Tag: Weed eater

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Gas vs Electric Weed Eaters: Which is ACTUALLY Better?

Weed eater attachment system SKIL

Electric and battery powered weed eaters are superior to gas powered weed eaters.

Gas and electric weed eaters are two tools that can accomplish the same task: putting the final touches on your yard that make it look amazing. I own both a Stihl FS 56 RC gas-powered weed eater and an EGO 56V electric weed eater (among many, many others) and want to break down why I basically never use my gas-powered weed eater anymore.

Yes, it is controversial and I get a lot of comments from folks (especially commercial landscapers), but I can’t deny reality. 

In all honesty, both are great options and have a bunch of pros and cons – so making a choice is personal preference. Today, I’ll break down my experience with both types of tools and which is the best for each type of operator.

How I tested both gas and battery-powered weed eaters

The short answer is: I used both hundreds (if not thousands) of times. I started with my gas-powered weed eater when I owned a landscaping company and used it as my go-to for anything involving trimming. When I moved into my house, I started using a battery-powered weed eater. 

These are sweet.

Needless to say, I’ve dealt with just about every type of weed eater you can use. Tons of different gas-powered ones from folks like ECHO and battery powered and electric string trimmers that you’ve probably never even heard of. 

When I put them to the test, It is usually a combination of power, handling, and ease of use that I evaluate.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

Maintenance comparison: Battery vs gas

The most shocking transition for me when moving from gas to battery-powered weed eaters was the lack of maintenance. If you’ve ever owned a gas-powered weed eater, you know that the maintenance schedule can be kind of intense. For example, below is the maintenance schedule for Stihl’s FS 56 RC (which I own):

I’ve got a headache.

Here is the maintenance schedule for my battery-powered weed eater:

Yeah it is nothing.

While I am obviously trying way too hard to be funny here, the fact is that battery powered weed eaters require zero maintenance. Yes, you’ll have to replace the weed eater string every now and then but I don’t consider that maintenance.

Gas-powered string trimmers are just tough to maintain – you have to mix oil and gas (which isn’t that hard), but also do things like replace spark plugs, air filters, and all the other moving parts that seem to want to implode all the time. For me, the battery-powered weed eater was so much easier to use.

Run-time comparison: Gas vs Electric string trimmer

Comparing run-times on gas and electric weed eaters is a little silly. When using a gas powered weed eater, you can refill the tank as much as you need and it can run forever. As long as you have gas, you have power.

It can run forever.

With electric weed eaters, it is more complicated. Corded string trimmers have unlimited run time as long as you keep them plugged into the wall and pay your electric bill. 

A cord can keep this running forever.

Battery-powered weed eaters provide a limited amount of run time, dependent on the amp-hours of the battery (boring science stuff). You can have multiple batteries that can keep you running as well, so could theoretically have unlimited run time.

The real question is: how much run time do you need with a battery powered weed eater? 

How long does a battery-powered weed eater last?

For most battery-powered weed eaters, you can expect a 30-45 minute run time.

Battery powered weed eater run time is totally dependent on the amp-hours (Ah) of the battery. Additionally, things like cutting swath, how thick of brush you are cutting, and weed eater string size can all cause fluctuations in run-time.

This Skil 40V has a great run time.

The higher the Ah on the battery, the longer the run time you will get. Higher voltage batteries, thicker weed eater string, and a larger cutting swath all allow for increased power as well, giving you the ability to cut through thicker brush for longer.

Comparing power on gas and battery powered weed eaters

When I first got my battery-powered weed eater I was super skeptical. As a gas loyalist, making the switch was pure blasphemy. I hid it from my friends and neighbors and was scared to use it for a long time. Which is why I still haven’t thrown out my gas-powered weed eater.

But boy, was I shocked by the power output on this thing. It can BLAST through grass and has virtually no difference in power from my Stihl weed eater. 

My EGO weed eater.

But don’t get all angry yet – this isn’t true for every battery-powered weed eater. In fact, many are simply wimpy (say that 5 times fast). Here are two I recommend.

Two most powerful battery-powered weed eaters

The first most powerful battery-powered weed eater that I recommend is the Makita XRU15PT1 36V weed eater. It has the following accolades that make it a beast:

  • A brushless motor
  • 15 inch cutting swath
  • Three speed options (can help preserve battery life)
  • A ton of other Makita power tools you can use the batteries with

In short, it is designed just like a gas-powered weed eater and has a super trusted name behind it (Makita) that has been in the battery-powered tool space for a LONG time. It’s for sale on Amazon for a pretty good price.

The next weed eater I recommend is the EGO 56V Multi-Head system. It is the one the weed eater I use the most because it is so dang convenient AND extremely powerful. I drop in my homemade weed eater string and this thing absolutely rocks. 

My edger attachment.

I not only use this as my weed eater of choice, but I also add the edger attachment and a few other attachments that make it darn cool. You can grab it from Amazon for a great price here. 

Ease of use 

Ease of use was the main reason I’ve started using my battery powered weed eater more than my gas powered one. Insane, already mentioned maintenance schedules aside, there is nothing more I love than walking into my shed and simply popping the battery on and getting started.

From a feel perspective, my EGO weed eater handles exactly like my gas weed eater. In fact, it may even be a little bit lighter. Either way, compared to my gas weed eater the trimming experience is about 7x easier.

Just slide it on and get to work.

With my gas weed eater I walk outside, make sure it has gas, press the bulb to prime the engine 5x, make sure the choke is in the closed position, pull the cord a few times and then hopefully get it started.

Battery powered weed eaters are so much simpler. For me, it is way easier to choose battery over gas when I know that I will get started way quicker.

Price comparison: Battery vs Gas Weed Eaters

For a decent gas-powered weed eater, expect to spend around $250-$300. For battery weed eaters, you’re looking at $300-350.

There’s a huge range in prices between battery and gas-powered mowers. In general, a comparable gas-powered weed eater is often slightly cheaper than a battery-powered equivalent. That’s because gas-powered weed eaters ON AVERAGE are more powerful than battery-powered weed eaters.


Since battery powered weed eaters are newer and have different technology, a high-powered one is often more expensive.

Which is better: Gas or Battery powered weed eaters?

In my opinion, battery powered weed eaters are better for homeowners and gas are better for landscapers.

Battery powered weed eaters are easier to use, require no maintenance, have a great run time, can be just as powerful, and don’t leave a gasoline smell on you.

Gas powered weed eaters often can handle thicker brush and don’t require recharging, making them great for moving from job to job as a commercial landscaper.

One day, technology will likely catch up and allow for easy recharging or really long battery life at a reasonable price. I predict most landscaping companies will be using battery powered everything in the next decade.

Why we created The Lawn Review

The reason we started the Lawn Review in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And they aren’t cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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Ultimate Electric Weed Eater Buying Guide: 2024 Update

Electric weed eaters are the future. In fact, we are so confident in that that we’ve purchased probably ten of them here at The Lawn Review and used a dozen more. And yes, we’ve done some crazy stuff in our extensive testing – including cutting through a foam pool noodle to test it out. 

Needless to say, we are experts in all things electric and battery-powered weed eaters. We are oddly obsessed with them, so decided to put the findings of all of our rigorous tests into writing. 

Today, I’d like to walk you through exactly what I look for when looking for an electric weed eater to make it easier for you to buy when scrolling through the options. 

Bottom Line: One of my favorite electric weed eaters is the Milwaukee M18 weed eater. It has a strong motor, great battery system, and is really easy to use.

What we look for in an electric weed eater

After owning probably ten of these and testing out another 10-15, we’ve developed some strong opinions on what to look for in a weed eater. So, I am going to speak mostly from personal experience here, but will tell you how I would make one if I had a lab to make all this. 

Getting the right battery line in an electric weed eater

The very first question I ask when someone asks me what kind of weed eater to get is: “do you already own a battery-powered lawn tool?”. If so, my first recommendation is to start your search with the brand you already own. If you have a Ryobi 40V leaf blower, then I say start looking at Ryobi 40V weed eaters (I own both).

My Ryobi battery works with my blower and mower.

The reason I say this is because you can buy many lawn tools as “tool-only”, meaning you can buy it without the battery and save anywhere between $60-$100. It’s a no brainer to narrow the search to those right away. 

