Of all of the factors to consider when shopping for a lawn mower, size is probably the first one to take into consideration. This is because everybody has a different type of lawn and differing amounts of storage for the machine itself. When it comes to mowers, they really aren’t one size fits all. You might have already looked at a bunch of different lawn mower dimensions, but it’s hard to understand what their sizes mean without any context. Let’s start by taking a look at some of the standard lawn mower deck sizes and what they’re best suited for.
Standard Lawn Mower Dimensions (The Quick Overview)
When it comes to lawn mower dimensions, these are the two most common questions:
- How wide is a lawn mower/What size mower deck do I need for my yard?
- What is the right type of lawn mower for my lawn?
To answer these questions, it’s best to focus on the size of the cutting deck. Below is a table with the standard deck sizes for each type of lawn mower and what size of yard they should be used with.
| Type of Lawn Mower | Width of Cutting Deck | Size of Yard |
|---|---|---|
| Reel Mowers | 14 to 20 inches | Less than half an acre |
| Gas & Electric Push Mowers | 16 to 30 inches | Less than one acre |
| Riding Mowers & Lawn Tractors | 36 to 42 inches 42 to 54 Inches | 1 to 2 acres 3 to 4 acres |
| Zero Turn Mowers | 36 to 42 inches 42 to 54 inches 54 to 72 inches | 1 to 2 acres 3 to 4 acres More than 4 acres |
Dimensions for Different Types of Lawn Mowers
Now that you’ve got a pretty good idea of the standard lawn mower widths across the different types of machines, it’s a good idea to consider the rest of their dimensions. I’ll explain more about each type of lawn mower and throw some other standard lawn mower dimensions at you. Though each lawn mower deck size has a recommended yard size, these other details will help you narrow down exactly which lawn mower would be best for your yard.
Riding Lawn Mower Dimensions
When talking about riding lawn mower sizes, the first and most important measure is the deck width. Riding mower deck sizes typically range from 36 to 54 inches. However, the average riding lawn mower deck size is 42 inches. This is also true for lawn tractors. But, ride on mower width isn’t the only thing to consider.
You might be wondering, how long is a riding lawn mower? Well, they vary slightly but on average they are about 6 feet long. It’s important to know this if you are thinking about buying a riding mower because you’ll need to store it. While they aren’t quite as long as a car, they do take up a good amount of space. In addition, riding lawn mowers stand about 4 feet tall.
To determine what size riding mower is best for you, you’ll need to consider how large your yard is and reference it with the table above. Most people recommend riding mowers with a 36 to 54-inch cutting deck for yards that are 1 to 4 acres in size.
Zero-Turn Mower Dimensions
The dimensions of a zero-turn mower are actually pretty similar to most riding lawn mowers. On average, they will be about 4 feet in height, 6 feet in length, and 4 feet in width. The main difference is that some are built with larger cutting decks. This is seen with zero turn mower deck sizes within the 54 to 72-inch range. You won’t be able to find a non-commercial riding lawn mower or lawn tractor with this large of a deck. Since there is a big range of zero turn lawn mower deck sizes, they can accommodate many different yard types.
As seen in the table at the start of the article, 36 to 54 inch zero turn lawn mowers can be used in yards of the same area as riding mowers. However, when dealing with lawns over 4 acres, a zero turn mower width between 54 to 72 inches will give you a huge (and almost necessary) advantage.
Gas Push Mower Dimensions
Gas push mowers have a smaller range of sizes compared to riding and zero-turn mowers. Usually a push mower’s deck size is about 21 inches in diameter. But, there are mowers with slightly larger or smaller decks. Gas push mowers with larger decks tend to be self-propelled because of the added weight. Aside from the width, a standard push mower will be about 3 feet tall and 5 feet long (with the handle extended).
With gas-powered push mowers, you have a couple of options, smaller mowers in the 20-inch range, or wider 30-inch mowers. The best rule of thumb when choosing one or the other is to consider how large your yard is, and how many tight spaces you need to be able to fit into. The added width a 30-inch push mower provides can help a lot if you have a really big yard, but a smaller deck size can be really valuable if you have to do a ton of cornering or squeezing past obstacles.
Electric Push Mower Dimensions
The dimensions of most electric push mowers are almost identical to those of gas push mowers. A standard electric push mower will be about 18 inches wide, 3 feet tall, and 5 feet long. But, like other mower types, there are a bunch of options for mower width if you have the budget for it.
