I did a ton of research before buying my mower. All the reports I read said stay away from Craftsman. At least their consumer stuff. I read good things about Toro, Scag, and Husq. I was surprised to learn that the midline John Deere’s were not recommended so much. Ended up finding a 42” Cub Cadet with 40 hours on it for $700. Had been left out in the weather for a few years so needed some TLC but have been happy with it after having it fixed up. Answer from SireBelch on reddit.com
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Bob Vila
bobvila.com › reviews › lawn, garden & pool › mowers › our favorite riding mower is a step above the rest—see why
The Best Riding Lawn Mowers - Tested by Bob Vila
April 8, 2025 - If you have a lawn that’s 1.5 acres or less and want a comfortable lawn-cutting machine​ to help you get the job done quickly and effortlessly, this Cub Cadet will be hard to beat.
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Green Tractor Talk
greentractortalk.com › home › forums › john deere tractors › lawn & garden tractors
Size mower for 1.5 acres | Green Tractor Talk
For 1.5 acres of relatively flat lawn, I'd say pretty much any riding mower is going to be just fine. Just tailor deck width and mower speed based on your expectations around how long you want to take mowing the lawn.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/lawnmowers › finally need a riding mower, seeking advice for 1.5 acres
r/lawnmowers on Reddit: Finally need a riding mower, seeking advice for 1.5 acres
December 12, 2024 -

I just purchased a new house and it has a much larger lawn than my old one. My previous yard was about ¾ acre with about a quarter of it as a 15-20 degree steep slope. We push mowed it for 6 years, but it was not fun, it would take 2-3 hours and a lot of sweat. My new house has twice as much grass but no where near as steep, it has small rolling hills that are gradual and a number of trees dotted throughout. I am looking for a riding mower now as i really don't want to push mow 1.5 acres. I grew up with a Honda lawn tractor, but I've never used a ZT.

I have been shopping around and still can't decide what I want. I was leaning towards a zero turn since I have an ATV that i can use to tow an aerator, spreader or yard cart. But I hear they can be tricky to learn and want something that is easy to use as i have a kid who is the appropriate age to help with the yard chores. My budget is around $3000 but I'm flexible.

Any input would be appreciated

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Tysoutdoorpower
tysoutdoorpower.com › tys-guide-to-choosing-the-right-mower-for-your-acreage
Ty's Guide to Choosing the Right Mower for Your Acreage
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Lawn Care Forum
lawnsite.com › home › forums › special & related topics › homeowner assistance forum
Personal yard - 1.5 acres - what mower? | Lawn Care Forum
For brand, I would just get the brand of whatever dealer is near you. Probably Toro, Exmart, Scag, Dixie Chopper are some of the better brands, although you won't put enough hours on the mower to really matter. My $.02 - Josh ...
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James River Equipment
jamesriverequipment.com › Residential-Lawn-Mowers › Best-Options-for-1-to-2-Acres
Best Options for 1 to 2 Acres
Mow up to 2 Acres per charge · 3.2 kWh (3.56 kWh maximum) Sealed Lithium-Ion Battery · 42-in. (107 cm) Accel Deep™ Mower Deck · Zero operating emissions and no engine noise · 5-year/200-hour Battery Warranty · MSRP STARTING AT $4,999.99 · 82-Volt 5Ah Lithium-Ion Battery (Six Batteries Included) 33.6HP at Peak/18 KW Output Power · Includes (3) 10Amp Dual Port Charger ·
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/landscaping › recommend a good riding mower for 1.5 acres.
r/landscaping on Reddit: Recommend a good riding mower for 1.5 acres.
July 24, 2016 -

Mild slope lawn. Leaning toward the Cub Cadet 46" XT1 Enduro 22HP . $1699. Pretty good price point / performance and good reviews. I like the Cub Cadet's warranty over John Deere and too many reviews complained about the John Deere's transmission failing immediately outside of warranty. Never had a lawn I needed a riding mower for, so first time buyer. Anything else I should consider?

