Craftsman hydrostatic lawn tractor. Best Riding Mower Reviews | Review Lawn Tractors Side by Side

Welcome to the one and only riding lawn mower buying guide you need to look at, before you bite the bullet and buy one yourself.

Here’s what I did to make this the most thorough guide out on the internet. Believe me most websites want to sell one of these instead of simply reviewing it, so there are very few unbiased opinions out there.

I researched all the best selling riding lawn mowers on Lowes, Home Depot, and Sears websites for this comparison guide. Each mower is listed below with the data you need to make a proper buying decision. I actually used this data to buy my own riding mower, wait till you hear about how my purchase went from really good to really bad, and what I did to fix the situation.

The Only Data Really Worth Mowing Over:

Pros and Cons by Model # (Discover cool features and reliability problems.) Currently I’m still sifting through hundreds of reviews, but I will be posting the pros and cons very soon. Remember you will still have access to the most popular data people use to choose a lawn tractor, such as deck size, horsepower, brand, total reviews, average review rating, and of course price. My pros and cons section will be very insightful and loaded with info you can only learn by reading a ton of customer reviews.

Total Customer Reviews (Top sellers usually indicate a good product.)

Average Review Ratings (A good riding mower should rate well.)

Cost Where to Buy (Click on the model and go right to the retailer who sells it the most).

So these are the basics I used to create this buying guide. I suggest to any serious buyers that they read the latest customer reviews on the mower they’re considering. This is easily done by simply clicking on the hyperlinked model name above each tractor photo. Once clicked, a new page or tab will open where you can finalize your opinion by reading what others have complained or praised about. If you want to continue shopping simply close that window to go back to this buying guide.

Without further waiting I present to you that 2015 list of the best selling riding lawn mowers at Home Depot, Lowes, Sears retailers.

19 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

A19A42 42 in. 19 HP Briggs Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower

20 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.4 out of 5

Ariens A20VA46 46 in. 20 HP V-Twin Briggs Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower

20 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.6 out of 5

17.5 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.2 out of 5

John Deere D105 42 in. 17.5 HP Automatic Front-Engine Riding Mower

22 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

John Deere D140 48 in. 22 HP V-Twin Hydrostatic Front-Engine Riding Mower

19 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

3.5 out of 5

Cub Cadet LTX1040 42 in. 19-HP Front-Engine Automatic Drive Riding Mower

19 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

John Deere Model # D110 42 in. 19 HP Hydrostatic Front-Engine Riding Mower

25 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

John Deere D170 54 in. 25-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic Front-Engine Riding Mower

19 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

Ariens A19A42 42 in. 19 HP Briggs Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower

20 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

Ariens 46 in. 20 HP V-Twin Briggs Stratton Automatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower

24 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.5 out of 5

Husqvarna YTH24V48 V-Twin Hydrostatic 48-in Riding Lawn Mower with Briggs Stratton Engine and Mulching Capable

22 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

John Deere D130 V-Twin Hydrostatic 42-in Riding Lawn Mower with Briggs Stratton Engine and (Mulching Capable)

22 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.3 out of 5

Husqvarna YTH22V46 V-Twin Hydrostatic 46-in Riding Lawn Mower with Briggs Stratton Engine and Mulching Capable

15.5 Horsepower

Hydroc Transmission

3.8 out of 5

Troy-Bilt Pony Shift-on-the-Go 42-in Riding Lawn Mower with Briggs Stratton Engine and Mulching Capable

17 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

3.7 out of 5

Troy-Bilt Bronco Automatic 42-in Riding Lawn Mower with Kohler Engine and Mulching Capable

19 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.0 out of 5

Craftsman 19HP Briggs Stratton 46” Riding Mower

420cc ? Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

3.5 out of 5

Craftsman 420cc 42 Riding Mower Front Engine

19 Horsepower

Hydrostatic Transmission

4.5 out of 5

Craftsman 19HP 42” Turn Tight® Riding Mower

22 Horsepower

Automatic Transmission

4.0 out of 5

Craftsman 22HP 42” Turn Tight® Fast Riding Mower

Comparing Riding Mower Features and Options List

Hours Meter. A analog or digital counter that logs total amount of hours on machine.

Deck Size: Typical residential deck sizes range from 42 to 46. A larger deck will allow you to save time. This is especially useful for people that have to mow lawns of 1 acre and above.

Transmission Types:

6 Speed. Just like a manual transmission on a car, a lawn tractor can be outfitted with a manual transmission. Typical usage requires the engagement of a clutch to change gearing. Riding the clutch to assist in braking will wear down the clutch as in a regular car. I’ve noticed several complaints throughout the years about clutches wearing out prematurely, and based on the other reviewers, I have concluded that most of the clutch problems stated in reviews are most likely user error generated.

To Clutch or not To Clutch Ride is the Question and a reoccurring topic on Car Talk with Click and Clack, The Tapport Borthers. If you’re a car nut like I am, you need to check out the NPR Peabody Award winning radio talk show online. I routinely download episodes using a tunein.com app onto my Samsung Galaxy (soon to be replaced S4. I’ll be doing a Smartphone Consideration article soon. I’m mostly looking to acquire the best virtual assistant in my next Smartphone and Cortana from Microsoft Windows 10 is looking really promising. BTW: Sign up for a Microsoft Windows 10 Technical Preview and download the new beta version operating system for free.). http://www.cartalk.com/

Automatic Transmission. Automatic transmissions work similarly to what you will find in a Ford Explorer 6-speed SelectShift Automatic or a Hyundai Elantra 6 speed automatic.

Variable or CVT Transmission. A gear-less transmission, single speed transmission, or one speed automatic are all part of the nomenclature a constant variable transmission (CVT ) is known for.

Hydrostatic Transmission. An internal pump and motor drive system where hydraulic oil pushes out pistons and it’s those pushed out pistons that cause the motor to turn. With this type of transmission there are only 2 pedals on the floor board and no gear lever. Pressing the go pedal firmly causes the mower to reach full speed, pressing it lightly causes the mower to move slowly, kind of like a car. The reverse pedal works the same way, the only thing that changes is that pressing it causes an opposite set of pistons to turn the motor in reverse. This is typically a sealed system that is not meant to be serviced.

