The best riding mower is powerful, comfortable, fast, and it makes lawn mowing one of the chores you can comfortably partake in without complaining.
And whether you are a novice or have some experience mowing the lawn, then you know that there’s nothing that says the worst chore ever, better than the push or the walk-behind lawnmower.
This is especially true if you have a lawn that’s bigger than a quarter of an acre. So, to make lawn mowing less dreadful, tolerable, and even fun, we’re going to introduce you to some of the best riding mowers for one acre of land.
These mowers promise to cut down the energy, and the time it will take for you to keep your lawn nice and trim this summer. Whether you are looking for a battery-powered or a gas-powered mower, a zero-turn, or a rear-engine mower, we’ve got you covered.
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Best Riding Mowers for 1 Acre
1. Craftsman T225 Briggs & Stratton 19HP Riding Lawn Mower
Craftsman is one of the biggest and the most popular brand names in the world of outdoor care power tools, and this 19HP Craftsman T225 is one of the best models by the brand, especially if you are looking for the best lawn mower to use on your yard if the size of your yard doesn’t exceed 1 acre.
This riding mower is equipped with all the necessary features needed to ensure the precise, neat, and fast mowing of the lawn. Some of the features that make this Craftsman T225 our number 1 recommendation include its fast mowing speeds, which is made possible by the high-performance 19HP Briggs and Stratton engine, as well as its speed controls and the smooth transmission.
And thanks to its gas-powered design, the engine of this lawn mower will allow you to go up hilly and sloppy areas with ease. The mower will be able to get through a 1-acre yard in a short time.
Now, in case you are wondering, an acre is equivalent to 4840sq. yard, which is 0.8x the size of the standard football field, or even 25 times the size of a tennis court.
A 1-acre yard is considerably big, and that means that in addition to the use of fast and powerful mower, you also need to ensure that the mower boasts some of the most comfortable features, and that is where this mower fits into your checklist even better.
Being a riding mower, you don’t have to get your arms sore pushing the mower, and on top of that, this lawn mower comes with a high-back seat, which provides excellent lumbar support. So, whether you ride the mower through the roughest terrain or accelerate its speed, you will always feel comfortable.
The other reason why this Craftsman mower would be a great option for you is the fact that the mower boasts a 46-inch cutting deck, which means that the mower cuts through a wider area of the lawn much faster.
The cutting deck also allows for trimming and the clipping of grass in just one sweep. This cutting deck also comes with a deck wash that will save you time otherwise spent cleaning the mower’s underside.
Its hydrostatic transmission unit offers a more controlled and smooth mowing experience; the mow in reverse function enhances the maneuverability of the mower, allowing you to reach the hard-to-reach spots; and then you also have the durable turf saving wheels which boost the performance of the mower further.
The front wheels are 15-inches wide, and the back wheels are 20 inches wide, and they work together to enhance the maneuverability of the mower, while also offering a better clearing.
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2. Greenworks 20-Inch Cordless Lawn Mower
If you are looking for the best cordless and battery-operated lawn mower for your yard, then this Greenworks mower might be an ideal option for you. It works great for small lawns up to 1 acre or less, and it has all the best features you need, along with a reliable battery run time of 60 minutes.
Its cordless design means that you will enjoy working with no exhaust fumes, and this eco-friendliness means that you will enjoy doing your part in doing what’s best for Mother Nature.
This mower boasts a wide range of impressive features, which include the wireless battery-run operation made possible by the 4Ah and the 2Ah G-Max 40V Lithium-ion batteries. The spare battery means easy continuity of work should one battery die before you are done.
These rechargeable batteries are easy to use, and since it comes with dual battery ports, you can insert two batteries at the same for better work continuity. The battery-powered mower is also cheaper than the gas-powered mowers, and its maintenance is low and easy.
Although you can use this mower on a lawn that’s one-acre big, it also works perfectly for smaller lawns because of its 20-inch, highly-efficient cutting deck.
This cutting deck comfortably cuts large areas of the yard in less time, but the winning bit about the size of the cutting deck is that the mower has a very high level of maneuverability, and you won’t have to struggle to cut the corners and other tight spaces.
The size of the cutting deck also means better control over the mower. You might also like the mower because it boasts 5 adjustable cutting heights of grass, which ranges from 1 ¾ – 3 3/8 inches, allowing you to cut the grass depending on your needs. It has dual blades for better mowing performance.
This mower also comes with rear wheels, which are slightly bigger than the front wheels, and that means that the mower will turn around very easily. These wheels also enhance your control of the mowing.
