I tested the LawnMaster hover lawn mower on my dog-ravaged lawn and found it makes light work of awkward and uneven spaces

The LawnMaster 1800W Electric Hover Lawn Mower is designed for medium to large-sized gardens and offers a lightweight, highly manoeuvrable solution for tricky lawns, curved edges and uneven ground. With a 36cm cutting width and a 26-litre translucent grass collection box, this powerful hover mower makes light work of regular mowing. It floats on a cushion of air, helping you glide easily over bumpy, compacted lawns where traditional wheeled mowers can struggle.

I tested the LawnMaster hover mower across the month of May, tackling a lawn that hadn’t seen rain in weeks and had been thoroughly churned up by a playful golden retriever. I focused on how well the mower handled tough grass conditions, how easy it was to push and steer around tight corners, and how cleanly it cut. I also looked at how easy it was to set up, adjust the cutting height (between 12mm and 33mm), and store away after use.

Read on to see how the LawnMaster 1800W performed under pressure, and discover more about the clever features that make it one of the best lawnmowers for a medium-sized garden.

Specifications

• Suitable for: Medium to large lawns
• Power: 1800W corded electric
• Propulsion: Manual push with air-cushion hover support
• Cutting options: Cuts, collects, mulches and compacts grass
• Deck material: Lightweight but durable plastic
• Weight: 8.38kg
• Dimensions: Compact and space-efficient (folds for storage)
• Cutting width: 36cm
• Cutting height: 12mm to 33mm (adjustable with spacers)
• Grass collection: 26L translucent box with compaction
• Cable length: 15m
• Blade: Reversible metal blade, sharpened on both sides
• Folding: Yes – handles fold over body for compact storage

How I tested

Joanne

I'm Joanne, a freelance writer for Ideal Home. My job involves putting a range of garden products and other appliances through their paces to find the best recommendations for our readers. I put the LawnMaster 1800W Electric Hover Lawn Mower to use in my small urban garden and at a friend’s garden lawn in May after a long period with no rain.

Unboxing and setting up

The LawnMaster 1800W Hover Mower arrived in a cardboard box, with just a few plastic ties and sleeves to dispose of – a win for anyone trying to keep their packaging waste low.

The assembly took a little patience. The instruction manual was clear enough, but connecting the upper and lower handles feels like a two-person job – trying to hold everything steady while tightening the wing knobs solo is doable, but super tricky.

Once in place, though, the handles felt solid, and the 15m power cable clipped neatly along the frame using the provided cable clips. A thoughtful extra: the height adjustment spanner conveniently clips onto the central bar, so you’re not rummaging through the shed when you need it.

Once set up, this mower really shines. There’s no waiting around for a battery to charge – you just plug in and go. The powerful 1800W motor gives it a satisfying boost, and the mower glides smoothly on its cushion of air.

What really impressed me was the option to switch to mulch mode. By adjusting the chute and flicking the mulch mode selector, you can prevent grass from being collected in the box. Instead, the finely cut clippings are scattered back onto your lawn, where they naturally break down and feed the grass. It’s a handy, eco-friendly option for when your lawn doesn’t need a full collection.

The 26-litre grass box clicks easily into place, and when you do want to collect clippings, it compacts them well to reduce emptying trips. Just close up the collection chute and switch out of mulch mode.

Lawn mowing

Once everything was assembled, it was time to get mowing. I didn’t need to worry about charging a battery — just plug in the generous 15m cable and off you go. It gives you plenty of range, especially in medium-sized gardens, without the constant hassle of unplugging and relocating. Plus, there’s no anxiety about your battery giving up on you mid-cut.

Before starting, I adjusted the cutting height using the supplied spanner. It was a quick and easy job: simply loosen the nut, add or remove a spacer, and retighten. I started with a mid-height setting – a good choice for giving the lawn a tidy-up without taking too much off the top. You’ve got four height options in total, from 12mm for a close cut to 33mm for longer grass, which makes this mower super flexible for different seasons and grass conditions.

