How we score robot mowers
Every score on WhichMower is computed in code from the maker's published specs. Nobody types a score by hand, and no brand pays for placement. We currently score 100 mowers; the catalog was last rebuilt on October 3, 2026.
Each mower gets six sub-scores from 0 to 10. The overall score is their weighted sum divided by 100, rounded to one decimal.
| Dimension | Weight |
|---|---|
| Navigation and coverage | 25% |
| Terrain | 20% |
| Value | 15% |
| Setup and app | 15% |
| Owner reputation | 15% |
| Security and weather | 10% |
Navigation and coverage (25%)
Starts from the navigation type: boundary wire lowest, then camera vision, RTK, LiDAR, and LiDAR plus RTK hybrids highest. RTK with cameras gets a small boost. 3D, LiDAR or ToF obstacle sensing adds half a point. A coverage bonus grows with the log of rated area, capped at 1.5 points.
Terrain (20%)
Rated slope percent mapped onto the scale (80% scores 9), plus one point for all-wheel, four-wheel or tracked drive. A missing slope rating scores a neutral 5.
Value (15%)
Rated square meters per dollar of US list price, on a log scale centered at 0.8 m² per dollar. Where no US price exists we use the EU price at face value. No price at all scores a neutral 5.
Setup and app (15%)
Points for no perimeter wire, no RTK antenna to mount, an app, and multi-zone mapping.
Owner reputation (15%)
We don't yet hold owner-review data we trust, so every mower scores a neutral 5. It moves no ranking today. We keep the slot so the weights stay honest when that data arrives.
Security and weather (10%)
Points for anti-theft features (more for GPS or cellular tracking), a rain sensor, and the water digit of the IP rating.
What gets a mower left out
Announced-only models, unconfirmed models and records our research marked low confidence stay out of the rankings until the specs firm up. A spec the maker has not published shows as "Not confirmed". We never estimate it.
What we don't do
- No star ratings or review counts in search markup.
- No paid placement, sponsored rankings or brand-supplied scores.
- No hands-on test claims. The scores rank specs, not field testing.
Questions about a score? The about page explains who runs the site.