DeWalt DCM561PBS vs Ryobi RLT1831
Two 18V, line-only cordless trimmers that look similar on paper but sit in different battery worlds. The real decision here is less about the tool and more about which battery system you're already carrying.
In short:The DeWalt DCM561PBS is a bare 18V XR brushless line trimmer with a 33 cm cut, 2 mm twisted line, bump feed, variable speed and a hi/lo switch; Amazon gives a 3.6 kg item weight. The Ryobi RLT1831H25F is an 18V ONE+ line trimmer with a 25–30 cm cut, telescopic shaft and second handle, sold as a kit with a 2.5 Ah battery and charger, at 2.8 kg. Neither takes a blade; choose by battery platform.
Put these two side by side and the spec sheets look almost interchangeable: both are 18V, line-only cordless trimmers aimed at the same job — keeping grass and edges tidy, not clearing scrub. The DeWalt DCM561PBS leans on DeWalt’s XR brushless platform and trade-grade build. The Ryobi RLT1831H25F leans on the sheer size of Ryobi’s ONE+ battery ecosystem instead. Neither will touch brambles or woody stems, so if that’s what you’re facing, this comparison isn’t the one you need. But for grass, weeds and borders, the choice between them mostly comes down to which battery family you already own — or want to start owning.
At a glance
| DeWalt DCM561PBS | Ryobi RLT1831H25F | |
|---|---|---|
| Power system | 18V XR, brushless motor | 18V ONE+ |
| Cutting attachment | Line only, no blade option | Line only, no blade option |
| Cutting width | 33 cm | 25-30 cm |
| Handle | Overmoulded grip | Second handle, telescopic shaft |
| Speed control | Variable trigger + hi/lo | — |
| Weight | 3.6 kg (Amazon item weight) | 2.8 kg (Amazon item weight) |
| Battery platform | DeWalt 18V XR (trade tool range) | Ryobi 18V ONE+ (one of the largest ecosystems) |
| Supplied | Bare tool | 2.5 Ah battery + charger |
The real fork in the road: which battery ecosystem
This is where the comparison actually gets decided, more than any trimmer-specific feature. DeWalt’s 18V XR platform is a genuinely trade-oriented battery family, shared with drills, saws and other job-site tools — a natural fit if you already lean on DeWalt kit for proper work. Ryobi’s ONE+ system, by contrast, is one of the broadest cordless ecosystems sold anywhere, stretching from drills and blowers to pressure washers and well beyond typical garden tools, aimed squarely at DIY households wanting one battery pool for almost everything. Neither ecosystem is “better” in the abstract; it’s about which one you’re already invested in, since the DeWalt is sold bare and the battery you already own decides the real cost far more than the tool price does. The Ryobi kit’s included 2.5 Ah battery makes it the simpler buy from scratch.
Build, width and handling
The DeWalt DCM561PBS has a brushless motor, 2 mm twisted line and both a variable-speed trigger and a hi/lo switch, which suits site maintenance and thicker grass. Its 33 cm cutting width also covers open lawn a little faster than the Ryobi’s 25-30 cm head. The Ryobi RLT1831H25F answers with a lighter build (2.8 kg against 3.6 kg, both Amazon item weights), a telescopic shaft and a second handle that steadies longer sessions and awkward angles. If you’re mostly edging borders and tight corners, the Ryobi’s narrower head and extra handle can actually feel more manageable than the DeWalt’s slightly wider, single-handle setup.
Runtime and everyday use
Both trimmers sit in the same “adequate for regular maintenance, not generous for a big overgrown plot” bracket typical of 18V line trimmers. Neither is going to match a petrol strimmer’s all-day stamina, and both benefit from having a spare battery on charge if your garden is on the larger side. Maintenance is simple on both — feed line, trim, repeat — since neither has a blade guard or blade sharpening to worry about. Where they diverge is in feel: the DeWalt’s speed controls let you trade power for runtime, while the Ryobi’s lighter weight makes it less tiring to carry through a long edging session.
Choose the DeWalt DCM561PBS if…
- You already own, or plan to build, a DeWalt 18V XR battery collection for drills, saws or other trade tools
- You want the wider 33 cm cutting width for covering open lawn a bit faster
- You want a brushless motor with variable speed and a hi/lo switch
Choose the Ryobi RLT1831H25F if…
- You already own, or plan to invest in, Ryobi’s sprawling 18V ONE+ ecosystem across drills, blowers and more
- You want a lighter tool that’s easy to swing one-handed on a smaller plot
- The second handle for steadier two-handed control on longer sessions appeals to you
- Tight borders and narrower spots matter more to you than covering wide lawn quickly
Which should you buy?
