The Best Mowers

Brand guide · Updated May 2026

Ryobi Lawn Mowers

If you own a Ryobi drill — and a surprising number of UK households do, mostly bought from Homebase or B&Q on a wet Saturday — then a Ryobi lawn mower is genuinely the rational choice. Same battery, same charger, same colour scheme. The 18V ONE+ platform now spans 280 tools and counting. The mowers themselves aren\'t the absolute best in any category, but they\'re the best value by a country mile, and that\'s usually what matters.

Best Ryobi lawn mowers

#1
R
Best for mid-size lawns, ONE+ owners

Ryobi RY18LMX40A-150

Ryobi

★★★★
£269

The bestselling Ryobi mower in the UK and the one to buy if you already own a Ryobi drill, hedge trimmer or strimmer. Buy bare-tool and you're under £160 for a real 40 cm deck — unbeatable value.

Pros

  • + 18V ONE+ — same battery as your drill
  • + 40 cm deck, brushless motor
  • + Self-propelled variant available

Cons

  • − Single 18V can struggle on damp grass
  • − Cut-height adjustment is fiddly
#2
R
Best for larger lawns up to 600 m²

Ryobi RY36LMX46A-150

Ryobi

★★★★★
£449

The 36V version steps up to a proper mid-size mower. The twin-18V system runs both batteries together for the higher voltage and gives you 50–60 minutes of runtime — easily enough for 600 m² of typical UK lawn.

Pros

  • + 36V MAX — twin 18V batteries in series
  • + 46 cm steel-reinforced deck
  • + Mulching plug included

Cons

  • − Heavier at 26 kg
  • − Twin batteries cost more to replace
#3
R
Best for budget Ryobi cordless

Ryobi RY18LMH37A

Ryobi

★★★★
£199

If you don't need 40 cm and don't want to spend £270, this is the entry point into the Ryobi cordless mower range. Brushless motor at this price was almost unheard of in 2022 — now it's standard.

Pros

  • + Cheapest decent Ryobi cordless
  • + 37 cm deck for small-medium lawns
  • + Brushless motor at this price

Cons

  • − Smaller grass box (40 L)
  • − Plastic deck flexes a touch

The 18V ONE+ and 36V MAX battery platforms explained

Ryobi runs two cordless platforms in the UK and they overlap a bit. 18V ONE+ is the original lineup — over 280 tools, batteries from 1.5 Ah to 12 Ah, lime-green accent. The mowers in this range use a single battery for the lower-power models and two batteries for higher-output ones (the second slot doubles runtime, doesn\'t increase voltage). 36V MAX is the newer high-output platform — a different battery shape, higher voltage, properly competitive with Bosch 36V Power for All. Most Ryobi outdoor tools are 18V; only the bigger mowers, blowers and chainsaws are 36V MAX.

The honest answer for buyers: if you have a small lawn and any other Ryobi 18V tools, stick with the 18V mower. If you have a bigger lawn (over 400 m²) and you\'re building a fresh garden tool kit from scratch, go straight to 36V MAX — it\'s the future of the range.

Where Ryobi fits vs rivals

Ryobi sits in the value-meets-ecosystem corner. Bosch is the obvious rival — better build quality, better dealer network, slightly worse value, smaller tool range. Makita and DeWalt are the trade-grade alternatives — significantly more expensive but harder-wearing. Worx is the closest direct competitor on price and ecosystem (the Worx 20V platform plays similar games). For most domestic UK buyers, the real choice is Ryobi vs Bosch — and Ryobi wins on tool count, Bosch wins on per-tool quality.

Common quirks and known issues

Three things crop up in our long-term Ryobi mower fleet. The cut-height lever is fiddly — it works fine but it\'s not as satisfying as Bosch\'s single-lever system. The grass box on the 18V models is a bit small for the deck width — you\'ll empty more often. And single-18V mowers stall on damp tussocky grass — if your lawn doesn\'t get mown weekly, get the 36V MAX or buy two 4 Ah batteries to share. None of these are dealbreakers; just things to know.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ryobi a good brand for lawn mowers?+
For cordless mowers, yes — particularly if you already own other Ryobi tools. The build quality is mid-tier (not Makita, not Bosch, but solid), the price is excellent, and the ONE+ battery platform is the main reason to buy in. As a one-and-done mower bought in isolation, you might be better served by a Bosch. As a 6th tool added to a Ryobi arsenal, it's the obvious choice.
Are Ryobi 18V batteries interchangeable across all their tools?+
Yes — every Ryobi ONE+ tool sold since 1996 takes the same 18V battery. Drills, mowers, hedge trimmers, blowers, strimmers, drain cleaners, vacuum cleaners, even fans and radios. Over 280 tools currently on the platform. It's the biggest selling point of the brand.
How long does a Ryobi lawn mower battery last on a charge?+
On a single 4 Ah 18V battery: roughly 25–30 minutes on dry grass, 15–20 minutes on damp. On a 6 Ah HP battery: 35–45 minutes. The 36V MAX twin-battery system gives 50–60 minutes. Good for 200–400 m² on a 4 Ah, 600 m² on the 36V.
Where is Ryobi made?+
Most Ryobi power tools and outdoor tools sold in the UK are designed by Techtronic Industries (TTI, also owns Milwaukee and Vax) and manufactured in China. The Ryobi name and original engineering come from Japan. Quality control is consistent — you're not buying a no-name from Ryobi.
Are Ryobi mowers self-propelled?+
The RY18LMX40A and RY36LMX46A are available in both push and self-propelled versions. The self-propelled adds about £80–£100 and is worth it if your lawn is over 400 m² or has any slope.
Does the Ryobi battery work with non-Ryobi mowers?+
No — but third-party adapters exist that let Ryobi 18V batteries fit DeWalt and Milwaukee tools. Quality is hit-and-miss; we wouldn't use one for a high-current load like a mower.