Lawn care no longer has to be your chore. If you have better things to do and can't justify a riding lawn mower, get a robotic lawn mower instead. These machines can run autonomously and will make your grass look trimmed and neat all the time.
We're here to guide you and help you pick the best robotic lawn mower for your yard.
Best 7 Robotic Mower Comparisons
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Why You Can Trust Us
We may not be experts in robotics here at BYB, but we are no dummies when it comes to researching and reviewing products. Further, we are experts when it comes to mowers and lawn care. It is an area I have been interested in for over 20 years.
When I was a kid, I made a few of my very first entrepreneurial dollars from mowing lawns around the neighborhood. Later, I worked as a landscaper and lawn care specialist. Today, I apply that experience to product reviews at BYB.
Best All-Around Autonomous Mower
Husqvarna, one of the most well-known lawn mower makers in the world, has done it this time. Their Automower 115H offers everything competitor robot mowers do and then some.
- One of the most affordable name brand robotic mowers
- Works well on slopes of less than 20 degrees
- Available as a DIY kit
- Not as many advanced features as our top pick
- Not for yards over half an acre in size
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Why We Like It: This model seems to be one of the smarter robot mowers out there and has the ability to mow at any given time be it night or day. The fact that this mower is available as a DIY kit is also a plus for those who enjoy getting hands-on with electronics.
The Husqvarna Automower 115H is another robotic mower that has quickly been making a name for itself among homeowners. That is because it is one of the most affordable of the advanced brand name robot mowers.
The Automower charges quicker, comes with more perimeter wire, and costs less than others of the same class. The unit is built for small to medium-sized yards and works perfectly for areas of half an acre or less. Although, some owners claim that it can handle nearly twice the manufactures recommendation.
The unit works on slopes of 17-degrees or less, easily avoids obstacles and maneuvers in tight spaces, and even works as a grass mulcher. If all that isn't impressive enough, the mower has built-in anti-theft security, built-in weather sensors, and is Bluetooth enabled.
Who Should Buy This: For folks who have smaller yards, there are few robot mowers that come as highly recommended as this one. Likewise, if it is a DIY robotic mower kit you are after, it is our top suggestion.
Best for Large Yards
For yards under an acre, the Honda Miimo is a smart solution. With 360-degree awareness, built-in anti-theft security, and multiple settings, has everything necessary for maintaining your lawn.
- Cutting edge smart features and security
- Works day or night, you set the schedule
- Customizable settings and functions
- Expensive
- Slight learning curve involved
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Why We Like It: This unit is our top pick for a reason, it comes with tons of great features, has a long life expectancy, is easy to set up and use, and includes a two-year warranty.
The Honda Miimo comes in two versions, the HRM310 which is made for cutting lawns of up to 0.37 acres, and the HRM520 which covers approximately 0.75 acres. That said, customers claim that they use their Miimo for as much as an acre or more regardless of its rating.
It comes with special blades that are super sharp and long-lasting. Even more, it has random, directional, and mixed cutting patterns in order to maintain different types and areas of your lawn. Like most robotic mowers, it also comes with advanced features like 360-degree awareness, rain sensors, and is generally speaking very programmable.
Who Should Buy This: For homeowners with yard space of between a quarter-acre and a full acre, the Honda Miimo could be just the robotic mower to permanently automate your lawn care duties.
Best for Steep Slopes
With GPS, 15 height settings, and around the clock operating abilities, the STIHL RMI 632 PC iMOW is one of the most cutting edge smart mowers around.
- Built-in rain sensor and receives live weather reports
- Works night and day, as you schedule it to
- Adaptive slope adjuster and built/in mulcher
- Expensive
- Requires an installation kit
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Why We Like It: One of the very best things about this mower compared to other robots is that it can handle most hills found on lawns. It also has extremely good tires compared to other robot mowers. We also love that you can control it via your phone from practically anywhere.
Not all robotic mowers are created equally, and rough hilly terrain is an aspect that most of them are simply not qualified to handle. With the Stihl RMI 632 PC iMOW, however, slopes are not an issue as it works on gradients of up to 45-percent. Even more, the unit is designed for larger yards of up to slightly more than an acre.
