The 6 Best Zero-Turn Mowers of 2024

Many people have two needs as far as their lawn is concerned. They want it to look great and they want to cut it quickly. A zero-turn riding mower can help in both respects. These mowers steer with a pair of control levers, known as lap bars.

This arrangement might take some acclimation compared to a traditional lawn tractor with a steering wheel, but it does have this unique advantage: By controlling the mower via a pair of transmissions, the operator now has unprecedented maneuverability while not sacrificing the ability to cut a neat, straight line. This is why landscape contractors use these mowers almost exclusively. The ZTR (zero turn radius) mower is the most productive grass-cutting machine available, and quite enjoyable to operate as well.

The Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers

• Best Overall: Toro TimeCutter MAX 54-in.
• Great for Big Yards: Ariens Ikon 52-in 23-HP V-twin Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
• Best Large Electric Option: EGO ZT5207L Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
• Best Value Electric: EGO Z6 4204 Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
• Unique Operation: Ryobi RYRM8034 Joy Stick Controlled Zero Turn Mower
• Best Entry Level Gas: Cub Cadet Ultima 42 in.

What to Consider

How a Zero Turn Mower Works

Let’s look at ZTR design a bit more closely. A ZTR mower is arranged so that the operator’s seat is positioned on a platform toward the rear of the mower. The engine is behind the operator and there are two transmissions, one for each drive wheel, under the driver’s seat. The rear engine design, coupled with two under-mounted transmissions, provides a clear forward view, unlike a tractor where you are looking over the steering wheel and the hood.

From the operator’s position you’ll find two lap bars, one controlling each transmission. If you move both lap bars fully forward, the mower drives at top speed in a straight line–this may be anywhere from about 5- to 10 mph, depending on the machine. Move both lap bars fully back, the mower drives in reverse.

Change the position of the left or right lap bar relative to the other bar, and the mower moves in a curved line or even pivots. Once you get the hang of lap bar-controlled ground speed and steering, you find that with the unobstructed view you can cut a complex landscape very quickly and efficiently. This also reduces the need for trimming, either with a walk-behind mower or a string trimmer.

In terms of mowing, a ZTR is pretty similar to a tractor. The deck contains two or three blades which are turned on and off by the operator. Like a tractor, a ZTR can mulch, discharge, or bag grass clippings.

Cutting Deck

Since the deck houses the blades that cut the grass, we’ll start there.

Some mowers use a deck stamped from one piece of steel, while others use a deck fabricated from multiple pieces that are welded together. Because fabricated steel decks are thicker than those that are stamped, they are more durable and abuse tolerant. For most residential cutting, deck durability isn’t an issue, and a stamped deck is usually fine. But if you cut a large rural property with washboard surfaces that may lead to deck getting banged around a bit, then a fabricated deck will provide more durability than a stamped one.

Deck sizes range from 42 to 52 inches, typical for residential riding mowers. Larger mowers powered by commercial-duty engines may have even larger decks, think 60 inches or wider. As with most things, mowers with larger decks typically cost more than those with smaller decks. Roughly speaking, a ZTR with a 42-inch deck will cost in the vicinity of $3200 to $3500. The larger the deck, the more you can expect to pay.

In general, a mower with a 42-inch deck is sufficient to cut a 2-acre lot (that takes into account that the house, driveway, outbuildings and various landscape features are taking up some of that space). Use a mower with a larger deck to cut anything over 2 acres.

While a larger mower will certainly help you get the job done faster and more efficiently, sizing up is not without its downsides. Larger mowers take more space in a garage or outbuilding. And a mower with a 50-inch or even 60-inch deck may not fit through a fence’s gate, and it might be difficult to maneuver in tight spots.

Engine/Motor

Engine or motor size and robustness varies to suit the mower’s intended use, and battery-electric options are an increasingly prominent part of the riding mower segment, both in of zero-turns and lawn tractors.

