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Find kits that include Toro string trimmers and leaf blowers or opt for a Toro weed trimmer set that comes with a battery so you can cross multiple items off your shopping list in one go. Ready to get trimming and edging?
Shop string trimmers and lawn edgers at Ace with battery, electric and gas powered models available from leading brands like STIHL, EGO and more.
- Overview
- What is a string trimmer?
- How string trimmers are powered
- Best string trimmers of the year, according to experts
- Where else to find string trimmers
- How a string trimmer works
- Safety tips to consider before using a string trimmer
With many spending so much more time at home since the pandemic started, some turned to home improvement projects late last year, like renovating outdoor living spaces, installing pools and building decks. Even gardening grew in popularity for those hoping for a distraction during the spring.
SKIP AHEAD Best string trimmers
Designed to complement a lawn mower and target the weeds it can’t catch, a string trimmer is “primarily used to create crisp lawn edges and lawn borders after mowing to give that nice, polished look,” explained Kristin Monji, founder of landscaping firm Birch and Basil Design.
You'll sometimes see string trimmers referred to as weed trimmers, weed whackers and grass trimmers. “These are all the same product with slightly different descriptions based on how a consumer is using them,” said Monji.
String trimmers are powered by either gas, electricity or a battery. Here’s how Will Hudson, senior merchant of outdoor power equipment for The Home Depot, explained the differences between the three.
•A gas string trimmer “provides power to handle the toughest jobs without the need of an extension cord.” Hudson recommended using non-ethanol gasoline for the best performance.
•An electric string trimmer can carry consistent amounts of power through an electrical outlet with a cord, this is unlike a battery-powered string trimmer, which is cordless.
•A battery powered string trimmer will run with less noise and feature batteries that usually are often compatible with other indoor and outdoor power tools. If you’re wondering how the batteries on string trimmer compare, Hudson suggested looking at total watts on each. The higher the wattage, the more power.
“My pick for homeowners would be a powerful battery model so you don't need to worry about wires or filling with gas,” Monji said. For the average yard, Bateman agreed that battery-powered string trimmer would be best, especially since he has seen battery life improve significantly in recent years. The kinds of weeds in your front or back yard also can help you decide whether you need an electric, gas or battery-powered trimmer. With thick weeds or overgrown lawns, an electric or battery powered trimmer could struggle more than one that uses gas, Bateman said.
But that doesn't mean gas or electric string trimmers shouldn’t be used at home. For larger properties, gas provides the most power —these trimmers do generally require more upkeep and are heavier to carry around, Bateman advised. And electric string trimmers, which tend to be the most affordable of the three, are more suitable for small yards since a cord can only go so far, he added.
DEWALT 20V MAX String Trimmer
Bateman’s favorite battery powered trimmer is this foldable model from DEWALT, a purveyor of power tools. He praised the battery of this string trimmer, saying it runs longer than many others on the market — more than 950 reviewers at Home Depot left it a 4.4-star average rating. Besides the battery and the ability to toggle between two speeds, this trimmer features a 14-inch swath surrounding one side of the head and designed to help it cut through wider areas. DEWALT 20V MAX String Trimmer $199.00 $196.02 $199.00 $220.99
EGO Power+ ST1511S 15-Inch 56-Volt Cordless String Trimmer
Gary McCoy, a Lowe’s store manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, recommended EGO’s line of electric string trimmers. These trimmers “impress with a single battery platform capable of matching or exceeding the performance of conventional gas models, all without the noise or fumes,” he said. This model boasts a 4.8-star rating over more than 200 reviews on Amazon. The trimmer features a 15-inch cutting swath and a motor that’s designed for low vibrations. The battery is compatible with other EGO POWER+ tools and includes LED charging indicators. You can find the tool itself, without the battery included, at Lowe’s and Ace Hardware. EGO Power+ ST1511S 56-Volt Cordless String Trimmer $219.00
Greenworks 18-Inch 10 Amp Corded String Trimmer
Bateman suggested this model as “a much cheaper option that gets the job done for small yards.” It features an 18-inch cutting path to cover more ground and a molded grip handle to make it easier to use in your hand. The trimmer also includes a lock to keep the cord in place as you move around the lawn. It’s a popular pick with Amazon shoppers, earning a 4.4-star rating over close to 2,000 reviews. Greenworks 18-Inch 10 Amp Corded String Trimmer $68.16 $92.98 $68.16 $101.30
While the experts recommended their favorites, here are a few retailers (in alphabetical order) that carry a range of string trimmers to use outdoors.
•Amazon
•Ace Hardware
•Lowe’s
•The Home Depot
•Walmart
Simply put, a string trimmer operates “with a shaft and string line that uses a circular motion to cut grass or weeds,” explained McCoy. The shaft can be either curved or straight. Straight shafts typically offer more customization: You can choose add-ons to switch out of the string trimmer head, McCoy said. Some of these attachments are specially designed for edges, others for trees.
The head of a string trimmer holds the spool. And the “string” in string trimmer does actually refer to a string. Many of the more modern string trimmers will have an easy-load spool to let you load string through two holes without having to remove the spool at all — the spool winds up the string to work, Bateman noted. He recommended beginners find a string trimmer with an easy-load spool feature — some traditional and professional-grade string trimmers require taking the entire spool out to replace the string.
Since string trimmers can be powerful, it’s important to be prepared and protected before turning one on, explained Hudson, who offered up some specific tips.
•Wear protective glasses and a mask to thwart any debris that might bounce up from trimming.
•Put on close-toed shoes with substantial support and traction, which can help lessen the chance of slipping. He recommended heavier boots to protect your feet.
•Sport longer pants that aren’t too loose to avoid catching to any other tools or equipment outside.
Jun 17, 2023 · Best Overall: Oregon 22-855 Magnum Gatorline. Best for Frequent Trimming: A Anleolife 5-Pound Commercial Square String Trimmer Line. Best Value: Oregon 21-380 Gatorline 1-Pound Round...
- Alex Rennie
$ 299 99. Pay $274.99 after $25 OFF your total qualifying purchase upon opening a new card. Apply for a Home Depot Consumer Card. Yard trimmer works with several attachments for a variety of jobs. ECHO trimmer attachment Speed-Feed head loads without disassembly. Lawn trimmer has ergonomic, padded handles to decrease vibration. View More Details.
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- ECHO
Cut grass and weeds using a cordless string trimmer. These grass trimmers are also known as electric weed wackers, gas weed wackers or cordless weed eaters. This machine allows you to maintain outdoor areas, thanks to its high-speed trimming line.
EGO ® the #1 Rated Cordless Platform is now available at your neighborhood store! Every EGO POWER+ product features industry-leading ARC Lithium™ battery technology, which delivers relentless power, superior performance, and longer run times. And any EGO battery works with every EGO tool.
