Compare Mowers
List prices are the manufacturer’s published figures, re-checked daily; they exclude tax, freight and dealer setup.
A side-by-side reference of each model's stated specifications. MowerFacts doesn’t give opinions: where a published, spec-derived rule can separate machines we mark a Data Pick and show the rule; here, read the values and decide what fits your needs.
Best suited for
What each model is built for, from its duty class and key specs. This is a neutral reference — MowerFacts does not rank one model above another.
- John Deere S170 Lawn Tractor — prosumer: larger home properties and light acreage; 48-inch deck; gas powered
- John Deere S100 Lawn Tractor — residential: typical home lawns; 42-inch deck; gas powered
What’s different? The 5 differences that matter most, from the published figures.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has a K46 heavy-duty hydrostatic, two-wheel drive transmission; S100 Lawn Tractor has a Hydrostatic, 2-wheel drive transmission. The transmission grade tracks duty rating and speed. Grade names are each maker's own and are not comparable across brands.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has a 24 hp engine; S100 Lawn Tractor has a 17.5 hp engine, a 6.5 hp difference. Published horsepower is the maker's rating at a stated engine speed. It is a different measure from displacement, and two engines of equal rating can pull differently.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has a Steel, 12 gauge 0.105 in. 2.7 mm deck; S100 Lawn Tractor has a Steel, 13 gauge0.090 in.2.3 mm deck.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has Single belt drive; S100 Lawn Tractor has Manual power take-off (PTO) drive.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has a 44.2 ci (724 cc) engine; S100 Lawn Tractor has a 30.5 ci (500 cc) engine, a 13.7 ci difference. Displacement is the engine's size, not its output. A larger engine is not necessarily a more powerful one.
2 more differences, calculated figures and what isn’t comparable
Other verified differences
- S170 Lawn Tractor weighs 503 lbs (228.2 kg); S100 Lawn Tractor weighs 414 lbs (187.8 kg), a 89 lbs difference.
- S170 Lawn Tractor has a 48 in (1,219 mm) deck; S100 Lawn Tractor has a 42 in (1,067 mm) deck, a 6 in difference.
Calculated by MowerFacts
- S170 Lawn Tractor works out to 2.1 acres/hour; S100 Lawn Tractor works out to 1.9 acres/hour, a 0.3 acres/hour difference. Calculated by MowerFacts from deck width and the published top speed at 80% efficiency; it is not a manufacturer figure, and real mowing is slower.
Not comparable
- Fuel Type: not published for S170 Lawn Tractor.
- Deck Construction: not published for S170 Lawn Tractor.
- Discharge: not published for S170 Lawn Tractor.
Verified means each manufacturer publishes the figure. A bigger number is only a bigger number; nothing here says which machine is better. The full specification table is below.
Which is faster on your property? › Measure your lawn once and MowerFacts times all 2 against it.
| Spec | S170 Lawn Tractor John Deere · Riding (Lawn Tractor) |
S100 Lawn Tractor John Deere · Riding (Lawn Tractor) |
|---|---|---|
| List price | dealer quote | dealer quote |
| Engine | ||
| Power Source | gas | gas |
| Displacement | 44.2 ci (724 cc) | 30.5 ci (500 cc) |
| Engine Power | 24 hp | 17.5 hp |
| Cylinders | 2 | 1 |
| Engine Model | 44U877 (M44) | 31R977 (M31) |
| Fuel Type | — | Gasoline |
| Deck | ||
| Cutting Width | 48 in (1219 mm) | 42 in (1067 mm) |
| Min Cut Height | 1 in (25 mm) | 1 in (25 mm) |
| Max Cut Height | 4 in (102 mm) | 4 in (102 mm) |
| Deck Material | Steel, 12 gauge 0.105 in. 2.7 mm | Steel, 13 gauge0.090 in.2.3 mm |
| Deck Construction | — | Stamped steel deck shell |
| Deck Gauge | 12 | 13 |
| Discharge | — | Side discharge |
| Drive | ||
| Transmission | K46 heavy-duty hydrostatic, two-wheel drive | Hydrostatic, 2-wheel drive |
| Ground Speed | 5.5 mph | 5.5 mph |
| Drive Tire Size | — | 20x8-8 |
| Reverse Speed | 3.2 mph | 3.2 mph |
| Drive System | Single belt | Manual power take-off (PTO) |
| Dimensions | ||
| Weight | 503 lbs (228.2 kg) | 414 lbs (187.8 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity | 2.4 gal (9.1 L) | 2.4 gal (9.1 L) |
| Length | — | 69.7 in (1770 mm) |
| Width | — | 55.2 in (1402 mm) |
| Height | — | 40 in (1016 mm) |
| Commercial / Pro | ||
| Frame Construction | — | Full-length welded steel |
| Seat Type | — | One-piece |
| General | ||
| Warranty | 2 yr | 2 yr |
| Bagger Capacity | 6.5 bu (229 L) | 6.5 bu (229 L) |
Where these models differ, explained
S170 Lawn Tractor: Specs verified against the manufacturer spec sheet on Jun 6, 2026 — deere.com.
S100 Lawn Tractor: Specs verified against the manufacturer spec sheet on Jun 6, 2026 — deere.com.
Independent reference database. Specs compiled from manufacturer sources and normalized for comparison; verify with the manufacturer or dealer before purchase.