How to Measure a Mower Deck - Thacker Ace Hardware (2024)

FAQs

How do you measure the size of a mower deck? ›

Measuring the Deck Size

Start by locating the discharge chute on the side of the mower deck. This is where the grass clippings are ejected from the deck. Measure the distance from one side of the discharge chute to the other side of the deck. This will give you the width of the deck, which is the deck size.

The first step for answering “how do I calculate how much decking I need” is to determine your deck's square footage, or area, by taking the length of your deck times the width (L x W). EXAMPLE: For a deck that is 16 feet long and 12 feet wide, multiply 16 by 12. This gives you 192 square feet, your deck's total area.

If your yard is mid-sized (1⁄2 to 2 acres), decks that are in the 54” category typically work nicely! While most of our mowers are offered with this deck size, some models to consider include our KG-XD, SRT-XDe or our RT-Pro. For yards that are over 2 acres, most people choose 61” up to 72”.

The 48" mower deck is 48" blade tip to blade tip and the deck housing is wider than 48 3/4". A 49" wide sheet of particle board will not lay flat like a 48" wide plywood or sheetrock.

Mower deck gauge wheels should be properly adjusted to prevent scalping grass on uneven terrain. The bottom of the wheels should sit approximately 1/8-1/2 of an inch from the ground, depending on your cutting height.

For most effective results, a lawn mower deck should have a pitch, or height difference of 1/8-inch to 1/2-inch between the front of the deck to the back of the deck.

Lawnmower decks are largely interchangeable. Engines will swap without issue. However, blades and drive systems may differ.

As a general rule, F150 – 1500 series trucks can hold one commercial mower, whereas F250 – 2500 and up can hold two. The Xtreme series of pickup trucks can fit up to a 48-inch mower in between the wheel wells and up to a 54-inch mower in the back. Weight-wise, these trucks are suited to haul 2000 lbs.

Deck widths range from 42 inches to 54 inches. To know what size you need, divide the mower deck size by 12 to get an approximation of the acreage the mower can handle. So residential-duty a mower with a 54-inch deck can mow up to 4.5 acres.

The top setting for most mowers gives a cutting height between 3.25 and 4 inches. This is best for your lawn, but at a setting of 4 inches you may sometimes see some “laying-over” of turf blades that some people find undesirable. For this reason, some people prefer to mow at 3 or 3.5 inches.

Do numbers on lawn mower mean inches? ›

Some lawnmowers will have settings with letters or numbers on the wheels. It might say “1 2, 3, 4” or “a, b and c”. Those numbers don't necessarily correspond to 1 inch, 2 inch, or 3 inches. You need to refer to your owner's manual to find out what those numbers mean.

Model numbers are typically found on the mower's deck, mower's frame, or under the seat if your mower has a seat. Sometimes these identification numbers are engraved into metal or a metal plaque that is attached to your mower. Sometimes it maybe on a sticker.

Gas-powered mowers with standard-size 19- and 22-inch cutting decks can tackle yards up to one-half acre, so you can finish the job in about an hour. Battery-powered ones top out at about one-third acre before needing a recharge. Eighteen-inch push-reel mowers are ideal for tiny yards up to 2,000 square feet.