The very best grass trimmers in 2023
Our experience
Getting one of the best grass trimmer means making certain it has the correct options, weight and worth for you. We have examined a variety of cordless and corded grass trimmers, placing them via their paces throughout arange of grass and terrains, that can assist you discover the correct one on your backyard.
Every grass trimmer has an in depth record of execs and cons for readability and has been rated in response to meeting and storage, dealing with, efficiency and worth for cash. Each grass trimmer in our spherical up beneath has scored a minimal of 4 out of 5 stars, so you should purchase with confidence.
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In each overview we award excellent merchandise our coveted Greatest Purchase award. To see these and the others we advocate, browse our choose of one of the best grass trimmers beneath.
Greatest Purchase grass trimmers
Stihl FSA 30 grass trimmer
RRP: £139
Our score: 4.8/5
Out there from Stihl
Execs
- Very mild and simple to make use of
- Adjustable shaft, deal with and head
- Battery stage indicator
- Spare blade storage
- Interchangeable battery with AS system
Cons
- Solely 19 minute run time
- Lacks wheel for edge trimming
This little grass trimmer is powered by the tiny Stihl AS battery which costs in 70 minutes and has a run time of 19 minutes. It’s very straightforward to arrange and use – simply the deal with and spacer bar want screwing on and it has an adjustable deal with and a telescopic shaft so it’s easy to make sure this trimmer is snug to make use of for all customers. The pinnacle may also be adjusted to 4 totally different angles plus it rotates 90 levels for trimming edges, though in contrast to different trimmers it doesn’t have a effectively to allow this with ease.
It is a blade trimmer, so it cuts with two plastic polycut blades which might be straightforward to click on in to position, however you may also use a line cartridge or feed minimize size of line into the trimmer if you want as a substitute. Six spare blades are included with the trimmer and are saved neatly on the trimmer for while you want them.
Due to the small battery this trimmer is de facto mild and though it doesn’t have the facility that greater extra substantial grass trimmers do it performs surprisingly effectively. We predict it’s superb for trimmer round timber and limits and alongside the perimeters of beds and borders in small gardens. When you’re completed trimming it has an eyelet within the deal with for hanging the trimmer up for storage.
The battery is interchangeable with different Stihl AS instruments together with a hedge trimmer, powered pruners and mini chainsaw and it comes with a two yr guarantee. We awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for one of the best grass trimmer for those who lack energy.
Powerbase 550W electrical grass trimmer
RRP: £59
Our score: 4.5 out of 5
Execs:
- Nice minimize
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Wheels to assist edging
- Comfy, soft-grip deal with
- Spare spool and storage on the machine
- 30cm chopping width
- Good worth
Cons:
- Brief 10m black energy cable is difficult to see within the grass
- Heavy to make use of
- Stiff to modify between trimming and edging modes
This corded trimmer gained a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award for one of the best finances grass trimmer. A double line trimmer, it provides a implausible minimize, and due to its beneficiant 30cm chopping width, tackles the job rapidly and effectively. It’s notably good when edging as a result of wheels that assist take the pressure, so you’ll be able to obtain a exact minimize. The soft-grip loop handles on its telescopic shaft are snug and there’s a useful loop for tucking the cable away while you’re shifting round. It has an automated feed and we love that there’s a storage compartment on the shaft for the spare spool, so it’s close-at-hand when it wants changing. Nonetheless, gardeners with restricted mobility ought to be aware that this grass trimmer weighs 3.1kg, which is over a kilo greater than the lightest machine on take a look at, the Gtech GT50, and it doesn’t include a strap to assist take the load. The black energy cable is just 10m, so that you’ll want an extension wire if you happen to plan to trim farther from an influence supply, and it’s difficult to see it within the grass. It additionally requires some heft to maneuver between the trimming and edging modes because the mechanism is stiff. That mentioned, it’s good worth, provides an ideal minimize, and comes with a beneficiant three-year guarantee.
