Best Riding Lawn Mower Under $1,000 – Troy-Bilt TB30
To kick things off, we’d like to introduce you to the riding lawn mower that beat 25 models to earn our number-one spot: the Troy-Bilt TB30.
Here’s a quick description of the TB30’s key specifications—
- 15.5-HP Engine
- 30-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Soft-Touch Steering
The TB30 is an excellent-value riding lawn mower. It comes with a hefty 15.5-HP engine with shift-on-the-go transmission for seamless gear-shifting.
Its 30-inch deck is a lot narrower than super-high-end riding lawn mowers, but on a budget, you couldn’t ask for more. The benefit of a narrower deck is improved maneuverability and a sharper turning radius.
The TB30’s engine can hold onto 1.3 gallons of fuel at a time. For smaller yards, a single tankful of gasoline is enough to complete your mowing for a week.
Pros
- Moderate movement speed
- Excellent mulching and discharging
- Easy to maneuver
- Seamless gear shifting
Cons
- Fuel tank could be bigger
For everything the TB30 has and can do, we were quite surprised that such a model would fit within the $1,000-ish price category. Though not high-end by any means, this Troy-Bilt machine will make mowing jobs go by in a jiffy.
If you have a wide front and backyard and don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on hiring professional landscapers, we’ve got the perfect solution.
A riding lawn mower!
After scouring the market of inexpensive mowers, we’ve created a super-refined list containing the best riding lawn mower under $1,000.
Top Riding Lawn Mowers under $1,000 Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top Riding Lawn Mowers under $1,000:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Troy-Bilt TB30 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Poulan Pro 960420170 PB20VA46 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Weed Eater WE-ONE |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Husqvarna YTA22V46 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Troy-Bilt Pony 42X |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Craftsman R105 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| MTD 420cc 42-Inch Riding Lawn Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top Riding Lawn Mowers under $1,000
Now, let’s talk about some other top-performing riding lawn mowers priced under $1,000.
Best Premium- Poulan Pro 960420170
Key Specifications
- 20-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Automatic Transmission
- Vented Cutting Deck
The Poulan Pro 960420170 comes with a massive 20-HP V-Twin engine that spins the blades at high speeds to knock down whatever is in its path.
If you haven’t mowed your lawn in months, the 46-inch deck will take care of it swiftly and effortlessly.
The secret sauce behind the Poulan Pro’s magnificent performance is the design of the deck. It’s a vented cutting deck which promotes better air circulation to fine-chop grass clippings to produce cleaner-looking yards.
The automatic transmission is what really sets it apart from the herd. No need to shift the clutch on this bad boy; simply step on the gas pedal and get to work.
Pros
- Works great at mowing tall grass in disheveled yards
- Clears large yards quickly
- Comfortable seat with minimal vibration
- Worry-free automatic gear shifting
Cons
- Wheels could provide more traction on slopes
As our pick for the top premium budget-friendly lawn mower, the Poulan Pro is an absolute beast at mowing and mulching. If you need more than an acre of grass mowed down, this is for you.
Best Budget- Weed Eater WE-ONE
Key Specifications
- 5.5-HP Engine
- 26-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Electric-Start Ignition
The Weed-Eater WE-ONE is the perfect option for homeowners with lawns of less than an acre. The 5.5-HP engine is smaller than most, but it produces high-speed mowing action at a shorter height to make your garden sparkle.
The 26-inch deck help in keeping control while turning, but its radius is a lot wider than we had hoped. Around large trees and curved walkways, the wide radius shouldn’t pose a tremendous problem.
Starting the engine is just like starting your car. Turning the key gets the engine purring almost instantly with minimal effort.
Pros
- Deep-mowing capabilities
- Lightweight unit for easy transportability
- User-friendly
- Quick-start engine
Cons
- Turning radius could be sharper
The WE-ONE is the best, cheapest riding lawn mower on the market. Though inexpensive by industry standards, it’s certainly up to the task of mowing unkempt lawns without trouble.
Husqvarna YTA22V46
Key Specifications
- 22-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Automatic Transmission
- Air Induction Mowing
As a Husqvarna-made product, you can rest easy knowing that your YTA22V46 will last for several years beyond its warranty period.
This machine doesn’t just last long, but it delivers tremendous mowing abilities throughout its life cycle.
The YTA22V46 uses a 22-HP engine that drives the 46-inch mower blades to chop through thick, wet blades of grass easily and efficiently. A lot of its magnificent mowing power comes from the design of the deck.
