Cutting Capacity: A robotic lawn mower’s cutting capacity is measured by acreage. Since automatic mowers run several times per week (or even daily), they need to be able to cover as close to the entire lawn as their running time allows. “Most robotic mowers are designed to cut between a quarter acre and half an acre of grass,” Yamaguchi says. “So if you have a large lawn, a robotic mower might not be for you.”
Thanks to recent advancements in battery technology, high-end residential automatic mowers can cut up to 1.5 acres or more – provided you’re willing to pay the premium for these models. The width of the mower’s cutting path also varies by model, ranging from 7 to 24 inches. Note that the blades are set back from the outermost edge of the robot’s frame, so not all mowers can deliver a perfect edge depending on where exactly your lawn’s designated cutting zone ends. That means you may still have to trim the edges yourself.
Battery Life and Charging Time: Unlike corded electric lawn mowers, robotic mowers run on battery power. This is the primary limiting factor regarding how large of a lawn a robot mower can maintain. Marco Picano of Picano Landscaping reminds shoppers, “Don’t overlook the importance of battery life and how it correlates with your lawn size. A longer battery life means fewer interruptions and a more consistent mow.”
The typical run time for a residential robot lawn mower is around 60 to…
