Husqvarna mower deck wheels. 8 Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers of 2023 Reviews

Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mowers of 2023 [Reviews]

Zero-turn mowers are the most efficient style of lawn mower available today — they’re fast and maneuverable, make short work of large lawns, and they are trusted by pros and homeowners alike. But what is the best zero turn lawn mower for your yard?

We reviewed over two dozen zero-turn mowers to come up with our top eight picks based on power, cutting deck size, deck height, special features, and price. We’ve also included a handy buyers guide and FAQ to help make your shopping experience easier.

But first, what is a zero-turn lawn mower? Using hydraulic transmissions, the engine of a zero-turn lawn mower supplies power independently to the two drive wheels. This lets the operator spin the machine on a dime, or stop a wheel to create a seamless U-turn.

Zero-turn mowers aren’t cheap. Compared to other riding lawn mowers, zero turns generally fall at the higher end of the cost spectrum.If you plan to invest in a high-quality zero-turn mower, it’s important to choose the right one.

Because of zero-turn mowers fluctuate with sales and availability, we’ve provided a general idea of price.

• “Inexpensive” – Under 3,500
• “Moderate” – 3,500-4,000
• “Expensive” – 4,000 and above

We also have listed multiple buying options, when available, to make it easy to compare prices.

Top 8 Zero-Turn Mowers — Reviews

Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1

A top-of-the-line zero-turn mower for residential markets, Cub Cadet’s Ultima series makes short work of the largest lawns. Driven by a 22-horsepower Kohler engine, this machine can reach a forward speed of 7.5 mph.

The ZT1 provides ultimate comfort with a fully adjustable racing-style seat. The lap bar control is also adjustable to ensure precise maneuverability. Dual LED headlights help you cut in low-light conditions, and the rubberized cockpit floor reduces vibrations.

The 20-inch rear wheels and 11-inch front wheels offer enough traction to tackle gentle hills, and are engineered to protect your turf while pivoting. A 3.5-gallon gas tank lets you spend more time mowing and less time refueling.

Cub Cadet offers a three-year, unlimited hour powertrain warranty and a lifetime warranty on the frame. The ZT1 also comes in a 50-inch version for added efficiency and coverage. Cub Cadet has also recently released the Ultima ZT1 56V Max 60 electric zero-turn.

Specifications

Power Source: 22 HP 725cc Kohler 7000 series twin-cylinder engineTop Speed: 7.5 mphTransmission: HydrostaticDeck Width: 42 inchesCutting Height: 15 positions, 1 to 4.5 inchesPrice Range: Inexpensive

Pros

✓ Powerful 22hp engine✓ Fully adjustable seat and controls✓ Best-in-class warranty

Cons

✗ No gas gauge✗ Attachments sold separately

Should Mower Deck Wheels Touch the Ground?

If you compare a selection of ride-on lawn mowers, you’ll see that some of them have wheels on the deck, and some don’t. So, not everybody has to worry about mower deck wheels. The first ride-on mower I ever had was kind of small, and there weren’t any wheels attached to the deck. But when I upgraded, I noticed there were two wheels attached to the front of the deck that seemed to run across the floor while I mowed. So, I did what most people don’t like to do, and I studied the owner’s manual. Let me share with you what I discovered.

Should Mower Deck Wheels Touch the Ground? (The Short Answer)

The wheels attached to a lawn mower cutting deck are called anti-scalping wheels. They are designed to touch the ground periodically as the lawn mower runs over uneven ground. Anti-scalping wheels are not designed to be in constant contact with the ground. If the mower deck wheels are continually running on the ground, then they need to be adjusted.

What Are Mower Deck Wheels Even For?

Mower deck wheels, or anti-scalping wheels, are designed to prevent your lawn mower from scalping your lawn. You will usually find anti-scalping wheels on larger cutting decks as scalping becomes worse the bigger the deck gets.

These wheels sit below the cutting deck and limit how close the cutting blade can get to the ground. If you run over a bump in the lawn, you’ll notice that your lawn mower can and probably will cut much lower. This is what you call scalping. So, when you set the wheels at the desired height, it stops scalping.

