Scotts 2000-20S Review
The 20 Inch Reel Mower With a 3 Inch Cut
The Scotts 2000-20S is a 20 inch 5-blade push reel mower with a 1 to 3 inch cutting range and a quick-snap height adjuster. Reaching 3 inches makes it the right pick for fescue or bluegrass, and the cost is 26.9 lbs to push.
The verdict
Cutting height is the spec that decides whether a reel mower can keep your lawn, and most reel mowers quietly fail the test. Fescue, bluegrass and rye are meant to sit at 2.5 to 3.5 inches. Most of the mowers in this category stop at 1.75 or 2.25 inches, which means they can only mow a lawn that is already shorter than it should be.
The Scotts 2000-20S goes to 3 inches. Among the nine mowers we researched, it stands alone on that number, and for anyone with a cool season lawn that fact matters more than price or weight.
What you get for $149.99
Twenty inches of cutting width, a 5-blade ball bearing reel, 10 inch dual tracking wheels and a quick-snap height adjuster covering 1 inch to 3 inches. Blades are heat-treated alloy steel. The handle is a loop with a cushioned grip. Weight is 26.9 lbs.
Quick-snap matters more than it sounds. Several mowers in this category adjust height through nuts and bolts you have to find a wrench for, and Amazon’s review summary for the Earthwise specifically flags a complex adjustment as a complaint.
The honest downside, which is effort
Twenty-six point nine pounds and a 20 inch reel add up. Amazon’s review summary splits squarely on ease of use, with some owners finding it easy to push and others finding it hard to maneuver. Durability splits too, with some owners confident it will last a decade or two and others reporting wheels falling off.
Weight is not pure cost though. A heavier mower holds its line better and rolls through small stuff that stalls a 19 lb mower. The trade is real in both directions.
Parts, warranty and the handle problem
One owner, writing in October 2026, did the homework the rest of this category skips. He read the manual and reports that replacement parts can be ordered directly from Scotts and that parts are covered under warranty for the first three years. Three years is the longest coverage we could verify on any reel mower here, where most listings state nothing at all.
His other contribution is a habit worth copying. Having read reviews about handles breaking after a few years, he now pulls the mower backward on every turn and only pushes forward in a straight line, to keep sideways tension off the handle. His cleaning routine is just as practical, which is to hose the mower, dry it with a leaf blower and spray WD40 on the blades.
Reel mower or electric mower
VAL-LA answered that in February 2020, and her answer is the strongest argument for this whole category. She bought a rechargeable electric mower to avoid gasoline. After a few years the battery stopped holding a charge, the replacement batteries had been discontinued, and in her words the whole thing became a giant piece of e-waste. So she bought a reel mower.
Nothing on a reel mower expires. No battery to degrade, no fuel to stale, no charge controller to fail. The parts that wear are the blades and the handle, and both are steel.
Who should buy it
Cool season lawns up to about 8,000 sq ft, kept at 2.5 to 3 inches, on reasonably flat ground. For that lawn no other reel mower in our lineup can actually do the job, which is the whole case for paying $149.99 and pushing 26.9 lbs.
Anyone who mows short should buy smaller and lighter. The 16 inch Earthwise or Great States will keep a half inch to 2.5 inch lawn for $30 to $44 less, and your shoulders will notice the difference.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are accurate as of the date shown and change often.
What stands out
- Reaches 3 inches, higher than any other reel mower in our set
- Twenty inches wide, so fewer passes on a bigger lawn
- Quick-snap height adjustment rather than loose hardware
- An owner reports parts covered for 3 years and sold direct by Scotts
- 10 inch dual tracking wheels and a cushioned grip handle
What to watch
- At 26.9 lbs it takes real effort, and owners call it hard to maneuver
- Amazon's review summary reports wheels falling off for some owners
- 4.1 stars, the joint lowest of our top eight
- Handles can break if you twist them sideways on turns
- Most expensive mower in our lineup at $149.99
Full specification
| Cutting width, inches | 20 |
|---|---|
| Cutting heights | 1 to 3 inches, quick-snap adjuster |
| Drive | Push |
| Grass bag capacity | None included |
| Mulching | No mode to set. Clippings drop back onto the lawn where they fall |
| Weight, lbs | 26.9 |
| Suits lawns up to | Up to about 8,000 sq ft |
| Warranty | 3 years on parts, per an owner quoting the manual |
Buy it if
You grow fescue, bluegrass or rye and keep it at 2.5 to 3 inches, and your lawn is big enough that a 14 inch deck would mean too many passes.
Skip it if
You keep your lawn short. The 16 inch Earthwise or Great States will do that job for less money and a lot less pushing.
Questions people ask
What is the highest a reel mower will cut?
Three inches, and the Scotts 2000-20S is the one that does it. Most reel mowers stop between 1.75 and 2.75 inches. Height matters more than anything else in this category, because cool season grasses like fescue and bluegrass are meant to be kept at 2.5 to 3.5 inches, and a mower that tops out at 1.75 inches cannot keep them there.
Is the Scotts 2000-20S hard to push?
Harder than the smaller mowers. At 26.9 lbs with a 20 inch reel there is simply more to turn. Amazon's review summary splits on it, with some owners calling it easy to push and others calling it hard to maneuver. One owner in October 2026 says it is much easier than he expected and much better than the 1960s reel mower it replaced.
Does Scotts sell replacement parts?
Yes, according to an owner who read the manual in October 2026. He reports that parts can be ordered directly from Scotts and that they are covered under warranty for the first three years, which is the longest coverage we could verify in this category.
Why do the handles break?
Sideways force on turns. One owner who read about handle failures now pulls the mower backward on every turn and only pushes forward in a straight line, specifically to keep sideways tension off the handle. Worth copying, because the handle is the part owners report losing.
Who actually makes Scotts reel mowers?
American Lawn Mower Company, who also make the Great States and Earthwise mowers. The Scotts name is licensed. One Great States listing still carries a bullet that reads "For best results from Scotts push mower", which is how plainly the copy is shared.
