The best petrol mower is more powerful than the majority of corded and cordless models, and for people with lots of lawn to mow they are also extremely convenient.
Petrol mowers are generally very reliable if used with a specialist alkylate fuel like Aspen 4, they’re excellent for long grass, they’re easier to get up hills thanks to the motor assistance, and the noise they make is fun if you're a petrolhead, too.
If you have a typical inner city lawn or a small suburban plot then a petrol lawn mower is clearly not going to be your ideal choice since your neighbours might not like the noise and smell of an internal combustion engine. In which case you'll be much better served with a quiet, odourless cordless model.
With a petrol-powered mower you can mow and mow for hours on end – or as long as you have a can of unleaded petrol or Aspen 4 to hand. Petrol mowers are more than powerful enough to tackle even the kind of long damp grass that might flummox a cordless or corded model. They're also simple to use and most models come with self-propulsion to make life easier; simply engage the gear and walk behind it.
There are some downsides, though. As mentioned above, petrol mowers are noisy and, smelly. They’re also heavy to carry and you usually have to change the oil after the first 20 hours of use and after every successive season. You may also need to clean the air filter and change the spark plug from time to time. Oh, and you’ll need to fill it with unleaded petrol and not leave the fuel lying around in storage for more than a couple of months or it will go off, which is where the magic of Aspen 4 comes to the rescue (see below).
Just as we've done in our best robot lawn mowers, best strimmers and best chainsaws buying guides, we've filled our best petrol lawn mowers buying guide with a variety of models that offer different features and price points. This will make it easier to narrow down a unit that is right for your needs.
Best petrol mowers of 2024
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As you may have spotted on numerous occasions when passing contractors clearing verges, cutting down trees and mowing public areas, Stihl is the brand of choice among the pros, so if the brand is good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. As expected, the Stihl RM 448 C is a brilliant 4-stroke petrol mower that comes with a foldable mono handlebar system for easy grass container emptying.
This model features a 46cm polymer cutting deck – suitable for lawns up to 1,200 square metres – and a large and admittedly bulky 55-litre plastic grass collector with rear opening for easy emptying. Stihl also sent their mulching kit that comprises a mulching plug and a special twin blade setup that cuts the grass into finer clippings for more effective lawn fertilisation and better lawn aesthetics.
The cutting height system is one of the best I’ve come across. In fact it took a minute for me to find the lever which isn’t so much a lever as a sprung finger pad under the rear carry handle that you pull up with your fingers to raise or lower the cutting deck accordingly. The six position deck has a cutting height range of 25-75mm.
Unlike every other mower on the market which uses a standard handlebar system, the RM 448 C is equipped with a unique height-adjustable mono handlebar that makes emptying the grass container super easy. The bar itself is as solid as a rock and really well engineered and, what’s more, it folds over for easy storage, too.
Most petrol mowers these days come with self propulsion – a necessity given the weight of petrol mowers. However, where most cheaper petrol models have just one speed, this model features variable self propulsion that moves the mower from a slow to a brisk walking pace with a simple push or pull of the lever on the handlebar. You access the self propulsion via a metal bar on the handlebar.
The RM 448 C runs on a Stihl-branded 166cc 4-stroke engine that’s pretty quiet for a petrol mower and more than powerful enough to tackle the longest grass without breaking into a sweat. The first thing you need to do is fill it with oil – Stihl doesn’t provide any oil so be sure to add it at check out – and unleaded fuel. I personally no longer use unleaded forecourt fuel because it goes off after a few months and the ethanol in it attracts moisture which can play havoc with small engines. Instead I now use Aspen 4, an over-the-counter alkylate petrol that is virtually free from harmful substances such as benzene and hydrocarbons. It also lasts for about five years. You can read more about Aspen fuel at the bottom of this page.
As I didn’t have the longest grass to test this machine on, I headed to my local field and its high-lift blade performed exceptionally well, blasting the cuttings towards the back of the grass box in the process. I then gave it the leaf test on my own lawn and it sucked up the leaves like a vacuum cleaner. It also chopped them up so more could be forced into the grass collector. Top marks all round.
While I still rate the slightly larger Honda-powered Cobra I review below very highly, I think this model is easier to use, lighter in the hand and much more practical to store away. It’s a doddle to set up, it starts first time and it’s not too noisy. And given the 5 year warranty and Stihl’s reliability record, I’d expect this ubiquitous orange and white sward scythe to last many, many years.
