The best cylinder mowers, compared.
Top pick: Ark Mat hand push Best value: Gardena Comfort 330 – Same score of 88 as the Classic 330, from 4.4 and 67 reviews, at the lower shelf price of about £101.95. Updated 22.10.2026.
A cylinder mower cuts with blades on a spinning cylinder against a fixed bottom blade. The Royal Horticultural Society describes that as a scissor cut for fine lawns and sports turf. In the UK you buy one for a flat lawn you mow often and want kept short. It is a poor only mower when the grass is often long or the ground is bumpy. Judge a listing by cutting height in millimetres, width, a weight you can lift, and whether a grass box is in the price. Ordinary lawns are about 13–25 mm in summer and up to about 40 mm in spring and autumn. Fine lawns are about 6–13 mm. Never take more than one third of the height in one pass. Manual push models are the usual domestic buy. A price with no battery is a different offer from a kit. A rear roller can lay stripes. Wheels on their own do not. Width, height, the box and kit versus solo are set out in our [cylinder mower buying guide](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/cylinder-mower/sub/cylinder-mower-buying-guide).
A cylinder mower cuts with blades on a spinning cylinder against a fixed bottom blade. The Royal Horticultural Society describes that as a scissor cut for fine lawns and sports turf.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
How often can you mow a flat lawn?
The Ark Mat LM-P is listed at about £57.95 as a 300 mm hand push mower with four heights from 16 mm to 40 mm and a claimed weight of 6 kg. The title names an 18 litre bag and a rear roller, which is the part that can bend grass into stripes if it is actually fitted and heavy enough to matter. Across 79 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.6, a usable sample for a budget reel, though the comparison score is those stars times 20 and not a mow test. UK reviews say the bag is flimsy and does not always collect, and that the handle comes off. The style name says Rotary and the rank sits in Rotary Mowers, so the cylinder fit is uncertain even though the title talks about stripes. Assembly is required. At this width it is a pocket-lawn tool, and the uncertain fit is the reason it carries no badge despite the high star line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest shelf price in this set for a narrow, often-mown patch and can live with an uncertain Rotary style name.
Less suitable: You need a settled cylinder listing, a reliable collector, or a cut wider than 300 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a grass box included?
The title and the bullets name an 18 litre collection bag. UK reviews say the bag is flimsy and does not always collect.
What cutting heights does the listing state?
The title and the specification lines both say 16 mm to 40 mm, in four positions.
Is this clearly a cylinder mower?
The title says hand push, rear roller and stripes. The style name says Rotary and the rank is in Rotary Mowers, so the fit is uncertain.
The Wild Edge WRLM20 is a 41 cm 20 V kit at about £135.38, and the bullets include one 4.0 Ah battery, a charger, a 47 litre bag, and a foldable handle. Stated heights are 23 mm, 33 mm, 45 mm, and 58 mm, with specification lines that also say about 2.29 cm to 6 cm, so the lowest cut sits above a fine lawn and above much of the RHS ordinary summer band of 13–25 mm. The bullets claim up to 300 m², and the card weight is 10.9 kg. The star line is 4.6 from only nine reviews, which is why a high arithmetic score does not earn a badge. A highlight calls the charger wall-mounted, while a UK review says it is an ordinary plug-in socket charger. Bullets mention rear-drag rather than a clearly named rear roller. Treat the nine reviews as a first impression, not as a settled record next to the Einhell’s thousand.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 20 V kit with the pack included and can accept a thin review sample and a higher minimum cut.
Less suitable: You want a close cut near 12–16 mm, a large review sample, or a named rear roller.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery included?
The bullets include one 20 V 4.0 Ah battery and a charger.
Is the charger wall-mounted?
The highlight says wall-mounted. A UK review says it is an ordinary plug-in socket charger.
What cutting heights does the listing state?
The bullets say 23 mm, 33 mm, 45 mm and 58 mm. The specification lines say about 2.29 cm to 6 cm, in four positions.
The Gardena Classic 330, model 04027-20, is a 33 cm manual cylinder at about £124.29, with the title stating up to 150 m² and the largest review sample in the set, 4.4 from 1,379 amazon.co.uk ratings. That sample, at the same star line as the cheaper Comfort 330, is why this row is the top pick on the comparison’s arithmetic, not because anyone mowed a test lawn. The style name says without a grass catcher, and UK reviews name that omission. Specification lines say a 12 mm minimum and a 16 cm maximum, which do not agree, and the weight cell prints 400 g, which is not a usable mass. Bullets say the handle folds and mention hardened steel, without numbering the heights. UK reviews also say the reel does not finish the grass against a fence, so you still need shears or a trimmer for the edge. The rank line says Rotary Mowers even though the title is a cylinder, and you pay more than the Comfort 330 for the same stated width in exchange for the review count.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the best-documented 33 cm hand reel in this set and can collect clippings another way.
