for a model of its type. Typically, robot lawn mowers that use mapping technology cost at least $2,000 or more, and this model is less than that.
The robot lawn mower uses its own camera to identify grassy areas and mows without the need for set-up. It has a 140-degree, wide-angle, high-definition camera, which is able to detect width and distance, looking at every corner of the yard to avoid obstacles.
It has technology that prevents it from colliding with people, pets, patio furniture, or other hazards, which can be helpful for small yards where there isn’t a ton of space. You can manage your mower through the Landroid app where you can adjust schedules, cutting heights, multi-zone management, and more.
The mower is perfect for people with less than an acre of land, as it can cover up to 8,712 square feet over a week of periodic mowing. It can cut anywhere from 1.5 inches to 3.5 inches, and it leaves behind clippings that are so small, there’s no need to bag them. In fact, they help to return nutrients to the soil.
This mower also has a self-leveling deck, which rises when necessary to ensure it can navigate changing terrain or debris like sticks and leaves. It even runs safely during the night, at only 57 decibels, using headlights and its camera to note any obstacles.
The Landroid Vision has a weatherproof body, which protects the mower should inclement weather hit (or if you’re looking to give it a rinse with a garden hose after use). If it does start raining while the mower is running, its rain sensor will signal the mower to return to its charging base until it stops raining and your lawn is dry.
Keep in mind that, because this mower does not require mapping, it may be less precise than mowers that use technology to map out your backyard and stay within bounds. If your lawn is right up against your neighbor’s, for example, you will need to place the included magnetic strips, which create a boundary for the mower, onto your grass.
Product Details: Yard Size: 8,712 square feet | Maximum Cutting Height: 3.5 inches | Minimum Cutting Height: 1.5 inches| Battery Run Time: 90 to 120 minutes