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Best Riding Mowers for 2024 [CNET]
Our Experts
I am the Labs Manager for CNET’s Home Division based in Louisville, KY. My interest in technology began in the early ’90s, and soon after I began my double major in computer science and computer engineering. I’ve worked in many areas, including computer hardware, software, technology, networking, graphic design, instruction, construction, music and even ballroom dancing! 65% Ron Swanson, 25% Ben Wyatt, 10% Andy Dwyer.
Expertise portable power stations, tools, coolers, lawn mowers, diy
If you have a large yard, a riding mower can be a great way to cut your grass more efficiently and keep your lawn looking its best. They not only save you time and effort, but they can also be a lot of fun to use. With so many different models and brands on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. That’s why I’ve done the work for you to compare the specs on leading models and find the best riding mowers to fit different yard maintenance needs and budgets
There are a few things to consider when you begin thinking about buying a riding lawn mower. The size of your lawn is one of the key factors — it may be overkill to use a riding lawn mower for a 0.05-acre plot when a push mower will do it in a matter of minutes. Furthermore, there’s a huge price gap between even the nicest of push mowers and most budget-conscious riding mowers. On top of that, not all lawns are created equal. You may need to take steep inclines or other rugged terrain into consideration when making this type of decision.
With recent advancements in battery technologies, you now also have the option of electric versus traditional gas motors. There’s a lot to consider here. For one, if you run out of gas when mowing your lawn, you can take a couple minutes to add more gas and keep going. The same scenario with an electric unit could see you with an hour or two gap in your mowing while you recharge. So sizing your machine to your specific lawn can be even more important when looking at electric options.
On the other hand, some of the electric units are compatible with battery platforms, meaning you could take the batteries from the mower and use them in other tools as well. That also means that if you have extra batteries for those other tools, you could pop those into your mower if they were charged and you find yourself running out of power — sidestepping the time delay in refueling versus recharging. There will still be an offset on pricing, however. There’s a hefty upfront investment in batteries that may be tough to recoup.
An important note: Unlike the vast majority of best lists on CNET, this one is based on our research rather than hands-on testing — only because the size and expense of these units made the acquisition of product samples logistically challenging. I’ve compared all the specs to find the best riding lawn mowers on the market, so you can make an informed decision about which one could be right for you.
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Ryobi 48-volt, 100-Ah Electric Zero Turn Riding Mower: Ryobi has a few nice options for electric riding mowers, including this 100-Ah version that has the largest battery capacity of all our evaluated units. However, looking at the math converting both the Ryobi and Ego units to watt-hours by multiplying their battery voltage by battery amp-hours, Ryobi has 4,800 Wh versus Ego’s 3,360 Wh. At these stated capacities, both manufacturers claim their mowers cover “up to” 3 acres, which makes the Ego system appear to be more efficient.
Greenworks 60-volt, 42-inch CrossoverT Electric Riding Lawn Mower: This mower is the least expensive of the electric options I evaluated. I do like the integrated storage bed in the back of the unit. It comes with six 8-Ah batteries and there is an extensive outdoor tool collection to interact with these batteries just like the Ego platform. For recharging, you will need to use the three included double battery chargers to bring your six batteries back online. It can cover up to 2.5 acres per charge.
Craftsman T110 42-inch 17.5-hp Riding Lawn Mower: This gas-powered mower boasts similar specs to some of our other units, albeit with a slightly smaller 17.5-hp engine. A decent choice overall, especially if you’re already a Craftsman fan, but a slightly higher price tag per spec keeps this one out of the winner’s circle.
How much does a riding lawn mower cost?
Riding mowers vary greatly in cost. Entry-level costs for most known brands is around $2,000 and can exceed $25,000 for larger multifunction lawn tractors designed for very large lawn areas. An average lawn mower costs in the $3,000-$3,500 range.
What size lawn should I have before considering a riding mower?
This answer will vary a bit based on the individual, but in general anything over half an acre is a great candidate for a riding mower.
You still might consider a riding mower for smaller lawns especially if you have concerns about your physical ability or stamina to push mow whatever size yard you have. Even in those circumstances there are self-propelled push mowers that take the majority of the work out of the task.
Which is better, a traditional riding mower or a zero-turn mower?
Both mowers have their advantages. Up front, one of the main differences will be cost. Zero-turn mowers will usually cost at least 25% more (usually closer to 50% more) than their traditional counterparts. Zero-turns will, however, mow your space faster and with greater maneuverability than the traditional riding mower. Smaller residential yards are easy candidates for traditional mowers while larger yards or people who mow multiple yards (like landscape companies) might opt for zero-turns to increase their time efficiency.
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