Ready to get rid of the gas and pull string or loose the electrical cord? The best battery powered string trimmers of 2024 offer convenience, power, and reliability for making nice, neat yards.
Having the right battery powered cordless trimmer for your particular needs will make your yard work less of a chore. I’ll show you what you need to consider when making your choice, and afterwards we’ll take a look together at my top pics for the year.
I’m sure by the time you’re done reading you’ll see the perfect fit for you.
Ready?
(I know all about batteries and trimmer options… let me skip to the reviews)
How To Choose A Battery Powered String Trimmer
When you’re looking to add a new string trimmer to your yard tools collection, the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a LOT of choice out there. Almost too much, actually… it can make picking out a trimmer a bit tricky.
I’m going to assume that you’ve already narrowed your choice down to battery powered (eliminating gas powered and electric, corded trimmers), and dig further into the differences you’ll come across when looking at that specific category alone.
The main differences lie in two areas: The Battery and The Tool Features. Let’s dig into both.
The Battery
There are 2 basic ways you can look at the battery required for a particular tool: 1) The Brand and 2) The Power.
The Brand: Many homeowners find it practical and economical to invest in a particular brand of tools so they can minimize the number of batteries and chargers they purchase. Often they will set themselves up with two batteries and one charger, plus a range of bare tools that can all fit those two batteries. One battery in use, and the other charging and ready to go for the next part of the job.
Normally it’s the brand but also the voltage that you need to look at to make sure the batteries can be shared between tools. Put another way, Makita brand batteries will not fit Greenworks brand tools. But don’t immediately assume any Greenworks battery fits any Greenworks tool… you need the voltage to match. (A 18 V Greenworks battery won’t work on a 40 V Greenworks tool, for example… you’ll need a 40 V battery. The amperage is something that can fluctuate, however.)
The Power: How do you know what kind of power a battery will give you? If you’ve been doing some research already on battery powered weed trimmers, you’ll have noticed that the batteries are described by both voltage (V) and amperage (Ah). What does these mean?
Going really basic here, Voltage refers to the power that pushes the current through the battery. And the Amperage is the amount of current that the battery can possibly deliver in 1 hour.
Working with both numbers will give you the level of power/life you can expect from the particular battery you’re considering. That’s because, again in basic terms, power = the voltage multiplied by the amperage. The higher the product of the two numbers, the more power the battery has. The number itself doesn’t mean really anything, but when you compare two trimmer batteries, you can use those number to get an idea of which one has more power/life.
Example: A 40V battery that has a 2.0 Ah rating has a “power score of 80”, while an 18V battery with a rating of 9.0 Ah has a “power score of 162”. The second battery is a “better” battery. It has less amperage (current actually available), but way more power pushing it through.
The battery size (think “power score”) generally co-relates to the length of time you’ll be able to run it at full power. High “power scores” mean longer run time. Lower “power scores” mean shorter run time. But honestly, depending on the size of the property you’re trimming, you may not have need for “the biggest”. If you know you get your trimming done within 30 mins every time, ANY of the batteries shown below will be adequate.
That being said, here are the top 4 (2 tied for 3rd) from our “Best String Trimmers of 2024” JUST looking at the battery:
The Tool Features
When it comes to picking out a trimmer, you’ll want to get one that has features that suit the job you need to accomplish.
Here are some options that you’ll see on the trimmer reviews below to consider:
- An extendable shaft: Good for you tall men and women out there who don’t enjoy bending over, but also for those of you who will be trimming areas tricky to reach.
- An adjustable head: Good for left handed folks but also those of you who will be trimming a lot on a slope.
- Adjustable handle/grip: While you can likely get used to anything, some people really appreciate being able to move the handle to make it ergonomically perfect for them. Again, also useful if you trim on a slope.
- Shoulder strap: If you select a heavier model, a shoulder strap reduces arm fatigue. Note that often you can add on a universal strap if the trimmer you like doesn’t come with one.
- Variable speed trigger: With this, you can have full control over the power and speed, and not run “full throttle” all the time (this saves battery power).
- Bump Feed: Pretty much all trimmers now come with this feature. I recall stopping and manually adjusting the string on my old trimmer, physically pulling it farther out when needed. NO LONGER. With “bump feed”, you just literally tap the trimmer head on the ground in a certain way as you go and it feeds out line as needed.
- Easy load features: For some trimmers, you literally replace the spool of thread; empty one off, new one on. For many others, you buy new line, and feed it onto the existing spool. Some trimmers have easy feed buttons where it pulls in the new line and winds it automatically… which is a HUGE headache-saver.
