Quick Answer: The cheapest new zero-turn mower from a major brand in November 2026 is the Murray Cruz 42 at $2,899, sold only at Home Depot. For $100 more, three 42-inch mowers tie at $2,999: the Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42, the Troy-Bilt Z42 and the Ariens EDGE LT 42. Pick the Cub Cadet for its 3-year, unlimited-hour warranty, or the Ariens for its fabricated 11-gauge deck. The cheapest V-twin is the Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42 ($3,229), and the cheapest battery zero-turn in stock is the Ryobi ZR3 ($3,999).
A new zero-turn from a known brand starts at $2,899 in 2026, and there is no longer a mainstream model below that. Toro’s old entry mower, the TimeCutter SS4225, has dropped out of Toro’s lineup. The price ladder from there is short and steep: 14 models from seven brands list between $2,899 and $3,499. Each step up buys one specific thing, such as a second cylinder, a thicker deck or a longer warranty. We compared list prices on each maker’s own site on November 5, 2026 and checked engines, decks and warranty terms against the makers’ spec tables. Store prices are from Google Shopping listings with Home Depot or Tractor Supply as the seller in late October 2026.
The cheapest new zero-turn mowers, ranked by price
| Mower | List price | Engine | Deck | Warranty | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Murray Cruz 42 (MYZ4219000) | $2,899 | 19 HP B&S EX1900 540cc, single | 42" cut, 13-ga stamped | 3 yr limited | Home Depot only |
| Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42 (17ALEACS010) | $2,999 | 547cc IntelliPOWER, single | 42" 13-ga stamped | 3 yr unlimited hours + lifetime frame | cubcadet.com, dealers, big-box |
| Troy-Bilt Z42 (17AFFACS066) | $2,999 | 547cc Troy-Bilt, single | 42" 13-ga stamped | 3 yr limited + lifetime frame | troybilt.com, Home Depot, Tractor Supply |
| Ariens EDGE LT 42 (915291) | $2,999 | 19 HP B&S EX1900 540cc | 42" 11-ga fabricated | 2 yr | Dealers, Lowe's |
| Toro TimeCutter 42 (75748) | $3,199 | 15.5 HP B&S 500cc | 42" 13-ga stamped | 3 yr unlimited hours | Dealers, Lowe's |
| Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42 (17ARFACSA66) | $3,229 | 22 HP Kohler KT722, V-twin | 42" 13-ga stamped | 3 yr limited + lifetime frame | troybilt.com, Home Depot, Tractor Supply |
| Troy-Bilt Mustang Z46 (17ARFACTA66) | $3,349 | 22 HP Kohler KT722, V-twin | 46" 12-ga stamped | 3 yr limited + lifetime frame | troybilt.com, Tractor Supply |
| Murray Cruz XD 50 (MYZ5022000) | $3,349 | 22 HP B&S EXi2200 724cc, V-twin | 50" cut, 13-ga stamped | 3 yr limited | Home Depot only |
| Husqvarna Z246 | $3,399 | 22 HP B&S EXi, V-twin | 46" 13-ga stamped | See Husqvarna terms | Dealers, retailers |
| John Deere Z315E | $3,399 | 20 HP B&S EXi, V-twin | 42" 12-ga | 3 yr / 200 hr | Deere dealers, Lowe's |
| Ariens EDGE 34 (915281) | $3,399 | 20 HP B&S EXi2000 656cc | 34" stamped | 2 yr / 150 hr | Dealers |
| Troy-Bilt Mustang Z50 (17BRFACQA66) | $3,449 | 24 HP Kohler KT724, V-twin | 50" 12-ga stamped | 3 yr limited + lifetime frame | troybilt.com, Tractor Supply |
| Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition | $3,499 | 21.5 HP Kawasaki FR, V-twin | 42" 10-ga fabricated | See Husqvarna terms | Dealers, retailers |
| Ariens EDGE 42 (915283) | $3,499 | 20 HP B&S EXi2000 656cc | 42" 11-ga fabricated | 2 yr / 150 hr | Dealers |
List prices are from each maker’s own site on November 5, 2026: cubcadet.com, troybilt.com, ariens.com (internet price), toro.com, husqvarna.com (MSRP) and Deere’s February 2026 list-price sheet for the Z300 series. Murray’s site shows no prices, so the Murray figures are Home Depot’s. Craftsman’s site also shows no prices. Its Z3200 (547cc single, 42-inch deck) was about $2,899 at Lowe’s per SlashGear’s September 2026 roundup, but we couldn’t confirm a current price, so it isn’t ranked. B&S = Briggs & Stratton; ga = gauge.
