Husqvarna rechargeable lawn mower. Husqvarna LC 347VLi Review

Husqvarna LC141i Battery Mower Kit

Ideal for homeowners or for trimming complex areas, this intuitive hassel-free battery mower can mow an average-sized garden quickly and quietly in a single charge.

The mower is easy to manouevre due to it’s light-weighted and compact deck and ergonomic handle makes it easy to steer even round small places. Compatible with all Husqvarna BLi-batteries.

Price includes:

Lawnmower 575, BLi20- Battery and QC80 Charger.

SAVE by buying as a package!

Components also sold separately.

Please click BUY NOW to purchase online! Please call us on 03 9794 8339 for a personalised freight quote if you would like delivery.

This product is offered at a SPECIAL WEBSITE PRICE, which may be lower than the price advertised in store. From time to time the website advertised price will differ from the in store price. This practise allows us to monitor our online marketing campaigns. To take advantage of this great low price please remember to mention the online advertised price when in store at the time of purchase.

Visit One of Our SEVEN Superstores

Would you like to view or take a test drive of our extensive range in person? Then visit us at one of our 7 Superstore locations where a team member can run you through everything and help you find the perfect product to suit your needs.

Buy Online

All of our products can now be purchased through our website. You will currently see a BUY NOW option on most of our products. When you click this button you will continue to the purchase page where you can quickly and effortlessly complete your order with us (it is a very quick process). All online purchases offer free store pick up from any of our 7 RedShed Superstores.

Selected products also offer a flat rate shipping fee. When available, this option is clearly marked on the product pages. Alternatively, please call us on 03 9794 8339 if you would like a personalised delivery/ freight quote.

Important Information for Deliveries. If no one is home at the time of delivery then your order will be left at the front door. If you would like your order to be left elsewhere please add a note using the purchase page ‘order notes’ section. The RedShed uses Delivery Agents to deliver your goods. You agree that your details, including your Delivery Address, phone number and email address, will be supplied to the Delivery Agent for the purpose of delivering your Goods.

If a product you wish to purchase online does not yet have the BUY NOW option please either call us on 03 9794 8339 or email: marketing@theredshed.com.au and we will activate this product for you.

Please click to read our terms of use. privacy and delivery policies.

Email Us

Know what you’re after and want a quick sales process? Then you can email us your order and we will contact you straight away! Or, as you are looking through each of our products in detail you will also notice there is a quick enquiry form you can fill out.

Call Us

In the market for a particular product but would like a little more help? Then give your local store a call and a member of our expert sales team will point you in the right direction.

to get advice and be transferred to your closest store.

Husqvarna LC 347VLi Review

Leveraging decades of mowing experience into a big, battery-powered mower for larger lawns, the Husqvarna LC 347VLi is a rugged, 36V self-propelled model with a whopping 47cm cutting width.

Batteries are extra, since there’s a huge choice available, but you won’t be disappointed with run-times or the super-fast charge rate whichever you chose.

We were blown away by the LC 347VLi. From its slick ergonomics to outstanding cutting performance and seemingly unstoppable motor, it drives, cuts and collects faultlessly. It covers large areas with consummate ease, and by cycling two batteries you have almost limitless run-time. The Husqvarna’s LC 347VLi is proof that cordless mowers have come of age.

Husqvarna LC 347VLi – Design and features

Swedish brand Husqvarna has been engineering stuff since 1689, starting with muskets. Fast-forward well over three centuries and the brand has an enviable reputation for quality across a broad range of outdoor power products, including forestry and garden tools. Looking at the brand’s LC 347VLi cordless mower, you can see why.

The LC 347VLi is a premium cordless lawnmower designed for the larger garden. Its 47cm cutting width is about as wide as it gets for a pedestrian mower, and the self-propelled motor can drive it at up to a frisky 4.5km/h.

It packs a sizeable motor with two settings – high torque/full power and the battery-saving savE eco mode – as well as automatic High Load feature. This automatically ups the power and blade speed if the mower becomes bogged down in long or wet grass. If you need even more run-time, the LC 347VLI has two battery slots.