Less suitable: You need a box in the carton, a believable weight on the specification line, or a cut that reaches the fence on its own.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity?
The power source and the operation mode are both manual.
Is a grass catcher included?
The style name says without a grass catcher. UK reviews name that omission.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The specification lines say a 12 mm minimum and a 16 cm maximum, in four positions. Those units do not agree. The bullets do not number the heights.
The Gardena Comfort 330, model 11750-20, is a 33 cm hand cylinder at about £101.95, with the title stating up to 150 m² and specification lines that agree on 12–42 mm in four steps. Gardena’s UK page prints a ±20 per cent tolerance on that area and a 40 micrometre factory gap, so the blades are pre-set and should not be wound until they rub. The card weight is 8.2 kg, a figure you can use, and the star line is 4.4 from 67 amazon.co.uk reviews. The style name says without a grass catcher, which UK reviews treat as a separate purchase, and the cordless wording on the title means there is no cable rather than a battery in the box. At the same 4.4 as the Classic 330, the lower shelf price is why this row is marked best value, on a much smaller review sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a light 33 cm hand reel for a lawn the maker calls about 150 m², and you can rake or leave the clippings.
Less suitable: You need a box in the price, a battery, or the largest review sample at this star line.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity?
The power source is hand powered. The title says cordless, which here means there is no cable and no battery.
Is a grass catcher included?
The style name says without a grass catcher. UK reviews say the catcher is a separate purchase.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The specification lines say 12 mm to 42 mm, in four positions. The bullets say the blades are pre-set and do not touch.
The Gardena Classic 400, model 04018-88, is a 40 cm manual cylinder at about £110.18, and the title states up to 200 m² with specification heights of 12–42 mm in four positions. The weight cell prints 37 g and the dimension line prints 22 × 14 × 47 cm, neither of which is a credible description of the assembled mower, so neither is used as the real weight or the shed size. The star line is 4.3 from 78 amazon.co.uk reviews, and only three written reviews in the file are headed United Kingdom. Delivery is the mower alone, and a UK review asks whether there is a basket. Bullets describe a touchless cylinder and a folding frame, while the rank line still says Rotary Mowers. You get a wider cut than the 33 cm rows for less than the Comfort 400, with a specification block you have to read past.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 40 cm hand reel around this shelf price and will ignore the gram weight and the tiny dimension line.
Less suitable: You need a stated weight you can lift, a grass box in the carton, or a large set of UK written reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity?
The power source is manually powered. The bullets describe a touchless manual cylinder.
Is a grass box included?
The scope of delivery is the mower only. A UK review asks whether there is a basket.
What does the listing say it weighs?
The specification line says 37 g. That figure is not a credible weight for this mower, so it is not used as the real weight.
The Gardena Comfort 400, model 11760-20, is a 40 cm hand cylinder at about £113.50, with the title stating up to 250 m² and a card weight of 8.9 kg. The specification block prints a 42 mm maximum and a 12 cm minimum in four positions, so you should not quote one cutting height from this listing until a consistent source agrees. The style name says without a grass catcher, the included component is the mower, and cordless on the title means manual power rather than a battery. It scores 4.3 from 15 reviews, and none of the six written reviews in the file is headed United Kingdom. Those reviews are headed Germany, France, Sweden, and Spain, so they are not UK owner evidence. Bullets say the blades are pre-set. You sit close in price to the Classic 400, with a larger stated area and a thinner written sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the 40 cm Comfort body at about £113.50 and will confirm the height on Gardena’s own page before you rely on the specification block.
Less suitable: You want UK written reviews, a catcher in the price, or a height cell that does not mix millimetres and centimetres.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity?
The power source is manual. The title says cordless, which here means there is no cable and no battery.
Is a grass catcher included?
The style name says without a grass catcher. The included component is the mower.
Are there United Kingdom written reviews in the file?
The star line is 4.3 from 15. The six written reviews are headed Germany, France, Sweden and Spain, not the United Kingdom.
