Are Robot Lawn Mowers Worth the Price? Here's What You Need to Know
With robot vacuums becoming an increasingly common addition to people's homes, the idea of using a robot lawn mower to maintain your yard doesn't feel so far-fetched anymore. Just like robot vacuums, robot lawnmowers can save you time and energy on mowing the grass and give you back more time in your day. It's an appealing idea, but with the price of robot lawnmowers ranging from anywhere between $1,000 to $3,0000, depending on the make, model and features, many people still think of them as an expensive novelty.
Robots can make life easier, but you're more likely to find the one on the left taking care of your yard than the one on the right.
Honda
As with any serious investment, you'll want to be well educated before you go dropping thousands of dollars. Don't worry, though -- CNET experts have done all the homework for you in our buying guide. In this article, we'll look at some key things you should know before shelling out your hard-earned money on robot lawnmowers.
What are robot lawn mowers and how do they work?
It's possible you've only recently been introduced to the concept of robot lawn mowers and you're wondering what exactly they are, and how they manage to provide a hands-free lawn mowing experience.
Put simply, robot lawn mowers are small, autonomous lawn-care units that map out and mow your lawn entirely on their own, with no labor required on your part. They typically rely on mapping technology, GPS, or limiting systems like perimeter wires to determine the extent of your property, and then they pass over your lawn in patterns, mowing as they go.
New innovations have made them more accurate, more efficient and more likely to negotiate the obstacles of your unique lawn without getting into trouble. And though they've hardly entered the realm of impulse purchase, prices have inevitably started to come down as manufacturers begin to produce them at greater scale.
The Lymow One has tank treads to traverse uneven yards and mulching blades to turn leaves into lawn fuel.
Lymow
New navigation tech means its easier to use
Recent advancements have made robot mowers even more precise and useful. According to Chris Price, senior manager of robotics engineering at Husqvarna (a leading robot mower manufacturer), the newest models no longer need to rely so heavily on older navigation tools like buried perimeter wires.
"Precision satellite navigation with RTK technology, such as Husqvarna's EPOS system, revolutionized the robotic mower space by eliminating the need for physical boundary wires," Price told CNET.
This new nav tech has unlocked advantages beyond just more-precise mowing and mapping. According to Price, the new tech, available in Husqvarna's latest iQ series of mowers, enables "incredibly efficient mowing patterns that can double the area capacity, reduce the installation time and maintenance" and leave your lawn looking perfectly striped in a way only traditional mowers have previously been capable of.
Husqvarna/CNET
Robot lawn mowers vs. traditional lawn mowers
Most robot lawn mowers are battery powered, meaning you don't need to worry about refueling them the way you do many traditional push or riding mowers. After they've completed a mowing cycle, they'll return to a charging dock, much the way robot vacuums do, and refill their battery while waiting for the next call to action. Many models, particularly on the high end, include sophisticated apps that let you modify the mower's behavior, including manually altering the coverage area or indicating that the mower should return to the dock automatically if it detects rainfall.
Aside from the freedom from fossil fuels, robot mowers have a number of advantages over traditional mowing. The most obvious is that they save you time: Instead of spending hours yourself each week, pushing or driving a traditional mower around your yard, you can lounge around in the sunshine deckside or attend to other chores while your robot buddy does your landscaping for you.
They're also significantly quieter than traditional mowers, especially the gas-powered variety with their deafening engines (though they're also quieter than even electric push mowers, which have larger, noisier blades and other components). And because of their size, robot mowers can get into smaller areas than some larger traditional mowers can. That said, they're not without their weaknesses.
With the properly sized robot lawn mower for your yard, your grass cutting days are behind you.
Chris Wedel/CNET
Pros and cons of robot lawn mowers
We've contrasted robot mowers with traditional mowers above, but they have some other advantages that may not be immediately evident.
Pros of robot lawn mowers
Environmentally friendly
Because robot vacuums almost universally are electric, they don't put out all those emissions you find with gas-powered lawn-care devices. Not only is this better for the environment as a whole, it can also make your personal environment a lot more pleasant. Your house and yard won't be suffused with the lingering stench of the exhaust belched out of a gas-powered mower, and you won't have to change out of gassy-smelling clothes to avoid repelling people.
Can improve your lawn's health and appearance
Robot lawn mowers aren't just convenient, they can actually be better for your lawn. Because you can mow more frequently with a robot than you're likely to do yourself, you won't have those days when your lawn starts to look shaggy or unkempt. More importantly, frequent mowing can encourage lateral grass growth, which results in a denser, healthier lawn. The same effect can choke out weeds, leading to a more uniform and appealing-looking lawn.
Lawn maintenance even while you're away
With a robot mower, you also won't need to worry about hiring landscapers or paying a neighborhood kid to mow your lawn while you're on vacation. Just set a regular schedule, or manually trigger a mowing cycle through the app, and your grass will look as meticulously tended as if you'd never left.
No annoying grass clippings to deal with
Robot mowers don't collect grass clippings, so you won't have to worry about disposing of giant bags of yard waste. And because they can mow more frequently, clippings are smaller and should decompose quickly, so they shouldn't be littering your lawn and you won't have to spend extra time raking them up.
