The 5 Best Riding Lawn Mowers of 2021

The best way to keep larger lawns in top shape

By
Camryn Rabideau
Camryn Rabideau
Camryn Rabideau
Camryn Rabideau is a freelance writer specializing in decorating and design. She covers home products for The Spruce.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 09/21/21
Fact checked by
Nikki Elmwood
Fact checked by Nikki Elmwood
on 08/21/21
Nikki Elmwood is a fact-checker, editor, and proofreader with over six years of fact-checking experience. Her areas of interest include botany, ornithology, and home improvement. She received a Bachelor of Science from Portland State University.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

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Best Riding Lawn Mowers

The Spruce / Chloe Jeong

Riding lawn mowers are no small investment, but they’re a worthwhile purchase for many homeowners. This style of lawn mower allows you to take care of your yard in less time, and dare we say that they even make lawn care enjoyable? With a nice riding mower, you can simply sit back with a drink and steer the machine instead of pushing it around your yard by hand.

There are several types of riding mowers to choose from, including lawn tractors, which can be used for many tasks, and zero-turn mowers, which often have larger decks and can turn on a dime. There’s also the choice between traditional gas-powered mowers and eco-friendly electric models—both have their merits, so it’s really a matter of which best suits your needs.

The following are the best riding lawn mowers for all types of yards.

Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
RYOBI 42 in. 100 Ah Electric Riding Zero Turn Mower at Home Depot
All the power you'd expect from a zero-turn riding mower, without any of the timely maintenance or emissions.
Read Review
Best Budget:
Troy-Bilt 30 in. Manual Drive Gas Riding Lawn Mower at Home Depot
This compact gas mower features a rear-mounted engine and 30-inch deck, as well as a manual transmission.
Read Review
Best Electric:
RYOBI Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower at Home Depot
You’ll be amazed at the power and efficiency of this electric model, which can run up to two hours on a single charge.
Read Review
Best for Large Yards:
Toro 54 in. TimeCutter Zero Turn Riding Mower at Tractorsupply.com
Make quick work of even the largest lawn with this mower's 54-inch deck and unbeatable maneuverability.
Read Review
Best for Rough Terrain:
Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 in. Zero Turn Mower at Home Depot
Large back tires give this zero-turn mower superior traction and create a smooth ride on uneven terrain.
Read Review
In This Article

Best Overall: RYOBI 42 in. 100 Ah Battery Electric Riding Zero Turn Mower

RYOBI 42 in. 100 Ah Battery Electric Riding Zero Turn Mower
View On Home Depot

Even those who have used gas lawn mowers their entire lives will be wowed by the RYOBI Electric Riding Zero-Turn Mower. This high-end electric mower is every bit as powerful as its gas counterparts, yet it requires none of the time-consuming maintenance like oil changes or spark plug replacement—oh, and it’s eco-friendly, to boot.

This mower is available with either 75Ah or 100Ah batteries, and the 100Ah model can cut up to three acres on a single charge. It’s equipped with a 42-inch steel deck and two precision-cutting blades with a 12-position single-lever deck adjustment. Additionally, the mower has side discharge, mulching, or bagging capabilities. The RYOBI mower comes with a towing hitch and tow assembly hardware, allowing you to use it for more tasks around your home, and when its battery is low, you can charge it up via a standard 120-volt outlet.

As if all that wasn’t enough, this high-end zero-turn mower is equipped with a number of extra features, including LED headlights, a battery level indicator, and a USB charging port. Not to mention that it operates quietly—ideal for mowing in the early morning—and gives off no carbon emissions.

The 11 Best Lawn Mowers of 2021

Best Budget: Troy-Bilt 30 in. 6-Speed Manual Drive Gas Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower

Troy-Bilt 30 in. Manual Drive Gas Riding Lawn Mower
View On Home Depot

Riding lawn mowers are significantly more expensive than walk-behind models, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a riding mower under $1,000. However, one of the most affordable options you can buy today is this model from Troy-Bilt, which features a small 30-inch deck and a 382cc single-cylinder engine.

This compact gas-powered mower has a rear-mounted engine that allows you to see better over the front, and it turns on a dime, allowing you to navigate around rocks and other obstacles in your yard. It’s equipped with a rear hitch that allows you to pull a cart or sprayer (sold separately), and you can opt for side discharge or mulch grass clippings as you mow.

Just keep in mind that this Troy-Bilt mower is only recommended for flat terrain, and it has a six-speed manual transmission that you’ll have to operate. A small price to pay to save some money, if you ask us!

