Top 10 Best Ride-On Lawn Mowers 2021

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Model	Features
McCulloch M200-107TC Powerdrive Read Our Review	320 litre capacity rear grass collector with Full indicator 6 adjustable cutting heights between 38 and 102 mm Automatic transmission Universal hose connector makes it easier to clean cutting deck
Lawn King 60RD Read Our Review	6 speed gear-less foot pedal transmission Choice of collecting, discharging or mulching clippings MTD 196cc engine Pre-assembled before delivery
Lawn King RE125 Read Our Review	Single cylinder 344cc Engine 6 speed foot pedal transmission Suitable for areas as big as 1 acre Collection to the rear with option for discharging and mulching Adjustable cutting height of 30 mm to 95 mm
Alpina AT1 66 HCB Read Our Review	223cc Briggs and Stratton engine 200 litres capacity collector Ergonomically designed steering wheel Suitable for areas as big as 1500 sq metres
Lawn King 60SDE Read Our Review	6 adjustable drive settings to make gear changes easy while operating Delivered ready to use, no assembly required 45 cm turning radius helps manoeuvre round bushes, flowerbeds, trees and other obstacles. Small and compact design

What is the most common sound on a Sunday morning in the UK as spring sets in and the days become warmer? You might be thinking church bells, but we’re thinking the buzz of lawn mowers coming out of hibernation after a long cold winter!

It is amazing how quickly grass grows once the combination of rain and warmer weather takes hold – and with that being the likely combination in our spring and summer, you have a lot of lawn-mowing to look forward to!

Then there are the weeds; dandelions, for example, self-seed at an alarming rate and grow very quickly, so no matter how fast you mow them, there are going to be more making an appearance very soon indeed. You will find you are mowing your lawn every few days if you like to keep it suitable trim and tidy, and it becomes a chore.

If you have an average-sized lawn you most likely use an electric lawn mower, or perhaps one powered by petrol. These are both very convenient devices, but for bigger lawns they can mean a lot of effort and time spent. Even the best electric mowers need some effort to mow a good-sized lawn, as you will surely know!

That’s why, for larger lawns, a ride on mower is the way to go. You may have seen commercial versions of these used by your local council, or perhaps at the golf course. There are now many models that are designed for domestic use, and they are very effective indeed. Before we give you our list of the top 10 best ride on mowers, let’s chat a little more about what they are, how they work, and why you need one.

Best Ride On Mowers UK

1: McCulloch M200-107TC Powerdrive

When we went looking at the various ride on mowers that might suit your needs, we found one brand cropping up again and again: this is McCulloch, very much a market-leader in the field, and we thought it appropriate to start with one of their models. In fact, it was hard to pick those to feature, such is the breadth of their range. This model, the M200-107TC, is typical of the range, and is powered by a powerful 656cc Briggs & Stratton petrol engine – they are the leading supplier of small engines for mowers and other such machinery, so you have a guarantee of reliability.

Some things you need to look for on these: cutting width is 107cm, which is more than adequate; cutting height can be adjusted through 38 to 102mm; this model has a rear collector that can hold 320litres, which is a good size, too. The safety features include a neat switch that will turn everything off if you leave the seat – which is a high-backed design for comfort – and the cutting blades are disengaged when you reverse. It’s made from very tough stainless steel and, as with all from the brand, is well worth adding to your shortlist.

2: Lawn King 60RD

Another brand we found had plenty to offer when it comes to ride on lawn mowers, Lawn King offers sensibly priced models that tend to be not quite as heavy duty as some others, but are perfect for large domestic lawns. This model, the 60RD, is a smaller model with a 60cm cutting width. That’s nowhere near as wide as some we have seen on our travels, but is more than capable of handling a larger lawn with ease.

This is a very compact mower that would not take up much space when stored away, and comes with a nice padded seat and automatic six-speed pedal-controlled transmission for ease of use. The collector is a 120litre capacity one, and is easy to attach and remove when needed, and you can run this one without it if you wish. It’s well-made, and would make a great addition to your garden machinery if you need a bigger mower, and at the price is worth a second look.

3: Lawn King RE125

This model could be considered as the bigger brother to the above. It’s another from the Lawn King range, and finished in their corporate red and black, and is aimed at areas of up to one acre so is more than capable of cutting a large area very quickly. This one has a cutting width of 92cm, and is designed with a very small turning circle so that you can easily get around bushes and trees while cutting the grass without any particular problems.

