EGO vs Makita brush cutters

EGO and Makita are both cordless-first brands, but they got there from opposite directions. EGO built a single, high-voltage 56V ARC Lithium platform from the ground up, chasing the closest thing to petrol-level cutting power without an engine. Makita brought decades of professional power-tool credibility with it, spreading brush cutters across its enormous 18V LXT and newer 40V XGT systems — batteries that already power drills, saws, blowers and more on job sites worldwide. Picking between them is less about which brush cutter is “better” and more about which battery ecosystem actually suits how you work.

At a glance

Attribute	EGO	Makita
Battery platform	Single 56V ARC Lithium	18V LXT (incl. twin-18V) and 40V XGT
Core strength	Raw cutting power, near-petrol feel	Ecosystem depth and trade credibility
Motor type	Brushless throughout	Brushless throughout
Ecosystem breadth	Deep on one voltage (mowers, blowers, chainsaws)	Enormous — hundreds of tools across two platforms
Typical buyer	Serious homeowners wanting petrol-rivalling power	Tradespeople and Makita tool owners
Battery inclusion	Often sold bare, battery separate	Often sold bare (bare tool / “Z” models), battery separate
Buying experience	Widely available online, easy to compare pricing	Widely available online, easy to compare pricing

Clear wins: EGO wins on outright cutting power from a single high-voltage battery; Makita wins on ecosystem size, trade pedigree, and having two platforms to fit different budgets and needs.

Power and platform philosophy

EGO’s entire identity rests on 56V ARC Lithium. Rather than splitting its range across several voltage tiers, EGO pushed one platform as hard as it could, and the result is a brush cutter that holds cutting speed through longer, denser grass instead of bogging down — a genuine step up from typical 18V and 36V cordless machines. Makita takes a broader approach: 18V LXT is the safe, enormous, established choice, with twin-18V brush cutters combining two packs to deliver roughly 36V-class output while keeping the same familiar batteries as the rest of a Makita toolkit. 40V XGT sits above it as Makita’s newer, higher-output system for the most demanding professional use. On paper, EGO’s single high-voltage battery gives it an edge in outright cutting authority per charge, while Makita’s twin platforms offer more flexibility in how much power (and cost) you actually need.

Ecosystem and buying into a platform

This is where Makita separates itself. The 18V LXT platform is one of the largest cordless ecosystems on the planet — drills, saws, blowers, and far more all share the same battery, and that kind of scale is very hard for any single-voltage brand to match. If you already own Makita tools, a brush cutter on the same batteries is close to a no-brainer purchase. EGO’s ecosystem is smaller but focused: mowers, blowers, and chainsaws all run on the same 56V ARC Lithium packs, so committing to EGO still gets you shared batteries across a useful, if narrower, tool range. Neither ecosystem is a poor choice — the deciding question is whether you already own tools on one platform, or plan to.

Ergonomics, weight, and everyday use

Both brands build genuinely trade-grade brush cutters with brushless motors, and neither has an obvious ergonomic advantage on paper — both offer split-shaft and loop or bike-handle configurations depending on the model. As examples, EGO UK gives its ST1300E trimmer 2.7 kg without battery, while Makita UK gives the single-battery DUR190LZX3 2.7–3.0 kg with battery; twin-18V Makita brush cutters such as the DUR369AZ are heavier at 5.9–6.3 kg. For most users, day-to-day comfort will come down to the specific model and harness rather than the brand itself, so it’s worth checking individual EGO and Makita models rather than assuming one brand is universally more comfortable.

Buying experience and pricing

Both EGO and Makita brush cutters are sold through dealers and online, though individual models come and go on Amazon.co.uk — several we checked in October 2026 were unavailable. A common trap with both brands is the same: many listings are bare tools, sold as head and shaft only, with the battery and charger priced separately. Always check whether a listing includes a battery before comparing sticker prices, since the real cost of a first EGO or Makita purchase can differ substantially from the number on the box.

Choose EGO if…

• You want the strongest single-battery cutting performance for longer, tougher grass
• You don’t already own tools on another cordless platform and are choosing a garden ecosystem from scratch
• You’re happy to also consider EGO mowers, blowers, or chainsaws on the same 56V battery over time

Choose Makita if…

• You already own Makita drills, saws, or other 18V LXT or 40V XGT tools
• You want the flexibility of two voltage tiers to match the machine to the job and budget
• Trade-grade build quality and a long professional track record matter to you

Which should you buy?

If you’re starting from zero for the garden, EGO’s single 56V platform is simple — one battery family from trimmer to brush cutter to mower, blower and chainsaw. If you already own Makita tools, or simply want the reassurance of the largest cordless ecosystem around with two voltage tiers to choose from, Makita’s LXT or XGT range is the more practical long-term investment even if a single EGO machine edges it on outright power. Either way, check carefully whether the battery is included before comparing prices, and if your land genuinely needs sustained, fuel-powered clearing rather than cordless convenience, a dealer-sold petrol machine may suit better than either brand here.

The models we review from each brand

EGO— High-performance 56V cordless

Model	Type	Engine / power	Rating
EGO Power+ ST1400E	Cordless	56V ARC Lithium	8/10
EGO Power+ ST1300E	Cordless	56V ARC Lithium	8/10

Makita— Professional cordless (LXT 18V / XGT 40V)

Model	Type	Engine / power	Rating
Makita DUR369AZ	Cordless	36V LXT · Brushless	8.6/10
Makita DUR368AZ	Cordless	36V LXT · Brushless	8.5/10
Makita DUR369LZ	Cordless	36V LXT · Brushless	8.5/10
Makita DUR368LZ	Cordless	36V LXT · Brushless	8.4/10
Makita EM4351UH	Petrol	43 cc · 4-stroke MM4	8.4/10
Makita DUR189RF	Cordless	18V LXT · Brushless	8/10
Makita EM2651UH	Petrol	25.4 cc · 4-stroke MM4	8/10
Makita DUR190LZX3	Cordless	18V LXT · Brushless	7.9/10
Makita DUR192L	Cordless	18V LXT · Brushless	7.9/10
Makita DUR193RT	Cordless	18V LXT	7.9/10
Makita DUR194	Cordless	18V LXT · Brushless	7.9/10
Makita DUR191LZX3	Cordless	18V LXT · Brushless	7.8/10
Makita DUR181RF	Cordless	18V LXT	7.5/10
Makita UR3501	Corded	Corded 1000W	7.5/10
Makita UR100D	Cordless	12V max CXT	7.4/10

Ratings are judged against each machine's class and price; see how we review.