Why Buy A Front Engine Riding Mower Instead of a Self-propelled Lawn Mower?

Once again I did my over the top OCD research, because we just bought a house with too much land for a typical self-propelled lawn mower to handle.

Our property is only a half acre but it’s not perfectly flat, and it takes hours to mow with a standard lawn mower. Since I can’t waste time, because I’m always working on making videos and articles for you guys, I simply had no choice but to abandon the self-propelled Honda mower I picked from my other guide, and decided to allocate 4 x more money for a lawn tractor.

At first I hated the idea of spending 2,000 on a lawn mower, but after I used it to cleanup an entire yard full of leaves with minimal effort and actual fun, the money factor became less of an issue for me. I actually can’t wait to mow my lawn this year, and clean up the leaves using the riding mower I found by doing this OCD research. I hope you guys like it, and share it in your social sphere because if it wasn’t for you guys doing that for me, I wouldn’t be making these in-depth buying guides and how-to videos.

This fall I went to Glastonbury Home Depot to buy one of the last tractors that was still in a crate in Connecticut. The guy helping me knew very well why I drove 30 minutes to his store when I have one 5 minutes away from my house. It was because I wanted a brand new untouched machine.

What happened was that a few days later a guy comes to my house and delivers a machine that’s been sitting outside at Bristol Home Depot for months. They did not even bother cleaning any dirt or leaves off the machine. I was pissed off, because I didn’t originally have plans to spend two grand on a lawn tractor and I can’t imagine what putz would deliver something so expensive in such bad shape. When you spend 100 on a brand new product, you expect that product to be clean and in it’s original packaging right. then what the heck were these morons doing that day?

But the icing on the cake was that they gave me someone’s returned bagger that was missing parts, a manual, and it was disgustingly dirty; it looked like it was used for years prior to the return. Well, after my wife calmed me down, I called Glastonbury HD, spoke to a manager, they apologized, then scheduled a pickup and a delivery of the crated tractor, and a brand new bagger from Glastonbury, which was hand delivered by the store manager. They wanted to cheap out on the delivery cost at Glastonbury, and Bristol HD just had a careless manager and employees working that day.

Most of the time they get it right, but when they don’t you have to talk to someone that can do something about it. This year I literally spent a small fortune at these stores remodeling our house, and dealt with more than one headache. But one time, I made a mistake in ordering the wrong whirlpool tub, and it sat at my house for months before I opened the box. I called HD up, and they had that thing on a truck the very next day to process the return. I ended up upgrading that tub to something better at a different store instead. I’m not so sure it would go this smoothly at a small mom and pop shop who already spent your money on their overhead costs the month you bought it.

CRAFTSMAN 22-HP V-Twin Engine with Foot Pedal Hydrostatic Riding Tractor Lawn Mower. 46-in

This item is not currently available for immediate purchase, but can be ordered by visiting the selected store.

You may also like

CRAFTSMAN 22-HP V-Twin Engine with Foot Pedal Hydrostatic Riding Tractor Lawn Mower. 46-in is rated 4.2 out of 5 by 190.

Rated 5 out of 5 by MOJO from Great mower. I spent alot of time researcing mowers, and had been using a John Deere D140. This mower performs better than the John Deere D140. Deck is 4” smaller (and two blades instead of JD 3) but I feel like the two blade Craftsman had more cutting power. I used it to cut about 1 acre of 2 feet tall weeds’ and it handled them no problem with only one pass. John Deere D140 would not handle that with only one pass. Happy with this purchase, and delivery service was perfect. Also a great price compared to other brands. Photo of land mowed attached. Taller weeds in backgound (ground to muddy to mow there) gives an idea of what this mower handled easily in the mowed area.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Granny from Just what the lawn doctor ordered [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This lawn mower is great. The 5 turning radius makes getting closer to obstacles so much easier and cuts down on my trimming time. Smooth ride, easy turn, nice even cut. Easy access to the battery. I like the separate peddles for forward and reverse and I like the placement of the lever to engage the blade and many many blade levels for cutting. I can’t say enough good about this mower. This mower replaced another Craftsman that I had for 13 years. The old one was still a work horse but my son needed a mower so I treated myself to a new one and gave him my old one.

Rated 5 out of 5 by MattG from This makes my Troy Built Bronco feel like a toy. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The T240 is a HUGE upgrade for me, coming from a 19hp Troy Built Bronco I bought about 4 years ago. Originally I was looking at zero turns but with the awesome 5 tight turning radius I didn’t see the need to spend the 1000 more dollars. The Craftsman is also much faster than the Bronco and the dual foot pedals for FWD/REV are amazing and super convenient. The steering feels much beefier but is very smooth and the machine is easy to handle. The cut-in-reverse system works perfectly with no annoyances. Overall I am thrilled with my purchase and feel like this is one of the best lawn tractors you can currently buy.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Mowin from Three month review. FIVE stars. [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Purchased and first used in early June and three months latter still very satisfied! I needed a strong mower to mow my 3/4 acre yard with gentle slopes. The first thing you’ll notice is the raw power. No problems with slight hills (no tire spinning even on wet grass). The extremely tight turning radius is amazing allowing for professional grade cutting around trees, etc. The only minor complaint is the noise level (wear hearing protection) which seems a tad louder than other mowers. The noise level was not enough to take away any stars. BTW: My mower has started flawlessly for each mow without the battery issues noted by a few.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Chuck from Best riding tractor ever! I have own different riding mowers over the years and the new Craftsman T240 beats them all! I have been looking at zero turn mowers for a while, even though they are pricey they do a good job. A friend told me about the new Craftsman line and in particular the model T240 with its 46” deck, 22hp Kohler engine, hydrostatic transmission and in particular the 5” turning radius! Lowe’s delivered the unit to my home very promptly and only thing I did was add gas and start mowing. I could not have been more pleased with the way it handle my 2 acres of grass and boy it has power! I would recommend the T240 to anybody that appreciates a quality product!

