The best robot mowers of 2023
Fairly new to lawn care technology, Robot mowers are a helpful tool that help to manicure your lawn more efficiently. They operate in much the same way as a robot vacuum or mop does: utilizing sensors and guidewires to avoid obstacles and stay within boundaries, and also allow for scheduling and monitoring via Bluetooth companion apps.
A highlight feature of robot lawns is their small cutting decks, often just eight or nine inches wide, which makes them ideal for suburban lawns in particular. The included reels of guidewire also are often just big enough to mark off the edge of a quarter acre to half acre lot or the same size area of much larger lawns. Another appeal of a robot lawn mower is that they’re autonomous. Once you set up a schedule, you don’t have to worry about being home to mow your lawn, rather, the unit will leave the base station and start cutting the grass all on its own at the designated start time.
Also: The best riding mowers
Additionally, robot mowers are battery-powered, meaning they don’t emit any gas, making them a more environmentally friendly solution to lawn care. Plus, the lack of a gas engine means there’s very little maintenance other than changing out batteries and cleaning out dried grass and dirt.
To help you find the right fit for your lawn and your summer schedule, I rounded up the best robot mowers available, keeping in mind their key features, maximum cutting areas, and user-friendliness so you can find which model is best suited to your needs.
- Anti-theft alarm
- GPS tracking
- App for scheduling and maintenance
- Somewhat short runtime
Worx Landroid L features: Cutting width: 8 inches | Max cutting area: .5 acres | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Companion app: Yes | Anti-theft alarm: Yes
The Worx Landroid L is my top choice for the best robot lawn mower. With the 8-inch cutting deck, it can mow lawns up to a half acre, which is perfect for most suburban lots. The cutting disc sits on a floating pivot to automatically rise and drop to follow your lawn’s terrain, reducing the chance of scalping or missing low spots. Built-in sensors help the Landroid L navigate around obstacles and through narrow paths, so you don’t have to worry about it getting caught in your flower beds or stuck between your toolshed and the house.
A companion app for your smartphone or tablet allows you to check on battery life, set a mowing schedule, and even specify your lawn’s soil makeup and type of grass for more efficient mowing and overall care. A built-in alarm helps deter thieves, but if someone does manage to make off with your robot mower, the GPS-enabled companion app lets you track their whereabouts so you can recover your property.
- Rain sensors
- Quieter operation
- Affordable price
- No companion app for scheduling
- No anti-theft system
MowRo RM24A features: Cutting width: 9.5 inches | Max cutting area: .25 acres | Connectivity: N/A | Companion app: No | Anti-theft alarm: No
Since robot mowers are such a new technology, they can be quite expensive. Fortunately, the Mowro RM24A is one of the more affordable options on the market, with a price tag that sits comfortably under $1,000. The 9.5-inch cutting deck and 28V battery allow the RM24A to mow yards up to a quarter acre, while the large rear, wheels help it tackle steeper hills and inclines. The brushless motor runs much more quietly than gas mowers and many other battery-powered mowers, which means you can enjoy your deck, patio, or backyard while the RM24A is mowing your lawn.
And it won’t annoy the neighbors as it follows its 48-hour mowing schedule; this robot mower automatically mows every two days to keep a consistent cut across your entire lawn. It even has rain sensors to let the mower know it’s time to return to the docking station when storms roll in.
- Anti-theft alarm
- 60-minute charge time
- Lift and tilt sensors stop blades
- Expensive
- No GPS theft tracking
Husqvarna 115H features: Cutting width: 8.5 inches | Max cutting area: .25 acres | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Companion app: Yes | Anti-theft alarm: Yes
Since robot mowers run on either interchangeable or integrated batteries, they’ll need routine charging for optimal runtimes. Unfortunately, that also means you could get stuck waiting for your mower to charge before it can finish cutting the grass. The Husqvarna 115H has one of the fastest charging times, reaching full battery in just about an hour. You can tackle other outdoor chores like edge trimming and pulling weeds while you wait, and you won’t have to schedule mowing over several days to allow for charging times.
