The best John Deere Zero turn mower is the John Deere Z330R zero-turn mower – which is great for residential use for those of us with bigger lawns. John Deere isn’t as big in the commercial space, so this one is the perfect size and price for homeowners.
They’ve been dominant in the lawn care and agricultural spaces for as long as I can remember. The true patriarchs of modern lawn care. John Deere’s zero turn mowers however, have become less popular over the years. I am seeing them appear on landscaping trailers less and less these days.
Today, we are going to break down the best John Deere Zero Turn mowers and who they appeal to the best. Let’s get started!
Our favorite John Deere Zero-Turns, ranked:
- John Deere Z330R ZTrak Zero Turn Mower
- John Deere Z515E Zero Turn Mower
- John Deere Z530R Zero Turn Mower
- John Deere Z735M Zero Turn Mower
John Deere Zero Turn Mowers: Our Ranking
Let’s dive right in. John Deere has three series of zero turn mowers with varying sizes and configurations within each one. I’ll do my best to touch on the differences of each different zero-turn mower.
Looking for something smaller? Check out some John Deere lawn tractors. Electric? Consider our list of great and surprising electric riding mowers.
John Deere Z330R ZTrak Zero Turn Mower
I checked out all of the John Deere Z300 series zero turn mowers and landed on this one as the best. Frankly, it wasn’t even close.
The Z300 series is the smaller of the three series that John Deere zero turn mowers offer. They’re all basically for residential use and start at relatively low power output and work their way up. At the highest end of the Z300 series, which is the Z330R, you can expect to reasonably cut around 4 acres before you need to step up to the Z500 series.
The Z330R from John Deere is by far the best. I know it sounds petty and I’ve referenced it in other articles, but a surprisingly large portion of my decision making comes down to the arm rests. It’s a huge differentiator if you’re out there for more than 20 minutes and makes the experience way, way better.
But here are a few other, probably more important things that we liked about this zero turn:
- 23 HP engine, putting it above most other residential zero turns like the Toro TimeCutter
- 48 and 54 inch deck options (we would do 48 for residential)
- Accel Deep mower deck made with 10-gauge steel
- Hydrostatic transmission
- Fast forward speed at up to 7 MPH
One thing I don’t love about this zero-turn is the manual operation of the blade height adjustment. A few of the newer competitor zero-turns have a nice little onboard dashboard with electronics that allow you to quickly make adjustments to blade height, with gas level indicators and other bells and whistles. You won’t get any of that on the Z330R or any of the Z300 John Deere zero turn mowers.
Coming in at just around $4,000, these zero-turn mowers aren’t cheap. One thing I love is that these are made locally in Tennessee and come with a 3 year or 200 hour warranty, so you can rest assured that this one will last you for quite a while.
You can build your own zero-turn from John Deere’s website and at Home Depot (for a great price).
If you’re interested in learning more, we compared this one’s little brother to a Toro zero turn.
John Deere Z515E Zero Turn Mower
The Z500 series of zero-turns steps up the power and is designed for commercial use. The easiest way to spot the difference in a residential and commercial zero turn mower is the rollover bar.
The Z515E is the base model for the Z500 series and is the entry point into the commercial Z500 series by John Deere. While it has many features of the Z300 series, it has slightly more power and was designed with the landscaper in mind.
A few things I like about the Z515E:
- 24 HP V-twin engine
- 4 year warranty (instead of 3)
- An operator station that gives you a full dashboard with controls right by your side including a fuel gauge and hour meter
- Total height adjustment on the steering control levers
- Dual cup holders and a storage compartment
- Ability to connect to the MowerPlus app for maintenance schedules
This zero-turn has a bunch of features I’ve never seen on other mowers. It’s pretty sweet. The first thing that caught my eye was how advanced the control panel was. It seems like everything on this mower was designed to create a comfortable mowing experience, including the adjustable height levers on the steering control. Most other mower brands don’t have that as an option and if they do, definitely don’t advertise it well. I’ve always just stuck with the initial setting and dealt with it.
A few other things that stick out to me are the accommodations made for comfort. Dual cup holders and a storage compartment can really help you feel like you can make it through the day as a landscaper. These are the small things that have helped landscaping teams feel like you’re investing in their well-being and giving them the equipment to thrive.
At just under $5,000, this one is definitely an investment you’ll have to make in a really nice residential landscaping mower. It can be bought and customized on John Deere’s website.
