The Best String Trimmers
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If you want a well-maintained lawn, a string trimmer is essential for cleaning up edges and cutting grass along fences and in tight spots where a mower can’t reach. Modern cordless trimmers are far quieter than gas-powered models (which both you and your neighbors will appreciate) so we’ve looked only at battery-powered models — which are powerful enough that you don’t need to consider gas.
A bonus: If you already own cordless tools, chances are the manufacturer offers a string trimmer that fits the batteries you have. And if you’re new to cordless tools, and this is your first big purchase, consider how many other products share the same battery platform as the string trimmer.
Even the most basic 18-volt string trimmers available can handle an average suburban lawn, while higher-voltage models can take on the biggest properties. We tested the leading models out there, assessing power, durability, convenience, and charging speed to find the best string trimmer for your yard.
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Our favorite string trimmer overall is balanced, powerful, effective, and easy to load and use.
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For big yards, Toro’s string trimmer handles a wide cutting path for bigger yards and tougher jobs.
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All battery trimmers are quieter than gas models, but the DeWalt MAX is the quietest we tested.
Whatwe’relookingfor
Weight & balance
A string trimmer’s weight matters, but balance is more important. Battery-powered models tend to be lighter than comparable gas trimmers, though the difference is modest — often around three pounds when both have “fuel.” A well-balanced trimmer feels almost weightless and intuitive, making it easier to guide the cutting head precisely around obstacles or along long borders, resulting in straighter lines. Some manufacturers use carbon-fiber shafts to reduce weight while maintaining rigidity. When sold as a kit, a trimmer is typically balanced around the included battery’s amp-hour rating. Adding a larger battery — for example going from a 4- to 6-amp-hour pack — to chase longer run time can shift the center of gravity, causing the cutting head to lift and making the tool harder to control. For heavier models, a shoulder strap can help by transferring some of the load away from your arms.
Ease of line maintenance
Without a fussy gas engine to deal with, the last remaining frustration with string trimmers is keeping fresh line in the head and advancing it during use. With the constant whipping and cutting, line breaks frequently, and newer models simplify spool changes with improved manual-loading designs. During use, you can dispatch more line to replace a short, broken length with line-feed systems ranging from automatic mechanisms that dispense line when the trimmer starts to classic bump-feed heads that release more string with a tap on the ground.
Guards that work
Chances are you’ve seen professional landscapers use string trimmers without a guard, but we don’t recommend it. The spinning head can send debris flying toward your face and lower legs, especially when working around rocks or other hard surfaces. Better guards provide enough coverage without limiting too much visibility.
Useful attachments
When choosing a string trimmer, consider whether you want a dedicated tool or an attachment-capable model. These systems use a single power unit that accepts different attachments, once you loosen a wing nut on the shaft, allowing you to swap the trimmer head for tools like a hedge trimmer, pole saw, edger, brush cutter, or cultivator. They make sense for homeowners who need multiple tools and want to avoid the cost and space of dedicated versions for each task.
Cutting-swath diameter
A string trimmer’s cutting swath determines how much material it can cut with each pass, which can affect how big a job you can take on and how quickly you can finish it. Most battery-powered models fall in the 13- to 17-inch range. Trimmers with smaller swaths are easier to maneuver around flower beds (there’s less chance of an accidental decapitation), fences, and tight spaces, while larger swaths cover more ground, which is useful when you need to tackle overgrown areas or trim spots where a walk-behind mower can’t reach. Trimmers with larger swaths drain batteries faster (it takes more power to move a longer line) and can feel less nimble.
Battery platform
For smaller lawns or weekly edging and trimming, an 18- or 20-volt tool is usually sufficient, but tools that use higher voltage batteries — 40 volts or more — provide extra oomph for tackling tall or wet grass, thick weeds.
If you’re new to cordless tools and want one battery platform for both traditional power tools like sanders and drill/drivers and newer lawn equipment, 18- or 20-volt systems offer the most versatility and widest compatibility. If you’re planning to purchase only outdoor power tools, higher-voltage lineups like those from Ego Power and Toro are better suited for heavier equipment and let you add snow blowers and pressure washers.
