Introduction
New Holland’s Workmaster line is the brand’s value range of small tractors, built for acreage owners, homeowners with land, and livestock keepers who want capability without a premium price. Across the sub-compact and compact classes, four models cover most small-property needs: the sub-compact Workmaster 25S, and the compact Workmaster 25, 35C, and 40C. They all handle the same core work, loader chores, mowing, material handling, and rear implements, with backhoe options across the range, so choosing between them comes down to how much tractor you need and which generation fits your budget.
This guide works through that choice in order: whether a sub-compact or a compact suits your property, how much power and lift you need within the compact models, and where the newer 35C and 40C fit against the value Workmaster 25. We will point you to each model along the way and finish with a full comparison table. The short version: the 25S is the easy first tractor for lighter work, the Workmaster 25 is the value compact, and the next-generation 35C and 40C step up in lift, attachments, and power.
Because the models differ mainly in size, power, and generation rather than one being better than another, the goal here is to match the right Workmaster to your work.
Sub-compact or compact?
The first decision is the class, because it sets the size and capability of the machine.
The sub-compact Workmaster 25S is the smallest and easiest, a first-step tractor for homeowners and acreage owners moving up from a garden tractor. With 24.7 horsepower, 17.2 PTO horsepower, a 992 lb hitch lift, and a mid-mount mower option, it handles yard, landscape, and lighter property work, and it comes with loader, backhoe, and mower packages. It is the choice when you want the smallest, simplest machine and your work is on the lighter side.
The compact Workmaster models, the Workmaster 25, 35C, and 40C, are larger and more capable, with more lift and, on the 35C and 40C, more power. They suit heavier property and small-farm work, running larger implements and handling more material. If your work goes beyond yard and light chores, or you want a backhoe for real dirt work, the compact models are the better fit.
As a rough guide, lighter yard and property work points to the 25S, while heavier acreage and small-farm work points to the compact Workmasters.
Which compact Workmaster: 25, 35C, or 40C?
Within the compact models, the choice is about power, lift, and generation.
The Workmaster 25 is the value compact, with 24.7 horsepower, a 1,808 lb hitch lift, and the 200LC loader. It covers loader work, mowing, and rear implements at the lowest price in the compact range, and it suits an owner who wants compact capability without stepping up to the newer, higher-specified models.
The Workmaster 35C and Workmaster 40C are the next-generation models, redesigned and built in-house with a 1.9-litre engine, a higher 2,067 lb hitch lift, a new 250LC loader, and the 270BC backhoe that digs to 87 inches. They add a redesigned operator platform, easier service access, a tighter turning radius, and telematics readiness. The 35C produces 35 horsepower and the 40C produces 40, sharing the same platform, so the choice between the two is simply how much power you need. For heavier work, more lift, and the newest features, the 35C and 40C are the step up from the Workmaster 25.
The honest way to decide within the compacts: the Workmaster 25 is the value option, and the 35C and 40C are the newer, more capable machines, with the 40C adding power over the 35C. Match the lift and power to your heaviest regular work.
The backhoe across the range
Because a backhoe is a deciding feature for many acreage buyers, it is worth noting how it works across the Workmaster models.
The sub-compact 25S offers the 905GBL backhoe, digging up to 79.4 inches, while the next-generation 35C and 40C offer the new 270BC backhoe, digging up to 87 inches with a redesigned mounting system that attaches and removes without taking off the three-point hitch arms. That makes switching between backhoe and rear implements faster on the newer models. If a backhoe is central to your plans, for footings, trenching, or landscaping, the newer 35C and 40C offer more dig depth and easier swapping, while the 25S covers lighter digging on the smallest machine. Match the backhoe to how much digging you actually do.
