While recent weather headlines may still involve the word snow, spring is right around the corner, and we are itching for warmer, mowing days ahead. Now may be a good time to start thinking about the coming growing season. If your property has a yard that spans half an acre or more, then you know a standard walk-behind lawn mower simply isn’t big enough to efficiently keep your grass looking trim throughout spring, summer, and fall. Unless you want to spend a few hours every week mowing those massive yards, a riding lawn mower will widen your cutting path, reducing the amount of time it takes to cover an area.
Riding lawn mowers vary quite a bit from model to model. There are small rear-engine mowers for yards up to an acre and lawn tractors and zero-turn lawn mowers that will make quick work of larger jobs. Additionally, since you aren’t walking, you’ll be less fatigued and have more energy for whatever else the day brings.
Any model, regardless of your needs, is going to be a relatively expensive piece of machinery. You don’t want to rush into a purchase without figuring out what you need. We’ve put in our fair share of miles on these large yard machines and have recommendations for the best riding mower for your needs.
Our recommendations are based on testing and research from veteran contributor Tony Carrick and the Popular Mechanics test and review teams, including input from Deputy Reviews Editor Colin Aylesworth. Some riding mower tests were performed at a nearby college, while others were tested by members of our staff at our homes and properties.
Mower testing involves living with these machines. We subjected them to various types of grass (and weeds) in wet and dry conditions; we also mowed flat sections, up and down hills, and in different seasons. We depleted the batteries on the electric mowers and recharged them to determine real-world runtimes. We also evaluated how easy the riding mowers were to learn to drive and control over time. Basically, we try to subject our tested mowers to the most plausible real-life scenarios that an owner may encounter.
| Type | Zero-turn |
| Cutting Width | 42 in. |
| Power | 22 horsepower |
| Transmission | Automatic |
The Toro 77401 TimeCutter zero-turn mower is a moderately priced mower with a 22-horsepower Briggs and Stratton gas engine and a 42-inch deck, which is representative of the type of mower many people may buy from their local dealer or Lowe’s. I found it to have an intuitive control system, with controls for engine choke, throttle, blade activation, and deck height. It comes set up for side discharge mowing and nothing else, which is typical for most riding mowers, though an optional mulch system and a bagger setup are available.
The cut quality with this mower is good—my first time using it was after over a week of not mowing, so the grass was long. I usually mow to a height of around 4 inches, and the TimeCutter handled it without issue. I double-cut most of the grass because the discharged clippings were noticeable, so going over the grass again breaks down those clippings into finer material that decomposes more easily and gives the lawn a cleaner appearance.
This mower is also fast. There are three speed settings—trim, tow, and mow—selectable with a dedicated lever. The mow speed setting is fast, and I found that speed adjustment with the lap bars is more sensitive than we would prefer.
A few minor quibbles with this model—the seat lacks any height adjustment, and for a shorter person (even at 5-foot, 10-inches), the seat seems a bit low. Also, there doesn’t appear to be an hour meter on the mower or any mention of one in the product manual. Toro recommends tracking usage by hours for scheduling performance maintenance, so it would be helpful to have a meter.
Annoyances aside, this mower appeals to a wide swath of potential customers. With its 42-inch deck and gas engine, it’s sized right for many residential uses and is powered by a method familiar to many people. The price is another point in the TimeCutter’s favor: at about $3,400, this mower appears to be a good value in a segment where prices can easily exceed $4,000. If you’ve got half an acre or more to mow and are ready for a zero-turn mower, this one is worth a look. – Tested by Colin Aylesworth
| Type | Lawn tractor |
| Cutting Width | 46 in. |
| Power | 22 horsepower |
| Transmission | Automatic (hydrostatic) |
The Cub Cadet XT1 has everything we look for in a lawn tractor. It’s equipped with a 46-inch deck, making it ideal for handling larger lawns–up to 2 acres would be ideal for this. However, it maintains a manageable turning radius of 16 inches, so you can navigate around trees and landscaping beds without too much difficulty.
With a 23-horsepower gas engine, it’s more than powerful enough to keep the blades spinning at high speed. The hydrostatic transmission makes speed changes easy, and a push-button cruise control system allows you to rest your right foot on longer straightaways.
The adjustable deck features 12 cutting height options, giving you the choice of how high or low to cut. It also has a cleanout that lets you rinse grass out of the mowing deck. To use this feature, hook up a garden hose to the port, position the deck to its lowest setting, start the mower and blades, and let it run for a few minutes. The water will be dispersed by the spinning blades to hopefully loosen and dislodge built-up debris.
Now 9% Off
I’ve tested and used this tractor for two full seasons and have been pleased with its overall performance. My yard is about a half acre, and although I’ve noticed a bit of battery life diminishment in the span of my ownership, I’m still able to mow through my yard without issue, so long as the grass isn’t overly long and I am not double-cutting (which I sometimes do to break down my clippings into finer material).
There are two ways to charge the T6: charging each of the six batteries individually, or plugging the entire tractor into the adapter to do it all at once. A full charge takes a few hours, which is not an inconvenience as long as I do it right when I finish mowing, or between yards while doing finish trimming and blowing. I’ve found that the lifestyle adaptation of an electric mower is easy to accommodate.
