The 10 Best Zero Turn Mowers for the Money

Buyers Guide Questions

Who Makes The Best Commercial Zero Turn Mower?

There are a lot of great lawn mowers on the market, but when it comes to investing in a commercial grade mower you want to make sure you’re investing your money wisely. In order to ensure this, you’ll need to take several things into consideration. The first, and perhaps most important thing you’ll want to do, is to consider the engine behind the product you’re thinking about investing in. How much power is it capable of putting out?

Are you able to find any other engine that can match or surpass the specifications of the mower that you’re looking at? The best engines on the market tend to be built by Kawasaki and Briggs & Stratton Vanguard. These two engine manufacturers are consistent in their impressive results with both power and efficiency. If you can find a ZTR mower with one of their engines, you’ll be making a good investment.

The next thing you’ll want to take a look at is what kind of suspension the mower has. If you’re investing in a commercial grade mower, chances are that you’re going to be logging a lot of work hours with the machine. If this is the case, you’ll want to invest in a full suspension device. Not only will the suspension mechanism make the work more comfortable and bearable for you, it will also ensure that you’re able to get the most out of your mower.

Full suspension mechanisms work better when it comes to contouring and getting a good trim on your lawn. You’ll also get by with fewer repairs thanks to the reduced shock and impact. Last but not least, you’ll want to make sure that you invest in the best mowing deck. Commercial grade no-turn mowers are able to do an impressive amount of work thanks to their large mowing paths. However, a large mowing path isn’t all you should be taking into consideration when you look into the ideal zero turn.

Many commercial grade machines are able to push grass up with their sloped fronts and provide other features that make for better investment incentive than a wide mowing path. You’ll want to investigate all of the available features thoroughly before you decide on which deck works well for you. When it comes to the most reliable brand and most reliable manufacturer of ZTR mowers, we have to look to Husqvarna.

This company is dedicated to producing top quality machines that are able to consistently produce impressive results. If you want a company that you can rely on to take care of your lawn mowing needs, Husqvarna is the smartest investment.

Commercial Zero Turn Mower Comparison Chart

When it comes to commercial grade mowers, you have a lot of options to turn to. There are a lot of great companies on the market that produce best quality zero turn mowers, but when it comes down to quality, performance, and price, three brands stand out from the rest.

Husqvarna

Husqvarna is one of the best brands for any homeowner to invest in. They have a wide variety of no turn mowers to work with and offer a lot of variety. The company has years of experience when it comes to crafting best quality machines and it shows the standard of excellence that comes with each mower they craft. They offer powerful and efficient machines that are able to make smooth transitions and operate fairly quietly compared to the industry standard.

Ariens

Ariens is a great company that offers a good cut. They are a great company to go with if you can’t find a Husqvarna that fits your needs. They offer best quality machines that are best for getting work done quickly and efficiently. They also tend to work much more quietly than other brands, so if you live or work in neighborhoods that have noise restrictions this could be a great investment for you.

Poulan Pro

If you want a top quality commercial Zero turn that allows you to stay within a budget, this is a great brand to go with. You’ll be able to maintain all of the great benefits that come with having a commercial grade mower without having to pay the same price that you’d have to with brands like Husqvarna or Ariens. It’s a great compromise for anyone who needs a high powered machine to take care of their landscaping work.

What is a Zero Turn Mower?

Zero turn mowers serve as a great advancement in the lawn care industry. They allow homeowners to take care of their lawns in record time and without having to exert as much energy or effort. These mowers get their name from their ability to turn on a zero degree turn radius. This simply means that a ZTR can turn in a full circle without having to cover any extra ground.

The zero turn is a great investment for homeowners who don’t want to have to spend too much time taking care of their lawn but still want to make sure they get a good cut. You’ll be able to work the mower easily with a system of controls that requires minimum effort to operate.

How to Lift a Zero Turn Mower?

Zero turn mowers are great investments when it comes to lawn care, but servicing them could prove to be difficult if you don’t have the right equipment. These machines are heavy and could be damaged if you try to lift or turn them without the proper machinery.

The most efficient way to lift a zero turn machine is to use a maintenance lift or lift jack. These machines are specially designed to handle lifting larger machines like ZTR mowers.  They will allow you to easily access the bottom of your machine so you can sharpen your blades or otherwise care for your mower.

In terms of lawn care you may ask yourself what to do with all that cut grass and garden waste? Easy! Grab a compost bin to efficiently decompose your garden waste in an environmentally friendly way.

Do Zero Turn Mowers Have Brakes?

Most zero turn mowers do not have a foot pedal brake like traditional modern riding mowers do. However, there is a way to slow and brake the device. The speed of the mower is determined by the levers on the machine. As long as the levers are neutral, the machine won’t move forward.

