DeWalt DCMAST561 Review

Where the DCMAST561 earns its keep

DeWalt has built the DCMAST561 around its 18V XR brushless platform, and the difference from a basic brushed cordless trimmer is noticeable in day-to-day use. The brushless motor runs more efficiently, delivers steadier power as the battery depletes, and should outlast a brushed equivalent over years of use. The overall build quality also leans towards trade-grade rather than garden-centre disposable: the housing, trigger and handle all feel like they’re meant to survive a working week rather than the odd weekend tidy-up.

For anyone who already owns DeWalt 18V XR batteries from other tools, this is where the trimmer really earns its keep. There’s no fuel to mix, no pull-cord, and none of the exhaust smell or two-stroke vibration of a petrol strimmer. Clip in a battery that’s already charged from another tool and you’re cutting within seconds. The 33 cm cutting width is a practical size for edging lawns and tackling borders without the head feeling too wide to control on tighter ground.

Where it comes up short

The single biggest limitation is that this is a line-only machine. Despite the “trade-grade” positioning and the XR brushless badge, it cannot accept a metal blade, so anything beyond grass and light weeds is off the table. Brambles, thick clumps of tough weed stems, and any woody growth will simply overwhelm the line rather than being cut cleanly, and repeatedly trying will just burn through line and patience. Anyone picturing this as a do-it-all brush cutter needs to recalibrate expectations before buying.

The other practical catch is cost outside the battery ecosystem. Like much of DeWalt’s XR range, this trimmer is very often sold bare, without a battery or charger included, so the advertised price rarely reflects what you’ll actually spend to get it working from a standing start. Runtime, while adequate for typical lawn maintenance, isn’t going to match a full tank of petrol for hours of continuous work on a larger plot, so anyone with a big garden may want a spare battery in reserve.

Who should actually buy this

The DCMAST561 is a sensible choice for anyone who already has DeWalt 18V XR batteries on the shelf and wants a trimmer that draws from that same pool, rather than buying yet another single-purpose battery and charger. It also suits people who value a more robust, brushless cordless tool over a cheap brushed trimmer, and who are happy to trade the last word in runtime for the convenience of cordless operation.

It’s not the right pick for anyone dealing with brambles, scrub or woody growth, since the lack of blade capability rules that out entirely; a brush-cutter-rated machine is needed for that job. And if you don’t already own DeWalt batteries, it’s worth weighing the real all-in cost against dedicated line trimmers that come complete with battery and charger for a similar outlay.