Zero-turn mowers are an excellent purchase for commercial landscapers, and an increasing number of industry experts have begun including them in their inventory of machinery.
These powerful machines leave traditional lawnmowers in the dust in terms of features and designs.
When there are so many different models and choices to select from, it can be difficult to choose which zero-turn mower would meet your requirements and needs the best.
When buying a zero-turn mower, you need to consider many features of the machine, such as the deck height, the blade speed, and the engine power.
To help you out, we have made this list of the top 9 best zero-turn lawnmowers that you can buy right now.
If you still need a bit of help in choosing the best zero-turn mower for you, then check out the buyer's guide at the bottom of this article.
Here, we will tell you all of the features that you need to look out for when buying one of these machines, as well as some FAQs that you may have about zero-turn mowers.
Keep reading to find the perfect zero-turn mower for you!
If you are familiar with zero-turn mowers, then you might have already heard of The Ferris IS3200 model.
This has been succeeded by the ISX3300, which is the next-generation successor for that model.
The front suspension is the primary point of difference between the two models. It offers the same level of comfort, if not an even higher level of comfort.
Because of the latest improvements, the Ferris ISX3300 is quickly becoming a strong contender for the title of best zero-turn mower currently available on the market.
The Ferris ISX3300 is a monstrous piece of machinery thanks to its cutting speed of up to 7.2 acres per hour and its ground speed of up to 12 miles per hour.
You have a choice between engines that produce 37 and 40 horsepower.
Regardless of the one you decide to go with, you can be assured that they will be able to handle even the most difficult tasks.
This zero-turn mower was developed in response to feedback from professional landscapers about the need for reliability and durability in their equipment.
It has a foot-operated deck lift, which enables the height of the cut to be readily altered without the operator having to step down from their standing position.
Its sturdy constructed cutting deck and wide 26-inch drive tires offer higher productivity in any and all mowing circumstances and give it a better grip, allowing it to cover more land quicker, especially in uneven terrain.
These features combine to make it possible for it to mow more efficiently.
This zero-turn mower is built to last because of its robust Hydro-Gear ZT-5400 Powertrain Transaxles and adjustable rear coil-over-shock suspension.
Both of these features make sure that it will continue to perform well for many years to come.
With a 31 in. cutting deck, the Toro 6000 is yet another excellent zero-turn mower.
It comes with a 125-horsepower Kawasaki engine. It is tough and sturdy, and it is made to provide the utmost comfort.
The Toro 6000 series aimed to tackle decreasing operator fatigue, which is a common problem that landscapers face when they have been operating machinery all day.
It has a luxury suspension seat that comes with 3D isolator mounts. This is used to absorb any vibrations or bumps in the seat.
Its robust deck is crafted from high-strength steel with a 7-gauge thickness. It is strong enough to resist even the most difficult of tasks.
A unique adjustable baffle gives the user the ability to fine-tune the deck so that it is more responsive to changes in the environment and the seasons.
This results in increased efficiency all year round.
The Toro 6000 has a folding rollover prevention system, which is a unique feature that is not seen in many other zero-turn mowers.
This system was designed with the operator's safety in mind. In the event of an unexpected rollover, it works with the seat belt to keep the operator as safe as possible.
The Gravely Pro-Turn 600 is a brand-new mower that Gravely has added to its inventory. It is an upgrade on the previous Pro-Turn 400 model.
The most notable difference between the two is the use of a suspension platform in place of the conventional air ride seat.
Along with its potent engine and one-of-a-kind sitting arrangement for comfort, this robust mower has a sturdy frame, intuitive controls, and a ride that is remarkably smooth.
Its exterior has 7-gauge stainless steel construction for optimum robustness, and it comes with a limited lifetime warranty to safeguard against any defects.
Its unique continuous belt tension mechanism not only ensures that the correct belt tension is always maintained, but also makes that the speed of the blade tip remains constant.
This keeps the cutting level even at all times.
In terms of the ride quality of the Pro-Turn 600, it is pretty good, but it is not really that different from the previous 400 model that uses the air ride seat.
Because the grips do not move in unison with the platform, the ride might even be a little uncomfortable for you, so test out the seat before you buy this mower.
The Scag Turf Tiger II is the best lawn mower that this popular brand has to offer (Also check out USA-Made Lawn Mower Brands). It is a new and better version of the "Turf Tiger" model that was available in the past.
These mowers are built like tanks from top to bottom. They are made to withstand the worst circumstances possible because of their very durable construction.
Because of this, it is one of the best commercial zero-turn mowers currently available.
These mowers feature specifications that are on par or better with those offered by Scag’s competitors; the engine, drive system, and suspension seat are all comparable to those offered by other manufacturers in this sector.
