Is the best type of electric lawn mower corded or cordless? That’s just one of the questions, which is most frequently asked about electric lawn mowers. So, if you’re looking to buy a new lawn mower, the following information should help you decide which type of lawnmower would be best for your particular needs. Before we examine all the pros and cons, let’s first determine exactly what is a corded lawn mower and how do cordless lawn mowers work?

A corded lawn mower refers to a mower that has an electric motor and a cable attached and is therefore powered directly by mains electricity. The term ‘cordless lawn mower’ refers to an electric, rechargeable, battery-powered lawn mower. So, let’s take a look at the two options, including the advantages and disadvantages, in much more detail.

When considering a corded vs cordless lawn mower, to some extent your final decision might simply depend on the size of your lawn. For example, a lawn size of around 6m x 6m or less, might be considered ‘postage stamp’ size and therefore it might not warrant buying an expensive cordless lawn mower for such a small job.

As a rule of thumb, a lawn with a total area of up to 100m² is generally considered a small lawn, while a lawn with an area of between 100m² -300m² is considered a medium size lawn. A lawn with a total area above 300m² is best described as a large lawn. So, a corded mains operated lawnmower is likely to be much more suitable for a small to medium size lawn, while a cordless, battery-operated lawn mower is probably best suited for medium to larger size lawns.

When it comes to portability and weight, a basic corded lawn mower is generally much lighter than a cordless type, one reason being, its main component is a small electric motor. For example, the HYM3200e model weighs just 8.8 kg without the grass box. A cordless mower, however, such as the HYM40LI330P has an electric motor, rear roller, and a heavy lithium-ion battery and weighs in at 11.4kg.  

If you need to lift and carry your mower for any reason, for example, up steps then a corded lawn mower might be the best choice. A corded lawn mower is also much easier to push over the lawn due to its low weight.

A corded electric mower connects directly to the mains supply and therefore has a constant source of power. It can run for as long as required. However, if extension leads are connected then the amount of voltage power reaching the motor will likely be reduced. So, for this reason, it’s recommended you select a corded lawn mower for a lawn that is within 100 feet of the mains power supply.

A rechargeable cordless lawn mower incorporates the latest garden technology and has a similar electric motor to a corded lawnmower but will only run until the battery power is exhausted. This is typically around 20 minutes on average, before it will need to be recharged or a replacement battery is attached. A full recharge can take on average 80 minutes.

For ease of use, should you choose a corded or cordless lawnmower? Electric lawnmowers, both corded and cordless, are relatively easy to use. You simply plug in a corded lawnmower and switch it on. With a rechargeable lawn mower, you press a button and away you go. As a corded lawn mower is lighter, it does have a slight advantage on manoeuvrability. The only downside is the limiting cable.

If you want to know how long corded electric lawn mowers last then the answer depends on how often you use them and how well you look after them. Both corded and cordless lawnmowers need very little regular maintenance. If you clean your corded mower after each use to remove any compacted grass that might have accumulated on the blade and the undersides of the body, and then fold up the cable carefully, there is no reason why it shouldn’t last 10 years or more.

The same applies to a rechargeable battery-operated lawnmower, although the battery will begin to lose its capacity for holding a full charge over time. Normally, most batteries will last about 4 years before they need to be replaced.

Are battery powered lawn mowers noisy? No, is the simple answer and that applies to all electric lawn mowers, which is one major advantage of owning one. So, what are the disadvantages of a battery powered lawn mower? The battery itself can be a disadvantage in that it has to be charged each time before use.

If you have a large area of lawn, you might need to keep an extra battery on standby. When the battery can no longer hold a full charge, it should be recycled and not simply binned. Both battery-powered and corded lawnmowers are relatively environmentally friendly.

The least expensive type of lawnmower to buy is a standard corded version, which also costs very little to run. On average, a corded electric lawn mower with a 1000-watt motor will cost as little as 14p per hour to run. A cordless electric lawnmower is more expensive to purchase and overall, running costs will be higher. That’s mainly because the battery will become less efficient over time