Best Electric and Cordless String Trimmers

A couple of innovative features are true highlights of the EGO ST1521S. First is a carbon fiber shaft that comes with a lifetime warranty. The other solves maybe the most frustrating part of trimmers – loading the line. This new Powerload head design makes loading the line super easy. Just stick the line through the slot, even up the lengths on each side of the head, then press the Powerload button and watch it wind the line into place.

Some other features of the ST1521S include a 15 inch cutting swath, .095″ line, variable speed control, and a 5 year limited warranty.

The combination of power and ease-of-use make buying the EGO ST1521S a no-brainer if you want the top tier battery powered string trimmer.

This Echo CDST-58V2AH comes with a 2.5Ah battery that will last for about 45 minutes on the Low setting and about 25 minutes on High. It has a 52″ shaft length and weighs 10.3 pounds.

You should consider the Echo CDST-58V2AH if you want the most power you can get, but still have some adjustability to lengthen your run time.

Weighing a just a hair over 10 pounds this thing is well-balanced and easy to maneuver. The EGO ST1502SF has a 15 inch cutting path, uses .095″ line, and has a 2.5 Ah battery that can last up to 45 minutes and be recharged in 50 minutes.

You should buy the EGO ST1502SF if you want the best battery powered string trimmer priced under $200.

While not quite as powerful as any of the 56V models on this list, the RY40220 is powered by a 40v lithium-ion battery that has the power to handle almost any job and can cut through most grass and weeds with ease. The 2.5Ah battery will last approximately 45 minutes and takes 90 minutes to recharge.

The Ryobi RY40220 is easy to use, although at 11.5 pounds it is a bit heavier than other cordless and electric models. It has a straight 50.5″ shaft with an adjustable 13-15 inch diameter cutting path using .080″ line.

We recommend the Ryobi 40220 for home owners with mid-sized yards up to 1 acre.

The Milwaukee 2725-21HD can edge and trim surprisingly good for an 18V system. It has an adjustable cutting swath of 14-16 inches, can use line of .080 or .095 inch, high and low speed settings, and a variable speed trigger.

While this thing performs really good, we feel it is only worth paying this price if you have other Milwaukee cordless tools or if you want the maximum runtime you can get with just one battery.

It is also available at Amazon.

The DCST990M1 can use .080″ or .095″ line and the bump feed head cuts a 15″ path. It weighs 13 pounds which is the heaviest on this list.

Even though the DeWalt DCST990M1 performs well, we think there are other models that offer a better value. However, if you already own and use other DeWalt 40V tools then this one would be a good addition to that lineup.

Maybe the biggest weakness is its 13″ cutting swatch which is small for a trimmer costing this much. However it also weighs just 8.4 pounds

We feel there are better options in this price range, but if weight is a serious concern for you then you might want to consider the Toro PowerPlex 51482.

The main advantage of the LST136 is its weight of just 7.8 pounds. Combine that with a telescoping shaft and a rotating head for easier edging and you have a battery powered trimmer that is easy to use.

The P2080 weighs just 7.5 pounds, has an adjustable cutting width of 11-13 inches, uses .080″ line, and has a 90° pivoting head swings out for easy walk-behind edging.

With its long run time, we would recommend the Ryobi ONE+ P2080 for someone who has a large yard that is not overgrown and who wants to take advantage of the ONE+ system to use other cordless tools as well.

Performance wise the BLACK+DECKER LSTE525 is by far the poorest on this list, but it can handle simple yard grass just fine. It really only should be used for small yards that are not too overgrown.

Some other specs on the LSTE525 include a weight 5.3 pounds, a cutting swath of 12 inches, line diameter of .065 inches, 2 speed control, wheeled edger, and push-button line feed with no bumping required.

You should only consider the BLACK+DECKER LSTE525 if your primary concerns are weight or price and you have a small yard.

The RY41135 has a 10 amp motor with a straight shaft and a bump line-feed that cuts a large 18 inch diameter path. It weighs 11 pounds which is a bit heavy compared to other electric versions, but has as much or more power than any other one as well. In fact it competes with the top cordless models as well.

The Ryobi RY41135 is the perfect choice for anyone who wants a corded electric, but needs an extra oomph to slice through thick grass or weeds.

That 10 amp motor provides enough power to cut through tall grass and weeds and while decent, it does not excel at edging.

Overall the 9.9 pound Greenworks 21142 is another corded electric model that we highly recommend for home users with a small sized yard.

With a weight of just 7 pounds it is light enough for anyone to use. It converts to a a wheeled edger with just a simple rotation.

The Black+Decker BESTE620 makes a great choice for anyone who wants an affordable corded model.

Two features we like are the automatic line feed and guide wheel to assist you in edging, however sometimes the line feed doesn’t quite work right.

It is also available at Home Depot.

The 21212 doesn’t have a real long shaft, but it is adjustable to fit your size. It also rotates so you can turn the trimmer upside down or on its side to edge

Because of the low power, we only recommend the Greenworks 21212 for home users with very small yards. It is a good buy for those users since it is the cheapest and lightest you can get.