Best grass trimmers and lawn edgers: top trimmers for every garden

Grass trimmers are designed to keep lawn edges looking neat, but only the best grass trimmers can tidy and trim hard-to-reach grass without hassle.

We test both corded and cordless grass trimmers, and our experts assess how effective each one is at trimming different lengths of grass and weeds, which are most comfortable to use and how much time you'll waste spooling out the trimmer line.

The worst we’ve tested leave behind straggly grass and stubborn weeds, suffer far too many line-feed jams, or have batteries that die within minutes of starting the job.

We’ve rounded up the best grass trimmers from our testing, including simple lawn edgers for neatening, as well as versatile general purpose trimmers that can also handle long grass and weeds. 

The best grass trimmers and lawn edgers from our tests

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The grass trimmers and lawn edgers we tested

All the grass trimmers and lawn edgers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best grass trimmers and lawn edgers from our tests.

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Black & Decker BCSTA5362L1

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Most recently tested August 2022

Type Lawn edger

Power type Cordless

Need to know 3.2kg, automatic line-feeding, single-line cutting

EGO ST1401E-ST

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Most recently tested February 2022

Type General purpose

Power type Cordless

Need to know 5.8kg, bump line-feeding, double-line cutting

Flymo 650E

Our score and verdict 73%, Good at edging only

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Most recently tested April 2014

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 3.4kg, auto/manual line-feeding, double-line cutting

Flymo 500E

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Most recently tested April 2014

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 3.1kg, auto/manual line-feeding, double-line cutting

Flymo Contour XT

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Most recently tested April 2011

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 2.8kg, auto line-feeding, single-line cutting

Flymo Mini Trim ST

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Most recently tested April 2013

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 2.1kg, manual line-feeding, single-line cutting

Gardena SmallCut 23/18V P4A

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Most recently tested May 2024

Type Lawn edger

Power type Cordless

Need to know 2kg, manual line-feeding, blade cutting

Greenworks GWGD60LTK2

Available from The Green Reaper (£339.99)

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Most recently tested September 2024

Type General purpose

Power type Cordless

Need to know 5.2kg, bump line-feeding, double-line cutting

Mac Allister MBC1042

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Most recently tested May 2023

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 4.8kg, bump line-feeding, double-line cutting

If you're after a much quieter way to keep your lawn tidy, take a look at the best lawn edging shears

Mac Allister MGT1825 18V 25cm

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Most recently tested December 2022

Type Lawn edger

Power type Cordless

Need to know 2.3kg, auto line-feeding, single-line cutting

Mac Allister MGT1827

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Most recently tested May 2023

Type Lawn edger

Power type Cordless

Need to know 2.8kg, manual/auto line-feeding, single-line cutting

Powerbase 577172

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Available from Homebase (£79)

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Most recently tested June 2023

Type Lawn edger

Power type Cordless

Need to know 2.7kg, auto/manual line-feeding, single-line cutting

Q Garden QG500ELT

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Most recently tested June 2023

Type Lawn edger

Power type Corded

Need to know 3.1kg, auto/manual line-feeding, double-line cutting

Ryobi RY18LT33A-140

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Available from Ryobi (£149.99)

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Most recently tested November 2023

Type General purpose

Power type Cordless

Need to know 3.3kg, manual/auto line-feeding, single-line cutting

Stihl FSA 60R

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Available from Stihl (£294)

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Most recently tested September 2024

Type General purpose

Power type Cordless

Need to know 3.5kg, bump line-feeding, double-line cutting

Stihl FSA 80

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Available from Stihl (£449)

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Most recently tested September 2024

Type General purpose

Power type Cordless

Need to know 6.3kg, blade cutting mechanism

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How we test grass trimmers and lawn edgers

• How well does it cut grass? We trim short grass growing over the edge of paths, along a flower border and against a fence, noting how neatly it cuts. 
• Can it deal with long grass and weeds? We see how well it copes with long grass and rough vegetation, and whether you can cut it quickly and efficiently, without the line breaking repeatedly.
• Will it trim neatly along path and lawn edges? We look at how easy it is to guide the grass trimmer in a straight line along path and border edges and how tidy the finish is.
• How often does the line break and is it easy to spool out more line? We pass the trimmer head close to the edge of a spade 20 times, plus we assess how easy it is to open the trimmer head and add or spool out more trimmer line. 
• Is it cumbersome to carry and hold? We assess how well balanced each grass trimmer is, how heavy it feels and how much effort is required to make it cut.  
• Is it easy to use? We check whether you can adjust the position of the handles and the length of the shaft, whether the head rotates to allow you to cut vertically and how long the battery lasts and takes to recharge.
• Is the battery replaceable? Lithium-ion batteries always deplete and eventually die over time. That's why we no longer give cordless grass trimmers Best Buys if spare batteries cannot be bought from the manufacturer – no matter how good they might be.

We regularly revisit the grass trimmers and lawn edgers on sale to see if there are any more popular brands that need testing and when we find them we do.

Find out more about how Which? is not influenced by product manufacturers or retailers and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Don’t Buy grass trimmers and lawn edgers

Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we call it a Don't Buy. We've tested three grass trimmers and lawn edgers that we've named Don't Buys.

These machines are the worst of all worlds. As well as doing an inadequate job of cutting and leaving an unsightly finish, they also tend to be a pain to cut with or too heavy to use comfortably.

