The smallest riding lawn mower you can find is the one offered by Snapper, coming in at a mere 28 inches. However, there are other small mowers that are worth looking into depending on what you need a riding mower to do. So, Husqvarna, Troy-Bilt, Weibang and PoulanPro all have some wonderful options as well.
Of course, which one will be best and smallest will rely on if you have a flat patch of land to work or if it’s rugged, rough terrain. So, this means you want to evaluate the number of settings needed to adjust the cutting deck height, how narrow the spaces are you need to get into and what kind of power you need a riding mower to have.
Quick Overview
- Smallest Riding Lawn Mower: Snapper Classic 2020
- Smallest Luxury Riding Lawn Mower: Husqvarna Z242F
- Smallest Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower: Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit
- Smallest Electric Riding Lawn Mower: Weibang E-Rider
- Smallest Gas-Powered Riding Lawn Mower: PoulanPro PP155H42
Smallest Riding Lawn Mower: Snapper Classic 2020
This 28-inch wide cutting deck from Snapper makes this the smallest riding lawn mower available. It has a powerful Briggs & Stratton Intek engine with 11½ horsepower and 452cc displacement. Plus, the cutting deck height is adjustable with five positions between 1½ and four inches alongside a turning radius of 28 inches.
The hydrostatic transmission makes the whole mower easy to operate and fun to use, reaching a top speed of 4½ mph. It’s excellent for flat yards with some obstacles.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Super small yet fun and simple to operate | Limited availability, only made in 2020 |
| Convenient and easy to store | Not good for rugged terrain |
| Powerful engine in a small package | Slow for a riding mower |
Smallest Luxury Riding Lawn Mower: Husqvarna Z242F
For the best in a commercial-grade riding lawn mower that’s small, Husqvarna’s Z242F is optimal. It has a Kawasaki V-Twin engine with 21½ horsepower and a displacement of 726cc. The whole machine is quiet, lightweight and smooth to operate with the capacity to reach a top speed of 6½ mph.
It has hydrostatic transmission and a dual blade cutting system with a 42-inch wide cutting deck. Plus, the deck is adjustable between 1½ inches and four inches in six settings. Plus there are other bonus features such as fan-cooled pumps, anti-scalp wheels to protect surfaces on rough terrain and an automatic parking break.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Fantastic construction and a solid engine | Engine tends to sputter often |
| Powerful, reliable and durable | Expensive compared to other models like it |
| Easy to use and simple to understand | Only six height settings |
Smallest Zero-Turn Riding Lawn Mower: Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit
The Mustang Fit zero-turn riding lawn mower by Troy-Bilt is the smallest one on the market. It comes with a cutting deck width of 34 inches that has eight adjustable height settings. It’s comfortable, smooth and durable.
There’s a powerful Troy-Bilt exclusive engine with a displacement of 452cc. The dual hydrostatic transmission allows for a maximum speed of 7 mph. It’s easy to maneuver with the lap handles to get a close, precise cut. This is most ideal for even, flat and smallish yards.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Offers a smooth and comfortable ride | Not ideal for rough terrain and uneven surfaces |
| Powerful and fast Troy-Bilt exclusive engine | Only good for small to medium sized yards |
| Durable, reliable and easy to use |
Smallest Electric Riding Lawn Mower: Weibang E-Rider
The smallest electric-powered riding lawn mower you can find is the E-Rider by Weibang. It has a cutting deck of 30 inches that has 10 cutting positions ranging between one and four inches. This has a 72-volt lithium ion battery that provides two hours of cutting time on a full charge.
It has a dual blade cutting system and reaches a top speed of 3.7 mph. It’s ideal for flat yards with some obstacles. This eco-friendly mower is easy to use with a simple control panel and a host of safety features. This makes it an excellent mower for families.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Easy to use and operate | There is no horsepower |
| Friendly to the environment | Rides like a go-cart |
| Great for narrow, tight spaces | Not easy or cheap to repair and maintain |
Smallest Gas-Powered Riding Lawn Mower: PoulanPro PP155H42
While there are many small gas-powered riding lawn mowers on the market, the PoulanPro PP155H42 is the most reliable. It has a 42-inch cutting deck comprising reinforced steel with six adjustable heights between 1½ and 4 inches. It has a Briggs & Stratton PowerBuilt engine with 500cc displacement and 15½ horsepower.
There’s a six-inch turn radius and anti-scalp deck wheels to protect the surface below when riding over rough terrain. This mower can reach a top speed of 6.2 mph which makes it ideal for hilly surfaces, gravel and woodsy-type yards.
|
Pros |
Cons |
| Offers anti-scalp protection | Slow for its cutting deck size |
| Strong and durable engine built to last | Only six adjustable cutting deck heights |
| Cutting deck has reinforced steel |
Comparison Chart of Small Riding Lawn Mowers
The chart below demonstrates every small riding lawn mower discussed above. You can see that the smallest has the most power while the second smallest offers the most refined levels of cutting deck adjustment. However, the 42-inch types offer durability.
| Snapper Classic 2020 | Husqvarna Z242F | Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit | Weibang E-Rider | PoulanPro PP155H42 | |
| Engine | Briggs & Stratton Intek | Kawasaki V-Twin | Troy-Bilt | 72V Lithium Ion battery | Briggs & Stratton PowerBuilt |
| Mower Type | 28” Turn Radius | Zero-Turn | Zero-Turn | 18” Turn Radius | 6” Turn Radius |
| Cutting Deck | 28 inches | 42 inches | 34 inches | 30 inches | 42 inches |
| Adjustment Settings | Five (1½ to 4 inches) | Six (1½ to 4 inches) | Eight (range unknown) | 10 (one to four inches) | Six (1½ to 4 inches) |
| Displacement | 452cc | 726cc | 452cc | n/a | 500cc |
| Transmission | Hydrostatic | Hydrostatic | Dual Hydrostatic | n/a | Hydrostatic |
| Speed | 4½ mph | 6½ mph | 7 mph | 3.7 mph | 6.2 mph |
| Ideal Terrain | Flat yards with obstacles | Flat with some roughness | All terrain types | Flat, small yards | Hilly, rough terrain |
Hi, I’m John Stephens, chief editor and writer for Totalgardener.com. I’ve been gardening and raising animals for over 15 years starting with a small backyard plot in Northern Virginia where I grew corn, potatoes, squash, and using a high mulch technique called the Ruth Stout Method. I also raised ducks and small mammals for meat and eggs in a movable pen similar to the ones used by Joel Salatin. I later moved to Colorado where I experimented with growing greens using aquaponics inside. I eventually added a microgreens setup and home sprouting operation. I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned plus more from the other local gardening and animal raising experts I know.
