Best Robot Lawn Mower of 2023: Here Are Our Favorites

A robotic lawn mower is a big investment but an easy way to maintain the beauty of your yard. However, there are some things that you should consider first. For example, is it hard to use? What features does it have? Do I need any additional tools or parts? These are just some of the questions we’ll answer today in our buyer’s guide to choosing the best robot lawn mower.

Robotic lawn mowers learn your yard over time and settle into a mowing schedule, optimizing how it cuts to ensure your yard is looking its best and can cut both wet grass and thick grass, which traditional mowers struggle with, with ease. When looking for models to include in our list, we prioritized finding models that offer this functionality. We also looked for models with an easy-to-use mobile app — which makes operation even more convenient.

But you don’t have to hate mowing the grass to find a robotic lawn mower useful. Many purchase one to free up time to work on landscaping. We own a Husqvarna Automower 435X All Wheel Drive (AWD) (see the above picture) and have found that our yard looks better than ever because we now have more time to work on the rest.

Making robot mowers even more attractive is their falling prices. While they remain more expensive than your standard push mower, most models are now competitively priced with riding mowers while offering a better (and healthier) cut for your lawn. So let’s start finding the right robot lawn mower for your yard.

Are robot lawn mowers easy to use?

Yes! Many robotic lawn mowers come programmed with specific settings so that they can get your yard cut properly without you having to be at home or do any other work yourself. There should also be an app for the mower that allows you to monitor its progress and see what areas of your grass still need to cover. You can control the lawn mower directly from this app. You’ll want to adjust the cutting schedule and cutting height to your specific preferences, however.

Can I install it myself?

Yes, but we’d recommend installing the boundary wire (sometimes called a perimeter wire) professionally. Some manufacturers offer free installation with some of their higher-end models. If you install it yourself, make sure you drive wire stakes as deep into the ground as possible, so the wire doesn’t get eaten by the mower or become a tripping hazard.

Are robot lawn mowers hard to maintain?

We speak from personal experience when we say absolutely not! Changing blades on a robotic lawn mower is far easier (and safer) than doing it on a traditional mower. The blades look more like razor blades and are held in by a screw to the cutting deck. We change our blades every 3 months of operation, which takes less than 15 minutes.

Are robot lawn mowers reliable?

As long as you stick with a well-known brand like Husqvarna or Worx, you should have absolutely no problems with your mower. The best robotic lawn mowers come with multi-year warranties, and our experiences with customer support have been pleasant.

How loud is a robot lawn mower?

The best thing about robot lawn mowers is their quiet operation. We don’t even hear our lawn mower running. They can be used 24 hours a day, even at night!

Can I use my robot lawn mower in the rain?

You can. Some models come equipped with rain sensors that will automatically detect when it’s raining and send your mower back to the charging dock. However, since they only produce a small amount of grass clippings, using a robot lawn mower in the rain won’t cause it to clog.

Can I connect my lawn mower to my smart home?

Yes, the best robot mowers offer virtual assistant and IFTTT compatibility, which allows you to control the operation via Alexa or Google Assistant, or use your weather station to tell your mower to return to its charging station when it starts to rain.

Best Robot Lawn Mowers

If you’re in the market for a robot lawn mower, our recommendation is the Husqvarna Automower line. They are the most fully-featured model with custom mowing schedules and AI-backed navigation of your yard, and while a bit more expensive than the competition, the support and quality are worth the extra money.

The best robotic lawn mower for most yards is the Automower 315X, the cheapest Automower model that offers the advanced functionality of the more expensive models. This includes Automower Connect, which allows you to control your mower when you’re at home and monitor the mower’s progress from anywhere, even when the mower is not in range of Wi-Fi.

GPS-assisted navigation allows the 315X to map out your garden, which with time will allow it to optimize how it mows your yard, ensuring your entire lawn is regularly cut. Steep slopes? No problem: this mower can handle sloping lawns up to 40%. When nearby to the mower, Bluetooth connectivity allows you to adjust the settings. However, if you have a large yard, we highly recommend the 430X instead, as a larger battery offers twice the run time of the 315X.

The best option for budget-conscious consumers and those with smaller, less complicated yards is the Automower 115H. The 115H doesn’t have GPS-assisted navigation or the capability to control the mower other than when you’re within range of the mower itself. However, it can still handle yards up to .4 acre and only has a marginally shorter run time than the 315X.

The Worx Landroid M is also a great buy for small yards. It’s the best robotic lawn mower under $1,000 right now in our opinion. While the fact it can mow yards only up to a .25 acre is a downside, the latest models now feature GPS-assisted navigation and an integrated app — something only higher-end Husquvarna models do.

Here’s more specific information on each model we recommend:

Husqvarna Automower 430X

Looking to put your time and energy into something other than immaculate landscaping? The Husqvarna Automower 430X is one of the best robotic lawn mowers in the X-Line Series with features like GPS navigation, theft tracking, and a weather-resistant design. It cuts up to 0.8 acres a day, perfect for large yards.