Find elsewhere
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BHG
bhg.com › gardening › yard › lawn-care › best-riding-mowers
The Best Riding Lawn Mowers of 2025, Tested by Better Homes & Gardens
November 12, 2025 - We appreciated that the mower’s turning capabilities allow you to get very close to objects like fences and trees to cleanly mow around them in a single pass. It’s a very powerful mower and cuts the grass cleanly and evenly, leaving no patch of uncut grass. Product Details: Power: Battery | Lawn Size: Up to 3 acres | Deck Width: 42 in. | Deck Height: 1.5 to 4.5 in.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › best-riding-lawn-mowers-4142782
The 7 Best Riding Lawn Mowers of 2025, Tested and Reviewed
June 24, 2025 - Cutting Width: 42 inches | Weight: 700 pounds | Power Source: Battery | Cutting Options: Side discharge | Yard Size: 3 acres | Cutting Heights: 1.5-4.5 inches · The Ryobi 42-inch Zero Turn Mower let us mow very close to a fence in our yard.
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Popular Mechanics
popularmechanics.com › home › lawn and garden › the 6 best riding lawn mowers make maintaining giant properties a breeze
Our Editors Have Logged Miles Testing Riding Lawn Mowers. Here Are Our Thoughts on the Best.
September 30, 2025 - Craftsman’s T2200K strikes the right balance between size and maneuverability. It sports a 42-inch deck, making it ideal for yards up to 1.5 acres. This mower’s big advantage is its tight turning radius—just 5 inches, which is superb for a lawn tractor.
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Cub Cadet
cubcadet.ca › en › knowledge-ultimate-lawn-tractor-lawn-rider-buying-guide.html
The Ultimate Canadian Lawn Tractor Buying Guide | Cub Cadet CA
Rear-engine riders like the Cub Cadet® CC 30H are compact riding mowers that generally cost less than a lawn tractor and have a narrower deck. These riding mowers are ideal if you have limited storage, but a yard too big to tackle with a push mower under the hot summer sun (most suitable for ...
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Bogleheads.org
bogleheads.org › board index › community › personal consumer issues
best lawn mower for around half an acre? do I need a riding? - Bogleheads.org
Trying not to spend 2-3 grand for a riding if a walking is sufficient but wondering if I should go with electric or gas this is the top of my list right now because it comes with a second battery. https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-40V-B ... /311641298 Toro Timemaster 30" is another option. ...
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The Garage Journal
garagejournal.com › forums › the garage › general garage discussion
Lawn mower for 1 acre lot | The Garage Journal
April 6, 2023 - That's half of a normal walking · Click to expand... Love the analysis ... Got rid of my zero turn because it leaves a lot of ruts around all the trees. I now use a 48” cut 4 wheel steer Deere. ... I see perfectly good craftsman rider mowers all the time on craigslist for under $700.
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The Lawn Forum
thelawnforum.com › home › forums › discussions › equipment & tools
What's your 1/2 acre to 1 acre mower? | Lawn Care Forum
I would probably be looking at a nice used Toro or JD trim/surrounds mower - whether it be a rotary or reel model. Click to expand... Do they make grass catchers for the 3100d reel?
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Exmark
backyard.exmark.com › lawn-garden › what-size-mower-is-right-for-your-lawn
What Size Mower is Right for Your Lawn?
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Green Tractor Talk
greentractortalk.com › home › forums › john deere tractors › lawn & garden tractors
Figuring out what lawn tractor to buy for 1 acre | Green Tractor Talk
All things being equal, with same size deck, on a 1 acre lot with obstacles the 590 will cut the lawn faster than 700 series and you will have a better looking lawn – and that’s not to say you can’t have an excellent lawn with a 700 series, ...
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Green Tractor Talk
greentractortalk.com › home › forums › john deere tractors › ztr's and commercial turf equipment
60" Zero-Turn vs 5 Acres? | Green Tractor Talk
Their cabbed front mower is over priced and apparently not sealed or smooth riding. ... Shawn T. W. ... Ferris makes a suspension system for there's ... If you want to stay green, Tweels are supposed to be more comfortable, available for all four tires/wheels, JD also has some kind from suspension, which I have none of the above, but the air ride seat is amazing! I do my regular 1.5 acre lawn in 35 minutes ...
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Lowe's
lowes.com › home › diy projects & ideas › buying guides › lawn & garden
Riding Lawn Mowers
Brushless motors and high-power, high-amp-hour batteries can cut 3 acres or more on a single charge and mow at speeds up to 7 miles per hour or more. Things to consider when shopping for a zero-turn riding lawn mower: Engine Size: Gas-powered zero-turn mowers with single-cylinder engines are less expensive than those with larger engines but lack some power. For small lawns (1 acre or less) with few obstacles, a single cylinder engine is a suitable, economical option.
Published   September 4, 2025