Best Reel Mowers (2026): 7 Push Reel Picks Compared

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The best reel mower is the one matched to a lawn it can actually handle: small, mostly flat, cut often, and free of the twigs and pine cones that stop a reel cold. Push reel mowers have no engine, no battery and no cord. They cut with a scissor action between a spinning reel and a fixed bedknife, run nearly silent, and need almost no upkeep beyond adjustment and an occasional sharpening. The catch is that the specs that matter are different from a gas or battery mower’s: cutting height ceiling, blade count, width and how easy the reel is to adjust. Below are seven picks for different lawns, then a buying guide written for Front Range grass.

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How we compared: we compared 11 current Amazon listings for manual push reel mowers on what each listing states: cutting width, number of blades, cutting-height range and positions, wheel size, weight, included grass catcher or sharpener, and adjustment method. A battery rotary mower that appeared in the same search was set aside. We did not lab-test any of these mowers or use them hands-on. Prices and availability change often, so check the current listing before buying.

Quick picks: the best reel mowers by lawn type

Product	Best for	Key features	Price	Buy
Scotts 2000-20S	Best overall reel mower	20-inch, 5-blade reel 1 to 3 inch quick-snap height Tool-less assembly	$149.99as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
American Lawn Mower 2002-20	Wide reel with grass catcher	20-inch, 5-blade reel Grass catcher included Up to 3 inch cut stated	—	Buy now →Check current price
Scotts 716-18S	Fine cut on taller lawns	18-inch, 7-blade reel 1 to 3 inch height Heat-treated alloy blades	$139.99as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
American Lawn Mower 2607-16	Home sharpening	16-inch, 7-blade reel SK-2 hand sharpener included 0.5 to 2.5 inch height	$118.99as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
LawnMaster LMRM1801	Fine height tuning plus bag	18-inch, 5-blade reel 9 height positions Collection bag included	$98.99as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC	Tiny lawns, lightest here	14-inch, 5-blade reel 18 lb listed weight 2-year warranty	$68.88as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price
Lawnworld 14-inch	Tool-free reel adjustment	14-inch, 5-blade reel Hand knobs set blade tension 5 height positions	$45.99as of Oct 21, 2026 11:20 am GMT+0000	Buy now →Check current price

Prices are Amazon’s listed prices as of the time shown and change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The 7 picks, compared listing by listing

1. Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade — Best Overall Reel Mower

Best overall

Why we like it

• 20-inch width, tied for widest on the shelf
• Cut height reaches 3 inches
• Ball-bearing reel and 10-inch dual tracking wheels
• Assembles without tools

Scotts 2000-20S — 20 in, 5-blade ball-bearing reel, 1–3 in quick-snap height, 10 in dual tracking wheels, 26.9 lb

One of Only Three Reel Mowers Here That Cut at 3 Inches

Height ceiling is the spec that most often rules a reel mower out on the Front Range. Of the 11 reel listings, only three state a top setting of 3 inches: this Scotts, its 7-blade 18-inch sibling, and the American Lawn Mower 2002-20. Most of the rest stop at 2.5 inches or lower, and one stops at 1.75. The EPA’s WaterSense program recommends mowing between two and four inches in the warm part of the year, so a 3-inch ceiling keeps a cool-season lawn inside that band.

It pairs that ceiling with a 20-inch width, the widest size on the shelf, shared with only two other listings. Wider means fewer passes, which matters more with a reel than with an engine mower because every pass is under your own power. The 10-inch dual tracking wheels are the largest size any listing here states.

The listing does not include a grass catcher and does not state a warranty length, though it does say “warranty” in the spec field. At 26.9 lb it is mid-pack for weight, heavier than the 14-inch models but lighter than the two 18 and 20-inch LawnMaster and American models with bags.

