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For weeds

The best brush cutters for weeds

Everyday weed clearance calls for a machine that's easy to start, comfortable to swing and quick to put away — not outright power. These picks are ranked on that.

By · Updated · first published

In short:For everyday weeds, a cordless trimmer is the easiest choice: the Worx WG183E (2.9 kg, two batteries included, AutoFeed) handles lawns and borders, and the Makita DUR368LZ (3.2 kg bare, ADT, reverse switch) copes with rough patches. For thick weeds and nettles, the Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V (23 cm blade, 4.1 kg with battery), Einhell Agillo 36/255 (3-tooth blade) and Greenworks GD40BC (40 cm, blade, harness) take metal blades; the petrol Stihl FS 70 C-E (0.9 kW, ErgoStart) suits larger areas.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    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
  2. 2
    Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V cordless brush cutter lightweight line and blade
    Entry 36V

    BOSCH · 36V Power For All

    Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V

    A brushless 36V cordless brush cutter with a line head and a laser-cut metal blade in the box — 4.1 kg with battery, sold bare or as a kit.

    8.3/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    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
  4. 4
    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
  5. 5
    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
  6. 6
    Greenworks GD40BC 40V cordless brush cutter 40cm cutting width G40 ecosystem
    40 cm cut

    GREENWORKS · 40V G40

    Greenworks GD40BC

    A brushless 40V cordless brush cutter with a wide 40 cm line cut, a 25 cm blade, harness and D-grip handle — sold tool-only on Amazon.co.uk.

    8.0/10
    Read the review

Easy beats powerful

For weeds, the best machine is the one you’ll grab and use: light, quick to start, and quick to put away. Line handles most weeds; a blade helps with thick, woody stands.

Our picks

  • Worx WG183E — 33 cm, two batteries included, AutoFeed; 2.9 kg.
  • Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V — brushless, 23 cm metal blade, 4.1 kg with battery.
  • Makita DUR368LZ — twin-18V, ADT and reverse switch to clear wrapped weeds; 3.2 kg bare.
  • Einhell Agillo 36/255 — twin-18V brushless with a 3-tooth blade.
  • Stihl FS 70 C-E — 0.9 kW petrol, ErgoStart; for big areas.
  • Greenworks GD40BC — 40 cm cut, 25 cm blade and harness; tool-only.

Cut, then stop them coming back

Cut weeds before they set seed. Rake up cuttings of seeding weeds rather than leaving them. In borders and paths, cutting is a holding job: mulch, hoe or dig out perennials such as docks and dandelions by the root. For gravel, use line at low speed (gravel guide).

See the best brush cutters for nettles and for tall grass.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Worx WG183E 40V Cordless 40V PowerShare (2× 20V) 2.9 kg (Amazon item weight) 7.6 / 10
Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V Cordless 36V Power For All 3.4 kg bare, 4.1 kg with battery (Bosch) 8.3 / 10
Makita DUR368LZ Cordless 36V LXT · Brushless 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight, bare) 8.4 / 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
Greenworks GD40BC Cordless 40V G40 — 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

Blade or line for weeds?

Line handles most garden weeds, including nettles and docks. A blade helps where weeds are thick, woody or mixed with brambles.

Petrol or cordless for weeds?

For a typical 20–40 minute garden session, cordless: no fuel, less noise, instant start. Petrol makes sense for large areas or long sessions.

What's easiest for an occasional user?

The Worx WG183E: it comes with two batteries and a charger, and AutoFeed advances the line for you.