The Fiskars StaySharp Max, model 1000591, is a 46 cm manual reel at about £288.27, the widest and dearest listing kept here, with a contactless cylinder you should not set until the blades touch. Bullets say seven steps of 1.25 cm and grass up to 10 cm, while specification lines say 2.5–10 cm and three positions, so the step count is a clash. It scores 4.2 from 802 reviews, and weight is the complaint that repeats: the specification says 20 kg and the bullets say 23.5 kg. The catcher is article 1000592, sold separately, so the shelf price is the mower, a spanner, and the instructions. Bullets name four wheels and a height-adjustable handle, not a rear roller, and a GS mark on the listing is a German mark rather than a UK approval. No lawn area is stated, and the 10 cm grass line is a listing limit, not evidence that it enjoys holiday-length turf. You buy the width and the review count if you can lift it and store it.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a wide contact-free hand reel and can lift about 20 kg without a catcher in the price.
Less suitable: You need a small-lawn weight, a box included, stripes from a roller, or a machine for long rough grass.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity or petrol?
The power source is manual. The bullets say no electricity and no fuel.
Is a grass catcher included?
No. The bullets say the catcher is article 1000592, sold separately.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The bullets say seven steps of 1.25 cm and grass up to 10 cm. The specification lines say 2.5 cm to 10 cm and three positions.
The Yard Force LM C38A-UK is a 38 cm 20 V kit at about £189.99, with a 4.0 Ah CR20 battery, a charger, and a 45 litre bag included, and all 37 written reviews in the file are headed United Kingdom behind 4.1 from 85 ratings. Bullets name a rear roller, which is rare in this set, but you still push the mower: it is not described as self-propelled, and UK reviews include pushing after the battery runs out. Cutting height clashes, with bullets at 14–43 mm in four steps and specification lines at 14–43 cm, so use the millimetre bullets. No lawn area is stated, and the card weight is 12.1 kg. One review says the machine was too light to mark lines, while other UK reviews mention a visible stripe and a weak box, so the roller claim is not a guaranteed stripe. At about £189.99 it is the dearest kit here, bought for the named roller and the UK written sample rather than for the lowest kit price.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a battery in the box and a listing that actually names a rear roller, and you can carry 12.1 kg.
Less suitable: You want the cheaper kit, a hand mower with no battery to charge, or a stripe you can treat as guaranteed.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery included?
The title and the included-components line name a 20 V 4.0 Ah battery and a charger, in the CR20 range.
Is it self-propelled?
The page asks. The bullets do not say self-propelled. UK reviews describe pushing it, including after the battery runs out.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The bullets say 14–43 mm in four steps. The specification lines say 14–43 centimetres. Those units do not agree.
The Einhell GE-HM 18/38 Li, model 3414200, is a 38 cm cylinder at about £129.95 without a battery or charger, and the heights are the cleanest in the set: bullets and specification lines both say 14 mm, 23 mm, 32 mm, and 38 mm. A highlight claims up to 400 m², which is a maker figure rather than a measured plot, and the card lists 11.4 kg with a 45 litre box. The collector is the complaint that comes up most often. The star line is 4.0 from 1,078 reviews, a large sample at a lower score than the Gardena 4.4 rows. UK reviews describe pushing it with no pack fitted, which the bullets also allow, and they mention tufts when the grass is not kept short. A dimension line of 273 × 137.2 × 98.8 cm and a 58 cm wheel size are not treated as real sizes. Buy it when you already own an 18 V Power X-Change pack, because about £129.95 is not a kit price and the warranty line is two years plus one on registration.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You already own an Einhell 18 V Power X-Change pack and want a 38 cm reel you can also push by hand.
Less suitable: You need a battery in the box at this price, or a reel for grass you leave for a fortnight.
Specifications
Common questions
Is a battery included?
The style name says without battery and charger. The bullets say any 18 V Power X-Change pack fits.
Can it be used with no battery?
The bullets say it can. UK reviews also describe pushing it with no pack fitted.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The bullets and the specification lines agree: 14 mm, 23 mm, 32 mm and 38 mm.
The Gardena Plus 400, model 11765-20, is a 40 cm hand cylinder at about £139.00, with the title stating up to 250 m², a grass box, a card weight of 10.1 kg, and a 10-year warranty line after registration. The specification block prints a maximum of 0.04 mm and one position, while the bullets use 40 micrometres as the gap between blades, so that cell is not a cutting height. It is the weak score in the set, 3.5 from 38 reviews. The only written review headed United Kingdom says the box does not catch and falls off. Cordless on the title means manual power, not a battery in the box. You pay more than the Comfort 400, which has no box in the style name, for a catcher that one UK review does not trust. There is no usable height range on the specification line to set against the 12–42 mm rows.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You specifically want the Plus 400 body with a box named in the title and will check the catcher on arrival.
Less suitable: You want a believable height range, a stronger review score, or a catcher other buyers already trust.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing need electricity?
The power source is manual. The title says cordless, which here means there is no cable.
Is a grass box included?
The title and the style name say with a grass box. The only UK review says the box does not catch and falls off.
