Best Trimmer Line For Edging. Strongest trimmer line

Best Trimmer Line For Edging

The best trimmer line for edging is the same best trimmer line for all the other jobs. It doesn’t matter what the job it is for, the best trimmer line is the one you put into the trimmer and it lasts all day.

There are a lot of fancy trimmer lines with many sides and different shapes and they are all supposed to be the best because of their unique features. The reality of the situation is this- if you have ever spent a full day trimming, you will want a trimmer line which lasts the longest between changes.

A trimmer line i would recommend is Oregon Gatorline pro Magnum 0.95″. It is a square edged line with a reinforced fibre core to prevent breaking and it lasts really well. This is a tough trimmer line capable of all trimming tasks including edging.

THE BIG SECRET about trimmer line on any brand like Stihl, Echo, Husqvarna, to SAVE YOU TONS MONEY!

Lets look at how I arrived at this conclusion.

Trimmer line comes in many different materials, shapes, colors and diameters. These all (except color) have an impact on how well the line cuts and how durable it is.

What are the different thicknesses of trimmer line?

Starting with thickness, trimmer line usually can be divided into three categories with different thicknesses for each.

Fine trimmer line is usually around 0.06 to 0.075” in diameter, this is for fine grass, weeds.

Medium trimmer line is from 0.075” to 0.09” in diameter, this is used for medium sized grass and weeds

Heavy Duty trimmer line is anything from 0.09” to 0.15” and beyond in diameter this is for the toughest grasses and weeds before you go to a steel blade which no one really wants to do as they are so dangerous.

Why is trimmer line different shapes?

Trimmer line usually comes in four different shapes, Round, Square, Multi Sided eg, Star, Bladed or X Shaped and Spiral.

Round trimmer line is the most common and easiest to find and buy. Round line is also more commonly found at the fine size of range although it is made in medium and heavy duty also.

Round line is the standard line for all strimming jobs, and it comes in all thicknesses which some of the other shaped lines does not.

Square trimmer line has improved cutting benefits to round line because it has a square edge but even this will wear off and the line will become round line eventually. The square shape is to allow the grass to have a cleaner cut finish rather than torn or ragged like round line can leave.

Multi sided line for example star shaped line is another take on the sqaure line which means it’s for leaving the grass with a nicer cut finish. Some square edged and star edged lines are prone to break easier than round lines contrary to what most people believe.

Bladed or X shaped is another aggressive shaped trimmer line which although leaves a clean cut, is also prone to breaking.

Spiral trimmer line is for noise restricted areas and is like two thin trimmer lines wound together.

What are the different materials trimmer line is made from?

Basic trimmer lines are made from hardened monofilament nylon line, although many manufacturers add a reinforcing material to give their line a longer lasting edge.

Some Manufacturers reinforce the line internally with aluminium or a polymer is added to the nylon line to give further reinforcement.

Bottom line (pardon the pun) is the tougher the line the better.

Which trimmer line do i recommend?

This is a very good trimmer line made by Oregon. It is the only one I find which lasts for a reasonable amount of time. The tough inner core wire really makes a difference to help stop the line breaking off.

Here Are the Top 5 Best Trimmer Lines for Your Lawn Mowing Needs

You’d think that your lawn mower’s work relies on its machine. However it is the trimmer line of the machine that does the cutting of the grass. Now, if you need the best trimmer line for your lawn mower, here isa list for you.

Our Top 5 Picks

#1 Editor’s Pick: Husqvarna 639005102 Titanium Force String Trimmer Line

For our Editor’s Pick, we chose the Husqvarna 639005102 Titanium Force String, Trimmer Line. This trimmer line is another great product due to its impressive cutting-edge technology. It is made of titanium, a very durable metal.One of the strengths of this product is its quiet run as it allows reduced fuel consumption. Its cutting-edge technology gives it a longer life thus you can use it for an extended period. Most importantly, it fits standard trimmer heads of lawn mowers.

#2 Alternative/Runner Up DeWALT DWO1DT802

Now, for the alternative pick, we chose DeWALT DWO1DT802. For a reasonable price, you are getting a durable and reliable trimmer line. DeWALT promises efficiency in cutting your lawn.

Best trimmer line on the planet

This trimmer line is made of flexible and impact-resistant materials that make it so powerful. It can endure long periods of usage. Furthermore, it has an aerodynamic design that optimizes cordless cutting.

We do not like

#3 Budget Pick: Arnold.065-Inch Maxi-Edge

Sometimes, we need a product at a cheaper price, but just as good as the others. Don’t worry, because the Arnold Maxi-Edge Commercial Trimmer Line is here to the rescue. With its maxi-edge, 6-point star blade, your lawn mower will work even better.

This trimmer line is universal, especially since it fits even in gas and electric trimmers. It contains about 11 refills, so you have a lot of stock when needed. Even better, there’s a cutting tool that comes with it.

We do not like

#4 Upgrade Pick: Oregon 21-380 String Trimmer Line

If you feel like spending more to get a better product, the Oregon 21-380 String Trimmer Line is for you. This trimmer line is of commercial grade. There’s no doubt that it is a reliable and durable product.

The Oregon Trimmer Line is made of copolymer material. The material guarantees that this product can be used for a long time. Meanwhile, its 0.080-inch trimmer line diameter promises the ability to limit tangles.

