The best electric lawn mower for most NZ households is the Bosch CityMower 18V-32-300, a complete cordless kit that includes the mower, a 4.0Ah battery and a fast charger, so there’s nothing extra to buy before the first mow. For unlimited runtime with no battery to manage, the Bosch UniversalRotak 37-555 Corded plugs straight into mains power. Buyers already holding a compatible battery are better served by one of the bare-tool “skin” options here, and a budget-friendly Greenworks rounds out the list.
This guide compares six electric lawn mowers currently available in New Zealand, covering both corded and battery-cordless options, real specs, and genuine trade-offs, not marketing copy.
Quick comparison
| # | Product | Best for | Power type | Cutting width |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch CityMower 18V-32-300 | Best complete kit | Battery (18V, incl.) | 32cm |
| 2 | Gardena PowerMax 32/36V P4A | Best cross-brand battery system | Battery (tool only) | 32/36cm |
| 3 | Bosch UniversalRotak 37-555 Corded | Best corded / unlimited runtime | Corded (mains) | 37cm |
| 4 | Kärcher LMO 18-36 | Best smart display | Battery (tool only) | 36cm |
| 5 | Greenworks 24V Cordless 33cm | Best budget established brand | Battery (tool only) | 33cm |
| 6 | Bosch EasyRotak 36-550 | Best for larger lawns | Battery (bare tool) | 36cm |
The 6 best electric lawn mowers in NZ
1. Bosch CityMower 18V-32-300 – Best Complete Kit
Bosch’s CityMower 18V-32-300 is built specifically for smaller gardens, and it’s sold as a genuinely complete kit, the mower itself, a 4.0Ah battery, and a fast charger, all in one box. Made in Europe and designed in Germany, it weighs just 9.9kg, light enough to carry one-handed up a step or into a shed.
Cutting height is adjustable across three settings between 30mm and 60mm, and height-adjustable ErgoFlex handles let it suit different user heights without straining posture. An intelligent brushless motor delivers efficiency and endurance without adding bulk, and grass combs along the deck edge help it cut cleanly along walls and garden borders.
The included battery runs on Bosch’s POWER FOR ALL 18V system, so it’s compatible with the rest of the Bosch Home & Garden 18V tool range. The trade-off is scale: at 32cm cutting width, it’s built for smaller lawns rather than larger sections, where the corded UniversalRotak or the wider EasyRotak pick below are better suited.
Pros
- Genuine complete kit, mower, battery and charger all included
- Lightweight at 9.9kg, easy to carry and store
- Battery compatible with the wider Bosch 18V Home & Garden tool range
Cons
- 32cm cutting width suits smaller lawns, not larger sections
- Battery runtime limits a single mowing session on bigger lawns
Key specs: 32cm cutting width, 30-60mm cutting height (3 settings), 9.9kg, includes 4.0Ah battery and fast charger, Bosch POWER FOR ALL 18V compatible.
2. Gardena PowerMax 32/36V P4A – Best Cross-Brand Battery System
Gardena’s PowerMax is sold as a “skin,” the mower body only, without a battery or charger, and it’s built around Gardena’s high-performance brushless PowerPlus motor for small to medium lawns. A comfortable ErgoTec handle with switches on both sides makes it usable comfortably from either grip position.
Cutting height adjusts through ten steps via Gardena’s QuickFit system, simply press and turn, a more granular range than most electric mowers on this list offer. What makes it genuinely distinctive is the battery: it runs on the POWER FOR ALL cross-brand system, meaning a single battery works across other participating home and garden brands too, not just Gardena’s own range.
Buyers select their own battery separately based on the run time they need, so there’s flexibility in matching capacity to lawn size, but it also means factoring in the extra cost of a compatible battery and charger before the total price is known. Gardena backs it with a 2-year warranty, extendable to 3 years with registration within 3 months of purchase.
Pros
- POWER FOR ALL battery works across multiple participating brands, not just Gardena
- Ten-step QuickFit cutting height adjustment, more granular than most rivals
- 2-year warranty, extendable to 3 years with registration
Cons
- Sold without a battery or charger, an extra purchase for first-time buyers
- Availability can fluctuate, worth checking current stock
Key specs: Brushless PowerPlus motor, 10-step QuickFit cutting height adjustment, POWER FOR ALL cross-brand battery system, 2-year warranty (extendable to 3).
3. Bosch UniversalRotak 37-555 Corded – Best Corded / Unlimited Runtime
For anyone who’d rather not think about battery charge at all, Bosch’s UniversalRotak 37-555 plugs straight into mains power, giving genuinely unlimited mowing time rather than a fixed run time per charge. At 37cm, it also has the widest cutting deck on this list, covering more ground per pass than any of the battery options here.
