Best Riding Lawn Mowers

Whether you are looking at new acreage or are simply tired of toiling behind a walk-behind mower, it might be time to consider a quality riding lawn mower. With how busy our lives can become, each hour becomes even more valuable, and you deserve to reclaim as much of that precious time as possible. Optimize the time you have and squeeze every productive minute out of your time spent working on chores. Rider lawn mowers can knock down the time needed to maintain your outdoor space, and different machines will fit different tasks, depending on size and maneuverability demands. Each of the machines listed here will be able to mulch and bag, alongside the default side discharge. From 30” to 60” cutting decks, we’ve gathered a variety of quality options for you to consider for whatever task you have to take on, so you can find the right machine and get the best fit for both your needs and budget.

Differing in horsepower, turn radius, quality-of-life comforts, and integrated features, each of these five riding lawn mowers bring something important to the table that places them above the rest of the market. Let’s take a look at what’s available and see what fits your needs best.

BEST OVERALL | Poulan Pro P46ZX Briggs V-Twin Pro 22 HP 46” Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower

Poulan Pro P46ZX Briggs V-Twin Pro 22 HP 46” Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower in use

Shedding the traditional Poulan green for Poulan Pro black and gold, the P46ZX Briggs V-Twin Pro 22 HP 46” Zero Turn Radius Riding Mower has a lot to offer for those consumers looking to reign in a beastly zero-turn riding mower that offers commercial quality for a mid-level consumer price. With a top forward speed of 6 MPH, the Z46ZX can lay down 2.4 acres an hour, running strong with a solid 22 horsepower engine and HydroGear transmission. A zero-turn radius and responsive lever controls allow you to make every corner and reach every inch of your yard space, while the 3 MPH reverse speed will ensure you can get out of a tight space. The included nose roller and anti-scalp rollers and wheels make sure that uneven terrain doesn’t suffer unsightly scalps and divots and can be adjusted for high, medium, and low levels. When you’re facing a task that needs to be done the right time, for the right price, consider investing in this machine. With the spark arrestor available separately, the P46ZX can even take on undeveloped land and high grass with a measure of safety, tackling even the toughest snarls of tough grass with relative ease. This Poulan mower has an MSRP of $2,705.55, but be sure to check the current Poulan Pro P46ZX Briggs V-Twin Pro 22 HP – Amazon price here.

Read the full review for the Poulan Pro P46ZX Briggs.

BEST DESIGN | Husqvarna Z246I 23HP Briggs & Stratton 46″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower

Husqvarna Z246I 23HP Briggs & Stratton 46 Zero Turn Lawn Mower full view

Husqvarna balances the best aspects of strength, agility, efficiency, and comforts in their Z246I 23HP Briggs & Stratton 46″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower. The Z246I is a beast of a machine built to knock down your medium to large acreage needs while ensuring you don’t miss an inch and maybe even enjoy the chore at the same time. If you’ve got to work hard, you should be looking forward to playing just as hard with a large 46” cutting deck powered by 23 horsepower by Briggs & Stratton and a maintenance-free HydroGear EZT transmission. Sitting on this machine is like relaxing on a throne. The comfortable seat and easy access to the ergonomic control panel mean you’re getting all the control and operator feedback you need, along with a cup holder to keep you hydrated, while you cruise along. Deliberate, responsive levers give you full command of the mower’s zero-turn radius, while the heavy-duty frame resists chassis torque when you’re navigating uneven terrain. Concerned about safety features? The seat sensor will not only disengage when you leave the seat but will also warn you about potential danger with shift and uneven lean. If you need to get up for a few minutes to refresh your water, the system won’t shut down completely for five minutes while disengaging the blades immediately. Don’t miss out on this complete package. Husqvarna’s lawn mower has an MSRP of $2899.00, but be sure to check the current Husqvarna Z246I 23HP Briggs & Stratton – Amazon price here.

Read the full review for the Husqvarna Z246I 23HP Briggs & Stratton.

