Best Riding Lawn Mower Reviews 2025

I’ve been using riding lawn mowers ever since my dad picked up a secondhand Snapper more than 30 years ago. While I wouldn’t include that particular model on my best riding lawn mower list now that we’re in 2025, it sure did make cutting the lawn more efficient. Today’s models are far more advanced than they were back then, and I’ll walk you through the landscape of my top picks for residential, commercial, and electric zero-turns and lawn tractors.

Considering walk-behind mowers? Check out our Best Lawn Mower recommendations.

Our Top Picks

• Best Commercial Zero-Turn: Hustler HyperDrive Series Zero Turn Mowers
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• Best Residential Zero-Turn: Toro Titan Max Zero Turn Mowers
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• Best Lawn Tractor: John Deere 500 Series Lawn Tractors
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• Best Riding Mower for the Money: Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series Lawn Tractors
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• Best Battery-Powered Commercial ZT: Greenworks Commercial OptimusZ Series
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• Best Battery-Powered Residential ZT: Greenworks MaximusZ
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• Best Battery-Powered Lawn Tractor: Ryobi 80V Lawn Tractors
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• Best Battery-Powered Riding Mower for the Money: EGO 56V Lawn Tractor
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Also In This Article

• More Riding Lawn Mowers to Consider
• Riding Lawn Mower Buying Guide
• Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews

Best Commercial Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower

Professional lawn care crews who focus on residential lawns (affectionately known as “mow and blow” crews) have to cover a lot of lawns every day during the mowing season and they’re tough on their equipment. Exmark, Hustler, and Scag all come up frequently in conversations about the best commercial mower, and my top choice is the Hustler Hyperdrive series.

While the Super Z series is likely more popular, the HyperDrive series adds additional durability to the transmission system, keeping your downtime to a minimum. Plus, you get a drive system that’s smoother, more responsive, and more precise than competing mowers. In my opinion, it’s worth spending the extra to step up.

Best Residential Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower

If you want a zero turn mower that feels like a commercial machine without the 5-figure price tag, take a close look at what the Toro Titan Max series has to offer. It’s built like a Pro-grade ZT but makes changes like using a lower steel gauge that brings the price down. At the same time, it’s much more robust than most residential ZTs, so you have a nice balance for folks who have a lot of property to maintain but don’t need the same high-hour build and durability Pros do.

There’s some give and take here, though. The Titan Max has a better seat, more fuel capacity, higher top speed, and larger rear wheels, making it better for larger properties. However, it doesn’t have a MyRide option to get the best comfort available. If you don’t mind giving up a few luxuries in performance for better comfort, the Titan MyRide might be a better fit for you.

Either way, the Toro Titan is an excellent choice for property owners who want a premium zero turn but don’t want to step all the way up to a commercial-grade model.

Best Lawn Tractor

If you want the best lawn tractor and have a large budget to go after it, it’s tough to beat John Deere’s X500 series. From frame to powerplant, it’s a quality build that delivers a high-quality cut.

As you look around the frame and deck, you’ll notice the thickness of the steel is greater and the welds make for a stronger build than most other lawn tractors you’ll come across. For power, John Deere turns to Kawasaki engines and even has an EFI option if you go with the stronger 25.5HP model. Plus, the Accel Deep deck design helps improve the cut quality at higher mowing speeds and available four-wheel power steering makes your chores even less fatiguing.

And just in case you need another reasons to pull the trigger, John Deere’s compatible accessories run deep, including several comfort upgrades as well as tools to make the X500 a true 4-season machine.

Did you know John Deere now has battery-powered zero-turn lawn mowers?

Best Riding Lawn Mower for the Money

Oh, I miss the days of the $1500 lawn tractor. Even though they’re behind us, you can still find good quality without taking out a second mortgage. When it comes to the best riding lawn mower for the money, it’s a race between Cub Cadet’s XT1 Enduro line and John Deere’s 100 series. In a tight finish, I give the nod to Cub Cadet for giving you a little bit more for your money.

At the bottom of the line, you get more power and a little lower price tag. As you move into the middle and high ends of the line, you shift to mower powerful Kohler engines and a more durable fabricated steel deck.

