Lawn Mowing Calculator | Acreage Chart | Mower Productivity Chart
By Paul Sikkema. Like or FaceBook Page: News From TodaysMower and MovingSnow Find Paul on Google+
Here is a mower productivity chart to help you determine what is the best deck width for your yard.
Keep in mind a 17 hp 42 inch mower will not be able to mow as fast as a 24 hp 42 inch mower.
A good guess for mowing speeds is:
3 mph for a cheap, low hp lawn tractor (like the Yard Machines 38 inch or Troy Bilt Pony)
4 mph for most other residential yard and garden tractors (like the Craftsman T2200 or T3000)
5 mph for the 2014 Craftsman 46 inch zero-turn
6 mph for the Cub Cadet Z-Force and most prosumer zero turns (like the Craftsman 20417 or John Deere 400 series)
8 mph for most commercial zero turns (like the Toro Grandstand)
11 to 13 mph for the high end commercial mowers (Like the Wright Stander ZK or Ferris IS 5100Z))
The numbers are acres per hour. For example if you have a 42 inch deck and it will mow at 4 mph you can get about 1.4 acres an hour mowed.
80% Efficiency, (Mower Width in Inches)
| 21 | 22 | 30 | 42 | 48 | 54 | 60 | 72 | |
| 2 MPH | 0.35 | 0.37 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.87 | 1 | 1.2 |
| 3 | 0.53 | 0.55 | 0.75 | 1.05 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.8 |
| 4 | 0.7 | 0.73 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 2 | 2.4 |
| 5 | 0.88 | 0.92 | 1.3 | 1.75 | 2 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3 |
| 6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 3 | 3.6 | ||
| 7 | 1.8 | 2.45 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 4.2 | ||
| 8 | 2 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.8 | ||
| 9 | 4.5 | 5.4 | ||||||
| 10 | 5 | 6 | ||||||
| 11 | 5.5 | 6.6 | ||||||
| 12 | 6 | 7.2 | ||||||
| 13 | 6.5 | 7.8 |
Brian
Hi Paul,
I’m on a hill and I’d estimate the slope to be 25 – 30° in the middle. Would an Ariens 936046 or JD L130 be able to handle that?
Paul
Hi Brian, neither lawn tractor has a transmission strong enough to go up your hills for more than a few months. The JD 130 also has an engine that will not handle that type of slope because the engine oil system is designed for much flatter lawns. That said,
There are no lawn tractors or residential zero-turns that are designed to mow slopes over 15 degrees. They don’t have enough traction, the transmissions are not strong enough and many don’t have the proper pressurized oil systems in the engine.
Justin C.
Paul,
I fell into a used JD L120 for $200. Runs great and still looks good to boot. I couldn’t pass it up even though I only maintain a 1/3 acre lot. My thinking was I would eventually invest in a self-propelled, doing the push thing currently. Am I nuts going this big for a 1/3 acre lot or should I just sit back and enjoy the ride?
Paul
Hi Justin, I’m the wrong person to ask. I just bought a 72-inch mower and I only have about 1/3 acre to mow with it. My excuse is I wanted something to restore 🙂
John daly
Hi I take care of some country property in mid Missouri. Some Slight hills and rocky ground. Most of the ground is level. Sometimes I like to get into the fields and tackle tall grass to make paths for kids to walk through. I cut prob 4 to 7 acres depending on how much time I have. I only cut grass 2 times a month. I’m looking into husqvarna. I don’t know if there is much difference between mzt 61 and MZ61. And if not those one of the lawn tractors ts354. Not sure which would be better. Would the zero turn be that much faster to cost twice as much? Which would Handel being used roughly
Paul
Hi John, If you purchase the TS 354D with the locking differential it will be the safest to use on hills. The locking differential will give you the traction you need. The clear cut fabricated deck is also strong enough to handle the mowing you want to do. Unfortunately, it is slower than the MZT61.
The MZT 61 is a good zero-turn with a good deck. Is it a good choice? It really depends how steep your slopes and hills are. It may not have enough traction to turn on hills or go up them. You will have to demo it on your property to find out. BEWARE! Zero-turns do not like to mow down a slope and turn at the bottom. If you have drop-offs or ponds at the bottom of the slope using a zero-turn is very dangerous.
I don’t Recommend the MZ61 at all for your property. It’s too light to have traction and it really is not built heavy/strong enough to handle rough mowing.
