Ryobi vs Makita brush cutters
Two big cordless ranges for different buyers: Ryobi's value kits against Makita's trade-grade LXT machines.
In short:Ryobi's 18V ONE+ trimmers include the bare OLT1832 and the RLT1831H25F and RLT183220S kits, and its 36V MAX POWER RBC36X26B brush cutter comes with a bike handle, a 26 cm 3-tooth blade and a 4.0 Ah battery. Makita's 18V LXT range covers trimmers such as the DUR190LZX3 and DUR194 and twin-18V brush cutters like the DUR368AZ and DUR369AZ (430 mm line, 255 mm blade), mostly sold bare. Ryobi for value kits; Makita for LXT owners.
Ryobi and Makita both run huge cordless ranges, but at different price points and with different battery logic.
Models we cover
| Ryobi | Makita | |
|---|---|---|
| Trimmers | OLT1832, RLT1831H25F, RLT183220S | DUR190LZX3, DUR194, DUR368LZ |
| Brush cutters | RBC36X26B — 36V kit, 26 cm blade | DUR368AZ, DUR369AZ — 255 mm blade |
| Battery in the box | Often | Mostly bare ('Z') |
| One battery family | No (18V ONE+ / 36V) | Yes (18V LXT) |
Value vs depth
Ryobi's RBC36X26B is a complete, good-value brush cutter: bike handle, 3-tooth blade, battery and charger, and up to 47 minutes of brush cutting per charge, per Ryobi. Makita's machines go further — Automatic Torque Drive, reverse switches, and the DUR369AZ's 430 mm cut — but most need two LXT batteries bought separately.
The verdict
For most homeowners starting from scratch, Ryobi. For LXT owners and heavy users, Makita. Head-to-head: DUR368LZ vs RBC36X26B.
The models we review from each brand
Ryobi— Value cordless (ONE+ 18V / 36V MAX)
| Model | Type | Engine / power | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi RBC36X26B | Cordless | 36V MAX Power | 8.1/10 |
| Ryobi RLT1831H25F | Cordless | 18V ONE+ | 7.5/10 |
| Ryobi OLT1832 | Cordless | 18V ONE+ | 7.3/10 |
| Ryobi RLT183220S | Cordless | 18V ONE+ | 7.3/10 |
Makita— Professional cordless (LXT 18V / XGT 40V)
| Model | Type | Engine / power | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makita DUR369AZ | Cordless | 36V LXT · Brushless | 8.6/10 |
| Makita DUR368AZ | Cordless | 36V LXT · Brushless | 8.5/10 |
| Makita DUR369LZ | Cordless | 36V LXT · Brushless | 8.5/10 |
| Makita DUR368LZ | Cordless | 36V LXT · Brushless | 8.4/10 |
| Makita EM4351UH | Petrol | 43 cc · 4-stroke MM4 | 8.4/10 |
| Makita DUR189RF | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 8/10 |
| Makita EM2651UH | Petrol | 25.4 cc · 4-stroke MM4 | 8/10 |
| Makita DUR190LZX3 | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 7.9/10 |
| Makita DUR192L | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 7.9/10 |
| Makita DUR193RT | Cordless | 18V LXT | 7.9/10 |
| Makita DUR194 | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 7.9/10 |
| Makita DUR191LZX3 | Cordless | 18V LXT · Brushless | 7.8/10 |
| Makita DUR181RF | Cordless | 18V LXT | 7.5/10 |
| Makita UR3501 | Corded | Corded 1000W | 7.5/10 |
| Makita UR100D | Cordless | 12V max CXT | 7.4/10 |
Ratings are judged against each machine's class and price; see how we review.
Frequently asked questions
Ryobi or Makita for a cordless brush cutter?
Ryobi for value and a ready-to-go kit: the RBC36X26B comes with a 26 cm 3-tooth blade and a 4.0 Ah battery. Makita for trade-grade machines on LXT: the twin-18V DUR369AZ comes with a 255 mm blade and cuts 430 mm with line, but is sold bare.
Is Makita worth the extra over Ryobi?
If you already own LXT batteries or cut often, usually yes: brushless motors, Automatic Torque Drive and reverse switches on many models. For occasional homeowner use, Ryobi delivers most of the capability for less.
Do their trimmers share batteries with their brush cutters?
Makita's do: its 18V trimmers and twin-18V brush cutters all use LXT packs. Ryobi's 18V ONE+ trimmers don't share with its 36V MAX POWER brush cutter.