Have you got a large lawn? Or perhaps you struggle to push a standard mower back and forth in the summer heat? A sit-on lawn mower could be the ideal solution.
Many people love the convenience of ride-on lawn mowers, as they offer an easy and fun way to trim your grass. You don’t have to battle with an engine pull-start cord or push a heavy machine out in front of you.
Read on for our selection of the best ride-on mowers currently available.
Looking for more options? Check out our roundup of the best cordless lawn mowers and the best mulching mowers in 2024.
At a glance:
- Best for reliability: Honda HF 2417 HM Garden Tractor
- Best for quality: John Deere X350 Lawn Tractor
- Best for budget: Mountfield MTF 84M Petrol Lawn Tractor
Best ride-on mowers for a perfect lawn
Honda HF 2417 HM Premium Garden Tractor
Best for reliability
Buy from Just Lawnmowers (£4,499.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: Not specified
- Gears/speed: 4
- Cutting deck width: 102cm
- Number of cutting heights: 7
- Engine: 4-stroke OHC V-twin Honda GCV530, 530cc, 17 hp engine
- Cuttings bag: 300L
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: Full bag indicator, variable hydrostatic transmission
Pros: mulching system and 300L grass bag with level indicator, seven cutting heights
Cons: some have commented on awkward position of reverse switch
Although Honda is famous for its cars, it also has a broad range of lawn-care products, from everyday mowers to robotic models, and even brush cutters and tillers.
This ride-on lawn mower is a great option for anyone with a lot of grass to trim. It offers a selective mulching system, which enables you to select whether you want to collect the cuttings into the bag, or finely shred them and to act as a natural fertiliser.
John Deere X350 Lawn Tractor (with 42" Accel Deep Mower Deck)
Best for quality
Buy the slightly more powerful X350R from Just Lawnmowers (£6,879.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: 40.6cm
- Gears/speed: Up to 8.2km/h
- Cutting deck width: 107cm
- Number of cutting heights: Not specified
- Engine: V-twin OHV
- Cuttings bag: No
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: 13.2L petrol tank, adjustable wheels, luxury seat, cruise control, backlit display
Pros: mulching system, cruise control
Cons: higher price point, no cuttings bag
No list of ride-on lawn mowers would be complete without a John Deere. While models from this brand do sit at the higher end of the scale when it comes to price, they’re widely considered to be some of the best mowers around.
This one comes with hydrostatic, two-wheel drive with ‘Twin Touch’ foot controls. There’s a 107cm cutting width, and cutting heights in 6mm steps between 2.5cm and 10.2cm. A 13.2L petrol tank, adjustable wheels and a luxury seat are also included, as well as extras like cruise control and a backlit display.
You can also browse second-hand models at AutoTrader.
Mountfield MTF 84M Petrol Ride-On Lawn Tractor 352cc
Best for budget
Buy from B&Q (£2,359.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: 160cm
- Gears/speed: 5 forward, 1 back
- Cutting deck width: 84cm
- Number of cutting heights: 7
- Engine: 352cc OHV single cylinder electric key-start engine
- Cuttings bag: 200L
- Mulching system: No
- Special features: Safety seat
Pros: compact design, safety seat
Cons: no mulching system
The Mountfield MTF 84M mower is a compact choice - small enough to fit through most standard garden gates; large enough to cover a garden up to an acre and a half in size. It has seven cutting heights from 25mm to 80mm, and an 84cm cutting width.
Customer review: "[Lawn is] looking very neat. Appears economical with the fuel. Fun to use. Built in cup holders. Emptying is easy from sitting position. Recommended."
If you'd rather let the mower do the work, check out the best robotic mowers for a hassle-free lawn.