Build quality is outstanding. Everything is solid, comfortable and feels just ‘right’. The chunky metal handle is robust, sowing no hint of flexing – but it still folds flat for easier storage. The wheels run on double rows of ball bearings, there’s a separate motor for drive power, and the sides of the ABS cutter deck are a honeycomb lattice to increase strength.

The LC 347LVi is a big beast, and weighing well over 25kg without a battery, it isn’t much lighter than petrol units at this size. If you’re feeling man enough to carry it, Husqvarna has thoughtfully moulded in handles behind the motor tower and at the front of the cutter deck.

Like many cordless lawnmowers, the LC 347LVi comes supplied without battery or charger. As Husqvarna makes a huge range of batteries and several charger options that fit this machine (see ‘Batteries, charging and run-Time’), the choice depends on your lawn size and requirements.

Our test unit was supplied with a 4Ah BLi20 battery and QC330 fast-charge dock, at an additional £130 and £80 respectively. We subsequently acquired a second BLi20 to test the dual-battery function and the option for near-continuous mowing by cycling batteries. That brings the total cost as tested up to a significant £890

The BLi20 gives around 20 minutes of full-power run-time and the QC330 will charge a battery in staggeringly swift 30 minutes or so. Two batteries and a tea break between battery swap-overs means you can mow near continuously all day long.

That comprehensively eliminates the biggest issue with cordless mowers – namely, finite battery run-time. You can even opt for the even faster QC500 charger, if you want larger batteries or to forego the tea breaks!

Up at the user interface end, the chunky handle is horizontal with a soft rubber grip. Two heavy-duty wire levers operate the cutting blade and the forward drive independently. Cutting is the big orange wire on top, which is locked off with a thumb-operated safety catch to the side. Fixtures and fittings here are clearly designed to withstand professional-level abuse.

In the centre of the handle is the electronic control keypad. The main panel covers power on/off, eco mode, Bluetooth connection and, at the touch of a button, four-segment charge indicators for both battery slots.

We’d have preferred the battery indicators to remain illuminated the entire time the mower was switched on to give you an ongoing indication of battery level. Although, granted, pressing the button as you mow is hardly onerous.

At the rear of the keypad is the four-step speed control for the drive motor, graphically labelled from tortoise to hare.

Driven by the larger rear wheels, your tortoise trots along at 3km/h while your hare speeds up to 4.5km/h, which is a solid walking pace. You can drive the mower around without having the blade running, or wheel the mower freely when the drive motor isn’t engaged.

Sadly, there’s no roller option if you fancy proper stripes. Husqvarna informed us that is because the LC 347VLi is a global product and stripy lawns are a peculiarly British penchant.

At the business end, the LC 347VLi has six-step height adjustment, from 20mm to 75mm, operated by a trigger handle on the left side. The mechanism is spring-balanced, so moving the machine up and down is easy. A kill-switch key sits close by, enabling the machine to be disabled.

Flip the mower on its side (something you can’t do with petrol mowers due to oil and fuel) and the 47cm blade is easily removed to sharpen or replace as it becomes worn.

Cleaning out the smooth under-deck is a simple scrape and hose-out.

The deck ejects into a huge 55-litre container that Husqvarna calls its Dust Blocker bag. This features a fine mesh weave and folds of material that exhaust most of the air downwards, rather than back at you.

If you want to mulch the grass rather than collect then a mulching kit, with specific mulch blade and plug to blog the collector, is optionally available at £35.

The LC 347VLi is part of Husqvarna’s Connect range and links into the Connect app via Bluetooth. The main page provides battery charge data and total cutting time to date.

This isn’t overly useful info, as you have to power the machine on the connect the app – so you could check battery levels on the keypad anyway. useful is the parts and support pages that offer full manual, troubleshooting, maintenance guides, dealer contacts and a franklyamazing list of spare parts and accessories, including a huge a 31Ah hour back-pack battery and battery belt.

