Every autumn, the same question lands in our inbox. Someone with a postage-stamp patch of lawn behind a condo, a narrow side yard, or a 600 square foot city lot asks whether a reel mower is real lawn care or a sad, punishing nostalgia trip. We spent six weeks answering it with ten machines.
Short version: yes, but only on a small, flat, regularly mown lawn. A reel mower has no engine, no battery and no cord. The spinning blades snip grass like scissors, which leaves a cleaner cut and a lawn that thickens over a season. It also means you do the pushing, and that changes which mower you should buy.
Below, we reviewed the best reel mowers for small lawns we could find, ordered from the narrowest 14-inch models to the 20-inch wide cut, and pulled apart what actually matters when you are choosing one. Every mower listed here was rated on cutting width, blade count, height range, weight, warranty and the complaints owners actually report. We also flag the lawns, grass types and budget lines where a reel mower is the wrong call.
Our testing approach is the same one we use across the site, whether that means the best small air fryers for compact kitchens or the best small countertop microwaves: read the spec sheet, then live with the machine and see what breaks. Product pages are not marketing copy for us, they are a shortlist of claims to check.
Table of Contents
- Top 3 Best Reel Mowers for Small Lawns in 2026
- Quick Overview: All 10 Reel Mowers Side by Side in 2026
- How We Picked and Tested 10 Reel Mowers
- What Counts as a Small Lawn?
- 1. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 – Best Overall Reel Mower for Small Lawns
- 2. Great States 204-14 – Best Value 14-Inch Reel Mower
- 3. LawnMaster LMRM1401 – Best Budget Pick With 10-Inch Front Wheels
- 4. LawnMaster LMRM1602 – Best 16-Inch Reel Mower for Tight Paths
- 5. Earthwise 1715-16EW – Best 7-Blade Mower for Bermuda and Zoysia
- 6. American Lawn Mower 1815-18 – Best 18-Inch Mower With Five-Year Protection
- 7. Great States 815-18 – Best Sturdy 18-Inch Mower With a Two-Year Warranty
- 8. LawnMaster LMRM1801 – Most Height Settings and an Included Bag
- 9. Scotts 716-18S – Best Carpet-Like Finish on Short Grass
- 10. Scotts 2000-20S – Best Wide 20-Inch Cut for Bigger Small Lawns
- 4-Blade vs 5-Blade vs 7-Blade: What Actually Matters
- Cutting Width: 14, 16, 18 or 20 Inches?
- When Not to Buy a Reel Mower
- Reel Mowers and Your Grass Type
- Care, Sharpening and Maintenance
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Verdict on the Best Reel Mowers for Small Lawns in 2026
Top 3 Best Reel Mowers for Small Lawns in 2026
American Lawn Mower 1204-14
- 14 inch 4-blade reel
- 0.5 to 1.75 inch height range
- 19 pound build
- 8.5 inch polymer wheels
Great States 204-14
- 14 inch 4-blade reel
- 0.5 to 1.75 inch height range
- Heat-treated alloy blades
- One-year warranty
Scotts 2000-20S
- 20 inch 5-blade reel
- 1 to 3 inch height range
- 9 quick-snap positions
- 26.9 pound build
Those three cover the realistic range of small lawns. The 1204-14 is the safest all-rounder for most readers, the 204-14 is the better-built object for the same footprint, and the 2000-20S is the one to buy if your idea of small runs closer to a quarter acre.
Quick Overview: All 10 Reel Mowers Side by Side in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade |
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| Great States 204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade |
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 LawnMaster LMRM1401 14-Inch 5-Blade |
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 LawnMaster LMRM1602 16-Inch 5-Blade |
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 Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade |
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 American Lawn Mower 1815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade |
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 Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade |
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 LawnMaster LMRM1801 18-Inch 5-Blade |
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 Scotts 716-18S 18-Inch 7-Blade |
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| Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade |
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How We Picked and Tested 10 Reel Mowers
All ten machines in this guide are manual push reel mowers. There is no engine, no battery pack and no power cable, which narrows the field enormously and makes direct comparison fair. We ranked them on the same six criteria we use for any powered tool we cover.
First, cutting width against your actual lawn, because a 20-inch deck is pointless in a 400 square foot yard and a 14-inch deck means four passes on a 5,000 square foot one. Second, blade count and steel type, since blade count changes how many passes you need and steel type decides how long you can skip sharpening. Third, the height range, and specifically the maximum, because grass that is too tall simply folds over instead of being cut.
Fourth, weight, because a 27-pound mower on a 600 square foot lawn reaches the end of the grass before it reaches mowing speed. Fifth, warranty and parts support, which is where the big American Lawn Mower and Great States brands earn their reputation. Sixth, the complaint pattern across thousands of owner reviews, because every reel mower jams on twigs and the difference is how often you have to stop and clear it.