Savings over time
Though robot mowers represent a fairly steep initial investment, they can save you money over time because you never have to worry about buying gas to fuel them up, paying for oil changes, or shelling out to a landscaping company for lawn maintenance.
Chris Wedel/CNET
Cons of robot lawn mowers
There are some downsides to robot mowers.
High up-front cost
You may ultimately save money over time, but you'll still need to put together a tidy sum to buy a robot mower in the first place. Though cheaper models can be had for $1,000 or less, a high-quality option will run you between $4,000 and $6,000 (or more).
Can struggle with mowing complicated lawns
Navigation tech has certainly improved, but it isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination. A robot mower can still struggle with complex lawn structures that involve a lot of slopes, oddly shaped obstacles or other impediments.
Maintenance costs
You may not be buying gas or paying for oil changes, but robot mowers still require maintenance. This can include everything from replacing the blades to installing a new battery, and some of those replacement costs can be fairly steep. That said, new adaptive mowing technologies may reduce overall maintenance costs, with many new robot mowers able to change speed and mowing height on the fly to reduce wear on the unit.
May struggle with fine edge cutting
Another consequence of imperfect mapping is that a robot lawn mower may struggle to get close to edges, especially if the edge in question is irregularly shaped. This means you may need to do a cleanup pass after your mower is finished to get a uniform, sharp edge around your property.
Are robot lawn mowers worth the money?
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
With all that in mind, is a modern robot lawn mower worth the money? The answer is a qualified yes.
A robot mower will be more valuable to some homeowners (or renters required to maintain a yard) than others. Of course if you're the type who genuinely enjoys yard work, you're likely in a need-not-apply position in regard to smart lawn tech, especially if you already own a push or riding mower you're happy with.
Robot mowers also aren't an ideal fit for anyone with a complicated lawn that has lots of uneven surfaces, changes in elevation or large obstacles. This applies if you're someone with kids who often leave toys in the yard or if you have portable play structures regularly set up behind your house -- you may spend as much time clearing the way for a robot mower and making sure its mapping is still correct as you would mowing the lawn yourself. Also, if you have a really small yard that takes only a few minutes to mow, spending thousands on a robot to do the work for you probably isn't a great investment.
iGarden
But if you have a large yard, and particularly if it's got lots of broad, flat spaces without many obstacles, a robot lawn mower can be a time saver. This is especially true for small businesses with large grassy areas -- they'll appreciate the savings-over-time aspect of a robot mower that sees lots of regular use. If you're constantly pumping ever-pricier fossil fuels into a traditional mower, the cost savings will make an immediate impact.
A robot mower is also a no-brainer for anyone who's extremely busy during the week and doesn't want to burn their precious weekend hours doing boring manual labor. In the same vein, anyone who's not often home during daylight hours -- like folks with an especially long commute or who typically work longer daytime shifts -- can reclaim some of those precious sunny hours with a robot mower purchase.
Segway/CNET
The future of robot lawn mowers
We're finally hitting the point where broad adoption of robot mowers looks more likely. Improvements in communication between mower units and GPS systems; better and more accurate boundary marking; and better built-in lidar or camera systems mean mapping improvements and more-accurate mowing. At the same time, more-efficient drive and power units mean that even smaller robot mowers may soon match the power of some of the current push and riding options. So though some people might decide now's the time for a robot mower, others may choose to wait for lower prices and improved tech.
Ultimately, the decision to invest in a robot lawn mower comes down to your individual needs, so consider carefully whether the up-front cost is worth the convenience, time-savings and potential long term savings a high-tech lawn buddy can provide.
FAQ: Robot lawn mowers
What is the best robot lawnmower?
At this time, we're still testing a variety of robot lawnmowers, including the Lithely, Eufy mower and Husqvarna iQ series, so we can't rule on the best one just yet, but we'll have an update soon.
Where does the grass go in a robot lawnmower?
For most robot lawnmowers, grass clippings aren't collected. Just like a regular electric lawnmower, the grass lays where it is cut. That's not really a problem, since the grass will simply decompose and act as natural fertilizer for your lawn.
How much do robot lawn mowers cost compared with traditional mowers?