What Can Happen If Your Mower Deck Wheels Do Touch the Ground?

If your mower deck wheels are touching the ground, they are actually doing their job and preventing the deck from getting too low to the grass. But this shouldn’t be happening all the time. Touching the grass is ok, but not running along the dirt. Here are a few problems you might come across if this happens too much.

Damage to the Wheels

If you have a completely flat lawn without any bumps whatsoever, then your deck wheels should ideally never come into contact with the ground. Now, having a perfectly flat lawn is going to be nearly impossible unless you own a football field.

On a pretty flat lawn, your anti-scalping wheels will touch the ground from time to time. This means the wheels should only get very light use. Now, lawn mowers use solid, hard-plastic wheels with bearings designed for light use.

So, if you’re running over the ground pretty much all the time, then the bearings are going to wear out very quickly, and the wheels will stop working.

Damage to the Deck

Once the bearings go out on anti-scalping wheels, you’ll start to see wear on the wheel’s mounting brackets. Without the bearings, the wheels will no longer be held in position and will be able to rub up against the deck.

I’ve seen a couple of mowers where the wheels had been allowed to run with bad bearings for such a long time that they actually wore through the mounting brackets and fell off.

Unbalance the Deck

If your deck wheels are running too low, then they will put a lot of stress on the cutting deck as the wheels are feeling every little bump. If you take a look at your lawn mower’s deck, you’ll see that it hangs off the mower, and the tires of the mower take the impact.

So, if the wheels are constantly running over the ground, the deck will be directly subjected to the impact of each bump. The biggest problem this causes is that it puts stress on your deck’s mounting system and adjustment. It won’t be long before you start to notice your lawn isn’t being cut evenly anymore.

Digging into the Grass

Again, if you closely inspect the anti-scalping wheels, you will notice that they are fixed so that they can only rotate forward and backward. This is fine when your lawn mower is moving in a straight line. But, when you turn, if your deck wheels are set too low, they will begin to drag.

I’ve seen this happening on a few lawns where the lawn mower digs ruts into the grass. This is because the anti-scalping wheel can’t turn in a sideways direction.

What if the Deck Wheels Never Touch the Ground?

It’s pretty common that deck wheels are installed by the factory at their highest setting. This means that the deck wheels might not ever touch the ground, even on a bumpy lawn. Well, when the anti-scalping wheels are at the highest setting, you’ll probably get a bunch of scalped areas in your lawn.

Also, you could find that the front of your cutting deck digs into the ground in particularly bad areas or when you transition to a different angle of your lawn. I find that the bottom of a slope is the worst place for the cutting deck to dig into the lawn.

What Height Should Mower Deck Wheels Be Set At?

So, should mower deck wheels touch the ground? Yes, but only to prevent scalping, and definitely not all the time. Therefore, if your deck wheels are still set to a super high factory setting, or they are running on the ground too often, you’ll need to make an adjustment.

So, let’s look at what mower deck wheels should be set to and how to make an adjustment.

Working Out the Lowest You Want to Mow

The first thing you want to figure out is how low you want your lawn to be cut. I have my lawn mowers adjustment lever set to cut my lawn at 3 ½ inches. Now, I do make adjustments to the cutting height to occasionally cut higher, but the lowest is always 3 ½ inches.

Once you have decided on the height of your lowest mowing height, you can move on to adjusting the deck wheels.

Park on Level Ground

Next, you want to park your lawn mower on a level, hard surface. I usually use my garage floor as this is the most level surface on my property.

Check the Tires are Correctly Inflated

Then, you’ll need to make sure your ride-on lawn mower’s tires or your zero-turn mower’s tires are correctly inflated. This is so that when you are adjusting your anti-scalping wheels, you know you are making adjustments to a lawn mower that is level.

Check the Deck is Perfectly Level

Now that you’re on level ground and have properly inflated tires, you can move on to checking that your cutting deck is level. This is where you measure the outer blade tips of each blade and make sure they match.

