Should I buy an electric grass trimmer or strimmer?

Electric corded grass trimmers have a power cable that needs to be plugged into the mains at all times. So if you need to do gardening work away from the home, such as in an allotment, then a corded trimmer isn't for you. 

Designed for lighter gardening jobs, such as trimming around garden furniture and edging along the garden path, corded trimmers also tend to be the cheapest option. 

Just make sure you use an RCD (residual current device). This will protect you from an electric shock if you accidentally cut through the cord.

Head straight to our electric corded grass trimmer reviews. 

Are corded electric grass trimmers any good?

Pros 

• Generally the cheapest option.
• Don't need to recharge a battery. 

Cons 

• Has to be plugged in at all times – can't use remotely.
• Only designed to cut short grass, unless you pay a little more.

How much do they cost?

You can expect to pay between £20 and £110 for a corded electric grass trimmer.

Cheaper trimmers usually have a fixed-length shaft, so you won't be able to adjust it to the right height for you. They also often have a fixed head, which means you may well have to hold the grass trimmer at an awkward angle to cut vertically along lawn edges. 

If you pay £50 or more, you will find models with enough power to cut long grass, and also some great features to make it easier to trim lawn and path edges. 

What can an electric grass trimmer do?

Electric trimmers are useful for jobs close to the house, such as trimming lawn edges and tidying along the fence. Many low-cost electric grass trimmers are really only intended for short grass. 

If you pay a little more, some electric models can be powerful enough to cut through long grass and tough weeds.

Most corded trimmers have 300W to 600W motors. You can generally expect the latter to generate more power and therefore be able to tackle tougher jobs.

If you need a heavy-duty trimmer, head to our petrol grass trimmer reviews.  

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Best electric corded grass trimmers

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Electric corded grass trimmers to avoid

The best electric corded grass trimmers will be able to tackle light garden tasks without any hassle, while the worst will leave your lawn edges uneven and your back aching. Here are two grass trimmers we recommend avoiding: