Like many of you, every spring, we start to do standard gardening and lawn care work. But, when we finally took out our old gas-powered lawnmower, it was more than obvious that we needed to replace it, pronto. It started to cough, jump, produce smoke, and make other weird sounds. And we didn’t really want to replace it, to tell the truth. It may sound funny, but we are sentimental when it comes to our tools. Plus, this lawnmower was our housewarming gift. It served us faithfully for 6 – 7 years, and we took good care of it. So, as you can imagine, it was not easy to accept that it is time for it to retire.

However, as we needed a machine, we felt that we had no other choice but to go to the store.  A salesman in the store suggested a riding mower, since it’s a safer model, that becomes more and more popular. Honestly, we didn’t know what he meant by it at first. But after listening to his explanations, this seemed like a pretty cool device. However, we didn’t want to make a rash decision based on the advice of an unknown fellow, whose first interest was to sell. Hence, we’ve decided to consult with some friends of ours that did have an experience with a ride-on lawn mower. We’ve also read many reviews from users, to get a better idea of what is the best riding lawn mower and why the demand for them keeps drastically growing every year. Finally, satisfied with all the information we gathered and convinced that it was an adequate model for us, we went and bought an electric riding lawn mower. Then it crossed our minds that plenty of people don’t have so much time to search for information. Thus we created these riding lawn mower reviews, to hopefully make your search a lot easier and effective.

Top Rated Riding Lawn Mowers: 5 Best Models

Model	Cutting Deck	Power Source	Engine	Max Forward Speed	Weight
Craftsman Z525	46 inches	Gasoline	23 HP Briggs & Stratton	7 MPH	625 pounds
Husqvarna MZ61	61 inch	Gasoline	24 HP Kawasaki	8 MPH	770 pounds
Husqvarna Z254	54 inches	Gasoline	26 HP Kohler	6.5 MPH	640 pounds
Ariens 991151 Apex	60 inches	Gasoline	24 HP Kawasaki	8 MPH	853 pounds
Husqvarna TS 354XD	54 inches	Gasoline	24 HP Kawasaki	5.5 MPH	690 pounds

Riding Lawn Mower: A Brief Overview

Many people think that a lawn tractor is pretty much the same as riding lawn mower. That is why we are going first to explain what ride-on mowers are. 

The main benefit of this machine and the reason why they are so popular is that a person operating them is sitting. However, there are some commercial models, like zero turn mower, where you stand. These machines have a cutting deck under the front of the vehicle, unlike tractors, which have a mid-mounted deck. Plus, as the name suggests they have a zero-turn radius. Thus, they are a lot safer to use and are much more convenient. Standard or zero-turn riding lawn mowers are not the cheapest machines you will find on the market. But they are definitely worth the money. 

“Okay, okay! But why do I need this machine?” – you may ask. Well, the main advantage of it is that it allows you to work in a large area in a relatively short time. People, who have yards of several acres, know well what it means to cut the grass with a standard lawn. Of course, they want to avoid spending hours working on the lawn, and so they opt for this type of machine. But, people who have small yards can also benefit from owning the best riding lawn mower for the money. Since they take the effort and time out of the mowing process, they are also a fantastic option for older people. Plus, a small riding lawn mower with zero-turn is a lot safer than push or walk-behind mowers, because of its design of zero-turn radius.

Another reason to choose a small tractor for small acreage or any other type of riding lawn mower lies in their versatility. With the right accessories, you can even use them to remove leaves or plow snow.

Riding Lawn Mower Types

Rear Engine Mowers

As you can assume, the engine, in this case, is at the back of this machine.  That is why this is considered one of the most comfortable options, according to many riding mower reviews from users, as well as our personal experience. Because the engine is in the back, you will have a lot of space in front. Also, they come with a long steering wheel. And while some beginners may find it challenging at first, once you get used to it, the riding mower makes riding more comfortable. Compared to other models, they are a bit slow, but they guarantee the most relaxing and safer experience. Of course, as long as you don’t forget about proper safety rules! Other than that, it is also the best riding lawn mower for rough terrain.

Lawn Tractors

While creating our lawn tractor reviews we’ve also tested the mower more than once. And let us tell you, these models are a lot faster than any we’ve tried so far. Plus, they are equipped with a more powerful motor, which would make mowing a lot faster. However, it can be hard to maneuver around the obstacles or in narrow places with this type of machine. They are designed to mow larger pieces of land. Apart from that, they can work as riding lawn mowers with bagger.

