The Best Zero Turn Mower for 2024

The best zero-turn mower was at one time only ever used by professional landscapers, nowadays they have become increasingly popular with homeowners too.

The maneuverability of these type of mowers is simply amazing. Do you know why they’re called zero-turn mowers? It’s because they really can “spin on a dime.”

The name says it all. “Zero turn” refers to the fact that they literally have a zero inch turning radius. They turn on their own footprint.

Anyway, width cutting options, cutting positions and cutting heights are all important things to consider when deciding on which mower to buy.

Suitability of course is another very important consideration. You need a zero turn mower that can make short work of the job in hand. It must have the capacity to work effectively and efficiently.

So, let’s take a look at the best ones out there.

Click below to jump to each section

Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards
Alternative Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards
Best for Medium-Sized Yards
Alternative Best Pick for Medium-Sized Yards
Best for Small-Sized Yards
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Worthy Mentions

The Best Zero Turn Mowers Reviewed

Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards: Husqvarna MZ61

Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards

Husqvarna MZ61

The Husqvarna MZ61 just loves hard work, and with a Briggs and Stratton Endurance V-Twin 810 cc engine producing 27 HP and a top speed of 8 mph, it’s to the mower world what Team Penske is to IndyCar.

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You can really cover a lot of ground with this mower, and if you need to work fast, you’ve certainly got the speed to do just that.

Weighing in at 770 lbs and with a cutting width of 61 inches, and a cutting height ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 inches this zero turn mower is capable of mowing 4.2 acres/hr, with a choice of cutting methods, collect, mulch and side discharge making it a firm favorite for residential and professional property maintenance.

The Husqvarna MZ61 has a very sturdy heavy-duty 2” x 3” tube chassis steel frame and a commercially rated hydraulic system. So you can check that it will fit into your mower storage shed, size wise this zero turn mower is 75 inches in length and 42 inches in height, and with the chute down, the width measurement comes to 76 inches and with the chute up measures 62.3 inches.

A high-back seat with armrests, foam-padded hand-grips, and vibration dampeners all help to keep the driver feeling comfortable and secure, there’s even the option to adjust the steering levers to your own requirements.

Keeping you heading in the right direction whilst also taking it easy on the turf is the 6-inch wide front casters with durable long-life pneumatic tires.

As for cutting the grass, there’s a pedal-assisted cutting deck lifting system that offers you quick precise cutting height adjustment, which is all done from the comfort of the operator’s seat. And if you need to get to the spindles and deck belt pulleys, that’s easy too as there’s a removable foot pan for easy access and clean up.

What We Like:

Powerful Engine – Briggs and Stratton Endurance V-Twin Air-cooled 810 cc engine provides the power that makes this zero turn mower a winner. And don’t worry about fuel stops, there’s a big 5-gallon gasoline fuel tank to keep you working for longer.
Big Cutting Capacity – With a fabricated 11 gauge 61-inch steel cutting deck and 12 step height adjustment combined with a top speed of 8 MPH you’ll be able to mow up to 4.2 acres per hour.
Operator comfort – A high back, vinyl-covered spring seat with armrests provides the operator with comfort, and you even get a cup holder too.
Service Reminder – Keeping your mower regularly serviced is very important and to help you keep track of usage, there’s a handy digital hour meter with pre-programmed service intervals.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Alternative Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards: Ariens Company Apex 60

Alternative Top Pick for Large-Sized Yards

Ariens Company Apex 60

For those folks that like to move fast, this zero turn mower is ideal. With a big 5-gallon fuel tank to keep you going, you’ll be able to whiz along at a top speed of 8 mph going forward and 4mph in reverse.

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This smart-looking and hard work loving zero turn mower is the Ariens Apex 60, another mower that’s quick off the mark, thanks to the powerful 25 hp/725 cc Kohler 7000 V-Twin engine.

Weighing in at 853 lbs, this is heavier than our top pick choice by 83 lbs, the extra weight isn’t a bad thing it all helps with stability and that solid construction feeling. The 60-inch cutting width certainly makes short work of even the biggest yards and with cutting height adjustment ranging from 1.5 to 5 inches you can get that grass looking just how you want it.

The key to that solid build quality feeling is the fully tubular steel frame, combine that with the 60” fabricated deck which is 5½” deep and made of 10-gauge steel and you have a very robust machine.

Size-wise, we have an overall height of 42 inches, a length of 74 inches and an overall width of 62 inches.

As for comfort while you’re doing all that hard work, you’ll be pleased to know that you get a high back seat with springs, armrests and the option of lever adjustment so you can get set up to your own individual requirements. There’s also the foot-operated deck lifting system with 15 cutting position options all controlled from the comfort of the operator’s chair.

Making sure you get to where you want to go is the 22-inch diameter, 12-inch wide rear wheels. And to keep you heading in the right direction are the13-inch diameter, 6.5-inch wide front wheels that are wide enough to be grass friendly and not dig in and rip the grass up.

Keeping an eye on how much use you’ve been getting out of the zero turn mower is a built-in hour meter. For your peace of mind, you get a 4 year or 500 hours machine warranty and a 5-year deck and frame warranty.