If you’re moving the machine forward or in reverse, all you have to do is push the levers back towards their neutral position to ensure that you’ll be able to slow down to a more comfortable speed or stop. If you wish to pause your work or park the mower, simply disengage the blades and turn on the parking brake. This will ensure that the machine won’t move until you’re ready to start working again.

Different Types of Zero Turn Mowers

There are several different types of zero turn mowers available on the market and it is important to know the distinguishing features of each one of them before you make an investment. Though all models have the same general design, the subcategories have several important distinguishing features that set them apart from each other. The first and perhaps most common type of ZTR mower is the residential model. These mowers are built for properties that are larger than one acre but aren’t much bigger than two acres.

They allow you to get work done quickly and efficiently. These models make great tools for homeowners who need to take care of their yard but don’t have more than a few hours of work to do every time they use their machine. A residential model zero turn mower will get the job done without forcing you to make an investment that will largely go unused. If you have more than a few hours of work to do with your mower or will be using it on a fairly regular or daily basis, the prosumer option will be the better investment for you.

You’ll be able to get work done more quickly and effectively than a residential model. Additionally, you’ll be able to work longer hours without the wear and tear showing up on the mower you’re working with. These mowers are exceptionally good for those who need to mow large estates or who owns a landscaping business and need to make a budget buy. They are significantly different from residential models, though not as sturdy as commercial grade models.

The third and final investment you can make is to buy a commercial grade zero turn. These devices are the strongest and most durable machines that you could hope to buy. They have superior suspension models, powerful engines, and easy to use controls. They often tend to come with features that can’t be found on residential and prosumer models. If you have a landscaping business and have enough money to make an investment into a zero turn mower, this is the model you should be investing in.

These machines tend to be more durable (no plastic parts) and resilient, making them best for those with contract work. You’ll be able to get the most work and good use out of this model, making it one of the ideal investments you could hope for.

Is Zero Turn Mower Worth It?

Many homeowners hate the process that comes with taking care of their lawns. It’s a tiring and tedious process that seems to never end. However, the creation of Zero turn lawn mowers has helped to make this task much more bearable. These mowers make it possible to complete a wider application of different tasks in a shorter amount of time. Even though homeowners have heard about all the amazing features and benefits zero turn lawn mowers have to offer, many of them aren’t certain about whether a ZTR machine would be a good investment for their family.

Luckily, there are several things you can take into account before you have to make an investment. The first thing you should think about when considering investing in a zero turn lawn mower is the size of your yard. If you have a yard that is less than an acre in size, you shouldn’t invest in a zero turn lawn mower. These machines are built to help simplify the lawn mowing process, but they won’t make too much of a difference unless you have a lawn that is big enough for them to work with.

If your lawn is bigger than an acre, you can invest in one of these machines. However, to ensure that you’re getting the best value for what you need, you should evaluate the capabilities of each machine carefully and make sure that it can perform well under the conditions that you’ll be operating it in. As a general rule, for properties that are larger than one acre but don’t require more than three to four hours of work, a residential model will work well.

For properties that require more than three to four hours of work or for landscaping business owners who need to make a budget purchase, a prosumer model is the smartest choice. For professional landscapers who need a durable machine that can get work done quickly that aren’t limited by a budget, a commercial grade mower is the better option. The next thing you should take into consideration is the type of ground you’ll be working on.

Do you have a lot of hills and slopes in your yard? If so, a zero degree machine might not be the wisest use of your money.  Any hill or slope that exceeds 10 to 15 degrees is too steep to be mowed with a zero turn mower. The grade of the hill may prove to be too much for the machine to handle, causing it to tear your grass, slip, or even topple over.

Furthermore, if your yard is mainly made up of hills and slopes, it could be very tedious to try to take care of them with this type of lawn mower. If you don’t have problems with either of these categories, a zero degree machine will work wonders for your yard. It will prove to be an invaluable investment and will quickly pay for itself.

What to Look For When Buying a Zero Turn Mower?

If you’re in the market to buy a zero turn mower, you’ll want to make sure that you’re able to get the most out of your investment that you possibly can. To ensure that you’re getting the smartest buy for your money, you’ll need to take a few things into consideration before you make your purchase. The following is a list of features you should monitor carefully while you investigate different zero turn lawn mower models on the market.

Engine HP

Power makes a big difference when it comes to taking care of a task like mowing the lawn. The more horsepower you have backing your machine, the better off you’ll be when it comes to getting your work done more quickly and efficiently. You’ll be able to power through your workday with impressive speed and precision as long as you make sure that the power you have backing your machine is ample for the work that you’ll need to do.