We do not like

#5 Niche Pick: Cyclone Grass Trimmer Line, Blue CY065D1/2-12

The Cyclone CY065D1/2-12 Grass Trimmer Line is a powerful trimmer line made for grass. This product is made of copolymer that extends its capability to commercial cutting. Most landscaping professionals will surely go for this product.The 6-bladed shape of the trimmer line adds more cutting power. Additionally, the nylon copolymer increases its strength and durability. No wonder, this product has been a favorite by so many landscapers and gardeners all over the world.

We do not like

Trimmer Lines to Save Your Lawn Mowing Day

It is incredible how the trimmer line is such a powerful device, despite its seemingly simple make-up. True enough, it is only a ‘string’ that you need for cutting grass. However, to think about it more, it is the lifeline of your operation.

For gardening and landscaping, it is important to have the best materials. You don’t want to feed something to your lawn mower that can potentially ruin it. Having all materials that are of good quality can ease your work.

This is why it is important to know what to check when you’re buying a trimmer line. That said, here are some of the things to look out for. Make sure that the money you’re spending for a trimmer line is worth your while.

The material determines its strength

The type of material used for the trimmer line is important to know. This gives you an idea of how much strength it can withstand. You can also see how long you can use it.

One of the most common materials used for trimmer lines is copolymer nylon, which is good for weed-cutting. Meanwhile, titanium is also very popular due to the added strength it provides. Titanium is known for its superior cutting power.

So far, these two are the most common materials used for trimmer line. Some developments made copolymer nylon much stronger. To be on the safe side though, use titanium for heavy-duty needs.

You need to match thickness to your type of lawn work

A trimmer line’s thickness is measured by its diameter. The thickness must be matched to the type of lawn work you have to do. Some thickness might not be able to handle some work thus you need to choose carefully.

For light work, use the 0.065-0.080 inches, which is good for residential areas and backyards. A medium work requires 0.085-0.105 inches for larger lawns and bigger weeds. Heavy works for huge gardens and golf course needs 0.110 or more inches.

A trimmer line’s shape determines its capability

There are different shapes of trimmer lines. and all of them have their own purposes. The most common shape is the round-shaped trimmer lines. This shape is great for everyday home use and other light yard work in a residential area.

A multi-sided trimmer line is often used by landscaping professionals. They are made for cutting through large grassy areas. Meanwhile, a square trimmer line is perfect for cutting down heavy weeds due to its high resistance.

Now, a twisted trimmer line is commonly used in commercial areas because it can maintain low noise levels. Finally, a serrated trimmer line can saw through thick grass blades. The serrated shape is like teeth, hence there’s more capability.

The advantage of a quality trimmer line

Trimmers and lawn mowers just won’t work without a trimmer line. Thus, you need to find a trimmer line that matches your preferences and won’t cause you a hassle. You have to provide good material for a machine to work properly and without a problem.

That said, one of the great things about finally having a quality trimmer line is the improvement in the performance of your machine. This trimmer line pushes your machines performance to its full potential. Some trimmer line manages to control the intensity of work thus less noise is produced.

A quality trimmer helps your machine to last long. It should ease the inner working of the lawn mower without slowing it down.

How to install the trimmer line

The installation of the trimmer line can be very difficult for some people. Others get around it easily perhaps due to constant practice. One thing is for sure: you need the patience to get it right.

Once you are sure that your trimmer line is compatible with your lawn mower, then you can install it. You can check out this site for a detailed instruction on installing a trimmer line. If you prefer a video instruction, check this video instead.

Tips on caring for the trimmer line

While a trimmer line is faced with heavy-duty work every day, you can still care for it. To avoid breaking it as soon as you use it, remember to install it properly. This also helps reduce the burden on the engine.

Remember to coil the trimmer line orderly to avoid twisting while using it. Finally, do not store it in dangerous places that might damage it.

The Power of a Trimmer Line

There are definitely a lot of options to choose from and things to consider in buying a trimmer line. You can’t simply pick out one brand or even a color of your liking. You have to closely look at its capabilities and strength.

Hopefully, this buying guide is able to give you an idea of what to check when you’re buying a trimmer line. Remember to put the quality first always and then weigh-in if it’s worth the price. You want something that’s worth every penny you spend.

The Verdict

All of the trimmer lines are great, but we suggest for you to pick the Cyclone CY065D1/2-12 Grass Trimmer Line. This trimmer line is a favorite among landscapers. Additionally, it is also good for ordinary home use.

The product offers a variety of uses, and it is strong enough to withstand heavy-duty work. You just might not know how much your garden may need work eventually. Having this trimmer line ready can save you so much time.

Besides, this product is multi-sided with 6-blades. It is surely powerful and provides more cutting power. With a decent price, you gain a lot of benefits from its advanced features.

The 10 Best Weed Eaters of 2023

Michelle Ullman is a home decor expert and product reviewer for home and garden products. She has been writing about home decor for over 10 years for publications like BobVila.com and Better Homes Gardens, among others.

Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry’s most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years of experience and 20 years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics including environmental science and houseplants.

Whether you call it a “weed eater,” “weed whacker,” or “string trimmer,” these landscaping tools are ideal for trimming grass and weeds along the edge of a flowerbed, around a tree trunk, underneath a deck, and in other hard-to-reach places.

Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love, says, “A weed whacker can quickly and effectively trim grass, weeds, and other unwanted plant growth in areas difficult to reach with a mower or shears. When choosing one, the most important thing to look for is the power it offers, as well as the size and weight of the tool. Gas weed eaters are the most powerful, but electric models are best for most homeowners.”

He cautions, “To ensure safe use of a weed whacker, always wear the appropriate protective gear, including goggles and gloves, stand with your feet apart for balance, hold the tool’s handle firmly but comfortably with both hands, and never operate the weed whacker without its guard attached.”

Best Overall

Ryobi 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Brushless Electric Cordless String Trimmer

If you want the power of a gas weed eater but the convenience of a battery-powered tool, then this 40-volt offering from Ryobi is the answer. Our top choice of string trimmer is loaded with great features, including a brushless motor for longer life with less required maintenance and an adjustable handle so you can position it comfortably for your height. We also appreciate its two-speed trigger with variable speed control, so you can go faster when you need extra power for tough weeds or brush, and slow the tool down to extend the battery run-time when merely cutting small weeds and grass. Plus, it has an adjustable cutting width, with a minimum of 13 inches and a maximum of 15 inches.

This string trimmer comes with 0.085-inch string, which is good for trimming grass and weeds, but you can also load it with 0.095-inch string if desired for tackling tougher weeds, light brush, or thick grass. Either way, the weed whacker is very easy to reload, thanks to the REEL EASY head, which can be rewound in under 60 seconds. When you want to let out more string, a gentle bump of the tool against the ground advances just the right amount so you can keep working without having to stop and let out line by hand. The tool also comes with a set of serrated plastic blades, which can be fitted into the tool’s head in place of string. Use the blades for cutting tougher brush and weeds. While not nearly as strong as metal blades, these do a good job on softer weeds and grasses, but they aren’t sturdy enough for woody weeds.

This versatile weed eater works with the Ryobi line of Expand-It accessories, sold separately, which can turn your string trimmer into a pole saw, electric hedge trimmer, soil cultivator, snow thrower, blower, and more quickly and easily. The weed whacker comes with one Ryobi lithium-ion 40-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with any other Ryobi tool using a 40-volt battery. Depending on conditions, you can get up to one hour and 10 minutes of run-time from the battery before needing to recharge.

Price at time of publish: 213

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 11.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 40 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Budget

Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer

Just because a weed whacker comes at a budget price, that doesn’t mean you have to forgo great features, as this corded electric offering from Greenworks proves. Plug the tool into an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet in length; no smelly gasoline fumes or worrying about a battery running down before you finish. Suited to a small-to-medium yard, this string trimmer’s head easily pivots for use as a trimmer or an edger, doubling its versatility. It has a 15-inch cutting swath and uses 0.065-inch string, which automatically advances as the exposed string wears down. When you need to reload the string, you can use pre-filled spools or rewind bulk string onto the spool that comes with the tool. However, you cannot use heavy-weight string with this weed eater, and if you choose to rewind the spool, rather than replace it, it can be a bit tricky to do correctly.

The handle telescopes from 40 inches to 50 inches, and the grip is also adjustable, so you can set the weed whacker to fit your own height, making it comfortable to use for lengthy gardening sessions. Its 5.5-amp motor runs smoothly and quietly and has enough power to quickly cut through grass and non-woody weeds. At only seven pounds, this is a reasonably lightweight string trimmer, so it won’t wear you down before the job is through.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 7 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 5.5 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 15 inches

Best Gas

Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer

If you have a large area of brush, overgrown grass, or woody weeds to clear, then you’ll appreciate the extra power of a gas weed eater like this offering from Echo, which runs on a 25.4 cc, professional-grade two-stroke engine. Like other gas-powered weed eaters, you’ll need to fill the gas tank with a 50:1 ratio of fuel to oil mix. Echo’s i-30 starting system makes it much easier to start up this weed eater than most others, and once powered on, this sturdy beast chews steadily through just about anything you ask it to. The handles are padded and ergonomically shaped for comfort and are also designed to greatly reduce the amount of vibration that reaches your hands and arms.

The 0.095-inch heavy-duty string advances with a bump of the tool against the ground. When the string runs out, the Echo Speed-Feed system requires no tools and takes only seconds to reload; no frustrating fuss or bother. With a 17-inch cutting swath, you can work your way across the lawn quickly. Should you need even more powerful cutting action, Echo sells a separate conversion kit that lets you swap out the string head for a metal-bladed head that easily cuts through thick underbrush and overgrown weeds. Be aware that this weed eater is quite loud and does emit gas fumes, as is typical for gas-powered tools.

Price at time of publish: 329

Type: Gas | Weight: 13.4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 25.4 cc | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best Cordless/Battery

Ryobi ONE 18-Volt Cordless Battery String Trimmer

Go cordless with this lightweight string trimmer that’s designed to take care of small-to-medium yards. The curved shaft makes it easy to maneuver around shrubs, rocks, and tree trunks, and the handle is ergonomically designed for a comfortable grip. Plus, weighing a mere four pounds, this is a weed eater that shouldn’t tire you out. It’s powered by an 18-volt battery that recharges in an hour and runs for anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes per charge, depending on how you use it. And with a simple push of a button, you can switch the head’s orientation: use it horizontally for trimming and vertically for edging.