Purchase the Powerbase 550W Electrical Grass Trimmer from Homebase
Stiga GT 500e cordless grass trimmer
RRP: £159 (£321 together with battery and charger)
Our score: 4.5 out of 5
Execs:
- Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Help wheels for vertical edge minimize
- 50 minute quick cost
- Battery stage indicator lights
- Highly effective efficiency
- A part of the Stiga ePower cordless vary
Cons:
- Heavy to make use of
- Guard is awkward to connect
- Battery and charger have to be purchased individually
- Comparatively costly
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for efficiency, this trimmer has a beneficiant 30cm chopping width, and the sturdy nylon double line automated feed retains working, so that you don’t must bump line out. The pinnacle is simple to rotate to be used as an edge trimmer and the wheels assist to help the load of the physique, making certain it cuts at a constant top. Nonetheless, because it doesn’t include a help strap, it’s ultimately tiring to make use of. It’s powered by a big 2Ah 48V lithium-ion battery, which together with the charger is offered individually, making this considerably costlier than different fashions within the take a look at. That mentioned, after a quick 50 minute cost it runs for 20 minutes, chopping powerfully and effectively. It copes effectively with giant patches of lengthy grass, in addition to arduous to achieve areas, and cuts garden edges cleanly. Gentle indicators on the battery let you know the way a lot time you will have left to complete the job, the telescopic shaft separates in two for simple storage and it comes with a two yr guarantee.
Purchase the Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer from Stiga
Worx WG184E twin battery cordless grass trimmer
RRP: £199.99 (together with battery and charger)
Our score: 4.5 out of 5
Execs:
- Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Comfy deal with
- Variable speeds
- Help wheels for vertical edge minimize
- Computerized feed
- Battery stage indicator on the shaft
- A part of the Worx 20V Powershare software system
- Three yr guarantee
Cons:
- Weighs 3.9kg, the heaviest within the take a look at
- No help strap
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for options, the Worx WG184E grass trimmer contains variable velocity settings, an adjustable deal with and shaft, an automated feed and wheels. Powered by two 20V lithium-ion batteries, it has a 20-minute run time from a one hour cost, and there’s a battery stage indicator on the shaft, so you’ll be able to see how a lot energy you will have when you’re utilizing the trimmer. The chopping head rotates to transform to an edger, and the wheels present help and guarantee a neat, constant minimize alongside an edge. We just like the totally different velocity settings, so you’ll be able to enhance energy for longer grass, or scale back it to preserve the battery life if you happen to’re simply neatening up edges. The 33cm chopping width makes this the widest mannequin within the take a look at. That mentioned, at 3.9kg it’s additionally the heaviest in our take a look at, however the telescopic shaft and adjustable loop deal with assist to steadiness this trimmer and make it snug to carry and manoeuvre. Nonetheless, it doesn’t include a strap for extra help and turns into tiring after use within the trimmer mode. It comes with a beneficiant three yr guarantee.
Purchase the WORX WG184E from Amazon
Gtech grass trimmer GT50
RRP: £149.99 (together with battery and charger)
Our score: 4.5 out of 5
Execs:
- Light-weight
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Adjustable loop deal with
- Ergonomic harness
- Battery stage indicator
- Security change
- Good worth
Cons:
- Lengthy four-hour cost
- Battery solely appropriate with 2 different Gtech instruments
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for ease of use, the Gtech grass trimmer GT50 is a well-designed software. It features a security change, an ergonomic harness, an adjustable loop deal with, a swivel head to vary from trimmer to edger, and easy-to-fit plastic blades. Weighing simply 1.8kg, it’s the lightest within the group we examined, however has a comparatively slender 23cm chopping width, so it takes longer to cowl floor than the Worx, with its beneficiant 33cm head. On take a look at it tackled lengthy grass and skinny woody weeds on uneven terrain, in addition to leaving garden edges trying neat. Nonetheless, you’ll have to plan forward for trimming periods because the 18V lithium-ion battery takes a prolonged 4 hours to cost to offer half-hour of energy, although there are useful indicator lights on the battery to maintain monitor of how a lot time you will have left. Because it features a battery and charger, it’s comparatively cheaper than another cordless trimmers, however the battery is just appropriate with two different Gtech cordless instruments, the HT50 hedge trimmer and SLM50 garden mower , which doesn’t signify one of the best worth for cash. Different cordless methods have extra battery-sharing instruments out there. It comes with a two yr guarantee.
Purchase the Gtech GT50 from Gtech, Amazon, and Robert Dyas
Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A
RRP: £179.99
Our score: 4.3 out of 5
Execs:
- Extremely mild weight and transportable
- Future time
- Low noise stage at simply 78 dB
- Energy button and cost stage indicator on the deal with
- Steel plant guard to guard delicate flowers and shrubs
- Batteries appropriate throughout many cordless manufacturers
Cons:
- No wheel attachment for simple edging
- No adjustable chopping head
- Smaller minimize capability of 28 cm
It is a light-weight and highly effective cordless grass trimmer with a telescopic shaft. Even with the big 4.0 Ah battery put in, it weighs simply 3 kg, which earns it a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase for giant areas.
