Best Riding Lawn Mower

Choosing The Best Riding Lawn Mower For Your Needs

If you're in the market for a new lawn mower and you're thinking about getting a ride-on model, you've got a lot of options to choose from. The best riding lawn mower isn't necessarily the same for everyone, however, so let's look at some of the things you'll want to consider.

First, do you really need a riding mower? If your yard isn't that big, a riding mower can actually be more difficult to use than a standard push lawn mower. It sounds like it would take less work, but they can be difficult to maneuver in smaller spaces, even the zero turn models like the Toro Timecutter Z4200.

Assuming that a riding lawn mower is the best option for your needs, you'll then have to decide what sort of budget you have. You can spend as little as $1500 to $1700 on a model like the Yard-Man 13BX605G755 or the John Deere LA115, the mid-$2000 range on models like the Snapper LT130, or upwards of $3500 on mowers like the Swisher ZT2350 or the John Deere X304.

As you go up in price, you'll get more powerful engines as well as other additional features. If you've got a large acreage that is landscaped with a lot of grass, or you're cutting long grass on a regular basis, having a more powerful engine can definitely make your job easier.

Before buying your riding mower, it's a good idea to check ratings and reviews on sites like Amazon.com or Consumer Reports. These reviews come from other people who have actually used the mowers, for the most part, so you'll get some real-world feedback instead of a press release put out by the manufacturer themselves.

Another factor to consider when choosing your mower is how easy it is to get parts and service for it. If you've got a local lawn mower repair shop, make sure they can service the brand you're looking at buying. This is especially important if you buy online, since you generally can't get service directly from the company you bought it from online.

There are lots of good brands to choose from, such as Sears Craftsman, MTD, Scotts, Toro, Snapper or Honda, so you'll still have lots of options available to you if your local service center doesn't fix a particular brand or model.