- Cutting Swath Size: The measurement of the diameter of a full circle trim spin. There’s a variety of options, from 12″ to 16″, with 14″ being generally the most common. If you do a LOT of trimming, or trim a patch of weeds regularly, go big. If you just trim the grass growth beside your gardens or fences, don’t worry about the 12″ being too small… it should be fine.
- Attachment Capable: If your trimmer is able to have attachments added, it becomes a very versatile base tool – you can add parts that turn it to a disc blower, edger, hedge trimmer, pole saw, cultivator, or cyclone blower, for example. Check to be sure you don’t need specific brand attachments though before you commit. Usually they are able to accept universal ones.
- Trimmer & Edger In One: While people who use trimmers every day become experts at holding it just right to make a perfect edge, if you don’t trim a lot, an edger wheel built onto the trimmer head can be a huge help in getting straight and clean lines.
- Brushless motor: Most motors for trimmers now ARE brushless motors, but a few aren’t. Brushless are much quieter, more durable, and powerful than brushed motors. Read more about them here.
Best Battery Powered String Trimmers 2024: Overview Chart
Now let’s take a look at my top picks for 2024. We’ll start with an overview chart so you can quickly jump to a particular brand or certain cordless trimmer that catches your attention. Otherwise, scroll down to see the top cordless trimmer reviews in order.
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1. Milwaukee String Trimmer Kit w/Quik-LOK | Cutting Swath: 16 in. Line Size: 0.08″ or 0.095″ Battery: 9.0 Ah / 18 V Weight: 12.3 lbs | Rating: 4.8 / 5 stars Price: $$$$ See Review |
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2. Shindaiwa by Echo T3000 (14") 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 12" or 14" Line Size: 0.08" Battery: 2.0 Ah / 56 V Weight: 12lbs | Rating: 4.8 / 5 stars Price: $$ See Review |
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3. Snapper HD 48V MAX Electric Cordless String Trimmer Kit | Cutting Swath: 13" Line Size: 0.08" (dual) Battery: 2.0 Ah / 48 V Weight: 9.75 lbs | Rating: 4.7 / 5 stars Price: $$ See Review |
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4. Ego 56-Volt Lith-ion Cordless Electric 15 in. Powerload String Trimmer with Carbon Fiber Shaft Kit | Cutting Swath: 15" Battery: 2.5 Ah / 56V Weight: 12lbs Spiral Line: 0.095" | Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars Price: $$$ See Review |
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5. Toro PowerPlex 51482 Brushless 40V Lithium Ion 14" Cordless String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 14" Line Weight: 0.08" Battery: 2.5 Ah / 40 V Weight: 9.2 lbs | Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars Price: $$ See Review |
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6. POWERWORKS 60V 14-inch Brushless Top Mounted String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 14" (16" available) Line Size: 0.08" (dual line) Battery: 2.5 Ah / 60 V Weight: 18lbs | Rating: 4.5 /5 stars Price: $$$ See Review |
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7. DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 15" Line Size: 0.08" Battery: 6.0 Ah / 40 V Weight: 13.9 lbs | Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars Price: $$$$ See Review |
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8. BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX String Trimmer / Edger, 13-Inch (LST140C) | Cutting Swath: 13" Line Size: 0.065" Battery: 1.5 Ah / 40 V Weight: 8lbs | Rating: 4.4 / 5 stars Price: $ See Review |
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9. WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare 12" Cordless String Trimmer & Edger | Cutting Swath: 12" Line Size: 0.065" Battery: (2) 2.0 Ah / 20V Weight: 5.3lb + battery | Rating: 4.4 / 5 stars Price: $ See Review |
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10. Husqvarna Battery Straight Shaft String Trimmer 115iL | Cutting Swath: 14" Line Weight: 0.08" Battery: 4.0 Ah / 40 V Weight: 9.8 lbs | Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars Price: $$$ See Review |
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11. Makita XRU11M1 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless String Trimmer Kit | Cutting Swath: 11 3/4" Line Size: 0.08" Battery: 4.0 Ah / 18V Weight: 7.4 lbs + battery | Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars Price: $$ See Review |
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12. EGO Power+ ST1502 56V 2.5Ah Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless String Trimmer Straight Shaft | Cutting Swath: 15" Line Size: 0.095" dual feed Battery: 2.5 Ah / 56 V Weight: 11.8 lbs | Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars Price: $$$$ See Review |
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13. Greenworks ST-140-A 14-Inch 40V Attachment Capable String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 14" Line Size: 0.08" Battery: 2.0 Ah / 40 V (4.0 and 6.0 also avail.) Weight: 15lbs | Rating: 4.2 / 5 stars Price: $ See Review |
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14. RYOBI 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Attachment Capable String Trimmer | Cutting Swath: 13"-15" (adjustable) Line Size: 0.08" Battery: 4.0 Ah / 40 V Weight: 8.92lbs | Rating: 4.2 / 5 stars Price: $$ See Review |
Cordless String Trimmer Reviews
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1. Milwaukee String Trimmer Kit w/Quik-LOK
- Company: Milwaukee
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 16 in.
