Choosing the Right Lawn Tractor: A Complete Guide

Introduction: Finding the Perfect Lawn Tractor Made Easy

Are you tired of spending hours pushing a mower across your yard? Choosing the right lawn tractor can transform your lawn care routine, making it faster, easier, and even enjoyable. But with so many options on the market, how do you know which one is best for your yard?

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know before making your purchase. Whether you have a small lawn or several acres, we’ll help you find the best lawn tractor to fit your needs and budget. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to make an informed decision—and avoid costly mistakes.

Ready to explore top-rated lawn tractors? Check out our full catalog here.

Step 1: Understanding the Different Types of Lawn Tractors

Ride-On Mowers vs. Zero-Turn Mowers

Before choosing a lawn tractor, it’s essential to understand the different types available:

Ride-On Mowers: Ideal for medium to large yards, these provide a traditional driving experience with easy controls. They are perfect for straightforward mowing on relatively flat terrain.

Zero-Turn Mowers: These mowers have a near-zero turning radius, making them the best choice for yards with lots of obstacles, trees, or tight spaces. They are extremely maneuverable and can cut mowing time significantly.

Step 2: Choosing the Best Lawn Tractor for Your Needs

We’ve handpicked some of the best lawn tractors on the market based on performance, price, and lawn size.

Quick Comparison Table

Step 3: Detailed Reviews of Top Picks

Best Overall: Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro FAB Series

Why We Love It:

✔ Durable 11-gauge fabricated steel deck

✔ Choice of 50” or 54” deck size

✔ Hydrostatic transmission for smooth operation

✔ More affordable than most zero-turn mowers

Potential Drawbacks:

• No fuel gauge, so you’ll need to monitor fuel manually

Cub Cadet is a lesser-known best lawn tractor brand that often provides a lot more power and features than some of the better-known brands. We like this Cub Cadet riding lawn mower because of its durability. It is well equipped with an 11-gauge fabricated steel deck. You can opt for a deck that is sized at 50 or 54-inches. It also comes with hydrostatic transmission. A hydrostatic transmission offers variable displacement. The Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro FAB Series Lawn Tractor handles large areas well, thanks to its larger deck size. We also love the price point. It’s more affordable than most zero-turn mowers and comes with multiple cutting width options that many lawn care equipment companies don't bother to offer.

The only downside to this riding mower option is that it doesn’t come with a fuel gauge. You can easily avoid breaking down by keeping your tank topped off before a mow.

Is this the right mower for you? If you want a powerful, durable, and feature-packed mower at a fair price, this is a top pick. See Garden equipment CUB CADET in our catalog.

Best Budget Mower: John Deere S130 Riding Mower

Why We Love It:

✔ Affordable and reliable

✔ 30-second oil change system for easy maintenance

✔ Cruise control for effortless mowing

Potential Drawbacks:

• Small fuel tank (2 gallons)
• Slightly less power than premium models

Whether you’re looking for a riding mower that is for residential use or for commercial work, you may be working with a very specific budget. If you want to keep your costs low, consider this John Deere S130 Ride on Mower. There is even an S100 model that is a little lower in price, but you’ll lose some of the features. The John Deere brand is well known for being reliable, affordable, and efficient. This riding mower works well for small to medium-sized lawns.

If you’re maintaining your lawn equipment yourself, you’ll love the 30-second oil change system on this tractor. Cruise control makes it simple to mow your lawn with ease. You get a 13-gauge stamped deck and a deck size of 42 inches. Unfortunately, you can only load this mower up with about two gallons of gas. However, we love that this ride on mower is just a fraction of what you would pay for a zero-turn mower or something larger in size. You still get plenty of great features, including being able to set your cutting width and using your grass clippings for mulch.

Great for: Small to medium-sized lawns and budget-conscious buyers. See Garden equipment JOHN DEERE in our catalog.

Best for Large Lawns: Exmark Lazer Z Series Diesel

Why We Love It:

✔ Massive cutting width options (60” to 144”)

✔ Can mow 11+ acres per hour

✔ Large 12-gallon fuel tank for extended use

Potential Drawbacks:

• Higher price point
• May be overkill for smaller yards

If you need equipment that can handle more than three acres or so, consider this zero-turn mower from Exmark. The Exmark Lazer Z Series Diesel model offers options for 60, 72, and 96-inch options. There is even an impressive 144-inch model.

You can mow more than 11 acres per hour with this mower. It’s a bit of an investment and doesn’t fit into our budget mower criteria, but it’s worth the money if you have a lot of land to cover and need something that can keep up.

It holds an impressive 12 gallons of fuel and has a top speed of 11 miles per hour. It has a wide variety of adjustments for cutting width. Cutting heights can create different looks on cut grass. This turns tough terrain into something beautiful.

Perfect for: Those who need to maintain large properties quickly and efficiently.