The Velocity Plus deck is what makes this mower stand out from the competition, and you may argue that it produces the finest cut in the business.
Aside from the quality of the cut, the mower is a beast and was made to last for a long time. It is designed in a way that is uncomplicated and easy to use.
This mower isn’t overloaded with features that you will never use, but it will provide an excellent cut and work for a very long time.
The Exmark Lazer Z Series packs quite a punch because of the extensive selection of models and features available to choose from.
You have your choice between five distinct engine types, some of which have electronic fuel injection as an option for more power and improved economy.
On the 10-gauge floating stainless steel deck, you have your choice of three different cutting widths: 52", 60", and 72".
The innovative sitting design of the Exmark provides a level of comfort that is unmatched as well as a convenient 12-volt connector to keep your electronic gadgets charged while you work.
Along with this, the deck and hydraulic belts of this mower may be installed without the need for any tools, which makes maintenance a breeze.
Because it has proprietary RED technology, your lawnmower will continue to operate without any hiccups for a long time because critical system functions will be able to communicate with one another without a hitch.
With so many mowers and customisable options available in the Exmark Lazer Z Series, you are sure to find the zero-turn mower that is just right for your needs.
The Super Z Series by Hustler is available in four different sizes—54", 60", 66", and 70"—and each one features Hustler's proprietary VX4 deck.
The hydraulics of a Hustler are noted for their heavy-duty design, which allows them to provide more power and torque than many other machines on the market today.
The Super Z is the quickest mower we've looked at so far, with ground speeds reaching up to 14 miles per hour.
It comes standard with SmoothTrak steering and 24" drive tires, which together provide a ride that is extremely comfortable, responsive, and smooth.
The Super Z is an excellent mower that comes in several different sizes to choose from, so whatever you need your zero-turn mower for, you will find the right one for you in this series.
This robust piece of equipment is available with a cutting width of either 61" or 72", as well as several different engine options.
It is similar to previous versions in that it comes with a deck lift that can be manipulated with your foot, making it simple to change the cut height as required.
To leave patterns over the landscape, you may either use a professional lawn stripper kit or pull a small trailer behind you using a trailer hitch kit.
It has an easily accessible floor pan that opens up rapidly for a straightforward cleaning or maintenance procedure.
Its easy-to-use controls and integrated dual gearbox combine for a very comfortable ride that is also exceptionally durable.
At a very reasonable cost, the Snapper Pro S200xt is extremely powerful and long-lasting equipment.
The Wright ZXT was first made available to consumers in 2021. It is the most powerful zero-turn mower that the brand provides in its product line.
This is an exceptionally well-built mower that comes with a load of features, such as a suspension platform, among many others.
This mower is going to have a very good chance of winning the competition for the finest commercial zero turns mower.
If you live in an area where there is a Wright dealer, you should not pass up the opportunity to test out this mower if you ever find yourself in that position.
This newcomer to the zero-turn market has taken the greatest features from all of the previous Bad Boy models and merged them to produce unrivalled levels of strength, comfort, and cut quality.
In order to achieve the highest possible level of durability, it is constructed with a brand-new heavy-gauge all-steel rail backbone and independent cast front iBeam suspension rails.
You have the option of selecting a cutting width of either 61" or 72". Its front deck chamber manipulates the grass into the ideal position for a clean and precise cut to be achieved.
Its ductile iron spindles are sixty per cent more robust than those made of aluminium, which results in a longer lifespan for the entire system.
The Bad Boy Renegade is the greatest new mower to be released recently because of the combination of its strong construction, sturdy parts, and clever looks.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Zero Turn Mower?
Zero-turn mowers are experiencing a boom in popularity among professional landscapers at the moment, and for good reason.
These nimble and well-liked vehicles have several advantages that the more traditional ride-on mowers just are unable to compete with.
Their amazing manoeuvrability is one of the features that make these mowers to successful and popular.
The term "zero turns" refers to the fact that these mowers don't need to make the cumbersome turns that involve numerous points to turn around.
These mowers often have a transaxle installed in each of its back wheels, which enables the operator to move one of the wheels separately from the other with just a simple push or pull on a lever.
So as one wheel moves in the reverse direction, the other wheel may go forward, allowing the mower to conduct a smooth spin and neatly cut all of the grass within its operational radius.
Not only will this allow the mower to move in more restricted areas than conventional ride-on mowers are capable of, but it will also halve the amount of time it takes to mow the lawn.
You will no longer be required to drive up and down several yards.
As soon as you get the hang of driving a zero-turn mower, you will have no trouble gliding over the grass and will be able to rapidly cut around obstacles such as trees, sheds, homes, and garden beds.
The amount of time that will be saved while working on huge jobs will make having a zero turn more than worthwhile.
When you can mow the lawn faster, you use less fuel overall, and your equipment experiences less wear and tear.
