Mower for long grass UK: which machine class to buy
Updated: October 2026
Searching for a mower for long grass in the UK can put a £50 hover beside a four-figure sickle-bar, although they do different jobs. Before you choose a model, decide whether you are recovering a lawn, clearing rough growth around obstacles, or cutting an open meadow. The [tall grass mower comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/tall-grass-mower) covers eleven domestic rotary and hover mowers sold on amazon.co.uk. This guide explains that machine-class fork, then the cutting height, power, collection and width that decide whether one of those lawn mowers fits your grass.
Searching for a mower for long grass in the UK can put a £50 hover beside a four-figure sickle-bar, although they do different jobs.
Searching for a mower for long grass in the UK can put a £50 hover beside a four-figure sickle-bar, although they do different jobs. Before you choose a model, decide whether you are recovering a lawn, clearing rough growth around obstacles, or cutting an open meadow. The tall grass mower comparison covers eleven domestic rotary and hover mowers sold on amazon.co.uk. This guide explains that machine-class fork, then the cutting height, power, collection and width that decide whether one of those lawn mowers fits your grass.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Cut height | Width | Collection | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  swift swift EB122C | 30–50 mm | 22 cm | Mulch, no box | 8.6 | about £134.99 | View offer |
 Einhell Einhell GC-EM 1600/37 | 20–60 mm | 37 cm | 38 L box | 8.7 | about £114.99 | View offer | |
| Preis-Tipp |  BLACK+DECKER BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB | 20–40 mm | 30 cm | No box listed | 8.0 | about £49.99 | View offer |
On this page
Three machines hide under one search
A rotary or hover is the normal choice when the area is still a lawn. A rotary blade cuts inside a deck and most models collect. A hover rides on an air cushion and is easier on uneven ground. These eleven products are domestic lawn mowers, 22–38 cm wide, with listed tops from 31 to 70 mm. Every deck still has a limit.
A strimmer or brushcutter clears. Nylon line handles edges and lighter grass. An approved metal blade on a brushcutter tackles denser growth, leaves the cuttings where they fall, and does not give a level collected finish. A sickle-bar or scythe cuts tall stems across open ground. Researched dealer examples were about £700 for a Chipperfield 87 cm machine and £1,094.99 for an AL-KO 87 cm model, against about £50–£158 here. Model picks are on the best mower for long grass shortlist. The class fork is in strimmer or mower for long grass.
Buy on the highest useful cutting setting
Buy on the highest useful setting, not a vague thick-grass claim. RHS guidance is to start on the highest setting and remove no more than about one-third of the leaf in one pass. A 31 or 40 mm ceiling leaves little room once the lawn has grown well above that.
The Flymo Hover Vac 250 spans 11–31 mm. The BLACK+DECKER hover reaches 40 mm and the swift reaches 50 mm. The Einhell and the Hyundai HYM3313E list 60 mm. The Bosch EasyRotak 32-225 lists 65 mm, with a conflicting position count. The FORTE lists 70 mm, alongside reviews of smoke, a broken handle and a wheel falling off. Measure the dense sward. If it sits far above the maximum, reduce and rake first. The staged method is in how to cut long grass.
Balance power, cable and collection
Corded models here are 1,200–1,600 W where wattage is stated. Extra power can give headroom. It does not prove the blade keeps turning in wet, packed growth. The 1,600 W Einhell has positive first-cut reports. The 1,600 W Hyundai HYM3800E has mixed reports, including overload in longer growth.
Most leads are about 10 m. A medium garden may need an outdoor-rated extension on an RCD, with the cable behind you. If the only socket crosses a public path or standing water, cordless is the safer choice. The swift bundle is 40 V 2.0 Ah, claiming up to 35 minutes over about 50 m². Hyundai lists about 40 minutes for the HY20CLM33 and does not state the amp-hours. A 15 L box needs more stops than a 38 L or 40 L box. Keep mulching for short, dry clippings.
Match width, and know when to buy something else
A 22–25 cm deck suits a tiny lawn, 30–34 cm many small UK gardens, and 37–38 cm a more open medium lawn. Measure the narrowest gate before you treat width as an upgrade. Seller areas are not one test: Einhell states up to 700 m², BLACK+DECKER up to 250 m², and swift about 50 m² on a battery claim. A rear roller stripes a lawn you already keep.
Strim first when grass will not enter the deck, you must work around posts, or a bank is unsafe for a wheeled mower. The 350 W trimmer bundled with the FORTE is an edger. A meadow needs a sickle-bar, scythe or hand scythe, and a seasonal cut. None of these mowers is petrol-powered or self-propelled.
Common questions
Can a normal lawn mower cut long grass?
Yes, when the dense grass is within the highest setting and you reduce it over several passes. Start high, take narrow strips and stop if the motor labours. Around six inches, or woody weeds, usually needs a strimmer before you mow.
What cutting height should I choose for the first pass?
Use the mower's highest setting and aim to remove no more than roughly one-third of the leaf at once. In this comparison, 60–65 mm offers more recovery room than a 31–40 mm hover. A high setting is not permission to force the deck over grass much taller than its clearance.
Is a hover better on a bumpy lawn?
A hover can move more freely across gentle slopes and uneven ground because it does not rely on four wheels tracking the surface. The Flymo here tops out at 31 mm and the BLACK+DECKER at 40 mm. That manoeuvrability does not make either suitable for deep, heavy growth.
Should I choose corded or cordless for thick grass?
Corded gives continuous power but needs careful cable management. Cordless removes the lead, and runtime falls as the load rises. Compare the top height, the deck and ownership reports before the power source. The 1,600 W Einhell has stronger recovery evidence than the cordless models in this set.
Does a rear roller help with long grass?
No. A rear roller only stripes a finished lawn and can steady the edge after the cut. It does not raise the cutting height or help the deck clear long growth. Reports on the Hyundai HYM3800E in long grass remain mixed.
When do I need a sickle-bar mower?
Consider one for an open meadow or rough area cut once or twice a year, especially where long stems would overwhelm a domestic deck. These machines cost far more and need storage and maintenance. A hand scythe or a hired contractor may be more sensible for a small annual job.
Related pages
Sources
Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 17 October 2026.
- RHS, wildflower meadow maintenance (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- RHS, lawn mowing (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- RSPB, Wildlife and Countryside Act (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Control of Vibration at Work Regulations 2005 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Which?, how to buy a lawn mower (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- RHS, hedgehog-friendly gardening (retrieved 17 October 2026)
- Homebuilding, how to cut long grass (retrieved 17 October 2026)