If you have a property that is not much larger than an acre or doesn’t require more than a few hours of work, you’ll be able to get by with a lower horsepower model. However, if you have a large estate or do professional landscaping work, you’ll need a machine with plenty of horsepowers to spare when you’re working.

Cut Width

A powerful engine will make a big difference when it comes to getting work done, but having the proper cutting with can be just as important. The cutting width (also referred to as mowing path) is very important when it comes to making a good investment. Many homeowners think that having the biggest cutting width will make the biggest impact, but this isn’t necessarily true. While you may be able to mow the open areas of your lawn quickly with a wide mowing path, you’ll still have to account for obstacles in the yard that you’ll need to work around.

If you’re working in lawns that have several garden areas or other forms of decorative plant life, you’ll want to make sure that the cutting platform isn’t too big to fit between them. The key to finding the best cutting width is to find a platform that is wide enough to take care of large parts of your yard while also being small enough to easily maneuver through tight spaces. You may also want to invest in a durable wheelbarrow for your gardening needs.

Transmission

If you’re investing in a residential type zero turn mower, you may be able to get by with using a lower level transmission. Low grade transmissions don’t have any problem when it comes to taking care of small yard work. However, if you have a fairly large estate to take care of or need a machine that can keep up with the demands of full time landscaping, you’re going to need a more powerful transmission. Not having the proper transmission could lead to bigger problems later on.

If it comes down to buying a cheaper machine with a weak transmission or buying a more expensive model with a better transmission, you should always pay extra. Not doing so could cause you to ruin the transmission on your machine and spend more money trying to repair or replace it than you would have if you had simply bought the more reliable model in the first place.

Fuel Capacity

When looking for your best fit, you’re also going to want to take the fuel capacity into consideration. This will be especially important if you have a large lawn to work with or do professional work with your mower. You’ll want to make sure that you have a fuel tank that is capable of taking care of your needs without requiring you to stop and constantly refuel your tank.

Weight

Last but not least, consider the weight of the mower you’re investing in. If you need the machine to do landscaping work, you don’t want the mower to be too heavy to easily transport the device from place to place. You’ll also want to be sure that it isn’t too heavy for the lift jack or lift machine you have. If this is the case, you won’t be able to use your lift to get under the machine and sharpen your blades.

Top Pick

The Husqvarna 967271501 is one of the best designed mowers that we’ve seen on the market. The machine is built with powerful and durable parts that are made to last for years to come. You’ll be able to work quickly and efficiently with this powerful machine. The Husqvarna 967271501 is equipped with a Briggs and Stratton engine – one of the leading zero turn engine providers on the market.

These engines are built to withstand heavy use and will make one of the smartest investments you could hope for. You’ll be able to depend on them for years to come thanks to their superior design and performance.

You’ll also be able to take advantage of the enhanced lift this machine is able to generate thanks to the oversized cooling fans. This combined with the ergonomic controls makes the Husqvarna 967271501 a great investment for any home owner

Premium Choice

If you’re in need of a commercial grade zero turn, the Ariens 25HP is one of the smartest investments you could make. The machine is powerful and built with sturdy materials that are made to last for years to come. The design allows you to maneuver through many different obstacles without compromising on the mowing path of the machine.

Additionally, the Ariens 25HP zero turn boasts an impressive power output of 25 horsepower. You’ll be able to cruise through all your contracts with the exceptional power that backs this machine. You’ll also have 9 different cutting heights to choose from, ensuring that you’ll be able to meet all the needs and preferences of your customers.

Last but not least, the Ariens 25HP zero turn makes sure that you won’t need to stop working until the end of your business day. The machine has an excellent ergonomic design that helps to ensure your comfort throughout the day. In addition to this, it also boasts a six gallon fuel tank that will keep the motor running long into the evening.

Great Value

The Poulan Pro P46Z Briggs V-Twin is an impressive device that will help you cut down your mowing times considerably while still maintaining (click for study) a budget price. You’ll be able to get in plenty of work in a record amount of time. Compared to a traditional riding mower, the Poulan Pro P46Z Briggs V-Twin has the ability to cut down your mowing time by half – if not more.

You’ll be able to use this speed to capitalize on business ventures and expanding your company. You’ll also be able to take advantage of the best size of the Poulan Pro P46Z Briggs V-Twin. You’ll be able to maneuver easily throughout the space in the lawns you work thanks to the 46 inch deck. For fuel savings using a Zero Turn Mower read this study.

This ensures that the machine is small enough to be versatile, while still large enough to have a respectable mowing path. You’ll also have the well built 22 horsepower Briggs & Stratton engine to ensure that you’re able to use your fuel and your time as efficiently as possible. As far as value buys go, this is one of the best options on the market. You can read more about how Zero turn mowers can help commercially here.