To provide a recoil starter which is provided with a ratchet member smoothly sliding on an inner peripheral surface of a drive pulley and capable of being manufactured at a low cost. A recoil starter is provided with a circular cross section ratchet member rotatably mounted on a shaft hole. The ratchet member is configured by: a rotary shaft portion inserted into the shaft hole; an arm portion bent at a substantially right angle and extending from the rotary shaft portion; and a distal end portion bent parallel to the rotary shaft portion and extending from the arm portion. The ratchet member rotates upon rotation of a rope reel in an engine start direction, engages with a drive pulley by the rotation, and transmits torque of the rope reel to the drive pulley.