Rated 5 out of 5 by RonH from Great riding mower Buying the craftsman T240 mower was a difficult decision. It was between the T240, John Deere, and the Cub Cadet. All three had excellent attributes and the last two had a better reputation. Lowe’s put the T240 on sale and I really liked the advertised turning radius that was offered. I received my mower two weeks ago have used it twice. The T240 has exceeded my expectations and the quality of the workmanship was surprising. It cuts perfect and rides very well for a mower. I cannot say it is better than the other two since I haven’t used them. I can say without a doubt that the T240 was the best for me and that I did make the right decision. I would highly recommend. you won’t be sorry If you choose T240.

Rated 5 out of 5 by Matt from Awesome Mower [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I was going back and forth between this mower and a John Deere mower for a while. After doing some research and seeing them in person it was an easy decision to purchase this mower. The power of the motor is great and provides a smooth cut for my 2 acres of land. Even with the hills in my yard the mower has no issue going up the slope and does not destroy the grass doing so as other mowers do as they spin the tires. The other nice feature is the tight turn feature. It allows me to make quick turns with ease while saving time from needing to make multiple loops to cut the left over grass from turning around. Being built in the USA made this another attractive purchase knowing I would be getting a quality product.

Rated 4 out of 5 by seth from strong Mower [This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I purchased a Craftsman T240 for just under 2 acres of land. After using it for the first time my initial thoughts were mostly positive. strong 22 HP engine and a large cutting deck made this task very easy. I did notice a couple of draw backs. One was when mowing on a slight tilt, gas leaked out of the cap even though it was clicked closed. Also, after starting the tractor for the second time. I started to receive a low battery notice on the screen. After lifting the seat, the positive lead was loose. Overall I would recommend this product.

• CRAFTSMAN 22-HP V-Twin Engine with Foot Pedal Hydrostatic Riding Tractor Lawn Mower. 46-in Reviews. page 2

• y_2023, m_7, d_19, h_2
• bvseo_bulk, prod_bvrr, vn_bulk_3.0.35
• cp_1, bvpage1
• co_hasreviews, tv_0, tr_190
• loc_en_CA, sid_330776749, prod, sort_[SortEntry(order=RELEVANCE, direction=DESCENDING)]
• clientName_rona

• bvseo_sdk, java_sdk, bvseo-4.0.0
• LOCAL, getContent, 3ms
• REVIEWS, PRODUCT

Craftsman Lawn Tractor Transmission Problems

After getting a good lawn service for some years, suddenly your Craftsman tractor is making some mischief. Many people also face this. Their tractor stops without any signal or doesn’t move or overcome the hilly land. So you may have your Craftsman lawn tractor transmission problems.

Whether hydrostatic or manual transmission craftsman, most problems arise with dirt and debris in the tractor system. Clogged and damaged linkage, drive belt, shaft, and wheels resist the power to the transmission. Sometimes old used oil or air filling.

In this article, we will deliver you the real solutions to the specific problem of transmission. Just go through for a while.

Craftsman Lawn Tractor Transmission Problems- Troubleshooting And Way Out

At first, a table will briefly deliver you the Craftsman lawn mower transmission problems and their solutions for your convenience.

Why My Craftsman Tractor Is Not Running Forward And Reverse?

Your car also does this. Right?

You will find similarities between your automobile and your tractor moving problems. The core causes can be many.

• A weak battery
• A damaged carburetor
• A Damaged and blocked air or fuel filter
• Jammed or broken shift gear of the transmission
• A worn-out drive belt

A weak battery or carburetor can start the mower’s engine but won’t support running it properly. Similarly, a clogged air and fuel filter also overheat the engine. You have to clean the filters and replace the battery for these problems.

The transmission letdown results in Craftsman lawn tractor shifting problems. A transmission disconnect position makes forward and backward movement of a tractor. But dirt can jam this disconnected system. As a result, the transmission can not fully push in or pull out by the shift lever.

You have a user manual of the mower. Disassemble the disconnect system and reassemble it. Clean the dirt and debris of the shift gear. Maybe you have to change the drive belt if it is time out.

Is There Any Problem With My Craftsman Mower Hydrostatic Transmission?

A hydrostatic transmission transfers the engine energy to the hydraulic pump and runs the wheels. This system doesn’t need gears, but the transmission components can damage for the time being.

The causes can be:

• Air full of the pump instead of oil.
• Damages or debris on the connections and pump cooling fans.
• Old leftover fuels.

The first step of your should be to remove extra air from the pump. Go to the following instructions.

• Correctly fill the oil tanks.
• Separate the transmission.
• Run the engine. Move throttle control to the slow position and motion control to the natural position. Release the clutch.
• Push forward the motion lever for five sec. Pull it backward for another five seconds.
• Do this several times. This will remove air from the transmission.
• Again push to the natural position and power off the engine.
• Engage the transmission before that set the parking brake.
• Power the engine and again release the clutch.
• Do the forward and reverse task again three times. Now the air inside the pump is purged.

Clean the pump cooling fan, connections regularly. Check the oil level. Drain the old used oil after a certain time.

Can Transmission Problem Stop Self Propelling?

Your tractor transmission gets energy from the engine. There is a drive belt that runs the tractor wheels. When a transmission contracts a problem, you will see its pulley is working, but tractor wheels are not spinning. Here replace the transmission.

Sometimes the gears of the wheel assembly can be worn out for a long time use. This also can stop the wheels. In this case, change the wheel assembly for the cure.

Why My Manual Tractor Transmission Slips?

Craftsman lawn tractor manual transmission problems start with noise or odd sound of the engine. Also, the tractor works slowly. You may experience a wired jerking. When your tractor transmission slip, makes sure that your drive belt is perfect. Check the two clutch keys if there are any damages to the springs. Check the shafts.

Why My Transmission Won’t Shift Into Gears?

