Always on a mission to test products on the site, we've decided to up our game on how we test cordless lawn mowers to provide you with more accuracy and consistency when deciding which mower you should buy. Our methodology is rolled out across all cordless mowers during the at-home tests carried out by reviewers in the US and the UK, where the lawn mowers are available to purchase at your leisure.
You'll see our scores (awarded out of 10) in our guide to the best cordless lawn mowers and the best ride-on and robot lawn mowers, which are also powered by batteries. These scores will also be reflected in standalone reviews.
Here, we'll explain exactly what those tests are and why we do them, so you can easily compare the cordless lawn mowers we feature on Top Ten Reviews and draw your conclusions about them.
Noise level test (dB)
Testing the noise level of the yard care tools and appliances we review is one of the core protocols we adhere to. While some products may include the noise level readings in their specifications, others don't, and the readings could be inaccurate.
While cordless lawn mowers are generally quieter than gas lawn mowers, some can be louder than others. And it's not just the lawn mower that can generate some decibels — the battery chargers can also be held responsible for vibrating our eardrums.
A cordless lawn mower should have a decibel meter reading of around 90dB, equivalent to a dishwasher. The battery charger should be anything but a whisper.
We record the noise using a decibel meter reading app on our smartphones or a dedicated sound level meter while the lawn mower is running yet in a stationary position. We'll then identify what this noise is equivalent to using our own knowledge or a Google search to help us put it into perspective. This same process is followed when assessing the battery charger noise levels.
Battery life (hrs and minutes)
We also test the cordless lawn mowers' run time and charge time. Since the battery is the lawn mower's power source, we know just how important it is to have enough juice to finish the task at hand. Again, while the specifications may show this, they may be inaccurate. And, of course, if something as important as battery life is missing, we do our due diligence to include it in our key specifications highlighted in our standalone reviews.
Our review panel does this in one of two ways: either run the mower switched on but stationary or see how far it can go before it runs out of power. The time is recorded using a stopwatch from when the lawn mower is turned on with a full battery to when it cuts out due to a lack of energy.
This process is repeated while recording the time it takes to recharge the batteries. The only difference is that the battery is located where our reviewer can see it at all times.
Set up time
From the packaging used during the delivery process to the unpacking and set-up involvement, we've made it our mission to include this test as another of our core protocols.
Based on this, we recognize that setting up a new product can make or break the purchase intent. This is why we time how long it takes (in minutes and hours) to set up the cordless lawn mower. While some mowers may arrive fairly well assembled, others may have a few parts to fix together that require your toolset.
Most of the lawn mowers that our review panel has had hands-on experience with a relatively seamless installation process, but the instructions could be clearer than the images we're often presented with. It's worth noting that lawnmowers with a larger deck size may require two persons to remove it from the delivery box, too, owing to the size and weight of the machine.
Cutting performance
It goes without saying that the primary reason you want to buy a cordless lawn mower is to cut the grass in your yard. Unless it can do this, the reason for owning the mower is obsolete. That's why we test the cutting performance.
Regardless of the type of grass (cool or warm-season), the cordless lawn mower should be able to tackle it without sweating.
Our review panel tries out several of the cutting heights to gauge which is the most suitable for their yard. Those with uneven ground would prefer a higher-cutting setting than those with more level terrain. They'll also assess how easy the lawn mower is to maneuver and whether it gives the grass a clean cut.
Cordless lawn mowers that boast a bagger will also be evaluated on how well they collect grass clippings and how much they can hold before requiring emptying. If the lawn mower can also mulch and/or side discharge, then the effectiveness of this will also be noted.
We acknowledge that the cutting performance is a personal preference and can differ from yard to yard. We are explicit about this in our reviews by being clear about the lay of the land and which cutting feature (bag, mulch, or side discharge) the review panel opted for.
Further testing
Blade
We carry out the "apple cutting" test as a further testing analysis for the cordless lawn mowers we review. This test assesses the cutting power and sharpness of the blade and evaluates what is left over after the fruit has been run over.
The review panel does this by placing an apple in front of the lawn mower, switching on the lawn mower, and plowing over the apple.
Design
The design of cordless lawn mowers varies widely, which can often relate to the amount of set-up involved; those with more features could take longer to install.
Our review panel considers the overall appearance of the lawn mower. For example, did it have headlights? Reviews also note the measurements and weight as a very high-level review of the machine.
To delve a little deeper, attention then turns to any dials or levers being donned on the mower and any storage solutions. One of the criteria we see more of is the ease of storing large outdoor yard tools; the best a lawn mower could offer is a foldable handlebar and/or the ability to be hung up while not in use.
Care and maintenance
Once the cordless lawn mower has been used, we, as consumers, want to look after it in the best way possible to ensure that we can effectively continue to test it. Being wise about how to maintain a cordless lawn mower will help to extend the mower's lifetime and improve performance.
This section of our reviews goes beyond what the review panel already notes about recharging the battery and emptying the bagger and delves a little deeper into suggesting any brand-specific advice on looking after the mower, such as where to find a replacement blade.
Smart features
Should the cordless lawn mower be connected to the home Wi-Fi to make it smart in any way, our review panel will also asses this. The associated app will be downloaded, and the capabilities of being a smart lawn mower will be tested. While this is a rare occurrence, we are ready and waiting for a smart cordless lawn mower — especially one that can tell us when the battery is charged so we can get mowed again after a short while.
Find out how we test other yard tools and home appliances.