An energy-efficient motor is tuned for consistent power delivery rather than the diminishing output some battery mowers show as charge drops, and grass combs along the deck edge give clean, professional-looking results right up to lawn edges. Practical foldable handles keep it compact for storage despite the wider deck, and an ergonomic handle design supports a more back-friendly mowing posture.
The obvious trade-off of any corded mower applies here: an extension cord needs managing throughout the mow, which some buyers find fiddly around trees, garden beds or larger properties, and it’s tied to reach of the power point and cord length rather than being freely portable like the battery mowers on this list. Genuinely free NZ delivery isn’t available on this listing either, delivery is charged on top of the sticker price, worth factoring into the total cost versus the free-shipping battery options above.
Pros
- Unlimited mowing time, no battery charge to manage or run out mid-mow
- Widest cutting deck on this list at 37cm
- Consistent power delivery throughout the mow, unlike a discharging battery
Cons
- Extension cord management required throughout mowing, less freedom than cordless
- Delivery to NZ is charged on top of the sticker price, not free
Key specs: Corded mains power, 37cm cutting width, 25-70mm cutting height, foldable handles, grass edge combs.
4. Kärcher LMO 18-36 – Best Smart Display
Kärcher’s LMO 18-36 runs on the brand’s 18V battery platform and stands out with a real-time LED display built into the handle, giving a running readout while mowing rather than leaving battery status to guesswork. At 36cm cutting width and a 45-litre collection container, it covers more ground per pass and needs emptying less often than the smaller battery mowers on this list.
It runs at 4000rpm for a clean, precise cut, and a mulch kit is included to return cut grass to the lawn as natural fertiliser instead of bagging every mow. A dedicated carry handle makes it straightforward to lift in and out of a shed or car boot despite the larger deck.
Like the Gardena pick above, this is sold as a skin, the battery and charger are a separate purchase on Kärcher’s 18V platform. Stock was also down to the last unit at the time of research, so buyers keen on this specific model should check current availability before committing.
Pros
- Real-time LED display shows battery status while mowing
- Larger 36cm deck and 45L container need less frequent emptying
- Mulch kit included for fertilising the lawn as you mow
Cons
- Sold without a battery or charger, an extra cost on top of the sticker price
- Stock was down to the last unit at time of research
Key specs: Kärcher 18V battery platform, 36cm cutting width, 30-70mm cutting height, 45L container, 4000rpm, mulch kit included.
5. Greenworks 24V Cordless 33cm – Best Budget Established Brand
Greenworks’ 24V Cordless 33cm mower is the cheapest established-brand pick in this guide, sold as a skin that needs a 2Ah or 4Ah 24V battery and charger added separately. A 33cm cutting width and a 30-litre full plastic grass catcher make it a genuine option for a small-to-medium suburban lawn rather than a novelty.
Its compact design with foldable handlebars keeps storage simple, sliding into a corner of the garage rather than demanding dedicated shed space. Because it runs on Greenworks’ 24V battery platform, the same battery works across the brand’s wider 24V tool range, trimmers, blowers and the like, for households planning to add more Greenworks gear over time.
The trade-off is that 24V is a lighter-duty platform than the corded UniversalRotak or the 36V options here, better suited to light, regular mowing than thick or overgrown grass. Stock was also down to a single unit at the time of research, so it’s worth confirming current availability.
Pros
- Cheapest established-brand mower on this list
- Battery shared across Greenworks’ wider 24V tool range
- Foldable handlebars keep storage compact
Cons
- 24V platform is lighter-duty, better suited to light regular mowing than thick grass
- Sold without a battery or charger, plus stock was down to 1 unit at research time
Key specs: 33cm cutting width, 30L grass catcher, Greenworks 24V battery platform, foldable handlebars.
6. Bosch EasyRotak 36-550 – Best for Larger Lawns
For battery-powered mowing on lawns that outgrow the compact CityMower above, Bosch’s EasyRotak 36-550 steps up to the brand’s 36V POWER FOR ALL Cordless System for more power and unrestricted mobility, sold as a bare tool without a battery or charger included.
ErgoFlex handles support a comfortable, healthy working posture, and both the handles and grass box fold and stack for compact storage between mows, useful for anyone tight on shed or garage space. Grass combs along the cutting deck deliver clean results along edges, driveways, fences and walls.
