The best brush cutters for medium gardens
A medium garden (500–2,000 m²) is the sweet spot where a strong cordless or a light petrol machine shines. Here are the best all-rounders for the job.
In short:For a medium garden of 500–2,000 m², a cordless brush cutter with a blade or a light petrol all-rounder is ideal. Cordless picks are the Ryobi RBC36X26B kit (26 cm 3-tooth blade, 4.0 Ah battery, up to 47 minutes of brush cutting per Ryobi), the Greenworks GD40BC (40 cm cut, blade, harness) and Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V (4.1 kg with battery). Petrol picks are the Stihl FS 70 C-E (0.9 kW, ErgoStart), Stiga BC 535 B (0.9 kW, 43 cm, 3T blade) and Husqvarna 129R (0.85 kW, harness).
Our picks, ranked
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The sweet spot
A medium garden is big enough to want real cutting width and runtime, but not so big that a battery can’t cope. A strong cordless brush cutter, or a light petrol model, hits the balance of power, convenience and cost.
Cordless picks
- Ryobi RBC36X26B — a complete kit with a bike handle, 26 cm 3-tooth blade, 30 cm line head and 4.0 Ah battery; Ryobi quotes up to 47 minutes of brush cutting.
- Greenworks GD40BC — brushless, 40 cm line cut, 25 cm blade, harness and D-grip; tool-only, three-year guarantee.
- Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V — brushless, 33 cm line and 23 cm metal blade, 4.1 kg with battery; quiet for residential areas.
Petrol picks
- Stihl FS 70 C-E — 0.9 kW, ErgoStart and a bike handle; AutoCut line head supplied, blade optional.
- Stiga BC 535 B — 32.6 cc, 0.9 kW, 43 cm cut, 3T blade and Tap&Go head; two-year manufacturer warranty.
- Husqvarna 129R — 0.85 kW, 43 cm cut, 5.4 kg without cutting gear, grass blade and double harness.
Cordless or petrol?
Choose cordless if you cut in sessions of under an hour, have neighbours close by, or already own batteries from the brand. Choose petrol if you face brambles, want to keep going for hours, or prefer one machine with no charging. Either way, a model with a blade handles the nettles and brambles that medium gardens tend to grow in their corners.
Size the battery (if cordless)
For a medium plot, choose 4 Ah or more, or keep a spare so you finish in one go. See all cordless brush cutters, or compare petrol vs battery.
Our picks at a glance
| Model | Type | Engine / power | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi RBC36X26B | Cordless | 36V MAX Power | 3.7 kg bare; 4.6–5.1 kg with battery | 8.1 / 10 |
| Greenworks GD40BC | Cordless | 40V G40 | — | 8 / 10 |
| Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V | Cordless | 36V Power For All | 3.4 kg bare, 4.1 kg with battery (Bosch) | 8.3 / 10 |
| Stihl FS 70 C-E | Petrol | 27.2 cc · ErgoStart | 5.4 kg (without fuel and cutting tool) | 8.4 / 10 |
| Stiga BC 535 B | Petrol | 32.6 cc · 2-stroke | — | 7.9 / 10 |
| Husqvarna 129R | Petrol | 27.6 cc · 2-stroke | 5.4 kg excl. cutting equipment | 8 / 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 best brush cutter for a medium garden?
A cordless brush cutter with a blade, such as the Ryobi RBC36X26B or Greenworks GD40BC, for quiet, low-fuss cutting. If you have brambles or long sessions, a light petrol machine like the Stihl FS 70 C-E or Husqvarna 129R.
Do I need petrol for a medium garden?
Not usually. A strong cordless machine covers most medium plots, especially with a spare battery. Choose petrol for heavy brambles or hours of cutting.
What battery size do I need?
For a medium plot, 4 Ah or more, or a spare. Ryobi's RBC36X26B kit includes a 4.0 Ah battery; the Greenworks GD40BC takes Greenworks 40V 2 or 4 Ah packs.