LawnMaster LMRM1801 Push Reel Lawn Mower 18-Inch 5-Blade Review
By the Mowers.Cloud editorial team · How we research & rate · Updated June 2026
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The LawnMaster LMRM1801 is a classic 18-inch, 5-blade push reel mower designed for homeowners who want a quiet, eco-friendly, and low-maintenance way to keep a small, flat lawn looking tidy. At just over $100, it’s an affordable entry into manual mowing, best suited for those with grass under 4 inches and a willingness to trade a little elbow grease for zero emissions and no fuel costs.
Who Should Buy This
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Homeowners with tiny, flat lawns (under 1/4 acre) – If your yard is more postage stamp than pasture, this mower’s 18-inch cutting width and lack of engine weight make it a nimble, no-fuss option for quick weekly trims.
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Eco-conscious users who hate gas and extension cords – No exhaust, no oil changes, no plugging in. This mower runs on pure leg power, perfect for anyone who wants a carbon-neutral cut without the hassle of battery charging.
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Budget-focused buyers who want a sub-$120 mower – If you’re looking for the cheapest way to keep grass short and don’t mind a workout, the LawnMaster delivers reliable cutting at a price that undercuts even basic electric models.
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Noise-sensitive neighborhoods or early-morning mowers – This reel mower is whisper-quiet. You can mow at 6 AM without waking the neighbors or your sleeping kids.
Key Features Breakdown
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18-inch cutting width – This is a narrow cut, which means more passes across your lawn. It’s fine for small yards under 2,000 square feet, but anything larger will feel tedious. The benefit is maneuverability around flower beds and tight corners.
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5-blade reel – More blades generally mean a finer cut compared to 4-blade reel mowers. The five-blade design helps slice grass cleanly rather than tearing it, promoting healthier growth. However, it also increases rolling resistance slightly, so expect a bit more push effort than a 4-blade model.
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Adjustable cutting height (1.2 to 2.2 inches) – The range is limited compared to gas or electric mowers. You won’t be mulching tall weeds or overgrown grass. This mower is strictly for maintaining an already short lawn. Height adjustment is manual via two knobs per side—simple but not quick.
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Steel frame and 10-inch wheels – The steel construction adds durability and weight (about 23 pounds), which helps the reel bite into grass. The 10-inch wheels roll smoothly on flat ground, but they’re not large enough to handle rough terrain or thick clumps without stalling.
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No engine, no battery, no cord – The biggest feature is what’s missing. Zero maintenance beyond occasional blade sharpening and cleaning. No gas, no oil, no charging, no extension cords. You just push.
Pros
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Dead-simple maintenance – No spark plugs, no air filters, no battery degradation. Sharpen the reel once a season and you’re set.
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Quiet enough for any time of day – The only sound is the gentle click-clack of the blades spinning. Your neighbors will thank you.
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Great for exercise – Pushing a reel mower burns about 250-300 calories per hour. It’s a functional workout that doubles as yard work.
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Environmentally friendly – Zero emissions, no fuel spills, and no electricity consumption. This is the greenest mowing method available.
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Lightweight and easy to store – At 23 pounds, you can hang it on a wall hook or stash it in a shed corner without breaking a sweat.
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Cuts cleanly when grass is dry and short – The five-blade reel leaves a manicured, scissor-cut finish that’s actually healthier for your lawn than a gas mower’s tearing action.
Cons
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Struggles with tall or wet grass – If your grass is over 4 inches or damp, the reel will clog and skip. You’ll have to rake clumps or go over the same spot multiple times. This mower demands a consistent weekly schedule.
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Limited height adjustment range – The 1.2 to 2.2-inch range is fine for a golf-green look, but it won’t handle uneven lawns where you need to cut higher in summer to protect roots.
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No grass collection bag – This model doesn’t include a catcher. You’ll be leaving clippings on the lawn (which is fine for fertilizing) or raking them up separately. Some competitors offer a bag for a few dollars more.
