The Best Riding Mowers of 2025
Having a big, beautiful lawn is wonderful until it’s time to maintain it. However, with the right riding moweryou’ll save time and effort — especially when mowing larger yards and slightly damp grass. But he tries to find which one is right for you it can be overwhelming. To help you make the choice — and keep lawn maintenance from feeling like a chore — we’ve compared specs and found the best mowers for different yard needs and budgets.
When choosing a self-propelled lawn mower, consider the size of the lawn. For example, a 0.05 acre yard might only need a push mowerwhich is far cheaper than even the most affordable self-propelled mower. Also, not all lawns are created equal. You may need to consider steep slopes or other rough terrain when making this decision.
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Recent advances in battery technology now offer the possibility of electric versus traditional gas engines. There’s a lot to see here. If you run out of gas while mowing, you can fill up in minutes and keep going. However, with an electric lawnmower, you may experience a delay of 1 to 2 hours while you recharge. That’s why sizing your machine to your lawn is especially important when considering electric options.
On the other hand, some electric models are compatible with battery platforms, allowing you to use the mower’s batteries in other tools. If you have extra charged batteries from these tools, you can replace them in the mower to avoid interruption of recharging. However, there will still be price offsets. There is a significant upfront investment in batteries that can be difficult to recoup.
Important note: Unlike most of CNET’s best-of lists, this one is based on research rather than hands-on testing, as the size and cost of these units make it difficult to obtain samples. I’ve compared all the specs to find the best lawn mowers on the market so you can make an informed decision about which one might be right for you.
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The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is a great choice for homeowners with large lawns. It has a powerful 23-horsepower engine and a 50-inch cutting deck that makes it easy to quickly and efficiently mow even the largest lawns. The mower also features a hydrostatic transmission that makes it easier to maneuver in tight spaces. This also allows for a fast speed of 7 mph forward and 3.5 mph in reverse.
In addition, the Ultima ZT1 comes with a variety of features (some at extra cost) that make it a great choice for homeowners who want the best lawn care experience possible. These features include a mulching platform, bag, side discharge chute, tow/haul capability, snowplow or even a canopy. The engineered mulching deck provides a characteristic cut with less clumping and trailing, finer clippings, increased uniformity and improved soil health, while the bag and side discharge chute make grass clippings easier to collect. Overall, the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 50-Inch Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is a great choice for homeowners who want a powerful, easy-to-use, and feature-rich lawn mower.
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Some people prefer the traditional control of the round wheel mounted on the steering column, and my pick for the best gas lawnmower is a John Deere tractor that offers just that. The S130 features a 42-inch cutterbar and a 22-hp motor that will get you up to 5.5 mph forward or 3.2 mph in reverse. Like my pick for Best Zero Turn, the S130 offers plenty of add-ons, including a snowblower, snow thrower, tire chains, and even a full cab for added protection from the elements.
The S130 features the John Deere “Easy Change” 30-second oil change system, a patented all-in-one oil can and oil filter that allows you to quickly change tractor oil “with no hassle or mess.” The $2,899 list price is attractive for a name unit with these specs. Throw in a seasonal discount that you can probably dig up somewhere, and the S130 becomes a great choice for just about anyone considering a riding mower.
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My best value riding mower picks fall into a category of riding mowers that are designed for lawns 2 acres or smaller. You still have access to plenty of power with a 19hp Briggs & Stratton engine. and a 42-inch cutter. The Bronco 42 is designed for easy access when loading and unloading with a “Step-Thru” frame design, making it a great choice for people of all fitness levels. The automatic gearbox and foot control are also designed to allow the mower to drive ‘like a car’.
You will still have access to all attachments and carts, spreaders and sprayers with the rear hitch attached. When you look at these specs and performance options at a list price of $2,199, which is close to the starting price for name-brand self-propelled mowers (the entry level is around $2,000), the Bronco 42 becomes an easy choice for the best value.
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Choosing the title holder for the best electric lawn mower is a bit more complicated, given the big difference in how these batteries and electrical systems work. The 42-inch Z6 runs on a removable battery platform where you can use the mower’s individual batteries (up to six of them) in the company’s range of other outdoor tools. Included with the mower are four of the 10-Ah batteries (Ego currently offers batteries with amp-hour capacities of 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, and 12) and two additional slots to add additional batteries yourself. To start the mower, you’ll need a minimum of 15-Ah charged batteries, with a full capacity of 60 Ah, which Ego says will get you up to 3 acres.
There are three driving modes: Control, Standard and Sport, which give you varying degrees of aggressiveness and speed when maneuvering. Your speeds while cutting will range from 3-7 mph with a total top speed of 8 mph during travel mode. A wall-mounted fast charger is included, similar to a standard EV charger, so you don’t have to charge each battery individually. This is also convenient if you have invested in the Ego ecosystem and prefer to charge several batteries at the same time.
You’ll also get some nifty extras like an LCD control screen and a USB port for charging or powering things on the go. The 42-inch Z6 model is a great choice if you’ve already invested in, or are interested in, this external instrument platform. It’s also great if you’re generally an electric/EV/battery enthusiast. Overall, the performance you’ll see will rival similarly sized 22hp gas models. The price might be a bit higher due to the battery purchase, but overall it’s a great machine with outstanding performance.
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Ryobi 48-Volt, 100-Ah Electric Zero Turn Lawnmower: Ryobi has some good options for electric lawn mowers, including this 100-Ah version, which has the largest battery capacity of all the units we evaluated. Looking at the math converting the Ryobi and Ego units to watt-hours by multiplying their battery voltage by battery amp-hours, the Ryobi has 4800Wh versus the Ego’s 3360Wh. At these claimed capacities, both manufacturers claim their mowers cover “up to” 3 acres, making the Ego system seem more efficient.
Greenworks 60-Volt, 42-Inch CrossoverT Electric Lawn Mower: This mower is the cheapest of the electric options I evaluated. I like the integrated storage bed in the back of the unit. It comes with six 8-Ah batteries and has an extensive collection of outdoor tools to interact with these batteries just like the Ego platform. To recharge, you’ll need to use the three included two-battery chargers to bring your six batteries back online. It can cover up to 2.5 acres on a single charge.
Craftsman T110 17.5 HP 42″ Lawn Mower: This gas powered mower boasts similar features to some of our other units, albeit with a slightly smaller 17.5hp engine. A decent choice overall, especially if you’re already a Craftsman fan, but the slightly higher spec price keeps it out of the winner’s circle.
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