Reel Mower vs String Mower: Which One Should You Buy?
Reel mowers and string mowers compared on cutting action, power, weight and upkeep, with one example of each from the listings we reviewed.
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Top picks at a glance
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- 1
Walensee 16-Inch Manual Lawn Mower9.5/10View on Amazon - 2
Earthquake 160cc Walk-Behind String Mower9.6/10View on Amazon - 3
Husqvarna MZ619.7/10View on Amazon - 4
PowerSmart 22-Inch 170cc Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower BlackView on Amazon - 5
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 String Trimmer/Edger & Lawn MowerView on Amazon - 6
Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Lawn Mower with T-StyleView on Amazon - 7
Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel MowerView on Amazon - 8
American Lawn Mower GC91820 18"/20" Reel Lawn Mower GrassView on Amazon - 9
30 Pack Universal Walk Behind String Trimmer Mower 21.25"View on Amazon
Verdict: Choose a reel mower if your lawn is small and short, and you want quiet manual cutting with no fuel or charging. Choose a string mower if you also trim edges, clear weeds along fences, and want battery power with line and blade modes.
A yard with a neat lawn, beds, and a fence line asks for two different cutting jobs, and the reel mower vs string mower question comes down to which job dominates your weekends. A reel mower rolls scissor-like blades over the lawn itself. A string mower spins line, and in this example also swaps to blades, for edges and rough growth. This comparison covers the differences, then one example of each from the listings we reviewed.
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Joblion Cordless Weed Wacker, Battery Powered Weed Eater with Wheels
A cordless weed wacker with an 880W motor up to 20000RPM, an 11 inch cutting range, two 21V 3000mAh batteries, and 4-in-1 modes including string trimmer, edger, mini mower, and brush cutter.
Who it's for: owners of small lawns who also trim edges, clear weeds along fences, and want one battery tool for several jobs.
Who should skip it: anyone who only mows open lawn, where a push mower covers more width per pass.
Read the full review
The Joblion example is a cordless weed wacker built around an 880W motor rated up to 20000RPM, with an 11 inch cutting range, a foldable body, and a telescopic pole adjusting from 43 to 55 inches. The kit includes two 21V 3000mAh batteries rated for 90 minutes of runtime, an LED battery display, long and short trimmer line pieces, steel blades, and a circular saw blade, listed as a 16-piece kit.
Pros
- 880W motor reaching up to 20000RPM with an 11 inch cutting range
- Two 21V 3000mAh batteries with 90 minutes of runtime and an LED battery display
- 4-in-1 modes: string trimmer, edger, mini mower, and brush cutter
- 16-piece kit with trimmer line pieces, steel blades, and a circular saw blade
Cons
- Warranty covers the battery only, not the whole machine
- Charging takes 4 hours on the trickle-charge system
- 11 inch range means more passes on open ground
- Blade swaps needed between line and blade modes
Walensee 16-Inch Manual Lawn Mower, 5-Blade Push Reel, 4 Heights
A 16 inch manual push reel mower with 5 precision-ground alloy-steel blades, 4 cutting heights from 0.6 to 1.5 inches, and 8.5 inch drive wheels for small lawns.
Who it's for: owners of small, short lawns who want quiet cutting with no fuel or charging.
Who should skip it: anyone clearing tall grass, rough growth, or edges, where a string mower reaches further.
Read the full review
The Walensee example is a manual push reel mower with 5 precision-ground alloy-steel blades across a 16 inch width, 4 cutting heights from 0.6 to 1.5 inches, and 8.5 inch drive wheels. The title mentions cordless operation, but the bullets state the mower needs no gas, electricity, or batteries, so treat it as manual rather than battery powered.
Pros
- 5 precision-ground alloy-steel blades with scissor-like cutting action
- 16 inch cutting width with 4 heights from 0.6 to 1.5 inches
- 8.5 inch drive wheels with a self-lubricating mechanism
- No gas, electricity, or batteries, so no fuel or charging upkeep
Cons
- Manual pushing only, so tall grass needs staged trimming
- Size listing states No Catcher, so clippings stay on the lawn
- Clear twigs, stones, and debris before mowing, per the listing
- Cutting height tops out at 1.5 inches, so it suits short lawns
Other machines to compare
PowerSmart 22-Inch 170cc Self-Propelled Gas Lawn Mower BlackCheck price on Amazon
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 String Trimmer/Edger & Lawn MowerCheck price on Amazon
Great States 415-16 16-Inch Reel Lawn Mower with T-StyleCheck price on Amazon
Fiskars StaySharp Max Reel MowerCheck price on Amazon
American Lawn Mower GC91820 18"/20" Reel Lawn Mower GrassCheck price on Amazon
30 Pack Universal Walk Behind String Trimmer Mower 21.25"Check price on Amazon
Reel mower vs string mower side by side
| Factor | Reel mower (Walensee 16-Inch Reel) | String mower (Joblion Weed Wacker) | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting action | 5 scissor-like blades | Spinning line, plus steel blades in kit | Blades cut cleanly; line handles edges |
| Power | Manual, no fuel or battery | 880W motor, two 21V batteries | Manual needs effort; battery needs charging |
| Cutting width | 16 inch | 11 inch | Widths stated per listing |
| Height and head | 4 heights, 0.6 to 1.5 inches | Head adjusts 0 to 90 degrees | Different adjustments for different jobs |
| Runtime | No runtime: manual pushing | 90 minutes on two batteries | Battery runtime stated; manual has none |
| Weight | 14.3 pounds (spec table) | 6.0 pounds (spec table) | Both figures from spec tables |
| Warranty | Not stated | 3-year, battery only | Only the string mower states a term |
| Kit | Semi-pre-assembled | 16-piece kit as listed | Kit contents per listing |
Figures are manufacturer stated for the two example models, collected 1 November 2026.
