Murray cordless lawn mower. Hydrangea Guide

Best Cordless Lawn mower – Top 5 Models Compared Reviews

There’s no doubt that a careful attention to a garden will leave it looking picturesque throughout the year. Basically, every form of maintenance you’ll do on your garden will have a knock-on effect the following season. For instance, poor lawn maintenance in autumn and spring will lead to problems in summer. That means you need to think about your actions and it starts with investing in a good lawn mower.

In this post, we look at the best cordless lawn mowers currently on the market today. We speak cordless because these type of mowers are here to stay. When compared to the traditional petrol mowers or the newer electric corded models, cordless mowers have meaningful advantages over their rivals. The most obvious one is the freedom to mow anywhere, without cords getting in the way or harmful petrol fumes polluting your surroundings. Cordless lawn mowers also tend to be lightweight, quiet and easy to store. With that in mind, investing in battery-powered mower isn’t a bad idea at all.

Want to cut a long story short? The Aerotek X2 Series Cordless Lawnmower is the real deal. With its 40V battery, this mower is very powerful and is particular good at picking up every last blade of grass. Its 40cm cutting width is more suiting to medium sized lawns or what will be classed as an average UK garden. You will benefit from multiple cutting height heights starting from 25mm to 75mm, while a 50 litre grass box ensures less trips to the green bin most homes now have or compost bin if you’re into making your own compost. In any case, it comes with a mulching attachment which is handy if you want to return the grass clipping the lawn now and again to add nutrients back to the lawn. Below we have a quick overview of our ‘best pick’ and ‘runner-up’ before getting onto our reviews and buyer guide.

BEST PICK

This mower has some brilliant features that make it suitable for gardens ranging from small to in between medium and large. It gets rolling at the touch of a button and offers a decent mowing time of around 35 minutes from one full charge. A generous 50 litre collection box, single height adjustment lever, and 40cm cutting deck make this cordless mower a great pick for most people. It comes complete with a 40v lithium battery and charger and offers excellent value for money. With 0ver 160 reviews on Amazon alone, this model have proved reliable and well worth considering.

Cordless Lawnmower Mini Buyers Guide

Key things to consider before buying a cordless lawn mower

If you want the convenience of an electric lawn mower without the hassle of long cords or the maintenance of petrol mowers, a cordless model is a great consideration. Improvements in battery technology makes them last much longer as well as benefit from reduced overall weight and best of all they are becoming more affordable all the time.

When it comes to buying one, you have to think of the size of your garden. The point is, some lawn mowers are good for smaller gardens while others only make sense if purchased for larger lawns. Leading from this, look at the battery voltage and amp per hour. Ideally, 18v and 20v batteries will offer enough power and runtime for smaller gardens of around 250m², while 36v and 40v batteries are adequate for medium to larger lawns, about 400m² and above.

Many models feature variable cutting heights and you’ll want to choose a decent range for your lawn but also how easy it is to adjust should be considered as some are really awkward while other use just a single level. Closely related to that is cutting width, which typically ranges from 32cm to 50cm, unless you have a small lawn we would recommend something around 40cm or larger with a good sized collection box to match. A machine will a smaller cutting width obviously take longer to mow a certain area, while a wider width will get the job done much quicker.

You may also want to consider some extra features such as folding handles which has become the norm but a very useful feature to look for it grass combs on the side which make it much easier to mow right to the edge of lawns or against wall and fences. Finally weight of the machine matters but most are light weight and battery charging time, against only consider models with lithium-ion batteries as they have longer run times and much faster charge time, usually fully charged within 60-90 minutes.

One final specification to look for in the best cordless lawn mower is a brushless motor, these are far more reliable than standard motors most models incorporate, something most professional trades person are fully aware of but often overlooked for those of us who are not professional tradesmen.

Murray Lawnmowers

Home ownership is a central component of the American Dream. Almost everyone has visions of waking up in their own home in the suburbs on a Saturday and running out to play catch with the kids or hosting a neighborhood barbeque. Instead, we find ourselves waking-up on Saturday morning to a foot-high forest of grass in the backyard, and we spend our day caring for the lawn instead of enjoying it.

