Michael MacCaskey, in his "Lawn and Garden Tractors" article for the National Gardening Association, advises test-driving every tractor you're considering. He says that's the only way to really judge comfort, steering, ease of using attachments and making adjustments, noise level and difficulty getting on and off the machine. Ask the dealer to demonstrate all the things you want to do.

We found quite a few owner-written reviews that recommend buying from an independent dealer rather than a big-box store. This is partly for the kind of test-driving MacCaskey recommends, but also because you'll be assured the tractor is ready to go; most dealers check everything and make free deliveries. Finally -- for the inevitable maintenance and repairs -- you'll have service lined up.


The best lawn tractor depends on your lawn and budget

Experts say the main considerations in selecting a lawn tractor are the size of your lawn, its slope and the obstacles you need to mow around. Keep in mind that although the names are similar, there's a big distinction between small lawn tractors and heavy-duty garden tractors -- the latter have sturdier construction for using attachments. The first step is to calculate your lawn size in acres (43,580 square feet per acre).

  • Small lawns with few obstacles (one-half to one acre). An inexpensive gear-driven lawn tractor with a single-cylinder engine of at least 14.5-horsepower works fine, though pedal-operated automatic transmissions can speed mowing even at this size lawn. (Note that both self-propelled walk-behind lawn mowers and robotic lawn mowers are recommended for lawns smaller than half an acre. See our separate reports on these.)
  • Medium-sized lawns with few obstacles (one or two acres). A lawn tractor with an automatic transmission, cruise control and a twin-cylinder engine of 17 horsepower or more will be most convenient.
  • Large lawns or garden plowing (three or more acres). A garden tractor with an 18- to 24-horsepower engine and 46-inch to 54-inch mowing deck will be more durable than a lawn tractor. Garden tractors cost more, but expert reviews say that well-maintained garden tractors can outlast lawn tractors by years. (For that reason, a secondhand garden tractor might be a better buy than a new lawn tractor.)
  • Lawns with lots of obstacles. If your lawn is flat, a zero-turn mower (ZTR) is fastest and most convenient, but reviews say they tend to slide on slopes. For hills, a lawn tractor with a wider deck, large tires and an automatic transmission will be safer and faster. The Cub Cadet iSeries zero-turn lawn tractors combine the best of both.

Many lawn and garden tractors give you a choice of cutting-deck size -- the swath the mower will cut in one pass. For lawns under three acres, reviews say a 42-inch cutting deck is ideal; the two blades give an even cut and are easier to maintain than wider three-bladed decks. However, if you need to mow slopes, reviews recommend a 54-inch deck for more stability. For small lawns, a 38-inch deck is fine, and those with lawns more than three acres should consider a 54-inch deck to save time.


Lawn tractors vary in handling clippings

Few lawn tractors handle clippings well in all three modes (side-discharging, mulching or bagging). Your best bet is to choose a lawn tractor that handles clippings in the mode you intend to use most often. With rare exceptions, lawn tractors come set up to side-discharge the clippings, and they mow more slowly when set up to mulch or bag. Although bags are often included with walk-behind lawn mowers, bagging kits are a fairly expensive extra-cost option on lawn tractors, and not every lawn tractor can use them.

Mulching kits usually cost about $100 more, and they work well only on dry grass. However, lawn experts don't recommend mowing wet grass, and lawn tractor expert Michael MacCaskey says side-discharge mowing "can throw rocks like bullets." He recommends using a mulching deck, which also fertilizes the lawn. Experts say mulching cuts fertilizer needs by about a third.

If you want to switch among modes, be sure to pick a lawn tractor that makes this easy. One of the most common complaints from owners is that attaching a bag or changing to mulching mode takes far longer than they'd like.