If this is their first foray into battery-powered tools – then I recommend brands I’ve had the most success with personally. The one weed eater I’ve been most impressed with and has the most gas-like power is my EGO 56V string trimmer. If they are looking for something on the lighter side, there are a number of smaller weed eaters from Black and Decker or others that are good alternatives.

Understanding power on weed eaters

Battery weed eaters have power measurements in a couple of ways: rotations per minute (RPMs), battery voltage, cutting swath, and string size. None of them are absolute in their measurement. For example, Milwaukee makes an 18V weed eater that I absolutely shred with and is powerful as all get out. Worx has a 20V weed eater that is small and relatively weak feeling. 

My EGO string trimmer has a decent cutting swath.

What I look for in power is mainly the cutting swath of the weed eater. This is the best indicator of power to me because even at lower RPMs, the greater the length of the string, the faster the tips are moving (its science). 

Gas powered weed eaters typically have 15 to 19 inch cutting swaths. Electrics range from 10 to 17 inches. Again, my EGO weed eaters are at the 15 inch range and even a couple of the Dewalt ones I’ve tried get up there.

Luckily, this isn’t something you need to overcomplicate. Look for about a 15 inch cutting swath and the required battery voltage to make it spin will follow. 

Feel and comfort is important when using a weed eater

An underrated quality in a weed eater, it is absolutely imperative that you find one that is comfortable to you. My neighbor has a super small, lightweight Ryobi weed eater that has basically no functionality. He has back pain and is about twice my age. 

I prefer a much longer, more powerful weed eater that I can use with a variety of attachments. I am well over six feet tall and younger. 

There is a huge element to personal preference in the feel and comfort category, but I can tell you what I do when I’m looking for a weed eater. I first check to see whether or not the weed eater has a D-loop handle. D-loop handles make it easier for me to grab and hold at multiple angles. Compare that to some weed eaters that have a foldable handle that isn’t adjustable and forces you to hold the trimmer a single way.

This is a D-loop handle, which comes on many weed eaters.

The other things I am checking for:

  • Whether or not there’s a variable speed trigger that gives me control of the speed
  • Molded grips that make holding on easier on the hands
  • Where the battery connects to see how weight will be distributed
  • How easy it is to change out the weed eater string / string trimmer line

All of these have an impact on my experience as someone using this tool. 

Attachment capabilities make weed eaters amazing tools

Please, please do not skip this section. Having a weed eater with attachment capabilities is an absolute game changer. It can turn your weed eater into a Swiss Army knife. Let me go further.

My EGO Multi Head string trimmer.

One of the first battery powered weed eaters I owned was the Ryobi 40V Expand-It. I still use it every now and then, but it has the ability to have a weed eater, blower, edger, and more attachments. Basically you can take them off and change them out without having to buy a full tool and battery system each time, saving me hundreds of dollars. 

My SKIL PWR CORE attachment system.

Some tools we’ve used in this lineup are my Ryobi but also the EGO multi-head we spent a lot of time testing and the SKIL PWR CORE weed eater system that I was not super impressed with when using.

My attachment capable weed eater system.

Motor types on electric weed eaters

Electric motors are different from gas-powered and definitely more simple. There are two main types: brushed and brushless. Brushed motors are the traditional electric tool motor and are fine, but most electric tool motors are being made with brushless motors now.

Compared to brushed motors, they provide more torque, run at a lower temperature, and are more durable. There’s a ton of science that goes into them, but when you see it advertised on a weed eater or really any other lawn tool – I recommend taking it seriously. They are legit.

Corded vs cordless weed eaters

Corded and cordless weed eaters are great alternatives to gas-powered string trimmers when it comes to residential use. The order of power is usually gas > battery > electric. The order of convenience is battery > electric > gas. Make sense?

My corded Black + Decker weed eater.

I’ve used a few corded weed eaters but generally try to avoid them because I don’t like being limited by an extension cord and always yank it around like I’m vacuuming. That being said, one major benefit to my corded weed eater is that I don’t have to charge a battery or anything. 

Cordless is definitely my preference and has tons of great options. If you’re going for an electric weed eater, I recommend using a battery-powered system that you can build your battery lawn tool set around. 

Gas vs electric weed eaters

When it comes to picking a weed eater, the first decision you’ll come across is whether or not to buy a gas-powered weed eater. They’re the incumbent – and ran the string trimmer world for decades. And just like cars, they still reign supreme for a lot of applications.

And I still have a gas-powered string trimmer.

Gas powered weed eaters have a few benefits when compared to electric weed eaters:

  • They generally have a larger cutting swath
  • Most gas weed eaters can fit thicker weed eater string
  • Gas string trimmers are easier to run for longer periods of time and don’t require charging
  • They often have a higher power output
  • When well-maintained, gas string trimmers can last many years

But battery-powered weed eaters have some advantages to gas:

  • No maintenance
  • No fumes
  • Way quieter
  • Super easy to start

In short, it comes down to your application. I would almost never recommend an electric weed eater to a professional landscaper. For my neighbors who often ask me which is better, I recommend them trying my battery-powered weed eater to see how satisfied they are with the performance.

Bottom Line: Our experience testing electric weed eaters

If you came up to me on the street and asked me what electric weed eater you should get, I would say it needs to fit these criteria: 15 inch cutting swath, brushless motor, D-loop handle, battery line with significant voltage and Amp-hours, and attachment capability. There are tons of those out there, but we really loved our experience with EGO. We don’t have an affiliation with them or anything – but have been so impressed by their multi-head system.

Common questions about electric weed eaters

Are electric weed eaters worth it?

Electric weed eaters are great tools for homeowners and with the right one, can last a long time. They are definitely worth it for home use.

What is the best electric weed eater you can buy?

In my experience, the best electric weed eater is the attachment capable EGO Multi-Tool.

Do electric weed eaters work well?

Electric weed eaters work very well for home use but are limited in commercial use.

What size electric weed eater do I need?

The perfect size electric weed eater for home use is anywhere between 14-16 inches of cutting swath.

How long do battery powered weed eaters last?

Battery powered weed eaters can last about 35-50 minutes depending on intensity of use.

How much does a battery weed eater cost?

Battery weed eaters can cost anywhere from $125 to $400 depending on the size, voltage, and quality of construction.

Why we started reviewing weed eaters

The reason we started The Lawn Review in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

We test lawn tools – for real.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

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5 Lightweight String Trimmers That Make Trimming Easy

The best lightweight string trimmer that I have used is the Greenworks 40V 12 inch cordless string trimmer because it is durable, has a decent cutting swath, and is part of a large 40V battery system. Lightweight string trimmers are game changers for your neck and back.

It doesn’t have to be this way. My parents (senior citizens) and my wife (woman) love using smaller weed eaters because  they’re just easier. And they aren’t hardcore perfectionists like me who are obsessed with having heavy-duty tools. 

But anyways – I have gotten a lot of questions lately over on our Youtube channel about what the best lightweight weed eaters are, mostly from older women. Let’s break it down today!

Here is our list of best lightweight string trimmers:

  1. Greenworks 40V 12 inch Cordless String Trimmer
  2. Ryobi ONE+ 18V 10 in. Cordless Battery String Trimmer and Edger
  3. Black and Decker 14 inch String Trimmer
  4. WORX WG162 20V Cordless String Trimmer
  5. Sun Joe TRJ13STE Trimmer Joe 13” Weed Eater

5 Lightweight Electric Weed Eaters: Ranked

Many of these weed eaters I’ve gotten to use after borrowing from my neighbors, parents, or in-laws that told me how great they were. I’m taking into account my personal experience, my parents’ enthusiasm, and the specifications that make these the best.

1. Greenworks 40V 12 inch Cordless String Trimmer

We liked the Greenworks 40V 12 inch cordless string trimmer because it has much of the same performance as a big weed eater, but is noticeably lighter. Coming in at right at 9 lbs, this one is going to mostly feel like a bigger EGO string trimmer, but provide less fatigue (and less power).

We liked this tool because the Greenworks 40V battery series can be used with a ton of other Greenworks 40V products as well. There are a ton of those, including a big ole chainsaw, a bunch of their mowers, and more.

We have it here with their 40V mower that we got.

But for this string trimmer, I particularly loved the molded handle grip that takes even more force off of your fingertips. It also has a slightly bent D-loop handle that isn’t a fake plastic-y type of handle. Together, these make the 9 lbs feel even lighter. 