Cub Cadet’s ecosystem is excellent as well. There are a ton of options to improve the comfort of work experience and accessories that multiply the number of jobs you can tackle, including during snow season.

If you can swing it in your budget, I recommend going with the LT50. You get a 24HP Kohler engine and fabricated AeroForce deck. Even though it’s $500 more than the baseline LT42, it’s still well under the $3000 mark, and the upgrades make a difference over the long haul.

Best Electric Commercial Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower

Greenworks was one of the first to push into the commercial electric zero-turn lawn mower market, and its development team has learned a lot over the years. The culmination of that experience plus the best of today’s brushless motor and battery technology come together in the Greenworks OptimusZ zero-turn, earning my recommendation as the best electric commercial riding lawn mower.

The line includes both ride-on and stand-on models. We even got to see an operational prototype of a fully autonomous version at Equip Expo in Louisville. Focusing on the ride-on models, there are 48 – 60-inch deck sizes with either 18KWh or 24KWh battery packages. On the 60-inch mower, the larger battery bank can run up to 8 hours on a charge.

The top speed is impressive, reaching up to 16 MPH with the blades on. Security is already onboard thanks to 4G and GPS connections. If all that sounds great, but you’re still not sure it can hold up, remember that Greenworks backs these mowers with a 5-year/2,000-hour warranty.

Best Battery-Powered Residential Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower

Greenworks, EGO, and Ryobi are pushing each other to develop better battery-powered zero-turn mowers for homeowners. Thus far, it’s been a back-and-forth fight with each new launch. Greenworks made a big move by releasing the MaximusZ—a mower we first saw at Equip Expo and later got some seat time locally in Lakeland.

The most obvious difference is how much beefier the MaximusZ is compared to its residential counterparts. It looks and feels more like a Prosumer mower on the gas side than the lighter-weight battery-powered models available. Its 31 HP equivalent power, 8 MPH top speed, and 10-gauge fabricated steel deck help solidify that position.

The mower’s primary power sources are 60V 20Ah suitcase-style batteries. Four additional slots accommodate standard 60V batteries to extend your runtime, which is roughly 3.5 acres with the batteries that come in the kit.

Additional features include a 200-pound rear dump bed and a 300-pound towing capacity. Furthermore, you have an electronic takeoff output for future accessories. Together, these elements make the MaximusZ more of a utility mower than other battery-powered options.

Best Battery-Powered Lawn Tractor

There are several battery-powered lawn tractors to consider, but deciding which is the best is currently a battle between EGO and Ryobi. In my opinion, Ryobi has the edge. Both models draw on the classic lawn tractor design. However, Ryobi goes with a beefier deck and produces higher power. Moreover, it has improved cut quality from its stacked CrossCut blades, covers more acreage, and has a rear bed.

While the price tag has caused some people to hesitate, keep your eyes open. We’ve seen some eye-popping discounts on Ryobi riding mowers recently.

Best Battery-Powered Riding Lawn Mower for the Money

EGO’s lawn tractor takes the concept of a classic design and electrifies it. Because the design is so similar to gas models and the power level matches up with a 21 HP engine, you’ll only miss the noise, fuel, maintenance, and emissions. What you’ll learn to love is the customizable controls and helpful information the screen displays right in front of the steering wheel. And since this mower operates on the same batteries that power EGO’s other lawn care tools, you use them in other tools or use the batteries you already have if you need to extend your runtime.

If you need another reason to pull the trigger, the mower’s $3,499 kit price is incredibly attractive when you look at what else is available in the battery-powered lawn tractor space.

More Riding Lawn Mowers We Recommend

The mowers above are excellent choices. But, no two lawns are alike, so there’s a good chance you might be looking for something a little different. Below, I’ve added several other mowers I heartily recommend.

E-Steer Zero Turn Mower ZT4205S

If you love the idea of a zero-turn mower but lap bars don’t appeal to you, EGO’s E-Steer is exactly what you need. With electronic zero-turn steering tied into a steering wheel on the front, it’s incredibly easy to master in very little time and it’s a lot of fun to use. Better yet, EGO put the controls and display right on the steering wheel in a highly convenient layout.

