The best cutting heads
A worn or awkward head makes trimming a chore. A good tap-and-go head feeds line effortlessly and lasts. Here are our picks — plus how to match one to your machine.
In short:Brush cutter heads must match your machine's arbor thread and line size. Husqvarna's T25 tap-and-go head fits a 10 mm left-hand arbor, and the T35 takes 2.4–2.7 mm line. Oregon's Boltless Tap and Go and Lightning Load Pro heads (109 mm and 130 mm) load line without taking the head apart and suit machines over 33 cc. Universal heads with M10 × 1.25 left-hand threads fit many petrol brush cutters, and pattern Speed-Feed 400 heads replace Echo originals. Check the thread before you buy.
The 14 we cover
A cheap pattern bump-feed head replacing the Echo Speed-Feed 400 on the SRM-210, SRM-225 and SRM-230 — tap-to-feed, no special tools.
- TypeBump feed (tap to release line)
- ReplacesEcho Speed-Feed 400
- Listed forEcho SRM-210, SRM-225, SRM-230
Husqvarna's T25 tap-and-go trimmer head with a 10 mm left-hand thread — the standard head on many Husqvarna straight-shaft trimmers.
- TypeTap-and-go (bump feed), twin line
- Arbor10 mm, left-hand thread
- ShaftStraight-shaft machines
Husqvarna's T35 semi-automatic (tap) trimmer head for 2.4–2.7 mm line — a tougher head for mid-size petrol brush cutters on rough grass.
- TypeSemi-automatic (tap) head
- Line size2.4–2.7 mm
- Part number578 44 63-01
A twin-line tap-feed trimmer head with an M10 × 1.25 left-hand thread, pre-loaded with 4 m of 2.4 mm line and cutting up to 30 cm — for petrol brush cutters.
- TypeTwin-line tap (bump) feed head
- ThreadM10 × 1.25 left-hand
- Line supplied4 m of 2.4 mm, pre-loaded
Oregon's boltless tap-and-go universal head (109 mm) for strimmers over 33 cc — takes up to 2.4 mm line, with brass eyelets, supplied with Duoline.
- TypeBoltless tap-and-go (bump feed)
- Diameter109 mm
- LineUp to 2.4 mm, various shapes; supplied with Duoline
An Oregon universal head kit (525242) for 40 cc straight-shaft brush cutters; the listing also describes Techni-blade hardened-polymer cutters.
- Part number525242
- Listed for40 cc straight-shaft machines
- Cutters describedTechni-blade, hardened polyamide 6/66
Oregon's Lightning Load Pro 109 mm tap-and-go head: loads in under 30 seconds without disassembly, takes up to 3 mm line, four adaptors.
- TypeTap-and-go, quick load (no disassembly)
- Diameter109 mm
- LineUp to 3 mm; supplied with Techni 280
A cheap 110 mm twin-line bump-feed head with an M10 × 1.25 left-hand female thread, pre-loaded with 2 m of 2.4 mm line — for straight-shaft petrol trimmers.
- TypeBump feed, twin line
- ThreadM10 × 1.25 left-hand, female
- Diameter110 mm
A Speed Feed 400-style bump-feed head that reloads without opening, replacing Echo 99944200907 — with bolts and nuts for other machines.
- TypeTwin-line bump feed, twist-to-load
- ReplacesEcho 99944200907, 78890-30000
- Studs supplied7 mm LH, 8 mm LH, 8 mm RH
A tap-and-go twin-line head that loads without disassembly, with aluminium line exits and adaptors for M8 × 1.25 LH, M10 × 1.25 LH, M10 × 1 LH and 3/8-24 RH.
- TypeTap-and-go, twin line, loads without disassembly
- AdaptorsM8×1.25 LH (M), M10×1.25 LH (F), M10×1 LH (F), 3/8-24 RH
- Line exitsAluminium
A budget tap-and-go twin-line head you load without disassembly, supplied with seven adaptors including M8 × 1.25 LH, M10 × 1.25 LH, M10 × 1 LH and 3/8-24 RH.
