We have put this page together to answer the frequently asked question; “which is the best type of riding mower-zero turn vs lawn tractor?”
To answer this question as fully as we can we have broken it down into the most frequently searched features of zero turn mowers and lawn tractors and covered each one in turn below.
We have also recommended what we consider to be the best lawn tractor or zero turn mower in each case so that you can check them out and compare them to see which best suits your requirements, so here goes…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Cut Quality…
For a top quality cut and a great finish to your lawn, providing you have relatively even terrain, either a lawn tractor or zero turn mower will do the job equally well if the grass to be mowed is less than 6 inches in height. For grass over 6 inches high a lawn tractor will give the best results.
Our overall top choice of lawn tractor is the Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower…
Click here to read the full Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower review…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
On uneven terrain, the best choice would be a zero turn mower due to them being far more maneuverable. Zero turns are also better for trimming and mowing close up to and around obstacles and also for cutting down on mowing time due to not missing any grass because of their zero turn radius.
Our overall top choice of zero turn mower is the Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
For Hills And Slopes…
For mowing hills of over 15 degrees lawn tractors are better, safer, and easier to control than zero turns. However, lawn tractors can also flip on slopes so if you have hilly ground be sure to get on with a good seat belt and roll bars for protection.
And when it comes to mowing uneven ground, zero turn mowers come into their own.
We recommend checking out the Husqvarna YTH20K42 20HP 725cc Kohler 7000 42″ Lawn Tractor #960430274 lawn tractor…
Read our full Husqvarna YTH20K42 20HP 725cc Kohler 7000 42″ Lawn Tractor #960430274 review here…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And if you prefer a zero turn mower then the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 24 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower is a good choice too as it has roll over protection bars as standard…
Read our full Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 24 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower review here…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
For Flat Terrain…
Both types of mowers are great on flat terrain however if you are looking for a mower to slash your mowing time then a zero turn would be your best option here.
For a great lawn tractor mower for flat terrain check out the Craftsman T150 19 HP Briggs & Stratton Gold 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And for a really good zero turn we recommend taking a look at the Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series…
Read our full Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series review here…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Terrain Size…
For mowing small yards up to 1 acre we recommend a lawn tractor or zero turn mower with a 28″-34″ cutting deck for the best results.
Our top choice of lawn tractor style mower in this case would be the Snapper 2911525 BVE Classic RER 28 inch 11.5 HP 344cc Rear Engine Riding Mower 2691525…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And our top choice of zero turn for small yards up to 1 acre is the Ariens Zoom 34 – 19hp Kohler 6000 Series V-Twin 34″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
For mowing 1 acre a lawn tractor or zero turn with a 30″ – 42″cutting deck will do the job efficiently and effectively.
For a good choice of lawn tractor for mowing a single acre be sure to check out the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series Kohler Hydrostatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower (Lt 42 In. 18 Hp)…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And for a quality zero turn riding mower for use on a 1 acre lawn or yard, check out the Ariens IKON-X 42″ Zero Turn Mower 22hp Kohler 7000 Series #915220…
For our full Ariens IKON-X 42″ Zero Turn Mower 22hp Kohler 7000 Series #915220 review click here…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
For mowing 2 acres-you will need a riding mower with a slightly larger cutting deck of around 32″-46″.
Our recommended choice of lawn tractor for mowing 2 acres is the Craftsman T135 18.5 HP Briggs & Stratton 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And a pretty decent zero turn for mowing 2 acres is the Ariens 915213 Zero Turn Mower, 19 HP, 42 in. Cutting W…
Click here for our full Ariens 915213 Zero Turn Mower, 19 HP, 42 in. Cutting W review…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
For mowing 3 acres a cutting deck size 46″-54″ is the optimum size to get the job done efficiently without having to spend too much time mowing…
Our recommended choice of lawn tractor for mowing 3 acres is the Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Our top recommended choice of zero turn for mowing a 3 acre landscape is the Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And for mowing landscapes of 3 acres and over you will need what is known as a semi-professional style riding lawn mower with a cutting deck size 54″-61″ and may be even larger depending on the actual size of the landscape you are mowing, and how quickly you want to be able to finish the job.
Our top choice of lawn tractor mower for a 3 acre and above landscape is the Husqvarna YTH24V54 54 in. 24 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Riding Mower…
Click here to check it out on Amazon.com…
And our top recommended semi-pro zero turn riding mower for mowing 3 acres and over is the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 24 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor-Which Have The Best Engines?
When it comes down to engines, in our opinion both lawn tractors and zero turn mowers are neck and neck. All the top riding mower manufacturers offer models which are driven by one, if not all of what we consider to be the top 3 brands of lawn mower engine out there today;
- Briggs & Stratton-these are probably the best known lawn mower engines. They have a solid reputation for outstanding power, performance and reliability. These engines are pretty low maintenance but they aren’t cheap so you can expect to pay more for a riding mower with a Briggs & Stratton engine however they are well worth the money.