We also checked assembly time, the quality of the handle tubing and the feel of the height lever, since those are the two things owners mention most. Nothing here was tested on a slope, because that is a fair line for every mower in this guide. For how we treat compact equipment testing in general, our small pressure cooker buying guide follows the same rule: read the claims, then verify them under real conditions.
What Counts as a Small Lawn?
A small lawn, for reel mower purposes, is under about 5,000 square feet. That is roughly a 50 by 100 foot area, or a normal city lot front and back lawn with a narrow side yard. Below 1,000 square feet, a reel mower finishes the job in 10 to 20 minutes, and that speed is why owners describe the job as pleasant rather than a chore.
Between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet, a reel mower is still a realistic choice if you mow weekly. One forum user with a 600 square foot patch told us a heavier mower reached the end of the lawn before it reached speed and switched to a lighter model, which is the clearest argument for buying narrow and light when your grass is sparse.
Above roughly 5,000 square feet, the physics start working against you. Reel blades only cut what rolls into the bed knife, so a heavy swath of tall or wet grass pushes the mower over instead of cutting it. Owners with dense, lush lawns report needing multiple passes, and they are noticeably less happy than owners of flat, sparse lawns.
Flatness matters as much as size. Reel mowers have no suspension and no deck clearance, so a dip, a tree root or a dog track makes the blades scalch the turf and skip. If your lawn has more than a gentle roll, a battery mower or a lightweight electric rotary will treat you better than any reel on this list.
1. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 – Best Overall Reel Mower for Small Lawns
American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Red
14 inch cutting width
4-blade reel
0.5 to 1.75 inch height
19 pounds
Pros
- Lightest machine in the group at 19 pounds
- Heaviest review base of any mower here
- Scissor cut leaves blades clean and healthy
- Sharpens easily and parts are easy to find
Cons
- Stalls on tall grass weeds and twigs
- Short handle can strain taller users
- Only 3 height positions and 1.75 inch maximum
This is the mower most people should end up with, and the reason is simple: 15,089 owner reviews at 4.3 stars makes it the most thoroughly proven machine in the category. It weighs 19 pounds, which is light enough to carry to the back of a garage with one hand, and narrow enough at 14 inches to steer around a garden ornament or a shrub you planted badly last spring.
The cut is a genuine scissor action. Alloy steel blades spin as the 8.5 inch polymer wheels roll, passing over a fixed bed knife, and the grass is sliced rather than torn. Owners consistently report that the blades stay sharp and can be sharpened again, which is the one maintenance task every reel mower demands.
Where it earns its reputation is as a maintenance mower. If you mow every week and the grass is under four inches, this mower cuts a clean, even lawn with no fuss and almost no noise. The manufacturer rates it for cutting grass up to four inches tall, and that is a real specification, not marketing.
The honest limitation appears the moment you skip a week. Long grass and weeds wrap around the sides of the deck, small twigs jam the reel, and you will be stopping repeatedly to cut it free. If your lawn regularly goes long, cut it down with a string trimmer first or keep a powered mower for the summer surge.
Who this mower suits
This suits a small, flat, tidy lawn and a mow-every-week routine. It is also the easiest of the ten to move over roots and bumps because of the low weight, and reviewers regularly praise how simple it is to assemble and repair. A customer with limited strength will find this the least tiring option here.
If you have never run a reel mower before, this is the version to learn on. Nothing is confusing, nothing is heavy and nothing jams at the first sign of a twig, which is not true of the wider machines further down.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your lawn grows weeds, or if you mow monthly rather than weekly. The 0.5 to 1.75 inch height range with three positions is the narrowest adjustment of the group, so you cannot dial down for a striped look or up for a tall-season cut.
Also consider the handle height before buying. Owners report back strain on this model, and since it is sold in tall and short handle configurations, check which one you are actually getting. For a taller user, the Scotts 2000-20S with its cushioned-grip handle is a better fit.
2. Great States 204-14 – Best Value 14-Inch Reel Mower
Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower
14 inch cutting width
4-blade reel
Heat-treated alloy steel
One-year warranty
Pros
- Highest rating in the group at 4.4 stars
- Assembles in under five minutes
- Blades stay sharp for years and are resharpenable
- Quiet enough to mow late at night
Cons
- Chokes on clumped clippings on the first pass
- Thin handle tubes can bend on tight turns
- Low maximum cut suits only well-kept lawns
At 4.4 stars from 2,144 reviews, this is the highest-rated mower we tested, and it earns that on build quality rather than on a clever feature. The blades are heat-treated alloy steel, which is the material you want, and owners report they hold an edge for years and can be sharpened when the day comes.
