A lush, green lawn is a source of pride and joy for many gardeners, but as the focal point for gatherings with friends and family, it can suffer from overuse and too much wear and tear. Terrific turf needs a good lawn care regimen to achieve it, and while regular mowing and watering will take you so far, there are a couple of additional tasks for you to do on your to-do list, which will help keep your lawn in tip-top condition.

Regardless of how often you cut your lawn, over time, the soil underneath the turf becomes compacted, while above ground, a thick, impenetrable layer of thatch and organic debris develops around the roots. This undesirable combination prevents air, water, and nutrients from reaching the root system, ultimately weakening its growth and leaving the plant susceptible to pests and diseases.

Scarifying your lawn will help remove thatch and debris, but if you need to relieve compacted soil underneath the turf, it's best to aerate it. Aeration is the process of making air holes in the lawn to create ventilation. In small lawns, a simple garden fork can be used to push holes into the ground, but you can also buy manual aerators, either solid or hollow-tined, which require the same effort as a fork. However, if you have a lot of lawn and not much time, other types of aerators are probably the best option. Whether you’re pushing a roller covered in spikes or using a powered machine, these aerators are a labour-saving version of the trusty garden fork, mechanically making a series of holes in the lawn.

Our 3 best aerators to buy at a glance

• 4.5 stars: Our best combination aerator for safety – Stihl RLA 240 Cordless Lawn Scarifier RRP £229 (bare tool)
• 4.5 stars: Our best aerator for manual aerating – Greenkey Lawn Aerator RRP £49.99
• 4.3 stars: Our best aerator for manual hollow-tined aerating – Kent & Stowe 4 Prong Lawn Aerator RRP £39.99

Jump to the best aerators:

• Our 3 top-rated lawn aerators

Jump to aerator advice:

• What is a lawn aerator, and what does it do?
• Types of lawn aerator
• How to choose the best lawn aerator
• Meet our testing panel

Our 3 top-rated lawn aerators

Stihl RLA 240 cordless lawn scarifier and aerator

Our best combination aerator for safety

RRP: £229 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5 

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£209 bare tool)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent safety features
• Easy to use
• Comfortable

Reasons to avoid:

• Struggles with inclines 

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for safety, this combination machine is powered by a 36V, 4.8Ah battery. It takes 205 minutes to charge, but is easy to plug in and has a helpful charge indicator, although this is faint in daylight. The battery also has great safety features – it won’t work without a safety key, and there’s a lock on the powerbar for an effective dead-man switch. It lasts long enough to cover a 250sq. metre lawn, about the size of a tennis court. Thanks to smooth, high-quality wheels, it feels lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, which is surprising given that it weighs 15kg.

Powerful aerating blades cut through the top layer of soil well, to help improve lawn health, rather than relieve compacted soil or open the structure of heavy clay and, in doing so, also tackle most of the thatch and moss in the lawn. The scarifying drum attachment was effective on moss, too, though not as efficiently with thatch. Although this machine struggles with inclines, catching on the surface and shutting itself off if your lawn isn't level, this isn’t too much of a problem, because you can easily adjust the heights from +7.5mm to -9.5mm to avoid this problem. The automatic shutdown is also a great safety feature.

• Buy Stihl RLA 240 Cordless Lawn Scarifier and Aerator from Just Lawnmowers (£209 bare tool)

Greenkey Rolling lawn aerator

Our best lawn aerator for manual aerating

RRP: £49.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£36.95), B&Q (£39.99) and Crocus (£57.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Adjustable height
• Easy to use
• Lightweight
• Good for storage
• Plastic caps to cover the spikes when not in use

Reasons to avoid:

• Needs assembling – though it’s straightforward
• Hard work, so best suited to small gardens

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for manual aerating, the Greenkey Rolling lawn aerator is basic but does the job well. Lightweight with sturdy spikes, it’s just the tool if your small lawn needs aeration. Made from aluminium and plastic, it’s lightweight but feels substantial and features a T-bar grip as well as an adjustable shaft to suit different height users. The drum is 30cm wide, which covers a lawn quickly and easily, and there are 30 x 4.5cm spikes to ensure deep, even aeration. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Greenkey Rolling Lawn Aerator review

• Buy Greenkey Manual Lawn Aerator from Amazon (£36.95), B&Q (£39.99) and Crocus (£57.99)

Kent & Stowe stainless steel 4 prong lawn aerator

Our best aerator for manual hollow-tined aerating

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Marshalls Garden (£36.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Comfortable
• Removes good whole soil plugs

Reasons to avoid:

• Needs strong treading to work 

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for manual hollow tined aerating, this simple aerator from Kent & Stowe works well. The smooth, FSC-grade ash handle is comfortable, lightweight and doesn’t rub, even after using it for a while. The handle runs into a single-riveted steel socket above wide steel treads, and these treads are great for striking and pushing into soil. However, the 9cm stainless steel tines don't go in smoothly every time, despite being pointed. Its best feature is that it produces good, solid plugs of soil that are great for breaking down and reusing as topsoil.

• Buy Kent & Stowe Lawn Aerator 4 Prong from Marshalls Garden (£36.99)

Best of the rest

Although this model didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, it still had features that made it worth recommending.

Cobra S3840V Cordless scarifier and aerator

RRP: £360.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£329.99 kit) and Sims Garden Machinery (£329 kit)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable to use
• Very effective
• Quick to charge

Reasons to avoid:

• Scalps the lawn
• Very poor instructions

The Cobra S3840V Cordless scarifier and aerator handles well. It’s big and the wheels are prone to being a little stiff, but it’s lightweight and has a soft-grip handle, which makes it comfortable to use. At 92dB, it’s relatively quiet, too. The 40V 5Ah battery charges quickly in just 90 minutes and lasts for 40 minutes. The machine itself is easy to use, and we loved being able to see the charge indicator through the transparent window.

The aeration blades and spring tine scarifying drum can be set at five heights, which range from -10mm to +5mm. Unfortunately, the instructions are poor, so it takes a while to get this machine up and running. On the plus side, at 38cm wide, it covers a large area of lawn, reducing how long you spend on the job, but its size makes this combination machine very bulky and difficult to store.

• Buy the Cobra S3840V Cordless Scarifier from Just Lawnmowers (£329.99 kit) and Sims Garden Machinery (£329 kit)

Time to show your lawn some TLC? Check out our round-up of the best lawn scarifiers and expert tips on how to improve your lawn in 12 weeks. You can also keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best lawn edging.

In addition to aerators and scarifiers, we've tested a range of lawn mowers, including the best cordless lawn mowers, the best robotic lawn mowers, the best electric lawn mowers and the best grass trimmers. For those with small lawns, our guide to the best hand push mowers will be helpful.

What is a lawn aerator, and what does it do?

Aerating your lawn is part of a spring and autumn lawn care regime, and there are two different methods of aerating your lawn:

• Spiking – this involves using solid spikes to create holes in the lawn, which are a couple of millimetres in width and several centimetres deep, to help relieve compacted soil
• Hollow tining – as it sounds, hollow tines are pushed into the ground to remove cylindrical plugs of turf, around a centimetre wide and a few centimetres deep. Depending on the soil type, you may wish to fill these holes with a sandy mix or leave them to let the soil expand and close the holes, which helps with waterlogged clay soil

Types of lawn aerators: the different ways to aerate your lawn

There are four types of aerators, each with its own pros and cons:

• Spike shoes - these are cheap and easy to use and most effective on soft – but not soggy - ground in small gardens
• Manual aerators - although these are useful tools, which can do specific jobs (see above), using them requires a lot of effort, as it gets tiring, even on a small lawn. But they’re cheap, and a great idea if you’re after a workout
• Manual Rolling Drum Aerators – these are time and labour saving, as you simply walk across the lawn pushing the roller
• Powered Aerators – the obvious advantage of using these is that they’re labour-saving. They're also almost always available as part of a 2-in-1 combination machine that scarifies as well, so you get two jobs done for the price of one. However, it’s important to note these mechanical aerators don’t aerate in the same way that a manual aerator does - they use metal blades rather than spikes or tines. These blades create shallow slits rather than deep holes, and although they will help maintain a healthy lawn by allowing air and water to move through this top layer of soil, they won’t improve your lawn if it’s compacted or you have heavy clay. Mechanical aerators are quite an investment too, as you’re using them twice a year at the most – even if they’re a 2-in-1 combination of aerator and scarifier – and they require more space to store than the other alternatives

How to choose the best lawn aerator

Depending on the type of aerator you’re going to choose, there are several key features to look for:

• Manual hollow tine – look out for strong, solid tines that will cope with compacted turf, a decent tread to prevent your foot from slipping, and a soft-grip handle for comfort
• Manual rolling drum – ideally, you want a good number of metal spikes on the drum to create plenty of holes – as a guide, 27 spikes will give you about 180 spikes per square metre. The spikes should also be at least 5cm long to ensure they penetrate the ground deeply
• Mechanical aerator – go for strong, good-sized blades and a collection box. If storage space is an issue, look for handles that fold down and a collapsible collection box rather than a solid one

How to get the perfect lawn

It’s not just aerating that will improve the quality of your lawn; look at our other tips below:

• Always rake up clippings when mowing at the start of the year, so they don’t smother younger, emerging shoots
• Neaten edges with a lawn edger
• Dig up small weeds like plantain and dandelions with a hand trowel
• Use a spring-tined lawn rake to rake out dead grass and moss in areas where there is poor growth
• Once the lawn is established, and later in the year, leave the clippings in place to act as a nutrient-rich mulch that will feed the grass
• If you notice bare patches, break up the soil, scatter grass seeds then sprinkle with potting compost. Cover newly sown seeded areas with netting
• When mowing on hot, dry days, raise the mower’s cutting height and make sure newly sown areas are watered

How we tested lawn aerators

To see how well lawn aerators perform, the GW reviews team tested a range of models across a range of garden situations – creating holes and slits in different turf and ground conditions. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the grass and organic debris on the lawn surface. The lawn aerators were compared, and the following criteria used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Set-up & storage: We looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the cable length
• Handling: We assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features
• Performance: Considered the strength of the tines or blades, as well as how well they created holes and slits in the lawn. For the 2-in-1 machines, we also evaluated how well the spring tines removed moss and thatch in the scarifying mode
• Value for money: We reviewed all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP and the length of warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026.

Cooking and eating outside in the garden are highlights of the summer, and although charcoal barbecues are often the traditional choice, gas barbecue make grilling simple. Quicker and cleaner than charcoal, they leave little mess, cook without smoke, and often come with a range of bonus features to take your cooking to the next level. Watch our video above for expert advice on buying the best gas barbecue for your garden.

Gas BBQs – Buyer’s Guide

Our 5 best gas BBQs to buy at a glance

• 4.8 stars: Our best gas barbecue for small gardens – Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart RRP £479
• 4.8 stars: Our best premium gas barbecue – Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 RRP £1,599
• 4.8 stars: Our best portable gas barbecue for design – Cadac Citi Chef 40 RRP £280
• 4.8 stars: Our best gas barbecue for convenience – Weber Traveler gas barbecue RRP £539
• 4.8 stars: Our best portable gas barbecue – Weber Q1200 RRP £389

Also recommended: gas BBQs

• 4.5 stars: Our best gas barbecue for crowds – Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue RRP £867
• 4.5 stars: Our best all-round gas barbecue – Napoleon Rogue 425 RRP £674.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best gas barbecue for small families and couples – Char-Broil Grill2Go RRP £229.99
• 4.3 stars: Our best basic gas barbecue – Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue RRP £249.97

Comparison table: best gas BBQs

Jump to the best gas BBQs:

• Our 5 top-rated gas BBQs

Jump to gas BBQ advice:

• Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?
• Are gas BBQs safe?
• How to choose a gas BBQ
• Which gas do I need?
• How we tested
• Meet our testing panel

Our 5 top-rated gas BBQs

Weber Q2200N gas barbecue with side tables and premium cart

Our best gas barbecue for small gardens

RRP: £479

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: BBQ World (£329)

Reasons to buy:

• Feels sturdy and well-made
• Handle stays cool and comfortable
• Drip tray is effective
• Cooks quickly, evenly and well

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive

I found this sturdy little barbecue is easy to put together and to move in and out of storage with its four lockable wheels and side tables that slot on and off in seconds. It takes up very little room and the gas can be stored in the cart when not in use. It’s light but robust, and the grill is a comfortable height for cooking. It's easy to connect the gas, with intuitive controls, and the Porcelain-enamelled, cast-iron cooking grates get to temperature (400°F, 204°C) in just five minutes, with even heat distribution and slightly cooler edges.

There’s enough space for up to 12 burgers, and all the food I tested was evenly cooked with good grill lines. The lid has a thermometer and a heat-proof handle, and the quality and design are very good. It feels sturdy and long-lasting, and it comes with a five-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for small gardens.

• Buy the Weber Q2200N from BBQ World (£329)

Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 smart gas barbecue

Our best premium gas barbecue

RRP: £1,599

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: BBQ World (£1,399)

Reasons to add:

• Easy to load rotisserie arm
• Double-width warming rack
• Side burner perfect for popping a skillet on

Reasons to avoid:

• Short power cord
• Expensive

Retailing at around £1,500, the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Smart gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best premium gas barbecue. I was impressed by this three-burner barbecue that's packed with features. Not only does it cater for a whopping 12 people, but it has a digital thermometer that lets you control the temperature to the exact degree. It also sends step-by-step temperature alerts to your phone to guide you through cooking. There’s a large sear zone, as well as a side burner that’s perfect for pans and skillets and doubles up as an additional work surface with its lid down. The warming rack is double-width, for extra snacks, and there’s even a rotisserie arm for cooking whole birds. I found the heat was evenly distributed across the whole barbecue.

The combination of the sear zone and the side burner allowed me to sear steaks on the right while cooking kebabs on the left, while at the same time keeping extras piping hot on the double-width warming rack. The steaks I cooked had well-defined char lines and a delicious flavour while remaining pink, tender and juicy in the middle. The rotisserie arm is easy to use and turned out two succulent roast chickens. There was no sticking with any of the ingredients and recipes on test, and everything I cooked was delicious.

However, I can’t get around the cost. There’s a lot of functionality crammed into this barbecue, but £1,500 is a very hefty price tag, especially in the current climate. It also has a large footprint on a patio, so in small gardens it will dominate your space. You need to place it near a power socket too, as it has a short power cord to run the digital temperature gauge. I can’t comment on how easy this barbecue is to assemble, because it was delivered to me fully built.

• Buy the Weber Genesis Series EPX-335 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£1,399)

Cadac Citi Chef 40

Our best gas barbecue for design

RRP: £280

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£119)

Reasons to buy:

• Very little assembly
• Easy to use and carry
• Light but stable
• Cooks evenly with good char lines

Reasons to avoid:

• Lid a little hard to fit
• Lacks carry handles
• Regulator not included

This super simple barbecue is well thought out and was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for design. There’s very little assembly needed, just slot in the pot stand and put the lid together with the Allen key supplied, and you’re ready. However, this barbecue doesn’t come with a regulator, so you do need to purchase this separately and set it up before you can get cooking. It's very light at just over 6kg, and easy to pick and carry onto a tabletop or the grass, but it does lack handles, which might have made it easier to move about for some people. A great carry bag is included, though, which zips up with the lid strapped to the top so it's easy to pack away and transport to wherever you’re cooking.

It has an attractive circular design that sits on low, sturdy legs with rubber non-slip feet, and a domed lid with a temperature gauge, a cool-touch handle and a handy hook on the inside to rest it on the back of the barbecue while you add and turn your food. At 33cm, the circular ceramic-coated grill is big enough for a family of four, and the auto ignition is easy to light. It takes just a few minutes to get this barbecue up to temperature. It cooked our range of barbecue staples well, with clearly defined char lines, and there were no evident cool spots. Beneath the grill is a removable porcelain-enamelled fat pan that runs like a moat around the burner to catch dripping fat. It's easy to take out and clean, and the grill itself is simple to lift out and run under the tap or wash in the dishwasher.

This is a well-designed barbecue that’s easy to use and take with you to the allotment or on holiday, and it's also ideal for use on a balcony or small patio. It’s available in a choice of three colours and, as the Cadac is part of a modular system, there’s a whole host of interchangeable cooking surfaces available, including a griddle, paella pan, pizza stone and more to increase your cooking repertoire. It comes with a five-year warranty.

• Buy the Cadac Citi Chef 40 from Amazon (£119)

Weber Traveler gas barbecue

Our best gas barbecue for convenience

RRP: £509

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£539)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy set-up and transportability 
• Solid and sturdy
• Large cooking area
• Cooks evenly and well
• Powerful burner

Reasons to avoid:

• Small gas canister doesn’t last long
• Large and heavy to lift if needed
• Expensive

This is a well-designed barbecue, great for small gardens, camping, or taking down to the beach for instant barbecuing. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for convenience as I found it one of the easiest to use of all the barbecues we've tested. Almost ready to go straight out of the box, it just needs the wheels slotted on, the grill plates and drip tray inserted, and you have a table-top barbecue, complete with a work surface, no matter where you are.

Easy to lift up into position, it has a good-sized cooking area with two cast iron grill plates with a porcelain enamel coating above a single burner. The domed lid has a temperature gauge, and the grill plates heat up quickly within just a few minutes. The control dial is easy to adjust, there’s ample space to feed a family or larger gathering, and in my test, everything cooked well and evenly, and nothing stuck to the grill plates. Next to the burner are handy plastic tool hooks, and the side table is easily big enough for plates, sauces and more.

As a travel barbecue, it uses small, screw-in canisters of propane and butane, which won’t last long. I used about two-thirds of a bottle in our test, but if you plan to use this barbecue regularly at home, it’s worth investing in a regulator and adaptor hose so you can hook it up to a bigger propane canister.

With its trolley design, the barbecue collapses down flat with the flick of a button (and the lid and legs lock automatically), and I found it simple to lift and move around on its wheels. It’s also very easy to store, as once flat, it stands up vertically and can be tucked away flat against a wall. Compared to other portable barbecues, it's quite pricey, but given its quality, ease and cooking results, I'd say it’s well worth it. It comes with a five-year warranty.

• Buy the Weber Traveler gas barbecue from Amazon (£539)

Weber Q1200 gas barbecue

Our best portable gas barbecue

RRP: £389

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£349.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to use
• Cooks well
• Portable and compact to store

Reasons to avoid:

• Non-stick coating disappointing

The Q1200 portable gas barbecue is a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best portable gas barbecue. I found it easy to use, and it cooked well, albeit without the bells and whistles of larger models. Fuelled by a C500 gas cartridge, it heats efficiently, but the temperature does drop if the lid is opened for any length of time, and it takes several minutes to regain heat, especially once the grill is covered with food. The compact grill makes this barbecue ideal for cooking a few steaks for a cosy gathering of four, rather than a prolonged burger-flipping session catering for a larger party.

I was pleased with the good char lines, but sections of the grill were solid, which reduces the areas where you can achieve this authentic barbecue texture. The non-stick coating isn’t always effective. Clear instructions mean it’s easy to assemble, just make sure the plastic side tables don’t accidentally touch the hot grill, as they are likely to scorch. This is a versatile barbecue that’s completely portable, whether you’re in the garden or on the beach, and it’s easy to store. It's also available with a stand.

• Buy the Weber Q1200 Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£349.99)

Also recommended: gas BBQs

Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue

Our best gas barbecue for crowds

RRP: £867

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: BBQ World (£625) and B&Q (£695)

Reasons to buy:

• Large cooking area
• Quick to preheat
• Easy to control temperature
• Attractive, intuitive design

Reasons to avoid:

• Lengthy, fiddly assembly
• Some cold spots across the grill
• No warming rack

This simple-to-use barbecue impressed me with its good looks and quick, ferocious cooking. It comes with three die-cast grills, each of which slots above a burner that works independently – so you can fire up all three at once or just use one at a time. It reaches grilling temperature in a matter of minutes and reacts well to temperature change, with three hob-like knobs to adjust the heat that sit on the right-hand side of the grill and bring an element of familiarity if you’re used to cooking on gas indoors.

I found putting this barbecue together quite fiddly and time-consuming, especially as some of the screws didn't thread through properly, but the instructions were mostly clear and, although no tools were provided, all I needed was a Phillips screwdriver. Once built, it can stay assembled and has two small wheels to help you push it in and out of storage. Alternatively, there’s a (somewhat pricey) cover to protect it from the elements available to buy from BBQ World. It's robust and a good size, with a wide grill able to handle a large amount of food. There's space for up to 28 burgers or three roast chickens at one time, and almost everything I cooked was well charred and succulent. However, I did find the occasional cold spot on the grill, which made some results inconsistent.

It has a sturdy hood with a temperature gauge and a side table on the left-hand side, plus a shelf below for storing accessories and utensils. It's expensive, which no doubt reflects the attached celebrity name, but it's a high-performing barbecue with plenty of user-friendly features, and I think it's good value for money. It also comes with a five-year warranty. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best gas barbecue for crowds.

• Buy the Everdure Furnace 3 burner gas barbecue from BBQ World (£625) and B&Q (£695)

Napoleon Rogue 425 gas barbecue

Our best all-around gas barbecue

RRP: £674.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: BBQ World (£639.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Good temperature control
• Excellent cooking results
• Thoughtful design
• Easy to move around and lock

Reasons to avoid:

• Non-stick coating disappointing

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy winner, the Napoleon Rogue 425 is the best all-round gas barbecue. It was quick to set up and simple to use, and thanks to its slick, lockable wheels, I found it easy to move around the garden. It ignites easily and reaches temperature in 10 minutes, hitting a powerful 700°F (371°C) and has a large grill area at 46cm x 59.5cm, with Napoleon’s iconic wavy grill lines. The grills are at the perfect distance from the burners to prevent burning and ensure even heat transfer, which also massively reduces hot and cool spots on this barbecue.

All my test recipes turned out to be delicious, with golden caramelisation and crisp grill lines, and I loved the temperature gauge, which is clear to read in both Fahrenheit and Celsius and offers precise control. I also appreciate the fact that the gas tucks away neatly on its own inbuilt shelf, so this sleek barbecue looks fantastic on a patio. However, the warming rack gets so hot that it can continue to cook your food, and I also found the non-stick grill disappointing, as marinades often stuck to the grill. This is an expensive barbecue, but it’s well thought out, with excellent cooking results, and it comes with a 15-year warranty.

• Buy the Napoleon Rogue 425 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£639.95)

Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue

Our best gas barbecue for small families and couples

RRP: £229.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£144.99), Robert Dyas (£192.99) and Wayfair (£156.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to set up and use
• Compact and lightweight
• Cooks well
• Includes scraper

Reasons to avoid:

• Some flare-ups and cool spots

The Char-Broil Grill2Go gas barbecue is designed for use at home and on the move, and won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for small families and couples. A simple, single-burner gas barbecue, I was impressed that it's almost ready to go from the box. You just need to plug in the regulator and add your gas. However, unless you shell out for a specialised propane gas regulator, it only runs on threaded EN417 gas bottles with a mix of butane and propane.

It gets to temperature in under five minutes and has a handy thermometer in the lid. When cooking, the most notable feature of this barbecue is its well-defined grill lines. I found that burgers came off this barbecue looking picture-perfect, with precise grill lines. The Grill2Go is also excellent at retaining moisture, which can be tricky on a barbecue. Vegetable kebabs come off the grill with crisp, charred outsides and succulent insides. It’s small and lightweight, so though it has a relatively large 44 x 28cm cooking area, it’s easy to move around the garden and would be a great companion while camping. It also comes with a useful scraper for cleaning after use.

However, this barbecue suffers from the success of its char-lines, which can quickly blacken food even at lower temperatures, so I found it difficult to cook through larger ingredients. This is particularly tricky because of its temperature control, which is simple to use but doesn’t always react quickly. I spotted a few flare-ups, and the right half of the grill is also much hotter than the left, with a noticeable cool spot along the front of the barbecue. Nevertheless, I think this grill is excellent for couples and small families. Because it heats up so quickly, it’s just the thing for everyday grilling too.

• Buy the Char-Broil Grill2Go Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£144.99), Robert Dyas (£192.99) and Wayfair (£156.99)

Boss Grill Deluxe portable gas barbecue

Our best basic gas barbecue

RRP: £249.97

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£264.97) and Appliances Direct (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Stylish, keep-cool handle
• Intuitive controls
• Generous cooking area
• Easy to move around

Reasons to avoid:

• Hose for gas a little short
• Quite low and rather wobbly

This barbecue is a brilliant option if you’re after something that gets the basics of barbecuing right, so it won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best basic gas barbecue. It’s worth noting that while the majority of the build could be done by just one person, the quality of the manual is seriously lacking. On test, it left me to work out a considerable amount on my own, owing to the poor-quality images and the lack of text. It’s a little wobbly, and I also think the overall height of the barbecue is a little short – on a 5'5" tester, the grill sits just below the hips. This isn’t a barbecue for experts; rather, it's geared toward someone who wants a simple barbecue for basic dishes, but it’s all you need to get grilling.

It features a large, generous grilling area with a double burner and enough space to comfortably cook for four people. This model takes just five minutes to heat up and provides an even and consistent heat, right to the edges. It’s also particularly responsive to changes in temperature, and overall, it cooks well, with wonderfully defined grill lines and excellent sealing. I loved the stylish faux-leather handle, which remained cool. It's lightweight, and I found it easy to move around thanks to the chunky wheels.

• Buy the Boss Grill Deluxe Portable Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£264.97) and Appliances Direct (£219)

The best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Campingaz Attitude 2go Table Top gas barbecue

RRP: £249.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£195) and B&Q (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Ready to go
• Sleek and simple to use
• Good char lines
• Sturdy carry handles

Reasons to avoid:

• Slow to heat up
• Heavy for portability 
• Regulator bought separately
• Lacks accessories

This neat, tabletop barbecue needs no assembly: I just added the grill and the drip tray, and it was ready to go. However, it doesn’t come with the gas regulator included, so you do have to purchase this separately and attach it yourself, which was quite tricky. I found that soaking the end of the hose in warm water to soften it before attaching it definitely helped. It’s compact with carry handles built in to the legs, so it’s easy to carry and lift onto your table or patio, but at 13kg it’s heavier than other portable barbecues such as the Cadac.

The enamelled cast iron grill sits above a single gas burner, which is easy to adjust by a chunky dial on the side, and the lid has a handy temperature gauge. But I found this barbecue slow to heat up. I took 10 minutes to reach temperature, although once there, it maintained an even, constant heat and cooked food well with good char lines and no sticking. The chunky handle on the front of the lid stayed cool to the touch and felt sturdy and safe, and the front-loading drip tray was easy to clean. Once cool, the barbecue was simple to pick up and store away.

Overall, this is a simple tabletop barbecue, but it lacks accessories, so the range of what and how you can cook with it is limited. The lid has a 10-year warranty, and the cooking grill has a five-year warranty.

• Buy the Campingaz 2go table top gas barbecue from Amazon (£195) and B&Q (£219)

Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue

RRP: £549

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Argos (£549) and BBQ World (£439.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Great cooking results
• Versatile

Reasons to avoid:

• Long assembly time
• Bulky/hard to move around

This intuitive barbecue from Weber makes gas grilling a breeze. I found it easy to connect to my gas, and it ignited on the first click every time, reaching cooking temperature in 15 minutes. With responsive temperature knobs, this barbecue is easy to control, too. However, you’ll need a rubber mallet, 7/16-inch spanner, and a Phillips head screwdriver to assemble this barbecue, and it’s tricky to move around. Though the side burner and side table are great additions, they got in the way when I was trying to manoeuvre it, and the lack of handles means it's hard to push or drag the barbecue. Despite being a two-burner barbecue, it has quite a large patio footprint, so, like me, you might struggle to store it in a shed or a greenhouse.

On test, chicken wings and burgers cooked well thanks to excellent heat retention, and it gives sausages and halloumi wonderful grill lines. I especially liked the versatile grill. The circular panel in the grill can be replaced with Weber accessories, like a wok and pizza stone. The included thermometer is quick to respond and easy to read, and there are very few cool spots. Suiting both serious grill masters and casual barbecuers, this is an impressive model that's simple to use and turns out great dishes.

• Buy the Weber Spirit II E-310 GBS Gas Barbecue from Argos (£549) and BBQ World (£439.95)

George Foreman GFSBBQ1 single burner gas barbecue

RRP: £123.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£99.99) and Currys (£99.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Clear instructions
• Cooks well with even heat coverage
• Low price

Reasons to avoid:

• Basic - no extra features or functions
• Regulator assembly fiddly
• Some cold spots

The George Foreman GFSBBQ1 is a single-burner barbecue for three people, but I'd say you could easily stretch this to four. It’s easy to assemble, but it needs a screwdriver for the lid, and you have to screw in the thermometer, too. Its biggest weakness is that you have to put together the regulator yourself, which I found very fiddly as you need water to lubricate the hose in order to fit it, and you need to use small hose clamps to tighten everything. However, the instructions are simple and clear. Once you’re set up, it’s a dream to use.

It gets to temperature in just five minutes, and its temperature control is smooth and reacts quickly to any change. It has a couple of cool spots in the corners, but otherwise has even coverage, so you can cook everything at exactly the same rate, no matter where it is on the grill. It produced good char-lines for me, but other barbecues on test have better definition. Though everything tastes delicious, the food isn’t as quick to cook or as well-cooked as with some of the other barbecues on test.

Above all, what you see is what you get. There are no extra functions or hidden storage, just a simple grill. It also feels a little flimsy, but that isn’t a surprise at this price. I also found that the 70cm width of this barbecue slightly defeats the point of a tabletop barbecue, as it’s too big to comfortably sit on most patio or garden tables. I think this barbecue would best suit an unfussy family of four. You might not make gourmet grub on this grill, but it’s all you need for a few burgers on a sunny afternoon.

