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String Trimmer Buying Guide





We spent 45 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top options. Looking to tidy up your yard without bringing out the heavy machinery? Make the chore a little easier with a string trimmer under 100$. These weed whackers will make light work of maintaining any yard, as they come in both gas and electric options with enough power for smaller home gardens as well as professional landscaping jobs.

1) WORX WG191.9 56V Max Lithium-Ion Cordless Grass Trimmer | 2) WORX WG163 GT 3.0 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer/Edger | 3) Worx 12″ 4 Amp Electric Grass Trimmer | 4) Weed Eater WE20VT 20-Volt String Trimmer | 5) Weed Eater W25SBK 25cc String Trimmer | 6) Ryobi RY40204 Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer | 7) Ryobi Cordless Electric String Trimmer | 8) Makita XRU02Z 18V LXT String Trimmer | 9) Remington 17 in. 25 cc 2-Cycle Curved Shaft Gas Trimmer | 10) Poulan Pro PP28CD 28cc Curved Shaft String Trimmer | 11) Ivation 20V 2.0AH Cordless Grass String Trimmer | 12) GreenWorks ST40L00 G-MAX 40V Brushless String Trimmer | 13) GreenWorks G-MAX 40V 14-Inch Cordless String Trimmer | 14) Homelite 26cc Gas Powered 17 in. Curved Shaft Trimmer | 15) BLACK+DECKER LST522 2-Speed String Trimmer | 16) GreenWorks 21262 20V 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer | 17) GreenWorks G-MAX 40V 12-inch Cordless String Trimmer | 18) BLACK+DECKER LCC222 20V MAX Lithium String Trimmer/Edger | 19) BLACK+DECKER LST140C 40V Max Lithium String Trimmer | 20) 16″ Electric Corded Grass Trimmer |

Why Do You Need a String Trimmer?

String trimmers are handheld gardening tools used to get into places that a lawn mower can’t reach. They are perfect to help you cut down brush, weeds and longer grass on steep inclines. String trimmers are also used to edge or trim for a noticeably “finished” yard.

Gasoline powered string trimmers offer power, and cord free operation at a competitive price. This is attractive for maintaining large yards, tall grass and weeds, or clearing brush. Electric trimmers are competent for many general trimming tasks.

With its long handle, light weight, and whirling string, a string trimmer is ideal for a world of yard maintenance. Trim away grass and weeds against a fence, right up to tree trunks, and underneath shaggy boughs. Straighten edges around flowerbeds, sidewalks, and driveways. Tidy up a hillside, level scrub and saplings, overall it can give your lawn and yard great finishing touches.

Although string trimmers are available in electric and cordless models, these are generally made for light duty projects. You’ll need a gasoline-powered string trimmer for tall grass, weeds, and any more industrious projects like clearing brush or clearing rocky terrain.

Briggs & Stratton engines are found in powerful gas powered string trimmers that whirl a plastic line at speeds up to 400 mph. String trimmers with Briggs & Stratton engines range between $150 and $300.

How to Select the Right string trimmer for the Job

When selecting a string trimmer for your yard and garden maintenance, consider the following:

  1. How much power do you need? The biggest factors to consider when choosing a trimmer is how much property you maintain and how much power is needed to do the job. Is your landscape woodsy or weedy? Is your terrain rocky or sloped? Are you more interested in edging a sidewalk or clearing a hillside of saplings?
  2. Who will be using your string trimmer? Choose a trimmer that doesn’t feel too cumbersome because you’ll be carrying it around your property. Gas trimmers are heavier than electrics and weigh between 10 to 14 pounds, but they are more powerful and provide the freedom of movement without being tied to a cord.
  3. How much maintenance does the model require? Gas-powered string trimmers are available in two-cycle and fourcycle models. Two-cycle models require you to mix fuel and oil and keep it on hand in a separate fuel container for your trimmer. Larger 4-cycle models are also available which use gasoline only, like your tractor or lawnmower (oil for lubrication is in a separate reservoir in the engine). Four-cycle engines tend to be more powerful at lower speeds and run cleaner, producing fewer emissions than a 2-cycle engine (without a catalytic converter).
  4. How does it feel? While a lighter trimmer tends to reduce fatigue, weight isn’t the whole story. Good balance can be just as critical. To check it, adjust the front handle for comfort and hold the trimmer in the cutting position with both hands. Its weight should be distributed so that you don’t struggle to keep the trimmer head several inches above the turf. Also check that all the controls are smooth and easy to reach. If you’re left-handed, make sure a gasoline-powered trimmer you’re considering has a deflector that routes the hot exhaust gases rearward. Most now include one.

Photo Gallery of the String Trimmer Buying Guide