Robot mowers, riding mowers, or push mowers: which one is right for me?

Which should you choose: robot mower, riding mower, or push mower? These are all machines for routine lawn maintenance, and the answer to the question is straightforward: it greatly depends on the size of the area. As a rule, if you have a small lawn, less than 1,400 m², a push mower or a robot mower will do the job. With a medium-sized lawn, less than 4,000 m², or a small-medium lawn, you can go for a robot, a self-propelled lawnmower, i.e., with drive wheels, or a riding mower, depending on the case. If, instead, you have a large lawn, more than 4,000 m², a riding mower is basically the only option. This is the short answer, but the topic is worth a closer look, which is what we will do in this article.

Robot lawnmowers: when to choose them

The beauty of robot mowers is that they mow independently, without wasting time or effort. Once you have set it up, it calculates the mowing paths itself, so that it covers the entire lawn according to a certain pattern, proceeding slowly but steadily, cutting the grass little by little and frequently, with neat and uniform results.

The first step in setting it up, for models that require it, is to lay the perimeter wire to delimit the cutting area and the elements to be avoided (flower beds, walls, etc.). The Efco R 500i, R 1000i, and R 2000i robot mowers operate with perimeter wire, they cut according to a random pattern, and are designed to cover areas of varying sizes (recommended for up to 500, 1,000, and 2,000 m² respectively).

The next step is to program the mowing, for example, by deciding on the days and times: you can do this from your smartphone with the Efco Robot Mower free app In addition, at the start of the season, we recommend that you prepare the grass by cutting it with a “traditional” push or self-propelled mower to avoid overloading the robot.

So a robot is perfect if you don’t like mowing the lawn or can’t find the time to do so; it even takes care of it when you’re away from home. It is suitable if you have a small to medium-sized lawn, even if it is on a slope: Efco robots, for example, work on slopes with a gradient of up to 36%.

Let’s recap the main advantages of robot mowers:

• They are quiet, so you can program them to mow at any time, even in the evening or on weekends.

• They consume little energy to recharge their batteries.

• They require minimal maintenance, but to achieve a clean, effortless cut, it is important to replace the blades regularly because, as they work hard, they wear out more than the blades of a standard lawnmower.

• It avoids obstacles thanks to its perimeter wire and sensors, and in case of rain, it returns to the charging station on its own.

• It independently manages its working times and charging breaks, so you don’t have to worry about it stopping because its battery is low.

Robot vs push mower

If you have a small to medium-sized garden, you have several options for mowing the lawn. You can choose automated mowing with a robot, choosing the model based on the manufacturer’s specifications for the maximum mowing area.

Alternatively, you can go for a push mower. Our catalog offers various models with electric, battery, and combustion engines. In general, the power of a lawnmower depends on its power source, which determines its performance level, including its ability to cut larger or smaller areas. Depending on the model, with Efco push mowers you can mow up to:

• 700 m² with 40 V battery-powered mowers, such as the LRi 44 P.

• 800 m² with electric mowers such as the LR 48 PE COMFORT PLUS.

• 1,400 m² with combustion mowers such as the LR 48 PK COMFORT.

• 2,200 m² with professional 56 V battery-powered mowers, such as the LRi 548 P.

You could instead go for a self-propelled mower. Self-propelled mowers are more powerful and less tiring to use: thanks to their drive wheels, they move on their own, even on slopes. If you are interested in this topic, you can learn more about how to choose a self-propelled mower at the link.

A mower is faster than a robot, depending on its power and cutting width, as well as the skill of the person operating it. The quality of the result depends on both the sharpness of the blades and your accuracy or speed.

Another aspect to consider is maintenance. With lawnmowers, this depends on the power source: it is quicker for electric and battery-powered models, while it is more labor-intensive for mowers with a combustion engine.

In keeping with the topic of lawnmowers, here is a guide to choosing the right lawnmower and a summary of the aspects to consider before purchasing one.

Robot vs riding mower

While delegating lawn mowing to a robot is certainly handy, cutting the grass yourself on a riding mower or behind a push mower allows you to keep an eye on your garden: for example, you can see if the fence needs fixing or if a plant urgently needs pruning.

If you have a medium-sized or large garden, a riding mower is the best choice, which should be calibrated according to the type of mower and its characteristics. For example, for areas up to 4,000 m², we recommend a compact and maneuverable rider such as the ZEPHYR 72/12.5 K H, which allows you to easily navigate around obstacles (trees, flower beds, garden furniture, etc.).

Alternatively, you can go for a small rear discharge riding mower such as the EF 86 R/12.5 K M, which mows up to 4,000 m² and also gives you the option of mulching. For even larger gardens, we offer numerous models with different power ratings and cutting widths: from the EF 92 R/16 K, which can mow up to 5,000 m², to the EF 125/22 V for lawns up to 9,000 m².

In addition to collecting the cut grass in a special bag, these riding mowers can also dispose of it through the rear discharge, a useful option where there is no need to collect it or where mulching is not worthwhile, such as in the countryside. What’s more, with the right accessories, you can also use your riding mower for extra jobs, such as towing a trailer, rolling a surface, and clearing snow.

Compared to robots and push mowers, riding mowers are powerful and versatile. They get the job done quickly, in proportion to the power and width of the machine’s cutting deck. They are essential for a large garden, but can be cumbersome if the garden is small.

If riding mowers are right for you, here are our tips for buying a riding mower and our guide to choosing not only for the garden, but for working in the countryside and woods as well. We have also prepared an article with an overview of accessories for riding mowers.