Last Updated – July 20th, 2019
Keeping the grass on the lawn down can be a simple or difficult chore. This solely depends on how you do it and what you use to do it.
You can decide to use a lawnmower or you may opt for a less complicated affordable option – a string trimmer.
We reviewed a handful of the best cordless string trimmers in this article. Mind you, string trimmers are also referred to as weed eaters.
By the end of this article, we intend to help you get a cordless string trimmer that is lightweight, affordable, strongly built, and can be used as an edger.
#1. Best Cordless String Trimmer – WORX WG163 Cordless String Trimmer
The Worx WG163 Cordless String Trimmer is our top pick.
Three things make it string trimmer stand out.
First, it’s very lightweight although the Black Decker LST522 trimmer is almost as light as it is.
Secondly, it has a dual function which allows it to double as an edger and as a string trimmer.
And thirdly, the price is just fine although it isn’t the cheapest in the market.
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Choosing The Perfect Cordless String Trimmer
In this section, we shared a few things you should bear in mind now that you’re interested in buying a cordless string trimmer.
Weight
Unlike lawn mowers that are pushed, string trimmers are meant to be carried. Therefore, if you don’t take into consideration the weight of the string trimmer you’re about to purchase, you may end up buying something heavy.
Manufacturers now place a huge emphasis on the weight of their products. Thus, most of the trimmers you’ll see in the market are lightweight.
Gas/Battery Powered
At the mention of the phrase cordless string trimmers, the first thing that comes to the mind of many people is a battery-powered string trimmer.
Battery or gas-powered string trimmers both belong to the cordless string trimmers’ category.
Each has its own advantages over the other.
For instance, a gas-powered string trimmer requires a few liters of gasoline to run. In addition to that, you’ll need to deal with regular oil changes as well as maintenance and servicing.
The gas trimmers can be used for longer periods as long as there’s enough gas in the gas chamber. They also tend to be more expensive but are also noisier and may pollute the air with gases.
Battery-powered string trimmers, on the other hand, run on battery packs. They are much quieter and have low maintenance costs. No gas nor oil changes help you to save on those.
But you end up buying a lot of batteries that often don’t come cheap. These batteries barely last beyond 40-60 minutes and can take between 3 to 5 hours to charge fully. However, there are
In the end, the type of cordless string trimmer you choose depends on your personal preference.
If you like to trim the lawn early in the morning and you don’t want to disturb everyone in the neighborhood, the battery-powered model is apt.
For more power, not minding the noise and not having to deal with charging batteries, a gas-powered model is a good option.
Battery: The Life, Charging Time and Voltage
If you eventually choose to go with the electric string trimmer, consider the battery life.
As earlier mentioned, most of the batteries in the market last only for 40-60 minutes depending on your trimmer’s settings when it’s in use. The chances of getting a battery with a longer usage time are slim.
However, you can buy two or more batteries just to be on the safe side.
One thing we also suggest is that you buy a string trimmer that shares the same battery with another outdoor power tool you own. E.g. buying a Worx string trimmer that has the same battery as a Worx leaf blower.
As for battery voltage, this is also important. The battery voltage determines the amount of power the string trimmer has. Decent power is provided by batteries with at least 20V rating.
The mower power, the more effective the string trimmer is when cutting your grass.
And finally, the charging time of batteries is also worth taking note of. Most string trimmer batteries take between 2 – 5 hours to charge fully. Some also come with a quick charger that comes in handy but is expensive.
Cutting String/Trimming Line
String trimmers come with either one or two cutting strings and as you’d probably guess, the two-stringed models tend to cut more than the ones with a single string.
Changing the strings should also be as easy as ABC for most people to do. Ask questions about the trimmer just to make sure you’re on the safe side.
Dual Function
The dual function here refers to using your cordless string trimmer as an edger.
Generally, many of the string trimmers available on the market can be used as an edger. However, you need to set the trimmer to the correct angle to be able to do this.
With newer models in the market, the story is different. String trimmers like the Worx WG163 are designed to also serve as an edger.
So if you haven’t bought a lawn edger, you should opt for the dual model trimmers.
