The best electric string trimmers help you make sure your small yard looks neat. Find out what features you can enjoy with these handy tools.
A string trimmer is also called a weed-eater, but regardless of the name you have a tool that can grass even on irregular terrain or near walls. Since we are looking for electric weed trimmers, we can pass over those gas-powered models that befoul the air. The best electric weed eater is also generally much easier to hold and handle.
Here’s a list of great options you can choose from so you can find the best electric string trimmer for your needs.
Best Electric String Trimmer – Editor’s Pick
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10. Greenworks 13-Inch 4 Amp Corded String Trimmer 21212
As this is corded, you can use this for as long as you want. It won’t bother you to carry it around for a long while, since it only weighs 7 pounds. Other models are much heavier.
It also has a telescoping shaft so you can adjust it to your height and you won’t have to bend your back too much. You’ll need a heavy-duty extension cord for this (the power cord isn’t included), but it offers a cord lock so you don’t unplug it accidentally.
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This has an automatic feeding spool, and it’s very convenient. It offers a 13-inch cut path, and the rotating trimmer shaft offers easy and accurate edging when you’re mowing your lawn. The motor is quite powerful, and you’ll rarely experience jams.
This can pretty up small unkempt yards in just 20 minutes or so. You can use this once a month to trim your yard, and a few times a year you can also use it to trim foliage that’s gone wild after a few months of growth.
This is extremely reliable, and you can expect it to last for a long while. This even comes with a 4-year warranty, which is twice as long as the standard 2-year warranty in the industry.
9. WORX WG154 Edger 20V 10″ Cordless String Trimmer
It can be annoying dealing with electrical cords especially when you just need a string trimmer for a small job. This one is cordless, and you can recharge its battery in just 5 hours. The battery can last long enough to deal with an average-sized yard including trimming along the fence line. If the job takes only 30 minutes or so, then this is what you need. You can always buy a backup rechargeable battery if you need more time.
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This is both a trimmer and an edger. You can switch from one function to another without using tools, as you only need to go through the one-touch conversion process. The string trimmer also has an adjustable cutting width, so you can go with 10 or 12 inches.
This is extremely lightweight, as it only weighs 6 pounds. The fixed front handle is easy to control and comfortable to hold. There’s also a folding spacer guard so you don’t inadvertently cut your flowers. The string that comes with the trimmer works very well, even with heavy bushes.
8. BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX String Trimmer / Edger, 13-Inch (LST136W)
This features an automatic feed spool and works with the AF-100 spool. With this, you’re able to use a wider 13-inch cutting swath. This also converts to an edger very easily. You just push a button and it rotates 180 degrees.
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This is a cordless trimmer, and its 40V MAX lithium battery has a lot of juice for working even large yards. The dial lets you control the power setting, so you can reduce the power to increase the run time. It can last about 15 minutes for the most powerful setting. On low to medium setting, you can use it for small weeds and lawn grasses for about an hour.
The trimmer shaft is set to 52 inches, and that’s a nice enough height for most people to use comfortably. It helps that it weighs very little, at less than 8 pounds. The balance is certainly nice so it’s easy to control. You can also buy pre-wound spools for this, so you can replace the spools easily.
7. Makita XRU09PT1 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless String Trimmer Kit
This is another battery-powered trimmer, and it uses a couple of 18V LXT batteries. Your kit comes with 4 of these batteries, so you’re able to work indefinitely. The batteries can work up to an hour, while you only need a 45-minute charge time for these 5.0 Ah rechargeable batteries.
Your kit also comes with a bump and feed trimmer head. It works nicely enough, though it can be a pain if you don’t check the line in the spool. You may have to rewind it to make it work.
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Your trimmer also has a bunch of protective features for power management. It has overload and overheat protection. It also has over-discharge protection, which stops the unit when the battery is low so you can recharge. This extends the battery life.
Even with the batteries, the weight of this tool comes in at less than 10 pounds, so it’s not overly heavy. The balance is just right for better handling.
You have to speed settings to choose from, so you can use the low 5,000 rpm setting for most tasks and use the 6,500 rpm setting for more stubborn weeds.
Overall the quality of this is quite fabulous, except for the so-so bump feed head. You can always replace that with something better like the Echo 78890-21001E High Capacity Speed Feed 450 Trimmer Head, and then you’d have a truly fantastic trimmer.
6. BLACK+DECKER String Trimmer / Edger, 13-Inch, 12-Amp (ST8600)
This is both a trimmer and an edger, featuring a powerful motor and a reliable transmission. This is also a corded model, even though you’ll have to buy your own electrical cord for it. It does have a cord retention system that keeps you from disconnecting the cord accidentally.
