Fancy pushing a lawn mower over an entire 1-acre lawn? No? Me neither!
Especially on a frequent basis, can you imagine? What you need is a riding mower, and you’ve come to just the right place.
In this article, we’ve put together our honest reviews of 5 of the best riding lawn mowers on the market for 1-acre lawns, and we’ll give you a handy buying guide, focusing on the main factors to consider when purchasing.
And we’ll even throw in a section where we answer your most frequently asked questions on the subject.
And without further ado, let’s get straight to it!
The Best Riding Lawn Mowers For A 1-Acre Lawn
Ego Power + ZT4205S
In our view, this is the best riding lawn mower from top brand Ego Power+, thanks to features such as the industry leading e-steer technology and expandable battery power.
The e-steer technology drives like a car steering wheel and delivers incomparable precision for creating smart lawn stripes to make the most of your yard.
And you don’t have to worry about sourcing fuel, because it’s battery powered.
You get four rechargeable 56 volt ARC lithium batteries included in the box when it arrives, which can deliver the same engine power as a 22 horsepower engine.
And to put that into perspective, this is enough to cut your 1-acre lawn two and a half times on a single charge.
It’s fast as well, it’s able to reach speeds of up to 8 miles per hour. Your mowing will be done in no time at all. And it has a generous cutting width, coming in at 42 inches.
It has an intuitive, clearly labeled control panel, and there’s a handy dashboard displaying the battery level, effectively removing any guesswork about how much battery you have left, and whether it will be enough.
There’s also an adjustable hydraulic seat suspension, so the ride won’t feel at all bumpy. And there are other luxury features besides, such as LED lights, a USB charging port, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard.
So, you can take the opportunity to watch videos or listen to music and podcasts on your phone as you ride.
Ego Power+ backs up their mower with a lengthy 5-year warranty, which covers not only the mower itself, but also the battery and charger as well.
Our Testing: When testing out this one, we found that it was a dream to drive, with an accelerator pedal to get the job done quickly, and it had plenty of cutting power, more than enough to keep a 1-acre lawn in top condition.
Pros:
- E-steer technology – drives with the ease and precision of a car
- Adjustable hydraulic seat suspension – for ultimate comfort as you ride
- Amazing finishing touches – a USB charging port, and Bluetooth connectivity
- Powered by rechargeable batteries – only needs recharging every other time
- Makes quick work of your 1-acre lawn – thanks to speeds of up to 8 mph and a 42-inch cutting width
Cons:
- Premium product at a premium price – typically sold from about $8,000 and upwards
- Glare on the screen – unfortunately, the dashboard isn’t very readable in direct sunlight
Also Available To Buy At:
Husqvarna Z254F
Husqvarna is THE top brand for riding lawn mowers, dominating the bestseller charts with the online retailers.
The Z254F is set at a great price point for a riding lawn mower, consistently coming in at under $4,000. Excellent value for money.
And it’s particularly comfortable to ride, with its thick padding, high seat back, and cup holder. It even has a ventilated seat, so you don’t have to worry about feeling too hot and sweaty as you ride!
And if you’re mowing in low light due to a busy schedule, you’ll still be able to see clearly ahead thanks to the LED headlights to light the way, lighting a much greater area than you could with traditional incandescent lights.
It has a 54-inch wide deck with superior cutting performance, and you can choose between discharging the cut grass or bagging or mulching. And there are 6 cutting heights to choose from as well, ranging from minimal to lush.
It’s speedy too, able to run at up to 6.5 miles per hour, so you can finish up quickly and get on with the rest of the day.
There are large tires for easy maneuverability, and it has a large 3.5 gallon fuel tank, so you don’t have to worry about running out of power halfway through.
And it couldn’t be easier to use thanks to features such as a spring-assisted deck lift for easy, convenient lifting, and user-friendly controls on the right-hand side of the seat. Perfect for the elderly.
It sports a heavy-duty, 24 horsepower, Kawasaki engine designed for longevity, which runs like a dream, smooth and quiet.
What’s more, Husqvarna are so confident in their lawn mowers, they offer a lengthy 3 warranty, covering both parts and labor, so genuine accidents will get fixed free of charge.
