Best Lightweight Reel Lawn Mower by Cut and Weight

The best lightweight reel lawn mower is the Great States 204-14, a 14-inch, 4-blade push mower that weighs just 2.2 lb and adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 inches. If you want a 2-year warranty and a bagged catcher included, the American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC is the better buy at 18 lb, still with a 14-inch cut. Everything else here trades weight for width, or width for cut height.

Best lightweight reel lawn mower at a glance

How I narrowed this field down

I started with the walk-behind reel category and mapped every listing to two axes buyers actually feel: how heavy the mower is at the handle, and how wide a strip it cuts in one pass. Then I mapped buyer profiles to those axes, because a townhouse strip and a suburban front yard are not the same job. Five picks made the cut.

The profiles I built around:

• The apartment or condo owner with a tiny patch of grass and a small storage closet.
• The single-family homeowner with a mid-sized front lawn and warm-season turf like Bermuda or Zoysia.
• The family with a bigger yard who wants fewer passes and a wider deck.
• The buyer who wants a written warranty and a catcher bag on day one.

Every pick had to publish weight, deck width, blade count and cutting-height range. Two candidates were cut because the range was vague; three were cut because the weight climbed past 30 lb, which stops being lightweight by any honest reading. What survived is a spread from 2.2 lb to 28.5 lb and from 14 inches to 20 inches of cut, which is enough width to make the choice meaningful.

What decides a reel mower, and what does not

Most guides to the best lightweight reel lawn mower lead with blade count. Blade count matters at the margins: a 7-blade reel like the Earthwise 1715-16EW leaves a finer finish on bent grasses because more blades pass the bedknife per wheel revolution. But it is not what decides the purchase. Two things do.

First, cutting-height range. Reel mowers cut by scissor action, which means the grass has to stand up straight and be shorter than the top of the reel. The Great States 204-14 tops out at 1.75 in. The Earthwise 1715-16EW goes to 2.5 in. If your grass regularly grows past the ceiling of the mower's range between cuts, the reel will push it flat instead of shearing it, and you will hate the mower within a week.

Second, weight relative to your lawn's slope and your storage. A 2.2 lb mower like the Great States lifts one-handed. A 28.5 lb LawnMaster does not, and if you have to carry it up steps from a basement, that number matters more than blade count ever will.

1. Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14 Inch Push Lawn Mower — Best overall

The lightest mower here by a wide margin, and the cheapest of the five, which makes it the default pick for anyone with a small, flat lawn.

Best for: small, flat lawns under a few hundred square feet Skip it if: your grass regularly grows past 1.75 inches between cuts

At 2.2 lb, the 204-14 is roughly a tenth the weight of the LawnMaster and a twelfth the weight of the Scotts. That single figure changes everything about how you use it: you carry it, you do not push it up a step. The listing describes a 14-inch, 4-blade reel with 8.5-inch polymer wheels and heat-treated alloy steel blades that the manufacturer says can be resharpened. Cutting height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 in. A 1-year warranty is stated on the listing.

The trade-off is real. The cutting-height ceiling of 1.75 in is the lowest of the five, so this mower punishes anyone who skips a week. The 14-inch deck also means more passes on any lawn bigger than a small front strip. It is the cheapest of the five and the only one under 10 lb, so it earns its overall spot on the profile it fits, not on universal capability.

Pros:

• Lightest in the set at 2.2 lb
• Cheapest of the five
• Blades adjust down to 0.5 in
• Heat-treated alloy steel reel, listed as resharpenable
• Compact 13 x 23 x 8.5 in storage footprint

Cons:

• Cutting-height ceiling of 1.75 in is the lowest here
• Only 4 blades, so finish is coarser than the 7-blade Earthwise
• 14-inch cut means more passes on larger lawns
• No grass catcher included

2. American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC 14" 5-Blade Reel Mower with Grass Catcher — Best warranty

The only pick in this set with a stated 2-year warranty, and the only one that ships with a grass catcher.

