The best petrol brush cutters for 2026
Raw power and unlimited runtime — the right choice for tough land, brambles, scrub and big jobs. Below are the petrol machines we cover, from light entry models to semi-pro workhorses, followed by a complete buying guide.
In short:The best petrol brush cutters we cover range from light 25–28 cc garden machines to 52 cc clearers. The Stihl FS 131 (36.3 cc 4-MIX, 1.4 kW, 5.8 kg) has the best power-to-weight; the Honda UMK 435 (GX35) and Makita EM4351UH (43 cc, 1.5 kW) run on unmixed petrol; the Stiga BC 545 B comes with a 3T blade and double harness; and the 52 cc Fuxtec FX-MS152 and Einhell GC-BC 52 give the most power for the money. Match engine size to your toughest growth.
The 20 models we cover, best rated first
STIHL · 36.3 cc · 4-MIX
Stihl FS 131
For tough land and heavy use: a 36.3 cc, 1.4 kW 4-MIX brush cutter with a bike handle, 5.8 kg and a 420 mm cut — Stihl's semi-pro petrol benchmark.
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HONDA · 35 cc · GX35 4-stroke
Honda UMK 435 UE
A bigger, tougher Honda 4-stroke: the 35 cc GX35 gives 1.0 kW for bramble clearing on a bike handle with a double harness, still without mixing fuel.
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MAKITA · 43 cc · 4-stroke MM4
Makita EM4351UH
A professional 43 cc MM4 four-stroke petrol brush cutter, 1.5 kW, with handle vibration of 2.1–2.2 m/s² — mix-free power for long working days.
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STIHL · 27.2 cc · ErgoStart
Stihl FS 70 C-E
20% more power than the FS 55 (0.9 kW vs 0.75 kW), effortless ErgoStart and an AutoCut 25-2 head — the best Stihl compromise for homeowners.
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HONDA · 25 cc · GX25 4-stroke
Honda UMK 425 LE
A premium 25 cc Honda GX25 mini 4-stroke brush cutter — 5.9 kg dry, mix-free and dependable, with a 3-tooth blade and nylon head supplied.
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FUXTEC · 52 cc · 2-stroke
Fuxtec FX-MS152
A 52 cc, 2.95 hp petrol brush cutter with a metal blade, line head and padded strap included — huge cutting capability for tough, overgrown land.
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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.
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MAKITA · 25.4 cc · 4-stroke MM4
Makita EM2651UH
A 25.4 cc MM4 four-stroke petrol brush cutter with a cow-horn handle, 0.77 kW and low vibration — runs on unmixed petrol, for regular maintenance.
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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.
Read the review
FUXTEC · 52 cc · 4-in-1 multitool
Fuxtec FX-MT152
A 52 cc 4-in-1 petrol multitool — brush cutter, grass trimmer, hedge trimmer and pole pruner on one engine, with a harness — for varied garden jobs.
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HUSQVARNA · 28 cc · 2-stroke
Husqvarna 128R
Husqvarna's 28 cc petrol brush cutter with Smart Start, a bullhorn handle, double harness, trimmer head and grass blade — for grass and light growth.
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STIGA · 32.6 cc · 2-stroke
Stiga BC 535 B
A versatile 32.6 cc, 0.9 kW petrol brush cutter with a bike handlebar, a 3T metal blade and a Tap&Go Pro dual-line head included, cutting 43 cm.
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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.
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HUSQVARNA · 21.7 cc · 2-stroke
Husqvarna 122C
A light, easy-handling petrol curved-shaft trimmer for grass and light growth — quick to start but line-only, so it's not built for brush or brambles.
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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.
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EINHELL · 37.7 cc · 4-stroke
Einhell GC-BC 36-4 S
A 37.7 cc 4-stroke petrol brush cutter with blade and harness included — clean, mix-free power for tough grass and light brush on a budget.
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FUXTEC · 42.5 cc · 4-stroke
Fuxtec FX-4MS142
A 42.5 cc, 1.7 hp 4-stroke petrol strimmer with an automatic-feed double-line head — strong torque with no fuel mixing; the 3-tooth blade is an optional extra.
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FUXTEC · 25 cc · 2-stroke
Fuxtec FX-MS125
A light 25 cc petrol brush cutter with a 3-tooth blade included — the cheapest, easiest way into petrol for grass and light growth.
