Riding mower and walk-behind mowers are two different lawn mowing machines used for the same purpose. And it is challenging to make the right selection in case of riding mower vs walk behind mower. The mowing market comprises of a wide variety of riding, zero-turn, and walk-behind mowers.
People choose and buy them according to their preferences and needs. Most of the mowers have different aspects like expenses, fuel consumption, maintenance factors, and effort. In any case, they are with the same yields as efficiency, engine power, cut quality, and some are with different characteristics, attributes, and yields. Hence, it is tricky enough to take any decision between riding mower vs walk behind mowers.
Both of them have some benefits as well as some drawbacks to some extent. Always keep it in your mind that everything is come up with a bundle of advantages and disadvantages.
We can make a comparison of both based on the following key factors:
- Efficiency and Performance
- Engine Power and Stability
- Speed and Agility
- Cut Quality and Cost
- Fuel Consumption and Maintenance
- Effort and Comfort
- Durability and Reliability, etc.
Comparing Riding mowers vs Walk behind mowers
The following table will represent the comparison based on the above mentioned key factors.
| Factors | Riding Mowers | Walk Behind Mowers |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | • Time saving • Done more work in less time. • Requires routine maintenance. • Built-in liquid cooling system. | • Need no or less maintenance but good care • Less fuel consumption • Requires no cooling. |
| Engine Power | • 37Hp. • Diesel engine • Hybrid engine | • 6.01 HP. • Self powered. |
| Fuel consumption | • Offers alternate fuel resources; • Diesel/ Gas • Electric • Propane | • Routine engine oil. |
| Speed | • Max. speed up to 18.3km/h. | • Depends on operator. |
| Cut quality | • Deck cut range up to 72 inches • Cut height up to 5 inches. | • Deck cut range up to 23 inches • Cut height up to 3.75 inches. |
| Stability | More stable on; • Flat and open area. Less stable on; • Hilly areas | Much Stable on; • Flat area • tight spaces • sharp corners • Hilly and edgy areas. |
| Stability on hills/ slopes | • Less stable on hills | • More stable on hills |
| Control | • Easy to control | • Easily controllable |
| Performance | • Mow more quickly in shortest time interval with no effort | • Best on tight and sharp corners • Best on Hills • Consume less fuel and done more work. |
| Size | • Heavy, Huge and bulky, bigger in size | • Compact sizes • Self propel. • Less in weight. |
| Effort | • Effortless | • Requires less labor with good push power. • Keep your body in motion. |
| Comfort | • Comfortable for specific time. • May cause back stress fatigue, if using for longer | • More comfortable and provides health benefits and aerobics for body. |
| Cost | • Not much economical • Reliable | • Less expensive • Much reliable and durable. |
| Agility | • Good turning radius. • Suitable for flat and large open areas. • Covers more ground in no time. • Manages larger and combined area with no effort. | • Good for specific area less than one acre. • Design to tackle compact and sharp corners. |
Here we will review these key factors one by one in depth to easily understand the comparison of the riding mower vs walk behind mower.
Efficiency
A mower can be efficient if it gives the best results as output by consuming less input.
Riding mowers are productively efficient to complete mowing a large commercial area in few minutes or less. It is time saving but do require routine maintenance.
Walk behind mowers are efficient enough to mow smaller yards more effectively than the commercial areas. That’s why they are categorized as private mowers. Walk-behind mowers perform better when using them in limited space. It requires less maintenance. they consume less fuel and are more productive.
Engine Power – Riding Mower vs Walk Behind Mower
Riding mowers are best when they are using a high power engine. These mowers offer diesel and hybrid engines of power up to 37 HP. Providing modified technologies like dual hydraulic systems and hydrostatic transmission. They are also providing a built-in engine cooling system to keep the engine cool and clean.
While walk behind mowers offers maximum engine power up to 6.18HP because they are self-propelled and do not depend on the engine for their working. That is why they require no cooling system.
Fuel Consumption
Heavy-duty machines comparatively consume more fuel than the less weighed and self-propelled machines.
Riding mowers consume much fuel because of high engine power. They have to work in a more efficient way than the walk behind mowers, so they have high fuel consumption. Modern and modified riding mowers offer alternate fuel resources; diesel/ gas, electric, and propane along with brake and deck oil.
The walk-behind mowers require only engine oil for a push start because they are entirely relying on the operator’s power. They do not need any brake and deck oil.
