Best Lawn Mowers for Big Yards
These top-performing models from CR's tests hit the sweet spot for ½- to 1-acre lawns
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Looking for a lawn mower for a big-but-not-huge yard? Your search isn't so different from that of Goldilocks. You want something just the right size: not too small to tackle the job properly, and not so big that it's overkill.
For small yards of up to ¼ acre, walk-behind push mowers are a solid choice. For slightly larger yards—from ¼ acre to about ½ acre—self-propelled walk-behinds are ideal; the powered wheels pull the machine forward, freeing you from having to push much yourself.
But if you're tackling a lawn of around ¾ acre, even powered wheels won't make the job seem easy if you're clearing only a 21-inch-wide swath on each pass. That's the standard width for walk-behind mowers. And yet a regular riding mower or zero-turn-radius model might seem unnecessary for a yard that size—plus, they’re inconvenient to store and can be much more expensive.
Let us direct you to two better options: the wide-deck self-propelled mower and the rear-engine rider.
The former resembles a standard walk-behind mower, but it boasts an extra-wide cutting deck, typically 28 inches. That extra width will shave about a quarter of the time off each mowing—which adds up to a lot of hours saved over the season.
How CR Tests Lawn Mowers and Tractors
To get you ratings and reviews of the latest models by early spring, our testers travel to our mower-testing facility in Fort Myers, Fla., to conduct tests in late winter at grounds we prepare each year. We plant 1,800 pounds of grass seed (predominantly annual rye, prized for its dense growth) and cut 500,000 square feet of grass in three modes—mulching, side-discharging, and bagging, a total of 3,000 pounds of clippings. We mow both level turf and slopes to get a feel for each model and review the convenience features.
The Overall Score incorporates all that performance data, along with predicted reliability and owner satisfaction ratings from our latest member surveys. They leverage data on more than 78,000 lawn mowers and tractors that members purchased between 2010 and 2020.
Best Lawn Mowers for Big Yards
Size isn’t the only factor that should dictate your decision. Start with our lawn mower buying guide, which explains how the slope of your yard can change the equation. You’ll also find a thorough overview of battery-powered models, which make up an ever-growing slice of the mower market. Next, check our comprehensive lawn mower ratings.
CR members with digital access can also read on for ratings and reviews of the very best mowers for big yards (up to an acre).
Best Wide-Deck Self-Propelled Mowers
Best Rear-Engine Riding Mowers for Big Yards
Finding the Perfect Lawn Mower
Is your lawn mower failing to make the cut? On the "Consumer 101" TV show, Consumer Reports expert John Galeotafiore explains to host Jack Rico how to find the best mower for your needs.