What each step up the price ladder buys
The spread from the cheapest mower to a well-equipped 50-inch model is only $900. Here’s where each extra dollar goes:
| Price | Cheapest model at that step | What you gain over the step below |
|---|---|---|
| $2,899 | Murray Cruz 42 | The lowest price from a major brand |
| $2,999 | Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42 | 3 yr warranty with no hour limit, sold by dealers and three big-box chains |
| $2,999 | Ariens EDGE LT 42 | An 11-gauge fabricated deck instead of 13-gauge stamped (2 yr warranty) |
| $3,229 | Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42 | A Kohler V-twin (22 HP, 747cc) instead of a single-cylinder |
| $3,349 | Murray Cruz XD 50 | A 50-inch cut, about 19% wider than 42 inches, with a 22 HP V-twin |
| $3,499 | Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition | Kawasaki V-twin plus a 10-gauge fabricated deck |
| $3,599 | Cub Cadet Ultima Z2 42 | Lifetime limited deck-shell warranty on an 11-gauge fabricated deck |
| $3,799 | Cub Cadet Ultima Z2 50 | All of the above with a 50-inch deck and 23 HP Kawasaki FR691V |
| $3,999 | Ryobi ZR3 | No gas, oil or spark plugs: two 80V batteries, up to 2 acres per charge (Ryobi) |
The single biggest jump is the engine. All four mowers at $2,899-$2,999 run a 540cc or 547cc single-cylinder engine. For $230 more than the Cub Cadet Z1 42 or Troy-Bilt Z42, the Mustang Z42 gets a 747cc Kohler V-twin, which runs smoother and holds blade speed better in thick or wet grass. If you mow weekly in spring, that is where we’d spend first.
1. Murray Cruz 42 — Lowest Price
Murray Cruz 42 (model MYZ4219000)
- The cheapest new zero-turn from a major brand we found. Murray is a Briggs & Stratton brand sold only at Home Depot, and murray.com lists no prices.
- Murray's spec table describes a stamped 44-inch, 13-gauge deck that cuts a 42-inch swath, with dual hydrostatic drive.
- 3-year limited warranty on the mower, per Murray.
- The step-up Cruz XD 50 ($3,349) adds a 22 HP, 724cc Briggs EXi2200 V-twin and a 50-inch cut, but keeps a stamped 13-gauge deck. It's the cheapest 50-inch zero-turn we found.
The Murray saves $100 over the next three mowers, and that’s the whole case for it. The Cub Cadet Z1 42 at $2,999 has a near-identical engine size and deck, a warranty with no hour limit and far more places to buy and service it. Buy the Murray if Home Depot has it in stock and every dollar counts. Our Home Depot zero-turn mower guide compares it with the rest of Home Depot’s range.
2. Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42 — Best Under $3,000
Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42 (item 17ALEACS010)
- Cub Cadet's warranty is 3 years with unlimited hours, plus lifetime limited coverage on the frame. The deck shell is covered for 3 years.
- Hydro-Gear EZT 2200 transmission and a 7 mph top speed, per Cub Cadet's spec table.
- In stock on cubcadet.com on November 5, 2026, with $149 home delivery or dealer pickup from $49 at the default ZIP code.
- It carries the same item number Cub Cadet sold as the Ultima ZT1 42IP in 2025, so leftover "ZT1 42IP" stock is the same mower. See our Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 42 review.
The Troy-Bilt Z42 at the same $2,999 is a close twin. Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt are both MTD brands, owned by Stanley Black & Decker since 2021. Both use a 547cc single-cylinder engine, a 13-gauge stamped 42-inch deck and an EZT 2200 transaxle, with lifetime frame coverage. Cub Cadet’s warranty states unlimited hours, while Troy-Bilt’s page gives a 3-year limited term without an hour figure. Buy whichever your nearest store or dealer has. Home Depot charged $3,048 for the Troy-Bilt Z42 on October 29, 2026, so check the price there against Troy-Bilt’s $2,999 list.
3. Ariens EDGE LT 42 — Cheapest Fabricated Deck
Ariens EDGE LT 42 Briggs (model 915291)
- Ariens describes a "42" fabricated deck constructed of strong 11-gauge steel". Every other mower under $3,000 here uses a stamped 13-gauge deck.