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3. Troy-Bilt 30-Inch 382cc Neighborhood Riding Lawnmower
Troy-Bilt is the other big brad of lawnmowers on the market today, and it boasts a wide range of exceptional features that ensure the smooth mowing of your lawn.
Powered by a 382cc OHV engine that boasts a top forward speed of up to 4.25MPH, as well as a 6-speed transmission, which boosts the performance of the mower on different terrains. Its tank capacity of 1.8 gallons means that this riding mower is the ideal size for yards measuring 1 acre or less.
It comes with a 30-inch cutting deck that sports 5 adjustable height settings, allowing you to easily cut the grass at the size that best matches your needs. The grass cutting efficiency of this mower is enhanced by the 18-inch turning radius of the mower, as well as the design of the wheels.
The front wheels are smaller (13inches wide) than the rear wheels (16 inches), a functional feature that boasts the maneuverability of the mower. These wheels will, however, work best on even terrain.
You might also like the mower’s manual power take-off (PTO), which makes for the fast and the easy engagement of the blades. The mower is also comfortable thanks to its comfortable and mid-back seat.
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4. Troy-Bilt 540cc Briggs & Stratton Intek 46-Inch Riding Lawnmower
This Troy-Bilt TB46 might be the best investment you make for your lawn this year, especially if you have been looking for a powerful mower that’s nimble enough to reach small areas, without compromising on the grass’ cut quality or consistency.
The mower offers more than enough punch for you to be able to take and work through even the wildest of yards, all thanks to this powerful 540cc Briggs and Stratton engine, which is also quite easy to operate.
Besides its ease of use, getting this Troy-Bilt TB46 mower means that you will have access to some of the most intuitive controls, as well as the comfortable, soft-touch steering wheel, which is ergonomically designed and well insulated, meaning that you will not feel any vibrations.
The other feature that enhances the comfort of this mower is its well-padded seat, which means no more painful and numb butts after a long day of mowing the yard. These features also mean that you would enjoy working with this mower, especially if your lawn is more than an acre.
It also boasts a high-level of performance thanks to the fact that it not only boasts a high reverse speed, but it also mows in reverse. With its 46-inch cutting deck, you will be able to get through your small or medium-sized yard in little time. The 19HP engine means faster mowing.
Regarding safety, you might also like this mower because of its safety functions, as well as the fact that the mower will stop instantly when you get your foot off the gas pedal. Think of this safety feature as a deadman’s switch for your lawnmower.
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5. John Deere Select Series X300
With this 42-inch John Deere lawnmower, you will be happy to finally find a riding lawnmower that lives up to the hype around it – think of the manufacturer’s tagline – Nothing runs like a Deere. This riding mower, which fits the riding lawn tractor profile, boasts excellent features that will ensure the easy and efficient running of the mower.
The top features of this lawn mower include its 18.5HP engine, which offers the mower great power and mowing speed. The engine makes use of the iTorque system, which promises the best, premium level smooth running, and the most reliable performance.
The engine works with the cutting deck to ensure easy and fast mowing, meaning that you won’t have to worry about spending hours out on your 1-acre lawn. It also boasts a comfortable steering wheel, which is easy to use, as well as a high level of precision control and maneuverability, all of which promise a clean and pristine cut on the yard.
This mower also comes equipped with the automotive-style cruise control, as well as an enhanced instrument display, which also boasts the operation of the mower.
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6. Husqvarna Z254 54-Inch 26HP Kohler Zero-Turn Riding Mower
There are many options of riding lawn mowers ideal for a 1-acre (or less) lawn, but if you are looking for the lawnmower that offers the highest degree of efficiency, then you are looking for the best zero-turn-radius (ZTR)lawnmower.
The zero-turn-radius lawn mowers boast the highest of efficiency thanks to their design, which allows for the quick steering of the mower at right angles and all other angles smoothly and rapidly, meaning that you won’t be missing areas around corners or other small areas.
A zero-turn-radius lawnmower offers a great deal of flexibility. To do all that, these lawnmowers make use of two important throttles whose working principle is based on the fact that one can maneuver the speed of a single working rear wheel so that the wheel can turn either to the right or the left.
In this case, you can easily make a fast right turn by increasing the running speed of the left rear wheel, while decreasing the speed of the right rear wheel.
By making these moves, you get to make the desired directional change without moving forward much. That said, you need to keep in mind that because of the unique function of this mower, its engine will have a complex design, and it’s also expensive than the conventional mowers.
Now that we have the mower’s basic operational processes out of the way let’s look at some of the features of this mower. For starters, it boasts one of the most powerful engines, the 26HP Kohler engine that will drive this beast through an acre of space in a short time, regardless of the terrain.