Want lap bars? Check out EGO’s Z6 42-inch or 52-inch zero-turn mowers!

Stihl RZ 760i Zero Turn Mower

Stihl’s RZ 700 series zero turn strikes the right balance for commercial demands. It has the build Pros need and solid engine options from Kawasaki and Vanguard, including plenty of EFI models. For regular maintenance cuts and even moderate overgrowth, it’s a great mower.

The “wow” factor is the comfort level, though. With an adjustable suspension and luxurious seat, it’s one of the most comfortable riding mowers we’ve ever tested.

If you have larger properties or want more power, you can step up to RZ 900 series. However, I believe the RZ 700 series has the right balance of performance, features, and price to make it your go-to choice.

Husqvarna Xcite Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

For residential use, the Husqvarna Xcite zero turn is an excellent riding lawn mower for medium-sized lawns. There are two models available featuring a 54-inch 10-gauge deck that’s a great size for one- to five-acre properties.

What’s exciting about the Xcite is a combination of innovative features and a design that feels more Pro, even though these target residential users. Starting from the top, your start/stop and blade engagement controls are on the lap bar ends where you can easily reach them with your thumbs. Then there’s the suspension system. Four bar links and 10 adjustment settings let you customize the setup based on your size, weight, and preferences to dial in a comfortable ride.

Depending on the model, you get either a 24HP or 26HP Kohler engine with a top speed of either 7 or 9 MPH. On the business end, this mower has stock blades that can go up to 5 years without needing to be sharpened. Indeed, Husqvarna went for a Pro feel with the convenience and ease of ownership homeowners crave, and they nailed it.

Exmark Lazer Z Series Diesel Large Deck Zero Turn Lawn Mowers

When it comes to maintaining large areas where you need a cleaner cut than a bush hog leaves behind, there are a few large-deck options. So, leading the pack in size (and its robust professional resume’), the Exmark Lazer Z Deisel is my top choice if you need a riding lawn mower for large properties.

When I say large, I mean it. The Lazer Z diesel line includes 60, 72, and 96-inch options along with a monstrous 144-inch model. And get this: Exmark rates the largest mower’s cutting rate at up to 11.5 acres per hour! In terms of productivity, that’s going to be tough to beat.

Mowing large areas fast isn’t cheap, though. The 96-inch model is more than $55,000 and the 144-inch model is over $80,000.

Cub Cadet Pro Z 972 Zero-Turn Lawn Mower

If you have hills, you need both power and traction to mow effectively. In my opinion, the best riding lawn mower for hills is the Cub Cadet Pro Z 972 series SD/SDL models. What sets these mowers apart is a combination of their dual rear wheel and steering wheel control designs.

Four rear wheels help prevent the back end from slipping, even in wet conditions. In fact, we noticed this in our testing, given our region’s wet conditions. The steering wheel makes it easier to manage on slopes and there’s an option for a swing seat that keeps you more upright on those hills. As part of Cub Cadet’s commercial mower lineup, you can expect a commercial-level build and high-end comfort features as part of the package.

What We Look for in the Best Riding Lawn Mower

Lawn Tractor or Zero Turn?

When you’re choosing the best riding lawn mower for your lawn, the first thing to decide is which style you want.

Lawn tractors have several advantages. They tend to be smaller overall, less expensive, and are easier to use with their steering wheel/pedal control systems. The best ones do much more than mow grass—they have attachments that make them a versatile four-season lawn care platform.

The downsides are that they tend to be slower and don’t reach larger deck sizes. They also aren’t as efficient in your mowing pattern because they require a larger turning radius.

Zero-turn lawn mowers make it easier to efficiently mow straight lines and steer with greater precision. While they’re more expensive, larger, and can take some time to get used to lap bar controls, you can get larger deck sizes, they have higher speeds, and they’re better for large properties. If comfort is a high priority for you, you’ll find better options with ZTs than lawn tractors.

Gas or Battery?

