What Is The Best Inexpensive Riding Lawn Mower

Poulan Pro Pb155g42 42 Inch 6 Speed

The Poulan Pro has a 15.5 HP Briggs & Stratton engine with a 6-speed gear-driven transmission. The step-through area is rather large, making it easier to get on and off the mower.

The Poulan Pro features 20-inch turf saver rear tires making it easy to maneuver and saving grass from getting chewed up. This is a highly efficient mower and easy to operate.

The Pro has a high back seat which is important for comfort. It also comes with a deluxe steering wheel and a cup holder. If youve ever operated a riding lawn mower, you know that little comfort features are important.

The front axle is made of rugged cast iron, while the deck is made of steel. This is a well-constructed mower built to last. The Pro delivers a professional-looking cut.

Poulan Pro 42 Inch Highlights

• Briggs & Stratton Engine 15.5 HP
• Cutting Deck Width- 42 Inches
• 6 Speed Transmission

Coming in at my first pick for cheap riding lawn mowers, this is definitely one of the smaller mowers available. With a 24-inch cutting deck, you can expect easy maneuverability around trees and obstacles, as well as more convenient storage and the ability to go through residential gates.

The Yard Machines 24 inch riding mower was designed with the weekend warrior in mind and a perfect mower for those with up to an acre of lawn to maintain.

Pro Tip:

Yard Machines 24 inch Riding Lawn Mower Highlights

Best Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower

If you crave nimble, zero-turn type control without the high price, consider a rear-engine rider like the Troy-Bilt TB30R CA Riding Lawn Mower.

The 30-inch cutting deck puts it closer to a wide push mower than the enormous widths of some other riding mowers. But for all that compact size, this Troy-Bilt can still tackle big yards the manufacturer recommends it for up to 1-1/2-acres.

It ships with a kit to facilitate easy switching between side discharge and mulching. Bagging kits are sold separately. This mower is covered by a two-year warranty.

Lawn And Garden Tractors

These are commonly referred to as lawn tractors and come in two varieties: standard lawn tractors and heavy-duty lawn tractors.

Standard lawn tractors like the John Deere E100 are designed and built to only mow grass. While heavy-duty lawn tractors come fitted with a hitch so they can lug around necessary items.

Some heavy-duty tractors also have the capability of fitting a snow blower or snow plow onto the front. These tractor snow blower combinations allow you to continue using your riding mower even during the offseason.

Depending on the power and engine size of your lawn tractor, the mower will typically go anywhere from 3 to 6 miles per hour.

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Husqvarna Z254 54 In 26 Hp Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower

This riding lawn mower has the perfect combination of both performance and style. It has a cutting-edge design along with innovative features that makes it a popular option among many. Its 26 HP Kohler engine gives it a powerful reliable start-up, and it can go up to a maximum speed of 6.5 MPH.

Other features in the lawn mower include a park brake system that will automatically turn on or off when the steering levers are moved outward or inward. Theres also a specially integrated air induction mowing technology that draws air from the top and bottom to swiftly cut the grass and deliver a superior cut.

The lawn mower is also constructed with heavy flat-stock steel for ultimate durability, and clippings can be discharged, mulched or bagged. With an innovative and maintenance-free transmission, you can use this riding lawn mower year after year with no issues at all. Its a zero-turn mower thats incredibly easy to use and has lots of power and speed.

Best Options Other Than Riding Mowers:

Weve tried to make it as simple as possible for you to pick, but riding mowers under $1,000 are either of low quality or work poorly. As a result, the three mowers mentioned below are the most common and provide excellent efficiency and maneuverability for broad yards and lawns.

You should order them and they areideal for broad yards and lawns. Theyll offer the same levelled cut and output as more costly riding mowers. The riding mowers, which cost more than $1000 and have a lot of modern features, and are simple to manage, are another choice.

Assembly weight:

21.7 Lbs.

WORX is a lawn and garden equipment and power tool brand that is frequently stylized. It has been on the market for a long time and continues to serve its customers. It is their business to make affordable lawn mowers for all of their customers.

Robotic lawn mowers are simple to use, build and maintain. What, on the other hand, is there to be concerned about when you have Worx WR165 in your home? This tiny pal will assist us in mowing the grass without the need for supervision.

Physical Outlook:

Worx Lawn Mower is a tiny lawn mower that can mow an area of up to 1/8 acre. The control knobs and control panels are located on the top of the mower in black and yellow hues. Furthermore, the sophisticated technology enables it to connect to wifi and Bluetooth, allowing it to be operated by a smartphone. Its dimensions are modest . Its also incredibly light and may be kept in almost any place in the garage.

Pros

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Do I Really Need A Riding Lawn Mower

It depends on how big your lawned area is or how much you need to reduce the physical activity of pushing a mower around your yard. Theres also your budget to consider too.