The cutting swath of this tool is 10 inches, which is on the small side but can be a good thing if you are edging a flowerbed or other area with many obstacles to work around. It can only use 0.065-inch string and automatically feeds out more string as required. It’s not too difficult to reload once the string runs out. The weed whacker comes with an 18-volt battery that can be used in other 18V Ryobi tools, as well as a charger. Note that it is not compatible with Ryobi’s Expand-It attachments, however.

Price at time of publish: 69

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 4 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18-volt | Shaft Type: Curved | Maximum Cutting Width: 10 inches

Best Corded Electric

Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer

As long as you have an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 100 feet, and you don’t need to trim beyond that point, a corded electric weed eater is a great option. You get a lot of power, like you would from a gas-powered tool, but you also get the benefits of a cordless tool, including no smelly fumes, no need to keep gasoline on hand, and an easy start at the push of a button. Plus, there’s no need to worry about your battery running out too soon. This corded weed whacker from Ryobi is loaded with great options beyond the above: It has a 10-amp motor for maximum performance, it cuts an impressive 18-inch path, and it is designed to reduce vibrations through the handle, so it’s easy on your hands, although it is relatively heavy for this type of tool.

The tool comes with 0.080-inch string, but can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavy-duty. String advances with a bump of the tool to the ground, and when it’s time to replace the reel, it’s very easy to install a new one or simply rewind bulk string around the reel. Best of all, this string trimmer is compatible with Ryobi’s extensive line of Expand-It attachments, meaning you can purchase a wide variety of optional attachments to turn the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, snow thrower, and more. However, its head does not pivot for use as an edger, as do many other weed eaters.

Price at time of publish: 90

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 11 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 10 amp | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 18 inches

Best Under 200

BLACKDECKER 20V 12 Inch Lithium Ion Cordless 2-in-1 Trimmer/Edger

Here’s a reasonably priced tool that effectively whacks weeds with the head in a horizontal position and then serves as an edger when you rotate the head into a vertical orientation. This battery-powered, 20-volt string trimmer from BLACKDECKER is perfect for small-to-medium-sized lawns and has enough power to chew through typical grass and weeds (although this isn’t the tool for tough brush or heavily overgrown lawns). You can adjust the handle up or down to suit your height. The cutting width of this weed eater is set at 12 inches, which is somewhat narrow but sufficient for small yards.

The weed eater comes with 0.065-inch line, which is suited to light use on grass and small weeds. Note that you cannot refill it with heavier line. The line advances automatically as it wears down with use, so you don’t need to carry the task out manually or bump the tool on the ground. The weed whacker comes with the 20-volt battery and charger, which are compatible with other BLACKDECKER cordless tools. Run-time before needing to recharge the battery varies greatly, depending on yard conditions, but you will typically get anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes on a single charge, which is enough to finish trimming or edging a small lawn.

Price at time of publish: 89

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 7.1 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Rated

WORX WG163 GT 20V Power Share Cordless String Trimmer Edger

The WORX Power Share cordless weed eater just keeps racking up high ratings; this weed whacker has more than 20,000 customer ratings and an average of 4.5 stars. But that’s not really surprising, considering that this 20-volt tool comes with two batteries, so you can have one charging and one in use, doubling your working time. The batteries and charger are compatible with any other 20-volt WORX tool. You can easily pivot the head on the weed eater to turn it from trimmer to edger, and it’s easy to angle it for use on a slope or when reaching into awkward spots between plants or around obstacles. When using it as an edger, its rubber wheels help you stay in a steady line.

This weed whacker uses 0.065-inch string, which is easy to advance at the push of a button, thanks to the Command Feed spool system. But most amazing of all, WORX will send you free refill spools of string for the life of the tool; you just pay for shipping. This will come in handy, since the string can run out quickly. It also has a 12-inch cutting diameter, which isn’t the highest but is quite sufficient for average-sized lawns and yards. And at only 5.3 pounds, this is a lightweight string trimmer that’s easy to use even when your gardening sessions stretch out long.

Price at time of publish: 140

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 5.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 20 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Splurge

DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit

If you use your string trimmer frequently and want lots of power as well as useful features, then you’ll appreciate the DeWALT weed whacker, which is a cordless model running off a 60-volt battery; that’s a lot of power, although it does add to the overall weight of the product. The high-efficiency brushless motor requires no maintenance to keep on running smoothly and fairly silently. There’s a two-speed, variable control trigger, so you can turn it up high when you need maximum power for chewing through brush or tall grass, or turn it down low to extend the battery run-time. You can even adjust the cutting width between 15 and 17 inches.

The weed whacker comes with 0.080-inch string, but the tool can also use 0.095-inch string if you need something even more heavyweight. To advance more string, just bump the weed eater lightly against the ground. The quick-load spool makes it easy to refill the string once you run out. If you want even more versatility from this weed eater, you’ll like its universal-attachment capability, which means you can purchase a wide variety of attachments from DeWALT or other companies to transform the weed whacker into a brush cutter, hedge trimmer, pole saw, blower, tiller, and more. It comes with a 60-volt DeWALT battery that is compatible with other tools from this company, as well as a charger.

Price at time of publish: 301

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 15 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 60 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 17 inches

Best with Attachments

BLACKDECKER Corded String Trimmer With Lawn Mower Attachment

With most models of string trimmers, you have to purchase attachments separately. However, this 6.5-amp corded electric weed whacker from BLACKDECKER comes with a lawnmower attachment, making this a highly versatile tool for small backyards. In fact, it’s three tools in one: edger, string trimmer, and lawnmower. It’s especially good for mowing on slopes or hills where a traditional lawnmower can be hard to maneuver. And it can be used with an outdoor-rated extension cord up to 150 feet in length, so you can work your way around most small yards. Since there is no way to add a clipping bag to the tool, you can leave the grass clippings in place on the lawn to decompose into mulch or rake them up once you are finished mowing.