Check Scotts 2000-20S price on Amazon

2. American Lawn Mower 2002-20 20-Inch — Best Wide Reel With a Grass Catcher

Best wide reel with catcher

Why we like it

• Only 20-inch reel here with a catcher
• Top cut height of 3 inches
• Can run with or without the catcher
• Listing gives practical tall-grass advice

American Lawn Mower 2002-20 — 20 in, 5-blade reel, up to 3 in height, grass catcher included, 28.6 lb

The Only 20-Inch Reel Mower Here That Includes a Catcher

Three of the 11 reel listings include a way to collect clippings, and this is the only one of the three at 20 inches. The other two are a 14-inch American model and the 18-inch LawnMaster. For a reel mower owner who wants a tidy lawn without raking, that combination of width and collection is unique on this shelf.

The listing is unusually candid about how to use it. It advises starting at a higher setting in longer grass and lowering it on later passes to avoid binding, and it warns that a full catcher can interfere with the reel, so empty it often. That is good general advice for any reel mower; most leave clippings on the lawn, which the EPA notes act as a natural fertilizer.

One inconsistency: the title promises 1 to 3 inches while the feature text says the height is chosen between 2 and 3 inches. Either way the top setting is 3, which is the number that matters here. No warranty is stated, and at 28.6 lb it is the heaviest reel listing that states a weight.

Check American Lawn Mower 2002-20 price on Amazon

3. Scotts 716-18S 18-Inch 7-Blade — Best Fine Cut on Taller Lawns

Best 7-blade for taller cuts

Why we like it

• Only 7-blade reel here that reaches 3 inches
• Seven blades for more cuts per wheel turn
• Ball-bearing reel and 10-inch wheels
• Cushioned grip on the handle

Scotts 716-18S — 18 in, 7-blade ball-bearing reel, 1–3 in height, 10 in dual tracking wheels, 25.57 lb

The Only 7-Blade Reel on the Shelf That Cuts Up to 3 Inches

Three listings use a 7-blade reel. More blades mean more cuts per wheel revolution, which gives a finer, more even finish, especially on dense turf. The other two 7-blade models, the Earthwise 1715-16EW and the American Lawn Mower 2607-16, both top out at 2.5 inches and are marketed for fine warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia. This Scotts is the only 7-blade option that also reaches 3 inches.

That matters because most Front Range lawns are cool-season grasses. The EPA lists Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass and fescues among cool-season types, and those look and hold up better kept taller in summer. A fine-cut reel that can still be set high is the best of both.

The trade-off with seven blades is effort in long grass: more blades means more resistance when the lawn has grown out. Keep to a frequent schedule. The listing does not say whether the reel-to-bedknife gap is adjusted with tools or knobs.

Check Scotts 716-18S price on Amazon

4. American Lawn Mower 2607-16 16-Inch 7-Blade With Sharpener — Best for Home Sharpening

Best for home sharpening

Why we like it

• Only listing that bundles a sharpener
• Seven-blade reel for a fine finish
• Very low 0.5-inch minimum height
• 21.8 lb, light for a 16-inch reel

American Lawn Mower 2607-16 — 16 in, 7-blade reel, 0.5–2.5 in height, SK-2 sharpener included, 21.8 lb

The Only Reel Mower Here Sold With a Sharpening Tool

A reel mower’s cut depends entirely on a sharp reel meeting a straight bedknife. When the edges dull, the mower starts folding grass instead of shearing it. This is the only one of the 11 listings that includes a sharpening kit, the SK-2, which the listing says lets owners keep the blades sharp at home without professional servicing.

The CPSC recommends heavy gloves when changing, sharpening or cleaning blades on garden equipment, which applies fully here: reel edges are sharp even when dull enough to need work.

Know what it is built for. The listing names bentgrass, Bermuda and Zoysia, fine warm-season and golf-type grasses. With a 2.5-inch ceiling it is not the right tool for holding a bluegrass lawn at 3 inches in July, but it is a strong choice for an owner who keeps a short, dense lawn and wants to handle maintenance themselves.

Check American Lawn Mower 2607-16 price on Amazon

5. LawnMaster LMRM1801 18-Inch 5-Blade — Best for Fine Height Tuning, Bag Included

Most height steps, with bag

Why we like it

• 9 height positions, tied for most here
• Collection bag in the box
• 10-inch front wheels
• Durable steel blades

LawnMaster LMRM1801 — 18 in, 5-blade steel reel, 1.1–2.5 in (9 positions), 10 in front wheels, bag included, 28.5 lb

The Only Reel Mower Combining 9 Height Steps With a Bag

Two listings offer 9 cutting positions, this LawnMaster and its 20-inch LMRM2001 sibling. Only this one also includes a collection bag. Fine height steps let an owner raise the cut a fraction of an inch at a time as the season dries out, which is easier on the lawn than jumping between two or three fixed notches.