• Buy the George Foreman GFSBBQ1 Single Burner Gas Barbecue from Amazon (£99.99) and Currys (£99.99)

Napoleon Freestyle 365 gas barbecue

RRP: £469.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: BBQ World (£446.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Quick to heat
• Cooks precisely and is easy to control
• Effective side burner
• Generous warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Long assembly
• Noisy

The Napoleon Freestyle 365 comes with a handy side burner, and our Good Food Magazine colleagues love how well it cooks. However, before you get started, it’s worth noting that this barbecue is difficult to put together. You’ll need a Phillips screwdriver, as well as a set of spanners. Frustratingly, the diagrams are all over the place and demonstrate the assembly from odd angles, so it takes a little figuring out. All told, it takes at least two hours to get everything together, so if you’re planning a big bank holiday barbecue, you don’t want to be building this on the day. That said, I like the inclusion of spare parts, so there’s no panic if you lose a screw.

Once it’s assembled, it’s easy to ignite and quick to heat, offering remarkable evenness across the whole grill. The 51cm by 45cm grilling area is a good size, offering lots of space for cooking without taking up the entire patio. However, the grates are wide, so smaller items like prawn skewers might struggle to cook or char evenly. That said, more substantial ingredients like chicken ended up with beautifully defined grill lines. I found the three burners and thermometer responsive, letting me precisely control the temperature, and the warming rack is suspended in just the right spot to keep kebabs and corn on the cob at the perfect temperature. Unfortunately, it’s surprisingly noisy when it gets going.

The side burner is a hit, grilling an astonishing steak, and the bottle opener on this side burner is a lovely extra touch, making this barbecue a social focal point on a patio. All of its parts are robust, high-quality steel and aluminium, neatly stamped with Napoleon’s logo. This quality extends to the warranty, which I was impressed to see lasts for ten years.

• Buy the Napoleon Freestyle 365 Gas Barbecue from BBQ World (£446.49)

Outback Magnum 3 burner hybrid barbecue

RRP: £529.99

Our rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Calor (£414), Charlies (£413.99) and Direct Stoves (£459.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Well thought-out instructions
• Good features
• Includes charcoal basket

Reasons to avoid:

• Some cool spots
• Grease tray requires sand layer
• Side burner close to ignition

I found the Magnum 3 a well-thought-out gas barbecue with a lot of features for the price. It has a large cooking area, with a removable grill that can be swapped with a griddle or pizza stone for an additional cost, and it also comes with a charcoal basket to fill with charcoal briquettes to get that traditional smoky charcoal flavour from the ease of a gas grill. There’s a detailed thermometer in the hood, with helpful markings for types of cooking, and it has a side burner for sauces or charring aubergine, tool hooks, or even a bottle opener.

It took me around an hour to assemble this barbecue, but the instructions were clear, and it was a slow, methodical build that required two people towards the end. On the whole, it cooked well in my test. There were some cool spots around the edges of the burners, and it didn’t char or sear as well as others, but it heated up quickly, and, for those new to gas barbecuing, it’s versatile, quick and easy to cook on. It’s also light with two wheels that make it easy to move around and in and out of storage, but it is quite large with no folding tables, so it will take up a fair bit of room on the patio or in the shed over winter. It's best for medium-sized gardens.

• Buy the Outback Magnum 3 Gas Charcoal Barbecue from Calor (£414), Charlies (£413.99) and Direct Stoves (£459.99)

Boss Grill Georgia classic gas barbecue

RRP: £249

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from: Appliances Direct (£249)

Reasons to buy:

• Useful accessories included
• Features a side burner and two plate styles on the grill

Reasons to avoid:

• Poor instructions and assembly is hard
• Flimsy materials
• Side burner hard to light

The Boss Grill Georgia Classic is a decent choice if you want a starter barbecue. This model comes with two different grilling plates to suit a range of meals, and I'd say it would fit easily into most mid/large-sized gardens. With four burners for the main BBQ area and an additional side hob, it offers a lot of room to cook multiple foods at once. Although large, it’s lightweight and features wheels on the back, so you can move it around your garden with ease. It also comes with some handy accessories.

Some food cooked well on the barbecue, like skewers, aubergine and potato. My potato slices were particularly great thanks to a griddle plate, which is great for flat, thin items like halloumi. However, this barbecue leaves courgette slices with poorly defined grill lines and unevenly toasted burger buns. The side burner was tricky to get going, and the build is tricky as a result of poor instructions.

• Buy the Boss Grill Georgia Classic Gas Barbecue from Appliances Direct (£249)

If a gas grill isn’t for you, check out our tests of the best charcoal BBQs. We've also reviewed the best pizza ovens, in collaboration with Good Food magazine. For accessories, check out our guides to the best BBQ accessories and BBQ shelters.

For extra help with barbecuing, take a look at Good Food Magazine’s guide to barbecuing safely, their range of BBQ recipes, with delicious ideas for burgers, BBQ ribs, hot wings, and drinks, as well as vegetarian and vegan treats.

Should I choose a gas BBQ or a charcoal BBQ?

The main considerations are how much and how often you want to barbecue. Gas barbecues tend to be better for feeding a crowd, as they often have a larger cooking area and a uniform temperature across the grill, so you can be sure of a consistent cooking time wherever you’re cooking. They also heat up and get to cooking temperature fast: depending on the model, they can be ready to cook in just five minutes, compared to thirty or forty for a charcoal barbecue. This means you won’t be stuck at the grill and left out of the party. You can also get everyone’s portion to the table at once or, if you have guests coming and going throughout the day, cook as and when you need to. This speed also makes a gas BBQ great for everyday cooking. If you fancy a quick burger in the garden after work, there’s no need to bother with a messy bag of charcoal as if you’re getting ready for a big family get-together. Just switch on the gas and get grilling.

Gas barbecues are also ideal if you’re new to barbecuing. With a gas grill, there won’t be any panic on the day as you light charcoal for the first time, which can take a few attempts. They’re easier to control, too. With charcoal, achieving the right temperature requires playing around with vents and learning the difference between direct and indirect heat so you don’t sear everything you’re trying to cook. On a gas barbecue, you can precisely control the temperature by simply turning the knob. They’re also safe, as you can just turn the barbecue out when you’re done, rather than having to keep an eye on hot coals as they cool.

They’re a neighbourly way to cook, as they don’t produce smoke. The strong smell of a charcoal barbecue can be antisocial, especially if next door has washing out and, because they don’t smoke, gas barbecues are also cleaner to use, with no chance of getting charcoal dust on your hands and clothes. This, in turn, makes gas barbecues easier to clean because there’s less charring on the grill.

However, a gas barbecue can’t quite match the smoky flavour of a charcoal barbecue, or at least not as much as manufacturers claim they can. On a charcoal barbecue, fats and oils from the food drip between the grill and vaporise on the hot coals, to create that unmistakable smoky flavour. This happens a little on a gas grill too, if oils drip onto the flames, but not to the same extent. Your food will still have that distinctive char-grilled caramelisation, but it won’t be as smoky. If you want the best of both worlds, there are also a few combination charcoal and gas barbecues on the market, such as the Outback Magnum 3 hybrid barbecue we tested.

Are gas BBQs safe?

Used correctly, a gas barbecue is perfectly safe. Make sure you use the right gas for your barbecue and that the gas hose, regulator and canister are in good working order and connected correctly and securely. Don’t stand the canister in the storage area beneath the grill, but well away from the cooking area and high temperatures. Always cook in an open area away from fire hazards like wooden fences, sheds, hedges and trees. Once finished, be sure to turn the barbecue off and disconnect the gas.

How to choose a gas BBQ

• Size. Bigger isn’t always better. A small gas barbecue with one or two burners is all you need for entertaining a family of four. This is especially true with gas barbecues, which need somewhere to store propane, too. If you’ll be entertaining a larger gathering of upwards of six people, opt for a gas barbecue with at least four burners. Height is also crucial here. You don’t want a barbecue that’s too high or low for you to use comfortably. Bigger barbecues also need more assembly time, so factor that in if you’re planning to build a barbecue on the same day you’re cooking
• Special features. Some of the best gas barbecues come with extras as standard. Look out for warming racks to keep food hot until you’re all ready to eat, thermometers to gauge heat, and side burners for cooking extra bits like caramelised onions or homemade BBQ sauce. Side tables and tool racks to keep spatulas, sauces and serving dishes to hand are also useful, as is built-in storage for the gas bottle. Make sure you have a drip tray for collecting waste fat and oils

Which gas do I need?

Gas barbecues are fuelled by a gas canister, which you need to buy separately. Most use propane (in a green canister and also sold as patio gas) or butane (in a blue canister), but some smaller, tabletop and portable barbecues use small bottles of camping gas. Make sure to check which type you need in the manual before you buy.

With current events affecting gas prices and availability, it’s important not to spend too much on fuel. For one- to three-burner gas barbecues, a 5kg bottle is all you need and should give you about ten barbecues’ worth of fuel. You need at least a 10kg bottle for bigger appliances with five or more burners, though 13kg is a common unit.

Gas is available through homeware and DIY shops like Homebase and B&Q, or directly from manufacturers like FloGas and Calor. You'll pay a deposit the first time you buy one, plus the cost of the gas. After this, you just pay to refill the canister, and once you’ve finished with a canister, it can be returned for a refund of the original deposit.

The gas is connected with a hose and regulator, and although most barbecues come with these connected, you may have to attach them yourself or even buy them separately.

How we tested

Together with our colleagues at Good Food Magazine, we tested a range of gas barbecues. Each barbecue was unpacked, assembled, used to cook a variety of dishes, and then assessed according to our specific criteria. Good Food Magazine put particular emphasis on how well each barbecue cooked, but at Gardeners' World Magazine, we assessed the barbecues with emphasis on their garden context, including how easy they are to assemble, move around and store.
They were assessed according to the following points, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Setup and storage. Looked at the ease of assembly, clarity of instructions, warm-up time and how easy the barbecue is to store
• Ease of use. Focused on ease of use, how simple it is to move around the garden and how easy it is to control the temperature and cook
• Cooking results. We cooked a variety of common barbecue dishes to assess the non-stick ability of each grill, its grid-cooking capabilities, and how well it chars, softens, and seals food. We also checked for defined lines, even cooking, sticking and hot spots. Above all, we tested how long it took to cook each dish and how good each dish tasted
• Value for money. Considered all of the above, as well as quality, design, warranty and price

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Solar lights are environmentally friendly lighting, and with a good set, you can create an ambience that lets you enjoy your garden long after dark. Powered by solar panels, they absorb daylight and convert it to electrical energy, charging your lights so they’re ready to go at night.

Unlike mains-powered lights, solar lights are cheap and easy to install, and because these eco-friendly lights are powered by the sun, they’ll save you money on electricity bills and batteries. With the right lights, you can have effective, automatic garden lighting that won’t break the bank.

Solar lights can be used purely for ambience and decoration, or can have a more practical function, such as illuminating a path or providing security lighting. Some of the most popular types include:

• Fairy lights: Think of the lights on a Christmas tree - they have small, dim LEDs, narrowly spaced along a wire, and are ideal for decorative lighting
• String lights: The bigger, brighter cousin of fairy lights. Also on wire, but the bulbs of string lights are spaced out more widely than fairy lights, and are much brighter, for festival-style illumination
• Spotlights: These solar lights are used for lighting up a single area or highlighting trees and shrubs. They also double as security lights, as they’re good for dark spots that could use brief bursts of bright light, like the front of sheds when you're locking or unlocking a door, or alleyways when you’re putting the bins out. If you’re looking for gentle mood lighting, these might not be for you
• Fence lights: Small up or down lights, these sit on fence posts or can be mounted on walls, for lighting all the way along your boundary
• Stake lights: These tend to be spiked stakes with bulbs at the top that provide low-level lighting, ideal for guiding the way along a path or softly lighting flowerbeds
• Solar lanterns: LED bulbs housed in lanterns, designed to be hung up or freestanding on a table or patio
• Security lights: Perfect for increasing security but without the faff of wiring the light up the the mains

Solar lights are powered by internal rechargeable batteries, charged through the day by a solar panel. The brighter the day, the more power is stored by the battery, and the longer the light will shine. Light is produced by one or more LEDs; at dusk, they turn on automatically, turning off when the sun comes up. Solar energy can be used in the garden to power simple mechanisms like the water pumps in solar water features or – in this case – light bulbs, to make solar lights.

Caring for wildlife

Solar lights are much kinder to wildlife than mains-powered lighting. Often emitting a dimmer glow, they’re less likely to disturb nocturnal animals. So that you don’t disturb bugs and bats, try to angle your lights towards the ground, and opt for dimmer, less harsh lights where possible. Ideally, turn off your solar lights before you go to bed, and ensure some areas of your garden remain in darkness.

Our best solar lights to buy at a glance

Our 5 top-rated solar lights

• 4.9 stars: Our best solar spike and bollard lights – 4lite Antheia LED decorative spike light with PIR sensor RRP £29.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best solar string lights – Lights4fun 200 Starburst solar USB string lights RRP £39.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best value solar light set – Lights4fun Set of three warm white hanging solar lights RRP £19.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best solar lights for parties – Madison solar drop bulb lights RRP £39.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best solar light for borders – Firefly garden solar lights RRP £19.99

Also recommended:

• 4.5 stars: Our best solar security light – Dover Solar Double PIR Light RRP £34.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best solar lantern – Damasque solar lantern RRP £34.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best solar stake lights – Solar fluted marker light 10 pack £RRP 21.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best solar spotlight – T-Sun solar spotlight RRP £17.99

Jump to the best solar lights:

• Our 5 top-rated solar lights
• Also recommended: solar lights

Jump to solar light advice:

• How to choose the best solar lights?
• How we tested
• How to use lighting in your garden design
• Meet our testing panel

Our 5 top-rated solar lights

4lite Antheia outdoor LED solar-powered decorative bollard/spike light with PIR sensor

Our best solar spike and bollard lights

RRP: £29.99

Our rating: 4.9/5

Available from: Amazon (£29.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Motion sensor
• Choice of three lighting modes
• Robust and long-lasting for year-round use
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Costly if you want to line a path or boundary

This stylish spike light is made from sturdy die-cast aluminium in matt black and has a large solar panel on the top. There’s a choice of mounting options: the light can be attached to the ground with the included screws or simply sunk into soil with the sturdy spike. There are also three different lighting modes. It can be set to switch on only when it detects movement, provide a continuous glow, or fade to a dimmer light until nearby motion is detected, when it becomes brighter. The warm white solar LED bulbs are bright enough to light a path, boundary or entranceway and offer up to 12 hours of light in the summer, although there’s an on/off switch to avoid disturbing neighbours or garden wildlife.

Ideal by the front door, to light up when you arrive home, a few of these would also look great lining a path, although this could become expensive. Rated IP54, it’s tough enough for year-round use and comes with a four-year warranty. Taller bollard spike lights with the same features are also available. Our experts awarded the Antheia outdoor LED solar-powered decorative spike and bollard light a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best solar spike and bollard lights. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: Spike light dimensions: 160mm x 290mm (+200m spike)
Bollard spike dimensions: 160mm x 465mm (+200m spike)

• Buy the 4lite Antheia outdoor LED solar-powered decorative spike and bollard light from Amazon (£29.99)

Lights4fun 200 Starburst solar USB string lights

Our best string lights

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (41.99) and Lights4fun (£39.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Good quality with a sturdy, clear cable
• Good range of features
• Remote control
• USB charging option

Reasons to avoid:

• Only 2m length
• Expensive for length

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best string lights, these sparklers have been well thought-out with a good range of features. With a clear cable and 10 clusters of 200 warm white LEDs these pretty string lights will create a twinkle in a tree or along a fence line. IP44 rated, they’re ideal for use outside and are rechargeable via the included USB cable as well as by solar.

There’s a good length of cable between the panel and the first set of lights, and they have an on/off button and a remote control, which can be used to set one of eight different modes, vary the brightness and choose between one of three timer options. The back of the panel also shows battery level and mode. They make an attractive feature, it’s just a shame they’re not a bit longer or available in different lengths. They have a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 10cm x 2mm and 2m cable

• Buy the 200 starburst solar USB string lights from Amazon (41.99) and Lights4fun (£39.99)

Lights4fun set of three warm white hanging solar lights

Our best value solar light set

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4.8/ 5

Available from: Amazon (£20.99) and Lights4fun (£19.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Ready to go
• On/off switch
• Robust
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• Quite small

This set of three sweet lights is simple to use and brings a soft glow to the garden after sunset. A silver hook on the top of each light makes them easy to hang on branches or string up and loop over a pergola, and a switch on the side ensures you can turn them off at the end of the night. Although they're entirely plastic, they stood up well to the weather in our test, and despite the small solar panel on the top of each light, they were the first to come on at dusk and lasted well into the morning in summer if not switched off.

IP 44 rated, they’re ideal for outdoor use, and though there are no extra modes or fancy features, these charming lights are simple to use, look great and come with a two-year warranty. We think they’re great value and awarded them a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best value solar light set. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: (H) 14.5, 12.5, 11.5 x (D) 10, 8, 8cm

• Buy the set of 3 warm white hanging solar lights from Amazon (£20.99) and Lights4fun (£19.99)

Madison solar drop bulb lights

Our best solar lights for parties

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£39.99) and Lights4fun (£39.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Good quality with thick, sturdy cable
• Helpful hanging holes
• Choice of three power-saving lighting modes
• Two spare bulbs included

Reasons to avoid:

• No replacement bulbs available

A BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best solar lights for parties, we were immediately impressed by the quality of these large, vintage-style string lights. With 10 glass bulbs strung along a thick UK weatherproof cable and a generous 3W solar panel, they're good-looking and easy to use. The lights come carefully packaged in cardboard and take around ten minutes to put together. All that's needed is slotting the stake together and into the solar panel and screwing in the bulbs - just take care to screw the bulbs in well, or they will come loose and turn off in windy weather.

The lights have a power button, so you can turn them off before you go to bed to protect wildlife and save energy, and there are also three light settings to choose from. Simply press the button on the back of the panel once for the brightest setting, then again for the first power saving mode and a third time for the dimmest power saving mode. The solar panel is frost-resistant and large enough to power the lights through even grey winter days, and the lights switch on as soon as the light starts to fade at dusk. They have a runtime of up to eight hours and, in our test throughout the summer, they lasted through the night and right up until dawn. They come with two spare bulbs and a one-year warranty. Our only niggle with these lights is that you can't buy replacement bulbs, so they have a finite life once the bulbs start to go. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 7.25m in total, 45cm between each light, 3.3m from panel to first bulb. The bulb hangs 19cm from the cable.

• Buy the Madison solar drop bulb lights from Amazon (£39.99) and Lights4fun (£39.99)

Firefly garden solar lights

Our best solar lights for borders

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£13.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Eye-catching design
• Easy to use and store
• Simple on/off switch
• Weatherproof

Reasons to avoid:

• Ideally, you need more than one
• Flops after a while

This striking light creates eye-catching dots of light that sway in the wind and float above your plants when dotted through borders or along a pathway. It comes in two parts with six bulbs arranged on the end of bendy prongs with the solar panel at the base. It's very easy to put together: simply slot the light into the long metal stake and switch it on. The switch is conveniently situated on the back of the solar panel. It gives you the option of flashing or continuous light modes, and, on a full charge, the light has six hours of run time, coming on as soon as it's dusk. The plastic-coated prongs are weatherproof and light well, even in winter.

Although ours started to flop after a few months, this didn't detract from the effect of them at all. We would love a number of these dotted through borders around the garden and awarded it a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best solar lights for borders. It's compact and easy to store, and comes with a one-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 35cm lights + 7cm base + 32cm spike

• Buy the Firefly garden solar light from Amazon (£13.99)

Also recommended

Dover Solar Double PIR Light

Our best solar security light

RRP £34.99

Our rating 4.5/5

Available from: The Solar Centre (£34.99)

Reasons to buy:

• 800 lumens
• Dual PIRs offer enhanced movement detection
• IP 65 weatherproof
• Adjustable light heads - middle plus two side lights

Reasons to avoid:

• None

Compact, functional, and easy to set up with clear instructions, this is a sturdy, yet affordable, solar-powered security light. With three adjustable lights, a central light that can pivot 90° up and down, plus two side lights that can adjust 360° up and down between the two, and a further 120° side to side, the unit is capable of covering a 180° field. The two PIR sensors can detect movement at 8m away, illuminating a wide range of situations, such as a front door, a side path or a driveway with 800 lumens of light.

Neat, highly adjustable and relatively unobtrusive, this light also features three modes of use, with the third mode shutting off after 20 seconds and recommended for winter use. With a 12-month warranty, a well-protected on/off switch, its ease of use and its highly weatherproof IP (ingress protection) 65 rating, this light is well deserving of its BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award. Jane Moore

• Buy the Dover Solar Double PIR Light from The Solar Centre (£34.99)

Damasque solar lantern

Our best solar lantern

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£33.15) and Crocus (£29.74)

Reasons to buy:

• No assembly
• Easy on/off switch
• Great atmospheric effect
• Replacement panel/bulb available
• Stood up well to the weather

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive
• Takes up room in storage

Winner of a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best solar lantern, this steel globe lantern has an antique bronze finish and an intricate Moroccan-style pattern that creates a beautiful display as the light shines through it. The bulb and batteries sit under the solar panel at the top of the globe, and this simple unit is easily lifted out to turn the light on and off. It doesn’t need any assembly, though you’ll need to charge it in a sunny spot in the off position for 48 hours. After this, turn it on, and when the light levels drop, it will flick on and provide up to six hours of bright light.

Great for a party or around an al fresco dining table, the lantern can be placed on the ground or on a table, or hung up from its handle. It has no flashing modes and is a reasonable price, towards the higher end of the lights in our test for one light, but it comes with a one-year warranty. The solar panel/bulb/battery unit is replaceable, and available from a number of retailers for a small charge, making this elegant solar light a great sustainable investment. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 22cm x 23cm

• Buy the Damasque Solar Lantern from Amazon (£33.15) and Crocus (£29.74)

Solar Fluted Marker light ten pack

Our best solar stake lights

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£23.95), Crocus (£18.69) and Waitrose (£19.79)

Reasons to buy:

• Simple, stylish design
• Easy-to-use
• Attractive glow
• Great value
• Long lasting

Reasons to avoid:

• No on/off switch

Winner of a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best stake lights, these lights are ideal for guiding the way or dotting through beds in the garden. The stylish design has a brushed steel finish, and the fluted plastic gives off a lovely star-shaped glow around each light. Assembly is easy, and each light just needs charging for 48 hours in a sunny spot before use. After this, turn them on, and they’ll light up as soon as the light fades, staying lit for up to six hours.

Our one quibble is the absence of an on/off switch to override the automatic setting, so they will stay on late into the night. The pack generously includes ten lights, and comes with a one-year warranty, so overall they’re great value for money. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 36cm x 4.7cm

• Buy the Solar Fluted Marker Light Ten Pack from Amazon (£23.95), Crocus (£18.69) and Waitrose (£19.79)

T-SUN LED solar spotlight

Our best solar spotlight

RRP: £17.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£17.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent weather resistance (IP65)
• Bright
• Easy-to-use
• Adjustable angle of lights and solar panel
• On/off switch
• Multiple colours available

Reasons to avoid:

• No warranty
• Can be slow to switch on
• Conspicuous solar panel

This BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy solar spotlight is remarkably good value. The brightest on test at a whopping 250 lumens, we like the adjustable bulb and solar panel angles, as well as the effective stake for positioning it at the base of trees. The on/off switch is handy, too. You can also take the stake out and screw the light to fence posts or walls if needed. We found that it gave dramatic lighting to trees and shrubs and would make a great light for a shed or alleyway.

While the light is very white, these spotlights are also available in a range of other colours if you’d like a softer effect. However, bear in mind this light doesn’t come with a warranty, and can be slow to turn on after dark. Like all solar spotlights, the solar panel is relatively large, so it can be hard to hide. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: ‎29.01cm x 9.5cm x 34.01cm

• Buy the T-SUN LED Solar Spotlight from Amazon (£17.99)

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Best of the rest: solar string and fairy lights

4lite Antheia Solar powered festoon lights

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£29.99), Currys (£32.99) and Robert Dyas (£28.99)

Reasons to buy:

• On/off switch
• Tough plastic bulbs
• Choice of eight different modes
• Four-year warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Average IP rating
• Cable is not as sturdy as some

These string lights have 10 plastic warm white bulbs spread along the cable every 50cm, and each has a hook on the top for easy hanging. The solar panel is a good size, although not as large as the Madison solar drop lights, and with a clear on/ off button, charging indicator and mode adjustor, with eight different lighting modes to choose from. There’s a reasonable 1.5 cable length from the solar panel to the first light.

They come with both a mounting bracket plus wall plugs and screws, and a ground stake, offering the choice of mounting the panel on a wall or fence or on the ground. They’re rated IP44, so are suitable for outdoor use, but we found the cable thinner and less sturdy than others in the test. They come with a four-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 6.1 m (1.5cm + 9 x 50cm + 10cm)

• Buy 4lite Antheia 6.1m Outdoor LED Festoon Lights from Amazon (£29.99), Currys (£32.99) and Robert Dyas (£28.99)

Carnival solar festoon lights

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Lights4fun (£24.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Two-year warranty
• Tough plastic bulbs
• Discrete solar panel
• On/off switch
• Multiple lighting modes
• Three metre lead

Reasons to avoid:

• Average IP rating
• Dim
• Slow to turn on

These string lights are good quality and, although the bulbs look like glass, they’re made of tough plastic and more than capable of holding up to accidental knocks. The solar panel is discrete, and they’re easy to control through an on/off switch and eight lighting modes. There’s also a generous three-metre lead of cable between the panel and the first light, so there’s a lot of slack to play with when you’re setting these up.

However, despite being a white light, we found these lights a little dim, especially from a distance. They could also sometimes be slow to turn on, and have a weather resistance rating of IP44. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 7.75m (4.75m of lights, 3m from panel to first light)

• Buy 20 Warm White Carnival Solar Festoon Lights from Lights4fun (£24.99)

Lumify USB solar fairy lights - white 100 LEDs

RRP: £39.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (39.99) and B&Q (29.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Solar panel can be mounted on a wall or staked in the ground
• USB charge indicator light
• On/off switch
• Eight different modes
• No weathering

Reasons to avoid:

• Comparatively expensive

This string of solar fairy lights has 100 white LEDs along 10m of wire, which means they’re ideal for running along fences or using to decorate eating areas. There’s also two metres of cable between the solar panel and the first LED bulb, so check this provides enough distance if you need to position the panel in the sun and string the lights up in a shady spot. We like that it comes with a stake as well as a wall mount, which gives plenty of flexibility when it comes to setting up your solar panel. If you have a north-facing garden and charging outdoors is an issue, there’s also a USB cable, which provides enough power for 12 consecutive nights on a single indoor charge. While they turn on and off automatically, you can also do this manually by using the on/off switch.

As with many fairy lights on test, you can choose between a range of different modes, and these lights offer eight options, from a steady glow to various flashing sequences. We also like that they have a power-saving mode, which reduces brightness but doubles the runtime during overcast conditions and winter months. Despite all the features, these lights are expensive compared to the other options we tested and come with just one year’s warranty. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 10m (8m of lights, 2m from panel to first light)

• Buy the Lumify USB solar fairy lights from Amazon (39.99) and B&Q (29.99)

Best of the rest: solar security lights

Eco Wedge Elite Remote Control Solar Light with PIR

RRP £49.99

Our rating 4/5

Available from: B&Q (£44.99) and The Solar Centre (£39.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Attractive
• Power saving mode option
• IP 65 weatherproof
• Charge indicator LEDs
• 12-month warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Some modes unsuitable for winter use
• Remote could become lost

Compact, self-contained and looking less like a security light than others on test, this powerful 1000 lumen light nonetheless detects motion at some 10m distance and is capable of triggering up to 500 times per night for 15 seconds at a time. It’s operated by remote control which works up to 8m away, but the actual switch is on the light itself. The instructions are clear, although in tiny print which is makes setting up more difficult than it needs to be, especially as it has five different modes of operation. Of these, only two are recommended for winter use.

In Mode 4, after sunset the lamp illuminates at medium brightness, but it will switch to Mode 2 after the battery level drops below 60 per cent. If the battery level is below 60% when selecting Mode 4, then the lamp will automatically switch to Mode 2. It’s a little complicated if all you want is a PIR security light, but with a warranty of 12 months and an IP65 weatherproof rating, nonetheless this compact light offers a neat and stylish solution to security lighting for the home and garden. Jane Moore

• Buy the Eco Wedge Elite Remote Control Solar Light With PIR from B&Q (£44.99) and The Solar Centre (£39.99) 

Angeles Black Solar-powered Integrated LED Floodlight

RRP £34

Our rating 3.75/5

Available from: B&Q (£34)

Reasons to buy:

• 800 lumens
• Two-year guarantee
• Highly adjustable solar panel and lights (down 70°, left/right 30°)

Reasons to avoid:

• Switch is a little flimsy
• IP44 rating

This substantial, no-frills light offers practicality and versatility, featuring a large adjustable solar panel, plus two lamps that can be moved to illuminate with a narrow angle or up to 90° wide, depending on requirements. An IP rating of 44 offers weather protection, and the unit feels sturdy and robust, coping soundly with winter weather. Installation is straightforward and uncomplicated via clear pictorial instructions, and the light has two modes of operation: one offering full 800 lumens of brightness on a PIR function, while the other is a steady light for up to six hours at a muted 80 lumens.