Warranty
By industry standards, you should expect at least a year’s worth of usage from your cordless string trimmer. But if you maintain it well, you may be able to triple the number of years.
Any cordless string trimmer with less than 6 months warranty isn’t worth your time.
Cordless String Trimmer Reviews
We picked the string trimmers in this article from a long list of different string trimmers.
The trimmers were selected and reviewed based on factors such as weight, functionality, ease of use, battery life and charging time, etc.
#1. Best Cordless String Trimmer – WORX WG163 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 12-inch
Weight: 5.3lbs
Features: 12-inch cutting swath, edger/trimmer combo, weighs just 5.3lbs, telescoping handle with a quick-release lever, spacer guard for protecting plants from the string.
The WG163 string trimmer is an upgraded version of the Worx WG160 GT string trimmer. There are quite a few differences between the two, but that’s by the way.
Like we mentioned earlier, the Worx WG163 string trimmer is one of the few lightweight string trimmers you’ll find in the market. It weighs just about 6 lbs, a tad heavier than the LST522 from Black + Decker.
Controlling the trimmer is easy, thanks to its ergonomic telescoping handles.
The trimmer is powered by a 20V 2.0Ah battery that has a runtime of about 40 minutes – nothing short of what we expected.
It’s appalling to know that companies that make these batteries are haven’t made much headway in improving battery usage life. Did we even mention that charging time on the unit is about 2 to 3 hours?
Well, by doling out a few extra bucks, you can purchase more batteries and extend the time you use the trimmer.
The ability to use the Worx WG163 string trimmer as a lawn edger is a great bonus. You can switch between the trimmer and edger at a go.
For the edging function, there’s a flower spacer guard that protects your plants whilst acting as an edger.
Save for the abysmal battery life of the Worx WG163 cordless string trimmer, it has everything else that you need for taking care of your lawn.
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#2. Best Budget String Trimmer- BLACK+DECKER LST522 String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 12-inch
Weight: 5.7lbs
Features: Lightweight body, 2.5 Ah battery.edger/trimmer combo, auto-feed single trimming line, dual speed option.
If you’re after a nice budget string trimmer, the Black+Decker LST522 string trimmer is our top pick.
The LST522 string trimmer is a nice trimmer. It weighs just about 5.7lbs, a tad higher than the Worx WG163 trimmer.
It’s powered by a 2.5 Ah 20V lithium battery that lasts just about 20 to 30 minutes depending on the trim settings. This is certainly a huge turn off for us, to be honest.
If you get the 4.0Ah battery, you will get at least 45 minutes of work time from it. That’s better than the 20 – 30 minutes on the 2.5 Ah battery.
The Black+Decker LST522 string trimmer sports the much revered 2-in-1 feature. Hence, it can be used as a string trimmer and edger depending on what you need it for.
As for the controls, the unit is controlled via a 2-speed control switch. The switch controls the power drive transmission motor on the trimmer. This, in turn, ensures that the string trimmer is efficient enough when cutting grass.
It does, however, have one trimming line as compared to the two trimming lines we’ve seen on related models. You can auto-feed the string whenever you are working by simply gently pounding the trimmer on the ground.
For people that have the crabgrass on their lawns, the Black+Decker LST522 is more than able to trim cut it from all sides.
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#3. Makita XRU11M1 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 12-inch
Weight: 7.4lbs
Features: Brushless motor with automatic drive technology,12-inch cutting swath, 18V 4.0Ah battery, 30 minutes usage time on high settings, Rapid Optimum Charging technology quickly charges the battery in 40 minutes, three-speed options.
The Makita XRU11M1 cordless string trimmer is a nice looking affordable 12-inch string trimmer. For what it’s worth, you get a cordless string trimmer with enough power to handle your small grasses.
Design-wise, it feels a tad sturdy and will probably last longer if looks determine the longevity of a string trimmer.
As we earlier mentioned, the Makita XRU11M1 sports a 12-inch cutting swath. The cutting swath is home to the single trimming line which gets the job done,
However, if you have a lot of thick grass or weeds on your lawn, this string trimmer will have a hard time coping with it. Suffices to say that it’s kind of designed for “not so tough” grass.
