The 4 best riding lawn mowers

When you're caring for a large yard, there's nothing that can match the speed and power of the best riding lawn mowers. It can be intimidating and time consuming to find the right ride-on lawn mower for you — they are pricey, after all — but they're a great investment that will turn mowing the lawn into less of a chore.

After talking to experts and testing a few models for ourselves, we found the best riding lawn mowers for every yard. Our top pick is the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower, a zero-turn riding mower with powerful, battery-powered operation that can handle up to two acres on a single charge. If you're looking for a cheaper option, we recommend the Craftsman T100 36-in 11.5-HP Gas Riding Lawn Mower, a tractor-style mower with a 36-inch cutting deck that costs just over $2,000.

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The best riding lawn mowers

Best overall: John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower - See at Lowe's

Best budget: Craftsman T100 36-in 11.5-HP Gas Riding Lawn Mower - See at Lowe's

Best lawn tractor: EGO TR4204 Power+ 42" T6 Lawn Tractor - See at Ace Hardware

Best for extra-large lawns: Toro Titan 60 - See at Tractor Supply

Best overall

This mower makes quick work of small and large yards alike. John Deere is one of the best lawn care brands, so it's no surprise that our top pick is the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak Mower. This battery-powered zero-turn mower quickly cuts small to large yards because it turns at zero degrees, allowing you to maneuver more easily and cut faster. In fact, whether you go with the 42-inch or 48-inch cutting deck, you can mow up to two acres on a single charge.

It's electric and performs just as well as gas models. As one of the best electric lawn mowers, it's far quieter than gas-powered riding mowers and more eco-friendly too. It took our top spot over a gas-powered ride on lawn mower because nothing is sacrificed — not power or precision cutting. It has a maximum speed of 7 mph, making it one of the faster riding mowers on the market. Many thoughtful features about this mower make it easy to use, like how the mower locks in place when you move the handles out, and the front and side LED headlights can illuminate the ground when there is little sunlight.

The charger is built in to the mower. One of the most interesting aspects of this John Deere riding lawn mower is that it doesn't require a separate charger, as it is built into the mower. All you need to do is plug it into an outlet with an extension cord, and it begins charging. Another major highlight is that you can wash this lawn mower with a hose without being concerned that water will damage the mower. The battery is completely sealed.

It's surprisingly comfortable. The chair is incredibly comfortable, especially since it comes with armrests. There's plenty of legroom and even a storage compartment with a USB charger. A five-year battery warranty is not bad, either.

Best budget

While not cheap, this riding lawn mower is affordable compared to other options. Riding lawn mowers are not cheap by any means, but the Craftsman T100 36-inch 11.5 HP Gas Riding Lawn Mower is relatively affordable. This tractor-style riding lawn mower is better equipped to mow medium to large yards, even those with some obstacles. Easily mow and mulch up to one acre with the 1.3-gallon fuel tank. It may lack the zero-turn capability and have an 18-inch turn radius, but that's pretty typical of most tractor-mowers. The Turf Saver wheels will help protect your yard on turns.

It has a range of cutting speeds and deck positions. The 7-speed transmission levers are easy enough to use, allowing you to shift between gears and different cutting speeds. There is also a lever to change between the five different deck positions. You can mow forward and in reverse at a maximum of 5.5 mph. That's not the fastest on the market, but fairly average. The low-back seat isn't the most comfortable, but the headlights will make it easier to mow in low-light situations.

Best lawn tractor

Ego's mid-size tractor is powerful and mows on hills. Ego has been a leader among battery-powered riding lawn mowers, and they continue that legacy with the EGO TR4204 Power+ 42" T6 Lawn Tractor. For having a 42-inch deck, it's not an excessively large tractor and yet it is still capable of mowing up to 1.5 acres on a single charge. Various features contribute to a quick cutting session such as cruise control, LED headlights, and a 6 mph forward mowing speed. It's even capable of mowing on hills and inclines, which you don't always find among tractors.

I appreciated the range of settings. You can adjust between three different driving speeds, three blade settings, and whether or not you want to cut while in reverse. The screen keeps track of the battery life, and the mower adjusts the power output automatically when the battery is nearly drained so that you can get the mower near the charger before it dies.

It's easy to drive. If you know how to drive a car, it'll be easy enough to drive this riding tractor throughout the yard, though you'll have to use two feet for speeding and braking. The seat is comfortable and adjustable, and there are numerous storage spaces, including two cup holders and a USB port.

Best for extra-large lawns

This is one of the speediest riding lawn mowers. Time is obviously a big factor when it comes to mowing oversize lawns, and the Toro Titan 60's forward and reverse speed are a big reason we chose it as our top pick in this category. The hydrostatic rear-wheel transmission allows you to reach speeds up to 9 mph and 3 mph in reverse. This mower's large, 22-inch rear tires are also designed to protect your grass from divots and provide enough traction to keep you moving — even on uneven ground. It also features 15 quarter-inch deck adjustments, adjusted with a spring-assisted foot pedal, making it quick and easy to customize the deck height as you mow.

It's durable and sturdy. I'm most impressed by the heavy-duty frame, which is constructed of square tubular steel. This design not only makes it durable enough to handle the wear and tear that comes from tackling large jobs and heavy use, but it also provides the sturdy foundation a large mower like this needs. This focus on durability also extends to the deck, which is made of 10-gauge steel and coated with a corrosion-resistant finish.

