Which is the Best Petrol Lawn Mower?
Table of Contents
- Which is the Best Petrol Lawn Mower?
- Best Petrol Mowers by Size
- Best Petrol Mowers by Brand
- Best petrol mowers by price and features
- Best cheap petrol mower under £200: Einhell Self-propelled GC-PM 40
- Best petrol mower with electric start: Cobra MX484
- Best petrol mower for rough and uneven ground: McCulloch M40
- Best petrol cylinder mower with roller for stripes: Allett Kensington
- Best petrol hover mower for slopes: Flymo XL500
- Best zero turn mower
- The Best Lawnmower Petrol Can
- Petrol Mower Buyer’s Guide
- Petrol Mower FAQ
- Common Petrol Mower Problems
Petrol lawn mowers are ideal for medium-to-large lawns. If you’re looking to replace your petrol lawnmower or buy one for the first time, you’re in the right place. In this guide I will Include several petrol mower reviews, covering the best petrol lawn mowers in the UK.
The best petrol mower for your garden depends primarily on your lawn. How big is it? Is the ground smooth or rough? You also need to consider your personal preferences. Do you like a regal striped lawn? Do you want to mulch the grass clippings? Do you prefer push mowers or self-propelled mowers?
Whichever your preference, in this monster post I’ve found the cream of the crop—the best petrol lawnmowers on the market—and organised them into three sections:
- Best petrol mowers by size
- Best petrol mowers by brand
- Best petrol mowers by price and features
At the bottom, I also include a buyer’s guide to petrol mowers, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Best Petrol Mowers by Size
The first factor to consider is size. An 18 inch petrol mower might fit a small garden quite well, but medium-to-large gardens of over 700m² will require larger — ideally self-propelled — petrol mowers. Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time. mowing the lawn.
To get your mowing done quickly, look for a mower that fits your lawn. Large lawns over 1500m² are best served by a ride-on mower or a garden tractor. But for most of us in rural or suburban UK, a petrol mower—either push or self-propelled—will be enough to tackle the garden with ease.
Best petrol mower for large lawns: Hyundai self-propelled
- 508mm / 20" cutting width: Ideal for medium to large lawns
- 196cc Hyundai 4-stroke petrol engine: Provides easy starting and low fuel consumption
- Electric-start with recoil backup: Get started at the push of a button
You can’t miss this bright fluorescent blue beast from Hyundai.
This mower is powerful. It can cut through long wet grass with no problems at all. This is a heavy duty mower, with a solid design, and a speedy self-driving mechanism that will chomp around your lawn in minutes.
Assembling the mower is very easy. And can easily be completed by anyone. With an ounce of common sense.
If you have a larger lawn or a gently sloping lawn, this Hyundai mower is ideal. The only downside, for elderly people, Is that the self-driving mechanism is quite fast for an elderly person’s gait.
It is also not the lightest mower. So be careful trying to lift it on your own if you are not very strong.
Tech Spec
- 196cc Hyundai air cooled 4 stroke petrol engine
- Treated steel chassis
- Easy start with electric push button
- 510 mm cutting width, Ideal for medium and large lawns
- Foldable handles for storage
- Six cutting heights from 25mm to 75mm
- Single cutting height lever
- 70-litre grass bag (Can be used without grass bag if you wish to leave the cuttings on the lawn)
Read about the similar P1 in my Hyundai P1 review.
Best petrol mower for medium gardens: Frisky Fox
- WOLF 'DYNAMIC' 5.5HP 4 STROKE PETROL ENGINE
- SINGLE LEVER HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT RANGING BETWEEN 25mm to 75mm
- SELF PROPELLED VIA GEARBOX WITH THROTTLE SPEED CONTROLLER
The Frisky Fox is a fine creature indeed. This mower is fantastic for the price.
It has a solid build quality, and will plow through wet grass (though cutting in the dry is advised) and surge up hills.
It cuts very well for a rotary mower and the speed is very adjustable – from a slow, crawling, walking speed, to a nice brisk pace.
Sure, this is not the ideal machine for frail elderly, but it’s very suitable for able bodied adults.