- Hydrostatic drive at 6 mph forward and 3 mph reverse, a 2-gallon tank and a 498 lb weight, per Ariens' spec table. Ariens rates it at 2.5 acres per hour.
- Warranty is 2 years on the machine, a year shorter than the Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt at the same price.
- Ariens lists $2,999 as its internet price but doesn't sell it online, so buy through an Ariens dealer or Lowe's.
A fabricated deck is welded from flat steel plate instead of pressed from one thinner sheet, which makes it more resistant to dents and rust-through. Getting one for $2,999 is the best hardware value at this price. The catch is the shorter warranty and a slower 6 mph top speed, against 7 mph on the Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt. For a sub-acre lot with trees and roots to bump into, we’d take the deck. Our Ariens zero-turn mower guide covers the EDGE and IKON ranges.
4. Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42 — Cheapest V-Twin
Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42 (model 17ARFACSA66)
- A 747cc Kohler 7000-series twin for $230 more than the single-cylinder Troy-Bilt Z42.
- Hydro-Gear EZT-2200 transaxles and 7 mph, with a 3-year limited warranty, lifetime limited frame and 3-year deck shell, per troybilt.com.
- The Mustang Z50 ($3,449) adds a 24 HP Kohler KT724 and a 50-inch 12-gauge deck for $220 more. Only the Home Depot-only Murray Cruz XD 50 ($3,349) is a cheaper 50-inch model.
- Price trap: Tractor Supply listed the Mustang Z42 at $3,999.99 on October 30, 2026, $770 over Troy-Bilt's list and above its own Mustang Z50.
On a lot of more than an acre, the Mustang Z50 is the better buy than the Z42. A 50-inch cut is about 19% wider than 42 inches, so each pass covers more ground, for a 7% higher price. Check the mower’s overall width against your gate first, since a 50-inch deck needs a much wider opening than a 42-inch one. See our Troy-Bilt zero-turn mower guide for the full Mustang range.
5. Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition — Cheapest Kawasaki and Fabricated Deck
Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition (970 72 99-05)
- Husqvarna's spec table lists a fabricated 10-gauge deck, thicker than the 11-gauge decks on the Ariens EDGE LT 42 and Cub Cadet Z2 42.
- Kawasaki FR-series 21.5 HP V-twin, the same engine family Cub Cadet uses on its $3,599 Z2 42. Top speed 6.5 mph.
- $100 cheaper than Cub Cadet's Z2 42 and $300 cheaper than the regular Z242F ($3,799 on husqvarna.com).
- Husqvarna's product page doesn't list the warranty term, so confirm it with the dealer before you buy.
This is the cheapest mower here with the parts that usually last longest. A Kawasaki FR twin and a 10-gauge fabricated deck are the parts that usually push a zero-turn to $3,600 or more. The Cub Cadet Z2 42 costs $100 more but puts its warranty in writing on the product page: 3 years with no hour limit and a lifetime deck shell. See our Husqvarna zero-turn mower guide for the Z248F and Z254F.
6. Ryobi ZR3 — Cheapest Battery Zero-Turn
Ryobi ZR3 80V HP (RY80HPRM04K-ZR3)
- In stock at $3,999 on ryobitools.com on November 5, 2026, and sold through Home Depot.
- Ryobi rates it for up to 2 acres per charge in ECO mode, with four brushless motors and a 7 mph top speed.
- 5-year limited warranty, per Ryobi.
- The Greenworks 60V CrossoverZ with six 8Ah batteries (CRZ4262) was listed at $2,999.99, down from $5,499.99, but sold out. If it comes back at that price, it would undercut the Ryobi by $1,000.
A battery zero-turn costs about $1,000 more than the cheapest gas model, but there’s no oil, fuel, spark plug or air filter to buy each season. Our best electric zero-turn mower guide compares every current battery model.
