Backyard Boss. Narrowest riding lawn mower

6th June 2023

Best Small Riding Lawn Mowers

Anyone who has operated a push lawn mower will tell you that it requires lots of energy and time. If you have a large lawn, using a push mower can easily take up to several hours. Not to mention, if used incorrectly, a push mower can result in ached and strained muscles. Switching to a small riding lawn mower can make your life easier, and the expense isn’t as bad as you might think. Here’s a guide to our recommendations for the best small riding lawn mowers.

Why You Can Trust Us

Mowing the lawn is one of those chores that’s inevitable if you have a yard of any size. That’s why we’ve done deep dives on all the types of mowers you can imagine. Just in the riding mowers category, we’ve done the best cheap riding mowers, the best electric riding mowers, and now we’re covering the best small riding mowers.

We understand that everybody has their own personal preferences, and the same goes for mowing the lawn. That’s why we’ve pooled knowledge and opinions from a variety of sources to give you our top pick. Our thoroughly researched list includes a mixture of all three types of riding lawn mowers, including smaller-sized lawn and garden tractors.

Best For Comfort

Husqvarna Z242F Hydrostatic Riding Mower

The Husqvarna Z242F offers ample power with a top speed of 6.5 MPH making it an ideal riding mower for large lawns. With the added comfort in seat suspension, you can mow for longer periods of time without feeling the strain of it.

Why We Like It: The Husqvarna Z242F is another powerful hydrostatic zero turn riding mower that delivers a comfortable and powerful ride (important if you have a large lawn littered with weeds and stubborn grass). Like its sister above, it can reach a maximum speed of 6.5 MPH. It’s a bit smaller (42″ cutting deck) and about 15% cheaper. The entire Z242F has extremely durable construction that uses tube steel frames and a rugged caster.

Who Should Buy It: For stubborn yards, especially if you are moving at a high speed, you don’t have to take it easy on this machine, because the strong caster and blades will be able to take it. Many quick riding, zero turn radius mowers aren’t comfortable, but that’s not the case with the Z242F. Husqvarna (true to its brand) has fitted the mower with an ergonomic seat design, adjustable seat backing, and spring suspension support for a smoother ride.

Best For Large Yards

Husqvarna Z254 Hydrostatic Zero Turn Mower

The Husqvarna Z254 is a powerhouse and was designed for larger lots with its 54 inch cutting deck. Though it has a larger cutting deck, the body of the mower is still rather compact and is easy to store away in a garage or garden shed.

Why We Like It: Husqvarna is a popular name in the lawn care industry, and the Husqvarna Z254 Riding Mower is a great example of why. The brand is known for its innovative, yet large riding mowers. But even with a giant 54-inch cutting deck, the overall footprint of the Z254 is smaller than others in its class. Under the hood there’s plenty of power. This mower features a 26 HP Kohler engine that reaches an impressive maximum speed of 6.5 MPH straight away.

Who Should Buy It: This is our pick for homeowners, who have large yards, but want a mower that’s not too overwhelming in size. The powerful construction effectively makes it one of the best zero turn riding lawn mowers available, and that power is coupled with safety features, including a braking system that uses the steering levers for quicker reaction time.

Best Affordable Option

Craftsman 50-inch zero turn mower

This comfortable ride is powered by a 24 HP Kohler engine and the zero turn radius offers excellent manoeuvrability.

Why We Like It: This simple little riding mower does all the things you would expect from a lawnmower. Adjustable cutting height, zero turn radius and robust construction. What’s more, there’s no choke or prime, and you can even cut in reverse. This product is also more affordable than most of the others on this list.

Who Should Buy It: If you’re looking for an affordable mower that still manages to get the job done, you’re in luck. It comes with all the expected bells and whistles, while being a bit easier on your

Best For Tough Yards

Husqvarna MZ61

Fitted with a 24 HP Kawasaki engine, this mower is designed for tough jobs. Why else would it come with a Roll Over Protection System?

Why We Like It: Simply put, because it’s a beast. The Kawasaki engine fitted to this MZ61 gives you the extra power when you need it. The 61 inch cutting deck and ergonomic cockpit means you’ll have many comfortable hours behind the wheel, keeping your acreage in tip top shape.

Who Should Buy It: If mowing your lawn is more akin to off-roading than yard work, then you need a beast to take the job on. The Kawasaki engine gives you the extra power when you need it, and the ROPS (roll over protection system) may protect you, if you get a bit too adventurous in your escapades.

