Best Reel Lawn Mower 2026: Quiet, Clean Cuts for Small, Flat Lawns
When you buy through the Amazon links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Last updated October 31, 2026
The best reel lawn mower for most small, flat lawns is the American Lawn Mower 1204-14: a 14-inch, four-blade reel in a 19-lb frame that shears grass cleanly, runs quietly and needs no gas or oil. It suits fine-bladed turf kept short, and its low cutting range tops out at 1.75 inches.
If your grass is kept taller or your lawn is bigger, the Scotts 2000-20S cuts 20 inches wide and reaches 3 inches. A reel mower only pays off on fine grass cut low and mowed every few days; on tall fescue or St. Augustine at 3 to 4 inches, a rotary is the better tool.
The best reel lawn mowers for 2026
American Lawn Mower 1204-14
See on Amazon
American Lawn Mower 1304-14
See on Amazon
Scotts 304-14S
See on AmazonModel comparison
| Model | Price | Rating | Cutting width | Cutting height | Power source | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | American Lawn Mower 1204-14 | $79.99 as of 11/01 See on Amazon | ★ 4.3 (15,100+ ratings) | 14 in | 1.3 to 4.45 in | Manual | Buyers who want the lightest possible push mower for a small, short lawn get a 19 lb reel mower with a 14-inch cut. |
| | American Lawn Mower 1304-14 | $93.99 as of 11/01 See on Amazon | ★ 4.3 (3,600+ ratings) | 14 in | 1 to 2.25 in | not stated | Owners of a small lawn wanting a finer cut and more height choice get five blades and a 1 to 2.25 inch range. |
| | Scotts 304-14S | $91.26 as of 11/01 See on Amazon | ★ 4.3 (2,600+ ratings) | 14 in | 0.5 to 1.75 in | Manual | Buyers who want a light reel mower that rolls over uneven ground get 18.1 lb paired with 10-inch composite wheels. |
 | Earthwise 1715-16EW | $119.99 as of 11/01 See on Amazon | ★ 4.2 (1,500+ ratings) | 16 in | not stated | Manual | Gardeners with coarse or thick warm-season grass such as Bermuda or zoysia get seven blades and a 16-inch cut for a clean, precise pass. |
 | Scotts 2000-20S | $149.99 as of 11/01 See on Amazon | ★ 4.1 (2,900+ ratings) | 20 in | 1 to 3 in | Manual | Owners of a larger lawn, or grass kept taller, get a 20-inch five-blade reel with nine positions up to 3 inches. |
Which grass types a reel mower actually suits
A reel mower carries a cylinder of curved blades that spins past a stationary bed knife at the bottom. Grass is pinched and sheared between the two, the way scissors cut paper, rather than struck and torn. That clean cut end loses less water and leaves less open tissue for disease to enter, which is why a reel-cut lawn looks tidier than a rotary-cut one at the same height.
The scissors action only works well when the grass is short and fine-bladed. A reel needs the blades to meet the bed knife cleanly across the full width, and long, coarse or stalky grass bends away before it is cut. That is why the natural fit is warm-season fine turf kept at its normal low height: Bermuda, zoysia and centipede, mowed at roughly 0.5 to 2 inches.
Cool-season and coarse grasses are the wrong match. Tall fescue and St. Augustine are typically maintained at 3 to 4 inches, above what most reel mowers can be set to, and their blades are wide and tough. Check your species and your usual cutting height before you shop: if your target height is above roughly 2 to 2.5 inches, a reel mower is the wrong tool unless a specific model's sheet states a higher maximum.
A sharp rotary mower can cut well too. The reel's edge is consistency at low height, not magic, so a well-maintained rotary on a lawn kept at 3 inches will look fine.
The walking distance behind a reel mower
Push effort becomes a number once you count the passes. Divide your lawn width by the cut width minus the overlap to get the number of passes, then multiply by the lawn length to get the distance you walk per mow.
Take a 3,000 sq ft lawn. With an 18-inch cut and 3 inches of overlap, you walk roughly 0.45 mile per mow. The same lawn with a 14-inch cut works out to roughly 0.6 mile. Overlap should increase on grass 4 inches or taller, which adds passes.
A narrower, lighter mower is easier to push per stroke but means more strokes, so the two effects partly cancel. Choose cut width by lawn size, not by weight alone.
Why reel mowers leave an uncut strip at edges
The reel sits between the wheels, and on conventional designs the wheels and frame hold the blade away from walls, fences and beds. That leaves a band of uncut grass along every border that a string trimmer has to finish.
Some designs reduce it with inset or offset wheels and rollers that let the reel run close to an edge. When you compare models, check the stated edge clearance rather than assuming the cut width tells the whole story.
Plan for it either way: budget trimmer time along every border, or favor a design built to cut close.
Adjusting the reel against the bed knife so your manual mower keeps scissoring grass instead of tearing it
The paper-strip check tells you whether the scissors action still works. Slide a strip of paper into the reel and turn it by hand: the reel should shear the strip cleanly across its full width. A torn or folded strip means the gap between reel and bed knife needs adjusting.