What cutting height does the listing state?
The specification line says 0.04 millimetres and one position. The bullets use 40 micrometres as the gap between blades, not as the length of grass left.
Ten amazon.co.uk listings are scored from the snapshot saved with this set. The score is the star rating multiplied by 20. That figure is the whole numeric score. It is not a laboratory mow. A badge is applied only when the title is a cylinder, the style name is not Rotary, and there are at least 50 ratings. If two eligible rows share the highest score, the larger review count is the top pick. The same score at the lower shelf price is best value. Ark Mat is left without a badge because the style name says Rotary. Wild Edge is left without a badge because nine ratings are below the sample floor.
Amazon stars
100%The amazon.co.uk star rating multiplied by 20. That is the whole numeric score. It is not a laboratory mow. The score file publishes no other criterion percentage, so this weight is 100 and it was not rescaled.
Choose the lawn before the badge. A flat lawn you mow every week is a different buy from holiday-length grass, and a solo price is not a mower that will run on the day it arrives.
A cylinder mower cuts with blades on a spinning cylinder against a fixed bottom blade. The Royal Horticultural Society calls that a scissor cut and points it at a very fine ornamental lawn or sports turf. A sharp rotary, or a hover, suits most domestic lawns in the UK. You buy a cylinder for a flat lawn you mow often and want short. If you cannot mow at least weekly in the growing season, do not make it the only mower. Long grass and bumpy ground are the jobs it handles badly.
A cylinder is for a flat lawn you mow little and often. If you cannot mow at least weekly in the growing season, do not make it the only mower. The RHS points a sharp rotary or a hover at most domestic lawns. Never take more than one third of the height in one pass, and do not mow wet or frozen grass.
A kit includes a battery and charger. A solo listing is the mower only. One 18 V row here is sold without a battery and charger. Two 20 V rows include a 4.0 Ah pack. Add the pack you still need before you treat the lower figure as the cheaper mower. Cordless on a hand-mower title can mean there is no cable.
A centimetre specification that fights millimetre bullets is not a height you can set. A 0.04 mm or 40 micrometre figure is the factory gap, not the grass left standing. Do not wind a contact-free reel until the blades rub. A grass box is not in the price just because the mower is a cylinder. Several style names say the catcher is extra.
The cutting height decides whether a cylinder belongs on your lawn, and it has to be read in millimetres. The RHS puts an ordinary UK lawn at about 13–25 mm in summer and up to about 40 mm in spring and autumn, and a fine lawn at about 6–13 mm. Never take more than one third of the height in one pass. If you cannot mow at least weekly through the growing season, a cylinder should not be the only mower. On a listing, the bullets and the specification lines have to agree.
After height, check what the price actually buys. A manual push reel has no motor. A kit includes a battery and charger, so you can mow that day. A solo listing is the body only. One 18 V row in this set is sold without a battery and charger, and the bullets say it can also be pushed with no pack fitted. Two 20 V rows include a 4.0 Ah pack. Do not compare the solo figure with a kit until you have added the pack you still need.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You have a small, flat lawn and will mow little and often. A 33–40 cm manual, with or without a box, is the usual UK buy. The Gardena Comfort 330 is that light 33 cm reel at about £101.95, with heights that agree at 12–42 mm. The catcher is not in the style name.
You already own an 18 V Einhell Power X-Change pack and want a reel. The Einhell GE-HM 18/38 Li is the solo row that matches, at about £129.95. The battery and charger are extra. Heights agree at 14, 23, 32 and 38 mm, and the bullets allow a push with no pack fitted.
You want a wide, heavy, contact-free manual and can lift about 20 kg. The Fiskars StaySharp Max is the 46 cm listing at about £288.27. The catcher, article 1000592, is sold separately. Weight lines say 20 kg and 23.5 kg.
The top pick is the Gardena Classic 330. The score is 88, from 4.4 and 1,379 amazon.co.uk reviews, at about £124.29. It shares that star line with the Comfort 330, and the larger sample is why it takes the badge among eligible rows. There is no grass catcher in the style name, and the height lines clash. Best value is the Gardena Comfort 330 at about £101.95, the same score of 88 from 4.4 and 67 reviews, because that score sits at the lower shelf price. Ark Mat is left unbadged because the style name says Rotary. Wild Edge is left unbadged because nine ratings sit below the sample floor of 50.
Gardena Comfort 330
Same score of 88 as the Classic 330, from 4.4 and 67 reviews, at the lower shelf price of about £101.95.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources and the amazon.co.uk listings for this set. Retrieved 22 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Star ratings and review counts are from those listings. This is not a lab test, and a commission does not change the scores.
