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A comfortable riding lawn mower will have you wait fore to your weekly lawn alimony chore .
In This Article
Better Homes & Gardens
A just equitation lawn mower is a must for bombastic lawn of an acre or more . After all , it can be the difference between loathinglawn maintenanceor actually looking ahead to the project .
Brian Feldman , fourth-year technical film director of mathematical process at TruGreen , says , “ [ Riding lawn mower ] can also be used as an effective vehicle for other yard tasks . ” While there are a few type — the master ones being lawn tractor or zero - turn mowers — the secure choice calculate on the size of your yard , the type of terrain , and your budget .
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Don Quinn , who has over 30 years of experience handling drive lawnmowers and working on several farms , include his own 1.5- and 3 - Akka properties , says , " A respectable equitation mower or tractor is going to make the work that you have to do on your place easy , safer , and more efficient . "
What We Tested
We tested mount lawn mowers in our own backyards on dissimilar types of grass and in all variety of atmospheric condition , evaluating each ground ondesign , ease of use , business leader , functioning , deck height , deck width , suggested lawn sizing , guard , andease of cleaning . For more on how we tested lawn mower , check outour examination processbelow .
Our Top Picks
Best Electric
Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower
The lawn mower is light to use and ignore grass chop-chop and efficiently .
The wheels might reel when move uphill on damp sess .
This Ryobi mower is quick to go when you are ; simply disconnect the charging spark plug and you are off and mowing . You wo n’t have to deal with gas filling - ups or crude change or have to gag your gas motor to get it started and warmed up .
Credit: The Home Depot
We tested this mower on a half - Akko backyard with a few hills , some Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and fencing , and found it chopped 25 minutes off the usualmowing time . It ’s much quieter than some other mowers on the market at around 92 decibels – we even deal to have a conversation with someone nearby when the blade were turn tail at high velocity .
Set - up took around 45 minutes and was straightforward thanks to sluttish - to - follow instructions . The barrage came partly charged and took 70 minutes to to the full charge , though an empty battery takes around two hours and twenty minutes to charge . fortunately , it has an LCD blind that display the battery life and run prison term , so you ’ll know when you require to recharge .
When we claim it for a test run , the solid ground was moist due to recent rain , but the lawn mower handled it effortlessly . The pushing - release controls allow you to choose from three travel speeds and three vane swiftness , and there ’s an on - off button for the headlight , as well as an LCD screen toggle push .
This Ryobi performed consistently well each time we tested mowing a 0.5-acre lawn, and we were impressed by its power.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
The mower is controlled by a single control stick that manoeuvre the forward and rearward speeds , and it was easy to get the hang of during examination . Setting the cut tallness is simple as well . Thanks to one conveniently located lever tumbler , you may choose from one of 12 tallness configurations up to 4.5 inches . It also do with a height - stopping key that allow you to apace degenerate the mowing deck to the cutting height you want .
The rear is comfortable and sport a suspension adaption knob . The mower has reposition compartment and two USB ports that can be used for charging your telephone set , and a Bluetooth office that allows you to monitor your mower with the RYOBI riding mower app .
During testing , we felt that the lawn mower also feels safe to habituate as the blades lay off quickly as before long as you go out the seat . There are also shining headlights and reflective decals on the sides . The only issue we had was that the tires spun a little when exit uphill on damp terrain , but this did n’t happen when the sess was wry .
We apprize that the mower ’s turning capability allow you to get very closely to objects like fencing and trees to flawlessly mop around them in a undivided pass . It ’s a very knock-down lawn mower andcuts the gage cleanlyand equally , leaving no eyepatch of unmown grass .
intersection Details : Power : Battery |Lawn sizing : up to 3 acres |Deck Width:42 in |Deck Height:1.5 to 4.5 inch |Speed:8 miles per hr ( forward ) , 4 miles per hour ( black eye )
Best Gas
Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro IntelliPower Riding Lawn Tractor
The easy - to - consumption lawn mower cuts locoweed utterly , even despite variations in lawn density .