Then, you measure the tips from back to front and make sure they are both set within range. Again, this is important so that your adjustment to the anti-scalping wheels is accurate.

Adjusting the Anti-scalping Wheels

Finally, it’s time to adjust the deck wheels. So, what you are aiming to do is adjust the wheels so they are approximately ¼ – ½ inches off of the ground when the deck is adjusted to your desired cutting height. In my case, I would drop the deck to 3 ½ inches and then make an adjustment.

Set your deck at the cutting height you want, then take a look at the deck wheels. If your wheels are always touching the ground when you mow, then you’ll probably find the wheels are already touching the ground. Therefore, lift the deck back up, and grab a socket wrench and a wrench.

Next, use your tools to remove the center nut and bolt from each of your deck wheels and remove each wheel. Now, you’ll see that there are a few holes in the wheel mounting brackets you can use to mount the wheel at different heights. You need these in a second.

Lower your deck again so your deck is positioned without any obstruction of the wheels to the height you want your lowest cut to be. Next, take one of the deck wheels and position it in its mounting bracket and find the closest bolt hole that allows the wheel to be mounted ¼ – ½ inch off the ground.

Once you have figured out the hole, you can reinstall the deck wheel. Finally, install all the other anti-scalping wheels to the same height. This is all you need to do to have your deck wheels set correctly so they can effectively prevent scalping.

Tools Adjust the Deck Wheels “Anti-Scalping Wheel Adjustment”

About Tom Greene

I’ve always had a keen interest in lawn care as long as I can remember. Friends used to call me the lawn mower guru (hence the site name), but I’m anything but. I just enjoy cutting my lawn and spending time outdoors. I also love the well-deserved doughnuts and coffee afterward!

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Should my Mower Deck Wheels Touch the Ground?

I see a lot of lawn tractors with badly worn out deck wheels, even new tractors this got me thinking should the mower deck wheels be touching the ground? They don’t have bearings in them or bushings it is just plastic riding on the metal shaft so I did some research.

The deck wheels should NOT be riding on the ground. With the deck set at the cutting height you desire on a level surface the deck wheels should be ¼’’ to ½’’ off the ground.

What are the Wheels on a Mower Deck for?

Most lawn tractors use wheels on the front and back sides of the mower deck to move the deck up and down over the contour of your lawn as you mow. The wheels ride in the lawn and hold the deck up when you mow over slopes or other irregular areas of your yard. They are designed to keep your deck from scalping your lawn as your tractor moves over slopes or ruts in your yard. The deck wheels are often called gauge wheels or anti scalp wheels for this reason.

How to Adjust the Wheels on a Mower Deck?

With your tractor on a level surface set your deck at the desired cutting height. Measure the gap if any between the bottom of the wheel and the ground. The gap should measure from ¼’’ to ½’’. If the measurement is not correct remove the shaft nut on the back of the bracket and remove the wheel and shaft. The brackets have a series of holes drilled in them to move the wheels up or down by ¼’’. Find the correct mounting hole and reinstall the deck wheel.

How Many Wheels should be on a Mower Deck?

Most mower decks come with 4 anti scalp wheels on them but I have seen a lot of newer tractors not have any. 4 wheels are usually sufficient if your yard is not like a wash board like mine is. In this case I like to add a deck wheel to the front center of my decks because most of the time I am mowing with a hump under my tractor and the 4 outside wheels are not touching the ground, so adding a wheel in the center of the deck prevents my mower from scalping the yard. In my opinion every deck should have deck wheels attached because very few yards are perfect.

Here is a real informative video showing how to add a front wheel to your lawn tractor mower deck.

The best riding mowers: Mow your lawn faster

Up your summer lawn care game with a riding mower that makes for a faster, more eco-friendly mowing experience.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Taylor Clemons is a tech writer and reviewer based near Cleveland, OH. After graduating from Tiffin University in 2011, they spent several years in lawn and garden manufacturing before working on their own (now defunct) game review site, Steam Shovel.