The two modes are operated by the on/off switch, which is a little awkward to access once installed and which does lack firmness in operation, but the light is bright, the operation is unfussy and the Angleles also features a generous two-year guarantee. Jane Moore

• Buy the Angeles Black Solar-powered Integrated LED Floodlight from B&Q (£34)

Argos Home Solar PIR Floodlight

RRP £50

Our rating 3.5/5

Available from: Argos (£50)

Reasons to buy:

• Lighting time and sensitivity can be adjusted
• Simple and straightforward to set up and adjust
• 1000 lumens
• Two hours run time if fully charged

Reasons to avoid:

• Solar panel can be tilted back and forth, but not angled
• IP44 rating

With a 12-month warranty and easy-to-follow instructions, this is a simple and functional solar security light useful for many locations. The solar panel is large and is adjustable in three up-and-down positions to gain maximum sunlight for charging, while the two lamps can be swivelled into the ideal position. It’s easy to install and straightforward to operate with an on/off switch that is well-protected from the weather.

Three controls adjust the settings; one adjusts illumination from 8 to 60 seconds, while another sets the light to illuminate once it detects movement from 5-8m away. The third features an uncomplicated moon logo for nighttime operation, with a sun logo for use in the daytime also. Easy to operate and swift to set up, this is a practical and undemanding security lighting option. Jane Moore

• Buy the Argos Home Solar PIR Floodlight from Argos (£50)

Best of the rest: solar lanterns

Solar Urbane black lantern

RRP: £11.95

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Glow (£8.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to set up
• Versatile - hang up or stand on the ground or on a tabletop
• Realistic candle effect

Reasons to avoid:

• No on/off switch

This pretty lantern needs no assembly other than leaving it to charge for 48 hours in the off position, and it's a good choice if you don’t have a south-facing garden, because you can leave it in the sunniest spot during the day to charge and then move it to a shady corner to add a warm glow once it’s dusk. While it appears to be made from metal, it’s actually plastic, which means it won’t rust and is light enough to hang in trees and shrubs with thinner branches.

However, this will make it less desirable if you’re looking for a sustainable option. In addition to hanging it up, you can also set it on the ground or on a tabletop next to seating or eating areas to enjoy the realistic flicker of the candlelight. It’s worth noting there isn’t an on/off switch to override the automatic setting, so it’ll stay on late into the night. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: Small: 25cm x 180cm diameter. Large: 36cm x 18cm diameter

• Buy the Solar Urbane black lantern from Glow (£8.95)

TrueFlame USB solar crook lantern

RRP: £29.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£29.99), Glow (£19.75) and The Range (£25.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to set up
• USB connection for quick charge
• Versatile – comes with a crook to hang, or set on the ground or a table top
• On/off switch
• No sign of rust or weathering

Reasons to avoid:

• Comparatively pricey

We think this is a super lantern if you like traditional designs. Easy to set up, you simply need to attach the crook to the pole, but it does take three days to initially charge if it’s outside. However, it’s one of the few lanterns on test that comes with a USB cable. This lets you charge the light from a USB plug, which takes just a few hours, and is a useful option if you can’t wait for it to be charged by sunlight or want to give it a boost if it’s overcast or wintery. After that, simply press the on/off switch on the base of the lantern for three seconds, and you’re ready to go.

We like that this lantern is truly versatile thanks to a crook, pole and spike, which can be pushed into borders or the lawn, as well as a handle so you can hang it from a tree, or stand it on the ground or on a tabletop. It also features a power-saving mode to help increase performance if it hasn’t been fully charged, and it has a one-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 19.5cm x 12.5cm x 67cm, 84cm height with spike

• Buy the TrueFlame USB Solar Crook Lantern from Amazon (£29.99), Glow (£19.75) and The Range (£25.49)

Best of the rest: solar stake lights

Four Marrakesh Moroccan solar stake lights

RRP: £29.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£24.99) and Lights4fun (£29.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Warm but bright light
• Long stake
• Compact
• Plastic, so no rust

Reasons to avoid:

• Fiddly to reach on/off switch
• One light broke just as we finished the test

These lights are perfect for bringing depth to borders and flower beds. They cast warm but bright light with a gorgeous dappled effect thanks to the Moroccan-inspired pattern. We like the long stake, which allows them good clearance amongst most plants in a flowerbed, and they’re compact, so they don’t take up too much room. Because they’re plastic, we didn’t see any rusting, weathering, or fading. We also love the two-year warranty.

However, it’s fiddly to reach the on/off switch, and the instructions don’t show where to find it either. You have to pop the solar panel off these lights to switch them on, but if you don’t know this, you could easily be surprised when they don’t switch on. We also saw the value of running such a long test, as one of the four lights stopped working just as we were writing up our results. Kay Maguire

Dimensions: 40cm x 6.5cm x 6.5cm

• Buy the Four Marrakesh Moroccan Solar Stake Lights from Amazon (£24.99) and Lights4fun (£29.99)

If you’re updating your social space, find inspiration with our round-ups of the best garden furniture, parasols, garden loungers, deck chairs, and hammocks. Planning late-night suppers with friends and family? Check out our reviews of the best charcoal BBQs, gas BBQs, and pizza ovens, all in collaboration with Good Food.

How to choose the best solar lights?

For such a small appliance, there can be a lot to consider. While not every manufacturer gives all these specifications, before you choose, look out for:

Solar panel size. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the panel, the brighter the lights, and the longer they'll stay lit. That said, lots of lights run perfectly well with smaller solar panels, so just check you're happy with the lighting effect they provide and their runtime. For larger solar panels, like those that power solar spotlights, consider if the panel’s going to be visible, as it may be unsightly.

On-off switch. A very useful feature, you can switch off your solar lights at the end of the evening and protect local wildlife and keep your neighbours happy.

Cable length. With string and fairy lights, keep an eye out for how much cable there is between the solar panel and the first bulb. At least a metre of this lead-in is useful, as it means you have more flexibility when placing your solar panel. With enough cable, you can still put your panel in a sunny spot and trail your lights up a trellis a few metres away, even if it’s in the shade.

Brightness. Lumens is a measure of how bright your lights are. Atmospheric mood lights can be as low as 5 or 10  lumens, while more practical spotlights are usually 100-200 lumens.

Lighting modes. Dimming, glowing, and twinkling light modes create ambience and enhance social areas of the garden, but they'll also extend your lights’ lifetime and how long they’ll light up on a given night. Some lights also have a power-saving mode, which reduces the brightness of the bulbs but doubles the runtime, so your lights turn on for longer during overcast weather and after the shorter hours of daylight in winter.

Motion sensors. Particularly relevant for solar spotlights, motion sensors make lights come on as you approach or when there's activity nearby. This can extend your lights’ lifetime and, as they only light up in short bursts, they’re also less dependent on natural light levels, working just as well in the winter as the bright summer months.

Weather resistance. The ingress protection (IP) rating indicates how easily dust and water can enter electronics and, therefore, how weatherproof and water-resistant the lights are. You may have seen this if you’ve ever shopped for outdoor tech like wildlife cameras or wearable tech like sports headphones. This rating isn’t always given, but if you see it, look for solar lights with an IP rating of 44 and above, which means they’ll be weather-resistant.

How we tested solar lights

We tested a variety of solar lights, putting them through their paces in a range of urban, suburban and rural gardens across the country. They were subjected to changing weather and hours of daylight for over six months. They were then assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Set Up. Assessed the clarity of instructions, how easy the solar lights were to assemble and set up, how long this took, if any extra tools were needed and how easy the lights were to store over winter
• Features. Checked cable length, and IP rating and marks were given for on/off switches, multiple lighting modes, as well as any extra features such as power-saving modes and USB charging
• Performance. This focused on the hours needed to charge and the lights’ runtime after a full charge. We looked at how soon after sunset the lights switched on, and checked the lights’ brightness to see if they provided practical or aesthetic lighting. We made sure to check if the lights worked on overcast days, and finally, if there was any sign of degradation or rusting
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

How to use lighting in your garden design

It’s useful to think of garden lighting as a design feature rather than just a functional necessity. It can help create a relaxing atmosphere, transforming your garden into an evening retreat. Think about the style of lighting, and what you want it to achieve, whether it be boldly showcasing trees or shrubs, or adding a subtle glow around a patio. If you want to create a space to entertain, consider the amount of light required. Do you need enough light to read, or is ambient, atmospheric lighting for drinks with friends that you’re after?

Factoring lighting into a design will really transform what you get from your space. If you’re planning on spending lots of time in the garden in the evening, you might also want to consider growing plants with white or night-scented flowers. Here are more tips on creating a night garden.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Secateurs are an indispensable tool, essential for tidying up around the garden. While tools like hedge trimmers and other cordless garden tools are ideal for taking on heavy-duty tasks, secateurs are a simple, hand-held tool used for keeping on top of pruning, dead-heading, cutting back perennials and harvesting fruit, veg and flowers.

Available as bypass, anvil and ratchet, each type is designed for a particular job:

Bypass secateurs have two blades that cut like a pair of scissors, with a sharpened blade crossing over a thicker metal platform. They're pointed to help them get in amongst stems and branches and are ideal for cutting stems between 10 and 15mm thick. They're suitable for greener growth and should cut cleanly, so it’s important to keep them sharp. Read our guide on how to sharpen secateurs.

Anvil secateurs have one blade that cuts like a knife, with the blade pushing through a stem or branch onto a lower block, in a similar manner to a knife on a chopping board. They're useful for cutting through thicker, woodier stems and dead wood.

Ratchet secateurs have either anvil or bypass blades and feature ratchet springs and mechanisms to ease effort and cut through a stem in a series of stages. This type of tool can make tougher cuts gradually as you repeatedly squeeze and release the handles to get through the growth, and they are particularly useful for gardeners who lack strength.

Our best garden secateurs to buy at a glance

Our 2 top-rated garden secateurs

• 4.8 stars: Our best all-round secateurs (bypass) – Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs RRP £49.84
• 4.8 stars: Our best secateurs for ease of use (bypass) – Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs RRP £34.99

Also recommended: under £30

• 4.5/5 stars: Our best left-handed secateurs (bypass) – Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass RRP £23.99
• 4.3/5 stars: Our best secateurs for smaller hands (bypass) – Darlac Compound Action Pruner RRP £21.95
• 4.3/5 stars: Our best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet) – Ames Ratchet Anvil Pruner RRP £21.99

Also recommended: £30+

• 4.5/5 stars: Our best secateurs for large stems (bypass) – Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A RRP £33.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best secateurs for comfort (bypass) – Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs RRP £34.99
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best secateurs for maintenance (bypass) – Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs RRP £73.99
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best all-round secateurs (anvil) – Felco Model 32 Pruning Secateurs RRP £69.99
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best premium secateurs (bypass) – Niwaki GR Pro RRP £84 (right-handed)
• 4.3/5 stars: Our best secateurs for strength (anvil) – Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs RRP £37.00

Jump to our best secateurs:

• Our 2 top-rated secateurs
• Also recommended: under £30
• Also recommended: £30+

Jump to secateur advice:

• Why do you need to clean your secateurs?
• How we tested secateurs
• Meet our testing panel

Our 2 top-rated garden secateurs

1: Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Our best all-round secateurs (bypass)

RRP: £49.84

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£56.95) and B&Q (£56.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Cut cleanly and well
• Strong and robust

Reasons to avoid:

• Stiff central bolt
• The safety catch needs getting used to

These simple secateurs have few parts or gimmicks, yet their strong, Japanese steel blades cut cleanly and effortlessly. They're ideal for all pruning tasks, including heavy-duty jobs, cutting consistently well and are well-made, sharp, easy to use, and feel long-lasting. Their red and white handles make them hard to lose in the garden, both day and night.

Although the safety catch, which is at the end of the handle, takes some getting used to, I found it a breeze once mastered. These secateurs are suitable for all gardeners, as they come in three sizes to suit small, medium or large hands. They are at the higher end of the price scale of the various secateurs I tested, but I'd say they're excellent value for money given their good quality and performance. They also have a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Okatsune 103 review

• Buy the Okatsune 103 Secateurs from Amazon (£56.95) and B&Q (£56.95)

2: Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs

Our best secateurs for ease of use (bypass)

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£19.98), B&Q (£35) and Marshalls Garden (£29.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Good features, including an integrated wire cutter and an adjustable hand-sizer
• Excellent cutting strength
• Light with comfortable grip handles
• Replaceable parts
• 10-year warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to see if dropped in the garden
• Blade will rust if not cared for
• Packaging is excessive

These aluminium-framed secateurs are packed with valuable features. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and those with smaller hands, thanks to the easy switch on the top that adjusts from 1-2.4cm. They have a 2.4cm cutting capacity, although this feels like more, and despite their slightly chunky appearance, they're light and comfortable with marked rubber handles for extra grip. The safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. The hardened carbon steel blade has a plasma coating, and it feels strong and sharp, easily cutting through green and older wood on shrubs and roses.

Unfortunately, these secateurs' grey and black appearance makes them hard to spot if dropped in the garden or amongst prunings. They have a handy hole for hanging them up after use, and although the blade will rust slightly if not cared for, if these secateurs are looked after well, they should last you years. They come with a 10-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp All Purpose Lite Secateurs from Amazon (£19.98), B&Q (£35) and Marshalls Garden (£29.99)

Also recommended: under £30

Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass

Our best left-handed secateurs (bypass)

RRP: £23.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£21.58) and On Buy (£36.81)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy safety catch
• Replacement parts available
• Comfortable
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Struggle with large cuts
• Best for bigger hands

These reverse-design secateurs are ideal for left-handed gardeners and work really well. They have a high-carbon steel blade, which feels strong and cuts well. The 25mm cutting diameter means they can easily tackle most pruning jobs, and have a large safety catch that engages smoothly and easily.

Their ergonomic handles have bright orange plastic grips, so there should be no need to go hunting through piles of prunings for these. They’re easy to sharpen and look after and should last a long time. There are replacement blades and springs available, making these Burgon and Ball secateurs a more sustainable choice. And, given the 10-year warranty, I think they're excellent value for money. Kay Maguire

Read the full Burgon and Ball Left Handed Bypass review

• Buy the Burgon and Ball Left-Handed Bypass Secateurs from Amazon (£21.58) and On Buy (£36.81)

Darlac Compound Action Pruner

Our best secateurs for smaller hands (bypass)

RRP: £21.95

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: B&Q (£19.53), ManoMano (£18.50) and On Buy (25.57)

Reasons to buy:

• Small and light, half the weight of other models tested
• Easy to make most cuts thanks to the lever action
• Smooth closing mechanism

Reasons to avoid:

• Struggled with larger cuts
• Blade opening is limited, making it tricky to sharpen the blades

These bypass secateurs have a central lever action, which makes them very easy on the hands when cutting, just like a ratchet secateur. The handles have a soft grip for comfort, and they're surprisingly light – half the weight of some of the other secateurs tested. I found them comfortable to use, and they cut well. The safety catch is on the top of the handle and is easy to switch on or off with a flick of the thumb. A great tool for those with less strength or smaller hands. The lifetime guarantee makes them excellent value for money too. Kay Maguire

Read the full Darlac Compound Action Pruner review

• Buy the Darlac Compound Action Pruners from B&Q (£19.53), ManoMano (£18.50) and On Buy (25.57)

Ames ratchet anvil pruner

Our best compact and lightweight secateurs (ratchet)

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£17.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Rust-resistant polymer blade coating
• Compact and lightweight nylon fibre handles and anvil
• Japanese carbon steel blade
• Soft-feel grip

Reasons to avoid:

• Best for smaller stems, as it’s challenging to get leverage on larger stems
• Cuts up to 1.8cm only
• Catch is a little fiddly to take on and off

These little secateurs are lightweight, pocket-sized and yet capable of cutting above their weight. The blade is SK5 carbon steel, which is resistant to wear and highly durable. Comfortable in the hand, despite their small size, with the four-stage ratchet, these secateurs cut through 1.8cm dead wood relatively easily, leaving a clean cut. Although the catch is a little awkward to use, the compact form factor was much valued in use. I liked the hole in the handle that makes it possible to attach a lanyard to the secateurs. They also have an impressive 15-year warranty. Jane Moore

• Buy the Ames ratchet anvil pruner from Amazon (£17.99)

Also recommended: £30+

Darlac DP1030A Expert

Our best secateurs for large stems (bypass)

RRP: £33.95

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: B&Q (£25.99) and ManoMano (25.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Nice to hold, with a comfortable grip
• Cut efficiently and smoothly, and make large cuts easily
• Comes with a generous lifetime guarantee

Reasons to avoid:

• A number of different screws need to be tackled for adjustment or maintenance
• Handles are wide when fully opened, which may be a problem for smaller hands

These robust secateurs have a comfortable grip, and I found them nice to hold. They're good for cutting stems up to 20mm in diameter. The central safety catch is easy to engage with the thumb and can also be used to reduce the blade aperture (opening width) for light work, which is useful. There is a handy wire-cutting notch on the blade, and the red handles make them easy to find if lost in the garden. As secateurs in the mid-price range, they come with an impressive lifetime warranty, and there are replacement parts available too. Kay Maguire

Read the full Darlac Expert Bypass DP1030A review

• But the Darlac DP1030A Expert from B&Q (£25.99) and ManoMano (£25.99)

Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs

Our best secateurs for comfort (bypass)

RRP: £34.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Crocus (£39.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Cut easily through live and dead wood
• Hard, sharp blade
• Comfortable FSC-certified wooden handles
• Lightweight
• Adjustable width
• 10-year warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to spot if dropped in the garden

These secateurs have an aluminium frame with a sustainably sourced FSC-certified ash insert. This smooth wood is comfortable to hold and offers an excellent grip, even without gardening gloves. They're suitable for both right- and left-handed gardeners, and although the secateurs are lightweight at just 330g, they still feel robust and hard-wearing. When pruning, they cut through almost every material on test with little resistance. Live, green wood was easy to prune, and even hard, dried wood was easy to snip. This is thanks to a carbon steel blade covered in a plasma coating, which Kent and Stowe claim makes these harder than any other blade.

The cutting width can be adjusted with a simple catch, from 1cm to 2.5cm, so these secateurs can tackle thicker branches as well as more delicate stems, and the safety catch, which is placed by your thumb, is easy to open and close with one hand. They also have a handy hole for hanging them up in a shed or greenhouse after use and a notch on the blade for cutting twine and garden wire. With a fantastic 10-year warranty, these secateurs should last you a long time. However, we found that the grey blade and light brown handles are tricky to spot if you drop them in a border or lose them amongst prunings. Kay Maguire

Read the full Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs review

• Buy the Kent and Stowe Eversharp Bypass Secateurs from Crocus (£39.99)

Felco Model 8

Our best secateurs for maintenance (bypass)

RRP: £73.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£62.65) and On Buy (£62.65)

Reasons to buy:

• The non-slip handle shape works well
• The safety catch is easy to reach and use
• Servicing is provided for life

Reasons to avoid:

• Several different screw need to be tackled for adjustment
• The grip is wide when fully opened and not helpful for smaller hands
• An expensive, premium-priced model

These classic secateurs from the world-renowned Swiss brand Felco felt sturdy, and they cut well in a variety of different jobs. They're also easy to maintain and come with the Felco lifetime guarantee. The secateurs feel chunky but light, and the ergonomic handle protects the wrist and hand, making longer pruning jobs less tiring. The red non-slip handle is useful, making them easy to see if lost in the garden. The blade also has a handy wire-cutting notch.

Felco come in at the higher end of the price scale compared to many of the other products I tested, but this reflects the high-quality materials they use, such as the precision-cut steel blades. Ideal for right-handed gardeners with medium to large hands, these secateurs are well-designed and will last you for life. Kay Maguire

Read the full Felco 8 Bypass Secateurs review

• Buy the Felco Model 8 from Amazon (£62.65) and On Buy (£62.65)

Felco Model 32

Our best all-round secateurs (anvil)

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£66) and On Buy (£64.61)

Reasons to buy:

• Clean, easy, strong cuts
• Wide cutting width
• Servicing provided
• All parts replaceable

Reasons to avoid:

• Safety catch stiff
• Expensive

These high-quality anvil secateurs are strong and robust, with a hardened steel blade that cuts cleanly and effortlessly through thick, woody growth. With a wide cutting width, they feel sturdy in use and, although there's no comfort padding on the grip, these cut so smoothly that I felt no strain on my hand or wrist.

The safety catch positioned on the front of the secateurs can only be reached when they are held in the right hand. I found it stiff to move, and I needed to loosen it so it didn't require both my hands to open and close. All parts are replaceable, and they come with a lifetime warranty, making these secateurs good value for money. Kay Maguire

Read the full Felco Model 32 Pruning Shears review

• Buy the Felco Model 32 Anvil Secateurs from Amazon (£66) and On Buy (£64.61) 

Niwaki GR Pro

Our best premium secateurs (bypass)

RRP: £84 (right-handed)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Niwaki (£84)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Cut cleanly and well
• Strong and robust

Reasons to avoid:

• The safety catch needs getting used to
• No replaceable blade
• Expensive

These robust secateurs from Niwaki feature a hand-forged carbon-steel blade that cuts stems cleanly and smoothly. The safety catch sits at the end of the handles. I found it chunky, but easy to engage once I got used to it. They felt well-balanced and comfortable to use, and cut stems cleanly. They have bright yellow handles, making them easy to spot in the garden.

A replacement spring is included in your purchase, and they come in a choice of sizes, including small, regular and large and for both left- and right-handed gardeners. These are secateurs built to last, and I think they're good value for money. A holster is also available to buy, and they come with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Niwaki GR Pro review

• Buy the Niwaki GR Pro from Crocus (£99.99) and Niwaki (£84)

Stihl PG25 Anvil

Our best secateurs for strength (anvil)

RRP: £37

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£53) and Mowers Online (£39.02)

Reasons to buy:

• Smooth, easy cutting action
• The central safety catch is simple to operate with one hand
• Blade can be handily sharpened on the go

Reasons to avoid:

• Handles are hard on the hand and feel uncomfortable after prolonged use
• Several screws need to be removed for adjustment or maintenance

These sturdy, compact secateurs cut woodier stems with ease. The carbon steel blade has a non-stick coating and can be easily sharpened or replaced, and their orange handles make them easy to find amongst prunings in the garden. They are among the more expensive anvil secateurs, but they are a robust tool that makes light work of pruning jobs. They come with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Stihl PG25 Anvil Secateurs review

• Buy the Stihl PG25 Anvil from Amazon (£53) and Mowers Online (£39.02)

Best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy, they still have various features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£18.99) and B&Q (£28.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Wide cutting width
• Simple design
• Cut cleanly and sharply
• Suitable for right- and left-handed use

Reasons to avoid:

• Feel flimsy
• Bottom handle rubs with use

The secateurs are small and compact and feature a non-stick blade which cuts cleanly. There is an integrated spring closing between plastic handles, which do have a rubber grip, but only on the upper side. We found the safety catch was easy to reach; however, it was quite stiff to operate. Overall, the tool performed well, but it felt quite flimsy compared to more sturdy models. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Wolf Garten Anvil Comfort Plus from Amazon (£18.99) and B&Q (£28.99)

Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur

RRP: £40.00

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Jardin de France (£34.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Strong, clean cut
• Light and comfortable
• Replaceable blade
• Right and left use

Reasons to avoid:

• Ratchet slips occasionally
• Fiddly safety catch

These ratchet secateurs feature a coated carbon-steel blade that cuts well through growth. The handles are aluminium and topped with a rubber grip for added comfort. The tool is suitable for left- and right-hand use, and both the blade and spring are replaceable. We found the safety catch could be fiddly, and the three-gear ratchet did occasionally slip. There is a one-year warranty included, and we thought the secateurs were great value for money overall. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Jardin de France Ratchet Secateur from Jardin de France (£34.95)

Darlac Super Classic Ratchet

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£14.99), D.T. Brown (£21.95) and Mr Fothergills (£21.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Wide cutting width
• Cut well
• Good value
• Replaceable parts

Reasons to avoid:

• Large and wide
• Slow to cut
• Lack grip

These Darlac ratchet secateurs come with an impressive 25-year warranty. The coated SK5 steel blade cuts smoothly, although the action took longer than other models tested. The tool has a wide cutting width, which is useful on larger stems. However, the handles were also quite large, which made them trickier to handle. Replaceable parts are available. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Darlac Super Classic Ratchet Secateurs from Amazon (£14.99), D.T. Brown (£21.95) and Mr Fothergills (£21.95)

Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from: Amazon (£14.28), B&Q (£16.60) and Tooled Up (£13.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Coated steel blade
• Oil pad for the blade is set into the handle
• Robust and sturdy
• Ridged, soft-grip handle
• Hole in the handle for attaching a lanyard

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly heavier than other models
• Relatively short five-year warranty

These secateurs feel strongly made and robust, and are generally heavy and solid in the hand. The four-ratchet mechanism cuts through 2cm of dead wood easily and cleanly, and the coating on the steel blade protects against corrosion. The soft-grip handle is nicely ridged, offering an excellent grip, and the little oiler pad set into the handle is a nice touch and proved handy when testing. Despite a shorter warranty than some other secateurs on test, these feel like a sturdy and strongly made pair of secateurs. Jane Moore

• Buy the Bulldog Ratchet Pruning Secateurs from Amazon (£14.28), B&Q (£16.60) and Tooled Up (£13.95)

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty

RRP: £25.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£24), B&Q (£28.94) and On Buy (£31.10)

Reasons to buy:

• Feel sturdy and robust with a strong blade
• Replacement parts are available
• 10-year guarantee

Reasons to avoid:

• The central safety catch keeps catching halfway through a cut
• Grip needs adjusting for different cuts

These classic secateurs feel sturdy, capable and long-lasting. They have rubber shock absorbers on the handles to make cutting larger stems comfortable, but the central safety catch often caught halfway through a cut, which was frustrating. Cutting width also needed to be adjusted for different-sized stems. The plastic-coated handles are bright red, so they are easy to spot if mislaid. Replacement blades and springs are available, and they have a 10-year guarantee. Kay Maguire

Read the full Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass Secateur review

• Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Heavy Duty Bypass from Amazon (£24), B&Q (£28.94) and On Buy (£31.10)

Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£41.03), B&Q (£49.99) and Tooled Up (£44.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Feel well-balanced in the hand
• Central safety catch is easy to reach and engage
• Blade opens wide, so sharpening is easy
• Cone with a 10-year guarantee

Reasons to avoid:

• Large and heavy, and may be too much for gardeners with smaller hands and those lacking strength
• The cord wrist strap gets in the way

With an integral spring, these large anvil secateurs are comfortable to use. The blade feels sharp and is angled, making accessing difficult cuts much easier. Plastic grips on the aluminium handles make holding them softer and less cold. However, the wrist cord just gets in the way, and larger cuts were a struggle. They're more expensive than some, but they have great features, the blades and springs are replaceable, and they have a long guarantee. Kay Maguire

Read the full Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil Secateurs review

• Buy the Wolf Garten RS5000 Professional Anvil from Amazon (£41.03), B&Q (£49.99) and Tooled Up (£44.95)

Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs

RRP: £32.49

Our rating: 3.9/5

Available from: Amazon (£19.99), B&Q (£23,18) and Tooled Up (£27.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Polymer-coated blade for rust-resistance and smoother cutting
• Comfortable non-slip grip
• 10-year warranty
• Cast aluminium body
• The catch comes off easily as you squeeze the secateurs

Reasons to avoid:

• Opens a bit too wide for comfortable usage, depending on the size of hands

Well-made and robust with a cast aluminium body, these secateurs offer a cutting width of 2cm, with a ratchet action in four stages. On hard, dead wood, the secateurs cut cleanly and well, although they opened too widely to offer leverage for smaller hands. The blade is coated with PTFE, a non-stick coating that gives a cleaner, smoother cut while also protecting the blade from rust. A finger guard offers protection, while the catch can be closed with one hand and is easily opened by a gentle squeeze action. With a 10-year guarantee, this is a good buy for any keen gardener who deals with a lot of woody winter pruning. Jane Moore

• Buy the Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs from Amazon (£19.99), B&Q (£23,18) and Tooled Up (£27.95)

Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from:  Burgon & Ball (£24.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Three-stage gear mechanism
• High-carbon steel blade
• 10-year warranty
• RHS endorsed

Reasons to avoid:

• The handle feels very large
• Opens wider than smaller hands can deal with

With a wide cutting width of 2.5cm, these secateurs feature a three-stage ratchet and a high-carbon steel blade, offering 2.5 times more cutting power. The handle is nicely moulded with finger protection, although it feels like it is made for larger hands, with the opening width wider than some hands can deal with, reducing the leverage and grip necessary to cut larger branches. The catch is easy to open one-handed, but more difficult to close in this fashion. With a 10-year warranty, these are a good buy for a gardener with larger hands. Jane Moore

• Buy the Burgon & Ball Ratchet Pruner from Burgon & Ball (£24.99)

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. If you're pruning larger branches, take a look at our reviews of the best electric secateurs, best loppers, best pruning saws and the best mini chainsaws and best wood-splitting axes.  For help clearing up, see our test of the best wheelbarrows or the best garden shredders.

Choosing the right type of secateurs

Watch Alan Titchmarsh's guide to choosing the right type of secateurs. He helps you identify the difference between bypass, anvil and ratchet secateurs and explains which gardening tasks each type of secateurs is best suited to.

Why do you need to clean secateurs?

Once you’ve bought your secateurs, it’s important to look after them so they last as long as possible.

