We Tested the Best Riding Lawn Mowers — Here Are Our Top Picks for 2025
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No one enjoys maneuvering a push mower across their lawn during the spring, summer and fall. I always dreaded the hours I’d spend under the hot sun, heaving it up and down my hilly yard between frequent water breaks. Testing the best riding lawn mowers quickly became one of the best parts of my year. Skip the trial and error by checking out my experiences. You’ll get exactly what you need to make lawn care easy.
What Is the Best Riding Lawn Mower?
I started my riding mower experience looking for the absolute best model — but what does that look like? Everyone’s yard is different, so it depends on what you need. However, there are a few things we all have in common.
The average homeowner mows their grass 1,027 times in their lifetime. You might even do it more than that if you’re part of a Homeowners’ Association (HOA) with grass-height rules. Your new riding mower should make each lawn care attempt less daunting with a smooth ride, reliable engine, adjustable speeds and simplified maintenance.
If you have a fence around your yard, get a mower that fits through your gates. You don’t want your mower to arrive and have to immediately return it. Once you have your gate-width measurements, it’s time to jump into comparisons.
Best Electric Riding Lawn Mower: Greenworks 60V Mower
You might be among the many homeowners interested in electric lawn mowers. They reduce your carbon footprint by using electric batteries instead of a gas engine. I personally enjoyed that knowledge when mine arrived, plus the revelation that I wouldn’t have to visit the nearest gas station multiple times this summer to refill a lawn mower tank.
The Greenworks 60-volt (V) mower blew my mind. You can cut 200 pounds of grass before emptying its bin and race around your property at a stunning eight miles per hour (MPH). The double batteries also last 1.5 acres, which was more than enough to finish my yard on one charge.
Product Details
- Power: Battery
- Cutting Deck Width: 42 Inches
- Cutting Deck Height: 1.5-4.5 Inches
- Lawn Size: 1.5 Acres
- Speed: 8 MPH
Best Large Gas Mower: Husqvarna Three-Blade Mower
The next thing I wanted to test was a gas mower. They’ve got a classic engine and often more cutting width, which I needed to reduce my lawn care hours. The Husqvarna model didn’t disappoint. The mower has the same high 4.5-inch grass height maximum that lets thicker grass maintain root systems, but reaches 61 inches across the blades. I also appreciated the five-gallon fuel tank, which still looked nearly full after I finished my yard. The cushioned seat with a tall back was an extra nice touch, too.
Product Details
- Power: Gas
- Cutting Deck Width: 61 Inches
- Cutting Deck Height: 4.5 Inches
- Lawn Size: Over 1.5 Acres
- Speed: 8-10 MPH
Best Small Riding Lawn Mower: Greenworks 30-Inch Mower
Some homeowners want the best small riding lawn mower for storage reasons. Who wants to sacrifice half their garage for a mower you only use for half the year? I tested the 30-inch Greenworks mower to see what everyone was raving about. The small cutting deck made it easy to fit under my back porch, while the seven-blade height positions allowed more customization across my uneven yard. The battery also cuts 1.25 acres on a single charge, which was pretty impressive for a tiny unit.
Product Details
- Power: Battery
- Cutting Deck Width: 30 Inches
- Cutting Deck Height: 1.5-4.5 Inches
- Lawn Size: 1.25 Acres
- Speed: 6 MPH
Best Zero-Turn Mower: EGO Power+ Electric Riding Lawn Mower
Doing constant three-point turns on your mower to get around the edges of your house is frustrating. Zero-turn mowers change the game. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to turn the EGO Power+ mower on a dime. Mowing became so much more enjoyable, but my favorite part of this model was the control unit.
The space next to your seat has a vertical slot to hold your phone without the risk of it falling out. If you have any questions about how long the battery will last, the LED screen next to the keyhole will tell you exactly how much power it has left. Trust me, you don’t want to push a mower in neutral across your property after the battery dies halfway through your yard care routine.