Best For Harsh Winters

Husqvarna TS 354XD

This garden tractor will leave you with an even lawn, every time. And when your driveway is covered in snow, an added attachment turns this tractor into a snow plough

Why We Like It: This 54 inch cutting deck mower comes with the 24HP Kawasaki engine, to give you a perfect cut every time. But cutting grass isn’t the only chore this machine is capable of. Slap a snow blade on the front of this thing, and clear your driveway without breaking a sweat.

Who Should Buy It: If your yard work goes from mowing the lawn in the summer, to shovelling snow in the winter, why not get a vehicle that can help you with both?

Best Riding Mower For Small Yards

Troy-Bilt 382cc Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower

The Troy-Bilt 382cc has a compact size and modest top speed of 4.5 MPH making it ideal for average sized lots. It can make quick and narrow turns and is comfortable, making it a great step up from any push mower.

The Troy-Bilt 382cc Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower is a great mower for smaller lawns, because it’s also small. This 30-inch riding mower is lightweight at 336 lb, when you compare it to other mowers (most riding mowers will weigh anywhere between 400-600 lbs). As you can see, this is the smallest riding lawn mower on this list. But don’t let the compact size fool you, it can reach up to 4.25 MPH. It’s best for flat yards with modest slopes.

My favorite thing about the Troy-Bilt 382cc is the handling. It’s not a zero turn radius mower, but it does give you 18 inches of turn radius that will still let you navigate around garden beds, fencing and other obstacles in your yard. It’s also comfortable. The adjustable seat and added back support work great with the soft grip steering wheel, so you’re not straining your back or arms while mowing.

Troy-Bilt 452cc Mustang Fit Riding Mower

The zero turn radius allows you to zip around the lawn and turn corners with a clean cut. The highlight of this mower is the comfort provided by the ergonomic seating. Although it offers a shorter cutting deck, this mower is still ideal for medium to large lawns.

This is the smallest zero turn mower on this list. Its 34″ cutting deck makes it ideal for small to mid-sized lawns, and it can navigate narrow pathways, fences, or flower beds. The ergonomic seating has a high back and promotes good posture, so you’re not hunched over when riding. It’s also fitted with dual suspension springs to cushion the bumps that zero turn mowers are known for. Additional features include control levers and the ability to mow in reverse.

Ariens 915213 Zero Turn Mower

The Airens 915213 was designed to suit the needs of stubborn lawns and overgrown yards. The 43-inch cutting deck lends itself well to average sized lawns. But with the power and speed, larger lawns could fare well with this mower too.

The Ariens 915213 is a powerful zero turn riding mower. Though it sports a healthy 42-inch cutting deck, this mower is a workhorse, making it great for larger, stubborn lawns. The power comes from a Kohler 6000 twin-cylinder engine that’s paired with an electric start hydro transmission. Though it’s a powerful engine, I’m impressed with how little noise and vibration it puts out (even the hand lever controls have dampers to reduce vibration in your grip), all while offering better torque and mileage. With this power, the Ariens 915213 is able to reach speeds of up to 6 MPH, perfect if you have long flat stretches of yard.

The high-back, padded adjustable seat, and three-way adjustable armrests give the Ariens a comfortable mowing experience.

Snapper 2691402 Zero Turn Mower

The Snapper 2691402 is available in a combination of engine and cutting deck widths. Because of this, this model is available for any yard, big or small. Durability is a highlight of this mower. If you tend to have a stubborn lawn, this mower might be a good fit for your home.

The Snapper 2691402 Riding Lawn Mower is another of the best zero turn riding lawn mowers, designed for larger than average lawns. This model has a larger construction than its smaller counterpart, the Snapper 2911525BVE. The feature the Snapper 2911525BVE has going for it is its durability. I appreciate a sturdy construction with zero turn mowers, and this model delivers with its fully-welded steel frame and powerful cutting deck that’s backed by the thick welded front axle. The mower deck is durable and protects the ball bearings in the caster spindles, so you get a sharp cut each time.

The mower is extremely versatile thanks to the mower deck that can move between 13 different height positions, allowing you to cut anywhere from 1.5 inches to 5.4 inches. It’s great for large lawns that may want clippings to act as fertilizer after a mow.

Why Would I Want a Riding Lawn Mower?

It’s no secret that riding lawn mowers can make your lawn care routine easier and less time-consuming. If you have a large lot, then a riding mower is the best way to practically maintain your yard. Riding mowers have the ability to push through stubborn growth, and with speeds of up to 6.5 MPH, they cover lots of ground quickly.

Here are some of the main features you should look for, when shopping for a mower. Understanding these features will allow you to make the best selection for your lawn.