- Line size: 0.08″ / 0.095″
- Battery: 9.0 Ah / 18V
- Weight: 12.3 lbs
- Price: $$$$
This string trimmer by Milwaukee is one of the most powerful options on this list, likely the closest on our list to what you’ll get with a gas trimmer. It’s definitely one of my top recommendations for those of you who are looking for a serious string trimmer. It can wack through thick brush and even waist high weeds, can reach full throttle in under 1 second, and it can run for up to 1-hour per charge.
If that serious battery and serious power is not enough to love, here are some other aspects to highlight on this one:
- This tool is part of the Quik-Lok system (you can attach other tools at the end of it). There are several different attachment options available that will make this trimmer more than just a trimmer and totally raise its value- it can become a really useful, versatile part of your arsenal of yard equipment.
- You can control the speed (power) using the variable speed trigger, and get the exact style of trim you want.
- This trimmer is designed with the motor at the rear of the trimmer head – you’ll find this improves the power, balance, and maneuverability compared to the designs.
- It’s really easy to reload line onto the trimmer head – Milwaukee claims it’s done within 30 seconds and reviewers have no complaints!
- It includes REDLINK PLUS Intelligence, which is something built in that both optimizes performance and prevents damage to your tool through overload protection to both the tool and battery during heavy applications.
Some of the things you’ll want to watch for with this trimmer is that 1) it’s fairly heavy at over 12 lbs, and 2) the head angle and shaft length are both not adjustable; apparently if you’re tall (over 6′), you may find yourself leaning a bit.
Overall, this is a pretty serious battery powered string trimmer that has earned nicknames from reviewers (all visible through link below) such as “Weed Murder Machine” and “Weed Death Wheel”. It “doesn’t stop and doesn’t care what’s in its way”, “shredding through anything… like an angry honey badger”. Perhaps those reviewers are just people who like to provide creative descriptions, but the overall sense you get about this string trimmer is that it’s one powerful machine. Check out the reviews for yourself and find out more details below:
2. Shindaiwa by Echo T3000 56-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer
- Company: Echo/Shindaiwa
- Rating: 4.8 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 12″ or 14″
- Line Size: 0.08″
- Battery: 2.0 Ah / 56 V
- Weight: 12lbs
- Price: $$
This trimmer by Echo is a fantastic option if your price range is between $100-$200, and you’re looking for a lightweight, fairly quiet string trimmer for your own yard.
Here are some of its top features:
- It has a “speed feed” feature, which helps you load new line onto the head easily. And to give yourself more line during trimming, you can use the handy “bump feed” feature (tap to advance). Echo claims that their design is the quickest and easiest line replacement system on the market, actually (and reviewers tend to agree that it works really well).
- If you take great care to have precise trim lines, this model has a narrow line shield which gives you greater visibility.
- You can control the speed by adjusting the pressure you put on the trigger.
- It’s lightweight at 12lbs (including the battery) so your arms won’t get tired as quickly carrying it around (no shoulder strap)
- The 56 V brushless motor gives it pretty impressive power for a battery operated model.
The particular model (the Shindaiwa T3000) is a relatively new model (came out in 2019), and so far the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Echo is not a new company as far as yard tools go, however, so you may already have some of their products in your garage. You’ll be happy to know this new model can still share batteries with those tools.
The T3000 is not a model I’d recommend for a commercial landscape business, nor one I’d recommend for you if you have a large yard to trim (this battery typically lasts up to 30 minutes of run time, but it supposedly does have impressive power for that time). If you have a smaller property, however, and want something reliable that is lightweight, easy to handle, and easy to reload line, then I think you’ll be really happy with this one.
Check out this video review for more info, and/or click through below to see the many positive customer reviews for yourself (at time of writing, there are no negative reviews!).
3. Snapper HD 48V MAX Electric Cordless String Trimmer Kit
- Company: Snapper
- Cutting Swath: 13″
- Line size: 0.08″ (dual)
- Battery: 2.0 Ah / 48 V
- Weight: 9.75 lbs
- Rating: 4.7 / 5 stars
- Price: $$
This next trimmer we’re looking at is a popular option by Snapper. Snapper has a variety of string trimmers with different cutting swaths and batteries, but we’re going to look at the 48V 13″ option, a good fit for home owners especially (commercial landscapers or those of you with huge yards to tackle may want to look a Snapper with a larger battery).
