Metabo RTD 18 LTX Review

What it’s good at

The Metabo RTD 18 LTX brings a brushless motor to a fairly ordinary category — the 18V cordless line trimmer — and that’s the main thing that sets it apart. Brushless motors run more efficiently than brushed equivalents, draw less from the battery for the same cutting performance, and generally hold up better over years of use since there’s no brush gear to wear down. For a trimmer that’s likely to see regular seasonal use, that’s a meaningful long-term advantage over cheaper brushed alternatives.

The 30 cm cutting width is also a sensible middle ground — wider than the narrow 20-25 cm heads found on many entry-level trimmers, so it covers more ground per pass without tipping into brush-cutter territory. Combined with German-engineered build quality, which is a consistent strength across Metabo’s range, the RTD 18 LTX feels like a tool built to last rather than a disposable seasonal buy.

The other real selling point is the Metabo 18V battery platform. Metabo sells a wide range of 18V power tools — drills, saws, grinders — that share the same battery format. Anyone already invested in that ecosystem can run this trimmer off packs they already own, which changes the value equation considerably compared with buying a standalone cordless trimmer with its own dedicated battery.

Where it falls short

This is a line-only trimmer, and that’s a hard limit rather than a minor caveat. There’s no blade attachment available now or in the future, so anything beyond soft grass — brambles, nettles gone woody, young saplings — is simply out of scope. Anyone who needs to tackle rougher growth alongside lawn edges will need a proper brush cutter instead, Metabo’s own FSB 36-18 among them.

As with much of Metabo’s outdoor range, this model is frequently sold as a bare tool, so the battery and charger aren’t necessarily included in the headline price. Buyers coming from outside the Metabo ecosystem should check the listing carefully, since the total cost of tool plus battery plus charger can end up close to a bundled kit from a rival brand. It’s also worth noting that Metabo’s garden and outdoor-tool dealer network, while solid, doesn’t quite match the depth of Stihl’s or Makita’s in every market — something to weigh if servicing or spares matter to you.

Who should buy it

The RTD 18 LTX is the clearest fit for existing Metabo 18V tool owners who want an efficient, brushless trimmer for lawn edges and borders without buying into a new battery system. It also suits anyone who values brushless efficiency and build quality over raw versatility, provided their cutting needs stay within grass and light growth. Buyers who need blade capability, or who are starting a cordless collection from scratch and have no existing battery preference, will likely get better value from a bundled kit or a dual-purpose line-and-blade machine.

Verdict

A well-built, efficient brushless trimmer that rewards Metabo 18V owners with genuine long-term value, but its line-only design and typically bare-tool pricing mean it’s not the obvious first cordless purchase for everyone else.