The seasons of summer and spring are when you’ll see and hear lawn mowers all day. After all, you’re unlikely to see them towards the end of fall or in the winter due to snow. You may have considered purchasing one or upgrading from your smaller push lawn mower.
Riding land mowers are more efficient than walk-behind mowers, owing to the fact that you don’t have to push them around. Most riding lawn mowers work in a similar manner to a small automobile, with brake pedals and steering wheels on some models. However, land mowers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and weights.
Some riding lawn mowers are better suited to particular terrains than others. However, the majority of the differences are in size, which usually correlates to weight. Riding lawn mowers are divided into three categories: front engine, rear engine, and zero turn lawn mowers.
Let’s have a look at how these riding lawn mowers differ from one another, as well as how much they weigh.
Examples of How Much Does A Riding Lawn Mower Weight:
1. Front Engine Lawn Mowers
Front engine land motors include garden and lawn tractors, with the latter being a bigger and heavier version of the former. This section will focus primarily on garden tractors because they’re more widespread and, overall, are comparable to lawn tractors.
This is the typical land mower with a sizeable front nose that resembles an automobile. These beasts usually weigh between 400 and 600 pounds, plus or minus a few pounds. Keep in mind that this only accounts for the machine itself and does not include the fuel.
Riding lawn mowers such as this one are ideal for uneven and rough terrain. They have the characteristics of a 4X4 vehicle but are insufficient for a small, levelled garden. Compared to other types of lawn mowers, this sort of lawn mower has recently become less popular.
● The Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Riding Lawn Mower
So how much does a riding lawn mower weigh? With a weight of 680 pounds, this lawn mower is a gas-powered lawn tractor. It’s a modern survivor of a bygone era of lawn mowing. And while tractors are more common in rural areas, they are not the only option.
2. Rear Engine Lawn Mowers
If lawn tractors were to be the twin brother of the garden tractor, rear engine lawn mowers would be their cousins. Lawn mowers of this type are typically smaller and lighter than tractors. As a result, they are easier to operate compared to a traditional tractor, making them suitable for first-time riders.
Since they’re smaller than regular tractors, their average weight is between 300 and 500 pounds. Not too different from tractors, but then again, they are similar in performance as well!
While this type of mower is not as unpopular as tractors, they’re not the preferred choice nowadays. They’re a solid choice and should help you cover plenty of ground. However, the efficiency of this type of mower might feel like overkill unless you have a large garden.
● Cub Cadet 56-Volt MAX Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower
This lawn mower works runs on battery making it weigh much less. So how much does a riding lawn mower weigh that is electric? This one weighs 360 pounds. It handles similar to a tractor, but it’s more compact thanks to the engine’s position. An added benefit of Rear Engine lawn mowers is their smaller size, making them easy to store.
3. Zero Turn Lawn Mowers
The Zero Turn lawn is the modern type of lawn mower. Although they’re compact like rear engines, they are heavier than tractors! The average size of these types of lawn mower is between 600 and 1500 pounds, despite their light weight. They don’t have a steering wheel either, using levers to operate instead.
While they might seem difficult to use, even new users find them convenient to use once they get the hang of it! This type of mower is our main focus, as in recent times they’ve become more popular. After all, they’re the best choice for small and medium even-leveled gardens.
One of the main benefits of these lawn mowers is their handling. You can make close turns with this machine and cover plenty of ground quickly and with ease. Their power can vary depending on their engine and model, but they’re more or less the same.
Why are they called Zero Turn anyway? Since they lack a steering wheel, these kinds of mowers can turn up to 180° easily. With this turning ability, you can cover plenty of ground quickly. Their wide cutting area also helps cover ground quickly, and their design lets you go under trees and bushes. In a sense, you could say they help trim down the time spent on your garden.
● Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. 21.5 Zero Turn Riding Mower
This lawn mower is relatively light, weighing 770 pounds. This mower prides itself on its powerful engine and easy maneuverability. It covers a wide area of cutting and fits just about anywhere.
● Craftsman 17ARFACQ091 50-Inch Hydrostatic Gas Zero Turn Mower
Another light mower by Zero Turn standards, weighing 656 pounds. Experienced users can make use of this mower’s height adjusting features to create different patterns. It’s comfortable and highly maneuverable.
● Ryobi 42-inch Electric Zero Turn Mower
Electric engines create little to no emissions, but we’re here to talk about weight. This lawn mower weighs 617 pounds, and its engine is as strong as any other in its league. Like most other Zero Turn mowers, its best use is on leveled ground.
How Heavy Are Walk Behind Lawnmowers?
We’ve thrown some high numbers talking about riding lawn mowers, particularly with Zero Turn ones. How different are they from traditional walk-behind mowers, though? Not all walk-behind mowers have engines, and that makes a difference in weight. The average weight of a walk-behind mower is between 20 to 50 pounds.
However, some mowers can go above the average, as far as 100 pounds. On the other hand, particularly those without an engine, some can weigh less than 10 pounds. Lightweight is vital for walking behind mowers as you’ll do the pushing around.
● Toro TimeMaster 30 in. Briggs & Stratton Personal Pace Self-Propelled Walk-Behind Gas Lawn Mower
As its long name suggests, this mower has a self-propeller to help you push it around. You might think such a feature is unnecessary, but this mower weighs 140 pounds. That’s nearly half as much weight as a Rear Engine mower.
● EGO Power+ LM2021 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Battery Walk Behind Push Lawn Mower
Seriously, some of the names on these are plain overkill. This mower is a traditional walk-behind mower with an electric engine. You turn it on, it starts cutting, and you push it around yourself. As for the weight, it’s almost average: 55.18 pounds.
● American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
Its name might seem long and complicated, but this mower is anything but complex: no engine, no fancy features, just a metal pole with a simple machine. With the power of physics, you push this around and cut grass on its way. Weighing 2.21 pounds, it might not be bulky, but you’re going to need strength to wield this mower properly.
FAQs
Q. Why Does the Weight of Riding Mowers Matter?
The bottom line is stability; riding mowers have a weight threshold to remain stable. This threshold varies from machine to machine, but it’s usually close to the weight of the machine itself. Some lawn mowers won’t start if you’re under or over the threshold weight.
This stability is not just for safety, and it helps ensure a clean cut through your lawn, improving efficiency and won’t cause a riding lawn mower to cut uneven. In a way, you could say riding lawn mowers make the best of their weight!
Q. Are all riding lawn mowers the same?
While most riding lawn mowers may perform the same functions, it wouldn’t be right to put them all in the same category. Instead, there are several types of riding mowers, each with a unique build and efficiency. The right riding lawn mower is one that fits all your needs and makes your life easier.
Ride into the Sunset, Leaving a Trail of Fresh Cut Grass
Riding lawn mowers might seem expensive, but they’re worth their weight in gold. They complete an otherwise time-consuming task quickly and without breaking much of a sweat. Some riding mowers have more maneuverability than others, but they’re all the better at different terrains. Getting started with a riding mower can have a bit of a learning curve, like how does a lawn mower hour meter work, how to maintain it and so on.
Regardless of which type of riding lawn mower you choose, you’ll want to know how much does a riding lawn mower weigh. This helps you understand the size of it and the ability to remain steady. Then, with the help of one of these heavy beasts, you’ll enjoy the scent of cut grass within the hour!