Murray Lawnmowers are designed to help you care for your lawn quickly and get on with life…they allow you to spend more time enjoying your yard, rather than caring for it.

Speed and Maneuverability

One of the most important considerations for many lawn owners is speed. Many low-cost mowers sacrifice power in order to lower the price, but this often leads to missed patches of grass that have to be re-mowed. Murray lawnmowers are equipped with powerful motors and designed with large wheels for easy maneuverability. Each aspect of a Murray is intended to get you done with maintenance quickly so you can enjoy your yard.

Variety: the Spice of Murray Lawnmowers

Murray produces many different models of lawnmowers. There are five lighter push models for those with smaller lawns such as might be found around a typical suburban home. Murray also make ten models of self-propelled walk behind mowers to make it easier to maintain larger lawns. Additionally, they produce eight models of riding or tractor style mowers for commercial properties or homeowners with large acreages. Murray even produces several electric models, which can be powered by either a battery or an extension cord. These models are designed primarily for very small patches of lawn located close to houses or apartments in urban areas.

Reliability: Where Murray Mowers Can Truly Shine!

Murray tends to spend less on advertising than many other brands such as John Deere or Toro, so they don’t have as much name recognition as those brands. They also tend to be sold at large discount stores like Walmart or Target, so they have a reputation as a discount lawnmower. Yet customers generally report satisfaction with all Murray models, and the riding models are particularly well regarded.

Murray mowers are usually priced much lower than their competitors, and most consumers are pleasantly surprised at the reliability of the equipment compared to the purchase price. All Murray lawnmowers have a two year warranty, but many owners report using their Murray for ten years or more without difficulty. Because their competitors are usually two or three times as expensive, it is possible to purchase a Murray every fours years and it would still cost less.

Common Complaints About Murray Lawnmowers

Of course, not all reviews of Murray are favorable. One of the major complaints regarding Murray lawnmowers has been their customer support. Their website seems geared primarily at the European market, and many Northern American consumers find it difficult to find either parts or authorized dealers by using the site.

They also do not have a list of products on the North American version of the site, so a United States owner or interested consumer has to navigate the European site to find available models. Additionally, it is usually difficult to find replacement parts for Murray lawnmowers at local supply stores, though they have made significant strides in making parts more available through online retailers, and their own site features a parts selection.

Murray has also suffered some unflattering press in the last couple years due to a large recall. A consumer safety group reported that the plastic covering used to shield the operator from debris was not strong enough and could crack under heavy use.

In other words, as the mower was cutting larger items like twigs the small pieces could pierce the shield and fly off in any direction and injure bystanders, whereas other manufacturers use metal or fiberglass shielding that is more resistant to damage. Though there were no reported injuries, Murray voluntarily recalled over eight thousand mowers and replaced the shields as a precautionary measure. Despite the commendable preemptive recall, Murray still is dealing with the negative public perception of product safety.

However, many of the complaints regarding Murray motors are common to any mowers. Repair shops have reported that people come in complaining about their “cheap Murray lawnmower” breaking down, but the repair person realizes that the owner was not using the machine properly.

For example, many complaints deal with a stuck blade, but oftentimes this is due to mowing the grass shortly after a rain. Almost any mower has difficulty with wet grass. Another common complaint is an oil leak, but Murray representatives have shown that this is typically due to either overfilling the oil reservoir or improper maintenance.

When Murray mowers are properly cared for, they tend to last for well beyond their published life expectancy.

Quality Under the Hood

Though they seem to prize their European market more than the United States, Murray mowers use American-made Briggs and Stratton engines. Briggs and Stratton is a Wisconsin-based manufacturer that has been producing high-quality engines direct to equipment manufacturers for over a hundred years.

Since the 1990s they have also reduced the carbon footprint of their engines by almost seventy-five percent, meaning that Murray motors benefit the environment beyond the borders of your lawn. Sometimes Murray lawnmowers are even sold under the Briggs and Stratton brand name in the United States.

Conclusion: Value, Variety and Power

Whether you have a small patch of grass in the city or a large homestead in the country, Murray makes a lawnmower to fit the size of your lawn. Because Murray distributes its mowers through discount stores, they also fit the size of almost any budget. When they are properly maintained, Murray lawnmowers can last as long or longer than more expensive brands, meaning that you can spend less money caring for your lawn and more on discovering new ways of enjoying it.

