Best Riding Lawn Mower For the Money – Top 3 Picks
Pressed for time? Check our best picks
Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower
- Can cover large yards save lots of time
- Mows quickly
- Wide cuts
- Great price
Husqvarna Z254 54 Zero Turn Riding Mower
- Fast mowing/riding
- Long runtime
- Wide cut
- Maneuverability
Ryobi Engine Riding Lawn Mower RY48111
- Long runtime
- Quick recharge time
- Quiet mowers
- No gasoline needed
Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.
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There are many riding lawn mowers available varying in quality and price. It can be hard to determine what makes a riding lawn mower as valuable as the price tag it comes with.
With that said, there are several riding lawn mowers that pack as many features and as much attention to detail as possible that truly reflect their price.
Comparison Table of Top Best Riding Lawn Mower For the Money in Market
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52" Zero Turn Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Ryobi RY48111 38 inches 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Troy-Bilt Pony 42X Riding Lawn Mower with 42-Inch Deck and 547cc Engine Tractor |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit Riding Lawn Mower with 34-Inch Deck and 452cc Engine |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of Top Riding Lawn Mower For the Money
Best Overall - Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52
Key Specifications
- 52″ cutting deck
- 23 HP engine
- 2.8 gal fuel capacity
The Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ riding zero turn mower is worth every single penny. It is somewhere in the middle ground of prices for high end riding mowers, but it has all of the features of a top shelf premium mower.
Between the 53” cutting deck and 23 hp 726 cc engine and the 52” cutting deck, the IKON-X can mow huge yards and quickly.
It works great in smaller yards as well and makes the job go very quickly as each cut is over 4 feet wide. For its price, you can’t find another riding mower with such great specs.
Check it out in action
Pros
- Can cover large yards
- Mows quickly
- Wide cuts
- Zero degree turn radius
- Great price
Cons
- It is somewhat loud
This mower outperforms riding mowers that are at a higher price point. It is for any size yard and has a long runtime. Check it out!
Husqvarna Z254 54 in. Zero Turn Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 54″ cutting deck
- 26 HP engine
- 3.5 gal fuel capacity
You’d be hard pressed to find a better riding mower for the price than the Husqvarna Z254. It has a zero degree turn radius and huge cutting deck but is not as high priced as you’d expect from that kind of mower.
Not only does it save you money compared to other similar riding mowers, but it saves time. It has a powerful engine that lets you drive and mow up to 6.5 mph which is more than enough to speed up the chore.
It also has a 3.5 gallon gasoline fuel tank so you can clock quite a bit of mowing time before needing to refuel. The cutting deck is 54” wide and each cut is wide and precise. Here is a quick look at it
Pros
- Fast mowing/riding
- Long runtime
- Wide cut
- Maneuverability
Cons
- Debris can get caught in motor occasionally
For the money, there are no mowers as fast and precise as the Z254. Try it on your lawn.
Ryobi RY48111 Riding Lawn Mower
Key Specifications
- 38″ cutting deck
- 48 V 100Ah battery
- 3 brushless motors
Electric riding mowers are coveted but are often overpriced compared to a gas mower. Not this Ryobi, however. Not only is a great deal but it can save you a small fortune on gasoline.
Unlike similar riding mowers that are more costly than this one, the Ryobi 38” rear engine riding mower has an extremely long run time. It can cover a full 2.5 acres, or 2.5 hours of mowing time. That is more than many gas mowers even.
You can easily charge it with a standard 120V outlet. It runs on 3 brushless motors and mows quietly throughout its entire runtime. Here it is in action
Pros
- Long runtime, covers large properties
- Quick recharge time
- Quiet mowers
- No gasoline needed
Cons
- Harder to wash than standard riding mowers
This is the longest lasting electric riding mower for the price tag, and it performs as well as any premium gas mower. Check it out!
Troy-Bilt Pony 42X Riding Lawn Mower
Key Specifications
- 42″ cutting deck
- 24 HP engine
- 3 gal fuel capacity
To get the best for your money, it is nice to look for riding lawn mowers that are reliable. The Troy-Bilt Pony is reliable for several different reasons. Not the least of which is the 2 year limited warranty that covers certain repairs.
You can also rely on it not running out of juice on you. The 3 gal fuel capacity is more than enough for yards big or small and can last a few different mowing sessions, depending on the size of the lawn. The combination of the 547 cc 24 HP engine and hydro transmission makes it able to handle several types of terrain.