There can be a broken issue of this problem. Let’s solve out one by one.

• Damage in the detent shaft repair the spring and ball.
• Check the drive belt and rear wheel hub tight them.
• Fill the transmission with oil and heck about any leakage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why will my Craftsman mower not go forward or reverse?

A weak battery or carburetor may start the mower, but it is not so powerful to run it properly. Also, a damaged drive belt, air, and oil filter or shaft do not provide adequate power to the transmission from the engine. That’s why your mower does not go forward or reverse.

How do you check the transmission fluid on a Craftsman lawn tractor?

Go for the transaxle at the back wheel. Here is the transmission box. Open the lid of the box. There is a squire plug middle of the transmission. Unscrew it. Now push a long stick into the transmission hole to check the oil. Remember, the oil should be one inch from the top. Now you know the fluid level of your lawn tractor.

What causes a hydrostatic transmission to slip?

Most of the time, old overused fluid turns your Hydrostatic slip. You need to drain all the old oil from the transmission and fill it with new fuel.

Final Words

The transmission takes power from the battery to the wheels and makes the tractor move. And this article will help you nicely mend your Craftsman lawn tractor transmission problems.

Remember, the transmission cant be repaired. You have to replace a new one for any damage issue.

You Can Also Read:

Enamored with the world of golf Jack pursued a degree in Golf Course Management at THE Ohio State University. This career path allowed him to work on some of the highest profile golf courses in the country! Due to the pandemic, Jack began Inside The Yard as a side hustle that quickly became his main hustle. Since starting the company, Jack has relocated to a homestead in Central Arkansas where he and his wife raise cattle and two little girls.

Craftsman Tractor Hydrostatic Transmission Problems

If you’re a owner of a Craftsman tractor with a hydrostatic transmission, then you may have experienced some problems with it. There are several common issues that can occur, and luckily most of them can be fixed relatively easily. In this blog post, we’ll go over some of the most common Craftsman tractor hydrostatic transmission problems and how to fix them.

If you’re a fan of Craftsman tractors, you may be familiar with their hydrostatic transmission. Unfortunately, this feature can sometimes lead to problems down the road. Here’s a look at some common hydrostatic transmission problems on Craftsman tractors, and what you can do to fix them.

One common issue is that the hydrostatic transmission can sometimes leak fluid. If this happens, it’s important to check your tractor’s manual to see where the fill level should be. You may also need to add a sealant to the system to prevent further leaks.

Another problem that can occur is that the hydrostatic transmission may not engage properly. This can be due to a variety of factors, including low fluid levels or air in the system. Again, checking your manual for the correct procedures is essential in troubleshooting this issue.

Finally, some users have reported issues with the speed of their Craftsman tractor when using the hydrostatic transmission. In most cases, this can be resolved by adjusting the speed control knob on the dash panel. However, if this doesn’t work, it’s possible that there’s an issue with the transmission itself and you’ll need to contact a service technician for help.

While these are some of the most common problems associated with Craftsman tractors’ hydrostatic transmissions, they’re certainly not all of them.

Craftsman Hydrostatic Transmission Adjustment

If your Craftsman lawn tractor isn’t steering correctly, it may be due to an issue with the hydrostatic transmission. You can adjust the transmission by following these steps: 1. Park the tractor on a level surface and turn off the engine.

Remove the cap from the hydrostatic transmission fill port (located under the seat). 3. Add or remove fluid as needed until the transmission fluid level is at the “full” line on the dipstick. Be sure to use only Craftsman Hydrostatic Transmission Fluid – do not substitute another type of fluid.

Replace the cap on the fill port and start the engine. Allow it to run for a few minutes so that the new fluid can circulate through the system. 5. Test drive the tractor to see if steering has improved.

If not, repeat steps 1-5 until desired results are achieved.

Conclusion

The Craftsman tractor is a riding lawnmower that uses a hydrostatic transmission. This type of transmission is different from a traditional gear-based transmission, and it can be more prone to problems. Some common issues that owners of Craftsman tractors have reported include the mower not moving, the mower moving too slowly, and the mower stopping abruptly.

These problems can usually be traced back to an issue with the hydrostatic transmission fluid, which may need to be replaced or flushed out. In some cases, the problem may be with the pump or motor itself, and these parts will need to be replaced.

The 8 Best Riding Lawn Mowers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

For lawns that are 1 acre or more, a riding lawn mower can make turf maintenance less of a chore. Instead of sweating behind a push mower, you’ll ride in comfort while keeping your lawn in tip-top shape. Marc Mayer, Director of Technical Operations at TruGreen, says, Commonly, homeowners choose a riding lawn mower to save time and/or energy if they have a large lawn area that is too much work to utilize a walk-behind mower. Most ride-on mowers can also be used for other chores around the yard to improve efficiency, such as pulling a trailer or aerator.

Noah James, professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance, adds, A riding mower gives you the precision you need to make straight lines and even cuts. Plus, with options like zero-turn technology, you’ll be able to trim around obstacles and corners like a pro. Riding mowers have the power, agility, and versatility to handle it all with ease.

We’ve tested over a dozen lawn mowers in our own lawns across the country including six riding lawn mowers, using each for three separate mowing sessions. During each session, the mowers were evaluated for ease of operation, comfort while riding, intuitiveness of the controls, battery runtime where applicable. and of course, how well the mower cut the grass. We considered how well the mowers maneuvered around obstacles, the range of accessories available for separate purchase, and the overall value of each mower before compiling our final list of winners.

Best Overall

John Deere S100 42-Inch 17.5 HP Gas Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractor

• Very easy to maneuver even around tight turns
• Excellent performance cutting both wet and dry grass
• Smooth, comfortable ride
• White Glove Service

Our top-scoring riding mower performed like a Champion on all three mowing sessions at our 10-acre New Jersey yard (although the manufacturer recommends it for yards up to 1 acre in size). We were amazed at how easy it was to maneuver even around tight corners or close to trees. And it did a great job of cleanly cutting both dry and wet grass; remarkably, it did not leave any ruts on the wet grass, just small indentations. The mower provides a comfortable, smooth ride; we drove it down a 500-foot gravel path to reach the lawn without any discomfort or difficulty. This mower has 13 cutting levels ranging from 1 inch to 4 inches, and we found it very easy to set the desired cutting height. Even better, it was delivered already assembled and ready to go thanks to its White Glove Service.

