A reel mower cuts grass like scissors, with a spinning cylinder and no engine. Buyers usually want a quiet, eco-friendly mower, so cutting height, cutting width and weight matter most. A lower cut and a wider path give a cleaner result with fewer passes, and a light frame makes pushing easier. Most cordless mowers are not true reels, so we put 24 products on one spec sheet and show where each one fits. Compare them below, spec by spec.
Quick answer
Ranked from 24 lawn mowers that met our standard, compared on cutting width, minimum cutting height, weight.
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Highest battery energy and runtime listed, with self-propelled drive and 8 height positions.
At 25 in, it has the widest deck among all 21 products.
Motorless push reel with 20 in width and 9 height positions.
| Spec | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Scoreout of 100 | 79 | 70 | 61 | 56 | 55 | 52 | 50 | 50 | 48 | 47 |
| Cutting widthin | 21 in | 25 in (best in row) | 20 in | 21 in | 22 in | 21 in | 14 in | 17 in | 16 in | 18 in |
| Battery energyWh | 672 Wh (best in row) | 480 Wh | — | 320 Wh | — | 336 Wh | 160 Wh | 160 Wh | 160 Wh | 192 Wh |
| Runtime per chargemin | 100 min (best in row) | 70 min | — | — | — | 55 min | — | — | — | 40 min |
| Max lawn size per chargeacre | — | 0.75 acre (best in row) | — | 0.50 acre | 0.55 acre | — | — | 0.25 acre | 0.33 acre | — |
| Weightlb | 63.9 lb | 67.2 lb | 30.2 lb | 75.0 lb | 72.8 lb | 45.2 lb | 21.0 lb (best in row) | 40.0 lb | 37.5 lb | 35.0 lb |
| Drive type | Self-propelled (best in row) | Self-propelled (best in row) | Push | Self-propelled (best in row) | Self-propelled (best in row) | Push | Push | — | Push | — |
| Cutting height rangein | 1–4 (best in row) | — | 1.3–2.6 | — | 1.25–4 (best in row) | 1.25–4 (best in row) | 0.875–2.438 | — | — | 1.4–3.4 |
| Height positions | 8 | — | 9 (best in row) | — | 6 | 7 | 6 | — | 5 | 6 |
| Grass bag capacitygal | 16.0 gal | — | — | — | 19.0 gal (best in row) | 18.5 gal | 9.0 gal | — | — | — |
| Brushless motor | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes |
| Mulching capability | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Batteries included | 2 (best in row) | 2 (best in row) | 0 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 (best in row) | 2 (best in row) | 1 | 2 (best in row) |
| Warrantyyears | 5 years (best in row) | 4 years | 2 years | 4 years | 2 years | 5 years (best in row) | — | — | 3 years | 2 years |
We reviewed 43 lawn mowers and kept only the 24 that pass every check below. Those are ranked by a Best Score built from spec fit for this job, sales rank.
These reviews are based on specifications and listing information only. Only one of the five mowers below is a true reel, and each review says so where it matters.
Most capable cordless here, but it is a rotary mower
This EGO leads our ranking, but it is not a reel mower. The listing describes a Select Cut multi-blade system with interchangeable lower blades and an upper blade. That is not a scissor-style cylinder, so expect a different cut. It suits buyers who want battery power and are willing to give up the reel look.
Cutting height runs from 1 to 4 in across 8 positions. The 1 in low end is lower than the 1.3 in floor on the LawnMaster reel mower in this lineup. The 21 in cutting width covers a wide path per pass. Two included batteries total 672 Wh, the highest battery energy among the 16 products that list it.
Runtime is up to 100 minutes, the highest listed runtime among the 12 products that list it. It is self-propelled, and the listing gives a speed range of 0.9 to 3.1 miles per hour. At 63.9 lb it is heavy to lift, but the drive does the pushing. The 5-year warranty is tied for the longest listed.
VerdictA strong cordless pick, though reel buyers should look at the LawnMaster instead.
Widest cutting path on the page, but not a reel
At 25 in, this Greenworks has the widest cutting width of all 21 products. A wider deck means fewer passes across the lawn. It is not a reel mower, so a scissor-style cut is not part of the deal. The listing describes Smartcut technology for mulching in thick or wet grass instead.
Two included batteries total 480 Wh and give 70 minutes of runtime. The listing says that covers up to 0.75 acre per charge, so a lawn larger than that needs a recharge. The maker does not publish a cutting height range or the number of height positions, so you cannot check how low it cuts.
Weight is 67.17 lb, so this is a heavy machine, though the rear-wheel drive and variable speed of 3.5 to 4.5 MPH do the pushing. It ranks second on our list. The warranty is 4 years. Compared with the EGO above, it has less battery energy and a shorter runtime.