Best for: buyers who want a two-year warranty and a grass catcher included Skip it if: you cut Bermuda, Zoysia or other bent-grass species

The 1304-14GC keeps the 14-inch deck of the Great States but adds a fifth blade, upgrades to 10-inch polymer wheels, and includes a bag. Weight climbs to 18 lb, which is heavier than the 204-14 but still one of the lighter mowers in the walk-behind category. The cutting-height range runs 1 to 2.25 in, so the ceiling is 0.5 in higher than the Great States, which forgives an extra day or two between cuts. A T-style handle with a cushioned grip is listed. American Lawn Mower publishes a 2-year warranty on this model, twice the length of any warranty stated in the set.

The trade-off against the Earthwise is blade count. Five blades will not leave the same finish on Bermuda or Zoysia that a seven-blade reel does, and this mower's marketing does not claim compatibility with bent grasses. The second-cheapest of the five, it is the pick when warranty length and a catcher matter more than a fine finish.

Pros:

• 2-year warranty, the longest stated here
• Grass catcher included
• Cutting height up to 2.25 in
• 10-in polymer wheels for maneuverability
• Second-cheapest in the set

Cons:

• 14-inch cut is narrower than the Earthwise, LawnMaster and Scotts
• 5 blades, so finish on fine bent grasses is coarser than a 7-blade reel
• 18 lb is eight times the weight of the Great States
• Warranty on the reel itself is not detailed on the listing

3. Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower — Most versatile

The only 7-blade reel here, and the only pick whose listing calls out compatibility with Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Seashore Paspalum.

Best for: owners of Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede or St. Augustine lawns Skip it if: storage space is tight and every inch matters

The 1715-16EW splits the difference on width at 16 inches and pushes blade count up to 7, which is the reason Earthwise names bent grasses specifically. The listing describes a ball-bearing reel, 10-inch composite wheels and a steel side-plate frame. Cutting height adjusts from 0.5 to 2.5 in, tied with the Scotts for the widest range in this set. Weight is 21.8 lb.

Where the Earthwise stumbles is footprint. The listed dimensions are 27.8 x 45.9 x 21.9 in, which is longer nose-to-tail than the LawnMaster and the Scotts and awkward for a small shed or garage corner. It sits mid-range on price. If your lawn is warm-season turf and you have space to store it, this is the mower to buy. If you have Kentucky bluegrass and a coat closet, look at the 1304-14GC instead.

Pros:

• 7-blade reel, the highest count here
• Cutting height range from 0.5 to 2.5 in
• Listed as compatible with Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede, St. Augustine and Paspalum
• Ball-bearing reel per the listing
• 21.8 lb, lighter than the LawnMaster and Scotts

Cons:

• Largest overall footprint in the set at 45.9 in long
• No warranty length is stated on the listing
• No grass catcher included
• Mid-range price for what is still a hand-push tool

4. LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch 5-Blade — Best for families

Widest useful cut in a family-sized package, with 9 stated cutting positions from 1.1 to 2.5 in.

Best for: households cutting up to about a quarter-acre of cool-season turf Skip it if: you want the lightest mower on this list

The LMRM1801 is an 18-inch, 5-blade reel with 10-inch front wheels and, per LawnMaster's listing, 9 cutting positions between 1.1 and 2.5 in. That granularity is unusual in this set: the Great States and the American Lawn Mower both use a coarser adjustment. Weight is 28.5 lb, the heaviest here, but the wider deck means fewer passes on a bigger lawn, which changes the math.

The catch is the price position: this is the second most expensive of the five, but no warranty length is stated on the listing, and there is no grass catcher included. If a longer warranty matters, the 1304-14GC is the better spend even though it cuts narrower. If width and fine height control matter more, the LMRM1801 is the right call. It sells faster than most of the others in this set, which suggests the family-yard profile is a common one.