Now that battery-powered riding lawn mowers are at a point where they really can replace gas, the conversation is shifting away from just power and runtime.

Gas mowers tend to be less expensive, and you can usually find someone to service/repair them within a reasonable drive of your home. The trade-off is the noise, emissions, managing fuel and oil, and more required maintenance.

Battery-powered mowers have a push-button start system that’s ready when you are, assuming you charged the batteries. They’re remarkably quiet compared to gas, have no emissions, and your HOA isn’t going to suddenly rewrite the rules to eliminate them. Maintenance primarily boils down to blowing off the deck and rinsing under the deck.

The primary downsides at this stage are that you don’t have as wide of a selection as gas, they’re more expensive, the batteries need replacing every 3 – 5 years, and there aren’t nearly as many service centers close by.

Durability and Reliability

As you go up in price from entry-level riding lawn mowers to mid-range and high-end models, there are significant changes. A more powerful engine is part of it. The design of the engine and its quality typically improves as you move up the line, giving you a more reliable engine to go along with the higher performance of more horsepower.

You also see the strength of the build improve. Some of it is the thickness of the metal or moving from stamped steel to fabricated steel on the deck. Other components come into play as well, with higher quality transmissions and electronics packages improving.

Generally speaking, if you’re looking at an entry-level model, see if your budget has room to move up into the middle or even high end of the line. The durability and reliability you gain are worth it in the long run.

Deck Size

The deck size you need depends on the property you’re mowing. 42-inch riding lawn mowers are a good starting point for lawns up to an acre or where you need to squeeze through a narrow gate. If you have more than an acre, go ahead and look at models up to 60 inches.

Realistically, it’s a matter of finding the right balance between how much lawn you have to cut, how much storage space you have available, and what your budget is.

Speed

Speed is primarily a concern for professional lawn crews who need to move from one property to the next quickly or on campuses with significant travel distance between the shop and where they’re mowing. They usually want a mower with a top speed of over 10 MPH.

Even homeowners can make their mowing chores more efficient with some decent top-end speed, though. 7 MPH or more is a good benchmark for those models. If you tend to take your mowing more casually, 5 – 6 MPH is just fine.

Comfort

The larger your lawn, the more time you need to spend in the driver’s seat of your riding lawn mower, and the more comfort comes into play. Entry-level mowers are going to bounce you around more than mid-range and high-end models. Look for a seat with plenty of cushioning, an adjustable tension knob, and enough travel for you to sit without having to scrunch up.

Related Content

• Best Commercial Zero-Turn Mowers
• Proper Lawn Mower Care and Maintenance
• How to Care for Your Lawn

Why You Can Trust Pro Tool Reviews to Recommend Riding Lawn Mowers

The are a whole lot of publications and authors out there trying to convince you that they know what the best riding lawn mower is for your needs. Let’s give credit where credit is due—they use good SEO writers and may have even used a few mowers in the process.

But do they have more than a decade of experience using riding mowers, understand the key features to look for, and have they experienced the differences in the quality of components in the field? Have they been around to see advances in battery and electric motor technology, engine efficiency, and how new regulations are changing the landscape?

We have. We’ve been testing and reviewing lawn mowers for more than ten years, and they’re a core part of lawn care equipment for professional crews and residential users.

So, you can take the advice of whatever Big Media company decided to offer product reviews designed first and foremost to rank for Google, written by someone who may or may not understand the full landscape of what’s available. Remember to check out their recommendations for bed sheets and blenders while you’re there.

Or you can trust Pro Tool Reviews because tools are what we do. When I recommend a riding mower for you, it’s because it’s the one I would buy. My primary motivation is to recommend what I genuinely believe is the best in each category based on decades of experience and being involved in the lawn care industry every day. And if you choose to buy something I recommend, I hope that it works exactly the way you expected.

That’s how I hope to earn your trust. Not because I work for a high-profile media company with massive name recognition. But because I’m like you, and when I choose to make a purchase, I see the dollars come out of my bank account. I expect the products I buy to work when I need them. I want authentic recommendations when I’m shopping, and I’m committed to offering you the best of my experience and knowledge when you see my name as the author.