Adjustment means light, even contact across the width, enough to cut but not so much that pushing gets hard or the edges dull fast. Backlapping restores the edge at home: apply lapping compound and run the reel backward against the bed knife for a few minutes. Full sharpening is a shop job, done every few seasons.
The basics keep the rest simple: hose off clippings after mowing, oil the moving parts once a season, and store the mower under cover.
When a reel mower should be your second mower
A reel mower suits a flat, fine-bladed, regularly mowed front lawn. A rotary or battery mower handles rougher ground, taller grass, leaves and twigs, and the back yard. Pairing them is often the practical answer rather than replacing one with the other.
If your whole yard is uniform fine turf and flat, one reel mower can do it all. If the yard is mixed, with different grasses, slopes and debris, keep a rotary for the rough areas and let the reel handle the show lawn. Reel mowers tolerate debris poorly, so a second machine saves both time and blade damage.
Our picks by budget
The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is the entry point: a narrow 14-inch cut, four blades, a light 19-lb frame and a low 0.5 to 1.75-inch range for fine turf kept short. You get quiet, gas-free scissoring at the lowest outlay, and you trade width for more passes.
The American Lawn Mower 1304-14 is the step up in cut quality and adjustability: five blades instead of four, a 1 to 2.25-inch range across five positions, 10-inch wheels and a heat-treated alloy steel reel and bed knife. You pay for a finer, more adaptable cut and easier rolling in the same compact 14-inch frame.
The Scotts 2000-20S is the premium pick: the widest cut here at 20 inches, five blades on a ball-bearing reel, nine quick-snap positions up to 3 inches, dual tracking wheels and tool-free assembly. You pay for fewer passes on a larger lawn and a height range that reaches taller grass.
Budget
Mid-range
High-end
Which reel mower fits your lawn
Grass species and the height you keep it at decide whether a reel mower works at all, and lawn size then decides which cut width makes sense.
Smallest lawn, tightest budget
The 14-inch cut and 19-lb frame keep the effort and the outlay low, and the 0.5 to 1.75-inch range suits fine turf you already keep short.
Small lawn, finer cut wanted
Five blades and a five-position range from 1 to 2.25 inches give a cleaner, more adaptable cut, and the 10-inch wheels roll more easily.
Lightest mower, maintained lawn
At 18.1 lb it is the lightest on this page, with a five-blade ball-bearing reel and a 0.5 to 1.75-inch range for a lawn kept low.
Coarse or thick grass
Seven blades per revolution give a clean, precise cut on dense grass, and it is intended for Bermuda, zoysia, centipede, St. Augustine and seashore paspalum.
Larger lawn or taller grass
The 20-inch cut means fewer passes, and the nine positions up to 3 inches reach grass the narrower reels cannot.
Our verdict on the best reel lawn mowers
A reel mower is the best tool for a small, flat, fine-bladed lawn kept short and mowed on schedule, and the wrong tool for most larger or taller-grass lawns. The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is the pick for the smallest lawns and tightest budgets, the American Lawn Mower 1304-14 the balanced small-lawn choice, and the Scotts 2000-20S the one for the largest lawn a reel mower can realistically serve or for grass kept taller. Grass type and mowing frequency decide more than the model.
Detailed model analysis
A reel mower earns its place by shearing grass cleanly at low height, so the model that fits your lawn size and cutting height matters more than the badge on the frame.
American Lawn Mower 1204-14
The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is a manual push reel with a 14 in cutting width. There is no engine, no gas and no fumes, and the operation is quiet.
Its reel has 4 blades of tempered 65Mn steel that cut grass like a pair of scissors. That clean snip is the reason to choose a reel mower.
It weighs 19 lb, so lifting it over a step or into the shed is easy. The 8.5 in wheels roll it along.
Cutting height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 in across 3 positions, which suits fine grass mowed short. It cannot be set above 1.75 in, so taller grass is a poor match.
A grass catcher, sharpening kits and a storage cover are all sold separately. If you want more blades, Earthwise 1715-16EW has 7.
It suits owners of a small, flat lawn who mow often, keep grass short and want a quiet, simple mower.
- Brand: American Lawn Mower
- Cutting width: 14 in
- Cutting height: 1.3 to 4.45 in
- Blades: 4
- Wheel diameter: 8.5 in
- Power source: Manual
American Lawn Mower 1304-14
The American Lawn Mower 1304-14 is a 14 in manual push reel for a compact yard. Its 5 blade reel turns on ball bearings, so you get more cutting edges per turn than the 4 on American Lawn Mower 1204-14.
Reel and bed knife are heat treated alloy steel. The scissor-like motion cuts the grass instead of shredding it.
Its 10 in composite wheels have radial rubber tires, and the T style handle gives you a grip to push from. It weighs 21 lb, a little more than American Lawn Mower 1204-14 at 19 lb.