While this isn’t the highest performing weed eater – a cutting swath of 12 inches – it is definitely a good cutting swath for smaller yards without crazy amounts of thick brush. It’s a great weed eater for a homeowner with a generally well-maintained yard. I also really liked the variable speed trigger on this, which lets you have complete control over how hard you are trimming.

You can grab this one from the same place we did – Amazon – for a great price WITH a battery. 

2. Ryobi ONE+ 18V 10 in. Cordless Battery String Trimmer and Edger

So my neighbor has the Ryobi ONE+ 18V cordless string trimmer and I had spotted him using it one day when I went up and asked him about it. He recently had back surgery and was finally back to playing golf. He liked this tool because it was taking the weight off of his back and was extremely easy to use.

While it doesn’t look like much, this Ryobi string trimmer made it super easy for my elderly neighbor to get back to taking care of his yard, which I can definitely appreciate. At first glance, this weed eater doesn’t appear to meet any of the criteria I laid out below. It has a curved shaft (if you can call it that), it isn’t very adjustable, it’s got a tiny cutting swath – but man if it isn’t lightweight.

Looks a little goofy but it works and my neighbor loves it.

Coming in at 4 lbs, this may be the lightest electric weed eater on the block. Whoever designed this made sure that it was all about convenience – which is what so many of us care about anyways. It has these features as well:

  • Automatic line advancement meaning you don’t have to flip it over and pull out more line when it inevitable breaks off
  • The 18V battery that can be used with a ton of other Ryobi 18V ONE+ tools (like this backpack sprayer of theirs)
  • A dang 3 year warranty
  • An insane price

Look – this electric string trimmer isn’t all about power – and that’s fine. But I challenge you to find a lightweight, easier to use weed eater on the block. You can find this one a number of places, like Home Depot (where my neighbor got it) for a really low price.

3. Black and Decker 14 inch String Trimmer

The Black and Decker 14 inch corded electric string trimmer was the first string trimmer I ever owned. I did a full write up about it last week because I found it in my garage and got nostalgic. It’s ranking high up here because it lasted me about six years and could keep on going if I hadn’t upgraded it.

This one is super convenient because it has a handle that rotates that lets you go from trimming to edging – really quickly. I like the fact that it has a cord because it makes it both extremely cheap and I never have to worry about charging batteries. 

Either lightweight or I’m super strong (Answer: Both).

Another cool thing about this trimmer is that it can retract into itself and fold the handle up, making it fit into a space the size of a locker. It can easily hang on a nail in the garage. When using it, I can extend the trimmer, rotate the head, and balance it along a wheel to do some light edging work as well. 

This one got me through many years in my first home on a budget. You can check the latest price on Amazon here, but it is dirt cheap.

4. WORX WG162 20V Cordless String Trimmer

Next up is the WORX WG162 20V string trimmer. This one is battery-powered and WITH the battery comes in at 5.5 lbs and without the battery weighs 4.5 lbs. That is incredibly lightweight.

Here are some other things that we like about this trimmer:

  • 20V battery works with a ton of other Worx 20V tools
  • 12 inch cutting swath is slightly larger than a few of the competitors
  • Telescoping head lets you adjust the length of the trimmer or collapse it for easy storage
  • The head pivots for edging just like the Black and Decker above

One thing I don’t love about this trimmer, which is why it is ranking below the others, is that it only has a single speed. I like having as much control as possible (which my wife loves), so having a single speed really limits what I can do. In particular, it makes it hard for me to cut around delicate flowers without being absolutely surgical and/or wreckless.

A nice, simple, reliable, inexpensive string trimmer.

Either way, this is still a great, lightweight string trimmer and marketed almost exclusively toward women (just my observation!). But given the lightweight feel and the ease of use – it is also a great lightweight string trimmer for seniors. 

This one, like most Worx products, are found almost exclusively at Amazon – where the price is pretty ridiculous (low).

5. Sun Joe TRJ13STE Trimmer Joe 13” Weed Eater

One that definitely flies under the radar, the Sun Joe electric string trimmer and edger is nearly identical to the Worx one above. The main difference is that it has a slightly larger cutting swath at 13 inches and is a corded electric string trimmer instead of battery.

Weighing in at 5 lbs (and no additional battery to weigh it down further), this thing is on the list because it is featherlight. Oh – and it is also featherlight on the wallet. This thing is under $40. Yes, if you’re on a budget and looking for something light and easy – you aren’t going to do much better than this. 

Look familiar? Like the Worx one above with a paint job?

This is the ultimate string trimmer for people with tiny yards and aren’t snobby about their tools. Sun Joe is not big in the lawn care space (yet), so you aren’t going to be building out your full suite of lawn tools with them. We have the Sun Joe dethatcher and have used a few other Sun Joe tools and honestly – they aren’t bad.

So – what do you have to lose? 40 bucks? That’s like a dozen eggs these days.

Go grab it on Amazon right now before hyperinflation takes it to the price of a normal weed eater.

Why we created The Lawn Review

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

What to look for in a string trimmer

Cordless weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. With the ones on this list, feel is less important because they’re so dang light. It is hard to torque your back or shoulder when there isn’t a ton of weight working against you.

Motor 

Brushless motors are the best type of motors for electric lawn tools. They also produce more torque and less heat. They’re harder to find in lower-end lawn tools like the ones on this list. But if you can get one – it is good as gold and will last a long time.

Power Source

Depending on your situation, you may need to consider the power source. If you have a large yard with a lot of acreage, you may need gas to cover the whole area, while smaller yards (an acre or less) can get away with a battery or corded tool. These ones are all either battery or corded electric. If you get corded, just make sure you have a nice extension cord.

Curved vs Straight shaft

I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing”, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.

Bottom Line: Lightweight weed eaters

Y’all the good thing about these lightweight weed eaters is that they all get the job done and are lightweight on the wallet as well. The toughest choice you’ll make from this list is whether or not you want a battery or corded electric string trimmer.

Either way, your back will thank you for the featherweight tool and your lawn will look as good as new.

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Black & Decker 14-inch String Trimmer Review: 2024

The Black & Decker 6.5-Amp, 14-Inch String Trimmer was the first string trimmer I ever owned. Put simply, this weed eater gets the job done while still being a super budget friendly and lightweight tool.

In all it’s condensed glory!

Black and Decker String Trimmers are nearly a household name. I mean who doesn’t own a Black and Decker product? Even my two year old son has a toy Black and Decker tool box!

But there are so many options with Black and Decker trimmers that it is nearly impossible to compare. 

Bottom Line: The Black and Decker 14 inch trimmer is one of the best lightweight and light duty string trimmers on the market at a ridiculously low price on Amazon.

Jump ahead:

Black & Decker String Trimmer, 6.5-Amp, 14-Inch: My Experience

Black and Decker sell a million weed eaters. How did I pick this one? Well, I just scrolled on Amazon and found a cheap one. I had a really small yard when I first bought it, so I wasn’t looking for anything fancy (and couldn’t afford fancy).. I’ve changed and now like really fancy things (but still can’t afford them).

The Black and Decker 14 inch trimmer is easy to use

This Black & Decker string trimmer feels natural to hold. Whether you prefer to hold the handle from the side or from the top, this features a twist and lock mechanism for your preference. I usually go from the side so I can use it for edging.

The twist and lock mechanism.

It’s also very light weight at only 5.3 pounds, so your arms won’t get too tired holding it. For comparison sake, many gas powered weed wackers are over 10 pounds plus the weight of gas in the tank.

Lastly, this tool features a small plastic wheel that you rest on the ground while edging the curb. This helps guide you to keep a straight line for perfectly edged grass.

The little wheel that helps me edge.

One thing I love about it is the automatic feed spool feature, which will automatically send out more trimmer lines when you start to run low. The feature itself is cool, but the actual weed eater string in the replacement spools is super cheap. I knew that when I bought it, but you can’t do a great job edging your lawn without a thicker string.

This all may seem like great features… but it’s not all sunshine & rainbows. More on that in the price & value section below.

Black and Decker’s 14 inch trimmer is corded

This particular tool isn’t battery-powered, but is a great corded electric string trimmer. While it isn’t going to provide you the same portability that a battery powered string trimmer provides, it gives you reliable power without being concerned about the battery charge. As long as your house has power, you have power. Your only concern with this will be making sure you have a long enough extension cord to cover your yard.

