LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm Review: The Small Garden Champion We’ve Been Waiting For?

There’s a unique challenge that comes with owning a small garden. You want the pride of a beautifully manicured lawn—the neat edges, the lush green, perhaps even a classic stripe—but the tools designed for sprawling estates are simply overkill. We’ve been there, wrestling a heavy, cumbersome mower out of a packed shed, only to find it’s too wide to navigate around the bird bath and too powerful for the delicate patch of grass by the patio. It turns a simple weekend chore into a frustrating ordeal. The alternative, letting the lawn get unruly, feels like a defeat. A small garden should be a sanctuary, not a source of stress. This is precisely why finding a mower that is powerful yet compact, feature-rich yet affordable, is not just a convenience; it’s the key to truly enjoying your outdoor space.

What to Know Before You Buy an Electric Rotary Mower

A Rotary Mower is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for achieving a healthy and aesthetically pleasing lawn. Unlike cylinder mowers that scissor-cut the grass, rotary mowers use a high-speed rotating blade that slices through grass blades like a machete. This action is incredibly effective on a variety of grass types and lengths, making it the most versatile and popular choice for the typical UK garden. The primary benefit is its efficiency. It can handle slightly longer, tougher, or even damp grass far better than its counterparts, ensuring a consistent and clean cut every time. This robust performance, combined with features like grass collection and adjustable cutting heights, transforms lawn care from a laborious task into a satisfying, results-driven activity.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone with a small to medium-sized lawn who values convenience, performance, and storage efficiency. This includes new homeowners, city dwellers with postage-stamp gardens, or older individuals who need a lightweight and easy-to-manage machine. If you’re tired of the maintenance, noise, and fumes of a petrol mower or don’t want the expense and battery management of a cordless model, a corded electric rotary mower like this is the perfect middle ground. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large, expansive lawns where the 10m power cable would become a significant hindrance. For those users, a cordless or petrol model would be a more practical, albeit more expensive, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Consider the cutting width. A 32cm width, like that on the LawnMaster, is ideal for small lawns as it’s nimble enough to get into tight corners and around obstacles. Also, assess your storage space. Look for features like folding handles and collapsible grass boxes, which can drastically reduce the mower’s footprint in a crowded shed or garage.
• Capacity/Performance: The motor’s power (measured in Watts) is a key indicator of its ability to tackle tough conditions. A 1200W motor is ample for a smaller mower, providing enough torque to prevent the blade from stalling in thick grass. Also, check the grass collector capacity; a 30-litre box is a good size for a small lawn, balancing collection volume with the overall weight of the machine.
• Materials & Durability: Most modern electric mowers have a polypropylene deck (the main body). This material is lightweight, rust-proof, and durable enough for domestic use. The most critical component is the blade; look for high-quality carbon steel blades, as they hold their edge longer, providing a cleaner cut that’s healthier for your grass.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Simplicity is key. Features like a single-lever height adjustment are far superior to models that require you to adjust each wheel individually. A long power cable reduces the need for extension leads, and features like a mechanical blade brake enhance safety. Long-term care is minimal for electric mowers—simply keep it clean and have the blade sharpened periodically.

Now that you’re armed with the essential knowledge for choosing the right mower, let’s dive deep into our hands-on experience with a model that aims to tick all these boxes.

While the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm is an excellent choice, 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:

Unboxing the LawnMaster 1200W: First Impressions and Core Features

Pulling the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm from its box, the first thing we noticed was its compact and purposeful design. The vibrant orange polypropylene body feels sturdy without being excessively heavy; at just over 11kg, it strikes a great balance. It feels solid, not flimsy like some budget mowers. Assembly is advertised as simple, requiring just a couple of screws for the handle. We did encounter a slight hiccup here, a sentiment echoed by some users who found the screws initially tricky to align. However, taking a cue from another user’s experience, we switched to a short, stubby screwdriver, which provided better leverage and had the handle securely in place in seconds. The rest of the setup, including clipping the Redi-bag grass collector together, was incredibly intuitive. It’s a machine that feels thoughtfully designed for people who want to get on with the job, not spend an hour deciphering diagrams.