• You should aim to oil and sharpen your secateurs every few weeks so they’re always easy to use and safe for you and your plants
• It’s essential to keep them sharp, not just for ease of use but also for your plants' health. Heavy use can clog the tool with plant sap and blunt the blades, tearing plant tissue and letting disease in
• Sharp blades cut cleanly and leave a small wound on the plant, which should fully heal, reducing the risk of disease. Clean tools also prevent disease from spreading between your plants

See our video, where Alan Titchmarsh shows you how to clean your secateurs for help

How we tested secateurs

The secateurs were tested around the garden on perennials, trees and shrubs and at different times of the year. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Handling: Assessed the secateurs' comfort, weight, balance, the safety catch and general ease of use
• Cutting: Looked at the qualities of the blades, including their material, strength and opening widths, as well as their manoeuvrability and cutting efficiency
• Maintenance: Consider how easy they are to clean and sharpen, whether replacement blades are available, and whether a maintenance service is offered
• Value for money: Focussed on the quality of the secateurs, any special features, warranty and RRP

For more information on our testing process, take a look at How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

These days we're all a lot more relaxed about fallen leaves in autumn, but I still find there lots of times when they need shifting – when they're on the grass (too many there, sitting for too long will damage the lawn), when they're on the patio (slipping is never fun) and when they're making it dangerous for the delivery drivers coming to the front door (no one really wants to get sued).

So, a leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum can be a great purchase, and these days they don't even have to cost that much. But get the wrong one, and you'll regret it. And that's why my colleagues and I at GardenersWorld.com have tested literal shedloads of the things. And the result is this page, crammed full of leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums that we think are worthy of your hard-earned cash.

If you're lumbered with lots of leaves, check out our test of the best gardening gloves to collect them in comfort, and why not learn how to make leaf mould – a super compost and soil conditioner – as well as how to make your own leaf mould bin. Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best hedge trimmers, the best garden shredders, the best pressure washers and the best trimmers.

Oliver Parsons, GardenersWorld.com

Our best leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums to buy at a glance

Our 5 top-rated cordless leaf blowers

• 5 stars: Our best cordless leaf blower for value – Worx WG543E LeafJet RRP £149.99 (kit)
• 4.8 stars: Our best leaf blower for ease of use, £200+ – Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A RRP £209 (kit)
• 4.8 stars: Our best leaf blower for performance, under £100 – Makita DUB186Z 18V cordless leaf blower RRP £84.99 (bare tool)
• 4.8 stars: Our best leaf blower for features – Einhell GP-LB 36/210 Li Turbo blower RRP £128.95 (bare tool)
• 4.8 stars: Our best lightweight leaf blower – Stihl BGA 30 cordless blower RRP £99 (bare tool)

Our top-rated leaf blower vacuum

• 4.5 stars: Our best blower vac all-rounder – Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000 RRP £108.99

Also recommended: cordless leaf blowers

• 4.5 stars: Our best leaf blower for performance, £100+ – Bosch Advanced 36V-750 RRP £142 (bare tool)
• 4.5 stars: Our best leaf blower for ease of use, under £100 – Yard Force LB G18 leaf blower RRP £129.99 (bare tool)
• 4.5 stars: Our best budget leaf blower – Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower RRP £46.99 (kit)

Comparison table: best leaf blowers and leaf blower vacs

Jump to the best leaf blowers:

• Our 5 top-rated leaf blowers
• Our top-rated leaf blower vacuum

Jump to leaf blower advice:

• What's the difference between a leaf blower and a leaf blower vacuum?
• How to choose the best leaf blower
• How to use your collected leaves 
• How we tested leaf blowers
• Meet our testing panel

Our 5 top-rated cordless leaf blowers

1: Worx WG543E LeafJet

Our best leaf blower for value

RRP:£149.99 (kit)

Our rating: 5/5

Available from: Amazon (£79.99 - bare tool)

Reasons to buy:

• No assembly
• Simple and powerful
• Lightest on test
• Choice of speeds
• Blasts wet leaves
• Part of Worx 20-V Power Share system

I found this light, powerful leaf blower easy to use and ready to go right out of the box. The 20V battery takes just 60 minutes to charge and delivers 23 minutes of runtime. It also has a handy battery level indicator so you can check how much time you have left while you work.

The blower offers the choice of two nozzle lengths, which are easily adjusted by flicking a button and sliding the nozzle up and down the tube, and two speeds for gentle or more powerful blowing – it coped brilliantly, blasting damp leaves off paths in our test. It has a hard-wearing, brushless motor, and for its power and features, I think it’s excellent value. Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty.

It's ideal for medium to small gardens, and the LeafJet is also part of the Worx 20-V Power Share cordless battery system, which means you can use the battery in other Worx tools, saving you money if you invest in the future. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Worx WG543E LeafJet leaf blower from Amazon (£79.99 - bare tool)

2: Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A

Our best leaf blower for ease of use, £200+

RRP:£209 (kit)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£198)

Reasons to buy:

• Well thought-out design
• Easy to use and store
• Comfortable and well-balanced
• Clearly visible battery charge on the handle
• Choice of speeds

Reasons to avoid:

• Relatively heavy
• No speed indicator

The Aspire leaf blower is very easy to put together – I had no problems attaching the nozzle with this blower; it simply clipped in with the push of a button and breaks down just as easily for storage. Plus, it comes with its own storage hanging hook.

It only has one nozzle, but this is a good size for blasting away on large areas like lawns. It also works reasonably well when you need more focus in beds and borders or when blowing leaves into piles, although it wasn’t the best at this in my test. It has a clearly visible battery charge indicator on the handle and offers three speeds, also controlled via buttons on the handle. However, there’s no indication which speed you’re in at the time, and I also found I had to stop blowing to change speed.

Thanks to the weather at the time of testing, I know that the blower handled primarily wet leaves very well, and although it didn’t blow them into as neat piles as some, it cleared paths, beds and lawns well. It feels powerful yet controlled, and it is ideal for quickly clearing large areas. The blower is quiet, has a comfortable, easy-grip handle, and feels well-balanced. Although this is a heavy blower once the battery is loaded, it’s not the heaviest I tested.

The 18V battery took the longest to charge in our test, at well over an hour, but it lasted the longest too, blowing wet leaves on full power for over 12 minutes. The battery is also part of the Power For All Alliance, which means it’s compatible with other 18V tools in the Flymo, Gardena, and Bosch tool ranges, as well as the Husqvarna Aspire range, saving you money if you invest in them in the future. The Aspire blower comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Husqvarna Aspire B8X-P4A leaf blower from Amazon (£198)

3: Makita DUB186Z 18V cordless leaf blower

Our best leaf blower for performance, under £100

RRP: £84.99 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£52.99) and Tool Station (£86.98)

Reasons to buy:

• Long, narrow nozzle for directional blasts
• Three speed settings
• Fast charge time
• Compact, comfortable and lightweight

Reasons to avoid:

• No charge level indicator on the battery

I found this cordless leaf blower light, compact and easy to use. It has one of the narrowest nozzles in the range I tested, which meant it delivered a powerful but focused blast of air that tackled wet and dry fallen leaves very effectively, particularly on paths and in awkward corners. Generating an impressive air speed of 68m/s, I also like the three speed settings – low, medium and high – they allowed me to increase and decrease the power according to need. This gave me plenty of control to manage wet and dry leaves, and I found it even shifted compacted debris in between paving and compressed wet leaves that had been trodden into the pavement.

While you must hold the pressure trigger to operate, it’s in an accessible position so it doesn't feel tiring, even with smaller hands. The soft-grip handle, together with the position of the battery, which slots in at the base, helps balance the leaf blower in a downward direction, making it comfortable to use for longer periods of time. It has a run time of up to 80 minutes (on the low setting – 12 minutes on high) and a relatively short charge time of 45 minutes, so you can use this in larger gardens with lots of leaves to clear. It’s part of the Makita LXT 18V cordless tool system, so the 5Ah battery and charger are compatible across the range, and it comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Makita DUB186Z leaf blower vacuum review

• Buy the Makita DUB186Z cordless leaf blower from Amazon (52.99) and Tool Station (£86.98)

4: Einhell GP-LB36/210 Li Turbo blower

Our best leaf blower for features

RRP: £128.95 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: OnBuy (£128.95) and Tooled Up (£117.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Well balanced
• Turbo setting
• Choice of nozzle lengths and speeds
• Long run time
• Wall hook and carry strap

Reasons to avoid:

• Battery and charger sold separately

This well-thought-out blower is packed with features. It has a whopping six speeds to choose from, plus a Turbo boost, so I found it easy to adjust the power of the blast according to what and where I was blowing. The tough nozzle has a metal end for scraping debris, the blower can't shift on its own, and it adjusts with a twist to three different lengths, so no matter your height, you can get the nozzle to the perfect length to suit you. Powered by two 18V batteries, which take just 60 minutes to charge, the blower has a run time of 92 minutes on the lowest setting. However, the batteries and charger are not included with the blower and do need to be bought as a kit separately, but once bought, they can be used with any of the tools in the Einhell Power X-Change system, saving money if you invest in these in the future.

The blower is well-balanced and felt comfortable when I used it, but it also comes with a carry strap, so if you’re blowing for a while, this will help balance the load. The nozzle and tube break down for storage, and there’s a handy hanging hook to keep the blowers stored up and out of the way. It has a brushless motor and comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Einhell GP-LB36/210 Li Turbo leaf blower from OnBuy (£128.95) and Tooled Up (£117.95)

5: Stihl BGA 30 Cordless Blower

Our best lightweight leaf blower

RRP: £99 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£144)

Reasons to buy:

• Variable speed trigger works well
• Two batteries included
• Quiet operation is possible
• Very well balanced

Reasons to avoid:

• No leaf scraper
• Short run time on full power

New last year, the Stihl BGA 30 cordless blower is an excellent addition to their small garden tool line-up. It’s an undeniably handsome little blower that works on their reliable AS compact battery platform. It comes bundled with a pair of miniature-sized 2.0Ah batteries, and you'll need them too, because the run time on full power is just eight minutes at maximum power. However, what I think makes this one of the best small leaf blowers is the variable speed trigger. You can easily control the blowing force to clear stubborn stuff and save battery when you want to.

The air speed maxes out at 43m/s, and even on full power, it only produces 73dB, which is very quiet for a blower. On low speed, the volume is even lower, just in case you need to do some discreet garden clearance. At this low blowing speed, you can extend the useful working time to around 25 minutes.

There’s a comfortable moulded rubber grip that's just about big enough for large hands in gardening gloves, and it features a slick battery charge level indicator built into the top, showing the remaining charge in three green bars. Weighing 1.5kg without the tiny, lightweight batteries, the blower doesn’t feel heavy thanks to clever ergonomics and a finely tuned balance between the battery and the nozzle end. An excellent handle design makes it easy to manoeuvre around, and the slightly flattened nozzle tip helps direct the air horizontally while remaining accurate.

Although this blower is at the pricier end of the market for lightweight leaf blowers, its handling, two batteries, and ability to be used across Stihl’s AS range of tools make it worth the money. Harry Duncton

• Buy the BGA 30 from  Just Lawnmowers (£144)

Our top-rated leaf blower vacuum

Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000

Our best blower vac all-rounder

RRP: £108.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Argos (£63) and Currys (£75)

Reasons to buy:

• Simple assembly
• Powerful at both sucking and blowing
• Good value for money

Reasons to avoid:

• Doesn’t break down easily for storage
• No on/off switch
• Heavy, particularly when the vacuum bag is full

I found this leaf blower vacuum ideal for clearing up large areas of leaves quickly. The blower is powerful, if a little heavy for me, and great at blasting leaves, with a narrow nozzle that helps you funnel and direct them into piles and out of tight corners. The vacuum mode has good suction with a well-shaped nozzle and a large collection bag. Initial assembly was simple, with clear instructions, and all that was required was to attach the handle and build the vacuum nozzle, which comes in three parts. For blowing, the nozzle simply slots into place and, when you need to swap into vacuum mode, no tools are required.

However, the vacuum tube is large and once built, I found it difficult to break down, so it took up a reasonable amount of room in storage. It blows and sucks at variable speeds via a dial that sits under the handle, and this dial is also the on/off switch. This does mean you have to scroll around the dial to turn the blower off, which is not fast if you’re on the highest setting, and so from a safety point of view, this could be a problem. It also requires the use of two hands.

It has a 10m-long cable and is reasonably noisy but not jarringly so, but it's heavy, and in vacuum mode feels quite unbalanced, especially once the bag starts filling up. There’s a padded shoulder strap, which helps take some of the strain, but it's in the wrong place to completely take the weight. However, I'd say it's a powerful, well-made machine that performs well and is great for the general clearing of gardens. It’s also great value and comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Bosch UniversalGardenTidy 3000 from Argos (£63) and Currys (£75)

Also recommended: cordless leaf blowers

Bosch Advanced 36V - 750 blower

Our best leaf blower for performance, £100+

RRP: £142 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Robert Dyas (£134.99) and Tooled Up (£114.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy assembly and storage
• Good control of different speeds
• Quiet & powerful
• Quick charge time

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy and lacks a shoulder strap
• Short run time on full power

This leaf blower is simple to put together. I just twisted and clicked in the tube, and I was ready to go. It’s therefore equally easy to store, as the tube comes off quickly, and it takes up little room on a shelf. There’s only one wide nozzle, but this is very effective at both the powerful blasting of wet leaves and more focused blowing in borders and into piles. I felt in control when using this blower and was able to direct leaves wherever I wanted them to go. It has a variable speed control, delivering 100 to 200km/h, and it’s easily adjusted with a dial on the handle. I found it simple to scroll up or down as I worked. It has a comfortable handle and is well-balanced, but it does feel heavy, noticeably so compared to others in the test, and I felt it would really benefit from a shoulder strap if using it for a prolonged period.

However, the battery run time is quite short on full power. Despite having a run time on a low setting of 35 minutes, on full power, the battery only lasted seven minutes, compared to 12 minutes with the Husqvarna Aspire, so it was the shortest in my tests. It does charge quickly, though, taking just 65 minutes to get up and running again. The 36V battery has a charge level indicator on the end that helped me see how much charge was left, and it's compatible with all 36V tools in the Bosch cordless range.

This leaf blower is ideal for fast clearing of lawns with lots of leaves. It has a long-lasting brushless motor and feels sturdy and well-made. The Bosch Advanced blower comes in cardboard packaging with just a little plastic wrapping and comes with a generous three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Bosch Advanced 36V-750 from Robert Dyas (£134.99) and Tooled Up (£114.95)

Yard Force LG G18 40V blower

Our best leaf blower for ease of use, under £100

RRP: £129.99 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£89.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Two-nozzle choice
• Three speeds plus Boost
• Cruise lock lever

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky for storage
• Loud

This powerful blower comes with a large 40V battery and charger. It takes just 60 minutes to charge, and the battery has a 30-minute run time, making it ideal for medium-sized gardens. It also has a battery level indicator so you can check how much charge you have on the battery as you work. I found the blower balanced, comfortable and well-thought-out with the choice of three speeds, plus a Boost button to give an extra powerful blast when I needed it. A cruise control button allows me to set the speed without having to constantly hold the trigger down, making it easy to use this blower for longer periods of time. It has a brushless motor, and it also comes with an extra flat-end nozzle for concentrated power.

However, it's quite large and doesn’t compact down, so it will take up room in storage, and I also found it comparatively loud, although it’s still nothing like the volume you would get with a petrol blower. Part of the Yard Force GR40 battery system, it comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Yard Force LG G18 leaf blower from Amazon (£89.95)

Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower

Our best budget leaf blower

RRP: £46.99 (kit)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Vonhaus (£44.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Powerful
• Cheap
• Compact for storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Handle vibrates
• 12-minute runtime
• Single speed

This simple, compact leaf blower packs a punch. Despite weighing just 1.7 kg, I found it very powerful, and it made short work of both wet and dry leaves on paving, shrub beds, and gravel, though it struggled a little with both wet and dry leaves on grass. Thanks to its lightweight construction and narrow nozzle, it’s easy to manoeuvre around the garden and put leaves exactly where you want them. This blower is ideal for nipping around a small patio, terrace or front drive.

It’s a reasonable price, and great value as its G-Series battery is also compatible with the Vonhaus hedge trimmer, pole trimmer, and grass trimmer. However, although the grip on the handle is soft, the handle vibrates a lot in use, which gets uncomfortable. Its 12-minute runtime is also short, but it takes just an hour to charge. Kay Maguire

Best Buy review video - the Vonhaus G-series cordless leaf blower

• Buy the Vonhaus G Series cordless leaf blower from Vonhaus (£44.99)

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Ryobi 18V ONE+ cordless brushless axial blower

RRP: £82.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: B&Q (£99)

Reasons to buy:

• Variable speed trigger
• Interchangeable nozzle tips
• Excellent grip shape
• Battery charge level indicator

Reasons to avoid:

• Can only be locked on full power
• Will only run for 7 minutes on full power with the supplied 2.5 Ah battery

The drill-style handle on this blower is familiar from many other Ryobi tools, and I found that helpful. It’s comfortable to use one-handed and is probably the most ergonomically shaped blower handle I’ve tested yet. I found it easy to set up, and it weighs just 1.5 kg with the battery installed. This blower comes with a pair of different nozzle tips. There’s a standard round nozzle with a flexible tip for accurate aiming and a wide nozzle that looks like a vacuum cleaner head, helping to sweep a wider path in front of the blower. You can also adjust the shaft length by clicking two separate pieces into place.

Ryobi’s cordless blower uses a brushless motor to achieve impressive blowing power. The air speed is controlled by the variable speed trigger, so you can choose the power you want. The trigger can be locked on, but only at full speed, which is quite noisy. This bundle comes with a 2.5 Ah battery that can be used in more than 200 other Ryobi tools. The 2.5 Ah battery is on the small side if you want to blow leaves for more than a few minutes at a time, but larger Ryobi batteries are available. This blower is covered by a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Brushless Compact Blower from B&Q (£99)

LawnMaster MX 24V cordless axial blower

RRP: £59.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 4.25/5

Available from: B&Q (£59.99) and Amazon (£49.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Inexpensive
• Lightweight
• Simple to use
• Leaf scraper on the end of the nozzle

Reasons to avoid:

• No charge level indicator on the battery
• Only one speed setting

I found this lightweight and affordable leaf blower from LawnMaster an uncomplicated and straightforward tool to use. Weighing in at a shade over 1.5 kg, it’s easy to use one-handed for long periods. The ergonomic handle features a comfortable rubberised grip on the underside, and the power is easy to reach. The position of the battery underneath the handle is well thought out because it didn’t rub against my hand during use, and the large handle size is ideal for larger hands, even when wearing thick gardening gloves.

Although it only has one speed, it’s fine for blowing dry leaves around. And when the leaves are wet or stuck to paving slabs, the integrated hanging hook on the tip doubles up as a handy scraper. The removable nozzle thins down at the end to help direct a narrow jet of air, although the air flow rate was a little lower than expected.

This blower comes with a 2.0 Ah battery that will give you around 15 minutes of work and a charger that will take around three hours for a full charge. Even if this basic blower doesn’t feature a variable speed trigger or the fastest charging time, for the very low price, I'd say it’s a capable tool for blowing leaves, sawdust, and other light bits around the garden. This blower comes with a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the LawnMaster MX 24V cordless axial blower from B&Q (£59.99) and Amazon (£49.99)

BLACK+DECKER 18V cordless axial blower

RRP: £79.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Tooled Up (£84.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Plenty of air flow
• Two speed settings
• Available as a bare tool

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly awkward battery placement
• 2.0 Ah battery doesn’t last for long

This comfortable and well-balanced 18-volt blower weighs just 2.1 kg, even with the battery installed, so it made it easier for me to point around with just one hand. A leaf-scraping tip on the bottom of the nozzle helped me tackle wet leaves stuck on the paving slabs, and the wide-diameter removable nozzle tip is handy for directing the air where you need it. There are two different speeds to choose from: eco mode or boost mode. There’s enough air speed on eco mode to deal with small piles of leaves and sawdust, so we left it on that setting mostly to conserve some battery life. Boost mode produces a prodigious amount of blowing power, but drains the battery in around 8 minutes.

Although the handle doesn’t feature grippy, rubberised sections, it’s spacious enough to accommodate large hands, even in thick gardening gloves. The speed setting switch is easy to operate with gloves on, too. The only problem I encountered was that the battery slots in right at the base of the handle, and rubbed against my wrist while I was using the blower, especially when a larger capacity battery was in use. This version comes bundled with a 2.0 Ah battery that promises around 16 minutes of run time on low speed, and a charger that takes two hours to fully recharge. That run time is enough to tackle a small garden, but a larger capacity battery would be more appropriate. If you already have a compatible, larger-capacity battery, it would be best to buy this blower tool-only, saving you a bit of cash and helping you achieve a longer run-time. This blower comes with a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the BLACK+DECKER 18V cordless axial blower from Tooled Up (£84.95)

Flymo powervac 3000

RRP: £89.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Robert Dyas (£93.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Powerful blower
• Excellent shredding
• Good-sized collection bag

Reasons to avoid:

• Doesn’t break down easily for storage
• Unbalanced
• The vacuum nozzle is too wide
• Awkward handle shape

This large blower vac is reasonably easy to assemble, and no tools are required, but I found the instruction diagrams very small, so it took a little time. Once I'd put the suction tube together, it was almost impossible to break down again, which made the Powervac bulky for storage. To change modes, you also need to take it apart, so it’s simpler than the Bosch GardenTidy. It’s heavy as both a blower and a vac, and I thought the handle design was a little over-fussy and doesn’t help with the balance of the machine, especially in vac mode. It has a carry strap to help lighten the load, but this feels like it's in the wrong place. Thankfully, the collection bag is smaller than some, which makes it easier to use.

It has a variable speed dial on the handle, although I didn’t notice too much difference between these; the blower is powerful and great for blasting leaves across large lawns. Unfortunately, the vac is far less efficient with a nozzle shape that's too wide to suck up leaves well. However, once it’s got the leaves, the shredding power of the Powervac is excellent, with a ratio of 16:1 that reduces a bag full of leaves down to a tiny pile. The Powervac has a 10m cable, feels well-made, is built to last, and comes with a two-year warranty. It's good value for money for blowing and clearing leaves in a small garden, but the vacuum’s performance doesn't match the blower's. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Flymo Powervac 3000 from Robert Dyas (£93.99)

Webb ECO WEV20ABB4 cordless axial blower

RRP: £79.99 with battery and charger

Our rating: 3.75/5

Available from: Mowers Online (£79.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Affordable blower
• Comes with a large battery
• Decent 22-minute run time

Reasons to avoid:

• Only single speed
• Slow battery charging
• Loud

Webb’s answer to the lightweight garden blower is a robust and happily affordable piece of kit. The tool's three-piece design allows for compact storage while offering two different nozzle lengths, although it lacks a leaf scraper on the tip that I found so useful on other models. Weighing in at 2.9 kg, it’s not the lightest by a long way, but much of the heft is taken up by the large capacity battery. You could swap it out for one of Webb’s smaller batteries, but it’s worth the extra bit of weight for a longer run time. Supplied with a generous 4.0 Ah battery with a handy battery charge indicator on it, it can run for 20 minutes. That’s plenty of run time for a medium-sized garden or driveway, and it’s a good thing, too, because recharging the battery is a bit slow at 160 minutes.

They haven’t skimped on the handle; the rubberised grip is huge and has plenty of space for the biggest hands in thick gardening gloves. The only thing that gets in the way is the position of the battery, which sticks up above the base of the handle and can dig into the wrist at certain angles. It’s a well-balanced blower, especially with the nozzle at its full length. It’s easy enough to point around the garden, and the wide-diameter tip replaces pinpoint accuracy with a wider air stream for blowing leaves around. It’s just a shame that you can’t vary the blower speed because it’s loud at 96 dB during operation. This blower comes with a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Webb ECO WEV20ABB4 Cordless Axial Blower from Mowers Online (£79.99)

Flymo 18V Easiclear

RRP: £109

Our rating: 3.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£130)

Reasons to buy:

• Light and easy to use
• Variable speed
• Long battery run time
• Visible battery charge

Reasons to avoid:

• Lacks power, and the lowest speed is very weak
• Hard to break down for storage
• Long charge time

The quiet 18V Easiclear 100 is available as a bare tool or as a kit with an 18V 2.5Ah battery and charger. These are both part of the Power for All Alliance, so if you already have other Bosch, Flymo, Gardena or Husqvarna cordless tools or plan to, investing in these will save you money. The blower comes with one nozzle tube, which I found reasonably easy to put together, but once built, it was hard to take apart for storage. It’s a good length and width and has a ridged end which helps lift stubborn material. This is particularly handy as this isn't a very powerful blower. It offers variable speed, adjusted by a dial on the handle, but the lowest setting is very weak.

The 18V battery has a 13-23 minute run time, depending on speed, and it takes 154 minutes to charge. Unlike the other leaf blowers in my recent tests, the Easiclear has a battery charge display on the handle, which is very useful. This simple blower comes with a two-year warranty and is best for gentle blowing in small gardens. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Flymo EasiClear 100 leaf blower from Amazon (£130)

Other best of the rest cordless lawn mowers, tested before 2023

• 4.3 stars: Stiga SAB 100AE cordless leaf blower £99
• 4 stars: Worx WG547E Leaf Blower £120.54

What's the difference between a leaf blower and a leaf blower vacuum?

Quite simply, a leaf blower will lift wet and dry leaves from paths, grass, borders and pavements. The wind speed it generates blows leaves into a pile, which you can either leave as a habitat for wildlife, or collect and put on the compost, in your green waste recycling, or store in bags to make leaf mould.

A leaf blower vacuum not only lifts wet and dry leaves, but sucks them up too, passing them through a blade, which cuts and mulches them and then deposits them into the bag that attaches to the machine. You can dispose of them the same way, but they have the added advantage of being shredded, so they decompose more quickly when added to the compost or used to make leaf mould. However, leaf blower vacuums can get blocked up, may need more maintenance, and also tend to be expensive, but they are more efficient when it comes to keeping your garden leaf-free.

Before you decide which of these you need, think about how many leaves you have to collect - if you can manage blowing leaves and debris into a pile to gather up by hand, then a blower will do the job and is a cheaper option. However, for larger gardens with more trees and shrubs, being able to suck up leaves will save time, especially if you go for models with a mulching option.

How to choose the best leaf blower and leaf blower vacuum

There are three types of leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums available, each with its own pros and cons:

Cordless leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: There are lots of pros with this type of blower – in addition to being lightweight, quiet and environmentally friendly, they don’t need messy petrol or a restricting power cable. However, they can be more expensive if you’re buying batteries and chargers as extras to the cost of the tool, and you’ll need to check the run time if you have a larger garden.

Electric leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: Often at the budget end, these are low maintenance and, like cordless types, also lightweight. However, the power supply cable can be limiting as well as potentially hazardous.

Petrol leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums: These deliver plenty of power and, just like cordless types, can be used anywhere, but their environmental impact is a consideration, as is the hassle of buying and storing petrol. They’re often heavy and noisy and will need more in the way of maintenance, too.

Think about the following features before you buy:

• Variable speed controls - air speed (measured by metres per second or kilometres per hour), and airflow (measured by cubic metres per hour). Dry leaves are light and easy to shift, but wet, compacted leaves and other debris will need more power. Variable speed control is a useful feature as it allows you to change the speed and power depending on where you’re working – you’ll want to be gentle around plants, whereas more oomph will help on lawns
• Nozzle size – in general, the narrower the better, as the air flow is more concentrated, giving more control when it comes to corralling the leaves into a pile
• Mulching blades - Metal blades are tougher than plastic, as well as more durable, so are the preferred choice
• Collection bag - While not essential, a waterproof collection bag makes things a lot more comfortable if you’re working in wet weather, as it prevents moisture from soggy leaves dripping through the bag and onto your legs
• Comfort features - Soft-grip handles and a padded shoulder strap will help make it more comfortable to use the leaf blower or leaf blower vacuum for any length of time

Buyer's Guide to budget leaf blowers - video

Buyer's Guide to leaf blower vacs - video

Many thanks to Sue Fisher and Rosie Yeomans for their help in making these videos. Thanks also to Sparsholt College for their generous assistance.

How to use your collected leaves

If you’d like to make leaf mould with your leaves, you’ll need a bin separate from your compost. Leaf mould is created when leaves are broken down by fungi, rather than the bacteria that decompose the ingredients in your compost bin. By piling leaves up separately, in a leaf mould bag, bin or cage, you’ll create the perfect material for mulching and potting.

Different leaves break down more quickly than others, but all deciduous trees will make good leaf mould. Small, thin leaves, such as birch, will break down quickly, but larger leaves, like chestnut, might need shredding first. Evergreen leaves and conifer needles will take much longer and should be chopped before they are added. Avoid adding evergreens in large quantities.

For more help, see our guide to creating a leaf mould bin.

How we tested leaf blowers and leaf blower vacuums

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews team tested different leaf blowers and leaf vacuums across a range of garden situations – removing leaves from lawns, in borders and on gravel paths and paving, in both dry and wet weather. Before we started, we checked for any wildlife in the leaf matter and were cautious around plants to avoid disturbing insects and other creatures. The following criteria were used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Ease of use: Looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, any storage features and, where relevant, the battery charge time
• Handling: Assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features
• Performance: Focussed on the power and air flow control, plus run and charge time (where applicable)
• Value for money: Considering all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP including battery and charger (where applicable) and the length of warranty

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

A hose is an essential bit of kit for a gardener, making the task of watering your garden much easier than heaving a heavy watering can back and forth from the tap. There's a huge range of garden hoses available to buy, and choosing the right hose will depend on the size of your garden, how much time you spend watering and, of course, your budget.