Starting the mower was as simple as pressing the safety button and squeezing the handle. It’s worth noting this mower is on the louder side at 96 dB (that 1800W motor delivers real power), but it does make a fair bit of noise. You might want to consider ear protection if you're using it for extended periods, or at least avoid waking up the neighbours early on a Sunday morning.

The hover action made manoeuvring around flowerbeds and curved lawn edges easy. It felt lightweight and agile, even on sloping or uneven ground.

The 26L grass box was easy to lift out and empty, but what I really liked was the option to switch to mulch mode. A simple lever adjusts the chute, letting you return finely chopped clippings to your lawn — great for feeding the grass and cutting down on waste.

The foam-covered handle is comfortable and folds down neatly for storage, but it only comes in one fixed height. Taller or shorter users might find themselves bending slightly while mowing.

While the 15m power cable gives you loads of reach, there’s no built-in hook or tidy clip on the mower itself for stowing it neatly after use, so you’ll need to find a way to coil and store it. I wrapped it around the handles to keep it from getting tangled up in the shed.

Ease of use

Cutting the grass with the LawnMaster hover mower was a breeze. Once plugged in, it was ready to go – no waiting around for batteries to charge, just a quick press of the button and pull of the handle, and I was off.

The mower floated easily over most of my lawn, making light work of general mowing and gliding smoothly around borders and awkward curves.

That said, parts of my lawn have been seriously rutted by a boisterous golden retriever, and in those bumpier areas, the mower did struggle a little to maintain lift. I had to give it a nudge to keep it moving, but that’s to be expected with any hover mower on very uneven ground.

I tested the mower in mulch and collection modes, and both had their perks. When set to mulch, barely any grass ended up in the collection box, which was exactly what I wanted. The mulching feature worked brilliantly, letting airflow in and returning tiny clippings to the lawn as a natural fertiliser – ideal for a quick tidy-up without having to empty the box.

On a separate mow with the mulch mode turned off, the mower did a great job of collecting and compacting the clippings into the 26L grass box. Emptying was straightforward – it simply lifts out from the top, and tipping the contents into the compost bin was no hassle at all.

Cleaning the mower afterwards was refreshingly easy. The underside of the deck is nice and simple, with no fiddly crevices, and the blade, which is impressively sharp, wiped clean with just a brush.

I did find myself wishing for a hook or clip to hang the mower off the ground neatly in the shed after use. The handle folds down flat, though, so it still stores away compactly.

During my time using it, the LawnMaster 1800W Hover Mower felt like a well-designed, no-nonsense mower that’s perfect for regular garden maintenance, especially if you’re short on time or patience.

Verdict

Overall, the LawnMaster 1800W Hover Mower is a powerful, lightweight, and surprisingly versatile machine that delivers a fuss-free mowing experience. From its easy plug-in start to its mulching option and compact fold-down design, it’s ideal for anyone who wants reliable results with minimal maintenance.

At under £150, it’s also great value for money, especially for a corded hover mower with enough power to handle uneven ground and tough patches. The 15m cable gives you plenty of reach for medium to large-sized gardens, and the reversible blade and adjustable cutting height add to its appeal.

There are a few niggles worth noting. The lack of a storage hook means you’ll need to get creative with cable management, and on very bumpy ground, the hover lift can falter slightly.

Assembly is a bit fiddly too, particularly if you're flying solo. I also found it tricky to extend and collapse the upper handle - you need to snap the upper handle into the grooves to get it to sit securely before tightening, which needs a little strength. Similarly, you'll need to pull each side out a few millimetres to allow the upper handle to collapse over the mower for storage.

Still, this mower impressed me with its performance, ease of use, and clever design touches - like the onboard spanner and mulch mode. If you’ve got a medium-to-large lawn and want the power of a corded mower without the bulk of a wheeled model, the LawnMaster 1800W is a smart and budget-friendly choice. Plus, once it’s packed away with the handles folded flat, it takes up surprisingly little room in the shed or garage.