Pros:

• 18-in cut, second-widest here
• 9 cutting positions from 1.1 to 2.5 in
• 10-in front wheels for uneven ground
• Steel blades per the listing
• Faster-selling than most picks in this set

Cons:

• Heaviest mower here at 28.5 lb
• No warranty length stated
• No grass catcher included
• Second-highest price position in the set

5. Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower — Best premium

Widest cut in the set at 20 inches, with dual tracking wheels and a cutting range up to 2.5 in.

Best for: larger yards where a 20-inch swath saves passes Skip it if: you need to lift or carry the mower up steps

The Scotts 2000-20S is the widest reel here at 20 inches, with 5 blades on a ball-bearing reel and 10-inch dual tracking wheels per the listing. Cutting height matches the Earthwise at up to 2.5 in. Weight is 26.9 lb, which is lighter than the LawnMaster despite the wider deck, and Scotts describes tool-less assembly and a cushioned grip on the handle.

It is the most expensive pick here, and the warranty entry on the listing is present but not specified as a length, so treat it as unspecified. The 20-inch deck is the reason to buy it: on a lawn where the LawnMaster takes six passes, the Scotts takes five, and over a season that adds up. It is also the mower least suited to tight storage, since the deck is a foot and a half across before you add the handle. Skip it for a small strip; choose it when the yard justifies the width.

Pros:

• 20-in cut, the widest in this set
• Cutting height up to 2.5 in
• Ball-bearing reel per the listing
• Dual tracking wheels for straight-line pushing
• Lighter than the 18-in LawnMaster despite the wider deck

Cons:

• Most expensive pick here
• Warranty length not stated on the listing
• 20-in deck is awkward for small sheds
• No grass catcher included
• Only 5 blades, so finish is coarser than the Earthwise on fine turf

How lightweight is lightweight, really?

The weight range in this set of the best lightweight reel lawn mower picks runs from 2.2 lb to 28.5 lb, and the gap matters more than the label suggests.

At 2.2 lb, the Great States 204-14 is closer to a garden rake than to a traditional mower. You can pick it up with two fingers on the handle, carry it up a fire escape, or hang it on a garage hook. Nothing else in the set behaves like that.

At 18 lb, the 1304-14GC still lifts one-handed for most adults, but you would not carry it up a flight of stairs without noticing. The Earthwise at 21.8 lb, the Scotts at 26.9 lb and the LawnMaster at 28.5 lb are all in a different weight class: you push them, you tip them, but you do not really carry them any distance.

If lightweight is the deciding word for you, that is a real cutoff at roughly 20 lb. Above it, you are buying a reel mower with useful width; below it, you are buying something that stores like a broom. Only two picks here sit under that line.

Which cut width fits your lawn?

Deck width scales with lawn size, but not linearly. Every extra inch is one fewer pass across a 20-foot span, and passes add fatigue.

A rough starting point:

1. Under 500 sq ft: a 14-in mower like the Great States or the 1304-14GC handles it in under twenty minutes.
2. 500 to 2,000 sq ft: 16 to 18 in makes sense. The Earthwise or the LawnMaster is the range.
3. 2,000 to 4,000 sq ft: 20 in is worth the extra weight. The Scotts fits here.
4. Above 4,000 sq ft: any push reel starts to feel like a workout. Consider a powered mower.

That is not a rule. A flat lawn cuts faster than a sloped one at the same square footage, and a lawn with obstacles like trees and beds rewards a narrower deck because you spend more time turning than mowing. If your yard is mostly perimeter, favor a smaller mower even if the total area suggests a bigger one.

What the listings don't tell you

Product listings on this category are surprisingly quiet about three things you will care about within a month of owning the mower.

