In this video, I break down my top 5 riding lawn mowers of 2026—mixing classic lawn tractors with fast, nimble zero-turns—so you can pick the right machine without wasting time. I keep it simple: what you’re getting, who it’s for, and why it made the list. The lineup covers everything from a full-size 46-inch lawn tractor for bigger yards to a compact 30-inch rider that’s way easier to store and maneuver. I ranked the Cub Cadet XT1 (46-inch, 23HP) as a strong traditional tractor option, then jumped into zero-turn territory with the Greenworks 60V 42-inch electric and the Toro TimeCutter 42-inch 22HP gas model—two very different approaches to speed and handling. For smaller properties, I included the Cub Cadet 30-inch 10.5HP rider as the “compact but capable” pick. And at #1, I put the John Deere S100 42-inch 17.5HP lawn tractor as my best overall value-style recommendation for most homeowners who want reliable cutting without going overboard.