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Lightweight

The best lightweight brush cutters

A lighter machine is less tiring, easier to control and kinder on your back and shoulders. If comfort matters — long sessions, reach or lighter strength — start here.

By · Updated · first published

In short:The lightest trimmers weigh under 2 kg: the Gardena EasyTrim 25 (1.7 kg without battery), the corded Black+Decker GL360 (1.6 kg) and the Worx WG163E kit (2 kg). Light machines that can take a blade include the Makita DUR190LZX3 (2.7–3.0 kg with battery, plastic and 230 mm metal blades), Makita DUR368LZ (3.2 kg bare) and Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V (4.1 kg with battery, 23 cm metal blade). The lightest petrol brush cutter we cover is the Stihl FS 55 at 4.4–4.9 kg.

Our picks, ranked

  1. 1
    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
  2. 2
    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
  3. 3
    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
  4. 4
    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
  5. 5
    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
  6. 6
    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

Why weight matters

You hold a trimmer at arm’s length for the whole session, so every kilogram adds up. A lighter machine is easier to keep level, safer on slopes and much less tiring. Note that makers quote weight differently — with or without battery, fuel or cutting gear — so compare like with like.

Our picks

  • Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A — 1.7 kg without battery; telescopic shaft and edging wheel.
  • Worx WG163E — 2 kg kit with battery; converts to a wheeled edger.
  • Makita DUR190LZX3 — 2.7–3.0 kg with battery; brushless, three speeds, and takes plastic blades and a 230 mm metal blade.
  • Makita DUR368LZ — 3.2 kg bare twin-18V, 350 mm cut, Automatic Torque Drive.
  • Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V — 4.1 kg with battery; brushless brush cutter with a 23 cm metal blade.
  • Stihl FS 55 — the lightest petrol pick at 4.4–4.9 kg; ErgoStart and a metal blade on the C-E version.

Lighter still

For edges and small lawns, the corded Black+Decker GL360 weighs about 1.6 kg and the Gardena SmallCut 300/23 about 1.6 kg. They’re line-only.

Make any machine feel lighter

Adjust the handle and shaft so you stand upright, and use a shoulder strap or harness so the weight rests on your shoulders, not your arms (best harnesses). See also the best brush cutters for seniors and for back pain.

Our picks at a glance

ModelTypeEngine / powerWeightRating
Gardena EasyTrim 25/18V P4A Cordless 18V P4A 1.7 kg without battery 7.1 / 10
Worx WG163E Cordless 20V PowerShare 2 kg (Amazon item weight) 7.6 / 10
Makita DUR190LZX3 Cordless 18V LXT · Brushless 2.7–3.0 kg with battery (Makita UK) 7.9 / 10
Makita DUR368LZ Cordless 36V LXT · Brushless 3.2 kg (Amazon item weight, bare) 8.4 / 10
Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V Cordless 36V Power For All 3.4 kg bare, 4.1 kg with battery (Bosch) 8.3 / 10
Stihl FS 55 Petrol 27.2 cc · 2-stroke 4.4–4.9 kg (retailers) 7.8 / 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

What's the lightest type of brush cutter?

Light cordless and corded grass trimmers, at around 1.6–2.3 kg. Blade-capable cordless machines start at about 2.7 kg, and petrol brush cutters from about 4.4 kg.

Does a lightweight machine sacrifice power?

Often a little — the lightest tools are grass trimmers. But the Makita DUR190LZX3 takes a metal blade at under 3 kg with battery, and the Bosch AdvancedBrushCut 36V is a brushless brush cutter at 4.1 kg.

Why does weight matter so much?

You hold a brush cutter at arm's length, often for a long time. Even a kilogram makes a difference to fatigue, control and safety — especially on slopes.