It has a small – 344cc - Briggs&Stratton engine for power and ease of use, 6-speed automatic transmission, and is very easy for anyone to drive. Cutting height covers 30mm to 95mm, and it is very simple to adjust. You can use this one with the 240litre collector or convert it to a mulching machine – you need optional accessories for that – or to dispense cuttings from the rear, and it is designed to be very easy to wash down after use, and compact to store away. At the price, a good ride-on mower for larger gardens.

4: Alpina AT1 66 HCB

This compact and yet versatile ride-on mower comes from Alpina, a brand with a good range of such machines and other garden devices, and it is a very neat mower at a sensible price. It offers a handy 66cm cutting width – that’s nowhere as wide as some of the bigger machines we have featured, but perfectly adequate for a larger garden. In fact, the manufacturer recommends this one for lawns or grassed areas of up to 1500m2, so it should be fine for most requirements.

Six separate cutting heights can easily be engaged using the handy lever, and it can move around tight corners with ease thanks to a good turning circle. The motor is a 223cc B&S model for added reliability, it has a nicely padded seat and automatic transmission, and 200L grass collector box so you are well-covered for disposing of the cuttings. All in all, a very decent smaller-sized ride-on mower that comes at a good price with a lengthy warranty.

5: Lawn King 60SDE

Our collection is dominated by two brands – Lawn King and McCulloch – and this is the third of those from the former. This model, the 60SDE, is a smaller model with a 60cm cutting width. That’s nowhere near as wide as some we have seen on our travels, but is more than capable of handling a larger lawn with ease. It is designed to be very compact, and while that does have its benefits, it also has its drawbacks.

This is a very compact mower that would not take up much space when stored away, and comes with a nice padded seat and automatic six-speed pedal-controlled transmission for ease of use. However, due to the design and small size, there is no collector; all the cuttings are dispensed through a side chute. That said, it’s well-made, easy to drive and comes with an electric start motor, and will be more than adequate for larger gardens and rough grass areas.

6: McCulloch M145-97T

Back to McCulloch for this one, which is a very neat and typical model from one of the best brands in the business. There are differences in this model, however, which we shall see. First, it is B&S powered – a 500cc motor for more than ample power and performance – and it is made to the usual high standards, plus you get a 97cm cutting width, six height settings between 38mm and 102mm, and an easy to drive machine with automatic transmission.

You also get a high-packed and nicely designed seat for added comfort, it is made from the usual high-quality materials and to the required high standards of the brand, and the safety features include the cut-off switch that is activated when you leave the seat – we like this feature very much. However, there is no collection box: this is a side-ejection model that makes it quicker to do the job, but does mean you need to collect your cuttings if you need to.

7: Castlegarden XE866B

This compact and yet versatile ride-on mower comes from Castlegarden, a brand with a good range of such machines and other garden devices, and it is a very neat mower at a sensible price. It offers a handy 66cm cutting width – that’s nowhere as wide as some of the bigger machines we have featured, but perfectly adequate for a larger garden. In fact, the manufacturer recommends this one for lawns or grassed areas of up to 1500m2, so it should be fine for most requirements.

Six separate cutting heights can easily be engaged using the handy lever, and it can move around tight corners with ease thanks to a good turning circle. The motor is a 190cccc B&S model for added reliability, it has a nicely padded seat and automatic transmission, and 150L grass collector box so you are well-covered for disposing of the cuttings. All in all, a very decent smaller-sized ride-on mower that comes at a good price with a lengthy warranty.

8: McCulloch M115 97T

This smaller model from the McCulloch range is included as they really are the market leaders when it comes to quality ride-on mowers with all the right attributes. It is B&S powered – a 344cc motor for more than ample power and performance – and it is made to the usual high standards, plus you get a 97cm cutting width, six height settings between 38mm and 102mm, and an easy to drive machine with automatic transmission.

You also get a high-packed and nicely designed seat for added comfort, it is made from the usual high-quality materials and to the required high standards of the brand, and the safety features include the cut-off switch that is activated when you leave the seat – we like this feature very much. However, there is no collection box: this is another side-ejection model that makes it quicker to do the job, but does mean you need to collect your cuttings if you need to.

9: McCulloch MF-125-85

We include this one not just because it is from McCulloch, but also because it is of a slightly different design to all the others on the list. This one is designed for mulching, for a start, and you can see the difference when you look at it. With most of these the cutting bed sits underneath the body of the machine; with this one, it is hung out in front of the main front wheels, so you have a full view of the cutting plane from where you sit aboard the machine. It’s a very neat design that has many benefits, not least of which is a better centre of gravity for added balance.

