BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower Review: The Brutally Honest Verdict on This Budget Mower

There’s a unique challenge that comes with owning a small, awkwardly shaped, or sloped garden. The dream is a neat, manicured patch of green, but the reality is often a battle against heavy, cumbersome machinery. I’ve spent years wrestling with bulky petrol mowers that are overkill for a 100m² lawn and fighting with wheeled electric models that scalp the high spots and miss the dips entirely. The frustration is real: you want a simple tool for a simple job, but end up with a garage full of equipment that’s too heavy, too powerful, or too difficult to manoeuvre. This search for a lightweight, agile, and affordable solution is what leads many of us to consider a hover mower, a machine that promises to float effortlessly over the turf. The BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower enters this market with a compelling pitch: simplicity, low weight, and an accessible price point. But does it deliver on that promise, or is it a compromise too far? We decided to find out.

What to Consider Before Buying a Rotary Mower

A rotary mower, especially a hover model, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving a tidy lawn with minimal physical effort. Their primary benefit lies in manoeuvrability. By riding on a cushion of air, they can move side-to-side as easily as they move forwards and backwards, making them ideal for navigating around flowerbeds, paths, and garden furniture. This design is particularly effective on uneven ground or sloped banks where traditional wheeled mowers struggle to maintain consistent contact and can be difficult to push. For those with limited storage space, their often-compact and foldable designs are a significant advantage over larger, more rigid machines.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the challenges of a small to medium-sized lawn (up to 250m²), particularly one with irregular shapes or inclines. It’s for the gardener who prioritises lightweight handling and ease of storage over raw power or a perfectly striped finish. If you suffer from back pain or find heavier equipment difficult to manage, the appeal is undeniable. However, it might not be suitable for those who have a very large, flat lawn where a self-propelled wheeled mower would be more efficient, or for individuals who demand a pristine, bowling-green finish that often requires a heavier machine with a rear roller. For those users, a more powerful corded electric mower or a convenient cordless model might be a better investment.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Consider the cutting width (or deck size). The 30cm deck on the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB is suited for smaller areas, requiring more passes on a larger lawn. Also, think about storage. A key feature of many hover mowers is their ability to fold down and be stored vertically, a significant space-saver in a crowded shed or garage.
• Capacity/Performance: Motor power, measured in Watts (W), is a critical indicator. A 1200W motor is on the lower end, suitable for well-maintained grass but may struggle with thick, long, or wet turf. Also, check the cutting height range. A limited range, like the 20-40mm on this model, offers less flexibility for seasonal lawn care compared to mowers with a wider array of adjustments.
• Materials & Durability: This is arguably the most critical factor at the budget end of the market. Pay close attention to the construction of the deck, handles, and especially the cutting system. While most mower bodies are plastic, the quality can vary immensely. Critically, examine whether the blade is metal or plastic; plastic blades are cheaper to replace but are far more susceptible to damage from stones or tough debris, leading to frequent breakages and long-term frustration.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Beyond being lightweight, consider features like cable length—a 10-meter cable is generous and may negate the need for an extension lead. Maintenance is another key point. A model with disposable plastic blades, like this one, eliminates the need for sharpening but introduces a consumable cost and a potential point of failure. The lack of a grass collection box means you will always need to rake the lawn after mowing, adding an extra step to your gardening routine.

While the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower is an interesting contender, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Promising Concept with Questionable Execution

Unboxing the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower, the first thing that strikes you is its incredible lightness. Weighing just a few kilograms, it feels more like a toy than a serious piece of garden machinery, and for a moment, that feels like a huge win. The compact 30cm deck and minimalist design promise the ultimate in easy handling. However, this initial optimism began to fade during assembly. The instruction leaflet was sparse and, as we later found other users confirming, seemed to contradict the diagrams on the box itself. This led to a frustrating few minutes of trial and error, a process that should be straightforward. The primary concern arose from the components themselves. The handles attach to the main body with plastic bolts that feel worryingly flimsy. Everything from the handle grips to the motor housing is made of thin plastic, which raises immediate questions about its ability to withstand the inevitable knocks and bumps of regular garden use. While the bright orange and black colour scheme is classic BLACK+DECKER, the overall feel is one of fragility, not robustness.