Here’s are some of it’s top aspects:
- This trimmer is one of the few that have a speed selection trigger with a lock out lever, meaning that it’s really easy to maintain a particular speed (and get a smooth, precise trim) as you can lock your speed into place.
- It comes with Bump Feed, so you can output more line really easily (no stopping to manually adjust the string required).
- With a durable 1″ aluminium shaft, it’s one of the lighter models in our list at just under 10lbs including the battery.
- If you have any of the Snapper yard tools already, you’ll appreciate that you can share batteries, but if not, Snapper is a great line to start with, as their tools are decently priced, and pretty much all have excellent ratings.
- This trimmer comes with a Snapper 48 V Max Lithium Ion battery and charger, but it’s also compatible with the Briggs & Stratton 48-Volt Max 2.0 and 5.0 batteries. (Fun little extra: The charger also includes a USB port to charge your phone or other accessories.)
- The Snapper Electric Cordless string trimmer comes with a 3 year warranty (2 on the battery and charger), so you can buy with confidence that your product will be what you expect it to be.
This is a fairly priced string trimmer too. I wouldn’t say it’s a super budget deal, but you’re getting much more than a an entry level, basic model here. Snapper makes good tools, and I think overall, you’ll be well satisfied with this one.
4. Ego 56-Volt Lith-ion Cordless Electric Powerload String Trimmer with Carbon Fiber Shaft Kit
- Company: Ego
- Rating: 4.6 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 15″
- Battery: 2.5 Ah / 56V
- Weight: 12lbs
- Spiral Line: 0.095″
- Price: $$$
This next dual feed trimmer is a product that a lot of people love and that any person who does a lot of trimming on a regular basis should consider. This high recommendation is partially due to it’s decent battery size and large cutting swath – a combination that gets a lot of ground covered in one charge.
Here’s what else is to love about this one:
- It comes with Ego’s Powerload head, which seriously is a game changer. So many people find loading line onto the head or switching heads to be a nightmare, but the Powerhead does it for you – with a push of a button, the line automatically feeds into place.
- The carbon fiber shaft is extremely durable – it can handle a fair bit of “tool abuse”.
- During the trimming job, if you need more line, it has the tap head feature, which feeds out more without your needing to stop and manually adjust it (also known as “bump feed).
- You can adjust the speed and thus intensity on the go, depending on what you’re trimming: it has a variable speed trigger.
- Like most of the Ego tools, this trimmer is fully compatible with all EGO ARC lithium-ion batteries, so if you have one already, you can save money and share the battery.
- If you’re a parent of little ones or are simply someone who appreciates extra safety features, this one has a lock off safety switch, so that it can’t start without you intentionally unlocking it.
- It’s designed with your comfort in mind, having an adjustable cushioned front handle, and anti-vibration built in. If you’re looking for something super light weight though (this one is middle of the range, approx 12lbs), you should know that this one does not come with a shoulder strap.
- If you’re short on storage space, you’ll like that this tool folds to make it more compact.
- While the trimmer in general comes with a 5-year limited warranty, the light weight carbon fiber shaft is so strong and durable that it carries a lifetime warranty.
This Ego trimmer is a pretty popular item, with hundreds of positive reviews (click through to see for yourself). I think it’s priced right for a serious trimmer, and that you’ll agree with me if you use it to do a lot of trimming. Honestly though, if you just want one to do a tiny yard, and trim the edges only every few cuts, you can probably get away with a cheaper option just fine.
5. Toro PowerPlex 51482 Brushless 40V Lithium Ion Cordless String Trimmer
- Company: Toro
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 14″
- Line Weight: 0.08″
- Battery: 2.5 Ah / 40 V
- Weight: 9.2 lbs
- Price: $$
This next dual line trimmer is another dual feed, light weight, brush-less motor, mid-range trimmer that has lots of excellent reviews. If you’re currently building your arsenal of yard tools with Toro (battery sharing), you’ll be well satisfied with this string trimmer. If battery/brand doesn’t matter to you, if you’re just wanting a good trimmer for your yardwork, this one is still worth checking out though.
Here are some top features:
- You have constant control of the length of your line using the bump feed feature, so you don’t have to stop what you’re doing to pull out more line.
- It has a variable speed trigger that lets you control the power and thus, also the duration of the battery life (lower speed = longer run time, and higher speed = faster cutting but shorter battery length).
- The batteries are usable on all of the Toro PowerPlex tools. For this trimmer, on the whole, you can expect to get about 40 minutes of run time from a charge, and can count on approx 60 minutes to fully recharge it.
- It’s built with quality materials throughout to make it durable, including a cast aluminium head that can take a lot of punishment when tackling with the tough weed in your yard, and a steel shaft.
