Being a riding lawn mower, you also get to ride along in the mower. They help you to save mowing time, by making backups unnecessary, whenever you need to turn around. They travel faster and can maneuver perfectly around trees and other obstacles. There are front- and mid-mount zero turn mowers. With the front-mount variety, you also get to save a lot of trimming time, because you will mow lawn edges or boundaries much better.

There is an over-sized cooling fan, chrome plated valves, and a spring assisted deck lifting system. The deck itself is made from stamped steel, but it is reinforced for more strength. On the bumper, you will find integrated led headlights, and the seat is made from vinyl and features seat springs. Husqvarna Z254's cutting deck is made from 12 gauge steel, has 4 anti-scalp wheels and its cutting height can be set between 1.5 and 4 inches.

For those who value performance and reliability in a compact and durable design, this Husqvarna Z254 is the perfect machine. The components are designed, based on Husqvarna's long-term experience in the power tools industry, and anyone who drives the Z254 will attest to its performance, sturdiness and overall quality.

#2. Troy-Bilt Mustang 46 22HP Zero Turn Mower

Editor's Rating:  (4.5 / 5)

The deck is 46 inches wide and comes with 4 deck wheels. Deck engagement is electric and button controlled, making your life easier. The Mustang 46 spots a 2.8 gallon gasoline tank, and its seat is comfortable, with an 18-inch high-back and dual springs for your mowing comfort. The 2 caster front-wheels are greasable, allowing for a longer life, and Troy-Bilt backs the entire mower up with a 3 year warranty, including the lifetime warranty for its frame.

Designed for people who want the maximum from a zero turn mower, the Troy-Bilt Mustang 46 sacrifices style and aesthetics for raw power and performance. Its twin hydro and dual EZT transmission can produce speeds of up to 7 mph in forward movement, or a 2.5 mph top speed in reverse. With its 8-position cutting height setting, the mowing choice becomes truly yours.

#3. Husqvarna MZ54S Commercial Zero Turn Mower

Editor's Rating:  (4.5 / 5)

Its deck lifting system is manual and foot assisted. There are three blades in the deck, with a combined cutting width of 54 inches. It can bag, mulch or side-discharge the grass clippings, and is rated to mow up to 3.7 acres per hour. You, the driver are not left out though. There is a vinyl seat, with springs and a high back-rest. You also get arm rests, a cup holder, and and hour meter.

Husqvarna makes this zero turn mower for professionals who need a reliable and well made lawn mower. Efficiency, speed, low maintenance and a rugged build, all these mean a lot for the professional user, and Husqvarna truly delivers the best zero turn mower for commercial applications with this MZ54S.

#4. Poulan Pro P46ZX 22Hp Zero Turn Mower

Editor's Rating:  (4.3 / 5)

The P46ZX weighs 430 lbs., is 75 inches long and 41 inches high. It can bag, mulch or side-discharge grass clippings. With 6 cutting height levels, you are allowed to choose between a cutting height of 1.5 and 4 inches. Although its cutting deck is stamped steel, it is extra reinforced, and even enjoys a 10 year warranty from Poulan Pro. Clutch is easy and electric, and a nicely-placed panel puts all the controls at an easy reach.

Poulan Pro's P46ZX is designed for those who want to mow in style and like a pro. It is also for those who want to enjoy some comfort while mowinig. It has a nice, stylish design, a 15-inch high backseat, a cup holder, a digital hour meter, foam padded lap bar hand-grips, 3 anti-scalp rollers, and a vinyl seat.

#5. Husqvarna Z246 724cc Zero Turn Mower

Editor's Rating:  (4.4 / 5)

The 15-inch vinyl seat is comfortably placed between the cutting height lever and cup holder on the left, and the control panel on the right. With the 2 lap bars ergonomically positioned in front of the seat and also featuring cushioned hand grips, your mowing session with this zero turn mower is made as comfortable as possible. The engine and the wheels are connected through a dual hydro-gear EZT transmission, and it is backed by a 3-year warranty for non-commercial, home use.

Husqvarna's Z246 is a great all-round mower for those who simply want a good and reliable zero turn mower, without complications. It is perfect for the casual user, who is not interested in extreme features or bells and whistles. Young and old, as well as male and female, will all find joy with the ease and precision of using this lawn mower.

#6. Ariens Max Zoom 52 23HP Zero Turn Mower

Editor's Rating:  (4 / 5)

With a maximum speed of 8 mph, and reverse speed of 4 mph, Ariens Max Zoom 52 will help you get the job done as quickly as possible. Headlights, grass bags, mulching kit and trailer hitches are all sold separately, but the package comes with an hour meter, a high-back seat with springs and arm rests, and a 3-year consumer warranty.

This is a zero turn mower for those who need a truly well made machine. Featuring 10 gauge steel pieces which have been welded together, you can be sure of better steel strength than you would find with any of the stamped deck variety. Even reinforced stamped steel decks are no match for the quality of this mower's deck.

Walk-Behind vs. Zero Turn Mowers

You may be torn between a walk-behind mower and a zero turn mower, not knowing which one you like better. The truth is that they are both great in their own ways, and they each have their advantages and their disadvantages. Following is a comparison of both types of mowers, in the hope that it will answer your questions and clear any misconceptions concerning them.