Speed – Riding Mower vs Walk Behind Mower
Machines with high engine power no-doubt provide a good speed than self-propelled or walk-behind mowers.
Riding mowers are capable of faster ground speed. They can travel up to three times (3x) in speed because of the engine’s high power than the walk behind mowers. And riding mowers offers max. speed range up to 18.3km/h.
Walk-behind mowers are dependent on the operator for their speed.
Cut Quality
The cut quality of any mower depends on the finishing results that, how evenly the mower mows the grass. And cut quality of every mower is different depending upon their category.
Riding mowers can use high speed and high-quality deck because of high engine power. They offer moveable deck options with deck height range up to 72 inches with different cut heights range up to 5 inches. However, it provides the quality cut in no time relative to walk behind mowers.
Walk-behind mowers are self-powered, so they offer a shallow deck height. It provides the deck height range up to 23 inches and cut height up to 3.75 inches. They require a little bit more effort, but as a result, they provide the best finishing to the lawn. Therefore, walk behind mowers gives the best cut height among all mowers.
Stability
The mower is said to be stable if it is capable of working smoothly in every type of area, whether it is flat or edgy.
Riding mowers are more powerful and stable on flat, larger-combined, and open commercial areas. They are relatively less stable on hills, steeps, and the edgy areas. Riding mowers provides a maximum slope cut of 10 degrees and less.
Walk behind mowers are in the operator’s control, so these are more stable in yards. Walk-behind mowers show relatively more stability on hills, slopes, and edgy areas than the riding mowers. Therefore, it offers a maximum slope cut of 35 degrees, which is the best slope cut any mower can offer.
Control – Riding Mower vs Walk Behind Mower
Mowers provide their most reliable results when they are easily controllable and manageable.
Riding mowers are more convenient in managing large and commercial areas. These mowers are easy to control and easy to handle large commercial areas because they are categorized as commercial mowers. While walk-behind mowers are easy to manage and easily controllable in smaller areas such as; yard less than one acre. They easily handle the sharp corners and tighter spaces of the lawn.
Performance
The performance of any mower depends on its efficiency, effectiveness, effort, and reliability in mowing.
Riding mowers mow larger areas more quickly in the shortest time interval with no effort.
Whether walk behind mowers shows their impressive performance while mowing edgy and steep areas. They show the best results on tighter spaces of the lawn.
Size – Riding Mower vs Walk Behind Mower
Size doesn’t matter when you are getting beneficial results.
Therefore, riding mowers are comparatively massive and bulky than the walk-behind mowers.
However, walk-behind mowers have compact sizes and are self-propelled. Moreover, they have less weight.
Effort
As effortless equipment with effective outcomes is more reliable and durable.
So, Riding mowers are simple, off-hand, and effortless machines. They provide impressive results without asking for any human effort because they are using a high power engine.
Walk behind mowers requires less labor with a good push power. In other words, they keep your body in motion and provide healthy aerobics. Above all, it keeps you healthy.
Comfort
Mowing lawn requires a lot of effort while compromising your comfort. But, Over the years, advancement has made lawn mowing tasks relatively less fatigue.
Riding mowers are comfortable because you use them in a riding position, e.g., sitting or standing while mowing your property.
However, sitting on mower for a longer period can cause back pain. However, walk-behind mowers are more comfortable and healthy for the human body because you are getting results for your garden and your body too. Yet, it requires a little bit more effort than riding mowers, but they provide excellent results.
Cost – Riding Mower vs Walk Behind Mower
Riding mowers are high power, effortless, comfortable, and more reliable machines. So, they are not much economical and sometimes they are unaffordable for some people. But they are reliable and durable for a long time.
On the other hand, the walk behind mowers is less expensive than the riding mowers with more reliability and durability.
Agility
Agility becomes critical when you use your mower in a harsh environment such as a hillside mowing needs.
Riding mowers are relatively less agile than walk-behind mowers, but they are the best choice for flat and large and open commercial areas. However, they offer a good turning radius.
Walk behind mowers are much better in agility than the riding mowers because they are self-propelled. They also show good results on flat ground as well as in the hilly areas. But they perform well for a specific area less than one acre. And, they design to tackle compact and sharp corners of yar including edgy and hilly areas.
Conclusion
Hence, every mower has its own space in their corresponding area of work. You should know about how much you are spending on the mower and as a result, how much the mower is giving to you. Therefore, make your investments by comparing riding mower vs walk behind mower according to the mentioned vital factors and also according to your needs and affordability.