Keep in mind, however, that the performance of the more is not as high on a rugged area as it is on even ground.
The power of the engine is also the reason for the high mowing speeds of the mower, which stands at 6.5MPH. And since this mower comes with a gigantic 54-inch cutting deck, you will be happy with how fast the mowing speeds are – the ZTR mowers have a high mowing speed that’s 2 or 2.5x the speed of a convenient walk-behind mower.
Its operation is further enhanced by the patent-pending park-brake system, which will automatically activate or deactivate the mower as you move the steering lever inwards or outwards.
It also comes with the air induction technology, a function which will draw air in through the top and the bottom of the deck, improving the delivery of grass for a cleaner, superior cut. The clippings might be discharged at the sides, bagged or mulched.
The mower is also very durable thanks to its reinforced steel stamped cutting deck made of the best and the strongest heavy flat-stock steel.
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7. Craftsman R105 382cc Rear-Engine Riding Mower
If you have a sizeable lawn about an acre, you might like this 382cc Craftsman R105. Its size is just perfect, and the best bit is that it offers more detailed swaths, allowing you with the best mowing experience.
This riding mower is a rear-engine mower with a 30-inch cutting deck, meaning that this more is smaller than some of the mowers we’ve reviewed above. It also means that the mower is an efficient choice if you have a 1-acre lawn to mow, and not the entire day to push a mower.
Besides the 30-inch cutting deck that offers fast clipping, the mower also gives you access to the 6-speed operation, and you get to choose the riding speed to match your needs and level of experience.
Although this is a gas-operated lawn mower, its maintenance is made easier by the fact that it comes with a deck wash, which saves time otherwise spent washing the mower’s underside.
You might also like its comfortable and supportive mid-back seat, as well as the durable turf saver wheels, which boost the maneuverability of the mower.
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8. Snapper 2911525BVE 11.5 HP 344cc Rear Engine Riding Mower
If you don’t fancy the bigger riding lawn mowers around and if you have a small yard, then you might like this Snapper lawnmower. It comes with an 11.5HP Briggs and Stratton 4-cycle OHV engine, which promises excellent mowing performance for small yards and function for anyone who doesn’t like too much power in their lawnmowers.
It also boasts a vertical stand-on-edge capability, which means that the mower doesn’t take up too much space in storage. It has controls that are easy to reach, a 4-speed disc drive system (shift-on-the-go), which gives you more control over the mower.
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9. Husqvarna Z242F 42-in. 18 HP Kawasaki Zero-Turn Riding Mower
Another zero-turn-radius lawn mower by Husqvarna, this Husqvarna Z242F might be a great fit for you if you are looking for a large 42-inch cutting deck mower that runs on a powerful 18HP Kawasaki engine. This engine ensures the fast operation of the lawnmower (up to 6.5MPH) and very reliable startups.
It uses the low-maintenance hydrostatic transmission, meaning that you don’t have to worry about its usage or performance in different conditions.
And with its patent-pending brake system (park), the control of the steering system is even better, as it ensures the automatic activation and the deactivation of the steering levers, either outward or inward.
Its Clearcut deck delivers the best-quality 42-inch cutting deck, which offers an excellent cut, and even better-bagging thanks to its deep-deck design, the superior performance blades, and superior airflow. The mower also allows for easy discharge of clippings, and you could also mulch or bag the clippings.
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10. Ariens Zoom 34 – 19hp Kohler 6000 Series V-Twin 34″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower
Last on our list of the best riding lawn mowers is this Ariens Zoom 35 6000 Series zero-turn-radius lawnmower. Powered by a powerful 19HP Kohler V-Twin, 660CC engine, and a cutting width of 34 inches, this mower promises exceptional mowing performance for small and medium-sized lawns.
It’s easy to use, comes with a comfortable seat with easy to control steering, and it’s also quite flexible. It’s been designed to handle uneven and rugged terrains with ease, and it offers great value for money.
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Conclusion
The best riding mower for an acre of the yard has a powerful motor, but most importantly, it sports a sizeable, high-performance edge cutting deck. It might be cordless or gas-powered, but regardless of the size and the source of power, the chosen power tool must deliver great power and have a great performance to allow you to mow the lawn perfectly in the shortest possible time.
Add-ons are important, and though they don’t always come with the mower, knowing that the mower you are buying makes for easy attachment of accessories and add-ons makes mowers even more attractive investments. The mowers reviewed above are some of the best on the market, and they promise great value for money and top performance.