The string trimmer uses 0.065-inch string. There’s an automatic string feed, so you don’t have to stop and reel string out yourself or worry about bumping it against the ground while mowing. As a weed eater, the cutting swath is 12 inches. It pivots easily into edger mode. For use as a mower, the trimmer simply snaps into the mower base. You can adjust the mower’s cutting height from 1.6 inches to 2.4 inches; the mower does not have blades, but simply uses the spinning string to cut the grass, and it does a great job on most lawn types. You can even adjust the height of this tool’s handle between 33 inches and 43 inches to make it comfortable for your height.

Price at time of publish: 119

Type: Corded electric | Weight: 9.9 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 6.5 amps | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 12 inches

Best Heavy-Duty

Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless Quik-Lok String Trimmer

This professional-quality cordless string trimmer has the kind of power and run-time you’d expect from a gas weed eater, thanks to its M18 8.0-Ah lithium-ion battery. This sturdy weed whacker consists of two parts: a Milwaukee M18 FUEL power head with Quik-Lok and a Milwaukee M18 FUEL Quik-Lok string trimmer attachment. You can use any of Milwaukee’s other compatible attachments with the fuel head, making this a very versatile tool that can carry out a wide range of landscaping tasks. It has enough power to clear through thick brush, overgrown grass, and heavy weeds, reaching full throttle in less than a second and maintaining power without bogging down. The tool is designed for good balance, making it easy to carry and comfortable to use, even on lengthy yard tasks.

A variable-speed trigger lets you go faster when you need more power, or slow things down when you want to extend battery run-time as much as possible. The cutting width of the weed whacker adjusts from 14 to 16 inches. The string that comes with the tool is 0.080 inches, but you can also use it with heavier 0.095-inch line. Either way, you can reload the string reel in just a few seconds. When the string gets short during use, just bump the trimmer against the ground to advance more string. Not everyone needs a weed eater with this kind of power and at this price point, but for those who do, it’s hard to beat this offering from Milwaukee.

Price at time of publish: 349

Type: Cordless electric | Weight: 12.3 pounds | Engine/Battery Power: 18 volts | Shaft Type: Straight | Maximum Cutting Width: 16 inches

If you’re looking for a cordless electric weed eater that not only has plenty of power but is also loaded with great features like an adjustable cutting swath, variable speed control, and compatibility with numerous attachments for other landscaping purposes, then it’s hard to go wrong with the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer. But if you need the kind of power that only a gas tool can deliver, then the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight-Shaft Trimmer is our recommendation. It has a 17-inch cutting swath and can be converted for use with metal blades instead of string.

What to Look for in a Weed Eater

Type

There are three basic types of weed eaters, based on their power source.

Gas-powered weed whackers like the Echo 25.4 cc Gas 2-Stroke Straight Shaft Trimmer are the most powerful type, making them the best suited for large properties or for chewing through heavy brush. On the downside, they are much louder than electric models and can be heavier and more difficult to start. Plus, they require you to have a supply of gasoline on hand, and in many areas, they are being phased out due to their emissions.

Corded electric string trimmers are not as popular as they once were, but are still a fine choice if you are looking for a low-priced weed eater, you don’t have a very large lawn or garden to maintain, and you have access to an outdoor electrical outlet and an outdoor-rated extension cord of 50 feet or more. The Ryobi 10-Amp Attachment-Capable Corded String Trimmer has an 18-inch cutting swath and great power.

Cordless or battery-powered weed eaters are now the most popular type—the WORX Power Share WG163 is an especially highly rated option—particularly in areas where gas-powered models are restricted. Today’s cordless weed whackers have good power, although not as much as a gas-powered model. Still, they have more than enough oomph to maintain a small to medium-sized lawn. As a rough guideline, you’ll generally get half an hour or so of runtime before you need to recharge the battery. For many people, that’s all that’s needed to get the job done. If you have a big lawn, then it’s convenient to keep two batteries on hand so one can recharge while the other is in use. Other benefits of cordless weed whackers include a lack of smelly emissions, immediate starting at the press of a button, reduced vibrations, and quiet operation.

Cutting Width

A string trimmer’s cutting swath or cutting width is the width of the tool’s cutting capacity, indicating how much you’ll be able to trim in one pass. There are weed whackers with cutting swaths as small as 10 inches, and weed eaters with large 20-inch cutting widths, but most are between 12 and 16 inches. If you have a large lawn, a string trimmer with a wide cutting swath will help you trim more quickly. But if you need a tool that can squeeze between shrubs, rocks, or other obstacles, then you’ll find that a weed wacker with a smaller cutting swath can maneuver a bit more easily.

Some higher-end weed eaters have adjustable cutting swaths that let you go up or down a couple of inches. Our top choice, the Ryobi 40-Volt Brushless Electric String Trimmer, can be adjusted for cutting widths between 13 and 15 inches.

