Best lawnmower blades for Cub Cadet

If you are struggling to get your lawn looking beautiful, even if you are using the top-range Cub Cadet lawnmower, then the blades you are using are likely the culprit. Sharpening can help you temporarily, but eventually you will need to replace the blades because they grow dull at some point.

Accidents can happen to your Cub Cadet mower that forces the blades out of shape, or the blades become dull as time goes on. When the blades become dull, you are putting excess wear and tear on the motor itself, as the mower needs to work harder to achieve the same result. In addition to that, the fact that the mower is working so hard means that its internal parts are at greater risk of wearing down and permanent damage – and replacing the entire mower is much more expensive compared to replacing the blades.

If you are struggling to find the best blades because of the wide variety of options, you do not need to frustrate yourself over the process anymore, as we have included the best 4 we find in the market.

Note: Since some of these products are unavailable on Amazon, we will link the manufacturer’s websites where applicable.

Best lawnmower blades for Cub Cadet – Comparison table

Lawnmower blade	Blade width (inches)	Deck cutting width	Check on Amazon
MTD 942-0741A mulching blade	21 inches	21 inches	Check here
Stens 335-859 mulching blade	17.8 inches	50 inches	Check here
Cub Cadet 942-05056A mower blades	18.67 inches	54 inches	Check here
Xtreme 2-in-1 cutting blade	20.62 inches	60 inches	Check here

MTD 942-0741A mulching blade – best value purchase

This is another pick that is particularly good as a replacement blade. It is easy to install as well, and there is a detailed guide that should help you with that task.

Features

• 21 inch length
• Mulching blade, center star for mounting
• Comes with a 90-day warranty to cover for any workmanship or material defects
• Pre-sharpened, and a black coating that protects against rust

The most impressive aspect is the balance it has, as there are no unusual vibrations as you use it. There is little to complain about, since it covers plenty of ground with relatively little effort.

They have a good fit and edge, and will fit commercial mowers that handle tough mulching tasks, whether you are handling leaves or grass. The gator teeth also give it a sharper edge and better lift, making it very good for the money you spend on it.

Pros

• Does not rust easily
• Very sharp blade
• Very easy to install
• Affordable

Cons

• None noted so far

Verdict

This blade is very impressive in both build and functionality, and is easy to install. It is also quite strong and handles a variety of mowing tasks well, which will make it a versatile set of blades.

 

Stens 335-859 High-Lift 2-in-1 blade – best high lift blade

Chances are that you may not have thought of Stens as one of the options to go for when looking for blades for your Cub Cadet, but it has plenty of surprises for you and might be the solution to what you are looking for.

Features

• Length of 17.8 inches
• High-lift blades
• Thickness of 0.149 inches
• Meant to replace a mower with a 6-point star hole
• Best for zero turn and commercial walk behind mowers that have a 50-inch deck

The company behind these blades has a good reputation of making top-notch blades, which combine a unique type of industrial-grade steel, as well as carbide. Since they offer you a 2-in-1 user experience, they are a good option if you need to stock on your replacement blades, and they come in a pack of 6 blades to help you along with that.

They also have a 6-point star center hole, so they will work with specific models rather than many of them. The good news is that the design will allow you to mount them easily.

Pros

• Very durable build
• Ideal for a 50-inch deck Cub Cadet and Troy-Bilt mower
• The blades cut very well
• Affordable and value for money
• Easy installation

Cons

• They can be challenging to clean in wetter conditions

Verdict

If you need a good, durable blade for your lawnmower, you might consider getting the Stens 335859 for that. They are also quite durable – even more so than the other options on this list, which is why they are our pick.

 

Cub Cadet 942-05056A blades – best for lighter mowing jobs

If you want a high performance blade for the job, then you might like the Cub Cadet 942-05056A blades due to the high efficiency that is a trademark of their performance.

Features

• 18.67 inches in length, with a center hole star
• 2-in-1 functionality
• 3 blades in the pack
• Also works for Craftsman and Troy-Bilt models
• Suitable for distributing and bagging grass clippings

Thanks to their 18.67-inch length, they will work very well on plenty of lawnmower decks, and they have a high degree of efficiency due to the teeth at its ends – so you can expect a high efficiency degree as well.

The blade is compatible with many Cub Cadet Lawnmowers, as well as some models from Poulan and Craftsman. Thanks to the center star, its installation is fairly easy, and its blade comes pre-sharpened to allow for use straight out of the box. The only problem is that they become blunt fairly quickly, so ensure you do not use them for very intensive mowing tasks to avoid this issue.

Pros

• Very sharp blades
• Comes at a reasonable price
• Easy to install
• Well-balanced

Cons

• They wear down at a high rate

Verdict

These are great if you are doing lighter jobs on your lawn, rather than heavy-duty tasks. Despite that though, their sharpness is impressive, and they can last for a long time as long as you maintain them properly.