John Deere Z530R Zero Turn Mower
The Z530R comes with a few more bells and whistles than the Z515E. One of the key differences between the two is the ComfortGlide system available on the Z530 that isn’t on the Z515.
The ComfortGlide system allows for forward and backward seat movement when going over major bumps. It basically lets you feel like you are floating. ComfortGlide absorbs way more shock than the standard steel seat springs and drastically improves the mowing experience.
The Z530R series also comes with a foot lift and foot pegs, mats on the floor of the mower, and premium control levers that make the entire experience more enjoyable.
Otherwise, it is very similar to the Z515E from a power point of view.
At around $5,600 for the 48 inch mowing deck – you are paying a 10% premium for some cool features related to comfort that the 515E does not have. If you are reading this and going to be the one doing all the mowing, then this might be a worthwhile investment to get a more comfortable ride.
You can grab it right on John Deere’s website.
John Deere Z735M Zero Turn Mower
The Z735M is a huge step up from the Z300 and Z500 series John Deere zero turn mowers and is a true commercial landscaper’s dream. Let’s walk through a few of the features that make this one stand out dramatically when compared to the other two:
- 25 HP V-twin engine that has ridiculous torque and cast iron cylinders that last forever
- A ton of mower deck updates including a PRO mower deck that:
- Is extremely deep which allows for air induction (pulling up the grass before cutting it)
- Super wide discharge area so you can take on a ton of volume even when it is wet
- Raised and reinforced front deck edge that lets you evenly pull in grass
- A welded step for you to use when getting on board that sits on top of the deck
- An optional mulching attachment which lets you pick where you want to put the clippings
- Adjustable seating and storage which rivals most minivans
- ComfortGlide suspension
- Adjustable foot platform so tall freaks like me can fit just fine alongside short kings
When you’re going big like the Z700 series, you might as well get a 54 or 60 inch cutting deck that can cut down on your mowing time.
I’m not the only one is who raving about this mower – a ton of other folks who bought it online have left extremely positive reviews despite it being a nearly $10,000 mower.
Most are saying it’s comfortable and smooth (thanks to ComfortGlide) and note how much time it has taken off of their mow, like cutting it in half.
John Deere Zero-Turn Mowers: Bottom Line
John Deere’s zero turn mowers are a bit on the pricier side but all have two things in common: they’re extremely well made and are attentive to the details. The small things in these machines add up to really put them in a league of their own when compared to competition.
Of course we all want power, speed, even cuts, and reliability. But the thought John Deere puts into things like cup holders, arm rests, ComfortGlide seating, steering handle adjustments, and more make you feel like they’ve mowed a lawn or two in their day.
Why we review zero-turn mowers
The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.
As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. Always feel free to leave a comment or request a review using the form you see at the top of this page.
What we look for in zero-turn mowers
A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost. Blade size is important to keep consistent with the size of your lawn. Obviously longer blades are best for larger lawns, but begin to sacrifice a little bit of the agility afforded by a smaller blade.
Transmission is also an important consideration for a zero-turn mower. Most zero turn mowers do not have manual transmissions, but have either automatic or hydrostatic transmissions. Automatic works just like an automatic car does with a gas pedal and belts. Hydrostatic transmissions use fluid to transfer their power to the blades and the rest of the engine. I prefer and recommend hydrostatic transmissions because they typically require less maintenance and have a longer life (plus it feels a lot smoother).
Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time when compared to a riding tractor or push mower. Zero turn mowers are an upfront investment, but reap a huge return over time. If you own a landscaping company, you can depreciate these bad boys over time (ask your accountant).
John Deere and Gravely make great American-made mowers.
John Deere’s Accel Deep Mower Decks
The Accel Deep mower deck is found on John Deere’s zero turn mowers and is a really cool differentiator that helps you perfect your mow. Here’s how it works.
It basically is a single block of well-constructed metal that helps maintain the structural integrity of the deck. This deck also has a steel reinforced bar that keeps it together even more.
The deck also comes with super easy to adjust anti-scalp wheels which help you move between different types of terrain.
But my favorite part is the depth of the deck, which allows increased airflow that stands the grass up like it’s being pulled by a comb. A few Toro mowers also have this feature and it allows for a super even cut without missing any spots.
You can read more about it from Hutson, Inc who wrote a long form post just on this topic.
