How Many Hours on a Riding Lawnmower is a Lot?

Modern riding lawn mowers come in a wide range of sizes, qualities and designs. They also vary in specifications and functionality.

The life expectancy of a riding mower is based on the type and lawn mower brand. 

Your riding mower can last for about ten to fifteen years. In hours, this  will be around 500-1000 hours. With proper care and maintenance, your riding lawn mower can last for 15-20 years.

Riding mowers are quite expensive, so they are expected to last for a considerable amount of time.

Although the manufacturer’s warranty provides a few years for safety, proper care and maintenance can make the mower last longer.

Average Life Expectancy of Riding Lawn Mowers

A well-maintained average-sized riding mower from a reputable company can last up to ten to fifteen years of service life.

Depending on the manufacturer and size, mowers vary in load-carrying capacity. The number of hours they last also differs. 

Below are some lawn mower brands with their life expectancy:

• Husqvarna
  Husqvarna produces several mowers for different lawn sizes. Husqvarna lawn mowers perform incredibly well in low workload scenarios and are good for 400- 800 hours depending on their use.

• Cub Cadet
  Cub Cadet mowers are much similar to Husqvarna in terms of life expectancy and functionality. So, they can last up to 500-1000 hours. Proper care and maintenance can extend their lifespan.

• Briggs and Stratton
  They manufacture small-sized riding lawn mowers for normal-level workloads. Their riding mowers last for about 500 hours. If they are properly maintained, they can last up to 1000 hours or more.

• John Deere
  John Deere machines are much sturdier than several lawn mowers. The smaller models can last up to 500-1000 hours while large models that have a two or four-cylinder engine may last up to 1500-2000 hours. 

The manner of usage may determine the number of hours. With proper care, these machines can last for 15+ years.

Dependency on the Size of The Engine

Gas-powered riding mower engines vary from small-sized single-cylinder piston engines to larger double-cylinder or four-cylinder piston engines.

A single-cylinder riding mower engine can last up to 500-750 hours because it has a greater workload from the single piston.

Mowers with a larger engine will last up to 1000-1500 if it is properly maintained. Those that have two cylinders have lesser work than the ones with just one..

It is important to note that the hour rating of your mower is related to the engine life.

In the case of riding mowers, several other parts can also define their final life expectancy.

Lawnmower Build Quality and Usage

The lifespan of your riding mower depends on the way you use it.

Riding lawn mowers are quite expensive; hence they require adequate care and maintenance. You need to check and change the oil regularly.

Furthermore, the air filters need regular cleaning.

Using a small riding mower on long grass, thick grass and twigs might make it last up to 200-350 hours instead of 400-500 hours.

In contrast, a large and powerful riding lawn mower might not face such a massive difference.

Domestic lawn mowers that are used for commercial purposes might not last as long as the estimated life.

The yard size can affect the mower’s shelf life because the size exceeds its design.

Other parts that have their own life include blades, engine, gas tank and carburetor.

How to Increase the Number of Hours that a Lawn Mower Will Last

Here are some factors that can increase the life expectancy of your riding lawn mower:

• Clean the air filter regularly.
• Sharpen the blades after 30-40 hours of mowing and once per season.
• Check the belts for wear and damage. Replace when necessary.
• Check spark plugs regularly.
• Change the oil after fifty hours or annually.

Bottom Line

With adequate care and maintenance, your riding lawn mower can work for many years.

An average riding mower can last for 10-15 years or 1000-1500 hours. If not properly maintained, you can expect half of that.