Quick verdict
Bermuda is cut short and often, which is exactly what a reel mower does best. A seven-blade reel like the Earthwise 1715-16EW gives the cleanest cut below an inch; a five-blade reel like the American Lawn Mower 1415-16 or the wider Great States 815-18 cuts cleanly at 1 to 2 inches for less money. Mow twice a week in summer and keep the reel sharp.
Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower
Seven blades on a ball-bearing reel is the configuration reel mower makers recommend for low-cut Bermuda, and Earthwise lists Bermuda, Zoysia and other bent grasses by name for this model. The 16-inch width suits a small lawn, the 0.5 to 2.5-inch height range covers the short cut Bermuda wants, and the alloy steel blades hold an edge for seasons.
The best push reel mowers for small Bermuda grass lawns: Earthwise 1715-16EW 7-blade, American Lawn Mower 1415-16 and Great States 815-18, compared on blade count, cutting height, width and price.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower | Best for Bermuda | 8.8 | Check price |
| American Lawn Mower 1415-16 16-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower | Best Value 16-Inch | 8.4 | Check price |
| Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower | Best for a Slightly Bigger Lawn | 8.5 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower
Seven blades on a ball-bearing reel is the configuration reel mower makers recommend for low-cut Bermuda, and Earthwise lists Bermuda, Zoysia and other bent grasses by name for this model. The 16-inch width suits a small lawn, the 0.5 to 2.5-inch height range covers the short cut Bermuda wants, and the alloy steel blades hold an edge for seasons.
Reasons to buy
- 7-blade reel built for Bermuda
- 0.5 to 2.5 inch height range
- Ball-bearing reel
- Light composite wheels
Reasons to avoid
- Needs a sharp reel to cut cleanly
- Struggles with tall or seeding grass
- No catcher included
American Lawn Mower 1415-16 16-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower
The 1415-16 is the classic 16-inch 5-blade reel mower with heat-treated alloy blades, 10-inch polymer wheels and a 0.5 to 2.5-inch height range. Five blades cut Bermuda cleanly at a slightly higher setting than the seven-blade Earthwise and the price is the lowest here.
Reasons to buy
- Low price
- Heat-treated alloy blades
- Light and easy to push
- 0.5 to 2.5 inch heights
Reasons to avoid
- Five blades favor a higher cut
- No catcher included
- Plastic wheels wear on concrete
Great States 815-18 18-Inch 5-Blade Reel Mower
Two more inches of width finish a small lawn in fewer passes, and the Great States 815-18 adds a loop handle with cushioned grips, ball-bearing blades and a 0.5 to 2.75-inch range. It is the pick for a Bermuda lawn that is small but not tiny.
Reasons to buy
- 18-inch width
- Ball-bearing reel
- Cushioned loop handle
- 0.5 to 2.75 inch range
Reasons to avoid
- Heavier to push than 16-inch
- Five blades
- No catcher included
Why Bermuda and reel mowers suit each other
Bermuda grass wants to be cut short, between three quarters of an inch and an inch and a half, and cut often. A rotary mower at that height scalps and tears, which is why Bermuda lawns mowed with one look brown after each cut. A reel mower cuts like scissors, leaves a clean edge that heals green and reaches the half-inch settings a rotary cannot. On a small lawn it is also quiet, light and free to run. The three mowers in this guide are the reel mowers that owners of small Bermuda lawns buy, and they differ in blade count and width.
This guide is built from the published specifications and manuals of each mower and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these mowers ourselves.
Blade count and cutting height
More blades mean more cuts per revolution and a cleaner finish at low heights. Seven blades are the standard for Bermuda cut below an inch; five blades cut cleanly at an inch and above and cost less. All three mowers here go down to half an inch, which is the floor for a hybrid Bermuda, and up to 2.5 or 2.75 inches for a looser summer cut.
How the three compare
| Mower | Width | Blades | Height range | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earthwise 1715-16EW | 16 in | 7 | 0.5 to 2.5 in | Low-cut Bermuda |
| American Lawn Mower 1415-16 | 16 in | 5 | 0.5 to 2.5 in | Budget, 1 inch and up |
| Great States 815-18 | 18 in | 5 | 0.5 to 2.75 in | Small but wider lawns |
Earthwise 1715-16EW: built for Bermuda
Earthwise names Bermuda, Zoysia, Centipede and St. Augustine as the grasses this seven-blade reel is for, and a seven-blade reel is what cuts a Bermuda lawn cleanly at an inch or under. The ball-bearing reel turns easily, the 10-inch composite wheels roll light and the alloy blades hold their edge for seasons between backlapping. It is the mower to buy for a lawn kept short and tidy.
American Lawn Mower 1415-16: the budget classic
This five-blade 16-inch has been made for decades. Heat-treated alloy blades, 10-inch polymer wheels and the same 0.5 to 2.5-inch range at a lower price. At an inch and above it cuts Bermuda cleanly; below that a seven-blade reel does better. For a small lawn mowed at an inch it is all the mower needed.
Great States 815-18: two more inches
The 815-18 widens the cut to 18 inches, which finishes a small lawn in fewer passes, and adds a loop handle with cushioned grips and ball-bearing blades. The range reaches 2.75 inches. It is a little heavier to push than the 16-inch mowers and the pick for a Bermuda lawn that is small but not tiny.
Reel mowing Bermuda well
Mow twice a week in the growing season and never let the grass get more than a third taller than the setting, because a reel folds tall grass instead of cutting it. Overlap passes by a few inches. Backlap the reel with a kit each spring so the blades meet the bed knife cleanly, and keep the lawn free of sticks, which jam a reel. Scalp once in early spring at the lowest setting to remove winter growth, then raise to the summer height.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Earthwise 1715-16EW for Bermuda cut at an inch or lower. Buy the American Lawn Mower 1415-16 for a tiny lawn cut at an inch on the smallest budget. Buy the Great States 815-18 for a small lawn that wants a wider pass.
How we research
This guide is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of each product and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these products ourselves; where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Blade count
Seven blades cut cleanly below an inch; five blades suit 1 to 2 inches. Bermuda is happiest at 0.75 to 1.5 inches.
Height range
A reel mower must reach down to about half an inch for Bermuda; all three here do.
Width
Sixteen inches for a tiny lawn, eighteen for a small one. Wider reels are harder to push.
Sharpening
A reel mower only works sharp. Budget for a backlapping kit every season or two.
Our verdict
Bermuda is cut short and often, which is exactly what a reel mower does best. A seven-blade reel like the Earthwise 1715-16EW gives the cleanest cut below an inch; a five-blade reel like the American Lawn Mower 1415-16 or the wider Great States 815-18 cuts cleanly at 1 to 2 inches for less money. Mow twice a week in summer and keep the reel sharp.
FAQs
Between 0.75 and 1.5 inches for common Bermuda, lower for hybrid varieties. Reel mowers cut this range cleanly; rotary mowers scalp it.
Twice a week in summer. Reel mowers cannot cut grass that has grown more than about a third above the set height.
No. Clippings cut this short disappear into the lawn. Catchers are sold separately for all three.
Poorly. Tall stalks fold under the reel. Keep the lawn mowed on schedule and trim stalks by hand.