Weibang iON 81 RC Battery Ride On Lawn Mower
Best electric mower
Buy from Lawnmowers UK (£4,199.00), Just Lawnmowers (£4,299.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: Not specified
- Gears/speed: 6.5km/h
- Cutting deck width: 81cm
- Number of cutting heights: 10
- Engine: 72V/31Ah battery
- Cuttings bag: 190L
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: Electric
Pros: mulching system and cuttings bag, 10 cutting heights, electric power
Cons: need to charge overnight
It's well worth considering the various battery-powered models available nowadays if you want to avoid the hassle of buying petrol and regularly filling up a tank. This one from Weibang runs for 150 minutes after a 12-hour charge, so you just need to remember to plug it in overnight.
Once you get going, you’ll be able to make use of the mower’s 81cm cutting width and 10 cutting heights, ranging from 2.5cm to 13cm. Supplied with both a 190L waste collector and a mulching kit, it offers two options; either gather clippings or use them to fertilise your lawn.
Keep your lawn looking pristine with the best lawn scarifiers.
Stiga Park 500 WX 4WD Front-Cut Ride-On Lawnmower (Excluding Deck)
Best front-cut mower
Buy from Just Lawnmowers (£6,099.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: 246cm
- Gears/speed: 10km/h
- Cutting deck width: 95cm-125cm
- Number of cutting heights: 10
- Engine: 530cc Honda GCV530 engine
- Cuttings bag: No
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: Front-cut design, hydrostatic transmission, all-wheel drive
Pros: speed up to 10km/h, adjustable cutting deck width, 10 cutting heights
Cons: no cuttings bag
Most ride-on lawn mowers have blades underneath the seating area, but opting for one with a ‘front-cut’ design gives you a better view of the ground you’re trimming.
Invest in this model and you’ll get all-wheel drive with foot-operated hydrostatic transmission, and a mulching system at the back. It has a 530cc Honda GCV530 engine, 12L fuel tank and electric key start.
One of the biggest benefits of buying a Stiga product is the chance to use its accompanying app, which notifies you about ongoing maintenance tasks.
AL-KO T23-125 HD V2 Premium Twin-Cylinder Rear Collect Lawn Tractor
Best for large areas
Buy from Just Lawnmowers (£4,999.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: Not specified
- Gears/speed: Not specified
- Cutting deck width: 125cm
- Number of cutting heights:
- Engine: 727cc 14.4KW Briggs & Stratton Intek engine
- Cuttings bag: 310L
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: Integral tow hitch
Pros: wide cutting deck, mulching system and huge 310L cuttings bag, cruise control
Cons: wide design not as good for smaller spaces
A versatile option, this mower from AL-KO gives you the option to mulch grass clippings or collect them in a generous 310L bag.
It also has two cylinders and two blades, creating an extra-wide 125cm mower deck that can sort your grass out in no time. This can be adjusted to heights ranging between 30mm and 90mm.
Not sure how or when to mow? Check out how to mow for a happy lawn and happy wildlife.
Snapper RPX310 Garden Tractor
Best for cuttings capacity
Buy from Cheap Mowers (£5,295.00), Mowers Online (£5,299.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: 36cm
- Gears/speed: 9km/h
- Cutting deck width: 107cm
- Number of cutting heights:
- Engine: 724cc Briggs & Stratton Intek 8270 Professional Series motor
- Cuttings bag: 350L
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: anti-vibration system, fully-adjustable seat, tool storage, cruise control
Pros: small turning circle, mulching system and huge 350L cuttings bag, lots of special features
Cons: bulkier design than others
A robust and hardwearing mower, this Snapper model features a welded steel frame, cast-iron front axle and steel mower deck. Not only is it made to last, but it can also handle tricky terrains. You won’t have to compromise on comfort either, as an anti-vibration system supports the fully-adjustable seat with ergonomic armrests.
You can control the deck lift function with your feet, and store any extra tools or equipment in the rear cargo bed. It also has an impressively small 36cm turning-circle and a handy from-the-seat grass-dumping feature.
If you're looking to save water as well as keep your grass looking great, read our list of the best water butts.
