Best Riding Mower Brands

Riding lawn mower attachments

Front and back attachments give riding lawn mowers gain additional flexibility. The attachments vary between manufacturers, but most have similar basic options.

• Sweepers: This attachment gathers clippings, leaves, twigs and other small mowing debris.
• Snow plow: You can use your riding lawn mower during the winter with this front attachment, which gets snow off of driveways and walkways.
• Aerators: This back attachment automatically aerates the lawn as the mower cuts the grass. Aeration creates holes in the soil to improve drainage and increases the amount of nutrients getting to the grass seed.

Riding lawn mower speed

You can choose from different speed options when using your riding lawn mower.

• Single speed: These mowers have a single, fixed speed. Single speed mowers are typically less expensive than multi-speed models and work well for homeowners mowing a lawn with few obstacles.
• Multi-speed: Multi-speed mowers typically have two to seven speed settings. These mowers are excellent for lawns with many obstacles, commercial users dealing with a wide variety of mowing situations and homeowners sharing yard care responsibility with multiple people in the household.

Cutting path size

The cutting path describes the blade deck size and amount of grass cut at a time.

• 36 to 42-inch deck: This standard size riding mower deck works well for homeowners with yards up to two acres. The deck is wide enough to create an efficient mowing path but not so wide that you’ll need to use a weed whacker to get grass near obstacles.
• 48 to 72 inch deck: A larger deck speeds up the mowing process and reduces the time needed to mow lawns larger than two acres. These deck sizes are typically used by landscaping companies and other commercial users.
• Custom deck size: Custom deck sizes apply to commercial mowing or specialty situations, such as golf courses.

Fuel capacity

Riding mowers are powered by gasoline, which is stored in a fuel tank.

• Standard size: A standard size riding mower gas tank holds up to four gallons of gas.
• Oversized: Commercial and high-end riding mowers have oversize fuel capacity of six gallons or more.

Handling

Easy-to-control riding mowers make the lawn care process less strenuous. Here are some things to consider when it comes to riding lawn mower handling.

• Turning radius: Navigating obstacles around a yard is much easier with a tight or zero turning radius.
• Traction: Steep slopes and slippery yards get addressed with solid traction provided by specialty tires.
• Suspension: Large areas take hours to mow, even with a fast riding mower, so a smooth suspension increases the comfort level.

Riding mower cost

Riding mowers span across a wide variety of prices, from budget models to high-end commercial vehicles.

• Sub-$1,000: These riding mowers provide basic features sufficient for homeowners not looking for a lot of bells and whistles.
• $1,000–$5,000: Mid-range riding mowers provide more powerful engines, attachment compatibility and features designed for homeowner comfort and convenience.
• Over $5,000: The latest technology, commercial capacity and other features create a high-end riding mower.

Lawn tractors

Lawn tractors are standard riding mowers with a front engine. Many homeowners and landscapers use these mowers due to their availability and power.

Zero-turn radius mowers

Zero-turn radius mowers have a tight turning radius capable of handling many lawn obstructions. This mower is suited for level yards.

Rear engine

The riding mower's engine sits at the back of the mower. This placement decreases the mower's size, providing a compact option for residential use.