- You can expect about 40 minutes of mid speed run time from a full charge to this battery (40V, 2.5 Ah), and for it to take about 60 minutes to re-charge.
- You can easily adjust the height and angle of the handle to give you the most comfortable positioning while you work, and there are many reviewers who share that it’s a really well balanced tool for carrying.
- The shaft is foldable so it’s easy to store or transport.
I wouldn’t consider this Toro string trimmer cheap, but you don’t really want a cheap trimmer that you can’t rely on – that leads to a miserable time and quite possibly a fairly unprofessional looking trim job. You want to make sure you’re getting quality, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with this one.
6. POWERWORKS 60V 14-inch Brushless Top Mounted String Trimmer
- Company: Powerworks
- Rating: 4.5 /5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 14″ (16″ available)
- Line Weight: 0.08″ (dual line)
- Battery: 2.5 Ah / 60 V
- Weight: 18lbs
- Price: $$$
This next weed trimmer by Powerworks is another one that allows you to add attachments to it, making it a really versatile base tool (especially so as it fits all universal attachments, not just those from Powerworks).
Some other features include:
- A shoulder strap! This is a bit of a heavier string trimmer, but it does include a shoulder strap to help you continue your work with less arm fatigue.
- A rapid charge battery (it takes about 75 minutes to recharge the battery, which is short compared to the 2 hours many others take). You’ll apparently get about 40 minutes of full run time per battery for this one, by the way.
- Like most of the favorite “weed wackers” out there, this front mount trimmer comes with the super easy to use bump feed feature (seems like no one wants to manually pull out more line any more).
- It has a high-efficiency brushless motor so you’ll get great power and longer life – plus, the ease of an electric push button start AND a variable speed trigger.
- This POWERWORKS string trimmer includes a 2 year warranty for the battery, but a 4-year warranty on the rest of the tool.
- If you’re left-handed, you’ll like that you can adjust the head/shield over to make it perfect for a lefty.
I think overall this Powerworks trimmer is yet another solid choice – a bit on the expensive perhaps, but quality for your dollar.
7. DEWALT DCST990H1 40V MAX 6.0 Ah Lithium Ion XR String Trimmer
- Company: DEWALT
- Rating: 4.5 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 15″
- Battery: 6.0 Ah / 40 V
- Weight: 13.9 lbs
- Price: $$$$
This next battery operated trimmer is a large one. The battery is large, the cutting swath, the weight. It’s what you might find to be closer in line with a gas trimmer, actually – I’d consider it a good possibility for those of you wanting a trimmer for a large property, or one for light commercial use.
Some of its aspects include:
- The gear drive is a patented design that works to keep the power steady even while attacking tough growth; you’ll appreciate the extra torque it puts out to get through anything! That gear drive is protected inside a metal gear case.
- The full variable trigger gives you full control over the speed (and thus noise as well).
- It comes with the much appreciated bump feed feature that allows you to add more line with just a tap as you walk along.
- The auxiliary handle is padded to give you extra comfort against the vibration that can grow uncomfortable after long period of trimming.
- One “con” to note: Rewinding line to refill this tool isn’t all that easy, according to reviewers – you might want to pass on this one if you’re not a super patient type of person. (And purchasing a pre-wound replacement head can be a bit of a treasure hunt, by the way.)
- This trimmer comes with a 3 year limited warranty, as well as 1 year of free service, as well as a full 90 day money back guarantee if you don’t like how it works for you.
In my own opinion, this DEWALT weed wacker is priced pretty high (even with a huge, valuable battery) and I think there are comparable trimmers on our list that are a better deal priced wise. However, DEWALT is a reputable company that has been around for quite a few years now, and their track record for quality tools speaks for itself.
8. BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX String Trimmer / Edger, 13-Inch (LST140C)
- Company: BLACK + DECKER
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 13″
- Line Size: 0.065″
- Weight: 8lbs
- Battery: 1.5 Ah / 40 V
- Price: $
This next cordless trimmer is one of the bestsellers on Amazon right now. It’s another great option for those of you who are trying to keep the price tag as low as possible, but still get a decent trimmer.
Here are some of it’s top features:
- It has a built in battery charge indicator so you can see how much juice you have left while trimming.
- It can convert to an edger very quickly, making getting those clean, straight edges a snap.
- It does NOT have bump feed, but instead an automatic feed spool, that intuitively senses when more trimmer line needs to be fed down – and it just does it for you.
- The included 40 V battery works with all BLACK+DECKER 40 V and 36 V tools.
- You get a 3 year limited warranty with it.
This is pretty much just a basic string trimmer, with a basic battery and charger. If that’s what you’re looking for, you’re not alone – and this is one that many like you have chosen. The trimmer has more than 500 reviews on Amazon, of which the majority are highly positive. It is not a professional/commercial grade trimmer, but not everyone has need for one of them.
9. WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare 12″ Cordless String Trimmer & Edger
- Company: Worx
- Rating: 4.4 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 12″
- Line: 0.065″
- Battery: (2) 2.0 Ah / 20V
- Weight: 5.3lb + battery
- Price: $
This next trimmer is absolutely one the most popular choices on Amazon right now for cordless trimmers – it has approximately 2,000 reviews (average score of 4.4/5 stars, which is pretty impressive). It has also been the bestseller in the “cordless trimmers” category for quite some time now.
One of the reasons for their popularity is that it gets you a good entry level trimmer for a price that most people can afford. For less than $100, you can get this trimmer & edger 2-in-1 tool that does a decent job – and that’s what a LOT of people are looking for.
Here’s what you need to know about this one:
- You can convert it from a trimmer to a (rubber wheeled) edger in just a few seconds.
- You can tilt the head up to 90 degrees, which is perfect if you are trimming on a slope somewhere, or have some tough to reach spots on your yard. You can also tilt the handle.
- It has a spacer guard that you can use to stop you from accidentally damaging plants or lawn ornaments as you work.
- It’s SUPER lightweight, at 5.3lbs (plus the lightweight battery)
- There’s an ongoing deal that gets you 2 batteries for pretty much the price as one – which honestly you’ll want, as the batteries aren’t huge. You’ll want one on the charger so that you can switch it up mid job if needed. You can also use these on other WORX tools.
- Worx gives free spools for life – yes, even if bought through Amazon. You go to their website and just pay for shipping.
- It’s easy to load new line, as you seriously just feed in the first bit and press the “Command Feed” button to continue it along.
- The motor is NOT a brushless motor (what the majority of the higher end, more expensive trimmers offer).
If you have a fairly small, standard yard where you’re just trimming the edges, and just trimming grass (not plowing through thick stemmed weeds or heavy brush, for example), this should definitely be a contender for you. You will likely find this super popular trimmer does the job for you, and will have saved yourself some money at the same time.
10. Husqvarna Battery Straight Shaft String Trimmer
- Company: Husqvarna
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 14″
- Line Weight: 0.08″
- Battery: 4.0 Ah / 40 V
- Weight: 9.8 lbs
- Price: $$$
This next model, the Husqvarna 115iL, is an excellent choice if you’re set on adding a Husqvarna string trimmer to your yard tools collection. It comes with a strong battery (of course, if you have one already, you can just buy the tool), and is overall well reviewed – a durable dual string trimmer.
Here are some aspects you’ll like:
- The telescopic shaft: besides the option to lengthen or shorten it to the exact length that’s perfect for you and the job you’re doing, the telescopic feature also makes it an easy tool to store or transport. You can set it at any length between 20-36″.
- The tool has a “Save Mode”, which basically means the machine intuitively maximizes your run time, delivering high power when necessary, and “saving” it during light work. For an average yard, in “Save Mode” this trimmer can run for approx 100 minutes per charge. (If you’re at full throttle a lot, of course, it will be less.) This battery does take about 2 hours to recharge.
- This particular trimmer is described as being fairly quiet for a trimmer (especially compared to gas trimmers, but also to others). If you want particulars, the sound pressure level at operators ear is 77 decibels(A).
- The trimmer starts with simply the pressing of the “on” button, so it’s perfect for those who don’t want to be battling pull cords or the like.
This Husqvarna string trimmer is another trimmer that’s a little on the pricey side. Nothing too crazy but a little more expensive than several others on this list. But this powerful, long-lasting trimmer is described as being worth every penny of its cost and I’m sure you’ll come to the same conclusion if you decide on this product.
11. Makita XRU11M1 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless String Trimmer Kit
- Company: Makita
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 11 3/4″
- Line Size: 0.08″
- Battery: 4.0 Ah / 18 V
- Price: $$
Many of you have Makita tools in your garage – from home improvement tools to yard tools, this brand has a huge range of battery operated items that can share batteries to save you some money. If you are looking to add a great Makita string trimmer to your collection, take a closer look at this model:
- It has a 3-speed brushless motor. You can select low (4,000 RPM), medium (5,000 RPM), and high (6,000 RPM). While you have the option to set it on one particular speed, it also includes automatic torque drive technology that will shift it to the appropriate speed for whatever it is you’re tackling at the time.
- On high, you can count on getting approx 30 minutes of continuous run time from this battery (after which it’ll take about 40 minutes on the included charger to recharge).
- It’s the trimmer with the smaller cutting swath on our list here, so if you’re doing fine work, that may be appealing to you.