Types of Riding Mowers

Zero Turning Radius (ZTR) Mowers

Zero turning radius mowers are known for their ability to turn on a dime. The steering system allows drivers to make a full 360 degree turn, without needing to stop mid-cut. In addition to the incredible manoeuvrability of these mowers, zero turning radius mowers are also fast.

Best Riding Lawn Mower Reviews 2023

Tired of spending the best part of your Saturday walking behind a lawn mower? You’re not alone and our team has pulled together our recommendations for the best riding lawn mower in 2023. Whether you’re a homeowner or commercial Pro, or you’re on the hunt for a lawn tractor or zero-turn mower, we have you covered. Thinking about making the switch to battery power? We have thoughts on electric riding lawnmowers as well.

Considering walk-behind mowers? Check out our Best Lawn Mower main page.

Best Commercial Riding Lawn Mower

Hustler Hyperdrive Series Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

Professional lawn care crews who FOCUS on residential lawns (affectionately known aa “mow and blow” crews) have to hit a lot of lawns every day during the mowing season and they’re tough on their equipment. Exmark, Hustler, and Scag all come up frequently in conversations about the best commercial mower, and our top choice is the Hustler Hyperdrive series.

While the Super Z series is likely more popular, the Hyperdrive series adds additional durability to the transmission system, keeping your downtime to a minimum.

Deck sizes range from 60 to 72 inches and there are 35 to 40 HP engine options from Kawasaki and Vanguard. For those of you who like to mow at speed, you can run up to 16 MPH on this model. No matter what your mowing style is, Hustler has a 3,000-hour warranty on the hydraulic system and a 5-year/1200-hour warranty on the full mower.

Best Residential Riding Lawn Mower

Toro Timecutter Series Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

For residential use, we recommend Toro’s TimeCutter as the best residential riding lawn mower for a variety of reasons. What it boils down to is that you get an excellent balance of performance, comfort, and reliability for the price.

The line currently includes 17 models (including CARB-friendly options). Deck sizes start at 34 inches for small lawns and run up to 60 inches for those of you with acreage to maintain. The base-level models are an excellent value for most people, but if comfort is a high priority, step up to the MyDrive models to get an upgraded suspension and easier ride.

Best Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower

Cub Cadet Ultima ZTX6 Series Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

While Toro earns our pick as the best overall riding mower for residential use, Cub Cadet’s Ultima ZTX6 series is the creme de la creme for those of you with a bigger budget. Earning our choice as the best residential zero-turn riding lawn mower, the ZTX6 is at the top of Cub Cadet’s residential-focuses Ultima line.

These mowers bridge the gap between residential and Pro needs, giving you a ride and performance that feels more professional while keeping the overall price down from premium professional mowers. The ZTX6 comes with a 25HP Kawasaki commercial-grade engine and either a 54 or 60-inch deck size. If you prefer a steering wheel over lap bars, there’s now a ZTXS6 option that has you covered.

Price: 8999.00 – 9299.00 (10299.00 for the 60-inch ZTXS6)

Best Lawn Tractor

Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro FAB Series Lawn Tractor

Cub Cadet lawn tractors are very popular and consistently earn high ratings from owners. If you’re looking for the best lawn tractor among them, we recommend the XT1 Enduro FAB series. They’re a bit more expensive than others in the XT1 line, but they upgrade from a 13-gauge stamped steel deck to an 11-gauge fabricated steel one, improving the long-term durability.

Available with a 50 or 54-inch deck, these mowers are suitable for covering larger lawns than lawn tractors in the 30 – 48-inch range. Thanks to a Kohler 24HP engine, they have better overall performance than most of its competition as well. While they don’t turn as tight as a zero-turn, they do have a 16-inch turning radius that gives them a tighter turn than others.

Best Electric Riding Lawn Mower

Try as we may, we couldn’t pick just one electric ride-on lawn mower as the best. However, we do have three that stand out from the rest.

Commercial: Greenworks Commercial 82V OptimusZ Series Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

Greenworks was one of the first to push into the commercial electric zero-turn lawn mower market and they have learned a lot over the years. The culmination of that experience and the best of today’s technology come together in the Greenworks OptimusZ zero-turn and earns our recommendation as the best electric commercial riding lawn mower.

The line includes both ride-on and stand-on models, and we even got to see an operational prototype of a fully-autonomous version. Focusing on the ride-on models, there are 48 – 60-inch deck sizes with either 18KWh or 24KWh battery packages. On the 60-inch mower, the larger battery bank can run up to 8 hours on a charge.