Fixed pedal point and seat positions mean it might not work for poor user .
For a gas option , this Cub Cadet pick is the serious hinge on lawn mower to consider . We prove the 42 - in riding mower on a property with a quartern - acre lawn and were impressed with its capabilities . We find that it cut the grass equally despite variations in supergrass density across our lawn .
It took us about 15 minutes full to mow our front and back lawns ; we think it would make quick workplace of even fairly prominent lawns . We like the ability to adjust the blade top to tackle different grass densities , and mistrust it would manage most lawn well . The lawn mower came assembled , so it was ready to go upon arrival — we just had to add gas and tie the barrage before setting off .
It drives almost like a car , and we found it easy to operate once we worked out what the motley levers do . The lever are commit at a skilful height for safely moving them while the lawn mower is in usage . The tail end is exceptionally well-to-do , preventing us from feeling sore when proceed over bumps and dips .
Other safety equipment feature include headlights ( which we did not use because we never quiz the mower at dark ) and required brake engagement before starting the mower . The downside are minimum , but we should observe that it might not be an idealistic pick for short people due to the fixed pedal point and prat positions .
mathematical product Details : office : Gas |Lawn Size : Up to 2 acres |Deck Width:42 inch |Deck Height:1 to 4 inch |Speed:5.5 mi per 60 minutes ( forwards ) , 3 miles per hour ( turnabout )
Best Zero Turn
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42-Inch Zero-Turn Mower
It ’s a powerful mower that ’s sluttish to direct and build clean and even cut , even on hilly terrain .
It ’s quite noisy , and operating the lever may take some time to get used to .
During testing , we found that the best zero - play depend upon mower is the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 40 - column inch riding lawn mower . The mower tender a large mowing belt , although slightly less than its 50 - inch sister poser observe above . A little smaller and more affordable , this unit still has many of the same perquisite as the 50 - column inch theoretical account as well .
It took around half an minute to limit up as there were quite a few screws to figure out . Thankfully the instruction manual was gentle to understand . We tested it on a third of an acre yard that ’s slightly slanted with several obstruction , and ground that it performed unmistakably well .
After setup , the automobile started up decent away ( as presently as we figured out the choking coil ) and take 3.5 inches off the lawn evenly and effortlessly . We even tried cutting down taller grass and it had no military issue whatsoever . The side discharge worked properly , ejecting the grass from the chute far enough aside and open it around very well so as not to will chunks of weed near the mower .
It ’s loose to adjust the cutting heights on this ride mower — all you do is turn a knob on the left side of the wheeler dealer , press the groundwork pedal , and turn the telephone dial to the selection of your choice . There are two amphetamine adjustment pick , even in reversal . The mower provides a pleasant ride that is less bouncy than some lawn mower , and make turns faster , too .
The stern is adjustable to your solace layer , which could depend on how bumpy your terrain is . Its lower overall height mean we were able to have a clearer panorama in front which made ride it and bet where we were mow a much more pleasant experience .
The lawn mower has a wider organic structure that helps circulate the weight , so you ’ll find safe riding it . There was a little bit of a learning curve to get used to the scope and the whole riding experience , but nothing that a couple of mowing sessions did n’t unbend out .
During testing , we find that this plectrum is also on the noisier side . While other mowers tend to have a pass over - up motor , the Cub Cadet ’s is an exposed engine . All in all , this is a high-pitched - caliber mower for larger yards that is great note value for money . Cartesian product Details : force : gaseous state |Lawn Size : 2 to 4 acres |Deck Width:42 inches |Deck Height:1 to 4.5 column inch |Speed:7.5 international nautical mile per minute ( forward ) , 3.5 statute mile per hour ( reverse )
Best Tractor
Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Cordless Riding Lawn Tractor
It has alerts when reversing and when you leave the seat , and an car - shutoff , allow for a safer mowing experience .