This results in cost savings for you in the long term for things like gas, maintenance, and replacement components.
Each and every cut made with a zero turn will be cleaner and more exact thanks to the faster blade speed and enhanced mobility offered by this type of saw.
Because a zero turn can cut in a radius of 360 degrees, you will also spend less time needing to go back and trim the remaining sections of grass and weed-whack corners and edges.
This will save you even more time and effort.
When Should I Use A Zero-Turn Mower?
Anyone who has a large yard that has to be mowed, especially landscaping contractors who have a lot of jobs to perform, might benefit from adding a zero-turn to their toolkit.
Homeowners with small to medium yards can get away with using a more typical walk-behind or ride-on mower.
If you need to trim more than an acre of yard area regularly, switching to a zero-turn mower will be the best choice for you because of the increased convenience and the amount of time it will save you.
Even if you have a smaller yard, you might still want to consider purchasing a home zero-turn mower.
If you have a lot of obstacles in your garden that you need to mow around, such as shrubs, islands, trees, and flower beds, you will undoubtedly value the simplicity of use and convenience that a zero-turn mower provides.
If you were using more traditional equipment, you would need to go back and manually cut around all of these spots.
With a zero-turn mower, you can easily and correctly cut close to these sensitive spots, leaving behind a level and beautiful-looking yard with only half the labour.
Buyers Guide
When buying a zero-turn lawnmower, whether for personal use or to use on landscaping jobs, there are many things that you need to 4know and consider before making your final decision.
Here are all of the features that you need to look out for when buying a zero-turn mower.
Transmission
There are two types of transmission used in zero-turn mowers, wheel/pump or transaxles motors.
Professional landscapers are firmly on the side of one or the other, with each group arguing that their transmission is best.
In reality, there seems to be no real difference between the two, it just comes down to personal preference and how you like the mower to feel and handle when you are using it.
If you are looking for good transmission though, the transaxles manufactured by Hydro-Gear are particularly well-known.
Power And Engine Brand
Your lawn mower's engine is one of the most vital components of the whole machine, so be sure you choose wisely. The more powerful the engine is, the more powerful the mower will b overall.
The engine will also be very expensive to fix or replace if it breaks down, so you want to make sure that the one in your mower is reliable and durable.
Briggs & Stratton Vanguard, Kawasaki, and Kohler are the three most common engine brands used in zero-turn mowers.
There are positives and negatives associated with all of these brands, but that is to be expected with any brand or product.
The Kawasaki FX is by far the most well-liked and reliable of all commercial engines, with Vanguard coming in second.
If you are shopping for a top-of-the-line zero-turn mower, the Kawasaki FX engine is one that you should look for. It is a time-tested and reliable brand that has been in business for quite some time.
One of the most significant benefits of choosing a Vanguard is that you have the option of purchasing it with an Oil Guard system.
This is a wonderful feature for lawn care organizations as it extends the amount of time between oil changes to 500 hours.
Fuel Capacity
The capacity of the gasoline tank and the mower is a very important feature that you need to look at. In general, you will probably not find a zero-turn mower that has a fuel capacity of 1 gallon or less.
The majority of tanks will range between 11 and 13 gallons in capacity. The difference in capacity between each of these tanks is not going to be particularly significant.
When deciding on how much fuel you will use, you need to think about the types of landscaping jobs you will be using, how long these will take, and how often you are willing to put in the effort of filling up the fuel tank.
Size Of Cutting Deck
Your needs are the primary factor in determining the deck size of the mower that you need. There are a hundred various situations in which you will want a different size of the deck.
The cutting decks of commercial zero-turn mowers typically come in sizes of 52 inches and 60 inches (and occasionally 61 inches).
Additionally, commercial mowers can cut grass up to 104 inches and 96 inches respectively. These mowers will feature decks that are shaped like a bat wing
Weight
How heavy the lawnmower also needs to be considered. The typical weight range for a commercial zero-turn mower is anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds.
When it comes to traction, a mower's weight directly correlates to its effectiveness. The use of a heavy mower can damage a lawn by creating ruts in the surface of the grass.
Some believe that heavier mowers will use more gasoline than lighter mowers.
It makes sense to have a mower that is lighter so that I may save money on fuel for your truck.
The majority of these commercial zero turns are quite comparable in weight though, so you will not find many variations.
Comfort And Suspension
The level of comfort that a mower provides is undeniably important to any landscaper who will be riding one of these machines all day.
Lawnmowers and other landscaping machinery have always had a reputation for being uncomfortable to use all day, but recently big steps have been taken in the industry to overcome this problem.
If comfort is not a huge priority for you, we still recommend that you invest in a mower that has a suspension seat as a bare minimum. You’ll thank us when you don’t have a bad back after a long day of mowing.