It is available in all cardboard packaging and it’s straightforward to assemble too – a few screws connect the blade guard, and also you’re able to go. The battery cost time is a good 60 minutes and the run time a beneficiant 50 minutes, which is nearly the longest in our take a look at. An auto-feed double line trimmer, it cuts fantastically via even thick grass, and with minimal vibration transmitted via to your fingers. You possibly can brace the tip of the trimmer in opposition to your elbow on a rubberised part as effectively, which makes it notably snug, even with out a shoulder strap. The loop deal with is comfortable sufficient to carry on to, but it surely’s a bit small so that you get much less leverage for angled chopping. It comes with a useful storage hook that may be immediately screwed right into a shed wall or held on the Husqvarna’s Storage Rail system, which is a good way to get it up off the ground and avoid wasting area. Each the battery and charger are appropriate not solely throughout the Husqvarna Aspire vary however with the Energy For All Alliance of cordless instruments, which incorporates Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and can prevent cash if you happen to spend money on any of these instruments sooner or later. It comes with a two yr guarantee.
Purchase the Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and World of Energy
The very best of the remainder
Though some fashions did not fairly obtain a BBC Gardeners’ World Journal Greatest Purchase award, they nonetheless have nice options that make them price recommending. Browse our choose of one of the best of the remainder on take a look at.
Makita DUR181RT 18V string trimmer
RRP: £161.99 (together with battery and charger)
Our score: 4.25 out of 5
Execs:
- Quietest on take a look at at 88.5dB
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Adjustable bump guard
- Expenses rapidly
- Consists of shoulder strap
- Rotating head
- Battery appropriate with greater than 100 different Makita instruments
Cons:
- Loud charger, which will be annoying
- No spare line included
- No cost indicator on battery
This single-line cordless mannequin from Makita is simple to arrange due to clear directions. It has a number of adjustable options, so you’ll be able to alter the size of the shaft from 115 to 133cm, change the angle of the trimmer head, and rotate this head to trim the perimeters of the garden. Even the bump guard is adjustable with a screwdriver, so when you’ve got quite a lot of obstacles to trim round you may get the space precisely proper. There’s a security button, which have to be pressed to show it on, and at 88.5dB this was the quietest trimmer on take a look at, in comparison with the Powerbase trimmer, which was the loudest at 95dB. It cuts rapidly and effectively regardless of a small chopping width of 26cm, and comes with a shoulder strap, so it feels mild and manoeuvrable regardless of weighing practically 3kg. Nonetheless, the charger for the 18V, 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery emits a excessive pitched whine, which might be annoying if you need to cost it in the home, reasonably than within the storage or shed. It additionally does not include any spare line, and in contrast to a few of different battery powered grass trimmers, there is no such thing as a indication of the battery stage as you’re employed. As with all Makita instruments, it comes with a beneficiant three-year guarantee, and the battery is appropriate with a variety of different Makita backyard and energy instruments.
Purchase the Makita DUR181RT from B & Q
Erbauer brushless cordless grass trimmer EGT18-Li – KIT
Value: £179.99
Our score: 4/5
Execs:
- Stable construct high quality
- Giant 5.0 Ah battery lasts for ages
- Battery includes a cost stage indicator
- Highly effective brushless motor
- Weighs simply over 3.5 kg
Cons:
- No edging attachment included
- You possibly can’t modify the size of the shaft
- No help strap for longer use
Light-weight, succesful, and constructed for giant gardens, the Erbauer EGT18 is a helpful piece of equipment. It didn’t take lengthy to rise up and operating, there’s just some screws to connect the shaft and blade guard. Equipped with a giant 5.0 Ah battery and a large chopping capability of 30 cm, this double string auto-feed trimmer is effectively suited to giant patches of grass or awkward backyard areas. You possibly can comfortably trim a backyard on a single cost, and you’ll cost it again to full inside an hour as effectively, which may be very environment friendly. The massive loop deal with is snug and provides you additional leverage in tight corners, but it surely’s not designed for edging work. There’s a good bit of vibration throughout use, and also you’ll positively want ear safety because it’s reasonably loud at 96 dB. You possibly can fold the shaft in half for storage, however you have to undo a bolt and never lose it in between jobs. It comes with a two yr guarantee.