This tractor is comfortable to sit on and easy to drive. My biggest annoyance is having to flip the transmission lever from forward to reverse, and the time it takes to create traditional stripes. I recognize this is more of a personal problem and also an inherent characteristic of lawn tractors—they just don’t turn on a dime like a zero-turn can. Still,
maneuverability around objects or turning 180 degrees to lay down a strip is not an effortless process.
Aside from that, the T6 is a solid machine. There’s a lever on the right-hand side of the seat used to easily adjust the deck height, a screen behind the steering wheel that displays battery life and other important information, and a handy storage cubby on top of the hood that can hold small items (I use it as a place to put sticks that I pick up as I am mowing). I also have a bagger attachment for this mower that comes in handy during autumn. I have three big Maple trees in my backyard that dump a lot of leaves, and the bagger system saves me a lot of time raking.
Most of all, one of the things I like most about this tractor is its limited noise pollution. While it’s not silent, you can hear yourself think when using this mower, even with the blades engaged, and you can safely operate it without wearing hearing protection. These are everyday benefits that make the increased cost of an electric mower worthwhile. – Tested by Colin Aylesworth
| Type | Rear engine |
| Cutting width | 30 in. |
| Power | 10.5 hp |
| Transmission | Manual |
If you’re looking for a relatively inexpensive riding mower to handle yards up to 1 acre, look no further than this rear-engine model from Cub Cadet, which replaces the Troy-Bilt model that is exactly the same (made by MTD products, the parent company of those brands). It has a 10.5-horsepower engine and a 30-inch mowing deck that comes equipped with a mulch kit. The mower has a small turning radius of just 18 inches, making it easy to maneuver around tight spaces. It also comes equipped with larger wheels than you typically find on a rear-engine mower, ensuring you won’t get slowed down by uneven terrain, steep grades, or soft soil.
This mower has a manual transmission, but it should be fairly easy to get the hang of, and it’s part of the reason for this mower’s relatively affordable price. At just 30 inches wide and about 5 feet long, this mower is compact, making it easy to store in your garage or shed and drive through narrow fence gates.
Craftsman’s T2400K strikes the right balance between size and maneuverability. It sports a 46-inch deck, making it ideal for yards up to 1.5 acres. This mower’s big advantage is its tight turning radius—just 5 inches, which is superb for a lawn tractor. That attribute makes this mower ideal if you prefer a tractor-style machine but have lots of tight turns to maneuver.
Under the hood, a 22-horsepower Kohler engine provides plenty of giddy-up to power both deck and drive wheels. It’s equipped with a hydrostatic transmission for smooth speed changes and gives you 12 height options for cutting grass. There’s also a brush guard that protects the front end of the tractor.
Craftsman also includes some nice extra touches, including a high-back cushioned seat and a soft-touch steering wheel. Its ability to mow large lawns in a timely manner while still being nimble enough to navigate around obstacles makes the Craftsman a great all-around lawn tractor.
| Type | Zero-turn |
| Cutting Width | 42 in. |
| Power | 60V |
| Transmission | Automatic |
While we’ve not yet tested this model from Greenworks (we hope to in the spring), our evaluation of multiple user reviews and consideration of the features this zero-turn mower has to offer lead us to feature it here. With an electric motor that has roughly the power equivalent of a 24-horsepower gas engine and a runtime of 60 minutes, this battery-powered model is up to the task of cutting a property up to 2 acres or more, and users who have had it for over a year reported that it delivers on that promise.
This Greenworks zero-turn operates on six 8-amp-hour batteries and includes three dual-port chargers that recharge the batteries in 90 minutes during fast-charge mode. Since you don’t need to use all the batteries at once to operate the mower, you can use it with one set of three, for example, while the others charge. It has a top speed of 8 miles per hour and allows cutting height adjustments from 1.5 to 4.5 inches. Plus, it can tow up to 200 pounds.
Some complaints we found involved traction issues on rough terrain and a bit of bumpiness in the overall suspension. But users highlighted its very quiet operation, good cut quality, and an overall durable construction that held up over consistent use. If you prefer the eco-friendly nature of an electric zero-turn, this model is likely to deliver. —David Dritsas
| Type | Lawn tractor |
| Cutting Width | 42 in. |
| Power | 17.5 horsepower |
| Transmission | Automatic (hydrostatic) |
This John Deere is an affordable and durable lawn tractor with a solid cast-iron front axle and a 17.5-hp engine to mow on any terrain. The deck has 12 height settings for a custom cut between 1 and 4 inches. Plus, there are plenty of compatible add-ons like a mulch kit, bagger, front bumper, and tow-behind spreaders and other tools.
In addition to these features, the S100 offers a reasonable 18-inch turn radius, separate gas pedals for forward and reverse, and comfort conveniences like an adjustable seat, cup holder, and small storage compartment. For anyone looking for a solid tractor for mowing and running implements like a tow-behind cart, aerator, or dethatcher, this is machine is a solid option.
