Petrol Lawn Mowers UK - Buying Guide and Top 10 Rated Mowers

Thanks for taking your time to read our information on the best petrol lawnmowers, that are currently available on the UK market. There are a large number of these available from brands such as Einhell, Honda, Hyundai, McCulloch, Mountfield, Murray Sprint, Yardforce, Webb etc.

The main differences in these mowers is:

  • Mainly the engine that is used, with some being 2-stroke and some being 4-stroke, and made by different manufacturers
  • Manual push vs being self-propelled
  • The cutting width which varies from as low as 39cm to 63 cm (the wider the cut, the quicker you get the grass cut)
  • The number of cutting heights available and the range of cutting depths (puts you in charge of how you r grass actually looks)
  • The options for collecting the cuttings and the capacity of the grass box (important as it can save you time)
  • The garden lawn area that they are designed to be used for (very important to understand)
  • The price range - varies from around £200 and all the way up to £1,000+ depending on what features you want to have
petrol lawn mower reviews

In this article we will take a much closer look, at the best petrol lawn mowers currently available in the UK market. The good news is that you do not have to check for a great deal of complex features.

More often than not, many people will simply be driven by their budget or by their favourite brand. There are a few things though that we believe are important before you make your final buying decision. So irrespective of which brand you like, or how much you are willing to spend, below you will find a list of other important considerations to take into account.

These are:

  • The power of the motor - important for heavier use or more regular use
  • The width of the cut - very important especially if you have a larger garden, the wider the cut the quicker you will be able to get the garden finished
  • The capacity of the collecting grass box - if you want to cut down on the number of trips from the cutting area to the bin or compost heap
  • How easy they are to start - many of these can be a nightmare to get started
  • How easy they are too look after and maintain - most petrol mowers do need regular maintenance so worth checking out what you will need to do.

Most of the above features are self-explanatory, so I will not bore you with all of the details. Suffice to say, that generally speaking the bigger the motor, and the bigger the cutting width, then the faster you will be able to cut your grass.

Below you will find a more detailed buying guide for petrol driven mowers. We have listed every model available on the UK market that we could find, with a short description of each one. These are listed by brand name.

Top 7 Highest Rated Petrol Lawnmowers in the UK

Hyundai Lightweight 40cm 79cc 4 Stroke Push Rotary Petrol Lawnmower Review

86% buyer satisfaction based on 350+ online buyer reviews

  •  This is a 79cc 4 stroke push rotary mower which is designed to be light in weight and also durable and built to last
  • It has a 16" (40cm) cutting width so a good choice for small to medium sized lawns
  • It has a 40 litre grass collection box
  • There are 6 cutting heights all controlled by a single lever to adjust all 4 wheels with a cutting range of 25-75 mm (1-3")
  • The handle folds down for quick and simple storage
  • This mower is covered by a 3 year warranty

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • Buyers thought this was very good value for money and a great choice for small to medium sized gardens
  • Buyers also thought it was simple to assemble and more importantly easy to start, though a few buyers didn't think it was that easy
  • Buyers said that this works extremely well on wet grass where their old electric mower just got clogged up

Murray EQ300 Self-propelled Petrol Lawn Mower Review

88% buyer satisfaction based on 1,100+ online buyer reviews

  •  This Murray model is powered by the reliable Briggs & Stratton 300E Series engine
  • It is classed as a 2-in-1 Cutting System with rear discharge and collection of clippings
  • The handle bar that is adjustable in three heights
  • The mower also folds for easier storage
  • The mower has 6 height-of-cut positions that can be set with two levers
  • Comes with a 2-Year Limited Consumer Warranty
    This mower requires 0.5 Litre SAE30 4-stroke oil for the engine which is not included

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • There are lots of online buyer reviews for this model so it sells really well

As you can see the German Einhell brand is a popular option for many online UK buyers. This one has been out for a few years, has plenty of buyer reviews and remains a highly popular choice. This is a well engineered and well made mower which buyers really do seem to like.