• How the reel handles sticks and pinecones. A reel mower jams on anything it cannot shear. None of the listings here quantify that, so walk the lawn first every time.
• How often the blades need sharpening. Great States, American Lawn Mower and Earthwise all describe heat-treated alloy steel blades that stay sharp longer, and Great States says the reel can be resharpened. None of them state an interval.
• How the mower behaves in wet grass. Reel mowers generally struggle with wet turf because the grass folds instead of standing. No listing here contradicts that.

None of this is a reason to skip a reel mower; it is a reason to set expectations. A reel mower rewards regular cutting on a dry lawn free of debris, and it punishes the opposite. Buy for the lawn you actually maintain.

The verdict

If you want the best lightweight reel lawn mower without a lot of qualifiers, buy the Great States 204-14. At 2.2 lb it is in a category of one in this set, it is the cheapest pick here, and its 14-inch, 4-blade reel with a 0.5 to 1.75-in cutting range fits a small, flat lawn cleanly. The cutoff is the ceiling: if your grass regularly pushes past 1.75 in between cuts, this is the wrong mower.

Above that threshold, the American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC is the better buy for anyone who values a written 2-year warranty and a bundled grass catcher, and its 1 to 2.25-in range forgives longer intervals. For Bermuda, Zoysia and other bent-grass lawns, the Earthwise 1715-16EW is the only pick whose listing addresses that specifically, with 7 blades and a 0.5 to 2.5-in range. For a bigger yard, the Scotts 2000-20S trades storage-friendliness for a 20-in cut and fewer passes. The LawnMaster LMRM1801 sits between them with 9 stated height positions.

FAQ

Is a lightweight reel lawn mower worth it for a small yard?

Yes, a lightweight reel lawn mower is worth it for a small, flat yard under about 2,000 sq ft. The Great States 204-14 weighs 2.2 lb and cuts a 14-in swath, which is enough for a townhouse strip or a small front lawn. You skip gas, oil, cords and charging, and the scissor cut is gentler on grass blades than a rotary mower.

How lightweight is the best lightweight reel lawn mower here?

The best lightweight reel lawn mower on this list, the Great States 204-14, weighs 2.2 lb. That is the lightest by a wide margin: the American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC comes in at 18 lb, the Earthwise 1715-16EW at 21.8 lb, the Scotts 2000-20S at 26.9 lb and the LawnMaster LMRM1801 at 28.5 lb. Only the first two sit under 20 lb.

What cutting height should a reel mower be set to?

What cutting height a reel mower should use depends on your grass species and how often you cut. Cool-season lawns generally prefer 2 to 2.5 in, which is the top of the Earthwise and Scotts ranges. Warm-season grasses like Bermuda tolerate shorter cuts. The Great States tops out at 1.75 in, so it suits shorter-cut lawns mown weekly rather than tall-cut lawns mown less often.

Great States 204-14 or American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC?

Choose the Great States 204-14 if weight and price are the priority: it is 2.2 lb versus 18 lb and cheaper. Choose the American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC if you want the longer warranty and a grass catcher included, plus a slightly taller 2.25-in cutting ceiling. Both use a 14-in deck, so cut width is not the deciding factor between them.

What's the biggest mistake people make buying a reel mower?

The biggest mistake people make buying a reel mower is picking on blade count and ignoring the cutting-height range. Blade count changes finish quality at the margins, but the ceiling of the height adjustment decides whether the mower works at all on your lawn. If your grass grows past that ceiling between cuts, the reel folds it rather than shearing it, and the mower feels broken.

Start with the lawn, not the mower. Measure roughly how big it is, note the slope, decide how often you actually cut, and check what grows there. A 500-sq-ft flat strip of cool-season grass mown every weekend is a different problem from a 3,000-sq-ft Bermuda lawn mown every ten days. The Great States 204-14 is the default answer here because it fits the most common small-lawn profile at the lowest weight and price, but it is not the right answer for a bigger yard or a taller cut. Match the deck width, the weight and the cutting-height ceiling to your yard first, then buy.

Last updated: September 27, 2026. Product availability re-checked.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.