Greenworks GD40BC vs Ryobi RBC36X26B: 40V or 36V brush cutter?
Both are cordless brush cutters with a line head and a metal blade. The Greenworks cuts wider and comes with a harness; the Ryobi comes as a kit with its battery.
In short:The Greenworks GD40BC is a 40V brushless cordless brush cutter with a 40 cm cut using 2 mm bump-feed line, a 25 cm blade, a harness and a D-grip handle; it is sold tool-only. The Ryobi RBC36X26B is a 36V MAX POWER brush cutter with a bike handle, a 26 cm 3-tooth blade and a 30 cm semi-automatic line head, sold as a kit with a 4.0 Ah battery and charger; Ryobi quotes up to 47 minutes of brush cutting, and retailers list 3.7 kg bare.
The Greenworks GD40BC and Ryobi RBC36X26B are both cordless brush cutters with a line head and a metal blade, so both handle grass and light scrub. They differ in handle, cut width and what’s in the box.
At a glance
| Greenworks GD40BC | Ryobi RBC36X26B | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery | Greenworks 40V | Ryobi 36V MAX POWER |
| Motor | Brushless | — |
| Line cut | 40 cm, 2 mm bump feed | 30 cm, 1.6 mm semi-automatic |
| Blade | 25 cm | 26 cm, 3-tooth |
| Handle | D-grip | Bike (U) handle |
| Harness | Included | — |
| Weight | — | 3.7 kg bare, 4.6–5.1 kg with battery (retailers) |
| Supplied | Tool-only | Kit: 4.0 Ah battery + charger |
| Runtime | Depends on battery | Up to 47 min brush cutting (Ryobi) |
| Rating | 8.0 / 10 | 8.1 / 10 |
Cutting and handling
The Greenworks’ 40 cm line cut clears open grass in fewer passes, and its harness helps on long sessions. The Ryobi’s bike handle gives two-handed leverage for sweeping a blade through scrub, and its 26 cm 3-tooth blade is a proven brush-cutting setup.
What it really costs
The Ryobi’s price includes a 4.0 Ah battery and charger, with Ryobi quoting up to 47 minutes of brush cutting per charge. The Greenworks needs a battery and charger added unless you own Greenworks 40V tools — then it’s the cheaper route. Greenworks offers a three-year guarantee on the GD40BC.
Choose the Greenworks GD40BC if…
- You own Greenworks 40V batteries
- You cut big open areas and want a harness included
Choose the Ryobi RBC36X26B if…
- You want a complete kit, battery included
- You prefer a bike handle for blade work
- You own Ryobi 36V tools
Which should you buy?
Both handle grass and light scrub. Starting from zero, the Ryobi RBC36X26B kit is the simpler purchase; on Greenworks 40V, the GD40BC is the natural choice with its wider cut and harness. See also the best cordless brush cutters with a blade.
Full specifications
| Greenworks GD40BC | Ryobi RBC36X26B | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Cordless | Cordless |
| Engine / power | 40V G40 | 36V MAX Power |
| Voltage | 40V G40 | 36V MAX Power |
| Cutting width | 40 cm (line) | — |
| Motor | Brushless | — |
| Battery | Not included (40V 2 or 4 Ah) | 36V 4.0 Ah + charger included |
| Included | 2 mm bump-feed line head, 25 cm blade, harness | — |
| Cutting | — | 26 cm 3-tooth blade / 30 cm line (1.6 mm) |
| Weight | — | 3.7 kg bare; 4.6–5.1 kg with battery |
| Runtime | — | Up to 47 min brush cutting (Ryobi, 4.0 Ah) |
| Handle | — | Bike handle |
| Best for | Medium-to-large lawns where a wide cut speeds up the job, G40 platform owners. | Medium plots with tougher grass and light scrub, cordless buyers who still want a steel blade. |
| Our rating | 8 / 10 | 8.1 / 10 |
Strengths and drawbacks
Greenworks GD40BC
- + Wide 40 cm line cut clears open ground fast
- + Brushless motor, harness and D-grip handle included
- + Line head and 25 cm blade both in the box
- − Wide cut is less precise around obstacles
- − 40V ceiling below the toughest scrub work
- − Tool-only — battery and charger extra
Ryobi RBC36X26B
- + 3-tooth steel blade included — real cutting power for cordless
- + 4.0 Ah battery and charger in the box
- + Bike handle for controlled blade work
- − Heavier than entry cordless machines
- − Runtime still finite on the hardest growth
- − Kit listed as discontinued by some retailers
Frequently asked questions
Which comes with a battery?
The Ryobi RBC36X26B, as a kit with a 36V 4.0 Ah battery and charger. The UK Greenworks GD40BC listing is tool-only: add a Greenworks 40V 2 Ah or 4 Ah battery and charger.
Do both have a metal blade?
Yes. The GD40BC includes a 25 cm blade, the RBC36X26B a 26 cm 3-tooth blade. Both also have a line head for grass.
Is the RBC36X26B still available?
Some retailers list it as discontinued, with successor versions such as the RBC36X26BG2 available. Check the exact version and what's in the box before buying.