Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Reviews 2024

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Reviews

Battery-Powered String Trimmers Producing Higher Performance in 2024

Even if you’re not quite ready to pull the trigger on one of the best electric lawn mowers, switching to one of our best battery-powered string trimmers is a much easier jump for most people to make. Whether you’re cutting the extension cord out of the equation or ditching the headaches of a gas engine, cordless string trimmers are super-convenient and there are legitimate options for both Pros and homeowners. So, what’s the best battery-powered weed eater for your needs? We got our team together to determine top picks for a range of priorities!

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer – Our Top Picks

Also In This Article

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Overall

Residential Use – EGO PowerLoad String Trimmer with Line IQ ST1623T

EGO PowerLoad String Trimmer with Line IQ | Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer for Homeowners

EGO started back in the day with surprisingly strong performance for a cordless string trimmer and eye-opening vibration control. Since then, it’s only gotten better as battery and motor technology have improved. Add to that, EGO’s PowerLoad feature makes line changes the easiest to load we’ve ever used—just thread your line to the middle and press a button.

As for the latest advancement, Line IQ automatic line feeding keeps a 16-inch cutting swath without having to bump the head. It sets the bar very high for any other brand hoping to compete for the title of the best battery-powered string trimmer.

Pros

  • Automatic line feeding
  • Super-easy Powerload line reloading
  • Excellent cutting power
  • Low vibration
  • 2 operating speeds to prioritize runtime or cutting power
  • Telescoping carbon fiber shaft

Cons

  • Expensive compared to other residential models
  • PowerLoad function doesn’t play well with all brands of line

Key Stats

  • Best For: Residential use
  • Power Source: EGO 56V battery
  • Max Speed: 4800/5500 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 16 inches
  • Line: 0.095-inch
  • Operating Weight: 12.5 pounds (4.0Ah batter)

Price: Price: $219 bare, $329 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer for Professional Use

Professional Use – Stihl FSA 135 R

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer for Professional Use

Stihl FSA 135 R

Stihl’s flagship FSA 135 is the best professional battery-powered string trimmer in my opinion. It’s a direct performance replacement for Stihl’s popular gas-powered FS 91. While it’s not quite as strong as Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel Dual Battery 3006, its operating weight is more than 2 pounds lighter. Furthermore, the performance is high enough that it’s a solid pick to quickly handle the standard trimming duties professional crews take on every day without the headaches of a gas engine.

Plus, this one is made in the USA using global materials.

Pros

  • Built with the same components as Stihl’s professional gas models
  • Direct battery-powered replacement for the FS 91
  • 3 operating speeds
  • Backed by Stihl’s servicing dealer network
  • Made in the USA with global materials

Cons

  • Expensive ($700+ with one battery and charger)

Key Stats

  • Best For: Professional use
  • Power Source: AP series 36V battery
  • Max Speed: 5900 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 16.5 inches
  • Line: 0.095-inch
  • Operating Weight: 14.1 pounds (AP 300 battery)

Price: $409.99

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Power

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery 3006

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Dual Battery 3006

Milwaukee stepped up its string trimmer game big time and vaulted onto the leaderboard as the best battery-powered string trimmer when power is your number one priority. This Pro-targeted model clears quickly with a 17-inch cutting swath and 0.105-inch line capability powered by a strong brushless motor.

For standard lawn trimming, extend your battery life by kicking into low speed. When you’re reclaiming tough overgrowth, kick it into high and draw on 6200 RPM backed by solid torque. With 2.5 horsepower onboard, you won’t miss your gas trimmer. For those times when you run into wood-stalked overgrowth, Milwaukee has you covered with its M18 Fuel Brush Cutter.

The downside is that it’s heavy—16.9 pounds at its full operating weight. However, an included shoulder strap makes bearing that weight much easier.

Pros

  • Strong performance
  • 2 operating speeds to prioritize runtime or cutting power
  • Guard combines wide protection with high visibility
  • Shoulder strap included

Cons

  • Heavy

Key Stats

  • Best For: Professional use
  • Power Source: 2 x M18 batteries (High Output recommended)
  • Max Speed: 4900/6200 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 15 – 17 inches
  • Line: 0.080 – 0.105-inch
  • Operating Weight: 16.9 pounds (2 x 8.0Ah High Output batteries)

Price: $399 bare tool, $699 kit with two 8.0Ah High Output batteries and dual-port rapid charger

Looking for the most powerful residential battery-powered string trimmer? We recommend the Ryobi 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series Carbon Fiber Shaft String Trimmer RY402110VNM.