Hyundai HYM510SPE 196 cc Self Propelled Electric Push Button Start Petrol Lawn Mower Review

90% buyer satisfaction based on 600+ online buyer reviews

  • This one has the popular Hyundai 196cc 4 stroke petrol engine
  • It has a push button electric start and Recoil pull start backup
  • It is a self propelled mower with 4 variable speeds
  • It has rear wheel drive
  • The height is adjusted with a lever and thee are 6 cutting heights 25 mm to 75 mm
  • Has both rear and side and there are collect and drop and mulching cutting options
  • Has a huge 70 litre grass collector with grass level indicator
  • There are quick release folding handles for simple and easy storage
  • Best choice for larger gardens

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • This is a heavy duty machine and buyers with large lawns really seemed to like this model
  • Buyers said this mower is really well built
  • Buyers said it takes about half an hour to assemble
  • Buyers loved the electric start option
  • Buyers also said this was very good on slopes and had great traction

If you have a large lawn this does seem to be the one to go for. It is heavy though so just be aware of that.

Hyundai HYM430SP Self Propelled 139cc Petrol Lawn Mower Review

90% buyer satisfaction based on 500+ online buyer reviews

  • Hyundai 139cc 4 stroke petrol engine
  • It has a 42 cm cutting width making it ideal for small to medium sized gardens
  • It is a self propelled drive to save time and effort
  • It has a rear discharge, cut and Drop and mulching cutting options
  • Uses a single lever cutting height adjustment with 6 settings from 25 mm to 70 mm
  • Easy recoil start with contact less ignition system
  • Has a 45 litre grass collector

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • Buyers said it is very easy to start
  • They also said it handles long grass with ease
  • They liked the press steel deck
  • A few buyers said it was harder to use on uneven lawns

As you can see the Hyundai brand is a popular option for many online UK buyers. This one topped our list and has plenty of buyer reviews and remains a highly popular choice. This is a well engineered and well made mower which buyers really do seem to like.

Hyundai HYM460SPE 4-Stroke Petrol Lawnmower Review

92% buyer satisfaction based on 250+ online buyer reviews

  • 2019 Hyundai 139cc 4 stroke petrol engine
  • 46cm cutting width ideal for medium to large sized lawns
  • Simple push button electric start with recoil start backup
  • Self propelled to help take the effort out of mowing
  • Single lever central height adjuster - six cutting heights 25mm to 75mm
  • Large wheels for ease of manoeuvrability especially on uneven lawns
  • Cut and collect, cut and drop, side discharge and mulching cutting options
    Large 70 litre grass collector with level indicator so you spend more time mowing and less time emptying

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • Uses a single blade to do the cutting and the blades are widely available at many online stores and in some Retail stores
  • Easy to assemble, easy to use and easy to manoeuver
  • Buyers say the cutting depth is easy to adjust
  • The self drive on this is very good and runs at a nice steady pace without being aggressive
  • Buyers stated that it starts first time and that oil usage is very low
  • A few buyers said the grass container will fall off if you go over a bump

As you can see the German Einhell brand is a popular option for many online UK buyers. This one has been out for a few years, has plenty of buyer reviews and remains a highly popular choice. This is a well engineered and well made mower which buyers really do seem to like.

Yard Force 46cm (18") Self Propelled Rotary Petrol Lawnmower with 140cc Briggs & Stratton 500 Series Engine Review

92% buyer satisfaction based on 250+ online buyer reviews

  • 125 cc Briggs & Stratton 450E engine - a tough strong self-propelled engine and ideal for lsmall to medium sized lawns
  • One cylinder 4 stroke engine - High torque for dealing with either long or dense grass
    41 cm cutting width, 5 adjustable cutting heights from 30-80 mm
  • 45 litre grass collection box
  • Black and orange colour
    Measures 51.5 x 95.5 x 134 cm and weighs 21.5 kg
  • Rear wheel drive
  • Steel housing that has been powder coated for additional protection
  • Folding handle
  • Fuel tank capacity 0.8 litres
  • 1.65 kw of power

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • Uses a single blade to do the cutting and the blades are widely available at many online stores and in some Retail stores
  • Easy to assemble, easy to use and easy to manoeuver
  • Buyers say the cutting depth is easy to adjust
  • The self drive on this is very good and runs at a nice steady pace without being aggressive
  • Buyers stated that it starts first time and that oil usage is very low
  • A few buyers said the grass container will fall off if you go over a bump

As you can see the German Einhell brand is a popular option for many online UK buyers. This one has been out for a few years, has plenty of buyer reviews and remains a highly popular choice. This is a well engineered and well made mower which buyers really do seem to like.

