Stihl FS 55 Review
Stihl's most affordable petrol brush cutter: 27.2 cc, 0.75 kW and a bike handle, light at around 4.4–4.9 kg — ideal for maintained land and first-time buyers.
In short:The Stihl FS 55 is Stihl's entry petrol brush cutter, with a 27.2 cc two-stroke engine producing 0.75 kW and a bike handle; retailers give a weight of 4.4–4.9 kg. The FS 55 C-E version adds ErgoStart easy starting and comes with both an AutoCut line head and a metal blade; the FS 55 R and RC-E have a loop handle. It suits maintained lawns, long grass and light growth on small-to-medium plots.
You'll be sent to the official STIHL website for your country — STIHL isn't sold on Amazon.
Pros
- Genuine Stihl build quality at the lowest petrol price point
- Light and easy to handle for beginners
- Huge dealer network for parts and service
Cons
- Not for thick brambles, even with a blade
- No anti-vibration refinements of pricier models
- 2-stroke means mixing fuel and oil
The Stihl FS 55 is the entry door into Stihl’s petrol range, and for many homeowners it’s all the machine they’ll ever need. At around 4.4–4.9 kg it’s genuinely light, and the 27.2 cc, 0.75 kW engine has more than enough torque for regular grass.
The versions
The FS 55 has a bike handle; the FS 55 R and RC-E have a loop handle. The FS 55 C-E adds Stihl’s ErgoStart easy-start system and, per Stihl, comes standard with both an AutoCut line head and a metal blade. We found no current Amazon.co.uk listing, so buy through a Stihl dealer.
Who it’s for
If your land is a maintained lawn with the occasional patch of taller grass, the FS 55 handles it comfortably. It’s the machine to buy when you want Stihl reliability without paying for power you’ll never use. It is not a heavy bramble machine — for scrub and thick woody growth, step up to the Stihl FS 70 C-E or the FS 131. Starting tips are in how to start a brush cutter.
Verdict
A dependable, no-nonsense entry petrol brush cutter. Buy it for grass and light work; look higher up the range if brambles and scrub are part of the job.
A dependable entry petrol Stihl for grass and light work — buy it for reliability, and step up to the FS 70 C-E or FS 131 if brambles are on the menu.
Stihl FS 55 — frequently asked questions
Is the Stihl FS 55 good for brambles?
With a metal blade fitted it manages light brambles — Stihl supplies the FS 55 C-E with both an AutoCut line head and a metal blade. For thick, established brambles you want more power, such as the Stihl FS 131.
How heavy is the Stihl FS 55?
UK and overseas retailers give 4.4–4.9 kg, depending on the version and how it's measured — light for a petrol brush cutter and easy for beginners to handle.
Is the Stihl FS 55 available on Amazon?
We found no current Amazon.co.uk listing. Stihl sells its petrol machines through authorised dealers, who also assemble and hand them over ready to run.
Our score
7.8/ 10
A dependable entry petrol Stihl for grass and light work — buy it for reliability, and step up to the FS 70 C-E or FS 131 if brambles are on the menu.
Who this one is for
Maintained lawns and light grass on small-to-medium plots, first petrol machine.
Guides that feature it
Price and availability
Details checked on October 26, 2026.
Sources
Specifications: manufacturer sheet and Amazon product page. Prices and availability: Keepa. No product on this site has been physically tested.
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