There are also a number of types of hose to choose from:

• Bare hoses: a simple, loose hose, available without connectors and accessories
• Hose kits: a loose, bare hose plus spray guns and connectors
• Hoses with reels: a hose reel that combines storage, typically featuring a cylindrical spindle or case, and can be either free-standing or mounted on a wall. The hose is retracted at the pull of the hose or wound by hand with a handle
• Expandable hoses: these offer a lightweight, space-saving alternative to traditional rubber hoses, and shrink to an easy-to-store size when not in use

In general, hosepipes are constructed with layers of vinyl, polyurethane and rubber, often reinforced with nylon or metal mesh. Expandable hoses feature a tough, woven fabric outer layer that allows them to expand and contract. On the whole, cheaper hoses have fewer layers, which affects their strength and durability over time. Rubber hoses kink easily and can even get in a tangle, whereas expandable hoses, with their fabric outer layers, are designed to be anti-kink and anti-knot.

Our best garden hoses to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated expandable garden hoses

• 4.8 stars: Our best expandable garden hose for performance – Robert Dyas Extendable 30m Hose RRP £37.99
• 4.8 stars: Our best expandable garden hose for durability – Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose RRP £78.99

Our 3 top-rated garden hose reels

• 4.8 stars: Our best garden hose mini reel – Hozelock Pico Reel RRP £59.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best larger garden hose reel – Hozelock Fast Reel RRP £148.99
• 4.5 stars: Our best portable garden hose reel – Hozelock Auto reel mobile 35m RRP £247.99

Our top-rated bare garden hose

• 4.8 stars: Our best premium hose – Hozelock Ultimate Hose RRP £93.99

Jump to best hoses:

• Our 2 top-rated expandable garden hoses
• Our 3 top-rated garden hose reels
• Our top-rated bare garden hose

Jump to hose advice:

• How to choose the best garden hose
• What accessories are available?
• Water-wise gardening
• How we tested garden hoses
• Meet our testing panel

Our 2 top-rated expandable garden hoses

1: Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

Our best expandable garden hose for performance

RRP: £37.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Robert Dyas (£27.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Expands from 10-30m
• Spray gun included
• Tangle-free

Reasons to avoid:

• No storage features included

It's great that this lightweight extendable hose comes with connectors and a seven-dial spray gun, both of which you have to buy separately with many of the other hoses I tested. When I filled the hose with water, it expanded up to 30m, or three times its length, retracting back to its original size in next to no time when the tap was turned off. It's made from hard-wearing materials, with the combination of polyester outer and rubber-like inner tube. The woven fabric also prevents the hose from getting tangled up when you unwind and use it. The only less durable elements are the plastic universal connectors that won’t last as long as brass alternatives.

The spray gun has seven settings, making it extremely versatile. It can tackle anything from gentle watering tasks with the mist spray, to more vigorous jobs that require a single jet of water, such as cleaning outdoor furniture, cars and windows. This hose is the cheapest I tested, and as the spray gun is included, I'd say it represents great value. Although there isn’t a warranty, Robert Dyas will offer an exchange or refund if it develops a fault within a year, as long as you can provide proof of purchase.

Read the full review of the Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose

• Buy the Robert Dyas Extendable 30m hose from Robert Dyas (£27.99)

2: Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose

Our best expandable garden hose for durability

RRP: £78.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: OnBuy (£63.99) and Wickes (£52)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight
• Expands to 30m
• Tangle-free
• Guaranteed leak-free fittings for a water-tight connection
• Nozzle included

Reasons to avoid:

• Hooks or reels for storage aren’t included
• Expensive

I found this expandable hose easy to use in a small garden. Because it shrinks to a third of its length when empty, it's also convenient to store when not in use, making it good for small gardens, patios and balconies. It comes with two easy-to-attach universal connectors and one nozzle, and it's compatible with Hozelock’s range of hose ends and accessories, which can be bought separately. The hose comes in a range of lengths, including 7.5m, 15m and 40m. I also liked that you can attach two expandable hoses together - though you’ll have to buy a special connector - useful if you have a big garden.

The Superhoze can produce anything from a fine mist spray to a powerful jet of water, giving it real versatility whether you’re watering plants in pots or cleaning the car. It's lightweight and tough, with a five-year warranty. Another good point is that the packaging uses 100% recycled materials and water-based ink, so it can be composted or recycled.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Superhoze expandable 30m hose

• Buy Hozelock Superhoze Expandable 30m Hose from OnBuy (£63.99) and Wickes (£52)

Buying an expandable hose - video

Follow our guide to choosing the right expandable hose for your garden

Our three top-rated garden hose reels

1: Hozelock Pico Reel

Our best mini hose reel

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£38.95), OnBuy (£42.24) and Wickes (£35)

Reasons to buy:

• Fully assembled
• Versatile, connects both ends
• Comfortable, easy to use, excellent spray gun
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Feeder hose is fiddly to tuck away

I found this tidy hose compact, lightweight and good value. It's useful that the hose comes completely assembled and ready to use: all that's required is to screw on the connector to your tap and clip on the hose. It's as easy as that. You can clip either end to the tap, so the reel can stay by the tap, or you can carry it with you, unwinding/winding the hose as you go. It has the advantage of both ends of the hose clipping upright onto the reel, preventing drips or dribbles when stored.

It's easy to rewind, with a large, comfortable-to-grip, rotating winding knob, and it has handy features such as drip-free storage with a parking port. There’s also an easy-to-use and adjustable spray gun with five spray pattern options. Plus, this hose comes with an impressive five-year warranty.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Pico hose reel

• Buy Hozelock Pico hose reel from Tooled Up (£38.95), OnBuy (£42.24) and Wickes (35)

2: Hozelock Fast Reel

Our best larger hose reel

RRP: £148.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: ManoMano (£144.99), OnBuy (£143.40) and Tooled Up (£106.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Completely assembled, enclosed reel
• Sturdy, stable, exceptionally easy to rewind
• Neat non-drip storage
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Largest and heaviest
• Most expensive

The Hozelock Fast Reel is supplied with an extra section of feeder hose already cut with connectors attached, so it's pretty much ready to go. You just need to clip the winding handle into place, which I found an easy task. The automatic self-layering feature on this hose made it extremely quick for me to wind and unwind, even though it's a very long hose. The casing fully encloses the hose and feels both sturdy and stable.

Given that 40m of hose is weighty and bulky, it’s best suited to gardens where the hose can be kept in one place for the season. If you have to move it, it does have non-drip storage features, so it can be stored under cover. Like all hoses, it needs draining and storing indoors over winter to avoid frost damage. This was the heaviest and priciest hose I tested, but it does come with a five-year guarantee.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Fast Reel

• Buy Hozelock Fast Reel from ManoMano (£144.99), OnBuy (£143.40) and Tooled Up (£106.95)

3: Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile 35m

Our best portable hose reel

RRP: £247.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£193) and Wickes (£220)

Reasons to buy:

• Great for taking around the garden
• Excellent rewind with no kinking
• Very stable
• Well designed with accessory storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Takes time and is heavy to build
• Cost

If you’ve ever struggled with a kinking, twisting hose or a reel that’s constantly toppling over, then this is the reel for you. The 30m anti-UV hose is housed within a sturdy portable case that you can wheel around the garden with ease. The handle is adjustable to suit your height and collapses down for storage, and I found it helpful that this product also has a folding kickstand to help it remain stable in use. It can then be tucked away for easy wheeling and storage. The hose was easy to pull out, and there’s a braking mechanism to keep it controlled and to lock it in place once you’ve got as much as you need.

Once I'd finished, I simply tugged the hose out another 25cm, and it automatically rewound into the case. There’s no handle to wind and no tangling. Five metres of feeder hose are included, giving you 35m in total, plus all the connectors you need, including hose-end and water-stop connectors, and threaded tap connectors of 21 and 26mm. There’s also a spray gun with the choice of three sprays: fine rose, jet and cone.

Although this is very easy to wheel around once built, it does weigh 17kg, and I found this noticeable when putting it together. There’s quite a lot to assemble, including attaching the wheels, handle and accessory basket, and this requires a screwdriver and about 30 minutes of your time. Until the wheels are attached, it’s heavy to lift and move around, and it’s all low down on the ground, so it may not be for the less able gardener. This reel is also one of the most expensive I've tested, but it's very well designed, with lots of storage for the feeder hose and accessories, it feels durable and sturdy and is backed up by a five-year warranty (when registered online). If you use a hose on a regular basis, this is ideal. You definitely get what you pay for, and this hose is well worth considering for the sheer ease of use.

• Buy Hozelock Auto Reel Mobile 35m from Amazon (£193) and Wickes (£220)

Our top-rated bare garden hose

1: Hozelock Ultimate hose

Our best premium hose

RRP: £93/99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£77.44)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight and comfortable
• Anti-kink design
• Crush proof
• Long guarantee
• Lowest price per metre (in category)

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly tricky to re-coil

I found the Hozelock Ultimate very easy to use. It's weatherproof, UV-resistant, and frost-protected, and it can withstand a range of temperatures from -20°C to 40°C. Constructed from five layers, including reinforced material, the Hozelock Ultimate has a smooth inner layer to enhance water flow. I found it lightweight and very flexible, making it easy and comfortable to use.

With five layers, this is an anti-kink and crushproof hose, and I was pleased to find it was flexible enough to uncoil easily. I found recoiling the hose a little harder, but not too frustrating. All in all, this is a strong hose for everyday use, and it comes with a 30-year guarantee. It's also free from phthalates, heavy metals and other harmful toxins, so it's reassuringly safe to use.

Read the full review of the Hozelock Ultimate hose

• Buy the Hozelock Ultimate hose from Amazon (£77.44)

Need an attachment for your hose? Discover which of the garden hose spray guns we tested came out on top. If a watering can is all you're after, we've chosen 10 different designs to suit your gardening needs. You may also be interested in our guide to buying the best pressure washer.

How to choose the best garden hose

Think about the following before you choose:

• The best garden hoses are anti-kink, anti-twist and crush-proof - there’s nothing worse than having to unravel a tangled garden hose, and it will eventually cause the rubber to split and leak. It’s also worth considering the jobs you’ll be using it for. If it’s just watering, you won’t need a super-strong hose with a high max burst pressure (measured in bars), but if you’re connecting it to a power washer, durability and strength are important - and steer clear of expandable hoses as they’re not recommended for use with pressure washers
• Cheaper hoses will need to be replaced more often, which is ultimately bad news for your pocket and the environment. Spending a little more means you’ll get a tough, durable hose that will last for years, and with better technology behind the bigger price tag, watering the plants is more enjoyable, too. Garden hose reel kits are more expensive, but they’re great if storage is an issue and the reel prevents hoses from getting tangled up or trodden on. However, they can be a pain when it comes to reeling in the hose, especially with free-standing types. Expandable hoses dispense with storage problems, as they contract to a manageable size when they’re not in use, but they can also leak and split more readily than tougher rubber alternatives. It’s also worth checking if a hose comes with a guarantee, and if so, how long for. While hoses come with recommended maximum water pressure, kink and frost protection, if a long warranty is offered, it’s a good sign it’s built to last, assuming, of course, you look after it
• Length. To work out what size hose you need, there’s really no better way than getting out the tape measure. Start from the tap and measure the maximum distance you need to reach the bottom of your garden, and then add a bit on, so the hose won’t be at full stretch. Tempting as it may be, avoid going for a longer garden hose than needed, because in addition to being more expensive, it adds unnecessary extra weight and is more bulky to store. Some expandable hoses can be connected together to gain extra length - you’ll need to buy special adaptors - and similarly, smooth rubber hoses can be cut to length if required
• Colour might seem an aesthetic choice; if you have your garden hose on display on a patio, you might want to choose the colour that best works with your scheme. Alternatively, a brightly coloured hose is more visible and so less likely to be run over by a car or machinery

What accessories are available?

While a nozzle or spray gun isn’t essential - using your finger on the tip of the hose to adjust the water flow works well - they are practical. Some hoses come with these accessories included, which often makes them good value for money. However, there are plenty of attachments available to buy separately.

It’s also worth checking if the connectors that come with your hose are ‘universal’, which means they'll fit on any hose or with any accessory - a benefit, if you change the hose but don’t want to have to buy a new spray gun, for example. Connectors are usually made in either plastic or brass, and while there are different grades of plastic, it’s fair to say that the brass connectors will be the most long-lasting.

In general, a textured outer layer will attach more securely to the tap connector than smooth alternatives, and will be less likely to burst off the nozzle or tap connector while it’s in use.

Water-wise gardening

With water conservation becoming more important than ever, check out this fascinating discussion between Arit Anderson and water expert Janet Manning on the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast.

• Find out more about our Growing Greener podcast series

Gardening with less water

A few basic techniques will help you save precious water resources while still giving you a beautiful space to enjoy

Target your watering

All plants have different water needs. The best method is to water each plant individually, so you can control exactly the right amount around roots at the base of the plant, minimising wasted water.

Pick drought-tolerant plants

Plants like perennial herbs, ornamental grasses and many established shrubs need very little extra water in summer. Planted in the ground, they may never need any extra watering after establishment. Selecting plants that don’t wilt in dry spells will lower effort and water use.

Plant spreading ground-cover

Although it’s recommended to use a compost mulch around plants to lock in moisture – and this does work – this may be impractical for an entire garden. In addition to mulching, look to low-growing, mat-forming plants that spread between your larger plants, reducing evaporation and locking in moisture.

Collect water from roofs

Every drop of rainwater you collect counts. To work out how much you could collect, multiply the local average annual rainfall by the total area of your roof. Reusing old washing-up water, called ‘grey water’, helps too.

Let lawns go brown

During summer dry spells, lawns are prone to turning brown and looking dead, but they aren’t. Grass naturally goes dormant to survive dry periods, and although it can look less inviting, it’s perfectly fine for the plants. Lawn grasses will naturally bounce back to their luscious green selves when rain returns.

Make a planted soakaway

In addition to collecting rainwater in a water butt, directly water areas with drain-pipe extensions. Doing so reduces water going into drains and the risk of flooding during heavy rain. Water will slowly filter through the ground naturally instead.

How we tested garden hoses

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Reviews team tested a range of different types of garden hose, using them across the spring and summer to water beds and borders, plants in containers and in the greenhouse. The hoses were compared, and the following criteria were used to assess each hose, with equal weight attributed to each:

• Preparation & storage: assessed ease of assembly, weight and storage features
• Handling & performance: looked at ease of unwinding and rewinding, stability of the reel, if the hose kinked or twisted, how well the connectors and accessories fitted and worked, and the ease of carrying
• Quality & features: focused on reel durability, standard and type of hose, nozzle and connectors, plus any special features
• Value for money: considered all of the above plus hose length, accessories, RRP and length of warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we Review.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Gardening gloves are available in a range of designs, featuring waterproofing, added grip, cushioning, and breathable fabrics to help regulate hand temperature. The design and features you need will depend on the gardening jobs you intend to carry out and when you plan to do them. A range of materials is on offer, including leather, bamboo, latex, nylon, and recycled materials. Bamboo fibre is one of the more environmentally friendly options and is typically soft, close-fitting and flexible. Latex and leather are both tear-resistant and are often used to improve grip. Additional padding or cushioning can also be helpful. Look out for padding on knuckles, fingertips, wrists and palms for increased protection when performing manual tasks.

Our best gardening gloves to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best gloves for light work – Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre RRP £6.49
• 4.8 stars: Best value lightweight gloves – Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves RRP £10.49
• 4.8 stars: Best lightweight winter gloves – Niwaki winter gloves RRP £12

Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best budget heavy-duty gloves – Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves RRP £3
• 4.8 stars: Top-rated heavy-duty winter gloves – Clip Gloves Warm 'n' Waterproof RRP £12.99 
• 4.8 stars: Best gloves for heavy-duty work – Clip Gloves Shock Absorber RRP £18.49
• 4.8 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for summer use – Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Collection High Performance RRP £18.99
• 4.8 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for wet-weather work – Gold Leaf The Dry Touch RRP £22.99

Our top-rated gauntlet gloves

• 4.8 stars: Best men's gauntlet gloves – Kent and Stowe luxury leather men's gauntlet gloves RRP £16.99

Also recommended

• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for everyday use – Clip Gloves General Purpose RRP £14.99
• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for grip – Donkey Gloves RRP £15.95
• 4.5 stars: Best lightweight gloves for versatility – Feverfew Garden Company RRP £22.95
• 4 stars: Best lightweight gloves for waterproofing – Briers All Seasons Cosy Gardener Gloves RRP £5.99
• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for winter use – Stihl ThermoGrip RRP £9.30
• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for year-round use – Burgon & Ball Love the Glove RRP £17.99
• 4.5 stars: Best heavy-duty gloves for comfort – RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves RRP £26.99

Jump to best gardening gloves:

• Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves
• Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves
• Our best gauntlet gloves

Jump to gardening gloves advice:

• How to choose the best gardening gloves
• How we tested gardening gloves
• Meet our testing panel

Our 3 top-rated lightweight gardening gloves

1: Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre

Our best lightweight gloves for light work

RRP: £6.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon men's (£14.99) and women's (£13.29)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and light
• Second skin fit
• Breathable
• Feel strong
• Excellent value

Reasons to avoid:

• Bamboo snags occasionally

The Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre are a good fit, and I found them easy to take on and off. The soft, breathable bamboo was comfortable and breathable, and the latex coating on the palms and fingers gave them good dexterity and good grip for holding tools. Elasticated cuffs make them easy to get on and off and stops soil and debris falling inside when you’re working. They felt comfortable enough for me to wear them all day.

The gloves are washable and come with a carabiner for clipping them to your belt. They did snag occasionally, but they're great for delicate work and all-day wear in spring and summer. They're available in both men's and women's designs. As one of the cheaper pairs of gloves in our test, I'd say these comfortable, easy-to-wear gloves are ideal for light, all day use and feel sturdier than other similar, bamboo gloves. I think they're excellent value for money. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre review

• Buy Clip Gloves Bamboo Fibre from Amazon men's (£14.99) and women's (£13.29) 

2: Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for waterproofing

RRP: £10.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Safety Gloves (£13.49) and Work Gloves (£13.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Well waterproofed – covers the whole hand
• Thick thermal lining
• Can clean exterior with water
• Size is labelled clearly on each glove
• Highly flexible
• Resistant to abrasion and tearing

Reasons to avoid:

• Industrial looking
• More expensive
• Waterproofing may diminish with thorn damage

I was impressed with the double-engineered nitrile coatings that cover the entire hand and are designed to prevent water, oils and other liquids from penetrating the glove. The acrylic terry liner offers insulation, but it’s also fixed and remains in place when the hand is removed. They’re also seamless for maximum comfort, and the sturdy construction ensures they will withstand a degree of abrasion and tearing.

The nitrile foam palm coating provides long-lasting grip in wet conditions, while the wrist cuff keeps the glove securely in place. These gloves replicate the natural curvature of the human hand, thus reducing hand fatigue and boosting flexibility. I found them sturdy and comfortable to wear, but they also felt flexible, warm and offered excellent grip in wet conditions. Jane Moore

• Buy the Showa 477 Insulated Winter Gardening Gloves from Safety Gloves (£13.49) and Work Gloves (£13.49)

3: Niwaki Winter Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for winter use

RRP: £12

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Niwaki (£12) and Amazon (£12)

Reasons to buy:

• Fit well
• Warm and all, but cuffs are waterproof
• Bright, so you won't lose them easily
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• A little bulky
• Not thornproof
• Cuffs aren't waterproof

These gloves offer a great, snug fit and are very easy to get on and off thanks to their well-fitting elasticated cuff. Made from latex, acrylic and polyester, they moulded well to my hand, and although the bright orange fleece lining makes them a little bulky, they’re still soft and flexible and offer a good amount of dexterity. They’re ideal for a wide range of winter jobs, including finer weeding, and keep your hands really warm and dry.

However, the cuffs are not waterproof, so avoid getting them wet as they take a while to dry. Otherwise, the gloves dry well, though, and keep their shape. They won't completely protect you against thorns and brambles, but they don't tear the latex. I think they’re excellent value for the protection they provide. They’re available in small, medium, large, and extra large sizes. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Niwaki Winter Gardening Gloves from Niwaki (£12) and Amazon (£12)

Our 5 top-rated heavy-duty gardening gloves

1: Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for budget

RRP: £2.50

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: B&Q (£2.65)

Reasons to buy:

• Tough, thorn-proof material
• Great for everyday medium- to heavy-duty work
• Hard wearing
• Great value

Reasons to avoid:

• Not very breathable
• Lack warmth
• Not water resistant

These gloves offer excellent protection for tough, thorny jobs at a very reasonable price. We also love that they can be recycled. Featuring a generously-sized elasticated cuff means they’re easy to get on and off, but as they’re made from textured latex, the palm isn’t a snug fit. While the latex is also waterproof, we found that moisture can seep in through the fabric on the back.

Although they are great for cold and wet weather, these gloves aren’t lined, so you might need extra protection in harsh winter months. Wipe-clean after use, these tough, durable gloves represent excellent value for money. Available in small, medium and large. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves review

• Buy Verve Nylon Gardening Gloves from B&Q (£2.65)

2: Clip Gloves Warm 'n' Waterproof

Our best heavy-duty gloves for winter use

RRP: £12.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£8.45) and Robert Dyas (£10.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and warm
• Waterproof
• Sandy texture for good grip
• Lots of dexterity

Reasons to avoid:

• No good for latex allergies

I found the Clip Gloves’ Warm ‘N’ Waterproof edition as warm and waterproof as their name suggests. They offer a great fit, and the fleece lining is excellent for keeping your hands warm in the chilly weather. The double-dipped latex also makes these gloves completely waterproof – working in damp conditions, I saw no sign of seep-through. The sandy latex covering on the palm and fingertips is excellent for grip, and the comfortably snug fit allows for very good dexterity, even though the thick lining can make your finger movements occasionally feel a little clumsy when it comes to finer tasks. The additional latex coating on the thumb joint offers extra protection for more heavy-duty tasks.

Like all other gloves in the Clip Gloves range, the carabiner clip is a handy addition to keep the gloves paired together. Great multi-purpose gloves, I found them ideal for working snugly through cold, wet winters rather than year-round use, as they’re a little too toasty for the summer months. They come in women’s small and medium sizes, and men’s medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Clip Gloves’ Warm ‘N’ Waterproof Gloves from Fothergills (£8.45) and Robert Dyas (£10.99)

3: Clip Gloves Shock Absorber

Our best heavy-duty gloves for heavy-duty work

RRP: £18.49

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£17.95), ManoMano (£16.99) and On Buy (£16.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and well-fitting
• Good dexterity
• Sturdy and durable
• Good for heavy-duty jobs

Reasons to avoid:

• None

These gloves mould to the hand to provide good dexterity and an excellent fit, and I loved their well thought-out materials. They're comfortable and durable, but not bulky. The gloves are flexible, thanks to the spandex back which moulds to the hand, and the synthetic leather palm and fingers provide good protection for heavy duty jobs, but aren't restricting. These gloves are not suitable for seed sowing, but are ideal for any heavy-duty work. I found the neoprene and Velcro wrist straps ensured the gloves fitted well.

There's a carabiner to clip gloves to a belt and padding on the palms for extra protection. They come in both men's and women's sizes and designs. Though they are towards the high end in terms of price, they are durable, well-fitting gloves that offer excellent protection. I think they’re really good value for money. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves Shock Absorber review

• Buy the Clip Gloves Shock Absorber from Fothergills (£17.95), ManoMano (£16.99) and On Buy (£16.99)

4: Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection High Performance Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for summer use

RRP: £18.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£13.98) and Tooled Up (£15.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Durable yet with good sensitivity
• Lightweight and cool
• The elastic wrist keeps debris out
• Suit most gardening tasks

Reasons to avoid:

• Thin backs are vulnerable to stings and thorns

These stylish gloves felt immediately comfortable to wear. My hands stayed comfortable, even in very hot weather, due to the use of non-padded leather with a polyester bacs that ensures breathability. They're well-made, with reinforcement on the wear points at the palms and fingers, and elasticated wrists to ensure a close, comfortable fit to keep out debris.

I found they gave good grip and usability for a wide range of tasks, such as weeding, planting and pruning, but the reinforced fingers make them unsuitable for jobs needing fine dexterity like handling seedlings. There’s a small loop on the wrists for easy hanging and storage, and the gloves come in small, medium and large sizes. A donation to the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is made from the sale of these gloves. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Spear and Jackson Kew Gardens Collection high-performance gloves review

• Buy the Spear and Jackson Kew High Performance Gloves from Amazon (£13.98) and Tooled Up (£15.95)

5: Gold Leaf The Dry Touch

Our best heavy-duty gloves for wet-weather work

RRP: £22.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from: Crocus (£22.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable with good control
• Soft, high-quality leather
• Tough and long-lasting
• Water resistant
• Good investment

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive

The Dry Touch gloves from Gold Leaf are tough, long-lasting and water-resistant. I found the gloves had a sturdy, yet luxurious feel, due to being made from a soft grain leather. They're treated to add water resistance, though they're not completely waterproof. The Dry Touch gloves are fully lined and feel soft and snug inside, particularly in winter. They fit really well, moulding quickly to the hand with a close fit over the fingers and thumbs that gives great movement and dexterity.

They're available in both men's and women's sizes. Although they're top end of the budget, with such an excellent fit and long lasting, water repellent design, I'd say they’re very good value for money and definitely worth the investment. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Gold Leaf The Dry Touch review

• Buy the Gold Leaf The Dry Touch Gloves from Crocus (£22.99) and On Buy (£29.93)

Best gauntlet gloves

Kent & Stowe Men’s Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves

Our best men's gauntlet gloves

RRP: £16.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£13.29) and ManoMano (£15.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable, warm and well-sized
• Good quality leather with strong stitching
• Excellent protection against thorns
• Great value

Reasons to avoid:

• Cuff a little snug
• Not waterproof
• One size only

I found these simple but tough gauntlet gloves provided excellent protection from thorns and prickles in both the thick, sturdy hand and the long suede cuff, although the cuff can be a little tight depending on the thickness of the coat you're pulling them over. Available in men’s large size only, they’re a good fit for large hands with the leather moulding well to the hand.

They feel tough but flexible and comfortable, and there's enough dexterity to grip secateurs and loppers for regular pruning jobs, although these gloves are not for finer work like planting. They’re also warm enough to wear throughout the colder pruning months of the autumn and winter. They’re comfortable, protective, sturdy and excellent value for money. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Stowe Luxury Leather Men's Gauntlet Gloves from Amazon (£13.29) and ManoMano (£15.49)

Also recommended: lightweight gloves

Clip Gloves General Purpose

Our best lightweight gloves for everyday use

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Fothergills (£14.95), ManoMano (£13.99) and Robert Dyas (£12.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug, comfortable fit
• Padded and reinforced
• Great for everyday, medium-duty work
• Hard wearing

Reasons to avoid:

• Lack warmth
• Not water resistant

I liked the adjustable wrist strap, the extra padding, and the tailored fit of these Clip gloves. They may not be waterproof, but they dry well and keep their shape.  They have a synthetic leather palm, spandex back and reinforced fingers. An adjustable velcro wrist strap creates a close fit, but it's fiddly as they needs to be undone every time you take them off or put them on. They’re comfortable and breathable and don’t feel bulky or stiff and are tailored to fit. Grip is good but you can’t feel what you’re doing quite as well as with thinner gloves. The gloves are ideal for spring to autumn wear, and they're very comfortable in dry weather.

They don’t come up very high on the wrist, which makes them unsuitable for working with stinging nettles, but they’re great for general gardening tasks such as weeding, pruning, planting and harvesting. As with all Clip Gloves, an aluminium carabiner clips onto a hook on the cuff of each glove so they can be easily attached to your belt hook or hung up in the shed. Sizes range from small to large in both men's and women's styles. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Clip Gloves General Purpose review

• Buy Clip Gloves General Purpose from Fothergills (£14.95), ManoMano (£13.99) and Robert Dyas (£12.99)

Donkey Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for grip

RRP: £15.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£15.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug fit
• Good grip
• Well-designed
• Lightweight but sturdy

Reasons to avoid:

• Not lined, waterproof or water resistant

These well-designed gloves fit snugly, making them ideal for delicate jobs that require a good grip. While they don’t feature an adjustable strap, the stretchy wrist cuff made it easy for me to put them on and take them off, and there’s a helpful sizing guide on the website to help you choose the right pair. They are comfortable to wear and feature an elasticated, breathable polyester back and a soft suede-padded palm and thumb gusset, which offers extra protection when pruning and clearing borders.

They feel well-made and sturdy, but while the palm is water-resistant, moisture soaks through the back of the glove. That said, I found they dried quickly, and the suede palm stayed soft. Though warm, they’re not lined so won’t keep out the chill of wintery weather, but they’re a reliable, mid-priced option for everyday work. Available in a range of sizes. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Donkey Gloves review

• Buy the Donkey Gloves from Amazon (£15.95)

Feverfew Garden Company Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for versatility

RRP: £22.95

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Feverfew (£22.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Robust
• Comfortable with a good fit
• Touch screen fingers work well
• Good all-rounder

Reasons to avoid:

• A little difficult to get on and off
• Not dextrous for fine jobs

These good-looking gloves by Feverfew are designed specifically for women’s hands, and our female testers found them a good fit once they’d softened with a few wears. The elasticated neoprene cuff and Velcro strap make them a little tricky to get on and off, but they’re snug once on. The gloves are stretchy and flexible, ideal for general gardening tasks such as weeding, pruning, and using tools.

