Best Residential Zero Turn Mower – Top 3 Picks
Pressed for time? Check our best picks
Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52″ Zero Turn Mower
- Long runtime
- Wide, clean cuts
- Comfortable
- Fast mowing save lot of time
Husqvarna Z254 Zero Turn Riding Mower
- Wide cuts save time
- Fast engine
- Long runtime
- No maintenance
Husqvarna Z242F Zero Turn Riding Mower
- 3-in-1 discharge
- Easy parking/storage
- Wide cuts save lot of time
- Unique deep deck
Our reviews are unbiased, fact-based, and comprehensively researched to help you make the right buying decisions.
Model Analysed
Research Hours
Comments Analysed
Zero turn mowers offer precision, maneuverability, and more ground coverage than typical riding lawn mowers. Most commonly, people associate zero turn mowers with commercial use mowing, but in fact, many of them are incredible for residential use.
Below are the best residential zero turn mowers and a guide on what to look for in one.
Comparison Table of Top Best Residential Zero Turn Mower in Market
| Product Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52" Zero Turn Mower 23hp Kawasaki FR691 Series |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Husqvarna Z242F 42 in. 18 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Snapper 2691402 360z Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. 21.5 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit Riding Lawn Mower with 34-Inch Deck and 452cc Engine |
| Check Today's Price |
Reviews of Top Residential Zero Turn Mower
Ariens 915223 IKON-X 52
Key Specifications
- 2.8 gal fuel capacity
- 23 HP engine
- 52″ cutting deck
The Ariens IKON-X 52” zero turn mower is perfect for residential use. Because it is not overly bulky, it works just as well on a home lawn as it would a commercial lot.
Its cutting deck width means that you can get the job done very quickly whether your lawn is big or small.
Each cut is wide and clean. The seat is comfortable, and the levers are easy to grip. It has a good size fuel tank holding a maximum 2.8 gallons which means that you won’t need to refuel mid mowing if you started with a full tank.
The IKON-X is quite easy to maneuver making it perfect for yards with obstacles to mow around. Here it is in action
Pros
- Long runtime
- Wide, clean cuts
- Comfortable
- Fast mowing
Cons
- It can get loud
No matter this size of yard, the IKON-X is can mow it quickly. It is easy to use and be parked in your garage or shed easily. Check it out!
Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 3.5 gal fuel capacity
- 26 HP engine
- 54″ cutting deck
A residential zero turn mower that is low maintenance is a huge plus, and luckily, the Husqvarna Z254 is a fine example of that. It has a powerful Kohler hydrostatic motor that is resilient and requires virtually no maintenance whatsoever.
It is also great for speeding up the job. With a 26 HP engine and a 54” cutting deck, mowing goes fast, and the cuts are wide each time. The body and frame is sturdy and durable without being cumbersome or too big for your house’s lawn.
Check out this video of it at work
Pros
- Wide cuts save time
- Fast engine
- Long runtime
- No maintenance Kohler transmission
Cons
- Assembly can be tricky in some spots
This mower is well rounded and great for bigger sized yards. It has a great transmission, high fuel capacity, wide steel cutting deck, and powerful engine. Try it out at your house.
Husqvarna Z242F 42 in. 18 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 3.5 gal fuel capacity
- 18 HP engine
- 42″ cutting deck
The Husqvarna Z242F is a unique zero turn mower. It has a deep deck design with a 42” cutting path which is perfect for residential lawns. The cuts are wide and clean without the mower itself being too wide or bulky which is a plus for residential mowers.
This mower also has 3-in-1 discharge, bagging, and mulching functions so you can return the grass to the yard as you go or bag it up for later disposal.
When you are done mowing, parking it is simple and you don’t have to worry about it going anywhere. This video shows a closer look at the Z242F
Pros
- 3-in-1 discharge
- Easy parking/storage
- Wide cuts
- Unique deep deck
Cons
- The levers take some muscle to operate
The Husqvarna Z242F 42” mower is versatile, unique and perfect for navigating residential lawns. Because of its size and cutting deck, it is best for medium to large sized yards, but could handle a small yard because of its maneuverability. Check it out.
Husqvarna MZ61 61 in. 27 HP Briggs & Stratton Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 5 gal fuel capacity
- 27 HP engine
- 61″ cutting deck
The Husqvarna MZ61 61” mower is powerful. It has such a wide cutting path that you can mow a large lawn very quickly. If it winds up taking you a long time, however, don’t fret because it can hold 5 gallons of gasoline, so it won’t stop running anytime soon.
Even better, it has a 27 HP engine, so the mower runs fast. In smaller yards the MZ61 may look massive, but it still would work just as well.
In bigger yards, however, it could get the job done fast. Between its huge cutting deck and powerful engine, this mower is designed for making mowing easy.
It can handle dense, tall grass with ease. The mower also has triple bag collection making it easy to deal with trimmings. Here it is in action
Pros
- Fast mowing
- Triple bag collection
- Wide cutting deck
- High fuel capacity means more run time
Cons
- It can get pretty loud
This is a great mower for large yards. It is easy to use and a great value. Check it out.
Snapper 2691402 360z Mower
Key Specifications
- 3 gal fuel capacity
- 23 HP engine
- 48″ cutting deck
The snapper 360z is a great zero turn mower. It is fast, easy to maneuver and can handle thick grass pretty easily. The 48” cutting deck is wide enough to provide cuts that you won’t have to go back over again all of the time.
The 360z also makes it easier to get more yardwork done around the house because it has a rear cargo bed. You can easily store whatever it is you may want or need to use around the yard whether it be gear, mulch, or yard waste.
