Lawn mower dimensions comprise the machine’s length, width, and height and the width of its deck, which encompasses the cutting blade. Before you go out and buy a mower for effective lawn care, you need to know how big it is and whether it will even fit in your toolshed.

Lawn Mower Dimensions

This article will discuss the dimensions of different mowers in detail and see how much land they cover. You also get to find out how mowers with larger dimensions fare compared to those of smaller dimensions. 

What Are The Different Lawn Mower Dimensions? 

The different lawn mower dimensions you should know are the riding type of mowers, the dimensions of the zero turn mowers, and the different sizes of the eclectic of push types. Moreover, you should also know the dimension of the reel-type.

Lawn mower dimensions depend on the type of mower you own, which, in turn, depends on the overall size of the lawn. Riding mowers and lawn tractors have an average cutting width between 36 and 54 inches, whereas the standard push lawn mower width is around 16 to 30 inches.

– Dimensions of Riding Type of Mowers

Riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors are gigantic mowers that are well-suited for large-sized lawns, parks, gardens, farms, etc. This is because their cutting decks are wide enough to mow large sections of grass in a short amount of time. These mowers are around four feet tall and six feet long from front to back, making them ideal for cutting grass across land that is around one to four acres in size.

 For a riding type of mower, the average range of dimensions of the mower deck is around 36 to 42 inches. Most companies sell this mower with a standard deck size of 42 inches. Tractor-type mowers are slightly bigger, and their dimensions range from 42 to 54 inches. 

One of the most popular examples of these mowers is the John Deere S120. It is classified as a tractor by the company and is around 44.5 inches tall and 54 inches wide. With a cutting deck width of 42 inches, it boosts a powerful engine making it a beastly machine able to mow down grass within minutes.

– Dimensions of Zero-turn Mowers

A Z-turn mower is upgraded to the standard riding mower but has a much better-turning radius. It is no surprise, then, that its dimensions are similar to that of riding-type mowers. Regarding your average zero turn mower dimensions, its width and height are around 48 inches, and its length is around 72 inches. These are big machines and need a proper parking spot to keep them when not in use. 

Z-turn mowers come with a variety of size options for their decks. What you must be keen about is how it depends on the size of the area you aim to mow with this mower, which means that you can opt for a customized deck of your choice.

Moreover, a lawn that is one to two acres in size will do just fine with a standard 36 to 42 inches wide deck. The deck needs to be at least 42 to 54 inches wide for a lawn between three and four acres large.

You can install a deck that is as wide as 54 to 72 inches for lawns larger than four acres, and this would be according to your need and adjustment. You cannot get decks this large in a riding-style mower or a tractor-style one.

On the other hand, a good example would be a cub cadet Ultima ZT1 mower that is the same size as a tractor-type mower but comes with a much wider deck that cuts wider stripes of grass.

– Size of Push Type Mowers

Push mowers naturally tend to be smaller in size than ridden ones. Gas-fueled engines power these mowers because they come in all sizes and shapes. What you must know is that the average dimensions of the gas-powered push-type mowers manufactured in the US are 36 inches tall and 60 inches long, this is their basic given. On the other hand, the average mower deck size for these is around 21 inches, but you will find mowers with widths. 

Size of Push Type Mowers

Usually, when a gas-powered mower is fitted with a large deck, it is engineered to be a self-propelled mower. The extra weight that a larger deck adds makes a mower difficult to push manually.

As a result of this, if you are out on the hunt for the right push-type mower with a deck of larger dimensions, it’s best to look for one that is self-propelled, so that you get the most out of it. Considering these dimensions, these mowers are better suited for lawns less than one acre in length.

– Size of Electric Mowers

Many electric-powered mowers are built on the same dimensions as that gas-powered ones. With a height of around 36 inches, a standard width of 18 inches, and a length of 60 inches, they are more energy efficient and often self-propelled. 

Of course, you get to choose the dimensions of the deck yourself, and it comes with that option and specifications. Which means that you can get a decent-sized deck with an electric-powered mower if you are willing to pay a large sum.

Remember that the given and the average dimensions of these mowers are bound by the ground surface area they can cover. If you own a corded mower, then there is no point in using a very large deck because of the mower’s limited movement. 

For these, a smaller deck naturally makes more sense, if you think about it. Even if these lawnmowers are cordless, they need to cover more ground than an equally-sized gas-powered mower.

A practical solution is to purchase two batteries and keep them charged whenever you mow your lawn. The dimensions and the mower features make these machines suitable for most small-sized yards in the US.