Our Testing: We were pleased with how smoothly and easily this lawn mower ran, not to mention how quick it was, mowing an entire 1-acre lawn in just minutes, whereas using a push mower would have taken a whole hour.
Over and done in no time.
Pros:
- Excellent value for money – very affordable for a riding lawn mower
- Incredibly comfortable – features a cupholder and ventilated seating
- You’re in charge – choose whether to bag, mulch, or discharge the cut grass
- Lengthy 3-year warranty – covering both parts and labor
Cons:
- For flat lawns only – struggles to mow lawns on a slope
- Not great for muddy lawns – struggles in thick mud
- Gas powered – as opposed to battery powered
Also Available To Buy At:
Greenworks PRO 80V
This mower has so much going for it, we knew we had to include it in our top 5!
It’s battery powered, coming with 6 packs of high capacity batteries included in the box when it arrives.
And they can each power your mower to mow your 1-acre lawn twice over on a full charge, which it can complete in as little as 25 minutes. And they’re super quick to charge, taking a mere 30 minutes.
The charger provides real-time feedback to let you know when it’s charging, when it’s fully charged, when the battery is too warm, and when it is defective.
It has a wide cutting width, coming in at 42 inches, which is all you really need for a 1-acre lawn. And despite the powerful motor, it runs surprisingly quietly.
It also has high intensity headlights at the front of the machine for enhanced visibility, which is very handy when you’re mowing at the tail ends of the day.
It’s also got the full suite of safety measures, including voltage, current, and overheating protection, thanks to measures such as an air cooling system for superior heat dissipation.
Our Testing: On testing, we found this mower to be efficient, effective, and a very comfortable ride, handling slopes with incredible ease.
Pros:
- It can handle slopes with ease – easily handles slopes of up to 15 degrees
- Comes with 6 batteries – enough to mow your lawn twice on a full charge
- Reasonably priced – not cheap, but not too expensive
- Real time charging feedback – you’ll always know the charging status
Cons:
- Not many user reviews around – but the ones that are there offer plenty of praise
Also Available To Buy At:
Husqvarna Ts354Xd
Now, this is a mower you can rely on. From top brand Husqvarna, this model is ultra durable and provides superior, long-lasting performance.
It has a generous 54-inch cutting width, which is great for 1 acre lawns, and has superior cutting ability.
It can discharge the grass cuttings, or bag them up for you, or it can mulch the grass as it goes if you prefer. Backed up by a heavy-duty, 24 horsepower Kawasaki engine that’s designed to last.
There’s a 4 gallon petrol fuel tank, which is more than enough for a 1-acre lawn.
It couldn’t be more comfortable to ride, with its high back seats and armrests, and responsive soft-touch steering, not to mention the cruise control, which allows you to maintain a constant speed no matter how rough the terrain.
Another great feature of this mower is how the tires are designed to reduce the risk of scalping, which can stress the grass, and in turn slow down its growth.
We also love how it comes with pre-programmed service intervals, so you know when it’s time to pay attention to the machine’s maintenance.
And it’s also very reasonably priced, to boot.
Our Testing: On testing, we found that this machine was very easy to maneuver and that it had no problem whatsoever cutting through thick grass.
There’s plenty of power behind it and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Pros:
- Ultra-durable and reliable – this is a mower you can trust, it will pass the test of time
- Reasonably priced – not cheap, but not too expensive
- Generous fuel tank – you’ll never need to refill halfway through
- Powerful 24 hp Kawasaki engine – can power through thick grass with ease
- Reduced scalping – keep your lawn looking as fresh as it can be
Cons:
- No gas tank level indicator – it’s hard to gauge how much fuel you have left
Also Available To Buy At:
Husqvarna MZ61
Another gem from top brand Husqvarna, this commercial-grade beauty has a magnificent 61-inch cutting width.
This is great for large lawns of about an acre or more, because you won’t need to traverse quite as many lengths to get the whole lawn mowed.
And it also happens to sport a 24 horsepower Kawasaki engine, with a large 5-gallon fuel capacity.
This is about as powerful as these lawn mowers can get, so you don’t have to worry about whether it could handle your weight, or power through thick, tough grass.
It’s a durable, heavy-duty machine, with rugged components and superior strength, but a smooth and quiet engine, designed for longevity.