There is no great power guidance or physical speed restraint lever tumbler .
If you ’re wait for a safe yet quick tractor - style lawn lawn mower , this Ryobi is our favorite . The eco - friendly mower is very light thanks to its mostly plastic construction and quiet when running , too . Setup take almost an hour and a half , and the battery arrived partly full .
After cut down a third of an acre of land , the bombardment went from a full charge down to about 80 % , agree to the digital display . Recharging it up again only took around an hr , however .
The seat is a simple yet decent faux leather that ’s comfortable and adjustable forward and back . The accelerator foot lever feel a bit goosey at first as it has more superpower than you would opine , but it can also go along very slowly to manoeuver around obstacles . When you ’re ready , all you have to do is perforate the treadle to retrieve exigent speeding .
There ’s a mount inside the digital exhibit menu that give up you to exchange the speed response of the pedal . It mowed cleanly and evenly , and we even tend over a few enough - sized sticks . The lawn mower chopped them up with relief , finely chopping up any leaf , too . No exhaust smell or heat comes from the lawn mower — ideal for mow on those hot summertime days .
Courtesy of Home Depot.
While gage up , the mower turns off the mop deck ( unless you press out a button to overthrow that ) and beeps quite loudly , making you feel dependable and alerting anyone in the vicinity to swiftly move out of the way . It also beeps when you lift from the seat .
There are LED headlights at the front , though you ’ll still desire to use this lawn mower in daylight . The lawn mower has a large manual lever on the right side for adjusting the cutting superlative of the deck of cards , which can go all the elbow room down to 1.5 column inch for those who favor curt lawns . We used the medium blade speed and found it turn off just fine .
There is no mogul steering , which was fine at higher speeds , but we base that it needed a bit of human elbow grease when going slowly around box . This modest mower takes up little room in a service department or shed . It also come with three large barrage fire that sit under the hood . When you have to charge one , you just link its battery charger to the wall socket and the mower .
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Product Details : great power : Battery |Lawn Size : Up to 2 Acre |Deck Width:42 inch |Deck Height:1.5 to 4.5 inches |Speed:7 miles per hr ( forward ) , 1.8 mil per hr ( reverse )
The Bottom Line
Our favorite galvanising equitation mower we ’ve essay is theRyobi 80V 42 - Inch Riding Mower . It ’s design to deal up to 3 Akko , with a deck width of 42 inches and an adjustable deck peak from 1.5 to 4.5 inch . We loved its quiet surgical operation and its power to navigate around obstacles and get up closely to landscaping edge .
If you ’re look for a accelerator mower , we commend theCub Cadet XT1 Enduro . It work best for lawns up to 1 Akko , with a 42 - inch pack of cards with an adjustable meridian between 1 to 4 inches . We found it easy to function , since it labor just like a car , and it performed well mowing grasses of different heights and denseness .
Our Testing Process
To find the best riding lawn mower , we test several of the most popular models on the market at home plate , using them on three separate occasion and in different weather experimental condition . To start , we timed ourselves unboxing the disembarrass mower and assembling it using the admit teaching .
operation was base on how long the social unit run on one charge or one tank of gaseous state , how much grass in inches it managed to geld in one pass , how long it take to deal earth , how easy the pack of cards height and other options were to correct , and how comfortable it was to devolve on .
We then clean each mower and noted how gentle it was to remove lawn debris and other garden muck . Portability was rated on how easily we could move and store the unit , keeping in mind how much storage we would need .
What to Know About Riding Mowers Before Shopping
Types
The main types of ride lawn mower are lawn tractor and zero - play mowers . Lawn tractors come in a great change of size and options of mower deck of cards attachments . They are designed to pout up to a certain area , ordinarily from .5 to 2 land . As the mower ’s ability to tailor turgid lots increases , so does the cost and the size of it of the mower and mower deck .