Price: $329

Best Lightweight Battery-Powered String Trimmer

Echo 56V eForce X-Series DSRM-2600

Best Lightweight Battery-Powered String Trimmer

Echo 56V eForce X-Series DSRM-2600

Choosing the best lightweight battery-powered string trimmer boiled down to Echo’s DSRM-2600 and Husqvarna’s 520iLX. While Husqvarna is about a 1/2-pound lighter, Echo’s performance level is outstanding, making the trade-off of a little more weight worth it.

With a 17-inch cutting swath, it makes quick work of clearing large and overgrown areas, yet the working weight is still right at 10 pounds with a 2.5Ah battery. If you’re going for high-capacity batteries, Echo’s weight moves over 11 pounds, and that makes Husqvarna’s 9.6 pounds more attractive. You won’t go wrong with either model, but I prefer the higher performance Echo offers.

Pros

  • Lightweight, yet powerful
  • 3 operating speeds to prioritize runtime or cutting power
  • Low vibration

Cons

  • No significant drawbacks

Key Stats

  • Best For: Professional use
  • Power Source: Echo 56V battery
  • Max Speed: 4860/9200 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 17 inches
  • Line: 0.080 – 0.095-inch
  • Operating Weight: 10.0 pounds (2.5Ah battery)

Price: $449.99 – $649.99

Looking for a lightweight residential battery-powered string trimmer? Try Skil’s PWRCore 40 Brushless 14-inch String Trimmer!

Price: $159

Best Attachment-Capable Battery-Powered String Trimmer

Stihl Battery-Powered Kombi System KMA 135 R

Stihl KMA 136 R KombiSystem

When we tested cordless attachment systems, none of them had the overall performance that Stihl’s 36V KombiSystem did. It was the closest one to using a gas powerhead. Now the performance is even better with the KMA 135 R powerhead. In terms of performance, it’s a cordless replacement for the Stihl KM 91 R gas Kombi Motor.

Even though Stihl doesn’t use a universal attachment mechanism, the brand’s list of available attachments is deeper than we’ve seen from any other. Plus, Stihl’s extensive dealer and service network is there to support you after the sale.

Pros

  • Extensive range of compatible accessories
  • Direct battery-powered replacement for the KM 91 R powerhead
  • Backed by Stihl’s servicing dealer network
  • Made in the USA with global materials

Cons

  • Expensive

Price: $349.99 (powerhead only)

Need a residential attachment-capable model? Go for the EGO 56V Multi-Head System with the Powerload string trimmer attachment!

Price: $379

Best Cordless Bike Handle String Trimmer

Greenworks Commercial 82V Bike Handle String Trimmer 82TB20

Greenworks Commercial Bike Handle String Trimmer | Best Battery-Powered Handlebar String Trimmer

Bike handle string trimmers are the way to go for trimming large areas or long fence lines. Their harnesses shift the weight off of your arms and lower back while offering a stable platform to maneuver.

Of the battery-powered options on the table, the Greenworks Commerical 82V bike handle string trimmer is our top choice. Boasting higher power levels than 36cc gas models, its 5700 RPM top speed and 18-inch cutting swath clear overgrowth in a hurry.

A 4.0Ah battery powers the brushless motor for up to 45 minutes and Greenworks’ rapid charger gets it back in the game in just 30 minutes. With a pair of batteries at your disposal, you can charge one while using the other and only have to stop long enough to swap them.

Pros

  • Outstanding cutting power
  • 2 operating speeds to prioritize runtime or cutting power
  • Compatible with brush cutter blade (included)
  • $300 California CORE voucher eligible model available

Cons

  • Can be tough to find in stock

Key Stats

  • Best For: Professional use
  • Power Source: Greenworks Commercial 82V battery
  • Max Speed: 5700 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 18 inches
  • Line: 0.095-inch
  • Operating Weight: 16.5 pounds (2.5Ah battery)

Price: $471.99 bare tool

Best Budget Battery-Powered String Trimmer

SKIL 40V PWRCore Brushless String Trimmer LT4818-10

Skil PWRCore 40 battery-powered weed eater

If you’re on a budget, there are still quality string trimmers to choose from. There are plenty of good high-voltage ones under the $200 mark and several 18V/20V max models to choose from under $150. But what if you want the performance of a voltage boost but $200 is still too high?

That’s where the Skil PWRCore 40 Brushless String Trimmer steps in. This brushless battery-powered trimmer fills a need for a capable weed eater that doesn’t go overboard on weight or price. With more power than 18V/20V models, it’s a good fit for budget-minded individuals. It also carries a 5-year limited warranty.

This isn’t Skil’s top model, though. More recently, they launched a 15-inch model with a Smart Load feature that’s a good value at $159 for the kit. At the time we’re writing, however, the 14-inch kit is available for $119, and that’s just too good to pass up.

