A recoil starter capable of readily staring an engine and reducing the number of components and manufacturing costs thereof and reducing a size and weight thereof. The recoil starter is so constructed that a rotational force accumulated in a cushioning and force accumulating means (12) interposed between a rope reel (4) and a cam (9) is transmitted via the cam (9) to a drive pulley (6), to thereby start the engine. A ratchet mechanism (14, 30, 40, 50) is provided between the rope reel (4) and the cam (9) so as to uncouple the cam (9) from the rope reel (4) when the rope reel (4) is rotated in an engine starting direction and so as to couple the cam (9) to the rope reel (4) when the rope reel (4) is rotated in a direction opposite to the engine starting direction, thus rotating the cam (9) and the rope reel (4) together in said opposite direction.