Best tractors by hp (horse power)

As a farmer, estate manager or landowner, you’ll know how essential tractors are for performing a multitude of agricultural tasks, such as ploughing, planting, sowing and harvesting. But if you’re considering buying a new tractor, you may be unsure of where to begin.

From compact utility tractors to 4WD tractors, there are so many different types and brands that finding the one that’s right for you can be like navigating a minefield. So, to help you make the right decision, we’ve written this article.

When shopping around for a tractor, one of your biggest considerations will be how much “horsepower” you need. In this guide, we’ll explain what engine horsepower is and give our top picks of the best tractors according to their horsepower.

What are the best tractors by hp (horsepower)?

Some of the best tractors in the 15 to 45hp category are the Kubota L2501, the Massey Ferguson 1525 and the Massey Ferguson 1735 M, while the Farmtrac 60, the New Holland 3630 TX Plus and the John Deere 5075 E are among the best 45 to 85hp tractors.

When it comes to the more powerful tractors, John Deere’s 6110 B, 6120 B and 7R 350 AutoPowr come out on top, all of which have a horsepower rating of between 85 and 450.

What is horsepower?

The term horsepower — or hp — refers to how much power an engine produces and is used to indicate the work potential of a tractor. 

It’s worth noting here that the horsepower rating of a tractor will usually refer to the engine horsepower, which is different to the power take-off (PTO) horsepower rating.

How much horsepower does my tractor need?

The amount of horsepower you need for your tractor depends on how much land you have and the type of work you do. If you’ll only be doing basic mowing on even terrain, a 15 to 45hp tractor will probably suffice, whereas, for full-scale farming, you’ll need something upwards of 85hp.

Generally speaking, the less land you have, the less horsepower you’ll need. However, it’s wise to opt for something slightly more powerful than you require. This is because if you buy a tractor at the bottom of the range, it might strain you to complete routine tasks and will cost you more in repairs. Plus, buying a higher horsepower tractor gives you the option to take on bigger projects in the future.

Nine of the best tractors by horsepower

Tractors can be grouped into three rough categories according to how powerful they are. These categories are compact tractors, utility tractors and row crop tractors. Continue reading to learn more about these different tractor types and our top three tractor models for each category.

Best compact tractors: 15 to 45hp

A basic lawn or garden tractor will have a horsepower range of between 15 and 20. This is more than enough power to perform typical gardening tasks, such as mowing the grass, pulling small trailers carrying debris and ploughing light snow. As well as being easy to store and manoeuvre, these tractors use less fuel than larger vehicles and are much safer to operate. 

A step up from these types of compact tractor are low-end compact utility tractors and subcompact tractors, which have 21 to 35 horsepower and will usually have a power take-off (PTO) too. The extra power gives the option to use front-end loaders and backhoe attachments. This makes these tractors suitable for small-scale field cultivation.

Compact tractors with 35 to 50 hp significantly increase the number of farming activities you can carry out. With this level of horsepower, you can plough fields and make small square bales of hay, however, take note that certain conditions can push these types of tractors to their limit. While it is possible to pull a wagon behind your baler or work in clay soil, it’s best to work at a slow pace and only do tasks like this occasionally.

1. Kubota L2501 (24.8 hp)

With a 24.8 horsepower engine, this 1,100kg unit is ideal for those who only need to carry out light farming tasks.

2. Massey Ferguson 1525 (25 hp)

The Massey Ferguson 1525 is the perfect low-horsepower tractor for estate management and ground care. It’s commonly used on golf courses and in public spaces.

3. Massey Ferguson 1735 M (35 hp)

If you run a smallholding, equestrian yard or other similar types of business, this efficient and reliable compact tractor would be another great choice. 

Best utility tractors: 45 to 85 hp

If you have more than ten acres of land or you need to travel over moderate or rough terrain, you will need a utility tractor. These types of tractors have a horsepower of between 45 and 85, they can lift heavier loads, and they can easily handle larger and wider attachments (such as rakes, spreaders and scrapes) at a faster speed. These added features make tasks like ploughing and baling much easier to do, and they’re more efficient when it comes to working in clay soil.

Utility tractors are highly durable and are capable of handling pretty much everything a hobby farmer realistically asks it to do.