The mower is one of the smarter models currently available as well. It is quick and easy to install and can be organized in various ways. You can use it remotely, and monitor its performance, via an app on smartphones and tablets. It also has a convenient control panel that you can access right on the mower itself.
The unit is advanced compared to many others, receiving up-to-date weather reports and equipped with built-in rain sensors that ensure it only cuts the yard when it is dry. It also works as a shredder/mulcher and therefore helps in maintaining excellent lawn health.
Who Should Buy This: If you have a large yard or a lawn that slopes quite a bit, the Stihl iMOW should definitely be one of the top considerations on your list of potential robotic mowers to invest in this year.
Runner-Up Best for Steep Slopes
Looking for a truly smart mower? One that you can control right from your phone? You just found it!
- Works in unison with smartphones and Alexa
- Memorizes zones and automatically returns to charge station
- Built-in rain sensor and anti-theft security
- Must peg wires in your yard
- Run-time could be longer
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Why We Like It: The fact that this unit works with Alexa is simply awesome. Built-in anti-theft security, weather sensors, and a bigger cutting width than most smart mowers are the topping on this sweet cake.
Another great robotic mower that works well on hilly lawns is the Robomow RS630. The mower not only handles gradients with ease, but it also has one of the largest cutting radiuses in the industry at 22 inches wide. It is designed for yards of up to 3/4 of an acre.
Perhaps the most convenient feature of this Robomow model, however, is that it is Bluetooth and Alexa friendly. That means you can actually command this bad boy with the mere sound of your voice. How cool is that? It is also controllable via the My Robomow app.
The run time for the mower is between 80 and 100 minutes. Set up is fast and easy, as is programming it with your preferred weekly mowing schedule. And, you never need to worry about checking the weather because it does this on its own with its integrated rain sensor.
Who Should Buy This: Looking for an easy-to-use robot mower that can actually handle the slopes in your yard? You very well may have just found it!
Best for Tall Grass
One of the most popular robotic mowers on the market, period. The Worx WR140 is WIFI and APP controlled and allows you to completely automatic your lawn mowing needs.
- Customized mowing schedules and fully automated mowing action
- Three-blade disc for precision cutting
- Works with 20 V and 40 V Worx batteries from other tools
- Smaller cutting radius than some robotic mowers
- Expensive
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Why We Like It: This mower can handle hills, narrow passages, and even manages its way around the other obstacles in your yard like trees, garden borders, and fences. We also like that it is fully automated and mows daily, every other day, or however you prefer.
While it may not have the largest cutting width in the industry, at a seven-inch radius, our pick for the best robotic mower for tall grass is hands down the Landroid Worx-WR140. The unit is made with a high-end triple-blade cutting disc that is capable of slicing through taller grass and thicker weeds than other mowers in the same class.
The mower runs on any 20 V or 40 V Worx battery, which is another huge benefit because you will be able to replace it yourself, should it run out of juice for good.
With boundary wires in place, it's fully automated and mows night or day. Just choose how often you want it to work and leave it to do its job. If it runs into something once, it memorizes the obstacle and avoids it thereafter. The mower is controllable via WiFi and the Landroid app so you can check in on it at any time. You can also use it to measure your lawn.
Who Should Buy This: For small to midsized yards that have tall or fast-growing grass, this Landroid unit is easily one of the smartest choices.
Best for Smaller Gardens
If you're in the market for the right tool to automatic your garden edges and pathways; meet the Mowro Redback RM24, a smart new robot mower we think you're going to love.
- Triple-blade razor-sharp cutter
- Works on an autmoated 48-hour schedule.
- Automatically teaches itself how to mow your yard
- Requires a perimeter wire to work
- Batteries may drain quicker
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Why We Like It: A powerful brushless motor and 28V Lithium-Ion Ah battery give this mower an operating time of around two hours per charge, plenty of time to tidy up the grass in and around your garden. It even works on hills. We also like that it is practically noiseless when mowing.
The MowRo RM24A is great at maintaining small spaces, like the grassy paths between your garden rows as well. When it detects objects, like garden borders or flower beds, it stops and maneuvers around them before continuing to mow.
The MowRo operates on its own algorithm in order to keep your grass maintained properly. It mows up to a quarter-acre per cutting session and automatically returns to its charging station. Likewise, when it detects rain or wet grass, it returns home and waits until things dry out.