You have to be a Which? member to discover the grass trimmers that we think you should avoid. Join Which? to see our Don't Buy grass trimmers and lawn edgers.

Grass trimmer types compared

There are several options to consider:

• General purpose: If you need an all-rounder to give a precise finish to your edging while also scything through thicker weeds and stems, then general-purpose grass trimmers are the best of both worlds.
• Heavy duty: Planning to use your trimmer on long grass and tough weeds? It's worth investing in a heavy duty machine with a long shaft and fixed head that should deal with these trickier tasks with ease. They often cost more than £300, including the battery and charger.
• Lawn edger: These tend to be smaller, lighter machines that are tailor-made to strim the edges of your lawn to leave a picture-perfect outline. They're usually less powerful than other models, though, so they aren't ideal if you have long or thick grass you're likely to cut.
• Brushcutter: For very tough weeds such as brambles, or for areas of brash, a brushcutter is a better tool. This replaces the grass-trimmer line head with a head that has a multi-point metal plate that spins at high speed and so should be used with extreme caution or by a professional. This is longer-lasting than a plastic blade or line and shouldn't leave waste in the garden.
• Cordless: These are typically more expensive than corded as you're paying for the convenience of not having a power cord. Make sure to factor in the extra time needed to charge the trimmer in between doing large garden jobs – the worst batteries last less than 20 minutes and can take more than a couple of hours to charge. You can get cordless trimmers for both light and heavy-duty gardening tasks. 
• Corded: Generally the cheapest option, these electric trimmers need to be plugged into the mains so they're not suitable if you don't have easy access to a power source. They are designed for general, light tasks around the garden such as trimming around the fence and edging the lawn.  
• Petrol: These are designed for cutting large areas of long grass and stubborn weeds. But because they're so powerful, they can be tricky to use for light tasks such as lawn edging and are typically for professional use only. We don't test petrol-powered gardening tools, as manufacturers are focusing their attention on electric garden tools.

What's the difference between a grass trimmer and a strimmer?

Nothing – a strimmer is just another word for grass trimmer. Trimmer is the generic term, while strimmer (and any other distinctions) are typically coined by manufacturers for the same thing. 

The only exception is a brushcutter, which is a high-powered machine designed to cut tougher foliage and small trees. You can convert most petrol trimmers into brushcutters by swapping the line-trimmer head for a metal blade.

Which grass trimmer brand is most reliable?

Alongside our tests, we also ask grass trimmer owners how happy they are with their chosen brand, so we can give you some insight into the best out there along with the ones to avoid.

Only Which? subscribers are able to see our unique data comparing the most popular grass trimmer brands. Log in or sign up to Which? to get instant access.

Repairing your grass trimmer

The most common grass trimmer problem is the line or blades breaking or running out. You'll be able to buy new ones from garden centres and DIY stores. We advise contacting the manufacturer if you have difficulty finding them.

More expensive brands, such as Stihl, can be taken to a garden-machinery specialist for repairs if the trimmer breaks. But cheaper plastic trimmers will likely wind up in landfill if they break.

Best grass trimmer features to look for

If you want a grass trimmer for simple tasks, such as tidying the edges of the lawn by a fence or neatening straggly grass, then you won't need a model with lots of features. 

But for anything more, the following additions could prove invaluable:

• Rotating head - this lets you flip the cutting mechanism so you can cut vertically. Make sure the head doesn't block your view so you can cut the edge.
• A wheel on the grass-trimmer head - this supports the weight of the grass trimmer and maintains a constant cutting height. 
• Telescopic shaft - a shaft handle that you can adjust to suit your height. 
• Adjustable angle head - some trimmers allow you to adjust the angle of the head so you can strim under garden furniture. 
• Bike handles - these types of handle let you swing the grass trimmer in a wide arc and are more efficient for cutting large areas. 
• Loop handles - this gives you a choice of working positions, depending on whether you're cutting side to side or around obstacles. 
• Harness/shoulder strap - a strap will reduce the strain on your arms and is ideal for heavy-duty trimmers. 

Line, blade and line-feed systems: what you need to know

All grass trimmers cut using either a string-like line or small plastic blades.

Line and line-feed systems

The grass trimmer line is designed to break if it hits something too hard to prevent it from getting wrapped around the object. It also wears down gradually and will snap when it becomes too thin. As a result, you'll need to feed out more line, and this is done by one of three different systems: 

• Bump feed - where the grass trimmer is banged on the ground.
• Automatic feed - where more line is fed out when the grass trimmer starts.
• Manual feed - where the user stops the grass trimmer and pulls out more line.

In each case you need to remember to feed out more line regularly, or it can become too short and disappear back inside the head.

Many grass trimmers feature a double line. Look out for these, as they let you cut more quickly (although threading the line on the spool is slightly trickier). 

When you eventually need to replace them, lines can cost as little as 20p a metre, depending on the quality. 

Blade systems 

Bladed grass trimmers avoid all the problems of line-feed systems, as it's easy to replace the blades on the trimmer head if they become dull, bent, or damaged. 

However, they're not really designed for tough jobs such as tackling long grass and weed patches, and often break on hard surfaces such as fences and garden furniture. 

They are more expensive than lines, costing up to £1.40 per blade in some cases. However, some manufacturers offer free blades for the life of the grass trimmer.