Husqvarna LC 347VLi – Batteries, charging and run-time

The LC 347VLi doesn’t come with batteries or charger. The reason being is that Husqvarna offers no less than seven battery options and four different chargers. While some of these are made for professional use (the BLi950X 31Ah back-pack battery at £1080, for example), there are several models ideal for the LC 347VLi and domestic use.

On the charger front, the QC330 we were supplied is excellent. At £80, and packing a 8Ah charging output, it’s very fast. That charged up our 4Ah BLi20 battery in a little over half an hour.

To charge this fast requires cooling, and the charger has a fan that draws cool air through the battery. Given the odd stoppage for obstacle navigation, picking up debris and bag-emptying, we struggled to run-out one BLi20 before the other BLi20 battery was fully charged by the QC330.

When you do run out, there’s no slowing or lack of power; the lawnmower just stops. It also flashes a little red flat battery warning triangle on the keypad, just in case the silence and lack of movement doesn’t give it away.

On one steaming hot day we noted that the depleted batteries won’t charge immediately when you remove them from the mower. This is a ‘hot pack’ safety feature to best maintain the longevity of the cells. Put a hot pack in the QC330 and it fan-cools the battery before automatically switching to charge mode a few minutes later. If you opt for larger capacity batteries, the QC500 charger at £130 is faster still.

Battery choice can be a little daunting. How many people note exactly how long it actually takes them to mow their lawn against the cutting width and speed of the mower? We’d absolutely suggest you opt for two batteries, though. That gives you the option of running both for double run-time, or cycling one through the charger while you mow with the other.

Regarding run-time, on full power mode we consistently achieved around 5 minutes of run-time per 1Ah of battery power. So, our one BLi20 gave 19-20 minutes mowing; two batteries gave closer to 40 minutes. From this we can calculate the approximate full-power run-times of the other batteries in the range:

BLi20 – 4Ah, £130: 20 minutes

Husqvarna’s pro-series batteries for the LC 347VLi are a little more expensive, but can be used in all-weather and have a four-segment charge indicator. Husqvarna suggests these will be good for up to 1500 charge/discharge cycles, indicating they will last a bit longer than the consumer batteries too.

BLi100 – 2.4Ah, £130: 12 minutes

BLi200 – 5.2Ah – £200: 27 minutes

BLi300 – 9.4Ah – £270: 47 minutes

Even at the slowest ‘tortoise’ setting, we managed to mow around 300sqm of lawn on a single BLi20 charge lasting just shy of 20 minutes. That included a few twists, about-turns and detours around obstacles. With a big open lawn and a brisker drive pace, you could comfortably mow 350-400sqm on a single BLi20 battery charge.

Switching to the savE eco mode hears the motor and blade notably slow a little. Noise goes down a couple of decibels too.

On an open lawn in dry conditions, switching to eco mode made no perceivable difference to the cut performance or speed you could cover ground. However, it did extend the run-time of our BLi20 batteries by five minutes or so. This topped cutting time to around 24-25 minutes. That would suggest a general run-time increase in savE eco mode of around 25% on the figures above.

There’s a little less grunt in this mode, however. With savE eco on, charging into a bramble-infested border did see the machine struggle more than in normal mode. If you have a reasonably flat lawn, the weather is dry, and the grass isn’t so tall, the savE eco mode works just fine.

Husqvarna LC 347VLi – Handling and performance

For big lawns then the LC 347VLI ticks all the boxes. There’s plenty of power, a wide cut and self-propelled drive.

All this adds up to a large and weighty beast, however. At well over 25kg plus batteries, this isn’t a mower you’ll be casually slinging into the shed at the end of the session. Husqvarna makes several smaller, lighter models, but the LC 347VLi is for those with lawns the size of multiple tennis courts and up.

In use, you can pretty much forget that weight, though. The comfy handle grip and powered drive let you stroll along behind the mover with consummate ease. The controls, buttons, release clip and switchgear all come to hand nicely and are easy to operate. You can keep just one hand on the bars if required, freeing up the other hand, say, for using your phone.

The phone option I mention because the LC347VLi is just about quiet enough to have a phone conversation while it’s running. It certainly isn’t super-stealth in the way of some of the robot mowers we’ve tested, but it’s significantly quieter than an equivalent petrol model. It’s at about the same or slightly lower noise level than a 47cm mains-powered mower.

