Best Lawn Mowers
Choosing the best lawn mower for your yard can make a big difference to how easy lawn maintenance becomes. With so many options available — including petrol, electric, battery, and robotic mowers — it’s important to choose a mower that suits the size of your lawn, your terrain, and how often you mow.
The best lawn mower isn’t necessarily the most expensive one. Instead, it’s the mower that provides reliable performance, suits your lawn size, and is easy for you to operate and maintain.
In this guide, we’ll look at the most popular types of lawn mowers and some of the best brands homeowners commonly choose.
Petrol Lawn Mowers
Petrol lawn mowers remain one of the most popular options for Australian homeowners, particularly for medium to large lawns.
These mowers are powered by a petrol engine, which gives them strong cutting power and the ability to handle thick grass and larger areas. Petrol mowers also allow continuous mowing without worrying about battery life or power cords.
Advantages of petrol mowers include:
- Strong cutting power
- Suitable for larger lawns
- Long run time without recharging
- Durable and long-lasting
Petrol mowers are commonly recommended for larger areas because they cut through long or damp grass easily and can cover large yards quickly.
However, they do require more maintenance than electric or battery models. They need fuel, occasional servicing, and oil changes to keep them running smoothly.
Battery (Cordless) Lawn Mowers
Battery-powered lawn mowers have become increasingly popular over the past decade thanks to improvements in lithium-ion battery technology.
Cordless mowers run on rechargeable batteries and are ideal for small to medium-sized lawns. They offer the convenience of electric mowers without the limitation of a power cord.
Benefits of battery lawn mowers include:
- Quiet operation
- No petrol or emissions
- Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
- Push-button start
Many battery mowers can run for around 40–60 minutes, depending on the battery capacity. This is usually enough time to mow a standard suburban lawn.
Modern battery mowers also offer features like mulching, adjustable cutting heights, and interchangeable batteries that work across multiple garden tools.
Electric Lawn Mowers
Electric lawn mowers are similar to battery models but plug into a power outlet using an extension cord.
They are usually the most affordable type of mower and work well for small lawns where a power source is close by.
Advantages of electric lawn mowers include:
- Lower purchase price
- Lightweight design
- Quiet operation
- Minimal maintenance
The main downside is the power cord, which can limit mobility and requires some care while mowing. For small yards, however, electric mowers are a simple and reliable option.
Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers
Self-propelled mowers are designed to make mowing easier by powering the wheels automatically.
Instead of pushing the mower across the lawn yourself, the mower moves forward while you guide it. This is particularly useful for larger yards or sloped lawns where pushing a mower can be tiring.
Benefits of self-propelled mowers include:
- Reduced physical effort
- Faster mowing on large lawns
- Better traction on hills
These mowers are available in both petrol and battery-powered versions.
Ride-On Lawn Mowers
For large properties, acreage blocks, or very large lawns, ride-on mowers are often the most efficient option.
Instead of walking behind the mower, you sit on the machine and drive it across the lawn.
Ride-on mowers are ideal for:
- Large residential blocks
- Acreage properties
- Rural homes
- Large gardens or paddocks
They typically feature wide cutting decks, powerful engines, and large grass catchers, allowing you to mow large areas much faster than a push mower.
Robotic Lawn Mowers
Robotic lawn mowers are becoming increasingly popular for homeowners who want automated lawn maintenance.
These mowers operate automatically and can be programmed to mow the lawn on a schedule. Once set up, they move around your yard independently, trimming the grass and returning to a charging station when finished.
Benefits include:
- Fully automated mowing
- Consistent lawn maintenance
- Very quiet operation
- Minimal effort required
Although robotic mowers can be expensive initially, they can save a lot of time for homeowners who want a low-maintenance lawn care solution.
Best Lawn Mower Brands
When buying a lawn mower, the brand can make a big difference in reliability, durability, and parts availability. Some brands have built strong reputations for producing high-quality equipment that performs well in Australian conditions.
Here are some of the most trusted lawn mower brands.
Honda
Honda is widely considered one of the most reliable lawn mower brands. Their petrol mowers are known for strong engines, durability, and long service life.
Honda mowers are particularly popular among professional landscapers and homeowners with larger lawns. Models like the HRU series are designed for medium to large lawns and feature powerful four-stroke engines.
Victa
Victa is one of Australia’s most recognised lawn mower brands and has been producing mowers for decades.
They offer a wide range of petrol and battery mowers designed specifically for Australian grass conditions. Victa mowers are often chosen for their balance between affordability and performance.
Ryobi
Ryobi is a popular brand for cordless garden tools and has become a major player in the battery lawn mower market.
Their cordless mowers are known for being lightweight, easy to use, and compatible with other Ryobi garden tools that use the same battery system.
Masport
Masport is another well-known lawn mower brand that produces durable petrol mowers.
Their models often feature strong steel or alloy decks and are commonly used by homeowners who want a mower that can handle thicker grass.
Masport mowers are widely available in Australia and frequently rank highly in product review comparisons.
STIHL
STIHL is a premium garden equipment brand known for producing high-quality professional tools.
Their battery lawn mower range has gained recognition for performance and reliability, receiving awards in the lawn mower category in recent years.
Husqvarna
Husqvarna is a global brand known for producing high-performance outdoor equipment, including robotic mowers and ride-on models.
Their mowers are often praised for durability and strong performance, particularly in demanding conditions.
Features To Look For In A Lawn Mower
When choosing the best lawn mower for your home, it’s important to consider a few key features.'
Cutting width
A wider cutting deck allows you to mow more grass in one pass, making mowing faster.
Adjustable cutting height
This allows you to change how short your grass is cut depending on the season.
Grass catcher
A catcher collects clippings and keeps your lawn tidy.
Mulching capability
Mulching mowers chop clippings finely and return them to the lawn as natural fertiliser.
Battery capacity
For cordless mowers, battery size determines how long the mower can run before needing to recharge.
Choosing The Best Lawn Mower For Your Yard
The best lawn mower depends mainly on the size of your yard.
Small lawns are often best suited to electric or cordless mowers because they are lightweight and easy to store.
Medium-sized yards usually benefit from petrol or high-powered battery mowers that provide more cutting power.
Large lawns or acreage properties are often best maintained with ride-on mowers that allow you to cover large areas quickly.
Final Thoughts
The best lawn mower is one that matches the size of your lawn, your budget, and how much effort you want to put into mowing.
Petrol mowers remain popular for larger yards because of their power and reliability. Battery-powered mowers are becoming increasingly common thanks to their quiet operation and low maintenance. Electric models are ideal for small lawns, while ride-on mowers are the best choice for large properties.
By choosing a quality mower from a reputable brand and selecting the right type for your yard, lawn maintenance becomes much easier and far more enjoyable.