Pros

  • Excellent value
  • 2 operating speeds to prioritize runtime or cutting power
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Smaller cutting swath
  • Limited to 0.080-inch line

Key Stats

  • Best For: Residential use
  • Power Source: Skil PWRCore 40 battery
  • Max Speed: 4800/6000 RPM
  • Cutting Swath: 14 inches
  • Line: 0.080-inch
  • Operating Weight: 9.3 pounds (2.5Ah battery)

Price: $159 with 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Line for Battery-Powered String Trimmers

Echo Black Diamond 0.095-Inch Trimmer Line

Echo Black Diamond String Trimmer Line | Best Line for Battery-Powered String Trimmers

Echo Black Diamond trimmer line is denser than others and has sharper cutting edges in its design. For battery-powered string trimmers, you can use Black Diamond 0.095-inch line that cuts like it’s thicker without killing your runtime. There’s some runtime reduction because of the increase in mass, but not as much as when it combines with the increased air resistance of thicker lines. It’s the line we prefer on our gas trimmers and with cordless models being as capable as they are today, we’re able to use it on those as well.

Price: $20.99 – $79.99

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmers: More Recommendations from Brands We Trust

Best DeWalt Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 60V Max DCST972

DeWalt sports an impressive 17-inch cutting swath on its latest 60V Max brushless string trimmer. It’s a 2-speed attachment-capable trimmer using a universal connection system, opening up more options beyond DeWalt attachments. With 5800 RPM on the top end (4650 in low), there’s plenty of speed and you can swap out the 0.080-inch line that comes pre-spooled with 0.095-inch.

It’s a little beefier than some models with the 3.0Ah 60V battery pushing the total weight over 11 pounds. The trigger grip section is also a bit thicker than most, so you might not care for it if you have smaller hands. On the plus side, there are three points for the attachment detent to lock into, making it simple to convert the trimmer head into a string edger.

Price: $259.00 bare tool, $329.00 with 3.0Ah battery and charger

Best Greenworks Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 60V ST60L254

Greenworks’ Pro 60V line has a few options and we like the ST60L04 as the best overall balance of performance and price for trimming. It’s a smooth-operating trimmer with an easy-loading Load N’ Go head that uses 0.095-inch line and runs for more than half an hour on its 2.5Ah battery.

Price: $199.99 with a 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Husqvarna String Trimmer: 40V 520iLX

Husqvarna’s 520iLX is a serious contender for the best lightweight battery-powered string trimmer. What helps it rise above others is its combination of lighter weight, extremely low vibration, and thoughtful feature set in conjunction with excellent performance—all with a sub-10-pound operating weight. As a previous winner in the lightweight category, it’s still a solid option.

Price: $309.99

Best Makita Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 40V max XGT GRU03

We realize not everyone is in a place to jump onto Makita’s ConnectX system. If you want high performance with wider OPE and power tool compatibility, give the 40V max XGT GRU03 a look. It has three speeds and tops out at a blistering 7000 RPM. Plus, the trimmer’s 30cc gas equivalent performance has a 17-inch cutting swath and is suitable for use with a brush cutter blade, making this the most capable string trimmer in the line.

Price: $349.00 bare, $499.00 with a 4.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Ridgid Cordless String Trimmer: 18V Brushless R1201

Ridgid fans no longer have to consider a separate battery system to join the cordless lawn care craze. Fully compatible with Ridgid 18V power tool batteries, there’s a nice range to get started with.

The string trimmer is on the smaller side, featuring a 12 – 14-inch cutting swath but still capable of using 0.095-inch line. It’s also on the lighter side, weighing less than 10 pounds with a 4.0Ah battery.

Price: $189 bare, $388 with an 8.0Ah battery and charger

Best Ryobi Battery-Powered String Trimmer: 40V HP Brushless Whisper Series Carbon Fiber Shaft RY402110VNM

In case you haven’t noticed, Ryobi has been very aggressive in the lawn care department. The 40V HP Brushless lineup has been impressive, taking the Home Depot-exclusive brand to a whole new level in OPE. For its flagship string trimmer, that means impressive cutting power.

The combination of advanced battery and brushless motor tech lets you use line that’s up to 0.105-inch with a 17-inch cutting swath. It’s fantastic when you’re reclaiming overgrown areas or simply have a lot of lawn to maintain. It gets even better, though, because this model is also part of the Whisper Series, boasting 60% quieter operation than a comparable gas model thanks to specifically focusing on the pitch of the sound.

Price: $279 bare, $329 with 6.0Ah battery and rapid charger

Best Toro Cordless String Trimmer: 60V Flex Force 51830

Toro’s 60V 51830 is the top performer for the Flex Force line. Its brushless motor offers an excellent 16-inch cutting swath and a well-balanced design. While it doesn’t have some of the cutting-edge features that some of the other models do, we don’t have any complaints. It’s an excellent all-around option that keeps its price reasonable.