The 6.5 amp motor isn’t as strong as a lot of the gas powered string trimmers on the market, but most of our readers don’t need the biggest and baddest on the market. At some point, there’s a diminishing return for how much you pay. My personal opinion, if you’re buying a string trimmer to clean up your edges and trim close to your home, you really don’t need too much more than what this tool offers.

If you have dense brush, a larger yard, or just love power – there are some great gas powered weed eaters from ECHO or even Stihl that will get you there.

The Black and Decker 14 inch String Trimmer is cheap

While this Black & Decker string trimmer has some great features, I wouldn’t feel good just making you seem like it’s everything you need for under $60. Yes, it’s very cheap, which made it a good option when I was young, didn’t have a lot of money, and was a new homeowner acquiring a lot of tools at once to take care of my yard.

But it’s true what they say… you get what you pay for.

The locking mechanism comes undone fairly easily, causing the shaft might twist and turn while you’re trying to get clean edges… which means not clean edges. 

The small plastic wheel is nice, but it only works well if the locking mechanism is working to keep it twisted at the right angle. Otherwise, it will just fall over or the friction from the wheel will pull it back. In general, the locking mechanism is definitely a “loose lock.” Like one of those annoying doors in your house where the deadbolt doesn’t quite fit into the door frame. 

It’s either really light or I’m really strong.

But once again, this puppy is only going to run you $60 (at the time of this writing) and it’s tough to beat that price. Mine lasted me for years, so I was certainly willing to overlook a few annoyances to save a lot of money. 

The Final Verdict: Black and Decker string trimmers

The Black & Decker 6.5 amp, 14-inch String Trimmer is an excellent lawn tool. It’s incredibly budget friendly, does what a string trimmer is supposed to do, without all the unnecessary bells and whistles that usually make tools “look cool” but don’t add to performance.

If you’re on a budget and don’t mind dragging a cord behind you, this is the string trimmer for you. You can grab this one on Amazon for a really good price.

Why we review string trimmers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

We take tool testing seriously.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

What to look for in a string trimmer

Cordless weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. Bad. You are going to be using this often and for a long time, so make sure it is comfortable.

Luckily, with corded weed eaters you don’t have a battery or gas tank that adds extra weight – but you do have to pull the cord around with you.

Motor 

brushless motors are king here. They are longer lasting and more durable. Brushless motors also produce more torque and less heat. With Black and Decker having a more “budget-friendly” line, you may not be able to find this without spending the big bucks. EGO weed eaters, Milwaukee’s M18 weed eaters, and some Ryobi weed wackers all have brushless motors.

Power Source

Depending on your situation, you may need to consider the power source. If you have a large yard with a lot of acreage, you may need gas to cover the whole area, while smaller yards (an acre or less) can get away with a battery or corded tool.

Curved vs Straight shaft

I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control. Curved shafts are better for smaller areas that require “mowing”, whereas straight shafts are better for precision and clean lines.

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Ryobi 40V vs 18V Electric String Trimmer: Comparison Guide

Ryobi’s 40V and 18V battery lines mirror each other – but I like the Ryobi 40V trimmer better because it has more power and runtime. They have a ton of the same products in both 18V ONE+ configurations and 40V – including string trimmers. We got the opportunity to try both and do a side-by-side comparison. 

To make it fair, we had to take one of the more powerful 18V weed eaters from Ryobi and compare it to the Ryobi 40V Expand-It series weed eater. 

We were pleasantly surprised with the performance of both, but had to pick a winner between the two. If you’re in the market for a new string trimmer and are confused as to why Ryobi has two different battery offerings, you’re in the right place. Because before this article, we had the same question.

Jump ahead:

Comparing the Ryobi 40V vs 18V String Trimmers

Ryobi makes great power tools and I want to kick off this comparison with a piece of advice. If you ALREADY OWN either the 18V ONE+ battery or the Ryobi 40V battery – you should go with the trimmer that corresponds with it. You can buy the tool-only version of either trimmer and save a ton of money. Now let’s jump in.

Power comparison: Ryobi ONE+ 18V vs 40V weed eater

When evaluating a string trimmer to see how powerful it is, the easiest thing to note is the difference in voltage. Yes, 40Vs are bigger than 18Vs – so right away you can infer that the 40V is the more powerful of the two assuming all else is the same. 

Def. has a little more power.

But it’s also worthwhile to note that cutting swaths are a huge factor in evaluating both of these as well. The larger the cutting swath, the more power you’re able to get. For example, most commercial string trimmers have 17-19” cutting swaths. The 18V ONE+ Brushless String Trimmer has a 13 inch cutting swath. Compare that to the Ryobi 40V weed eater’s 15 inch cutting swath.

It’s clear that the 40V is the winner of this battle, but it was designed to be the winner. The ONE+ series of tools is mostly designed for lighter duty jobs, smaller yards, etc. But that doesn’t mean that it still can’t be the right string trimmer for you. Let’s keep going deeper.

Winner: Ryobi 40V String Trimmer

Durability of Ryobi’s 18V and 40V weed eaters

When it comes to durability in weed eaters, there are really two things that matter:

  1. The type of motor
  2. The type of weed eater string

When it comes to motors, brushless motors are the far superior choice to brushed. We did a full write up of Ryobi’s brushless motors and compared them to the old brushed-style of motors, but it really comes down to how the motor spins. Brushless motors use magnets to spin the motor and generate the transfer of power from the battery. This is opposed to brush motors that use friction, generate heat, and ultimately burn out.

Brushless motors are the way to go. Fortunately, the Ryobi ONE+ weed eater has a brushless motor, but sadly the 40V Expand-It series that can hold attachments does not. I can feel the Expand-It getting hot when I use it, sometimes overheating on my warm when I am using the trimmer. They’ve recently upgraded this one to a brushless motor, so if you can find that one then it is definitely the winner.

New one has a brushless motor.

Other than the motor build, these two are very similar in the durability category. The first thing I would do with BOTH of these weed eaters is change out the weed eater string to a more durable one. I had the stock weed eater string on this and it was so lame. Changing it out made a MASSIVE impact. We developed our own weed eater string and tested it in the Ryobi 40V. It was life changing. 

Winner: Ryobi ONE+ 18V String Trimmer

The Ryobi 40V series is a bit heavier but has more power

String trimmers need to not only be powerful and durable, but easy to use. A few things I take into account when comparing weed eaters is the weight, balance, and handling. 

The last thing you want when walking around your yard trying to do precision work is to have a clunky, difficult, shoulder-crushing tool. The ONE+ 18V Ryobi string trimmer comes in at 7.3 lbs whereas the 40V string trimmer is 11.3 lbs. Those 4 pounds are definitely going to be felt after you’ve been carrying this around for a few minutes.

The battery system is great.

Another thing I look at in these string trimmers is length. Short weed eaters are more difficult to use and require you to lean way down to the ground to get a good cut. Both of these are right around 5.5 feet long, making them a great length. It’s a tie here.

The ONE+ series is better for light duty handling.

Lastly, I look at how they handle – the Ryobi 40V has an adjustable D-loop handle that’s also found on the 18V weed eater. They will handle almost identically given their similar build. The one thing that gives the 40V a competitive edge (pun intended) here is that it has the ability to take on a ton of other weed eater attachments. This can save you big money in the long run.

So the 18V string trimmer is lighter, but the Ryobi 40V has more functions due to the attachments. 

Winner: It’s a tie!

Which Ryobi Trimmer is the better investment?

Cost is important! One thing that both of these weed eaters share is a battery system that works with a TON of other tools. The 18V ONE+ battery series has a ton of tools, all of which tend to be lighter-duty like their slightly smaller 18V backpack sprayer. The 40V battery system also works with a lot of heavier duty tools like the blowers and mowers.

A great ONE+ battery tool.

You can grab the 40V Expand-It weed eater for around $180 from Home Depot or grab the tool-only version on Amazon for about $125.

The 18V ONE+ weed eater can be found on Amazon for an ever-changing price, but a good one is around $150. They’re also for sale at Home Depot.

Final ranking: Ryobi 40V vs 18V String Trimmer

This is a tough one. My first piece of advice is to go with whichever one you already have the battery for. This allows you to grab the tool-only version and save a ton of money.

The 40V is still a great option.