They have reinforced fingers, so they’re not for fine work like seed sowing, but they have a padded, microfibre palm and spandex and foam back, so they’re comfortable and protective. They’re not waterproof, particularly on the palms, though they're water-resistant and best for spring and summer wear. They also have handy ‘touch screen’ forefingers and thumbs that work very well, so you can look things up or answer a call if you need to without having to take them off.

After use, the gloves can be wiped down or machine-washed at 30 degrees C or below, and there’s a useful clip to secure them together and hang them up. Available in four sizes, XS-L and in a choice of green or plum, they also come in a protective cloth bag, which is a nice touch. They may not be the cheapest gardening gloves, but they’re well-fitting, comfortable and durable. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Feverfew Garden Company gloves from Feverfew (£22.95)

Briers All Seasons Cosy Gardener Gloves

Our best lightweight gloves for waterproofing

RRP: £5.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: The Range (£3.19)

Reasons to buy:

• Very affordable
• Well waterproofed with latex up to the knuckles
• Good wrist coverage
• Washable

Reasons to avoid:

• Thick latex gives poor tactility
• Feel rubbery on the inside
• No sizing evident on the glove itself, although different colours
• Waterproofing will diminish with thorn damage

These sturdy gloves are made for rough winter work, such as weeding in wet conditions, clearing debris and general gardening work. I liked the elasticated cuff and latex waterproofing covering much of the hand, including the entire palm and up to the knuckles on the back of the hand. They’re also washable, ideal for a winter glove, come with a one-year guarantee, and are very affordable.

The different colours correspond to different sizes, which makes it easier to tell your gloves and your partner’s gloves apart. However, the thicker latex, while offering sturdiness and excellent waterproofing, does diminish tactility, and the lack of a brushed lining could make them uncomfortable on a very cold day. Jane Moore

• Buy Briers Cosy Gardener Gloves M8 from The Range (£3.19)

Also recommended: heavy-duty gloves

Stihl ThermoGrip

Our best heavy-duty gloves for winter use

RRP: £9.30

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Sam Turner & Sons (£7.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and snug
• Warm
• Good grip
• Good value

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky

These gloves are made from thick PES knit with a heavy-duty, latex palm and fingers, so they're very snug and designed to keep your hands toasty and warm in the winter months. Stihl's ThermoGrip gloves are sturdy with a knitted fit, and although their chunky thickness means they lack a little dexterity, they have a good grip and a waterproof latex layer.

The extra thick latex in these gloves makes for strong and snag-free fingers and palms. The knitted back and cuffs is not as strong as other materials in the test such as leather, but they suffered no snagging or tearing when I wore them and I think these gloves should last for a reasonably long time. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Stihl ThermoGrip Gloves review

• Buy Stihl ThermoGrip Gloves from Sam Turner & Sons (£7.99)

Burgon and Ball Love The Glove

Our best heavy-duty gloves for year-round use

RRP: £17.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£17.92) and Tesco (£17.19)

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and snug
• Good dexterity and control
• Strong and durable
• Attractive, quality materials

Reasons to avoid:

• Wrist strap fiddly for some

Made from artificial suede and tweed, with a leather trim, the Burgon and Ball Love the Glove are among the best ladies' gardening gloves I've tested. The materials are high-quality, and the gloves are breathable, tough, and provide year-round protection. The wrist strap is adjustable for a snug fit, but some may find it fiddly. They come with padded palms for extra cushioning and protection. I found these gloves comfortable and particularly good for holding tools.

These gloves are perfect for year-round general use. The breathable mesh on the fingers stops your hands getting too hot in summer but they’ll keep hands warm and snug through autumn and all but the coldest winters. They're made from quality materials and I think they offer excellent value for money. They're available in two sizes - small/medium and medium/large. Cinead McTernan

Read the full Burgon and Ball Love the Glove review

• Buy Burgon and Ball Love The Glove from Amazon (£17.92) and Tesco (£17.19)

RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves

Our best heavy-duty gloves for comfort

RRP: £26.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£22.99) and Crocus (£26.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Waterproof and thermal
• Hardwearing reinforced palms
• Very comfortable
• Endorsed by the RHS

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive
• No wrist closure, so draughty
• Not washable

These beautifully made gloves are designed for cold weather, featuring a warm Thinsulate lining and a waterproof, breathable membrane. They also feature a handy reinforced palm and thumb for extra grip and longevity when using heavier tools, and I loved the soft leather with a fabric back for extra breathability.

With their soft lining and quality leather, I found these gloves comfortable and pliable from the first wear, but they also moulded to the shape of my hands as they wore in over time. The wrist cuff is rather short, with only a small section of elastic to hold the glove in place and no velcro fastening, which allows draughts, especially when reaching. Jane Moore

• Buy the RHS Gold Leaf Winter Touch Gloves from Amazon (£22.99) and Crocus (£26.99)

Best of the rest:

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:

Town & Country Premium Leather Gauntlets

RRP: £16.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£16.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft and supple
• Generously-sized cuff for extra protection

Reasons to avoid:

• Not water resistant

While an extra-wide cuff made these gloves easy to put on, the overall shape felt loose and baggy. However, as you’ll use them for tackling rose bushes and other thorny shrubs, this isn’t too much of an issue, and the extra length in the cuff is more important than dexterity. Featuring a suede cuff and ultra-soft leather for the palm and fingers, these gloves are very supple. Still, there’s a seam at the base of the second and third fingers, which makes them uncomfortable to grip tools or branches, especially if you’re doing so for any length of time.

They’re not lined, but the leather kept me warm, which was important when pruning roses in late winter. I like the quality of the leather and suede, which remain soft even after getting wet. To clean, remove dry mud with a suede brush. Available in two sizes: medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Premium Leather Gauntlets from Amazon (£16.99)

Genus Waterproof Gardening Gloves

RRP: £25.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Genus (£25)

Reasons to buy:

• Flexible
• Totally waterproof
• Dry well
• Available in a wide range of sizes

Reasons to avoid:

• Loose fit at the wrists, and the fingers are long
• Liner loose
• Dexterity is tricky with fit

These well-made gloves kept my hands completely dry while weeding, planting, and working in wet weather. They’re well-made with synthetic leather palms, polyester backs and tough seams, and although they won’t completely protect you from thorns and brambles, they won’t snag or tear. They’re reasonably thin and better for fine rather than heavy work; however, despite measuring my hands before ordering, the fingers are long, which makes very fine, delicate work difficult.

The elasticated wrist is also quite loose, which I found a bit drafty, and it let in debris as I worked. But they are waterproof, and the fleecy lining kept my hands warm. Just watch when you take them on and off, as they do work loose. They're quite expensive, but if you’ve got wet work to do, like leaf raking or digging, they would be useful. They're available in sizes - XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL and 3XL. Cinead McTernan

• Buy the Genus waterproof gardening gloves from Genus (£25)

Town & Country Eco-Flex Finesse

RRP: £5.99

Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£4.49)

Reasons to buy:

• Super light and comfortable
• Excellent dexterity
• Machine washable
• Made from sustainable materials

Reasons to avoid:

• Very thin
• Early wear and tear is evident
• Slippery fingertip coating

I found these gloves good to use in the spring and summer months. They’re extremely thin and breathable, and excellently suited for delicate potting and sowing, as you can still feel what you’re doing. However, I found the coating on the fingertips slippery, which is a shame when you’re attempting to tackle those finer, more fiddly tasks. Made from ocean-sourced plastic bottles, they have great sustainability credentials and are a bargain at £5.99. It’s also handy to have a machine-washable glove, and running them through a cold cycle left them mostly stain-free and ready to use again.

However, because of their thinness, they’re susceptible to ripping; just a small snag on a thorn or wayward branch results in holes on the back of the hand. They’re not a go-to, all-rounder glove, but if you’re looking for something to protect your hands while you do light work, they’re a nice addition to your collection. They’re available in the following sizes: extra small, small, medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Finesse Gloves from Tooled Up (£4.49)

Town & Country Eco-Flex Pro

RRP: £8.99

Our Rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from: Tooled Up (£9.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Good protection
• Comfortable
• Sustainable

Reasons to avoid:

• Not waterproof
• Fingers are a little loose

As with other gloves in Town & Country’s Eco-Flex range, these gloves are made from recycled plastic sourced from the ocean, and I thought the materials themselves felt great – the elasticated wrist is snug and comfortable, and the coated palm and fingertips offer sturdy protection when tackling more heavy-duty tasks, including handling thorny stems and clearing waste. The rubber coating is somewhat stiff and doesn’t soften with use, and it can feel a little strange when the glove snaps back to its resting position. This also makes you feel less dexterous when tackling more tactile tasks or handling secateurs.

The thin lining kept my hands warm, but the backs of the gloves soaked through easily and were unpleasant to wear when wet. It’s convenient that they’re machine washable, and they come out looking clean with no signs of damage from a 30℃ cycle. They’re a good pair of multi-purpose gloves for the price, and their sustainable credentials are a big plus. They come in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Pro Gloves from Tooled Up (£9.95)

Spear & Jackson’s Kew Garden Collection Gardening Gloves

RRP: £12.49

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£7.98) and Tooled Up (£12.95)

Pros

• Easy to get on and off
• Comfortable and well-fitting
• Lightweight

Cons

• Not lined
• Not waterproof or water resistant

Spear & Jackson’s Kew Garden Collection Gardening Gloves feature an adjustable Velcro strap, so they’re easy to get on and off. Comfortable to wear, the palm is made using soft leather, so it doesn’t fit snugly, but you can feel what you’re doing and grip tools. The gloves have an elastane back, which makes them lightweight, breathable and flexible.

As they’re not lined, waterproof or water-resistant, these gloves are best for dry weather in spring and summer. With double stitching and additional leather reinforcement on the thumb and index finger, they feel sturdy and durable enough to tackle everyday medium work. Available in small, medium and large for men and women. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Town & Country Eco Flex Pro Gloves from Amazon (£7.98) and Tooled Up (£12.95)

Kent & Stowe Thermal Ultimate All Round Gardening Gloves

RRP: £5.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£5.98)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent grip and tactility
• Snug fit with good wrist coverage
• Well made
• Soft thermal lining

Reasons to avoid:

• Waterproof latex is very short on the fingers
• Wipe clean only
• No sizing evident on the glove itself
• Waterproofing may diminish with thorn damage

I liked these all-round gardening gloves. They’re a comfortable choice for their snug fit and soft brushed lining, and they’re also easy to slip on and off, sitting snugly around the wrist with a generous elasticated cuff. The latex palm and fingers offer a good grip in dry and wet conditions, though the waterproofing does not extend far up the outside of the fingers, which can lead to wet hands when weeding. Surprisingly, they’re not washable, and the lack of sizing on the glove could mean that they get mixed up if you have multiple sizes in use. Jane Moore

• Buy Kent & Stowe Thermal Ultimate All Round Gardening Gloves from Amazon (£5.98)

ClipGlove Pruners

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Amazon (£5.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft leather with comfortable lining
• Good protection
• Water resistant

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky
• Short cuff
• Leather catches and tears easily

With leather palms, a faux suede cuff and reinforced fingers and thumbs, I felt these pruning gloves from ClipGlove offered good protection, whether I was tackling roses or grappling with brambles. The leather softened quickly, and it's water-resistant, so they’re ideal for working in damp weather, but it catches and tears easily, meaning the gloves age quickly. A soft poly cotton lining gives extra warmth and protection, but unfortunately, it’s bulky, which makes the fingers feel thick and limits dexterity quite a bit.

I found the gloves easy to get on and off, and the cuff is wide enough to slip over most coats, but it's short, only coming halfway up the forearm, so although the gloves give you the confidence to grab even the thorniest stem, it would be helpful if the cuffs offered the same protection to the elbow. They come in women’s sizes small and medium, and men’s medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy ClipGlove Pruners from Amazon (£5.95)

Kent and Stowe Luxury Leather Gloves

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from: Electrical World (£14.62)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft and comfortable
• Thorn-proof
• Waterproof and warm
• Thick and shock absorbent

Reasons to avoid:

• Bulky

The Kent and Stowe Luxury Leather Gloves were easy to put on, offering a great fit that moulds to the hand and up the wrist, even though they don't have an adjustable strap. Made of leather with a warm polyester lining, these gloves are soft and comfortable, ideal for hard winter work. Though they’re only lined, not padded, these gloves are so thick that they still cushioned my hands when I was using a spade or a fork. The keystone stitches around the thumb make for extra durability, and I found lifting heavy rocks and logs comfortable. They’re thorn-proof and waterproof, and they don’t stiffen after getting wet, even after a good soaking.

However, these gloves are quite bulky and inflexible, which means you’ll struggle with more nimble work like pruning and weeding. In summer, they'll be far too hot to be comfortable, but they’re brilliant for wet work in winter. They’re a good-value pair of leather gardening gloves. They're available in ladies' small and medium sizes and men's medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gardening Gloves from Electrical World (£14.62)

Treadstone ClipGlove Recycled Bottle Gloves

RRP: £5.99

Our rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Treadstone (£5.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Snug and comfortable fit
• Good for dextrous work
• Latex covering for a good grip
• Keen price

Reasons to avoid:

• Not at all durable
• Low level of protection

These gloves are well-fitting and comfortable, and I was impressed that they are made predominantly from recycled plastic bottles and coated with latex on the palms and fingers to give a good grip. With their snug fit, they're suitable for light tasks, including jobs needing reasonably fine dexterity. Although not waterproof, they dried quickly. The main drawback of these gloves is that the covering wears and starts to come off after only a short time. And, although they're made from recycled bottles, which is good from an environmental point of view, they can't be recycled once they wear out.

The latex covering is not suitable for people with latex allergies, but the packaging does note this. Like all Treadstone ClipGloves, they have wrist loops and a small metal carabiner so the gloves can clip onto a belt or bag when not in use or hang up easily. They come in sizes medium and large. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Treadstone ClipGlove Bottle Gloves from Treadstone (£5.99)

Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves

RRP: £16.99

Our Rating: 3.8 out of 5

Available from: Marshalls (15.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Attractive design
• Long protective cuff
• Easy to slide on and off

Reasons to avoid:

• Tough leather around fingertips makes fine work tricky
• Hard to clean
• Tough poppers
• Limited sizes available

With their lush yellow leather and classy herringbone backs, these gloves have a classic look, but unfortunately, I'd say style may have been favoured over substance. They’re incredibly easy to slide on and off, especially with the elongated leather cuff, which comfortably covered most of my lower arm and provided good protection when I was pruning thorny shrubs and climbers or tackling brambles and nettles. The fleece lining felt cosy, and these gloves are water-resistant when working in wet weather. However, even after significant wear, it’s hard to soften the leather around the fingertips, which reduces dexterity and makes it difficult to feel or grip fine materials.

An adjustable strap on the back of the gloves allows you to choose the fit, but the poppers are tough to snap on and off, and the difference between the two fits is negligible, so it feels more like an aesthetic offering than a practical one. The yellow leather also gets dirty quickly, which can add to its charm. They are available only in ladies' medium size. Cinead McTernan

• Buy Kent & Stowe Luxury Leather Gauntlet Gloves from Marshalls (15.99)

Looking for more garden gear? Consider our reviews of the best wellington boots, best mini chainsaws and the best garden kneelers. If your gardening equipment needs a refresh, consider our test of the best lawn mowers, and if it just needs a clean, why not try our expert review of the best pressure washers?

How to choose the best gardening gloves

Choosing the best gardening gloves for you will depend on the jobs you plan to do.

• Thin, lightweight gloves are best for duties where dexterity and being able to feel what you're doing is key, such as potting up, weeding and planting. They will protect your hands and let your skin breathe. Ideally, you’ll forget you’re even wearing them. Look for gloves with a nitrile coating on the fingers and palms, which will give you plenty of grip but also retain dexterity. If you’re working with tools, pruning or working in the cold, you might want a pair of lightweight gloves with a little more padding. They won’t offer as much flexibility, but will be comfortable and offer more protection
• Heavy-duty gardening gloves are essential for providing protection and support when using tools, doing hard landscaping jobs, or pruning roses or other thorny plants. There is a huge range of materials and styles of heavy-duty gloves to choose from. Leather makes a very tough glove; some are entirely made of leather, whilst others will have it added to the finger tips and palms for strength and durability. It’s also worth carefully considering the fit of heavy-duty gloves, as you may lose some dexterity if they don't fit well. An adjustable cuff can also help with the comfort of the glove and prevent debris from getting inside
• Gauntlet gloves are particularly useful for pruning shrubs, brambles, or roses. The long cuff of a gauntlet glove provides extra protection for the lower arms, preventing scratches and irritation
• Elasticated cuffs will provide a snug fit, prevent soil and plant debris from falling in and are easy to get on and off
• Finally, if you intend to use gardening gloves all year round, water resistance is helpful. This is often achieved using latex, leather or synthetic materials that can be specially treated to repel water

How we tested gardening gloves

Our experts trialled each pair of gloves throughout the gardening year, performing a range of tasks, from delicate work such as sowing seeds to more physical jobs like digging and heavy pruning. Once the test was complete, each product was rated out of five and the gardening gloves that really impressed our experts were awarded Best Buy status. The gloves were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Comfort and fit. Looked at how easy they were to get on and off, and how they fitted. Were they flexible or bulky? Did they allow us to feel what we were doing?
• Materials. Focused on grip, reinforcing and padding? Were they breathable or water-resistant, and which seasons would they suit?
• Durability. Assessed how sturdy and strong the gloves were. Would they cope with getting wet or being washed?
• Value for money. Considered all of the above and any special features, overall design, quality and style, and the RRP

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This article was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

If you have a hedge of any size, a powered hedge trimmer is a must-have step up from a good old pair of hand shears. The best of them will soon become an indispensable part of your garden armoury, but the wrong one for your needs will be frustrating. If it's too heavy, too weak or too uncomfortable to use, you'll dread doing the job, and your hedge will likely get out of control. To find out what to look for when choosing a hedge trimmer, watch the video above. So that's why my colleagues and I – and especially my predecessor on the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews desk, Kay Maguire – have created this selection of the best hedge trimmers available to buy right now, all tested by our experts. 

Oliver Parsons, GardenersWorld.com

Before cutting your hedge, it’s important to avoid the main breeding season for garden birds, between March and August. Always check for nests before trimming, even outside these months, as it’s an offence under law to intentionally damage or destroy active bird nests.

Our best hedge trimmers to buy at a glance

Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers

• 4.8/5 stars: Our best budget cordless hedge trimmer – Vonhaus 20V Max Hedge Trimmer RRP £59.99 (kit)
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best hedge trimmer for small gardens – Flymo 18v EasiCut 450 Hedge Trimmer RRP £149.99 (kit)
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer – Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £100.99 (bare tool)
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for large gardens – Stihl HSA 50 Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £239 (kit)

Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

• 4.8/5 stars: Our best value petrol trimmer – Webb HC600 Petrol Hedge Trimmer RRP £159.99
• 4.8/5 stars: Our best premium petrol trimmer – Husqvarna 122HD60 Petrol Hedge Trimmer RRP £349

Also recommended

• 4.5/5 stars: Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer with integrated battery – Stihl HSA 30 Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £149 (kit)
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for long run times – Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £113.95 (kit) (bare tool)
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use – Stiga SHT 100 AE Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £99 (kit)
• 4.5/5 stars: Our best mid-price cordless hedge trimmer for woodier growth – Greenworks G40HT61K2 Cordless Hedge Trimmer RRP £99.99 (bare tool)

Comparison table: best hedge trimmers

Jump to best hedge trimmers:

• Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers
• Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

Jump to hedge trimmer advice:

• How we test the best hedge trimmers
• What are the different types of hedge trimmer
• How to use a hedge trimmer safely
• Why you can trust BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews
• Meet our testing panel

Our 4 top-rated cordless hedge trimmers

1: VonHaus 20V Max G-Series cordless hedge trimmer

Our best budget cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £59.99 (kit)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£49.99) and VonHaus (£49.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent performance
• Good value
• Lightweight
• Long runtime

Reasons to avoid:

• Small hand-guard

This is an excellent price for a hedge trimmer that I found very easy to use. It’s well balanced and light, with little vibration as it cuts through all but the thickest branches. I was also impressed by its 50-minute runtime, which is one of the longest on the test. Not only does it offer great performance at a reasonable price, but its battery is compatible with other Vonhaus G-Series tools, saving you money if you buy any of these in the future. Its only drawback is that the hand guard is a little small. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Vonhaus G-series cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£49.99) and VonHaus (£49.99)

2: Flymo 18V EasiCut 450 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best hedge trimmer for small gardens

RRP: £149.99 (kit)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Wickes (£87)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & easy to use
• Easily visible battery level indicator
• All packaging recyclable

Reasons to avoid:

• A screwdriver is needed to attach the handle
• Over two hours of battery charge time

I was pleased to see that this compact hedge trimmer came almost ready to use, and all its packaging is recyclable. Everything is wrapped in either cardboard or brown paper, which I love. Unlike others in our test, it needs the handle to be attached with a screwdriver, but this is very easy and takes just a couple of minutes. With a 45cm cutting length, the hedge trimmer is easy to use with a comfortable wrap-around handle and a two-stage start for safety. There’s also a hand guard to protect the hand as you work. At 2.2kg, it feels light and well-balanced, and it’s easy to use and manoeuvre around a hedge.

A blade tip protector prevents damage when cutting close to walls or the ground, and this trimmer cut cleanly through the privet hedge, brambles and yew that I was trimming. It’s powered by an 18V battery and has a good runtime of around 55 minutes, and the battery charge is clearly visible on the trimmer as you work, so it's easy to see if you're nearly running out. However, the battery takes just over two hours to charge, so you'll have to wait if you've still got trimming to finish.

Overall, this is a simple, light, and high-performing hedge trimmer, just the thing for everyday cutting and trimming in smaller gardens. I think it's good value for money, particularly as Flymo 18V batteries are also part of the Power4All Alliance, which means they can be shared across all the Flymo, Bosch and Gardena cordless tools in the Alliance and will save you money if you invest in further tools in the future. It also comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Flymo 18V EasiCut 450 cordless hedge trimmer from Wickes (£87)

3: Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £100.99 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£84.99), Currys (£94.99) and Ryobi (£100.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Quite light yet efficient
• Compact, lightweight battery
• Long warranty
• Stout blade guard

Reasons to avoid:

• Power indicator is hard to view

For its compact size, I felt this hedge trimmer offers surprisingly impressive performance and trims a variety of materials well. The blade guard is sturdy and feels built to last, though I found the battery power indicator difficult to read. The tool is lighter than previous Ryobi models and is ideal for sculpting hedges and shrubs. The battery and charger cost extra but can be used with other tools in the Ryobi ONE+ System, making it a long-term money-saver. Kay Maguire

Read the full Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£84.99), Currys (£94.99) and Ryobi (£100.99)

4: Stihl HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for large gardens

RRP: £239 (kit)

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Efficient wide blade
• Well-balanced & comfortable to use
• Top-loading battery
• Blade tip protector & stout guard
• Fully recyclable packaging

Reasons to avoid:

• Cutting capacity is small for the price
• 80-minute charge time

With a top-loading battery and improved balance, this hedge trimmer has a 50cm blade and a cutting capacity of 16mm.  I found it comfortable to hold, and the updated design of the front trigger handle made it easier for me to use at different angles. With a run time of around 50 minutes, it copes well with even mature, woody growth and is pleasantly quiet, with good safety features, including a neutral locking position and a tip protector over the blade. The blade guard also feels sturdy and built to last. It takes 80 minutes to charge and comes with a two-year warranty. The battery and charger are compatible with other Stihl tools in the AK system. Kay Maguire

• Buy Stihl HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£219)

Our 2 top-rated petrol hedge trimmers

1: Webb HC600 petrol hedge trimmer

Our best mid-priced petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £159.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Mowers Online (£174.99)

Reasons to buy:

• 5-position rotating handle
• Widest tooth spacing
• Tip guard
• Easy to start
• Handles and cuts well

Reasons to avoid:

• Louder than others in our test

An impressively easy-to-start model with a five-position rotating handle, this mid-priced petrol hedge trimmer is versatile, suiting most hedge sizes and shapes, while the wide tooth spacing makes it tough on wider, mature stems. The tool is heavy, but it felt well-balanced to hold, and it cut powerfully through hedges. A well-placed tip guard protects the blade against walls and fences. It's good value and comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Webb HC600 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Webb HC600 hedge trimmer from Mowers Online (£174.99)

2: Husqvarna 122HD60 petrol hedge trimmer

Our best premium petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £349

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from: Amazon (£285) and Husqvarna (£349)

Reasons to buy:

• Powerful with a brushless motor
• Rigid guard with hanging option
• Fast, efficient cut
• Three-position handle
• Lowest noise level of petrol models

Reasons to avoid:

• Quite an investment at this price

This petrol hedge trimmer is compact and felt light, but still delivers a powerful and efficient cut. The rotating handle makes awkward angles easier, and the anti-vibration system means it’s comfortable to manoeuvre. The tool is quiet, so there’s minimal disruption for your neighbours, and I found it best for high hedging and large shrubs. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer from Amazon (£285) and Husqvarna (£349)

Also recommended: hedge trimmers

Stihl HSA 30 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best lightweight cordless hedge trimmer with integrated battery

RRP: £149 (kit)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Stihl (£109)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & well-balanced
• Simple to use
• Quiet
• Fully recyclable packaging

Reasons to avoid:

• Only designed for young growth

No assembly is needed with this easy-to-use hedge trimmer from Stihl, which is always a bonus. It comes with clear instructions and is ready to go straight out of the box. The battery takes just 70 minutes to charge to full power and has a good 50-minute runtime, plus there’s a clear battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer, though you need to stop trimming to push the indicator on to see how much charge you have left. It has a three-stage start for safety with buttons on the handle and grip, and the trimmer feels well-balanced in use. Thanks to the small AS 2 battery, it also feels very light, weighing just 2.4kg.

The 45cm blade has a cutting capacity of 8mm and a tip protector on the end so you don’t damage it on walls or fences as you trim, and it cuts fresher growth on box, privet and laurel easily and smoothly. I did find it struggled with thicker, woodier stems, but it's not designed for tougher trimming jobs. It's easy to manoeuvre and shape with this trimmer, so it's ideal for the tight trimming of smaller shrubs and the annual trimming of your hedges. It comes with a blade cover for storage, and there’s also a hanging eyelet on the handle of the trimmer so you can hang it up out of the way in the garage or shed after use. It comes with a two-year warranty, and the battery and charger can also be used in any other AS machine in the Stihl range, saving you money if you already own these or if you plan to invest in the future. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Stihl HSA30 cordless hedge trimmer from Stihl (£109)

Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for long run times

RRP: £113.95 (kit)

Our rating: 4.5 /5

Available from: Power Tools Direct (£64.13) and Tooled Up (£67.95)

Reasons to buy:

• The battery charge level is clearly visible
• Fast charge time
• Long run time

Reasons to avoid:

• Narrow cutting capacity
• Short blade

This efficient cordless trimmer has a steel blade with a cutting length of 46cm and a 15mm cutting capacity. I particularly liked the tip protection and hanging hole on the end, and I felt it cut well. The 18V 2.0Ah battery charges in just 40 minutes and delivers an impressive 80 minutes of runtime. The charge is visible while you work, and both the battery and fast charger are compatible with a wide range of Einhell Power X-Change tools. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer kit review

• Buy Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer from Power Tools Direct (£64.13) and Tooled Up (£67.95)

Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer

Our best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use

RRP: £99 (kit)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£99)

Reasons to buy:

• Soft comfortable handle
• The handle rotates into three positions
• Quiet
• The battery charge level is easily visible

Reasons to avoid:

• Snags on some wood
• The blade cover is tricky to fit

This versatile trimmer has a hardened steel blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. I think it's a great value trimmer with generous features, including a hanging hole for easy storage, a visible battery charge indicator while you work, and a comfortable, soft-grip handle that rotates 180° for easy cutting. As it's part of the Stiga 100 battery tool range, you’ll save money if you buy additional tools in the future. The 20V 2.0Ah battery has a charge time of 70 minutes and a runtime of 40 minutes. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

Read the full Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer kit review

• Buy Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£99) 

Greenworks G40HT61K2 cordless hedge trimmer

Our best mid-price cordless hedge trimmer for woodier growth

RRP: £99.99 (bare tool)

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£109.44)

Reasons to buy:

• Light, easy to use & quiet
• Long for size & weight
• Blade tip protector and hanging facility
• Stout, sleeve-type blade guard

Reasons to avoid:

• Poorer cut quality on woody stems
• The battery indicator is hard to see

I found this fast and efficient machine lightweight and easy to use, particularly overhead or at shoulder height. The jam function prevents the blade from clogging, while 20mm tooth spacing allows it to cut through woodier growth. The handle rotates to three positions for easy handling, though the hand guard feels a little thin. Both the battery and charger can be used with other tools in the Greenworks G40V cordless range if you decide to expand your kit. Kay Maguire

Read the full Greenworks G40HT61K2 hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Greenworks G40HT61K2 hedge trimmer from Amazon (£109.44)

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Mitox 600DX petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £169

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£149) and Mowers Online (£149)

Reasons to buy:

• Five-year warranty
• Anti-vibration system
• 4-point rotating handle
• Cuts efficiently

Reasons to avoid:

• Hard to start
• Thin plastic guard

The Mitox 600DX is a heavier petrol-powered trimmer. Despite its weight, I thought it was well-balanced and liked the handy rotating handle and anti-vibration system, which makes handling comfortable. The trimmer was harder to start than other models we tested, and the plastic hand guard felt quite flimsy, although it does come with a generous five-year warranty. The long blade is great for tall hedges and offers an almost professional cut. Kay Maguire

Read the full Mitox 600DX hedge trimmer review

• Buy the Mitox 600DX hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£149) and Mowers Online (£149)

Webb Eco WEV20HTB2 50cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£89.99), Robert Dyas (£89.99) and Tooled Up (£89.95)

Reasons to buy:

• Lightweight & well-balanced
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• Small 16mm cut capacity
• Quite loud during use

A lightweight and affordable hedge trimmer from Webb Eco, this machine proved ideal for smaller garden hedges. I didn't need to assemble anything before getting to work, and as the tool weighs just 3.4kg, it wasn't too hard on the hands and back. The 50cm blade can tackle a range of leaves and even thin branches without struggling. It comes with a 2.0 Ah battery and charger that promises up to 48 minutes of work on a single charge.