The 8.5-inch cutting deck lets the 115H mow up to a quarter acre; and with its lift and tilt sensors, the blades automatically stop if the mower gets picked up. This protects pets, kids, and adults from getting hurt if the mower gets stuck on an object or if it gets flipped over. The integrated anti-theft alarm only can be shut off with a specified PIN number, meaning thieves can’t disable the alarm before making off with your robot mower.
- GPS theft tracking
- Mows up to .8 acres
- Spiral cut and spot-mow modes
- Alexa and Hey Google compatibility
- Expensive
Husqvarna 430X features: Cutting width: 9.5 inches | Max cutting area: .8 acres | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Companion app: Yes | Anti-theft alarm: Yes
Robot mowers are usually meant for much smaller lawns, but the Husqvarna 430X is capable of handling lots up to almost a full acre. The 9.5-inch cutting deck features three blades that mulch clippings into ultra-fine pieces to re-feed your lawn between fertilizer applications. The large rear wheels enable the mower to handle steep inclines. With Bluetooth connectivity and GPS navigation, the 430X lets you schedule mow times, set up remote start points, and even set up profiles for different sections of your yard. This lets you create a custom schedule for a consistent cut across your whole lawn, while remote start points mean that your robot mower isn’t limited to where the base station is when you want it to tackle a particular section.
You can even choose between spot mowing and spiral mowing. The spot-mow mode lets you quickly tackle small areas the 430X may have missed or may be growing faster than other sections of your lawn, while the spiral-mow mode provides a consistent cutting pattern. Like its cousin, the Husqvarna 115H, it has a built-in alarm to alert you to would-be thieves and only can be disabled with a personalized PIN. It also offers GPS tracking in case someone does manage to make off with your new mower. Husqvarna also offers interchangeable top covers to either make it easier to see where your 430X is in your yard or to match the rest of your lawn and garden equipment. And if you want truly hands-off lawn care, you can connect the 430X to your Alexa or Hey Google smart speaker for voice-activated controls.
Read the review: This $2,500 robot lawn mower is so impressive my neighbors come to watch it mow
- 2.5 hour runtime
- Quick charging
- Water resistant
- Integrated carrying handle
- No anti-theft alarm
Greenworks Optimow features: Cutting width: 9 inches | Max cutting area: .75 acres | Connectivity: Bluetooth | Companion app: Yes | Anti-theft alarm: No
Robot mowers tend to have very short runtimes, but the Greenworks Optimow 50H provides up to 2.5 hours of mowing on a full charge. It also has a fairly quick charge time of just 70 minutes, so you can tackle other outdoor chores or enjoy your patio or deck while it recharges; and you won’t have to worry about scheduling mow times over several days if your lawn is on the higher end of the Optimow 50H’s limits. It’s rated for lawns up to .75 acres, and the 9-inch cutting deck is designed to have the blades fold inward if they connect with an object. This protects the blades from damage while also preventing the mower from getting hung up on things like rocks, roots, or outdoor toys.
The body of the mower is IPX67 rated waterproof, which means that if you notice dirt and grass buildup, you can quickly clean it off with a typical garden hose without worrying about ruining the motor or charging connections. The Optimow 50H also includes a safety key that can be used on the underside of the unit to disable the cutting deck; this is perfect for keeping kids and pets from accidentally starting the mower and getting hurt. There’s also an integrated carrying handle for easier maneuvering if you need to clean or perform maintenance like blade sharpening.
What is the best robot mower?
My pick for the best robot mower is the Worx Landroid L. It has a built-in anti-theft system to deter anyone with sticky fingers, and if the alarm doesn’t stop the thief, you can track the mower’s whereabouts with the GPS-enabled companion app. It’s capable of mowing up to a half acre, and it’s fitted with sensors to detect narrow paths and obstacles for enhanced maneuvering.
|
Robot mower |
Price |
Cutting width |
Max cutting area |
|
Worx Landroid L |
$1,148 |
8 inches |
0.5 acres |
|
MowRo RM24A |
$899 |
9.5 inches |
0.25 acres |
|
Husqvarna 115H |
$1,200 |
8.5 inches |
0.25 acres |
|
Husqvarna 430X |
$2,500 |
9.5 inches |
0.8 acres |
|
Greenworks Optimow 50H |
$1,600 |
9 inches |
0.75 acres |
Which is the right robot mower for you?