Prices of robot lawn mowers can vary, with some mowers as affordable as $699, like the Husqvarna Automower 115H, and others running as much as $1,299, like the Segway Navimow Robot Mower i110N . That's still quite a bit more expensive than electric lawn mowers, which cost as little as $89 for a very basic Black and Decker push model or $250 for a Litheli U20.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
42 minutes ago
- Forbes
250 Million Acre Public Land Sale Would Ruin The Off-Road Industry
Ford Performance at the 2025 King of the Hammers in Southern California's Johnson Valley. Since President Trump took office in January, the amount of threats to anything considered public—from a large slice of our nation's workforce to the media—have been unrelenting. Earlier this month, these threats took on a new form: potentially robbing the American people of millions of acres of public land. Unveiled on June 11th and revised on the 14th, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee's budget reconciliation bill outlines over 250 million acres, to be slightly more exact, that could be offered up for sale to private business. As reported on by Jonathon Klein of Ride Apart, this could have a tremendous negative impact on not just our natural resources, but every corner of the outdoor industry as well. For those amongst us who enjoy off-road driving (or hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, cycling, climbing, etc.), the possibility of being cut-off from lands where we savor such activity is very real. Klein points out one particular swath of land in Southern California, Johnson Valley—home to one of the world's top off-road racing events, King of the Hammers—is on the chopping block, which would not only be detrimental to this event, but every single industry that's involved in it. Automakers, the aftermarket performance and racing industries, tourism, general outdoor equipment industries; the list goes on. Take that same scenario and multiply it by every other parcel of land that outdoor enthusiasts could lose access to, and the damage would be extensive. For a good overall picture of what's on the chopping block, The Wilderness Society has created a handy map. Competitors at the 2020 King of the Hammers in Johnson Valley, California. But why is all of this land potentially for sale? As stated in the bill itself, as much as $15 billion in revenue could come from expanded oil, gas, coal, and geothermal leasing. Other aims include increased housing production, domestic energy security and timber production, as well as, in the bill's summarized words, 'ensuring states and counties benefit from energy projects on federal lands.' The Wilderness Society has also outlined a handful of counter arguments. In its words, 'research suggests that very little of the land managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and USFS (US Forest Service) is actually suitable for housing.' It also explains that the federal government can revoke national monument status and that certain changes would negatively impact sovereign Tribal Nations. We can't forget the fact that increased energy production carries its own environmental hazards, too. It's all bad and very unnecessary. One thing that truly makes America great is its beautiful natural land that's here for all of us to savor, and this bill could cut off a very significant portion of it. And again, there's the immense adverse effect on every single outdoor industry, especially off-road driving and racing, and the massive amount of American companies that feed it. Contact your US senator and let them know how you feel. Especially if you live in Utah, which is Senator Mike Lee's turf. He's Chairman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the creator of this bill—ironically, as many as 18 million acres of his state's land could potentially be up for sale. That's a lot of territory for off-road driving, hunting, shooting, fishing, climbing, camping, hiking, mountain biking, and so on.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Spot Crypto ETF Filings for XRP, SOL, DOGE Among Those With Overwhelming SEC Approval Odds: Bloomberg
Odds are stacked that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approves most of the filed crypto exchange-traded funds, including the various XRP ETFs, by their respective deadlines, according to Bloomberg Analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas. 'We are raising our odds for the vast majority of the spot crypto ETF filings to 90% or higher,' Bloomberg Intelligence's James Seyffart said in a post on X. 'Engagement from the SEC is a very positive sign in our opinion.' According to the analysts, ETFs for assets like Litecoin, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Cardano all now sit at or above the 90% mark. These estimates reflect growing optimism from ETF specialists following a wave of 19b-4 acknowledgements and S-1 amendment requests from the Securities and Exchange Commission. Analysts view this back-and-forth process as a signal that the SEC is now more willing to work with issuers. The only asset lagging behind is SUI, filed solely by Canary. Bloomberg assigns it a 60% chance of approval, citing a lack of regulated futures and regulatory uncertainty. Bettors on Polymarket are also feeling optimistic. They are giving a 98% chance that an XRP ETF gets approved this year, and a 91% chance a SOL ETF gets the green light. It's also likely that a DOGE ETF gets a go-ahead, with bettors giving that a 71% chance of happening.
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
S&P 500-listed CEO Brian Armstrong warns of looming U.S. debt crisis
S&P 500-listed CEO Brian Armstrong warns of looming U.S. debt crisis originally appeared on TheStreet. Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, issued a dire warning about the state of the global economy this week, pointing to soaring debt, inflation, and declining economic freedom as the key drivers of rapidly increasing crypto adoption. In a post on X, Armstrong stated, "The world needs crypto, now more than ever," while posting a chart that U.S. federal debt surpassed $34 trillion. Armstrong characterized crypto as a means to regain financial sovereignty, giving individuals the ability to avoid centralized institutions and be able to access fast and cheap global payments. "Economic freedom means it's your money," he shared while referencing the growing demand for Bitcoin and stablecoins as an inflation hedge against out-of-control fiscal policy. His explanation of Coinbase's phased strategy is in three phases. It started as a crypto investment platform, expanded into financial services, and is evolving into an application layer for the next generation of internet tools. He continued explaining the growth of Bitcoin's all-time high and stablecoins, which are adopting more quickly as proof that crypto is "eating the financial services industry." Coinbase made four announcements at its 2025 State of Crypto Summit: Coinbase Business for startups; payment APIs for easy USDC settlements (with Shopify as a proof point), options trading via Deribit integration, and a new Coinbase card with an American Express partnership offering up to 4% Bitcoin rewards. "People are feeling a lack of trust in their money and deficit spending," Armstrong said. "Crypto is the solution—and Coinbase is leading the charge." He added that this movement is not just about price, but about "building a financial system from the ground up." S&P 500-listed CEO Brian Armstrong warns of looming U.S. debt crisis first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 20, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