This is one of the best-value self-propelled mowers we’ve come across. Powered by a 99cc Einhell single-cylinder 4-stroke OHV engine that is surprisingly quiet for a petrol mower, this Germanic lawn slayer impressed with its cutting skill and exceptional manoeuvrability. Granted, the self propulsion speed is fixed at a spritely pace but as long as you’re even moderately fit, it shouldn’t be an issue.
The Einhell comes with a 40cm deck (suitable for lawns up to around 300m2), a 45-litre grass catcher and a cutting height range of 25-60mm in seven increments. Assembly and set up was a doddle and, after pumping the fuel feed, it started on the second pull. At a smidge over 21 kilos it isn’t ridiculously heavy either. If you want or need self propulsion but can’t afford an expensive cordless version, then this one’s well worth a punt.
If you want an immaculate lawn that looks like a bowling green, the wicket at Lords, the Centre Court at Wimbledon or one of those pristine Thames-side Surrey swards that sweep majestically down to the water’s edge, you need a cylinder mower. Unlike the common rotary mower that hacks off the tops of grass stems like a machete, damaging the grass in the process, a cylinder mower snips grass like a fine pair of scissors, leaving a row of beautiful stripes in its wake. Not only that, but a cylinder mower like this exemplary model from Cobra can have its cutting height adjusted to the millimetre for a uniform cut. And we genuinely mean a single millimetre.
However, before you get too excited, there are a few caveats attached. Cylinder mowers are not suitable for lumpy lawns and they positively do not like riding slipshod over sticks, let alone stones which could severely damage their razor-sharp blades. They are also notoriously heavy to heft up even a couple of stairs. So, if any of these issues affect you, then stick to a rotary mower like the rest on this page.
The new Cobra Fortis range is a revolutionary style of cylinder mower because it utilises an ingenious interchangeable cartridge system so users can swap between the supplied 6-bladed cartridge and a range of other excellent lawn-care implements, including a 10-bladed cylinder, a spiked aerator, a scarifier, a de-thatcher, a moss-eliminating verticutter and even a lawn brush.
We received the petrol-powered Cobra Fortis though you’ll be thrilled to learn that Cobra has teamed up with cordless kingpin, Ego, and produced a battery-powered version with the same cutting spec. You can expect an operating time of up to 45 minutes with this variant.
But back to the petrol version… This professional-spec monster has many plus points, not least the fact that it mows a lawn to complete perfection while its 127cc 4-stroke, air-cooled Briggs & Stratton XR550 engine thunders on for ages on a single tank of Aspen 4 or forecourt fuel. What’s more, because it’s so heavy (a back-breaking 83.6kg) and comes with hefty steel front and rear rollers, it lays rows of elegant, professional-looking lawn stripes in the process.
The Cobra Fortis 17B comes equipped with a large 43cm (17”) 6-bladed cutting cartridge, a cavernous 65-litre plastic grass box and the wherewithal to propel itself via a vari-speed gearbox system so you can mow for ages without too much effort. Just be aware that, at 83.6kgs, this mower is far too heavy for one person to lift so make sure you have an under-cover storage space that provides easy access straight onto the lawn. I should also add that it’s very difficult to push around without the self propulsion engaged.
You get two control levers with this model – one to activate the blade motor and the other for self-propulsion. This means that you can run the engine without the blade being engaged and just use the self propulsion to help you get to your starting point.
In our test, this mower blew every rotary model off the lawn with the quality of its cut. And you can literally see the difference by looking closely at the blades of grass its just cut and the ultra fine cuttings it’s thrown into the front-mounted grass collector. We also tried the spiked aerator cartridge that Cobra sent and, while it took a while to fit, it punched a series of visible holes in the lawn that no manual alternative comes even close to, and all of it with minimal effort.
In terms of cutting height adjustment, there’s a simple twist knob for semi-accurate blade height but if you really want to be pedantic, the machine also ships with a simple tool that lets you adjust the height in millimetres from an extremely low 6mm to 30mm. The handlebar, meanwhile, can be folded over for relatively easy storage.
The great thing about Cobra gear is that it’s a British company so spares are very easy to come by, and that can be a major consideration when opting for a petrol-powered garden machine, not least because petrol machines need more TLC than their cordless counterparts. Another good reason for buying a Cobra is because they have far and away the best selection of ‘how to’ videos on YouTube.
If you have a large smooth lawn and are in the market for a mower that will get the very best out of it, I suggest you make a beeline towards this model because the amazing results speak for themselves.