Be aware that the manual is a bit useless, but the mower is not very difficult to assemble.
Tech spec
- 5.5hp 4 stroke engine
- Single lever cutting height adjustment, from 25mm to 75mm
- 4 in 1 cutting options: Cut, cut and collect, mulch, or side discharge
- 2 Year Warranty
Check the full Frisky Fox review
Best petrol mower for small lawns: Einhell GC-PM 40
- Four stroke Einhell OHV engine with one cylinder
- Disengage able rear-wheel drive
- Central cutting height adjustment, five levels
This small Einhell petrol mower is the best petrol mower for a small garden. It is both very well built and surprisingly quiet.
You have some solid German build quality, and enough power to make mowing the lawn a pleasure.
The grass box is easily removed and replaced, and it has enough capacity for plenty of mowing before needing to dispose of the clippings.
This Einhell is an ideal petrol alternative to an electric mower for small gardens, and at only 18.5kg, this is the best lightweight petrol mower on the market.
Tech spec
- Four stroke Einhell OHV engine with one cylinder
- Disengage able rear-wheel drive
- Central cutting height adjustment, five levels
- Sturdy plastic housing for agile handling
- Extra-high rear ejector for good catching resultRead the full review of the Einhell GC PM 40
Best Petrol Mowers by Brand
If you are loyal to a specific brand, check out this section for my top picks from popular manufacturers.
Which are the best petrol lawn mower brands?
The brand is important when selecting a lawnmower. Well-established brands have a reputation to maintain while the better new brands work very hard to establish their reputation. It is always a good idea to consider the brand but don’t avoid the new brands completely as many of them are doing exceptionally well.
- Honda has a fantastic reputation for manufacturing solid lawn mowers, along with scooters, cars, and most other things that come out of their factory. Honda engines are very good and also well-serviceable.
- Briggs & Stratton is an American classic lawnmower engine maker, and it has a reputation for creating reliable engines. The firm has been making small engines since 1908.
- Allett and Webb are great manufacturers of classic English cylinder petrol mowers.
- Hyundai is a Korean manufacturer that has created some great little lawnmowers. Their service is generally good and they produce affordable products.
- Mountfield is an old name that also ranks highly. Mountfield has a solid reputation for robust durable lawnmowers with good power. They work hard and perform well.
- Flymo is probably best known for its bright orange, lightweight electric lawnmowers. These are great for small areas and float just above the lawn. They have not neglected the petrol side of the market and are now a leading brand in robust easy to use petrol lawnmowers.
- Yard Force has a wide range of affordable lawnmowers. They tend to focus on the budget end of the market but they have been going for a while and offer a decent warranty.
- Titan Pro might not be the most well-known brand name but they produce some innovative quality lawnmowers and other garden equipment. They are building a good reputation in this market.
- Cobra is a UK-based company that makes a range of quality garden equipment. The quality and service are not bad at all.
- McCulloch has an extensive range of quality garden equipment. They are constantly innovating and have some quality products.
Best Honda petrol mower: Honda Izy
The Honda Izy is a classic petrol mower from a quality manufacturer.It is robust and reliable enough to be considered the lawn mower equivalent of a Honda Cub motorcycle or Toyota Hilux pickup.
This one should keep going for years, and keep your lawn in tiptop condition. That’s why the Honda Izy is a common choice for professional lawncare businesses
Dive right into my full review of the Honda IZY (Push)
Best Hyundai petrol mower: Hyundai HYM480 SPER
- 480mm / 19" cutting width: Ideal for medium to large lawns
- 139cc Hyundai 4-stroke petrol engine: Provides easy starting and low fuel consumption
- Electric-start with recoil backup: Get started at the push of a button
This 139cc Hyundai mower comes with a Hyundai 3 year platinum warranty. It starts easily and has enough power to tackle tough grass or slopes.
Be aware that the mower is slightly heavy, and runs quite fast. Elderly people might struggle to keep up with this grass-eating racehorse!
Tech Spec
- 4-stroke 139cc engine
- 48cm cutting width
- Ribbed rear roller
- Single point cutting height adjustmen from 25mm to 75mm
- 70litre grass collection box
- Foldable handles for compact storage.