Noise Level and Vibrations

Generally, cordless string trimmers are fairly quiet; you’ll mostly hear the whirl of the string and the sound of grass or weeds giving way. However, gas-powered weed whackers are loud enough to require ear protection during use, and corded electric models may or may not be loud enough to make you want to cover your ears, depending on the brand and model. However, you should wear eye protection when using any type of weed eater, as there is always a danger of stones or debris being tossed up into your face.

Vibration can be an issue with many weed eaters, especially gas-powered models. This can be tiring if you are using the tool for an extended session of trimming or chewing through brush. Some brands now build anti-vibration technology into their string trimmers, usually in the form of a handle that helps reduce some of the vibration. You can cut down even further on unpleasant hand numbness or fatigue by wearing a good pair of thick work gloves while you use your weed eater.

Weight

Since you’ll be holding your weed eater the entire time you are working, its weight can become an issue. You don’t want to be tired out before you finish your edging or trimming. As a general rule, electric weed eaters are quite a bit lighter than gas-powered models. The Ryobi ONE 18V Cordless Electric String Trimmer weighs a mere four pounds.

Most electric weed eaters weigh 12 pounds or less, although battery-powered models are usually heavier than those with a cord. Gas weed whackers generally weigh between 12 and 18 pounds.

Safety Features

Any weed eater should have a protective guard over the string to help keep rocks and other debris from flying toward you. However, you should always wear closed shoes, long pants, and eye protection when using these tools. Most weed whackers have the power switch placed so you can easily shut the tool off immediately should there be an emergency.

Straight or Curved Shaft

There are two basic styles of weed eater shafts: straight and curved. Curved shafts are generally easier to maneuver around rocks and other obstacles and are less tiring to the user’s back during long work sessions. However, straight shafts give you more reach and can be extended underneath shrubs or fences. Weed eaters with straight shafts often have a little more power, and battery run-time tends to be a little longer on these tools as well, but the choice between the two mostly comes down to personal preference.

String Control

Weed whackers work by spinning a thin plastic string-like cord very rapidly, which creates enough force to slice through grass, weeds, and brush. Most weed eaters have a roll of string within the base of the tool, so you can reel out more as the cord wears down, which can happen fairly quickly when working on thick brush or grass. There are three basic methods for reeling out more cord:

• Automatic feed senses when the cord is getting short and reels out more without you needing to do anything. The Greenworks 5.5 Amp 15-Inch Corded Electric String Trimmer is an auto-feed weed whacker.
• Push-button feed requires you to push a button on the weed eater’s handle to reel out more string.
• Bump-feed weed eaters reel out more cord when the trimmer is bumped against the ground.

Once the reel of string is empty, you’ll need to refill it. This is a fairly simple process for most weed eaters, but be sure to read the instructions before attempting it for the first time.

Note that there are also different thicknesses of string-trimmer lines or strings: as a general rule, 0.065-inch to 0.085-inch string is for light-to-moderate trimming of grass and weeds. For heavier weeds, brush, or tough grass, string that’s between 0.085-inches and 0.110-inches is required. Many string trimmers can use different sizes of line so you can switch them out if necessary.

Standout Features

Speed Control

Most string trimmers have just one set speed. Some higher-end models, including the Milwaukee M18 FUEL Cordless String Trimmer, however, let you adjust the speed with either a two-speed setting or variable control. This allows you to speed up the tool for more power while tackling thicker growth or tougher brush, or slow the speed down to extend battery run-time when working on small weeds or grass.

Attachments

Some string trimmers have heads that can be adjusted from a horizontal position to a vertical orientation, which allows them to be used as an edger as well as a trimmer. Others, including the DeWALT 60-Volt Cordless Attachment-Capable String Trimmer Kit, allow you to attach a variety of separately purchased heads for other landscaping tasks such as cultivating soil, shearing hedges, mowing grass, or blowing leaves.

The vast majority of weed eaters are stringed tools, using a thin plastic cord that spins very rapidly to cut through grass and weeds. There are more powerful, but similar tools often called “brush cutters,” that use metal blades instead of plastic cord to chop through thick brush, tough weeds, and highly overgrown grass. Some weed eaters can be converted for use with blades as well as with plastic cord. Typically, only a gas weed eater has the power to convert to metal blades for cutting thick brush. The electric corded or cordless models that can cut with blades, as well as cord, typically can only handle plastic blades. These can cut light brush but can’t handle thick, woody stems as a metal-bladed brush cutter can. Neither a string nor blade weed eater is necessarily better; the best choice depends on your specific needs and the condition of your property.

Both gas and electric weed eaters have their pros and cons. Gas-powered weed eaters are stronger and aren’t tethered to an electrical outlet. However, gas weed eaters require filling with gas and oil and create smelly fumes. They are generally much louder than electric models and vibrate more during use. They are also heavier and more costly than electric models. However, for maintaining a large property or tackling thick brush or very overgrown weeds, a gas weed eater can be the better choice. For most yard cleanup, however, an electric weed eater, whether corded or cordless, is sufficient to handle grass, weeds, and light brush that isn’t too woody. Electric weed eaters don’t create smelly fumes and don’t require you to keep gasoline on hand. They generally are much quieter than gas-powered models and don’t vibrate as heavily during use, which makes them easier on your hands and arms.