The top speed is impressive, reaching up to 16 MPH with the blades on. Security is already onboard thanks to the combination of 4G and GPS connections. If all that sounds great, but you’re still not sure it can hold up, keep in mind that Greenworks backs these mowers with a 5-year/2,000-hour warranty.

Residential: EGO 56V E-Steer Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

EGO is making it easier to transition from gas to battery power and into the zero-turn market with the 56V E-Steer riding lawn mower. It takes the lap bars and exchanges them for a steering wheel, making for a much more approachable mower if you’re not used to traditional ZT steering. Beyond that, the design team shifted the controls/info screen onto the steering wheel where they’re easy to keep an eye on while you’re mowing.

The mower sports a 42-inch deck with cutting speeds between 4 and 8 MPH and matches the power of a 22HP gas engine. For the power source, EGO uses the same 556V batteries that power its other mowers and handheld tools. With a full load of six 12.0Ah batteries, expect to cut nearly four acres on a charge. With the four batteries that come with the mower, there’s enough juice to cover 2.5 acres.

Price: 5999.00 with four 12.0Ah batteries and onboard charger (scheduled for May 2023 launch)

Residential: Ryobi 80V iDrive Series Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

Ryobi’s iDrive zero-turn lawn mowers break the mold of lap bars, but not with a steering wheel. It uses joystick controls, making you feel a bit more like a lawn-cutting fighter pilot (without the missiles, of course). While it certainly breaks the norm, our crew was able to adjust to the steering quickly.

There are three deck sizes covering 30 to 54 inches and they primarily use 80V suitcase-style batteries for power. These mowers also have slots to use Ryobi’s 40V batteries if you need to extend your runtime beyond what the 80V packs offer.

The power ranges from a 28HP – 42HP gas equivalent with runtime covering 1 – 4 acres, depending on which model you go with. Plus, this mower uses the CrossCut stacked blade system to give you better cut quality than you’d get with single blades.

Take a look through our full list of Best Electric Lawn Mower recommendations!

Best Riding Lawn Mower For Small Lawns

John Deere S130 Lawn Tractor

Lawn tractors are great for small to medium-sized lawns and the John Deere S130 lawn tractor is our choice as the best riding lawn mower for small lawns. The S100 comes in at a lower price, but moving up to the S130 is worth it in our opinion.

Both feature a 42-inch mowing deck, but the S130 has a significantly stronger 22HP V-twin engine and it has John Deere’s super-easy 30-Second Oil Change system. The S130 also upgrades with cruise control and an electronic PTO system. Overall, it balances ease of ownership and performance well while keeping a safe distance away from the price of zero-turn mowers.

Best Riding Lawn Mower For Medium Lawns 1 Acre to 5 Acres

Husqvarna Xcite Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

The best riding lawn mower for medium-sized lawns is the Husqvarna Xcite. There are two models available featuring a 54-inch 10-gauge deck that’s a great size for those 1 – 5–acre properties.

What’s exciting about the Xcite is a combination of innovative features and a design that feels more Pro even though these target residential users. Starting from the top, your start/stop and blade engagement controls are on the lap bar ends where you can easily reach them with your thumbs. Then there’s the suspension system. 4 bar links and 10 adjustment settings let you customize the setup based on your size, weight, and preferences to dial in a comfortable ride.

Depending on the model, you get either a 24HP or 26HP Kohler engine with a top speed of either 7 or 9 MPH. On the business end, Husqvarna puts stock blades that can go up to 5 years without needing to be sharpened. Husqvarna targeted a Pro feel with the convenience and ease of ownership homeowners crave with the Xcite and they nailed it.

Best Riding Lawn Mower For Large Properties

Exmark Lazer Z Series Deisel Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

When it comes to maintaining large areas where you need a cleaner cut than a bush hog leaves behind, there are a few large-deck options. Leading the pack in size and with a robust professional resume’, the Exmark Lazer Z Deisel is our choice as the best riding lawn mower for large properties.

When we say large, we mean it. The Lazer Z diesel line includes 60, 72, and 96-inch options along with a monstrous 144-inch model. Ang get this—Exmark rates the largest mower’s cutting rate at up to 11.5 acres per hour! In terms of productivity, that’s going to be tough to beat.

These mowers aren’t cheap, though. They start at just over 27,000 and the 144-inch model is over 35,000.

Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills

Cub Cadet Pro Z 972 Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

If you have hills, you need both power and traction to mow effectively. In our team’s opinion, the best riding lawn mower for hills is the Cub Cadet Pro Z 972 series SD/SDL models. What sets these mowers apart is a combination of their dually rear wheel and steering wheel designs.