Get to the end of the lawn and you can either continue driving in an arc or stop the drive, tilt the machine onto its rear wheels, and pivot-turn on the spot. Despite its mass, the balance of the machine has been judged well so that it’s very easy to pop up the front wheels even with an empty bag.

As the bag fills, and there’s more weight behind the rear wheels, it becomes even easier. Juggling the upper mowing lever and lower drive lever takes a little getting used to, but we were driving around like pros after the first day.

While my octogenarian mother could handle the mower out on open lawns, realistically it was far too big and bulky for her and there was zero chance of her lifting it in and out of the shed. Not one for your elderly mum then.

Another potentially weighty challenge is emptying the bin. At 55 litres, a full bin will be quite heavy, even if the clippings are lightly packed in. Thanks to very potent air-flow and efficient clipping ejection, the LC 347VLi properly packs in the cuttings, making for a really densely packed bag.

That does mean the bag won’t need emptying quite so much, but it will be heavier when you do. The task is easy enough, however, assisted by Husqvarna making the handle uprights wide enough to life the bag straight up and through the middle, rather than having to drag it off the back of the mower.

Our only gripe with the bag, or the LC 347LVi in general, is a complete lack of bag-full indicator. There’s simply no way of determining when the bag needs emptying – until it’s full and piles of chewed-up cuttings emerge from under the deck.

We ended up simply feeling the side of the bag as we went along, which seems a bit wrong for such a high-tech cordless mower.

Actual mowing performance was faultless. The blade cuts almost to the very edge of the deck and the finish is top-notch. Even set on its lowest billiard table setting, the LC 347LVi ploughed on through dense growth and continued to pick up 99% of the cuttings. You can’t hear the High Load feature engage when the going gets tough, but the blade certainly never slowed a great deal or ground to a halt.

Considering we tried some off-piste mowing action through bramble and ferns, that’s mighty impressive.

Height adjustment is very easy thanks to the soft-grip handle and trigger release. Initially, that does rather encourage you to go just a bit lower… until you suddenly realise you’ve scalped a 47cm wide runway strip. Good job it will grow back…

Over several weeks we mowed everything from our neatest formal lawn to bramble-filled border edges with the LC 347VLi and were nothing but impressed. It’s a big and weighty beast, so it isn’t the model of choice for those with a postage stamp-sized lawn. Yet for those with some big areas of green, it operates seamlessly, is ergonomically superb, and will deliver a great cut over a big area in super-quick time.

The asking price of £890 as tested with two BLi20 batteries and a QC330 charger is undoubtedly premium for a 47cm mower. Yet the exceptional build quality, great battery performance and superb mowing abilities go a long way to justifying that price alone.

Factor in the minimal running costs, especially compared to a petrol model with fuel, oil and annual servicing, and the overall cost of ownership is comparable; if not cheaper. Nor will you be looking for long extension cables or joiners when you have cut them.

The lack of bag-full indicator is a bit of a niggle, but hardly a deal-breaker – and the weight is commensurate with its wide cut, driven wheels and powerful motor.

If you need any convincing that the era of petrol and mains-powered pedestrian mowers is over, even for big lawns, give the Husqvarna LC 347VLi a try. It’s blooming brilliant.

Why buy the Husqvarna LC 347VLi?

Powerful, efficient and with outstanding attention to design detail, Husqvarna’s LC 347VLi cordless self-propelled mower is unreservedly impressive for bigger lawns. From bowling greens to rough meadow, we simply couldn’t fault the Husqvarna’s power, quality of cut or ability to collect 99% of clippings.

The comprehensive battery choice, dual-slot arrangement and fast charger all but eliminate run-time limitations, and the list of neat design touches is extensive. These include the clever Dust Blocker bag, savE extended run-time mode, keypad controls, proper ball-bearing wheels and Bluetoooth connected app with handy manual.

The LC 347LVi plus batteries and charger isn’t cheap, but running and maintenance costs are a fraction of a petrol equivalent. Time to go cordless? We think so.

