The 5 Best Zero Turn Lawn Mowers for the Money in 2020 Reviews & Buying Guide

As per the name, a zero turn lawn mower is essentially a riding lawn mower that offers almost a zero turning radius. This allows you to get them in any corner of your backyard with ease. And if you also want one, then you need to consider various factors including the following:

  • Cutting Width: The cutting width of any lawn mower, including a zero turn mower, tells you the amount of grass it cuts at once. As a result, a cutting width of 61 inches will offer better performance than a 52 inch wide cutting blade.
  • Engine Power: As you would expect, these zero turn lawn mowers are powered by gas engines that power the cutting blade as well as the wheels. And a 24 HP gas engine of a zero turn lawn mower will perform much better than 19 HP gas engine.
  • Comfort: Since you have to use a zero turn lawn mower while riding it, it needs to be comfortable along with an ergonomic sitting position. It ensures that you can cut the grass in a large backyard for a long time at once without getting tired.

You can find some of the best zero turn lawn mowers in this article, along with their major features and differences. We have also mentioned a detailed Buying Guide with all of the details regarding these lawn mowers. Thus, you can easily choose the perfect zero turn lawn mower for you by going through this article until the end.

Best Zero Turn Lawn Mowers on the Market

Zero Turn Lawn MowerCutting Width Engine PowerWarrantyBuy Now
Ariens Zero Turn Mower52 inch23 HP3 years Check the Price
Husqvarna MZ61 Zero-Turn Riding Mower61 inch24 HP3 years Check the Price
Ariens Zoom Kohler 6000 Series Zero Turn Lawn Mower34 inch19 HP3 years Check the Price
Husqvarna Z248F Zero-Turn Riding Mower48 inch21.5 HP3 years Check the Price
Troy-Bilt Mustang Zero-Turn Mower54 inch25 HP3 years Check the Price

Top Zero Turn Lawn Mowers for 2020: Reviews

1. Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower

Ariens Zero Turn Mower

Ariens is a highly popular brand of lawn mowers that is known for making powerful options of all kinds.

The Ariens 915223 IKON-X zero turn lawn mower is present in the 1st position in this article as it offers a lot of things for its given price. It comes with a decently large 52-inch cutting deck size that allows you to cut a lot of grass at once. Since this blade is powered by a highly powerful Kawasaki FR691 series 23 HP engine, it offers a great grass cutting performance. You also get a 3-year warranty with this engine for durability and reliability.

This zero turn lawn mower also offers an excellent build quality due to its fully tubular steel frame. As a result, you can easily use it for a long time without any issues. It comes with a 4 point dual arm deck hanging system that is quite useful. The seat of this zero turn lawn mower has soft padding along with a high backrest. And since the arm wrests of this lawn mower are also padded, you can comfortably use the Ariens Ikon-X lawn mower for a long time.

Best Features:

  • 52-inch cutting deck size
  • 726 CC engine
  • 23 HP engine power
  • 3-year warranty
  • 4 point dual arm deck hanging system
  • Padded and high backrest seat
  • Fully tubular steel frame
  • Dial operated blade height adjustment system

Components:

  • Riding lawn mower
  • User manual
  • Warranty card
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2. Husqvarna MZ61 Zero-Turn Riding Mower

Husqvarna Zero Turn Riding Mower

Husqvarna is one of the oldest brands of chainsaws and lawn mowers that needs no introduction. Apart from making all kinds of chainsaws, you can also find various lawn mower offerings from Husqvarna, including a zero turn lawn mower.

Husqvarna’s MZ61 zero turn lawn mower is present in the 2nd position in this article as it offers one of the largest cutting deck sizes. As per its name, you get a 61-inch wide cutting blade or deck size in this lawn mower. And since this is much larger than all of the other options present in this article, you can expect to cut a lot of grass at once using this blade. This blade is powered by a 24 HP engine from Kawasaki that offers excellent performance.