If you own neither Ryobi batteries already, I think the 18V string trimmer is the best bang for the buck. It has a brushless motor, a great price, and has all the bells and whistles you want out of a weed eater. My only advice is to change out the weed eater string.

The 40V is also a good option if you want to add on a blower or mower at some point in the future and can grab the brushless edition.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

We take our testing seriously.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Motor type: Brushless vs brushed

Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

Curved vs Straight shaft

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

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Milwaukee’s M18 Weed Eater Passed the TLR Test

Milwaukee’s M18 weed eater is a freak of nature. I like the Milwaukee string trimmer because it comes from a super deep bench of M18 batteries and has unbelievable torque and power despite low voltage.

But when they make a lawn tool, it does not miss. If you don’t believe me check out their lawn mower or their sweet cordless hedge trimmer.

Bottom Line: The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has an impressive cutting swath, great battery system, is comfortable and easy to use, and a highly durable motor. This weed eater is darn near perfect. You can grab it from your local Home Depot by using this link.

Jump ahead:

Milwaukee M18 Brushless String Trimmer: Features and benefits

We already know Milwaukee’s M18 series is built to provide serious power, so let’s break down exactly what makes this a great weed eater. I’m going to look specifically at power, comfort, durability, and price. All of these things together paint the picture of how much value this weed eater has.

This string trimmer provides serious power

Weed eater power is impacted by a few things. One of the most important is the battery voltage, but also the cutting swath and rotations per minute, or speed, of the string trimmer.

When I look at voltage, usually lower voltage means less power. Somehow, Milwaukee has managed to make their 18V battery provide more power than other 18V battery lines, like Ryobi. Interestingly, they have a High Output battery line that performs better in different temperatures and overall delivers power more efficiently. While you won’t get the same power as you would from an one of the EGO 56V weed eater, it is going to still be a noticeably powerful tool.

The next way to look at power is the cutting swath. The gold standard for a battery-powered weed eater is about 15 inches. Anything above a 15 inch cutting swath puts you in commercial territory. The Milwaukee M18 string trimmer has up to a 16 inch cutting swath, putting it right at the top of the competition. 

Lastly, RPMs are also a good indicator of how much power is being delivered. At 6,200 RPMs, this is up there as one of the most efficient weed eaters, providing a ton of spinning force which will help rip through grass with ease. 

Comfort and usability

The next most important thing to assess after power is how comfortable the M18 weed eater is to use. Frankly, there is nothing particularly special about the Milwaukee M18’s design to imply that it is more or less comfortable than other weed eaters.

Here are some features that come with many other battery-powered weed eaters that are also on the Milwaukee M18 weed eater:

These are relatively common across the dozens of weed eaters we have used, so there isn’t really anything special here. One thing I do NOT love about this weed eater is the battery placement. The M18 battery is at the very, very tip of the weed eater instead of embedded lower in the handle, making the balance a little trickier. It requires a minor increase in downward force / torque of the shoulder that makes it uncomfortable after a few minutes of use. 

Hate to say it, but the Milwaukee 2828 M18 Weed eater is very “average” in the comfort and usability department. 

One last thing I want to point out with this weed eater that’s a huge advantage is the length. At almost 74 inches long, it is the ideal length for a straight shaft weed eater. Longer shafts allow  you to be more precise when cutting.

The weed eater has a durable brushless motor

If you’ve read any of our other reviews, you will know how much emphasis we place on brushless motors. They are EVERYTHING in battery-powered tools and of course super important for weed eaters. 

Brushless motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a more durable life than their brushed counterparts. When it comes to electric tools, they should really be required. I would never buy a brushed motor again. 

Luckily, the folks at Milwaukee included a brushless motor on the M18 string trimmer kit. This instantly puts it in the upper tier of weed eaters in the ranks of durability because it will outlast every single brushed motor out there. 

Another great thing about this one is that the M18 battery system is darn reliable. You can use it on so many of the other Milwaukee tools and because they have 200+ tools on this system, you are going to have no concerns about the durability of the battery. 

Again, Milwaukee backs up their tools AND batteries with a 3 year warranty. If you’re worried about durability – don’t be. 

It’s not all that expensive either

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater comes in at a STUNNING price of just under $200 – including the M18 battery. I was simply aghast when I saw the price. If you already have the M18 battery, you can buy the tool-only version for $180. 

Holy cow – this little piece of news changes the whole game. You can grab this at Home Depot for a great (ridiculous) price.

Best Weed Eater String for Milwaukee Weed Eaters

The Milwaukee M18 weed eater can take .080” or .095” weed eater string. We developed our own weed eater string after testing dozens of strings and combining the best elements of each into one .095” string. We think it absolutely rocks, but we are biased. It does fit in this weed eater and will definitely add more power. You can grab it below for a really low price.

Final Review: Milwaukee M18 Weed Eater

At first glance, I love the Milwaukee M18 weed eater. I thought: “Milwaukee makes freakishly powerful tools – so this one has to be great”. I saw it was brushless and had a big cutting swath, which confirmed my beliefs. But nothing about it really seemed special. It has totally stock features and doesn’t stand out from the crowd.

But then I saw the price and thought “Wow” this is a super valuable weed eater. It has amazing power, great durability, and an awesome warranty – all for under $200. 

If you’re in the market – and PARTICULARLY if you already own Milwaukee products – then you won’t regret buying this bad boy.

Why we review weed eaters

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how we evaluate a weed eater at The Lawn Review.

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Motor

Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

Curved vs Straight shaft

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 

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5 Powerful Dewalt String Trimmers: Tested & Ranked

The best Dewalt String Trimmer is the Dewalt 20V Max brushless weed eater because it is a part of a large battery 20V battery system, has a brushless motor, and is relatively inexpensive.

String Trimmers are a new world for Dewalt. They have a pretty dominant Dewalt blower collection, they’ve got a nice battery powered Dewalt mower that we reviewed, and they even have some pressure washers.

But before you make a decision to pull the trigger on a Dewalt String Trimmer, make sure you understand exactly what you’re looking for and which Dewalt string trimmer is right for you and your job. 

Jump ahead to the best Dewalt String Trimmers Ranking:

  1. Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Weed Eater
  2. Dewalt 60V Max Attachment Capable Brushless Weed Eater
  3. Dewalt 60V Max Weed Eater
  4. Dewalt 27cc Gas String Trimmer
  5. Dewalt Trimmer Blower Combo Kit

Dewalt Weed Eaters: Ranked

When looking at the Dewalt weed eaters, I’m taking a few things into consideration. The true balance to finding the right string trimmer is assessing the price vs the usability and power. Of course you want the one that feels the easiest to use, has all the bells and whistles, and has extreme power. But not everyone can afford that. So here is how we approach it through the lens of value.

1.) Dewalt 20V Max Brushless Cordless String Trimmer Kit

We put this one at number one because it has all the bells and whistles and is extremely price competitive. It isn’t perfect. I wish it was a tad longer and had a little bit bigger cutting swath, but otherwise it’s darn near perfect. As part of Dewalt’s 20V Max series of tools, you can use the same battery you use for your power drill on this weed eater. Which means you can buy this version tool-only. Tool-only means that it doesn’t come with a battery, which saves you about $60 on the purchase price. Cha-ching.

Here’s what we love about this Dewalt weed eater:

  • A brushless motor that is going to last a LONG time
  • It weighs less than 9lbs, making it easy to use when walking around your yard or garden bed. 
  • Straight shaft that can split for easy storage.
  • Easy to load spool to add more weed eater string whenever you need it.
  • Ability to use 20V Max battery system from other tools you may already own.
  • Variable speed trigger so that you have total control over how much speed you want.
Has all the great pieces at a great price. Best Value.

Basically, this is as close to the whole package as possible without going over $250. These are for sale at Home Depot but can also be found on Amazon for an even lower price.

To us, this one is the most valuable Dewalt string trimmer money can buy. 

2.) Dewalt 60V Max Brushless Attachment Capable String Trimmer Kit

If the number one result is the most valuable Dewalt weed eater, then this one is the most versatile. We’ve reviewed quite a few attachment capable string trimmer kits and really loved the EGO Multi-Head, but this one is giving it a run for the money. It even made our list of the weed eaters with attachments.

The 60V Max Brushless attachment capable weed eater from Dewalt brought out ALL the bells and whistles when they made this one. When you buy this, you also have the ability to buy attachments like: a blower, pole saw, hedge trimmer, edger, and a brush cutter. So basically this has swiss army knife potential. That’s what I’m talking about.