Verdict

Husqvarna’s LC 347VLi is a superbly designed, premium battery-powered mower that sets the benchmark for cordless mowing on big lawns.

The best cordless lawn mowers in 2023

Looking for the best cordless mower? Browse our experts’ pick, from budget to premium models.

A lawn mower may be one of the first purchases we make when getting a garden of our own, but that doesn’t mean finding a good quality one is easy. There are so many models and brands on the market to choose from, including corded electric and petrol, but as their range increases and fall, cordless, battery-powered models are an increasingly popular option.

Light and compact compared with traditional petrol models, cordless mowers are simple to use, easy to manoeuvre around the garden, and have none of the maintenance and servicing needs or costs of petrol lawnmowers. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which charges up quickly and won’t lose power in storage, they’re also quiet and emission free.

To compare these cordless mowers against other types of mower, we’ve reviewed the best lawn mowers, robotic lawn mowers, electric lawn mowers and push mowers, too. And if your lawn needs a bit of attention, our experts have tested a range of the best manual and powered aerators and scarifiers.Keep edges looking neat with our pick of the best strimmers, the best garden shears and the best lawn edging, and if you’re thinking about somewhere to store your new mower, our comprehensive guide to choosing the best garden shed will be helpful.

For your next DIY project, have a look at the best cordless drills.

The best cordless mowers to buy at a glance

Cordless mowers. Buyer’s Guide video

Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.

Getting the best cordless lawn mower for you means ensuring it has the correct cutting width, range of cutting heights, and weight plus a battery run time that matches the size of your lawn. We’ve tested a range of cordless push mowers, putting them through their paces across a range of grass and terrains, to help you find the right one for your garden.

Each mower has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set up and storage, handling, mowing and value for money. Every mower in our round up below has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best cordless lawn mowers, below.

By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Best Buy cordless mowers

Husqvarna Aspire LC34-P4A

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

• Quiet
• Cuts even long grass with ease
• Battery level visible while mowing
• Small and compact for easy storage
• Part of the POWER FOR ALL cordless range

Part of the new Husqvarna Aspire cordless range, which includes a hedge trimmer, pruner and leaf blower, this 34cm mower is powered by an 18V POWER FOR ALL ALLIANCE battery and charger. These are interchangeable with tools in other leading brands such as Flymo, Gardena and Bosch so if you also invest in tools in these ranges, you’ll only need to buy the bare tool and won’t have different batteries and chargers taking up space in the shed.Great for small gardens the mower comes ready to go, there’s no assembly or handles to attach, and it folds down to a compact size when you’re finished, with a telescopic handle that folds completely flat over the body of the mower. It can then be stood up against a wall or hung up, and even comes with a handy hook. The 30l grass bag also flattens down to take up very little room and can be hung on the mower. The Aspire is light, with a carry handle so that lifting it up steps or into other areas is easy and it has an adjustable handle to suit different height users. It’s comfortable and easy to manoeuvre around the garden and has just four cutting heights to choose from, ranging from 25-65mm and changed easily with a single lever on the body of the mower. It cuts grass quietly and smoothly and has an automatic boost that increases blade speed when you’re mowing in tougher, longer areas that works well. You can hear it kick in when you push the mower into longer grass and unlike other cordless mowers that can cut out, just carries on cutting the grass. While you mow the battery charge level is always clearly visible so you know how much battery you have left and when it needs charging. It comes with a two year warranty and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2023 for ease of use.