– Dimensions of Reel-type Mowers

Lastly, we have the reel-type lawnmowers that many of you might have inherited from your parents and still works perfectly. These small and manually pushed mowers are only suitable for some large areas because of the hard work involved by the person pushing them. Their small dimensions make sense as they are 36 inches tall but only 24 inches long. 

The cutting width of the deck can only be about 14 inches wide in this case. You can find slightly wider decks but don’t expect them to be larger than 16 or 18 inches. These mowers do not work through any engine, so that you will be the sole power pushing them ahead. A reel mower with big dimensions will be challenging to cut grass with.

How To Measure Mower Deck Dimension?

To measure mower deck dimension, all you must do is to elevate the deck, and take out the mower check. Then, you must measure the diameter of the circle, afterward, you should check the deck shell, make sure you consider the anti-scalping rollers, regarding the dimension.

It helps to know the dimensions of a mower’s deck, and you need to learn how to measure it. These dimensions are always given in the manual specifications, but it still doesn’t hurt to check on your own.

– Elevate the Deck

In the case of a riding lawn mower, you will need to elevate the deck before it can be measured. There is a lever near the control panel that you can push to elevate the deck easily.

need to elevate the deck

Take out your mower jack, a measuring tape, and wheel chocks. The wheel chocks will ensure that the rear wheels stay in place and do not start rotating. If you don’t own wheel chocks, wood blocks would also help. Once the mower is secure, push the jack under it right in the center and use it to lift it at least six inches. 

– Measure the Diameter

Once you have clear access to the deck, it is time to measure it. The decks for smaller mowers can be easily accessed simply by turning them over. Measure the circle’s diameter for a circular-shaped deck to find its dimensions. 

– Check the Deck Shell

You must know that the deck shell on either side, the chute, and the anti-scalp rollers tend to add extra width to the cutting edge. As you do so, you know has the measurement of the decking shell. 

Unfortunately, most manufacturing companies do not allow you to change the dimensions of their mower decks per your preference. If you want to buy a particular mower model, you will have to make do with the dimensions you are being provided. 

Some people try to put their DIY hats on and install larger or smaller-sized decks independently. We encourage you to do something other than this. Not only is there a risk of damaging delicate mower machinery by accident, but the process itself could be more manageable. The amount of time and energy this would require is not worth it.

What Are the Significance of Deck Dimensions?

The mower can be large or small, and this size is responsible for accommodating the dimension of the cutting deck. Usually, people prefer larger mowers and cutting blades because they mow faster and cover much larger ground quickly. In reality, mowers with smaller dimensions fare much better in several aspects.

– Larger Mowers

The larger the mower, the more chance of tire tracks developing in the grass. This is an inevitable consequence that people will smaller mowers do not have to deal with.

When the ground is uneven with slight dips and mounds, a smaller mower with a deck less than 20 inches wide will be able to follow these contours much better than a larger one. A larger-sized mower will ride over these spaces and leave behind patches of grass. 

Another reason bigger mowers do not give an even cut is that they have multiple blades, and all of them indirectly connect to the engine, which tends to divide the engine horsepower. There is only one blade in single mowers, which is also connected directly to the mower. This property enables these mowers to give a very neat trim to the lawn grass. 

– Smaller Mowers

Another major perk of smaller mower dimensions is that they are convenient to store when not in use. You cannot just park mowers outdoors like a car. Finding a large enough storage space for tractors and riding ones is always a hassle, especially during the long winter months.

small-sized deck creates a better vacuum

You will be surprised that a small-sized deck creates a better vacuum to lift the grass blades to cut it. The grass cut by small mowers will be neater and more uniform than a riding one can ever hope to achieve. 

Conclusion

Before you go on a mower-buying spree, here is a brief recap to keep in mind.

  • The average deck dimensions of lawn tractors and riding-style mowers are around 36 to 54 inches and are best suited for grass spread over several acres.
  • Z-turn-type mowers are the same size as riding-type mowers but can work with specially designed fabricated decks of much larger sizes.
  • Reel-type mowers are the smallest, with dimensions ranging from 14 to 20 inches.
  • The only benefit of using a mower with big dimensions is that they mow grass faster, whereas smaller mowers cut grass much more finely.

The information in this article will be very beneficial whenever you decide to upgrade your old mower for a new one. The next time you are researching the dimension specs of various mowers, do not hesitate to come back to this article anytime.

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