Best Overall
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50-Inch Zero Turn Mower
- This mower has a large 50-inch deck size that covers more ground in less time, a mid-range price, and an ideal size for residential use.
This mower has a large 50-inch deck size that covers more ground in less time, a mid-range price, and an ideal size for residential use.
- As a zero-turn mower, it has levers instead of a steering wheel, so there's a bit of a learning curve if you've never used one of these mowers before.
As a zero-turn mower, it has levers instead of a steering wheel, so there's a bit of a learning curve if you've never used one of these mowers before.
Cub Cadet's Ultima ZT1 50-Inch Gas Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower is the best riding lawn mower thanks to its superior build and handy features. Though it's a zero-turn mower and requires some practice to get used to if you've never operated one before, it's actually quite user friendly.
The riding lawn mower has a large 50-inch deck with 15 different height position options for a custom cut. It also has an adjustable high-backed seat, so you won't get sore even if you're mowing 4 acres of lawn in one go.
It cuts fast and smooth and can turn with ease thanks to its zero-degree turning radius. In other words, you won't have to switch the mower blades off, circle around, then start them up again to go in the opposite direction to get those straight lines. It performs as well as a much more expensive and professional-grade model and is priced reasonably for a lawn mower that can pretty much do it all.
Product Details: Power: Gas, 23 horsepower, 726 cc Kawasaki twin-cylinder engine | Lawn Size: Up to 4 acres | Deck Width: 50 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4.5 inches | Speed: 7 miles per hour (forward), 3.5 miles per hour (reverse)
Best Zero Turn
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42-Inch Zero-Turn Mower
- Setup4.8/5
- Design4.5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.7/5
- Safety4.7/5
- It’s a powerful mower that’s easy to maneuver and makes clean and even cuts, even on hilly terrain.
It’s a powerful mower that’s easy to maneuver and makes clean and even cuts, even on hilly terrain.
- It’s quite noisy, and operating the levers may take some time to get used to.
It’s quite noisy, and operating the levers may take some time to get used to.
During testing, we found that the best zero-turn riding mower is the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 40-inch riding mower. The mower offers a large mowing swath, although slightly less than its 50-inch sister model mentioned above. A little smaller and more affordable, this unit still has many of the same perks as the 50-inch model as well.
It took around half an hour to set up as there were quite a few screws to figure out. Thankfully the instruction manual was easy to understand. We tested it on a third of an acre yard that’s slightly slanted with several obstacles, and found that it performed remarkably well.
After setup, the machine started up right away (as soon as we figured out the choke) and took 3.5 inches off the lawn evenly and effortlessly. We even tried cutting down taller grass and it had no issues whatsoever. The side discharge worked properly, ejecting the grass from the chute far enough away and spreading it around very well so as not to leave chunks of grass near the mower.
It’s easy to adjust the cutting heights on this riding mower—all you do is turn a knob on the left side of the operator, press the foot pedal, and turn the dial to the selection of your choice.
There are two speed adjustment options, even in reverse. The mower provides a pleasant ride that is less bouncy than some other mowers and can make turns faster, too. The seat is adjustable to your comfort level, which could depend on how bumpy your terrain is. Its lower overall height meant we were able to have a clearer view ahead which made riding it and looking where we were mowing a much more pleasant experience.
The mower has a wider body that helps distribute the weight, so you’ll feel safe riding it. There was a little bit of a learning curve to get used to the settings and the whole riding experience, but nothing that a couple of mowing sessions didn’t straighten out.
During testing, we found that this pick is also on the noisier side. While other mowers tend to have a covered-up motor, the Cub Cadet’s is an open engine. All in all, this is a high-quality mower for larger yards that is great value for money. Product Details: Power: Gas | Lawn Size: 2 to 4 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4.5 inches | Speed: 7.5 miles per hour (forward), 3.5 miles per hour (reverse)
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHAD SPARKS
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / CHAD SPARKS
Best Electric
Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower
- Setup5/5
- Design5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.8/5
- Safety4.8/5
- The mower is easy to use and cuts grass quickly and efficiently.
The mower is easy to use and cuts grass quickly and efficiently.
- The wheels might spin when going uphill on damp grass.
The wheels might spin when going uphill on damp grass.
The RYOBI 80V HP Brushless 42-inch Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower is ready to go when you are; simply unplug the charging plug and you are off and mowing. You won’t have to deal with gas fill-ups or oil changes or have to choke your gas motor to get it started and warmed up.
We tested this mower on a half-acre backyard with a few hills, some trees, and fencing, and found it chopped 25 minutes off the usual mowing time. It’s much quieter than some other mowers on the market at around 92 decibels-we even managed to have a conversation with someone nearby when the blades were running at high speed.