Husqvarna Automower 315X

Smart enough to care for your lawn, Automower 315X is part of the X-Line Series, featuring cutting-edge technology and an intuitive interface, paired with premium features like GPS navigation and theft tracking. An installation kit is included which means no tedious assembly is required, so you’ll be enjoying your new lawn in half the time.

Husqvarna Automower 115H

Husqvarna Automower 115H is the next generation of lawn care. This smart automated mower cuts your grass, even in tight areas or slopes; it’s perfect for medium-sized yards with up to 0.4 acres of grass. Automower® features cutting-edge technology and an easy interface, so you can rest assured knowing your yard is taken care of 24/7—even during rainstorms. Installation kits are included.

WORX WR140 Landroid M

The Landroid M is a revolutionary robotic mower that navigates the narrow passages and tough terrain other robotic mowers simply can’t handle. Up to quarter-acre yards take less time with this patented AIA technology. Customized schedules make sure you never forget about your lawn and there are no difficult obstacles for Landroid to get around. You can exclude tough spots if you don’t want the mower messing with them while cutting the grass. Rain? No problem! This ingenious outdoor helper returns to its charger when it senses rain so your green space will always be ready for playtime without any hassle on your part!

How do robotic lawn mowers work?

If you’re in a rush, here’s the TL/DR; on how they work:

• The mower gathers information about the size of your yard and where obstacles, like trees or flowerbeds, are located via sensors.
• The mower uses this information to map out your entire yard so that it knows exactly how to mow every section without any overlap or missed spots.
• Robot mowers are pre-programmed to mow every day at the same time.
• Most mowers cut grass using spinning blades, which are mulched back into your grass.
• Mowers are self-charging and return automatically to their docking stations when they need more power.

Why does a robotic lawn mower need a boundary wire?

While there are differences in how robot lawn mowers will mow your yard, how they know where to mow is the same. For your mower to know where your yard begins and ends, a “boundary wire” must be laid around the perimeter of your property (or where you’d like your mower to work).

An electrical current is sent through this wire, which your mower can detect. When it approaches the wire, it will turn itself around and head away from the wire. Another wire is placed through the entire yard which acts as a guide when your mower needs to head to the charging station.

Depending on the layout of your yard, you might need to have two separate areas for the mower to work in. This may require you to physically move the mower in order to mow that secondary area or have the boundary wire run underneath your sidewalks or by laying cable in a small cut made to your driveway, which is then resealed.

We’d recommend talking with customer support about the best methods to overcome these types of issues.

Robot lawn mower blades: Bigger isn’t always better

Unlike your regular mower, the blades on your robot lawn mower are much smaller, about the size of razor blades. As the mower runs, these blades swing outward and cut a small amount from the top of the grass. By cutting just a small portion of the top of the grass, stress is lessened on the grass itself, which allows it to grow more naturally. Robot lawn mowers also mow in a “random” pattern.

This is why these mowers produce good if not better results than regular lawn mowers. The random mowing pattern prevents the lines that can start appearing on your lawn from the wheels of your mower. The cut promotes a healthier, fuller lawn.

Things to Consider Before Purchasing

• Establish the size of your yard and how large an area can be covered by one robot. Although they are equipped with GPS tracking technology, some models will only cover a specific section of lawn and ignore areas outside their range or boundary wire. Some models may not be able to handle tall grass, steep slopes, or obstacles like rocks, puddles of water, trees, and shrubs.
• What is the running time of the mower, and how fast can it recharge? If you are looking at a model that requires several hours of charging time after each use, this might not be the best option. It may take several days before it can cut your grass again after each use.
• Some robot lawn mowers are smarter than others. Some are very intuitive while others require a little more work when setting them up initially in order to get them running. If you are not very technically inclined, it might be best to go with one that is easier to set up for your first attempt.
• Look at the cutting width of each mower and how often they need replacement blades. Some models may require frequent maintenance while others can last a little longer before needing blade replacements (in typical yards, you’ll replace blades two to three times a season)
• Consider how much noise your mower will make when in operation. While most are relatively quiet, some produce enough noise that it could be an issue for your neighbors and yourself.
• How long will the robot mower last? Most models are made to withstand all types of weather conditions. However, some parts may need replacing after a few years of use. It is important to know what parts are replaceable and how expensive they will be if you want to keep the mower functioning correctly.
• Check out the support documentation. Some manufacturers offer great support where you can receive assistance by phone or live chat if needed, while others don’t have much to offer in terms of customer service and instruction for those who are not as technology-friendly.
• Look at how fast it will cut your grass compared to manual mowing methods. Some models work very fast while others are much slower. It really depends on the size of your yard and how tall or short you like to keep your grass.
• Check the warranty conditions, and look for multi-year warranties if possible. If not, it might be best to look elsewhere for another model that offers better warranty coverage.

Wrapping Up

A robot lawn mower may seem like a large purchase, but it can save you time and money. Our yard is looking better than ever, and we directly credit our robot friend for helping us make the task of mowing the lawn that much easier.

It is important to do your research before making this investment so that you will be happy with your mower. We hope that you’ve found our guide to robot lawn mowers useful, and would be happy to answer any questions that you might have.