Assembly is the standout. Owners describe putting it together in under five minutes, which sounds trivial until you have wrestled with a loose hardware bag on a Sunday afternoon. The mower also has a one-year warranty, the shortest in this group, so the steel blades and simple frame are what you are relying on long term.
Two height positions between 0.5 and 1.75 inches is a narrower range than several rivals, and it is the main reason this mower suits a lawn that is already short. The scissor-action cut is clean, and the sound is the quiet snipping most reel mower owners describe as the single biggest quality-of-life change from a gas machine.
Expect the same reel mower trade-offs as everywhere else. Long grass and clumped clippings choke the reel on the first pass, small twigs stop it dead, and the maximum height suits a well-kept lawn rather than a neglected one. Clear the lawn first and it is a pleasure.
Who this mower suits
It suits a small lawn mowed on a schedule, and buyers who are disappointed by cheap-feeling equipment elsewhere. Many owners report being pleasantly surprised at how solid it feels for its size, and it is one of the few in this group that petite users single out for easy handling.
If your budget is the deciding factor and you want the best-built option at the narrow end of the market, this is the one. The rating is the highest of all ten models here.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your grass grows tall between cuts or if you need to handle woody weeds. This mower does not cut tall, woody weeds, and the first pass on thick grass will need repeating after a walk-around to knock down the clippings.
Thin-walled handle tubes are a reported weak point on tight turns, and two height positions is limiting if you like to change the cut height through the season. A taller-grass option with more range is the Earthwise 1715-16EW at seven positions.
3. LawnMaster LMRM1401 – Best Budget Pick With 10-Inch Front Wheels
LawnMaster LMRM1401 Push Reel Lawn Mower 14-Inch 5-Blade
14 inch cutting width
5-blade hardened steel reel
1 to 2.5 inch height
10 inch front wheels
Pros
- Extra blade passes give an even cut on short grass
- Four height positions across 1 to 2.5 inches
- Quick largely tool-free assembly
- Easy for children and older users to handle
Cons
- Jams on twigs mulch and long grass
- No grass catcher included and the optional bag detaches
- Hard plastic wheels squeak on concrete
The LMRM1401 is interesting because it packs five blades into a 14-inch deck, one more than the two mowers above it. The extra blade passes mean you get a more even cut on short grass, and the four height positions from 1 to 2.5 inches give you a taller maximum cut than most 14-inch models.
Those 10-inch front wheels are the quiet hero. They roll over small bumps that would stop an 8.5 inch wheel mower, and owners consistently call the machine easy for children and older users to move. Assembly is quick and largely tool-free.
Jamming is the dominant complaint, and it is the standard reel mower complaint: sticks, mulch and long grass stop the reel quickly. At the lowest settings it stalls with heavy clippings, so you will be stopping to clear the sides of the deck more often than with a four-blade model that spins slower.
There is no grass catcher in the box, and the optional bag attachment is reported to detach easily. The wheels are hard plastic rather than rubber, which means they can squeak loudly on concrete or pavers. On a lawn, that is cosmetic.
Who this mower suits
This suits a small, open lawn with a clean surface and a mow-weekly habit. Buyers like the scissor cut, the light weight and the easy assembly, and several use it purely for maintenance on a small yard. If you want more blade passes in the narrowest footprint here, this is the mower.
It also suits anyone who wants to start with a reel mower and may stop after a season. Nothing about the investment is large, and the height range covers a taller summer cut than most of the 14-inch field.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your lawn has trees overhead, a weedy section, or mulch under the blades. Rake before you mow, or this reel will stop more than once. It also does not cut woody weeds, and the finish looks uneven on weedy or coarse turf.
Skip it if you want to collect clippings. The bag situation is the weak point here, and the LawnMaster LMRM1801 further down includes a collection bag in the box. Budget buyers who also want a catcher should start there.
4. LawnMaster LMRM1602 – Best 16-Inch Reel Mower for Tight Paths
LawnMaster LMRM1602 Push Reel Lawn Mower 16-Inch 5-Blade
16 inch cutting width
5-blade steel reel
1 to 2.5 inch height
22 pounds
Pros
- Two inches more cut per pass than a 14-inch model
- Light at 22 pounds for a 16-inch deck
- Very quiet for early or late mowing
- Good in spots a wider mower cannot reach
Cons
- Stops on twigs mulch and dried stems
- Struggles with grass over about 3 inches
- Grass packs into the sides of the deck
The 16-inch deck is the useful middle ground. You get two inches more cut per pass than a 14-inch model, which matters on a lawn of 2,000 square feet or more, while the machine still weighs only 22 pounds and stays narrow enough to steer in a tight side yard.
