A recoil starter is disclosed which enables a ratchet member to be manufactured at a reduced cost and which is capable of obtaining a sufficient strength and reducing a size and weight thereof without increasing a thickness of a rope reel and the like. The ratchet members are mounted on the rope reel so as to engage with a control member that is rotatably attached to a reel shaft with a rotational resistance imparted thereto, so that the ratchet members are turned radially outwardly to engage with a drive pulley, to thereby allow the drive pulley to rotate integrally with the rope reel. The ratchet members are each formed of a rod material having a circular section by bending the material and are each pivotally supported on a side surface of the rope reel.