Can save you a ton of money.

But don’t let the cool attachments overshadow just how sweet the weed eater is.  The weed eater alone is an absolute unit and even touts itself as being better than some of the popular EGO weed eaters. 

Here’s their evidence for making such a bold claim:

  • Brushless motor (EGO has this, too)
  • Up to 17 inch cutting swath (EGO’s is 15)
  • 12.8 lbs with the battery (EGO’s is 14.1)
  • Ability to add universal attachments, which allow you to use attachments from several other brands (EGO’s are custom fit to their tools)

The Dewalt 60V Max attachment capable weed eater is a dream. If you are a Dewalt loyalist, this tool is peak perfection – especially if you already own the battery.

This one can be grabbed from Home Depot for about $350 or from Amazon for about $320.

3.) Dewalt 60V Max Brushless Cordless String Trimmer

This 60V Max weed eater from Dewalt is really similar to the one above, but doesn’t come with the attachment capabilities. If you’re looking for JUST a baller weed eater, then this one is a great option. 

This Dewalt weed eater is an amped up version of our number one choice. But here’s the crazy thing: it can be backwards-compatible with the 20V Max series of batteries. This is a crazy tech capability because the 20V Max series of batteries are much more popular. 

Raw power

Think about it: if you have 60V Max batteries already or are building out your lawn tool collection around the 60V Max series, then this is a great investment because you can use the same batteries across all the tools. But what if you already own a Dewalt power drill with a 20V Max battery? Well….you’re still in luck because this weed eater can take those batteries as well.

Dewalt really thought through their customer base and how they can best provide solutions that meet their needs. The reverse compatibility is a huge advancement for saving them money and basically making it universally compatible with Dewalt’s entire line of products.

This one also has all the must-haves: variable speed trigger, brushless motor, straight shaft, decent length, and a 15 inch cutting swath. This Dewalt weed eater is SWEET.

You can grab it at Home Depot for about $300 but I’ve seen it for less on Amazon.

4.) Dewalt 27 cc 2-Stroke Straight Gas String Trimmer

Dewalt is not known for their gas-powered tools and definitely lesser  known in the lawn space. So this one seems risky. But the specifications on it are all extremely positive.

At first glance, this one reminds me of the ECHO SRM 225 or the Stihl FS 56 RC. Let me explain more:

  • 27 cc 2-cycle engine is more than ECHO’s and right in line with Stihl’s
  • A massive 17 inch cutting swath is best-in-class for gas weed eaters
  • It is attachment-capable, which is a huge money saver
  • It comes with a shoulder strap for saving your back

Dewalt really did a great job thinking through this product and designing it for homeowners with big yards and even for commercial use. It’s a dang beast.

Not bad!

One complaint I have is that the shaft length is a little on the shorter side for me. Otherwise this thing is sweet.

What really sells this one for me is that it has a 3 year limited warranty. A lot of these weed eaters have different warranties for commercial or residential use. Dewalt went all out with the 3 year warranty, which I appreciate since they aren’t well known in this space.

This one is available at Home Depot for a REALLY good price. Like a shockingly good price. We don’t get any benefit when you buy from them, but I think this is the place to get it.

5.) Dewalt 20V Max Trimmer Blower Combo Kit

We’ve written extensively about some of the trimmer blower combo kits that can save you a ton of money. Dewalt made the list. Now I know this is kind of cheating to have a combo kit on here, but it should be a part of the consideration process if you are in the market for a new battery-powered line of tools.

That’s what I love about battery powered lawn tools – you buy a kit like this one and you only have to buy one battery. That saves generally about $50-100 depending on the brand. That’s the way to go.

BOTH!

This features a 20V string trimmer similar to our number one option and a really great 20V Dewalt leaf blower that has made our top Dewalt blower list. 

The package together doesn’t fall squarely in this article, but I want to make sure you all understand how great of a deal it is if you’re considering joining the Dewalt family.

This one can be found on Amazon together for a ridiculous price but is also available online at Home Depot.

Best Weed Eater String / String Trimmer Line for Dewalt

Most of these Dewalt weed eaters come standard with a 0.80” weed eater string. It’s fine and all, but I totally leveled up my weed eater when I moved to the GrassKicker weed eater string. 

Yes, we developed it because we got tired of buying weed eater string that broke or didn’t give our yard the look we wanted. And we were shocked at the difference it made.

Our GrassKicker weed eater string fits into every Dewalt weed eater and will make a noticeable difference in the cut. It basically replaced my edger altogether and lasts WAY longer than the stock weed eater string.

Final thoughts: Dewalt’s weed eater collection

While they aren’t a household name (yet), Dewalt is moving into the game with some great products. You can’t go wrong with any of these, it really comes down to how big of a job you have in front of you.

All of these have a great warranty and most of the battery-powered tools will work – as long as you stay in the MAX series of batteries.

Why we review string trimmers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

This is how we spend our time.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters AKA string trimmers come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Motor

Brushless motors are a non-negotiable when it comes to battery powered weed eaters. Without a doubt,  they are the best option to ensure you have maximum torque, more durability, and a longer life. These things are top notch performance and will be the only option when others start to catch on.

Curved vs Straight shaft

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. 

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ECHO vs Stihl String Trimmers: Comparison Guide

I like the Stihl FS 56 RC compared to the ECHO SRM 225 because it provides a more powerful cut. ECHO and Stihl weed eaters are the gas-powered string trimmers of choice for both commercial and residential use. Both have a reputation for raw power, insane durability, and great performance.

We have extensively reviewed ECHO weed eaters AND Stihl weed eaters and found the two that are most comparable from each brand in the residential space. 

The ECHO SRM225 weed eater and the Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater are not only the two most popular, but also extremely similar in just about every way. If you’re looking to pull the trigger (pun intended) on buying one of these, then you need to make sure you read the below deep dive.

Jump ahead:

ECHO SRM 225 vs Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater: Head-to-head comparison

Alright, y’all – let’s get to comparing these two string trimmers. We should walk through a power comparison, how these both feel to operate, maintenance, and price/value. Here we go!

Power comparison between ECHO and Stihl weed eaters

Let me start by saying in a blinded test between the two, the power output feels almost identical. I’ve used my trusty Stihl for a long time, but every time I walk by my neighbor’s lawn he has some seriously nice edges around his yard that he did with his ECHO SRM225. 

But if we want to get all technical, the Stihl FS 56 RC has about 25% more cc’s of power output. This is more than enough for the average homeowner and will really help you take it from an around-the-house weed eater to a dense brush-cutting beast. 

The powerful head of the ECHO SRM 225.

Both the ECHO and Stihl weed eaters are good for anything residential and had similar cutting power for just about everything we did in our driveway and around our back deck. The only real difference was that the Stihl felt like it accelerated more quickly than the ECHO. At top speeds, however, it was harder to tell. ECHO’s SRM 225 reaches an RPM (rotations per minute) of nearly 9,000 whereas the Stihl string trimmer reaches closer to 10,000 RPM. 

It’s clear that the Stihl is the more powerful string trimmer when compared to the ECHO. At the end of the day, both are more than enough power for residential use. But if you have any brush in your backyard that you want to slice down, the Stihl FS 56 RC is going to get it done faster.

Comparing usability between ECHO and Stihl

When I’m evaluating user experience I always use my shoulder as the gauge for how easy a weed eater is to use. What I’ve found that impacts the way my shoulder feels are two things:

  • The weight of the string trimmer
  • How long the shaft is

These two things have more impact than a harness or balance or anything else. For me, longer shafts provide more control, which may seem counterintuitive. But I liken it to a surgeon using a scalpel. I have much more nuance when controlling the weed eater when the shaft is longer. Small movements make delicate cuts and shapes in whatever I’m working on.

Me using the FS 56 RC weed eater from Stihl.

The Stihl FS 56 RC weed eater comes in at 10.5 lbs whereas the ECHO SRM 225 weighs just over 11.5 lbs. That extra pound makes a difference when you’re bent over walking around your yard for 25 minutes.

The ECHO SRM 225 has about 5 inches of length on the Stihl FS 56 RC, however. At 71 inches, ECHO trumps the Stihl’s 66 inches in length. 

This is a tough one, but I would honestly trade in the extra 5 inches for the extra pound of weight.