 

Xtreme 2-in-1 60-inch deck cutting blade – best versatile pick, our choice

Since this blade is made in the USA, it is an assurance that its quality is high, as it made under very strict conditions. It also stands out mainly due to its versatility, as you can use it for a variety of functions.

Features

• Greater cutting surface to handle a variety of conditions
• Fits best on 60-inch cutting decks
• Very high durability to outlast most regular blades
• Measures 20.62 inches in length
• Wing style to help in greater efficiency of grass cutting

Because these blades use a wing style in their build and installation, their suction power is very high, which leaves your lawn looking attractive and clean. They are of very high quality, so you are guaranteed to have them in your service for a long time, as long as you take good care of them.

Pros

• They are good for replacing multiple blades, and they work in various lawnmower models
• Very easy to install, maintain, and use
• They are versatile enough to be useful for mulching

Cons

• You need to continuously sharpen them due to their tendency to get blunt

Verdict

These blades are very easy to maintain and are the most versatile choice on our list, which is why we chose them as our best option for Cub Cadet Mowers.

 

What to consider when selecting mower blades for your Cub Cadet

So you are probably familiar with all the different types of blades – regardless of whether you are buying for a Cub Cadet or any other lawnmower. You get to hear terms like high-lift, 2-in-1, all-purpose, standard, mulching, and so on – but what do they actually mean?

Before setting out on the quest to choose a lawnmower blade, it always helps to know what type of blade you are looking at. Plenty of mower blades are meant to fulfill three needs – bagging, mulching, or discharging. Some blades will work well towards one function, while others are more versatile.

Types of lawnmower blades

Discharging blades

These are meant to move the clippings of grass or leaves from under the mower deck, and they work best for bagging in fact, these blades are what you see being referred to as ‘Standard’, ‘lifting’, or ‘2-in-1’ blades. Their design incorporates a curve along their edges, and this promotes air flow that allows the blade to pull up the grass as it cuts it.

There are three types of lifting blades – low-lift, medium-lift, and high-lift. The general rule is that you will require more horsepower the higher the lift is. That means that you will use high-lift blades if you are tackling denser or taller grasses, while low-lift blades will work better for low intensity jobs.

In addition to this, it is important to remember that you should avoid using a lifting blade when you want to do mulching.

Mulch blades

The aim of these blades is making the grass clippings disappear, rather than discharging them like discharging blades do. They do this through recirculating the clippings, and then cut these clippings several times. The result is that the clippings are much smaller, and will also decompose at a faster rate.

Due to their functionality, the mulching blades have a longer surface (also curved), and they also have additional cutting notches or surfaces along their edges. These blades are usually referred to as ‘All-Purpose’ or ‘3-in-1’ blades.

While they are deemed as all-purpose blades, the versatility is not always a good thing – there are some drawbacks. One is that your mower will need to work harder to achieve the same result of mowing the grass because the blades have a design that re-circulates airflow.

These blades are also relatively more expensive, because they will come as part of a mulching kit that includes the installation hardware, as well as a plug that cuts the grass into smaller pieces, as well as closing off the discharge opening.

Bagging blades

These are the least common lawnmower blade type, but they are a good investment due to their versatility. They will allow you to mulch the clippings, discharge them, and also bag the clippings.

Tips to choosing the best lawnmower blade

Aside from the type of blade you should consider, there are some additional factors to keep in mind. They are:

Length of the blade

The blade length is very important to think about, as these blades come in a variety of lengths. Most of the premium choices will range from 16 inches to 22 inches, with some being more or slightly less than that.

The number of blades

Not all blade packages will come with one or two blades, so it is important to verify from the seller. If you are finding your preferred blades but they only come in one, you might need to buy a set of 2 or 3, depending on the needs of your mower.

Size of the deck

The lawnmower deck size should also correlate with your lawn, and you also need to choose blades that fit that size accordingly.

Width of the blade

The blade width is another factor that will really depend on the mower type you use, and these widths can vary from 2.25 inches to 3.5 inches. The width will also depend on the purpose of the blade, so ensure you choose wisely.

Final thoughts

It is important to choose a good lawnmower blade for your Cub Cadet mower, and make sure that it fits your grass cutting needs. If you are unsure, you can also refer to your manual to give you some recommendations for blades you can get, as well as answering other questions regarding safety issues.

FAQs

How often should I change my mower blades?

After inspecting the blades, you can tell if they have any dents or issues. Keep in mind that yard debris can lead to blunting and erosion of the blade, so also check the blade thickness. A good general rule to follow is replacing them annually.

Must the blades be too sharp?

Not really, although they need to be sharp enough to cut the grass – but you should not cut yourself when touching the blade. In addition, blades that are too sharp will also become blunt faster, which results in a shorter blade life.

Can I sharpen both sides of the blade?

When sharpening them, always do so from the cutting edge’s top side, in order to get the longest life without the blade dulling out. Avoid making the blade too sharp as well.