The best grass trimmers
For lawns and edges, a light line trimmer beats a heavy brush cutter every time. Here are the best we cover, from budget corded to brushless cordless.
In short:The best grass trimmers are light, with automatic line feed and an edging mode. The Makita DUR189RF (brushless, 30 cm, ADT, brake, reverse, 3.0 Ah kit) is the most refined; the Gardena EasyTrim 25 (1.7 kg without battery, edging wheel) the lightest; the brushless Worx Nitro WG173E (33 cm, Command Feed) suits PowerShare owners; the Ryobi OLT1832 (25/30 cm, EasyEdge) ONE+ owners; the Einhell GE-CT 18 Li uses plastic knives; and the corded Bosch EasyGrassCut 23 (280 W, 2 kg) is the budget pick.
Our picks, ranked
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
What makes a good grass trimmer
For lawns and edges, look for light weight, automatic line feed, an edging mode (rotating head or wheel) and a telescopic shaft so you stand upright. Power matters far less than handling.
Our picks
- Makita DUR189RF — 18V LXT brushless kit with 3.0 Ah battery: 30 cm, ADT, three speeds, electric brake, reverse switch; 3.0–3.3 kg.
- Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A — 1.7 kg without battery, 25 cm, auto-feed line, edging wheel; POWER FOR ALL.
- Worx Nitro WG173E — 20V MAX brushless, 33 cm double line, Command Feed, head tilts 90°; bare, 3.1 kg.
- Ryobi OLT1832 — 18V ONE+, 25 or 30 cm, auto-feed, four-position head with EasyEdge; bare, about 2.3 kg.
- Einhell GE-CT 18 Li — 18V Power X-Change, 24 cm with plastic knives, head rotates ±90° and tilts five ways; bare.
- Bosch EasyGrassCut 23 — corded 280 W, 23 cm, automatic line feed; 2 kg.
Other trimmers we cover
Edging specialists: the Worx WG163E (wheeled edger) and Black+Decker STC1820 (flip-to-edge). Corded: Black+Decker GL360 (1.6 kg) and GL9035 (900 W). See the best trimmers for edging.
Which should you choose?
Buy into the battery platform you already own. Starting fresh, the Makita DUR189RF kit for refinement, or the Bosch EasyGrassCut 23 near a socket for the lowest price. For nettles and brambles, step up to a brush cutter with a blade.
Our picks at a glance
| Model | Type | Engine / power | Weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Makita DUR189RF | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 3.0–3.3 kg (UK retailers) | 8 / 10 |
| Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A | Cordless | 18V P4A | 1.7 kg without battery | 7.1 / 10 |
| Worx Nitro WG173E.9 | Cordless | 20V PowerShare · Brushless | 3.1 kg (Amazon item weight) | 7.7 / 10 |
| Ryobi OLT1832 | Cordless | 18V ONE+ | About 2.3 kg without battery (listing) | 7.3 / 10 |
| Einhell GE-CT 18 Li | Cordless | 18V Power X-Change | About 1.8 kg without battery (listing) | 7.2 / 10 |
| Bosch EasyGrassCut 23 | Corded | Corded 280W | 2 kg (Amazon.co.uk item weight) | 7 / 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 difference between a grass trimmer and a brush cutter?
A grass trimmer cuts with nylon line (or plastic knives) for lawns and edges. A brush cutter is more powerful and takes a metal blade for nettles, brambles and scrub. See brush cutter vs strimmer.
Do I need a powerful machine to trim a lawn?
No. For grass and edges, light weight, automatic line feed and a good edging mode matter more than power.
Why are several trimmers sold without a battery?
So owners of the same battery platform don't pay for another. The Ryobi OLT1832, Einhell GE-CT 18 Li and Worx WG173E are bare tools; the Makita DUR189RF comes as a kit.