The Makita XRU11M1 string trimmer is powered by an 18V 4.0Ah lithium-ion battery. Unfortunately, the battery has a below-average life which lasts for only about 30 minutes under high settings.
But it makes up for that abysmal battery life via the Rapid Optimum Charging function. With this feature, the battery charges almost fully in about 40 minutes.
By, the way, the battery doesn’t cost much and it’s interchangeable with other Makita tools.
There are three-speed options available on the Makita XRU11M1. They are easily controlled via a control switch on the handle which is connected to the efficient BL Brushless motor.
Weight-wise, the Makita XRU11M1 cordless string trimmer weighs only 7.4 lbs. Hence, it falls under the lightweight cordless string trimmers category.
We had just one turn off about this string trimmer – it doesn’t cut thick grass. May graze it a bit, but it won’t cut it down.
The Makita XRU11M1 cordless string trimmer has a rather disappointing battery life though they made up for that by adding fast charge battery technology.
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#4. CRAFTSMAN CMCST910M1 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 13-inch
Weight: 8.5lbs
Features: 13-inch cutting swath, 20V 4Ah battery with 40 minutes runtime, 0.80-inch cutting line, can be used as an edger.
The Craftsman CMCST910M1 cordless string trimmer is the fourth trimmer on our list that is a combination of a trimmer and an edger.
It features a 13-inch cutting swath and a trimming line that has a diameter of 0.080 inches. The single cutting line handles grass well although we think two cutting lines would have been better.
There’s an efficient Brushless motor that powers the cutting swath. It derives its power from the 20V 4.0Ah battery which has a runtime of about 40 minutes on the high-speed setting. The battery takes just over an hour to charge fully.
With respect to its build quality, we’d say the Craftsman CMCST910M1 trimmer is strongly built. That’s in addition to the fact that it’s lightweight, coming in at around 8.5lbs.
The cutting line speed is controlled via a speed control trigger with dual speed options. By lowering the speed, you may get more than 40 minutes of runtime.
In addition to the speed control trigger, the trimmer also features a line feed button. It, however, automatically feeds the line each time you get it up and running.
And by feeding the cutting line, it lets out an unwanted amount – more than you’ll probably need for your task. The trick here is to open the spool cover and pull back the excess leaving only what you need.
Out of the box, the Craftsman CMCST910M1 trimmer is ready to run after charging the battery. You only need to screw in the line guard and hit the grasses hard left, right, and center.
As for the edger function, you simply turn the trimmer and you have your edger. By keeping your hands steady, you’ll get a nice-looking lawn edge when you’re done.
Apart from the line advancement which seems to release more cutting line than you may need, we have no other issues with this awesome cordless string trimmer.
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Cordless String Trimmers With Wide Cutting Path Reviews
In this section of this review, we looked at some efficient cordless string trimmers with a wide cutting swath. The trimmers we reviewed here had a minimum cutting swath of 14-inches.
#5. Best Commercial String Trimmer – EGO Power+ ST1502 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 15-inch
Weight: 11.8lbs
Features: Dual trimming line, 15-inch cutting swath, quick charge interchangeable battery, all weather-resistant build quality, 56V battery with 45 minutes runtime, a good warranty period.
The Ego Power+ ST1502 string trimmer holds another position on our review list as the best cordless string trimmer with edger combo.
It certainly is a tough decision given that the Black+Decker LST522 and the Worx WG163 trimmers have similar specs. However, the EGO Power+ has a slight edge over them because it has a 15-inch cutting swath and a dual string trimming line.
Apart from that, the build quality of the ST1502 is also good compared to the other two – little wonder it costs more than the LST522 and WG163 string trimmers combined.
According to the product information, the EGO Power+ ST1502 string trimmer is weather resistant. This, however, shouldn’t be the reason why you’ll leave it in the snow and rain all year round.
The Ego Power+ ST1502 string trimmer weighs only 11.8lbs. It’s not heavy, but it definitely isn’t as light as we wanted. This isn’t to say that you’ll get tired of carrying it easily.