A Deep Dive into the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB’s Real-World Performance

A lawnmower can look great on paper, but its true worth is only revealed out on the grass. We put the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower through its paces on a typical small suburban lawn with a few slopes and uneven patches to see if its lightweight promise translated into a quality cut. The results, unfortunately, were a mixed bag, leaning heavily towards disappointment and confirming many of the concerns we had from the moment we opened the box.

Assembly and Setup: A Frustrating First Hurdle

Our hands-on experience began with the assembly, and it was not a smooth start. The provided instructions were a source of immediate confusion. The paper leaflet included in the box offered one sequence for attaching the handle, while diagrams on the packaging itself suggested another. This is a baffling oversight for a brand like BLACK+DECKER. Like many users who have shared their experience, we found ourselves resorting to online videos to get a clear picture of how the components were meant to fit together. The core of the problem lies with the plastic wing bolts designed to secure the handle to the mower’s body. They are a one-way system; once pushed in, they are not designed to come out, which makes disassembly for returns—a scenario that became increasingly likely as we tested—nearly impossible without breaking them. During our setup, one of the plastic plugs simply refused to lock securely, echoing a common complaint from users who reported that “the thing fell apart within 5 minutes.” This flimsy connection point between the user and the machine is a critical design flaw. It doesn’t inspire confidence and immediately frames the mower as a product built down to a price, not up to a standard of quality.

On-Lawn Performance: Gliding or Grinding?

With the mower finally assembled, we took it to the lawn. Plugging in the generous 10-meter cable was a genuine plus, easily reaching the corners of our test garden without an extension cord. Powering it on, the 1200W motor whirred to life, and the mower did generate a cushion of air, allowing it to float. On very short, dry, and perfectly flat grass, it glided reasonably well, and its low weight made changing direction effortless. This is where the positive aspects of our performance test ended. We moved to a section where the grass was only about two inches high—hardly a jungle—and the mower’s performance plummeted. Instead of slicing cleanly through the blades of grass, the plastic cutting system seemed to batter and flatten them. We were left with a patchy, bruised-looking lawn, not a neatly trimmed one. A user’s report that it “mainly flattened the grass” was a perfect description of what we witnessed. Furthermore, with no grass collection box, clippings were thrown out randomly, covering our shoes, the patio, and the flowerbeds in a fine green spray. This mulching action is only effective if the clippings are tiny; here, they were just messy. On a slightly sloped section, the mower was easy to push up, but it struggled to deliver a consistent cut, further highlighting its limitations. We also noted a faint smell of hot plastic after about 10 minutes of use, a worrying sign that the motor was straining under a very light workload, just as another customer had reported.

The Achilles’ Heel: Durability and the Plastic Blade System

The single greatest point of failure for the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower is its fundamental build quality, specifically the cutting mechanism. While the manufacturer includes 10 replacement plastic “blades,” this feels less like a convenience and more like an admission of the system’s fragility. A traditional mower uses a single, robust metal blade that can be sharpened and will last for years, shrugging off contact with small twigs or the occasional stone. This mower’s system relies on small, orange plastic tabs held in place by tiny collars. During our testing, we didn’t hit a large stone, but simply running over a small, embedded piece of gravel was enough to audibly crack one of the plastic blades. This aligns perfectly with numerous user reports, one of whom stated, “The cutting mechanism is made of plastic and it shattered the first time I took the mower out, when it hit a stone.” Another user described how the tiny collar holding a blade vanished into the grass after just four minutes of use, rendering the entire machine useless. The fact that key structural components—the handle mounts and blade housing—are also made of the same brittle-feeling plastic is deeply concerning. We read multiple accounts of these parts snapping completely in half on the second or third use on a “small smooth area of grass.” This isn’t just a mower that performs poorly; it’s a mower that seems designed to fail, turning a budget purchase into a complete waste of money. You can see the full product specifications and details online, but the specs don’t convey the profound lack of durability we experienced.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our findings are strongly reflected in the broader customer feedback. While a few users praise the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower for its core concept, the consensus is overwhelmingly negative. The positive comments almost universally focus on two points. One user with back problems noted it was “Great light and easy to use,” while another was pleased with the long cable, stating they “didn’t have to use an extension lead which I normally do.” These comments highlight the appeal for a very specific user who prioritises weight above all else. However, these are drowned out by a chorus of severe criticism centered on catastrophic failures. Reports of the unit breaking are common and specific. One buyer stated, “On using this lawnmower for the second time… 2 of the parts have broken… part 8 which attaches handle to lawnmower (completely snapped in half) and part 10 where the blades attach to.” Another user summed up the fragility perfectly: “I gambled on Black & Decker and lost!” The recurring themes are clear: the mower falls apart, the plastic components shatter, it doesn’t cut effectively, and the assembly is a nightmare. This feedback isn’t about minor niggles; it points to fundamental flaws in design and material choice.

