Stihl FS 55 vs FS 70 C-E: which is the better buy?
Both are homeowner Stihl petrol machines with a 27.2 cc engine, but the FS 70 C-E adds 20% more power and ErgoStart as standard. Here's whether the step up is worth it.
In short:The Stihl FS 55 and FS 70 C-E both use a 27.2 cc two-stroke engine and a bike handle. The FS 70 C-E produces 0.9 kW against the FS 55's 0.75 kW (about 20% more) and has Stihl's ErgoStart as standard; it weighs 5.4 kg against 4.4–4.9 kg. The FS 55 C-E version adds ErgoStart and comes with a metal blade as well as a line head. For maintained grass the FS 55 is enough; for long grass and light scrub, the FS 70 C-E.
The Stihl FS 55 and Stihl FS 70 C-E sit next to each other in Stihl’s homeowner petrol range. Both run a 27.2 cc two-stroke engine and both have a bike handle, but the FS 70 C-E is tuned for more output and comes with Stihl’s easy-start system as standard.
At a glance
| Stihl FS 55 | Stihl FS 70 C-E | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 27.2 cc 2-stroke | 27.2 cc 2-stroke |
| Power | 0.75 kW | 0.9 kW (+20%) |
| Starting | Recoil (ErgoStart on FS 55 C-E) | ErgoStart |
| Handle | Bike (R versions: loop) | Bike (RC-E: loop) |
| Weight | 4.4–4.9 kg (retailers) | 5.4 kg (without fuel and cutting tool) |
| Supplied | FS 55 C-E: AutoCut head + metal blade | AutoCut 25-2 head, strap, glasses |
| Best for | Maintained grass, edges, light growth | Long grass, light scrub, mixed ground |
Weights and supplied equipment come from Stihl and UK retailers; check the exact version your dealer offers.
Power: same engine size, different tune
Stihl rates the FS 55 at 0.75 kW and the FS 70 C-E at 0.9 kW. In tidy grass you won’t notice the difference. Push into long, wet growth or thick stems and the FS 70 C-E keeps its revs where the FS 55 starts to labour — the same headroom that makes it the stronger blade machine.
Starting: ErgoStart
The “C-E” in a Stihl model name means ErgoStart: a spring between the starter cord and the crankshaft stores the energy of a gentle pull and releases it to turn the engine over, so there’s no sharp yank. The FS 70 C-E has it as standard; on the FS 55, choose the FS 55 C-E version if easy starting matters to you. Starting tips for any machine are in how to start a brush cutter.
Blades
Both bike-handle machines can run a metal blade with the guard Stihl specifies. Interestingly, it’s the FS 55 C-E that Stihl supplies with a metal blade in the box, alongside an AutoCut line head; UK retailers list the FS 70 C-E with an AutoCut 25-2 head only, so budget for a blade if you want one — Stihl’s own 230 mm grass blade is listed for both. Loop-handle versions (FS 55 R, FS 70 RC-E) are better kept to line work.
Safety note. Fit a blade only with the guard named in the manual, wear a visor, boots and gloves, and use a harness.
Weight and handling
The FS 55 is the lighter machine at 4.4–4.9 kg according to retailers, which suits quick jobs around a tidy garden. The FS 70 C-E weighs 5.4 kg without fuel and cutting tool — more noticeable over a long session, but the extra power means fewer passes in heavy growth.
Price and value
The FS 55 is the cheapest way into a genuine Stihl petrol machine. The FS 70 C-E costs more for real gains — 20% more power and ErgoStart. Stihl sells through dealers, so we found no current Amazon.co.uk listing for either; check prices with a UK Stihl dealer.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Stihl FS 55 (or FS 55 C-E) if: you cut maintained grass and edges, want the lightest, cheapest Stihl petrol machine, and only occasionally need a blade.
Buy the Stihl FS 70 C-E if: you face long or wet grass and light scrub, want more power in reserve and ErgoStart as standard.
If your ground is genuinely tough — thick brambles, regular heavy clearing — look one step further to the semi-pro Stihl FS 131. Other petrol options are compared in the best petrol brush cutters.
Full specifications
| Stihl FS 55 | Stihl FS 70 C-E | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Petrol | Petrol |
| Engine / power | 27.2 cc · 2-stroke | 27.2 cc · ErgoStart |
| Engine | 27.2 cc, 2-stroke | 27.2 cc, 2-stroke |
| Power | 0.75 kW | 0.9 kW |
| Weight | 4.4–4.9 kg (retailers) | 5.4 kg (without fuel and cutting tool) |
| Cutting head | AutoCut line head | — |
| Handle | Bike handle (R versions: loop) | Bike handle (RC-E: loop) |
| Starting | — | ErgoStart |
| Included | — | AutoCut 25-2 head, strap, glasses |
| Best for | Maintained lawns and light grass on small-to-medium plots, first petrol machine. | Homeowners who want one machine for grass AND occasional tougher growth. |
| Our rating | 7.8 / 10 | 8.4 / 10 |
Strengths and drawbacks
Stihl FS 55
- + Genuine Stihl build quality at the lowest petrol price point
- + Light and easy to handle for beginners
- + Huge dealer network for parts and service
- − Not for thick brambles, even with a blade
- − No anti-vibration refinements of pricier models
- − 2-stroke means mixing fuel and oil
Stihl FS 70 C-E
- + ErgoStart makes cold starts almost effortless
- + Bike handle ready for a blade when you need one
- + 0.9 kW — 20% more than the FS 55
- − Heavier than the FS 55
- − Metal blade is an extra
- − Still 2-stroke fuel mixing
- − Overkill if you only ever cut a small lawn
Frequently asked questions
Is the Stihl FS 70 C-E worth the extra over the FS 55?
If you regularly cut long, wet grass or light scrub, yes: the FS 70 C-E gives 0.9 kW against 0.75 kW and has ErgoStart as standard. For maintained grass and edges, the FS 55 does the job for less and is lighter.
What is the difference in power between the FS 55 and FS 70 C-E?
Both have a 27.2 cc engine. Stihl rates the FS 55 at 0.75 kW and the FS 70 C-E at 0.9 kW, about 20% more, so the FS 70 C-E holds its revs better in dense growth and with a blade.
Can the FS 55 take a metal blade?
Yes, the bike-handle FS 55 can — Stihl supplies the FS 55 C-E with both an AutoCut line head and a metal blade. The loop-handle FS 55 R and RC-E are trimmers for line work. Always use the guard Stihl specifies for a blade.
Which is easier to start?
Any C-E model: ErgoStart puts a spring between the starter cord and the crankshaft, so a slow, gentle pull turns the engine over. The FS 70 C-E has it as standard; on the FS 55 you need the C-E version.