It may not be a zero turn riding mower, but it is still easy to navigate obstacles in the yard with. Plus, you get mulching and side discharge functions without having to pay extra. Here it is in action
Pros
- 2 year limited warranty
- Mulching and side discharge
- Powerful engine
- Long run time/high fuel capacity
Cons
- Motor can get dirty
The Pony is a well-rounded riding mower with great value, feature for dollar. Try it out!
Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit Riding Lawn Mower
Key Specifications
- 34″ cutting deck
- 452cc Troy-Bilt engine
- 2.8 gal fuel capacity
This zero turn riding mower is barely priced higher than a standard riding mower but packs twice the precision. The Troy-Bilt Mustang is as maneuverable as they come and switching direction takes no time at all.
With a 34” cutting deck, the cuts are wide and can deal with a large chunk of yard at once. It has a long runtime as well and a fill up should last you multiple mowing sessions unless you have a huge yard.
The engine and transmission are tough and low maintenance so powering through dense patches of your yard is easy.
Plus, you get a lot of freedom for the money. You get 8 height of cut positions to choose from that can easily be swapped between. Take a look at it for yourself
Pros
- Zero degree turn radius
- Low maintenance transmission
- High fuel capacity and runtime
- Multiple cutting height positions
Cons
- Loud mowing
The Mustang is a great value for such a powerful, highly maneuverable riding mower. Check it out!
Best Riding Lawn Mower For the Money With Bagger
Our top pick for the best riding lawn mower for the money with a bagger is the Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower.
While it does not have a bagger included as very few actually do, it has the slot for one and can be purchased separately for a good deal by the manufacturer.
It comes with the discharge chute but has room for a bagger and mulching kit. Both accessories are a good deal and add even more value to an already solid riding lawn mower. Installing the bagging and mulching kit is easy and is worth the extra money consider it is not much.
While there are a few riding lawn mowers out that have a bagger included, they are not the best for the money. You may have to purchase a bagger separately with this one, but at the very least it is worth every penny because of how great a mower it is.
Best Riding Lawn Mower For the Money That Can Handle Rough Terrain
Our pick for the best lawn mower for the money that can handle rough terrain is the Troy-Bilt Pony. It has a 547 cc 24 HP engine that can easily power through dense grass and rough terrain.
The hydrostatic transmission makes it so that the mower can handle the rough terrain without the engine getting overworked.
It also has an exceptionally long runtime which means that you don’t need to worry that it is going to die on you if mowing is taking longer than expected. The 42” cutting deck contributes to it handling rough terrain because it can easily mow down dense grass that other riding mowers would get caught on.
The Troy-Bilt Pony also navigates very smoothly. It’s maneuverability rivals that of a zero turn riding mower, but of course it does have a turn radius.
The two year limited warranty that it comes with can also help to save money on repairs in case you run into trouble with it.
FAQs
Generally, if it has a powerful engine, transmission and high quality cutting deck that is as effective or more effective than a premium mower, it is good for its money. However, the ones that are the best for the money typically have superior engines, wide cutting decks, long runtimes, and discharge, mulching or bagging options.
It is not about the bells and whistles; it is about the quality of each function.
In fact, zero turn mowers are riding lawn mowers. The “zero turn” in the title simply refers to the turn radius. They may look different than standard riding lawn mowers but that is because they have a different construction to accommodate the zero turn radius function.
They are known for being able to “turn on a dime” compared to standard riding mowers where you have to make somewhat wide turns.
Absolutely. For it to be the best for its money, however, it needs to have a high capacity battery with a long running time. The best electric riding lawn mowers recharge quickly and are no different than gas mowers other than their method of operation.
With that said, electric mowers are quieter in general and don’t produce fumes like gas powered riding lawn mowers do. They can also save money on gasoline which increases their value quite a bit on its own.
Some riding lawn mowers have deck wash ports so you can easily connect a hose and spray it down. Others should simply be cleaned with a rag. Electric riding lawn mowers, however, cannot be cleaned with water.
For electric mowers, you should use wipes or towels and wash by hand without any water or moisture. For some riding lawn mowers, dirt and debris gets in the motor and in that case you will need to brush it out.
Last update on 2024-11-23 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API