The best Makita brush cutters

What matters for choosing a Makita

Makita’s range splits cleanly into 18V/36V LXT cordless machines and MM4 4-stroke petrol units, so the first decision is battery versus engine. After that, the details that separate these models are whether the cutting head accepts a metal blade or line only, how heavy the machine is to carry for a full session, and whether batteries, charger or harness come included or need buying separately. We’ve weighted these picks towards real usability across grass, light scrub and tougher brambles rather than spec-sheet numbers alone.

Our picks

The Makita DUR368LZ leads for comfort: at around 3.9kg it’s one of the lightest pro-grade cordless brush cutters going, a strong pick for long grass-cutting sessions if you’re already invested in LXT batteries.

The Makita DUR190LZX3 is the flexible entry point — a rare 18V machine whose head accepts a metal blade as well as line, so it steps beyond grass into light brush on a single battery.

For petrol buyers who want a professional-grade tool, the Makita EM4351UH delivers 43cc of MM4 4-stroke power with notably low vibration, built for all-day commercial use without fuel mixing.

The Makita DUR369AZ is the cordless machine to buy if you want near-petrol performance: a 36V twin-LXT brushless motor, a 43cm cut and blade capability for scrub and light brambles, sold bare for existing battery owners.

The Makita EM2651UH suits anyone who simply wants a clean, quiet 25.4cc petrol machine for regular grass maintenance without ever mixing fuel, though it’s modest against dense brush.

And the Makita DUR189RF is the complete-kit choice — an 18V LXT grass trimmer sold with battery and charger included, ready to use for tidy lawn work straight out of the box.

Which should you choose?

If you’re already on Makita’s 18V or 36V LXT platform, start there: the DUR368LZ for comfort, the DUR190LZX3 if you want blade flexibility on a single battery, or the DUR369AZ if you need genuine scrub-clearing power. If you’d rather not deal with batteries at all, the MM4 petrol pair covers both ends — the EM2651UH for light, regular maintenance and the EM4351UH for heavier, professional-level work. Buyers who want everything included and don’t need to cut anything tougher than grass should look straight at the DUR189RF.