Run time and charging speed
Big batteries can take a long time to recharge, so if you plan to tackle large areas without lugging around a behemoth battery, picking up an extra battery is the easiest way to go (you can easily swap batteries as you work, moving your extra to the charger). You can also buy faster chargers (usually you don’t get the manufacturer’s fastest model in a kit), but they can add $100 or more to the price.
To estimate recharge time, find the battery’s amp-hour rating, usually printed on the battery label. Then find the charger’s output amps, typically listed on a sticker (if it’s not, divide the charger’s output watts by the volts to calculate amps). Now divide the battery’s amp hours by the charger’s amps to get a rough estimate of recharge time.
The best string trimmer overall
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Cutting swath:16 inches| Included battery:56 volts; 4 amp hours |Run time:Up to 55 minutes |Recharge time with included charger:About 35 minutes |Weight with included battery:12 pounds, 8 ounces |Sound level:89.4 decibels |Extras:Automated trimmer-line loading and feeding to keep the cutter at 16 inches without bumping the head
The Ego is a beast — the heaviest string trimmer we tested — but it’s effective, easy to adjust and load, and surprisingly easy to control with great balance that helps offset its weight, thanks to a carbon-fiber shaft, and the only padded handle in the test group.
The head eliminates the frustration of bumping the trimmer on the ground to advance line after a break by automatically feeding more string and using a blade on the guard to trim it to length. The tool breezed through lawn and bed edging and didn’t flinch in the tall grass growing under the vinyl fence panels. Loading the spool is equally simple: Thread the line through the head, pull the ends even like a shoelace, and press the green button on the shaft. The trimmer gulps the line in and winds it evenly.
The shaft can be adjusted over a five-inch range to help dial in a comfortable working height. You’ll likely spend most of your time in the high-speed setting, but the lower speed is useful when trimming around plants or delicate landscaping where more control matters and it maximizes the battery’s run time. The guard provides protection without significantly limiting visibility while edging. Ego has a faster charger, theCH7000T, which will recharge this kit’s battery in about 30 minutes. Ego’s battery is interchangeable in more than 30 outdoor tools and lifestyle products.
The best less-expensive string trimmer
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Cutting swath:15 inches| Included battery:40 volts; 4 amp hours |Run time:Up to 60 minutes |Recharge time with included charger:About 2.5 to 3 hours |Weight with included battery:11 pounds, 2 ounces |Sound level:96.6 decibels |Extras:Split-shaft design accepts other attachments
Heavier and louder than the field are two drawbacks to the Ryobi 40-volt String Trimmer, which is otherwise the best value for DIYers who’d like to buy into a larger battery platform. Its split-shaft design allows the lower section to be removed tool-free and replaced with one of nine compatible attachments, including cultivators and snow shovels. These add-ons range from $100 to $200, expanding the tool’s usefulness. For homeowners replacing a gas trimmer or building an outdoor power-equipment collection from scratch, the Ryobi delivers gaslike power without the maintenance. Its battery also works with more than 100 tools, ranging from traditional yard equipment like lawn mowers and snow blowers to lifestyle products such as fans and workshop lighting.
The Ryobi’s oversize guard provides excellent protection from flying debris, but it also hides a clever adjustment feature. Loosening a knob and the guard, along with the line-cutting blade, can move to adjust the cutting swath from 13 to 15 inches. Keep it at 13 inches to maximize run time and control, or open it up to 15 inches when covering larger areas. The included charger was the slowest in the test, but upgrading to the brand’sfastest chargercan refill the battery in about 45 minutes, and there are two others — theOP406AandOP408A— that, while a tad slower, cost less.
The best string trimmer for big jobs
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Cutting swath:17 inches| Included battery:60 volts; 2.5 amp hours |Run time:Up to 45 minutes |Recharge time with included charger:About 60 minutes |Weight with included battery:12 pounds, 2 ounces |Sound level:93.3 decibels |Extras:6 inches of adjustment in the shaft helps if two people plan to use the tool
Most modern string trimmers ship in two pieces to reduce box size, but the Toro has a quick-release screw that lets you fold the tool in half for storage once the season ends. That wouldn’t matter if it didn’t perform well, and indeed it sat just behind the Ego in our tests, though the Toro’s hour-long recharge time with the included charger holds it back. Afaster chargercan cut that time roughly in half.