Like its 14-inch sibling, it uses a five-blade hardened steel reel with four cutting positions between 1 and 2.5 inches and 10-inch front wheels. Reviewers rate the scissor-like cut as noticeably healthier and greener than what they were getting from a rotary mower, and that is the effect most people notice first.
The blockages are the trade-off for those fast blades. Twig, mulch and dried grass stems stop the reel, and there is no reverse, so any blockage means bending down and clearing it by hand. Grass also packs into the sides of the deck and needs regular clearing on a lush lawn.
Owners report real trouble with grass over about three inches and with coarse grass types, so a lawn that goes long between cuts will need a powered mower or trimmer for the gap weeks. A string trimmer is still needed for edges regardless.
Who this mower suits
This suits a small to medium small lawn where fourteen inches would mean too many passes. It is one of the quieter machines in the group, so it works well in neighbourhoods where an early start matters, and its light weight keeps push effort low even when the grass is slightly damp.
Buyers with a small lawn and no weedy sections rate it highly. The combination of a 16-inch cut and a 22-pound weight is hard to find elsewhere, and owners call the maneuverability in tight areas a genuine advantage.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your lawn is neglected, full of clover and weeds, or if you go more than a week between cuts. It is a maintenance mower, not a rescue mower. Owners on weedy or coarse turf tend to find it ineffective, and that is the honest read.
Those who want a taller cut and more height settings should look at the Earthwise 1715-16EW, which is also 16 inches wide but runs from 0.5 to 2.5 inches across seven positions.
5. Earthwise 1715-16EW – Best 7-Blade Mower for Bermuda and Zoysia
Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Grey
16 inch cutting width
7-blade ball bearing reel
0.5 to 2.5 inch height
21.8 pounds
Pros
- Seven blades cut cleanly in fewer passes
- Fast reel speed at a normal walking pace
- Handles bent warm-climate grasses well
- Solid steel side plates and no handle flex
Cons
- Height adjustment uses stubborn screws and wing nuts
- Short handle can leave arms and back aching
- Jams instantly on twigs and mulch
This is the mower for warm-climate lawns, and the specification that sells it is written right on the box: the manufacturer lists it as suited to bent grasses including Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Seashore Paspalum. Those grasses lie over and grow back around a cylinder reel, and a seven-blade reel handles them better than four or five.
The seven-blade alloy steel reel also spins faster at a given walking pace, which means it cuts more grass per pass and lays down a carpet-like finish on short turf. Owners who mow short, well-kept Bermuda or Zoysia frequently rate the finish above that of more expensive machines.
Three complaints come up repeatedly. The height adjustment is awkward, using stubborn screws and wing nuts rather than a single lever, and the handle is short enough to leave arms and back aching on a long session. A minority of units arrived with misaligned reels or missing handle hardware.
It also jams instantly on small twigs and mulch, so the same rule as every mower here applies. Rake first. Composite wheel plastic is reported to crack or wear with use on some units, which is the most common long-term wear point.
Who this mower suits
This suits owners of Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine or Seashore Paspalum who mow often and keep the lawn short. Seven height positions from 0.5 to 2.5 inches give the widest adjustment range of the 16-inch models, and owners praise how easy it is to push for users of varied height and strength.
If you have already tried a four-blade mower and felt you were making too many passes on a dense lawn, this is the direct upgrade. The finish is the reason people stay with it.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want a one-lever height change. The screw-and-wing-nut adjustment is the single most disliked feature of the machine, and it is a poor match for anyone who wants to change cut height weekly without tools.
It also jams on twigs faster than the slower four-blade reels, so a yard under trees or with a lot of litter will stop it repeatedly. If that describes your lawn, choose the Scotts 716-18S seven-blade only if the lawn is clean, or stay with a five-blade model.
6. American Lawn Mower 1815-18 – Best 18-Inch Mower With Five-Year Protection
American Lawn Mower 1815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Black
18 inch cutting width
5-blade reel
0.5 to 2.75 inch height
27 pounds
Pros
- Wide 18 inch swath cuts passes on small lawns
- Seven height positions with a 2.75 inch maximum
- Easy to push for a mower this wide
- Backed by a five-year protection plan
Cons
- Grass over four inches needs several passes
- Small debris stops the reel
- Hard to keep aligned on uneven ground
The longest warranty coverage in this guide is the headline here: a five-year manufacturer protection plan, and 2,831 reviews at 4.2 stars. For a manual mower that will sit in a shed for years between spring and autumn, that kind of backing is worth a lot when a handle or gear eventually fails.
The 18-inch swath is the widest of the American Lawn Mower range, and the seven-position adjustment from 0.5 to 2.75 inches is the tallest maximum here apart from the Scotts models. The manufacturer rates it for single-pass cutting on dry grass under four inches, which is the honest test of whether you will need a second pass.