When you’ve finalized a budget for a new robot mower, you should double-check the size of your lot to further narrow down your search. Different models have different runtimes, cutting deck widths, and varying amounts of included guidewires, so you’ll have to thoroughly compare each model you’re interested in to find the best match for your lawn.
|
Choose this robot mower… |
If you want … |
|
Worx Landroid L |
A well-rounded robot mower for medium-size lawns. The Worx Landroid L features GPS tracking and a companion app for scheduling. |
|
MowRo RM24A |
A more affordable robot mower option. It retails for under $1000, which is about the same as a self-propelled push mower. |
|
Husqvarna 115H |
A robot mower with a shorter charge time. This robot mower reaches a full charge in as little as 60 minutes. |
|
Husqvarna 430X |
A robot mower rated for lawns up to 0.8 acres. The Husqvarna 430X is great for larger suburban lawns. |
|
Greenworks Optimow 50H |
A robot mower with a great battery life. On a full charge, this robot mower can run for up to 2.5 hours. |
How did I choose these robot mowers?
Along with price, there were a few factors I considered when making this list of robot mowers:
- Max yard size: Robot mowers run on an integrated, rechargeable battery. This means that they aren’t well-suited for lawns over one acre. Make sure to double-check your robot mower’s intended yard size before purchasing.
- Cutting width: Due to the nature of their construction, robot mowers have much, much smaller cutting decks than their riding and even push mower counterparts. However, there are some models with 18 or 20-inch cutting decks, making them great choices for larger suburban lawns.
- Controls: Many robot mowers use a companion app for setting up schedules, sending maintenance reminders, and displaying HUD information like battery life. Some high-end models may even integrate Alexa or other voice controls for hands-free use. All robot mower models also use a guide wire to set up boundaries and mowing paths.
What is a robot mower?
A robot mower is a device that operates in a way similar to a robot vacuum or mop. It uses guidewires to determine boundaries or mowing paths and a base station for charging and often will have a companion app for monitoring battery levels and scheduling mow sessions. Robot mowers work with GPS technology to map your yard to detect narrow paths and objects and to improve its algorithm for more efficient mowing. And just like robot vacuums and mops, a robot mower will run in randomized patterns, so you won’t get that clean-line look that you would with a riding or push mower. However, they also will mow much more often, ensuring that every part of your lawn has a consistent cut.
How do you prevent a robot mower from being stolen?
If you’re able, you can set up the base station in a secluded area of your lawn to reduce the chances of someone snatching it while it’s charging; you also can carry the mower unit itself into your garage or toolshed at night and lock it up. Barring that, many robot mowers have built-in alarms that go off when they are lifted or tilted, deterring hopeful thieves. And if someone does manage to walk off with your robot mower, many also have GPS-assisted tracking so you can let law enforcement know exactly where they went and recover your property.
How often should I run my robot mower?
As with riding and push mowers, you can run them as often as you like. But many manufacturers recommend you set up a schedule to have your robot mower cut the grass every two or three days. This is because a robot mower has a much smaller cutting deck than a riding or push mower, and they move in randomized patterns. Running the robot mower every few days will ensure that every part of your lawn gets attention.
Do robot mowers run on hills?
Robot lawn mowers can tackle slopes, thanks to their large wheels with deep treads and their small bodies. To ensure one works well with your lawn, check with the manufacturer about gradients, as newer models can handle inclines up to 35% or in some cases up to 45%.
Are there alternative robot lawn mowers worth considering?
Since robot mowers are such a new technology, there aren’t as many available to buy as their riding or push counterparts. However, I was able to find a couple alternative models that are worth a look:
Best alternative for narrow spaces
GARDENA Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower
With AI-precise cutting patterns, tight corners and passages as narrow as 24 inches are cut reliably.
Best long-lasting battery alternative
Robomow RX20
The Robomow RX20 Robotic Lawn Mower is ideal for small lawns up to 1/20 acre (200sq.m).
