Best Robotic Reel Mowers for Quiet Lawn Care
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A robotic reel mower is a quiet lawn mower that cuts with a scissor action, and in some listings it runs without a driver. In our product data, no model is listed as a robotic reel mower. The reel mowers in this roundup are push models you operate by hand, and the one robotic model, the GARDENA SILENO City, is a robotic mower with a different cutting system. This guide compares the reel mowers and the robotic model side by side, so you can see which quiet option fits a small lawn and which fits an automatic one.
Quick answer
- For a quiet, manual cut on a small, flat lawn, a 14 inch reel mower such as the Great States 304-14 or the Scotts 304-14S suits most yards.
- For a wider manual cut, the Scotts 2000-20S lists a 20 inch cutting width, and the American Lawn Mower 1815-18 lists 18 inches.
- For automatic mowing on a larger yard, the GARDENA SILENO City lists coverage up to 5400 square feet, a 57 dBA noise level, and a boundary wire setup.
- No robotic reel mower appears in our data pack, so this article does not claim one.
What “robotic reel” means and what the pack contains
People searching for a robotic reel mower usually want three things: a quiet cut, a cut that does not tear the grass, and little work on their part. A reel mower meets the first two. It has no motor, uses a rotating set of blades, and the listings say it cuts grass cleanly. A robotic mower meets the third by mowing on a schedule. The pack for this article does not list a robot that uses a reel cutter, so the comparison below covers reel mowers and the GARDENA SILENO City, a robotic mower with a rotary style cut, side by side.
The listings do not all describe the same features. Some state blade count and cutting width, some state noise level, and some state a boundary wire. The table below uses only the facts the listings give, and it marks any missing value as “not stated.”
Comparison table
| Model | Type | Cutting width | Height range stated | Blades or wheels | Noise or power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Lawn Mower 1204-14 | Manual reel, 4 blades | 14 inches | 0.5 to 1.75 inches (bullet); 1.3 to 4.45 inches (spec) | 8.5 inch polymer wheels | Manual; listing says noise-free |
| American Lawn Mower 1815-18 | Manual reel, 5 blades | 18 inches | 0.5 to 2.75 inches (bullet); 1.27 to 6.4 inches (spec) | 16 cm wheels (spec) | Manual |
| Great States 304-14 | Manual reel, 5 blades | 14 inches | 0.5 to 1.75 inches | 8.5 inch composite wheels; 10 inch wheels (spec) | Manual; no gas or oil |
| Scotts 304-14S | Manual reel, 5 blades | 14 inches (35.6 cm) | 0.5 to 1.75 inches | Wheel size listed as 2.45 inches (spec) | Manual; no gas or oil |
| Great States 204-14 | Manual reel, 4 blades | 14 inches | 0.5 to 1.5 inches (spec); 0.5 to 1.75 inches (bullet) | 8.5 inch polymer wheels | Manual |
| Great States 415-16 | Manual reel, 5 blades | 16 inches (40.6 cm) | 1 to 2.5 inches (bullet); 0.5 to 2.5 inches (spec) | 10 inch composite wheels | Manual; no gas or oil |
| Scotts 2000-20S | Manual reel, 5 blades | 20 inches | 1 to 3 inches | 10 inch dual tracking wheels | Manual; no gas or oil |
| GARDENA SILENO City | Robotic mower, battery | 6.3 inches (spec) | Listing gives both 10 cm and 1 m in the specs | Boundary wire, collision sensors | 57 dBA noise level stated |
Roundup: eight quiet mowers compared
1. American Lawn Mower 1204-14 14-Inch 4-Blade Push Reel Mower
This reel mower has four blades and a cutting width of 14 inches. The listing says its reel cutting action does not bruise or damage the blades of grass, and it describes the mower as pollution-free and noise-free. The bullets give a blade height of 0.5 to 1.75 inches, while the specifications give 1.3 to 4.45 inches, so check the height on the product page before you buy. The mower weighs 19 pounds in the bullets and has 8.5 inch polymer wheels. The listing says it is best for small lawns. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
2. American Lawn Mower 1815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Mower
This is a wider reel mower with five blades and an 18 inch cutting width. The bullets describe adjustable heights from 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches, and say the mower suits dry grass under 4 inches, with taller grass needing more than one pass. The listing weighs it at 27 pounds and says it is suited to flat lawns. The bullets also mention a 5-year manufacturer protection plan, while the specifications give a 1 year limited warranty. Choose it when you want a wider path and can handle the extra weight. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
3. Great States 304-14 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
This Great States model has five ball-bearing reel blades and a 14 inch cutting width. The listing says the blades are made of heat-treated alloy steel and stay sharp longer. The height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 inches, and the T-style handle has a cushioned grip. The listing describes the mower as clean and quiet, and says it requires no gas or oil. The listing gives a weight of 9.3 pounds and a 90 day limited warranty. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
4. Scotts 304-14S 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
This Scotts model uses the same 14 inch, five-blade layout as the Great States 304-14. The listing gives the same height range of 0.5 to 1.75 inches and the same heat-treated alloy steel blades. The listing also says it is lightweight and easy to operate, and that it requires no gas or oil. The specifications give a weight of 18.1 pounds, which is heavier than the Great States 304-14 listing, and a 90 day limited warranty. The listing gives the cutting width as 35.6 centimeters in one field and 14 inches in another. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
5. Great States 204-14 Hand Reel 14-Inch Push Lawn Mower
This is the simplest model here, a four-blade reel with a 14 inch cutting width and 8.5 inch polymer wheels. The bullets say the height adjusts from 0.5 to 1.75 inches with a scissor-action cut. The listing advises mowing no more than one-third of the grass blade in a pass, and says to mow smaller amounts more often when the lawn grows past 3 to 4 inches. It also advises against reel mowing on wet grass, because the result is usually uneven. The listing gives a 1-year warranty. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
6. Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Lawn Mower with T-Style Handle
This Great States model has a 16 inch cutting width, five blades and 10 inch composite wheels. The listing gives a cutting height of 1 to 2.5 inches in the bullets, and 0.5 to 2.5 inches in the specifications. It describes a clean and quiet mower that needs no gas or oil. The listing gives a 1 year limited warranty and a weight of 20.9 pounds. The 10 inch wheels are larger than the 8.5 inch wheels on the 14 inch models, which helps on uneven ground. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
7. Scotts 2000-20S 20-Inch 5-Blade Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
This Scotts classic is the widest manual reel in the pack, with a 20 inch cutting width and five ball-bearing blades. The bullets give a height of 1 to 3 inches and say the blades are heat-treated alloy steel. The mower has 10 inch dual tracking wheels and a cushioned handle, and the listing says it is an engine-free mower that needs no gas or oil. The specifications give a weight of 26.9 pounds. Choose it for a larger flat lawn where a wider pass saves time. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
8. GARDENA SILENO City Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower
The GARDENA SILENO City is the one robotic model in the pack. The listing says it mows yards up to 5400 square feet automatically, with a boundary wire that keeps it inside the area you set. It uses collision sensors and says it can handle slopes up to a 35 percent gradient, which is 19 degrees. The listing gives a noise level of 57 dBA, which it calls one of the quietest in its class. The app connection uses Bluetooth and a schedule feature. It is a battery mower with a 14.5 kilogram weight in the specifications, and the listing describes the installation as DIY with videos and instructions included. It cuts with a rotary style deck rather than a reel, so the cut is different from the reel models above. View on Amazon: View on Amazon
Review: Great States 304-14 in depth
The Great States 304-14 is a useful model to study because its listing covers the features most buyers ask about. It has five ball-bearing reel blades on a 14 inch cutting width, and its listing describes the blades as heat-treated alloy steel that stays sharp longer. For a reel mower, sharpness is the main factor in how clean the cut looks, so this claim matters.
The height range is 0.5 to 1.75 inches. The listing says this gives a clean, even cut each time. A reel mower cuts best when it removes no more than one-third of the grass blade in a pass, according to the reel guidance in the Great States 204-14 listing, so this range suits lawns kept short and mowed often.
Handling is the second check. The listing gives a T-style handle with a cushioned grip and says assembly is tool-less. The weight is listed at 9.3 pounds, which is light for a 14 inch deck. The tires are described as solid rubber in the bullets, and the wheels are 8.5 inches in one field and 10 inches in another. Check the wheel size before you buy if ground clearance matters to you.
Noise and upkeep come last. The listing calls the mower clean and quiet and says it needs no gas or oil. The listing gives a 90 day limited warranty, which is shorter than the 1 year warranty on the 204-14 and the 415-16 listings.
Two close alternatives from the same pack help if this mower does not fit. The Scotts 304-14S uses the same blade layout, but its specifications list a heavier weight. The Great States 415-16 offers a 16 inch cut and a 1 year warranty if you need a wider path.
FAQ
Is there a robotic reel mower in this roundup?
No. Our product data pack does not include a robotic mower that uses a reel cutter. The reel mowers here are push models, and the one robotic model, the GARDENA SILENO City, cuts with a rotary style deck. We have not added a reel robot, because the pack does not list one.
How quiet is a reel mower compared with a robot?
The listings give different kinds of noise information. The GARDENA SILENO City lists a noise level of 57 dBA. The reel listings say they are quiet and noise-free, but they do not give a decibel figure. Because the numbers are not comparable, the best test is the listing’s own description. The reel mowers have no motor, while the robot runs a battery motor.
Which reel mower cuts the widest path?
The Scotts 2000-20S lists a 20 inch cutting width, the widest reel in this pack. The American Lawn Mower 1815-18 lists 18 inches. The 14 inch models are the narrowest, and the Great States 415-16 sits between them at 16 inches.
How tall can the grass be before a reel mower struggles?
The listings say to keep grass under about 4 inches. The 1204-14 listing says it cuts grass up to 4 inches and is less effective on taller grass. The Great States 204-14 listing says to avoid letting the lawn reach 3 to 4 inches, and to mow smaller amounts more often. A reel mower cuts best on a lawn that is kept short.
How large a yard can the robotic mower cover?
The GARDENA SILENO City listing says it mows yards up to 5400 square feet. The listing also says it works in rain or shine and handles slopes up to a 35 percent gradient. It uses a boundary wire, so you will need to lay the wire around the area before the first mow.
Do reel mowers need gas or oil?
No. Every reel mower in this pack is manual, and the listings say they require no gas or oil. The GARDENA robot is battery powered, so it needs a charged battery and no gas or oil.
Bottom line
For a quiet, manual cut, choose a reel mower sized to your lawn. A 14 inch model such as the Great States 304-14 or the Scotts 304-14S suits a small, flat yard, and the Scotts 2000-20S suits a wider flat lawn. For automatic mowing on a larger yard, the GARDENA SILENO City is the only robotic model in our data, and its listing gives a noise level of 57 dBA and coverage up to 5400 square feet. Our pack does not include a robotic reel mower, so do not expect a reel cutter from the robot listing.
To compare robot options, read ECOVACS vs Mammotion Robot Mowers Compared. For blade and cutter choices, read Best Blade Style for Lawn Mowers: Rotary, Mulching, Reel or Flail.