In the Trenches: A Detailed Performance Analysis of the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm

A mower can look great in the shed, but its true worth is proven on the turf. We put the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm through a series of real-world tests on a typical British lawn—complete with some damp patches, slightly overgrown areas, and a few tricky edges—to see if its performance lives up to its promising specifications. We focused on the entire user experience, from the initial setup and handling to the final quality of the cut and the ease of cleanup.

From Box to Lawn: Assembly, Handling, and Ease of Use

As mentioned, the initial assembly posed a minor challenge. The two screws that attach the lower handle to the mower deck require a bit of patience. We found that applying firm downward pressure while using a shorter screwdriver was the solution. Once past that small hurdle, the rest was a breeze. The upper handles click into place, and the collapsible “Redi-bag” grass collector is simple to assemble and attach. Within ten minutes, we were ready to mow. This ease of setup is a massive plus, particularly for those who aren’t mechanically inclined. We found this experience mirrored in user feedback, with one older lady noting she put it together “no problem on my own,” a testament to its user-friendly design once you have the right screwdriver for the job.

In use, the mower’s 11.47kg weight feels perfectly balanced. It’s substantial enough to feel stable on the lawn but light enough to manoeuvre effortlessly around flowerbeds and along pathways. The central carry handle is a brilliant touch, making it easy to lift the mower up a step or carry it back to the shed. The single-lever height adjustment is a standout feature in this price bracket. Changing the cutting height across the five positions (from a close 20mm to a shaggier 60mm) is a one-handed, five-second job. This is a huge improvement over older models where you’d have to fiddle with each wheel individually. This focus on user convenience makes the whole process of mowing less of a chore and more of a pleasure.

The Heart of the Mow: Analysing the 1200W T-Drive Motor and Cutting Quality

The core of any mower is its engine and blade, and this is where the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm truly shines. The 1200W T-Drive motor is impressively potent for a unit this size. The “T-Drive” system is designed to maintain high torque, which in layman’s terms means the blade keeps spinning at a consistent, powerful speed even when it hits a dense or damp patch of grass. We tested this by pushing it through a section of lawn that was left to grow a bit too long, and the mower didn’t bog down or stall once. It just powered through, leaving a clean, even cut in its wake. The carbon steel blade is sharp out of the box and delivers a precise slice rather than tearing the grass, which is crucial for lawn health.

The 32cm cutting width is the sweet spot for small gardens. It allows for quick progress on the main lawn area while being narrow enough to be nimble for the detailed work around edges. We were able to get remarkably close to fences and walls, reducing the amount of follow-up work needed with a strimmer. The cut quality is consistently excellent across all height settings. On the lowest 20mm setting, it gives a tight, bowling-green finish, while the higher settings are great for the first cut of the season or for maintaining a more casual, family-friendly lawn. For its size and price, the raw cutting performance is exceptional and easily one of its strongest selling points, something you can see reflected in its overwhelmingly positive user feedback.

Beyond the Cut: The Rear Roller, Grass Collection, and Smart Storage

Two features elevate the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm from a good mower to a great one: the rear roller and the grass collection system. The integrated rear roller is a fantastic addition, allowing you to create those coveted professional-looking stripes. As you mow back and forth, the roller gently flattens the grass in the direction of travel, reflecting light differently and creating the striped effect. It also adds stability along lawn edges, reducing the chance of the mower scalping the turf. It’s a feature typically found on more expensive models, and its inclusion here adds immense value.