The mowing blades of any riding lawn mower are housed in a steel cutting deck, which sits just above the ground you are moving over. The width of the deck determines how wide a swath of grass the mower cuts with each pass.
Ideally, we recommend that you look for a riding mower that allows you to cut your grass in about an hour to an hour and a half. A deck width of around 30 inches will allow you to cover about an acre in that time. Move up to a larger mower with a 42-inch deck for yards up to 1.5 acres. Finally, upgrade to a deck size of 50 inches or more for any property larger than 2 acres.
The power (i.e., output) of a gas-engine riding mower is expressed in horsepower (hp). An 11- to 15-hp engine or motor can adequately power a mower with a 30-inch deck. For mowers with decks between 42 and 46 inches, you should look for no less than 16 hp. For the largest mowers, with decks between 52 and 60 inches, you want an engine capable of producing 22 hp or more.
Electric mowers have motors, but the power output can be hard to discern. For those used to gas-powered specs, some manufacturers list an hp-equivalent number in an attempt to compare an electric model to a gas-powered counterpart. But more often, you’ll see power in numbers expressed in either kilowatt-hours (kWh), system voltage, and sometimes, battery amperage (Ah). Unfortunately, different manufacturers will emphasize different numbers.
Generally speaking, motor systems and batteries with higher voltage and amp ratings will deliver more kilowatt-hours of power, but these numbers can be easily misunderstood because their meanings can change depending on how they are used together. For example, an 80-volt system using three 10-Ah batteries will deliver fewer kilowatt-hours of power than a 56-volt system using a 60-Ah battery.
Though it’s not a perfect number to gauge the power of an electric mower, the max kilowatt-hours is a helpful spec to look at (sadly, not all manufacturers list it). The more you have, the longer the runtime and ground coverage you’ll achieve. Electric Riding mowers range from around 2.5 kWh up to 7 kWh or more.
Gas-powered riding mowers are still the king when it comes to power and runtime. When you run out of gas, it takes seconds to refuel. That’s why most landscaping professionals still rely on them. The downside is the cost of fuel, oil changes, and general engine maintenance as time goes by. If you don’t maintain your gas mower properly, you could wind up with an expensive repair bill. They’re also much louder than their electric brethren and produce carbon emissions that some dislike.
Battery-powered mowers require less maintenance than gas-powered ones, as they don’t need oil changes, and you don’t have to worry about fuel going stale or needing to clean the carburetor. They also run at lower noise levels. As with other outdoor appliances, though, battery-powered mowers may lack the raw power and endurance of traditional gas-powered riding mowers, which will be most evident in heavy, thick grass or on lawns with dense leaf cover. Some battery-electric mowers will have no issues in these scenarios, but you’re likely to notice they drain the battery faster than a typical maintenance mow.
This leads to another potential issue—charging time. Battery-powered mowers can run for a couple of hours on a single charge, then typically need a few hours to fully recharge, unless you have an alternate set of fresh batteries to swap in.
A riding mower will require general maintenance from time to time. With gas-powered models, you'll need to check your oil levels, change or clean the air filter at least once a season, and check and maintain any belts. Electric motors don't require any of that, which is why they are easier to take care of.
Zero-turn mowers don't use belts (though some older models may have them), but some use hydrostatic transmissions that may require you to refill the hydraulic fluid levels. Also, monitoring tire pressure levels should be on your checklist for any type of riding mower.
Keeping things clean is also key to good mower care. Remove caked-on grass debris any time you can from the underside of the cutting deck and the discharge chute. And don't forget to occasionally sharpen your blades or replace them with new ones. For riding mowers, this process is more complicated than a push mower and may require a mower jack, but it's not hard to accomplish for the confident owner.
Knowing what kind of warranty you're getting is also helpful. Riding mowers can carry a warranty of anywhere from two to five years of unlimited operation or with “hours of use caps.” Much like a car warranty that is based on whichever comes first—years or mileage— riding mowers may run out after an operational period of 300 hours if that happens before a three-year term, for example.
Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.
Colin Aylesworth attended Binghamton University and is a Deputy Editor with the Gear team at Popular Mechanics and Runner’s World, where he has been since 2022. Prior to joining Hearst Magazines, he worked for 11 years at U.S. News and World Report on the autos team.
His personal pursuits fit in well with the work he does for PM and RW. Aylesworth was on his college’s club rowing team and has maintained a routine running habit through most of his adult life as a means of getting exercise and spending time outdoors. Running creates a hearty appetite, which brings us to Popular Mechanics. That publication's expertise in the area of grilling is relatable to Aylesworth, who is an adherent to charcoal grilling. In fact, he’s been primarily using the same Weber charcoal kettle he bought on Craigslist in 2012.
Aylesworth also has experience in the lawn mower industry. Not only has he been mowing his and neighbor’s lawns during adolescence, one of his more recent endeavors is a side gig of repairing and restoring gas lawn mowers given up by their previous owners. Since joining PM, he has gotten more involved with the publication’s mower testing efforts and especially enjoys testing out new electric and zero turn mowers.
此内容由惯性聚合(RSS阅读器)自动聚合整理，仅供阅读参考。 原文来自 — 版权归原作者所有。