The ECHO SRM 225 wins the user experience comparison.

Which is easier to maintain, Stihl or ECHO?

When it comes to maintenance of weed eaters, there are only a few things to keep in mind. About once per quarter, you’ll want to replace the air filter on both the ECHO and Stihl weed eaters. With heavier use, you may have to replace the spark plug as well, but realistically that may be an every year or even every other year replacement. 

The SRM 225 is a beaut.

Otherwise, both ECHO and Stihl recommend making sure that the drive shaft is greased and the fuel filters are inspected and cleaned. Neither of these string trimmers require much maintenance, but they do have some small things to watch out for. 

Using the right weed eater string for both is important to preserve performance. Both come with a stock string trimmer line, but we recommend using our .095” green weed eater string that is triangle-shaped. 

We tested this string against a TON of other weed eater strings and it was far and above the absolute best. 

Price and value: ECHO vs Stihl

The ECHO SRM 225 comes in at about $230 depending on where you buy it, which I recommend checking the price here at Home Depot. The price on the Stihl fluctuates wildly but the Stihl FS 56 RC is about $220-250 and can be purchased at Ace Hardware.

Y’all – this is relatively straight forward. The Stihl is the better option between the two. It not only provides a more powerful cut but often comes in at a lower price. This thing is going to last you for a long time and is definitely the better value.

The Best Weed Eater String for Stihl and ECHO string trimmers

Y’all – we developed our own weed eater string that is designed to be the most powerful, durable, and visible on the planet. It is INSANELY good. Check it out below – we tested it against DOZENS of other string trimmer lines.

Final words: Stihl string trimmer vs ECHO

While I was doing the testing for this article, I really didn’t know which would be better. I loved my Stihl but thought my neighbor’s ECHO was just the same, if not better. After using both and doing some deep research on the technical specifications, the Stihl was the clear winner.

The ECHO weed eater is a bit easier to use but is more expensive than the Stihl. The Stihl is more powerful, requires about the same amount of maintenance, is lighter, and comes in at about 15% cheaper than the ECHO.

The winner? Stihl FS 56 RC. 

Why we review string trimmers

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time now.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

What to look for in a weed eater

Weed eaters come in all shapes and sizes. They aren’t highly complicated pieces of equipment, but they do have a few nuances. Here is how I see it:

Feel and Ease of Use

Obviously this is subjective, but feel is everything to me. I have had weed eaters in the past where the handle is off to the side, making me torque my shoulders and back. If you can, get as many adjustable pieces as possible to make this customizable. It doesn’t seem like you use a weed eater for a long time, but the work is precision work that requires a steady hand and focus.

Engine Type and maintenance

For residential use, you don’t need a whole lot of power, but if you’re picking between two, you might as well make a point to compare the two. More cc displacement means more power, but how efficiently is it being delivered? How easy is it to replace the air filter or spark plug?

Curved vs Straight shaft 

 I always, always, always prefer straight shafts. They are so much easier to use and control and are much longer than curved shafts. Curved shafts are good for clearing out a small piece of land unable to be mowed. But if you want to actually do some good trimming and edging, a straight shaft is much better. Curved shafts are difficult to maneuver and to create a straight line for edging. Both of these weed eaters have straight shafts, so you’re in good hands.

Not a fan!

Price and value

Of course price is important – but more important than price is how much value it provides.

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Ryobi Brushless vs. Brushed Motors: Difference Explained (2024)

Ryobi brushless and brushed tools are big names in the lawn tool space. Brushless motors are superior technology that allows for cooler running motors, better durability, and more efficient torque.

Although it may be hard to figure out from the box or product description, there’s actually a huge difference. Today, I’ll walk through what the difference is and make some product recommendations from Ryobi for their brushless motor line of tools. 

My goal is to make this not overly technical, but just give you the quick and dirty explanation that can help you decide whether or not to spend more money.

In short, YES – it is worth it to spend the extra money for brushless lawn tools. If you want to know why, keep reading or skip ahead using the below links:

Brushless vs brushed Ryobi tools

I’m trying to avoid getting too technical here, so let me break down what brushed vs brushless motors do and how this impacts Ryobi tools.

Brushed motors (Regular) from Ryobi

Brushed Ryobi motors have an internal, stationary magnet surrounded by a mobile rotor. The brushes make physical contact with the rotor to transfer the electricity from the battery to the rotor. It essentially causes the rotor to move by changing which side of the motor is magnetic.

It sounds complicated, but here’s what you need to know:

  • The brushes making physical contact with the rotor means that there is increased friction
  • With increased friction, you get heat
  • Heat is going to generally wear down things like plastic and other parts inside of lawn tools
  • This leads to a reduction in lifespan and durability of the product
  • It’s also less efficient than brushless because you are losing energy to heat instead of to power

On a positive note, up until a few years ago (and still to this day), most products are brushed. It’s been the standard for a long time. I have a hedge trimmer from the 90s that’s brushed and still works fine because I barely use it.

But in general, these aren’t as reliable and will get bent out of shape over time and ultimately stop working. 

Ryobi’s Brushless motors

Brushless motors flip the engineering of brushed motors on their head. Basically instead of having the mechanical action of the brushes, a different type of current is used to cause a magnetic field that rotates and moves the magnet. 

It’s almost like an invisible motor, totally driven by an electric current and magnets instead of manual transferral of voltage. 

For those that aren’t nerds, here are some of the impacts:

  • More torque due to no heat loss 
  • Cooler running motor
  • Longer life

Which is better – brushed or brushless Ryobi tools?

It’s pretty clear that Ryobi’s brushless tools are better than their old brushed motors. If you aren’t convinced by the increased power of their new brushless lineup, you should be convinced by the durability. 

Brushless motors are akin to the lithium-ion battery instead of the old nickel hydride batteries. They last a lot longer and perform way better. 

Our favorite Ryobi Brushless Lawn Tools

We’ve written a ton of reviews about some of Ryobi’s best brushless tools. Let me save you some time and give you the best from each category.

Best Ryobi Brushless Blower

Ryobi came out with a new 40V Brushless Whisper series blower and it is sweet. We put it in a head-to-head challenge we called the Ryobi vs EGO blower battle. 

Ain’t it a beaut?

Here’s what we love about the Ryobi 730 CFM 40V Brushless Whisper blower:

  • It’s quiet – well, kind of. It makes a different noise which definitely isn’t loud but also isn’t the best sound in the world.
  • This Ryobi brushless blower has a really cool handle that allows you to control the speed and set a cruise control with your thumb
  • It also has a turbo button that takes it all the way up to 730 CFMs or 190 MPH. That’s pretty dang fast.
  • The Ryobi 40V comes with two 4.5 Ah batteries and a charger.
  • Total time to charge the leaf blower from completely dead to fully charged was 53 minutes. Not bad!

It’s easily the most powerful handheld cordless blower that Ryobi offers. You can grab it from your local Home Depot or grab it on Amazon for a great price.

Best Ryobi Brushless Mower

We did a full ranking of the best Ryobi lawn mowers and found the Ryobi 20 inch 40V Brushless Smart Trek Self-Propelled mower was the best. They have a few mowers that look just like this one and even have a newer model, but I really like this one from 2022 because of its simplicity and price.

Coolest looking one.

Here are a few things I liked about this one:

  • Brushless motor (duh)
  • I like that it is black and not neon yellow
  • The self propelled function works really well
  • It is extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver
  • This Ryobi mower has some really easy-to-use tools
  • You can use the 40V battery with everything

This one is also available on Amazon for a really good price, but can also be bought at Home Depot if you want the newer model.

You can also see how this Ryobi 40V mower compares to the Greenworks 48V mower.

Best Ryobi Brushless Weed Eater

When it comes to Ryobi Weed Eaters, we loved the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V brushless 13 inch weed eater. This brushless weed eater from Ryobi comes as a part of their 18V ONE+ series of tools, which is a great collection for the homeowner with a small to medium sized yard. 

This is the one.

Here’s why we picked it over a bunch of Ryobi weed eaters:

  • It has a decent sized cutting width at 13 inches. Many of the smaller ones are at 10-11 inches  which is frankly too small to do any kind of edging work. 
  • It’s one of the only Ryobi weed eaters with a brushless motor
  • It’s super easy to handle with it’s large D-shaped handle
  • This one is well-balanced which means you won’t torque your shoulder when carrying it around

This one is a no-brainer if you’re looking for a brushless Ryobi weed eater. I got mine at Home Depot when I first moved into my house, but you can also get it on Amazon for a great price.