This model is typically well-made and comes powered by the very reliable, tried and tested Briggs & Stratton 344cc motor, and has fully manual transmission with 3 forward and a single reverse gear. It offers excellent traction and is recommended for use on areas of greater than 2000m2, which should cover just about every large domestic lawn. There is no rear grass collector, but it is designed to be a mulching device, and while not the cheapest here the quality stands out.

10: McCulloch M115-77TC

Our final choice is, and it should be no surprise, another from McCulloch, and it offers all the similar attributes you would expect from the brand. This model, the M115-77TC, is typical of the range, and is powered by a reliable and trusty Briggs & Stratton petrol engine, which is really what you want when you are buying one of these. It’s a nicely built machine with a comfortable seat and easy to handle controls, and comes with the usual 6-speed automatic transmission.

Cutting width is 77cm, which while not as great as some is more than adequate for a large garden, and cutting height can be adjusted through 38 to 102mm. This model has a rear collector that can hold 200litres, which is a good size, too. The safety features include a neat switch that will turn everything off if you leave the seat – which is a high-backed design for comfort – and the cutting blades are disengaged when you reverse. It’s made from very tough stainless steel and, as with all from the brand, is well worth adding to your shortlist.

So, that’s our list of the ten best ride on lawn mowers available today and suitable for domestic use, but which one is for you? Before we give you our idea of the best buys, let’s have a reminder of the important features you need to look out for.

Important Features to Consider

It’s fair to say that a ride-on mower is not going to be the cheapest purchase you have ever made, although in terms of cost-effectiveness, the time saved mowing a larger lawn will easily recoup the investment made. Thus, it is an item that needs careful consideration before you choose which one to buy, so here’s a few things to consider

Cutting Width – this is perhaps one of the primary considerations; you need to make sure you have a machine that is adequate for your size of lawn, and this means considering the width of the cutting plane, among other things. Obviously, the wider it is the more capable it will be, and the dimensions here range from 66cm to well over 100cm, so consider your options carefully.

Adjustable Height – you need to be able to adjust the height of your cutting blades down to a sensible degree and up to a required level; check the specifications for the limits of each one.

Collector or Side-ejection – another important consideration: do you want a mower with a collector box, or are you happy with one that simply ejects the cuttings from a side vent? Some do have a box, others don’t so look closely to make sure. Also, if you do want a box, consider the capacity, as those shown range from 150l to as much as 320l.

Power – all the above are powered by reliable Briggs & Stratton petrol engines, which is what you need, so the size and power of the engine is what you should be looking at. There are various capacities here, so you have a broad choice.

Safety – look for models with automatic cut-off when you leave the seat, as this really is a very important safety feature.

Comfort – you’re going to spend a lot of time on your mower, so you need one with a comfortable seat, well-designed controls and simple operation.

That’s our list of things to consider, so which of the abovebest  ride-on lawn mowers is for you? Let’s wrap things up!

How It Works

A ride-on lawnmower is a simple concept, and not a new one. However, the models on offer now from the leading brands are very well-developed and are easy to use, as well as being surprisingly affordable and very effective. Put simply, if you have a larger lawn – or other grass areas such as a paddock – you need one of these, and it will definitely make your life a lot easier!

How do they work? They are much the same as your standard lawn-mower, except you sit on top of it – as you would a quad bike – and it is powered, usually by a small petrol or diesel motor. The cutting blades sit underneath, and are often rotary as in your garden mower, and sometimes these machines come with other cutting devices for more effective mowing.

There are many different sizes and power levels of ride on mowers available, so there will be one for everything from a large suburban lawn to bigger and less manageable areas, and each is able to be driven by a capable and sensible adult. It is worth remembering that, if not treated with care, these can be dangerous machines, so it pays to understand how they work and to always follow the manufacturer advice.

Let’s Wrap It Up!

You need a ride-on mower, as everyone with large grass areas will one day discover! Which one is for you? Well, all of the above are very good, but we must say that we see why McCulloch is the market leader here, and the range they offers is very good indeed.

It really comes down to the area of grass you have to cover, and whether you want one that collects the cuttings or not. If you do want a grass box (also suitable for collecting leaves) then we can easily recommend the first one on the list for its wide cutting plane, excellent motor with plenty of power, large capacity grass box and the usual quality the brand offers.

If you need a smaller machine, have a look at any of the lesser-capacity models in the range, and take your pick!