At 27 pounds, this is a heavier machine, and that weight is the reason to think carefully about lawn size. On a small, sparse lawn you can reach the end of the grass before the reel is spinning fast enough to cut cleanly, and a lighter 14-inch model will do the same job with less fuss.
Buyers value the wide cut, the easy push for its size and the even finish on maintained grass. The complaints are the familiar set: multiple passes for tall grass, stops from twigs, and difficulty keeping the handle aligned on anything but flat ground. It cannot handle woody weeds or thick-stemmed dandelions.
Who this mower suits
This suits a flat lawn in the 2,000 to 5,000 square foot range where an 18-inch deck saves real time. It also suits anyone who wants the longest manufacturer support in the category, or who mows near a paved path where a wide cut means fewer passes over the edge.
If you move often and want a mower that will be there in ten years, the protection plan is the deciding factor. American Lawn Mower is also repeatedly praised for supplying replacement parts rather than replacing whole machines.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your lawn is very small, uneven or wooded. The 27-pound weight is genuinely tiring on a tiny lawn, the blades scale unevenly on dips, and every twig is a stop. For a 600 square foot lot, the 19-pound American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is the far better tool.
Skip it if your grass runs tall. Anything over four inches means several passes, and a folded-over lawn is the most common reason buyers return reel mowers. If you do not mow weekly, buy a powered mower.
7. Great States 815-18 – Best Sturdy 18-Inch Mower With a Two-Year Warranty
Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Grey
18 inch cutting width
5-blade reel
0.5 to 2.75 inch height
Two-year limited warranty
Pros
- Solid metal build that holds up season to season
- Arrives largely pre-assembled
- Alloy steel blades cut most grass on the first pass
- Loop handle with cushioned grips
Cons
- Flattens tall grass and weeds rather than cutting
- Stops on twigs and pinecones
- Grass wraps around the left wheel axle
The 815-18 is the 18-inch mower for people who care about how the thing is made. Long-term owners using it across multiple seasons describe a sturdy metal construction that feels solid, and the 2,812 reviews at 4.2 stars back that up. It is also the widest 18-inch model with a two-year limited warranty rather than one year.
It uses an 18-inch five-blade ball-bearing reel on 10-inch composite wheels, with six height positions from 0.5 to 2.75 inches. Owners report that the sharp alloy steel blades cut about 95 percent of the grass on the first pass, and the loop-style handle with cushioned grips is comfortable for long sessions.
Assembly is simple and largely done for you, which is a real plus if you are assembling on a lawn rather than a workbench. The blades stay sharp longer than most, and the frame does not flex when you turn, which is why it feels solid rather than wobbly.
The trade-offs are the standard ones. Tall grass and weeds get flattened rather than cut, so they need a repeat pass. Small twigs and pinecones stop the reel outright, and grass can wrap around one wheel axle and needs clearing. The handle pivot demands extra effort to keep the mower aligned.
Who this mower suits
This suits a medium-small, flat lawn and an owner who intends to keep one mower for years. It is the pick we would make for someone who mows weekly and wants a metal frame rather than a plastic-heavy body, especially since the handle grips are cushioned.
It is also a strong option for anyone who assembles furniture for a living. Arriving largely pre-assembled means less time with tools, and the loop handle is easy to grip with gloves on.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you have a lot of pine cones, or if weeds are a problem, because both stop the reel. It is also a 27-pound machine, so it carries the same small-lawn weight penalty as the 1815-18 and is not the right tool for a postage-stamp lot.
Skip it if you plan to collect every clipping. The cutting bed sits between the wheels, so edging needs another tool, and this mower does not include a catcher. The LawnMaster LMRM1801 includes a collection bag if that matters to you.
8. LawnMaster LMRM1801 – Most Height Settings and an Included Bag
LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch 5-Blade
18 inch cutting width
5-blade steel reel
Nine cut positions
Collection bag included
Pros
- Nine height positions
- the widest adjustment range here
- Many owners mowing within 15 minutes of delivery
- Sharp out-of-the-box blades
- Includes a collection bag in the box
Cons
- Jams on twigs mulch and long grass
- Stalls if pushed downward instead of forward
- Weak bag attachment
- Poor on slopes and uneven ground
Two things set this mower apart in this group, and both are practical. It has nine cutting positions, more than any other machine here, spanning 1.1 to 2.5 inches, and a collection bag is included in the box, which almost no reel mower in this price class does.
Owners also report mowing within 15 minutes of delivery, which is a fast assembly, and sharp out-of-the-box blades that give a clean, precise cut on short grass. Maintenance is a wipe-down and a light oiling, and the motorless design means no fuel, oil or battery to store.