21 Комментарии и мнения владельцев

Reply Renee May 25, 2012 at 7:26 pm I purchased my Murray lawn mower around the Fall of 2001. After about two or three years I had to have something replaced because the gas was leaking into the well just below the motor. A friend advised that it probably wasn’t worth having it repaired but I did so anyway as the quote, including general maintance, was far less that it would have cost to purchase a new mower. That is when I began to take it in each Spring for general service/blade cleaning, etc. (may have missed a year or two). Anyway, I just took it in (missed 2012 Spring cleaning) because I could no longer get the cord to pull to start the motor. I was informed that the motor is gone. Apparently ten years is a good long life for a mower. My only complaints are 1) the size of the mower. I live in a row home with a front lawn that has a wall. If it were not for my neighbor having a lawn that slopes to the pavement I may not be able to get my mower up the steps to get to my lawn. 2) Emptying the bag is a bit of work. There are also two areas in the back to be mowed so that altogether these just about fill the bag. In light of all of the above I want to be certain to obtain a mower that will perform at least as well as and for as long as my Murray has. My query/delimma these days is can I obtain such for well under 300?

Reply James Taylor September 6, 2021 at 10:40 pm I definitely think you can get a new mower for under 300dollars ! I have a murry lawnmower and I would not trade it for any other mower!

Reply marshall June 29, 2012 at 4:49 am when i bought my first home i learned quick a lawnmower was a quickly needed item cause i was under a association so money was tight i went to sears and charged a craftsmen ez mulch mower. I cut the lawn twice it broke down, carb probs. They replaced it summer ended after four more mows and was garaged till following summer. Tried to start it. Was carb again now no longer warranted. What junk. growing up i mowed lawns in the neighborhood and ive used toro. john deere, mclain and you name it. no Honda ill admit that. Anyway after the house sold was at my fathers and him and the neighbor across the street were just crushed that murray was no longer and any way i ended up buying a used one from another neighbor and i tell you it looked to be on the last lap. That was five years ago and just two days ago i was cutting down a lawn in front of a abandoned house. Four feet tall this brush, bottles and sticks and bricks buried in it and that murray plowed it down like a damn tractor and ive seen new ones at wal mart under two hundred bucks. I agree with dad and neighbor murray is the best lawn mower ever sold and they dont need a big support staff cause the damn things dont ever break down. EVER! When it comes to lawn mowing buy a murray and you wont go wrong all ive done to this mower is change the back wheels and im convinced itll still mow down a mountain.

Reply Tahni Nichols July 7, 2012 at 3:15 pm I purchased a 22″ Murray push mower to mow a clean front back yard. After assembled adding recommended amount of oil at home I couldn’t pull start it. It was locked up. I took it back to the store and a young man lifted it up moved the blades around and it was then able to be started. He informed me that I would need to lift the mower to move the blades to “unlock” it. I returned it for another one. (I should’ve just got a refund!) I was able to pull start this one but it would sligghtly shake. I took it back to the store they checked to see if blades were loose but they were tight. I took it back home (stupid me). After I mowed my yard 3 times over a 6 week period the motor casing completely broke loose from the mower body. I am a home owner, a single mom and public school teacher and I can tell you that I will never purchase another Murray lawnmower.

Reply jimmy adams April 27, 2015 at 11:01 pm To the man that could mow down a moutain with a murry. Iv never seen any mover cut bottles bricks and glass.and 4 ft tall grass jungles with push mower sorry but there seems to be a little bit of stretching the truth there.

Reply Donald McCaughey September 1, 2012 at 10:31 pm The push mower ran good for 2 months, then started slow speed and would not run long. The air filter contained some sticky stuff hence bought a nother briggs Stratton filter and used oil in the filter. Changed the oil on the motor and the gas. Still will not run for long without stopping after a short time. I bought the mower at Walmart product model 961140025 01 and catalog M22450 cut width 22″ serial 032312M056201 hence still under warrantee so how do I fex the problem

Reply david November 14, 2012 at 1:14 am WHat model riding mower made had the rear wheels turn with the front? What year/years was it produced?

