How many years does a robot mower last?

Nobody publishes a reliable figure. Manufacturers don't state expected lifespans, and there's no independent long-term data covering today's models, so be wary of anyone quoting a precise number of years.

What you can go on:

• The warranty. Standard cover on current models runs from two years to five, and some longer warranties depend on registration or dealer servicing. It's the only firm commitment you'll get about how long the maker expects the mower to hold up.
• The battery. Lithium-ion packs lose capacity as they age, so the mower gets through less lawn per charge over time. Check that the battery can be replaced and that the manufacturer sells spares in the UK.
• Parts and service. Brands with UK dealer networks or parts shops make it easier to fix a mower rather than replace it. Blades, wheels and bumpers are the usual wear parts.
• Software support. Wire-free mowers depend on an app and on regular updates. A mower that stops getting them can still work, but features and compatibility may suffer. Few brands say how long they will support older models.

Looking after the mower helps: clean it regularly, change blades before they're blunt, and store it dry over winter with the battery charged, as most manuals advise. See our winter storage guide and are robot mowers worth it? for how warranty length feeds into the value calculation.