When it comes to the range of electric push mowers, the type of electric mower you get determines how much ground you can cover. Corded electric mowers, for example, are usually better for small to medium-sized yards. Extension cords tend to drop voltage as they increase in length, and can realistically only reach so far. Cordless electric mowers also tend to have a smaller range than most gas push mowers. This is because even the highest quality batteries won’t last as long as a tank full of gas. To combat this, a lot of manufacturers provide two fast-charging batteries to buyers. And because of this, high-end cordless mowers can be used for large yards as well.
Reel Mower Dimensions
Old-school reel mowers are simple but extremely effective. The standard width of a reel mower is 14 inches but there are some wider models. Like push mowers, they are roughly 3 feet tall but are usually only 2 feet in length.
Reel mowers are awesome for small yards but larger models can be used on any lawn up to a half-acre in area. Running solely on elbow grease, you won’t have to worry about running out of fuel.
Implications that Different Lawn Mower Dimensions Can Have
Deciding what size lawn mower you need can be a difficult choice. Let’s run through a few of the biggest implications that size can have when it comes to mowers:
1. Larger deck size/dimensions means fewer passes
As you can imagine, wider mowers cover ground more quickly. Shaving off an extra ten or twenty inches each pass makes a huge difference in the amount of time required to mow large yards. One of my neighbors made the switch from a lawn tractor with a 48-inch deck to a zero-turn with a 60-inch deck about two years ago and they were amazed how much faster they were able to get the job done. The ease of turning with a zero turn mower made a huge difference too.
But even a 6-inch difference between push mowers is noticeable. Still, if you have a small or medium-sized yard you probably don’t have to worry too much about going way up in size as you might only be able to cut your mowing time down a few minutes at best.
2. Smaller mowers are easier to store
Easy storage is a huge perk of using a smaller mower, especially if it’s a reel mower. I don’t know many people with a ton of extra space in their garage, so it’s worth considering how much room you want your lawn mower to take up. For instance, If you want a riding lawn mower you will almost need a full extra car stall’s worth of space to store it.
3. Size affects maneuverability
Taking corners and tackling hills are the biggest factors when it comes to maneuvering a lawn mower. Personally, I tend to prefer push mowers that are on the smaller side. This is because they are much easier to corner and are able to squeeze into tight places. The same is true when it comes to hills. Smaller cutting decks reduce the weight of the mower and are a little bit easier to push uphill.
Since I use my zero turn mower to cover the largest parts of the yard, and my push mower to get into the hard to reach places, I don’t need a push mower with a large deck. However, if you have a medium or large yard with hills and you don’t have a riding mower, a wider mower can be a huge advantage. Self-propulsion helps a lot with hills, and larger rear wheels can make a heavier mower easier to turn.
TRADE WARNING…Width of mower between tree trunk and curb. We all know how landscapers prefer larger wider professional mowers. Inadvertently resulting in an exponential increase of severe trunk gouging, especially to new Young trees. Regardless if a wide patch of mulch is void of any grass preventing need for mower or weed wacker to get anywhere near several hundred dollar landscape tree.
Ironically it’s the very bag attachment bracket permanently affixed to the widest side of mower dimension that creates worst type of trunk tissue wounding. And most landscapers only use attachment to bag clippings in fall. Preferring not to have to haul bags of grass away.
On a personal note as a professional arborist I wish I would see more landscapers pulling out the smaller mower. First to prevent said Hardscape damage as mentioned.
But especially when having no choice but to cut grass after a rain event. As heavier equipment used creates more permanent soil compaction compared to smaller mowers.
I mean we all hate surface tripping tree roots which are a direct result of severely compacted soil. With wetland tree species that more sensitive to root oxygen deprivation. Imagine how bad soil underneath must be if a root forced to grow on top of ground.
This is why we purchased our first bright yellow mulching mower in 1976 and change cutting pattern each week to prevent wheels going over same location. Plus it looks cool with our house being on a corner.
Hi Scott,
I will agree that sometimes lawn crews don’t show enough care when it comes to trees, whether it be gouging with a lawn mower or weed whacking around trunks. But at the same time, I understand that time is money. It’s not a good excuse, but it seems to be the reality. I guess the old adage “you get what you pay for” is true in this case. The only real way to get exactly what you want is to take care of your own lawn and yard if you can.
Thanks for the comments.
Tom.