Zero - turn lawn mowers have two levers ( as opposed to the steerage wheel on lawn tractors , which most people are familiar with ) , and there is a little bit of a learning bend if you ’ve never operate one before . These lever tumbler must be turned in or pushed in opposite directions to direct the mower .
The welfare of a zero - turn mower is that you may operate around object or obstacles quickly and easily , and can make dead square run-in or intricate patterns that you would n’t be able to create with a standard ride - on mower .
Zero - turn mowers come in many different sizes to oblige just about any type or size of lawn . They are generally much more expensive than lawn tractors , however , so that ’s something to keep in brain if you ’re seem to bind within a certain budget .
Power
drive - on lawn mower either come up in gasoline or cordless battery - power alternative . Battery - power lawn mowersrun on batteries , and each lawn mower ’s runtime is different count on its voltage and battery amp . Generally speaking , the higher the voltage , the longer the lawn mower will last on one explosive charge .
In addition , the eccentric of terrain , as well as the Gunter Wilhelm Grass height and its type can factor into a lawn mower ’s run time . Some battery - function models provide quick charging of around one to two hours , but cheaper models could take up to 20 hours to fully shoot .
accelerator drive - on mowers are usually the most muscular type of lawn mower , make them the preferred choice of professional person . They also require more maintenance than other type , and annual servicing ( fuel , oil , and spark plugs ) is extremely recommended so as to maximize the sprightliness of the putz .
Property Size
Buying the right sizing mower for the job is important so that with proper maintenance , it will last you a long fourth dimension . Every new riding lawn lawn mower has the idealistic property size intelligibly written out in its description so you may be sure to buy the best riding mower for your yard .
" Many people make the mistake of buying too small of a riding lawn mower and then cease up overworking it on a bigger property , " Quinn says . " This can cause major yield with sustenance and bowdlerize the lawn mower ’s life in the retentive run . "
Cutting Deck
The skip deck of cards ’s top and width tell you how much area can be mow in a individual flip and how long the grass will be once it ’s cut . The cut breadth is also known as the swath . Most rally lawn mowers have adjustable height decks with numerous positions that give you the option of different grass distance , ordinarily ranging between 1 to 4.5 inch .
Accessories
There are many accessories that you may buy for your equitation mower , such as kits that allow them to double asleaf mulchers , fertilize , aerate , till , and educate the soil . In accession , you’re able to buy snow clearing machinery like blow blowers that can be attached to your mower , as well as accessary that can load and plunge soil . accessory allow you to get more use from your riding lawn lawn mower throughout the twelvemonth .
Other Riding Mowers We Tested
Toro Titan Max Zero Turn Mower
Thiszero twist moweris a powerful machine that come amply assembled and quick to go . The excellent speed and large cutting pack of cards reduced mop time by half during testing , and we found it super comfortable and stable . We think it ’s a with child choice for big lawns and even faint commercial-grade use , but it ’s a bit cumbersome and expensive for the fair family .
Kobalt Electric Riding Lawn Mower
We love how simple and fuss - free thiselectric moweris to utilise , peculiarly compare to gas models . It ’s quiet , comfortable , and low-toned maintenance , and we were impressed with its ability to cut cleanly across a lawn with varied grass tallness . That said , it ’s best -suited for very even , medium - sized lawn , as it rides rigidly over uneven terrain due to want of intermission .
Your Questions, Answered
How do you clean a riding lawn mower?
tease lawn mowers are typically heavy - duty machines that are design to get mussy , so thoroughly cleaning them is not a necessity . A hard brush lead to the wheels and around the deck to get rid of stocky mud and stray press cutting is usually all that ’s needed .
hose the whole matter down with water is not advised . Many riding mowers do amount with their own cleaning apparatus , such as deck of cards cleaning tools and an attachment that can cabbage up to a garden hosepipe for clean the deck .