Set-up took around 45 minutes and was straightforward thanks to instructions that were easy to follow. The battery came partly charged and it took only 70 minutes to fully charge. Just keep in mind that an empty battery takes around two hours and twenty minutes to charge. Luckily, it has an LCD screen that displays the battery life and run time, so you’ll know when you need to recharge.
When we took it for a test run, the ground was somewhat damp due to recent rain but the mower handled it effortlessly. The push-button controls allow you to choose from three travel speeds and three blade speeds, and there’s an on-off button for the headlights, as well as an LCD screen toggle button. The mower is controlled by a single joystick that operates the forward and reverse speeds, and it was easy to get the hang of during testing.
Setting the cutting height is simple as well. Thanks to one conveniently located lever, you can choose from one of 12 height settings up to 4.5 inches. It also comes with a height-stopping key that allows you to quickly drop the mowing deck to the cutting height you want.
The seat is comfortable and features a suspension adjustment knob. The mower has storage compartments and two USB ports that can be used for charging your phone, and a Bluetooth function that allows you to monitor your mower with the RYOBI riding mower app.
During testing, we felt that the mower also feels safe to use as the blades stop quickly as soon as you leave the seat. There are also bright headlights and reflective decals on the sides. The only issue we had was that the tires spun a little when going uphill on damp terrain, but this didn’t happen when the grass was dry.
We appreciated that the mower’s turning capabilities allow you to get very close to objects like fences and trees to cleanly mow around them in a single pass. It’s a very powerful mower and cuts the grass cleanly and evenly, leaving no patch of uncut grass.
Product Details: Power: Battery | Lawn Size: up to 3 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4.5 inches | Speed: 8 miles per hour (forward), 4 miles per hour (reverse)
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / PATRICK MCGOWAN
Best Gas
John Deere S100 42-Inch Gas Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractor
- Setup5/5
- Design5/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.8/5
- Safety4.8/5
- It’s a zippy mower that makes sharp turns and mows close to obstacles with ease, even on wet grass.
It’s a zippy mower that makes sharp turns and mows close to obstacles with ease, even on wet grass.
- There’s a multi-step starting process that some may find difficult.
There’s a multi-step starting process that some may find difficult.
For a gas option, this John Deere pick is the best mower to consider. We tested the S100 42-inch riding mower on a 10-acre property with hills and were impressed with this affordable machine’s capabilities. We found that it cut the grass perfectly, even when wet.
The mower came assembled, so it was ready to go upon arrival—we just had to add gas and check the fluid levels before setting off.
The instruction manual was straightforward, but starting it took a few tries—you have to push the brake all the way down, set the parking brake, advance the throttle forward to the choke position, and then turn the key. Once we got the hang of it, however, it was easy to use.
It took 15 minutes to mow 4 inches of damp grass on 0.2 acres. The mower felt zippy, made sharp turns, and offered excellent maneuverability thanks to its easy steering and highly responsive pedal (the speed is simply determined by how hard you push the pedal).
It turns quite well, making it easy to mow around obstacles, even skinny trees—it quite simply fits everywhere. It is rather on the loud side, though it didn’t seem too different from other riding mowers.
The riding mower felt very solid and even felt smooth when we drove it up a 500-foot gravel driveway. It’s not fazed in the slightest by puddles either. The lever makes it easy to raise the blades if you need to pass over something higher, like flat rocks.
It’s worth noting that there are two different pedals for forward and reverse, which you do have to get used to. However, the adjustable seat is comfortable, even during longer mows, and it has a shorter back that we felt provided good lower back support.
We were impressed with the side discharge on this machine-we found that it’s quite strong as it sent the grass far out of the way and even blew nearby leaves as well. There aren’t any wheel weights or reflectors, but we felt completely safe riding this mower as there’s an ignition cutoff switch and handy headlights.
We found this mower to be excellent value for money as it’s nimble, fast, and efficient at mowing on even wet grass. Its smaller deck makes it better for yards up to one acre in size, and its compact design means it’s easy to store, too.
Product Details: Power: Gas | Lawn Size: Up to 1 acre | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1 to 4 inches | Speed: 5.5 miles per hour (forward), 3.2 miles per hour (reverse)
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ABBY MERCER
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ABBY MERCER
Best Heavy Duty
Toro Titan Max 60-Inch Zero-Turn Mower
- This fast and durable riding mower has a large 60-inch deck that is ideal for professional-grade results.
This fast and durable riding mower has a large 60-inch deck that is ideal for professional-grade results.
- The model is significantly more expensive than other options.
The model is significantly more expensive than other options.
The best heavy-duty riding mower is Toro Titan's Max 60-Inch Zero-Turn Mower, which is suitable for yards up to 7 acres. This mower packs 26 horsepower, the most powerful mower on our list.