Once you power this up, you’ll have a powerful tool that can deal with grasses and weeds. In fact, it’s so powerful that you can even do some light hedge clipping with a few branches sticking out too much in your walkways. The edger works very well too.
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This uses an automatic feed spool, so there’s no bumping needed. You may need spare rolls at hand as it can use up your string rather quickly.
Aside from that issue, there’s no other problem. It’s very easy to use and it only weighs about 5 pounds. Even senior citizens won’t have any trouble maneuvering this around. You can also rely on it to work for a long time, as it comes with a 3-year warranty.
5. WORX WG160.4 4AH 2.0 Hi-Capacity GT
The WORX GT is actually the most popular tool in the WORX lineup, and now you get the upgraded 2.0 version. This is the cordless trimmer that you can use as an edger or even as your miniature mower. Your purchase comes with a couple of 20V 4.0 ah batteries along with the charger, plus 2 extra spools
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This comes with a push-button start, and it has a telescopic shaft so you can set it to match your height and posture. The handle is adjustable as well, so you can set it in a way that’s comfy for you. You can also turn the trimmer into an edger or a mower in just a few seconds.
This is extremely easy to control and very lightweight at 7 pounds. Even little old ladies won’t have any trouble this with this as it doesn’t vibrate much at all and it has wheels as well. It also uses an automatic single line feed, and it doesn’t run through your spool very quickly.
The batteries have an indicator showing the charge level, so you know when you’re getting low. But this can last for half an hour of heavy use. If that’s not enough, at least it only takes a couple of hours to get a full recharge.
4. BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Whacker
This comes with the 20v Lithium battery pack and charger, which promises a third more run time compared to other options. At max power you can run this continuously for 30 minutes, which should be enough time for medium-sized yards.
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It has a cut swath of 12 inches and the vaunted Power Drive Transmission that delivers more power from the motor. That lets you deal with even tough weeds. You can also turn the trimmer into an edger in just a few moments. All you really need to do is to turn the head 90 degrees.
This is extremely easy to use, as the length is adjustable to suit your preferences and comfort. It weighs less than 6 pounds, so it’s quite lightweight. The pivoting handle is also a nice touch, as it lets you direct the trimmer exactly where you want it. This also features an automatic feed spool, so you won’t have to stop and bump every so often.
3. WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V PowerShare
This is an extremely powerful trimmer, with a speed of 7600 rpm. You have dual-position wheels for your trimming jobs, and then in a few seconds, you can use this as an edger. This gives you a cut swath of 12 inches, and it works with the Innovative Command Feed spool system so you can get quick line feed.
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This is extremely comfortable to use, starting with the lightweight at merely 5.3 pounds. The design is also ergonomic, and you can quickly adjust the height of the telescoping shaft with the quick-release lever. It also has an adjustable space guard that protects your flowers and also functions as a guide for your edger.
This comes with the Max lithium batteries, which only take 3 hours to fully charge. The charge can last long enough for most yards, even the ones that are a quarter of an acre. With 2 batteries, you can finish your work each time.
2. Worx WG184 40V (2.0Ah) 13″ Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger
This uses two 20V Power Module batteries, so you can deal with just about anything in your yard. You can use this as a trimmer for your yard, and then you can push a button and you have a wheeled inline edger in just a few moments.
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The trimmer line is professional-grade, and the Command Feed system gives you instant line feeding. It also offers variable speed control and an easy-to-maneuver shaft with a pivoting handle to let you place the head wherever you want. It also only weighs just 6.5 pounds.
This is a great trimmer, and you can use it for yards up to half an acre in size. The batteries can last for about half an hour.
You can work indefinitely if you buy another set of batteries like this one, so you can charge one set of batteries while you work with the other set. Once your batteries run out of juice, the batteries in the charger will be fully charged.
1. Greenworks 14-Inch 40V Cordless String Trimmer (2100202)
We started this list with a Greenworks model, so we should end it with another one. This time we have a battery-powered 40V model, so there are no cords to bother with. This 2100202 model doesn’t come with batteries, but then that frees you to buy the batteries you want.
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This also accepts most gas attachments. This means you can use it in many other ways, such as a blower or a cultivator.
It comes with a terrific brushless motor that uses your battery power efficiently. It’s very quiet, and it offers a lot of torque. It starts in just a few seconds too.
With the right batteries, you can run this trimmer up to a full hour, which should be enough for half an acre. It’s meant for heavy-duty work, and it weighs 15 pounds. It also features a standard bump line feed.
Final Words
Whether you have a corded or cordless model, with the best electric string trimmer you can make sure your yard looks good. Yard maintenance can be a chore, but with any of these tools, you can do the job well in just a short while.
