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4-stroke

The best 4-stroke brush cutters

Hate mixing fuel? A four-stroke brush cutter runs on unmixed petrol, with oil in its own sump. Here are the best we'd buy, from premium to value.

By · Updated · first published

In short:Four-stroke brush cutters run on unmixed petrol with oil in a sump. Premium picks are the Honda UMK 435 UE (35 cc GX35, 1.0 kW, bike handle, double harness) and UMK 425 LE (25 cc GX25, 0.81 kW, 5.9 kg dry, blade included), and Makita's MM4 models: the professional EM4351UH (43 cc, 1.5 kW, 2.1–2.2 m/s² vibration) and the 5.6 kg EM2651UH. Budget four-strokes are the Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S (37.7 cc, 1 kW, blade and harness, 8.7 kg) and Fuxtec FX-4MS142 (42.5 cc, 1.25 kW).

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Honda UMK 435 GX35 4-stroke petrol brush cutter with harness and blade
    Pro 4-stroke

    HONDA · 35 cc · GX35 4-stroke

    Honda UMK 435 UE

    A bigger, tougher Honda 4-stroke: the 35 cc GX35 gives 1.0 kW for bramble clearing on a bike handle with a double harness, still without mixing fuel.

    8.6/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    Makita EM4351UH 43cc 4-stroke MM4 professional petrol brush cutter bike handle
    Pro 4-stroke

    MAKITA · 43 cc · 4-stroke MM4

    Makita EM4351UH

    A professional 43 cc MM4 four-stroke petrol brush cutter, 1.5 kW, with handle vibration of 2.1–2.2 m/s² — mix-free power for long working days.

    8.4/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    Honda UMK 425 LE GX25 4-stroke petrol brush cutter blade harness premium
    Premium 4-stroke

    HONDA · 25 cc · GX25 4-stroke

    Honda UMK 425 LE

    A premium 25 cc Honda GX25 mini 4-stroke brush cutter — 5.9 kg dry, mix-free and dependable, with a 3-tooth blade and nylon head supplied.

    8.2/10
    Read the review
  4. 4
    Makita EM2651UH 25cc 4-stroke MM4 petrol brush cutter bike handle no fuel mixing
    4-stroke

    MAKITA · 25.4 cc · 4-stroke MM4

    Makita EM2651UH

    A 25.4 cc MM4 four-stroke petrol brush cutter with a cow-horn handle, 0.77 kW and low vibration — runs on unmixed petrol, for regular maintenance.

    8.0/10
    Read the review
  5. 5
    Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S 37cc 4-stroke petrol brush cutter blade harness no mixing
    4-stroke value

    EINHELL · 37.7 cc · 4-stroke

    Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S

    A 37.7 cc 4-stroke petrol brush cutter with blade and harness included — clean, mix-free power for tough grass and light brush on a budget.

    7.7/10
    Read the review
  6. 6
    Fuxtec FX-4MS142 42cc 4-stroke petrol brush cutter no fuel mixing value
    4-stroke value

    FUXTEC · 42.5 cc · 4-stroke

    Fuxtec FX-4MS142

    A 42.5 cc, 1.7 hp 4-stroke petrol strimmer with an automatic-feed double-line head — strong torque with no fuel mixing; the 3-tooth blade is an optional extra.

    7.7/10
    Read the review

Why choose a 4-stroke

A four-stroke runs on petrol straight from the pump — no two-stroke oil to measure. Honda’s GX engines and Makita’s MM4 engines can be tilted freely while working, and they sound quieter and smoother than typical two-strokes. You pay with a little extra weight, a higher price and engine-oil checks. Background: 2-stroke vs 4-stroke.

Premium four-strokes

  • Honda UMK 435 UE — 35 cc GX35, 1.0 kW, bike handle and double comfort harness; about 7.5 kg dry, five-year domestic warranty listed by UK retailers. Built for brambles and rough ground.
  • Makita EM4351UH — 43 cc MM4, 1.5 kW, universal guard and very low vibration (2.1–2.2 m/s²); 8.5–8.6 kg. A professional all-day machine.
  • Honda UMK 425 LE — 25 cc GX25, 0.81 kW, D-loop handle, 5.9 kg dry, with a nylon head and 3-tooth blade.
  • Makita EM2651UH — 25.4 cc MM4, 0.77 kW, cow-horn handle, 5.6 kg, 2.4–2.5 m/s² vibration.

Budget four-strokes

  • Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S — 37.7 cc, 1 kW, 42 cm line and 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade, harness included; heavy at 8.7 kg.
  • Fuxtec FX-4MS142 — 42.5 cc, 1.25 kW, automatic-feed line head and padded strap; the blade is optional.

Looking after a 4-stroke

Check the oil level before each session with the machine level, and change it at the interval in the manual. Use fresh unleaded petrol, and drain or run the tank dry before winter storage. Keep the air filter clean — four-strokes are sensitive to a choked filter. Our brush cutter maintenance guide has a full checklist.

Which should you buy?

For brambles and rough ground, the Honda UMK 435; for all-day professional work, the Makita EM4351UH; for a light garden machine, the Makita EM2651UH or Honda UMK 425. On a budget, the Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S comes most complete. Compare all petrol brush cutters.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Honda UMK 435 UE Petrol 35 cc · GX35 4-stroke About 7.5 kg dry (retailers: 7.53–7.6 kg) 8.6 / 10
Makita EM4351UH Petrol 43 cc · 4-stroke MM4 8.5–8.6 kg (retailers) 8.4 / 10
Honda UMK 425 LE Petrol 25 cc · GX25 4-stroke 5.9 kg dry 8.2 / 10
Makita EM2651UH Petrol 25.4 cc · 4-stroke MM4 5.6 kg (Makita datasheet) 8 / 10
Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S Petrol 37.7 cc · 4-stroke 8.7 kg (listing) 7.7 / 10
Fuxtec FX-4MS142 Petrol 42.5 cc · 4-stroke — 7.7 / 10

Weights are as stated by the maker, UK retailers or Amazon, so some include a battery or cutting gear and others don't — see each review for details.

Compare our picks head to head

Frequently asked questions

What's the advantage of a 4-stroke brush cutter?

It runs on unmixed petrol, so there's no oil to measure into every tank, and it sounds quieter and smoother. The trade-offs are a little more weight, engine-oil checks and a higher price.

Do 4-stroke brush cutters need oil changes?

Yes. Instead of mixing oil into the fuel, they have a small sump — 0.08 L on the Honda UMK 425 — that you check before use and change at the intervals in the manual.

Is Stihl 4-MIX a 4-stroke?

It's a four-stroke design lubricated by two-stroke mix, so you still mix fuel but have no oil to change. See 2-stroke vs 4-stroke.

Which 4-stroke is best for brambles?

The Honda UMK 435 UE or Makita EM4351UH. Both have bike handles and the power for blade work; the Makita is a professional all-day machine.