Riding mowers are a popular mower choice for homeowners, especially if you have a big property to maintain every summer. They have cutting decks measuring from 42 to 72 inches, so you can make short work of everything from typical lawns to large properties, like sports complexes and golf courses.

Unlike their push mower counterparts, riding mowers have more features to consider in order to find the right fit for your yard. You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission, so you can set and forget your speed or operate your mower like a car. You can even get riding mowers with cruise control or all-wheel drive for better traction.

While gas engines are far more common among riding mowers, there is a wide selection of battery-powered models if you’re looking for a more eco-friendly solution for lawn care. My pick for the best overall riding mower is the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP for its 24HP engine, 54-inch cutting deck, and ability to mow up to four acres with a full gas tank. You can keep reading below to find out more about the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as well as our other top picks.

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP

Best riding mower overall

• 24HP engine
• 54-inch cutting deck
• Automatic transmission
• Attachments and accessories available

Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kohler | Cutting width: 54 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 4 acres

The Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP riding mower is an excellent choice for a variety of lawns. It’s built with a 24HP Kohler engine and a 54-inch cutting deck to let you handle inclines and rough terrain or haul tools, mulch, and potting soil around your property.

The hydrostatic, automatic transmission makes operation similar to a typical car, so you can spend more time actually cutting your grass and less time learning how to drive your mower. With a 3-gallon tank, you’ll be able to mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Best electric riding mower

• 2.5 acre max range
• Quick-charge batteries
• LCD heads-up display
• USB charging ports

Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor tech specs: Engine: 80V brushless electric | Cutting width: 46 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 2.5 acres

Electric riding mowers have become more popular in recent years as homeowners and landscaping professionals look for ways to make lawn care more eco-friendly. The Ryobi 80V electric lawn tractor features a 46-inch cutting deck and enough power to let you mow up to 2.5 acres on a single charge, and you can recharge your mower batteries in as little as 2.5 hours.

This means you can take care of other tasks, like weeding or landscaping, while you’re waiting for your mower to recharge. An LCD screen gives you a heads-up display of run time, battery levels, and reminders to inspect and sharpen your mower blades. It even has two USB ports for charging your phone while you mow.

Toro Titan Max

Best zero-turn riding mower

• Mows up to 7 acres at once
• Highly maneuverable
• 10-gauge steel construction
• Tool-free air filters

Toro Titan Max tech specs: Engine: 26HP Kohler 7000 | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 7 acres

Zero-turn riding mowers are popular with homeowners who have larger properties or lots of obstacles like trees or specialized landscaping. The Toro Titan Max’s exceptional maneuverability and larger cutting decks make quick work of yards up to 7 acres in size, while the 26HP Kohler 7000 engine uses a dual hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive operation.

Toro also made regular maintenance a bit more streamlined with tool-free air filters. The deck and mower body are made from tough, 10-gauge steel to stand up to dings, rocks, run-ins, and anything else your lawn can throw at it.

Cub Cadet CC30E

Best compact riding mower

• Battery-powered
• Great for yards up to 1 acre
• Compact design great for small storage areas and narrow spaces
• Push-button cruise control

Cub Cadet CC30E tech specs: Engine: 56V electric | Cutting width: 30 inches | Transmission: Hydrostatic/Automatic | Max yard size: 1 acre

Compact riding mowers like the Cub Caded CC30E are great for suburban lawns on the smaller side. The CC30E features a smaller design that is perfect for storing in multi-use sheds and garages or maneuvering through gates and narrow spaces. The 30-inch cutting deck and 56V battery let you mow up to 1 acre (or one hour) at once.

It uses a hydrostatic drive for smooth, intuitive driving while the 18-inch turning radius lets you easily mow around trees and other obstacles. It even features a push-button cruise control, so you can set-and-forget your forward speed and concentrate on mowing around obstacles, as well as staying aware of your surroundings.