Cutting action: scissor blades or spinning line
A reel mower cuts with blades that pass each other like scissors. The Walensee example uses 5 precision-ground alloy-steel blades across a 16 inch width, and the listing says the scissor-like action slices grass instead of tearing it. That action suits a lawn kept short, where a clean cut matters more than raw clearing power.
A string mower cuts with spinning line that whips through grass and soft weeds. The Joblion example adds steel blades and a circular saw blade to the kit, so it can switch from line to blade work.
Power and runtime
The reel mower needs no external power: the Walensee listing states it requires no gas, electricity, or batteries, so there is nothing to charge or fill. The tradeoff is effort, since pushing the mower provides all the cutting power, and the listing advises trimming taller grass in stages.
The string mower runs on batteries. The Joblion example uses an 880W motor reaching up to 20000RPM, with two 21V 3000mAh batteries providing 90 minutes of runtime and an LED display showing battery percentage. Charging uses a 4-hour trickle-charge system, so plan charging between sessions rather than expecting a quick top-up.
What each one can cut
The reel mower is a lawn mower first. Its 4 cutting heights run from 0.6 to 1.5 inches, which suits short, maintained lawns, and the listing advises clearing large twigs, stones, and debris before mowing. It is not a brush clearer, and tall or overgrown patches fall outside its designed height range.
The string mower is a multi-tool. The Joblion example transforms into a string trimmer, a lawn edger, a mini cordless lawn mower, and a brush cutter, with a wheel-assist mode and a side-wheel edging mode. Its 11 inch cutting range is listed for edges and tight spaces, and its cutting head adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees for slopes and tight corners, though open lawns take more passes at that width.
Handling and weight
The reel mower pushes on 8.5 inch drive wheels with a self-lubricating mechanism, which the listing says improves maneuverability on uneven or thicker grass. The spec table lists it at 14.3 pounds, and its semi-pre-assembled design installs quickly.
The string mower is the lighter tool on paper, at 6.0 pounds in the spec table, with a foldable body and a telescopic pole adjusting from 43 to 55 inches. Its cutting head adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees across multiple gears, which the listing says lets it reach slopes and tight corners.
Upkeep
A manual reel mower has little upkeep beyond the blades. The Walensee listing notes curved alloy-steel blades that resist deformation, and advises rust protection during storage to extend blade life. There are no batteries to replace, no fuel to mix, and no cords to manage.
A battery string mower needs charged batteries, fresh line, and blade care. The Joblion kit includes long and short trimmer line pieces, steel blades, and a circular saw blade, listed as a 16-piece kit, plus a 3-year warranty specifically for the machine’s battery. Keep spare line on hand, since line wears with use.
The two examples
Acreage and terrain fit
Joblion Weed Wacker
Walensee 16-Inch Reel
Matching It to Your Property
- Put the Walensee reel mower on small, short lawns where its 16 inch width and 4 heights from 0.6 to 1.5 inches fit the grass.
- Use the Joblion string mower along fences and beds where its 11 inch cutting range and 0 to 90 degree head reach edges and slopes.
- Clear twigs, stones, and debris before running the reel mower, as its listing advises.
- Store the reel mower dry with rust protection for the blades, as the listing advises.
The Acre Score explained
The Acre Score weighs five factors: performance (cutting action, power, and what it can cut), build quality (blades, wheels, shaft, and handle), value (what comes in the box), safety (certifications or operator controls the listing states) and warranty (years and coverage). A factor the listing does not state scores zero, which is why both examples score zero for safety. Only the Joblion example states a warranty, a 3-year term for the machine’s battery.
| Product | Acre Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joblion Weed Wacker | 9.6 | 30 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 4 |
| Walensee 16-Inch Reel | 9.5 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
Many owners on acreage keep both: a reel mower for the lawn itself, and a string mower for edges, fences, and rough patches. If you mow open ground, see our brush and field mowers for clearing larger areas.
Walk the area first and clear stones, sticks, wire and toys. Wear eye and hearing protection, long pants and sturdy closed footwear, mow across slopes with a walk-behind (not up and down), and never pull a running mower toward you. Keep kids and pets well away. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. See CPSC lawn mower safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
FAQ: mowing large lots
Can a reel mower cut tall grass?
Not well. The Walensee listing advises trimming taller grass in stages, since the mower performs best within its designed height range of 0.6 to 1.5 inches. For overgrown patches, cut in stages or clear them with a string mower first.
Can a string mower edge a lawn?
Yes. The Joblion example includes a side-wheel edging mode, and its cutting head adjusts from 0 to 90 degrees, so it can follow walks and beds as an edger.
Which one is quieter?
The reel mower makes no motor noise at all, since it has no motor, gas, electricity, or batteries. The Joblion listing describes its operation as minimal noise, which still means a motor running.
Do either of these need fuel?
Neither uses gas. The reel mower is manual, and the Joblion string mower runs on two 21V 3000mAh batteries with a 4-hour trickle-charge system.
Which one weighs less?
The Joblion string mower, at 6.0 pounds in the spec table, against 14.3 pounds for the Walensee reel mower in its spec table. Both figures come from spec tables, not the bullets.
More mowing guides
- Best Manual Reel Mower (2026): 5 Top Picks Compared
- Best Reel Mower (2026): 5 Picks Compared
- Best Cordless String Trimmer: 5 Top Picks Compared (2026)
- Best Battery String Trimmer for Tall Grass (2026)
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