Feldman says that sharpen the blade is as as important . “ forthright lawn mower blades bruise and shred the tip of gage leave , causing lawn moisture loss and invite lawn disease . sharpen lawn lawn mower blades not only improve your lawn ’s visual aspect by commit it a clean , laconic cut , but they also minimize mowing stress , decrease water loss and amend overall lawn wellness . ”
How often should you mow your lawn?
The general regulation of thumb when it comes tohow often you should mow the lawnis about once a week . This willmaintain a healthy lawnand still give you the look of a well - kept holding .
" thin out your lawn when it is over 3 inches long , " Quinn advises . " Set your mower acme to 3 to 3.5 in to assure that you ’re cutting it in a manner that allow for a strong root system and creates a healthier , thicker lawn . This will also reduce the number of time you have to irrigate it . Cutting your grass below 2 inches create a thinner lawn that will be more susceptible to damage from the summer sun . "
Feldman counsel that during catamenia of speedy pasturage growth , mowing every 3 to 4 days is preferable . “ Mow every 6 to 8 days during periods of moderate growth , and only as needed — or not at all — during catamenia of drought or dormancy . ”
It is also highly advisable to not skip off more than a third ofthe grassblade ’s duration at a metre so as not to damage it . “ This can accent the turf and cause the color to slicing , ” read Feldman .
Are riding mowers safe to use?
Riding mowers are design to be dependable if used properly , but they should be hold back forth from child . Most manufacturers recommend that children under 16 should not use them without adult supervision . Though these automobile look fun and rather toy - like , they can be serious if not handled correctly .
" The centerfield of gravity on most equitation mowers is very gamey , so the luck of rollover is greatly increase , " Quinn say . " The exploiter should be cognizant of what types of hills could potentially cause a rollover . "
To forfend an accident on a James Jerome Hill , Quinn advises pout perpendicular to the form of the hill and void cutting parallel to the grade . " In other discussion , cut uphill and downhill but not across , " he says .
Most modern riding mowers are equipped with rollover safety devices that hold on the spinning of the blades and shut off the mower as soon as a rollover occurs , or even if the manipulator stands up and leave the seat . Another great feature in some riding mowers is a button that is located behind the driver that must be pushed to go in reverse .
" The theme behind this is to create a use within the operator to look over their berm before backing up so that you never go in reverse without looking , " Quinn says .
In addition , Feldman mentioned that the machine ’s free weight is deserving considering in relation to the type of yard you have . “ While all grass types can suffer a riding lawn mower , there is a risk of grease compaction due to the heavy weightiness of the automobile . ”
Who We Are
This article was written byKat de Naoum , who has over 10 year of experience write about such subjects as lawn fear . Kat is also the editor - at - bombastic at Thomas - Xometry , the lead U.S. online chopine for provider breakthrough and product sourcing . For this article , Kat review multiple riding mower and deal factor such as each riding lawn mower ’s power , sheer deck width and stature , speed , comfort , interference level , enduringness , and note value for money .
We tried out and review multiple riding mowers , research factors such as each model ’s size of it , dimension , tycoon , ease of enjoyment , ease of cleanup , maintenance need , and economic value for money . Kat also confer with Don Quinn , who has over 30 age of experience handling riding lawnmowers and working on several farms , Brian Feldman , the senior technical theater director of Operations at TruGreen , Bryan Clayton , the CEO at GreenPal , andBen McInerney , the Founder of Home Garden Guides .
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this listing , you may have noticed our BHG Recommends sealskin of favourable reception . production that bring in the stamp have been put through rigorous testing to check that they ’re deserving a spot in your dwelling . We buy most of the product we try out ourselves , but occasionally we are allow sample by company if buying is n’t an option . In these cases , we habituate the same examination criteria we apply to test the purchased products .
Credit: The Home Depot
Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit: The Home Depot
The Ryobi Brushless Electric Cordless riding tractor handled mowing the lawn with ease during our tests, maneuvering easily around obstacles, and mowing over sticks, leaves, and more.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
