For homeowners seeking a pristine, healthy lawn without the noise, fumes, and maintenance of a power mower, a reel lawn mower is the perfect solution. These manual mowers use a simple scissor-action cutting system that cleanly shears grass blades, promoting lush growth and a beautifully manicured appearance. They offer a quiet, eco-friendly mowing experience that is both good for your lawn and the environment.
Choosing the right reel mower, however, depends on your lawn’s size, the grass type, and your personal preferences for features like cutting height adjustment and grass collection. This roundup simplifies your search by highlighting ten of the best reel mowers available, detailing their unique strengths and features to help you find the ideal model for a clean, effortless cut every time.
The Best Reel Lawn Mowers for a Perfect Cut
- GARDENA (4018) Classic 16″ Reel Lawn Mower
- Craftsman 1816-18CR 18-Inch Push Reel Lawn Mower
- Walensee 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
- Fiskars Push Mower, 18″ Manual Reel Mower
- Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Mower
- Scotts Outdoor 2000-20S 20-Inch Push Reel Lawn Mower
- LawnMaster LMRM1602 Push Reel Lawn Mower 16-Inch
- Multi Sharp MS1109E Sharpening Kit For Razorcut 38
- LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch
- American Lawn Mower 50514 14-Inch Deluxe Push Reel Mower
GARDENA (4018) Classic 16″ Reel Lawn Mower
The GARDENA Classic Reel Mower is engineered for everyday use, combining environmental consciousness with exceptional cutting performance. It requires no gas or electricity, making it a quiet and cost-effective choice for maintaining your lawn. Its precision cutting system, featuring a hardened, non-stick coated cylinder, operates without contact with the counter-blade, ensuring a clean, scissor-like cut that promotes lawn health.
Designed for user comfort, this mower boasts large wheels with a special tread for easy rolling and an ergonomic handle for a comfortable grip. You can easily adjust the cutting height across four stages, from 0.47 to 1.65 inches, to achieve the perfect grass length. This mower is an excellent tool for those who value a quiet, efficient, and eco-friendly lawn care routine.
Craftsman 1816-18CR 18-Inch Push Reel Lawn Mower
This Craftsman push reel mower offers a wider 18-inch cutting path, allowing you to cover more ground with each pass. It features a five-blade reel and an adjustable cutting height range of 1 to 3 inches, which is managed by a simple lever. The inclusion of a grass catcher is a significant benefit, helping to keep your lawn tidy after mowing.
Built with user comfort in mind, this model is lightweight and features a padded, cushioned grip on the handle. The rear wheels enhance stability and maneuverability, making it easier to navigate around your yard. This mower is a solid, user-friendly option for those who appreciate the Craftsman brand and want the convenience of a grass collection bag.
Walensee 16-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
The Walensee Push Reel Lawn Mower is designed for efficiency and durability. Its five precision blades provide a clean, scissor-like cut across a 16-inch width, which helps maintain a healthier and more vibrant lawn. A standout feature is its large, removable 7.9-gallon grass catcher, which minimizes cleanup time after mowing.
This mower offers four cutting height positions, from 0.5 to 1.5 inches, adjustable with a simple pull of a handle. The blades are crafted from high-hardness alloy steel with a curved design for added strength and resistance to deformation. For those seeking a robust mower with a sizable grass catcher, the Walensee is a compelling choice.
Fiskars Push Mower, 18″ Manual Reel Mower
Fiskars brings its reputation for innovation to the reel mower market with this high-performance 18-inch model. It is engineered to be 60% easier to push than many standard reel mowers, significantly reducing user effort. The StaySharp Cutting System is a key benefit, as it is designed to never require sharpening, saving you time and maintenance costs.
This mower also features an InertiaDrive Reel that provides twice the cutting power of traditional models, ensuring a clean cut even in challenging conditions. User-centric details include a reversible grass chute to direct clippings and one-touch handle height adjustment for optimal comfort. The Fiskars mower is ideal for those who want a low-effort, high-performance manual mowing experience.
Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Mower
The Great States 415-16 is a classic, reliable reel mower that has been a trusted choice for many years. It features a 16-inch cutting width and heat-treated blades designed for long-lasting sharpness. The cutting height is adjustable from a very short half-inch up to two and a half inches, offering great versatility for different grass types and seasons.
This model is equipped with 10-inch ball-bearing wheels that contribute to its easy maneuverability, making it simple to push and turn. Its straightforward, no-frills design makes it a perfect and eco-friendly option for owners of small to medium-sized lawns who value simplicity and proven performance.
Scotts Outdoor 2000-20S 20-Inch Push Reel Lawn Mower
For those with larger lawns, the Scotts 2000-20S offers an expansive 20-inch cutting width, one of the widest available for push reel mowers. This allows you to mow your lawn more quickly. It features a five-blade ball-bearing reel that ensures smooth operation and a consistent cutting performance.
The cutting height can be quickly adjusted from 1 to 3 inches with a snap-adjustment lever. The blades are made from quality, heat-treated alloy steel, which helps them stay sharp for a longer period. This mower is a workhorse, ideal for maintaining larger grassy areas with efficiency and ease.
LawnMaster LMRM1602 Push Reel Lawn Mower 16-Inch
The LawnMaster LMRM1602 is designed to deliver a healthy, scissor-like cut that cleanly shears grass blades without tearing. This results in a better-looking lawn that is less susceptible to disease. It features a 16-inch cutting deck, making it a suitable size for most standard residential lawns.