Our top choice of lawn tractor with Briggs & Stratton engine is the Craftsman T225 19 HP Briggs & Stratton Gold 46-Inch Gas Powered Riding Lawn Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Our top choice of zero turn with Briggs & Stratton engine is the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
- Kohler-Kohler are well known as one of the best manufacturers of lawn mower engines around. Their engines are renowned for being powerful and durable as well as delivering incredible overall performance and quality. Price-wise, although they don’t cost the earth you can still expect to pay a little above average for them.
Our top choice of lawn tractor with Kohler engine is the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series Kohler Hydrostatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower (Lt 42 In. 18 Hp)…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Our top choice of zero turn with Kohler engine is the Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
- Kawasaki- Kawasaki design and build some of the very best zero turn lawn mower engines around. Their engines offer power and reliability, along with being built to last years. They are very reasonably priced for what you get and just about every zero turn riding mower manufacturer produces Kawasaki driven machines.
Our top choice of zero turn with Kawasaki engine is the Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series…
Click here for the full Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series review…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Power…
Lawn tractors are designed and built to be workhorses. They are more versatile than zero turn mowers as they can be used for towing attachments like trailers, spreaders, sprayers and rollers, and even snow plows and therefore can be used all year round for lawn, yard and landscape maintenance.
Our top choice of lawn tractor for sheer power is the Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero turn mowers are a different kind of animal. They are designed and built for speed and maximum maneuverability and control. Zero turn mowers are great for getting the job done faster, however they can be fitted with hitches enabling them to tow various attachments too.
And our top choice of zero turn mower for power is the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Speed…
Lawn tractors are not designed for speed. They are the slow, steady and reliable workhorse designed to take care of the ‘heavy lifting’ aspect of lawn maintenance. However, as with most things, some lawn tractors do stand out from the rest in terms of speed…
Our top choice of lawn tractor for speed is the Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin which has a top forward mowing speed of 7.4 mph, and a top reverse mowing speed of 2.9 mph…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero turn mowers have more horsepower and are better for speed. There are zero turn mowers available with slower speeds which are designed primarily for smaller landscapes and for residential use.
Our top choice of zero turn mower for speed, with a top forward speed of 8.5 mph, and a top reverse mowing speed of 5.0 mph, is the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Haulage…
When it comes down to hauling attachments such as heavy-duty carts, snow plows, spreaders and sprayers, lawn tractors come out on top every time. They may be slower than zero turn mowers, but we consider hem to be far more versatile due to their haulage capabilities. The bottom line with lawn tractors is they are built to tackle just about every lawn maintenance job out there with strength, endurance and reliability.
Our top choice of lawn tractor for haulage is the ever popular Husqvarna YTA24V48 24V Fast Continuously Variable Transmission Pedal Tractor Mower, 48″/Twin…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
That’s not to say that zero turn mowers aren’t any good for towing attachments, nothing could be further from the truth. Attachments such as baggers, stripers, trailers and mulch kits, are all widely available for zero turns, and they do a great job of pulling them, but it has to be said that they are designed primarily for mowing and as such don’t have the capabilities of lawn tractors.
Our top choice of zero turn for hauling attachments is the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 24 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Control…
Whereas lawn tractors are designed to be the slow and steady workhorse of lawn maintenance, zero turn mowers are designed for speed and maximum control and maneuverability.
Lawn tractors are steered with a conventional steering wheel, zero turn mowers are steered using 2 handles, or control levers. To turn left you simply push the right lever forward and vice versa. This zero turn steering is very sensitive and responsive and allows you to literally turn on a dime, unlike lawn tractors which have a much wider turning radius.
Our top choice of zero turn mower for maneuverability is the Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Lawn tractors also have brake pedals for stopping, whereas zero turn mowers just require the control levers to be placed in the neutral position for braking, plus with zero turn mowers you have a clearer view of where you are mowing which allows you to get closer to and mow around any obstacles in your yard without having to interrupt your mowing.
Our top choice of lawn tractor for maneuverability is the Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro Series Kohler Hydrostatic Gas Front-Engine Riding Mower (Lt 42 In. 18 Hp)…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor For Price…
Riding mowers can be quite expensive to buy, the most expensive option being zero turn mowers. That being said, the value of a zero turn, or a lawn tractor style mower is always going to be in the results it produces and so selecting the right mower for the size and type of terrain it is to be used on will essentially determine its overall value to you as the user.
Another consideration here may be the cost of your mowers regular maintenance to ensure optimum performance. As far as maintenance goes, both zero turns and lawn tractors come out round about even.
Our top choice of lawn tractor in terms of price is the Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower…
Click here for the full Troy-Bilt 382cc 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower review…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
And our top choice of zero turn mower in terms of price is the Ariens Zoom 34 – 19hp Kohler 6000 Series V-Twin 34″ Zero Turn Lawn Mower…
Check it out on Amazon.com here…
The Verdict…Zero Turn vs Lawn Tractor-Which Is The Best?
As you can probably see from reading this page, there really is no clear winner as to which is the best type of riding lawn mower.
A better question to ask, among others, may be “which is the best for the results you require for your terrain size and type?”
Hopefully the information on this page will help you answer this question and speed up your search for the best riding mower for your own particular individual requirements.
