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~40cc class

The best 40cc brush cutters

Need real power for brambles and scrub without going to 52 cc? Here are the best 35–43 cc brush cutters we cover, ranked for heavy, regular clearing.

By · Updated · first published

In short:The 35–43 cc class has the torque to drive a metal blade through brambles and scrub. The Stihl FS 131 (36.3 cc 4-MIX, 1.4 kW, 5.8 kg) is the lightest for its power; the Honda UMK 435 UE (35 cc GX35, unmixed petrol, double harness) and Makita EM4351UH (43 cc MM4, 1.5 kW, very low vibration) are four-strokes; the Stiga BC 545 B (42.7 cc, 1.25 kW, 3T blade, double harness) comes complete. Budget four-strokes are the Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S (1 kW, blade, harness) and Fuxtec FX-4MS142 (1.25 kW).

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Stihl FS 131 semi-pro petrol brush cutter 36cc 4-MIX brambles heavy use
    Semi-pro

    STIHL · 36.3 cc · 4-MIX

    Stihl FS 131

    For tough land and heavy use: a 36.3 cc, 1.4 kW 4-MIX brush cutter with a bike handle, 5.8 kg and a 420 mm cut — Stihl's semi-pro petrol benchmark.

    8.7/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    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
  3. 3
    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
  4. 4
    Stiga BC 545 B 42cc 2-stroke petrol brush cutter 3-tooth blade double harness
    Complete 42cc

    STIGA · 42.7 cc · 2-stroke

    Stiga BC 545 B

    A strong 42.7 cc petrol brush cutter supplied complete with a 3-tooth blade, Tap&Go head and double harness — ready for tough, regular clearing.

    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

What matters at 40 cc

Between about 35 and 43 cc, engines have the torque to push a metal blade through brambles and woody growth — the main reason to step up from 25 cc. The differences are engine type, weight, and what’s in the box.

Our picks

  • Stihl FS 131 — semi-pro 36.3 cc 4-MIX, 1.4 kW, Easy Start, bike handle, 0.71 L tank; 5.8 kg without guard or tool.
  • Honda UMK 435 UE — 35 cc GX35 four-stroke, 1.0 kW, unmixed petrol, bike handle and double harness; about 7.5 kg dry.
  • Makita EM4351UH — 43 cc MM4 four-stroke, 1.5 kW, universal guard, 2.1–2.2 m/s² vibration; 8.5–8.6 kg.
  • Stiga BC 545 B — 42.7 cc two-stroke, 1.25 kW, 45 cm cut, 3T blade, Tap&Go head and double harness.
  • Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S — 37.7 cc four-stroke, 1 kW, 42 cm line and 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade, harness; 8.7 kg.
  • Fuxtec FX-4MS142 — 42.5 cc four-stroke, 1.25 kW, automatic-feed line head and padded strap; blade optional.

Which should you choose?

For the best power-to-weight, the Stihl FS 131. For no fuel mixing, the Honda UMK 435 or, for all-day work, the Makita EM4351UH. For a complete kit, the Stiga BC 545 B; on a budget, the Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S. More power: the best 52 cc brush cutters.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Stihl FS 131 Petrol 36.3 cc · 4-MIX 5.8 kg (without guard and cutting tool) 8.7 / 10
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
Stiga BC 545 B Petrol 42.7 cc · 2-stroke — 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 can a 40cc brush cutter handle that a 25cc can't?

Thick brambles, scrub and woody stems. At around 1–1.5 kW these machines keep a blade turning where a 0.6–0.8 kW, 25 cc machine bogs down.

2-stroke or 4-stroke in this class?

Four-strokes like the Honda UMK 435, Makita EM4351UH, Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S and Fuxtec FX-4MS142 run on unmixed petrol. The two-stroke Stiga BC 545 B and 4-MIX Stihl FS 131 use mixed fuel; the Stihl is the lightest.

Is a 40cc machine too much for an average garden?

For a tidy lawn, yes. This class earns its keep on larger or neglected plots with brambles and scrub.