A recoil starter exemplified in the embodiment includes: a starter case; a rope reel; a recoil rope; a ratchet; and a drive pulley. When the rope reel is rotated by pulling the recoil rope, the ratchet pivots to engage an engaged unit of the drive pulley to thereby transmit a torque of the rope reel to an engine. The rope reel has: a ratchet receiving unit; and a reinforcing unit. The ratchet receiving unit is arranged to receive a front end portion of the ratchet when it is engaged with the engaged unit of the drive pulley. And, the reinforcing unit extends in a circumferential direction of the rope reel with respect to the ratchet receiving unit as its leg portion.