- You can replace the line spindles with universal ones, not just Makita brand. It’s also considered an “Easy Load” head, and includes bump feed.
- You have the option to throw this into reverse rotation should you get a snag of sorts – this is a quite unique feature (none of the others on our list is have this).
- The motor area is protected by a seal that keeps water and dust from getting inside, lengthening the life of your tool.
This tool is priced right in the middle of our range – and it’s also about a mid range tool, I’d say. It may not be the one you’d choose if you’re doing lots of trimming all day (for a landscape company), but if you want more than an entry level trimmer, it’s a really good option.
12. EGO Power+ ST1502 56V 2.5Ah Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless String Trimmer
- Company: Ego Power+
- Rating: 4.3 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 15″
- Line: 0.095″ dual feed
- Battery: 2.5 Ah (2.0 Ah also available) / 56 V
- Weight: 11.8 lbs
- Price: $$$$
This next string trimmer is another one from the EGO POWER+ brand, and one of their more popular ones. It’s quite similar to the one we viewed earlier, with a few differences that make it slightly more economical: it doesn’t have a carbon fiber shaft, and it doesn’t come with Ego Power+’s “Powerload” head.
You can purchase this one with either a straight shaft or a split shaft – if you go with the split shaft, you can add attachments.
Here are some of the highlight features:
- It’s nice and light weight, less than 12 lbs, which is great if you know your arms would complain about carrying around a heavy tool for up to an hour.
- The aluminium shaft is extendable, so you can adjust it perfectly to your height (no leaning necessary if you’re tall), and there’s an inline grip to make it even more comfortable. (Aluminium is a light, weather-resistant, durable material choice.)
- The variable speed motor is a brushless, highly efficient one that can handle a lot of work time, and apparently is fairly quiet.
- There’s a handy power switch you can press to let you know how much charge the battery has left while you’re working.
- It comes with a pretty impressive warranty, so your purchase would be protected: 5 year limited on the tool, and 3 year limited on the battery.
I wouldn’t consider this EGO POWER+ trimmer to be cheap but you don’t want a cheap battery & tool. That’s just going to lead to issues and a miserable time. You want to make sure you’re getting quality and that’s exactly what you’ll get here. Check out the hundreds of positive reviews on Amazon for yourself here.
13. Greenworks ST-140-A 14-Inch 40V Attachment Capable String Trimmer
- Company: Greenworks
- Rating: 4.2 /5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 14″
- Line Size: 0.08″
- Battery: 2.0 Ah (4.0 and 6.0 also avail.) / 40 V
- Weight: 15lbs
- Price: $
This next model on our list is an extremely popular model, one of the top selling budget entries for sure. It comes with a variety of batteries, so you can select the one that best suits your needs (2.0 Ah will be fine for small properties, but go 6.0 Ah for example if you are trimming multiple properties or have a large lot).
Here’s more info you’ll want to know about this trimmer:
- It’s one of the trimmers on this list that IS capable of attachments being latched on, so this Greenworks trimmer can become a good base tool in your collection.
- It has a brushless motor, so you can assume it’ll be quieter, powerful, and durable. It’s actually under its own 10 year warranty, believe it or not! (The tool is 4 year, the battery 2 year.)
- Greenworks is a popular and well appreciated brand when it comes to yard tools, and has all sorts of items in this their 40 V product line – it’s a good choice for developing a collection for battery sharing for sure.
- It includes Bump Feed, but has no variable speed trigger.
Overall, if you just need a quality trimmer but don’t care if it’s fancy, this is a great choice. You’ll be making it along with many others who report being very happy with it – check out the hundreds and hundreds of positive review at the link below:
14. RYOBI 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Attachment Capable String Trimmer
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Company: Ryobi
- Rating: 4.2 / 5 stars
- Cutting Swath: 13″-15″ (adjustable)
- Line Size: 0.08″
- Battery: 4.0 Ah / 40 V
- Weight: 8.92lbs
- Price: $$
This next trimmer on our list here is by Ryobi, and like many of the other options on our best string trimmers list, it too can share batteries with other tools in the Ryobi 40V line. It also has the capability however to accept attachments, both universal ones and Ryobi brand ones, to make this tool more versatile.
This trimmer has a unique feature that may set it apart for you as a top contender (then again, maybe not): It has an adjustable cutting swath. You can set it at 13″ or at 15″ based on your preference for longer run time (smaller swatch means less power required) or wider cutting path.
Here are a few other aspects you’ll want to know about:
- It has a bump-free string head so you can easily and quickly advance your line and keep on working.
- You have full control over the tool with the variable speed trigger – you can both power through scrubs or trim delicate areas, edge, and more.