If the cylinder-style Cobra Fortis above is a cut to far for both your needs and your wallet, consider this self-propelled rotary option. The Cobra MX534SPH comes fitted with a reliable 167cc 4-stroke Honda GCVX170 engine that is easily started in a standing position by using the cord conveniently attached to one side of the handlebar. Like all mowers, there is some assembly involved and the trickiest part is fitting the two cable nipples. Hint: unclip the power and propulsion bars first and then fit the nipples. I learned that the hard way. To start it all up, fill it with lawnmower-specific 4-stroke engine oil and just under a litre of unleaded fuel – or better still Aspen 4 – and start mowing.
The Cobra MX534SPH’s four-speed self-propulsion system is a joy to use even if the gear stick is a bit clunky. Just select your preferred walking pace – from a slow amble (2.5kph) to a brisk stroll (3.9kph) – and let the mower do all the hard work for you. You won’t even need to visit the compost heap all that often with this model because the blade’s integrated suction system literally flings the grass clippings way back into the huge 65-litre grass collector, compressing them in the process.
This mower comes with a 52cm cutting deck so it’s a perfect size for large lawns up to and well beyond 700m2. The large lever on its right, meanwhile, provides six stages of cutting height, from a low 25mm to 75mm. The Cobra performs supremely well, cutting grass really effectively no matter how long or damp it is. It also leaves a really neat and tidy finish in its wake.
Yes, the engine is pretty loud but it’s so reliable and so immensely powerful that noise levels sink into insignificance. Furthermore, this model lets you mow in three ways: conventionally using the 65-litre grass collector; downwards mulching where fine grass cuttings are forced back on to the lawn; and sideways mulching where the cuttings are thrown out of the side using the included chute. When you’re done mowing for the day, simply attach a hose to the fitting on the top of the chassis, turn on the tap, start the engine and the deck is given a good water thrashing.
Petrol mowers are usually the best option for homes in the countryside where noise isn’t as much of an issue. In this regard, the Cobra MX534SPH is a terrific contender that should provide years of reliable cutting with very little effort.
We think this large decked mower is the best for most people, but to see if you'd be better off with a different system, be sure to check out our Cobra MX534SPH vs Honda HRG 416 PK comparison feature.
Such is Honda’s excellent reliability record in all things engine related, we’re guessing this mower’s powerful pull cord-operated 160cc OHC 4-stroke will go on performing till the cows come home – or at least until the next blue moon. Your neighbours will like it too because its noise level is allegedly 30% below the current EU standard.
The HRG 416 is equipped with a 0.91-litre unleaded fuel tank for lengthy sessions in the rough while its 41cm steel cutting deck and 50-litre grass collector are of a decent enough size to handle half a tennis court’s worth of sward without having to make too many trips to the compost heap. Its cutting height range is marginally better than some others in this roundup (20mm to 74mm) so perhaps contemplate this model if you have different lawns made up of both long and short grasses.
This mower doesn’t have self-propulsion so you’ll just have to put some back into it. However, at 29kgs, it’s not overly heavy to handle. Overall, we prefer the similarly-priced Cobra mower reviewed above, mostly because it has multi-speed self propulsion and is capable of mulching. But this is still an excellent alternative.
If you find the thought of pulling multiple times on a cord to start an engine just too much hard work, consider this superb electric start model which fires up with a simple push of a button. Hyundai has really pulled out the stops with this model because it also has variable speed self propulsion and a rear roller that lays a clean Wimbledon stripe in its wake. And because the roller is split down the middle, it’s really easy to turn at the end of each pass.
Hyundai recommends using Aspen 4 fuel which you can read about at the bottom of this feature. So, following its instructions, I filled it up with Aspen 4 and the supplied four-stoke oil and pushed the start button, half excepting it to take ages to start from new. But against all odds it fired up instantly and I was immediately impressed by how quiet the engine was. And I mean really quiet.
The Hyundai HYM480SPER is equipped with six self-propulsion speeds – from a gentle stroll to a brisk walk – and the 139cc engine’s revs increase with each speed setting. Its 48cm cutting deck is ideal for medium sized lawns while its large 70-litre grass collector ensures fewer trips to the compost heap.
You get five adjustable cutting heights with this mower – from 25mm to 75mm – so it’s a great option for most grass types. And as an added quirk you also get two cup holders so you can sip on an iced coffee while you mow the mow.
