A string trimmer is an essential tool for homeowners who are serious about lawn care. But with thousands of options available, which is best for you? We answer that question with our detailed reviews of the best string trimmers.
We compared the value, power, size, and ease of use of Lowes, Home Depot, Amazon, and Walmart models. Our top picks include gas, battery, and corded electric weed eaters. After reviewing the top models, our buyer’s guide helps you select the best trimmer for your yard.
Our Top Picks
Top 3 Gas-Powered String Trimmers – Reviews
1. Husqvarna 128LD 28 cc 2-Cycle String Trimmer
Husqvarna is one of the best brands for gas-powered tools, including string trimmers. The Husqvarna 128LD is powerful, with a 28 cc engine that packs more than enough power to trim heavy-duty grass and weeds. It also features professional-grade 0.095-inch string, making it easy to take on tough jobs.
Additionally, the 128LD is designed with user convenience in mind:
- SmartStart technology reduces resistance in the starter cord, making starting that powerful engine easier.
- Tap ‘N Go’ line release allows you to easily release new trimmer line by simply bumping the head against the ground while in use.
- Loading a new string spool is also quick and easy.
- “Click on” attachments are simple to install, converting your trimmer into additional tools like an edger, cultivator, or pole saw.
The Husqvarna 128LD helps homeowners handle thick grass and weeds without any issues.
Specifications:
- Power: 28 cc gas engine
- Cutting swath: 17 in.
- Line diameter: 0.095 in.
- Shaft: Straight
- Weight: 11 lb.
Pros and Cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Powerful engine with easy starts ✓ Easy to load and release line ✓ Uses professional-grade string ✓ Converts to other power tools with Husqvarna attachments (sold separately) ✓ Lightweight compared to similar gas trimmers | ✗ Expensive ✗ Users reported the shaft being too short for someone around 6 feet to use comfortably ✗ Some users reported issues with the engine stalling out regularly |
Where to buy:
2. Echo SRM-266 25.4 cc 2-Cycle String Trimmer
The Echo SRM-266 is a powerhouse that’s built to last and easy to use. Its pro-grade, 25.5 cc engine is robust and reliable, featuring piston-plating and two-stage air filtration. The trimmer comes with 0.095-inch diamond-shaped trimmer line that crisply cuts overgrown weeds and grass while standing strong along metal fences.
Although durable enough for pros, the SRM-26 was made with homeowners in mind. It comes with the following user-friendly features:
- Ergonomically designed, the weed whacker is well-balanced with reduced vibration and cushioned handles.
- Its 59-inch shaft makes most weeds well within reach.
- Echo’s i-30 starting system eases the effort of starting.
- Echo’s Speed-Feed 400 trimmer head makes loading new line quick and painless.
The Echo SRM-266 is an excellent buy for homeowners with large yards and demanding trimming needs.
Specifications
- Power: 25.4-cc gas engine
- Cutting swath: 17 in.
- Line diameter: 0.095 in.
- Shaft: Straight
- Weight: 13.4 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Reduced effort starter ✓ Easy to load new line ✓ Hefty cutting power ✓ Durable engine ✓ Ergonomic design ✓ Long shaft | ✗ Expensive ✗ Trigger is a bit stiff ✗ It takes 2 – 3 minutes to warm up ✗ Smaller users may find it heavy without a shoulder strap |
Where to buy:
3. CRAFTSMAN WS205 25 cc 2-Cycle String Trimmer
The CRAFTSMAN WS205 is the cheapest gas string trimmer in our lineup, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t high-quality. The model’s 25 cc engine isn’t quite as beefy as some, but it has plenty of power for residential use. Like the rest of our gas picks, it uses a commercial-level, heavy-duty 0.095-inch line.
One benefit of this CRAFTSMAN model is that its design focuses on user comfort:
- AN adjustable multi-position handle makes the WS205 more ergonomic for a broader range of users.
- Vibration-dampening technology makes the tool comfortable for longer periods.
