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Light & easy

The best brush cutters for women

Weight, balance and easy starting matter to everyone, and they matter most for smaller or lighter users. These picks are capable yet easy to handle.

By · Updated · first published

In short:The best brush cutters for smaller or lighter users are light, adjustable and easy to start. For lawns, the Worx WG163E (2 kg kit) and Gardena EasyTrim 25 (1.7 kg without battery) are among the lightest. For nettles and light scrub, the Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V weighs 4.1 kg with battery and takes a metal blade, and the Makita DUR190LZX3 is 2.7–3.0 kg with battery. For petrol, the Stihl FS 55 weighs 4.4–4.9 kg, and the Husqvarna 129R 5.4 kg with a double harness.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Worx WG163E 20V MAX PowerShare cordless grass trimmer and edger pack
    Light 2-in-1 pack

    WORX · 20V PowerShare

    Worx WG163E

    A light 20V MAX PowerShare trimmer that converts to a wheeled edger, with Command Feed and a 90° swivel head — sold with a 2 Ah battery and charger.

    7.6/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A cordless grass trimmer with 25 cm cut and edging wheel
    P4A light trimmer

    GARDENA · 18V P4A

    Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A

    A 1.7 kg 18V POWER FOR ALL grass trimmer with a 25 cm cut, automatic line feed and push-button edging with a guide wheel — for small lawns.

    7.1/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    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
  4. 4
    Makita DUR190LZX3 18V LXT brushless brush cutter metal blade capable
    18V blade-capable

    MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless

    Makita DUR190LZX3

    An 18V LXT brushless loop-handle trimmer that runs line, plastic blades or a 230 mm metal blade, with three speeds and ADT — sold bare.

    7.9/10
    Read the review
  5. 5
    Stihl FS 55 petrol brush cutter 27cc 2-stroke lightweight entry level
    Stihl entry

    STIHL · 27.2 cc · 2-stroke

    Stihl FS 55

    Stihl's most affordable petrol brush cutter: 27.2 cc, 0.75 kW and a bike handle, light at around 4.4–4.9 kg — ideal for maintained land and first-time buyers.

    7.8/10
    Read the review
  6. 6
    Husqvarna 129R 27.6 cc 2-stroke petrol brush cutter with straight shaft and bike handle
    All-round Husqvarna

    HUSQVARNA · 27.6 cc · 2-stroke

    Husqvarna 129R

    A 27.6 cc, 0.85 kW, 5.4 kg Husqvarna petrol brush cutter with bullhorn handle, double harness, trimmer head and grass blade included.

    8.0/10
    Read the review

Weight, balance and fit

A brush cutter that’s the right size for you is safer and less tiring. Look for low weight, a telescopic shaft or adjustable handle so you can stand upright, easy starting, and a harness that puts the weight on your shoulders rather than your arms.

Our picks

  • Worx WG163E — 2 kg kit with battery; wheeled edger mode and a telescopic handle.
  • Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A — 1.7 kg without battery, telescopic shaft and adjustable handle.
  • Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V — 4.1 kg with battery, brushless, with a 23 cm metal blade for nettles and light scrub.
  • Makita DUR190LZX3 — 2.7–3.0 kg with battery, loop handle, three speeds; takes plastic and 230 mm metal blades.
  • Stihl FS 55 — light petrol at 4.4–4.9 kg; the C-E version adds ErgoStart and a metal blade.
  • Husqvarna 129R — 0.85 kW, 5.4 kg without cutting gear, with a grass blade and double harness.

Set it up properly

Adjust the handle so your arms are slightly bent and the head floats just above the ground with your back straight. A harness should sit snugly on both shoulders, with the hook at hip height — see how to adjust a harness. Gloves, eye protection and sturdy footwear are a must.

More choices

See the best lightweight brush cutters, the best brush cutters with easy start and our brush cutter matcher.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Worx WG163E Cordless 20V PowerShare 2 kg (Amazon item weight) 7.6 / 10
Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A Cordless 18V P4A 1.7 kg without battery 7.1 / 10
Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V Cordless 36V Power For All 3.4 kg bare, 4.1 kg with battery (Bosch) 8.3 / 10
Makita DUR190LZX3 Cordless 18V LXT · Brushless 2.7–3.0 kg with battery (Makita UK) 7.9 / 10
Stihl FS 55 Petrol 27.2 cc · 2-stroke 4.4–4.9 kg (retailers) 7.8 / 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.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best lightweight brush cutter?

For grass and edges, the Gardena EasyTrim 25 (1.7 kg without battery) or Worx WG163E (2 kg kit). For tougher growth, the Makita DUR190LZX3 (2.7–3.0 kg with battery) takes plastic and metal blades.

Does lightweight mean less capable?

Not necessarily. The Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V weighs 4.1 kg with battery yet has a brushless motor and a 23 cm metal blade, and the twin-18V Makita DUR368LZ is just 3.2 kg bare.

Is petrol too hard to start?

Modern easy-start systems help a lot: Stihl's ErgoStart on the FS 55 C-E and FS 70 C-E, and Husqvarna's Smart Start on the 128R. Cordless machines avoid pull cords altogether.