Like many petrol mowers, you can’t easily fold the handlebar system over for storage so you will need a decent sized shed to store it in. But in the pantheon of petrol mowers, this one is a sterling operator. It cuts grass of any length superbly well while leaving a really neat stripe, it’s a doddle to start, pretty manoeuvrable given its 41.5kg weight and it’s one of quietest petrol mowers on the market. It also comes with a three-year warranty for peace of mind.
Want more details? Read T3's full Hyundai HYM480SPER review
If you have a lawn of around 40m x 40m and can’t be bothered with pulling on a cord to start your engine, have a gander at this well-specced model from UK brand Mountfield.
There's no huffing and puffing with this high-end model because it features electric key start; just fit the supplied lithium starting battery, push the start button and the 166cc Mountfield 4-stroke ST170 OHV engine fires up in an instant.
This model is equipped with a 46cm cutting deck, a large 60-litre grass collector with indicator to show it’s full, an especially wide range of cutting height positions (from 22mm to 80mm) and, as you’d hope for a mower that weighs a fairly hefty 27 kilograms, single-speed self propulsion (a suitably stately 2.23mph) for effortless navigation through the apple grove. It also comes with a mulching plug for those who prefer to have the cuttings fertilise the lawn. Petrol mowing doesn’t come much easier than this.
This is the petrol mower to grab for large stretches of long unruly grass, overgrown verges and inclines of up to 45˚. Like a Flymo, the AirMow51 hovers on a cushion of air and pretty much scythes through anything, even straw-like grasses. It’s exceedingly good for mowing steep inclines because its floaty nature means you can simply sweep it from side to side. The included wheels, meanwhile, are especially handy for keeping it on track on difficult terrain and for moving the mower from one area to another. However, it only has three height settings (17mm and 25mm) and no grass collector so everything will be spewed back onto the turf.
The AirMow51 Pro is equipped with a huge 51cm (20”) ABS cutting deck and powered by a reliable pull-start, four-stroke Honda GCV160 engine that’s relatively quiet and unyieldingly powerful. If you have a relatively large swathe of elongated grass that needs a good seeing to, this red grass mobster will do the deed. After all, if it’s good enough for professional golf course maintenance staff, it’s good enough for you.
IS E10 UNLEADED FUEL GOOD FOR MY PETROL MOWER?
All standard unleaded pump petrol in the UK and Europe has changed from E5 to E10. E stands for Ethanol and the numbers that follow are percentages of ethanol in any given measurement of petrol. Since ethanol is a renewable fuel, governments are keen to introduce higher ratios of it to help tackle climate change. E10 doesn’t affect the majority of cars on the road since most modern car engines are built to run quite happily on it. However, E10 fuel does affect most classic cars and some older petrol mowers.
The problem with ethanol is that it is hygroscopic and that means it attracts and absorbs moisture like a sponge which can cause components to deteriorate and engine starting/running problems. However, the worse thing about ethanol-rich forecourt fuel is that it goes off after about three months so it shouldn't be left in the tank. But who has the time or inclination to empty their mower’s tank every spring? One way of getting round it is to add a fuel additive or stabiliser every time you top up your fuel can. This won’t remove the ethanol but it will coat the engine’s internals with a protective barrier, helping it to run more smoothly. It will also increase the life of the petrol itself, whether it’s stored in the shed or in the mower’s tank.
Having learned the hard way, this writer would absolutely advise always adding an additive to pump fuel because I too have suffered from a jittery, surging lawnmower engine after using fuel that’s well past its prime (believe it or not, after just two months of storage). An additive should help forecourt fuel last for up to three years.
But there is another, much better fuel solution for all petrol-powered garden machinery which I learned about from a reputable lawn mower engineer. It’s called Aspen and it’s available for both four-stroke and two-stroke engines. Aspen is an ethanol-free alkylate fuel that contains 99% fewer harmful hydrocarbons, which results in a dramatic reduction of exhaust fumes. It also lasts for up to five years in storage. Yes, you read that correctly - five years! This is great news for the environment and your health but it’s also much better for your lawn mower’s engine. You can learn more about Aspen fuel by heading over to the pros at Mower Magic.
However, there is a small catch with Aspen – it’s over twice the price of unleaded E10 fuel, roughly £22 for five litres. Nevertheless, given that a lawnmower runs for ages on a five-litre bottle of fuel, chances are you’ll get more than a full summer’s use out of a five-litre container. Given Aspen's Holy Grail properties, that's twenty two quid well spent in my book.
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