The Best Mowers

Brand guide · Updated May 2026

Stihl Lawn Mowers

Stihl is the brand that local landscapers swear by — and it\'s not a coincidence. Privately-owned German company since 1926, dealer-only sales (you won\'t find one at B&Q), built like proper trade tools. The mowers are excellent, particularly the petrol push range and the AP-platform cordless. The catch: you pay a premium for the build, and there are no Stihl mowers under £400. Worth knowing before you start shopping.

Best Stihl lawn mowers

#1
S
Best for premium petrol push

Stihl RM 248

Stihl

★★★★★
£549

A petrol push mower built like trade gear. Stihl after-sales is the strongest in the UK petrol category — every reasonable-sized town has a Stihl dealer with parts in stock.

Pros

  • + Stihl-built EVC engine
  • + Single-lever cut height
  • + Best UK petrol-mower dealer network

Cons

  • − Push only — no self-propelled
  • − Premium for a 46 cm push mower
Read full review →
#2
S
Best for cordless on AK platform

Stihl RMA 339 C

Stihl

★★★★★
£399

Stihl's consumer cordless mower on the AK battery platform — same battery as the AK hedge trimmer, blower and chainsaw. Not the best mower at the price (Bosch wins) but the best build quality at the price.

Pros

  • + Stihl AK shared battery system
  • + 37 cm deck, brushless motor
  • + Comfort-grade ergonomics

Cons

  • − Battery sold separately on most retailers
  • − Smaller battery range than Bosch/Ryobi
Read full review →
#3
S
Best for professional cordless on AP

Stihl RMA 765 V

Stihl

★★★★★
£999

A commercial-grade cordless mower on the Stihl AP battery system used by professional landscapers. For a serious lawn (1,000 m²+) where you want trade reliability without petrol maintenance, this is the answer.

Pros

  • + Stihl AP commercial battery platform
  • + 63 cm deck, self-propelled
  • + Built for sustained heavy use

Cons

  • − Pricey for domestic use
  • − AP batteries are commercial-priced
Read full review →

The Stihl range explained

Stihl runs three lawn mower ranges. RM — petrol mowers (RM 2.0, RM 248, RM 545 etc., the number is the deck width-ish). RMA — battery-cordless mowers on either AK (consumer) or AP (commercial) batteries. iMOW — robot mowers, less mature than Husqvarna Automower but improving. There\'s no Stihl ride-on, no electric corded, no hover. Stihl is choosy about what it makes.

Where Stihl fits vs rivals

Husqvarna is the obvious cross-shop. Both are premium dealer-network brands, both Scandinavian-feeling, both expensive. Husqvarna has the edge on robots and ride-ons; Stihl edges petrol push mowers. Makita is the trade-grade cordless rival — broadly equivalent quality, slightly different battery philosophy. For a domestic UK garden, the question is usually "Stihl petrol vs Honda petrol" or "Stihl cordless vs Bosch cordless" — and the answer depends on whether you value dealer support over price.

Frequently asked questions

Are Stihl lawn mowers worth the premium?+
For petrol push mowers and trade-grade cordless, yes — Stihl build quality is genuinely a step up from mainstream brands and the dealer network is unmatched in the UK. For consumer-grade cordless on small lawns, the price premium over Bosch or Ryobi is harder to justify unless you're building a Stihl tool ecosystem.
What is the difference between Stihl AK and AP batteries?+
AK is the consumer/homeowner platform — smaller batteries (1.4–4.0 Ah), lower current, lighter tools. AP is the professional/commercial platform — larger batteries (4.0–9.4 Ah), higher sustained current, designed for daily 8-hour landscaping use. Tools are not cross-compatible between the two systems.
Are Stihl mowers made in Germany?+
Yes — Stihl is a privately-owned German company (founded 1926) with production in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the United States. Most Stihl mowers sold in the UK are German-made. The company famously refuses to sell through DIY mass-market channels — you buy through specialist Stihl dealers, which is why the dealer network is so strong.
Stihl vs Husqvarna — which is better?+
Honestly, they're neck-and-neck on quality. Stihl tends to lead on petrol push mowers and chainsaws; Husqvarna leads on robot mowers and ride-ons. On cordless, both have solid platforms with different battery systems. Pick whichever has the closer dealer.
Why don't supermarkets and DIY stores sell Stihl?+
Stihl chose decades ago not to distribute through mass-market retailers. The reasoning: dealer-only sales mean parts are always available, advice is genuine, and the brand stays premium. The downside: you can't bulk-buy a Stihl from B&Q on a Saturday, you have to find a dealer.