Introduction to Lawn Mowers
When purchasing a riding lawn mower, it’s important to consider numerous factors like the size of your lawn, type of terrain, and number of obstacles (trees, bushes, flower beds) within your yard. That’s why before you buy, you’ll want to consider a variety of riding mower types to determine what is the best fit for you.
Consider some of the following riding mower characteristics to make sure you end up with a purchase that will meet your needs and provide you with an outstanding mowing experience.
Handling - One of the most important things to consider when purchasing a riding lawn mower is how it handles. Different configurations are designed to handle the different demands of your specific yard. Riding mowers typically have front-drive, rear-drive or zero-turn handling.
Speed - If your lawn has many obstructions, you will need to slow down to get the quality cut you want. On the contrary if you have a very large and open yard you may want the added speed to get the job done quickly. Have both? Consider a multi-speed system. Advantages include:
According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 60,000 injuries are treated by hospital emergency rooms each year because of unsafe operation of power lawn mowers. Kids under the age of 15 are the most common victims. Regardless of which mower you choose, don’t forget to practice safety.
| Lawn Mower Type | Mower specifications | Acreage Per Hour | Primary Power Source | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mower Size | Horsepower | |||
| Lawn Tractor | 30 in to 54 in | 12 hp to 26 hp | 1 acres to 3 acres | Diesel, Electric, Gas |
| ZTR | 32 in to 96 in | 15 hp to 40 hp | 1.5 acres to 9.5 acres | Electric, Diesel, Gas, Hybrid |
| Push Mower | 14 in to 30 in | 2 hp to 6 hp | 0.2 acres to .6 acres | Gas, Electric, or Battery |
| Walk Behind | 21 in to 61 in | 4.5 hp to 26 hp | 0.4 acres to 4.4 acres | Hybrid, Gas, Diesel, or Electric |
| Note: Specifications are generalized ranges. Actual metrics vary significantly by manufacturer and specific model configurations. | ||||
Citations:
- Stratton Admin, Briggs. “Riding Mower Buying Guide.” Briggsandstratton.Com, Briggs & Stratton, 9 Dec. 2025, https://www.briggsandstratton.com/en-us/support/maintenance-how-to/riding-mower-buying-guide. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.
- “Black Riding Lawn Mower Parked on Grass.” Pexels, Photograph, https://images.pexels.com/photos/9229827/pexels-photo-9229827.jpeg. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.