3 Best Robotic Lawn Mowers of 2026, Expert-Tested and Reviewed

The robotic mowers in our ratings range in price from about $800 to $2,000. (For comparison, many of our top-rated battery walk-behind mowers are $400 to $800.) We evaluated them for cutting performance, their ability to maneuver around obstacles—including people and pets—and handle slopes. We also took into account their instructions and how easy they were to program, convenience features, safety, and noise levels. All of the robotic lawn mowers that we recommend get top marks for safety.

You give the mower guidelines on where to cut. You charge it. You set it free. Easy, right? Maybe. 

To be clear, you’re buying a piece of new tech when you buy a robot mower. Newer robotic mowers, like the ones in our ratings, rely on “vision” systems using AI, GPS, vSLAM (visual simultaneous localization and mapping), lidar (light detection and ranging), or other sensors to scan an area and determine what to cut and what to avoid. None of the models we tested required perimeter wire (like what you’d use for a dog’s invisible fence), as companies shift to wire-free automation. That means everything starts with downloading an app for your robot and with you feeling comfortable using it.

To automate lawn mowing successfully and choose the right robot mower, consider the following:

As with any lawn mower, you want to select a machine that will work with both the size of your lawn and the terrain.

“I don’t want to get a robotic mower that’s going to go out and spend an hour to only cut a third of my yard, and then have to charge and go back out and cut another third,” Regan says. We suspect you don’t want that either. 

Also consider the shape, he says. A flat, rectangular yard will be easier for a robot to navigate quickly than one with more slopes, rocks, trees, or walkways that may break up mowing areas. 

Many robotic mowers will leave short grass under 3 inches when the job is finished. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when Consumer Reports tests walk-behind mowers and tractors, we cut the grass to 3 inches and 3.5 inches, respectively. That’s because we know that longer grass is healthy in warmer months; it means stronger root structures, which can protect the grass from drought and sun.

Three of the robotic mowers in our ratings have a maximum cut height of under 3 inches. So if you want the option to mow the grass a little higher, pay attention to the mower’s maximum cut height, which we list on each model page.

Understanding the “vision” system of your mower and its level of sophistication is important to making sure it navigates your yard the way you want. For instance, mowers with GPS capabilities may be great at knowing exactly where to cut, but a lot of tall trees could challenge the mower’s ability to connect with a satellite signal. Other technologies may not perform as well at night, such as robotic mowers that rely on cameras for navigation—something to think about if you want to program your mower to cut the grass while you sleep. Our model pages include information on the vision system for each mower, as do the instruction manuals that come with each mower.

Some robotic mowers come with an external battery that you can remove (and replace with a charged one for a longer run time). But many have internal batteries that require recharging at a docking station. In that case, you’ll need to set up the base station in a place where the mower can navigate freely to and from the charging station when the battery is low.

Unlike traditional lawn mowers, robotic mowers and their charging stations are generally designed to be located outside during mowing months, rather than in a garage, so the mower can receive satellite signals. A robotic mower may also come with an antenna for you to install. The Segway Navimow i105N, for example, instructs users to place the antenna in an area where the sky above isn’t obstructed by trees or roofs. 

Keep in mind that you may still need to protect the mower from direct sunlight or extreme temperatures. Many companies make specially designed covers for these mowers that don’t interfere with signals. You’ll also want to properly store your robot mower in the off-season. Mammotion, for instance, provides guidance on winterizing your robotic mower.

One disadvantage of robotic mowers is that they’re easy for just about anyone to pick up. But they’re generally useless to anyone but the owner because most robotic mowers must connect to an app on your phone to work. Many apps will let you set a PIN to prevent unauthorized use. You can also get notifications when the mower is lifted or leaves a mowing area. Some mowers even have alarms that go off when they’re lifted (both an anti-theft and a safety feature). If the mower has GPS tracking, you can locate it if someone makes off with your robot.

The lawn at our test lab is roughly 2,100 square feet and has flower beds, a fence, a small patio, a narrow pathway, and a tree. The grass is between 1.5 and 2 inches tall (40 to 50 mm). We assess a robotic mower’s cutting performance by evaluating how well it handles standard grass, damp grass, long grass, uneven terrain, and slopes. We look at how evenly and cleanly the mower cuts, as well as how effectively it mulches clippings. We also evaluate how closely the mower can cut along a wall or fence line. 

We test the mower’s vision systems to determine how well the robot identifies and maneuvers around obstacles such as toys, balls, lawn debris (like sticks or piles of leaves), pets, and other wildlife the mower might encounter, like a squirrel or hedgehog. 

To evaluate safety, we assess whether the robotic mower stops when a person gets close to it and whether its blades stop automatically if someone attempts to lift it. We also simulate whether the mower will stop before accidentally running over a person’s foot. 

Finally, we assess the mower’s instructions and how easy the model is to program, operate, clean, and maintain, as well as the construction of the mower and its base station.