Entry-level zero-turn mowers may be powered by a 15-hp engine, while entry-level commercial mowers may be powered by a physically larger and more powerful 26-hp engine. Think twice before assuming that more horsepower is inherently better. Big engines are more powerful and typically make a mower more capable, especially through unfavorable conditions. But increasing engine size also increases fuel consumption, noise, and cost. If your yard is smooth and well managed, a machine with a smaller engine (21 hp, let’s say) should more than suffice for most mowing jobs.

This brings us to battery-powered mowers. We like them and find their quietness and cleanliness attractive. But they are more expensive to buy than their gas-powered counterparts. Expect to pay somewhere in the range of $4,000 for an entry-level machine, to as much as $6,000 for larger machines equipped with a 54-inch deck.

Also, there is a gamble on the durability of their large batteries. If you should experience an out-of-warranty failure on one of these, their replacement cost ranges can cost hundreds of dollars

Finally, whether gas or electric, look carefully at the substance of the mower in other respects. Seat quality, handle quality, frame, tires, and the presence or absence of grease fittings are all places where manufacturers increase or decrease substance–and cost.

Transmission

Transmission quality is also a key consideration for homeowners who might submit their mower to use that’s tougher than normal. It’s always a good idea to look at product specs, and it’s reassuring to find the transmission type and manufacturer identified there, particularly when it’s a product by Hydro-Gear or Tuff Torq, two well-regarded names in the transaxle industry.

Zero-Turn Disadvantages

For all of a zero turn mower’s advantages, it’s not a good fit for everybody. For some people, the traditional steering wheel controlled tractor is a better fit. Some people find the lap bars awkward to use, and the mowing experience is perhaps not as relaxing as with a tractor.

Another downside to the ZTR mower is a phenomenon known as turfing. When an operator steers the machine too aggressively, particularly when making a high-speed, zero-turn pivot, the tires can tear into the grass–in the worst case, this can leave a large muddy area that will need to be reseeded.

Beyond mowing and daily operation, consider that a zero-turn mower is not as good at some tasks as a lawn tractor is. Things like towing a wood chipper, loaded yard cart, or other trailer or implement attached to the rear is easier with a tractor, primarily due to its weight distribution.

Why Trust Us

Popular Mechanics has been testing and reviewing home products and tech for over a century, and its current test team has decades of experience running various products through a battery of scrutinizing tests. Roy Berendsohn has been a senior test editor with the publication for more than 35 years, and has more than 50 years of experience operating mowers.

He’s tested everything from old-fashioned reel mowers that are entirely human powered to diesel-engine commercial mowers–and everything in between. He’s witnessed the advent of entirely new product categories, including battery powered walk-behind mowers and zero-turn riding mowers.

How We Select and Test

There’s only one way to test a mower, and that’s to cut grass with it. But we also do more than mow. We raise and lower the deck and adjust the seat. We look at service point access (air filter, spark plug, and oil filter) and how easy it is to remove the deck.

We mow approximately 1 acre with each mower, considering cut and mulching quality while running uphill, downhill, across washboard, and along sidehills. (On sidehills, we’ll mow surfaces pitched up to approximately 20 degrees; manufacturers generally recommend not going steeper than 10 degrees, but we like to be thorough.) We evaluate power and speed relative to cut quality—we investigate whether the mower delivers a decent cut mowing at full speed. When mowing in damp conditions, we look at whether the mower’s tires accumulate grass and how effectively it discharges moist clippings. Finally, we test maneuverability (these machines are, generally, very nimble) and how readily they come to a stop when you back off the lap bar control levers.

Note that we have not tested some of the picks on this list yet, but we included them based on a close examination of their specifications and attributes, our knowledge of these brands, and of the category in general. Our new Best Overall Pick slots in for a model that is no longer available because they share many of the same attributes, as we detail below.

For more lawn mower reviews, check out our guides to the best riding lawn mowers, electric lawn mowers, self-propelled mowers, best lawn mower sales this Memorial Day, and we recommend, and learn more about finding the right mower for you.