With so many mowers to choose from, it can be difficult to choose the best lawn mower model for you. The first factor to consider is the power source - do you want a corded electric lawn mower or a petrol model, a battery type or a push mower? Once you've decided on that, you can then decide on the mower cutting type - rotary, cylinder or hover.

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Read on to find out about the different mower cutting types.

Rotary mower

Rotary mowers have a high-speed, spinning blade. They're the best choice for rougher grass or uneven surfaces. Rotary blades don't leave a refined finish - for a finer cut, choose a cylinder mower.

71685-The underside of a rotary mower, showing the blade in its housing
The underside of a rotary mower, showing the blade in its housing

Hover mower

A hover mower has a rotary cutting action, but lifts off the ground when it’s in action, similar to a hovercraft - hence the name. They’re great value for money and perfect if you’ve got a smaller lawn that’s quite flat.

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The underside of a hover mower, showing the centrally-fixed blade
The underside of a hover mower, showing the centrally-fixed blade

Cylinder mower

Cylinder mowers cut the grass with a scissor-action and create a very fine, striped finish. They're slightly more expensive, but an ideal choice if you like your grass smart and short.

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A front view of a cylinder mower, with the spindle of curved red blades clearly visible
A front view of a cylinder mower, with the spindle of curved red blades clearly visible
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