Best petrol mowers by price and features
If you want to buy a mower at specific price point, or are on the look out for certain features. This is the section for you.
Best cheap petrol mower under £200: Einhell Self-propelled GC-PM 40
- Four stroke Einhell OHV engine with one cylinder
- Disengage able rear-wheel drive
- Central cutting height adjustment, five levels
I’m a big fan of Einhell mowers and this one doesn’t disappoint.
The mower is easy to assemble, and simple to setup. It has sufficient power for most lawns an will easily chomp through long grass.
The motor is quiet, and the mower is easy to manouevre. The self-propelled mechanism pulls the machine along nicely, and grass is fed neatly into the grass collection box.
If you are undecided between a cheap petrol mower and an electric for a small-to-medium sized lawn, I would highly recommend opting for this model. I doubt you can buy a better lawnmower for the price.
Tech spec
- 4-stroke engine with 1 cylinder
- Self-propelled with disengageable rear-wheel drive
- Nine cutting heights from 30 mm to 80 mm
- Folding handle for easy storage in minimal space
Best petrol mower with electric start: Cobra MX484
- 48cm (19in) Petrol Lawnmower with steel deck and 4 speed drive system, from 2.5km/h to 3.9km/h speeds
- Push button electric starting, with a powerful Cobra Y173V 173cc engine
- 6 Stage central height of cut adjustment, from 25mm to 75mm - Tackles longer grass with ease, as well as finer cut lawns
The Cobra MX484 has an electric start, and a pull start for backup. The mower is heavy, but it is very well-built, and easy to use. It is ideal for medium and large lawns.
Tech spec
- 48cm (19in) cutting width
- Push button electric start
- 4 speed drive system, from 2.5km/h to 3.9km/h
- 173cc engine
- 6 cutting heights from 25mm to 75mm
- 65l grass collection bag
Best petrol mower for rough and uneven ground: McCulloch M40
Mowers with large diameter wheels are better-suited to rough terrain, and this McCulloch petrol mower should do the job for most lawns — assuming your garden doesn’t resemble the surface of the moon.
It is easy to assemble, and very simple to use. But make sure to leave it on the highest setting for rough ground.
You may also want to consider a self-propelled mower if you are concerned about the difficulty of wrangling this heavy mower over rough patces of ground.
For an alternative mower that is also good for rough ground, consider the Murray EQ500X.
Best petrol cylinder mower with roller for stripes: Allett Kensington
Allett lawnmowers are for professionals groundskeepers, and the quality reflects that. The Allett Kensington is one of the best Allett cylinder mowers available, and will leave your garden with that traditional striped finish, and a fine cut suitable for a bowling green.
The Kensington specifically allows you to engineer the perfect lawn by micro-adjusting a cutting height from 6mm – 32mm. It comes with a large grass box, and should last a lifetime of mowing with careful maintenance.
Best petrol hover mower for slopes: Flymo XL500
This is a classic Flymo petrol mower with a very powerful motor. This hover mower is ideal for cutting sloping lawns, but be aware that it is a bulky mower and very heavy to carry when it is not running. Thus this mower is not ideal if you have steps leading up to your lawn, or need to carry it far.
If you want to buy this mower but are concerned about the weight, consider investing in the Flymo XL500 wheel kit.
Best zero turn mower
- Side discharge or grass collection
- Cutting height from 20mm to 95mm
- 22" width of cut
Zero turn mowers are quite unique in that they are designed with the mowing deck not underneath the mower but in front of it. They have two front wheels that swivel. This design allows them to swivel and pivot in one place. The benefit of this is that they are fast and extremely accurate. They are ideal for intricate lawns with complex shapes. When mowing in a straight line, you simply lock the wheels and operate as you would with a conventional lawnmower.
Apart from the zero turn design, this is a robust lawnmower from Titan Pro that sports a powerful KOHLER Courage XT775 engine. The power and torque are impressive and it has a durable gearbox transmission made from cast aluminium. It has a one-touch height adjustment system that sets the cutting height from 20 to 90mm for a perfect cut. The generous 80L collection bag makes your job faster and more efficient. If you prefer, it also has a mulching option.