Since both Kawasaki, as well as Husqvarna, are highly reputable brands, you get a 3-year warranty and a great build quality with this zero turn lawn mower. It uses an 11 gauge steel cutting deck that is quite sturdy. You can either discharge, mulch, or bag the grass that you cut using this zero turn lawn mower. It also offers a 9-bushel triple bag collection system that can be quite handy. The padded hand grips and vibration dampeners of this lawn mower are quite useful

Best Features:

  • 61-inch cutting deck size
  • 24 HP engine power
  • 3-year warranty
  • Up to 8 MPH speed
  • Comes with rollover protection
  • Adjustment for seat
  • 3 in 1 grass cutting modes
  • 9-bushel triple bag collection system
  • Foam padded hand grips with vibration dampeners

Components:

  • Riding lawn mower
  • User manual
  • Warranty card
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3. Ariens Zoom 34 – 19hp Kohler 6000 Series Zero Turn Lawn Mower

Ariens Zoom lawn mower

We have yet another zero turn lawn mower option from Ariens as it offers all kinds of options out there. But when compared with the previous option, this one is much smaller in terms of its deck size.

This Ariens Zoom 34 zero turn lawn mower is present in the 3rd position in this article as it can be an excellent option for a lot of users who are looking for a compact and small zero turn lawn mower. As this lawn mower comes with a cutting deck size of just 34 inches, it is much smaller than most other options available out there. Due to this, it can be a great option if you want to use one at your home without taking a lot of space in your garage.

As per the name of this lawn mower, it offers a Kohler 6000 series V-Twin gas engine. It can generate a power of 19 HP that is more than enough for its given blade size. This 660 CC engine is also quite reliable, which means that you can use it for a long time. Just like the previous option from Ariens, this one also comes with a 3-year warranty. Despite its smaller size, it is quite comfortable to use due to its well-padded seat.

Best Features:

  • 34-inch cutting deck size
  • 660 CC V-Twin engine
  • 19 HP engine power
  • 3-year warranty
  • 12 gauge steel construction
  • Foot-operated deck lift
  • 4 point deck hanging system
  • Speed of up to 6 MPH

Components:

  • Riding lawn mower
  • User manual
  • Warranty card
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4. Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. 21.5 HP Zero-Turn Riding Mower

Husqvarna z248f riding mower

As mentioned earlier, Husqvarna makes a wide range of lawn mower options, including multiple zero turn lawn mower offerings. Thus, we are here yet another zero-turn mower from Husqvarna.

The Husqvarna Z248F zero turn lawn mower can be a great option as it offers a great balance between size and cutting performance. This is due to the reason that it comes with a 48-inch cutting blade that is neither too big or small. And since this lawn mower is powered by a Kawasaki 21.5 HP motor, you can expect great performance from it. In other words, it can be used to cut a lot of grass at once without any issues.

As you would expect, this zero turn lawn mower also comes with a 3-year warranty due to its Kawasaki engine, just like the previous option present in this article. Its engine offers a maximum speed of 6.5 MPH that is quite decent for most users out there. You get 3 grass cutting modes in this lawn mower that allows you to either discharge, mulch, or bag the grass that you cut. It even offers a comfortable seat for using this lawn mower for a long time without any issues.

Best Features:

  • 48-inch cutting deck size
  • 5 HP engine power
  • 3-year warranty
  • Speed of up to 6.5 MPH
  • 3 cutting modes
  • Hydrostatic transmission for reliability
  • Discharge, mulch, or bag the clippings
  • High-performance blades

Components:

  • Riding lawn mower
  • User manual
  • Warranty card
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5. Troy-Bilt Mustang 54 25HP 54-Inch Zero-Turn Mower

Troy-Bilt Mustang Zero-Turn Mower

Last but not least, we have Troy Bilt that also makes various kinds of lawn mowers. And as you would expect, it also makes multiple zero turn lawn mowers, including the Mustang 54.

The Troy Bilt Mustang 54 zero turn lawn mower, you get a 54-inch cutting deck size that is quite large. It allows you to easily cut a lot of grass at once. You also get a highly powerful 25 HP gas engine from Briggs & Stratton Intek twin-cylinder engine. This is much more powerful than most 21 HP or 22 HP engines found in other lawn mowers out there. Due to this, you can expect an excellent performance from it while cutting grass.

You can use this engine to achieve a maximum speed of 7 MPP along with a reverse speed of 2.5 MPH. As a result, you can quickly cut all of the grass in your backyard without any issues. This lawn mower also offers 4 deck gauge wheels and a rear roller for ease of use while cutting grass in your backyard. It also provides a fuel site gauge that can be quite handy to get an idea of the remaining range of your lawn mower.

