Riding Mower Buying Guide: Tractor vs Zero-Turn and Deck Size by Acre

• Lawn tractor: a front-engine rider with a steering wheel and front-wheel steering, and a mid-mounted deck. It holds a line on slopes better than a zero-turn and tows carts, sweepers, spreaders and aerators.
• Zero-turn mower: a rider steered by two lap bars that control the rear drive wheels independently, so it can pivot in place. It is the fastest way to mow a large, flat, open lawn with trees and beds to trim around.
• Rear-engine rider: a compact rider with the engine behind the seat and a deck around 30 inches, sized for lots of about half an acre to an acre and small garages, such as the Cub Cadet CC30H.
• Electric rider: a battery tractor or zero-turn with separate drive and blade motors, such as the EGO T6 tractor and EGO Z6 and Greenworks CrossoverZ zero-turns.
• Garden tractor: a heavier-framed tractor built for ground-engaging attachments like tillers and plows. Most homeowners do not need one; see lawn tractor vs garden tractor.

Deck size follows acreage first, then gets adjusted for hills (lean toward a tractor) and trees and beds (drop one deck size and lean toward a zero-turn). Mowing times below are for open, fairly flat ground.

Buy a zero-turn if the lawn is mostly flat and open, you have trees, beds and fence lines to trim around, and speed matters most. A zero-turn cuts the same acreage in about 30 percent less time than a tractor with the same deck, and its tight turns leave less to string-trim.

Buy a lawn tractor if you have real slopes, you want to tow a cart, sweeper or aerator, or you simply prefer a steering wheel. Zero-turns steer and brake through their rear drive tires, so on a wet or steep grade they can lose both at once. A tractor steers with its front wheels and generally holds a slope better, though you must still stay within the manual's limit. The zero-turn vs lawn tractor comparison goes through every trade-off, and the mower size for 2 acres with hills shows how slopes change the choice.

A middle path: the EGO POWER+ Z6 e-Steer ZT4215S 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower keeps zero-turn maneuvering but replaces lap bars with a steering wheel.

A stamped deck is pressed from a single sheet of steel into its shape. It is lighter and cheaper, and it is standard on entry tractors such as the Husqvarna TS 120 42 in. Lawn Tractor, which uses a 42-inch twin-blade stamped deck. A fabricated deck is welded together from thicker, heavier-gauge steel plate, so it resists dents from roots and stumps and takes longer to rust through. The Husqvarna Z248F, Z254F and MZ54 use fabricated 3-blade decks, and Greenworks lists a 10-gauge fabricated deck on the Greenworks 60V MaximusZ 54 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower.

For a smooth suburban lawn mowed once a week, a stamped deck is fine. For rough ground, frequent use or a machine you want to keep 15 years, fabricated is worth paying for. Accessories differ too: the Husqvarna HU42 42 in. Mulch Kit with Blades fits Husqvarna 42-inch stamped decks but not FAB or ClearCut decks, so check fitment before you buy a mulch kit or blades.

Engines. Gas riders in our catalog run from the 19 HP, 540cc Briggs & Stratton on the TS 120 42 to the 26 HP, 747cc Kohler V-twin on the Husqvarna Xcite Z375 60 in. Zero Turn Mower. A V-twin runs smoother and handles wide decks and thick grass better than a single-cylinder engine. Kawasaki FR and FX, Kohler 7000 and Briggs & Stratton PXi are the common residential V-twins; pick the one with the best dealer support near you.

Transmissions. A hydrostatic transmission uses a hydraulic pump and motor instead of gears, so you control speed smoothly with a foot pedal and never use a clutch. The Husqvarna TS 120 46 in. Lawn Tractor and Husqvarna TS 140X 54 in. Lawn Tractor use Tuff Torq hydrostatic transmissions. Zero-turns use two hydrostatic transaxles, one per wheel, and the grade matters: the Hydro-Gear EZT on the Z242F is a residential unit, the ZT-2200 on the Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. Zero Turn Mower is a step up, and the ZT-3100 on the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. Zero Turn Mower with ROPS is a heavier-duty unit for large properties mowed every week.

Electric drive. Electric riders use separate motors for the wheels and blades. The EGO T6 lists belt-free dual blade motors, which removes deck belts from the maintenance list.

Measure before you shop. A mower's overall width is wider than its deck size, often by several inches with the discharge chute down, so a 54-inch deck mower can need a gate close to 5 feet wide. Look up the published overall width of the exact model, compare it with your narrowest gate or path, and remember that many chutes flip up but some mowers are still too wide with the chute raised.

