Measure your lawn for a robot mower: what to give suppliers

Measure the grass the mower must maintain, rather than the whole garden. A house, driveway, pond and flowerbeds do not belong in the mowing area, but their positions still affect whether the machine can travel around it.

If you only need a rough figure first, the

turns simple measurements into an approximate area. Treat it as a starting point and still give the supplier the measurements and photos described below.

Draw the garden in sections

Start with a rough overhead sketch. Divide the grass into rectangles and triangles you can measure, then add their areas. For a rectangle, multiply length by width; for a triangle, multiply base by perpendicular height and divide by two.

Keep the dimensions on the sketch so you can correct them later. Do not add a guessed percentage simply to make a model appear suitable.

Record connections separately

Mark narrow passages, steps and areas reached only by crossing a path. Measure the narrowest useful opening, including anything that intrudes into it. Photograph obstacles for an installer.

Husqvarna UK: Robotic mower FAQ explains that layout, slopes and passages affect suitability. Those are manufacturer statements about its range, not universal specifications for every robot mower. Ask each supplier to assess your drawing against the exact model.

Add the mowing schedule

Write down when the lawn needs to be free for children, pets or other activities. A maximum area rating does not tell you whether the machine can cover your lawn within your preferred daytime schedule.

The RHS: Lawn mowing guide guide explains that mowing needs vary with growth and conditions. Ask how the proposed mower's capacity claim relates to operating hours, rather than assuming the headline rating fits every routine.

Use the result as a briefing sheet

Give suppliers the measured area, access widths, photographs and available mowing times. Request written confirmation of any difficult section. A small but complicated lawn may require more thought than a larger open rectangle; measuring both area and layout exposes that distinction before purchase.