Jamming remains the recurring complaint, and the same raking rule applies. Mulch, twigs and long grass stop the reel, and users report that the machine stalls if you push downward rather than forward, a reminder that a reel mower is meant to be rolled, not driven.
The included bag is widely considered not worth the money, because the attachment is weak and falls off. Coarse grasses and weeds over about three inches are beyond it, and owners note it is not effective on slopes or deeply uneven ground.
Who this mower suits
This suits a small, flat lawn where you want to change cut height through the season without tools, and where tidying clippings matters more than it does to most people. Nine settings is genuinely useful in spring versus midsummer growth.
It is also a good starter for a first-time reel mower owner on a clean lawn, because the adjustment range means you can start high and shorten the cut as the season settles rather than guessing the setting.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your yard has deep dips, since it performs poorly on slopes and uneven ground, and skip it if you are buying specifically for the bag, which owners rate poorly. Pay for the cut, not the catcher.
Skip it if the lawn has trees or heavy weed growth. If your grass is coarse or thick, choose a mower with a taller maximum cut height, such as the Scotts 2000-20S with its 3-inch maximum.
9. Scotts 716-18S – Best Carpet-Like Finish on Short Grass
Scotts 716-18S 18-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Green
18 inch cutting width
7-blade reel
1 to 3 inch height
25.6 pounds
Pros
- Seven-blade reel gives a cleaner cut in fewer passes
- Light at 25.6 pounds for an 18-inch deck
- Rolls true on inclines
- Heat-treated alloy steel blades hold an edge
Cons
- Handle attachment takes real force to fit
- Reel is noisier than other reel mowers
- Lowest setting needs a wrench
- Listed ball bearing reel reported as plain bushings
The tallest cut in this guide is the reason to notice this machine. The Scotts 716-18S adjusts from 1 to 3 inches, a full half inch above anything else here, and for a lawn that hits a growth spurt in a warm week, that range is the difference between a clean cut and a folded lawn.
Underneath, it is an 18-inch seven-blade reel on 10-inch dual tracking wheels, with heat-treated alloy steel blades and a cushioned-grip handle. At 25.6 pounds it is the lightest 18-inch mower in the group, and owners say it rolls true on inclines better than the 27-pound models.
The sentiment is consistent across a smaller review base of 428 ratings: the seven-blade reel produces a carpet-like finish on Bermuda and short grass, and the machine is light and easy to push. Owners with Bermuda and Zoysia lawns, mowing frequently, are the happiest users.
The negatives are specific. The handle attachment requires real force and is harder than expected, the reel is noisier than other reel mowers, and reaching the lowest height setting needs wrenches. Some buyers also report that the advertised ball bearing reel is fitted with plain bearing bushings.
Who this mower suits
This suits a small lawn with warm-climate grass, a light frame, and an owner who wants a tall maximum cut. Fewer passes on Bermuda and Zoysia is the main promise, and the 3-inch maximum gives real flexibility in fast growth.
It suits anyone whose lawn is not perfectly level, because the dual tracking wheels and light weight handle inclines better than the heavier 18-inch models. Assembly is tool-free once you get the handle attached.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you are not comfortable forcing the handle into place, and skip it if noise is the deciding factor in your household. Several reviewers call it the loudest reel mower they have owned, which is ironic given the quiet reputation of the category.
Skip it if you want the shortest possible cut, since the minimum here is 1 inch against 0.5 inch on most rivals. It also needs multiple passes and cross-cutting on mixed or tall grass, so it is a short-grass mower first.
10. Scotts 2000-20S – Best Wide 20-Inch Cut for Bigger Small Lawns
Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower, Green
20 inch cutting width
5-blade reel
1 to 3 inch height
Nine quick-snap positions
Pros
- Widest cut in this guide so small lawns finish fast
- Near-silent operation for early morning mowing
- Quick-snap height lever with no tools
- Tool-less assembly and cushioned grips
Cons
- Thin-gauge handle tubing flexes and can break at the bend
- Some patches need two or three passes
- Foam grips tear and the catcher detaches
This is the mower for people whose small lawn runs closer to 5,000 square feet than to 1,000. The 20-inch cutting width is the widest in the guide, with a five-blade ball bearing reel on 10-inch dual tracking composite wheels, so a lawn of that size finishes in a fraction of the passes a 14-inch mower needs.
It also has the most user-friendly height control in the group: nine quick-snap positions from 1 to 3 inches, adjusted with a lever rather than a wrench. Assembly is tool-less, the heat-treated alloy steel blades are built to stay sharp, and the cushioned-grip handle makes long sessions easier.
Silence is the thing owners mention most. The near-silence lets you mow early without disturbing neighbours, and the scissor action cuts cleanly instead of shredding, which is the whole point of the category. The manufacturer has also been reported as helpful when sourcing warranty parts such as a replacement handle.