If you’re already carrying DeWalt 18V XR batteries, or you want the closest thing to a trade-grade line trimmer with a wider cutting swath, the DeWalt DCM561PBS is the sensible pick — its brushless motor and 33 cm width edge out the Ryobi on raw cutting capability. If you’re sitting on Ryobi ONE+ batteries already, or you value a lighter tool with a second handle for control on tighter ground, the Ryobi RLT1831H25F does the same core job at a similarly light-duty level, with the huge ONE+ ecosystem behind it.
Either way, remember the DeWalt is sold bare while the Ryobi comes as a kit, and neither one accepts a metal blade — so if brambles or woody growth are part of your garden’s story, look elsewhere on both brands’ ranges rather than expecting either of these to stretch beyond grass and edges.
Full specifications
| DeWalt DCM561PBS | Ryobi RLT1831H25F | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cordless | Cordless |
| Engine / power | 18V XR Brushless | 18V ONE+ |
| Type | Cordless line trimmer (line only) | Cordless line trimmer |
| Power system | 18V XR brushless | — |
| Cutting width | 33 cm | 25-30 cm |
| Line | 2 mm twisted, bump feed | — |
| Speed | Variable trigger + hi/lo, 6,000 rpm (listing) | — |
| Weight | 3.6 kg (Amazon.co.uk item weight) | 2.8 kg (Amazon item weight) |
| Supplied | Bare tool (no battery or charger) | 2.5 Ah battery + charger |
| Voltage | — | 18V ONE+ |
| Cutting system | — | Line only, no blade option |
| Handle | — | Second handle for two-hand control |
| Shaft | — | Telescopic |
| Battery system | — | Ryobi ONE+ 18V platform |
| Best for | DeWalt 18V XR battery owners wanting a dependable cordless trimmer for lawn edges and borders | Small to medium gardens needing quick, tidy grass and edge trimming, especially existing Ryobi ONE+ owners |
| Our rating | 7.9 / 10 | 7.5 / 10 |
Strengths and drawbacks
DeWalt DCM561PBS
- + Brushless motor, variable-speed trigger and a hi/lo switch to balance power and runtime
- + Shares batteries with the wider DeWalt 18V XR range
- + 2 mm twisted line for thicker grass
- + Overmoulded, contoured grip for long sessions
- + No fuel, mixing or fumes
- − Line only; it cannot take a metal blade
- − Sold as a bare tool — battery and charger cost extra
- − Bump feed rather than automatic
- − Runtime depends on the XR battery you fit
Ryobi RLT1831H25F
- + Slots into the Ryobi ONE+ battery ecosystem, so one battery runs dozens of other tools
- + Kit includes a 2.5 Ah battery and charger
- + Telescopic shaft for a comfortable working position
- + Second handle helps balance and steady the head on longer sessions
- + Simple line-only design keeps maintenance to a minimum
- + 25-30 cm cutting width suits edging and tight spots larger machines can't reach
- − Line only — no metal blade option, so it can't be upgraded for scrub or brush
- − 18V runtime is modest on anything beyond light, regular grass
- − Not intended for tall, dense, or overgrown growth
Frequently asked questions
Can either the DeWalt DCM561PBS or the Ryobi RLT1831H25F take a metal blade?
No, neither can. Both are dedicated line trimmers with no blade attachment option, so they're built for grass, weeds and tidy edges rather than brambles or woody growth. Anyone needing blade capability should look at a brush-cutter-rated model on either brand's range instead.
Which has the wider cutting width?
The DeWalt DCM561PBS cuts a 33 cm swath, a little wider than the Ryobi RLT1831H25F's 25-30 cm. That gives the DeWalt a small edge covering open lawn faster, while the Ryobi's narrower head can be handier around tight borders and obstacles.
Do these trimmers come with a battery included?
The Ryobi RLT1831H25F does: it's a kit with an 18V 2.5 Ah ONE+ battery and a charger. The DeWalt DCM561PBS is sold as a bare tool, so add a DeWalt 18V XR battery and charger unless you already own them.