Best Riding Mower for 1 – 2 Acres: Craftsman T225
The riding mower that stood out the most among the 18 models we tested was the Craftsman T225. Sporting a heavy-duty engine and durable tires, the T225 is up to any mowing challenge you put forth.
Here’s what the T225’s key specifications are at a glance—
- 22-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- 20-inch Rear Tires
The T225 is an ultra-powerful riding mower that’s sporting a massive 22-HP engine. The engine provides plenty of torque in the mower blades to chop, slice, and dice thick, moist blades of grass in a single pass.
The 46-inch deck is large enough to mow lawns of between 1 and 2 acres without going overboard.
It also moves reasonably well on slick surfaces and around obstacles, as well as up and down slight hills thanks to the 20-inch rear tires.
Pros
- High-traction tires
- Mows wet grass easily
- Reverse mowing
- Built-in deck washing port
Cons
- Fuel tank could be bigger
If it came with a bigger fuel tank, the T225 could easily mow more than 2 acres before needing to refill. As is, it’s one of the most reliable riding mowers for small and medium-sized plots of land.
Lawnmowers come in an assortment of sizes and shapes. If your job calls for mowing between 1 and 2 acres of grassy gardens, a push lawn mower just won’t cut it.
You’ll need to upgrade to a riding mower that covers more surface area in less time.
We’ve researched over 20 different riding mowers to produce this list of the best riding mower for 1 – 2 acres.
Top Riding Mower for 1 – 2 Acres Compared
Here’s a comparison between Top Riding Mower for 1 – 2 Acres:
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Craftsman T225 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 42 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Troy-Bilt TB30 |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Craftsman T150 19 HP Briggs & Stratton |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Troy-Bilt Pony 42X |
| Check Today's Price | |
| Husqvarna YTA24V48 |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of the Top Riding Mower for 1 – 2 Acres
Best Premium- Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP 42
The Craftsman T225 isn’t the only reliable 1-to-2-acre riding mower on the market. Check out our reviews of other noteworthy models.
Key Specifications
- 18.5-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- AutoDrive
The heaviest-duty lawn mower we’d recommend for mowing between 1 and 2-acre fields is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP42. The “super” in its name is a dead giveaway of what this behemoth can do.
Sporting a sizable 18.5-HP engine and 42-inch deck, the XP 42 blazes through thick patches of tall grass without bogging the mower blades down.
Hydrostatic transmission ensures an ultra-comfortable ride with hardly-noticeable jolts when moving between gears.
Plus, the AutoDrive feature allows operators to sit back and relax while moving the XP 42 at its max 5.5-MPH speed. Just turn the steering wheel from time to time and your job will be done in no time!
Pros
- Spacious cockpit
- Cruise control convenience
- Durable frame
- Mulching and bagging compatible
Cons
- Electric ignition can wear out over time
When it comes to medium-range riding mowers, it’s pretty hard to beat the XP 42. The AutoDrive feature alone sets this riding mower apart from the herd, and that’s even before seeing this beast in action!
Best Budget- Troy-Bilt TB30
Key Specifications
- 15.5-HP Engine
- 30-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Soft-Touch Steering
As our budget pick, the TB30 isn’t packing as many frills as the other models on our list. In fact, the 15.5-HP engine has manual transmission that can be somewhat confusing to new users.
However, it’s also the lightest model on our list, weighing just about 340 pounds, making it easy to travel up slopes. If your garden is littered with tiny hills, the TB30 will be of much help.
The thing we found most interesting about this riding mower was Soft-Touch Steering. The TB30 was able to make sharp turns around thinner tree trunks without needing to reverse.
With a max speed of just under 4.5 MPH, tipping over isn’t going to be too much of a problem, even without an anti-tipping system in place.
Pros
- Ultimate control
- Durable construction
- Easy to maneuver
- Decent mowing performance
Cons
- Could travel faster
The tiniest model on our list, the TB30, is also the most budget-friendly. However, with the tiny 30-inch deck, it will take considerably longer to mow an entire 2-acre field with just one TB30.