Einhell GC-PM 46 4 S Self Propelled Petrol Lawnmower Review

86% buyer satisfaction based on 300+ online buyer reviews

  • 125cc Briggs and Stratton 450E Series engine with 1,650 watts of power
  • Recommended for lawns up to 1,400 square metres
  • 18" (46 cm) cutting width
  • 9 cutting heights available 30-80 mm
  • 50 litre textile grass bag with level indicator
  • Distinct red colour
  • Self propelled lawnmower
  • Measures 77.5 x 53 x 43 cm and weighs 34 kg
  • Folding and adjustable handle
  • Soft grip handle
  • Disengageable rear wheel drive

What Buyers Liked and Didn't Like

  • Overall buyers rated this one highly and a good choice for small to medium sized gardens
  • Buyers said that it started well and started every single time.
  • Buyers also said this model was very quiet, changing cutting heights was very easy
  • The main complaint about this model was the rear wheel drive packed in after a few months and they had to get the mower replaced under warranty
  • The mower is heavy and that makes it hard to negotiate tight spaces

There are a few of these German Einhell branded petrol mowers available but this one refers to the GC-PM 46 S model. It gets good ratings from buyers though a few found it just too heavy to easily move around.

Top Tips on Buying a Petrol Mower

Below we will offer you some important tips for buying a petrol lawnmower. You should find these really helpful especially if you are a first time buyer.

People make the switch to a petrol mower for a few different reasons. Mainly they change as they don't like using mowers with leads that need plugged into the electricity mains. More often than not that also means having to use an extension lead, as the electric lead on the mower is seldom long enough.

For some petrol buyers they also like the freedom of not having a lead and that way they can use it anywhere without having to worry about a power source. Some others buy petrol mowers as they are more powerful and they also will cut the lawn a great deal quicker. They are also much better for cutting thicker, longer and even wet grass. So as you can see, there are plenty of good reasons to make the switch.

Finally it is worth mentioning that some men are just "petrol heads" and like engines.

Explaining Self Propelled for Lawnmowers

Many mowers have what is called a rear wheel drive and this engages when the motor starts. That engagement then helps push the mower forwards and does most of the work, so as you don't have to push it. This is really useful especially on slopes.

Not all petrol mowers have this so just be aware of that. The better petrol mowers also allow for the rear wheel drive to be temporarily disconnected. That is useful if you want to work in a confined space or have the full control of the mower.

Explaining Engine Size in Petrol Mowers

Most petrol mowers use a 4 stroke single cylinder engine. These engines are usually measured in something like 139cc. In essence this is how the size of the engine is measured. Smaller garden appliances like a hedge trimmer will have a 2-stroke engine, but larger mowers use a 4 stroke engine. The general rule of thumb is the bigger the engine the more power it will have.

Explaining Grass Collection Boxes on Petrol Mowers

This is the container that catches the grass from the rear of the mower during the cutting process. The smaller petrol mowers will have 50 litre boxes and the larger ones will have 70 litre boxes. The bigger the box the less times you will have to empty it. Some of these boxes will have a level indicator that you can view without having to remove the container from the mower.

Explaining Grass Cutting Heights for Petrol Mowers

Experienced gardeners will know that grass should be cut at different heights depending on the seasons. Some people prefer shorter grass whereas others like a more lush feel to their lawns. That is why it is important to length of cut options. Almost every good quality petrol mower will have these. That means you can decide how tall your grass should be by selecting the height, which is usually done by adjusting a handle.

Average UK Garden Sizes

This will vary from area to area across England. City gardens tend to be a lot smaller than rural gardens. Heavily populated areas tend to have a lot more buildings and that of course takes up more land. According to the Science of Where website the average garden size is:

  • Leeds 181 square metres
  • Bradford 178 square metres
  • Sheffield 171 square metres
  • Birmingham 171 square metres
  • Greater Manchester 156 square metres
  • Coventry 154 square metres
  • Sunderland 142 square metres
  • Nottingham 133 square metres
  • Leicester 127 square metres
  • Bristol 124 square metres
  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne 121 square metres
  • Liverpool 111 square metres
  • Brighton & Hove 111 square metres
  • Greater London 100 square metres

So typically an average city garden is about 6 metres by 25 metres. In the suburbs they are usually larger. They get even bigger in the country areas. Town houses tend to have small gardens, semi-detached are bigger and detached are bigger again as a general rule of thumb.

Thanks for visiting our UK gardening website which is made to help any beginner gardener. Many people enjoy their garden and our tips and advice are all written to help you get the most out of your outdoor space.

The website team are a group of experienced gardeners who share useful information and we were all beginner gardeners at some point. Enjoy!

- Enda mclarnon