Quick Answer: The Exmark Lazer Z S-Series (about $13,899 cash price, per Exmark’s own site) is the best all-round Exmark zero-turn, pairing a fabricated 48”-72” deck with a Kohler or Kawasaki engine and up to 10.5 mph top speed — Exmark calls it the commercial-mowing benchmark for over 30 years, and this site’s own commercial roundup already leans on it as the default pick for daily crew use. Homeowners on a tighter budget do well with the Quest E-Series (from $3,799, 42”/50” deck), while crews wanting genuine commercial durability without Lazer Z pricing should look at the Radius series (from $6,699, rated for up to 5 acres). Buyers who want the most deck and horsepower Exmark sells step up to the Lazer Z X-Series (from $16,699).
Here’s a fact that doesn’t show up on Exmark’s own marketing: Exmark has been a wholly owned subsidiary of The Toro Company since Toro acquired the Beatrice, Nebraska manufacturer in November 1997, per Toro’s own corporate history. Exmark kept its own dealer network, its own model names, and its own identity as a commercial-first brand — it never got folded into Toro’s homeowner-facing TimeCutter lineup, which is why our best Toro zero-turn mower guide covers a completely different set of machines despite both brands sharing a parent company. Here’s how Exmark’s current lineup compares.
Exmark zero-turn mowers, compared
| Model | Best for | Deck | Engine options | Top speed | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lazer Z S-Series | Best overall | 48"-72" fabricated | Kohler or Kawasaki, up to 24.5 HP | ~10.5 mph | ~$13,899+ | ★★★★★ |
| Quest E-Series | Best budget / residential | 42"/50" | 22 HP Kohler | ~7 mph | ~$3,799+ | ★★★★☆ |
| Radius S-Series | Best value commercial | 48"/52"/60" | Kawasaki FR691V/FR730V, 23-24 HP | ~9 mph | ~$7,199+ | ★★★★½ |
| Lazer Z X-Series | Best premium / heaviest-duty | 48"-72" fabricated | Kawasaki, premium trim | ~10.5 mph | ~$16,699+ | ★★★★★ |
1. Exmark Lazer Z S-Series — Best Overall
Exmark Lazer Z S-Series
- Available in 48", 52", 60", and 72" fabricated-deck widths with an 11.5-gallon fuel tank, built on Exmark's commercial-grade frame — the same Lazer Z platform Exmark has sold as its flagship for more than three decades, per the manufacturer.
- Engine choice between Kohler and Kawasaki options, sitting a tier above the entry Lazer Z E-Series ($11,299) on component quality without stepping up to the X-Series' premium trim.
- Tops out around 10.5 mph — enough transport speed that this site's own best commercial zero-turn mower guide already uses the S-Series as its top overall pick among Exmark, Scag, Kubota, and Cub Cadet.
Running a Lazer Z on a daily route means keeping spare blades and filters on hand rather than waiting on a dealer order — a free 30-day Amazon Prime trial gets replacement parts to your door in two days. Try Prime free for 30 days.
For a full breakdown of how the S-Series stacks up against Scag, Kubota, and Cub Cadet’s commercial machines, see our best commercial zero-turn mower guide.
2. Exmark Quest E-Series — Best Budget / Residential
Exmark Quest E-Series
- Exmark's only residential-priced zero-turn, offered in 42" and 50" deck sizes with a 22 HP Kohler engine — the cheapest way into Exmark's parts ecosystem and dealer network.
- Capped around 7 mph, in line with other homeowner-class zero-turns on this site rather than the commercial-grade speed of the Radius or Lazer Z lines.
- Exmark also sells a battery-electric Quest V-Series (42" deck, four expandable Flex-Force battery packs, from $6,799) for buyers who want a gas-free Exmark — see our [best electric zero-turn mower guide](/best/best-electric-zero-turn-mower/) for how it compares against EGO and Ryobi's battery decks.
For homeowners weighing Exmark’s budget tier against other brands’ entry machines, see our best zero-turn mower for the money guide.
3. Exmark Radius S-Series — Best Value Commercial
Exmark Radius S-Series
- 48" and 52" decks run a 23 HP Kawasaki FR691V, while the 60" deck steps up to a 24 HP FR730V — Exmark rates the whole Radius line for commercial use on properties up to about 5 acres.
- Reaches up to 9 mph, a step behind the Lazer Z's 10.5 mph but still meaningfully faster than the homeowner-class Quest's 7 mph ceiling.
- Starts thousands less than the Lazer Z E-Series ($11,299) while still carrying Exmark's commercial-grade build — the clear pick for buyers who want real durability without flagship pricing.
The Radius is the strongest value in Exmark’s own lineup — for how it compares against other brands’ mid-tier commercial machines, see our best zero-turn mower for 5 acres guide.
4. Exmark Lazer Z X-Series — Best Premium / Heaviest-Duty
Exmark Lazer Z X-Series
- The top gas-powered trim in Exmark's Lazer Z line, built on the same 48"-72" fabricated-deck platform as the S-Series but with premium Kawasaki engine trim and component upgrades.
- Priced roughly $2,800 above the S-Series and $5,400 above the entry E-Series — for crews who want the most durable, best-equipped Lazer Z Exmark sells short of stepping up to a diesel model.
- Exmark also sells a Lazer Z Diesel (from $28,099) and a top-tier Lazer Z V-Series (from $40,499) for the largest commercial operations — outside the scope of this roundup, but see our [best diesel zero-turn mower guide](/best/best-diesel-zero-turn-mower/) for how a diesel Exmark would compare against Kubota, Grasshopper, and John Deere's diesel lineups.
For crews deciding between the X-Series and a genuinely diesel-powered machine, our best diesel zero-turn mower guide covers the tier above gas-powered commercial mowers entirely.
How the Exmark lineup fits together
- Exmark is a Toro subsidiary, but the two brands don’t overlap in the model lineup — Toro acquired Exmark in 1997 and kept it as a standalone commercial-first division, distinct from Toro’s own homeowner-facing TimeCutter models covered in our best Toro zero-turn mower guide.
- Top speed scales with tier, from 7 mph (Quest) to 10.5 mph (Lazer Z S/X-Series) — each step up in Exmark’s lineup trades homeowner pricing for commercial-grade speed and deck durability.
- The Radius closes the gap between residential and flagship pricing — commercial-rated for up to 5 acres at thousands less than the Lazer Z’s starting price.
- Kohler- and Kawasaki-powered Exmark models follow the same service rhythm as other brands using those engines — see our oil change guide for the correct interval and oil weight.
- OEM vs. aftermarket parts decisions apply the same way on an Exmark as any other brand — see our zero-turn mower parts guide for which components are safe to buy aftermarket.
The bottom line
For most homeowners and crews who want the Lazer Z name without the biggest deck, the S-Series is the best all-round pick in Exmark’s lineup — the same commercial-grade build the brand has sold for 30+ years, without X-Series premium pricing. Homeowners on a tighter budget do well with the Quest E-Series, crews wanting commercial durability at a lower price should look at the Radius, and buyers who want the most deck and engine Exmark sells short of diesel should step up to the Lazer Z X-Series. For how Exmark compares against other brands, see our best zero-turn mower guide or our best commercial zero-turn mower guide.
Last updated: September 20, 2026 — deck sizes, engine options, top speeds, and pricing verified directly from Exmark’s own product pages (exmark.com); Toro acquisition history cross-checked against The Toro Company’s own corporate history and 1997 Lawn & Landscape reporting.