There are pros and cons to both two-stroke and four-stroke (also called “two-cycle” and “four-cycle”) gas-powered weed eaters. Fewer moving parts means that two-stroke weed eaters are lighter in weight and easier to maintain than four-stroke models. They generally also have quite a bit more power. However, you will need to mix the gas with oil for two-stroke trimmers. If you’re looking for a quieter model that produces lower emissions, a four-stroke gas trimmer is the way to go. Another benefit: with four-stroke models, no mixing of gas and oil is required. Keep in mind, these models are pricier and generally weigh more than two-stroke weed eaters.

There are gas weed eaters for home use with 20 cc engines and professional models with as much as 50 cc engines, but the majority of gas-powered weed eaters used by the average homeowner have 22 cc to 28 cc engines, which provide plenty of power for tackling overgrown weeds, grass, and brush. When it comes to electric weed eaters, corded models for very light use might have as little motor power as 3 amps or as much as 10 amps, but for typical home use, a motor in the middle of that range is more than sufficient. Cordless weed eaters can use batteries between 18 volts and 80 volts, but again, the middle of that range is generally powerful enough for regular home use.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was researched and written by Michelle Ullman, who specializesin home and garden products. She has been writing for The Spruce since 2020, covering a wide range of home improvement products including power and hand tools, painting supplies, landscaping tools, and tool organizers. To choose the best weed eaters for this article, she consulted dozens of customer and third-party reviews, considering each product’s power source, performance, ease of use, versatility, and price point. She received additional input from Jeremy Yamaguchi, the CEO of Lawn Love.

The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

What Size Weed Eater String Should You Use? (2023)

Weed eater string, trimmer line, or whatever you want to call it, is one of the most underrated tools in the lawn care game. Yes, it makes a difference. Yes, it can make or break your weed eater’s performance.

There are a million options available on the market. Some won’t even fit your string trimmer. Some are expensive and absolute garbage (we’ve tried dozens). And we are on a quest to find the best string trimmer line ever made.

That’s right. We’re trying to find the weed eater string out there that can turn a wimpy battery-powered string trimmer into a commercially-powered beast.

Why we started this site

We started The Lawn Review out of frustration. We couldn’t find clarity around what type of products were actually good and reliable. All the fertilizers we tried didn’t work. We ended up with a dying lawn, wasted time, and wasted money.

So we started buying and reviewing lawn tools and figuring out which ones were the best. And now we’ve moved onto actually keeping that lawn looking nice all year around.

We’ve spent thousands of hours building this content for people just like you and me – normal people.

How to instantly improve your weed eater

Upgrade your weed eating game with the ultimate GrassKicker Weed Eater String! While weed eaters and lawn edgers are great tools, it’s not complete without the right string. Our specially crafted line is designed to enhance your weed eater’s performance and give you flawless edges around your yard and garden.

Don’t settle for subpar string that breaks easily and leaves ragged edges. Our team has scoured the market and combined the best colors, shapes, thicknesses, and materials to create a superior line that cuts more cleanly and lasts longer.

With GrassKicker, you can take pride in your perfectly manicured lawn and make a lasting impression on your friends and family. And who knows, your envious neighbors might just start dropping by more often! Don’t wait, elevate your weed eating game with GrassKicker Weed Eater String today! Click the link now to buy.

Weed Eater String Sizes Explained

When it comes to string trimmer lines, size is all about thickness of the string. Think back to geometry in high school and how things were measured using diameter, or the distance from one end to another. The true width of the weed eater string.

Us Americans use the correct way of measuring things and it is in inches. There are some who will measure weed eater string in millimeters and they are not to be trusted.

But here are the common weed eater string sizes and what they mean.

Let me explain what I mean further here:

.060 inch Weed Eater String

.060 inch weed eater string is great for smaller weed eaters. If you have a Black and Decker string trimmer or WORX weed eater that is relatively small, you can get away with using this string.

This is the smallest string trimmer line on the market and is also one of the most popular for normal homeowners. In my opinion, homeowners leave a lot on the table by just buying the “stock” weed eater string for their Ryobi, WORX or Black and Decker weed eaters.

.060 is really light and pretty cheap, but sacrifices durability and cutting power. on that later.

.080 inch Weed Eater String Size

.080 inch weed eater string is a great alternative to.060.

It has more thickness than.060 weed eater string but isn’t so thick that it slows you down. It adds more durability to each cut and is still extremely easy to load into basically ANY weed eater, even ones that normally take.060.

The added benefit of the.080 inch weed eater string is that there is more room to create patterns or different shapes in the string that allow for added cutting surfaces that absolutely melts grass.

Pros of.080 inch weed eater string:

.095 inch Weed Eater String Size

If I were to apply the scientific “Goldilocks” method, I would say that.095 inch string trimmer is just right. Here’s why.

Once you start using a.095 inch weed eater string, there’s a noticeable difference. I put it in my Ryobi Expand-It (cheap) weed eater and it freaking rocked.

For starters, the.095 inch weed eater string is heavier. In some tests we ran with an EGO string trimmer, it absolutely dominated the grass. It was truly the Mike Tyson of weed eater string.

This weed eater string is when you’ll start to notice more tension when winding it. This makes it a little tougher to load, but adds a ridiculous amount of cutting power.

We think.095 weed eater string is the best thickness of all the weed eater string we’ve tested – which is a LOT.

Most weed eaters that take.095 inch weed eater string make it so that you can’t tell. For example if you are using an Echo SRM 225 or comparable battery-powered weed eaters, this thing will load like a breeze.