Product Details
- Power: Battery
- Cutting Deck Width: 42 Inches
- Cutting Deck Height: 1.5-4.5 Inches
- Lawn Size: 2 Acres
- Speed: 8 MPH
Best Overall: Ariens IKON Mower
Ariens makes one of the best riding lawn mowers on the market. When I sat in the raised seat and gripped the steering bars, I felt like a professional. The 23-horsepower engine was powerful and quiet, which my neighbors appreciated when I switched to mowing on weekend mornings. I also played around with the 13-blade positions to see what patterns I could create in my yard.
The mower zipped around without using too much fuel, left my grass at a beautiful five inches tall and didn’t break the bank compared to some other models I tried. I loved my Ariens experience the most, so I highly recommend trying it in your yard.
Product Details
- Power: Gas
- Cutting Deck Width: 52 Inches
- Cutting Deck Height: 1.5-5 Inches
- Lawn Size: Medium Lawns
- Speed: 7 MPH
Last-Minute Buying Tips
There are a few key considerations I took that you should know before making your mower purchase. Specific factors will influence which mower is right for your yard, so compare specifications like:
- Power: An electric motor will increase your power bill, but it’s more eco-friendly. Gas engines often last longer but require fossil fuels and refill trips to a gas station throughout the season. Larger yards often require gas engines or an electric mower with multiple backup batteries.
- Turn: Zero-turn mowers are great for people with lots of edges around their house, fence or yard decor. Unfortunately, they’re also more expensive.
- Cutting Deck: The width of your cutting deck determines how much time it takes to cut your grass. Wider decks cover big yards in less time, but they’re also challenging to store in a garage alongside one or two cars.
- Accessories: Many mowers work with accessories like grass clipping bags, leaf mulchers, aerator extensions and more. Some even work with snow blower attachments. If you want to use any of those later, you should get a mower with that in mind.
You can always contact a customer service representative with any questions. Buying a riding mower is a big purchase. I was nervous the first time I tested one and saw that money leave my bank account. If you think about factors like these and compare the most popular models, you’ll feel much more confident about your decision when the time comes.
Make Your Lawn Care Routine Easier This Year
Testing the best riding lawn mowers was a fun experience. I can see why people love the different options for various reasons. The most important thing to do is match a mower’s features with your unique property. You’ll make the best choice when you match your yard’s size, grass height and features to a mower’s capabilities.
FAQs
What’s the Average Lifespan of a Riding Lawn Mower?
The average lifespan of a riding lawn mower is six to 10 years, but that’s an average estimate that changes per homeowner. If you do the right maintenance for your mower model and buy from a reputable company, you’re more likely to get that full timeline.
What Maintenance Does a Riding Lawn Mower Need?
Riding lawn mowers need different kinds of maintenance depending on their power source. Gas engines need oil changes, spark plug checks and air filter replacements according to the instructions in their user manuals.
Electric mowers need corrosion inspections around the battery terminals and blade sharpening. Their batteries may also need replacing every few years, which you can more easily predict with an occasional multimeter reading.
What’s the Most Common Problem With Riding Mowers?
The most common problem with riding mowers is stalling out. I made this mistake myself plenty of times. Mowers rarely allow the blade to operate while in reverse, so you have to pull the blade up before putting it in reverse when you turn. I panicked when this first happened, but you only have to pull the blade up and potentially restart the mower to fix it.
What Riding Mower Deck Size Do I Need?
You’ll need a larger riding mower deck size if you have a yard over 1.5 acres. However, you might also prefer a longer mower blade regardless of your property size. A standard deck is 52 inches across, so anything smaller than that is best for tiny yards less than an acre.
Do I Need Riding Lawn Mower Attachments and Accessories?
You don’t need riding lawn mower attachments and accessories, but they can be nice to have. If you frequently aerate your yard or push a snow blower across your driveway in the winter, attachments to do both of those things could make your life easier all year long. Think about what you’d prefer before buying a model that may or may not have the capabilities to use those attachments.
About The Author
Peter is the editorial assistant for Renovated. Beyond that, he’s a small-time landlord who learned real estate and property maintenance from scratch. When Peter has down time, you won’t find him, because he’ll be out on a hike.