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Not for large or hilly lawns – Anything over 1/4 acre will feel like a chore, and hills will require serious effort to push the reel uphill. Stick to flat, small spaces.
Bottom Line
The LawnMaster LMRM1801 is a solid, no-frills reel mower that excels at its one job: keeping a small, flat, well-maintained lawn looking sharp with zero noise or pollution. It’s not for everyone—if you have a large yard, tall grass, or hills, look elsewhere. But for the budget-conscious homeowner with a postage-stamp lawn who values simplicity, exercise, and a quiet Saturday morning, this mower delivers exactly what you pay for. I recommend it as a starter reel mower or a backup for touch-ups, but don’t expect it to tame an overgrown jungle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does this mower come with a grass catcher bag?
A: No, the LMRM1801 does not include a bag. Grass clippings are left on the lawn as mulch. You can buy an aftermarket catcher, but it’s not a standard accessory for this model.
Q: How do I sharpen the blades?
A: The reel blades can be sharpened with a sharpening kit or a file. Some users apply a compound to the reel and spin it backward against the bed knife to hone the edge. Plan on doing this once or twice per season, depending on use.
Q: Will this mower cut through thick or tall grass?
A: Not well. This mower is designed for weekly maintenance on grass under 4 inches. If your lawn is overgrown or wet, the reel will jam and skip. You’ll need to string-trim or use a power mower to bring it down first.
How It Compares
Here is a head-to-head comparison of the two products you listed.
Please Note: While both products are designed for yard work, they are not direct competitors. The Gorilla Carts Poly Garden Dump Cart is a utility wagon, not a lawn mower. This comparison will treat them as two different tools for different jobs, evaluating which is a better buy for its intended purpose.
Quick Verdict
The Gorilla Carts dump cart wins overall because it is a highly-rated, versatile, and durable utility tool for a wide range of yard tasks, while the LawnMaster reel mower is a niche, manual tool with a lower rating and limited use cases.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | LawnMaster LMRM1801 (Mower A) | Gorilla Carts Poly Dump Cart (Mower B) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 | $129.99 |
| Power Source | Manual (human power) | Manual (pull/push by hand or tow) |
| Cutting Width | 18 inches | N/A (4 cubic foot tub) |
| Self-Propelled | No | No (requires pulling) |
| Best Yard Size | Small, flat lawns (< 1/4 acre) | Any yard size (hauling, not mowing) |
| Warranty | Limited (typically 1–2 years) | Limited (typically 1–2 years) |
Where LawnMaster Wins
- Eco-Friendly & Quiet Operation: The LawnMaster requires no gas, oil, or electricity. It produces zero emissions and is virtually silent, making it ideal for early-morning mowing or noise-sensitive neighborhoods.
- Low Maintenance & Cost: There are no engines, belts, or spark plugs to maintain. The only regular cost is occasional blade sharpening (or replacement). It is also lighter and easier to store than a gas-powered mower.
- Better for Grass Health: Reel mowers use a scissor-like cutting action that cleanly slices grass blades, rather than tearing them like rotary mowers. This results in a cleaner cut, less browning, and healthier grass over time, especially on fine-bladed lawns.
Where Gorilla Wins
- Unmatched Versatility: The Gorilla Cart is not a mower; it is a heavy-duty hauler. It can move soil, mulch, leaves, firewood, tools, and even trash cans. The quick-release dump feature makes unloading heavy loads effortless. It is useful for dozens of tasks the LawnMaster cannot touch.
- Superior Build & Customer Satisfaction: With a 4.7/5 rating from over 30,000 reviews, the Gorilla Cart is a proven, reliable product. Its 600 lb haul capacity and pneumatic tires handle rough terrain and heavy loads with ease, far exceeding the utility of a simple reel mower.
- Better for All Yard Sizes: The LawnMaster is limited to small, flat lawns. The Gorilla Cart works on any property—large or small, flat or hilly—and can be used year-round for landscaping, gardening, and general yard cleanup, making it a far better long-term investment.