The ceiling, though, is 2.5 inches, which puts it in the majority of reel listings here and below the three models that reach 3. On a bluegrass lawn, run it at the top setting through summer.

At about 28.5 lb it is one of the heavier reels, though most of that is the wider frame. The listing does not state a warranty or explain how the reel is adjusted against the bedknife.

Check LawnMaster LMRM1801 price on Amazon

6. American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC 14-Inch — Best for Tiny Lawns

Lightest reel, tiny lawns

Why we like it

• 18 lb, the lightest reel listed here
• Grass catcher included
• Only reel listing with a stated 2-year warranty
• Heat-treated alloy-steel blades

American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC — 14 in, 5-blade alloy reel, 1–2.25 in, 10 in wheels, catcher, 18 lb, 2-yr warranty

The Lightest Reel Mower Listed and the Only One With a Stated Warranty Term

Four listings are 14-inch reels. At 18 lb it is the lightest reel here (the 4-blade American 1204-14 describes itself as 19 lb, though its spec field shows an obviously wrong 2.2 lb), and it is the only one of the 11 that names a warranty term, two years. It also includes a catcher, unusual at this size.

The listing is clear about its limits: it is designed for small, relatively level, regularly maintained lawns, and owners should clear sticks and mulch first and expect extra passes in tall or weedy areas. The CPSC gives the same pre-mowing advice for any equipment: remove sticks, stones and wire before starting.

The 2.25-inch ceiling is the main drawback. It is fine for a shaded patch or a townhome strip, but it sits below the EPA’s suggested summer range for most of its upper band, so keep it at the top setting from June on.

Check American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC price on Amazon

7. Lawnworld 14-Inch 5-Blade — Best Tool-Free Reel Adjustment

Best tool-free adjustment

Why we like it

• Hand knobs adjust blade tension, no tools
• 5 height positions
• Compact 14-inch frame for small yards
• Available in other widths, per the listing

Lawnworld 14 in — 5-blade reel, tool-free knob blade adjustment, 5 height positions, range and weight not stated

The Only Listing That Describes Tool-Free Blade Adjustment

Reel-to-bedknife contact drifts as the mower is used, and a reel that is too loose leaves strands uncut while one that is too tight is hard to push. Most reel mowers are adjusted with a wrench or screwdriver. This Lawnworld is the only one of the 11 listings that describes side knobs for setting blade tension by hand, which makes small corrections mid-mow practical.

The listing leaves important gaps. It gives five height positions but no range, no weight and no warranty. A buyer who needs a 3-inch cut should confirm the top setting with the seller before ordering.

For a small, flat lawn and an owner who expects to fiddle with the reel, the tool-free adjustment is a genuine convenience. For a taller-cut lawn, the Scotts picks are the safer bet.

Check Lawnworld 14-inch price on Amazon

Is a reel mower right for your lawn?

Reel mowers do one job very well and several jobs poorly. They suit a lawn that is:

• Small. Most listings here are 14 to 20 inches wide. Under roughly a few thousand square feet, pushing a reel is easy exercise; much beyond that it becomes a chore.
• Flat and smooth. Reels follow the ground closely and scalp high spots. Bumpy lawns, slopes and holes make for an uneven cut.
• Cut often. One listing says plainly that its reel cuts grass up to about 4 inches tall and is less effective on taller grass. Mowing every five to seven days in spring keeps growth inside that limit.
• Clean of debris. A twig or a pine cone can stop a reel or nick the bedknife. Pick up first, as the CPSC advises before any mowing.

If the lawn is larger, sloped, or tends to get away from you during a busy June, a powered rotary mower is the better tool; see our gas lawn mower roundup. Reel mowers also leave the edges along fences, walls and beds, and they tend to skip tall weed stalks, so most owners pair one with a string trimmer; our trimmer line guide covers matching line to the trimmer.