Storage takes more room than people expect. A 42 to 46-inch lawn tractor typically needs a space around 4 by 6 to 7 feet plus room to walk around it, and a 54 to 60-inch zero-turn needs more width. If the mower is going in a shed, plan the door width and a ramp. The shed size for a riding mower and shed size for a zero-turn pages lay out real dimensions, and a fitted cover such as the Husqvarna 54 in. Full-Size Lawn Tractor Cover or EGO POWER+ CRM001 Riding Mower Cover protects a machine in an open shed.

• Baggers: fitted bagging systems like the EGO POWER+ ABK4200 Bagger Kit for 42 in. Z6 Zero Turn for the EGO ZT4204L collect clippings and leaves. Bagging slows mowing because of emptying stops.
• Dump carts: the Agri-Fab 12 cu ft Tow-Behind Poly Swivel Dump Cart, 700 lb and Ohio Steel 4048P-HYB 15 cu ft Poly Swivel Hybrid Dump Cart haul mulch, firewood and debris.
• Lawn sweepers: the Agri-Fab 44 in Tow-Behind Lawn Sweeper, 28 cu ft picks up leaves, pine needles and aeration cores.
• Aerators and dethatchers: the Brinly PA-42BH-A 42 in Tow-Behind Plug Aerator and Agri-Fab 48 in Tow-Behind Lawn Dethatcher cover large lawns in a fraction of the time of walk-behind tools.
• Spreaders: a tow-behind such as the Brinly BS361BH-A Deluxe 175 lb Tow-Behind Broadcast Spreader holds 175 pounds of seed or fertilizer.

Lawn tractors are the natural towing machines. Many zero-turn manuals restrict towing, require an approved hitch, or cap the load. Towed weight also pushes a mower downhill, so manuals typically reduce the allowable slope when towing. Check the hitch rating and slope guidance before buying heavy attachments. See the best lawn sweepers and best lawn aerators.

For lawns inside the rated range, often yes. Electric riders are quiet, start instantly, and skip oil changes, spark plugs, air filters, fuel stabilizer and belts on belt-free models. The trade-offs are price for the larger models and a hard range limit per charge.

• Greenworks 60V CrossoverZ 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower: rated up to 2.5 acres on six 8.0Ah batteries at $2,999.99.
• EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT4204L 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower: rated for 2 acres on four 10.0Ah batteries, recharging in about two hours, at $3,599.00.
• EGO POWER+ T6 TR4204 42 in. Electric Lawn Tractor: a 42-inch tractor rated for 1.5 acres, with cruise control and a rear tow hitch.
• EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT5207L 52 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower: 52 inches and up to 4 acres per charge on six 12.0Ah batteries.

Rated acreage assumes favorable conditions. Tall, wet grass and hills use more energy, so buy a rider rated for more than your lawn. The gas vs electric riding mower comparison and EGO Z6 vs Greenworks CrossoverZ cover the details.

Spend on the right type and size first, then on deck construction and transmission grade. Here is how the catalog breaks down, with current prices:

• Under $3,000, 1 to 2.5 acres of easy lawn: Husqvarna TS 120 42 in. Lawn Tractor ($2,799.00) and the Greenworks 60V CrossoverZ 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower ($2,999.99).
• $3,000 to $4,500, the mainstream: Husqvarna TS 120 46 in. Lawn Tractor, EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT4204L 42 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower, Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition 42 in. Zero Turn Mower, Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. Zero Turn Mower, Husqvarna TS 140X 54 in. Lawn Tractor, Husqvarna Z254F 54 in. Zero Turn Mower ($3,985.00) and the EGO POWER+ T6 TR4204 42 in. Electric Lawn Tractor.
• $4,500 to $6,500, heavier-duty and large-lot: Husqvarna TS 375XD 54 in. Lawn Tractor with a differential lock, Husqvarna MZ54 54 in. ClearCut Zero Turn Mower, Greenworks 60V MaximusZ 54 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower, EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT5216L 52 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower and Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. Zero Turn Mower with ROPS with ROPS.
• Over $6,500: Husqvarna Xcite Z375 60 in. Zero Turn Mower and EGO POWER+ Z6 ZT5207L 52 in. Electric Zero Turn Mower.

The honest advice at the low end: if your lawn is under about 0.6 acre, skip the rider. A self-propelled mower such as the EGO POWER+ LM2135SP 21 in. Select Cut Self-Propelled Mower Kit costs a fraction as much and needs no garage bay; see mowers for half an acre.

Residential riding mowers sold in the U.S. are built to the ANSI/OPEI B71.1 safety standard, which includes an operator presence switch that stops the blades when you leave the seat and a system that stops the blades when mowing in reverse unless you deliberately override it. Look also for a parking brake that is easy to set and, on zero-turns meant for larger or sloped properties, a rollover protection structure (ROPS) with a seat belt, as on the Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. Zero Turn Mower with ROPS.

Features do not replace habits. Read the operator manual, check the slope limit, and see the guide to mowing on slopes safely before you mow any grade.