Although the D-shaped front handle is a bit small, this hedge trimmer is still easy to handle. This, and the general ease of use, are thanks to an excellent balance between the blade and the battery end. The machine’s 16mm cut capacity is quite small, and it’s a bit loud during use, but otherwise, this is a capable and lightweight hedge trimmer that's a pleasure to use. Like all Webb products, this hedge trimmer is covered by a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Webb Eco WEV20HTB2 50cm cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£89.99), Robert Dyas (£89.99) and Tooled Up (£89.95)

Worx WG261E.1 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £129.99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from: Amazon (£109.98)

Reasons to buy:

• Spare battery
• Comfortable handle
• Cuts smoothly & easily

Reasons to avoid:

• Long charge time
• Fiddly hand-guard attachment
• No battery level visible

The hand-guard needs to be attached to this trimmer, which I found a bit of a faff. But a generous handle meant it was comfortable to use, and it has a 45cm long blade with a 16mm cutting capacity and tip protection. It takes a relatively long time to charge - 230 minutes - and although the run time of just 20 minutes is very short, it comes with two batteries, so if you’re organised and keep the second battery charged, you can get 40 minutes of continuous use. The batteries and charger are part of the Worx PowerShare system, so you'll save money if you invest in further tools. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have a battery level indicator, which I found unhelpful. It comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy Worx WG261E.1 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£109.98)

Husqvarna Aspire™ H50-P4A battery hedge trimmer

RRP: £219

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£192) and Husqvarna (£219)

Reasons to buy:

• Efficient 50cm blade
• Comfortable handle & large trigger
• Power button & charge level indicator on the handle
• Removable leaf brushing attachment
• Highly versatile batteries shared between brands

Reasons to avoid:

• Flimsy blade guard is hard to attach
• Quite front-heavy

This quiet 18-volt battery-powered hedge trimmer is powerful enough to chop through woody branches up to 23mm in diameter, and I felt it left an excellent finish on hedges and trees. The handles are hard, but comfortable, and the overall length of less than a metre meant I could use it in tight spaces. With the 4.0Ah battery attached, it can work for up to 80 minutes on a single 95-minute charge, which is perfect for gardens with large privet hedges. I found packing the hedge clippers away easy, too, thanks to the integrated storage hook that can attach to a rail system. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy Husqvarna Aspire™ H50-P4A battery hedge trimmer from Amazon (£192) and Husqvarna (£219)

Mountfield MHT 20 Li cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£95.53) and Just Lawnmowers (£89)

Reasons to buy:

• Battery charge visible
• Light
• Comfortable & simple to use

Reasons to avoid:

• Struggles with thicker wood
• Lacks features for the price

Part of the Mountfield Freedom 100 cordless range, this cordless hedge trimmer has a hardened steel, laser-cut blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. It has tip protection and a hanging hole at the end of the blade. The 20V 2Ah battery takes 70 minutes to charge to full power, has a runtime of 40 minutes, and shows the charge level at the touch of a button while you work. The trimmer is light and easy to use, and it cuts most wood smoothly. Compared to other trimmers in my tests (particularly the Stiga, which shares its battery system), I felt it lacked features for the price. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Mountfield MHT 20 Li cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£95.53) and Just Lawnmowers (£89)

Stihl HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £123.99

Our rating: 4.3/5

Available from: Amazon (£168) and Just Lawnmowers (£109)

Reasons to buy:

• Great safety features
• Battery level is clearly visible
• Very quiet
• Well balanced

Reasons to avoid:

• The battery is built in, so you can't swap it out for another when it's flat
• Long charge time
• Narrow 8mm cutting capacity

If safety is a consideration, then this is the model for you, thanks to the combination of a removable activation key and three switches to start it up. Featuring a double-sided blade with tip protection, it has a 50cm length and an 8mm cutting capacity, which is the smallest of all the trimmers I tested. While the 18V 2.0Ah battery has a relatively slow 210-minute charge time and a 40-minute runtime, there's a battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer, which was helpful for showing me how much charge I had left. However, the battery is integrated into the casing, so you must plug in the entire tool to charge it, and you won’t be able to use the battery in other tools. I like the useful hanging hole for easy storage, and it comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Stihl HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£168) and Just Lawnmowers (£109)

VonHaus 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £89.99

Our rating: 4.1/5

Available from: Amazon (£74.99)

Reasons to buy:

• 180° rotating handle for comfortable vertical trimming
• 40-volt battery provides good power & 60-minute run time
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• Balance favours the battery end
• The safety guard in front of the D handle is a bit flimsy

Vonhaus have added to their growing collection of garden power tools with this upgraded 40-volt battery hedge trimmer. I was impressed by its 51cm blade and 22 mm cut width. It made short work of leaves, stems, and reasonably sized branches, and is comfortable to hold thanks to a rubberised grip and a large rear trigger. The large front D-shaped handle is big enough for large hands wearing gloves, too, which is always useful. Something I liked about this trimmer is the rotating handle, engaged by pressing a large orange button on the top of the rear handle. By adjusting the blade angle, you can neatly cut vertical or horizontal hedges without having to hold the trimmer awkwardly. And when it’s running, it only makes 92dB of noise.

The large-size 40-volt battery powers the trimmer for up to 60 minutes and can be fully recharged in the same amount of time. And although it provides plenty of cutting power, the balance is slightly biased towards the battery end. It’s not uncomfortable to use, seeing as it only weighs 3.7kg, but it’s still noticeable. Overall, you get a powerful hedge trimmer for under £100, covered by a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy VonHaus 40V cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£74.99)

EGO HT2000E 56V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £299

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Mowers Online (£299)

Reasons to buy:

• Plenty of power to cut thick branches
• Large cut capacity of 25mm between the teeth
• Battery provides a long run time of up to 75 minutes

Reasons to avoid:

• Expensive when bought as a kit
• Uneven weight distribution makes it harder to handle

Everything about this hedge trimmer seemed big to me. It’s a chunky machine with a big battery and impressive cut capacity. Each gap between the teeth on the 51cm blade is 25mm wide and 20mm deep, meaning it can happily chew through decent-sized branches without slowing down. The front and rear handles are big enough for large hands wearing gloves, and the safety switch is easy to operate at most angles.

Running on EGO’s hefty 56-volt battery system, the trimmer delivers tons of power, and I was impressed by its long runtime of up to 75 minutes. However, there’s more weight at the back of the machine, which makes the tool feel somewhat unbalanced, so it’s not the most comfortable to use with your arms extended. On the plus side, there’s not much vibration, so it’s fine for close-up work, and it comes with a high-quality hard-plastic blade cover and a hole in the top for hanging it on the shed wall. The price tag is on the high side, but you can use the battery with more than 50 tools in the range. The tool is covered by a five-year warranty, while the battery is covered for three years. Harry Duncton

• Buy the EGO HT2000E 56V cordless hedge trimmer from  Mowers Online (£299)

Gardena EasyCut Li 14.4, 40cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £123.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£123.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Very light & well-balanced
• Cuts well

Reasons to avoid:

• Slightly awkward to hold & use
• Integrated battery
• No battery level indicator

I like the fact that this compact hedge trimmer requires no assembly and has an integrated battery, so you simply plug the whole trimmer in to charge it. However, this does mean that, unlike most other cordless trimmers, there’s no interchangeable battery you can swap among tools. I also found it a little tricky to get the charging cable in. The trimmer has a three-stage start on the grip and a shaped handle for safety, but it is a little awkward to hold, especially if you’re manoeuvring between shrubs.

However, it’s well-balanced and weighs just 1.9kg, making it efficient and easy to use for regular light trimming. It cut all newer growth easily and well in my test, and the battery lasts around 60 minutes on a full charge. There’s no charge level indicator on the trimmer, so it’s tricky to know how much power you have left while you’re working. The 40cm-long blade has a 16mm cutting width and a tip protector to prevent damage when trimming close to the ground or a wall, and the trimmer comes with a three-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the Gardena EasyCut Li 14.4, 40cm cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£123.99)

Cobra HT55040VZ 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£149)

Reasons to buy:

• Ready to use
• Long run time
• Battery charge indicator
• Hanging hook

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy to hold & use
• Struggles with thicker wood
• Plastic packaging bar box

There’s no assembly needed with this hedge trimmer; once the 40-volt battery’s charged, it’s ready to use straight out of the box. It takes 90 minutes to charge the battery to full, but it has a comparatively long runtime of 70 minutes, which I found really useful. It also has a handy battery-level indicator on the back of the battery, though you need to stop trimming and press the button to see how much power's left. The 2.5Ah battery is also large, making this trimmer, which already weighs 3.8kg, feel heavy and a little unbalanced, so this may not be the trimmer for those who struggle with heavy lifting or lack mobility. It has a two-stage start on the grip and handle, with a rubberised grip for comfort, and a long, double-sided 55cm blade with a 20mm cutting width.

I like the presence of a tip protector to prevent damage if you’re trimming close to the ground or a wall, and a hanging hook for storage. This trimmer cuts well, only struggling a little with thicker growth, and it feels well-made, sturdy and durable. Compared to many of the smaller, cheaper trimmers in our test, this feels designed for longer, harder trimming jobs, which the price reflects. This hedge trimmer costs about the same as many, but it doesn't include the battery or charger, which need to be purchased separately. However, the trimmer and battery are part of the interchangeable Cobra 40-volt Li-ion system, so you would save money if you already own one of their batteries or plan to invest in additional tools in the system in the future. It comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Cobra HT55040VZ 40V cordless hedge trimmer from Just Lawnmowers (£149)

Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£80) and Currys (£80)

Reasons to buy:

• Light & well-balanced
• Cuts cleanly
• Battery system includes garden & DIY tools

Reasons to avoid:

• Long charge time
• Uncomfortable handle/grip position
• Battery level not visible
• No hanging hole

This trimmer has a 45cm blade and comes with an 18-volt 2Ah battery. While it has an above-average run time of 50 minutes, the charge time can take around 124 minutes, which is among the longest of the models we tested. We also found the handle design awkward and uncomfortable to grip. However, it’s part of the Bosch Power For All 18V Alliance system, which powers around 40 Bosch home, garden and household tools, so this may be something to bear in mind. We liked that it features blade sensors to prevent snagging and a decent cutting capacity of 15mm. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£80) and Currys (£80)

Kärcher HGE 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £169.99

Our rating: 4/5

Available from: Amazon (£169.99) and Kärcher (£169.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Great value
• LCD battery display
• Excellent performance

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavy
• Short runtime
• Expensive

I loved the performance of this trimmer from Kärcher. Unlike other trimmers on test, this model has an LCD battery display that shows exactly how long you have left to cut. I was also impressed with the value of this model, because its battery is compatible with 16 other Kärcher tools, including mowers, grass trimmers, and chainsaws. However, it’s quite heavy, and I found that the skin of my fingers could easily catch between the ‘dead man’ switch and the handle. Though I love the helpful battery screen, its 35-minute runtime is below average. Kay Maguire

• Buy the Kärcher HGE 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer from Amazon (£169.99) and Kärcher (£169.99)

LawnMaster MX 24V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £69.99

Our rating: 3.9/5

Available from: Amazon (£69.99) and Robert Dyas (£69.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Incredibly light for ease of use
• Well-balanced & easy to handle
• Affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• The front handle takes some getting used to
• Loud at 102dB
• Small 15mm cut capacity

I found the LawnMaster MX 24V an affordable but capable hedge trimmer, delivering a surprising amount of power for a light piece of kit. Decked out in bright orange, it’s not going to get lost easily in the garden. It has a pleasant, soft-grip back handle, and it’s nicely balanced from front to back. You get a 52cm blade with a rather small 15mm gap between each tooth, which means you’re limited to smaller branches. It’s all powered by a 2.0Ah battery weighing less than 500g, helping the entire setup to come in at under 3kg in weight. An impressive feat, meaning almost anyone could use it without putting too much strain on the arms and back. It will run for about 40 minutes on a single charge.

The front handle is the only thing that lets this trimmer down a little. Rather than a D-shaped handle that you can hold at any angle, this one is more like a ball grip with safety switches you engage with the palm of your hand. It still works, but a more traditional grip is easier to work with. For a budget-friendly hedge trimmer, it’s good to see it come with a hard plastic blade cover rather than a flimsy sleeve that’s hard to put back on. Overall, it’s an impressive little tool for not a lot of money, and it’s covered by a two-year warranty. Harry Duncton

• Buy the LawnMaster MX 24V from Amazon (£69.99) and Robert Dyas (£69.99)

How we test the best hedge trimmers

When we test hedge trimmers, we use them across various hedges with different stem thicknesses.

Then, we score each model against these four criteria, with equal marks attributed to each one:

• Set-up and storage: We assess the assembly needed, the ease and clarity of the instructions provided, the battery charge time on cordless models, and any storage features
• Handling: Vital for the tool to be enjoyable to use, we look at each hedge trimmer's ease of use, overall weight, weight distribution, noise levels, comfort and safety features
• Performance: We also look at the quality of the cut, blade length, the maximum stem thickness the trimmer can handle, and, for cordless models, the battery run time
• Value for money: We look at all of the above, plus quality and design in relation to the RRP (including battery and charger where relevant), and the length of warranty

For more on our testing process across all the different gardening product categories, see How we review

What are the different types of hedge trimmer?

There are three types of hedge trimmer available, each with its own pros and cons:

• Cordless hedge trimmers: These are lightweight, quiet, environmentally friendly, and require no petrol, engine maintenance, or electricity, plus there are no trailing cables to worry about. Without the cord or a petrol tank, you aren’t limited to where you can cut, and although these were traditionally pretty pricey, recent advances have lowered their price. Expensive batteries and chargers, however, can increase costs. Read our best cordless tools buyer's guide for more information on cordless tool systems
• Electric corded hedge trimmers: Affordable, low-maintenance and lightweight, these trimmers require a power source and have potentially hazardous cables. Depending on their length, you may also need an extension cord for extra reach
• Petrol hedge trimmers: These are powerful and, like cordless versions, can be used anywhere. However, petrol has an environmental impact, is expensive and messy, and trimmers are heavy, noisy and require regular maintenance

How to use a hedge trimmer safely

Check the weather forecast
It can be dangerous to cut your hedges in the rain, especially when using an electric trimmer. So make sure the hedge is dry, and no rain is forecast while you’ll be working.

Check your equipment
It’s always worth giving your tool a once-over to check that it’s in working order and has not been damaged.

Wear the right clothes and shoes
Ensure your clothes offer you enough protection while cutting your hedge, and avoid loose-fitting clothes that might snag on branches as you work. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes so that you feel steady on your feet. You might also like to wear goggles and gloves.

Remove dead leaves and debris
Old, dead leaves or debris in your hedge could jam the hedge trimmer, so make sure you check the hedge before you start.

Check that the area is safe
It’s worth just checking your surroundings before you start. Make sure there are no children or pets running around. If you’re using a corded trimmer, make sure the cable isn’t creating a trip hazard for yourself or others.

Why you can trust BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviews

As trained gardeners and seasoned users of all sorts of garden tools, the testing team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine have reviewed scores of hedge trimmers over the years, using our trusted testing matrix to make sure we're giving balanced, fair judgments. We test hedge trimmers in varied, real-world conditions, cutting a variety of hedge plants with different characteristics. Because we're real-world gardeners with lots of experience, we know what to look out for and the sorts of things that will make all the difference once you're using a particular hedge trimmer regularly.

We give each hedge trimmer an at-a-glance list of pros and cons for clarity, and a rating out of five. We also don't share product reviews with manufacturers or retailers before they're published, and we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews either. Oliver Parsons, gardenersworld.com

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

All have a high-carbon steel blade, and many have been designed to cut a particular type or thickness of wood. As a rule of thumb, the longer the blade, the thicker the wood it can cut, but the strength of the blade, the sharpness of the teeth and how long they stay sharp, as well as grip and comfort, will all affect how easily and well a saw will cut.

Best Buy pruning saws at a glance

• Best folding saw for performance (2025): Stiga Folding Pruning Saw
• Best fixed straight saw: ARS CAM24 PRO Pruning Saw
• Best folding saw: ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw
• Best folding saw for high use: Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Pruning Saw
• Best fixed curved saw: Felco 640 Pruning Saw
• Best compact folding saw: Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw

Jump to best pruning saws:

• Best pruning saws
• Best of the rest pruning saws

Jump to pruning saws advice:

• Pruning saw features explained
• How to choose a pruning saw
• How to use a pruning saw safely
• How we tested pruning saws

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best pruning saws below:

Best pruning saws

Stiga Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £19.99

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from Stiga

Pros

• Blade made from high-carbon manganese steel (65Mn)
• Teflon coating on the blade reduces friction and eases cleaning
• Extra-grip handle boosts control and reduces fatigue
• Bright yellow design makes the saw easy to spot

Cons

• Long length may prove challenging to manoeuvre in between branches

From the outset, this saw feels sturdy and well-balanced in the hand, despite its 25cm high-carbon steel blade. The curved blade has triple-ground teeth and is made of 65Mn steel, which is tougher than other knife steels and has a similar hardness due to its high manganese content.

The handle has a defined grip area, which encourages you to hold it in the correct place for optimal cutting, while the bright yellow would make it easy to spot amongst debris. The blade folds neatly into the 32cm handle, locking securely in position whether closed or open. The handle also features a hole in the end, ready for a handy lanyard.

The Teflon-coated blade cuts cleanly and with little friction, making light and easy work of both live and dead wood. Although the longer length could prove challenging to manoeuvre in some situations, the saw is slender and proved easy to use when pruning a dense shrub. With a five-year warranty, no plastic packaging and a quality finish, this pruning saw is a good choice for the keen gardener with plenty of regular woody pruning to do. For all these reasons, we awarded this tool a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance.

Buy the Stiga Folding Pruning Saw from Stiga

ARS CAM24 PRO Pruning Saw

RRP: £48.86

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Long strong blade
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Handy holster for safety
• Replacement parts available

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for Best fixed straight saw, this light, comfortable pruning saw easily cuts even thick, dense wood. The high-carbon steel blade is chrome-plated for durability and impulse-hardened teeth, so they stay sharp longer. It cuts on the pull stroke, and the handle has a rubber grip and is hooked to stop the hand slipping, even when applying pressure. Best for cutting wood at the user's level. All parts are replaceable, it comes with a handy holster and has a lifetime warranty.

Read the full ARS CAM 24 PRO review

Buy the ARS CAM 24 PRO from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled up

ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £38.95

Our rating: 5 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Cuts easily and cleanly
• Replacement parts available
• Choice of cutting angles

This light, simple saw was awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for Best folding saw. There's a chrome-plated carbon-steel blade and impulse-hardened teeth, which will stay sharper longer. It’s made from aluminium and has a shaped rubber grip handle that fits comfortably in the hand as you work. This tool is light, comfortable, and easy to use, cutting effortlessly through even thick, dense wood. Every single part is replaceable, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Read the full ARS PM-21 Folding Saw review and watch our Best Buy video to see why the ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw was awarded BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy status.

Buy the ARS PM-21 Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and Tooled-Up

Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Folding Saw

RRP:£47.39

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Linstead

Pros

• Cuts smoothly and very easily
• Excellent quality, durable materials
• Comfortable grip, low-vibration handle
• Replacement blade available
• The long, curved blade gives good access and reach

Cons

• Expensive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for the best folding saw for high use, this Silky saw is very well made and crafted from excellent-quality materials. Although expensive, it's well worth the price for frequent use. The long, slightly curved blade makes pruning disproportionately easier than with a shorter saw, and it gives good reach, allowing you to get into dense shrubs and awkward spots. The materials are durable, with the teeth set into the blade for a smooth cut with minimal resistance, and the blade folds and secures to the handle easily.

The handle is shaped for a comfortable grip and features a micro-textured rubber coating that ensures a secure grip even when wet. It’s also sufficiently long to use two-handed if a bit more oomph is needed, or when one arm starts to tire. The handle has an 'eye' on the end for hanging and easy storage, and the saw also comes with a plastic case that can be buckled to a belt. Its bright yellow colour makes it easy to spot when you put the saw down to clear prunings, but it is also rather large and could get in the way. Replacement blades are available, but they’re pricey at £29.94.

Read the full Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Pruning Saw review

Buy the Silky Gomboy Curve Professional Folding Saw from Linstead

Felco 640 Pruning Saw

RRP: £65.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Very light and comfortable
• Cuts easily and cleanly
• Replacement parts and repair service are available
• Choice of cutting angles

Cons

• Expensive compared with others of similar quality

This high-quality pruning saw won a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for Best fixed curved saw, and it is a joy to use. The high-carbon steel blade is chrome-plated to help prevent corrosion and features impulse-hardened teeth, cutting cleanly and precisely. The curved handle is hooked with a rubber grip, and it feels comfortable and well-balanced in the hand.

With a holster and belt hook for easy carrying, it also has a Velcro strap which wraps comfortably around the leg for added security. Capable of tackling even the toughest wood, this saw is a great investment if you have lots of trees and shrubs to look after. It comes with a lifetime warranty, and replacement parts and a repair service are available.

Read the full Felco 640 Pruning Saw review

Buy the Felco 640 Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw

RRP: £32

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Comfortable and light
• Compact and portable
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Small cutting width
• Safety catch stiff

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for Best compact saw, this light, comfortable pruning saw has a curved, chrome-plated Japanese steel blade with a cutting width of 65mm. It's surprisingly sharp and strong, with no clogging or sticking, and it folds in and out of the handle with a plastic button. The shaped handle has well-placed rubber grips that cushion the hand, and our only complaint is the safety catch's stiffness, which loosens with time. The saw is compact, neat and ideal for sticking in a pocket when you go out into the garden. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Stihl PR16 Handycut Pruning Saw review

Buy the Stihl PR16 Handycut Folding Saw from Amazon

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest:

Kent & Stowe Turbo Folding Saw

RRP: £14.99

Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

Available from Marshalls

Pros

• Carbon steel blade
• Sharp triple-ground teeth give efficient cutting of wet and green wood
• Pocket-sized 14cm length blade folds into an 18cm length handle
• Rubber comfort grip handle

Cons

• Hard work to cut larger branches
• Darker colours could get lost in debris

This pocket-sized pruning saw, with its tough 14cm carbon steel blade and ridged rubber grip handle, is both comfortable and nicely balanced, despite its small size. When folded, the saw is only 18cm long, and the locking mechanism secures the blade when folded or in use. The handle has a moulded hole, which is ideal for a lanyard and for hanging the saw in the shed.

The blade features triple-ground teeth, and the good grip on the handle makes it efficient at cutting through green or wood up to 5cm in diameter, although it's better suited to smaller branches. It has a five-year warranty, and the compact size makes it a great choice for those with smaller hands or a smaller garden.

Buy the Kent & Stowe Turbo Folding Saw from B&Q, Marshalls and Tooled Up

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Small Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £17.99

Our rating: 3.75 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Carbon steel blade for strength and lasting sharpness
• Hollow-ground blade with seven points per inch, ultra-sharp precision-ground teeth
• Non-slip comfort curved ‘pistol-grip’ style handle with thumb pad
• 10-year guarantee

Cons

• Some materials feel cheap

A mid-sized option, this pruning saw features an 18cm carbon steel blade that folds into a 25cm handle. With a nicely curved, ‘pistol-grip’ handle, ribbed grip, and moulded thumb pad, it feels very comfortable and secure in the hand. The handle also features a hole for fitting a lanyard. The blade locks safely in both the open and closed positions.

When pruning, it is comfortable to use and a good size for most tasks, although some effort is required, and the cut action is not as smooth as one would hope. With a generous 10-year guarantee and a keen price, this pruning saw would suit the budget-conscious gardener.

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Small Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon, On Buy and Tooled Up

Ames Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £19

Our rating: 4.75 out of 5

Available from Cambridge Home and Garden

Pros

• 15-year guarantee
• SK5 carbon steel blade with seven teeth per inch or TPI
• PTFE coated for smooth cutting, rust resistance and lasting sharpness
• A non-slip, ergonomic handle provides grip and comfort
• The blades lock in an open and closed position for safe handling and storage

Cons

• Darker colours might get lost in debris

With its curved non-slip handle and thumb pad, the Ames folding pruning saw is comfortable in the hand and in use. It features a nylon-fibre handle with a good tactile grip and a handy hole for a lanyard, along with an SK5 carbon-steel blade. The 21cm blade is PTFE-coated for smooth cutting, rust resistance, and lasting sharpness, and it cuts through both live and dead wood with little effort.

The blade folds nicely into the 26cm handle and can be securely locked in either the open or closed position for safe handling and storage. With a 15-year warranty, this is a good option for the keen gardener needing a mid-sized pruning saw with a long warranty.

Buy the Ames Folding Pruning Saw from Bradshaws and Cambridge Home and Garden

Darlac Sabre Tooth Folding Saw

RRP: £21.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Mr Fothergills

Pros

• Makes good clean cuts
• Locks both while open and while closed
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• The blade catches on the handle when closing

The straight blade on this folding saw is made from carbon steel with a rust-resistant chrome coating and is strong, sturdy and sharp with a 90mm cutting width. The soft rubber grip handle is comfortable and hooked to prevent your hand slipping, and the blade folds in and out, locking in place both ways for safety.

However, you do need to make sure you guide the blade into the handle when closing, otherwise it tends to catch on the handle and, over time, will scuff the rubber. Replacement blades are available at an additional cost. This pruning saw is ideal if you only have a few trees and shrubs, and would prefer to replace the blade rather than buy a new pruning saw. This tool comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Darlac Sabre Tooth Folding Saw from B&Q, Mano Mano and Mr Fothergills

Wilkinson Sword Turbo Folding Saw

RRP: £24.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Compact and portable
• Comfortable and light
• Cuts cleanly

Cons

• No replacement blade available
• No rust-resistant coating

This compact folding saw has a curved blade made from Japanese steel and triple-ground teeth that cut cleanly on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle has a soft rubber grip covering, and it's hooked to stop the hand slipping in use. A gripped, plastic safety catch on the top of the handle locks the blade both open and closed.

However, the blade catches on the handle as it closes, scuffing the rubber, so make sure you guide it into the handle when locking it in place. A handy size for slipping into your pocket, this saw comes with a 10-year warranty.

Buy the Wilkinson Sword Turbo Folding Saw from Mano Mano, On Buy and Tooled Up

Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Large Folding Pruning Saw

RRP: £32.49

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up

Pros

• Feels sturdy
• Good safety features
• Cuts smoothly and cleanly

Cons

• No replacement blade available
• Unwieldy and large to carry

This is one of the largest pruning saws in the group we tested, measuring 60cm, but it feels sturdy to use. It’s comfortable, thanks to a soft grip handle that's curved to prevent your hand from slipping in use. The safety button is easy to use: it unlocks the blade to open or close it, and it also locks in the halfway position to prevent fingers from accidentally catching on the blade.

The straight blade is made from SK5 carbon steel and chrome-plated for lasting sharpness, rust resistance, and durability. It also has precision-ground teeth for a smooth, clean cut, which comfortably tackle branches up to 90mm wide. In the top price range of the group we tested, it comes with just a 10-year warranty, compared to many others that offer a lifetime warranty. However, it’s a sturdy saw that cuts well, has good safety features and is ideal for cutting living, green wood.  

Buy the Spear & Jackson Razorsharp Large Folding Pruning Saw from Amazon and Tooled Up

Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm Pruning Saw

RRP: £40.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros

• Strong and sturdy
• Cuts smoothly and efficiently
• Wide cutting width

Cons

• No blade guard or holster
• No replacement blade available

A fixed pruning saw with a long, curved SK5 carbon steel blade, chrome-plated and impulse-hardened, this saw cuts even thick, dense wood cleanly and smoothly. The shaped, ergonomic handle has rubber grips for the fingers and thumb, is curved to prevent the hand slipping when cutting, and it feels comfortable and light in use.

Although the saw comes in a cardboard case, it doesn't include a holster or cover for the blade, which could be an issue when carrying it and storing it. Ideal for medium and larger branches, this saw is available in a variety of sizes and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm Pruning Saw from Amazon

Niwaki GR210 Folding Saw

RRP: £39.00

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Niwaki

Pros

• Light and well-balanced
• Choice of cutting angle
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Handle uncomfortable
• Blade needed tightening for safety

Packaged in a neat cardboard box and cotton bag, this simple pruning saw has a straight, narrow blade made from SK4 carbon steel.  It has been impulse hardened to ensure the teeth stay sharp for longer and a maximum cutting width of 70mm. It cuts well, tackling dense wood smoothly, and the saw feels light and well-balanced in use. The handle has a chunky, ribbed rubber grip, which testers found became a bit uncomfortable after time and a safety button on the top allows the blade to fold in and out of the handle.

