Start here: choose the right robot mower in 10 minutes
Robot mowers cost £300–£2,500+ in the UK. The expensive mistake isn't buying a bad mower — it's buying the wrong one for your garden. Work through these four steps in order.
1. Measure your lawn (2 minutes)
Pace it out (one long stride ≈ 1m) or trace it on Google Maps. You need a rough m² figure — every mower is rated by coverage. Rule of thumb: buy a mower rated at least ~25% above your actual lawn size so it isn't mowing flat-out every day.
2. Check your slope and obstacles (2 minutes)
Flat or gently sloped? Almost anything works. A real bank or terraced lawn? You need all-wheel drive — see the slopes guide. Lots of trees blocking the sky? RTK GPS mowers may struggle; consider LiDAR or camera navigation instead.
3. Decide: boundary wire or wire-free (3 minutes)
Wire-free is the default choice in 2026 unless you're on a tight budget or have heavy tree cover. Use the chooser tool or read the installation cost breakdown.
4. Match your budget (3 minutes)
- Under £500: honest basics — cheapest worth buying
- £500–£1,000: the sweet spot — best wire-free guide
- £1,000–£2,500: big lawns, slopes, premium features — large garden guide