Another year has passed and it is time for the annual video of the best commercial zero turn mowers in 2025!
In the world of commercial landscaping, zero-turn mowers have become essential for their efficiency and precision. These machines surpass traditional tractor-style mowers, offering unparalleled maneuverability and speed, which can significantly boost productivity. With a variety of models to choose from, selecting the right one for your lawn or business is crucial.
As you look to upgrade your equipment this year, we’ve put together our list of the best commercial zero-turn mowers for 2025. We’re skipping the fluff—let’s get right into it.
First, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Last year’s top 7 was Scag, Ferris, Exmark, Toro, Hustler, John Deere, and Wright. This year is quite a bit different and the best part is I have a comparison spreadsheet with all the specifications and how I came to these top 7.
Full Video Review:
1. Scag Turf Tiger II – Best Overall
The Turf Tiger II remains one of the market's most dominant commercial zero-turn mowers. These machines are built like tanks, designed to handle the toughest conditions easily.
While it doesn’t have many fancy features, it does one thing better than most—cut quality. The Velocity Plus deck delivers arguably the best cut in the industry, and the mower’s heavy-duty build ensures longevity. It’s a simple, rugged, reliable workhorse that will serve you well for years.
One noticeable change on the turf tiger in 2025, and you’ll also see it on other mowers, is that they offer the new Kawasaki FD engine instead of the FX. The FD series is a digital fuel-injected and liquid-cooled engine. This will be the first full year the engine has been out, so we will see in terms of reliability.
Let’s check out the specs!
Features:
- Cut Width: 52″, 61″, 72″
- Engine: Vanguard, Kohler Command Pro, or Kawasaki FD
- Drive System: 16cc Hydro-Gear pumps and Parker wheel motors
- Fuel Capacity: 12 Gallons
- Speed: 12 MPH
- Suspension: Suspension seat
- Warranty: 2-Year Unlimited Hours OR 3-Year / 500-Hour Commercial
2. Bobcat ZT7000 – Fastest Mower
Bobcat isn’t always the first name that comes to mind in the mower industry, but the ZT7000 is an absolute beast. If you’re looking for power, speed, and durability, this machine delivers.
With speeds up to 19 mph, the ZT7000 is one of the fastest zero-turn mowers on the market. Of course, that is the transport mode. The mowing speed is 13 miles per hour! Still pretty fast!
The AirFX™ cutting deck provides excellent airflow for a great cut, and it’s built with heavy-duty materials to withstand commercial use. It also has an adjustable front lip on the deck which is definitely a unique feature that I thought was pretty cool!
One of the things that stands out the most with this mower is the 3 year or 2000 hour warranty. This is one of the best commercial warranties in the industry!
If you need a high-speed workhorse, this is the mower for you! Here are the features!
Features:
- Cut Width: 61″, 72″
- Engine: Kawasaki FX1000V
- Drive System: Hydro-Gear ZT-5400 Transaxles
- Fuel Capacity: 15 Gallons
- Speed: 19 MPH
- Suspension: Suspension seat
- Warranty: 3-Year / 2000 Hour Commercial
Oh, one other thing, the ZT 7000 is priced very competitively too!
3. Ferris ISX3300 – Most Comfortable
The Ferris ISX3300 is the king of comfort. It features full independent suspension, making it the smoothest riding mower on this list. But don’t think this mower is all about comfort—it also delivers impressive cut quality and performance.
With engine options up to 40 HP, a top speed of 12 MPH, and the ability to mow up to 7.2 acres per hour, this machine is designed for high efficiency. Ferris has kept changes minimal this year, aside from some small refinements like an updated USB port and a new 60-inch deck instead of 61-inch.
Over the past couple of years, one thing I always think about when I talk about Ferris is the elephant in the room: Stihl. They could have chosen almost any manufacturer they wanted, but they landed on Ferris. That actually says a lot.
With that being said, yes the Stihl and Ferris are the same, but I think the Stihl is ugly and a white seat isn’t ideal.
Features:
- Cut Width: 60″, 72″
- Engine: Vanguard with Oil Guard or Kawasaki FX
- Drive System: Hydro-Gear ZT-5400 Transaxles
- Fuel Capacity: 11 Gallons
- Speed: 12 MPH
- Suspension: Suspension seat and full front/rear suspension
- Warranty: 2-Year Unlimited Hours OR 4-Year / 500-Hour Commercial
4. Exmark Lazer Z – Most Reliable
The Exmark Lazer Z is the OG of commercial zero-turn mowers. It’s been one of the best-selling models for years, and for good reason. It’s reliable, powerful, and easy to maintain.
There haven’t been major changes this year, but that’s okay because this mower is getting a big refresh in 2025. If they haven't already, these will be hitting dealer showrooms extremely soon. I’m excited to see these new models!
The UltraCut deck still delivers a top-tier cut, and the engine options give you plenty of choices. The downside of the current mower is that the diameter is only 7.75 inches, which is quite a bit lower than most in the industry. I don’t see many problems with the spindles, but it’s worth noting.
If you want a tried-and-true mower that will last, the Lazer Z is a safe bet.
