Best Zero Turn Mowers

Read about Zero Turn Mowers and Choose the Best Option for You

Updated August 7, 2019

If you’re a homeowner, one of the responsibilities you have to keep up with is mowing your lawn. Having a lawn that’s small enough to use a push mower makes it easy to narrow down your options when buying one. However, if you have a larger yard that’s a bit too big for a push mower, a zero turn mower could save you a significant amount of time and hassle. They are extremely convenient and easy to navigate once you get used to how they maneuver.

Zero turn mowers come in various sizes, but the one consistent feature among them all is they have a zero turning radius. This simply means you can mow around trees, flower beds and other objects with ease, while cutting close to the object to minimize trimming afterward. Compare this to the traditional riding mower, where you have to stop, put it in reverse and go forward again to get around small trees and still not get as close of a cut as you’d like. There are many different types of zero turn mowers, so we’ve looked at all of them and narrowed down our three best to help guide you in making the right decision for your situation.

This review comes to you from our Mowers expert Bill
Published January 9th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Bill’s career in hardware dates back to his early childhood sitting behind the counter and learning about how to farm, make repairs, and manage a garden. Since then he has been a hardware store owner, a locksmith, and a home repair and maintenance expert for several decades. Bill knows how to solve almost any problem outside of the home in the lawn and garden, and has evaluated first-hand most products over multiple development cycles. In his spare time, you may find Bill working in his garden, tending to his perfectly manicured lawn, birdwatching, or riding his bike.

Zero Turn Mowers

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Husqvarna MZ61

Stratton Zero Turn Riding Mower

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If you’re looking for a zero turn riding mower that delivers performance, quality and a wide cutting area, then look no further than this Husqvarna mower with a this 61" cutting deck.

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The deck can be lifted conveniently with a pedal for precise cutting heights. The 27 HP Briggs and Stratton engine delivers enough power to handle virtually any cutting job no matter the season. This is the perfect mower for people who have large yards, multiple trees to mow around or even for people who have a landscaping business.

Editor's insights

The wide cutting deck gets a lot of the hype from customers who have large areas of land to mow. People who purchase this zero turn mower usually have a lot of trees to mow around, or just several acres of land in general. The most positive reviews come from customers talking about the power, ease of use, comfortable seating, armrests and adjustability to make mowing easy. Some of the critical customer reviews have to do with the weight shift of the mower when on a downhill path. The mower is stable going uphill, but you need to mow with caution when going downhill or on the side of a hill. It also takes some getting used to regarding the power and zero turn aspect of the mower, so some customers have had to deal with skid marks in their yard until they get a feel for how it works best.

Value Pick

Troy-Bilt

Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower

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For people who want a comparable riding lawn mower to zero turn mowers, but may not have the need for a full-size zero turn mower, this is one to consider.

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It includes a 30” cutting deck and five adjustable height settings to make it perfect for cutting small-to-midsize yards. The 382cc engine is powerful enough to handle any neighborhood mowing projects, and the 6-speed transmission offers flexibility to mow as quickly and as safely as you need to. The 18” turning radius is possible due to the front wheels being smaller than the rear wheels, and is one of the main reasons why customers compare it to other zero turn mowers.

Editor's insights

For the price and the size, most customers think this riding lawn mower is a great value. It cuts very evenly and is perfect for midsize neighborhood yards that don’t necessarily have to cut through tough grass, sticks or other objects. The overall consensus among customer reviews is if you have a plot of land around one acre or so, this is the perfect mower when you consider its size and price. Some customers indicate the clutch is a bit touchy and it’s hard to find the right blade setting, but most people get used to it after a few tries and some experimenting. It’s the perfect value selection for people who have yards too large for a push mower, not large enough for a big zero turn mower, but still want to get their mowing job done quickly and cleanly.

Contender

Poulan Pro P46ZX

Stratton Zero Turn Riding Mower

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This 46” deck may be perfect combined with a 22 HP Briggs & Stratton engine and six different cutting heights can cut 2.4 acres in an hour.

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The 3.5-gallon fuel capacity makes for fewer fill-ups along the way. The dual wheel hydro gear EZT transmission also allows for maximum maneuverability so you can mow close to trees, sidewalks and other objects to minimize trimming afterward.