#1. Walk-Behind Mowers

Advantages

Disadvantages

Their requirement for physical exertion of the user becomes a disadvantage during long mowing sessions. Everybody gets tired at one point or the other, creating more bottled-water breaks than someone else on a riding mower. A second disadvantage is that walk-behind mowers usually have a smaller cutting deck than zero turn mowers. This means that jobs will take longer to be completed.

#2. Zero Turn Mowers

Advantages

Disadvantages

Zero turn mowers are expensive. They can sometimes cost 3 or more times higher than a walk-behind mower. Secondly, they are not very safe for mowing hilly terrain, because they can easily become unstable on hilly ground. Zero turn mowers also do not work quite well on bumpy terrain, and driving with lap bars is an activity that needs getting used to.

Should I Buy A Zero Turn Mower?

It might happen that you are being referred to zero turn mowers from all angles. Everyone you know or have talked with concerning your lawn, has simply told you to get a zero turn mower, but maybe you are not personally sure if it's what you need. If you find yourself in such a dilemma, then the following considerations should help to clear your mind of any confusions that you may have.

#1. The Size & Design of Your Lawn

You should first consider the size of the area that you are planning to mow. If you have a small lawn, then a reel mower might even be more ideal for you. But if you have a larger lawn, then you definitely need a mechanized mower. As a rule of thumb, if you spend less than 40 minutes per mowing session, then a push- or walk-behind mower might be ideal for you.

If you spend over 40 minutes per session, then a riding mower should come into consideration. If you have lots of trees, objects, and landscaping boundaries, that you have to navigate while mowing, or if you simply want to save time by mowing faster, then you should consider a zero turn mower.

#2. Your Readiness To Learn

Zero turn mowers are a different kind of vehicle from what people are generally used to. The propulsion mechanism that they employ requires that you spend some time first practicing it, before you can actually start using the mower. There are even zero turn mowers that come with steering wheels instead of lap bars, but the steering wheel stills controls a rather awkward system that needs learning and getting used to.

#3. The Terrain of Your Yard

It's no secret that zero turn lawn mowers work best on flat terrain. This means that if your yard is bumpy or hilly, then you may want to consider a different kind of mower. There are zero turn mowers that were designed specifically for mowing sloping lawns anyway, but they do have their price.

#4. Your Wallet

Last but not least is your wallet. Zero turn mowers generally cost more than other lawn mower types, including lawn tractors. For this reason, you should be considering zero turn mowers only if you have the cash to spare. And if you even have more cash, then why not get a commercial model? They are some of the best rated zero turn mowers, and they are great to ride as well.

What to Look for When Buying a Zero Turn Mower

If you are considering purchasing a zero turn mower, it's important that you should understand the various aspects of the machine. Simply asking what is the best zero turn mower? will not solve much. But knowing which machine parts do which work, will allow you to make a more informed decision, and to buy the best value zero turn mower that can meet your needs. Following are the most important aspects you should try and look out for.

#1. Build Quality & Durability

You have to check the deck, the frame, and the overall sturdiness of the mowers components, in order to estimate its build quality and eventual durability. There are 2 types of zero turn mower decks: Stamped and welded decks. Stamped decks are usually stamped from a single and thinner piece of steel, while welded decks are a combination of many heavy-gauge steel pieces, welded together. Welded decks are of course the better alternative, and are usually employed in commercial models.

#2. User Friendliness

User friendliness refers to the ease of use of the machine, as well as overall comfort and satisfaction from using it. Since you will be sitting back and using the lap bars to steer, you need a comfortable seat, and if possible, with an ergonomic backrest. User friendliness applies to the mower's features and settings as well, like choosing between a 'high' and a 'low' mowing speed, and the ease of making those changes. Having buttons and cutting-height levers in an easy to access position, also increases user friendliness.

#3. Deck Size

Zero turn mowers come in different sizes, and with different deck sizes as well. You will have to know how large your yard is, and then choose appropriately. A 42-inch deck is recommended for yards that are 1 acre and less. For up to 2 acres of lawn, a 42- or 46-inch deck will be appropriate, while you can use anything between 48 and 54 inches for 2 acres and larger. There are larger decks of course, measuring up to 72 inches, but they are better suited for very large and relatively flat areas.

#4. Tire Width

Wider tires are better for zero turn mowers, and this includes the large, as well as the small zero turn mowers. This is because they distribute their weights over a wider area. This helps to prevent damage to your grass, as well as improve the mower's overall traction. Some mowers that were designed for use on sloping grounds, even come with 4 wide tires on the same axis, instead of just 2.

#5. Extra Features

Extra features here refers to everything else that is not standard on a zero turn lawn mower. You may have a need for one or more of such an extra feature. These include attachments for bagging, having a front- or a mid-mount deck, offering a wheel instead of lap bars for steering, and many more.

#6. Price

Zero turn mower prices can vary widely, so you have to set your budget and know what you are willing to spend. There are entry-level, residential mowers, as well as the more expensive semi-pro and commercial mowers. Although they have higher prices, they will usually also offer larger cutting widths, more engine power, and larger fuel tanks.

Reference: Popularmechanics.com, Consumerreports.org