The unit also works on sloping yards with gradients of 30-degrees, which is a huge benefit that many comparable models lack. But, it does have a bit of an installation process before it will start maintaining your lawn, including the laying of a perimeter wire which helps guide the unit around your yard and back to its charger.
Who Should Buy This: If you struggle to maintain your small garden space, or are looking for a robot mower to maintain your small yard that is full of landscaping like trees and flower beds, few options offer a better solution.
Best for Narrow Passages
If you have small narrow strips of grass to mow, or a yard smaller than a 1/20th of an acre, Robomow has you covered with the RX20: a smart robotic lawn mower designed specifically for maintaining narrow passages.
- Mows a little every day and runs quietly
- Runs for up to three hours or more per charge
- Floating deck and precision-cut blades
- Does not work well with St. Augustine grass
- Runs poorly on slopes with an angle of ten degrees or more
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Why We Like It: This mower is built specifically for fitting into and maintaining narrow passages and places where standard mowers and larger robotic mowers simply won't go. We also really like that it is accessible by phone, tablet, computer, or Alexa.
The Robomow RX20 is an excellent solution for yards of approximately 1/20 acre in size. This mower helps your lawn stay mowed "all the time." What does that mean, exactly? The unit mows for around three hours every day and then returns to its charging base all by itself, once installed. Even more, it features a floating deck built for precise cutting including edging.
The unit comes with child lock safety features, GPS, and works with Alexa and the Rob connect web and smartphone app. And, unlike many robotic mowers, this one only needs its blade changed once per year. That said, one drawback is that it doesn't work so well for St. Augustine grass.
Who Should Buy This: If you are in the market for a small auto-mower for your lawns hard-to-reach places, or the narrow passages between fences and structures on your property, the RX20 should be a top consideration as there are few that are more suited for such a job.
Robot Lawn Mower FAQs
How long do robotic lawn mowers last?
Most robotic mower manufacturers claim their units will last for 10 years. Even though some models may technically last longer, others may give out much sooner. Be sure to check the expected lifespan before you buy.
Do robotic mowers get stolen?
Theft of robotic mowers is actually quite rare. However, unfortunately, just about anything under the sun can be stolen. That said, most robotic mowers(like the ones on our list) come with serious anti-theft security measures built-in.
How much do robotic mowers cost?
Expect to pay anywhere from $600 to well over $1,000 for a decent robotic mower. You may find a few models cheaper than that, but they likely will not be very high-quality. Likewise, if you want the very best, be prepared to pay several thousand dollars.
What is a perimeter wire for a robotic lawn mower?
A perimeter wire, also known as a boundary wire, is used to guide your robotic mower around the yard and back to its charging station. No-trip perimeter wires need to be buried around two inches underground. For a small fee, a professional installer can set boundary wires for you within a few minutes using the proper equipment.
How do you use a robotic mower charging station?
Robotic mowers typically return to their charging stations and begin charging after each mowing session all on their own. Models that don't have the return home feature simply need to be placed on or in their charger-base to begin powering up.
How We Picked
Robotic lawn mowers are still pretty "new." So, we really had our work cut out for us in order to present a list of nothing but the best models. To do so, we poured through online retailers and consumer resources, like customer reviews and buyer guides as well as sitting down and watching the most recent YouTube videos.
After our initial research, we put together a list of the most significant aspects/features that robotic mowers should have. These important factors included quality of components and construction, battery type, projected lifespan, advanced features, cutting radius, ease of installation, ease of use, and more. Our final list is made up of the seven units we found to be the highest quality and most reliable.
Choosing the Best Robotic Mower
Picking the best robotic mower can be both challenging and confusing, especially because they are still pretty new to the market. Hopefully, our guide helps you whittle down the many options to one that fits you and your lawn.
The Husqvarna Automower is our top choice for several reasons; it works well for small and medium-sized yards, it can tackle slopes, it will work in the rain, and it completely automates your lawn mowing duties. Husqvarna also enjoys a good reputation for its quality and fair price.
Not so sure about turning your yard over to a robot minion quite yet? If so, have a look at these more affordable (and less smart) mowers.