Zero Turn Mowers

Zero-turn mowers are usually the most expensive on the market. However, they are also the most efficient and used by lawn maintenance companies. These machines come with a 360-degree turning radius and a super simple wheel steering system. It makes them perfect when you need to work around obstacles, or if you have kids. That is because sometimes older kids might help parents with lawn mowing, and that is very dangerous. Thus, if you simply don’t have time and ask your child to do some mowing, it’s best to go with a zero-turn option. And especially make sure that they (and you) know and follow all the safety tips!

Electric Riding Mower

Besides standard gas-powered, there are also electric riding lawn mower models. They are battery-powered, and as you can imagine, not as powerful as gas riding lawn mowers. However, they are an excellent choice for people with smaller yards. They are also popular because these machines are the quietest and eco-friendly option since they don’t release any harmful gasses into the atmosphere and are only 75 decibels (while others are about 80-89, which is a lot more dangerous). Thus, electric riding mowers don’t contribute to noise pollution.

Choosing the Best Riding Mower: What to Look for?

Horsepower

When it comes to the power of riding lawn more, it is essential to say that it is expressed in horsepower or HP. Several parts of the machine usually benefit from this power, mainly the transmission and blades. Machines with an engine that has more HP will, of course, work more efficiently.

Cutting Width

Like with any other lawnmower, the width of the cutting deck plays an essential role in determining how much grass you can cut at once. On average smaller machines come at 30 degrees cutting width, whereas larger machines come with 50 degrees or more. And before buying the machine, it is necessary to consider the size of your yard.

Transmission

Riding lawn mowers come with three types of transmission – manual, automatic, and hydrostatic. The manual transmission comes with plenty of speed settings, but you have to switch by hand, which can be challenging. The automatic transmission allows you to shift between speed levels by using the gas pedal. Hydrostatic is similar, but instead of belts, it uses fluids to function.

Tank Capacity

If you opt for a gas-powered model, you need to think about the capacity of the tank. In general, the size of a tank depends on the size of the machine.  Again it is necessary to think about the size of the yard to avoid having to stop working to fuel the tank.

Price

Price is often a factor to consider for many of us. Whether you are buying the best garden tractor or rear engine mower, etc., keep in mind that these are expensive machines. However, prices vary depending on the model, and it is still possible to find cheap riding lawn mowers or at least more affordable than usual.

What Are the Best Lawn Tractor Brands?

As we said, buying this machine requires a pretty big investment. Although there are plenty of manufacturers and models on the market, they don’t all offer the same quality. With that said, it’s logical that you would like to know which brands are worth investing in and which not before spending thousands of dollars on this machine. In our opinion, the best brands of riding lawn mowers are Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, and Poulan Pro. These have been around for quite some time, and always bring premium-quality, great mowers for affordable and reasonable prices.

What Accessories Are Available for Riding Mowers?

• Stripe kits are designed to create the effect of the football field. They are rollers that band the grass where you want so you get this result.
• Mulcher is an ideal attachment because it saves you a lot of time and effort. When you attach it, the machine mulches the grass as it cuts it.
• Grass catcher is also convenient because it allows you to collect grass clippings immediately.

FAQ

What is the Best Way to Cut Grass With a Riding Lawn Mower?

• Even though it may seem tempting, avoid cutting the grass shorter than recommended, as it may get damaged.
• Mow in different patterns.
• Don’t make sudden or sharp turns as the grass might get damaged.
• To prevent rollovers, make sure to mow up and down the hill.

How To Maintain a Riding Lawn Mower?

• Clean and remove any debris after every use.
• Check and clean the air filter occasionally.
• Change the oil and belts regularly.
• Change the spark plug every season.

How Long Does a Riding Mower Last?

It depends on the type of care you provide. If you maintain the mower adequately and regularly, it can last up to 20 years. It also, of course, depends on how often you work with it.

Conclusion

Now, you have all the information you need about the best riding lawn mower! Indeed these powerful machines can seem intimidating at first, but once you understand how they function, you see that they are the best option for landscapers. And we sincerely hope that our little research helped you learn all about what makes the best riding lawn mower 2023! So, have you tried this machine before?