Full New Holland Workmaster comparison chart
The four Workmaster models in one view. Class, power, lift, and generation are shown so you can line them up by your work.
| Model | Class | Engine HP | PTO / hitch lift | Loader | Backhoe |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workmaster 25S | Sub-compact | 24.7 hp | 17.2 PTO / 992 lb | 100LC | 905GBL (79.4 in) |
| Workmaster 25 | Compact | 24.7 hp | 1,808 lb lift | 200LC | Available |
| Workmaster 35C | Compact (next-gen) | 35 hp | 2,067 lb lift | 250LC | 270BC (87 in) |
| Workmaster 40C | Compact (next-gen) | 40 hp | 2,067 lb lift | 250LC | 270BC (87 in) |
Figures are drawn from New Holland and dealer sources and vary by configuration. Confirm exact specs and current pricing with your dealer.
Which Workmaster fits your work
For the smallest, easiest first tractor and lighter yard and property work, the sub-compact Workmaster 25S covers the ground, with loader, mower, and backhoe options in a simple package.
For value compact capability at the lowest price in the compact range, the Workmaster 25 handles loader work, mowing, and implements without stepping up to the newer models.
For the newest features, more lift, and a capable loader-backhoe setup, the next-generation Workmaster 35C and Workmaster 40C are the step up, with the 40C adding power over the 35C for heavier work.
The deciding path is straightforward: choose sub-compact or compact by the weight of your work, then pick the compact model by the power, lift, and features you need. For how the Workmaster compares to other brands, see the New Holland vs Kubota vs John Deere compact guide, and for competing machines, the Kubota BX series comparison and John Deere 1 vs 2 Family comparison. Explore the full lineup on the New Holland brand page.
Frequently asked questions
How many Workmaster compact tractor models are there?
In the small tractor range, there are four: the sub-compact Workmaster 25S, and the compact Workmaster 25, 35C, and 40C. The 25S is the smallest, the Workmaster 25 is the value compact, and the 35C and 40C are the next-generation compact models with more lift and power.
What is the difference between the Workmaster 25S and the Workmaster 25?
The 25S is a sub-compact tractor, smaller and lighter, with a 992 lb hitch lift and 17.2 PTO horsepower, built as an easy first tractor. The Workmaster 25 is a compact tractor, larger with a 1,808 lb hitch lift, for heavier property and small-farm work. Despite the similar names, they are different classes.
What is the difference between the Workmaster 35C and 40C?
They share the same next-generation platform, 2,067 lb lift, 250LC loader, and 270BC backhoe. The 40C has the more powerful engine, 40 horsepower against the 35C’s 35, for heavier work. The choice between them is whether you need the extra power, since capability is otherwise the same.
Which Workmaster has the best backhoe?
The next-generation 35C and 40C offer the 270BC backhoe, which digs up to 87 inches with a quick-mount system that does not require removing the three-point hitch arms. The sub-compact 25S offers the 905GBL backhoe at 79.4 inches. For more dig depth and easier swapping, the 35C and 40C lead.
Which Workmaster is best for a first tractor?
The sub-compact Workmaster 25S is designed as a first-step tractor for homeowners and acreage owners moving up from a garden tractor, with an easy hydrostatic transmission, a flat-deck platform, and loader, mower, and backhoe options. For heavier work from the start, the compact Workmaster 25, 35C, or 40C may suit better.
Are the Workmaster 35C and 40C worth it over the Workmaster 25?
It depends on your work and budget. The 35C and 40C bring a higher lift, a newer loader and backhoe, a redesigned platform, and more power, at a higher price than the value Workmaster 25. If you want the newest features and more capability, they are worth the step up; if value is the priority and 24.7 horsepower covers your work, the Workmaster 25 delivers for less.
Keep comparing
- New Holland Workmaster 25S, 25, 35C, and 40C: the Workmaster model pages.
- New Holland vs Kubota vs John Deere compact guide: a full brand comparison.
- New Holland brand page: the full New Holland lineup on Aglist.
Note: We try our best to keep specs and information accurate, but some details can be missing or different depending on the source. Before you buy, service, or repair equipment, please double-check key specs with the manufacturer, the owner’s manual, or your dealer.
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