Best Features:

  • 54-inch cutting deck size
  • 724 CC engine
  • 25 HP engine power
  • 3-year warranty
  • 4 deck gauge wheels
  • Rear roller for added efficiency
  • Forward speed of up to 7 MPH
  • Reverse speed of up to 2.5 MPH
  • Inbuilt fuel site gauge

Components:

  • Riding lawn mower
  • User manual
  • Warranty card
Buy Now From Amazon

Buying Guide for the Best Zero Turn Lawn Mower

We have mentioned some of the best zero turn lawn mower options in this article, along with all of their features and options. But if you still have any doubts regarding these lawn mowers, you might not be able to choose the perfect one for you. Therefore, we are here with a detailed buying guide with all of the essential details regarding such zero turn lawn mowers. As a result, you can easily choose the perfect one for you by following this buying guide until the end:

1. Cutting Deck Size

The easiest and simplest to differentiate between different lawn mowers is to check their cutting deck size. It simply tells you the size of the cutting blade offered by a given zero turn lawn mower. As you would expect, a larger blade size can cut a lot of grass at once without any issues. But it also affects the overall size of the lawn mower, as we will see later on in this buying guide.

You can find cutting deck size or blade size options like 48 inch or 54 inch while buying a zero turn lawn mower. And when compared, the larger 54-inch blade will offer a better cutting performance. It can cut more grass than a 48 inch one at a time.

2. Cutting Blade Speed

You can also check the cutting blade speed offered by a given zero turn lawn mower to get an idea about its cutting performance. Different lawn mower options out there provide a different maximum blade speed as per the requirements of different users. Generally, a higher blade speed offers clean cuts with a higher cutting performance while using your zero turn lawn mower in your backyard.

Just like various other power tools, the tool head speed or the blade speed of a lawn mower is also mentioned in RPM. As RPM stands for rounds per minute, it tells you how fast the blade of a lawn mower is spinning. You can find blade speed options like 1500 RPM or 2000 RPM, where a higher 2000 RPM rating offers better cutting performance.

3. Engine Power

As you would expect, all of the zero turn lawn mower options out there are powered by a gas engine. This gas engine is quite important as it powers the motor as well as the wheels of your zero turn lawn mower. Due to this, you should check the engine power of lawn mowers before buying one. In most cases, this engine power is mentioned in HP or horsepower, where a higher HP rating will result in higher cutting speed as well as a fast lawn mower moving speed.

Most of the zero turn lawn mower options out there come with a 21 HP or a 23 HP engine. And as you would expect, the 23 HP engine will perform better than the 21 HP one while offering a much better cutting performance.

4. Engine Capacity

A larger engine capacity corresponds to a higher engine power rating for a better grass cutting performance. Just like any other gas engine, lawn mowers also mention their engine capacity in CC or cubic centimeter. You can find options like 660 CC or 720 CC gas engines while buying a zero turn lawn mower for yourself.

And when compared, the 720 CC engine will offer better performance in terms of the grass cutting performance as well as the driving speed of the given lawn mower. But a large engine capacity might result in lower efficiency that can cause higher fuel consumption.

5. Range

A great thing about zero turn lawn mowers is that they are powered by a gas engine. Due to this, they are not tethered by any power cord that makes them quite versatile. But just like a vehicle, such lawn mowers have a maximum range, after which they will run out of fuel. Therefore, you should check the range offered by a given lawn mower to get an idea of this. You can do so by checking the fuel efficiency as well as the gas tank size offered by a given zero turn lawn mower.

As you would expect, a larger fuel tank along with a low fuel consumption will result in a longer range for your zero turn lawn mower. Such options can be used for a long time without refueling the gas tank again and again.

6. Comfort

Since most zero turn lawn mowers get used for commercial usage, you might have to use it for a long time. And since you have to ride them just like a small vehicle, they need to be comfortable. Otherwise, you can have back pain issues if you use your zero turn lawn mower frequently. You can ensure that a given zero turn lawn mower is comfortable enough by simply checking the seat padding offered by it.

