The big cordless lawnmower test 2018

Cordless lawn mowers are on the rise. Despite many advantages, some models had too little performance and capacity for many applications in the test.

A few years ago, cordless lawn mowers were an absolute novelty in the range of specialist dealers and garden centers (Obi, Hornbach & Co.), you can now find the battery-operated garden helpers in spring offers from grocers such as Aldi or Lidl. Teleshopping providers such as QVC have also jumped on the trend and are trying to earn money from the novelty.

Cordless lawnmowers: Our test winners at a glance

Recently we have received an increasing number of inquiries about our experiences with cordless lawn mowers. We at Plantura see ourselves as advisors from and for hobby gardeners, which is why we didn't want to make any judgments without extensive research. The sheer number of inquiries finally prompted us in September 2017 to take a close look at the cordless cordless lawn mower and put it through its paces.

We from the Plantura editorial team have awarded the following models as test winners:

• Bosch Rotak 370 Li
• Al-Ko Moweo 42.5 Li
• Ryobi RLM36X46H5P

Experience with cordless lawn mowers

Purchase advice is always a difficult field, because every garden owner has different demands and requirements for a lawnmower. In general, however, there are a few points that you should definitely pay attention to before buying.

• lawn area: According to the manufacturer, cordless lawn mowers are suitable for areas of 250-500 square meters. The information should generally be viewed somewhat critically, since the age of the battery, grass height and moisture can significantly reduce the range. If one battery charge is not sufficient, a second battery can be purchased. Depending on the manufacturer, this costs €100-200.
• grass height: If the lawn is only mowed occasionally, you need significantly more power to cope with the taller grass.
• weather conditions: Although most lawn mowers can also be operated in the rain, the damp grass causes noticeable problems for the vast majority of lawn mowers. Only the premium models create a good cutting pattern when the grass is wet.
• wintering: During the winter, the lawn mower can remain in the unheated tool shed, but the batteries must be stored indoors in a frost-free area. If you forget to store the batteries in winter, this can lead to a total failure of the batteries.

Cordless lawn mowers: advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of cordless lawn mowers are obvious and are also actively advertised by the manufacturers. Battery operation combines the cordless convenience of petrol lawnmowers with the low volume of corded electric lawnmowers.

Most manufacturers are silent about the disadvantages. After our test, we can state the following disadvantages from our experience:

• Limited range: The range is usually below the manufacturer's specification. A second battery is quite expensive at €100-200.
• Moderate cutting pattern / lower performance: Especially with long and damp grass, the cutting pattern of most devices is moderately and significantly worse than that of conventional models. Only the expensive devices from premium manufacturers such as Bosch, Viking or Al-Ko master this task well.
• High weight: Although the lithium batteries have become significantly more powerful in recent years, the cordless lawnmowers are a good deal heavier than the corded pedant. Models with wheel drive can compensate for the higher weight well, but are also a bit more expensive.
• Kcomfort: Although there is no annoying cable, the batteries have to be charged before use. Without a quick charger, this can take up to four hours, depending on the type. Frost-free storage of the battery must also be ensured during the winter period. During this time, the battery should also be charged once to avoid complete self-discharge. If the battery is completely discharged more frequently, this can significantly reduce its capacity.
• high price: Reliable and powerful cordless lawn mowers start at just under €500 and quickly reach the €600-700 mark including a spare battery and accessories.

Cordless lawn mower: our test verdict

If you don't have a large lawn that is mowed regularly, you can have a lot of fun with a cordless lawn mower. However, at least for the time being, you should use proven and powerful devices from premium manufacturers. The cheap cordless lawnmowers in particular often cause frustration (low range, bad cutting pattern, short battery life, etc.). If you want to mow your lawn as cheaply as possible, you should use a corded electric lawn mower. Here the price-performance ratio is usually much better.

When it comes to cordless lawn mowers, the providers offer the most powerful models Bosch, Al-Ko and Ryobi recommended. They convince not only in Cutting performance and quality, but also in staying power.

• Bosch Rotak 430 Li
• Al-Ko Moweo 46.5 Li
• Ryobi RLM18X41H240

Key data of the test winners

Bosch Rotak 370 Li

• Cutting width 37 cm, long-lasting batteries (36V, 4 Ah), weight 13 kg
• good mowing performance even with slightly higher and damp grass
• Suitable for around 300 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 450 m²)
• quite high purchase price

Bosch Rotak 430 Li

• Cutting width 43 cm, long-lasting batteries (36V, 4 Ah), weight 14.2 kg
• good mowing performance even with slightly higher and damp grass
• Suitable for around 350 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 480 m²)
• quite high purchase price

Al-Ko Moweo 42.5 Li

• Cutting width 42 cm, long-lasting batteries (36V, 4 Ah), power 650W, weight 22.4 kg
• good mowing performance and cutting pattern even with taller grass; moderate on wet grass
• Suitable for around 300 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 400 m²)
• quite high purchase price, quite heavy

Al-Ko Moweo 46.5 Li

• Cutting width 46 cm, long-lasting batteries (36V, 4 Ah), power 900W, weight 27.9 kg
• good mowing performance and cutting pattern even with taller grass; moderate on wet grass
• Suitable for around 350 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 450 m²)
• quite high purchase price, quite heavy

Ryobi RLM36X46H5P

• Cutting width 40 cm, long-lasting batteries (36V, 4 Ah), weight 17.4 kg
• good mowing performance and cutting pattern even with taller grass; moderate on wet grass
• Suitable for around 350 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 600 m²)
• relatively “cheap”, long loading time

Ryobi RLM18X41H240

• Cutting width 40 cm, long-lasting batteries (18V, 4 Ah), weight 18.0 kg
• good mowing performance and cutting pattern even with taller grass; moderate on wet grass
• Suitable for around 300 m² of lawn (manufacturer information: 550 m²)
• relatively “cheap”, long loading time

Short summary: Battery lawn mower test

• Cordless lawn mowers are still quite expensive and more suitable for small to medium-sized lawns
• Devices from premium manufacturers with good functionality
• Lawns should be cut regularly and when dry
• For a long service life of the batteries: store the batteries in a frost-free place, avoid discharging them completely, even in winter
• For a good cut and a long range: have the lawnmower blade sharpened every 1-2 years
• You should keep your distance from inexpensive no-name devices at the moment; Although these are significantly cheaper than the test winners, most devices from no-name providers fail in terms of cross-section and range. You should also stay away from used devices. There are often problems with the batteries, which are impaired due to improper use or storage.