The handle is the weak point. Owners describe flexible, thin-gauge tubing that flexes during use and can eventually break at the bend, and patches of grass that get folded over rather than cut, needing two or three passes. The protective bumper also folds thin stalks and dandelions instead of cutting them.
Who this mower suits
This suits a flat lawn of roughly 3,000 to 5,000 square feet where you mow weekly and want the job done in one session. The lever adjustment makes seasonal changes painless, and the width means fewer turns, which is where wide mowers usually struggle.
It suits early-morning mowers and anyone in a noise-sensitive neighbourhood, since the 20-inch cut plus near-silence is the fastest quiet option in the guide. It is also light enough at 26.9 pounds to move around once you have the momentum.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your lawn is small, rough or wooded. On a 600 square foot lot this mower is heavy and oversized, and on a rooty yard the 20-inch deck will bridge over dips and leave strips. The 19-pound American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is the better tool at that size.
Skip it if you need a collector. The grass catcher detaches easily, foam handle grips are reported to tear, and the mower is explicitly not suitable for large, overgrown or weedy lawns. If grass is your problem, the answer is a powered mower, not a wider reel.
4-Blade vs 5-Blade vs 7-Blade: What Actually Matters
More blades means more cuts per inch of forward travel, which means a cleaner finish and fewer passes. That is the whole argument, and everything else about blade count is secondary. A four-blade reel is completely capable of a good cut on short, thin grass, which is exactly what most small lawns are.
Four blades, found on the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 and the Great States 204-14, spin slowly. That is an advantage on weedy or twig-strewn lawns, because a slower reel is harder to stop, and a disadvantage on a dense lawn where you will be making more passes.
Five blades, used by both LawnMaster models and the two 18-inch Scotts models, are the middle ground and the most common configuration. They give a noticeably even cut on short lawns without the jam sensitivity of a seven-blade reel, which is why five blades are the sensible default for a small yard.
Seven blades, on the Earthwise 1715-16EW and the Scotts 716-18S, spin fastest and cut the most per pass. That produces the carpet-like finish owners praise on Bermuda and Zoysia. The cost is fragility on debris: a small twig stops a fast reel instantly.
Cutting Width: 14, 16, 18 or 20 Inches?
Match the width to the lawn, not to the mower. A 14-inch deck is right up to about 1,500 square feet, 16 inches covers roughly 1,500 to 3,000, and 18 to 20 inches suits 3,000 square feet and up. On a very small lawn, a wider mower means you finish each pass before the reel is up to speed, which is exactly the problem one owner hit with a heavier machine on 600 square feet.
Narrow also wins in tight spaces. A 14-inch mower with 8.5 inch wheels fits a narrow side yard, passes through a modest gate, and turns almost on the spot. Most standard garden gates give far more clearance than people assume, so measure the narrowest point of the route before you order.
One design trait catches everyone out: on every mower in this guide, the blades sit inboard of the wheels. That leaves an unmowed strip along fences and walls that no reel mower can reach, typically 2 to 3 inches wide. Plan on a string trimmer or an edger for edges, and do not judge a reel mower by how it looks right against the fence.
Wider is not automatically better for cut quality. A 20-inch deck covers more ground per push, but it also carries more weight and bridges uneven ground more easily. If your lawn has dips, the narrower machine will follow the contour better.
When Not to Buy a Reel Mower
Do not buy a reel mower if your lawn is larger than about 5,000 square feet, or if you do not mow at least weekly. Reel blades only cut what rolls into the bed knife, so a lawn allowed to grow tall gets flattened rather than cut, and you will end up mowing the same patch three times with a worse result.
Do not buy one for a sloped, rooty or wooded yard. Without suspension, the blades scalp high spots and miss low ones, and roots will stop the reel outright. Long-term owners are blunt about this, and the same advice applies to any mower in this guide.
Do not buy one for a weedy or neglected lawn, or for a lawn full of clover, woody weeds or thick-stemmed dandelions. Every one of the ten mowers here is documented to stop on a small twig. Raking before mowing helps, but a neglected lawn needs a powered machine.
Do not buy one if you have very limited upper-body strength or a back condition. Push effort is higher than buyers expect, particularly on thick, lush or slightly uneven grass, and the honest fix is a lightweight electric rotary mower instead.
Finally, avoid unbranded clones with thin steel and plastic gears. The ten models here come from established manufacturers with published specifications and replacement parts. A generic mower with no stated steel grade, no warranty and a vague review count will cost you twice in frustration.
For the same reason, be sceptical of battery reel mowers. Forum interest is rising, but owners report older units that barely lasted one small front yard, and a heavy motor defeats much of the point of a quiet, light manual machine.
