Can Robot Mowers Work in the Rain?

Robot mowers live outside, so the short answer is yes: they are built to be rained on. The better question is whether they should mow while it's wet, and the answer there is usually no. Here's what the ratings mean and how to set yours up, from the makers' documents.

Waterproof ratings, decoded

Ratings cover the mower in normal use. They don't mean you can submerge it, and the charging station may have a different rating: Ecovacs, for example, lists IPX4 for an older GOAT's station.

Rain sensors and weather forecasts

Many mowers stop mowing and go home when it rains. The Navimow X4 and the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD have rain sensors, smaller Navimows use weather forecasts, and eufy's E15 returns to its station in rain or low light. Check that the feature is switched on in the app, and set how long the mower waits after rain stops.

Why you shouldn't mow wet grass

Even when the mower can cope, the lawn may not. eufy's lawn guide lists the problems: wet blades tear instead of cutting cleanly, soft soil ruts and compacts, clippings clump, and torn grass invites fungal disease. Robot mowers add one more: wet grass reduces grip, so mowers slip on slopes, as reviewers saw with the eufy E15 on damp grass.

Setting up for a wet climate

• Keep the rain sensor on, and schedule mowing for late morning or afternoon, after dew dries.
• Rinse grass off the mower only as your manual allows; avoid high-pressure water, as Ecovacs advises.
• A garage protects the mower from sun and falling debris, but leave space for it to dock.
• Store it indoors over winter, as Ecovacs recommends, in a cool, dry place.