The 8 Best Push Lawn Mowers of 2021

Best Electric: RYOBI 38 in. 75 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower

ryobi-electric-law-mower
4.3
View On Home Depot
RYOBI RM480e Electric Riding Mower Review

More people are switching over to electric lawn mowers, which offer decreased maintenance, fewer emissions, and impressively quiet operation, and RYOBI is the top electric lawn mower brand on the market. RYOBI mowers offer power that can compete with traditional gas models, and they boast a sleek, easy-to-use design that will appeal to both new homeowners and lawn care veterans alike.

This RYOBI Riding Lawn Mower is a step down from our overall pick, but it still delivers a stellar performance thanks to its 38-inch deck and 75Ah batteries, which give you around two hours of runtime per charge. The mower has a two-blade deck and a 12-position height adjustment, as well as cruise control, USB charging, LED headlights, and more, and it charges via a standard 120-volt outlet, usually taking around 14 hours to reach max battery power.

"We tested the mower’s cutting abilities several times, starting with a two-acre plot in a large field, then moving on to the front yard and a section of heavy, overgrown lawn. In each task, we found that the RYOBI exceeded expectations, cutting and handling just as well as a commercial-grade gas mower."—Camryn Rabideau, Product Tester

The 5 Best Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers of 2021

Best for Large Yards: Toro 54 in. TimeCutter 24.5 HP V-Twin Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower

Toro 54 in. TimeCutter Zero Turn Riding Mower
View On Tractorsupply.com

If you have several acres of property to maintain, you’ll love the Toro TimeCutter Zero-Turn Riding Mower. Not only does this mower have a large 54-inch deck to cut large paths on every pass, but it’s also equipped with the brand’s MyRide suspension system, which provides a smoother ride for a more enjoyable operation.

The Toro mower is powered by a 24.5 HP engine that offers speeds up to 7 MPH in mow mode and 5 MPH when towing. The brand claims this machine can cut your mowing time up to 50 percent thanks to its zero-turn steering, and you’ll stay comfortable the whole time thanks to the high-back seat with armrests and a built-in cup holder.

Best for Rough Terrain: Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 in. 23 HP V-Twin Gas Engine Zero Turn Mower

Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50 in. Zero Turn Mower
View On Home Depot

Not all mowers can handle rough, uneven terrain, so those with bumpy yards will want to invest in a model like the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, a zero-turn mower that performs well on all types of ground. It’s equipped with a 23 HP twin-cylinder engine for commercial-grade power, and its dual hydrostatic rear-wheel transmission can achieve speeds up to 7.5 MPH.

This mower has a 50-inch triple-blade deck with reinforced leading edges that create finer clippings, fewer clumps, and increased evenness, and the foot-operated deck lift and dial control knob allow you to easily set the deck height to your liking. The machine’s smooth-tread front wheels and 20-inch premium rear tires provide excellent traction and a smoother ride on uneven ground, and you’re sure to love its adjustable ergonomic lap bar, dual-LED headlights, electronic fingertip blade engagement, and other premium features.

Final Verdict

The RYOBI Electric Riding Zero-Turn Mower (view at Home Depot) offers all the power and versatility of a high-end gas mower, but without any of the maintenance or emissions, making it a top pick for anyone with a large yard. If you have a particularly large yard, we recommend the Toro Time Cutter Mower (view at Tractor Supply), which has a large 54-inch deck to cut large paths on every pass.

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. Gas mowers are generally more powerful, but they’re louder, less eco-friendly, and require more maintenance. Electric mowers, on the other hand, are typically less powerful with a shorter run time, but they’re quieter, easier to start, and better for the environment.

Deck size

The deck size of a lawn mower dictates how wide a path it cuts—larger decks cut wider paths on each pass. A deck size of between 30 to 60 inches is recommended for most homeowners. Bigger decks are better for lawns with few obstacles and turns, while smaller decks will be helpful if you have to mow around trees or garden beds. 

Grass clipping

Don’t forget to consider how the lawn mower handles grass clippings. Some machines simply spit clippings back out onto your lawn, while others have options to bag or mulch the cut grass. The best option for you simply depends on how you prefer to handle your clippings.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance contributor for The Spruce. As someone who grew up on a 70-acre farm and now owns a 5-acre property herself, she’s no stranger to lawn mowers, and she’s written extensively on them, even doing first-hand product testing.

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