Best Zero-Turn Mower: Hustler Hyper Drive Series

Why We Love It:

✔ Highly durable transmission and hydraulic systems

✔ Smooth ride and responsive handling

✔ Variety of engine and cutting height options

Potential Drawbacks:

• Higher price compared to traditional mowers

If you need a quick mower that can handle all the tight turns and corners of your yard with a larger turning radius than a ride-on tractor, consider purchasing a mower from the Hustler Hyperdrive series. These are mowers that are extremely durable thanks to high-quality transmission systems and hydraulic systems.

Also, you get a very smooth mower that is easy to ride. It responds quickly and offers more precision than many of the competition out there. You can choose from a variety of engine options based on your garden tractor needs and adjust cutting heights. Also, you can’t beat the warranty coverage that this brand provides with their equipment.

Ideal for: Those needing a high-precision, maneuverable mower for complex landscapes. See more Zero-Turn mowers in our catalog.

Step 4: Buying & Maintaining Your Lawn Tractor

Key Factors to Consider When Buying

Budget

Price is obviously a very important factor for a lot of people when shopping for a riding mower. Consider what your budget is, but don’t overspend. You want some money leftover that you can dedicate to mower maintenance and other lawn accessories and tools that you made need.

Lawn Size

Consider the lawn size you’ll be mowing and navigating with your garden tractor. It’s not wise to purchase an undersized lawn mower in hopes of saving money. While it might be more affordable upfront, you’ll be inflicting a lot of unnecessary wear and tear on your equipment by avoiding a huge range of service. This leads to more frequent repair and maintenance needs of your ride on lawn mower. You’ll also notice a shorter equipment lifespan, which causes you to replace your lawn mower more frequently.

Terrain

Don’t forget to consider the type of terrain that you’ll be working on with your ride on lawn mower. Flat land is simple to navigate with just about any mower. However, if you have a lot of tight turns, then a zero-turn mower may be the best option for handling heavy duty work. Hills and different elevations require you to really think about what kind of equipment can safely navigate this terrain. The size and power of an engine also impacts how easily you can get a job done with your ride on lawn mower.

Maintenance and Servicing

Just like you routinely maintain your automobile, you’ll need to perform maintenance of your ride on lawn mower. This ensures it is reliable all season long and can extend the lifespan of your equipment. We recommend that you check the condition of the oil frequently as well as the oil filter. After each time you use your tractor, clean the deck and steering wheel and remove any debris that has accumulated. Service your lawn mower each year to ensure optimal performance, and make sure that you winterize your equipment if you will be storing it unused for a number of months.

Additional Options to Consider

Mulching Kit

Something that we haven’t touched on is the option of choosing a ride on lawn mower based on its ability to mulch whatever is being cut by way of a side discharge. Mulching mowers with side discharge are a great option because the lawn clippings end up being very small.

They are then blown out into the lawn, where they help feed your terrain. Some traditional mowers can be equipped with a mulching plate, if you’re looking for both options. Just make sure you're cleaning off your cutting deck after a mow. A cutter deck can get messy with this mulching option on longer grass especially.

Rear-Collection System

If you don’t want to mulch your clippings and have them redistributed into the lawn, consider purchasing a rear-collection ride on lawn mower. Your clippings will end up in a grass collector bag, which then needs to be emptied into a garbage can, grass box, or compost pile when the work is done.

Consider the size of the collection bag you’re purchasing. If it’s on the smaller side, you’ll end up needing to replace it more often. A large lawn mower bag may be difficult to store.

Upgraded Seat & Steering

Improves comfort for long mowing sessions.

Conclusion: Ready to Find Your Perfect Lawn Tractor?

Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to make your decision. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly mower, a high-performance zero-turn, or something in-between, there’s a perfect option for you.

Browse our full catalog to compare the latest models and find the best deal: View Lawn Tractors

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Dealer of a Ride On Lawn Mower Matter?

Yes! Different dealers offer promotions, warranties, and service plans. Compare prices and customer support before buying.

Does Easy Maintenance Matter?

Don’t assume that just because this is a piece of outdoor lawn equipment that means you don’t have to keep your tractor clean. Cleaning the surface and underside of your mower after each use with a garden hose will most lawn tractors from rusting and experiencing premature wear and tear.

Find out how easy it is to maintain a specific lawn mower before you buy it. Also, consider whether you are purchasing a petrol lawn mower or electric model. This impacts the type of maintenance that you need.

Battery powered lawn tractors and robot lawn mowers require intricate maintenance to electrical components, which isn't usually part of a gas-powered model.

Do I Need Other Attachments?

You might not have the need to purchase other attachments and accessories for your mower right now, but the opportunity may come up later.

Consider choosing a lawn mower that comes with a variety of add-ons that can be purchased at another time if you see fit. This creates a very customized piece of equipment that is much more versatile than your standard push mowers or robotic mower.

Consider an attachment that provides you with the mulching plug function. You may want to change the foot pedal out for a more comfortable model.

Other areas of your equipment can also be changed, such as upgrading to an adjustable seat, securing longer battery life, twin blades, larger rear wheels, and various cutting heights.