Lawn mowers and trimmers

How to buy the best ride-on mower

When the job gets too big, climb into a seat.
woman riding orange ride on lawnmower

Most ride-on mowers look like small tractors with a cutting deck suspended underneath, and they cut a wide swathe of grass – anywhere from 70cm to over a metre. Compare this with the 46–48cm width of the standard walk-behind rotary mower – not to mention the fun factor of zooming around the yard – and you can see how appealing a ride-on is to anyone who owns a big property.

How much should I pay?

In our latest product test reviews, prices range from just over $3000 to $5999, depending on engine size, mowing width, catcher features, design and transmission type (manual or automatic).


Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement. Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just. Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint. Find Matthew on LinkedIn.

Matthew Steen is the Director of Reviews and Testing, which conducts all the testing for CHOICE. He has had a long and storied history in the consumer movement. Matthew is driven to work at CHOICE for its constitutional mission and its dedication to making Australia more fair, safe and just. Matthew represents CHOICE as a council member on the Standards Australia Council. He is also responsible for CHOICE lowering its environmental footprint. Find Matthew on LinkedIn.

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