- TypeTap-and-go, twin line
- Adaptors7, incl. M8×1.25 LH, M10×1.25 LH, M10×1 LH, 3/8-24 RH
- LoadingStraight through the eyelets, no disassembly
What aluminium trimmer heads offer over plastic ones, and what to check before buying one — thread, line size and machine power.
- BodyAluminium alloy
- Check before buyingArbor thread, adaptors, line size
- SuitsPowerful petrol brush cutters
Oregon's 130 mm Lightning Load Pro: loads in 30 seconds without disassembly, takes line up to 4 mm, five adaptors including M12 sizes.
- TypeTap-and-go, quick load (no disassembly)
- Diameter130 mm
- LineUp to 4 mm; supplied with Techni 280
Two 200 mm (8 in) steel-wire weed brush heads with a 25.4 mm bore, for brush cutters — scrub weeds and moss out of paving joints, gravel and hard standing.
- TypeRotary steel-wire weed brush
- Diameter200 mm (8 in)
- Bore25.4 mm (1 in)
Tap-and-go is what you want
The best everyday head is a tap-and-go (bump-feed) type — tap it on the ground and it releases fresh line automatically, so you never stop to fiddle. A genuine OEM head (like the Husqvarna T35) lasts longest; a universal head is the cheap fix for an older or non-branded machine.
Check the thread and line size
Heads attach via a threaded shaft that varies by brand (M10×1.25, M12×1.75 and others). Universal heads bundle adaptors, but confirm your machine's thread before buying. Also check the head's maximum line diameter — most take up to 2.4 mm. See our trimmer line guide to pair them up.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tap-and-go (bump-feed) head?
A bump-feed head releases fresh line automatically when you tap it on the ground — no stopping to pull line manually. It's the most convenient and popular type for regular use.
Will any cutting head fit my brush cutter?
No — heads attach via a threaded shaft, and the thread varies (e.g. M10×1.25 on many Stihl, M12×1.75 on Husqvarna). Universal heads include adaptors, but always check your machine's thread first.
How do I know what line thickness a head takes?
Each head has a maximum line diameter, usually printed on it or in the manual. Most take up to 2.4 mm; heavier-duty heads take 3.0 mm. Don't exceed it or the line will jam.
Who each type suits
- Ordinary use
- A bump-feed head is the standard. It reloads in a few minutes and forgives mistakes.
- Fast reloading
- Automatic-winding heads reload without full dismantling. That is a real saving over a large area.
- Very abrasive ground
- Heads taking pre-cut free lines avoid any winding at all. They use more line and remove the jams.
The trade-offs to weigh
- Universality against fit
- Universal heads come with a set of adaptors covering several threads. The adaptor adds a weak point an original head does not have.
- Bump feed against free lines
- Bump feed pays out automatically and can jam; free lines never jam and are replaced one at a time, more often.
- Sturdiness against weight at the end of the shaft
- A massive head resists impacts and is felt at the end of the pole over a long session. Weight at the tip tires you more than it seems.
Questions buyers ask
Can the thread be reversed?
On many brushcutters, yes: the shaft has a left-hand thread so the head tightens as it turns. Forcing it the wrong way damages the thread permanently.
How do I lock the shaft to remove the head?
Through the locking hole provided, with the pin or key supplied. Locking any other way deforms the shaft or the housing.
The head unscrews while running, why?
Unsuitable thread direction, or a head fitted on a badly tightened adaptor. A head that unscrews while spinning is a projectile.
Why does the line no longer feed when I tap?
Line welded to itself, an overfilled spool, or a tired return spring. All three causes are common and can be told apart by opening the head.
Does the inside of the head need cleaning?
Soil and plant debris build up in there and jam the mechanism. A clean at every reload is enough to prevent it.
Do the exit eyelets wear out?
The line notches them progressively, and a sharp edge then cuts the line every time it feeds. They can be replaced separately on many heads.
Can a head be fitted to a machine set up for a blade?
If the thread matches and the appropriate guard is fitted. The blade guard is shorter and does not cut the line to length.
What to remember
The thread is often left-handed: forcing it the wrong way destroys the shaft permanently. A head that unscrews while spinning becomes a projectile, and when the line no longer feeds, open the head — welded line, an overfilled spool or a tired spring can be told apart immediately.