Four rear wheels help prevent the back end from slipping, even in wet conditions. The steering wheel makes it easier to manage on slopes and there’s an option for a pivoting seat that keeps you more upright on those hills. As part of Cub Cadet’s commercial mower lineup, you can expect a commercial-level build and high-end comfort features as part of the package.

Best Riding Lawn Mower For The Money

Toro Timecutter 42-Inch Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

What’s the best riding lawn mower for the money? For that, we return to the Toro TimeCutter series. Specifically, it’s the 42-inch 75746. This isn’t the least expensive 42-inch in the line, and it’s not the most expensive, either. By upgrading from the entry-level version (3299), you’re moving from a 15.5 HP Briggs Stratton engine to a much stronger 22HP Kohler engine. up to a more durable 10-gauge fabricated steel deck.

If your lawn is 2 acres or less, this model offers the best balance of performance, durability, comfort, and price. But what if you have more then 2 acres? Stick with the Toro TimeCutter and move up in deck size to match your lawn.

What We Look For In The Best Riding Lawn Mower

Lawn Tractor or Zero Turn?

When you’re choosing the best riding lawn mower for your lawn, the first thing to decide is which style you want.

Lawn tractors have several advantages. They tend to be a smaller overall size, are less expensive, and are easy to use with their steering wheel/pedal control systems. The downsides are that they tend to be slower and don’t reach larger deck sizes. They also aren’t as efficient in your mowing pattern because they require a larger turning radius.

Zero-turn lawn mowers make it easier to efficiently mow straight lines. While they’re more expensive, larger, and can take some time to get used to lap bar controls, you can get larger deck sizes, they have higher speeds, and they’re better for large properties. If comfort is a high priority for you, you’ll find better options with ZTs and lawn tractors.

Gas or Battery?

Now that battery-powered riding lawn mowers are at a point where they really can replace gas, the conversation is shifting away from just power and runtime.

Gas mowers tend to be less expensive and you can usually find someone to service/repair them within a reasonable drive of your home. The trade-off is the noise, emissions, managing fuel and oil, and more required maintenance.

Battery-powered mowers have a push-button start system that’s ready when you are, assuming you charged the batteries. They’re remarkably quiet compared to gas, have no emissions, and your HOA isn’t going to suddenly rewrite the rules to eliminate them. Maintenance primarily boils down to blowing off the deck and maybe rinsing under the deck. The primary downsides at this stage are that you don’t have as wide of a selection as gas, they’re more expensive, the batteries need replacing every 3 – 5 years, and there aren’t nearly as many service centers close by.

Durability and Reliability

As you go up in price from entry-level riding lawn mowers to mid-range and high-end models, there are significant changes. A more powerful engine is only part of it. The design of the engine and its quality typically improves as you move up the line, giving you a more reliable engine to go along with the higher performance of more horsepower.

You also see the strength of the build improve. Some of it is the thickness of the metal or moving from stamped steel to fabricated steel on the deck. Other components come into play as well, with higher quality transmissions and electronics packages improving.

Generally speaking, if you’re looking at an entry-level model, see if your budget has room to move up into the middle or even high end of the line. The durability and reliability you gain are worth it in the long run.

Deck Size

The deck size you need depends on the property you’re mowing. 42-inch riding lawn mowers are a good starting point for lawns up to an acre or where you need to squeeze through a narrow gate. If you have more than an acre, go ahead and look at models up to 60 inches.

Realistically, it’s a matter of finding the right balance between how much lawn you have to cut, how much storage space you have available, and what your budget is.

Speed

Speed is primarily a concern for professional lawn crews who need to move from one property to the next quickly or on campuses with significant travel distance between the shop and where they’re mowing. They usually want a mower with a top speed over 10 MPH.

Even homeowners can make their mowing chores more efficient with some decent top-end speed, though. 7 MPH or more is a good benchmark for those models. If you tend to take your mowing more casually, 5 – 6 MPH is just fine.

Comfort

The larger your lawn, the more time you need to spend in the driver’s seat of your riding lawn mower, and the more comfort comes into play. Entry-level mowers are going to bounce you around more than mid-range and high-end models. Look for a seat with plenty of cushioning, an adjustable tension knob, and enough travel for you to sit without having to scrunch up.

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

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We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.

Each year, we bring in and review more than 350 individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds of additional tools at media events and trade shows throughout the year.

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Our site will provide more than 500 pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.

The end result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.

The Best Electric Riding Lawn Mower, According to 3,000 Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best electric riding lawn mower 2023. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Having a perfectly healthy and trimmed lawn is every homeowner’s dream. However, spending a fortune on landscaping services every few weeks isn’t practical, and using the typical push mower can take hours. A riding mower is a great solution, as it is comfortable to use and can get the job done in no time. Gas-powered riding mowers are the traditional option for buyers, but more and more manufacturers are offering electric riding lawn mowers as they can offer a true one-time investment, unlike gas mowers.

Electric riding mowers tend to use brushless motors that are powered by multiple rechargeable batteries. Unlike a gas engine, electric mowers have zero carbon emissions and no fumes, making them very environmentally friendly. They are also a lot quieter than gas-powered lawn mowers and don’t require expensive maintenance, such as filling up on gas and replacing spark plugs, belts, and filters.

Here is a list of the best electric riding lawn mowers, followed by a buying guide to help you select the best electric riding lawn mower.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Electric Riding Lawn Mowers 2023

Gas-powered mowers are a thing of the past, and there is a type of electric riding lawn mower out there for any lawn.

Best Battery Life for a Mower: Greenworks Pro 60V 42-Inch CrossoverT Riding Lawn Mower | Buy Now

Best Mower with Cruise Control: RYOBI 38-Inch Electric Riding Mower 100 Ah | Buy Now

Scroll down to read more about these top picks for the best electric riding lawn mowers, according to many happy buyers.

listed in this article were as shown in US on lowes.com, homedepot.com, walmart.com, tractorsupply.com, and cubcadet.com (USA) as of July 2022

Best Overall Mower—EGO POWER 42-Inch Z6 Zero-Turn Riding Mower

With innovative technology and plenty of battery power, the EGO POWER Z6 riding mower has earned its spot at the top of the list. This zero-turn mower comes with four lithium-ion batteries that can last up to two acres on just one charge. The electric mower even has the capacity to hold up to six batteries to extend its life further.

The featured wall charger can charge six batteries at once and get a full charge on four 10 Ah batteries in just two hours, making it perfect for long lawns that need multiple runs. The batteries even have fuel gauges to alert the user when they are ready to return to work.

“The power and speed remained consistent whether the mower was fully charged at 100% or down to 5%,” wrote a customer. “This is not any basic electric mower, it is very user intuitive with an advanced control panel and Bluetooth connection that grants a remote key and charging status from a user’s phone. On top of it all, it even has a USB phone charger.”

Best Mower for Large Residential Lawns—RYOBI 54-Inch 115 Ah Zero-Turn Electric Riding Lawn Mower

At 54 inches wide, the large cutting deck on the RYOBI electric riding lawn mower can cover a surface area that a push mower couldn’t dream of. This electric rider comes with 115 Ah lead-acid batteries that run for 2.5 hours. It also integrates five brushless motors that have the power to cut any large lawn up to 3.5 acres.

After cutting such a long lawn, most users would be fatigued on any regular gas mower, but the RYOBI lawn mower gives riders the most comfortable experience. This is thanks to its easy-to-control zero-degree turning radius, the convenient arm supports, and a double cup holder.

The three mower blades are able to cut through large swaths of grass. “We live on a farm and we do get tall grass and it handles it,” wrote one customer. “It has a nice large chute that almost never gets plugged.” Another person who lives on five acres noted, “I can mow all grassy areas on a full charge and still have about 20–40% remaining. It cuts like a dream.”

Best Mower for a Smooth Ride—HART 80V Brushless 30-Inch Lithium-Ion Riding Mower

According to reviews, this 80V electric HART riding mower makes cutting the grass much easier and smoother than many gas-powered mowers. Customers report that this thing’s lithium-ion battery makes it operate extremely quietly. It can easily cut through thick grass, too, thanks to 80 volts of power.

Even on a lawn with a ton of barriers and obstacles, the tight turning radius allows for simple navigation when maneuvering through small gates and around turns. Without fuel and the need to replace spark plugs, even maintenance is nearly non-existent.

“As someone that does a lot of lawn mowing, the smooth and comfortable ride of this will be so appreciated,” one reviewer confirmed. “I love that I can adjust the height for an even more comfortable ride.”

Best Battery Life for a Mower—Greenworks Pro 60V 42-Inch CrossoverT Riding Lawn Mower

The Greenworks Pro CrossoverT riding lawn mower has six batteries with 8Ah of power to cover up to 2.5 acres per charge. One of its best features is its set of three turbochargers that each hook up to two batteries for simultaneously recharging in only 90 minutes.

Not only does this electric mower have a long battery life, but it’s tough, too. It has the power of a 24hp gas engine and can handle any surface as it climbs a 15° incline. It even has SmartCut technology to reserve power while handling any lawn condition, from thick to wet grass.

This electric rider can do more than just trim the grass: It can tow and has a cargo bed for transporting loads up to 200 pounds. “We have close to two acres to mow, it is not flat, and there are lots of things to go around,” wrote a buyer. “Starting at 100% charge, it does the whole thing.”

Best Mower for Medium-Sized Lawns—Cub Cadet CC30E Electric Mini Riding Mower

For medium or smaller lawns, most buyers would not need commercial-sized zero-turn mowers, let alone have the space to store them, but the Cub Cadet electric mini riding mower is just the right size. At 30 inches in width, Cub Cadet has a smaller cutting deck and is a much more compact machine for tight backyards.

Even though this Cub Cadet model is smaller and more economical than others on this list, it still has all the necessary bells and whistles, such as LED headlights and USB charging. It uses a 30 Ah lithium-ion battery that can last one hour or for one acre, which is just enough time for houses on limited land.

Even when the rechargeable battery level starts to dip, there will be no fade in the cutting performance. “What they advertise has been right on,” explained one customer. “I normally have 23% left after mowing 3/4 of an acre lot.”

Best Mower with Cruise Control—RYOBI 38-Inch Electric Riding Mower 100 Ah

For an easy electric ride, the RYOBI electric riding mower features a cruise control button to set a consistent speed up to 8 mph. To further customize their ride, users have 12 cutting heights to choose from—ranging from 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches—to get the best grass length.

The control panel also has a gauge for the lead-acid battery and the option to turn on the LED headlights for mowing in low light.

One happy buyer wrote, “Cruise control works very well even on steep hills.” Due to the 16-inch turning radius, they also found that the mower “zips around corners.”

The Best Electric Riding Lawn Mower—Summary

For a very advanced and efficient machine, the EGO POWER Z6 riding mower (US4,999, Lowe’s) has lots of battery power and interactive features.

For a great battery life with little in-between time, the Greenworks Pro CrossoverT riding lawn mower (US3,999.99, Tractor Supply Company) will last and has extremely fast-charging batteries.

Choosing the Best Electric Riding Lawn Mowers—Buying Guide

Although electric riding mowers are becoming more popular due to their numerous benefits, they are still somewhat limited on the market compared to the number of gas mowers for sale. However, there are still lots of variations in size and power out there when choosing the best electric riding mower.

Battery

Since the entire cutting and driving force behind electric mowers comes from their batteries, a buyer should prioritize considering all of their aspects.

Types of Batteries: There are two common types of rechargeable batteries that electric lawn mowers will come with: a lead-acid battery or a lithium-ion battery. Generally speaking, lithium-ion batteries are typically more efficient and will last longer; however, these factors can be heavily impacted by the type and quality of the electric lawn tractor.

Power: The power of these batteries can be determined by their amperage hours (Ah). This directly measures how many amps a battery can exert per hour. This can also reflect the battery’s capacity, so a higher Ah can last longer. Again, this is dependent on each lawn tractor. For example, the voltage of electric mowers will tell the buyer a lot about how much power the electric rider is capable of, but it also needs enough Ah in a battery to last, and vice versa.

Runtime: How long an electric lawn mower can last per charge is typically measured by acreage or hours. For most buyers, acreage will be the best way to estimate if a lawn tractor can finish the job in a single charge. For long lawns or farms, lawn mowers that can cut up to three acres or more will be the best fit. However, for smaller land, that extra runtime isn’t needed.

Charging: The battery charger itself and how long it takes to charge are also very important. Most electric lawn mowers won’t last over three hours, so for the jobs that may take a little longer, needing two cutting sessions is normal. That is why riding mowers that feature a fast charger that can charge all the batteries at once are a must for getting right back to work.

Types

The other big characteristic that sets electric riding mowers apart from one another is the style of steering and the turning radius.

Standard Riding Mower: A standard riding mower is the traditional design of lawn tractors that come equipped with a basic or ergonomic steering wheel. These models will have various turning radiuses, but in the department of electric riders, they typically have a turning radius of 16 or 18 inches. These mowers are more compact and less expensive, making them the best choice for those either on a budget or with small yards.

Zero-Turn Mower: A zero-turn mower has a turning radius of zero, hence the name. Instead of a steering wheel, the direction and speed are controlled by two handles on each side. They are incredibly easy to control and can make cutting the lawn very fast and efficient. They are also the best electric riding mowers for very large lawns and land that has lots of obstacles to move around. However, a zero-turn lawn mower is often more expensive, larger, and can’t handle large slopes and hills.

