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The Best Robotic Lawn Mowers

A full season on three lawns, including one with a slope problem.

By Tom Brennan, Garden & Outdoor Editor · Published August 7, 2026 · 2 min read

Freshly mown lawn with cut stripes

Photograph: JJ Skys the Limit / StockSnap

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We ran four mowers across a season on lawns of 400, 1,200 and 3,800 m².

Cut quality is a long game

Robot mowers cut a little, often. Lawns look worse for three weeks and then better than a weekly cylinder cut.

Our picks

Independently tested

Freshly mown lawn with cut stripes
Best Premium

Husqvarna Automower 450X NERA

Handles large, sloping, awkward lawns without a boundary wire.

Score
8.8 / 10
Price band
$4,000 – $5,000

Best for: Large lawns with awkward shapes

Price band last checked 2026-08-07. Live pricing arrives with our retailer feed.

Methodology

Every product here was tested in a working home against standardised tasks. Scores are the mean of five measured criteria and are never adjusted for commercial reasons. How we test · How we review.

Frequently asked

Do robot mowers work on slopes?
The best handle 45%. Most budget models stall above 25% and will scalp the turf trying.

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