How to read a reel mower listing

Cutting height ceiling

This is the first spec to check. The EPA’s WaterSense program recommends mowing at two to four inches in summer and not removing more than a third of the blade at once. Among these 11 listings, three reach 3 inches, five stop at 2.5 or 2.6 inches, and two stop lower still, at 2.25 and 1.75 inches. For Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue on the Front Range, a 3-inch ceiling is the target. Warm-season and golf-style grasses kept short are where the low settings make sense.

Blade count

Five blades is the most common reel here, on seven listings; three use seven blades and one uses four. More blades cut more often per wheel turn, giving a finer finish on dense turf, but they push harder in longer grass. Five blades is the practical middle for a typical home lawn.

Width and weight

Widths run 14, 16, 18 and 20 inches. Stated weights run from 18 to about 28.6 lb, and three listings give no weight at all. A heavier mower holds the ground better and pushes more steadily; a lighter one is easier to lift over a curb or carry to a back yard.

Wheels and bearings

Larger wheels drive the reel more smoothly and roll over small bumps; seven listings state 10-inch wheels. Three listings, the two Scotts and the Earthwise, mention a ball-bearing reel, which typically spins with less drag.

Catcher and sharpener

Only three listings include a catcher and only one includes a sharpener. Most reel owners leave clippings on the lawn; the EPA notes they are a good natural fertilizer. If a tidy look matters or the lawn borders a patio, factor in a catcher.

Keeping a reel mower sharp and adjusted

A reel mower cuts like scissors, so its two edges have to meet. Signs of trouble are torn, ragged grass tips that brown a day after mowing, uncut strands in a line across the lawn, or a reel that is suddenly hard to turn.

• Adjust before sharpening. Many cutting complaints are an out-of-adjustment reel. Check the owner’s manual for the paper-cut test and adjust the reel or bedknife until a sheet of paper is cut cleanly across the full width.
• Sharpen when adjustment no longer helps. Home kits use a lapping compound run against the reel, or a hand sharpener like the one bundled with pick 4. Wear heavy gloves, as the CPSC recommends when sharpening or cleaning blades.
• Keep it dry. Store the mower indoors out of the snow and wipe the reel after mowing; rust on the edges dulls the cut.
• Do not mow wet grass. One listing here specifically advises against reel mowing when the grass is wet; clippings pack into the reel.

After a storm, clear branches and leaves first. Fall cottonwood and maple leaves will jam a reel; our leaf vacuum roundup covers tools for clearing them.

Reel mowers on the Front Range

A reel mower fits Front Range habits better than its reputation suggests. Many Denver-area lots, particularly in older neighborhoods and newer infill, have small front lawns. A quiet mower can run early on a summer morning before the heat, with no noise concern for neighbors; the CDC’s NIOSH program treats noise of 85 dBA or more as hazardous, and a reel mower has no engine to produce it.

Water is the bigger local factor. The EPA says residential outdoor water use in the U.S. runs to nearly 8 billion gallons a day, mainly for landscape irrigation. A lawn mowed taller, with clippings left in place, holds moisture better through dry spells, and a reel mower that can be set to 3 inches supports that. Owners converting part of a lawn to low-water planting often find the remaining turf small enough for a reel mower.

What a reel mower cannot do is handle the spring flush if mowing falls behind, or a lawn on a steep grade. Soggy spots, water pooling against the foundation, or a slope that drains toward the house are problems no mower will fix; our yard drainage guide explains what to look for.

When to bring in a professional

Lawn condition often reflects what is happening beneath and around it: poor grading, a failing sprinkler line, or a downspout that dumps water at the foundation. Those are inspection items, especially before a purchase. Our exterior and grounds guides explain what inspectors look at outside the house. Front Range buyers who want grading, drainage and the rest of the exterior checked can reach out through our contact page to be connected with a vetted local inspector.

References

• Turfgrass and Water Efficiency — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense
• WaterSense: Outdoors — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Lawn and Garden Safety Tips — U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• About Occupational Hearing Loss — CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health