- Easy Start technology reduces the elbow grease needed to get started.
Though many users report continued satisfaction with the CRAFTSMAN WS205, some claim their trimmer stopped working after only six months. If you don’t have much experience maintaining and repairing gas-powered tools, this might not be the best option for you, even though it would save you money for the moment compared to our other top picks.
Specifications:
- Power: 25 cc gas engine
- Cutting swath: 17 in.
- Line diameter: 0.095 in.
- Shaft: Straight
- Weight: 13 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Inexpensive ✓ Ergonomic design ✓ Uses professional-grade string ✓ Converts to other power tools with TrimmerPlus attachments (sold separately) | ✗ On the heavier side ✗ Some users reported the trimmer dying after a short time and CRAFTSMAN not replacing it ✗ Sometimes the bump-feed feature doesn’t release string properly |
Where to buy:
Top 3 Cordless Electric String Trimmers – Reviews
1. ENHULK 58V 16″ String Trimmer – Carbon Fiber
After testing the ENHULK 58V 16″ String Trimmer (you can read my colleague Michelle Selzer’s hands-on review for details), we were wowed by its potency, ease of use, and value. It’s the lightest 16-inch string trimmer we could find, but it packs enough power to compete with high-end gas models. ENHULK, by far, makes the best battery-powered weed eater.
Their customer-centric engineering team crafted the industry’s most user-friendly high-powered model:
- Variable speed control: It has three pre-set speed settings (Eco, High, and Turbo) and a variable speed trigger. The controls are easy to reach and engage with a speed range from 4,800 to 6,300 RPM.
- Extended runtime: Its 58-volt, 2.5 Ah battery runs up to 45 minutes on a single charge and the trimmer comes with a and a 2.3A charger. With the weed eater’s potency, most homeowners can complete their yard on a single battery charge.
- Quick-release battery button: It’s easy to release its battery, even with my small hands and long nails.
- Quick-Load Bump-Feed Trimmer Head: Loading a new spool is simple because it doesn’t require disassembling. While trimming, just tap the trimmer head on the ground to feed fresh string.
- Ergonomic design: With its carbon fiber shaft and advanced brushless motor, the trimmer is very lightweight for its size and potency. It also has built-in arm support, vibration reduction, and an adjustable handle with a comfy grip.
- Foldable shaft: Its long shaft makes it easy to reach out-of-the-way weeds, but tool-lessly folds down to half its height for compact storage.
Watch Michelle’s video review of this ENHULK string trimmer
Additionally, the trimmer is highly durable:
- Carbon fiber out-competes steel and aluminum in strength, stiffness, and vibration absorption. It’s highly resistant to heat, chemicals, and pull force damage.
- The pro-grade 0.095-inch dual trimmer line stands strong against excessively thick weeds. Its twist design breaks less frequently along metal fences than standard square string.
- ENHULK’s advanced brushless motor is dependable, safely housed in aluminum alloy.
- Enhulk guarantees the trimmer’s durability with a 4-year tool and 2-year battery warranty.
We were pleased to see how effortless ENHULK makes high-quality lawn care, even if you have a large yard, small stature, or a ton of heavy-duty weeds.
Specifications:
- Power: 58-volt Li-ion battery
- Cutting swath: 16 in.
- Line diameter: 0.095 in. (also compatible with 0.080 in.)
- Shaft: Straight
- Weight: 9.8 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Extremely potent ✓ Lightest in its class ✓ Extended runtime ✓ Foldable shaft ✓ Highly durable ✓ Ergonomic | ✗ Trimmer line sometimes breaks on chain-link fences ✗ Many batteries come with a longer warranty |
Where to buy:
2. Earthwise LST02010 20V string trimmer
Regarding battery-powered string trimmers, the LST02010 model from Earthwise is your most affordable option. Plus, it’s easy and comfortable to use.
It also comes loaded with these fantastic features:
- Telescopic shaft: The shaft adjusts for more reach.