The 56cm cutting width makes quick work of your mowing and the design allows for flexibility and precision.
Tech Spec
- KOHLER Courage XT775 engine
- 56cm cutting width
- 3-in-one Cutting options including side discharge, mulch, or grass bag
- One-touch height adjustment
- Large 80-liter grass collection bag
- Cast aluminium gearbox
The Best Lawnmower Petrol Can
If you are using a petrol lawnmower it makes sense to have a quality petrol can. They make the job of topping the fuel up much easier and less messy. i looked at a few of the leading options and this is the favourite:
- Colour: white
- Capacity: 6 L
- With litre marking
This is a well-priced petrol can that gets the job done effectively and efficiently. It is a basic design but works exceptionally well. It has a 6-Liter capacity and has markings on the side if you need a specific amount of petrol. The design is robust and easy to use. At a fraction over a kilogram, it is light and easy to manage.
- Dimensions 44.5 x 13.5 x 26.1 cm
- Weight 1.04 kg
Petrol Mower Buyer’s Guide
Before you click through and purchase a petrol lawn mower, consider a few of these points first:
Lawn size
Mismatch your mower wit your lawn and you will either be struggling to maneuver a heavy duty mower around a postage stamp garden, or spending hours pushing a tiny mower around your vast lawn. The smaller your lawn is, then the smaller the cutting width can be. A 16 inch mower may fit a small garden, but you will want a 20+ inch mower for large lawns to cut down on time spent.
Terrain
If your garden is sloping, you might want to use a self-propelled petrol mower, as this will be easier to drive up the slope. If your garden is rough, consider buying a robust mower with bigger wheels to handle the terrain.
Your fitness level
If you don’t have much muscle, you might opt for a self-propelled mower even for a small garden. But be careful not to get one that goes too fast if you are not a confident walker.
Features
Mulching mowers will help you fertilise your lawn naturally, and mowers with a roller will leave regal stripes on your lawn. Make sure you buy a mower with the features that will make your lawn look how you like.
Noise
In many environments, the noise your lawnmower puts out can be a major issue. If you live in an isolated area, no problem. If your neighbours are close, noise can be an issue. It means that you cannot mow too early or too late and even if you mow during the day, you might irritate those near you.
Some lawnmowers are quieter than others. Electric models make the least noise but are not always practical. When considering options, look at the noise that they produce. This is normally measured in decibels, (dB). If your environment requires it, go for one of the quieter options.
Fuel consumption
The cost of fuel has increased exponentially over recent years and this trend looks set to continue. This makes the cost of running a petrol lawnmower more expensive. In fairness, the cost of electricity in the UK has also increased.
To avoid spending too much money on fuel, look for a petrol lawnmower that has good fuel consumption. Most of the modern models use less fuel than the older options. This will save you money and is also better for the environment.
Mulching
Mulching is a great benefit. A lawnmower that has a mulching feature will chop the grass blades into very small pieces. These can be left on the lawn. As the mulched grass breaks down, it returns essential nutrients to the soil.
This enriches the soil for a happier healthier lawn. It saves money as one does not have to invest in lawn fertilizer. The other benefits are that it saves time and the cut grass does not need to be cleared away and the process is environmentally friendly. It is a handy option to have in most gardens. It can save you time and money and is better for the environment.
Storage
In the colder months, it is unlikely that the lawnmower will be needed much if at all. During this period, as well as between regular mowing in the warmer months, the lawnmower needs to be stored. Large petrol lawnmowers can be difficult to store particularly if you do not have a lot of space. Some models are a lot more compact and therefore easier to store. Handles that fold also makes the mower easier to store.
Self-Propelled or Push Petrol Mower?
Modern push petrol lawnmowers are light and easy to move. They are ideal for small to medium gardens that are relatively flat. On average, they are less expensive than self-propelled lawnmowers. If you have a larger lawn area or steep banks, you might want to consider a self-propelled lawnmower. These will require less effort and make the job faster and easier.