Take a look at this quick video that shows everything that the 360z has to offer
Pros
- Fast mowing/riding
- Extra storage in rear
- Handles dense grass with ease
Cons
- Debris gets in the engine sometimes
This is perfect for doing yard work at the house. The rear cargo bed opens up opportunities for making other yard chores even easier. Give it a try on your own lawn!
Husqvarna Z248F 48 in. 21.5 HP Kawasaki Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
Key Specifications
- 3.5 gal fuel capacity
- 21.5 HP engine
- 48″ cutting deck
What makes the Husqvarna Z248F so great to use around the house is the maneuverability. Not only is it easy to steer and turn quickly, but it also mows the grass with extreme precision. It has a 21.5 HP Kawasaki engine which is why it is such a quick mower.
Changing directions is effortless and the levers are ergonomically pleasing. It has a discharge chute and has the space for bagging and mulching attachments which are sold separately.
Each cut is quite wide due to the 48” cutting deck which helps speed up the process a little bit whether your yard is small or huge.
Check out this video that shows the Husqvarna Z248F in action
Pros
- Easy to maneuver
- Precise, wide cutting
- Comfortable seat and levers
Cons
- Does not handle dense grass as well
If you want a zero turn mowers that is easy to maneuver around your yard with, this is a great choice. It is easy to use and has wide cuts. Check it out!
Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit Riding Lawn Mower with 34-Inch Deck and 452cc Engine
Key Specifications
- 1.2 gal fuel capacity
- 22 HP engine
- 34″ cutting deck
The Troy-Bilt Mustang Fit zero turn mower is great for small to medium sized residential yards. It is highly precise and easy to maneuver even if you are inexperienced with zero turn mowers. You can even mow in reverse with the same accuracy as going forward.
The fuel tank holds just over 1 gallon of gasoline which is more than enough to last you at the very least one mowing session, unless your yard is massive.
With a 34” cutting deck, the size of the cuts is somewhere in the middle of the spectrum but still much larger than a regular mower.
If your hard has a lot of curves or obstacles, this mower can handle it well because of how quickly it can change direction. Check out this video that shows the Mustang Fit in action
Pros
- Precise reverse mowing
- Powerful engine
Cons
- Narrow cuts adds a little bit of time
If your yard is on the smaller end, this mower could be perfect. Check it out!
Buying Guide- Best Residential Buying Guide
There are several things to take look out for before choosing a zero turn mower. Follow along and see what is most important in picking out a zero turn mower.
Cutting Deck Size
The cutting deck size is quite important. Typically speaking, zero turn mowers have cutting decks that are 30” or more. That is considerably more than push mowers or some standard riding mowers.
Whatever the size the cutting deck of the mower you are looking at it is will tell you the size of the cut it makes. With that in mind, consider how wide of cuts you would like to make. Wide cuts help get the job quicker in most cases because you cover more ground at once, literally.
Horsepower
What kind of horsepower does the mower have? Pay attention to the engine and look for a mower with plenty of HP. It means quicker mowing and a more powerful engine.
Extra Functions
If you need added functions like mulching and bagging accessories or a storage bed, it can narrow your search. Many of them come with those extra functions and others require you to purchase them separately.
You don’t normally have to pay much more for a zero turn mower with bells and whistles, so to speak. Some of them even come with headlights.
Runtime
Runtime is usually dictated by the fuel capacity. The higher the fuel capacity, the longer more mowing time you will have. When it comes to zero turn mowers, you don’t need too high of a capacity such as 5 gallons unless you have a large yard.
However, having a big fuel tank and a small yard simply means you can mow the yard several times before needing to refuel.
It is nice to have a high fuel capacity so that you don’t have to worry in case a mowing session takes longer than expected, or if your neighbor needs to borrow it.
FAQs
All zero turn mowers can be used for both residential and commercial, but some are better for one or the other. Bulky, massive mowers with extremely wide cutting decks do great with commercial lawns, but they can work just as well on a residential lawn.
Generally, what makes a zero turn mower ideal for residential use is maneuverability, ease of use, precision, and easy storage. Most residential zero turn mowers can fit in a garage or shed.
No, not all of them can. Most of them can ride in reverse, but not all can actually mow in reverse. Zero turn mowers that can mow in reverse are typically high end and put the focus on maneuverability. Mowing in reverse is common and comes in handy big time, especially if your hard has a unique layout.
If your mower does have reverse mowing features and it is more effective than forward mowing, that means your blades are dull.
They can be stored outdoors, and many dealerships do for display purposes, but there are several reasons it is ideal. If you do not cover it well, then it is greatly exposed to the elements. Depending on the material of the seat, it may retain rainwater for a long period of time making it uncomfortable to sit.
Besides that, exposure to the air, changes in temperature and other outdoor factors can cause rust.
Yes, absolutely. It is more time effective than both standard riding mowers and push mowers alike. Because of the quick turning, powerful engines, and maneuverability, it is a much faster mowing session all around.
Precision and speed aside, the wide cutting deck that zero turn mowers have to offer saves a significant amount of time, especially when it comes to having to go back over spots you already mowed which is usually not necessary with zero turn mowers.
No, not all of them. Check to see if there is a slot for specific accessories. If there, look to see if the manufacturer of the mower sells it. Usually zero turn mower manufacturers also produce bagging and mulching accessories specific to certain models.
Some mowers also have towable attachments such as cargo beds or yard waste bags.
Last update on 2024-12-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API