Fiskars
Fiskars 18-Inch Manual Reel Lawn Mower: Silent & Eco-Friendly Yard Care
The Fiskars 18" Push Reel Mower is a fully manual, zero-emission lawn mower that requires no gas, oil, charging, or cords , making it one of the most eco-friendly and low-maintenance options on the market. With an 18-inch polymer deck, a 1-4 inch cutting height range, and a single-lever adjustment system, it's purpose-built for small, flat yards where simplicity and silence matter most.
At 51.7 lbs it's on the heavier side for a reel mower, but customers consistently praise its clean, sharp cut on well-maintained grass.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect our analysis or recommendations.
Last updated: . Based on our analysis of 364 lawn mowers.
What Sets It Apart
Key specification highlights based on our analysis.
Zero Emissions
No gas, no electricity, no noise pollution — eco-friendly mowing
Considerations
Polymer Cutting Deck
Lightweight but less durable than steel; won't rust
Why We Recommend It
- 01.
Completely emissions-free and silent , no engine noise, no fumes, no fuel cost ever
- 02.
Wide 1-4 inch cutting height range on a single lever makes adjustment quick and precise
- 03.
18-inch deck width balances coverage and maneuverability in tight residential yards
- 04.
Polymer deck is rust-proof and keeps overall construction lightweight relative to steel alternatives
- 05.
3-year limited warranty is above average for manual reel mowers in this category
Considerations
- 01.
At 51.7 lbs it's considerably heavier than many competing reel mowers, which some users find tiring over longer sessions
- 02.
Struggles on slopes, uneven terrain, and thick or overgrown grass , best suited to flat, regularly maintained lawns
- 03.
Maneuverability around tight obstacles gets mixed reviews; some users find it awkward to turn in small spaces
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mower Type | Reel |
| Power Source | Manual |
| Cutting Width | 18" |
| Deck Material | Polymer |
| Blade Type | Reel |
| Cutting Height | 1" – 4" |
| Weight | 51.7 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 years |
Power & Performance
As a fully manual reel mower, the Fiskars generates cutting power entirely through the user's forward motion , there is no motor, no gas, no oil, and no battery to charge. The scissor-action reel blade delivers a clean, precise cut on fine to medium grass types, and customers frequently describe it as cutting 'like a hot knife through butter' on regularly maintained lawns.
It's not suited to thick, coarse, or overgrown grass, where the lack of motorized torque becomes a real limitation.
Cutting System
The 18-inch polymer cutting deck houses a reel blade system with a cutting height range of 1 to 4 inches, adjusted via a single lever for fast setup. The polymer deck material is rust-proof and contributes to keeping weight manageable, though it is less impact-resistant than a steel deck over years of use.
Discharge is handled naturally through the reel action, and the mower does not include a bagging attachment in the base configuration.
Drive & Handling
This is a push-only manual reel mower with no self-propelled drive system. At 51.7 lbs it is noticeably heavier than lightweight reel mower competitors, and user feedback on maneuverability is mixed , some find it easy to guide in straight lines on flat turf, while others report difficulty making sharp turns around landscaping obstacles.
The adjustable handle height helps users of different statures find a comfortable pushing position.
Battery / Fuel
There are no fuel, battery, charging, or cord requirements whatsoever , this mower operates entirely on human effort. Ongoing costs are essentially zero beyond occasional professional or DIY blade sharpening, which reel mower blades typically need once per season depending on use frequency.
The absence of any engine or motor components means there are no carburetors, spark plugs, filters, or belts to maintain or replace.
Who Is This Mower For?
Ideal For
- ✓ Eco-conscious homeowners who want zero emissions, zero noise, and zero fuel investment , this mower produces no pollution of any kind
- ✓ Small yard owners (roughly 1/4 acre or under) with flat, regularly mowed grass where the 18-inch deck width is sufficient
- ✓ Low-maintenance seekers who don't want to deal with engine tune-ups, oil changes, spark plugs, gas, or charging schedules
- ✓ Urban and suburban users in noise-sensitive neighborhoods where a silent reel mower is a genuine quality-of-life improvement
Not Ideal For
- ✕ Owners with hilly or uneven terrain , reel mowers struggle on slopes and can produce an uneven cut on undulating ground
- ✕ Anyone with thick, tall, or infrequently mowed grass , reel blades require grass to be relatively short and uniform to cut cleanly
- ✕ Large property owners needing wide coverage or extended runtime, where a powered mower with a wider deck will save significant time and effort
The Fiskars reel mower ships requiring assembly, though reel mowers of this type typically involve attaching the handle sections and setting the cutting height, which most users complete in under 30 minutes without special tools.