The riding mower features a padded seat that has back support and armrests as well as suspension, so you'll hardly feel any jolts even on the bumpiest terrain.
This durable mower provides a professional finish with its superfast blades that cleanly cut the grass, effortlessly eliminating any clumps. While gas lawn mowers can be high maintenance, this riding mower provides a toolless filter change to make maintenance easier. Plus, its 22-inch tires are thick and provide superior traction for added safety without damaging the lawn, and it even has protective tire fenders to shield users from stray mud or flying lawn clippings.Product Details:
Power: Gas | Lawn Size: Up to 7 acres | Deck Width: 60 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 5 inches | Speed: 8 miles per hour (forward), 3 miles per hour (reverse)
Best Safety Features
Ryobi Brushless 42-Inch Electric Cordless Riding Lawn Tractor
- Setup3/5
- Design4/5
- Performance5/5
- Usability4.3/5
- Safety4.8/5
- It has alerts when reversing and when you leave the seat, and an auto-shutoff, providing a safer mowing experience.
It has alerts when reversing and when you leave the seat, and an auto-shutoff, providing a safer mowing experience.
- There is no power steering or physical speed control lever.
There is no power steering or physical speed control lever.
If you’re looking for a safe yet quick lawn mower, the RYOBI 80V HP 42-inch Electric Riding Lawn Tractor is one of the best riding mowers to consider. This eco-friendly mower is very light thanks to its mostly plastic construction, and quiet when running, too.
Set up took almost an hour and a half, and the battery arrived partly full. After mowing a third of an acre of land, the battery went from a full charge down to about 80%, according to the digital display. Recharging it up again only took around an hour, however.
The seat is a simple yet decent faux leather that’s comfortable and adjustable forward and back. The accelerator pedal feels a bit jerky at first as it has more power than you would think, but it can also go along very slowly to maneuver around obstacles. When you’re ready, all you have to do is punch the pedal to regain instant speed.
There’s a setting inside the digital display menu that allows you to change the speed response of the pedal. It mowed cleanly and evenly, and we even ran over a few decent-sized sticks. The mower chopped them up with ease, finely chopping up any leaves, too. No exhaust smell or heat comes from the mower—ideal for mowing on those hot summer days.
While backing up, the mower turns off the mowing deck (unless you press a button to override that) and beeps quite loudly, making you feel safe 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 want to use this mower in daylight. The mower has a large manual lever on the right side for adjusting the cutting height of the deck, which can go all the way down to 1.5 inches for those who prefer short lawns. We used the medium blade speed and found it cuts just fine.
There is no power steering, which was fine at higher speeds, but we found that it needed a bit of elbow grease when going slowly around corners.
This small mower takes up little room in a garage or shed. It also comes with three large batteries that sit under the hood. When you have to charge one, you just connect its charger to the wall socket and the mower.
Product Details: Power: Battery | Lawn Size: Up to 2 acres | Deck Width: 42 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4.5 inches | Speed: 7 miles per hour (forward), 1.8 miles per hour (reverse)
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JOSEPH WANEK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / JOSEPH WANEK
Best Small
Cub Cadet 30-Inch Gas Rear-Engine Riding Mower
- It’s an affordable and compact riding mower that’s easy to use and store.
It’s an affordable and compact riding mower that’s easy to use and store.
- It’s not the most powerful riding mower around.
It’s not the most powerful riding mower around.
For anyone with minimal storage space, we recommend the Cub Cadet 30-inch 10.5 HP Gas Rear-Engine Riding Mower. This model is on the smaller side, but its high-performance Briggs and Stratton engine gives it enough power for smaller yards. It even comes with an included mulch kit and it mows in reverse, too.
Its slight 34-inch total width makes it a breeze getting through gates and into a shed, and even through trees and on narrow walkways. This mower has a high-back seat with a large seat and back support, so it should provide a comfortable riding experience overall.
Its hydrostatic drive transmission makes for a smooth ride on flat ground (although it can get a bit bumpy on uneven terrain). It also has an 18-inch turning radius, which isn’t bad for a riding mower that isn’t a zero-turn mower.
The mower features an LED headlight for clear visibility in all types of weather, and a step-through design making it easy to board. The deck is adjustable in any one of five height positions from 1.5 to 3.5 inches for all types of landscape designs.
This mower is easy to clean, too. It features a SmartJet high-pressure deck washing system to get rid of stuck-on grass and lawn debris. For extra peace of mind, it also comes with a three-year limited manufacturer’s warranty when used residentially.
Product Details: Power: Gas | Lawn Size: Up to 1 acre | Deck Width: 30 inches | Deck Height: 1.5 to 3.5 inches | Speed: 5.5 miles per hour (forward), 3.5 miles per hour (reverse)