The cutting deck is 42 inches, which is a good size for making quick work of the lawn, yet not so large that it’s bulky or hard to steer. It has a tight 18-inch turning radius. And with its 17.5-horsepower Briggs Stratton engine, this is a powerful mower that won’t struggle with slopes, tall grass, or thick weeds. It discharges the clippings to the side, and we found that it also easily cleared away fallen leaves from the grass. John Deere sells clipping bags, mulchers, and several other yard maintenance accessories separately. Like most gasoline-powered riding mowers, you will need to occasionally perform oil changes, but the process is not too difficult. And thanks to the electric start, it’s very easy to power the mower up and get right to work.

We found the seat to be quite comfortable, and you can adjust the position to suit your height. All of the controls are easy to identify and use, although it took us a few minutes to get used to the side-by-side foot pedals for going forward or reversing. The mower’s top speed is 5.5 mph going forward, and 3.2 mph in reverse. It can cut the grass in either direction. It has headlights if you want to mow at dusk or dawn, and a cup holder to keep your favorite beverage close at hand while you work.

This riding mower is covered by John Deere’s 2-year/120-hour bumper-to-bumper warranty. And it’s quite reasonably priced for a riding mower; overall, it’s hard to go wrong with this hard-working mower.

Price at time of publish: 2,399

Cutting Width: 42 inches | Power Type: Gasoline | Weight: 414 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 1 acre

Best Electric

Ryobi 80V HP Brushless 42-Inch Electric Cordless Riding Lawn Tractor

• Excellent performance
• Comfortable and fun to drive
• Long battery runtime
• LCD screen and app for tracking battery life

If you are looking for an electric riding lawn mower with all the power of a gas model, but without the fumes or bother of a gas engine, the RYOBI 80V HP Brushless 42 in. Battery Riding Lawn Tractor is our top choice. We found it fun to ride; with a maximum forward speed of 7 mph, this is a zippy mower that speeds up or slows down almost immediately when adjusting your foot on the lever, but we did find it a bit jerky at times. It also was somewhat tricky to assemble, taking us over an hour to have it ready to go. The mower has a 42-inch deck and four steel blades with 13 different cutting height positions to choose from (within 1.5 to 4.5 inches), so you can really fine-tune the look of your lawn. It did a great job cutting the grass, whether wet or dry, at our third-acre Iowa test garden, and even chopped up small sticks, leaves, and weeds very easily. It even features a warning beep when backing up; while we appreciate this safety feature, it admittedly did become tiresome to hear the beep every time we reversed.

According to the manufacturer, it has the equivalent of a 21-horsepower engine, but it runs on the included three 80-volt, 10Ah batteries which allow you to cut up to 2 acres on a single charge (about 60 minutes of runtime) and quickly recharge in less than 2.5 hours thanks to the onboard charger. In our test sessions, the batteries never dropped much below 80 percent capacity, and we appreciated the LCD touchscreen that lets you keep tabs on the battery runtime and charging speed, as well as blade speed, driving speed, and blade height. Other extra features we like include LED headlights, front and back storage compartments, two tow hitches, two cup holders, and two USB ports to charge your phone.

Of course, the most important feature of a lawn mower is how well it cuts grass, and this one left our test lawn looking great, without creating ruts, ridges, or unevenly chopped grass. The mower discharges clippings to the side, but you can purchase a bagger and mulching kit separately, as well as various lawn care attachments. This is a powerful, feature-packed riding lawn tractor so it comes at a bigger price tag than other picks. If you don’t need all of these features, you may want to choose a more budget-friendly model. However, we think if you are looking for a great electric riding mower with all of the features and power you need, this is your best bet. It comes with a 5-year limited warranty.

Price at time of publish: 4,999

Cutting Width: 42 inches | Power Type: Battery | Weight: 557 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: 1 to 2 acres

Best Gas

Toro TimeCutter 50 inch 24.5 HP Zero-Turn Riding Mower

• Excellent cutting performance
• Very comfortable, smooth ride
• Easy maintenance
• Zero-turn radius
• A bit of a learning curve to handle
• Bagger and mulching kit must be purchased separately
• No headlights

While we did have a bit of a learning curve with this powerful gas riding mower from Toro, once we got the hang of using the hand levers to control our speed, braking, direction, and blade engagement, we found that it was easy to maneuver between trees and other obstacles on our half-acre Iowa lawn. But if you have a larger property, you’ll be happy to know that this mower is rated for yards up to 4 acres in size. It has a hefty 50-inch cutting deck, so the zero-turn capability comes in handy when swiveling such a large mower around flowerbeds, between trees, or near retaining walls or other obstacles. We also found it very easy to set the cutting height, which ranges from a low of 1.5 inches to a high of 4.5 inches.

On our first mowing session, the grass was wet and the mower’s tires slipped a bit while moving down a slope, but on subsequent sessions, we had little problem in mowing over wet grass, thick grass, leaves, and other small lawn debris. The mower left the grass very evenly cut, with a lush, full appearance. Like many riding mowers, the clippings discharge to the side; if you want a bag or mulching kit, you’ll have to buy them separately. We definitely appreciated Toro’s MyRide suspension system, which keeps the ride smooth and pleasant even when the terrain isn’t completely level. And with a top speed of 7 mph, this mower can get the job done quickly. It has a cup holder to keep a cold beverage close at hand but does not have headlights, unlike many other riding mowers.