Lawn King RG145 Ride-On Lawnmower
Best for serviceability
Buy from Cheap Mowers (£2,199.00), Click4Mowers (£2,199.00)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: 46cm
- Gears/speed: 6 forward, 6 back
- Cutting deck width: 107cm
- Number of cutting heights: 5
- Engine: MTD 547cc electric start engine
- Cuttings bag: No
- Mulching system: No - side discharge system
- Special features: N/a
Pros: more affordable than others, side discharge function
Cons: no cuttings bag, need to buy mulch kit separately if required
Suitable for gardens up to an acre in size, this mower from Lawn King has a tight turning circle radius of 46cm that allows for easier treatment around bushes and flowerbeds.
The RG145 uses an MTD 547cc electric start engine and features gearless 'shift on the go' transmission. With a cutting deck that's 107cm wide, there's more than enough width to cut grass in good time, without being too large to allow for more focused mowing. Plus, there are five adjustable cutting heights between 30mm and 95mm.
Customer review: "I particularly like the fact that most of the panels are made of metal, unlike some makes, and the tractor seems very robust."
Looking for more ways to keep your garden healthy? Check out the best lawn aerators for lush green grass.
Alpina AT4 84 A 352cc STIGA Engine 84cm Rear Discharge Lawn Tractor
Best mid-range mower
Buy from LineOnLine (£2,591.59)
Key specs
- Turning circle radius: Not specified
- Gears/speed: 5 forwards, 1 back
- Cutting deck width: 84cm
- Number of cutting heights: 7
- Engine: 352cc STIGA ST350 single-cylinder engine
- Cuttings bag: 200L
- Mulching system: Yes
- Special features: Electromagnetic clutch
Pros: mulching system and cuttings bag
Cons: need to buy mulch kit separately if required
The Alpina AT4 84 A is a manual-drive lawn tractor that comes with a STIGA single-cylinder engine, capable of handling gardens up to 3,000m2. Its 84cm cutting deck with seven possible cutting height settings and a 200L collector make grass cutting a breeze.
The optional mulching system and easy blade engagement through an electromagnetic clutch makes the Alpina AT4 84 A a user-friendly lawn tractor, perfect for anyone looking for a low-hassle option.
How to choose the best ride-on mower for your garden
There are several factors you’ll need to consider when finding the best ride-on mower for your space:
Size
Not only should you think about the dimensions of your garden and storage area, but also the size of the gates your mower will need to fit through. Look out for ‘cutting width’ when comparing sit-on lawn mowers; the larger the number, the bigger the machine.
Turning circle
Does your garden have a lot of trees or winding paths? If so, you may want to look for a sit-on lawn mower with a ‘zero turning circle’, so it can achieve a close cut.
Mulching function
Some ride-on lawn mowers collect grass clippings in a large bag, while ‘mulching’ ones cut them into tiny pieces and spray them back out onto the ground. Most people prefer mowers with a ‘mulching’ function, as they involve less work and fertilise the grass. Don't miss our round up of specifically mulching mowers.
Transmission
Ride-on lawn mowers with hydrostatic transmission tend to be more expensive than those with manual systems, but they offer better control and are generally simpler to use.
Battery or petrol power
Nowadays, you can get battery-powered sit-on lawn mowers and, if you buy one, you can avoid the expense and hassle of regularly topping up your petrol mower. Plus, it’ll probably be quieter than a petrol-powered model. Don’t forget to check how long the battery lasts after charging and make sure you have somewhere to plug it in.
Cutting heights
Many sit-on lawn mowers have several cutting heights, allowing the user to adjust the elevation of the blades to suit the grass they’ll be trimming. Unless you mow your garden regularly, you’ll probably want to invest in a mower with lots of options.
Two/four-wheel drive
The best ride-on mower for you will depend on the type of garden you have. If it has uneven ground or steep slopes, it’s a good idea to invest in one with four-wheel drive.
Considering other types of mowers? See our full guide to the very best lawnmowers you can buy in 2024.
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