VerdictPick it for width and self-propelled mowing, not for a reel-style cut or a light load.
The one true reel mower in this lineup
This is the one real match for the keyword. It is a push reel with 5 blades, and the listing promises a scissor-like cut with no ripping or tearing of grass blades. It has a motorless design, so there is no gas to buy and no battery to charge.
Cutting width is 20 in. Height adjusts across 9 positions from 1.3 to 2.6 in, which is the most positions of all 18 products that list it. The 1.3 in floor is higher than the 1 in floor on the EGO. The 2.6 in top limit is lower than the 4 in limit on the EGO, so tall grass may be a problem.
At 30.2 lb, it is the lightest of the five mowers reviewed here. It has no drive, so you supply the push. The listing notes 10-in front wheels for easy navigation. It ranks third on our list. The 2-year warranty is the shortest listed, shared with three other models.
VerdictThe best match for this keyword, with the clean cut reel buyers want.
Heaviest mower on the page, and not a reel
This Greenworks 80V is a self-propelled cordless mower, not a reel. It ranks fourth on our list. The 21 in cutting width matches the EGO LM2134SP-2, and the listing credits its brushless motor with more torque, quiet operation and longer life. The data lists no noise figure.
Weight is 74.95 lb, the highest of the 19 products that list it. That matters if you lift the mower into a truck or carry it up steps. Reel buyers usually want an easy, light push, so this is a poor fit for that goal. The rear-wheel drive and variable speed control are meant to take over the pushing on the lawn.
One 320 Wh battery is included, while the top two models include two. The listing says it cuts up to 0.5 acre per charge. Runtime in minutes is not published. The maker does not list a cutting height range, so you cannot see how low it cuts. A 4-year warranty covers the tool and battery.
VerdictA capable cordless mower, but its weight and missing height data count against it for reel buyers.
A gas mower, so a mismatch for this keyword
The SENIX is a gas mower with a 170 cc 4-cycle OHV engine. That makes it a poor fit for a buyer who wants a quiet, eco-friendly mower. Gas also means engine oil and fuel upkeep. It ranks fifth on our list on its specs, not on reel-style qualities.
Cutting width is 22 in. Height runs from 1.25 to 4 in across 6 positions, and 4 in is the top limit shared with several other models. The 19-gallon grass bag is the largest on the page. A mulch plug and side discharge chute are included too.
Weight is 72.8 lb, and it is single-speed with rear-wheel drive. The listing says the handle folds for vertical storage. The listing gives a recommended lawn size of 0.55 acre. Because it runs on gas, battery runtime and charge specs do not apply. That makes it the only gas model among the five reviewed. The 2-year warranty is the shortest listed, shared with three other models.
VerdictA capable gas mower in its own right, but it does not fit this keyword.
Best among the reviewed tools
A reel mower has a spinning cylinder that shears grass against a fixed blade, like scissors. Check the product type before anything else. Many cordless mowers that show up in similar searches are not reels. In this ranking, only the LawnMaster LMRM2001 is a motorless push reel.
Reel mowers work best on short grass. Look at the lowest cutting height and the number of positions. The LawnMaster lists 1.3 to 2.6 in across 9 positions. If your grass often grows past the top setting, a reel will struggle and you may need a taller range.
A wider deck covers more ground per pass. A lighter frame is easier to push, especially with no drive. The LawnMaster is 20 in wide and weighs 30.2 lb. The self-propelled models here weigh from 63.9 lb to 74.95 lb, so think about how often you must lift them.
On cordless mowers, battery energy in Wh and runtime show how long you can mow before a recharge. The EGO LM2134SP-2 lists 672 Wh and up to 100 minutes. A reel mower needs neither, which means no charging and no battery to manage.
It depends on the job. A reel gives a scissor-style cut and has no motor, so there is no fuel or battery to manage. A rotary or cordless mower handles taller grass and larger yards with less effort. Match the type to your grass height and lawn size.
The LawnMaster LMRM2001 is the only true reel mower among our top five. It is a 20 in push model with 5 blades, 9 height positions and a weight of 30.2 lb. It ranks third overall on our spec score, behind two cordless mowers.
The LawnMaster LMRM2001 cuts as low as 1.3 in and as high as 2.6 in. Other makers may list different ranges, and some do not publish them. Check the minimum height before you buy if you want a short, even lawn.
Manual reel mowers do not. The LawnMaster LMRM2001 has a motorless design, with no gas or batteries needed, and lists 0 batteries included. You provide the push. Cordless mowers such as the EGO models do need charged batteries.
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