Mowers with an open-frame design are easier to maintain. In my experience, open frame mowers like this one are great, not just for how easy they are to jump on and off, but because they are much easier to perform maintenance and repairs. The Toro Titan 60 also has a hinged floor pan, which makes it easier to access the deck and engine.

How we chose the best riding lawn mowers

Alex Rennie spent many years using, maintaining, and repairing lawn mowers as a landscaper at a national park, which informed selections for this guide. Alex Temblador is a home and product reviewer who tested the John Deere and EGO ride-on lawn mowers for a few weeks on her half-acre yard. Whenever possible, we tried to get hands-on experience with various models.

Richard Blake, owner of McCoy's Lawn Equipment Center Inc., in Austin, and Elizabeth Chavez, the client relations manager of Crockett Service Center, a power equipment store based in Dallas, also spoke with us to learn more about what to look for when shopping for a riding lawn mower.

Here are the criteria we used to help curate our list and compare potential options:

• Cutting height settings: Being able to adjust the height of your blades will allow you to produce the grass height you prefer, which is essential for certain grass types. The more height options, the more precise you can set your deck.
• Engine volume: For gas-powered engines, we paid close attention to their CC (cubic centimeters) metric, which measures the capacity of the piston's cylinder and is a rough indicator of its power output.
• Durability: We based our evaluations on the mower components that we've had durability issues with in the past and considered deck thickness and material as well as any plastic elements that could have a tendency to crack or fail over time.
• Warranty: We looked at the length of the warranty offered by the brand as well as if there were any hourly limitations attached.

What to look for in a riding lawn mower

Here's what the experts we interviewed had to say about selecting and purchasing a riding lawn mower:

• Consider a zero-turn mower: Blake recommends choosing a zero-turn mower, explaining that it's easy to make turns with them, they don't require shifting, and you can control the ground speed. This lets you finish quicker. Zero-turn mowers take a little getting used to and are a bit pricier, but they're primarily what landscaping pros use for cutting lawns.
• Consider whether you want a gas or electric mower: Gas mowers typically let you cover more ground before running out of gas and are safer around wet lawns, but they require more maintenance and are not environmentally friendly. Some states and cities are limiting the use of or banning the sale of gas lawn mowers. Electric models match the performance of traditional gas counterparts, without the noise, fumes, or on-going maintenance or fuel needs. Our FAQs cover more of their differences.
• Check the maintenance and warranty: Blake said the most important thing to ask yourself is, "the place you are buying your lawn equipment, will they be the place to help you in the future with service and parts?" This is especially important if you don't have any small engine or machine maintenance experience and want to make sure a professional is in charge of keeping your expensive machine running smoothly. I've personally spent many hours handling messy grease guns and banging bent mower decks back into shape and would much rather have had someone else do the job if that were an option.
• Look at a lot of options: Since you will have different priorities or features that mean the most to you, take the time to look at a range of options. "Take your time, read all the reviews and specifications, and your investment will pay with service and a great-looking yard," said Blake. We also recommend physically climbing in and out of as many options as possible, so you can get an even better idea of what it's going to feel like to ride on for extended periods of time.

Riding lawn mower FAQs

What's the difference between a riding mower and lawn tractor?

While riding mower and lawn tractors look the same, they're designed to perform different jobs. Riding mowers are easy to maneuver, with front-mounted decks made to efficiently cut grass. Lawn tractors have center-mounted decks, resulting in a larger turn radius. But, they can easily be customized with snowplows or blowers on the front of the machine or spreaders or dump carts attached to the back.

What is a zero-turn mower?

Zero-turn mowers use separate steering levers, rather than a steering wheel like tractor-style mowers. These levers allow the driver to control either side of the mower independently, and when one is pushed forward and the other backward, you can execute an almost zero-radius turn. Performing tight turns is a time-saver and reduces the chances of ending up with a small patches of grass left over.

What size mower should I get?

It depends on your budget, but the general rule of thumb is that larger lawns require wider mower decks. That said, extra-wide mowers can struggle with steep includes and tight maneuvers, so a smaller mower might be best if you have a lot of obstacles in your yard.

This can be a lot to think about, which is why Blake mentioned the importance of consulting with an experienced outdoor power dealer, explaining that "whether you have 1 acre or 20, let your dealer help you with size so you don't buy too small or too big, since you want your choice to last you for years."

Are gas or electric riding lawn mowers better?

Gas and electric lawn mowers have their own pros and cons. Gas-powered models tend to be more powerful, though electric lawn mowers are now matching the power of their gas counterparts. Gas riding lawn mowers are also noisy and hurt the environment, which has caused some states and cities to limit their use. Unless you have over 2 acres, we recommend opting for an electric option.

How long is the average life of a riding mower?

Riding lawn mowers can last from 10 to 15 years if cared for properly. Like a car, you'll need to keep up on maintenance, which could include oil changes, battery replacements, and blade sharpening.

Can you use a riding lawn mower on steep hills and inclines?

Some riding lawn mowers can be used on hills and inclines between 15 and 30 degrees, but it should always be done with extreme caution since tipping over could cause serious injury or death. Always check to make sure that the mower has some kind of traction-supporting features, a low-profile design that makes it less likely to tip over, or a roll over protective structure (ROPS). When using a riding lawn mower on a slope, make sure to turn on a flat surface, don't get too close to ditches or drop-offs, and always have an escape plan.

What riding lawn mower is best for one or two acres?

For one to two acres, we recommend an electric riding lawn mower. Their power is comparable to gas models, and they're quiet, eco-friendly, and easier to maintain.

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