What We Like:

Plenty Of Power – Powering you along is a 25 hp/725 cc Kohler 7000 V-Twin engine with a top speed of 8 mph going forward, and 4 mph backward, you soon get to where you need to be.
Solid Build Quality – Fully tubular frame, 60-inch, 10 gauge steel deck and overall weight of 853 lbs this zero turn mower is ready for anything.
Cutting height options – Height adjustable from 1.5 to 5-inches and with a foot-operated deck lift with 15 cutting option positions you’ll be spoilt for choice.
Comfortable ride – Nice high back spring seat, with armrests keeping you as comfortable as possible while you get on with the work.
Service Reminder – Automatically keeps an eye on the total hour usage of the mower.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best for Medium-Sized Yards: Husqvarna Z242F

Best for Medium-Sized Yards

Husqvarna Z242F

Powered by a Kawasaki FR600V 18 HP air cooled gasoline engine with electric start, you’ll be able to zoom around at up to 6.5 mph if you want to. And with a fuel tank capacity of 3.5 gallons, you’ll spend more time working, and less time stopped as you won’t have to keep filling up with fuel.

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This is our top pick choice for Best Zero Turn Mower for Medium-Sized Yards, this mower is packed with quality features to help make those mowing jobs so much easier to do.

The total mower weight of 551 lbs makes this machine feel very stable and keeps everything planted firmly on the ground. The 42-inch cutting width is ideal for medium-sized yards and with a 2.2 acres/hr work rate achievable you’ll soon get the job done. As for cutting options, you’ve got height adjustment ranging from 1.5 to 4 inches and cutting methods of collect, mulch and side discharge. With so many options available to you you’ll soon have everything looking just the way you like it.

The powder-coated cutting deck’s welded 10 gauge steel construction has additional welded reinforcement strips that really help to strengthen the whole setup. Size-wise the Husqvarna Z242F measures 75 inches in length, 42 inches in height and with the chute down 51 inches and just 43.5 inches with the chute up.

Keeping you nice and comfortable while you go about your work is a vinyl covered high back spring seat. There’s a really useful park brake system, which comes in very handy. The way this works is that it automatically activates or deactivates when the steering levers are moved either outward or inward, that’s a pretty neat feature, and very useful too.

And with the spring-assisted deck lift system offering you a choice of 6 cutting heights conveniently located within easy reach of the operator, you have everything you need close at hand. Oh, and I almost forgot, most importantly of all, you get a cup holder too.

Keeping you informed of all those hours of mowing that you’ve done and to remind you of maintenance schedules, there’s a digital hour meter built-in with pre-programmed service intervals. And for your peace of mind, you get a 3-year homeowner warranty included.

What We Like:

Powerful Kawasaki Engine – Kawasaki FR600V 18 HP air cooled gasoline engine with electric start provides all the power you need.
Good Sized Cutting Width – At 42 inches you’ll soon get a lot of ground covered, in fact, 2.2 acres an hour is possible.
Maintenance-Free Transmission – No need to worry about the transmission maintenance, there isn’t any to do.

Things to Consider:

Available Attachments – There’s a 2 bin bagger attachment available for the Husqvarna Z242F zero turn mower.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Alternative Pick for Medium-Sized Yards: Troy-Bilt Mustang 54

Troy-Bilt Mustang 54

A top speed of 7 mph going forward and 5 mph in reverse, there’s also a handy reverse mow control feature for added safety.

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This is our alternative pick for best zero turn mower for medium-sized yards. The Troy-Bilt Mustang 54 gets its power from a 25HP, Briggs & Stratton Intek Twin Cylinder 724cc engine.

This mower doesn’t hang around when there’s work to be done either, it has a 2.8-gallon fuel tank and a top speed of 7 mph going forward and 2.5 mph in reverse with a handy reverse mow control feature for added safety.

Weighing in at 729 lbs, you get the feeling that this is a really well built, sturdy mower, and ready to take on anything. There’s a 12-gauge, 54″ high-performance deck with dual deck wash included, you even have 8 deck height adjustment positions to choose from and you also have a side discharge option too.

Size-wise the Troy-Bilt Mustang 54 comes in at 35.5 inches high, 83.5 inches in length and 62 inches in width.

Comparing it in size to our previous pick, it’s just 8.5 inches longer than the Husqvarna Z242F, 11 inches wider but 6.5 inches shorter in height. So not a great amount of difference there between the two models.

Keeping comfortable while you go about your work is very important when you consider that you could be out on the mower for quite some time. Here we have an 18″ high back seat that has dual suspension springs which really helps to give you a comfortable smooth ride.

Traction wise you have 2 good-sized 13″ front caster wheels and 18″ rear wheels to keep you in contact with the terrain plus there are 4 deck wheels and a really useful rear roller to help prevent you from scalping that lawn.

Keeping you informed of all those happy hours you’ve spent on the mower is the built-in hour meter so you’ll know when it’s service time. A 3-year limited warranty comes as standard with this mower along with a residential limited lifetime frame warranty.

Accessories are available to be purchased separately, so if you’d like to keep everywhere looking neat and tidy, then why not add a very useful Triple Bagger kit.