Those with many acres of grass to cut would almost certainly benefit from the speed and ease a riding mower offers, as would those struggling to get around seamlessly. However, if you dont have the budget to spend on one thatll do the job well, it may be worth paying for a gardener to do it instead.

Got the money to spend? We say do it. Unless youve got a smaller scale lawn, a riding lawn mower takes the time and stress out of keeping your grass neat and tidy.

Poulan Pro Pb155g42 6

Features

• Briggs & Stratton engine: Its 15.5 HP powerful Briggs & Stratton engine increases the productivity of this mower with its presence
• 42-Inch Cutting Width: This feature helps the mower give a fine cut to your lawn in just one pass. The 42- inch cutting width is designed to optimize its productivity.
• 6-speed lever-driven gear transmission: its 6-speed lever-driven gear transmission is there to help in maneuvering best.
• 6-position deck height adjustment: For different heights of grass, the mower has 6-position deck height adjustments to adjust the height according to your need.
• 18-inch turning radius: This feature is specially designed to get a lot of areas done in just one pass. Even with sharpness too
• 11-inch mid-back seat: As a riding mower, this 11-inch mid-back seat is very comfy for you to ride on it. Not only for you but for your family too
• 1.5-gallon gas tank: The gallon is spacious enough to hold enough gas in it.

Pros

• An easy and fast cut of your lawn with the amazing mower It is easily assembled Quote economical Gives a smooth run along with comfortable too

Cons

• Left strips of uncut grass

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Xt1 Enduro Lt 42 In For 1/2 Acre Yard

The XT1 Enduro LT 42 inch mower looks very similar to the previous Husqvarna YTH18542-CARB. However, there are some distinct differences, yet only $300 currently separates these models in price.

The XT1 Enduro LT has a Kohler 5400 Series Engine with a bit more power than the previous models. This model has a hydrostatic transmission which also features a shift on the go drive.

While side discharge is the standard grass management with many Cub Cadet Machines, this model also allows for bagging and mulching. Mulching is a great way to provide nutrients back into the lawn, keeping it healthy and green.

A difference in cutting deck width doesnt seem like much, but there is quite a bit of difference between these two models. Both are priced just right, so you mainly need to evaluate your needs based on the size of lawn you need to maintain and the frequency. Its also important to consider storage and the size of any gates you may need to go through to access your property it is very small!

XT1 Enduro LT 42 in. Highlights

• Kohler 5400 Series Engine
• 3 in 1 Grass Management Capabilities

Best Riding Lawn Mowers

• Best Mid-Size Zero-Turn Mower: Husqvarna Z248F

The Expert: Roy Berendsohn is our senior test editor who has been reviewing outdoor power equipment at Popular Mechanics for over 30 years. From his decades of mower testing, hes learned youve got to cut a lot of grass and mow under a wide range of conditions to get a sense of what a mower is worth. He cuts grass throughout the mowing season to evaluate the latest machines, including riding lawn mowers. And hes intimately familiar with industry players, big and small, having tested all types of tools over the years.

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Cost Estimator By Mower Power Source

Manual and self-propelled walk-behind lawn mowers come in gas-powered and electric models. Self-propelled models cost significantly more than their manual counterparts with the same power source.

Reel mowers are a more affordable manual push option, but their only power source is you, so they take a lot more work to use.

Each power source comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Well go over the details of each one to help you decide which lawn mower power source will give you the best bang for your buck.

What Are The Best Lawn Tractor Brands

A lawn tractor is not a cheap expense, and before spending thousands of dollars on one of these pieces of equipment, you need to know what brands are worth it and which ones are less desirable. When it comes to lawn tractors, the brands that currently stand out the most and Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, and Poulan.

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Does A Bigger Cutting Width Make The Most Efficient Machine

The short answer to this is no. While a wider deck does ensure greater coverage, it might also compromise maneuverability. Mowing your lawn is not all about actually mowing since theres a lot of turning to do as well. If the time spent adjusting your direction and overcoming obstacles exceeds that saved due to the increased deck size, the efficiency reduces.

Power and cutting quality is another thing to consider. A wide-deck mower that leaves the lawn crying for another pass is highly unlikely to become a time-saving device as compared to a smaller one that actually delivers.

Why You Can Trust Us

Yards are our passion at Backyard Boss. As a team, we bring decades of experience in home and yard maintenance. Weve published content on every lawn care topic you can imagine, including our popular guide for the best small lawn mowers and detailed instructions on how to store your mower during the winter.

Not only are we proud of our own yards, but we also love our tool collections. We keep expanding our gadgets to build the knowledge needed to judge a product based on specs, user reviews, and our personal experience with the brands we feature. And in those few cases where we picked poorly or had a problem, we had the opportunity to learn which companies offer great warranties and customer support.