Specs: Battery: charge time. 95 mins; run time. 500sqm. Cutting: width. 34cm; height. 25-65mm. Grass box. 30 litre.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire C34-P4A cordless mower from Husqvarna and Sam Turner

Greenworks GDG24LM33

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Easy to assemble and use
• Comfortable padded handle
• Choice of mulching or collecting clippings
• Interchangeable battery with Greenworks 24V family

Ideal for smaller gardens this sturdy, great value cordless mower is easy to put together, well thought out and simple to use. Thanks to a padded handle it’s comfortable to push, although it did feel a little short for our taller tester, and it’s light and easy to manoeuvre around trees and beds and borders. There are five cutting heights to choose from, adjusted with the simple lift of a lever and it offers the choice of collecting clippings in the 30 litre fabric grass bag or inserting the mulching plug and leaving them on the lawn to break down and feed the grass. It mows well but doesn’t like very long grass, with the battery cutting out occasionally but its long lasting brushless motor offers a a decent run time of 46 minutes and it charges in two hours. Plus, as part of the Greenworks 24V family, both the battery and charger are interchangeable with all the other tools in the range, saving you money if you invest in more in the future. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best budget cordless mower in 2023.

Specs: Battery: charge time. 120 mins; run time. 46mins. Cutting: width. 33cm; height. 25-70mm. Grass box. 30 litre.

Yard Force LMG37A 40v 37cm

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

• Rear roller
• Double folding handle for easy storage
• Quickest charge time
• Part of the Yardforce GR40 cordless range

This sturdy mower has a 37cm cutting width and useful features including a rear roller for those much desired stripes. Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy in 2022 for small to medium lawns, clippings are collected in the large 40 litre fabric grass bag. It offers a wide choice of seven cutting heights, from 25-75mm, and is easy to fold away at the end of the day. The 40V battery is quick to charge, taking just 50 minutes and when full it has the capacity to cut a 400m2 lawn.

Specs: Battery: charge time. 50 mins; run time. 400sqm. Cutting: width. 37cm; height. 25-75mm. Grass box. 40 litre.

Buy the Yard Force LMG37A 40V 37cm cordless mower from Yard Force, Amazon and Wickes

The best riding mowers: Mow your lawn faster

Up your summer lawn care game with a riding mower that makes for a faster, more eco-friendly mowing experience.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Riding mowers are a popular mower choice for homeowners, especially if you have a big property to maintain every summer. They have cutting decks measuring from 42 to 72 inches, so you can make short work of everything from typical lawns to large properties, like sports complexes and golf courses.

Unlike their push mower counterparts, riding mowers have more features to consider in order to find the right fit for your yard. You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, so you can set and forget your speed or operate your mower like a car. You can even get riding mowers with cruise control or all-wheel drive for better traction.

While gas engines are far more common among riding mowers, there is a wide selection of battery-powered models if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly solution for lawn care. My pick for the best overall riding mower is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP for its 24HP engine, 54-inch cutting deck, and ability to mow up to four acres with a full gas tank. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as well as our other top picks.

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP

Best riding mower overall

• 24HP engine
• 54-inch cutting deck
• Automatic transmission
• Attachments and accessories available

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kohler | Cutting width: 54 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 4 acres

The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP riding mower is an excellent choice for a variety of lawns. It’s built with a 24HP Kohler engine and a 54-inch cutting deck to let you handle inclines and rough terrain or haul tools, mulch, and potting soil around your property.

The hydrostatic, automatic transmission makes operation similar to a typical car, so you can spend more time actually cutting your grass and less time learning how to drive your mower. With a 3-gallon tank, you’ll be able to mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Best electric riding mower

• 2.5 acre max range
• Quick-charge batteries
• LCD heads-up display
• USB charging ports

Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor tech specs: Engine: 80V brushless electric | Cutting width: 46 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 2.5 acres

Electric riding mowers have become more popular in recent years as homeowners and landscaping professionals look for ways to make lawn care more eco-friendly. The Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor features a 46-inch cutting deck and enough power to let you mow up to 2.5 acres on a single charge, and you can recharge your mower batteries in as little as 2.5 hours.

This means you can take care of other tasks, like weeding or landscaping, while you’re waiting for your mower to recharge. An LCD screen gives you a heads-up display of run time, battery levels, and reminders to inspect and sharpen your mower blades. It even has two USB ports for charging your phone while you mow.