- Adjustable handle: The handle adjusts to comfort.
- Flip-down edge guard: It’s easy to maintain pristine edges.
- Lightweight design: Even with the battery, the trimmer weighs less than 5 pounds, so it’s easy for just about anyone to carry for extended periods.
Of course, being extremely lightweight has some tradeoffs. For one, this trimmer has a small cutting width (10 inches), meaning it will take longer to trim your yard with the LST02010 than with a larger trimmer head. Also, it has a 20-volt battery, one of the weaker batteries among our top picks. But it compensates by providing long battery life.
The trimmer’s useful and reliable, as long as you don’t expect too much power. If you’re looking for an affordable cordless weed wacker for light-duty trimming, this might be the one for you.
Specifications
- Power: 20-volt Li-ion battery
- Cutting swath: 10 in.
- Line diameter: 0.065 in.
- Shaft: Telescopic
- Weight: 4.4 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Inexpensive ✓ Lightweight ✓ Long battery run time ✓ Telescoping shaft ✓ Flip-down edge guard | ✗ Relatively weak battery ✗ Small cutting swath |
Where to buy:
3. Greenworks 21302
The Greenworks 13-inch 2-in-1 trimmer/edger is right in the middle of our other top battery-powered picks regarding potency and price point. With its 40-volt battery, the trimmer can’t match ENHULK’s cutting power but cuts thick grass and weeds much more efficiently than the Earthwise LST02010.
The trimmer is heavier than most electric models in its class, but it’s also a heavy-weight when it comes to convenience, with these special features:
- Versatile design: It has a multi-position cutting head and edger wheel, making it useful on all kinds of terrain.
- Variable speed trigger: The trimmer has simple speed control.
- Fade-free power: The trimmer doesn’t lose memory after the battery charges.
- Auto-feed trimmer head: It’s easy to insert a new spool.
- Telescopic shaft: The aluminum shaft adjusts to your height and the distance of your weeds.
Perhaps because of its good balance between price and power, the Greenworks 21302 is extremely popular with homeowners. Most users find it reliable, powerful, and easy to use. Ultimately, it’s worth its cost for small- to mid-sized yards.
Specifications:
- Power: 40-volt Li-ion battery
- Cutting swath: 13 in.
- Line diameter: 0.065 in.
- Shaft: Telescopic
- Weight: 9.3 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ High-quality battery ✓ Converts to wheeled edger ✓ Telescoping shaft | ✗ Heavy for its class |
Where to buy:
Top 2 Corded Electric String Trimmers – Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 6.5 Amp String Trimmer/Edger
The best corded electric string trimmer for the money is the 2-in-1 BESTA510 from BLACK+DECKER, which easily converts between a trimmer and a wheeled edger.
This little tool has a 6.5-amp motor, about average for a corded model. Its 14-inch cutting head isn’t the biggest, but it’s perfect for trimming weeds in flower beds and other tight spots. Best of all, this trimmer only weighs about 5 pounds, so it’s easy for anyone to carry.
The BESTA510 isn’t only easy to use because it’s incredibly lightweight. It also has convenient features, such as:
- An automatic feed spool that releases string as needed
- A cord retention system that prevents disconnecting from the cord while you work
- A low price tag that’s easy on your wallet
Most users praise the BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 for its simplicity of use, even for people who aren’t familiar with power tools or have limited upper body strength.
While the BESTA510 may not be the best choice for tackling extensively thick overgrowth, this is a common limitation with corded electric models. However, it’s more than capable of meeting your typical trimming needs around the yard, and it’s a great value for the price.
Specifications:
- Power: 6.5 amp motor
- Cutting swath: 14 in.
- Line diameter: 0.065 in.
- Shaft: Straight
- Weight: 5.3 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Inexpensive ✓ Lightweight ✓ Easy to use ✓ Converts to wheeled edger | ✗ Not compatible with some 3-prong extension cords ✗ Sometimes the auto-feed doesn’t release the right length of line |
Where to buy:
2. Toro 51480 5 Amp String Trimmer/Edger
The Toro 51480, like the BLACK+DECKER model, switches from trimmer to wheeled edger with one simple step. It also has a similar cutting head with a 14-inch cutting swath.
