Best small lawn mower: 5 top buys for small gardens

The best small lawn mower will do an effective job of cutting your lawn, while being lightweight and easy to store.  All our top picks have the power and performance of larger mowers, but they are all compact and don't weigh too much, making them perfect for a smaller plot. The lightest on our list coming in at just 6.8 kilograms – great if you just don't like the idea of carrying around a heavy mower, even if your garden isn't that small.

When you've chosen the best small lawn mower, check out our list of the best lawn mowers – they're not huge so there still might be a model to suit your needs.

The best small lawn mowers

Lightweight and powerful, this mains-powered small lawn mower is the perfect buy for small to medium gardens. Thanks to its 1200W motor and steel blade, the Bosch Rotak 32 should cut through tough long grass, while the comb will ensure no straggly bits are left around the edges. Those who pay attention to finishing touches will love the integrated rear roller, while practical gardeners should take note of its double folding handles and stackable grass box, which make it even easier to store. The best small lawn mower you can buy, we think.

• Buy Bosch Rotak 32

If your garden is on the small side, a manual lawn mower is probably the perfect buy – they’re small, easy to store and, if they have a grass box, very convenient to use. The Handy Hand Push Mower has an adjustable blade so you can achieve the perfect precision cut, while the back roller will leave a stylish striped finish. Using no electricity or petrol, it costs nothing to run and, it’ll only set you back around £40. You can’t go wrong, really. The best small lawnmower to buy if you're on a budget.

• Buy the Handy Hand Push Mower

The Flymo is the best small electric lawn mower if you’re looking to make easy work out of your garden. It features a powerful 1400W motor, which should find long, thick grass a breeze and, thanks to its hover technology, there’s less movement resistance, making it a great option for people with bad backs. The mower compacts the grass into the box, which means it’s super easy to empty. Most importantly, the handles fold so it’s easy to store, the only compromise is there’s no back roller for that striped finish. In our opinion, this is the best small lawn mower if you're after a hover option.

• Buy Flymo HoverVac 250

Almost identical to our second pick, this offering from Bosch is certainly another good option. It’s slightly more expensive, which we largely put towards the fact that it’s a household name and the cut height offers a broader range. Aside from that, there’s a 25ltr grass collection box to make quick work out disposing the cut grass and a back roller to provide the classic striped finish. If you're after a push lawn mower best suited to small gardens, this is your guy.

• Buy Bosch AHM 38 G

Although this battery powered lawn mower doesn’t trim as short as the others, when it comes to convenience, The Greenworks is certainly worth looking at. The battery should provide around 30 minutes of fade free cutting, which should give you plenty of time to mow your front and back lawns, so long as they’re fairly small patches.  When it comes to grass collecting, it features a reasonably sized grass box, while the fold down handle makes it easy to slip inside a shed. The best small lawn mower for those after a cordless model.

• Buy the Greenworks 40V Cordless Lawn Mower

What is the best small lawn mower?

Lawn mowers for small gardens usually come under three categories: mains powered, manual or battery powered. When it comes to power and precision for cutting thick, long grass, mains powered small garden lawn mowers like the Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower is the best option.

How to buy the best small lawn mower?

Battery powered lawn mowers are a great option for small to medium gardens, but look for one that is as powerful as a mains powered lawn mower with a good battery life to give you time to trim your plot. Some batteries are very heavy so consider the weight if you want something compact and easy to move. For small patches of grass, consider a manual mower – modern manual lawn mowers will even have a grass collection basket to save you the effort of picking up the cut grass after you’ve finished mowing. 

If weight is an issue when it comes to storing your lawn mower away, opt for the lightest option on our list, the Bosch Rotak 32R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower.

More ideas to keep your garden in check:

• For more garden ideas, visit our page
• The best garden sheds
• How to create a kitchen garden