Price: $149.99 bare, $229.99 with a 2.5Ah battery and charger

Best Battery-Powered String Trimmer Buying Guide: What We Look For

Cutting Power

Three primary factors go into cutting power: line speed, line thickness/mass, and motor torque.

The faster the line whips around, the better the tips cut grass. Most battery-powered string trimmers are fine in this category. As long as you’re getting at least 5000 RPM, you should be in good shape. The top models are capable of hitting 6500 RPM and there is a significant difference in how fast you can complete your trimming duties at higher rotational speeds.

Shifting the focus to the line thickness, the higher the line mass, the more force it’s able to cut through thicker grass with. It’s like the difference between getting hit by a 175-pound safety and a 225-pound linebacker at the same speed. More mass equals more cutting power.

Most cordless string trimmers take 0.080-inch line at a minimum. We recommend 0.095-inch for the best all-around performance. If you have tougher grass or deal with overgrowth frequently, a string trimmer with 0.105-inch line lets you power through even better. Just keep in mind that line diameter has a direct effect on runtime—thicker line takes more power to run.

Finally, a motor with higher torque helps the trimmer resist slowing down as the going gets tougher. Even though trimming grass seems like a low-demand task, grass does push back against the line, causing it to bend back and eventually start to bog the motor. Higher torque holds keep the head spinning better in tough cutting situations, even when its highest RPMs are lower than low-torque gearing.

Cutting Swath

Having a large cutting swath helps you clear large areas faster or gives you a more generous border for your mower. You need more power to run wider, though, and runtime is always a consideration. That said, in the past couple of years, we’ve seen the technology come together to give us solid options. Look for a 15-inch cutting diameter for most situations. Recent 16- and 17-inch models are a great choice when you have larger areas to cut.

Runtime

The average homeowner on a 1/4-acre lot only needs about 15 minutes of consistent trigger time to cover trimming. Most cordless string trimmers can hit that at high speed without difficulty.

Professional lawn care crews need much more, though. So do homeowners with large properties and farm/ranch acreage.

If your runtime needs are greater, look for a string trimmer that balances the efficiency of a brushless motor, uses 0.095-inch line, and possibly comes with a higher-capacity battery. Of course, you can always carry multiple batteries.

Also, consider learning how to trim at low speed when the grass isn’t as thick. Even though you have to slow down a bit, you’ll cut a significantly larger area.

Vibration

We highly value low-vibration string trimmers. We already have enough work to do managing the weight of such a long tool without vibration adding additional fatigue. The harmonics in some of today’s models are so good that hardly any vibration makes it up the handle… and they are a joy to use!

Weight and Balance

If you’re working all day on a lawn crew or even just putting the finishing touches on your own lawn, you want the lightest weight you can get without sacrificing the power you need. Bare weight isn’t everything—the battery can add a lot. If you can get a fully loaded battery-powered string trimmer that meets your performance needs and comes in under 10 pounds, that’s a big win.

Balance is a consideration and the trimmers that have the best typically mount the motor on the trimmer head to counter the battery weight on the back. Many models also let you adjust the front handle to help dial in your fit.

If you’re after an attachment-capable model, you’re stuck with the motor in the back, and the balance shifts back. For those trimmers that are simply heavier by nature, consider adding a shoulder strap to help you out.

Sound Level

Low noise is one of the major benefits of moving away from gas power. Cordless string trimmers we’ve tested range from decibels in the low 80s to the upper 90s (measured at our operator’s ear). Even at the top end, it’s an improvement over the majority of gas trimmers.

Your line selection plays a bigger part than it does on gas trimmers. Sometimes, switching the line you use can reduce the overall noise level or change the tone to a less irritating pitch.

Line Changes

When you have to change the line, it can be an easy or frustrating process. Manual loading is largely a thing of the past, though some trimmers still have manual heads. To make the process easier, look for models that have some type of fast-loading system (SpeedFeed, Rapid Load, etc). With these, you thread the line through the head to the middle, turn the head to load it, and get on with the work.

Regardless of what comes on the trimmer, you can upgrade most to a quick-load head.

The best on the market right now is EGO’s PowerLoad design. It takes the fast-load concept and adds automatic winding, giving us the easiest, quickest line changes we’ve ever had.

Attachment Capability

Pro lawn crews typically have dedicated machines for string trimming, edging, and hedge trimming, but homeowners can save a lot of money by using interchangeable heads and tools that cover everything from blowing to brush cutting.

As we mentioned earlier, attachment systems require a top-mounted motor that affects the balance. It’s a trade-off you have to make for the convenience you gain.

One thing to keep an eye on is the attachment connection style. Models with a “universal” connection can use attachments from other brands, opening up far more choices. Recent multi-head systems including EGO, Milwaukee, and Stihl aren’t compatible with others, so you need to make sure they have everything you need before investing.

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