Essentially, we have been where you are now, overwhelmed by choice. We know what its like to dig through all the options to pick the right product. Equipped with all that experience, were here to make it easier for you, to help you find the best product for yourself.

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How Much Should I Spend On A Riding Mower Can I Negotiate The Price

While you can pick up the most budget ride-on mowers for upwards of $1,000, good riding mowers for residential use will generally start around the $1,500 mark and can go up to around $3,000-$4,000. If you step into the more commercial-grade territory, you can be looking to spend $5,000 or more, so this is no small purchase.

Negotiating the price will be dependent on where you go to buy your mower. Youll probably find some of the best prices from online retailers, and they will be non-negotiable.

Go to your local dealer, and there may be some movement based on how old the stock is and whether youre paying cash or credit.

Dont expect significant savings, but there might be something to be gained by asking. A credible local dealer can be a handy contact when it comes to servicing your mower too.

Husqvarna T348xd Best 48

Why We Like It

Husqvarna is one of the best-known names in the lawn equipment industry, which is why weve chosen the Husqvarna TS348XD as the Best Upgrade Riding mower in the mid-size 48-inch Deck class and one of the best riding lawn tractors overall.

Thanks to the exceptional 24-horsepower V-Twin engine, this Husqvarna Rider offers plenty of power! Also, the Husqvarna mower features a range of convenience features, including cruise control, a 10-position adjustable seat, and an easy oil change system.

Specs

• 24 Horsepower Kohler Series V-twin engine
• Tuff-Tork Hydrostatic transmission
• 2-year warranty

Our Take Away

Overall, we love the Husqvarna and believe we are entirely justified in naming it as our Editors Choice pick. This Husqvarna riding lawn mower is extremely comfortable to operate, well-built, and produces a fantastic cut.

If you need an excellent mower for a half-acre to 1-acre lot, this is our choice for the best 48 riding lawn mower.

HUSQVARNA Best 48 Riding Lawn Mower

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The Best Lawn Tractors For Every Budget

You don’t have to pay top dollar to get a lawn tractor or rider that does everything you need

We identified several common price categories in lawn tractors and riding mowers and looked at what you getand don’t getfor your money. We also handpicked a few recommended models from the two major categories of riding machines, specifically lawn tractors and zero-turn-radius riders. This article is part two of two. The first covered walk-behind lawn mowers.

Common Problems With Cheap Riding Mowers

Budget riding mowers come with a whole list of common issues that rise for many users after a few seasons of use.

Obviously this is due to the cheaper manufacturing process used in the budget market. Factories cut corners on higher quality parts and quality control to achieve such an affordable price tag. This leads to inferior products that suffer in durability.

Nearly all of these problems can be avoided with vigilant maintenance and proactive replacements.Dont let these issues scare you away from the budget market. Just make sure to do your research before buying a model and check to see the most common customer complaints.

The most common problems include

Misaligned or Poor Steering:

This is the most common complaint with cheap riding mowers. A misaligned steering column, however, is usually a pretty easy fix with the proper tools. Depending on the mower this may be a problem with several different components, but they should all be replaced under warranty or easily at home.

Bad Cutting Performance:

Poor and uneven cuts is probably the most annoying problem you can face with any lawn mower. Unfortunately this problem is a lot harder to diagnose as a lot of components play into the performance of the cutting deck. It could be a whole host of issues including but not limited to a dull blade, weak engine, deflated tires, and much more.

Engine Lacks Responsiveness:

Engine Doesnt Start:

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How To Choose A Riding Lawn Mower Under 2000 Dollars

There are a number of key parameters that should guide your decision within the set price range.

1. Engine power, usually expressed in horsepower, or HP, is probably the most obvious measure of how much the machine can do. Its a common misunderstanding that motor displacement in cubic centimeters, often shortened to cc, is the same thing.

However, the relationship between the two parameters is complex, and I recommend relying on the HP number rather than cc. Extra-powerful motors can save you a lot of work if you have a large property or theres some difficult terrain in your yard.

2. The cutting width is another indirect indicator of efficiency. Choose a wide deck if you have a lot of space, and maneuverability is not a priority. For example, a 46-inch deck will work well on 2 acres, but a one-acre lawn will be quite happy with a compact 24-inch mower.

Its not just the deck that influences maneuverability, though. A tighter turning radius and compact overall dimensions both add to the quality. Mow-in-reverse can save time navigating spaces filled with obstacles, too.

3. The cutting case plays a major role in ensuring quality performance, so pay attention to what blades are included and what replacement you can use, say, if you want to switch to mulching.

4. Comfortable seating matters. Make sure theres enough space for your legs and support for your back. Ample padding can be a bonus, and so is a common fastener type that enables seat replacement.