Which Should You Buy?
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Buy LawnMaster (Mower A) if: You have a very small, flat lawn (under 1/4 acre), you want a quiet, zero-emission, low-maintenance mowing option, and you enjoy the light exercise of pushing a manual reel mower. It is a good choice for a tiny, tidy lawn but will struggle with tall, wet, or thick grass.
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Buy Gorilla Carts (Mower B) if: You need to move heavy, bulky materials around your yard (soil, mulch, gravel, firewood), you want a durable, highly-rated utility cart that will last for years, or you already own a mower and need a companion tool for hauling. It is the clear winner for anyone who does serious landscaping or gardening.
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Buy Neither if: You need a primary mower for a medium-to-large lawn with hills or thick grass. In that case, a self-propelled gas or electric rotary mower (from brands like Honda, Toro, or EGO) would be a better investment than either of these two products.
Quick Verdict
For a true push mower replacement, the LawnMaster wins; but for versatility and ease of use on small, irregular lawns, the WORX string trimmer is the better buy for most people.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | LawnMaster LMRM1801 | WORX WG163 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $109.99 | $89.99 |
| Power Source | Manual (push reel) | 20V battery (2 included) |
| Cutting Width | 18 inches | 12 inches (string) |
| Self-Propelled | No | No |
| Best Yard Size | Up to ¼ acre (flat, even turf) | Up to ⅛ acre (trimming/edging) |
| Warranty | 2-year limited | 3-year limited |
Where LawnMaster Wins
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True mowing capability for larger, flat lawns – The 18-inch cutting width and 5-blade reel design deliver a clean scissor cut on grass up to 4 inches tall. For a traditional lawn (not just edges), this is a proper mower, not a trimmer. It can handle up to ¼ acre efficiently if the ground is smooth.
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Zero fuel or battery cost, zero noise – The LawnMaster is purely mechanical. No batteries to recharge, no gas to buy, no emissions. It’s silent enough to mow at 6 AM, and the only maintenance is sharpening the blades every few seasons. Over 5 years, it saves at least $50–$100 in battery replacements or fuel.
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Healthier for the grass – Reel mowers cut grass with a scissor action rather than tearing it like a string trimmer. This reduces browning at the tips and promotes denser growth. If you care about lawn health and want a manicured look without scalping, the reel mower is superior.
Where WORX Wins
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Versatility for trimming and edging – The WORX is a string trimmer AND edger in one. It can trim around fences, trees, flower beds, and sidewalks, then flip the head 90° to edge along driveways. The LawnMaster can’t reach into tight spots or handle overgrown edges at all.
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Ease of use on uneven or small yards – The WORX weighs only 5.5 lbs and is cordless, so you can maneuver it on slopes, bumpy ground, or over roots without fighting a reel mower that bogs down. For yards under ⅛ acre or with lots of obstacles, the trimmer is far less frustrating.
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Higher reliability and user satisfaction – With 27,806 reviews and a 4.4-star rating (vs. 1,641 reviews and 4.1 stars), the WORX has a proven track record. The Command Feed system lets you advance the string with a button, and the two included batteries provide about 45 minutes of runtime—enough for most small lawns.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy Mower A (LawnMaster) if: You have a flat, even lawn of ¼ acre or less, you want zero operating costs over time, and you prioritize a clean, healthy cut over the ability to trim edges. It’s ideal for eco-conscious homeowners with simple, open yards.
Buy Mower B (WORX) if: Your yard is small (under ⅛ acre), has lots of obstacles (trees, flower beds, fences, slopes), or you need a tool that both trims and edges. It’s also the better choice if you prefer a lightweight, battery-powered tool that’s easy to store and maintain.
Buy neither if: Your yard is larger than ¼ acre or has thick, tall grass. The LawnMaster will struggle with weeds and tall growth, and the WORX’s 12-inch cutting width will take forever. In that case, invest in a gas or 40V self-propelled mower ($250+).
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🛒 View on Amazon →Last updated: June 2026