Eric
Hi Paul, I’m looking for advice on what to buy. I’m currently mowing 5 acres in central Pennsylvania that has a lot of different types of terrain. Everything from smooth flat nice yard around the house to bumpy former fields. And my biggest concern is I have a good amount of area that is on pretty steep slopes. I’m currently mowing all this with a Cub Cadet 1018 42” hydro that I installed bar tread agriculture style tires on just so I could make it up MOST of the hills. And this setup is definitely not ideal. Between mowing hills that feel unsafe to climb and then sliding down. And the whole yard taking close to 8 hours to complete, I’m at a loss. I’ve been recommended different things from every dealer I go to. Some say compact tractor some say zero turn and others still say garden tractor. I want something that is going to be safe on hills yet not turtle slow on the flats. I have most major dealers within a reasonable driving distance and I’m not really set on any price point. Please, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Paul
Hi Eric, 1. A garden tractor with a locking differential rear end is the most economical choice. Cub Cadet and Husqvarna both make one with a 54-inch fabricated deck.
2. Simplicity also makes a tractor with a locking diff but that’s close to $7000 and there are better choices in that price range.
3. Zero-turn mowers under $7000 are not a good choice. They generally don’t have the traction to go up or stay on the hill. Over $7000 they are heavy enough and if you go that route make sure it is equipped with a roll bar.
4. Cub Cadet does have one model that I could recommend. it the Cub Cadet PRO Z 160 S EFI. It is unique in that the front wheels steer and both rear wheels drive all the time. It’s also heavy enough to hang on the hills. I believe there is a dual wheel option on the 60-inch model for even better stability and traction.
5. The best choice and definitely overkill is the Dual wheel Wright Stander ZK. This mower will handle the hills, it safe because you just step off the mower if you get in trouble and it will mow your “flatlands” at 12 MPH! You could always pay for it by mowing other yards 🙂
Gordon E Agnew
Nobody has given the size needed for 12 acres. My John Deere 445 with 60″ deck does a wonderful job quickly. I never mow it all in one day. I break my property down into ten areas and generally mow a little every day or three. I don’t have to worry about the engine running hot because it’s water cooled. It’s a 1998 model making it 20 years old.
Paul
Hi Gordon, a midsized ($5000-$7000) 60-inch zero-turn will mow 12 acres in about 2 1/2 hours.
Gordon E Agnew
I can’t mow that fast due to obstacles (mostly trees). The reasons I didn’t buy a zero turn are many fold. I like a free hand going under limbs. I looked at several models and found most to be difficult to change oil and other basic maintenance issues (two hydrostats to maintain). My JD 445 sold new for $10,000 and will travel at 8.5mph. It has power steering for one hand driving, diff lock, and is shaft driven both to the wheels and to the deck. I’ve pictured myself on the Zturns and came to the conclusion that I’d look ugly on one (Main reason to not purchase!).
Tom
Paul,
Hugely helpful information and feedback to everyone above. Many thanks for your insights. Now my turn: 1.05 acres in Texas, with sandy soil. Flat lot with minimal trees. What’s your recommended Zero-Turn mower (I have back issues and that’s the most comfortable type of mower I’ve tried to date). I’m concerned about the deck being sand-blasted and wearing out.
Paul
Hi Tom, Fabricated decks use thicker metal than the stamped decks. So Ariens Ikon 42 or 52, Hustler 42, 50 and Cub Cadet 46 Fab decks are good choices.
Paul
Hi Kathy, No, it’s not crazy. I’m getting old enough and stiff enough that I’d have problems walking 1/8 acre myself without being incapacitated the next day.
But – if you have mobility issues the Troy-Bilt is not the right choice. Why? because to shift it from forward to reverse you have to reach down between your legs to about calf-height to move a forward-neutral-reverse lever. At least for me it’s too hard to reach. In addition, the Troy-Bilt will not mow backing up.
So – there is another mower that will work. It actually looks like the Troy-Bilt but uses a hydrostatic transmission so you don’t have that forward-reverse lever to deal with. It will mow in reverse. It’s only $300 more.
Here is a link to it at Home Depot: Cub Cadet CC30H 30 in. 382cc Cub Cadet Engine Gas Hydrostatic Rear Engine Riding Mower
Kathy Singer
We have a very small lawn probably less than 1/8 acre, however, both my husband and I have leg and health issues. We would like to get a 30″ Troy Bilt riding mower to do the yard. We are not sick enough to have to hire someone. Is this a crazy thought? Or would it be a reasonable choice?