Toro Titan Max

Best zero-turn riding mower

• Mows up to 7 acres at once
• Highly maneuverable
• 10-gauge steel construction
• Tool-free air filters

Toro Titan Max tech specs: Engine: 26HP Kohler 7000 | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 7 acres

Zero-turn riding mowers are popular with homeowners who have larger properties or lots of obstacles like trees or specialized landscaping. The Toro Titan Max’s exceptional maneuverability and larger cutting decks make quick work of yards up to 7 acres in size, while the 26HP Kohler 7000 engine uses a dual hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive operation.

Toro also made regular maintenance a bit more streamlined with tool-free air filters. The deck and mower body are made from tough, 10-gauge steel to stand up to dings, rocks, run-ins, and anything else your lawn can throw at it.

Cub Cadet CC30E

Best compact riding mower

• Battery-powered
• Great for yards up to 1 acre
• Compact design great for small storage areas and narrow spaces
• Push-button cruise control

Cub Cadet CC30E tech specs: Engine: 56V electric | Cutting width: 30 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 1 acre

Compact riding mowers like the Cub Caded CC30E are great for suburban lawns on the smaller side. The CC30E features a smaller design that is perfect for storing in multi-use sheds and garages or maneuvering through gates and narrow spaces. The 30-inch cutting deck and 56V battery let you mow up to 1 acre (or one hour) at once.

It uses a hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive driving while the 18-inch turning radius lets you easily mow around trees and other obstacles. It even features a push-button cruise control, so you can set-and-forget your forward speed and concentrate on mowing around obstacles, as well as staying aware of your surroundings.

DeWALT Z160 Commercial

Best riding mower for large properties

• Mow up to 10 acres
• 5.5 gallon gas tank
• Dual hydrostatic drive
• Great for hills and inclines

DeWALT Z160 Commercial tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 10 acres

The DeWALT Z160 Commercial zero-turn riding mower is designed from the ground up to handle large properties. The 60-inch cutting deck and 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin engine let you mow up to 10 acres at once, making it an almost perfect choice for rural properties or landscaping professionals. The dual hydrostatic drive makes operation smoother, though the twin-stick steering does take some getting used to.

With 22-inch rear wheels, you can easily take on inclines and rolling hills that may be on your property. A 5.5-gallon fuel tank means you’ll spend more time actually mowing and less time refueling. And if you opt for the bagger attachment, you’ll be able to gather up to 11 bushels of clippings before you need to empty.

What is the best riding mower?

I chose the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as the best riding mower you can buy. It features a 54-inch cutting deck and 3-gallon fuel tank, letting you mow up to 4 acres in a single go. The 24 horsepower engine also lets you take on steeper inclines and rough terrain or haul tools and gardening supplies around your property. The hydrostatic drive makes operation similar to a typical car, while an LED display gives you accurate usage hours for streamlined maintenance.

Best riding mower

Cutting width

Transmission type

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Which is the right riding mower for you?

Other than your budget, there are a lot of features and scenarios you have to consider while shopping for a new riding mower. The size of your yard will determine how wide the cutting deck should be, though either a 42 or 46-inch version will be more than enough for most yards.

You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission. A manual model lets you set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS, while hydrostatic models operate more like cars, going faster the harder you press the pedal. This makes them more intuitive to operate but also more expensive.

Zero-turn mowers are designed for mowing in oddly-shaped areas or around lots of obstacles like trees, lamp posts, and lawn ornaments. They’re called zero-turn because they have a zero-inch turn radius; you pivot around either rear wheel for ultra-tight turning.

Buy this best riding mower.

If you need.

A well-rounded riding mower. The 54-inch cutting deck and 24HP engine let you mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

An all-electric riding mower. The electric engine requires less maintenance than gas models, making your lawn-care routine more eco-friendly.

An excellent zero-turn riding mower. Precision maneuvering lets you mow around trees, landscaping, and other obstacles with ease.

A compact riding mower. The 30-inch deck and smaller build make this riding mower perfect for smaller suburban lawns.

A riding mower that can handle larger properties. This commercial-grade, zero-turn riding mower lets you cut up to 10 acres at once.

How did we choose these riding mowers?