Equally impressive is the AIR-COLLECT system. The mower’s deck is aerodynamically designed to create a powerful airflow that lifts the grass clippings and funnels them efficiently into the 30L Redi-bag. We found this to be incredibly effective. The mower collected clippings flawlessly, even when the grass was slightly damp, and the bag filled up completely without any blockages in the chute. One user noted it “collects grass cutting perfectly,” and our testing fully corroborates this. The bag itself is easy to detach, empty, and reattach. For storage, the collapsible design of the bag and the folding top handle are a godsend for anyone with limited space. The mower’s footprint is minimized, allowing it to be tucked away neatly in a corner of the shed, a feature that makes this compact powerhouse an ideal choice for modern homes.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the general sentiment for the LawnMaster 1200W is overwhelmingly positive, often highlighting its surprising power and value for money. Many users, like the one who initially struggled with the assembly screws, quickly changed their tune, calling it a “cracker” of a mower once it was up and running. This journey from initial frustration to final delight is a common theme, underscoring the product’s excellent performance.

Another review from an older lady with mobility issues particularly stood out. She praised its lightweight nature, ease of assembly, and perfect grass collection, stating she would “100% buy it again.” This speaks volumes about the mower’s accessibility and user-friendly design. However, it’s important to present a balanced view. We did note one alarming review where a user reported the unit smoking and catching fire after one minute. While this appears to be an extremely isolated incident, likely a rare manufacturing fault, it highlights the critical importance of the included 2-year domestic guarantee and UK-based customer support, which provide peace of mind against such defects.

How Does the LawnMaster 1200W Compare to the Competition?

The LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm sits in a competitive market. To understand its place, it’s crucial to see how it stacks up against some popular alternatives, each offering a different approach to lawn care.

1. Einhell GE-CM 43 Li M Cordless Lawnmower

The Einhell GE-CM 43 Li M represents the next step up in terms of power and convenience. As a cordless model, it offers complete freedom from the constraints of a power cable, making it suitable for medium to large lawns where the LawnMaster’s 10m cord would be impractical. With a wider 43cm cutting width and a huge 63L grass box, it’s designed for bigger jobs. However, this freedom comes at a significantly higher price point, and requires managing the charging of its two batteries. Someone might prefer the Einhell if they have a larger garden, value cordless mobility above all else, and have a more flexible budget.

2. Flymo Hover Vac 270 Electric Hover Lawn Mower

The Flymo Hover Vac 270 offers a completely different mowing experience. It floats on a cushion of air, making it incredibly lightweight and easy to push in any direction, which is fantastic for unusually shaped lawns or steep banks where a wheeled mower might struggle. However, it has a much smaller 27cm cutting width and a tiny 15L grass box, meaning more passes and more frequent emptying. It also lacks a rear roller, so it cannot create stripes. This is a specialist tool, best for those with small, awkward-shaped gardens who prioritize manoeuvrability over cutting capacity and features.

3. Flymo EasiStore 380R Electric Rotary Lawn Mower

The Flymo EasiStore 380R is perhaps the LawnMaster’s closest rival in this list. It’s also a corded electric rotary mower with a rear roller. However, it’s a slightly larger and more powerful machine, boasting a 38cm cutting width and a 45-litre grass box. It’s designed for small to medium lawns, bridging the gap between the LawnMaster and larger models. Its main selling point is its exceptional “EasiStore” design for vertical storage. A user might choose the Flymo if their lawn is on the larger side of “small” and they need the extra cutting width, or if vertical, space-saving storage is their absolute top priority.

Final Verdict: Is the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm the Right Choice for Your Garden?

After extensive testing and careful consideration of user feedback, we can confidently say that the LawnMaster 1200W Electric Lawn Mower 32cm is an outstanding machine for its intended purpose. It delivers a powerful, clean cut that defies its compact size, and its thoughtful features like the single-lever height adjust and rear roller offer a level of convenience and performance typically reserved for more expensive models. While the initial screw assembly can be a momentary annoyance, it’s a tiny price to pay for the exceptional value and results that follow. It is, without a doubt, the perfect solution for anyone with a small garden who wants a beautiful lawn without the hassle or expense of a larger machine. It’s lightweight, easy to store, and a genuine pleasure to use.

If you have a small lawn and are looking for a reliable, powerful, and feature-packed mower that won’t break the bank, we wholeheartedly recommend it. The combination of cutting power, striped finish, and user-friendly design makes it a true champion in its class. To find out more and check the latest price and availability, click here.