What the cheapest models have in common
| Feature | At $2,899-$2,999 | At $3,449-$3,799 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 540-547cc single-cylinder (Briggs rates its 540cc at 19 HP) | Kohler or Kawasaki V-twin (21.5-24 HP) |
| Deck | 42" 13-gauge stamped (Ariens: 11-gauge fabricated) | 42-50", 12-gauge stamped or 10-11-gauge fabricated |
| Top speed | 6-7 mph | 6.5-7 mph |
| Warranty | 2-3 years; frame lifetime on Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt | 3 years; lifetime deck shell on Cub Cadet Z2 |
Warranty hours matter more on a cheap mower. Some makers cap coverage by hours. John Deere’s Z300 series is covered for 3 years or 200 hours, and Ariens’ EDGE 34 and EDGE 42 for 2 years or 150 hours. Cub Cadet’s 2026 Ultima Z has no hour limit. On a typical lot, the year limit runs out first. Ariens rates the EDGE LT 42 at 2.5 acres per hour; even at half that pace, mowing 2 acres every week for 30 weeks is about 48 hours a season. Hour caps start to matter on 4 acres or more, or if you also mow for neighbors. Read the full terms in our zero-turn mower warranty guide.
No current recalls. We searched the CPSC recall database for zero-turn and mower recalls since January 2024. None covered a model in this roundup. The zero-turn recalls in that period hit John Deere’s Z700-series ZTraks (Kawasaki engine fire risk, January 2025) and 2025 Spartan SRT-XD and KGZ-XD mowers (November 2025).
How to get a zero-turn even cheaper
- Ignore the too-good listings. In late October 2026, Google’s shopping panels showed unfamiliar storefronts listing a Craftsman Z5200 at $1,029, a Cub Cadet Ultima 42 at $939.60 and a Toro TITAN MAX at $550.80. No major brand sells a new zero-turn for less than $2,899. A half-price mower from a store you’ve never heard of is almost certainly a scam.
- Compare the store price with the maker’s list. Tractor Supply prices 2026 Cub Cadet Ultima models at list plus 99 cents. Home Depot’s Troy-Bilt Z42 was $49 over Troy-Bilt’s list. Dealers sometimes go lower; one Cub Cadet dealer had a Z3 60S at $1,000 under list on October 30, 2026. See our Tractor Supply and Lowe’s zero-turn guides.
- Shop the sales calendar. Big-box mower prices tend to drop around spring holidays and at end-of-season clearance. Our zero-turn mower deals guide covers the timing.
- Watch the financing cost. Cub Cadet’s financing on the $3,599 Z2 42 ($71 a month for 60 months at 4.99% APR, with a $150 promo fee) comes to $4,260 in total, or $661 more than paying cash, per Cub Cadet’s financing example on November 4, 2026. See our zero-turn mower financing guide.
- Consider used or auction. A 2-3 year old V-twin mower can cost less than a new single-cylinder one. Our used zero-turn mower guide and zero-turn auction guide cover what to inspect.
Where to spend more instead
If your budget stretches to $3,449-$3,799, our best zero-turn mower for the money guide ranks the models that give the most mower per dollar. If you’re shopping up to $5,000, see the best zero-turn mower under $5,000. Dealer brands start higher: Gravely’s ZT X 42 is priced at $4,299 in Gravely’s page data, and Hustler’s Raptor X starts at $4,349 MSRP. For a lot under half an acre with tight gates, see our small-yard zero-turn guide.
The bottom line
The cheapest new zero-turn in 2026 is the Murray Cruz 42 at $2,899, but the Cub Cadet Ultima Z1 42 at $2,999 is the better buy under $3,000, mainly for its unlimited-hour warranty. Want a tougher deck for the same money? The Ariens EDGE LT 42 has the only fabricated deck under $3,000. Spend $3,229 for the cheapest V-twin, the Troy-Bilt Mustang Z42, or $3,449 for the 50-inch Mustang Z50. At $3,499, the Husqvarna Z242F Special Edition is the cheapest way to get a Kawasaki engine and a fabricated deck together.
Sources: maker product and spec pages checked November 5, 2026: cubcadet.com (Ultima Z1 42, Z2 42, Z2 46, Z2 50), troybilt.com (Z42, Mustang Z42/Z46/Z50), ariens.com (EDGE LT 42, EDGE 34, EDGE 42, IKON 42), toro.com (TimeCutter 75748, 77401, 77404), husqvarna.com/us (Z246, Z242F Special Edition), murray.com (Cruz 42, Cruz XD 50), ryobitools.com (ZR3), greenworkstools.com (CrossoverZ), gravely.com (ZT X 42), hustlerturf.com (Raptor X); John Deere Z300/Z500 list-price sheet dated February 5, 2026 and deere.com Z315E spec page; Home Depot and Tractor Supply prices from Google Shopping listings with those stores as seller (October 29-30, 2026); SlashGear Lowe’s pricing roundup (September 2026); CPSC recall database (searched November 5, 2026).