Cons of.095 inch trimmer line

.0105 inch and above Weed Eater String

.0105 inch and above string trimmer is really going to be commercial applications. Think dudes that are doing commercial landscaping jobs around schools, libraries and office buildings. They’re also used in walk behind string trimmers that have great use as pseudo-lawn mowers for dense brush or wild land.

This stuff is not going to be great for the average homeowner or even most residential landscapers and is far less common. But it still has its place as an absolute beast in all types of trimming for big, professional jobs.

Weed Eater String Colors

Many people think weed eater string colors correlate to thickness or patterns or something else. That’s not true – there is no correlation between color and thickness across all the different providers of string trimmer line.

The truth of colors when it comes to string trimmer line is simply preference. But there are important things to note with color.

Most notably, the color of the weed eater string is there to help you visualize the string better. There are dozens of different colored strings out there, but what you’re really looking for is how the string looks when it’s spinning a few thousand rotations per minute.

We have tested just about every color and our favorite was surprisingly bright green, followed by orange.

Bright green and orange gave the best contrast to the grass when cutting it. Visibility is really important when using a weed eater, especially around delicate surfaces like a shed, a deck, or even prized flowers and plants. You can accidentally seriously damage many things around your yard if you don’t know exactly where you are cutting.

We were least impressed by the red, black, gray, and clear string trimmer lines. They simply disappeared or were hard to see when up and spinning.

Weed Eater String Shapes

You may notice if you’ve spent any time shopping for string trimmer line that it comes in a bunch of different shapes. This isn’t just a marketing gimmick (okay it seems like some of it is), but has some serious utility. Let me break down what we have seen and tested over the past few weeks.

The different shapes

These things look like you walked into the space bar in Star Wars. Creatures from every end of the earth. Some of the most common weed eater string shapes are:

We learned a lot when we tested all of these suckers. I’m going to group these into round, pointed, and braided / twisted.

Round weed eater string

Round weed eater string is probably the most common. It is the “stock” weed eater string because it is super easy to manufacture, isn’t complex, and is easy to wind and fit into every string trimmer.

We expected this one to be the worst in our tests for all the above reasons. It surprised us.

It still wasn’t the best, but it was much more durable than we expected. You would think it would be the easiest to break because it isn’t as “hardcore” as the pointed and patterned ones, but it was pretty structurally sound.

Round weed eater string had average performance when it came to cutting performance. Nothing special, but not poor by any stretch.

Pointed weed eater string

For weed eater string that had several sides, like a square or hexagon, we actually found the string to be more brittle. We did not expect this. It definitely has more razor-like qualities that help cut grass more, but it also exposes much more structural breakdown opportunities when compared to round weed eater string.

There was one in particular that was star-shaped that we tried and it truly seemed to break down every 10 seconds or so.

The best weed eater string shape we found was a triangular shape. It had fewer points, but still had the razor-like quality that shredded grass. We found it to have the most structural integrity while providing the best cutting power.

Braided and twisted weed eater string

The cool things about braided and twisted weed eater string is that it has a meaningful impact on the sound of the string trimmer. It is much quieter spinning, which is great. But in reality, the spinning string is not really the loudest part of most weed eaters – it’s the motor.

So while the braided and twisted lines are quieter, they still hardly make a dent on the overall noise level of the weed eater.

Spiral and braided string trimmer also have more durability than non-twisted pointed weed eater string. Obviously they don’t make a twisted, round weed eater string (it would just be round) so it really just applies to patterned ones.

Overall these are more durable but only apply to less durable string trimmer lines with patterns. So they are good benefits in the end but also come at an extra cost. I’ve also found the twisted ones have more built-in torque, making them harder to load into your weed eater.

How to replace weed eater string

We’ve included a super short YouTube short we made below:

Common questions about weed eater string we get

Yep, over the years we have compiled dozens of questions about weed eater string that we get over and over. Let’s get started:

Can I use a thicker trimmer line?

To a point, yes. For most residential weed eaters, you can use up to.095 before things start to get hairy. Many gas trimmers can go higher, up to.105 or.110 but not much higher than that.

How do I know what size weed eater string to use?

Conventional wisdom says that for most residential weed eaters.095 or.080 are the most common sizes that fit your weed eater and maximize performance.

What size weed eater string is best for STIHL weed eaters?

We have had luck using a.095 weed eater string for STIHL’s weed eater lineup. It fits their gas powered weed eaters like the STIHL FS 56 RC and should fit most of their battery-powered ones as well.

What size weed eater string is best for Echo weed eaters?

Echo weed eaters like the SRM 225 can handle.095 or.105 thickness to get the job done.

What size weed eater string is best for Ryobi weed eaters?

There’s a huge variety of weed eaters offered by Ryobi, but my Ryobi weed eater absolutely crushes with.095 weed eater string. It came with.060 but I upgraded and it took it from a dinky tool to a freaking machine.

What’s the best weed eater string for Husqvarna weed eaters?

If you have a gas-powered Husqvarna weed eater like the Husqvarna 128LD, you’ll be safe with a.095 weed eater string.

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Corded vs Cordless Leaf Blowers: 2023 Buying Guide

Alex K

Alex is a lawn tool enthusiast who cut his teeth as a normal Joe lawn dad. After burning through expensive, fancy tools, Alex became dedicated to finding the best tools on the planet. He is now a leading expert on electric lawn tools, quoted in the Washington Post among other publications.