Lawn Tractor Buyer's Guide

When your landscaping crew consists of yourself and that's it, you've got to get a little help.

With a lawn tractor, you'll be able to handle whatever curveballs your lawn throws your way.

Two things to consider when purchasing a lawn tractor are the 1. Grade and the 2. Size of the tractor.




Select a Grade
Entry-Level Lawn Tractor
Entry-level lawn tractors work best for yards 1 1/2 acres or less. They have lower horsepower, single-cylinder engines which aren't really suited for mowing larger area or for pulling light weight regularly.

Entry-level lawn tractors have gear-driven (manual) transmissions, which are fine if you have a few obstacles to mow around. A gear-driven transmission tends to be durable and trouble-free, but doesn’t offer incremental speed control between the pre-set speeds.




Mid-Grade Lawn Tractors
Mid-Grade lawn tractors offer greater power and versatility. They have twin cylinder engines, which are a must if you intend to mow large areas or use light-weight attachments on a regular basis.

Mid-grade lawn tractors are designed with hydrostatic transmissions, which offer simple speed adjustments while driving. A hydrostatic transmission is much easier to operate than a manual transmission.

There are two hydrostatic transmission options: lever or pedal-operated. The pedal-operated option provides the most comfort and flexibility in speed.




Select a Size
After choosing the right grade, selecting the perfect lawn tractor comes down to picking the right mower deck size. Deck size refers to the width of the cut on your tractor.

Typically, it's recommended to choose a deck size based on how large your yard or property is. How many acres do you need to mow? The answer to this question will help you decide the correct deck size.