Last Updated on July 16, 2025 by Duncan

By now, you must have heard a lot about robot lawn mowers, and you are wondering whether it’s worth getting a new one.

The truth is that it depends on your situation. To help you out, here are some of the situations that make it worth getting a robot lawn mower:

You are looking for better performance

A decent robot mower can cut as well as a manual one. High-end robot mowers can provide an even better cut because you can program them to create stripes and patterns in your lawn.

A robot lawnmower provides a professional finish with considerably less effort, saving you money on hiring a landscaper. The very finest models will even detect how long your grass has grown and modify their cutting routines to ensure a uniform cut.

Some can even detect rain and change their mowing schedule to accommodate the moisture level in your lawn.

While this is the case, you should note that the effect reduces as the yard grows larger. Robot mowers typically mow in a random pattern, mowing small portions of the yard frequently, which results in a patchy finish that is less consistent than that of a larger mower.

When operating a robotic lawnmower, there are various technical considerations to consider. Since most robots lack grass collectors, they deposit the clippings directly onto the lawn.

This is beneficial to lawn health because it recycles nutrients from the grass clippings directly into the soil. This can result in clusters of grass clippings on your lawn, which can appear unsightly.

If your kids play on the lawn, you may notice that they track grass back into the house. Furthermore, it limits how you can use grass clippings.

Cutting grass into a grass bag allows you to reuse the green material in your compost or as mulch, something you would not be able to do if it were left on the lawn.

You are looking for a lawnmower that is easy to use

Robot mowers are far easier to operate than walk-behind or ride-on mowers. They complete all of the job for you while you focus on other responsibilities.

Although they eventually become simple, setting up a robot mower can be a challenging task. Unlike robot vacuums, which use cameras and lasers to navigate, most robot mowers cannot identify a lawn’s edge. Most robot mowers use boundary wires to avoid running into walls or flower beds.

Boundary wires are used to designate the boundary of a lawn. The robot detects the wire using a magnetic field, which allows it to determine where to stop.

This requires you to lay wire along the entire perimeter of your yard. Depending on the size of your yard, this could involve installing hundreds of feet of wire.

If you enjoy gardening and frequently go in and out of flowerbeds, or if you dislike the appearance of a wire around the perimeter of your lawn, you should bury the wire. This involves a significant amount of additional labor.

Some robot lawn mower businesses offer free installation. In contrast, others charge a fee, and you are responsible for handling it yourself. It isn’t the most difficult chore in the world, but don’t expect your robot mower to be ready to use right away.

You have a hill rot in your yard.

If you have a hilly lot, robot mowers are a great option. Robot mowers are surprisingly adept at conquering inclines due to their lightweight design and low ground clearance.

Some models can manage hills of up to 35 degrees, which is more than twice the incline of most ride-on and walk-behind mowers. It’s a lot safer and more productive way to mow hills, but make sure you get a model designed for steep inclines.

While robots excel on hills, they are not always effective on rugged terrain. Robots can become trapped on tufts of grass and must be freed from them. So, if you have lumpy grass, this may not be the ideal investment.

Your yard isn’t too big.

If you have a large yard, a robot lawn mower is not worth the investment. Robots typically reach a maximum size of two acres. If your yard is larger than this, you will need to invest in a commercial model, which doesn’t come cheap.

To be honest, most American homes are on half-acre lots. However, if you have enough money to consider purchasing a robot, you probably have a larger lawn.

In more rural states, your plot is likely to be a few acres. In this instance, you’ll need a ride-on mower, such as a tractor or a zero-turn. These are better suited to dealing with larger lawns.

While this is the case, if you have a little yard, it may be worth considering this lawn mower. A ride-on mower isn’t worth using on an acre or half an acre of grass, but a walk-behind mower can take a couple of hours to get through.

If you don’t enjoy mowing or simply want to free up some time in your hectic schedule, a robot mower can be well worth it.

You want a safer way to mow your lawn.

The prospect of a mindless mowing machine loose in your yard, near pets, children, or pricey plants, is a little unnerving.

The cool thing is that robot lawnmowers have a variety of built-in safety precautions, such as blades that stop automatically when the mower is raised, indicating that they are safe to use if the recommendations are followed.

When purchasing a safe unit, consider factors such as how quickly the mower stops when someone is nearby or if it is triggered by contact with someone or something, whether the mower can be picked up while in use, and whether the blade stops instantly or after a few seconds.

You want convenience

Most modern robot lawnmower models feature apps that allow you to control and plan your mowing from your smartphone.

You can create automated tasks for particular zones on your lawn that specify when and how to mow. And you can do it all while relaxing on the couch inside, watching cricket.

FAQs

Can robot lawnmowers avoid obstacles?

Unfortunately, because robot mowers do not employ cameras or lasers, they are unable to identify obstructions such as toys or dog messes. Robot mowers perform best when there are no potential obstructions.

Should you buy a robot lawnmower?

Robot lawnmowers can be a fantastic and easy alternative if you dislike mowing the grass and have the money (and don’t mind a little work setting it up to become autonomous).

If you’re considering buying one, be sure to measure your lawn first to avoid purchasing a more expensive model than necessary.