For the battery, the trimmer comes with a 56V lithium-ion 2.5 Ah battery which provides a runtime of 45 minutes. The battery is the same as the one on other Ego Power+ products.
This battery does have an advantage over the other batteries we’ve seen on string trimmers. It charges from empty to full in less than 20 minutes, thanks to the Quick Charge function available on the unit.
Speed-wise, the ST1502 string trimmer is controlled by a control button which cycles through its variable speeds.
Ego Power+ products are known to be premium in terms of pricing and the ST1502 string trimmer is no exception.
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#6. The Toro Weed Wacker – Toro PowerPlex 51482 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 15-inch
Weight: 9.2lbs
Features: Brushless motor, 40V 2.5Ah battery, 0.08-inch trimming line, 14-inch cutting swath, line control button, speed control switch with dual speed options, quick charge battery and charger, foldable handle.
The Toro weed wacker is one fine grass decimating trimmer. It shares quite a handful of features with some of the string trimmers we’ve reviewed in this article.
First, it sports a Brushless motor which is backed by the 40V 2.5Ah battery that comes with the trimmer. The 40V battery provides more power than the 20V batteries on some other string trimmers.
As we expected, the battery provided just about 40 minutes of runtime after taking about 60 minutes to charge. An above-average battery, if you must say.
However, you can interchange batteries with other Toroplex outdoor power tools you own.
The Brushless motor propels the single 0.08-inches trimming line which, in turn, is controlled by a speed trigger. You can cycle between the two-speed options available on the trimmer with ease.
The Toro Powerplex 51482 string trimmer is sturdy and the build quality is good. In fact, the trimmer has a three-year warranty; you should expect it to last long.
We do have a few reservations about this trimmer. Changing the spool for the trimming line is a bit tough, no thanks to the hard to press spool release buttons.
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#7. Greenworks 2100702 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 14-inch
Weight: 13lbs
Features: 4.0Ah battery, 14-inch cutting swath, interchangeable battery with up to 35 minutes runtime, Brushless motor, can be hooked up with other attachments, 0.080-inch dual trimming line.
The Greenworks 2100702 cordless string trimmer has a special place in our hearts. Why? It’s one trimmer that can accept attachments of other Greenworks outdoor power tools.
This simply means you can remove the string trimmer and plug in your leaf blower, pole saw, cultivator, hedge trimmer and edger. The Greenworks 2100702 trimmer is powered by a 40V battery which is available in 2Ah, 4Ah, and 6Ah variants.
The battery provides at least 60 minutes of runtime for each full charge depending on the speed setting. In addition to that, the battery takes a few years to charge.
It features a Brushless motor which efficiently propels the trimming 0.08-inch dual trimming line to annihilate the grasses in your yard.
For many who have a hard time dealing with tough grasses, this Greenworks 2100702 trimmer will bring an end to your problems with its brush attachment that cuts away tough twigs and grasses.
There’s no auto feed button on this string trimmer. However, you get the bump to feed feature. Simply bump the trimmer on the ground gently and your line will feed itself.
As we mentioned earlier, the Greenworks 2100702 cordless string trimmer can be used with attachments.
Interestingly, during the course of this review, we found someone who tested different attachments including some Ryobi; they all worked just fine with this string trimmer. How sweet!
We, however, have a few reservations. Battery life is average on the 2Ah battery. The 4Ah and 6Ah battery options are available but will set you back by a few extra bucks.
In addition, we’re not fans of the bump to feed line method of feeding the trimming line. A simple feed button or auto-feed feature would have saved the day.
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#8. DEWALT DCST990M1 XR String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 15-inch
Weight: 21.6lbs
Features: 15-inch cutting swath, 40V 4Ah battery, bump feed line, trigger control for speed and noise, 0.08-inch dual-feed line.
The Dewalt DCST990M1 XR string trimmer that helps you do more work in a minute more than other smaller string trimmers, thanks to its 15-inch cutting swath which is one of the largest in the industry.
This large cutting swath, however, means that you have to dole more bucks out to grab the string trimmer.