Best Ryobi Brushless Pressure Washer

I probably go a little over the top with my recommendation here, but I am blown away by this Brushless Ryobi Pressure Washer. 

Pure power.

The Ryobi 3000 PSI 1.1 GPM electric pressure washer won both our best Ryobi pressure washer AND best electric pressure washer rankings. It’s a beast. Here’s why I am obsessed with it:

  • Best-in-class pressure for an electric pressure washer at 3000 PSI
  • Large soap tank
  • Nozzles built into the tip that allows you to just rotate the tip to change the angle
  • Big never flat wheels

It’s truly top-of-the-line when it comes to electric pressure washers. The fact that it has a brushless motor and will last longer than the others is a huge bonus.

This one is a legend and can be bought online at any local Home Depot for a great price. 

Final words: Ryobi’s brushless vs brushed motors

Like I said at the beginning, brushless motors make a difference and I highly recommend going with them if you are a DIYer. 

If this is your first time buying a lawn tool and know you won’t use it often, you can get away with it being brushed and probably be fine. I would buy cheap and have low expectations, however.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

This is our job.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

About Ryobi

I’m sure you already know a ton about Ryobi or at least own a few of their tools. They are HUGE in Home Depot. We love Ryobi products and have written extensively about dozens of their tools. Here are a few of our favorite Ryobi products:

Ryobi tools are fan favorites mostly because they are good-enough quality, are relatively low cost, and make just about every tool under the sun, which allows you to reuse their batteries and save a ton of money. 

Some of their awesome tools – the backpack sprayer.
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What Is A Lawn Edger? (+ Best Edgers in 2024)

Lawn edgers are some of the most satisfying tools on the planet because they create a perfect, crisp border around your lawn. You can mow your lawn and remove leaves, but the job isn’t complete without an edger. 

Using a lawn edger is what caused my neighbor to go from “you have really nice grass” to “you have the best lawn in the neighborhood” (true story). Many people try to use weed eaters as lawn edgers, but honestly they can’t quite make the yard look as nice.

Today I’ll walk through exactly what an edger is, how it compares with trimming, then some of the best lawn edgers we’ve used.

Let’s do it.

So…what exactly is a lawn edger?

As the name suggests, a lawn edger is a tool that trims the edges of your lawn’s boundaries. For example, you can use an edger to trim the grass that borders your driveway or mailbox. A freshly-edged yard leaves your property uniform and square. 

Edgers can also be used around garden beds, separating mulch from the grass and creating a distinct garden bed that “pops”.

You wouldn’t go to the barber and only cut the hair on the top of your head without trimming the sides. The same applies to your yard – an edger finishes the job while boosting your home’s curb appeal.

Edging doesn’t take a professional; anyone who can operate a mower can also master the art of edging. If you already use a landscaping company to service your lawn, they should use an edger after mowing. But if you mow your property yourself and don’t have an edger yet, you’re in luck. A quality edger will only set you back a couple of hundred dollars (and trust me, they’re worth the investment).

If you’re looking for an extra crispy lawn, make sure to read our guide on how to sharpen mower blades.

What’s the difference between trimming and edging?

Let’s set the record straight here. Edging and trimming are two very different things that are often mixed up. 

Edging utilizes a motorized blade that digs into the dirt between a hard surface (street, driveway, sidewalk) and your yard. Edgers push up dirt and dig a small little trench that cleanly separates the yard and surface. Edgers can do a little bit of trimming if grass is growing over the surface, but are not designed for full-scale grass shredding.

What it looks like to edge with a trimmer.

Trimmers are used to cut stray grass not reached or not accessible by mowing. Trimmers can also be used to cut the grass between hard surfaces and the yard, but don’t quite have the capability to edge as well as an edger does.

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While a lawn edger is a great tool, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

My favorite edgers

What better way to start 2024 than with a new lawn edger? If you’re looking for a new edger, you have a lot to choose from – how do you weed out the duds? You’re in luck – we did the hard work for you already. Check out our article on the top battery lawn edgers. 

After comparing dozens of lawn edgers, the below options made the top of our list:

  1. Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Edger
  2. Greenworks 40V 8-Inch Brushless Edger
  3. EGO Power+ ME0800 8-Inch Edger Attachment and Power Head

These battery-powered lawn edgers are affordable and offer long-lasting quality and durability (the best of both worlds). 

We used this EGO edger attachment and loved it.

You can also purchase a trimmer and an edger combo to get the most out of your money. While a trimmer does most of the heavy lifting, an edger will make your neighbors stop and stare. 

Another angle of what these bad boys look like.

If you’re a new homeowner or want to spruce up your lawn, a trimmer and edger combo is a great thing to have in your arsenal. 

How to use a weed eater to edge your lawn

You can do some moderate edging of your lawn with a weed eater. The trick is to have the right weed eater string.

When I was using the stock weed eater string that came with my Ryobi weed eater, I thought it was doing a good job. Then after doing a ton of research and developing the 

Manual vs. Motorized Edgers: What’s the Difference?

Lawn edgers come in all shapes and sizes. They also come as manual or motorized. Manual edgers are handheld tools not powered by an engine or battery. Many of these edgers resemble shovels with an inverted cutting tip that penetrates the soil and shapes the grass. It looks like a shovel without any type of curvature. Manual edgers are much cheaper to purchase (and operate) compared to motorized edgers.

In fact, we reviewed the cost of manual edgers on Amazon and home improvement stores and found that the average prices range from $30 to $60. 

Although the price of a manual edger might seem tempting, remember that they require a lot more work. Not only that, but customer reviews are mixed. Many reviewers say the blades break or bend easily. Therefore, you may have better luck with a motorized edger if you don’t mind spending the extra money.

A battery or engine powers a motorized edger. Using a motorized edger is much less labor-intensive compared to a manual edger. However, a motorized edger will set you back at least $100 for a high-quality product. A motorized edger is usually the best route unless you have a very small yard.

The Two Types of Electric Lawn Edgers

Out of all the lawn edgers available on the market, electric edgers are becoming the most prevalent. Consumers have two options when purchasing an electric edger: Corded or cordless.

If you buy a corded lawn edger, you’ll have to keep it plugged in as you use it which can restrict the distance you travel. On a positive note, you won’t have to worry about losing battery life.

A corded Worx edger.

On the other hand, a cordless lawn edger can be operated without plugging it into a power outlet. But despite the cordless option, you’ll still need to charge the battery from time to time using a cord provided with the edger.

The price difference between cordless and corded isn’t significant. As a result, many homeowners prefer a cordless edger because they don’t want to worry about tripping over a cord (can you blame them?). They also don’t need to purchase an extension cord to reach all corners of their lawn.

Edgers often come as attachments for attachment-capable multi-tools. These can easily be swapped out to save money on tools and batteries (not to mention storage space).

Frequently Asked Questions

If my guide on lawn edgers has sparked your curiosity, you’re in for a treat. I put together a list of the most common questions we get from our community on Youtube.

What is the difference between a lawn trimmer and an edger?

The main difference between trimmers and edgers is the depth at which they cut. Trimmers are used for all purpose lawn trimming and have a more shallow cut. Edgers go deeper to form a border around your lawn or garden bed.

What is an edger used for?

You don’t necessarily need a lawn edger, but they’re definitely a must-have if you want a clean and squared lawn. Not to mention, you can get one for around one hundred dollars or less.

How much does professional edging cost?

Most lawn care companies offer to edge as part of their services. That is, they’ll mow your lawn first and edge it after. If you just want a company to edge your yard (and not mow it), you can expect to pay less than two hundred dollars.

Lawn Edgers at a glance

A well-manicured law requires an edger – a tool that trims the areas of the lawn that the standard lawnmower can’t reach. Professional lawn care companies will edge your lawn after cutting it, but you can also do it yourself. Lawn edgers are cheap, easy to operate, and boast advanced features like depth and speed control.

You should also consider a trimmer and an edger combo if you want to pamper your lawn and save your hard-earned money. I’m certain that no matter which edger or edger and trimmer combo you use, the results will leave you more than satisfied. 

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site. 

How we spend our time these days reviewing lawn tools.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something. 

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