Yet it’s also very comfortable at the same time, thanks to generous bolsters and deep cushioning for reduced vibrations.
You can choose to bag the grass cuttings, or if you prefer to, you can mulch the grass to retain moisture in the soil, and reduce the frequency of your watering.
It has excellent tires too, premium quality with great traction, designed to last while also being gentle on the remaining grass at the same time.
It’s easy to maintain as well, thanks to the easy access service points to get to the oil, the filter, the battery, and the hydraulic drive system.
And if all that’s not enough, it comes backed by a generous full 4-year manufacturer warranty. And that says a lot for the mower’s longevity, you know you’ll get a decent run from it.
Our Testing: We tried this mower out on a 1-acre lawn, and we were suitably impressed with how quickly it was done, which all comes down to the generous 61-inch cutting width. Well worth the price tag if you ask us.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced – not cheap, but not too expensive
- Fantastic cutting width – 61 inches to get that lawn mowed in no time
- Powerful engine – 24 hp Kawasaki engine, with a 5-gallon fuel capacity
- Generous manufacturer warranty – lasts an entire 4 years
Cons:
- Too popular – even large online retailers occasionally run out of stock
Also Available To Buy At:
Buyer’s Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide, let us walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a riding lawn mower for a 1 acre lawn…
How It’s Powered
There’s a lot to be said for rechargeable batteries. So long as you’re able to charge them, you will literally never run out of power.
It’s also considered to be clean energy and better for the environment.
That said, equally there’s also a lot to be said for gas powered riding lawn mowers, since they can power more powerful engines and motors, getting that grass cut and doing so in virtually no time.
This is especially valuable if you attempt to cut damp or wet grass, which is harder to cut.
The higher the power of the machine, the quicker the lawn gets mowed, and the better it will handle difficulties such as bumpy terrain and wet grass.
Cutting Width
The larger the cutting width, the fewer times you will need to traverse the length of the lawn to mow it. For a 1-acre lawn, we recommend using a lawn mower with a cutting width of at least 40 inches.
Zero Turn Radius
The best riding lawn mowers have a zero turn radius, which refers to the mower’s maneuverability, and its ability to turn around. Basically, a riding lawn mower is able to turn around a full 180 degrees no problem at all.
Something that previous generations of lawn mowers often struggled with. And it’s great if you want to keep your lawn in neat, smart stripes.
Luxury Features
When you’re spending thousands of dollars on a riding mower, you can typically expect to find all your whims catered for.
Sumptuous comfort as you ride, a cup holder, special lighting, arm rests, USB chargers, Bluetooth connectivity, and more. Spend your time your way.
Grass Options
You need to consider what you want the lawn mower to do with the grass it has cut.
For instance, some mowers will simply discharge the grass cuttings on the side as it moves, some will bag the grass cuttings for you as you go, which is very convenient, or of you prefer, you can have the mower mulch the grass for you, which serves to reduce the amount of water that evaporates from the soil, which in turn reduces how frequently you need to water the grass.
If you’re not too sure which of these options you prefer, you could always invest in a mower that can do all three, and make your mind up over time. Or mulch during summer but bag in the winter, and so on.
Brand
When shopping for a riding lawn mower, quality is everything, so don’t settle for a brand you’ve never even heard of before. Check out mowers from brands such as Husqvarna, Ego Power+, and Greenworks.
Customer Ratings And Reviews
Riding lawn mowers cost thousands of dollars, so it’s quite the investment, and you don’t want that money to go to waste on a mower that won’t last.
That’s why it’s so important to check out what people have to say about the mower before you part with your money. Don’t settle for anything less than a rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5.
Warranty & Parts Availability
Unfortunately, no machine, no matter how good the quality, stays in good condition forever. They are all subject to general wear and tear, and require due care and attention, and regular maintenance.
For this reason, we recommend that you pay attention to manufacturer warranties – the longer it is, the better the longevity you can expect from your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Riding Lawn Mower For A 1-Acre Lawn?
Our favorite riding lawn mower for a 1-acre lawn is the Ego Power+ ZT4205S. Not only is it excellent quality, reliable and battery powered, but it also has some great luxury features such as a USB charger.