Shawn
Hello, I have 4 acres to mow. I currently have a Husqvarna 54 inch deck rider. It has about 750 hours on it over about 8 years. I would like to get a zero radius. People are telling me I need a commercial grade. But the rider lasted 8 years. The zero radius would take less time so it would be less hours over that time period as well. Would I be okay to get something between 3-4 thousand instead of a 9k mower? PRecmmendations?
Paul
Hi Shawn, You don’t need a commercial rider for 4 acres. 4000ish gets you a solid mower with a good cutting deck, good engine, and good transmissions. The models I’ll list all mow well about 6-7 MPH so combined with the maneuverability they will cut your mowing time 30-50%.
I’ll give you links to The Home Depot. The Toro, Ariens, and John Deere are all assembled and delivered to your home by a local dealer. The Cub Cadet is shipped to your local Home Depot in a crate.
Ariens IKON XL 52 in. 24 HP KOHLER 7000 Series Twin Gas Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Riding Mower
Toro TimeCutter MX5050 50 in. Fab 24.5 HP V-Twin Gas Zero-Turn Riding Mower with Smart Speed
John Deere Z525E 54 in. 24 HP Gas Dual Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Riding Mower
Cub Cadet Z-Force L 54 in. 25 HP Fabricated Deck KOHLER Pro V-Twin Dual-Hydro Zero-Turn Mower with Lap Bar Control
William
Question:
Hi i am about to move to a place where i will have 17 acres that will need to be mowed. What type of mower should i get? Mostly flat land. Not trying to buy the best but don’t want something that is just going to break after a year or two
Paul
Hi William, I need more information from you. Is this a 17 acre lawn? Do you need to mow it every week or do you just want to keep the weeds and brush knocked down? Will you have livestock on this area? Is it in grass now? If it’s just a field of grass a local farmer may come in and harvest the grasses every 6 weeks or so and may even pay you for the hay.
In other words, I don’t know if a small ZTR for the house lawn and a compact tractor is the best choice.
William
No it’s all grass and yes will need to be mowed every week or 10 days depending on the rain. Have been looking at bad boy mowers the but i don’t know if that’s enough. A 60 in cut for 6200$ or a 72in diesel for 15k. There’s trees all around so a farmer wouldn’t want the hassle of coming and doing that i have already looked into that. And no cattle just a lot of land lol
Paul
Hi William, before you look at a mid-mount ZTR take a look at Grasshopper mowers. They use an out-front deck and are easier to trim with and use than the mid-mount’s. They generally ride better because you sit right above the large tires. They do have good seat options. Grasshopper offers all the options like diesel engines and they have steel driveshafts throughout the mowers. They are designed for your type of mowing.
Grasshopper Mowers
Matt
Hi Paul,
First time homeowner in NJ, previously owned by a landscaper so the lawn was/is fantastic. Been having a landscape company manage my 1 acre or so of lawn for a couple years, but looking to take it on myself after some disappointing results (constant tire spin outs and tearing up grass from rushing and mowing too much, bad mulching blade maintenance with very ratty looking cut grass, various forms of fungus killing off sections, etc). The property is very flat ground, good drainage, with just a handful of trees with mulchbeds to go around. Looking for a riding mower that is durable, comfortable, and fast/clean cutting. Price is pretty open, I’m more concerned with reliability and quality versus dealing with a broken machine just to save a couple bucks.
I see a lot of CCs for sale but read a lot of mixed reviews on them. I do have a local CC dealer, but they have a mediocre reputation (at least online and my only experience with them was being charged $40 for a chainsaw sharpening [could have bought two brand new chains for that]). Have a Husqvarna, JD, and Kubota dealers not far away as well (within 20-30 min).
Any recommendations for the 2018 year or 2017 leftovers?
Thanks,
Matt
Joseph
Hi Paul,
We have recently purchased a 6 acre property that is mainly flat and open. I was wondering if you could tell me how much quicker a “pro-Sumer” or low end commercial ZTR could cut the grass vs. a beefed up Deere (like an X590 or X730) with a 54” and 60” deck respectively.
I really like the thought of having a machine that can do most everything except FEL and Backhoe but don’t want to spend way more time cutting grass.
Thanks!
Joseph