The shaft adjustability and relatively lightweight design make this a trimmer that two people can comfortably share. Manually loading in new line was easy and straightforward, though not quite on par with the Ego. The guard provided some of the best visibility in the test when holding the trimmer perpendicular to the lawn for edging. And that extra inch of cutting swath can save you time on big jobs like cutting along long fence lines or under shrubs and trees where a mower can’t reach.
Toro’s 60-volt lineup may not be as broad as some competing battery platforms — it is focused mostly on lawn and garden equipment — but it has an advantage in offering several walk-behind-mower and snow-blower options, including both single- and two-stage models. That makes it more likely you’ll find a tool combination, feature set, and price point that fits your needs.
The best quiet string trimmer
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Cutting swath:13 inches| Included battery:20 volts at 4 amp hours |Run time:Up to 60 minutes |Recharge time with included charger:About 2 hours |Weight with included battery:7 pounds, 1 ounce |Sound level:88.6 decibels |Extras:Roomy handle makes it easy to use even with gloves on
When I tested each string trimmer’s sound level with an iPhone app, the DeWalt was nearly eight decibels quieter than the loudest Ryobi model. That translates to roughly a 50 percent perceived reduction in volume. While none of these battery-powered tools are loud enough to require hearing protection, quieter models are worth considering given that you’re operating the tool while looking directly at the noise source (your neighbors will appreciate it too).
Beyond that, the DeWalt is a straightforward performer: It has a stiff shaft connection, good balance, a narrow cutting swath that helps in tight spaces, and it tied for the lightest model in the test. If you’ve changed a string-trimmer spool before, there are no surprises here with a classic bump head. The guard doesn’t provide as much coverage as some wider designs, but because most of the plastic sits to the left side of the head, following the strings’ clockwise rotation, it’s easier to see the line while edging.
The DeWalt makes the most sense for anyone already invested in the company’s 20-volt battery platform, since buying this trimmer as a bare tool saves about 35 percent compared with the kit. The biggest weakness is the slow charger included in the kit, although upgrading to afaster versioncan refill the battery in about 40 minutes. Compatibility is a major advantage: The same 20-volt battery works across one of the largest collections of traditional power tools and outdoor equipment available.
The best string trimmer for smaller jobs
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Cutting swath:15 inches| Included battery:18 volts at 4 amp hours |Run time:Up to 45 minutes |Recharge time with included charger:About 2 to 2.5 hours |Weight with included battery:7 pounds, 1 ounce |Sound level:89.4 decibels |Extras:Two-speed switch makes it easier to conserve battery life
Quiet, lightweight, and one of the few models we tested with a two-speed switch, the Ryobi 18-volt trimmer is a good choice for homeowners just picking up a first power tool. The slower-speed setting makes it easier to conserve battery power, which would otherwise require manually holding the variable-speed trigger halfway, which gets tiresome. Like its heavier-duty 40-volt sibling, this model is attachment-capable, though I’d have reservations about using an 18-volt motor for torque-demanding ground-engaging attachments like cultivators or sweepers — this one is really better suited for edging and lawn maintenance.
The Ryobi loads line easily, the bump-feed head works reliably, and the tool feels solid when tapping it against the ground to advance line, and, most important, it cuts quickly through tall, dry grass. Like its 40-volt sibling, the One+ includes a pair of aggressive teeth (in a bright orange color) you can add to the head for tackling thicker weeds and growth.
Ryobi stands out as a battery platform, with more than 300 tools compatible with its 18-volt battery system. Part of the reason this trimmer, along with a capable 4Ah battery, is priced so competitively is the basic charger included in the kit, which is too slow for practical repeat use. Fortunately, upgrading to Ryobi’sfastest chargeris one of the least expensive upgrades among the models tested and can recharge the battery in about 45 minutes.
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