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EINHELL · 25.4 cc · 2-stroke
Einhell GC-BC 25/1 I AS
A light, affordable entry petrol brush cutter with blade and harness included — a budget-friendly first thermal machine for grass and light growth.
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IKRA · 51.7 cc · 4-in-1 multitool
IKRA IBKH 52-1
A 51.7 cc, 1.5 kW petrol 4-in-1: brush cutter, grass trimmer, hedge trimmer and pole pruner with a 76 cm extension — four tools, one engine.
Read the reviewWho should buy a petrol brush cutter?
A petrol brush cutter is the right choice when the job is genuinely tough: brambles, dense scrub, tall neglected grass, or a large plot where you need to keep cutting for hours without stopping to recharge. Because the engine delivers constant, high torque, petrol machines power a steel blade through woody growth that would stall a battery or electric model.
If your land is a tidy suburban lawn, petrol is usually more machine than you need — a cordless model will be quieter and simpler. But for rural plots, smallholdings, orchards and any land that gets away from you between cuts, petrol remains the workhorse.
Engine size explained: how many cc do you need?
Engine displacement (measured in cubic centimetres, cc) is the single best proxy for how much a petrol brush cutter can handle:
- Under 27 cc — light grass and regular maintenance. Fine for a medium plot kept on top of.
- 27–32 cc — the homeowner sweet spot. Handles tall grass and light brush with a blade fitted.
- 33–42 cc — semi-professional. Brambles, scrub and long sessions without complaint.
- 42 cc and up — professional and forestry work, thick woody growth, all-day use.
Most homeowners overbuy here. A 36 cc machine like the Stihl FS 131 is already semi-pro; you rarely need more unless you clear land for a living.
2-stroke vs 4-stroke (and Stihl 4-MIX)
2-stroke engines are lighter and simpler but need a petrol/oil mix and are noisier and dirtier. 4-stroke engines run on straight petrol, are quieter and cleaner, but weigh more. Stihl's 4-MIX is a clever hybrid: a 4-stroke engine that still runs on a 2-stroke mix, giving you strong torque and lower noise without a separate oil sump.
For most buyers the engine type matters less than build quality and the dealer network behind it.
Line head vs blade: match the tool to the job
The cutting attachment matters as much as the engine. A nylon line head is for grass and soft growth. For anything woody you need a metal blade: a 3-tooth or 4-tooth blade for brambles and scrub, or an 8-tooth / circular-saw blade for saplings. The best petrol machines ship with both, or accept both, so you can switch based on the day's work.
Maintenance you can’t skip
Petrol machines need a little care to stay reliable: use fresh fuel (or alkylate fuel for long storage), keep the air filter clean, check the spark plug each season, and never store them with stale petrol in the tank over winter. Done properly, a quality petrol brush cutter lasts a decade or more.
Frequently asked questions
Are petrol brush cutters better than battery ones?
For raw power, runtime and tough growth — yes. Petrol wins on brambles, scrub and large plots. For small maintained gardens, noise and convenience, a modern cordless machine is often the better everyday choice.
What engine size (cc) do I need for brambles?
For thick brambles and scrub, aim for at least 27–30 cc with a 3-tooth metal blade fitted. For heavy, regular clearing choose 33 cc or more, like the Stihl FS 131 (36 cc).
What is the 2-stroke fuel mix ratio?
It depends on the maker — commonly between 1:25 and 1:50. Always use the ratio in your manual and a good-quality two-stroke oil; see our fuel ratio chart. Stihl 4-MIX engines also run on mix; true four-strokes like Honda GX and Makita MM4 run on unmixed petrol.
Are Stihl brush cutters sold on Amazon?
Stihl sells mainly through its authorised dealers, who assemble and service the machines; we found no live Amazon.co.uk price for the FS 55, FS 70 C-E or FS 131 in October 2026. Brands like Einhell, Fuxtec and Stiga are widely sold online.
How heavy is a petrol brush cutter?
From about 4.4 kg (Stihl FS 55) to 8.5–8.7 kg (Einhell GC-BC 52 and GC-BC 36-4 S, Makita EM4351UH). A harness spreads the load and makes long sessions far more comfortable — always use one for blade work.