What makes the Toro our runner-up is its motor, which only packs 5 amps of power. While this should be sufficient for residential use, it’s relatively weak compared to most other corded electric trimmers.
That said, the Toro 51480 has some features that give it a leg up on the BLACK+DECKER model, including:
- Trigger-operated line release gives users more control over when and how much line gets released.
- Toro’s telescoping shaft provides the tool with an extended reach that helps you work around obstacles.
At just over 6 pounds, the Toro 51480 is slightly heavier than some other corded electric trimmers. However, most users find it comfortable, making it a practical choice for most people.
While this tool can’t handle as much as, say, one of our gas picks, it’s excellent for around-the-house use and definitely worth the low price tag.
Specifications:
- Power: 5 amp motor
- Cutting swath: 14 in.
- Line diameter: 0.065 in.
- Shaft: Telescopic
- Weight: 6.3 lb.
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Inexpensive ✓ Easy to use ✓ Converts to wheeled edger ✓ Telescoping shaft | ✗ Relatively weak engine ✗ A little heavy for corded |
Where to buy:
Buyers Guide
To buy the best string trimmer for your yard, consider the following:
What is a String Trimmer?
String trimmers have many common names, including weed wacker, weed eater, weed trimmer, and grass trimmer, but all these terms refer to the same simple tool.
Basically, a string trimmer is what you use to cut grass and weeds in spots where a lawn mower won’t reach. That usually includes the lawn near flower beds and hardscapes and tight spaces between landscape features.
To reach these unusual spots in your yard, a string trimmer features a long shaft with a cutting head on one end. The cutting head spins a single or dual line (string) rapidly enough to cut down vegetation.
Power Source
Each type of leaf blower has advantages and disadvantages. No one can say definitively if one power source is better than the others because every homeowner and every lawn has different needs. So, which type would be better for your yard?
Gas String Trimmers
If you need to trim a large area or you have to deal with a lot of thick overgrowth, a powerful and mobile gas string trimmer might be the best option for you. The best gas-powered string trimmers give homeowners with big yards the best bang for their buck.
Pros:
- Potency: Gas string trimmers are all about power. They can take down the toughest thickets of grass and weeds.
- Less limitation: Along with that high power level, gas trimmers have less limitations than either type of electric.
- Convenient power supply: With a gas engine, you don’t have to work within a battery’s run time or an extension cord’s reach. You can work for as long as you want (as long as you have enough gas) and go as far as you want with a gas trimmer.
Cons:
- Noise: Typically, gas trimmers are louder than electric ones.
- Weight: With all that power, gas trimmers tend to weigh more than eclectic models.
- Ease of use: Gas engines are harder to start than electric motors and higher maintenance, You’ll either have to mix gas and oil (for a 2-cycle engine) or perform regular oil changes (for a 4-cycle engine).
- Environment: Gas string trimmers can be detrimental to both the environment and your health because of the emissions they produce.
Corded String Trimmers
The best corded-electric string trimmers are best for small yards with light-duty trimming.
If you have an extension cord long enough to reach your whole yard and you aren’t concerned about the cord getting in the way, there’s no reason not to save money and energy with a corded model.
Pros:
- Cost: As is the case with most power tools, a corded electric string trimmer is generally the cheapest option.
- Weight: Corded string trimmers are usually lighter than others, too, since they don’t include the extra weight of a gas tank or battery.
- Noise: Compared to gas trimmers, corded ones are much quieter.
- Ease of use: They tend to be easier to operate than gas.
- Environment: Corded trimmers are also better for the environment than gas because they don’t produce harmful fumes.
Cons:
- Mobility: You won’t be able to move freely around your yard with a corded trimmer, since it has to stay plugged in. You can move only as far away from a power source as your extension cord will allow.