I used to work for MTD Products (now owned by BlackDecker), which assembles a variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other powered lawn equipment. Using the expertise and knowledge I gained during my time there, I looked for riding mowers with these qualities:

• Motor size: You’ll want a riding mower with at least a 10HP engine to give you enough power to handle minor inclines and lawns up to half an acre. Larger riding mowers like the John Deere Z530M have more powerful engines, often topping out over 20HP to let you tackle rough terrain and even haul equipment.
• Cutting width: Many riding mowers have either a 42 or 46-inch cutting deck, which is great for lawns between.5 and 1.5 acres. However, if you have a large, multi-acre property, you’ll want to choose a larger cutting deck. Many brands have options between 50 and 72-inch cutting decks.
• Transmission type: The less expensive riding mowers will have either a 6 or 7-speed manual transmission. This means you will use a dedicated lever to set your engine’s forward and reverse speeds, with a single brake pedal for stop control. The more expensive models feature a hydrostatic drive, which operates in a similar way to an automatic transmission in a typical car or truck.
• Accessories: Lawn care goes beyond regular mowing. I chose riding mowers that have the ability to hitch small trailers or wagons for hauling tools, mulch, or potting soil. I also chose mowers from brands that make after-market add-ons, like rear bagging units for collecting grass clippings, mulching kits for re-feeding lawns, and snow plows for year-round use.

How do you decide which riding mower to buy?

Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similarly to how a car drives: You push the pedal and it moves forward or backward. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

And finally, you’ll want to consider the power source for your new riding mower. Gasoline engines are far more common, but there is now a wider variety of battery-powered models to choose from. The perks of a gas engine are that you’ll get near-infinite run times (as long as you have enough fuel to keep the engine going) and a bit more power for handling steep inclines and rough terrain. The downsides are dealing with exhaust emissions and maintenance that can be a time and money sink. Electric models don’t need engine maintenance, so you save a bit of money in the long run. But they usually have a maximum run time of about an hour, which means that you may have to plan your mowing over several days if you have a larger yard.

How big of a yard do I need for a riding mower?

Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you’ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.

If you’re right on the threshold, you can get what’s known as a mini rider. They usually have compact bodies for easier storage and 30-inch cutting decks to make short work of lawns that are just a touch too large for a push mower.

How long should a riding mower last?

No matter if you choose a gas or battery-powered riding mower, proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your mower. For gas engines, you should change the oil and filters, clean the spark plugs, and sharpen the blades before you mow for the first time in the spring. And you should use fuel treatments like STA-BIL to prevent gas in the tank or extra jerry cans from going bad from moisture contamination. This prevents buildup of gunk that can ruin your engine, improves engine performance, and gives you a cleaner cut for a healthier lawn.

Electric mowers don’t need engine maintenance, but you should perform thorough inspections at the start of mowing season to check for battery damage, corrosion on battery contacts, damage to the battery housing, and also to sharpen the blades. If you do regular maintenance, not only will you save money by avoiding big repairs from worn-out parts, but you can also expect your riding mower to last 10 years or more.- which is great news, since they can be an expensive investment.

What is the cheapest riding mower?

Unfortunately, riding mowers aren’t ever really what we consider budget-friendly. However, there are models like the Murray MT100 that retail for less than 2000 without sacrificing power or cutting width.

Are there alternative riding mowers worth considering?

Whether you’re shopping at a big-name DIY store like Lowe’s, a local hardware store, or an authorized brand dealer, there are tons of options for a new riding mower. You can choose either gas or battery-powered models, cutting deck widths from as small as 30 inches to as wide as six feet.

Here’s a short list of other riding mowers I thought were great choices:

John Deere Z530M

The John Deere Z530M features a 60-inch cutting deck for making quick work of large properties. Exceptional maneuverability lets you mow around trees, lawn decor, and other obstacles with ease.

Husqvarna YTH1942

The Husqvarna YTH1942 features an updated, 19 horsepower engine and 42-inch cutting deck to take on inclines and haul dirt, mulch, and gardening equipment.

Murray MT100

For under 2000, you’ll get a 13.5 horsepower engine, a 42-inch cutting deck, and a 6-speed manual transmission with the Murray MT100.