Editor's insights

Customers who have purchased and used this Poulan PRO zero turn mower say they’ve been able to cut their mowing time by half or more. The zero turn aspect is extremely precise and it cuts perfectly whether you’re mowing in open space or around trees. It is definitely geared for people who have large areas to mow, which are typically one acre or larger. Some of the complaints people have involve the mower not being very good when mowing down a hill or alongside a hill. It also takes some getting used to when mowing around trees, since the tires can leave marks in the yard when taking sharp turns. Overall, most reviews indicate this is a solid mower for people who are on a budget, but still have a lot of land to keep maintained.

What to Look for When Evaluating Zero Turn Mowers

ne of the first things you want to look for is the size of the cutting deck. If you have to mow an acre or more of property, you could benefit greatly from a cutting deck of 60” or greater. An adjustable cutting height is also valuable and makes the zero turn mower more versatile. Some mowers will cut as low as 1” to the ground and up to 4” high or higher. This is great if you have to mow over terrain with rocks or sticks, so you can lift the deck up around those and not have to worry about the blades hitting them.

A smaller cutting deck of 42” to 46” is perfect for the homeowner who may have a larger than average yard size. You can still adjust the height of the deck to meet your needs, but the smaller deck will be easier to turn quickly when you don’t have a lot of open land to move straight ahead.

Shopping Guide for Zero Turn Mowers

In addition to the size of the cutting deck and adjustable cutting height, consider the power of the engine as well. If you’ll be cutting thick grass, sticks or tough weeds, you may opt for a 27 HP engine to ensure it will be strong enough to handle the job. But if you just want the convenience of a zero turn mower for your yard that doesn’t have any of those tough grasses, then a 382cc engine can usually get the job done as well.

If you have the opportunity to sit on a zero turn mower, take advantage of it to evaluate how comfortable it is. Most zero turn mowers will have high backrests and comfortable armrests to allow you to maneuver the mower with ease. Adjustability is important for some people in this regard as well, so it’s worth looking into how adjustable those comfort features are. This is one of the biggest reasons why you see landscaping businesses invest in zero turn mowers, since they are comfortable enough to use all day long if they need to.

But even for the homeowner or property owner who has a lot of property to mow, you owe it to yourself to be comfortable when mowing so you don’t have to deal with any aches or pains afterward. Traditional riding mowers can sometimes make you feel cramped or uncomfortable, but zero turn mowers are designed to have you seated in the most natural position possible.

Why a Zero Turn Mower?

Zero turn mowers allow for quick mowing and better ability to maneuver around garden beds and yard edges. They are an excellent choice if you have a large yard or a yard with a lot of complicated turns.

What Are the Benefits of a Zero Turn Mower?

Most people invest in a zero turn mower because they want to save time mowing their lawn and want to mow with ease. Other benefits of a zero turn mower include:

Potentially cutting your mowing time in half
Using less fuel
Cleaner cutting
More efficient and effective mulching
Reduced trimming and edging
More control of the mowing job

Sometimes people balk at purchasing zero turn mowers because they only look at the price tag and compare it to the price of traditional riding lawn mowers. However, one of the most underappreciated aspects of zero turn mowers is how much time they save. This means the engine is running for shorter periods of time during every mow, so the lifespan of the mower itself is typically longer.

Plus, if you spend less time mowing your lawn, then you won’t have to use as much gas either and you’ll have more time to work on other projects, be with your family, hang out with friends or anything else you like to do. It may take a while for the cost of a zero turn mower to pay for itself, but if you always have a yard to mow, then the benefits will continue adding up and it will likely prove to be more efficient and cost effective in the long run. Most consumers say the combination of benefits outweigh the cost of the mower in both the short-term and long-term. Learn more about other great lawn mowers.

Best Zero Turn Mowers

Read about Zero Turn Mowers and Choose the Best Option for You

This review comes to you from our Mowers expert Bill

Zero Turn Mowers

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Husqvarna MZ61

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Troy-Bilt

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Poulan Pro P46ZX

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What to Look for When Evaluating Zero Turn Mowers

Shopping Guide for Zero Turn Mowers

Why a Zero Turn Mower?

What Are the Benefits of a Zero Turn Mower?

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Best Zero Turn Mowers

Read about Zero Turn Mowers and Choose the Best Option for You

This review comes to you from our Mowers expert Bill

Zero Turn Mowers

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Husqvarna MZ61

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Troy-Bilt

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

Poulan Pro P46ZX

Bottom Line

About

Editor's insights

What to Look for When Evaluating Zero Turn Mowers

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Shopping Guide for Zero Turn Mowers

Why a Zero Turn Mower?

What Are the Benefits of a Zero Turn Mower?

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