EASIEST TO USE | Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki

Ariens IKON-XL 60 Zero Turn Mower 24HP Kawasaki in use

When you’re facing a seemingly monumental task that requires the heavy-duty tools, you want the Ariens family of Wisconsin on your side. Staking their family name on products since 1933, Ariens offers a truly beastly machine that can tackle the toughest and largest chores: the IKON-XL 60” Zero Turn Mower with the company’s most powerful 24HP Kawasaki engine. The king-sized cutting deck reduces how many back-and-forths needed to maintain a large property, while the zero-turn radius lets you catch every inch of grass from beginning to end. The IKON-XL is the improved big brother of the popular IKON series, meaning Ariens know they did it right the first time and won’t stop improving. Featuring quality of life improvements like a foot-controlled cutting deck height adjustment dial, the IKON-XL is built to take down whatever acreage you throw underneath it and keep on going, season after season. If the 60” cutting deck is a bit too much, the IKON-XL is also available in 42” and 52” configurations. Trust the Ariens name with your large acreage and knock the chores down to size with an investment that is sure to earn its place in your shed. The Ariens IKON-XL has an MSRP of $4,399.00, but be sure to check the current Ariens IKON-XL 60″ Zero Turn Mower – Amazon price here.

Read the full review for the Ariens IKON-XL.

MOST VERSATILE | Raven MPV7100 Series Hybrid Riding Lawnmower Power Generator and Utility Vehicle

Raven MPV7100 Series Hybrid Riding Lawnmower Power Generator and Utility Vehicle in use

Innovation is the key to technological evolution, and when you need a machine that does more than just mow the lawn, you’ll have to dig to find something worth considering. Raven America offers the MPV7100 Series Hybrid Riding Lawnmower, Power Generator, and Utility Vehicle. Perfect for landowners with a lot of space to cover where extension cords just don’t cut it, the MPV7100 series runs on a powerful hybrid engine, allowing the 420cc engine to power the 7100-watt electric generator, in turn transferring power to the wheels, removable cutting deck, and multiple outlets. As a mower, the MPV7100 features a large 46” fabricated cutting deck with a 14” turning radius, ensuring a great cut every time. As a transporter/hauler, you can easily pull 550 lbs, and the generator aspect of the MPV7100 allows for eight hours at half load, with five AC outlets and one 12V DC car plug. High definition LED headlights and off-road front-end shocks and suspension guarantee that you’ll get to where you need to go and back home safely. While it might be overkill for the average homeowner, the Raven MPV7100 series shines in the niches, providing a variety of applications for a reasonable price. The Raven MPV7100 Series Hybrid Riding Lawnmower has an MSRP of $2,667.41, but be sure to check the current Raven MPV7100 Series Hybrid Riding Lawnmower – Amazon price here.

Read the full review for the Raven MPV7100.

BARGAIN BUY | Troy-Bilt 30” Neighborhood Rider Lawn Mower

Troy-Bilt 30-Inch Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower in use

Bigger isn’t always better. In fact, one of the best is also one of the smallest. A comfortable residential space doesn’t require the presence of a beastly commercial-quality zero-turn, and a larger mower can make the job more difficult in many cases, especially when landscaping and yard art comes into play. Troy-Bilt’s 30” Neighborhood Lawn Mower takes the best parts of both worlds. This gas-powered rider mower combines a 30” cutting deck large enough to slim downtime to completion with a compact design that lets you maneuver and maintain every corner of your space with a tight 18” turning radius. An Operator Controlled Reverse System lets you nudge in to capture those difficult spaces and escape to continue your task with ease. Excellent fuel efficiency allows the 1.3-gallon tank to last multiple mowings and when it is time to put the machine up, you won’t waste as much gas at the end of the season. If you find yourself stuck with a yard too large to comfortably maintain with a walk-behind or push mower, but the available rider and tractor mowers are just too big to be practical, Troy-Bilt has you covered with an agile, strong option that has been popular enough to warrant a second annual release and refreshed design and features. The Neighborhood Rider Lawn Mower has an MSRP of $1221.75, but be sure to check the current Troy-Bilt 30” Neighborhood Rider Lawn Mower – Amazon price here.

Read the full review for the Troy-Bilt 30” Neighborhood Rider Lawn Mower.

BOTTOM LINE

Choose the right machine for the job and save yourself the stress of having to maintain your lawn. Reclaim that free time for yourself and friends and family so you can enjoy walking through healthy grass, knowing you optimized every second of effort. Time spent outdoors should be filled with a frisbee, camping, barbeques, and summer parties with friends, not slogging away behind a mower. With a solid investment comes peace of mind, and even if you are one of the rare breeds that enjoy mowing the lawn, you should still have the right machine to make it fun even more fun. Either one of these five rider lawn mowers might be the best fit for your needs. But if you’re looking for something smaller, like a push model, then check out our Best Lawn Mowers right here.