What Is the Best Riding Lawn Mower for the Money?

If you’re in search of the best riding lawn mower for the money, then look into the models offered by John Deere, Toro, Ryobi, Lastec and Cub Cadet. Some of these are on the inexpensive end and others are pricier. But, they all come with features and specs that fit their corresponding price tags.

This means that even though some of the riding mowers discussed here will be quite expensive, they have a host of features and conveniences that are worth the money. Likewise, for the ones with a cheaper price tag, they have the most features you could get in that type of model.

Quick Overview of the Best Overall Riding Lawn Mowers

  1. Best Overall Riding Lawn Mower: John Deere E120
  2. Best Riding Zero-Turn Lawn Mower for the Money: Toro TimeCutter 75754
  3. Best Small Riding Lawn Mower for the Money: Ryobi RY48110
  4. Best Largest Riding Lawn Mower for the Money: Lastec WZ400
  5. Best Luxurious Riding Mower for the Money: Cub Cadet ZTX4 54

Best Overall Riding Lawn Mower for the Money: John Deere E120

John Deere’s E120 is a great riding lawn mower for the money. It can handle large flat yards with an 18-inch turn radius to maneuver around obstacles. It comes with a 42-inch wide cutting deck and the height is adjustable up to an inch.

Plus there’s a potent V-Twin engine. The engine has a 656cc displacement and 20 horsepower, complete with cruise control. It can reach a speed of up to 5½ mph and is a solid piece of machinery for about $2,000.

Pros

Cons

Good turning radius Slower than other similar brands and models
Sturdy, reliable engine Maintenance and repairs tend to be pricey
Excellent for the average user Cutting height adjustment is within only one inch

Best Riding Zero-Turn Lawn Mower for the Money: Toro TimeCutter 75754

The TimeCutter by Toro is a riding lawn mower refined in its design for the average homeowner. It has a 54-inch cutting deck width with a 10-gauge forged iron deck. It has a V-Twin engine with hydrostatic transmission, 24.5 horsepower and 708cc displacement.

Although around $4,400 brand new, it comes with a host of features and a construction built to last. It can achieve a speed of up to 7 mph. The operation panel gives you the most in controlling speed and direction with a refined touch.

Pros

Cons

Superior design and suspension Tends to be very expensive for how noisy it is
Powerful and heavy duty engine Many users report undesirable cut lines left behind
Great refined control over speed and direction Slower than other similar models in its class

Best Small Riding Lawn Mower for the Money: Ryobi RY48110

Not only is Ryobi’s RY48110 the best compact riding lawn mower for the money, it’s also fully electric. It comprises a 48-volt battery that can run for two hours straight. This means it’s eco-friendly and low maintenance. This makes it ideal for those who aren’t mechanically inclined.

It comes with a 38-inch cutting deck width with 12 adjustable settings. But, you have to adjust the height manually. This can be a downer considering the $3,000 price tag it comes with brand new. However, it has rear engine maneuverability to reach a max speed of 8 mph with a 16-inch turning radius.

Pros

Cons

Easy to care for and maintain Expensive for having to adjust the cutting height manually
Eco-friendly with low emissions There is no horsepower associated with it
Long runtime on 48-volt battery Owners report it dying after only two seasons of use

Best Largest Riding Lawn Mower for the Money: Lastec WZ400

The largest riding lawn mower best for the money is Lastec’s WZ400. It comes with a cutting deck width of 61 or 73 inches that’s fully adjustable.

This is ideal for huge patches of land that have hills, valleys and other challenging contours. It has 49 horsepower with a Kohler Command Pro diesel engine. Of course, the price starts at around $11,000. But it can reach a max speed of 10 mph and a displacement of 45cc.

Pros

Cons

Large cutting deck to shorten mowing time Difficult to find and not easy to locate
Ideal for huge yards and big swaths of land Repairs and maintenance are expensive due to rarity
Heavy duty and powerful Kohler engine Diesel fuel is an expensive commodity

Best Luxurious Riding Mower for the Money: Cub Cadet ZTX4 54

The Cub Cadet offers a premium and superior luxury-style riding lawn mower for the money. It’s is the ZTX4 54 that offers commercial-grade engineering and design while having all the bells and whistles of a plush ride.

The engine is a Kohler 7000 series with 24 horsepower and a displacement of 725cc which reaches a speed of up to 8 mph. It has hydrostatic transmission and an adjustable height on the 54-inch wide cutting deck. The whole machine costs $6,200.

Pros

Cons

Easy and smooth to operate Tends to be expensive compared to other models like it
High-end, quality engine that’s powerful No cruise control available
Good for rough, rugged terrain Could be faster and/or more powerful for the high price

Comparison Table of All Riding Lawn Mowers for the Money

The table below displays all of the riding mowers mentioned above. Compare and evaluate each one to see which will be best for your purposes.

 

John Deere E120

Toro TimeCutter 75754

Ryobi RY48110

Lastec WZ400

Cub Cadet ZTX4 54

Engine Type V-Twin V-Twin 48-Volt Battery Kohler Kohler
Mower Type 18-inch turn radius Zero-Turn 16 inch turn radius Zero-Turn Zero-Turn
Displacement 656cc 708cc n/a 45cc 725cc
Horsepower 20 24.5 0 Unknown 24
Speed 5½ mph 7 mph 8 mph 10 mph 8 mph
Cutting Width 42 inches 54 inches 38 inches 61 or 73 inches 54
Adjustable Deck Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Recommended Terrain Flat with obstacles All types of terrain Small mostly flat yards All types of terrain All types of terrain
Price $2000 $4400 $3000 $1100 $6200