Robot lawnmowers rated: Which? experts test 26 models on even cutting, battery life and navigating obstacles to find the best options for your money

The question The first robot mower was invented in 1995 by Swedish company Husqvarna – and, according to a Swedish man called Ingemar Carlsson who bought one of the original models, it still works. Today, some models still use boundary wires to keep within an enclosed area, while others use wireless tech like cameras and GPS to track where they are going. So, if you’re lucky enough for your lawn to need a trim given this summer’s heatwave, which ones are best?

The basics Which? experts tested 26 robot lawnmowers. The cheapest was £330 from Flymo and the most expensive was £2,199 from Husqvarna.

The method The garden gurus at Which? let the mowers run on long, rough and damp grass and a standard lawn. They then rated how evenly the grass was cut, noted any spots missed and checked for marks on the wheels or blades afterwards, repeating the tests over four weeks. They also assessed how nimbly each product navigated obstacles – like fences and trees – and measured battery life.

The thing to remember Which? buys the products before testing them, which means no freebies and no biased results.

See the full range of expert reviews at which.co.uk/robot-lawn-mowers

BEST VALUE

Recommended lawn size 250sq m

Charging time 60 minutes

Typical mow time on one charge 70 minutes

What works? The price! It also cut dry grass excellently, was easy to use and had a speedy charging time. Perfect for smaller gardens.

What’s the catch? It struggled in long and damp grass. Also it needs a wire that confines it to a certain space.

BEST MID-RANGE

Recommended lawn size 800sq m

Charging time 100 minutes

Typical mow time on one charge 65 minutes

What works? Lots. This cut all grass types evenly, was nifty at moving around obstacles and through narrow gaps, and was straightforward to set up. Plus, it has snazzy GPS tech that means you don’t need a boundary wire.

What’s the catch? It was fiddly to clean and didn’t charge as fast as other models.

BEST BLOWOUT

Recommended lawn size 1,800sq m

Charging time 60 minutes

Typical mow time on one charge 70 minutes

What works? This operates brilliantly in big spaces. It scored top cutting marks on all grass types and worked well on steep ground. It’s also extremely easy to set up and use.

What’s the catch? It’s expensive, obvs. Plus, it needs a boundary wire.