If you want to upgrade to a mower with a suspension platform like Toro, Scag, or Gravely, you should probably test-drive those mowers before you buy one.
While shopping you will also come across certain mowers that have flex forks as well as various kinds of suspensions that are linked to the axles or tires.
These seem to be features installed more for the sake of marketing and appearance than they are for genuinely enhancing the comfort of a mower though, so be wary of these.
The Ferris ISX3300 is, without a doubt, the comfiest zero-turn mower available today. This is true for the entirety of their ISX product portfolio. Their four-wheel suspension is unparalleled in the industry.
Warranty
When it comes to a commercial zero-turn mower, the warranty that comes with it is going to be quite standard across companies.
A guarantee that is valid for two years and an infinite number of hours is practically expected in this sector.
If you don't use your mower as frequently as a lawn care company that operates full-time, you'll have to pay more attention to the fine print of your warranty.
Commercial manufacturers typically come with a guarantee that covers an entire year in addition to an unlimited number of hours, which is designed for customers who don't use their mower as frequently.
The fact of the matter is that these businesses are aware of the fact that if something significant (or even something minor) is going to break, it will nearly always happen before the 1000-hour mark and will frequently happen before the 500-hour mark.
The same reasoning applies to autos, if you are going to have a problem with your car's manufacturer, it is quite likely that it will happen relatively early on in the life of the vehicle.
In light of all of this, we wouldn't put too much stock in the warranties, and it will not be the most important thing that you have to think about when buying a mower.
Safety
Any zero-turn mower will come equipped with about the same set of safety measures. The only one that's up for debate is the stability of the slope.
There are a variety of reasons why certain lawnmowers perform better than others on slopes.
How effectively a commercial mower handles hills is often determined by factors such as the width of the wheelbase, the kind of tire, the weight, and the controls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s The Best Zero Turn Mower To Buy?
Scag, Ferris, Toro, Exmark, and Gravely are some of the best-known brands of commercial zero-turn mowers. Other notable manufacturers include Toro.
Your circumstances, such as the sort of grass and terrain you have, the amount of usage you intend to get out of the mower, and the brands that are carried by your neighbourhood dealer will determine which model is the best for you.
When it comes to these main lawn mower companies, you really can't go wrong with any of them until you reach the top of the line for their models.
A significant number of the choices will be determined by your particular preferences and the things that are most important to you.
When used by the appropriate individual or business, every commercial mower has something special to offer.
What Brand Of Zero-Turn Mower Is Considered To Be The Best?
The Scag Turf Tiger II and the Exmark Lazer Z X-Series are the zero-turn mowers that have received the highest ratings. Additionally, they are regarded as some of the most well-liked mowers available today.
Obviously, though the right mower for you will depend on your needs. There are bound to be a few terrifying tales of customer service nightmares associated with each and every brand of mower.
What Kinds Of Mowers Do Professional Groundskeepers Use?
The owners of professional lawn care services use a wide variety of brands in their business.
The mowers described above are, by and large, considered to be the most dependable and widely used models in the commercial sector.
How Quickly Can Professional Lawn Mowers Cut Grass?
The speed of commercial lawnmowers can range anywhere from 8 to 16 miles per hour.
The Hustler Hyperdrive and the Scag Cheetah II are the two commercial zero-turn mowers that are able to complete cutting jobs the quickest. The top speed of each of these mowers is 16 miles per hour.
These kinds of high speeds on lawnmowers are, of course, mostly for travel and not for really cutting the grass in any way.
The majority of commercial mowers can maintain a good level of cutting quality at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour.
Why Do Commercial Mowers Provide A More Precise Cut?
There is no question that the cut quality produced by a commercial mower is superior to that produced by a domestic mower.
This occurs as a result of the overall deck design, the power of the engine, the type of spindle, as well as the belt system.
The ability to cut grass more quickly, over a wider variety of terrains, and with a better cut will be improved as a result of all of these factors.
How Are Household Mowers Different From Commercial Mowers That Have Zero-Degree Turns?
There are a lot of different features found on home mowers compared to commercial zero-turn mowers.
Commercial mowers will have a deck and frame made of thicker steel, larger engines that are more powerful and dependable, gearboxes that are larger and more reliable, superior deck designs, larger tires, and a great deal more comfort.
There is a very large gap between the quality of homes and commercial mowers available on the market today.
Because commercial mowers are intended to be used on a daily basis in extremely demanding environments, virtually every component of a commercial mower is constructed to be more durable.
Summary
These were the top 9 very best zero-turn mowers that you can buy right now!
In the end, the right mower for you boils down to the requirements and preferences that you have.
There is a specific job for each of these mowers and it comes down to your own needs regarding the type of engine, the driving system, and the level of importance you place on comfort.
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