The Dewalt DCST990M1 comes with a 40V 4.0Ah battery with an option for a 6Ah battery. Both the 4Ah and 6Ah batteries provide ample work time ranging from 30 minutes to more than 60 minutes depending on speed settings.
As you’d expect with outdoor power tools, the battery is interchangeable with other Dewalt tools.
Build quality is great, no doubt but we are certainly not impressed by the weight which sits at 12 lbs. It’s noticeably heavy though and may not be fit for older people or people with back pain to use.
The vibrations the machine makes are minimal and so is the sound when it’s in use.
We have a few reservations about the Dewalt DCST990M1 string trimmer.
First, it’s bump-to-feed. Like we mentioned earlier when we reviewed the Greenworks 2100702 cordless string trimmer, an auto-feed function or a push to feed button is always a better option.
Secondly, the guard doesn’t work as much as expected and hence, you’re prone to picking a handful of grass clippings with your clothes.
Save for these two negligible flaws, the Dewalt DCST990M1 string trimmer is just right for you.
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Cordless String Trimmers With Adjustable Cutting Width
In this section, we reviewed two cordless string trimmers that had adjustable cutting swaths which can make the swath size expand from 10 to 12-inches.
#9. The Bionic Trimmer – WORX WG154 Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 10-inch to 12-inch
Weight: 6 lbs
Features: 20V 2Ah battery, a 10-inch cutting swath, weighs about 6lbs, can be used as an edger, auto single line feed, rotating head, fixed front handle.
Dubbed the Bionic Trimmer, the Worx WG154 cordless string trimmer is one of the two cordless string trimmers with adjustable cutting swaths. This means you can increase the cutting width of the unit from 10-inches to 12-inches.
This is one cool feature many manufacturers should consider doing as soon as possible.
The Worx WG154 cordless string trimmer is powered by a 20V 2Ah battery with a runtime of about 20 to 40 minutes. For a 2Ah battery, we couldn’t have expected any more than that.
Weight-wise, the trimmer weighs just 6 lbs thus, it’s perfect for older people to carry and operate with relative ease.
Aside from the ability to adjust the cutting swath size, the Worx WG154 cordless string trimmer packs a few other features. They include an automatic line feed, a rotating head and an edger function.
Talking about the edger function, it’s easy to do, and in a jiffy, you’re good to go on edging your lawn.
The front handle on the trimmer is fixed, much to our dissatisfaction. It does, however, provide a great deal of comfort when working with the trimmer.
We dislike this Bionic trimmer for two reasons; the battery charging time is nothing to write home about and the battery life is noticeably poor.
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#10. Westinghouse Cordless String Trimmer
Cutting Swath: 10-inch to 12-inch
Weight: 7lbs
Features: Adjustable cutting swath, a 4Ah battery pack, rapid charger for fast charging, trimmer and edger function, adjustable head, ergonomic handle, auto-feed cutting line.
The Westinghouse cordless string trimmer draws the curtain on our review today. But before that happens, let’s find out why it’s a great buy.
As you already know, it is a cordless string trimmer with an ability to function as an edger and a trimmer. In addition, the cutting swath can easily be adjusted to fit your current work needs.
The trimmer is powered by a 20V 4Ah battery with a runtime of about 60 minutes and takes 2 hours to charge fully. As we expected, the battery is compatible with other Westinghouse outdoor power tools.
This power is sent to the efficient motor which propels the 0.065-inch cutting line. The line is auto fed while you’re working with the trimmer.
While trimming your grass, you can easily switch the machine to an edger. The head is a bit adjustable to certain degrees and this thus offers you a bit of leeway to give your lawn a fine edge cut.
We like the telescoping handle on this Westinghouse cordless string trimmer. It offers a great deal of comfort no doubt but it still leaves much to be desired about the trimmer’s overall build quality.
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Wrapping Up
It doesn’t cost much to own a nice looking, efficient and powerful cordless string trimmer. If you take note of factors like weight, runtime, handling, and cutting swath size, you’ll be able to get one that will remain faithful to you for a couple of years.
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