Being part of the 36V platform rather than the 18V system used by the CityMower above, its battery and charger are sold separately and aren’t interchangeable with the smaller Bosch kit. It suits a household planning to build out a 36V Bosch garden tool collection over time, or one that wants more power than the smaller battery picks here without moving to a corded mower.
Pros
- 36V platform delivers more power for larger lawns than the smaller battery picks here
- Foldable handles and stackable grass box for compact storage
- Grass combs give clean edge and border cuts
Cons
- Sold as a bare tool, battery and charger are a separate purchase
- 36V battery is not interchangeable with Bosch’s 18V system
Key specs: Bosch 36V POWER FOR ALL Cordless System, foldable ErgoFlex handles, stackable grass box, grass combs for edge trimming.
How to choose an electric lawn mower in NZ
Corded vs battery is the first real decision. A corded mower like the Bosch UniversalRotak offers genuinely unlimited runtime and consistent power, at the cost of managing an extension cord and paying real delivery cost given its weight. Battery mowers trade unlimited runtime for cord-free freedom, but need charging between longer sessions and a battery bought separately in several cases here.
Check whether the battery and charger are actually included. Several battery mowers in this guide are sold as a “skin” or “bare tool,” the mower body only, at a lower price than a complete kit. That’s good value for buyers who already own a compatible battery, but a first-time buyer needs to add the cost of a battery and charger before comparing total price against a complete kit like the Bosch CityMower.
Voltage indicates power, but check it against the platform, not just the number. Higher voltage (36V vs 18V or 24V) generally means more torque for thicker or longer grass, but batteries aren’t interchangeable across a brand’s own different voltage platforms. Cross-brand systems like Gardena’s POWER FOR ALL are the exception, built specifically to share batteries across multiple manufacturers.
Match cutting width and container size to the lawn, not just the price. A 32-33cm deck with a smaller catcher suits a compact suburban lawn; a 36-37cm deck with a larger container covers more ground per pass and needs emptying less often, better suited to bigger sections.
Verdict
For most first-time buyers, the Bosch CityMower 18V-32-300 is the easiest choice, a genuine complete kit with nothing extra to source before the first mow. Anyone who’d rather not think about battery charge at all should look to the corded Bosch UniversalRotak 37-555, which also has the widest deck on this list. Buyers already holding a compatible battery are better served by one of the bare-tool picks, the cross-brand-friendly Gardena PowerMax, the smart-display Kärcher LMO 18-36, or the larger-lawn Bosch EasyRotak 36-550, while the Greenworks 24V is the value pick for light, regular mowing.
Related guides:
- Want a mower that runs on battery specifically? See our best battery lawn mowers guide.
- Want to skip mowing altogether? Check our best robot lawn mowers picks.
- Need to tidy up edges after mowing? Browse our best line trimmer guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size mower do I need for my garden?
For a small-to-medium suburban lawn, a 32-33cm deck like the Bosch CityMower or Greenworks 24V is plenty. Larger sections benefit from a 36-37cm deck like the Kärcher LMO 18-36, Bosch EasyRotak 36-550, or the corded UniversalRotak 37-555, which cover more ground per pass and need the grass catcher emptied less often.
Is corded or battery better for an electric mower?
Corded mowers like the Bosch UniversalRotak give unlimited runtime and consistent power, ideal for larger lawns or anyone who doesn’t want to manage charging. Battery mowers trade that for cord-free freedom, at the cost of a fixed run time per charge and, in several cases here, a battery bought separately.
Do I need to buy a battery and charger separately?
It depends on the listing. The Gardena PowerMax, Kärcher LMO 18-36, Greenworks 24V and Bosch EasyRotak 36-550 in this guide are all sold as a ‘skin’ or ‘bare tool’ without a battery or charger, intended for buyers who already own a compatible one. Only the Bosch CityMower includes everything needed out of the box, and the UniversalRotak is corded so no battery applies at all.
Can I use the same battery across different brands of garden tools?
Usually not, each brand’s battery platform is proprietary and only compatible with that brand’s own tools, often only within the same voltage line. The main exception is Gardena’s POWER FOR ALL system, specifically designed to share batteries across several participating manufacturers.
How much does an electric lawn mower cost to run?
Battery mowers cost very little to run, a full charge typically costs only cents in electricity. Corded mowers cost slightly more to run continuously but avoid battery replacement costs over the mower’s lifetime, and neither comes close to the fuel and servicing costs of a petrol mower.
Are electric mowers less maintenance than petrol mowers?
Yes, generally. Electric mowers have no spark plugs, fuel lines, oil changes or petrol to store, and brushless motors used in mowers like the Bosch and Kärcher picks here need very little upkeep beyond keeping the blade sharp and clean.