DeWALT Z160 Commercial

Best riding mower for large properties

• Mow up to 10 acres
• 5.5 gallon gas tank
• Dual hydrostatic drive
• Great for hills and inclines

DeWALT Z160 Commercial tech specs: Engine: 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin | Cutting width: 60 inches | Transmission: Dual hydrostatic/automatic | Max yard size: 10 acres

The DeWALT Z160 Commercial zero-turn riding mower is designed from the ground up to handle large properties. The 60-inch cutting deck and 24HP Kawasaki V-Twin engine let you mow up to 10 acres at once, making it an almost perfect choice for rural properties or landscaping professionals. The dual hydrostatic drive makes operation smoother, though the twin-stick steering does take some getting used to.

With 22-inch rear wheels, you can easily take on inclines and rolling hills that may be on your property. A 5.5-gallon fuel tank means you’ll spend more time actually mowing and less time refueling. And if you opt for the bagger attachment, you’ll be able to gather up to 11 bushels of clippings before you need to empty.

What is the best riding mower?

I chose the Troy-Bilt Super Bronco XP as the best riding mower you can buy. It features a 54-inch cutting deck and 3-gallon fuel tank, letting you mow up to 4 acres in a single go. The 24 horsepower engine also lets you take on steeper inclines and rough terrain or haul tools and gardening supplies around your property. The hydrostatic drive makes operation similar to a typical car, while an LED display gives you accurate usage hours for streamlined maintenance.

Best riding mower

Cutting width

Transmission type

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

Which is the right riding mower for you?

Other than your budget, there are a lot of features and scenarios you have to consider while shopping for a new riding mower. The size of your yard will determine how wide the cutting deck should be, though either a 42 or 46-inch version will be more than enough for most yards.

You can choose either a manual or hydrostatic transmission. A manual model lets you set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS, while hydrostatic models operate more like cars, going faster the harder you press the pedal. This makes them more intuitive to operate but also more expensive.

Zero-turn mowers are designed for mowing in oddly-shaped areas or around lots of obstacles like trees, lamp posts, and lawn ornaments. They’re called zero-turn because they have a zero-inch turn radius; you pivot around either rear wheel for ultra-tight turning.

Buy this best riding mower.

If you need.

A well-rounded riding mower. The 54-inch cutting deck and 24HP engine let you mow up to 4 acres at a time.

Ryobi 80V electric riding lawn tractor

An all-electric riding mower. The electric engine requires less maintenance than gas models, making your lawn-care routine more eco-friendly.

An excellent zero-turn riding mower. Precision maneuvering lets you mow around trees, landscaping, and other obstacles with ease.

A compact riding mower. The 30-inch deck and smaller build make this riding mower perfect for smaller suburban lawns.

A riding mower that can handle larger properties. This commercial-grade, zero-turn riding mower lets you cut up to 10 acres at once.

How did we choose these riding mowers?

I used to work for MTD Products (now owned by BlackDecker), which assembles a variety of lawn mowers, snow blowers, and other powered lawn equipment. Using the expertise and knowledge I gained during my time there, I looked for riding mowers with these qualities:

• Motor size: You’ll want a riding mower with at least a 10HP engine to give you enough power to handle minor inclines and lawns up to half an acre. Larger riding mowers like the John Deere Z530M have more powerful engines, often topping out over 20HP to let you tackle rough terrain and even haul equipment.
• Cutting width: Many riding mowers have either a 42 or 46-inch cutting deck, which is great for lawns between.5 and 1.5 acres. However, if you have a large, multi-acre property, you’ll want to choose a larger cutting deck. Many brands have options between 50 and 72-inch cutting decks.
• Transmission type: The less expensive riding mowers will have either a 6 or 7-speed manual transmission. This means you will use a dedicated lever to set your engine’s forward and reverse speeds, with a single brake pedal for stop control. The more expensive models feature a hydrostatic drive, which operates in a similar way to an automatic transmission in a typical car or truck.
• Accessories: Lawn care goes beyond regular mowing. I chose riding mowers that have the ability to hitch small trailers or wagons for hauling tools, mulch, or potting soil. I also chose mowers from brands that make after-market add-ons, like rear bagging units for collecting grass clippings, mulching kits for re-feeding lawns, and snow plows for year-round use.

