Makita brush cutters
Professional cordless, done right
Makita's 18V LXT batteries power trimmers and twin-battery brush cutters. We review 15 Makita machines: cordless, corded and MM4 four-stroke petrol.
In short:Makita is the brand we review most: 15 machines. Its 18V LXT cordless range runs from the 12V-class UR100D and light DUR181RF/DUR193RT trimmers to brushless loop-handle models (DUR189, DUR190, DUR191, DUR192, DUR194) and twin-18V (36V) brush cutters: the DUR368 and DUR369 in loop-handle (LZ) or bike-handle (AZ) versions; the DUR369AZ, with a 430 mm cut and a 255 mm blade, is our best cordless pick. It also makes the 1,000 W corded UR3501 and the MM4 four-stroke EM2651UH and EM4351UH petrol brush cutters.
Makita (founded in Japan in 1915) is the brand we review most, with 15 machines. Its cordless garden tools run on the 18V LXT batteries used by hundreds of Makita tools; the most powerful take two 18V packs for 36V. Makita also sells a separate 40V XGT system, which we do not review yet.
Makita cordless trimmers
- Light trimmers: the 12V-class UR100D (about 2 kg, 260 mm), the DUR181RF (26 cm, kit) and the DUR193RT (260 mm, 5.0 Ah kit; £182.50 on Amazon.co.uk on 27 October 2026).
- Brushless loop-handle trimmers: the DUR189RF (30 cm, three speeds, reverse), DUR190LZX3 (bare; nylon head and plastic blades), DUR191LZX3 (split shaft), DUR192L (30 cm, two speeds) and DUR194 (loop handle with barrier bar).
Makita twin-battery brush cutters
The DUR368 and DUR369 take two 18V batteries. The LZ versions have a loop handle and the AZ versions a bike handle. The DUR368LZ (£273.47) and DUR368AZ (£306.50) cut 350 mm with line; the DUR369LZ (£327.99) and DUR369AZ cut 430 mm, and the DUR369AZ comes with a 255 mm metal blade. The DUR369AZ is our best cordless brush cutter. All four are sold bare.
Corded and petrol
The UR3501 is a 1,000 W corded trimmer with a 350 mm cut. The EM2651UH (25.4 cc, 0.77 kW, 5.6 kg) and EM4351UH (43 cc, 1.5 kW, about 8.5 kg) use Makita’s MM4 four-stroke engines, which run on unmixed petrol.
Things to weigh
Makita prices its machines as bare tools: two 5.0 Ah batteries and a twin charger add a lot if you are new to LXT. Loop or bike handle matters more than the motor: choose the AZ for long sessions with a blade.
Who should buy Makita
Anyone already on LXT batteries, and trades users who want a quiet cordless machine that can take a blade. See the best Makita brush cutters, Makita vs Stihl and Ryobi vs Makita.
Our Makita reviews
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.
Read the review
MAKITA · 36V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR368AZ
A twin-18V (36V) LXT brushless brush cutter with an offset bike handle, three speeds and a 350 mm nylon head; plastic or metal blades fit as extras. Sold bare.
Read the review
MAKITA · 36V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR369LZ
A twin-18V (36V) LXT brushless trimmer with a loop handle, a wide 430 mm nylon cut, three speeds, ADT, an electric brake and a reverse switch — sold bare.
Read the review
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.
Read the review
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.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR189RF
A complete 18V LXT brushless grass trimmer kit with a 30 cm cut, Automatic Torque Drive, three speeds, a reverse switch and an electric brake.
Read the review
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.
Read the review
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.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR192L
A brushless 18V LXT loop-handle trimmer with a 30 cm cut, two speeds, an electric brake and a split shaft — the DUR192LRT kit has a 5.0 Ah battery.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT
Makita DUR193RT
A light 18V LXT edging trimmer with a 26 cm cut, telescopic shaft, angle-adjustable motor head and edger function, sold as a kit with a 5.0 Ah battery.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR194
A brushless 18V LXT loop-handle trimmer with a 28 cm nylon head that also takes plastic or 8-tooth metal blades — for lawns, edges and weeds.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT · Brushless
Makita DUR191LZX3
An 18V LXT brushless loop-handle line trimmer with a split shaft, three speeds, ADT and a reverse switch — compact and light, sold bare.
Read the review
MAKITA · 18V LXT
Makita DUR181RF
A light 18V LXT grass trimmer kit with a 26 cm cut, telescopic shaft and a head that tilts and turns 180° for edging — a refined lawn finisher.
Read the review
MAKITA · Corded 1000W
Makita UR3501
A 1,000 W corded 240 V line trimmer with a 35 cm cut, 2 mm line, a bent aluminium shaft and soft start — strong for a mains trimmer near a socket.
Read the review
MAKITA · 12V max CXT
Makita UR100D
A tiny 12V max CXT grass trimmer of about 2 kg, with a 26 cm nylon head or plastic blades and a telescopic shaft — for precise edging in small gardens.
Read the review