Reply Ron March 27, 2013 at 2:51 am I have a Murray Select 46″. 18.5 HP Twin BS mower, dark green in color, and trying to find replacement parts. The problem is the model # has wore off and can not read any of it. Not sure of year built. Any suggestions ? Thank you.

Reply Charles Sparks July 31, 2013 at 11:08 pm I have had a Murray zero turn for 7 weeks. It has been in the shop 3 of those. Wal Mart does not stand behind this item. Was directed by Wal Mart to contact Murray. They put me in touch with their service center. They could not fix it. Was told to take it to another service center which was 30 miles away. Asked if their people could help the center it was at. We informed it was not their problem and take it to another repair center. I tell everyone to stay away from any MTD product now. Have gone back to my 13 year old craftsman.

Reply barbara mills August 24, 2017 at 8:52 pm we bought a murray select riding lawn mower at wal mart april 2016 first thing to happen belt fell off then the right front tire fell off and the center of the right front wheel broke the right steering arm broke into and now up to this date the right front tire has fallen off 29 times this mower is JUNK JUNK JUNK. we will never buy a murray product again. my husband contacted wal mart and murray in may 2016 and 2017. they will not stand behind their mowers. paid 13hundred dollars for this piece of JUNK.

Reply barbara mills August 24, 2017 at 8:54 pm and the handle to make mower go at a faster speed broke 3 times!! etc

Reply Joe Thomas May 7, 2014 at 8:24 pm We bought a Murray weed eater and I tried to go online to get information about it. I went to the Murray website and all I got was a runaround when I entered my model number it would say “0 matches found for that model number” which shouldn”t have surprised me considering what a huge piece of crap the weed eater is I should have known their website would be worthless too. I am telling everyone who asks me about how Murray lawn products are that they aren’t worth CRAP ! We also have a 20 inch Murray mower that is apiece of shit also!

Reply terrence moore July 13, 2014 at 8:01 pm I bought a Murray 12 1/2 HP 40″ rider with 5 speed transmision in July of 1995. Model# 40702×92c. That makes it 19 years old and it is still doing its job as well as when new. I live on a 1/4 acre lot in Illinois so I only have to now about 7 months a year. The only problem I had was that about 5 years ago when I was getting it ready for the mowing season I noticed that it had some gasoline in the crankcase. In the winter weather the float valve was leaking and letting the carb flood into the cylinder and thus the krankcase. I changed the oil and installed a 4 shut off valve in the gas line and have had no problem since. The Briggs and Stratton engine still runs strong and uses no oil. I would buy another Murray in a heartbeat.

Reply Jim Wang August 10, 2014 at 2:43 am Buy Murray 22″ Gas-Powered High-Wheel Lawn Mower from Walmart is a lemon I bought this Murray 22″ Gas-Powered High-Wheel lawn mower on July/2013 with three years’ WalMart product care plan. First it works well for a few grass cuts, after a whole winter sleep in my garage, in April/2014 when I want re-use it to cut my yard grass again, it can not starting. I tried all the methods as the manual said, as change the new gas, wash the filter, etc., but still can not starting. I filed the claim online and called the 877-968-6391, and asked them for the repair service, but the stuff told me since my lawn mower still under the manufacture warranty, and I must go to Briggs Stratton’s service partner for repair. After several calls, I bring my lawn mover to the service man, but been told that this problem probably caused by the “gas stale”. and not under the Briggs’ warranty since it is not the defects of the manufacturer, and I must first pay 25 for inspection, after find the problem, I should pay 65/per hr service charge, therefore I had to bring back the lawn mover to home. I called the Walmart Care again, the stuff told me should contact the Murray, since this lawn mover was produced by Murray, after several calls, I brought the lawn mower to Murray’s service partner, again, almost completely like the Briggs, the Murray also do not warranty for the “Gas Stale” problem, and must charge me like Briggs, and I had to bring back my machine. I re-called the Care again, the staff told me to bring my machine to another Walmart product care plans partner service (24 Miles away from my home!), and I had to bring my machine to there. You guess, what will happening? The service man told me, this problem is also not under Walmart’s warranty, Walmart just mimic the Briggs and Murray’s warranty, even after the two years’ manufacture warranty end, Walmart won’t pay them to repair this problem, and they must charge me 85, that is half the new machine price! I had to bring my machine go back 24 miles to home again. The service man also show me the display sample machine parts, after only 30 days of gas use, there are a lot of deposits on the lawn mower parts, and caused the engine not working, but Briggs denial this is a design defects, neither the manufacturer’s warranty! That is why many lawn mower professional sells company do not sell Briggs and Murray’s lawn mower any more now! Now four months past, I like a foot ball played by Walmart’s product care plan, my lawn mower still sleep in my garage for no use. The Walmart Product Care Plans write very good: “Protect your purchase above and beyond the manufacturer’s limited warranty…If your product fails, simply file a claim online or calling. We are here to help 24hr a day, 365 days a year…For items 150 and above, our team of experts will either fix your item and ship it back to you, or repair it in your home!”. I submitted twice of this review in Walmart Murray 22″ Gas-Powered High-Wheel Lawn Mower web page, but they do not want publish it, neither give me a inform or answer! If you want spend money to buy the endless trouble like my experience, just try it!

