The Best Mowers

Brand guide · Updated May 2026

Makita Lawn Mowers

Makita is the brand UK tradesmen reach for first. Drills, impact drivers, circular saws, sanders, the lot — all on the LXT 18V platform that has dominated the trade for two decades. The lawn mowers are a logical extension: same battery, same build standards, same teal-and-blue colour scheme. They\'re not the cheapest mowers (nothing Makita ever is) but if you already own four LXT tools, the mower is the obvious next addition. Here\'s what to know.

Best Makita lawn mowers

#1
M
Best for LXT owners with medium lawns

Makita DLM382Z (twin 18V LXT)

Makita

★★★★★
£429 bare

The DLM382Z is the obvious cordless for the army of UK tradesmen who already own LXT drills, impact drivers and circular saws. Plug two of your existing 18V batteries in, mow, charge.

Pros

  • + Twin-18V LXT — runs two of your existing batteries
  • + 38 cm deck, brushless
  • + Trade-grade build

Cons

  • − Bare-tool only on most retailers
  • − Smaller deck than equivalent Bosch
Read full review →
#2
M
Best for premium cordless self-propelled

Makita LM003GZ (40V XGT)

Makita

★★★★★
£599 bare

A trade-grade cordless mower on Makita's newer 40V XGT platform. Same battery as the XGT chainsaw, brushcutter and blower — designed for sustained commercial use. For domestic UK gardens over 600 m², worth considering.

Pros

  • + 40V Max XGT — Makita's next-gen platform
  • + 53 cm deck, self-propelled
  • + Built for daily commercial use

Cons

  • − XGT batteries are expensive (£200+ for 4.0 Ah)
  • − Overkill for small domestic lawns
Read full review →
#3
M
Best for small lawns, single-battery LXT

Makita DLM330Z (single 18V)

Makita

★★★★★
£249 bare

The starter Makita. Single-battery LXT, 33 cm deck, fine for under-150 m² lawns. Not the cheapest in the category but if you're already in the LXT ecosystem, you're saving the battery cost.

Pros

  • + 33 cm deck for tight gardens
  • + Single 18V LXT battery
  • + Genuine Makita build

Cons

  • − Smaller battery means shorter runtime
  • − Push only at this size
Read full review →

The Makita range explained

Makita splits its mowers across two battery platforms. LXT 18V models (codes starting with DLM) — twin-battery for higher voltage, runs on the same 18V cells as Makita drills and impact drivers. Hundreds of compatible tools across the line. XGT 40V Max models (codes starting with LM) — newer commercial-grade platform with bigger batteries for sustained heavy use. Mowers, chainsaws, brushcutters, blowers all share the same XGT cells. There\'s no Makita corded electric, no petrol, no robot, no ride-on. Cordless only.

Where Makita fits vs rivals

Makita is the trade-grade Japanese option. DeWalt is the closest direct rival — broadly equivalent quality, similar pricing, slightly more limited UK garden range. Bosch and Ryobi sit below on price and tool count. Stihl is the dealer-network alternative at similar quality. For most domestic UK buyers, Makita makes sense if you\'re already in the LXT ecosystem; otherwise Bosch is the better starting point.

Frequently asked questions

Are Makita lawn mowers worth the price?+
For tradesmen and serious DIYers already in the LXT or XGT ecosystem, absolutely — buying bare-tool means a £429 mower runs on batteries you already own. For someone buying their first cordless tool of any kind, Makita is hard to justify against Bosch or Ryobi which offer 70% of the build quality at 60% of the price.
LXT vs XGT — which Makita platform should I buy?+
LXT is the long-running 18V platform with hundreds of compatible tools — drills, saws, lights, vacuums, mowers — most popular Makita tools live here. XGT is the newer 40V Max platform, designed for higher-current commercial use (chainsaws, mowers, large circular saws). They're not cross-compatible. If you're already heavily invested in LXT, stick with it for the mower. If you're starting fresh and plan to do heavy outdoor work, XGT.
Where is Makita based?+
Japanese — founded in 1915. Modern Makita tools are designed in Japan and manufactured at Makita-owned plants in Japan, China, Brazil, Romania, Thailand and the UK (Telford). Quality is consistent across the range.
Are Makita batteries really better than Ryobi or Bosch?+
Slightly, in measurable ways. Makita's 18V LXT cells run cooler under sustained load, charge faster on the rapid charger, and the BMS firmware is the most refined in the consumer cordless market. The differences are real but modest — maybe 10–15% better cell longevity over the lifetime of the battery.
Can I use Ryobi or DeWalt batteries in a Makita mower?+
No, and beware of third-party adapters. The voltage matches, but the BMS communication protocols differ — running a non-Makita battery through an adapter can damage either the battery or the mower's motor controller. Stick with genuine Makita.