A lawnmower of any type is a big investment for homeowners, with prices ranging from €200 for a push mower to over €3,000 for a ride-on. The type of equipment you purchase to help with your groundcare and maintenance should be in line with your garden size and structure.

Other factors to consider before you buy is your budget and the style of mower you need. Reliability should be key in your purchasing decision as you don’t want to spend your summer figuring out why your equipment won’t work while your lawn grows out of control.

Robotic mower

In the last few years, robotic mowers have become increasingly popular among consumers, with people now opting for lower maintenance of their lawns.

Through the use of sensors and boundary wires, these machines navigate and trim lawns automatically. They operate on battery power and use GPS and path planning to cut grass effortlessly on their own.

Their gradual mowing patterns work well in areas with minimal obstacles and gentle slopes, which is why they are ideal for medium to large lawns with relatively simple layouts.

Robot mowers offer convenience – apart from the initial set-up and boundary mapping, there is very little work involved when it comes to the cutting.

When running low on battery, the robot will return to its station (in most cases) to recharge. They are ideal for homeowners who prefer a hands-off approach and have little storage space.

Ride-on mower

The biggest downside to a ride-on mower is, without a doubt, the space required to store them. They are designed primarily for lawns of around half an acre or larger. If storage isn’t an issue, they provide more control and are better suited for lawns with complex terrain.

You can adjust the speed, direction and patterns in your lawn, making it a real option for those who like the satisfaction of spending time in the garden and cutting those precise lines in their grass.

Robot versus ride-on price comparison

Your budget is a huge factor in determining which equipment you purchase. The lower-end models for robots start at €300 – but that’s not to say you should go with the cheapest option, as a larger investment in the short run can result in a better lawnmower.

If you buy a cheaper model and it breaks or isn’t suited to your lawn, you will end up spending more money in the long run. The cheapest ride-on mower starts from €2,500, but again you need to look at the specifications and model to ensure it has what you need.

For a garden size of 1,300m², the differences in price are;

  • Husqvarna Robot 315 (including labour and cabling): €2,400 (including VAT).
  • Husqvarna R112C Ride-On: €3,576 (including VAT).

    • Final thoughts

    Between conventional lawnmowers and robotic mowers, there is no definitive answer to which is better. It depends on the individual situation.

    One of the biggest advantages of robotic mowers is that they take a lot of work off your hands without any physical effort. They are also quiet and fairly low maintenance.

    Most of the newer robot lawnmower models have apps which allow you to control and schedule your mowing from your smartphone.

    If you’re considering investing in one of these mowers, be sure to measure your lawn first to ensure you don’t buy a pricier model than you need, and seek expert advice before committing to a purchase.

    Robotic lawnmowers, despite their many advantages, are not a perfect fit for every homeowner, and if you want the enjoyment of getting outside to cut your grass, a ride-on might be the better option for a large garden where storage space isn’t an issue.

    Ride-on mowers also offer superior manoeuvrability compared to robot models due to their larger size and greater weight distribution across four wheels.

    Traditional mowers excel in cutting overgrown or thick grass, where robotic mowers might struggle.