Purchase the Erbauer Brushless Cordless Grass Trimmer EGT18-Li – KIT from Screwfix and B & Q
Mac Allister 18V LI 280mm cordless grass trimmer
RRP: £79.99 (contains battery and charger)
Our score: 4 out of 5
Execs:
- Light-weight
- Each trimming and edging perform
- Cuts effectively
- Comfy to make use of when edging
Cons:
- Stiff to modify between modes
- Stiff bump guard
- Loud
- A part of a cordless system, however solely 6 different instruments out there
At slightly below 2kg, this trimmer feels light-weight and simple to maneuver across the backyard and it achieves a quick, environment friendly minimize. It’s particularly snug to carry when edging, has a easy automated feed, and a comparatively beneficiant 28cm chopping width – the widest within the take a look at was the Worx WG184E with 33cm. The 18V, 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery costs in 75 minutes and covers 250 sq. meters on a single cost. Nonetheless, we discovered all its elements stiff to regulate – notably lifting the bump guard up and down – and it is fiddly to modify between the trimming and edging modes and to increase the telescopic shaft. Moreover, the noise stage is without doubt one of the loudest at 96dB, and this noise is noticeably high-pitched. It has a two-year guarantee, and although it’s a part of a cordless system, solely six different instruments can be found.
Purchase the Mac Allister 18V LI 280mm cordless grass trimmer from B&Q
Vonhaus F-Collection cordless grass trimmer
RRP: £44.99
Our score: 4 out of 5
Execs:
- Cuts effectively and rapidly
- Nice worth
- Blade storage
Cons:
- Uncomfortable handles
- No edging perform
- Loudest machine on take a look at
- Battery appropriate with solely three different instruments
Regardless of its slender 21cm chopping width, this grass trimmer provides minimize. The plastic blades sort out grass and woodier materials effectively, and the 30-minute run time is without doubt one of the longest in our take a look at. We just like the storage characteristic beneath the deal with for the included spare plastic blades, that are vibrant pink and simple to identify in the event that they snap off into the grass. Nonetheless, whereas it is environment friendly, this machine is the loudest on the take a look at at 98dB, and the handles are uncomfortable too. It additionally takes an hour and a half to cost, which although lower than the 4 hours of the Gtech mannequin, is for much longer than the 45 minutes of the Makita DUR181RT and Mac Allister 18V LI 18V 280mm. The 12V, 2.0Ah F-Collection lithium-ion battery is appropriate with simply three different Vonhaus instruments – a hedge trimmer, backyard noticed, and handheld hedge and grass trimmer – which might prevent cash if you happen to purchase these sooner or later, however is proscribed in comparison with different cordless methods similar to the handfuls of appropriate instruments within the Worx PowerShare cordless system. Crucially, this trimmer additionally has no edging perform, so if you happen to’re after neat garden edges it’s best to look elsewhere. As a result of it’s simply 12V, the battery is much less highly effective than others on take a look at, but when you have to tidy up a small backyard on a finances, it would do the job effectively, and comes with a two-year guarantee.
Purchase the Vonhaus F-Collection Grass Trimmer from Amazon and Vonhaus
What’s a grass trimmer used for?
Trimmers minimize the lengthy grass and weeds {that a} mower can’t attain. They’re nice for chopping in difficult locations, similar to across the base of a tree, the nook of a garden, or on steep slopes. Relying on their energy and their blade materials, they will additionally sort out woodier progress like ivy, brambles, and stinging nettles. Many grass trimmers may also be used to tidy up alongside the perimeters of a garden by adjusting the angle of the chopping head.
What are the various kinds of grass trimmer?
- Line (or string) trimmers. These trimmers minimize by spinning a plastic or nylon wire at excessive velocity. This wire wears down progressively over time, and is both changed robotically (automated feed) or has a button on the underside of the trimmer you’ll be able to bump on the bottom to reel out extra wire (bump feed). They’re both single-line, utilizing one line of wire, or double-line, which makes use of two traces of wire. Usually, the road is designed to put on down progressively reasonably than utterly break, but when the wire catches a rock and snaps, simply reel out extra wire. Nonetheless, these fragments of plastic aren’t good for the surroundings, and when you run out of wire, the spools will be fiddly to exchange. Though highly effective sufficient to chop lengthy grass and weeds, line trimmers aren’t as sturdy as blade trimmers, and are subsequently much less efficient on powerful, woody materials.
- Blade trimmers. These trimmers minimize utilizing two blades, which on home fashions are normally plastic. This makes them more practical on woodier materials than some line options, but when they catch on a rock or powerful bark the blades can snap and get misplaced within the grass, which might harm the mower subsequent time you chop the grass. Trimmers with steel blades keep away from this drawback, however they’re costlier and never as broadly out there.
- Petrol trimmers. Powered by petrol these usually have steer handles – defined in additional element beneath – and a curved, angled shaft. As a result of they use gasoline, they’re typically extra highly effective than corded and cordless trimmers, however petrol is polluting and messy to retailer and use. They’re additionally heavy, noisy and wish common servicing. Due to the rise of cordless batteries, they’re much less frequent these days, notably for residence use.
