Overall score is made up of:

Performance (50%), including side-discharge mowing tests where we assess engine power, evenness of cut and spreading the discharged grass. For mowers where a mulching kit is standard, we also run mulching tests looking at the evenness of cut and how evenly the mulch is spread back onto the turf.

Ease of use (50%), which looks at handling, ride comfort, ease of controlling speed, starter mechanism, ease of engaging the mower blade drive, changing cutting height and checking fuel level.

We also measured the noise of each mower and the minimum mowable diameter (effective turning circle) for tractor models. To verify each mower’s safety, we assessed the instructions, warning stickers and labels, pulley and belt coverings, and automatic safety cut-outs. All mowers in our database passed the safety assessment.