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Best Lawn mowers & tractors

Which Lawn mowers & tractors performed best in our tests?

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We tested 120 lawn mowers & tractors to determine the best-performing models. Our expert lab technicians tested each Lawn mower & tractor based on the following criteria:

  • Bagging
  • Side discharging
  • Handling
  • Mulching
  • Ease of use

Below lists the Lawn mowers & tractors that rated best in each of the tests our experts looked for. Learn about how these tests were performed and find out which Lawn mower & tractor is rated best when you subscribe.

Consumer Reports Ratings for Best Lawn mowers & tractors

ratingsBest Lawn mower & tractor for Bagging
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Denotes a combination of evenness, which is how close the tractor or rider came to even, carpet-like mowing, and a measurement of the effective capacity of the grass bag, determined when the bag was full or when the chute clogged and stopped collecting clippings.


This Lawn mower & tractor which tested best for Bagging has the following features: Deck size (in.), Engine size, Can mulch, Can bag, Can side discharge, Mower warranty, Drive wheels, Forward speeds, Deck height adjustment and Washout port.

ratingsBest Lawn mower & tractor for Side discharging
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A combination of evenness, which is how close the tractor or rider came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how evenly clippings were dispersed from the side-discharge chute.


This Lawn mower & tractor which tested best for Side discharging has the following features: Deck size (in.), Engine size, Can mulch, Can bag, Can side discharge, Mower warranty, Drive wheels, Forward speeds, Deck height adjustment and Washout port.

ratingsBest Lawn mower & tractor for Handling
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Includes clutching or drive engagement, braking, steering, turn radius, and stability.


This Lawn mower & tractor which tested best for Handling has the following features: Deck size (in.), Engine size, Can mulch, Can bag, Mower warranty and Deck height adjustment.

ratingsBest Lawn mower & tractor for Mulching
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Reflects a combination of evenness, which is how close the tractor or rider came to even, carpet-like mowing, and how completely the mower distributed its clippings over the lawn's surface.


This Lawn mower & tractor which tested best for Mulching has the following features: Engine manufacturer, Drive type, Deck size (in.), Engine power (hp), Number of cylinders, Forward speeds, Warranty, Easy mode change and Washout port.

ratingsBest Lawn mower & tractor for Ease of use
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A composite score that includes leg room and seat and steering-wheel comfort, along with ease of blade engagement, cut-height adjustment, parking-brake engagement, bag removal, and cutting-mode changes.


This Lawn mower & tractor which tested best for Ease of use has the following features: Engine manufacturer, Deck size (in.), Engine size, Can mulch, Can bag, Can side discharge, Mower warranty, Drive wheels, Forward speeds, Deck height adjustment and Electric start.