- Electrical corded trimmers. Corded trimmers use an influence cable linked to mains electrical energy. Relying on the size of the cable, these trimmers are extra appropriate for smaller gardens, however you’ll be able to broaden their attain with an extension lead. They’re additionally extra harmful than cordless trimmers since you run the chance of unintentionally chopping the cable.
- Electrical cordless trimmers. Cordless trimmers are powered by lithium-ion batteries reasonably than mains electrical energy. Due to this, you should use them anyplace within the backyard, however you’re restricted by run time and the way lengthy the battery takes to cost. Additionally they are usually much less highly effective and costlier than corded trimmers, however they are often glorious worth if their batteries are a part of a cordless system and can be utilized in different energy instruments.
The important thing factor is to all the time test earlier than you trim. Use a brush or rake to brush the grass earlier than you begin, taking care to look out for small critters like frogs and sluggish worms, but additionally bigger animals like hedgehogs.
Can I exploit a trimmer to mow the garden or trim hedges?
Hypothetically, you can use a trimmer to chop a garden, however it could take a very long time. Trimmers are a lot much less environment friendly at this activity than garden mowers, and it’s tougher to get a good minimize.
Trimmers aren’t designed to trim hedges, as their woody progress is just too thick to be minimize with plastic blades or nylon wire, and it could be very harmful. As an alternative, use a hedge trimmer, or for extra exact work, shears, a pruning noticed, or pair of secateurs.
What are the important thing options to look out for?
Before you purchase take into consideration the next :
- Reducing head. The chopping head is an important characteristic on a trimmer. It needs to be adjustable, so you’ll be able to change the angle of the minimize to deal with inclines and fiddly jobs. In most fashions, the top turns 90°, so you’ll be able to trim alongside the perimeters of paths and flowerbeds. In the easiest fashions, the chopping head additionally has wheels to assist information alongside edges and help the load of the trimmer.
- Adjustable shaft. The very best trimmers have a telescopic shaft, so you modify the peak to go well with you. In some fashions, the shaft is angled reasonably than straight that can assist you manoeuvre into difficult spots. If area is a matter, it’s additionally useful if you happen to can break down the shaft and chopping head after use for storage.
- Line feed and blade replacements. It’s helpful if a blade trimmer comes with spare blades, so that you don’t run out if one breaks in the midst of a job. It is best to have the ability to get a brand new spool of line for a line trimmer or exchange the entire head. With each varieties it is useful if the spare blades or line will be saved on the software.
- Deal with varieties. There are two sorts of trimmer handles. The commonest is a spherical, round deal with on the shaft of the trimmer, known as a loop deal with. It makes the trimmer straightforward and comfy to manage, and on one of the best fashions, it may be slid up and down the shaft, so you’ll be able to modify it to your top. Alternatively, there are ‘steer’ handles – two handles reasonably than a loop. These provide extra management and allow you to use a cushty scything movement while you minimize, however they take up room, and generally is a little costlier. They’re additionally way more frequent on brush cutters and petrol trimmers than electrical or cordless trimmers, so that you won’t discover steer handles on many home fashions.
- Straps and security harnesses. A shoulder strap or security harness is a superb bonus characteristic. It takes among the weight of the software, making it extra snug to make use of, and likewise helps steadiness it, for higher manoeuvrability and a extra exact minimize.
- Bump guard. Some trimmers have steel guards on the top, known as bump guards, which stop the trimmer from chopping past a sure level. This protects your backyard, because it stops you from nicking a tree or backyard furnishings but it surely additionally protects your trimmer line or blades by stopping them from catching on a fence or wall and breaking. The very best bump guards will be adjusted, so you’ll be able to management how intently you chop.
How we examined grass trimmers
We examined a variety of grass trimmers, placing them via their paces on garden edges, sloped areas and massive and small gardens. They had been assessed in response to the next standards with equal marks attributed to every:
- Preparation. Assessed how straightforward the grass trimmers had been to assemble, how lengthy this took and if any additional instruments had been wanted, and the way straightforward the directions are to make use of. We additionally checked out how straightforward and fast it was to cost the batteries and retailer the trimmers.
- Dealing with. Checked out consolation, weight, steadiness and grip, together with options like a security button, the runtime, and noise.
- Efficiency. Centered on blade form and materials, chopping width and effectivity, and smoothness and precision of minimize. We additionally assessed energy and any additional performance.
- Worth for Cash. Thought of the entire above plus any particular options, RRP and guarantee.
For extra data on our testing course of, see How We Evaluation.
This overview was final up to date in September 2024. We apologise if something has modified in worth or availability.
