String Trimmers & Edgers
Quick Answer
A trimmer finishes what the mower cannot reach, and an edger cuts the line between lawn and bed. They are frequently the same tool rotated ninety degrees, which is worth knowing before buying two machines.
The meaningful split is battery against petrol, and for most home lawns that argument is now settled by run time rather than by power.
Which Type Do You Need?
- Trimming around a suburban lawn → battery trimmers
- Acreage, heavy brush, or long continuous sessions → gas trimmers
- You want a crisp bed or path line → stick edgers
- You also need a pole saw or hedge trimmer → multi-tool systems
- The tool works but cuts badly → trimmer line & heads — usually the line, not the machine
Our Top Picks
Reviews in progress
The Types, Briefly
Battery Trimmers
Quiet, instant start, no fuel. Run time is the constraint, not cutting ability.
Gas Trimmers
For long sessions and heavy growth where swapping packs becomes the job.
Stick Edgers
A vertical blade that cuts a true edge — a trimmer turned sideways only approximates it.
Line & Heads
Line shape and diameter change cutting behaviour more than most people expect.
Multi-Tool Systems
One powerhead, several attachments. Sensible if you need three tools, wasteful if you need one.
How to Choose a String Trimmer
Trimmers are bought on power and replaced because of ergonomics. The specs that predict whether you will still like the tool in a year are shaft type, weight distribution and how the line feeds — not the motor. A straight shaft reaches under shrubs and suits taller users; a curved shaft is lighter and easier for short work. Line feed is where cheap tools become infuriating: bump feed is reliable and manual, automatic feed wastes line, and fixed-line heads trade convenience for consistency.
| Specification | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Cutting swath | Wider clears faster but demands more power and control near beds. Bigger is not automatically better around planting. |
| Shaft type | Straight shafts reach further and suit taller users; curved shafts are lighter and better balanced for short sessions. |
| Line diameter supported | Thicker line cuts heavier growth but needs a motor that can hold speed. Using line thicker than the head is rated for stalls the tool. |
| Feed mechanism | Bump, automatic or fixed. This is the part you interact with every time the line breaks, so it drives long-term satisfaction. |
| Battery platform | Trimmers are the tool most people buy second, so matching an existing platform saves a charger and a spare pack. |
| Weight and balance | Published weight often excludes the battery. A head-heavy tool is tiring well before the pack runs out. |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
What to ignore
- — Voltage as a proxy for power — a higher-voltage tool with a small pack can have less usable run time
- — Attachment counts on multi-tool systems, unless you will genuinely use them
- — Decibel figures measured at the operator's ear versus at distance — the two are not comparable
Common mistakes
- — Using a trimmer to edge. It scalps a rounded trench rather than cutting a vertical face, and the line migrates into the bed each time
- — Fitting thicker line than the head is rated for, which overheats the motor
- — Buying a second battery platform because a single tool was on offer
- — Trimming turf shorter than the mower cuts it, which scalps the crowns along every edge
Shop by Battery Platform
If you already own cordless tools, staying inside that battery system is usually worth more than any single feature on a competing tool — you skip a second charger and share packs across everything you own.