Other Considerations

For buying any lawn equipment, the choice will really depend on the type of lawn a buyer is looking to trim. The following can be further considered to narrow down what is the best electric lawn mower for each user.

Cutting Deck Size: The cutting deck of a lawn mower is where the blades are, so the cutting deck size tells a buyer how much area will be covered after one run. A large cutting width is more efficient, making it an excellent choice for large lawns. On the other hand, a wide cutting deck will likely make the job more difficult for smaller yards as they can’t as easily move through tight spaces.

Accessories: Some lawn mowers will offer different features and accessories to make the job more comfortable, such as cup holders, USB charging ports, and headlights. Electric mowers can also either come with or are compatible with, mulching and bagging kits. A bag can neatly collect all of the grass clippings, but the process can be seen as wasteful and time-consuming. Mulching is an alternative process that finely chops the grass multiple times and spreads it across the lawn. It is great for the environment and the health of the grass. A mulch kit can be added to compatible mowers to enable this feature with a mulching plug and mulching blades.

We hope our review of the best electric riding lawn mowers has been helpful. For more suppliers of related products, including edge and weed lawn trimmers, hand shears, fertilizers, weed killers, and leaf blowers, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

This Small Riding Lawn Mower Gives You Big Bang for Your Buck

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I don’t know anyone with a lawn who doesn’t wistfully desire to own a riding lawn mower. Those who do are passionate about having a perfectly-manicured yard, and tend to ride around even when it doesn’t look like there is much to mow. Meanwhile, the rest of us push-mowers find every excuse to avoid cutting the grass. There’s a dark Cloud, it’s definitely going to rain, the ground will surely be drier tomorrow… Bottom line? Tomorrow is always a better day to cut the grass, unless you have a riding lawn mower.

The arguments against owning a riding mower are that 1. They can be pricey. 2. They tend to be enormous and if you don’t have an extra garage built especially for your lawn mower, you might as well not have one. Fortunately, we found a small riding lawn mower that is actually affordable — most start at 2,000 — and can be stored in even the smallest of spaces.

This little guy would make a perfect gift for a dad in your life, or for yourself. In addition to being compact, it has a mulching mode which shreds the trimmings and returns vital nutrients to the soil. An 18-inch turn radius makes it a cinch to maneuver around trees and other obstacles, and it’s narrow body allows it to fit through gates. Reviewers claim it’s quieter and emits less of a vibration than other pricier models, and is gentle on slopes and bumps for those with bad backs.

Troy-Bilt 30 in. Riding Lawn Mower with Mulch Kit

Promising reviews:

“We love it! We’re seniors, and it makes mowing our half acre fun instead of back-breaking work.”

“Started immediately and is a strong runner. Plenty of power for my 2 acres. Great tool for a great price. … I enjoyed stress free shopping from my comfy chair at home. Pleased with zero interest financing.”

“This mower is tough! It cut through my heavy lawn no problem.”

“This handles our large front and backyard really well. We cut our grass in more than half the time. We have a slope in our backyard and it handles it pretty well. It took a bit for my husband to get used to the controls, but after a few times (about three) it’s second nature to him now and he’s ready to start entering lawn mower races.”

“My first riding mower. I had to figure out the reverse switch. Once I figured it all out it is fun to mow my grass. I put my boonie hat on and shades then start mowing. Easy to start, engage the blade then start cutting that grass.”

“Picked it up today and got my one acre done in probably 1/3 of the time it used to without breaking a sweat. This is a compact model that fits easily into my shed and isn’t overkill for the size yard I have.”

“It cuts great and is small enough to navigate around all the trees and obstacles in my yard. A good buy for the money.”

“Now my husband doesn’t mind cutting the grass! This was a godsend!!”

“I replaced a comparable Craftsman mower and this is much quieter, maneuvers better, is much easier on my back when going over tree limbs. I am happy!”

“Up and running in 30 minutes. There was enough gas in it (from shipment) to give a test run and cut a couple strips of my backyard before I had to run to the gas station to fill up my empty gas can. I finished the mowing job and was very impressed with the maneuverability and tight turning radius. Starts right up, cuts well, and runs quieter than I expected. “

Sources:

https://www.backyardboss.net/best-small-riding-lawn-mowers/
https://www.protoolreviews.com/best-riding-lawn-mower-reviews/
https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/other/best-electric-riding-lawn-mowers/
https://www.womansworld.com/posts/home/small-riding-lawn-mower

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