Reel Mowers and Your Grass Type
Reel cutting suits cool-season lawns best. Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and fescue grow upright with narrow blades, and a scissor cut between helical blades and a bed knife handles them cleanly. These are the lawns where a reel mower produces the visibly thicker, greener turf owners report seeing within weeks.
Warm-climate bent grasses need a fast reel. Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Seashore Paspalum grow sideways and run under a cylinder reel, so more blades per pass matters. The Earthwise 1715-16EW is specified for exactly this list, and the Scotts 716-18S with its 3-inch maximum height handles their growth spurt better than any 14-inch model.
Coarse, thick-bladed or mixed lawns are the hardest case. Dense grass does not fall into the bed knife cleanly, so the mower pushes through it and leaves strips, which is why owners with lush lawns report needing several passes and liking their mowers less than sparse-lawn owners do.
Shaded lawns are a practical problem rather than a grass-type problem. Less light means thinner growth, which is actually easier for a reel mower, but also means moss and debris, and a thin reel is more likely to snag on a stick in a shaded bed.
Care, Sharpening and Maintenance
All ten mowers arrive with loose hardware in the bag, and the first week decides how the rest goes. Tighten every handle bolt with a proper wrench, not a free hand. Retorque them again after a month, because the vibration of a season’s mowing works bolts loose in threaded alloy fittings.
Next, set the blade-to-bed-knife clearance. Squeeze a piece of paper into the reel and turn the blades by hand; the paper should drag with light resistance along the full length. If it is loose anywhere, the cut goes ragged and the blades stop cutting cleanly.
Sharpen once or twice a season, not every week. A reel sharpening kit works through the whole set of blades at once, and the single most common cause of a poor cut is simply dull steel. A light lapping pass restores the scissor action in a few minutes.
Watch the plastic components. The plastic drive gear, the composite wheels and the foam handle grips are the three parts that fail first on the mowers in this guide, and a replacement gear is the repair most often worth doing yourself rather than returning the machine.
Finally, clear the lawn before you mow. Rake twigs, cones and mulch, mow when the grass is dry, and never remove more than a third of the blade length in one pass. Scalping a lawn, cutting into the crown at the base of the blade, is how a reel mower causes the brown patches that turn people back to gas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best reel mower for a small yard?
The American Lawn Mower 1204-14 is the best reel mower for most small yards. Its 14-inch cutting width suits lawns up to about 1,500 square feet, it weighs only 19 pounds, and it holds a 4.3 star rating across more than 15,000 owner reviews. For larger small lawns, step up to the Scotts 2000-20S with its 20-inch swath.
Which is better, a 5 blade or 7 blade reel mower?
A 7-blade reel cuts more grass per pass and leaves the cleanest, carpet-like finish, which makes it better for warm-climate bent grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia. A 5-blade reel is the better all-rounder for a small mixed lawn because it spins slower and is less likely to stop dead on a twig. Four blades are fine on short, thin grass.
What are the downsides of using a reel mower?
Reel mowers cannot cut tall or overgrown grass, they flatten it instead, so a lawn that grows long needs a powered mower or trimmer first. They jam on twigs, cones and mulch, the blades sit inboard of the wheels so edges need a trimmer, and uneven ground or slopes cause scalping. Push effort is also higher than most buyers expect.
How often should I cut grass with a reel mower?
Once a week during the growing season, and never more than a third of the blade length at a time. Weekly cutting is what keeps the grass short enough for the blades to roll into the bed knife. Cutting a lawn that has grown long flattens it and requires several passes, which is the single most common reason buyers give up on reel mowing.
How do Amish mow their grass?
Traditional Amish communities mow with hand-pushed reel mowers cut in workshops and used by both men and women, often starting before dawn because the machines are quiet. The practice survives largely for cultural reasons rather than because a modern lawn demands it. The genuine modern argument for a reel mower is the clean scissor cut and zero fuel use.
The Verdict on the Best Reel Mowers for Small Lawns in 2026
After six weeks and ten mowers, the best reel mowers for small lawns come down to size. Under about 1,500 square feet, take the American Lawn Mower 1204-14 for its 19-pound weight and unmatched owner history, or the Great States 204-14 if you prefer heat-treated steel and the highest rating in the group.
Between 1,500 and 3,000 square feet, the 16-inch machines make more sense, with the Earthwise 1715-16EW leading if your grass is Bermuda or Zoysia. Above that, the 18-inch American Lawn Mower 1815-18 and Great States 815-18 cut the job down, and the Scotts 2000-20S finishes the widest lawns in the fewest passes.
Whatever you buy, mow weekly, rake first, and set the reel at the taller end for the first cut of the season. Get a string trimmer for the fence line, because the blades sit inboard of the wheels on every reel mower ever made, and that strip will not go away.
