Skip to content
For gravel

The best brush cutters for gravel and driveways

Gravel brings a specific hazard: a blade or a fast line can fling stones like shrapnel. These picks are ranked on control and line cutting, not raw power.

By · Updated · first published

In short:For weeds in gravel, use a line head with the guard fitted and a speed you can turn down — never a metal blade. Good choices are the Makita DUR368LZ (three speeds, 3.2 kg bare), Worx WG183E (2.9 kg, AutoFeed, batteries included), Black+Decker STC1820 (power-select switch, guide wheel) and Greenworks G40LT (variable speed, plant guard). Brush cutters like the Einhell Agillo 36/255 and Stihl FS 70 C-E work too on their line heads, for large gravelled yards.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Makita DUR368LZ 36V LXT brushless cordless brush cutter lightweight loop handle
    Light twin-18V

    MAKITA · 36V LXT · Brushless

    Makita DUR368LZ

    A light twin-18V (36V) LXT brushless trimmer with a loop handle, three speeds, ADT and a 350 mm cut — comfortable for long grass sessions, sold bare.

    8.4/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    Worx WG183E 40V cordless grass trimmer with AutoFeed line and 33 cm cut
    40V AutoFeed kit

    WORX · 40V PowerShare (2× 20V)

    Worx WG183E 40V

    A 40V (2 × 20V) PowerShare grass trimmer with a 33 cm dual-line cut and AutoFeed, sold with batteries and charger — easy lawn care, not for brush.

    7.6/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    BLACK+DECKER STC1820 18V PowerConnect cordless grass trimmer, line-only head
    PowerConnect entry

    BLACK & DECKER · 18V PowerConnect

    BLACK+DECKER STC1820

    A light 18V PowerConnect grass trimmer with a 28 cm cut, flip-to-edge head and automatic line feed — for small lawns and edges, not woody growth.

    7.2/10
    Read the review
  4. 4
    Greenworks G40LT 40V cordless grass trimmer with adjustable shaft and line head
    40V value

    GREENWORKS · 40V G40

    Greenworks G40LT

    A light 40V G40 cordless line trimmer with a 30 cm cut, auto line feed, variable speed and a split shaft — a fair-priced pick for tidy, medium-sized gardens.

    7.6/10
    Read the review
  5. 5
    Einhell Agillo 36 255 BL 36V Power X-Change brushless cordless brush cutter blade
    Value 36V

    EINHELL · 36V Power X-Change · Brushless

    Einhell Agillo 36/255 BL

    A brushless 36V brush cutter on two 18V PXC batteries, with a 3-tooth blade, bump-feed line head and split shaft — strong value, sold bare.

    8.2/10
    Read the review
  6. 6
    Stihl FS 70 C-E petrol brush cutter with ErgoStart and bike handle
    All-rounder

    STIHL · 27.2 cc · ErgoStart

    Stihl FS 70 C-E

    20% more power than the FS 55 (0.9 kW vs 0.75 kW), effortless ErgoStart and an AutoCut 25-2 head — the best Stihl compromise for homeowners.

    8.4/10
    Read the review

Line only, slow and guarded

Gravel is unforgiving: a metal blade skims stones and sends them flying, and even line at full speed throws grit. Line-only cutting, a guard in good condition and a machine with variable or selectable speed are the sensible defaults.

Our picks

  • Makita DUR368LZ — twin-18V, three speeds so you can back off near stones, 350 mm cut, reverse switch; 3.2 kg bare.
  • Worx WG183E — 2.9 kg, two batteries included, AutoFeed so you don’t tap the head on stones.
  • Black+Decker STC1820PC-GB — UK kit, power-select switch, automatic line feed and a guide wheel for path edges.
  • Greenworks G40LT — variable speed and a plant guard; 30 cm cut, tool-only.
  • Einhell Agillo 36/255 — on its line spool for large gravelled yards; leave the blade off.
  • Stihl FS 70 C-E — petrol with an AutoCut line head and smooth throttle, for big drives.

How to clear weeds in gravel

  1. Clear people, pets and cars from the area, and wear eye protection.
  2. Use low speed, with the head tilted so the line just touches the weeds.
  3. Cut away from windows and cars, with the guard between you and the gravel.
  4. Rake up the debris and level the gravel afterwards.
  5. Stop weeds coming back with a membrane under the gravel and regular hoeing.

See the best brush cutters for weeds and the best trimmers for edging.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Makita DUR368LZ Cordless 36V LXT · Brushless 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight, bare) 8.4 / 10
Worx WG183E 40V Cordless 40V PowerShare (2× 20V) 2.9 kg (Amazon item weight) 7.6 / 10
BLACK+DECKER STC1820 Cordless 18V PowerConnect About 2.6 kg 7.2 / 10
Greenworks G40LT Cordless 40V G40 — 7.6 / 10
Einhell Agillo 36/255 BL Cordless 36V Power X-Change · Brushless 6.09 kg (Amazon.co.uk item weight) 8.2 / 10
Stihl FS 70 C-E Petrol 27.2 cc · ErgoStart 5.4 kg (without fuel and cutting tool) 8.4 / 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

Is it safe to use a trimmer on gravel?

Yes, with line only, the guard fitted, eye protection and nobody nearby. A metal blade on gravel is dangerous — it strikes stones and throws them at speed.

Does line thickness matter on gravel?

Thinner, flexible line flicks weeds out with less disturbance; thick line cuts tougher weeds but throws more gravel and wears quickly on stone. Run at a lower speed where you can.

Petrol or cordless for weeds in gravel?

Cordless for most drives and paths: jobs are short and speed settings make it easy to slow down near stones. Petrol makes sense only for a large gravelled yard.