What We Like:

Good Sized Engine – 25HP, Briggs & Stratton Intek Twin Cylinder 724cc engine provides you with the power to keep working until the job gets done.
Reverse Mow Control – A nice safety feature for those times when you need to mow in reverse.
Rear Roller Feature – A rear roller really helps to prevent you from scalping that lawn.

Things to Consider:

Available Attachments – How about adding a 54-Inch Triple Bagger to help keep everywhere looking neat and tidy.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Best for Small-Sized Yards: Ariens Zoom 34

Ariens Zoom 34

With an electric start 19 HP, 660 cc Kohler 6000 V-Twin engine, you can speed along at up to 6 mph. And with the decent-sized 2-gallon fuel tank, you’ll be able to keep working for longer.

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Zoom by name and Zoom by nature, this mower can shift that’s for sure, you want speed? You got it.

With an electric start 19 HP, 660 cc Kohler 6000 V-Twin engine you’ll power through your workload in no time at all.

You get a forward speed of up to 6 mph and a reverse speed of 3 mph, and with a decent-sized 2-gallon fuel tank that helps to keep the mower working for longer. Weighing in at a very respectable 425 lbs, which is just about the right weight for a smaller capacity zero turn mower.

The Ariens Zooms’ excellent build quality is the reason why it is such a robust machine, the fully welded steel frame keeps everything held nicely in position. The super-strong stamped 12 gauge steel deck just adds even more strength to the whole setup.

As for cutting the grass, you get plenty of options here. With a cutting width of 34 inches, and a choice of 7 different cutting positions, and cutting height options of 1.5 inches to 4.5 inches available, you should be able to tackle any kind of terrain. The deck lift system is foot-operated and all controlled from the comfort of the 18-inch high operator’s seat.

Keeping you rolling along, at the back of the mower are 2 chunky 18 x 6.5-inch wheels and at the front, you’ve got 2 smaller 11 x 4-inch wheels. And as for the actual size of this mower, the overall length is 64 inches, height of 37 inches, with the side-chute included, the width is 42 inches.

What We Like:

Fast Mover – It’s called Zoom for a reason, this thing can speed along at up to 6 mph, so if you need to work fast, then you can.
So Many Cutting Options – You really are spoilt for choice when it comes to cutting options. There are 7 different cutting positions and cutting heights ranging from 1.5 to 4.5 inches.

Things to Consider:

Does It Suit Your Needs – This zero turn mower is ideal for the smaller sized yards, so if you have quite a big area to cover then a bigger capacity mower such as the ones we reviewed for medium-sized yards would be more appropriate.

Check the latest price on Amazon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does zero turn mean?

The term “zero-turn” is the ability to be able to turn the mower within its own footprint, meaning that the actual turning radius is zero inches. In the past, zero-turn mowers would have only been used by professional landscape contractors, but now they are also used by homeowners too.
Different sized zero-turn mowers are available, cutting width, cutting positions and cutting height options are all important things to consider when looking to buy a zero-turn mower. The phrase “it turns on a dime” has often been used to describe the turning ability of a zero-turn mower.

Do zero turn mowers have brakes?

Zero-turn mowers do have a parking/emergency brake, they generally do not have a foot-operated brake, the 2 levers of a zero-turn mower control the direction and also the speed of the mower.
If you push the levers forward with the same pressure you will head in a straight direction, the more pressure you apply to the levers, the faster the mower will travel. When you want to slow down you simply pull the 2 levers backward with even pressure, this will slow the mower down or bring it to a stop if you fully pull the levers back to their original neutral position.

What are the advantages of a zero turn mower?

The biggest advantage of a zero-turn mower is its maneuverability, zero-turn mowers have the ability to turn around quickly in tight spaces. This results in better efficiency due to working time being shortened, which results in fewer hours being put on the mower’s engine.
With a zero turn mower, you have the ability to go from forward driving to reverse driving very quickly, thanks to the control levers simply being pushed forward or pulled backward.
Faster mowing times are usually possible with a zero turn mower because of the high speeds that these mowers can travel at, this is down to their low center of gravity. Combine the higher speed with a large deck and the maneuverability advantage and you will cover a lot of ground very quickly.

How do you drive a zero turn mower?

The most obvious difference between a zero turn mower and a riding lawn mower is the fact that the zero-turn mower doesn’t have a steering wheel. So how do you drive it without a steering wheel?
The answer is, very easy. It may look like it’s difficult to do but it really isn’t difficult at all. You control the steering with just 2 levers, one on the left and one on the right. To move forward push both of the levers forward at the same time, the further forward you push them the faster the mower will go.
When you want to drive in a straight line, the important thing to remember is that you apply the same amount of pressure to each lever. To slow down pull the levers backward towards you, and if you want to stop completely pull the levers back to the neutral position.
As for turning that’s easy too, each rear wheel has it’s own wheel motor, one for the right wheel and one for the left wheel. They are controlled by the two steering handles, so to make a right turn just move the left lever forward and to make a left turn move just move the right lever forward, I told you it was easy. The trick is to push or pull the levers in a steady movement, this helps to avoid jerky maneuvers.