Should you buy a remote-controlled lawnmower? Lawn professionals reveal when these clever contraptions would be worth the investment

Remote-controlled lawnmowers seem like a no-brainer. Usually found in commercial contexts, these mowers let you control a machine from up to 200 yards away, saving you from working out in the hot sun, and they can get to spots other mowers can't reach.

However, this sort of tech is very costly, and with remote-controlled mower prices starting in the thousands, it's smart to consider whether or not it's really worth it.

I spoke to lawn experts about these niche mowers to find out if they deserve a spot among the best lawnmowers - and whether or not you should buy one.

What is a remote-controlled lawn mower?

Remote-controlled lawn mowers are - as their name clearly states - mowers controlled by remotes. Unlike almost every other type of mower, these machines run on caterpillar tracks to help them navigate bumpy and hilly terrain. They tend to be used in commercial and municipal contexts, not domestic gardens.

Lawn expert Ryan Farley explains: 'A remote-controlled lawn mower is pretty much exactly what it sounds like - a mower that is operated via a remote control. So, you essentially drive it around remotely rather than needing to push it over your property.

'They are battery-operated and are usually used, in my experience, for yards and properties with lots of hills and difficult spots that might be tough for a human to navigate.'

Ryan Farley

Ryan Farley is the CEO of LawnStarter, a lawn care service founded in 2013 and based in Austin, Texas. 

What are the benefits of a remote-controlled lawn mower?

Remote-controlled lawnmowers are usually used in commercial and municipal contexts. They help contractors cut tough, long grass along slopes and swales too steep for standard mowers. This is a more efficient way of cutting all this grass than using a grass trimmer. Ryan Farley says 'I personally love these mowers for managing tough yards, since they really do make it easier.'

Remote-controlled mowers are also a great way to mow in tricky spots. If you have trees with low-lying limbs, a remote-controlled mower can mow the spots a standard mower can't reach. Because remote-controlled mowers often use caterpillar tracks or zero-turn wheels, they can give a much more precise cut than other types of mowers.

These mowers also save you from the tough job of pushing a machine all over your yard or sitting on a ride-on mower in the sun, and this also hugely reduces the risk of accidents.

What are the drawbacks of a remote-controlled lawn mower?

Remote-controlled mowers have several drawbacks. You need a clear line of sight to operate the mower, so most operators end up walking next to it, which does little to reduce your time out in the sun.

Ryan says: 'One drawback can be that you have to maintain a line of sight to ensure you’re controlling the mower correctly - which can sometimes feel like it defeats the purpose, especially on a larger property.'

Remote-controlled mowers are huge - several times larger than a standard robot mower - and can be much trickier to store. They're also very heavy, so it can be hard to flip them over and maintain them if anything goes wrong.

These mowers specialize in tricky terrain and tough grass, so they're pointless on flat, even lawns. You can get exactly the same - or better - cut with a robot mower for less work, or just do the job with a standard push or ride-on mower.

These mowers are also incredibly expensive. You can pick up standard push and robot mowers for a few hundred dollars, but entry-level remote-controlled mowers cost thousands of dollars.

What's the difference between remote-controlled and robot lawn mowers?

It sounds similar to a robot mower, but a remote-controlled lawn mower is different. Unlike robot mowers, which operate autonomously, remote-controlled mowers must be directed. This means that robot mowers need much less input, but that they are bad at adapting to changes in a surface. If you leave something out on the lawn by accident, a remote-controlled mower will let you drive around it. A robot mower would bump into this obstacle.

Robot mowers tend to run on small wheels, so can struggle to cut grass on hills or deal with bumpy terrain, whereas these are no problem for a remote-controlled mowers, which usually use caterpillar tracks or zero-turn wheels.

Remote-controlled mowers are much larger, and they can tackle taller, thicker grass than robot mowers. Top-line remote-controlled mowers top out at a 5-inch grass-cutting height, but top-line robots tend to max out between 3-4 inches.

It's uncommon, but some top-line remote-controlled robot mowers can collect grass, whereas all robot mowers discharge grass straight onto a lawn.

However, some robot mowers can be used as remote-controlled lawnmowers. Lawn expert Jeremy Yamaguchi says 'Remote control capabilities are often included with robot lawn mowers so that people can move their mowers as needed, like if certain patches of grass are missed.'

Jeremy Yamaguchi

Jeremy is a gardening expert who advises on a range of gardening matters. As the CEO of Lawn Love, Jeremy helps homeowners find quality, reliable lawn care.

Should you buy a remote-controlled lawn mower?

There are a handful of situations where you should buy a remote-controlled lawn mower. If you have lots of rough, hilly land, a remote mower can help you tackle it, and it can be helpful if you need to mow under low branches. However, for most people, these mowers are overkill, and you can achieve the same cut or better with a typical mower.

Robot mowers seem like a better option than remote-controlled mowers, but they have lots of other drawbacks. It's smart to weigh up the pros and cons of robot mowers vs push mowers before you buy to make sure that you buy the right mower for your yard.