How do you decide which riding mower to buy?

Assuming you have a budget in mind, the first thing you need to do is find out how big your lawn is. You can either find your lot size on your memorandum deeds if you’ve bought your house, or you can check your city’s website to see if you can request lot measurements if you’re renting. If your lot measures about an acre, you’ll be able to use a 30 or 42-inch cutting deck without any issues. For lawns up to two acres, a 42 or 46-inch deck is ideal. And if your lot is over two acres, you can get a mower with up to a 72-inch cutting deck to handle larger areas.

The transmission type is also important. Many newer models have what is known as a hydrostatic drive. This means that they operate similarly to how a car drives: You push the pedal and it moves forward or backward. And the harder you push, the faster you go. This makes it easier to learn how to drive, but that also makes the mower more expensive. stripped-back models have variable speed manual transmissions, which allow you to set and forget your speed so you can FOCUS on paying attention to obstacles and people who may be nearby.

And finally, you’ll want to consider the power source for your new riding mower. Gasoline engines are far more common, but there is now a wider variety of battery-powered models to choose from. The perks of a gas engine are that you’ll get near-infinite run times (as long as you have enough fuel to keep the engine going) and a bit more power for handling steep inclines and rough terrain. The downsides are dealing with exhaust emissions and maintenance that can be a time and money sink. Electric models don’t need engine maintenance, so you save a bit of money in the long run. But they usually have a maximum run time of about an hour, which means that you may have to plan your mowing over several days if you have a larger yard.

How big of a yard do I need for a riding mower?

Riding mowers are best suited for yards measuring one acre or larger. A model with a 42-inch cutting deck is great for mowing up to two acres, so if you have more land than that, you’ll want to spring for a 46, 54, 60, or 72-inch cutting deck.

If you’re right on the threshold, you can get what’s known as a mini rider. They usually have compact bodies for easier storage and 30-inch cutting decks to make short work of lawns that are just a touch too large for a push mower.

How long should a riding mower last?

No matter if you choose a gas or battery-powered riding mower, proper maintenance is key to extending the life of your mower. For gas engines, you should change the oil and filters, clean the spark plugs, and sharpen the blades before you mow for the first time in the spring. And you should use fuel treatments like STA-BIL to prevent gas in the tank or extra jerry cans from going bad from moisture contamination. This prevents buildup of gunk that can ruin your engine, improves engine performance, and gives you a cleaner cut for a healthier lawn.

Electric mowers don’t need engine maintenance, but you should perform thorough inspections at the start of mowing season to check for battery damage, corrosion on battery contacts, damage to the battery housing, and also to sharpen the blades. If you do regular maintenance, not only will you save money by avoiding big repairs from worn-out parts, but you can also expect your riding mower to last 10 years or more.- which is great news, since they can be an expensive investment.

What is the cheapest riding mower?

Unfortunately, riding mowers aren’t ever really what we consider budget-friendly. However, there are models like the Murray MT100 that retail for less than 2000 without sacrificing power or cutting width.

Are there alternative riding mowers worth considering?

Whether you’re shopping at a big-name DIY store like Lowe’s, a local hardware store, or an authorized brand dealer, there are tons of options for a new riding mower. You can choose either gas or battery-powered models, cutting deck widths from as small as 30 inches to as wide as six feet.

Here’s a short list of other riding mowers I thought were great choices:

John Deere Z530M

The John Deere Z530M features a 60-inch cutting deck for making quick work of large properties. Exceptional maneuverability lets you mow around trees, lawn decor, and other obstacles with ease.

Husqvarna YTH1942

The Husqvarna YTH1942 features an updated, 19 horsepower engine and 42-inch cutting deck to take on inclines and haul dirt, mulch, and gardening equipment.

Murray MT100

For under 2000, you’ll get a 13.5 horsepower engine, a 42-inch cutting deck, and a 6-speed manual transmission with the Murray MT100.