Any lawn mower that offers padded seats, handles, levers, and other things are considered to be highly comfortable. A lot of zero turn lawn mowers also allow you to change the seat position as per your wish. This can be quite handy to ensure that you have an ergonomic sitting position while using your zero turn lawn mower for cutting the grass in your lawn.

7. Controls

You can find a wide range of controls on a zero turn lawn mower that is quite handy for precisely cutting the grass in your lawn. This mainly includes the controls for the blade speed of your lawn mower. As a result, you can adjust the RPM speed of your lawn mower blade as per your requirements. Many zero turn lawn mowers also allow you to change the height of the cutting blade. This directly affects the length of the grass in your backyard once you have trimmed it.

Generally, you get a cutting blade height range that can be adjusted as per your needs. Since zero turn lawn mowers are just like a small vehicle, you can also find a steering wheel along with speed control in them. This allows you to adjust their forward or reverse direction speed as per your need.

While some options offer a maximum speed of 5 MPH, others might have a speed of 8 MPH. And in most cases, a higher speed of 5 MPH allows you to cut a lot of grass quickly and easily.

8. Size

As mentioned earlier, the cutting deck size of a given zero turn lawn mower directly affects its physical size. And since zero turn lawn mowers come with large cutting blade sizes of 48 inches or 52 inches or more, they can be quite large in size. This can be an issue if you have a small-sized backyard and garage. As you would expect, a larger lawn mower takes more space in your garage when not in use. Therefore, you should select the size of your lawn mower as per your needs and requirements.

9. Durability and Reliability

Most of the zero turn lawn mowers out there get used for commercial usage or large-sized lawns. This means that you will be cutting a lot of grass using your zero turn lawn mowers. Therefore, you should buy a zero turn lawn mower that is durable enough and allows you to use it for a long time without any issues. The build quality offered by a zero turn lawn mower also affects its durability and reliability. As you would expect, a lawn mower that uses a tubular steel frame or a 12 gauge steel construction can easily last for a long time.

Thankfully, just like any other power tool, you can ensure that a given lawn mower is durable enough by checking the warranty duration offered by it. Most of the zero turn lawn mower options out there provide a 2 year or a 3-year warranty. Some options even offer extended warranty options that allow you to use them for a long time without running into any issues.

Conclusion

If you want a lawn mower that is highly powerful and comfortable to use while offering precise control while cutting grass, then zero turn lawn mowers can be a great option. Since these are quite popular, you can find a wide range of options out there, including the best zero turn lawn mowers present in this article. You can also find their significant features and options, along with a detailed buying guide. This comprehensive buying guide has all of the things that can come in handy while buying one for yourself. Although, if you still have any doubts and cannot choose the perfect one for you, here are some of our recommendations:

  • The Ariens 915223 IKON-X zero turn lawn mower offers a lot of things for its given price to the user. As per its name, it comes with a large 52-inch cutting deck size that allows you to cut a lot of grass at once. This blade is powered by a highly powerful 23 HP engine that offers great performance for cutting the grass in your backyard lawn. The seat of this zero turn lawn mower is also quite comfortable and ergonomic. And since it uses a Kawasaki FR691 series engine, it comes with a 3-year warranty.
  • But if you want a large-sized zero turn lawn mower for commercial usage or large-sized lawns, then you can go with the Husqvarna MZ61 zero turn lawn mower. This lawn mower offers a cutting blade size of 61 inches that is much larger when compared with all other options present in this article. It is powered by a Kawasaki engine that generates 24 HP that is more than enough for most users out there. Husqvarna also offers a 3-year warranty with this lawn mower for peace of mind.
  • Most of the zero turn lawn mowers out there are quite large in size. As a result, if you want a smaller one for use at your home, then you can go with the Ariens Zoom 34 zero turn lawn mower. Just as per its name, you get a 34-inch cutting blade in this lawn mower that is much smaller than most other options out there. It is powered by a Kohler 19 HP engine that offers decent performance for the given blade size. Unfortunately, since this is an affordable option from Ariens, it only comes with a 2-year warranty.

Make sure to share your thoughts in the comments section. You can also post any questions down there if you have any!

The post The 5 Best Zero Turn Lawn Mowers for the Money in 2020 Reviews & Buying Guide appeared first on Electronics Hub.

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