Hover mowers are named after the way in which they move. Unlike regular lawn mowers, they don't have wheels. Instead they float on pockets of air which are created by an internal fan. Most of the models available, as you'll see from our hover mower reviews, are electric (corded), although there are a few gas/petrol models on the market. If you click on the links below, you'll be taken to the review for that model.
Our Hover Mower Reviews
If you're not sure whether a hover lawn mower would be the right choice for your lawn, we're going to talk about a few of the main pros and cons that relate to this type of mower below.
Advantages of Hover Mowers
Multi-Directional Movement
Because they don't have wheels, hover mowers are not confined only to forward and backward motion. They can be pushed in any direction you want which is particularly handy if your lawn has irregular borders or hard to reach areas.
Often Nice and Light
To be able to hover well it's important that the weight of the mower is kept light. This also makes them very easy to push and maneuver, and is particularly beneficial for less physically able people.
Reduced Mowing Time
A by-product of the fact that they can be pushed in any direction is that often the job is completed much quicker than it would be with a mower that has wheels. You can't move sideways with a mower that has wheels, so your only option is to back up and turn. Do that enough times over your mowing session and it adds on quite a bit of extra time.
Great for Slopes
Most hover mowers are designed with slopes in mind and are much easier to push up and down inclines, banks and dips with the minimum of effort. Wheels create greater resistance when pushing uphill, and wheeled mowers are often heavier by design.
Very Affordable
While there definitely are a few exceptions (the Flymo XL500 being one good example), on the whole hover lawn mowers are often priced at the lower end the price spectrum and make for an affordable way to maintain your lawn.
Cons of Hover Mowers
Build Quality is Not Always The Best
Due to the fact that hover mowers have to be kept light so that they can float effectively above the surface of your lawn, they're often constructed almost completely from plastic. This means they're not typically the most durable type of mower, and might not last as long as a wheeled alternative made from more resistant materials.
You Have to Deal with the Power Cable
As we mentioned at the top of this page, hover mowers are nearly always powered off the mains via an electric cable. This limits your freedom of movement somewhat, and you have to manage the cable effectively while you're mowing and make sure you don't run over it, which some people find a nuisance.
Small Catchers and Cumbersome Height Adjustment
The fact that their weight needs to be kept to a minimum to ensure they hover properly, means the grass catchers (if they have one - many models don't) are often very small, as a large catcher would increase the weight too much when full. The method of height adjustment is also a bit more involved. You need to turn the mower over, remove the blade and insert (or remove) spacers to change the cutting height, before re-securing the blade.
You Need to Stick to Mowing Your Lawn Regularly
The vast majority of hover mowers (the Flymo XL500 is again an exception) will simply not work on long grass or weeds. If the surface of your lawn isn't relatively flat and even, it'll also be much more difficult to push a hover mower. For that reason it's really important to mow regularly and keep the grass to a reasonable length.
