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With a blade

The best brush cutters with a blade

For brambles, scrub or young saplings, a metal blade is non-negotiable. This shortlist ranks petrol and cordless machines that come with one, or are set up for one.

By · Updated · first published

In short:Brush cutters supplied with a metal blade include the Stiga BC 545 B (petrol, 1.25 kW, 3T blade, double harness), Makita DUR369AZ (twin 18V, 255 mm blade, bike handle), Einhell GC-BC 52 (petrol, 1.5 kW, 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade), Ryobi RBC36X26B (36V kit, 26 cm 3-tooth blade), Einhell GP-BC 36/430 (twin 18V, 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade) and Husqvarna 129R (grass blade for coarse grass). Machines like the Stihl FS 131 are fitted by the dealer with the blade you need.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    Stiga BC 545 B 42cc 2-stroke petrol brush cutter 3-tooth blade double harness
    Complete 42cc

    STIGA · 42.7 cc · 2-stroke

    Stiga BC 545 B

    A strong 42.7 cc petrol brush cutter supplied complete with a 3-tooth blade, Tap&Go head and double harness — ready for tough, regular clearing.

    8.0/10
    Read the review
  2. 2
    Makita DUR369AZ 36V LXT brushless cordless brush cutter bike handle 43cm cut
    Pro cordless

    MAKITA · 36V LXT · Brushless

    Makita DUR369AZ

    A professional twin-18V brushless brush cutter with a bike handle, 430 mm nylon cut and a 255 mm metal blade in the box — sold bare for LXT owners.

    8.6/10
    Read the review
  3. 3
    Einhell GC-BC 52 I AS 52cc 2-stroke petrol brush cutter with 3-tooth blade
    Big value 52cc

    EINHELL · 51.7 cc · 2-stroke

    Einhell GC-BC 52 I AS

    A powerful 51.7 cc, 1.5 kW petrol brush cutter with a split shaft, 3-tooth blade, twin-line head and carrying strap included — a lot of clearing power for the money.

    7.8/10
    Read the review
  4. 4
    Ryobi RBC36X26B 36V cordless brush cutter TriArc 3-tooth blade
    Blade + 4 Ah kit

    RYOBI · 36V MAX Power

    Ryobi RBC36X26B

    A 36V MAX POWER cordless brush cutter with a 26 cm 3-tooth blade and 30 cm line head, sold with a 4.0 Ah battery and charger — real scrub capability.

    8.1/10
    Read the review
  5. 5
    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
  6. 6
    Einhell GP-BC 36 430 Li BL 36V Power X-Change brushless brush cutter 43cm blade
    Wide 43 cm cut

    EINHELL · 36V Power X-Change · Brushless

    Einhell GP-BC 36/430 Li BL

    A professional 36V brushless brush cutter with a 43 cm line cut, a 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade and two speeds — serious cordless clearing, sold bare.

    8.2/10
    Read the review

Why a blade matters

Brambles, scrub and woody stems wrap and shred nylon line. A metal blade slices through cleanly — but it needs power, a bike handle or barrier bar for control, the correct guard and a harness.

Our picks

  • Stiga BC 545 B — 42.7 cc, 1.25 kW, 45 cm cut, with a 3T blade, Tap&Go head and double harness.
  • Makita DUR369AZ — twin-18V brushless, U-type bike handle, 255 mm blade and 430 mm line; bare tool.
  • Einhell GC-BC 52 — 51.7 cc, 1.5 kW, 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade, split shaft; budget power.
  • Ryobi RBC36X26B — 36V kit with a 26 cm 3-tooth blade, bike handle and 4.0 Ah battery.
  • Husqvarna 129R — 0.85 kW, 5.4 kg, supplied with a grass blade and double harness; for coarse grass and weeds.
  • Einhell GP-BC 36/430 — twin-18V brushless, 25.5 cm 3-tooth blade, 43 cm line, bike handle; bare tool.

Blade types at a glance

  • 3- or 4-tooth brush blade — brambles and mixed scrub.
  • Grass blade (four or more teeth) — coarse grass and thick weeds.
  • Saw blade — saplings and woody stems, where the manual allows.

See the best brush cutter blades and 2-tooth vs 3-tooth blades.

Using a blade safely

Fit the guard the manual specifies, keep the blade below knee height, wear a visor, ear defenders, gloves, boots and long trousers, and keep people at least 15 m away. See line vs blade and cordless brush cutters with a blade.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Stiga BC 545 B Petrol 42.7 cc · 2-stroke — 8 / 10
Makita DUR369AZ Cordless 36V LXT · Brushless 5.9–6.3 kg (retailers) 8.6 / 10
Einhell GC-BC 52 I AS Petrol 51.7 cc · 2-stroke 8.5 kg (listing) 7.8 / 10
Ryobi RBC36X26B Cordless 36V MAX Power 3.7 kg bare; 4.6–5.1 kg with battery 8.1 / 10
Husqvarna 129R Petrol 27.6 cc · 2-stroke 5.4 kg excl. cutting equipment 8 / 10
Einhell GP-BC 36/430 Li BL Cordless 36V Power X-Change · Brushless 6.75 kg (listing) 8.2 / 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

Line head or blade?

Line for grass and light weeds; a metal blade for brambles, scrub and woody stems, where line wraps and shreds. Many machines take both.

Do I need petrol for blade work?

Not for light to moderate brambles: twin-battery machines like the Makita DUR369AZ and Einhell GP-BC 36/430 handle them. For dense, established scrub over large areas, petrol has more sustained power.

Is a grass blade the same as a brush blade?

No. A grass blade (like the Husqvarna 129R's four-tooth Grass 255-4) cuts coarse grass and thick weeds; a 3-tooth brush blade is for brambles; a saw blade for woody stems.