Reply Ron September 4, 2016 at 4:35 pm Just have to say NO ONE, not murray, not john deere, not FORD, or toyota, and anyone else that makes gasoline engines warranties against you leaving gas in the carb and tank all winter, that is a failure of owner maintenance. Tank should have been drained and carb run dry, especially ethanol blended fuel. I have no love of murray, but you can not throw your stupid on them.

Reply mistermax May 24, 2015 at 9:55 pm Sorry to hear all the negative Комментарии и мнения владельцев re: Murray. I bought a 11hp 38″ cut Murray Riding Mower in 1981. Never maintained it properly and in 2012 it stalled while I was cutting my lawn. My repair guy said something is going on in the engine. I told him the Murray did me well for over 30 years. Keep it. I’m sure he fixed and sold it for a nice profit. I had a backup John Deere after that, nothing bit trouble. Now I need another Tractor and am afraid to buy another Murray because of all the negative Комментарии и мнения владельцев.

Reply Ken Tennis September 1, 2016 at 6:22 pm I bought a Murray 22″ mower in May 2015 and used it once. It has never started again except when I took it to a repair shop and had it ‘repaired’ at my expense since I couldn’t find my receipt and they won’t do anything without the receipt. when it failed to start the 2nd time I tried to use it i found the receipt and took it to the same shop. Thay are an authorized Briggs and Stratton repair facility. They called today and told me the carburetor is bad and Briggs and Stratton and Murray will not repair it under the 2 year warranty. WTF. No more Murray or Briggs and Strattons will ever come into my home again. I have found hundreds and hundreds of complaints of the same thing with the Murray/Briggs Stratton partnership. Guess I’ll buy electric everything from now on since B S is making the carburetors out of LASTIC and probably in China.

Reply Ken Tennis September 1, 2016 at 6:23 pm Oh yeah. This mower has been used ONCE for about 20 minutes. A piece of JUNK.

Reply Cam May 28, 2017 at 2:19 pm People NEED TO STOP USING GASOLINE WITH METHANOL (the most common gasoline). It is not good for carburated engines……wrecks havoc inside the carb and elsewhere. Find non methanol gasoline…it is just a little more (usually high test).

Reply Austin Idol October 31, 2017 at 7:06 pm My Murray had a Tecumseh engine. I had that mower for 16 yrs. And even the 16th year it wouldstart on the first pull. EVERY time.The only reason I gave it away is because I couldn’t find a used mower that the engine would fit without some fabrication. Too much for me,I absolutely HATE Briggs Stratton. When I buy something with a BS, I winder how many pulls is it going to take to start this one? My mower now, a yardman (couldn’t find any Murrays) has a BS, I shut it down to empty the bag thr fker won’t start 90% of the time until it cools for 5 or so. It’s bullshit.

Reply Douglas Johnson May 26, 2019 at 7:14 pm I have a walk behind Murray mower that is one year old and won’t run. I tried fresh gas cleaned the plug and still no start. I am sorry i ever bought it.

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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.