Craftsman T150
Key Specifications
- 19-HP Engine
- 46-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- Deck Washing Port
As the little brother of our best overall pick, the Craftsman T150 doesn’t perform at the same level, but it works exceptionally well on flat surfaces.
It sports a 19-HP engine that drives the 46-inch mower blades to chop through tall grass easily with each pass.
Hydrostatic transmission keeps jolts at a minimum when shifting up and down gears, providing an ultra-comfortable ride across large yards.
The T150 has a built-in deck washing port where a standard garden hose connects to for effortless cleanup after a tough day of mowing.
It struggles quite a bit at making sharp turns. It’s evenly balanced from end to end, but it requires extra clearance on either side when making U-turns.
Pros
- Robust engine
- Moves smoothly on flat terrains
- Easy to wash the deck
- Mows in reverse
Cons
- Turning could be easier
The T150 is a great riding lawn mower for small and medium-sized plots of land, especially on smooth surfaces with little to no slopes.
Troy-Bilt Pony 42X
Key Specifications
- 17.5-HP Engine
- 42-inch Deck
- Manual Transmission
- Step-Thru Frame
The Pony 42X ‘s 17.5-HP engine delivers an astounding amount of torque to cut through tall and moist grass with ease. It holds only about 1.4 gallons of fuel, so prepare to top the tank off frequently.
One area where this riding mower shines is turning. It has an 18-inch turning radius that’s pretty sharp for its size.
This will help maneuver the Pony 42X around tree trunks and curves without too much hassle. The entire unit comes fully assembled on your doorstep—just fill the fuel tank with gas and oil, turn the key, and begin mowing away!
Pros
- Super-bright headlights
- Durable frame and engine housing
- Excellent mowing performance
- Can make sharp turns
Cons
- Fuel tank could be larger
If you can get past the tiny fuel tank, the Pony 42X is an excellent riding mower to have for small to medium mowing jobs.
Husqvarna YTA24V48
Key Specifications
- 24-HP Engine
- 48-inch Deck
- Hydrostatic Transmission
- ReadyStart Technology
The Husqvarna YTA24V48 is one of the most user-friendly riding mowers on the market.
The mower sits atop four massive-diameter wheels which let the machine ride seamlessly across all sorts of terrains with minimal jolting and bumping.
The YTA24V48 is equipped with a 24-HP Briggs & Stratton engine that works exceptionally well at moving all 475 pounds of metal and magnificent mowing power up and down slopes effortlessly and steadily.
Thanks to ReadyStart ignition technology, the YTA24V48 does not require tampering with a choke throttle to start. Instead, simply turn the key like you would a car and wait for the 24-HP engine to slowly come to life.
Pros
- Smooth starts every time
- Flexible maneuverability
- Works on all terrains
- Reverse mowing
Cons
- Could consume fuel more efficiently
The YTA24V48 may not look like it, but it’s an incredibly flexible, maneuverable, and easy-to-control riding mower that travels easily on any terrain.
FAQs
Here, we’ll try and address the most common questions people have about 1-to-2-acre riding mowers.
Have you ever tried pushing a lawn mower across all 87,120 square feet of grassy fields? You’ll suffer from dehydration before reaching the halfway point. In general, you should consider getting a riding mower if your garden is more than half an acre in size. Also, if you plan on taking up contract landscaping jobs, you should consider investing in a riding mower to make your life easier.
Zero-turn lawn mowers are a type of riding mower, but they’re typically considered to be in an entirely different league. When choosing between the two, take a look at the layout of your garden. If there aren’t as many obstacles in your way, a standard riding mower will suffice.
The wider the deck, the fewer passes you’ll need to complete your mowing task. However, a wider deck can affect how well the riding mower can turn. Ideally, at least for 1-to-2-acre plots of land, you’ll want a deck 42 and 50 inches, though slightly bigger or smaller is completely fine.
Summary
And with that, we end our guide on the best riding mower for 1 – 2 acres.
We’ve researched over 25 models to find the best of the best riding mowers for small and medium-sized plots of land.
Tell us what you’re thinking in the comment section below!
Last update on 2024-10-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API