Set the cutting height before your first mow using the single-lever adjuster , starting at 2.5-3 inches is recommended for most cool-season grasses
Mow when grass is dry for the cleanest reel cut; wet or damp grass can clump and resist the scissor-blade action
The Fiskars Push Reel Mower includes a 3-year limited warranty, which is above average for manual lawn care tools in this category. Always verify specific coverage terms and the claims process directly with Fiskars, as warranty conditions can vary by region and point of purchase.
FAQ
Does the Fiskars 18" reel mower work on thick or tall grass?
Reel mowers in general , including this Fiskars model , perform best on grass that is regularly maintained and no taller than about 4 inches. Thick, coarse, or overgrown grass resists the scissor-action blade and can cause the reel to jam or skip.
If your lawn goes more than 1-2 weeks between cuts, a powered mower will likely handle it more reliably.
How does this compare to a gas or electric lawn mower for a small yard?
For a small, flat yard mowed frequently, the Fiskars reel mower competes well on cost and simplicity , there's no gas, no oil, no charging, and no cords to manage, and the long-term running cost is essentially zero. The trade-off is that it requires more physical effort than a powered mower and can't handle tough grass conditions or slopes.
If your yard is flat, regularly mowed, and under roughly 1/4 acre, this mower is a genuinely capable alternative to motorized options.
Is the Fiskars reel mower hard to push?
At 51.7 lbs it is on the heavier side for a manual reel mower, and customer feedback is split , many users find it easy to push on flat, well-kept grass, while others report it feels heavy and tiring over longer sessions. The effort required increases significantly on any slope or with taller, denser grass, so it's best suited to flat terrain with frequent mowing schedules.
Do I need to sharpen the blade, and how often?
Reel mower blades do need periodic sharpening to maintain a clean cut, but they are far less demanding than rotary mower blades , most users sharpen once per mowing season or after roughly 20-25 hours of use. Fiskars sells a sharpening kit compatible with reel mowers, or a local small-equipment shop can sharpen the blades professionally.
There are no other engine or motor components to service.
What cutting height range does this mower offer?
The Fiskars 18" reel mower adjusts from 1 inch up to 4 inches via a single lever, giving it one of the wider height ranges available on manual reel mowers. The single-lever system makes adjustment quick without needing to individually change each wheel, which is a practical advantage over older multi-point adjustment designs.
Can this reel mower handle a half-acre lawn?
At least one customer reports using it on a half-acre lawn, but it's physically demanding at that scale given the manual effort required and the 18-inch cutting width , covering a half acre with an 18-inch reel mower involves a significant number of passes. The Fiskars is best matched to yards of roughly 1/4 acre or smaller, where the manual effort is sustainable and the width is adequate.
For larger properties, a self-propelled or riding mower will be considerably less tiring.
Bottom Line
The Fiskars 18" Push Reel Mower is the right tool for a specific type of homeowner: someone with a small, flat, regularly maintained lawn who prioritizes zero emissions, zero noise, and near-zero ongoing costs over raw cutting power. It won't handle slopes, thick grass, or large properties gracefully, and its 51.7 lb weight means it demands more effort than lighter competitors.
But for its intended use case , quiet, eco-friendly mowing of a tidy suburban lawn , it delivers a genuinely sharp, clean cut backed by a solid 3-year warranty.
Best for eco-conscious homeowners with small, flat yards under 1/4 acre who want silent, emissions-free mowing with no fuel, charging, or engine maintenance.
Consider alternatives if you have hilly terrain, thick or infrequently mowed grass, or a yard larger than 1/4 acre where a powered mower will save meaningful time and effort.
Check Price on AmazonAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect our analysis or recommendations.