Features:
- Cut Width: 52″, 60″, 72″ and 96”
- Engine: Kohler Command Pro or Kawasaki FX
- Drive System: 16cc pumps and 17.1 cubic inch motors with shock valves
- Fuel Capacity: 12 Gallons
- Speed: 11.5 MPH
- Suspension: Suspension seat and optional platform suspension
- Warranty: 2 year unlimited hours or 5-Year / 1500-Hour
5. Wright ZXT – Most Underrated
The Wright ZXT is one of the most underrated commercial zero turn mowers on the market. Wright has always been known for its stand on mowers, but its ZXT proves it can also make one hell of a sit-down mower.
With a 40 HP Vanguard engine, oversized hydros, and a massive 13-gallon fuel tank, this thing is built for serious commercial use. The suspension platform and hands-free parking brake add some nice convenience features.
The oversized hydros is actually a pretty big deal. It also a unique idea. But these are kind of similar to the oil guard vanguard engines, which also come on this mower. It is an oversized hydro oil system that allows for 1000 hour intervals and the pumps and wheel motors run much cooler.
If you have a Wright dealer in your area, this is a mower worth checking out. I don’t exactly know what it is about this mower, but it just feels like it's well thought out and very well built.
Features:
- Cut Width: 52″, 61″, 72″
- Engine: 40 HP Vanguard EFI with Oil Guard or Kawasaki FX
- Drive System: 16cc Hydro-Gear Pumps and 18 cu. in. Hydro-Gear Motors
- Fuel Capacity: 13 Gallons
- Speed: 13 MPH
- Suspension: Platform suspension and suspension seat
- Warranty: 2-Year Unlimited Hours OR 5-Year / 500-Hour Commercial
6. Grasshopper 400 Series
Grasshopper mowers have always had a cult-like following, and for good reason. They have specialized in front-mount mowers for years and they’re great machines. This 400 series is their mid mount zero turn mower.
These mowers are built for superior visibility and maneuverability, making them great for properties with lots of obstacles. Grasshopper mowers are low-maintenance, durable, and fuel-efficient, making them a solid choice for commercial operators.
Features:
- Cut Width: 61″, 72″
- Engine: Vanguard Big Block efi or Kubota Diesel
- Drive System: 21cc hydro-gear pump and parker wheel motors
- Fuel Capacity: 12 Gallons (on the gas model)
- Speed: 11 MPH
- Suspension: none – one of the major downsides of this mower unfortunately.
- Warranty: 2-Year Unlimited Hours
7. Kubota Z700 Series
Kubota may be best known for their tractors, but their Z700 Series zero-turns are some of the best-built machines in the industry. These mowers are known for their reliability, comfort, and fuel efficiency.
With shaft-driven decks, powerful Kawasaki engines, and a deep mowing deck, the Z700 series offers a clean, professional cut with minimal maintenance.
One thing that stands out about this mower is the price and Kubota’s ability to finance mowers. This is similar to John Deere and could be a selling point if you’re looking to finance the mower. Outside of financing, the price is one of the most competitive for this grade of mower.
If you’re looking for a durable, long-lasting mower, Kubota is a brand you can trust.
Features:
- Cut Width: 48″, 54″, 60″
- Engine: Kohler command pro, Kawasaki FX or Kubota diesel
- Drive System: Parker HTG14 Transmission
- Fuel Capacity: 11.6 Gallons
- Speed: 11 MPH
- Suspension: Suspension seat
- Warranty: 4-Year / 1500-Hour Commercial
How do we Choose?
It is very simple: we demo all of the major commercial zero turn brands on the market, research each mower's reviews, and finally, aggregate the data to come up with the best zero turn on the market.
You'll see many articles that show Husqvarna MZ61 or Husqvarna Z254 in their reviews. This is to try and sell these mowers through the Amazon affiliate sites… these aren't commercial mowers, and they are not legitimate reviews. Don't be fooled by these.
We have used each mower and are aware of its similarities and differences. We also know the most important specifications and what matters most to professional lawn care owners.
Commercial Zero Turn Mower – Buying Guide
Engine Brand and Power
The engine type on your mower is one of the most important parts. This isn't only because it powers almost everything on the mower but also because it is the most expensive part to replace.
Kawasaki, Briggs & Stratton Vanguard, and Kohler are the most popular commercial mower brands. Each of these brands has its pros and cons. Kawasaki FX is the most popular commercial engine and most trusted. The Vanguard is the next most popular commercial mower engine.
In most cases, for a top-of-line zero turn mower, I would probably go with the Kawasaki FX engine. It is a tried and true brand that has been around for a long time.
The one major advantage of the Vanguard is that it can come with the Oil Guard system. This allows for 500 hours between oil changes and is an incredible feature for lawn care businesses.
Transmission
We could argue transaxles or pump/wheel motors all day long. The two major brands are Hydro-Gear and Parker. Hydro-Gear is most known for its transaxles.
Cutting Deck Size
The deck size you need for your mower depends on your needs. There are 100 different scenarios where you'll need different deck sizes. The most popular deck sizes for commercial zero turn mowers are 52″ and 60″ (sometimes 61″).
