The 6 Best Reel Mowers Cut Grass The Old Fashioned Way
Ditch the gas tanks and rechargeable batteries for a clean cut from a manual lawn mower.
Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?
If you can fit your lawn inside the boundaries of a tennis court, using a full-size gas or electric lawn mower may feel like overkill. A manual reel mower, which trims grass with a cylinder mounted with four or five curved blades, is more affordable than a powered walk-behind lawn mower, and should be easier to use and maintain. It also certainly doesn’t hurt that it’s better for the environment than a gas- or electric-powered yard machine.
As with other lawn mowers, reel mowers are height-adjustable. Some even come with bags that collect grass clippings. They come in an array of sizes, from small 14-inch-wide models for homes with just a small patch of green, up to 20-inch-wide options comparable to a powered walk-behind mower. If this is your first time using a reel mower, we can walk you through all the nuances of grass-cutting the old fashioned way. We’ve used our fair share and can help you choose one that will work for your yard.
The Best Reel Mowers
- Best Overall: Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Mower
- Best Value: Scotts 304-14S 14-Inch Reel Mower
- Best High End: Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel
- Best Large: Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Classic
- Best Battery Powered: Yard Force YF20vRX 20v Cordless Reel Mower
- Best with Bagger: Craftsman 1816-18CR 18-Inch Reel Mower
The Expert (Tony Carrick): Tony Carrick is a freelance writer who specializes in home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement project or making his lawn the envy of his neighbors at his home in North Carolina.
The Expert (Will Briskin): Will Briskin is a trained furniture designer and woodworker, and applies this experience as a product reviewer for BestReviews and SFGate, among other digital outlets. For his first job, he worked as an apprentice to the landscaper and repairman for Hunt House, which was built in 1641 and is one of the oldest homes in Massachusetts. To do the reel mower justice, he reached out to two landscaping experts in order to get the most accurate and helpful information.
How Does a Reel Mower Work?
First and foremost, reel mowers are entirely mechanical, unlike their gas and electric siblings, which rely on a source of power other than the user to function properly. In terms of basic mechanics, little has changed in the reel mower since it was first patented in England in 1830 by Edwin Budding, who’s credited with inventing the adjustable spanner wrench as well.
Modern-day reel mowers, just like those of the 19th century, are powered by a simple transfer of force at a few crucial points. First, the user applies force by gripping and pushing the handlebar forward. That applied force is then carried down the handle to the axle, which subsequently turns the wheels. As the axle turns, it catches and spins a pair of meshing gears.
Critically, one of the meshing gears is smaller than the other, known as the pinion gear, which exponentially increases the torque of the attached spinning blades as rotational force is passed from the axle via the larger gear. As the cylinder of blades spins, it collects the grass and carries it to the stationary cutter bar at the back of the mower, which then neatly shears it.
What to Consider in a Reel Mower
Is a Reel Mower the Right Mower for Your Space?
Because a reel mower runs on human power, using one can be more time-consuming than mowing with a gas or electric alternative, especially if you frequently have to cover a large area. Reel mowers are ideal for smaller, level grassy areas that you can mow on a regular schedule. That said, no matter how small your lawn is, if it’s steep or uneven, pushing a reel mower may be difficult. In these situations, it’s better to opt for a lightweight electric mower that’s easy to maneuver.
More Must-Haves for Your Yard: Best Dethatchers • Best Zero-Turn Mowers • Best Self-Propelled Mowers
Do You Like to Keep Your Grass Long or Short?
Reel mowers are great for cutting grass short, which means you have to tend to your lawn frequently, especially during peak growth months. If the grass is too long, it will likely fold over and pass through the reel mower without being cut because there isn’t enough space between the blades of the reel, which results in an uneven cut that looks bad.
How Wide a Mower Do You Need?
Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to reel mowers. The wider the mower is, the more difficult it will be to push due its weight. Furthermore, wide mowers, such as those with a cutting width of at least 16 inches, have large turning circles, which can make them a pain to maneuver around trees and other obstacles.
On the other hand, the wider the mower, the fewer passes you’ll need to cover your entire lawn. Also, wider mowers can handle taller grass better than their narrower counterparts because the wider, larger reel generates more torque and therefore more cutting power.
Number of Blades
Reel mowers come in a variety of blade counts, with some equipped with as few as four blades and others boasting up to 10. The higher the number of blades, the finer and shorter you will be able to cut the grass. However, mowers with lots of blades need to be pushed quickly to maintain momentum, otherwise they’ll bog down. Another thing to consider is the fact that each blade will need maintenance from time to time, so more blades means more maintenance.
The Environment
There are two important environmental aspects to consider before purchasing a reel mower. First, if you’re looking for an environmentally friendly way to care for your lawn, there’s no better option than a reel mower. While electric mowers help alleviate some of the environmental concerns compared to gas mowers, they still create more noise than reel mowers. Importantly, both electric and gas mowers are rotary mowers and, as such, tear the grass rather than slice it, which results in an uneven cut and may lower the quality of regrowth.
The other environmental consideration to keep in mind is the actual environment that surrounds your lawn. If you’re under a canopy of trees or near an area with sand, which can damage the blades, you may want to consider one of the alternatives to a reel mower. Debris such as twigs and acorns can damage the blades on a reel mower.
How We Selected The Best Reel Mowers
To pick the best reel mowers for a wide range of yards and outdoor spaces, we relied on personal experience with our own reel mowers. We combined that insight with research, carefully comparing crucial specs, and consulted landscaping professionals at Lowe's and WW Building Supply. We selected mowers based on their build quality, cutting height and width, and weight, among other factors.
Tony Carrick is a full-time freelance writer who specializes in technology, home improvement, DIY, home security, and outdoor recreation. He’s tested and written about everything from home security systems to power tools to gas grills. His product guides, how-to articles, and feature stories can be found in such publications as Bob Vila, Angi, U.S. News and World Report, Field & Stream, Futurism, and Switchful. When Tony isn’t writing, he can be found working on his latest home improvement effort at his home in North Carolina.
Will Briskin is a writer and product reviewer with a focus on all things related to technology, home & garden, and the outdoors. Will began woodworking at a young age and has been testing new tools and design ideas ever since. Will's passion for improving his craft has equipped him with the ability to recognize quality products and deliver sound advice in a variety of fields. When investigating and testing products, he draws on his experience as an investigative paralegal, an academic research assistant, and a professional tutor, as well as many hours spent honing his attention to detail in a professional furniture design and manufacturing studio. Will is an avid snowboarder, and enjoys spending time in Vermont and with his dog, Phoebe.
Watch Next
6 Riding Lawn Mowers to Shape up Your Yard
The 8 Best Leaf Vacuums to Keep Your Lawn Tidy
The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Lawn Mower
The 6 Best Zero-Turn Mowers of 2024