Best Reel Mowers for Bermuda Grass
Bermuda looks its best cut low and often, which is exactly what a reel mower does well. Our picks from Earthwise, Fiskars, Great States and Scotts, based on Bob Vila's tests on Bermuda and centipede lawns.
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Our top picks at a glance
1 Best for Bermuda
Earthwise 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower
Seven blades gave the cleanest, most consistent cut in testing, down to half an inch. Read more
Pros
- Cleanest cut in testing
- Cuts as low as 0.5 inch
- Handles thick warm-season grass
Cons
- Harder to push than 5-blade mowers
- Struggles in long grass
2 Best overall
Fiskars StaySharp Max 18-Inch Reel Mower
Cuts close to edges, handles sticks and debris, and adjusts from 1 to 4 inches without tools. Read more
Pros
- Cuts close to edges
- Handles twigs and debris
- Tool-free height adjustment
Cons
- Heavy at 52 lb
- About twice the price
3 Best value
Great States 16-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower
An inexpensive, light reel mower with a smooth cut for short warm-season grass. Read more
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Smooth cut
- Light and easy to store
Cons
- Stopped by sticks and acorns
- Doesn't cut close to edges
4 Best for bigger lawns
Scotts 20-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower
The widest cut in testing, for lawns up to about a quarter acre. Read more
Pros
- Widest 20-inch swath
- Quick height levers
- Padded handle
Cons
- Harder to push
- No grass catcher
- Can jam on debris
Bermuda grass grows sideways, spreads fast and looks best when it’s kept short, often between about half an inch and an inch and a half. Rotary mowers chop grass with a spinning blade. A reel mower snips it like scissors, which gives Bermuda a cleaner cut, healthier tips and that golf-course look.
The catch: reel mowers need you to mow often, because they struggle once grass gets much longer than their highest setting.
Compare at a glance
| Mower | Cutting width | Height range | Blades | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthwise 7-Blade | 16” | 0.5 to 2.5” | 7 | 26 lb |
| Fiskars StaySharp Max | 18” | 1 to 4” | 5 | 52 lb |
| Great States 5-Blade | 16” | 1 to 2.5” | 5 | Just under 25 lb |
| Scotts 5-Blade | 20” | 1 to 3” | 5 | 34 lb |
Test results are from Bob Vila's reel mower testing in two Southern yards with Bermuda, centipede and tall fescue on flat, sloped and uneven ground. Testers paid about $90 to $305 for the mowers.
How we picked
We relied on Bob Vila’s reel mower testing, which ran 11 mowers through Bermuda, centipede and fescue lawns, required each to cut grass down by about a third, and then tested overgrown and weedy patches. We focused on:
- Cut quality on short, dense grass
- Height range for Bermuda
- Push effort
- Handling debris and edges
We haven’t tested these mowers ourselves. Read more about how we pick products.
1. Earthwise 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower: Best for Bermuda
Who it’s for: Bermuda, St. Augustine and other thick warm-season lawns.
More blades means more snips per turn of the wheel, and Bob Vila’s testers got the cleanest, most consistent cut of any mower from this 7-blade Earthwise. It even handled a scalped patch of dormant centipede well. It cuts as low as half an inch, and testers recommend it for Bermuda at about 1 to 1.5 inches.
What bugs us: Seven blades take more effort to push than five, and it struggles with extra-long grass.
Skip it if: your lawn is tall fescue. Its height range is too low.
2. Fiskars StaySharp Max 18-Inch Reel Mower: Best overall
Who it’s for: Lawns with trees, edges and debris, or a mix of grass types.
Bob Vila’s best overall reel mower cut within about an inch of edges and was the only manual mower in testing that handled sticks and debris well. Height adjusts from 1 to 4 inches without tools, so it works on warm- and cool-season grass.
What bugs us: It costs about twice as much as most reel mowers, it’s heavy at 52 pounds, and the drive wheels felt small at higher settings.
Skip it if: you want a light mower that’s easy to hang on a wall.
3. Great States 16-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower: Best value
Who it’s for: Small, short Bermuda or zoysia lawns on a budget.
This classic reel mower gave a smooth cut, has a comfortable T-handle and a simple knob for height, and is light and low enough to store easily.
What bugs us: Sticks and acorns stop the blades, and it doesn’t cut close to edges. It can’t cut high enough for fescue.
Skip it if: you have trees dropping debris.
4. Scotts 20-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower: Best for bigger lawns
Who it’s for: Lawns up to about a quarter acre.
The Scotts has the widest cut in testing, 20 inches, so you make fewer passes. Quick-snap levers change the height, rear tracking wheels steady it, and the loop handle is padded.
What bugs us: The wider reel takes more effort to push, there’s no grass catcher, and its gear drive can jam with debris.
Skip it if: your lawn is small or full of twigs.
Tips for reel mowing Bermuda
- Mow often. Never take off more than a third of the grass blade at once. In peak summer, Bermuda may need mowing every few days at low heights.
- Keep it low and consistent. Bermuda kept short and cut regularly stays dense. Raise the height if it gets ahead of you, then bring it down gradually.
- Clear sticks and acorns first. Debris can jam or nick the reel.
- Keep the reel sharp and adjusted. Testers suggest sharpening after about 20 to 25 hours of use. A reel that folds grass instead of cutting it needs adjusting or sharpening.
Questions people ask
Is a reel mower good for Bermuda grass? Yes. Bermuda does best mowed low and often, which suits reel mowers.
How low should I cut Bermuda with a reel mower? Many homeowners keep it around 1 to 1.5 inches. Check your local extension office’s advice for your Bermuda variety.
Can a reel mower cut tall grass? Not well. Once grass is about twice the recommended height, a reel mower will push it over instead of cutting it.