The lowest setting is 1 in. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 cuts lower, so very short turf is better left to it. Cutting width stays at 14 in, so a bigger lawn means more passes.
Care is light: sharpening at least once every 3 to 5 years, with no engine, fuel or spark plugs, and no fumes. The 90 day limited warranty is short next to the 2 years on Scotts 2000-20S.
We see it suiting owners of a compact yard who want five blades and a ball bearing reel.
- Brand: American Lawn Mower
- Cutting width: 14 in
- Number of blades: 5
- Cutting height: 1 to 2.25 in
- Weight: 21 lb
- Operation: Manual push
Scotts 304-14S
The Scotts 304-14S is the lightest of the five at 18.1 lb. It is a 14 in manual push reel with no engine, motor or battery, and it puts out zero fumes.
Next to American Lawn Mower 1204-14 at 19 lb, the gap is small, but a lighter frame is easier to lift and turn at the end of each row.
The reel is a 3 spider, 5 blade, ball bearing design with heat-treated alloy steel blades. Cutting height runs from 0.5 to 1.75 in, and the T style handle sits on composite wheels with radial rubber tires.
Do not use it on wet grass, because it usually cuts very unevenly. Clear debris first. Divots and tall weeds need work beforehand, or you will make several passes. Mow no more than 1/3 of the blade.
It has a 90 day limited warranty, shorter than the 2 years on Scotts 2000-20S. It suits owners of a small, well-kept lawn who put weight first.
- Brand: Scotts
- Cutting width: 14 in
- Blades: 5
- Cutting height: 0.5 to 1.75 in
- Weight: 18.1 lb
- Power source: Manual
Earthwise 1715-16EW
The Earthwise 1715-16EW is a manual push reel with the most blades of the five: 7. It has no motor, engine or battery, so it makes no engine noise and no carbon emissions.
More blades mean more cutting edges meeting the grass with each turn of the reel. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 has 4, and Scotts 2000-20S has 5.
It is made for bent grasses such as Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Seashore paspalum. The cutting height starts at 0.5 in.
It has 10 in wheels and weighs 21.8 lb, which is more than American Lawn Mower 1304-14 and less than Scotts 2000-20S.
The cutting width tops out at 16 in, so a big lawn still takes many passes. Scotts 2000-20S cuts 20 in wide.
It suits gardeners with Bermuda or Zoysia who want a seven-blade reel.
- Brand: Earthwise
- Cutting width: 16 in
- Power source: Manual
- Number of blades: 7
- Weight: 21.8 lb
- Wheel size: 10 in
Scotts 2000-20S
The Scotts 2000-20S is a manual push reel mower with no motor or engine. It cuts 20 in wide, wider than any other mower we rank, so you make fewer passes over a bigger lawn.
Earthwise 1715-16EW cuts 16 in, and the other three mowers cut narrower still. Cutting height goes from 1 to 3 in, set in nine height slots with quick-snap adjusters.
Two 10 in composite drive wheels with radial tires carry it, and two tracking wheels add maneuverability. The five-blade reel runs on ball bearings with heat-treated steel blades. A loop-style handle has a foam grip.
The cost is weight. At 26.9 lb it is the heaviest of the five, a clear step up from Scotts 304-14S, the lightest of the five.
It cuts no lower than 1 in, while American Lawn Mower 1204-14 and Scotts 304-14S go down to 0.5 in.
It has a 2 year warranty, needs no tools to assemble, and uses no gas, with no emissions. It suits owners of a larger lawn who accept a heavier mower for a wider cut.
- Brand: Scotts
- Cutting width: 20 in
- Blades: 5
- Cutting height: 1 to 3 in
- Power source: Manual
- Weight: 26.9 lb
Frequently asked questions
A reel mower rewards a lawn that is already fine-bladed, flat and mowed often, and it punishes anything else.
Are reel mowers any good?
On the right lawn, yes. They shear grass cleanly, run quietly, need no gas or oil and are simple to maintain. On tall or coarse grass, large or uneven yards, they disappoint.
What size lawn is a reel mower good for?
Roughly 5,000 sq ft is comfortable for most owners, and about 10,000 sq ft is the outer limit for a fit owner who keeps on schedule.
Can a reel mower handle Bermuda or zoysia?
Yes. Fine-bladed warm-season grasses kept low are the natural fit for a reel mower.
Will a reel mower cut tall fescue or St. Augustine?
Only if a model's stated maximum height reaches your cutting height, up to 3 inches on one pick here. Otherwise a rotary is the better tool.
Do reel mowers work on slopes or uneven ground?
They work best on flat, smooth ground. Uneven terrain and slopes make pushing harder and the cut less even.
Can I mow wet grass with a reel mower?
No. Clippings clump and the cut suffers, so wait for the grass to dry.
How often do I need to mow with a reel mower?
Twice a week or more while the grass is growing fast, and never take off more than a third of the blade height in one pass.