Commercial mowers also go all the way up 96″ and 104″. These mowers will have batwing-style decks. They are used in very specific commercial mowing situations.
Fuel Capacity
The fuel tank size for commercial mowers is very important. At a minimum, there shouldn't be a mower in this category with a tank smaller than 10 gallons. Most tanks will be around 11 – 13 gallons. There really won't be a huge difference between these tank sizes. There are too many variables to estimate a mower's average fuel consumption rate.
Suspension and Comfort
A mower's comfort is important and has drastically improved across the industry over the past few years. At the very least, I would ensure you get a mower with a suspension seat.
If you want to upgrade to a suspension platform style mower like Toro, Scag, and Gravely you may want to test drive them first. Some are better than others, but for some users (including me) I find them a little uncomfortable and goofy to drive.
Then you will find some mowers with flex forks and other types of suspensions that are attached to the axles or tires. From my experience, these are more for show and marketing than for improving a mower's comfort.
The most comfortable commercial zero turn mower, hands down, is the Ferris ISX3300. This goes for the rest of their ISX lineup as well. Their true 4-wheel suspension is unmatched. I've compared it to every mower, and no other “suspension” compares.
Weight
The weight of a mower is fairly important. Most commercial zero turn mowers will be between 1,000 – 2,000 pounds. The heavier a mower, the better the traction will be. The downside to a heavy mower is it can leave ruts in a lawn.
Some will argue that heavier mowers will use more fuel than their lighter counterparts. In theory, this makes sense, but how much extra fuel is used is unknown. For lawn care companies, I think it would be less about how much extra fuel your mower is using because of the weight and more about how much extra fuel your truck is using.
Choosing a lighter mower to save fuel with your truck makes sense to me. The problem is that most of these commercial zero turns are very similar in weight.
Safety
Nearly all of these zero turns will have about the same safety features. The only one in question is hill stability. Some mowers do better than others on hills for many different reasons. Usually, the width of the wheelbase, tire type, weight, and controls play into how well a commercial mower can hold hills.
Warranty
The warranty of a commercial zero turn mower will be fairly similar across brands. It is basically industry standard to have a 2-year unlimited hour warranty. The difference in warranty will come into play if you don't use your mower as much as a full-time lawn care business.
Commercial brands will have a year + hours warranty on top of the unlimited-hour warranty for those who don't use their mower as much. In all honesty, most of this is just a marketing move. Sure, you may get a longer-hour warranty with a specific brand. The reality is these companies know that if something major (or even minor) is going to break, it will almost always be under the 1000-hour mark and usually under the 500-hour mark.
Same logic for vehicles… if you're going to have a manufacturer defect on your car, it will most likely be very early on.
All that to say, if it were me, I wouldn't look too much into the warranties, and I definitely wouldn't let it make my decision on a mower.
FAQs
What is the best commercial zero turn mower you can buy?
Several top brands of commercial zero turns include Scag, Ferris, Toro, Exmark, and Gravely. The best mower will depend on your situation, including how much you will use it, what type of grass/terrain, and which brands your local dealer carries.
Once you get to the top of the line for these major mower brands, you can't go wrong with them. Many decisions will come down to personal preference and what you value the most. Each commercial mower is great in its own way for the right person/company.
Which zero turn mower is rated the best?
The Exmark Lazer Z X-Series and Scag Turf Tiger II are the highest-rated zero turn mowers. They are also among the most popular mowers on the market. Of course, there are a lot of things that go into these ratings. Every mower brand will have a few horror stories of a bad experience with a mower.
What mowers do professionals use?
Professional lawn care owners use many different brands. The mowers listed above of typically the most popular and reliable among commercial companies.
How fast do commercial lawn mowers go?
Commercial lawn mowers travel anywhere from 8mph to 16mph. The market's fastest commercial zero turn mowers are the Hustler Hyperdrive and the Scag Cheetah II. Each of these mowers goes up to 16 mph.
Of course, these types of high speeds on mowers are mainly for transport, not mowing grass. Most commercial mowers can maintain a high cut quality at up to 12 mph.
Why do commercial mowers cut better?
A commercial mower has a higher quality of cut than residential mowers. This is due to the overall deck design, engine power, spindle type/material, and belt system. All of these will play into cutting grass quicker, in more diverse terrains, and providing a better cut.
How do commercial zero turn mowers differ from residential mowers?
There are many differences between commercial zero turn mowers and residential mowers. Commercial mowers will have a frame and deck with thicker steel, larger engines with more power/reliability, larger and more reliable transmissions, better deck designs, larger tires, and much more comfort.
Overall, there is a huge difference between commercial and residential mowers. Almost every aspect of a commercial mower is built better because they are designed to be used daily under very strenuous conditions.
Wrapping it Up
There you have it—the top 7 commercial zero-turn mowers for 2025! The best mower for you depends on your needs, dealer support, and budget. Some mowers prioritize speed and power, while others focus on comfort and longevity. No matter what, these are the best options on the market today.
If you’d like access to the comparison spreadsheet that has all of these mowers and more compared side by side, click the link below!
If you found this article helpful, don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know which mower you’re running this year.