- If you hate the reloading process, Ryobi makes it really easy with its system called “Reel Easy” that speed winds your new line into the head – it’s reloaded in as little as 60 seconds.
- It’s nice and lightweight, easy for your to carry for longer periods of work.
- The 4.0 Ah/ 40 V battery is powerful and high capacity – it can run for an impressive amount of time (Ryobi recommends this string trimmer for properties up to 1 acre, which is quite extensive). It does take approx 90 minutes to recharge it fully however.
This string trimmer comes with a 5-year limited warranty but also a 90 day satisfaction money back guarantee, so there’s no risk to try it out for yourself.
Enjoy The Convenience Of Trimming With A Battery Powered Trimmer This Year!
We’ve come to the end of our reviews of the best cordless trimmer of 2024 – hopefully you’ve been able to narrow down the options and pick out one that suits your needs. We looked at many different brands, at trimmers of various sizes and with a variety of features. There’s something for everyone here!
Whichever you choose, I hope these product overviews have been helpful and that you learned something new, perhaps. As always, if you have any questions or feedback, feel free to comment below and I’ll get back to you quickly.
Wishing you much enjoyment of your backyard this year!
Thank-you: very informative, easy to understand.
You’re welcome, Linda! It’s my aim to make each post informative and clear, so I appreciate the feedback!
After reading the reviews on Amazon it looks like battery powered weed trimmers are just not ready for prime time!
I didn’t bother to look at the 300+ buck one’s as, being on a fixed income, they are just to rich for this old man!
The Ryobi # RY40250VNM looked promising but the battery appears to be it’s short coming. It fails to soon, swells up in the battery holder and you must let it cool down before it can be removed, it burns your arm if wearing short sleeves, etc. It appears that battery powered weed trimmers need to be more refined before they can replace gas power.
Too bad as I am 69 and gas machines are getting to be a little more than I can handle for extended periods.
Hi Gary,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences with battery operated weed trimmers! Hopefully some of the issues you have been facing will be resolved in future designs.
Nate
Hi,
thanks for posting this. I noticed the $$$$ has changed and better pricing can be had
The Milwaukee is now much cheaper than the Shindaiwa by Echo as the prime example
Hey Peter, Thanks for letting me know! It’s crazy hard to keep us with sales and price adjustments, I’ve been finding! Especially with the supply changing regularly these days and affecting prices. I apologize if it was misleading! I’ll take a look and see what adjustments currently need to be made.
Have a great day!
Nate
I see you say the Ryobi is compatible with other brand attachments. I looked at some of the comments on HD site, one agrees with that another said it didn’t even work with older Ryobi attachments. When I asked HD they say it only works with Ryobi but I saw somewhere it works with most brands. I think it was on Ryobi site. Does anyone know for sure?
Hi Walter,
Sorry for the delayed response. Can I ask what brand “it” is, so I can try advise better?
Nate
Which attachment capable power heads will take other brand attachments. I’m getting so many conflicting messages.
Hi Walter,
I’m in agreement with you that it can be pretty confusing. It’s a pretty safe thing to say, however, that brands try to remain unique from others in order to make customers feel the need to purchase more attachments FROM THEM and not their competitors. This is a pretty generic, not-so-useful response I’m guessing, but without knowing which exact brands you’re talking about here, I’d say assume they won’t match, unfortunately.
Nate
I looked at some of the comments on HD site, one agrees with that another said it didn’t even work with older Ryobi attachments. When I asked HD they say it only works with Ryobi but I saw somewhere it works with most brands…
Thanks John. Yeah, it can be rather frustrating to figure it all out. And honestly, even when we THINK we get the right match for an attachment, it can surprise us by not fitting after all. Definitely keep receipts and check fits quickly after purchasing, I’d advise.
I can’t restring my ryobi and tried to get new attachments for it but nothing else will fit the ryobi.
So sorry you’re having issues with it, Gay! Have you tried contacting Ryobi customer service?
Nate
Add a new string trimmer to your yard tools collection, the first thing you’ll notice is that there’s a LOT of choice out there. Almost too much, actually… it can make picking out a trimmer a bit tricky.
Isn’t that the truth! It can be a bit overwhelming. Hopefully I’ve helped you narrow down to a few options, at least!
Nate
Just wanted to mention that your equation for calculating power is correct but is not the finite measurement for tabulating the approximate time a battery will run with a full charge. Power in electrical sense = wattage. Wattage does not give the user of a measurement of an estimated time it can be used before the battery needs re-charged. It is the amp/hour (Ah) that indicates the optimum and maximum time of use. In any electrical device, it’s important to come up with a balance of Amps and Voltage to gain the optimum efficiency. High Power (wattage) is not the answer all with all electrical equipment.
Thanks for the clarification, KJ!