One great feature of this gas mower is that while it does require annual oil changes, it’s designed to make the task as easy as possible, so you won’t have to waste your afternoon on maintenance. It also has wash-out ports underneath the deck, so you can quickly blast away caked-on grass, mud, and grunge with your garden hose. And the sturdy construction, including the steel deck, means that this mower can take a beating and keep right on mowing without a pause. It comes with a 3-year residential limited warranty.

Price at time of publish: 4,299

Cutting Width: 50 inches | Power Type: Gasoline | Weight: 694 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 4 acres

Best Lawn Tractor

Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro LT 46-Inch Hydrostatic Drive Gas Riding Lawn Tractor

• Comfortable, adjustable seat
• Reasonable price
• Excellent performance in cutting grass

We put this gas-powered lawn tractor to the test on a 6-acre Iowa property that once housed horses, and so is rather bumpy, and also has many trees and other obstacles. The mower was easy to assemble, but the instructions for starting it were somewhat unclear, and it took us several tries to get it up and running. Still, once we figured it out, we were very pleased with the mower’s performance. It operated beautifully over wet grass, thick grass, and uneven spots, plus, it maneuvered easily around all obstacles. The mower has a 23-horsepower/725 cc Kohler engine with plenty of power, and the 46-inch deck is big enough for getting the job done quickly but not so large that it’s hard to slip between trees and other obstacles.

The mower has 12 cutting settings ranging from 1.5 inches to 4 inches. We found it very easy to adjust the cutting height, as well as other controls on the mower. It has a 16-inch turn radius, which is tight enough for most lawns, although we couldn’t get quite as close to some trees as we would have liked. The maximum forward speed is 5.5 mph, which is a bit slower than some other models, but more than sufficient for most users. Overall, we felt like our lawn looked great once we finished mowing, and the mower spewed the grass clippings evenly from the side chute. Like most riding mowers, if you want a bagger or mulching kit, you’ll need to purchase them separately. There are quite a few other attachments available for this mower as well.

The seat can be adjusted, which was a definite plus for us, along with the smooth ride. On the downside, this mower does require periodic oil changes, but the process shouldn’t be too difficult or time-intensive. And on the plus side, the mower has cruise control, so once you find a speed that you like, you can easily set the mower to continue at that pace. It also has headlights for mowing in shady spots or at dusk. While riding mowers are undeniably expensive, this one is reasonably priced for the quality and performance it provides. It’s rated for use on lawns up to 4 acres in size and comes with a 3-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: 2,574

Cutting Width: 46 inches | Power Type: Gasoline | Weight: 575 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 4 acres

Best Battery Zero-Turn

Ryobi 80V HP Brushless 42-Inch Battery Electric Cordless Zero Turn Riding Mower

• Intuitive and easy to use
• Joystick for steering and speed control
• Long battery runtime
• Very clean cut on all types of grass
• Initially received a defective mower, although customer service was excellent
• Expensive

We tested this mower on a half-acre property in Iowa. While it was fairly straightforward and quick to assemble the mower and give the batteries an initial charge, it turned out that our first test mower had an electrical problem that required several phone calls and a technician’s visit before determining that the mower was defective. However, we were quickly provided a new mower, which was already assembled and ready to go. Despite this unfortunate start to our testing sessions, we were very impressed with the manufacturer’s customer service, and we loved the performance of this zero-turn mower, which has a 42-inch deck and power that Ryobi claims is equivalent to 31 horsepower.

Unlike many other riding mowers, which have levers, pedals, or steering wheels to control the motion of the machine, this one has Ryobi’s iDrive joystick, which lets you set your speed in forward or reverse, as well as turn and maneuver the mower. Not only was this fun, but it was also very intuitive and easy to use. The mower also has an LCD screen that shows battery life and runtime. This mower comes with four batteries: two 80-volt, 10-amp hour and two 40-volt, 12-amp hour batteries, which can all be charged simultaneously. In our testing sessions, the batteries still had plenty of charge left once mowing was finished. Ryobi claims that you can mow up to 3 acres on a single full charge.

Setting the cutting height, which ranges from 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches, is easily accomplished with a single lever, and with four blades, this mower easily handled wet grass, thick grass, and tall grass, leaving our lawn looking great. The clippings discharge from the side, although you can purchase a bagger or mulching kit separately if desired. While riding the mower, we especially appreciated how quiet it is in comparison to gas mowers—we could actually talk to nearby family members while riding it—and how smooth and comfortable a ride it provides, thanks to the superior seat suspension that absorbs a lot of the bumps and vibrations. The mower also has some nice extra features, including headlights, cup holders, and USB charging ports. While this mower is undeniably a big investment, we felt that its performance, power, and ease of use make it well worth the cost for those with big yards. It has a 5-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: 5,999

Cutting Width: 42 inches | Power Type: Battery | Weight: 700 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 4 acres

Best Gas Zero-Turn

Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42-Inch 22 HP Zero-Turn Mower

• Seat can be fully adjusted for a comfortable ride
• Zero-turn
• Relatively reasonable price
• Easy to control

While all riding mowers are fairly expensive, particularly zero-turn mowers, the Cub Cadet Ultima Series ZT1 Zero-Turn Mower is relatively reasonable in price, making it even more of a great option for yards up to 4 acres in size. While testing, It took us around 30 minutes to assemble, but it did take us a little longer to figure out the choke. However, once we understood the instructions, we got started mowing a third-acre Iowa lawn that includes hills, several obstacles, and areas of very thick, tall grass. Initially, we took it easy and went slowly while we got used to the handling of the mower, which was a bit touchy. However, once we got the hang of it, we did find the mower to be easy to control, and we really liked being able to make sharp turns around obstacles. We did report some rattling from a belt that needed to be tightened, but that didn’t affect the performance.

While mowing, we found it very easy to adjust the cutting height, which has an impressive range of 1 inch to 4.5 inches. We mowed right through very tall patches of grass without a hitch and liked the way the clippings were ejected far to the side of the mower, so there was no annoying buildup of clumps. It’s easy to speed up or slow down; the more you push the handlebars, the faster you’ll go, up to a top speed of 7 mph. Plus, you can mow both forward and in reverse, which made it easier to reach some trickier spots on the lawn. The mower felt very stable and safe even while mowing on slopes. Initially, we found the ride to be somewhat bumpy, but once we had the fully adjustable seat set to our ideal position, the ride became quite smooth.