- Cumbersome cord: The cord can get in the way of your work or damage landscaping if you don’t pay attention to it.
Battery-powered String Trimmers
Battery-powered models are perfect for people who want to save the environment but need mobility. The best battery-powered string trimmers have efficient batteries and potent power.
Pros:
- Noise: Compared to gas trimmers, most battery-powered models are quiet.
- Environment: Battery-powered models don’t produce harmful gas fumes.
- Cordless: They don’t keep you on a leash.
Cons:
- Cost: Battery-powered trimmers can get quite expensive. You can almost always find comparable gas or corded models at a cheaper price.
- Runtime: A trimmer’s battery usually lasts half an hour or less, which might not be enough time to do all the work you need your trimmer for.
- Charge time: Once the battery runs out of juice, it typically takes more than an hour (several hours in some cases) to recharge.
Potency
A string trimmer’s power level determines how well it can handle thicker grass and weeds. Essentially, the more power a trimmer has available, the better it can spin its line, and the tougher jobs it can take on.
Measuring power:
- Gas: We measure the power of a gas trimmer in cc (cubic centimeters), which tells how large the engine is.
- Corded electric: We measure the power output of corded electric trimmers in amps.
- Battery: We measure the power output of a cordless trimmer’s battery in volts.
It’s hard to compare the different measurements, but in general, you can assume that a gas trimmer will be the most powerful.
Cutting swath
The cutting swath, or the width of the cutting head, tells you how much grass and weeds you’ll be able to trim at once. A machine with a larger cutting swath will cover more ground in less time, so you’ll be able to trim your lawn faster.
However, if your yard has a lot of tight spots to trim, a smaller cutting swath might be better for you.
Line diameter
Line diameter is basically a fancy way of saying “string thickness.” The larger the line diameter, the thicker the string. Thicker string is more durable and better at cutting dense growth.
You may have noticed based on our top picks that gas trimmers tend to hold thicker string and are therefore better suited for more heavy-duty work.
Weight
Always pay attention to the weight of power tools like string trimmers, which you have to carry while using. If you choose a trimmer that’s too heavy for you, you’ll quickly wear yourself out.
Generally speaking, gas trimmers tend to be the heaviest, while corded electric ones tend to be the lightest.
Price
String trimmers are available at a wide variety of price points, ranging from less than $100 to $400 or more. For the purposes of our list, we focused on models that are good for residential use and affordable for the average homeowner.
The table below shows the average cost and typical price range of string trimmers by power source.
| Average Price | Typical Range | |
| Corded electric | $70 | $55 – $85 |
| Battery-powered | $215 | $80 – $350 |
| Gas-powered | $240 | $125 – $355 |
You’ll typically pay more for things like higher power levels, larger cutting heads, and specific special features.
FAQ About String Trimmers
1. What size string trimmer do I need?
Something smaller (10- to 15-inch cutting head) should be sufficient for a typical residential yard. If you have a large open space to trim and you want the job to go faster, a 16 – 20 inch cutting head is helpful.
2. Can I use thicker trimmer line?
Using thicker trimmer line than the manufacturer recommends for a specific model can result in less power from your trimmer. The heavier string will create more resistance as the cutting head spins, so it will take more power to move it. This is especially bad for battery-powered models, which already tend to be on the weaker side.
3. Are trimmer heads universal?
Technically, no, but a gas trimmer usually can work with any trimmer head you’re able to attach to it. With electric models (corded or cordless), you usually can’t change out the head.
When to Call a Lawn Care Pro
When you want a new string trimmer, you’ve got tons of options. But many homeowners prefer to leave the heavy lifting to a pro.
LawnStarter links you to local lawn care pros who have affordable rates. Our pros are vetted and insured, and your satisfaction is guaranteed. It only takes a moment to get a free online quote, so you can start saving time and money today.
LawnStarter participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other retailer affiliate programs. LawnStarter may earn revenue from products promoted in this article.
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