Maneuverability is a strong point, thanks to its 10-inch front wheels that help navigate around obstacles with ease. The cutting height can be adjusted between four positions, ranging from 1 to 2 inches, giving you control over your lawn’s appearance. This model offers a great balance of performance and value.
Multi Sharp MS1109E Sharpening Kit For Razorcut 38
While not a mower itself, the Multi Sharp MS1109E is an essential accessory for maintaining the cutting performance of a Brill Razorcut 38 reel mower. This specialized sharpening kit is designed to restore the factory-like edge to the mower’s reel, ensuring it continues to provide a clean, precise cut season after season.
The kit includes three abrasive pads and is remarkably easy to use, requiring no messy resins or complicated procedures. Regular maintenance with this kit can significantly extend the life and effectiveness of your reel mower, making it a smart investment for any dedicated reel mower owner.
LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch
The LawnMaster LMRM1801 is an 18-inch model that builds on the brand’s commitment to a healthy, scissor-like cut. It is specifically designed for small lawns, offering a practical size for efficient mowing. With its 10-inch front wheels, it provides maximum maneuverability to easily handle corners and garden beds.
A standout feature of this mower is its extensive cutting height adjustment, offering nine different positions from 1.1 inches up to 2.5 inches. This wide range provides exceptional flexibility to adapt to different grass types and growing conditions throughout the year, giving you precise control over your lawn’s length.
American Lawn Mower 50514 14-Inch Deluxe Push Reel Mower
As a leader in manual lawn mowers, the American Lawn Mower Company offers this durable 14-inch deluxe model. Its compact size makes it exceptionally easy to store and ideal for very small lawns or touch-ups in tighter spaces. Despite its smaller cutting width, it is built to deliver the same clean, scissor-action cut that reel mowers are known for.
This mower is constructed with longevity in mind, featuring a robust design that can handle regular use. It is a straightforward, effective tool for anyone who needs a simple, reliable, and eco-friendly way to maintain a well-groomed lawn without the hassle of power equipment.
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Reel Lawn Mower
I’ve been using a reel mower for years, and let me tell you, the quiet, clean cut is a game-changer. But not all reel mowers are created equal. If you’re looking at the 10 best reel lawn mowers for a clean cut, you need to know what separates a good one from a great one. The first thing I always check is the cutting width. A wider cut means you finish the job faster, but a narrower one is easier to maneuver around tight corners and garden beds. For a small, rectangular yard, a wider mower is efficient. For a lawn with lots of obstacles, a narrower one might be less frustrating.
Next, pay close attention to the number of blades on the reel. More blades generally mean a finer, more scissor-like cut. A five-blade reel is pretty standard and does a great job for most lawns. If you have a particularly pristine lawn, like a golf course green, you might look for a mower with seven or even nine blades for that ultra-clean finish. The height adjustment mechanism is another big one for me. Look for a system that’s easy to use, preferably with a single lever that adjusts all wheels at once. There’s nothing worse than having to fiddle with each individual wheel every time you want to change the height.
Then there’s the frame material. You want something durable but not overly heavy. Steel frames are strong and stable, which helps with a consistent cut, but they can be heavy to push. Aluminum frames are lighter and resist rust, making them a fantastic choice if you have hills or just want an easier push. Finally, consider the grass catcher. While reel mowing creates fine clippings that are great for your lawn as a natural fertilizer, sometimes you just need to bag them. A large, easy-to-attach grass catcher is a feature I’ve come to appreciate. Think about your specific lawn, your physical ability, and what features will make the chore of mowing feel less like a chore and more like a satisfying trim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are reel mowers actually better for my lawn?
From my experience, yes, they can be. Reel mowers cut grass like scissors, shearing the blades cleanly. This is healthier for the grass than the tearing action of a rotary mower, which can leave brown, frayed tips. A clean cut helps prevent disease and moisture loss, leading to a lusher, greener lawn over time. It’s one of the key reasons people seek out the 10 best reel lawn mowers for a clean cut.
What type of lawn is best suited for a reel mower?
Reel mowers work best on flat or gently sloped lawns with fine to medium-textured grass like Bermuda, Zoysia, or Kentucky Bluegrass. They struggle with tall, thick weeds, wet grass, or very bumpy terrain. If your lawn is consistently overgrown or has a lot of sticks and debris, a reel mower might not be the right tool for the job.
How often do I need to sharpen the blades?
This depends on how often you mow and the size of your lawn. With regular use, you might need to consider sharpening once a season. The good news is you don’t always need professional help. Many models allow for a simple backlapping procedure with a special compound to hone the edges yourself, keeping the blades sharp for longer periods.
Is it much harder to push a reel mower than a gas mower?
This was my biggest worry before switching, but it’s not as bad as you might think. Modern reel mowers are engineered to be lightweight and easy to push on level ground. The cutting action itself helps pull the mower forward slightly. The real effort comes if you try to cut grass that is too tall, so frequent mowing is the secret to an easy push.
Can I use a reel mower if my lawn isn’t perfectly flat?
You can, but there are limits. Gentle slopes are usually fine. However, reel mowers require the bed knife and reel blades to be very close to the ground to cut properly. Significant bumps, dips, or roots can cause the mower to scalp the lawn (cut it too short) in some spots and miss it in others. For a very uneven lawn, a rotary mower with larger wheels is often a more forgiving choice.