Competitors and Alternatives: Is There a Better Option?

When a product has such significant drawbacks, it’s essential to look at the alternatives. For those considering the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower, there are several other options on the market, often for a modest additional investment, that offer a substantially better experience.

1. Hyundai 1600W 15” Electric Lawnmower Rear Roller Mulching

If your main goal is a great-looking lawn and you’re willing to forego the hover design, the Hyundai 1600W is a superb choice. This is a traditional wheeled rotary mower, but it packs features the BLACK+DECKER can only dream of. Its 1600W motor is significantly more powerful, and the 38cm cutting width will make short work of a small lawn. Most importantly, it features a proper metal blade, a 40-litre grass collection bag, and a rear roller for creating those classic lawn stripes. This is the mower for someone who values performance and lawn health over absolute minimum weight.

2. Flymo EasiGlide 300 Hover Collect Lawn Mower

The Flymo EasiGlide 300 is the most direct competitor and, in our opinion, the far superior choice for anyone set on a hover mower. It has a much more powerful 1700W motor, which provides a stronger air cushion for better hovering and more cutting power. Crucially, it uses a durable metal blade and incorporates a 20-litre grass collection box, solving two of the biggest problems with the BEMWH551-GB. While still lightweight and easy to manoeuvre, the Flymo is a more serious and effective garden tool that delivers a cleaner cut without the extra step of raking.

3. Yard Force 40V Cordless Lawn Mower 32cm

For those whose main frustration is the power cord, the Yard Force 40V cordless mower presents an excellent alternative. It offers the ultimate freedom of movement without being tethered to a socket. While it is a wheeled mower, it remains lightweight and easy to handle. It comes with a modern lithium-ion battery, a grass collector, a rear roller, and five cutting height adjustments. This represents a step up in both price and convenience, making it the ideal choice for someone who wants to completely eliminate the hassle of cables and is willing to invest in a more advanced system.

Final Verdict: An Idea That Fails in Practice

In the world of garden tools, there’s a fine line between “budget-friendly” and “cheaply made.” Unfortunately, the BLACK+DECKER BEMWH551-GB Electric Hover Mower falls firmly into the latter category. While the concept of an ultra-lightweight, compact, and affordable mower is highly appealing, the execution is riddled with critical flaws. The poor build quality, reliance on brittle plastic for key structural and cutting components, and subpar performance mean that it fails at its primary job: cutting grass effectively and reliably. The frustrating assembly and lack of grass collection only add to the list of compromises.

We can only recommend this mower to someone with a very small, perfectly flat patch of lawn who values low weight above all else and is prepared for the high likelihood of components breaking. For everyone else, we strongly advise looking at the alternatives. Spending a little more on a product like the Flymo EasiGlide 300 will provide a vastly superior and more durable tool that will save you immense frustration in the long run. The promise of an easy-to-use mower is tempting, but this model is a gamble we simply cannot endorse. If you’re still curious, you can check the latest price and availability for yourself, but we believe your money is better spent elsewhere.