Rear Roller
If you want to create that professional striped effect on your lawn then you will need a lawnmower with a rear roller. This will give you that Wimbledon or football pitch look. It does not work for all garden styles but can look stunning in the right environment. It does take a bit more time and effort to achieve this look so give it some thought before insisting on this feature. It generally looks better in larger gardens that are fairly flat.
Electric start
Some people have difficulty or simply do not enjoy pulling a cord (recoil starter) to get the lawnmower started. If this is the case, an electric start is a great convenience. The only thing to remember is that this will require a battery that either needs to be charged or replaced from time to time. Some models have both an electric start as well as a recoil start. This is a handy feature in case the battery is flat or the electric starter fails for any other reason.
Grass box
If you are not mulching and do not have a grass box, you will have to rake up all the grass clipping and dispose of them after mowing. This can be time-consuming. A grass box, unless you plan to mulch, is a good idea. The ideal size of the grass box is largely determined by the size of your lawn. A larger box will require less time and effort as you will need to empty it less often.
The only downside to a large grass box is that when it is getting full it makes the lawnmower heavier and a bit more difficult to move. Give some thought to the size of your lawn area and the distance to where you dump the cut grass. This will guide you in selecting the ideal size for your garden.
Variable speeds
A self-propelled lawnmower often comes with one speed. This is normally the average person walks at. While this is suitable for most people in many environments, there are times when variable speed would be more suitable. If the grass is long, the garden shape intricate, or the operator is not that fast, variable speed will be beneficial.
Carry handles
Moving a lawnmower over a path or driveway, from one part of the garden to another, or when putting it back into storage can be tricky. Convenient carry handles will make this task easier. Without them, the lawnmower can be difficult to move so look for handy carry handles to make the job less difficult.
Petrol Mower FAQ
Where do I buy the petrol for a lawn mower?
Don’t go pushing your mower all the way to the petrol station, or siphoning petrol out of neighbour’s cars, but take a jerrycan to the petrol station and fill it up. This is legal, but some filling stations may their own rules.
Warning: do not smoke in the car while transporting petrol!
Which oil should I use for a petrol mower?
Grade SAE-30 is generally a safe bet, but this will depend on the specifics of your mower. Check the instruction manual to determine the oil type and amount required. If you can’t find anything, you can use Briggs & Stratton oil checker.
How to start a petrol mower after winter?
If your petrol mower won’t start after hibernation, then the reason is often related to fuel – specifically fuel inside the petrol tank which has mixed with water. This can interfere with the spark plugs, so you may need to change the petrol or the plug.
To avoid this, empty the fuel tank after the final cut of the season by siphoning it off, or just run the mower until it conks out before long-term storage. Hayter have a full guide to preparing lawn mowers for winter.
Common Petrol Mower Problems
Why is my petrol mower smoking?
Sure, a smoking mower can be slightly scary, but it’s usually easily solved.
If the oil chamber is too full, or if oil has leaked on to the exhaust or any other hot part of the engine mechanism, it may simply be burning off and creating smoke. This is particularly likely if you have recently changed your oil or tipped the mower up at an angle.Solve the problem by either letting the oil burn off, or cleaning it off manually.
If the mower is not smoking due to spilled oil, you may have a more serious problem.
Why is my petrol mower chugging?
Jumpy mowers that rev and die down suddenly can be caused by poorly adjusted or corroded spark plugs. Check all the connections and check for corrosion.
Poorly adjusted carburetors can also cause engine issues, and on some mower models this can be adjusted with screws. I’d advise you to check the manual of your specific mower.
Airflow problems can also cause sudden engine surges and slowdowns. To fix this, simply check the air filter to ensure that it’s not blocked. Clearing blockages should solve the problem.
Why is my petrol mower overheating?
Blocked air vents, or a dirty engine, can cause overheating. To fix it, remove the casing and give it a good clean, ideally with compressed air or a brush. If vents or cooling components like fans are broken, they may need to be replaced.
Low oil levels can also cause lawn mowers to overheat by creating friction. SImply allow the lawn mower to cool. down, and then add oil.
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