With a 22-horsepower Kohler engine, this is a powerful mower with a very sturdy build. Like other gas mowers, it does require periodic oil changes. While we liked its side-discharge function, you’ll have to purchase a bagger or mulching kit separately if that’s your preference. Cub Cadet also sells various attachments that can be added to the mower for other lawn care functions. It has a 3-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: 3,499

Cutting Width: 42 inches | Power Type: Gasoline | Weight: 580 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 3 acres

Best for Hills

Troy-Bilt Bronco 42 in. 19 HP Automatic Drive Gas Riding Lawn Mower

• Automatic transmission
• Good traction on hills
• Extra leg room
• Compatible with a variety of accessories

While we were not able to personally test the Bronco 42, we still recommend this 19-horsepower, 42-inch gas mower for yards up to 2 acres in size, especially if your yard has a lot of slopes. This sturdy mower has an automatic transmission and uses a simple foot pedal to control your speed, just like your car. That means you are likely to feel comfortable handling the mower from the start, even if you have never used a riding lawn mower before.

The mower has anti-scalp, 20-inch all-terrain wheels, making it much easier to mow smoothly over uneven terrain or up and down slopes without bogging down or damaging your turf. Note that as with all riding mowers, you should always mow from side to side across a slope, not up and down the slope, to maintain stability. There are five cutting height settings, which are easy to adjust with a single lever, and range from 1.25 inches to 3.75 inches. That’s a smaller cutting range than many other riding mowers, but it easily handles most common lawn grasses, and the double blades, large wheels, and sturdy construction of the mower allow it to plow right through tall or thick turf without a problem.

The Troy-Bilt Bronco 42 has a step-through frame that offers more leg room, and the mid-back seat and rubber footpads keep you comfortable while you work. Its 18-inch turn radius is tight enough to maneuver around most yard obstacles, such as trees, fences, flowerbeds, or playsets. The machine has a rear hitch to pull garden carts, sprayers, and spreaders. It comes with a side-discharge chute for clippings, but if you prefer to bag or mulch the grass clippings, you’ll need to buy those accessories separately. Like all gas mowers, you’ll need to carry out periodic oil changes, usually recommended after every 50 hours of use or annually. It comes with a 2-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: 2,199

Cutting Width: 42 inches | Power Type: Gasoline | Weight: 520 pounds | Cutting Options: Side-discharge | Size of Yard: 1 to 2 acres

Best Small

Cub Cadet 30 in. 56-Volt MAX 30 Ah Battery Riding Lawn Tractor

Not everyone needs a beast of a mower that can handle yards up to 4 acres in size. If you have a lawn that’s 1 acre or less, or you have a lot of obstacles on your property that require a smaller mower to maneuver between and around them, we recommend this battery-powered mower from Cub Cadet. It has a 30-inch deck that can slip through a 36-inch gate, and which won’t take up a lot of space in your garage or garden shed. While we were unable to test this mower ourselves, it’s still our top choice for smaller yards.

The mower comes with a 56-volt MAX 30 amp-hour battery that can mow up to 1 acre, or for 1 hour, before needing a recharge, which takes roughly 4 hours. It’s supremely quiet compared to gas mowers, and the ride is smooth and comfortable. Plus, no need for oil changes, pouring gasoline into a fuel tank, or smelly fumes. You can adjust the cutting height within a range of 1.5 inches to 4 inches, and no bogging down on tall or thick grass. The 18-inch turning radius is tight enough to easily work your way around most obstacles.

One feature that we especially approve of, and yet isn’t offered on many riding mowers, is this model’s cruise control, which allows you to set your speed up to a maximum of 5.5 mph and then let the mower keep your pace steady; no need to concentrate on maintaining an even speed by pushing pedals or gripping levers. Plus, it has a very comfortable high-back seat with armrests, LED headlights, a cup holder, and two onboard USB ports to power up your phone or music while you ride. Additionally, unlike every other mower on our list, this one includes the mulching kit—all others require you to purchase that separately—so you can turn the grass clippings into fine mulch to help feed your lawn. It comes with a 3-year warranty.

Price at time of publish: 3,600

Cutting Width: 30 inches | Power Type: Battery | Weight: 362 pounds | Cutting Options: Mulch, side-discharge | Size of Yard: Up to 2 acres

Our top recommendation, the gas-powered John Deere S100 42-Inch Riding Lawn Mower, is supremely easy to maneuver around obstacles while creating a very smooth cut even on thick or tall grass. It comes with “White Glove Service” delivery, so you won’t have to assemble it, and it is easy to operate and maintain. However, if you prefer an electric mower, then we recommend the Ryobi 80V 42-Inch Battery Riding Mower, which has a lot of power and excellent battery runtime; you can get up to an hour of mowing done before needing to recharge. That’s enough for most people to complete the task on just one charge.

How We Tested the Riding Lawn Mowers

After testing eight walk-behind lawn mowers across the country, we tested six riding mowers, including gas, electric, and zero-turn options, each tested on a different property with varying terrain and lawn conditions, including slopes, rough spots, tall grass, and wet areas. We started by recording how long it took to unbox and assemble the riding lawn mower, as well as the difficulty or ease of assembly. (Two of the mowers were delivered assembled and ready to go, however.)

Once the grass was long enough to require mowing, we tested the riding mower on three separate occasions. For each session, we recorded the date and weather conditions, the size of the area to be mowed, the height of grass to be cut, and the length of time it took to accomplish the mowing. At the end of the session, we noted how cleanly and evenly the lawn had been cut, as well as how well the side-discharge chute shot the clippings back onto the lawn. (Only one of our tested mowers included an option other than side-discharge of the clippings; commonly clippings bags and mulching kits are not included with a riding mower, but must be purchased separately if desired.)