Lawn tractor features to consider

Here's what experts say to look for when shopping for a riding mower, lawn tractor, garden tractor or zero-turn mower:

  • Check the hour meter on your new purchase. Sometimes owners report that after taking delivery of a lawn tractor they bought as new, they noticed quite a few hours on the hour meter. This indicates that the tractor has been used for demonstrations or by a previous owner.
  • Don't buy more mower than you need. Experts suggest using a lawn tractor only for lawns larger than half an acre. If you have less lawn to mow than that, you can accomplish the job just as well, at lower cost, with a walk-behind mower -- or have fun with a robotic mower. Lawn tractors and garden tractors offer bigger engines and useful attachments, but they cost more and require more storage space. Even if you need a lawn tractor, you're still likely to need a walk-behind mower for trimming.
  • The engine makes a difference, but don't judge it by horsepower. Experts at Popular Mechanics and Consumer Reports don't find much difference in mowing performance based on horsepower. Single-cylinder engines are fine for mowing lawns smaller than an acre, and twin-cylinder engines are better for larger areas. Michael MacCaskey says manufacturers sometimes add higher horsepower engines to tractors without increasing the strength of the frame or other parts. This can make a lawn tractor with a higher horsepower engine weaker in the long run than a similar model with a smaller engine. Higher horsepower does improve performance with heavy-duty attachments like tillers, plows and grading blades, however.
  • Look for a Kohler or Kawasaki OHV engine. Testers at Popular Mechanics prefer lawn tractors with Kohler or Kawasaki engines to those with Briggs & Stratton engines, and a diesel engine can save fuel costs for a garden tractor. An oil pump also increases engine life. Engines with overhead valves (getting more common even in lower price ranges) are quieter and less polluting.
  • A larger deck isn't always better. For mowing up to about two acres, reviews say a 38-inch to 42-inch two-bladed deck makes for the smoothest, most even cutting. A wider deck can add stability on slopes, however, and shortens mowing time when you have three acres or more to mow.
  • Anti-scalping wheels help cut more evenly. These wheels help keep the mower level on uneven ground.
  • The turning radius affects maneuverability and speed. Zero-turning radius mowers pivot, but other lawn tractors (except for the new Cub Cadet iSeries) leave a circle of uncut grass when they turn. You have to go back and cut this on another pass. This circle is smallest on all-wheel-steering lawn tractors. If you have a lot of obstacles to mow around, getting a zero-turn mower (for flat land) or a lawn tractor with a small turning radius speeds the mowing task.
  • Automatic hydrostatic transmission with cruise control is most convenient. But reviews also say a tractor with gear-drive transmission is fine if you're mowing a fairly flat lawn with few obstacles because you won't need to change gears often anyway.
  • Pedals make driving easier. With pedals, driving the tractor is a lot like driving a car, but reviews say some pedals are harder to reach than others. Controlling a zero-turn mower with levers is trickier, though users say it only takes about half an hour to learn.
  • Consider the setup and repair services available. Often the price is the same from a big-box store or from a local dealer, but the dealer usually makes sure the battery is fully charged (extremely important), assembles the tractor and lets you test-drive it. Customer service might also be better. If you do buy from a big-box store, be sure to register the warranty with the manufacturer.
  • Attachments are usually extra. Even mulching and bagging kits are extra options on lawn tractors.

Lawn tractor safety features:

  • Use hearing protection. All lawn tractors are noisy enough to require protection for your ears.
  • Mulching or bagging is safer than side-discharge mowing. That's because objects like rocks can be propelled.
  • Cutting in reverse can be dangerous because you can't see rear obstructions. But cutting in reverse can also be convenient. Most lawn tractors permit cutting in reverse, but require a safety override of some kind. ZTR mowers usually cut in reverse without an override.
  • Blades should stop turning when you leave the seat. The seat shut-off switch is a safety factor built into most lawn tractors. Quite a few users say they find it annoying.
  • Step-through designs are safer. If there's not much space for getting on and off the lawn tractor, you might accidentally knock it into gear. Most lawn tractors now advertise step-through designs that make it easy to get off in a hurry.
  • Traction can be an important safety consideration, especially on hilly ground. Some lawn tractors have significantly better traction than others.
  • Front-end lift is a serious safety concern, especially when using a bagging kit that adds weight in the rear. For some models, including John Deere models, you can buy front weights to increase traction and safety. (Rear-end weight kits are also available, to balance front attachments such as blades and buckets.) Additionally, lighter men and women might also want to consider adding weights for increased stability.
  • Seatbelts and a roll bar are available for some lawn and garden tractors to protect you in case the tractor turns over.
  • A fire extinguisher is good to keep onboard. Most safety recalls involve fire hazards such as leaking fuel, mufflers that catch grass on fire or faulty wiring. Experts recommend keeping a fire extinguisher handy.
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