The deck uses Husky’s proprietary Air Induction Mowing design which allows for better airflow beneath the deck and slicing grass into super-fine clippings.
Like most riding lawn mowers, the YTA22V46’s biggest problem is turning. However, you can put it in reverse and travel 2.9 MPH to help you get out of tight spots.
Pros
- Long-lasting machine
- Ultra-wide deck for price category
- Easy to operate
- Produces fine, mulchable clippings
Cons
- Could turn better
The YTA22V46 is one of the more astounding products on this list. It comes from a popular brand, and its affordable price tag is too tempting to pass!
Troy-Bilt Pony 42X
Key Specifications
- 17.5-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Step-Thru Frame
The Troy Bilt Pony 42X is an excellent budget-friendly riding lawn mower for medium and large-sized lawns. The tremendous 42-inch deck makes mowing wide yards a breeze with fewer passes.
Turning can be problematic, especially if you need to make sharp turns around trunks. However, with the reverse gear, you can always back up and mow whatever you missed.
The 42X’s shining feature is its Step-Thru Frame that helps operators get into position without fuss. Getting on and off to move objects is painless, thanks to the easy-mount, height-adjustable seat.
Pros
- Headlights improve visibility
- Powerful engine with wide deck equals less mowing
- Durable outer shell
- Easy to use, even for first-time riders
Cons
- Fuel consumption could be more efficient
The Pony 42X is one of the most prized budget-friendly riding lawn mowers on the market. If you’re dealing with tremendous lawns with tall grass and weeds, this mower will chomp them all up.
Craftsman R105
Key Specifications
- 19-HP Engine
- 30-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Deck Wash Port
At a glance, the Craftsman R105 doesn’t look much different from the Troy-Bilt TB30. In fact, they both follow the same open-style riding mower that’s popular in budget-friendly models.
However, the R105 comes with a more powerful engine that drives a similarly size (30-inch) deck to chop through thick blades of grass in just one or two passes.
Based on customer reports, the R105 doesn’t outshine much of its competition; it does a great job at mowing, but maneuvering and shifting between gears can be cumbersome.
However, maintenance is easy, thanks to the built-in deck wash port that allows you to clean the mower’s belly without propping it up.
Pros
- Great mowing performance
- Moves quickly
- Durable and lightweight
- Easy to wash
Cons
- Shifting gears could be smoother
The Craftsman R105 is a typical budget-friendly mower that doesn’t exactly produce a “wow,” but it definitely does its job without fuss.
MTD 420-cc 42-inch Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 14.5-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- 18-inch Turn Radius
The final riding lawn mower under $1,000 on our list comes from the mighty MTD. The company’s 420-cc, 42-inch riding handles light- and medium-scale mowing jobs easily.
However, we feel that its 14.5-HP is slightly undersized compared to the overall dimensions and weight of the machine. It turns alright, but it doesn’t move as quickly as we had hoped.
Speaking of turning, this riding mower can make 18-inch turns in a single pass without going into reverse. Now, this isn’t zero-radius-level turning, mind you, but as a riding tractor, it’s as sharp as possible.
Pros
- Decent mowing on dry grass
- Wide deck means fewer passes
- Easy to move up and down gears
- Effortless turning
Cons
- Engine could be more powerful
Don’t let the looks of this machine fool you. It certainly appears to be a super-massive mowing beast, but inside of its black outer shell is a slightly underwhelming motor that can only handle light-duty mowing jobs.
FAQs
Now let’s answer some of the most FAQS.
First of all, like any piece of heavy machinery, you should consider picking up the most expensive model you can afford. That said, if you hardly use a lawn mower, or if your lawn is less than an acre in size, then an inexpensive riding lawn mower, such as any of the models mentioned, should more than suffice.
The lifespan of a riding lawn mower depends on a variety of factors, but on average, you can get around 350 hours of mowing before experiencing major engine wear. With regular maintenance, you can extend the usability of your riding lawn mower, even an inexpensive one, by several hundred hours.
When choosing between riding and walk-behind mowers, your main consideration should be how wide an area you’re mowing. Riding mowers are designed for gardens around 0.5 acres and larger. Using a walk-behind mower on the same piece of property will mean spending more time than you’d like under the hot sun. If you’re interested in a walk-behind lawn mower, check this guide out.
Summary
And that wraps it up, folks.
We’ve researched 25 different models to create this list of the best riding lawn mower under $1,000 for you.
Hopefully, you can use the information we provided to find the most suitable riding lawn mower for your needs.
Please let us know down below if you have any questions.
Last update on 2024-12-05 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API