4. Farmtrac 60 (50 hp)

Manufactured by Farmtrac (a subsidiary of Escorts Limited — which is one of the world’s leading farm machinery producers), the Farmtrac 60 can perform the majority of farm tasks efficiently.

5. New Holland 3630 TX Plus (55 hp)

Powered by a 55hp engine, the New Holland 3630 TX Plus is another tractor that can efficiently carry out most farming tasks.

6. John Deere 5075 E (75 hp)

No article about tractors would be complete without a mention of world-class agricultural machinery manufacturer John Deere. Its 5075 E model is the perfect tractor for those seeking comfort as well as productivity.

Best row crop tractors: 85 to 450 hp

Also known as farm tractors, row crop tractors have a horsepower of 85 to 450, making them the obvious choice for full-scale farmers and people with large plots of land or those who work on rough terrain or with hard soil.

Machines as powerful as this can handle the most extreme farming operations with ease, meaning they’re most suitable for commercial-level farming and are also widely used in construction and industrial and large-scale plantation industries.

They can easily perform heavy-duty tasks such as tilling, cultivation, harvesting and post-harvesting and are consistently efficient — even in the most challenging work conditions.

As expected, row crop tractors are the biggest and most expensive types of tractors, boasting features such as comfortable seating, air conditioning and heating.

Because of the type of work they carry out, row crop tractors have to be extremely powerful and hard-wearing. With that in mind, our top three row crop tractors are all made by leading farm machinery producers, John Deere:

7. John Deere 6110 B (110 hp)

The 6110 B is a high-quality yet affordable tractor. Robust, innovative and sustainable, it’s the perfect demonstration of everything the John Deere brand stands for.

8. John Deere 6120 B (120 hp)

This powerful tractor is not only attractive, but it comes with all the advanced technology needed for efficient farm work.

9. John Deere 7R 350 AutoPowr (385 hp)

Established in 1837, John Deere has a long history of producing premium agricultural machinery, and, with its onboard technology, comfortable cabin and excellent performance, the 7R 350 AutoPowr model is no exception.

What is the most powerful tractor in the world?

All this talk of horsepower may have left you wondering what the most powerful tractor in the world is.

According to the Discovery Channel, the world’s biggest tractor is the 16V-747 ‘Big Bud’. Custom-built by Ron Harmon in 1977, this colossal machine weighs over 61 tons and measures 4.3 metres high, 8.7 metres long and 7.8 metres wide. Big Bud’s wheelbase is five metres, its tyres are 2.4 metres, it has a fuel capacity of 1,000 gallons, and it’s got a horsepower of 1,100. It’s so powerful, in fact, that it was able to pull a 24-metre cultivator that could cover a whopping 1.3 acres per minute.

Another of the world’s biggest tractors is the John Deere 9RX640, weighing in at around 25.5 tons. It’s powered by a 691 hp engine and has a maximum road speed of about 25 miles per hour.

Summary

The term horsepower, or hp, refers to how much power an engine produces and is used to indicate the work potential of a tractor. When shopping around for a new tractor, one of your biggest considerations will be how much “horsepower” you need. The amount of horsepower you need depends on how much land you have and the type of work you do. If you’ll only be doing basic mowing on even terrain, a compact tractor with 15 to 45 hp will probably suffice. If you have more than ten acres of land or you need to travel over moderate or rough terrain, you will need a utility tractor in the 45 to 85 hp category. For full-scale farming, you’ll need something upwards of 85 hp. 

Some of the best tractors in the 15 to 45 hp category are the Kubota L2501, the Massey Ferguson 1525 and the Massey Ferguson 1735 M, while the Farmtrac 60, the New Holland 3630 TX Plus and the John Deere 5075 E are among the best 45 to 85 hp tractors. When it comes to the most powerful tractors, John Deere’s 6110 B, 6120 B and 7R 350 AutoPowr come out on top, all of which have a horsepower rating of between 85 and 450. The most powerful tractor in the world is the 16V-747 ‘Big Bud’, with a horsepower of 1,100.

Also read:
Tractors: Where are they manufactured?
Do I need tractor insurance?
What does tractor insurance cover?