When the blade is open, it locks in place, but not when it's closed; in our test, the blade was quite loose when closed inside the handle and prone to falling out easily, which felt quite dangerous. Fortunately, this was rectified by tightening the large screw on the handle. It's a great-looking piece of kit that's easy to use. Plus, replacement blades and a leather holster are available. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Niwaki GR210 Folding Saw from Crocus and Niwaki

Felco 621 Pruning Saw

RRP: £59.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Light and well-balanced
• Cuts well
• Replacement parts available

Cons

• The handle is not as comfortable as some

This well-balanced saw has a fixed, straight blade made from high-carbon steel with a chrome plating to prevent corrosion and a cutting width of 80mm. The teeth have been impulse-hardened to help them stay sharper longer, and they cut smoothly and easily.

The hooked handle helps keep the hand in place when cutting and features a rubber grip to prevent slipping, but compared to other saws we tested, it felt less comfortable to use. It includes a holster and belt hook for safe carrying, replacement parts, and a repair service, and it comes with a lifetime warranty.

Buy the Felco 621 Pruning Saw from Amazon, B&Q and On Buy

Silky Pocketboy

RRP: £39.95

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• High-quality materials
• Compact and comfortable
• Folds easily with two cutting positions
• Replacement blade available

Cons

• Expensive for the size and type of work
• Only suits light work
• Blade comes unfastened on occasion

This compact folding saw has a straight blade made from Japanese steel, chrome-plated to resist rust and for easy cleaning, and teeth that are impulse-hardened for harder, longer wear. It's designed to cut on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle features a micro-textured rubber grip and is shaped to be held securely. It folds into the rubber handle simply and easily with a press-down metal fastener and has two cutting positions, though it came loose from its fastener several times during use.

This saw is small and easy to slip into your pocket, so keep it close to your hand when needed. The handle has an 'eye' on the end for hanging it up in the shed, and it also comes with a plastic case that can be hooked onto a belt. It's good for light pruning, but it's expensive for its size and usage. A limited lifetime warranty covers errors in materials or construction, but not wear and tear from use.

Buy the Silky Pocketboy pruning saw from Amazon and B&Q

B&Q Magnusson 330mm Pruning Saw

RRP: £18

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from B&Q

Pros

• Light and comfortable
• Hand protection
• Cuts smoothly on most wood

Cons

• Slip-on blade guard only
• Takes up room in storage

With a fixed straight blade made from SK5 carbon steel, this super-safe saw has a rubber grip handle with a hand guard that protects the fingers. It cuts smoothly and feels light and comfortable to use, but the blade guard is just a simple slip-on cover in transparent plastic that could be easily lost. However, it's great value and has a handy hanging hook so you can store this rather large saw safely out of the way.

Buy the B&Q Magnusson 330mm Pruning Saw from B&Q

If you're pruning smaller branches, take a look at our reviews of the best secateurs, best electric secateurs and the best loppers and for help clearing up see our test of the best shredders, best wood-splitting axes and best wheelbarrows.

Pruning saw features explained

Blade: Typically high-carbon steel and curved or straight, fixed or folding. Many have a chrome or anti-rust plating. Most are hardened, so teeth stay sharp for longer.
Teeth: Usually triple-ground, making them sharp and effective. A saw usually cuts on the pull, or occasionally the push, or even both. The pull stroke needs the least effort.
Hanging hole: Handy for storing your saw safely when not in use.
Hook: A useful design feature, this hooked area at the end of the handle prevents your hand from slipping off the saw as you cut.
Safety catch: Most folding saws have a push-button lock that should be easily reached by the thumb. The blade should lock into place for use, but many also lock closed into the handle for safety. Some also lock halfway down.

How to choose a pruning saw

Before you buy, think about the following:

• Blade strength. Pruning saw blades are typically made of high-carbon steel, which has been either quench- or impulse-hardened to increase strength and help the teeth stay sharp. Although all types of blades will cut well at first, impulse-hardened blades and teeth will stay sharper for longer, so if you have a lot of pruning to do, look for saws strengthened this way. Carbon steel rusts unless it has a protective coating or chrome plating, so check for this, too, before you buy
• Handle. Pruning saws are designed to be used with one hand, so many have an ergonomically shaped handle for comfort, and all should have a non-slip grip, usually rubber or TRP plastic, to give optimum control of the saw. Some have a hand guard to protect the fingers. Look for a saw with a hooked shape to the end of the handle, which will help prevent the hand from slipping off the saw as you’re cutting
• What you're cutting. The size of branches you're cutting, as well as their position, can dictate the size of the saw you need and the shape of its blade. Check that the blade length and cutting width are suitable for the job, and bear in mind that a straight blade is designed for making comfortable cuts between your shoulders and waist, while a curved blade is best for cuts above head height or below your waist. However, if you only want to buy one saw, choose a blade suited to the majority of cuts you'll make, or opt for a saw with a straight blade. This will offer the most comfortable and safe cutting position, whatever you’re cutting
• Is it safe? Compact folding blades are great for tucking safely in the pocket, but ensure the push-button safety lock is easily reachable with the thumb and that it locks the blade in place. If it doesn’t lock closed, check that the blade stays securely in the handle and that it can be tightened if it becomes loose. Some saws also lock halfway down as an extra precaution. Fixed blades should have a carry holster or a blade cover to keep sharp teeth out of the way when not in use. After use, a hanging hole on the end of the handle is handy for storing your saw safely away
• Will it last? Some saws have replacement blades and other parts available, which will help extend their life. However, these can sometimes cost almost as much as a new saw, so check prices before you buy. There are speciality files for sharpening saw teeth, but because these are often angled, this can be tricky and is best left to a professional. Some brands also offer a repair service for a small fee

How to use a pruning saw safely

Saws are extremely sharp, so always wear sturdy gloves. If pruning above head height, wear safety glasses and avoid standing on ladders to prune; you need to be stable and comfortably positioned to cut safely. Always choose the right blade for the job - a curved blade is best when cutting above your head.

How we tested pruning saws

We tested a range of folding and fixed saws with both curved and straight blades, putting them through their paces on the types of woody branches and stems that need pruning year-round. They were assessed according to the following criteria, with equal marks attributed to each:

• Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a hooked handle, how well the saw folds and safety features
• Cutting. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut
• Maintenance. Assessed the strength and sharpness of the blade, any hardening and protective features and whether replacement parts or a repair service were available
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above, plus any special features, RRP and warranty

For more information on our testing process, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine , responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in February 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.

Cordless mowers, once derided as weak, low-performance novelties, can do it all these days – some covering many hundreds of square metres in one charge, with plenty of power for when things get tough. Best of all, prices have really come within reach of the everyday gardener. Even my allotment association, once cynical about cordless mowers, has invested in two shiny models for hire… and the old petrol mowers have become the temperamental, tricky-to-start, high-maintenance poor relations. But picking the right cordless mower for you can be tricky. That's why my colleagues and I at gardenersworld.com have pulled together this big list of the models available to buy in 2026 that we think really deserve a good look. We've tested them all thoroughly, and in strict accordance with our renowned testing matrix against these four critical factors: set up and storage; handling; mowing; and value for money.

Interested in other types of mower? Don't worry, we've also done thorough reviews of the best lawn mowers in general, the best robotic lawn mowers, the best electric lawn mowers and the best push mowers. We've loved testing these mowers, and we really do want to help you make the right choice for your needs – so read on, and happy shopping. Oliver Parsons

Our best cordless mowers to buy at a glance

Our 3 top-rated cordless mowers

• 4.9 stars: Our best lightweight cordless mower – Husqvarna Aspire LC34 P4A RRP £349 (kit)
• 4.8 stars: Our best budget cordless mower for larger gardens – Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower RRP £279.99 (kit)
• 4.8 stars: Our best self-propelled cordless mower under £500 – Worx Nitro WG749E 40V 46cm RRP £449.99 (kit)

Also recommended, under £500

• 4.5 stars: Our best budget cordless mower for small gardens – Greenworks GD24LM33 RRP £149.99 (bare tool)

Also recommended, £500+

• 4.5 stars: Our best user-friendly self-propelled cordless mower – Ego LM1702E-SP 42cm self-propelled mower RRP £619 (kit)
• 4.5 stars: Our best self-propelled cordless mower for stripes – Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller £829 (bare tool)

Comparison table: best cordless mowers

Jump to best mowers: 

• Our 3 top-rated cordless lawn mowers
• Also recommended, under £500
• Also recommended, £500+

Jump to mower-buying advice: 

• What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?
• How to choose the best cordless lawn mower
• What can I expect to pay for a cordless mower?
• How long will the batteries last?
• Why you can trust Gardeners' World reviews
• How we test cordless mowers
• Meet our panel of testers

Our 3 top-rated cordless mowers

1: Husqvarna Aspire LC34-P4A

Our best lightweight cordless mower

RRP: £349

Our rating: 4.9

Available from: Husqvarna (£349)

Reasons to buy:

• Quiet
• Cuts long grass with ease
• Battery level visible while mowing
• Small and compact for easy storage

Reasons to avoid:

• Only four cutting heights
• 95 minutes charge time

This lightweight 34cm mower is part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, and it's powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. It's useful that these are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch, so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed. Also, the two-year warranty on this mower is a good sign that the investment will last.

I found this mower great for small gardens for several reasons: the mower comes ready to go; there’s no assembly needed or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and it even comes with a handy hook.

The 30-litre grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. I liked the fact that the Aspire is so light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy, and it has an adjustable handle to suit different heights.

It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm, and they were easy to change with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas, which works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass, and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, it just carries on cutting the grass.

I also really liked being able to see the battery charge level while mowing, so I could gauge how much power there was left, and when the battery needed charging. Kay Maguire

RRP: £349
Cutting width: 34cm
Weight: 11.8kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 95 mins
Run time/Mow area: 500 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-65mm
Grass box: 30 litres

• Buy the Husqvarna Aspire LC34P4A from Husqvarna (£349)

2: Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower

Our best budget cordless mower for large gardens

RRP: £279.99

Our rating: 4.8

Available from: Amazon (£297), Marshalls (£279.99) and Wickes (£280)

Reasons to buy:

• Quiet, comfortable and smooth to handle
• Long run time
• Great for storage
• Spare parts available

Reasons to avoid:

• Battery level not visible when mowing
• No safety plug

This mower just needs the handle attached, and the 50-litre fabric grass bag has already been assembled, so I found it easy to put together. There’s a choice of three handle heights, and it double-folds snugly over the mower, so it takes up very little space in storage.

The two 20V 4Ah batteries have a charge indicator on the end, and although I couldn't find a way to see it while the mower’s in use, the approximately 60-minute runtime means there’s time to finish cutting most small to medium lawns. The handle is padded for comfort, and I found this mower smooth and easy to push, even over longer, bumpier grass.

It cut very well in our test and the six heights of cut, from 25-75mm are easy to adjust with a single lever. At 96dB, the mower is reasonably quiet. It also feels durable and sturdy, with spare parts readily available from Webb, and it comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £279.99
Cutting width: 43cm
Weight: 16.1kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 100 mins
Run time/Mow area: 60 mins
Cutting height range: 25-75mm
Grass box: 50 litres

• Buy the Webb Eco WEV20X2LM43B4X 40V cordless mower from Amazon (£297), Marshalls (£279.99) and Wickes (£280)

3: Worx Nitro WG749E 40V 46cm

Our best self-propelled cordless mower under £500

RRP: £449.99

Our rating: 4.8

Available from: Amazon and Donaghy Bros

Reasons to buy:

• Battery power is visible when you mow
• Cutting power adjusts to grass length

Reasons to avoid:

• The collection bag is fiddly to assemble
• Heavy

This easy-to-use mower needs no assembly and has a quick-release, collapsible handle, so it’s very simple to store, even in a packed shed. One thing that really helped when I was testing this machine is that it stands up vertically, with the handle folded over and the front wheels in the air – that meant it only took up about a third of the usual floor space in storage.

The Nitro requires two 20V 4Ah PowerShare batteries, which give a 40-minute run time, and it was a relief that the battery power level is clearly visible while you mow – it's such an important thing when you're tackling a large area of grass. The batteries and the charger are also interchangeable with all other Worx PowerShare tools.

It offers seven cutting heights, 20-80mm, which are easy to adjust with a simple lever. It also has a cutting width of 46cm, making it ideal for medium-sized lawns.

I liked the mower's simple speed control, plus it adjusts its cutting power according to grass length and conditions, which helps save on battery. It has a safety key and a 55-litre collection bag, so there's plenty of room for the cuttings, but there's also a mulching option, so you can choose to let the cuttings fall back on the lawn to feed the grass rather than worry about emptying the bag.

Considering the wealth of features this mower offers, this is a great-value option. It also has a three-year warranty, plus two more years if registered. Kay Maguire

RRP: £449.99
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 28.7kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 120 mins
Run time/Mow area: 40 mins
Cutting height range: 20-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Worx Nitro WG749 from Amazon and Donaghy Bros

Also recommended, under £500

Greenworks GDG24LM33

Our best budget cordless mower for small gardens

RRP: £199.99 (with 2Ah battery)

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Amazon (£124.99) and Greenworks (£149.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Easy to assemble and use
• Comfortable padded handle
• Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
• Battery is interchangeable with Greenworks 24V family

Reasons to avoid:

• Short handle for taller users
• Struggles with longer grass

I found this sturdy, great-value cordless mower easy to put together, well thought out, and simple to use – superbly suited to small gardens. Thanks to a padded handle, it's comfortable to push, although this could feel a little short for taller people, and it's light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and lawn edges.

There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever, and you can collect clippings in the 30-litre fabric grass bag or insert the mulching plug and leave them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass.

It mowed well, helped in part by the specification of a long-lasting brushless motor, but it didn't like mowing very long grass. The battery cut out on me occasionally, but the decent runtime of 46 minutes made up for that a bit, and it charged in just two hours.

Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more Greenworks tools in the future. Kay Maguire

RRP: £199.99
Cutting width: 33cm
Weight: 9.5kg
Type: push cordless
Charge time: 120 mins
Run time/Mow area: 280 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-70mm
Grass box: 30 litres

• Buy the Greenworks-GDG24LM33 from Amazon (£124.99) and Greenworks (£149.99)

Best Buy cordless lawn mowers tested before 2023, under £500

• 4.8/5 stars: Worx WG779E £175
• 4.8/5 stars: Yard Force LMG37A £250
• 4.5/5 stars: Einhell GE-CM 18/33 Li £191.06
• 4.5/5 stars: Gardena Handymower £141.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Husqvarna LC 247iX £499

Also recommended, £500+

Ego LM1702E-SP 42cm self-propelled mower (kit)

Our best user-friendly self-propelled cordless mower

RRP: £619

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£559) and Mowers Online (£559)

Reasons to buy:

• A big range of cutting heights, all adjustable with a single lever
• The folding handle makes it easy to get out and put away

Reasons to avoid:

• No mulching option
• Only available as a kit

This well-thought-through mower requires no assembly out of the box, so I was able to get mowing almost as soon as it arrived. It has a quick-release, telescopic handle, which offers a bespoke handle height and also makes it very easy to fold down and store.

Once folded, it can also be stood up vertically, so it took up even less space in my storage area. It offers a wide choice of cutting heights, 20-80mm, and the wider-than-average 42cm cutting width makes it ideal for mid-sized gardens. It runs on a 56V battery, which can mow 300 sq. metres on a single charge, and is compatible with other Ego Power+ tools. The battery level is also clearly visible whilst you mow.

There's a handy safety key that can be stored away from the mower to ensure only the user can operate it. It's easy to operate and handle, with easy speed control, a 55-litre grass bag, and even headlights. It comes with a five-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £619
Cutting width: 42cm
Weight: 24kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 30 mins
Cutting height range: 25-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Ego LM1702E-SP from Just Lawnmowers (£559) and Mowers Online (£559)

Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller cordless mower

Our best self-propelled cordless lawn mower for stripes

RRP: £829

Our rating: 4.5

Available from: Just Lawnmowers (£759) and Lakeland Power Tools (£797.99)

Reasons to buy:

• Energy-saving mode increases run time
• Rear roller for stripes
• Easy to switch to mulching
• Low cutting height for a neat finish

Reasons to avoid:

• Large, fiddly plastic grass box
• No safety key

This distinctive mower is ready to use straight out of the box; only the grass box needs assembly, and this was pretty tricky. The unusual one-sided mono handle makes it easy to access the grass box, which makes a big difference when you are tackling a large lawn and emptying the clippings often.

The handle also adjusts in height very easily, and it can be folded flat over the mower, making it easier to store. When I folded the mower up, I was able to stand it vertically with its front wheels in the air, so it saved a lot of space – always a good feature.

It lacks a safety key but has other good features, including speed control and a mulching option that's as simple as a flick of a switch. It has a cutting width of 46cm and offers a wide range of five cutting heights, from 15-60mm, so you can get a neat, tight clip. This is particularly useful as this mower also has a rear roller to create beautiful stripes on the lawn.

It requires a 36V 5Ah battery, which gives you enough power to mow a lawn up to 340 sq. metres on a single charge, plus there's space for a spare battery, if you have one. It's also compatible with all Stihl AK cordless tools, saving you money if you invest in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £829
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 30kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 340 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 15-60mm
Grass box: 52 litres

• Buy the Stihl RMA 448 RV rear roller cordless mower from Just Lawnmowers

Best Buy cordless lawn mowers tested before 2023, £500+

• 4.8/5 stars: Ego LM1701E £529
• 4.5/5 stars: Makita DLM460PT2 £608.95
• 4.5/5 stars: Stihl RMA 248 £699

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest.

Husqvarna LC 142iS self-propelled cordless lawn mower with battery and charger

RRP: £699

Our rating: 4.3

Available from: Husqvarna

Reasons to buy:

• Compact and light to manoeuvre
• Energy-saving mode increases run time
• Compatible with the Husqvarna 36V system

Reasons to avoid:

• No mulching plug included
• No speed control
• Smaller grass bag

This mower requires assembly on arrival, and I didn't find the instructions very clear. It's powered by a 36V Husqvarna system battery, which provides enough power to mow an area of 500 sq. metres. It has a 42cm cutting width and offers a range of seven heights of cut, from 25-75mm, which are simple to adjust.

Overall, I found this mower easy to use, and it felt smooth and efficient when cutting; however, I'd have liked a speed control option as it feels a little slow, particularly on slopes. It comes with a two-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £699
Cutting width: 42cm
Weight: 22.5kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Run time/Mow area: 100 mins
Cutting height range: 25-75mm
Grass box: 50 litres

• Buy the Husqvarna LC 142iS from Husqvarna

Stiga Collector 48 S AE self-propelled cordless lawn mower kit

RRP: £445

Our rating: 4.3

Available from: Just Lawnmowers

Reasons to buy:

• Anti-scalping feature
• Long warranty

Reasons to avoid:

• Long 220-minute charge time
• No speed control
• No mulching option

This mower was really simple to assemble, apart from the large 60-litre grass box, which needed a screwdriver and was fiddly. It has an impressively long-lasting steel deck, a cutting width of 46cm, and six cutting heights, from 22-65mm. It runs on a 48V battery, which is part of the Stiga ePower 48V System, and can cut 400 sq. metres in one charge.

Unfortunately, it takes a lengthy 220 minutes to charge. But I liked the fact that there's space on the mower for a spare battery if you have one, which is handy when you're stuck down the end of a long lawn with a flat battery in the main slot.

It has an anti-scalping feature to help prevent lawn damage, but no speed control, so I found it a little slow. It comes with a generous five-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £445
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 25kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 220 mins
Run time/Mow area: 550 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 22-65mm
Grass box: 60 litres

• Buy the Stiga Collector 48 S AE Kit from Just Lawnmowers

Greenworks 24V+24V 46cm SP self-propelled cordless lawn mower

RRP: £479.99

Our rating: 4

Available from: Amazon and On Buy

Reasons to buy:

• Comfortable and quiet
• Long run time
• Good value for the features
• Compatible with the Greenworks 24V battery system

Reasons to avoid:

• Feels heavy, especially when changing the cutting height
• Slow speed control
• Fiddly to build and store

This mower took me a while to put together and is not as easy as some to store, as in order to fold the handle flat, you need to unscrew it almost completely. It also felt heavy and lacked a carry handle, making it difficult to get up steps or in and out of the shed.

It has a cutting width of 46cm and offers seven cutting heights, from 25-80mm, which are easy to change, and a 55-litre collection bag. There's also the option to mulch the clippings or choose side discharge, which I found useful.

It requires two Greenworks 24V system batteries, which give enough power to cover an area of 480 sq. metres. It has a speed control, and, although it's slow, it felt comfortable to handle and was quiet to use. It's definitely good value for the features, and comes with a three-year warranty. Kay Maguire

RRP: £479.99
Cutting width: 46cm
Weight: 27.5kg
Type: self-propelled cordless
Charge time: 53 mins
Run time/Mow area: 480 sq. metres
Cutting height range: 25-80mm
Grass box: 55 litres

• Buy the Greenworks 24V+24V cordless lawn mower from Amazon and On Buy

Other best of the rest cordless lawn mowers, tested before 2025

• 4.3 stars: Mountfield Electress 30 Li Kit £179
• 4.3 stars: Cobra MX3440V £232.99
• 4.3 stars: Worx WG737E £259.99
• 4.3 stars: Greenworks 48V 36cm £299.99
• 4.3 stars: Kärcher LMO 18-36 Battery Set £299.99
• 4.3 stars: Honda IZY-ON 416XB £540

What are the benefits of a cordless lawn mower?

There are a variety of benefits to buying a cordless lawn mower in comparison to the more traditional petrol or electric models, including:

• Easy to manoeuvre: Without a cord, these mowers are typically easy to move around the lawn and can get to parts of the garden a cord may not reach. Without an engine, they're lightweight, and there are a wide variety of models to choose from, so you can be particular about weight, handle size and ease of storage
• Quiet: Powered by lithium-ion batteries, they're much quieter than petrol-engine mowers. It's worth noting that the bigger the mower, the more noise it will likely make, so if you're looking for a very quiet mower, keep this in mind
• No emissions: Cordless mowers don't use petrol, so they don't emit emissions. Being battery-powered, cordless mowers are also better for the environment, as they use electricity rather than fuel
• Minimal maintenance: Cordless mowers don't need the typical upkeep of petrol mowers. You don't need to refill cordless mowers or worry about engine problems. They are typically easier to start up as well, requiring just the push of a button

How to choose the best cordless lawn mower

Your budget and the size of your lawn will be pivotal in deciding which brand and model of cordless lawn mower best suits your needs. Think about the following points before you buy:

• Where are you cutting? The type of lawn you’re cutting will dictate the mower features you’ll need. Push mowers require you to provide momentum, so manoeuvrability is key, particularly if your lawn slopes or you have play equipment, beds and trees to navigate. A mower that cuts to the edge gives a neat finish and saves time with the shears or trimmer later. For a sharp, neat look, opt for a low cut height, but if you lack time to mow regularly, a higher cut will tackle longer grass. A rear roller gives neat stripes, while a mulching plug lets you choose between collecting clippings or mulching them. It saves you from emptying the collection box, but mulching only works if the lawn is cut regularly
• What’s the battery charge and run time? Lithium-ion batteries vary in size, from 18V to 40V and from 2Ah to 5Ah in our test, and this determines the cutting power and run time on a single charge. Match the run time to the size of your lawn. Most mowers have a recommended maximum lawn size or run time (although this depends on the conditions on the day), and, ideally, a fully charged battery will last long enough for you to finish the job. Some models use two batteries at the same time, so you can mow for longer, and most brands also sell batteries separately. Fast charge times allow you to get mowing again quicker
• Is it easy to use? Most mowers should just need the handles attached and the grass box assembled, with fabric bags simpler to construct than plastic box-style collectors. Switching between cutting heights should be easy. Some mowers need to be turned over, and the entire axle moved, but a single lever that  simply moves through the range is ideal
• Is storage space limited? If you don’t have much room, check how far the handle folds down and how easily. Most can be partly unscrewed to fold over the body of the mower; others are designed to unclip and double fold completely flat or can be hung or stood up vertically. Fabric bags also collapse, while plastic grass boxes are tricky to take apart. If you need to lift the mower up steps into storage or onto a shelf, check its weight and whether there are carry handles to make this easier
• What do you get for your money? The quality of materials often relates to the price. Budget models made from lightweight plastic, as opposed to higher-end machines with metal decks, are unlikely to last long. Brushless motors are powerful, efficient and longer lasting, and buying another mower later rather than one robust model now is bad for your wallet and the environment. Warranty length can vary – some brands require the mower to be registered to get the longest warranty period, and some differ between the mower, battery and charger

How long will the batteries last?

How long the battery lasts on a single charge depends on the model, the terrain and mowing conditions on the day and some mowers have an eco or power saving mode to help extend the battery life. A battery can take anywhere from 45 minutes to over two hours to charge, although lithium-ion batteries can be used when partly charged if you're in a rush. Always check the charge time, too, as these can also vary widely. Many brands have fast chargers, which are usually available separately but can cut the waiting time down considerably and are useful if you need to get back to the job quickly.

Lithium-ion batteries typically last between three and five years (or 500 charges) before they need replacing. Always check with the manufacturer if they will take back their batteries for recycling rather than putting them into landfill.

How does the weather affect your lawn’s growth rate?

Different weather conditions will speed, slow, or even stop grass growth, and therefore, how often you need to mow. Find out how it works here:

Hot, dry weather
During hot and dry spells, in which the daytime temperature is consistently at 25°C or above, grass growth tends to slow down significantly. The lack of moisture and high temperatures dry out the soil, making it difficult for grass to absorb the water it needs. Lawns may turn brown and become dormant, conserving energy until conditions improve. Don’t worry, though. The roots will still be perfectly healthy and will put on strong growth as soon as the rain comes back and temperatures decline. Mowing is required less often during these periods; you may find that this period of time extends to several weeks.

Warm, wet weather
When the weather is warm and wet, with daytime temperatures around 18 to 24°C, grass can grow very quickly. Warm temperatures combined with regular rainfall create ideal conditions for rapid growth. Lawns often need to be mown more frequently, sometimes as often as twice a week, to keep them looking neat and healthy. Don’t try to cut more off each time with infrequent mowing – this will stress the machine and your lawn, and lead to clumpier, patchier growth.

Dry, cold weather
In dry, cold conditions, with daytime temperatures lower than 8 °C, grass growth slows dramatically. Low temperatures put grass into a state of dormancy, and the lack of rain means the soil is often too dry to support new growth. Lawns will require little to no mowing during these periods.

Wet, cold weather
Wet, cold weather also slows grass growth. While the soil remains moist, low temperatures prevent the grass from actively growing. The ground may become waterlogged, making mowing difficult and risking damage to the lawn and your mower. If you do need to mow during a period such as this, wait until a dry afternoon when the grass is dry enough to be cut and collected without clogging up the mower.

Top tips for mowing your lawn

1. Mow when it’s dry. If you mow when the ground is sodden it can lead to compaction, the mower will smear and rut the soil and wet grass clippings will clump and smother your lawn
2. Remove any obstacles. Make sure furniture is moved off the lawn to make it easier to mow, and check for any items in the lawn that could damage the blades
3. Adjust the cutting height of your mower and aim to only reduce the lawn height one-third every time you mow
4. Start around the edge so you can clearly see how much lawn needs mowing. Then mow up and down in straight lines, overlapping slightly, to achieve a neat finish
5. Empty the clippings bag regularly so material doesn’t build up around the mower blades. You can compost them or deposit them in small piles around the garden, such as at the back of borders, to help earthworms. To compost your grass clippings, see our review of the best compost bins
6. For a neat finish, re-cut your lawn edges each spring with a half-moon tool and trim overhanging grass after mowing with edging shears. To keep edges looking neat, browse our pick of the best strimmers, garden shears, and lawn edging

If your lawn needs a bit more attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers. And if you're thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.

Why you can trust Gardeners' World reviews

As trained gardeners and seasoned users of all sorts of garden tools, Kay Maguire, myself, and the rest of the team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine reviewed literally shedloads of lawn mowers over the years, using our trusted testing matrix to make sure we're giving balanced, fair judgements.

We test lawn mowers in varied, real-world conditions, cutting the sort of grass most of us actually have in our gardens. Because we're real-world gardeners with lots of experience, we know what to look out for and the sorts of things that will make all the difference once you're using a mower week in and week out. We don't share product reviews with manufacturers or retailers before they're published, and we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, either.
Oliver Parsons, gardenersworld.com

How we test the best cordless lawn mowers

When we test cordless mowers, we follow the whole process from start to finish without any shortcuts. We unpack the mower from the box, put it together following the instructions (sometimes these are clear as mud, sometimes not!), and then get started, cutting grass over a wide area.

We mow over rough grass, smoother grass, slopes and bumps – whatever is in our way – just as you would with your own mower. And after that, we also take notes on how easy the mower is to fold down and put away, because if a mower is annoying in that regard, you'll always hate using it.

Then, we score each model against these four criteria, with equal marks attributed to each one:

• Set-up and storage. We assess how easy the mower was to put together, fold up, or store afterwards. We also look at how long the battery takes to charge. This makes a big difference when you want to get the job done but realise the battery's flat from last time
• Handling. We also judge the mower for how comfortable it is to use and how easy it is to control. Handle-height adjustment, cut-height adjustment, overall weight, noise levels and run time on one charge all make a big difference here
• Mowing. Also important, we look at the cutting width and the range of cutting heights that can be selected. The capacity of the grass box, AKA collection bag, also makes a big difference here, and can save you from making constant trips over to the compost heap. We also look out for neat extra features such as cutting to the edge, or mulching modes
• Value for money. Tricky but super-important: how well does the mower weigh up when you balance the quality, features, warranty and overall package of benefits against the price?

For more on our testing process across all the different gardening product categories, see How we review

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver is a gardener and magazine journalist of 20 years’ experience. He trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, Things to Do with Plants.

This review was last updated in March 2026. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.