As we rode the mowers, we noted how easy it was to speed up or slow down the machine in both forward and reverse, the ease of raising or lowering the cutting height, how well the mower maneuvered around obstacles, and how evenly the mower cut all types of grass, including tall or thick patches as well as wet turf. We also paid attention to the comfort of the seat and the overall comfort of the ride, noting if it was unusually rough, had excessive vibration, or was in any other way uncomfortable to use the mower. We also tried out any extra features on the mowers, including headlights, cupholders, USB charging ports, or onboard storage areas.

At the end of each mowing session, we noted how much battery charge was left on electric mowers, as well as the length of time required for a full recharge. Finally, we summed up each experience with the mower, noting whether or not we felt it was a good value for the performance delivered.

What to Look for in a Riding Lawn Mower

Power Source

One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to buy a gas- or electric-powered riding lawn mower. Marc Mayer, Director of Technical Operations at TruGreen, says, Like in the automobileworld, battery-powered equipment is popular right now. Electrical mowers on both the residential and professional/commercial side are becoming more preferred over gas powered. You have to take into account that they both require different maintenance schedules, and it’s important to ask questions like ‘How long does the battery last, and what is the cost of a replacement battery’ before making a commitment to electric.

As a general rule, gas mowers, including our Best Overall choice, the John Deere S100, are more powerful than electric models, but they’re louder, less eco-friendly, and require more maintenance, including regular oil changes. Plus, in some locations, gas mowers have very stringent requirements for emission levels that some models can’t meet. However, Noah James, professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance notes that the power of a gas mower can be especially useful if your lawn has rough areas, thick weeds, or especially tough grass.

Electric mowers, on the other hand, like our Best Electric Riding Mower, the Ryobi 80V Brushless Electric Riding Mower, are typically less powerful and require you to keep an eye on the battery charge level, but they’re also quieter, easier to start, and better for the environment. Still, while electric mowers require consistent charging, they often don’t require as much maintenance as gas models that have spark plugs, belts, and filters that must be maintained over time.

Deck Size

The deck size of a lawn mower dictates how wide a path it cuts—larger decks cut wider paths on each pass. Most residential riding mowers have decks that are around 42 inches, but if you have a very large property, you might want to consider a mower with deck that’s considerably bigger, like our Best Gas Mower pick, the Toro TimeCutter Zero-Turn Mower, which has a 50-inch deck. And of course, small properties, or lawns with many obstacles, might do best with a mower that has a smaller deck.

Keep in mind that the larger the mower, the harder it will be to maneuver through gates and other obstacles, plus the more space it will require in your garage or shed. Also, a mower’s deck size will impact its turning radius—except for zero-turn mowers, which can manage wider decks thanks to their overall design—and will also make it more challenging to navigate uneven terrain. Our Best Battery Powered Zero-Turn Mower, the Ryobi 80V Electric Zero-Turn Riding Mower, turns on a dime even with its 42-inch deck.

Engine Power

While the typical push mower’s engine is just 2 to 5 horsepower or the equivalent in battery power, a riding mower requires considering more oomph, with most having engine power or equivalent battery power of 13 to 30 horsepower. Noah James says, Make sure the riding mower you’re considering has enough horsepower to handle your specific needs. A larger engine will be able to handle thicker grass and steeper hills with ease.

As a rough guideline, a lawn that’s less than an acre can be handled by a riding mower with at least 13 horsepower, but a 3-acre lawn needs at least 18 horsepower to get the job done, and even more if your lawn has slopes or rugged terrain.

Grass Clippings

Don’t forget to consider how the lawn mower handles grass clippings. Just about every riding mower has a side-discharge chute to spit the clippings back out onto your lawn. But many brands also offer mulching kits or clipping bags for their riding mowers; note that you’ll generally have to purchase these separately. However, our Best Small Mower, the Cub Cadet 30-Inch Battery Mower, does include a mulching kit. If you want to mulch or bag your clippings, be sure that any riding mower you are considering offers these options, and remember to add the price of the accessories to the cost of the mower itself.

The defining feature of zero-turn mowers is a zero-degree turning radius, but these mowers are generally also much faster than regular riding mowers. However, keep in mind that it’s easier to maintain control around obstacles at lower speeds, so unless you have a very large, flat lawn, you’re unlikely to be running your mower at top speed very often. Plus, zero-turn mowers are much more expensive than regular riding mowers.

According to Marc Mayer, a riding lawn mower is suited to any type of turf, but because these machines are heavy, they can cause soil compaction, which can affect the health of your grass. You can help prevent this by not mowing when the ground is wet, and by trying to avoid mowing over the same area more than once.

The top speed for standard riding lawnmowers ranges from 4 to 6 mph. Zero-turn mowers are much faster, with some going 8 to 10 mph at full speed. While speed is a great factor to consider if you prefer to quickly complete outdoor tasks, a speedy job does not always result in a better cut, so don’t automatically assume that you need the fastest mower available.

The easiest way to transport a riding lawn mower is with a trailer. Mowers can be driven up a ramp into a low trailer and towed behind a vehicle. You may also transport riding mowers in the bed of a pickup truck, but special ramps are required. Of course, if you are merely loaning the mower to a neighbor or somewhere very close by, you may be able to ride the mower to the location, as long as the terrain permits this and you keep the blade turned off and elevated.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Michelle Ullman is the home improvement/tool expert for The Spruce. She has extensive experience not only in writing about all things related to the home, but also in carrying out various DIY projects, including landscaping, painting, flooring, wallpapering, furniture makeovers, and simple repairs around the house and yard.

For this roundup, she relied on input from our team of testers, but also considered dozens of other riding lawn mowers of various types, evaluating each for features, power, effectiveness, ease of use, and overall value. She also considered feedback from customers, both positive and negative, as well as reviews and information on landscaping websites. Noah James, professional landscaper and owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance, and Marc Mayer, Director of Technical Operations at TruGreen, also provided additional expert input.

What Is The Spruce Approved?

Here at The Spruce, we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally, we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut.