Best Weed Eater (2026): 6 String Trimmer Picks by Job

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The best weed eater for most yards is the EGO Power+ ST1623T, a 16-inch battery string trimmer that TechGearLab ranks first in its test and Pro Tool Reviews calls "the best string trimmer homeowners can currently buy." Its Line IQ head lets out fresh line on its own, a button winds in a refill, and this Amazon bundle adds a second 2.5Ah battery to the usual kit, whose 4.0Ah pack EGO lists at up to 60 minutes a charge. For thick weeds and heavier growth on a battery, the Greenworks 60V ST60L254 is a 16-inch trimmer that Pro Tool Reviews scored 9.4 out of 10 and found powerful enough for light clearing as well as weekly trimming.

The other four picks each do one job well: the WORX WG163, a 5.3 lb trimmer and edger with two 20V batteries, for small yards; the BLACK+DECKER LST136, whose head pivots for crisp edging; the corded BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 for a small yard near an outlet; and the gas Husqvarna 130L for an acre or more. One table below sets each pick's runtime against its recharge time, so you can see whether a spare battery keeps you trimming.

Jump to: One charge | Battery, gas or corded | Volts, width and line | Shaft and feed | Edging | Trim height | Around trees | Safety

Start here: which weed eater for your yard

• Most yards, on a battery, with the least fuss over line: the EGO Power+ ST1623T bundle (pick 1).
• Thick weeds or heavier growth, on a battery: the Greenworks 60V ST60L254 (pick 2).
• A small yard, townhome or condo lot: the WORX WG163 (pick 3), the lightest battery pick here.
• Edging sidewalks and beds is half the job: the BLACK+DECKER LST136 (pick 4), with a head that pivots for edging.
• A small yard with an outdoor outlet close by: the corded BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 (pick 5).
• An acre or more, or you would rather refuel than recharge: the gas Husqvarna 130L (pick 6).

The best weed eaters, by job

1. EGO Power+ ST1623T Line IQ String Trimmer Kit with Extra Battery: best overall

This Amazon listing is EGO's ST1623T kit (the 16-inch Line IQ trimmer, a 56V 4.0Ah battery and EGO's 320W charger) plus a second, 2.5Ah battery that ships separately. EGO lists up to 60 minutes per charge on the 4.0Ah pack. The Line IQ head senses when either end of the line wears below 7 inches and lets out more, so there is no bumping, and POWERLOAD winds a fresh 14-foot length of 0.095-inch line onto the spool while you hold a button; EGO's manual says a full spool usually takes about 12 seconds. The carbon fiber shaft telescopes to fit your height and carries a lifetime shaft warranty if you register it within 90 days, a digital switch picks low speed (3,500 to 4,800 RPM) or high (4,000 to 5,500 RPM), and EGO covers the tool for 5 years and the batteries for 3. EGO's manual puts the trimmer at 7.67 lb with its guard and no battery.

Why it is the pick: three of the testers we read put this trimmer at or near the top. TechGearLab ranks it first of the 8 trimmers in its test and says it sliced through the largest, densest weeds without faltering. Pro Tool Reviews gives it 9.7 out of 10 in its own review, where the 4.0Ah pack ran 64 minutes on high, and it had the longest runtime of the three homeowner trimmers in its head-to-head test. Popular Mechanics calls it the most user-friendly trimmer in its guide after a first-time user took straight to the self-winding line. The bundle's 2.5Ah pack refills in 35 minutes on the included 320W charger by EGO's table, well inside the 4.0Ah pack's 60-minute runtime, so one battery can charge while the other works.

Good to know: with the 4.0Ah pack fitted, Pro Tool Reviews weighed it at 12.7 lb and TechGearLab at 12.8 lb; the bundle's 2.5Ah pack brings it to about 10.4 lb by EGO's figures. Pro Tool Reviews found it does well on most tasks but struggles in heavy overgrowth, and says you may need to stick with EGO's own line for reliable loading and feeding. There is no way to pull line out by hand, and Pro Tool Reviews saw wood and chain-link fences snap off line faster than Line IQ replaced it. The head does not rotate for edging; TechGearLab held it sideways and had to watch that it did not bite into the dirt. TechGearLab measured a 70-minute recharge for the 4.0Ah pack, against EGO's 55 minutes on the 320W charger. The testers ran the standard ST1623T kit; this bundle is that kit plus the second battery.

2. Greenworks 60V 16-Inch String Trimmer ST60L254: best battery trimmer for thick weeds

Greenworks' ST60L254 (its SKU 2122802) is a brushless 60V trimmer sold with one 2.5Ah battery and a charger. Greenworks lists up to 53 minutes per charge with that battery and a 50-minute recharge. The cutting path adjusts from 14 to 16 inches, the die-cast aluminum Load N' Go head takes 0.080- or 0.095-inch dual line, and the manual caps a reload at 15 feet of line. A thumb switch sets 5,000 or 6,000 RPM on top of the variable-speed trigger. It weighs 7.9 lb without the battery, and Greenworks covers the trimmer and battery for 4 years.

Why it is the pick: Pro Tool Reviews ran this exact model and scored it 9.4 out of 10, calling it one of the best all-around homeowner trimmers even when set against gas. It found enough power for light clearing as well as weekly trimming, and said switching to high speed kept it moving through thicker growth and edging. It also praised the balance and low vibration, and Pro Tool Reviews judges the runtime enough for lawns up to half an acre or more. That makes it the battery pick here for thick weeds and heavier growth.

Good to know: Pro Tool Reviews measured 24 minutes 48 seconds at high speed on the 2.5Ah pack, and Greenworks lists up to 53 minutes with that battery; Pro Tool Reviews notes this model gives up some runtime for its extra performance. It weighed 11.19 lb with the battery on Pro Tool Reviews' scale and has a tether point for a shoulder strap; it does not take attachments. Greenworks' listing describes 0.095-inch line while Pro Tool Reviews says its unit came with 0.080-inch; the head takes either. Pro Tool Reviews measured 80 decibels on low and 84 on high.

3. WORX WG163 20V 12-Inch String Trimmer and Edger: best for small yards

The WG163 is a 20V trimmer and edger with a 12-inch cutting diameter, sold with two 2.0Ah PowerShare batteries and a charger. Instead of bumping the head, you press the Command Feed button for fresh 0.065-inch line, and each spool holds 10 feet. To edge, draw the head out from the shaft and turn it, then roll it on its support wheels; the head also tilts 90 degrees for slopes and awkward spots, and an adjustable spacer guard keeps the line off plants. WORX lists 5.3 lb with a battery fitted and a 3-year limited warranty, and the batteries fit its other 20V and 40V PowerShare tools.

Why it is the pick: Bob Vila names it the best trimmer for small yards and suggests it for a townhome or condo landscape. In its test each battery gave about 20 minutes at full power and took about an hour to charge, and the trimmer kept grassy edges tidy and trimmed well enough to stand in as a mini mower. Family Handyman, which picks it as its best two-battery trimmer, found it chewed through tough weeds among landscaping rocks and liked having the spare pack on hand. It is the lightest battery pick on this page.

Good to know: it has a 12-inch cutting diameter and takes 0.065-inch line; Bob Vila says it was "not perfect in coarse weeds" and calls the head-angle adjustment "somewhat awkward", and Family Handyman lists "small cutting width" among its cons. WORX does not publish a runtime, so the 20-minute figures are the testers'; the two packs together give about 40 minutes.

4. BLACK+DECKER LST136 40V MAX String Trimmer and Edger: best 2-in-1 trimmer and edger

The LST136 is a 13-inch, 40V MAX trimmer and edger sold with one 2.0Ah battery, which BLACK+DECKER's manual lists at 80 watt-hours, and a charger that refills it in about 1.5 hours. Hold a release button and rotate the head to edge, then drop the wire edge guide. Its automatic feed spool lets out 0.065-inch round line without bumping, a POWERCOMMAND dial runs from setting 1 for the longest runtime to setting 6 for the most power, and the head spins at up to 8,500 RPM. The pole telescopes, and the kit carries a 3-year limited warranty.

Why it is the pick: TechGearLab placed it second for cutting performance among the 8 trimmers it tested, mostly because the pivoting head and wire guard let it cut crisp lines along driveways and sidewalks while held the normal way. It weighed 6.6 lb on TechGearLab's scale, collapses to about half the length of a full-size trimmer for storage, ran 43 minutes in TechGearLab's no-load test, and did well across its weed-cutting tests.

Good to know: TechGearLab found it struggles with dense weeds, its big guard can block detailed cuts, and its trigger grip tired the hand on long sessions; it has no shoulder strap point. The included charger's 1.5 hours is about twice the 43 minutes TechGearLab measured, so a second 40V MAX pack is the way to keep working. When edging, BLACK+DECKER's manual wants people and pets at least 100 feet away.

5. BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 Corded String Trimmer: best corded string trimmer

The BESTA510 is a corded 6.5 amp, 14-inch trimmer: plug it into a 120V outdoor extension cord and it runs as long as you need, with no battery to charge and no fuel to mix. An automatic feed spool lets out 0.065-inch round line without bumping, the lower housing rotates for edging on a wheeled guide, a cord retention system keeps the extension cord from pulling loose, and the handle and height adjust. BLACK+DECKER lists 6.5 lb and a 2-year limited warranty.

Why it is the pick: Family Handyman names it its best corded trimmer. Its tester found the edging wheel gave nearly perfect edges, the automatic feed kept up even while the line was breaking on pavers, and the cord lock put an end to unplugging by accident. Consumer Reports suggests corded trimmers for yards of a quarter acre or so.

Good to know: it needs an outdoor extension cord heavy enough for a 6.5 amp motor (see the cord chart in the battery, gas or corded section), and BLACK+DECKER's manual calls for GFCI protection on the outlet or circuit you plug into. Its reach ends where the cord does; Consumer Reports suggests a cord of at least 50 to 100 feet. It edges with the line, not a blade.

6. Husqvarna 130L Gas String Trimmer: best gas string trimmer

Husqvarna's 130L is a straight-shaft gas trimmer with a 28 cc two-stroke engine and an 18-inch cutting width, the widest on this page. It runs on a 50:1 mix of gasoline and two-stroke oil, which the manual puts at 2 1/2 US fluid ounces of oil per gallon, from a 17.82-ounce tank. Smart Start and an air purge bulb ease starting, and LowVib damps vibration. The Rapid Replace head reloads with about 22 feet of line per the manual, the heads Husqvarna approves for it take 0.080- to 0.105-inch line, and Husqvarna lists 12.2 lb without the cutting head.

Why it is the pick: it is the only gas trimmer in our Amazon read that met our bar, and the only pick that needs neither a charge nor an outlet: a can of mixed fuel keeps it running. Bob Vila picked its curved-shaft sibling, the 130C, which shares the 28 cc engine and the owner's manual, as its best curved-shaft gas trimmer, finding plenty of power for coarse weeds and thick grass, surprisingly quiet running and starts usually on the second pull. Consumer Reports points owners of large yards or lots of thick weeds toward gas, since battery runtime can shrink to about 10 minutes in thick brush.

Good to know: no tester we read ran the straight-shaft 130L itself. Gas means mixing fuel (Husqvarna says to mix no more than a month's worth at a time), wearing hearing protection and pulling a starter cord. The Consumer Product Safety Commission's February 2024 recall covered five 130L SKUs sold from October 2021 through November 2023; this listing's SKU, 970514405, is not on that list, and the SKU is printed on the serial tag under the motor housing.

How we chose these

We compared 135 Amazon listings for string trimmers, then read the makers' product pages for all six picks, the owner's manuals for all six (EGO's ST1620 trimmer manual, which covers the ST1623T kit's trimmer, Greenworks' ST60L254 manual, WORX's WG163 manual, BLACK+DECKER's LST136 and BESTA510 manuals and Husqvarna's 130C and 130L manual) and EGO's battery charge-time table. We then read the hands-on results of independent testers: Pro Tool Reviews (its battery trimmer head-to-head, its best string trimmers list and its reviews of the EGO Line IQ and the Greenworks 60V 16-inch), TechGearLab (its string trimmer test and Line IQ review), Bob Vila (its battery, main and gas trimmer guides), Popular Mechanics (its main and battery trimmer guides) and Family Handyman. Consumer Reports keeps its model ratings for members, so this page draws on its published advice, its gas trimmer article and its buying guide.

Where a tester ran a sibling of a pick, we say so. Every tester ran the standard ST1623T kit, while pick 1's listing adds a second battery to it. Bob Vila ran the curved-shaft Husqvarna 130C, not pick 6's straight-shaft 130L.

Every numbered pick was in stock on Amazon on October 24, 2026, sold by Amazon.com, carries the maker's model or part number on its listing, and has a long record of owner ratings. Where a tester's favorite was sold only by third parties, showed limited stock or had an owner-rating record below our floor that day, it is in Also considered with the reason. Runtime, charge-time and fuel figures are each maker's own unless a tester is named, and the computed columns in the runtime table are our arithmetic and are labelled. Safety rules come from the makers' manuals and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and lawn and tree practice from the Purdue, Illinois and Minnesota extension services, each credited where it appears.

Also considered: models that missed the list and why

EGO Power+ ST1510T 15-inch POWERLOAD trimmer. EGO's 15-inch POWERLOAD trimmer with an aluminum telescoping shaft, sold on Amazon as a bare tool with no battery or charger. Bob Vila tested it in the ST1511T kit with a 2.5Ah battery and named it the best loading system in its battery guide. It clears our bar; pick 1 is the EGO choice with batteries in the box, and EGO says all its batteries fit all its tools, so an existing EGO pack would run this tool-only version.

EGO Power+ ST1610T 16-inch carbon fiber trimmer. Another tool-only EGO POWERLOAD trimmer that clears our bar, but none of the testers we read ran it; pick 1 is the 16-inch EGO POWERLOAD trimmer the testers ran.

EGO Power+ MHC1603 Multi-Head kit. EGO's 56V power head kit with a 16-inch string trimmer attachment and an 8-inch edger attachment. It was no longer listed on Amazon on October 24, 2026.

Greenworks 40V 16-inch ST40L414. An attachment-capable 40V trimmer sold with a 4.0Ah battery and charger, which Bob Vila lists under Also Consider after measuring 50 minutes of runtime. On October 24, 2026 its Amazon offer came from a third-party seller and was not in stock; pick 2 covers thicker weeds.

Greenworks 80V 16-inch ST80L210 and WORX 40V 13-inch WG183. Both clear our bar, but none of the testers we read ran either model.

BLACK+DECKER LSTE525. Popular Mechanics' lightweight pick: a 12-inch, 20V trimmer and edger with two batteries. It was no longer listed on Amazon on October 24, 2026; pick 3 covers the same small-yard job.

WORX WG170. Bob Vila's lightweight pick and a 12-inch, 20V trimmer, edger and mini mower in one; Popular Mechanics picked a version with a 4.0Ah battery for small yards and found the mini-mower mode bounced on its plastic guide wheel. It clears our bar; pick 3 covers the same job.

BLACK+DECKER ST8600. A 5 amp, 13-inch corded trimmer and edger that Bob Vila picked in its main guide and found light and well balanced. It clears our bar; pick 5 covers corded trimming with a 6.5 amp motor.

CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCST900D1 and CMCST901M1, Makita XRU23SM1. The CMCST901M1 and XRU23SM1 are 13-inch battery trimmers that clear our bar, but none of the testers we read ran these exact models, and the CMCST900D1 was no longer listed on Amazon on October 24, 2026.

Husqvarna 110iL and 320iL. Popular Mechanics' overall pick in both of its guides and Bob Vila's dual-direction pick. On October 17, 2026, each Amazon listing's owner-rating record sat below our floor.

Husqvarna 122C and 122LK. Smaller 22 cc Husqvarna gas trimmers whose Amazon listings had short owner-rating records on October 24, 2026; Popular Mechanics' gas pick is the related 122L, which it links at Lowe's.

Milwaukee M18, DeWalt 60V, Echo eFORCE, Ryobi 40V, Toro 60V and Stihl battery trimmers. Picks in the Bob Vila, Popular Mechanics, Pro Tool Reviews and Family Handyman guides. On October 24, 2026, the listings in our Amazon read were from third-party sellers, showed limited stock or were unavailable, or the trimmer did not come up at all.

How long does a battery weed eater run on one charge?

Consumer Reports expects about 30 minutes from the best battery trimmers in its tests, longer at a lower speed, and its buying guide gives a usual range of 20 to 40 minutes. Several picks here list more than that on paper, but load changes everything: Consumer Reports says thick brush can cut 30 minutes down to 10. EGO's manual adds that its low speed range gives better control and longer running time per charge. This table puts each pick's runtime beside the time its own charger needs to refill the pack.

Read the ratio column like this: below 1.00, a spare pack on the charger in the box is full again before the one in the trimmer runs flat. Picks 1 and 2 sit just under that line on their makers' figures, and pick 1 is the only pick whose spare in the box is full again before the other pack runs out: its 2.5Ah pack takes 35 minutes to refill while the 4.0Ah pack runs up to 60. On picks 3 and 4 the charger needs two to three minutes for every minute of trimming, so a second pack starts the job full rather than refilling as you go. For pick 1's total, the 2.5Ah pack's share is our estimate: EGO's 60 minutes scaled by the packs' watt-hours (140 of 224) gives about 37 minutes, for about 97 with both.

Speed and load swing these numbers more than battery size does. Pro Tool Reviews ran pick 2 at high speed for 24 minutes 48 seconds, a little under half of Greenworks' 53, while its EGO Line IQ ran 64 minutes at high speed on the 4.0Ah pack in its own review and about 51 minutes in its head-to-head test, against EGO's 60. For pick 6, the arithmetic is fuel: a US gallon is 128 fluid ounces, so one gallon of 50:1 mix, with its 2 1/2 ounces of oil, fills the 17.82-ounce tank about 7.2 times.

Battery, gas or corded: which type of string trimmer fits your yard?

Battery fits most yards now. The Consumer Reports engineer who oversees its string trimmer testing says "the best battery models cut every bit as well as the best gas tools," and suggests letting the size and layout of your lawn decide whether a battery's runtime is enough. Battery trimmers start at a squeeze of the trigger, need little upkeep and share packs with other tools from the same maker: EGO says all its batteries fit all its tools, so the 56V packs in pick 1 also run the EGO mowers in our electric lawn mower guide.

Gas still makes sense for big lots and heavy growth. Consumer Reports names two cases, a large yard and lots of thick grass and weeds, because a gas trimmer keeps cutting as long as you keep adding fuel, and Popular Mechanics suggests a gas model for an acre or more. Two-stroke engines like pick 6's need oil mixed into the gasoline, while four-stroke models run cleaner on regular gas, per Consumer Reports. Every gas trimmer in Consumer Reports' tests was loud enough to call for hearing protection, and Popular Mechanics notes that a growing number of towns and homeowners' associations limit gas lawn equipment, so check yours first.

Corded trimmers start instantly and never run out, but the cord sets the range. Consumer Reports suggests them for yards of about a quarter acre or less, notes their built-in cords are usually no longer than a foot, and suggests an extension cord of 50 to 100 feet. BLACK+DECKER's BESTA510 manual sets the minimum wire gauge by the tool's amp rating and the cord's total length at 120V; a smaller gauge number is a heavier wire.

The same manual wants GFCI protection on the circuit or outlet the trimmer uses, and BLACK+DECKER says that when in doubt you should go one gauge heavier.

Volts, cutting width and line size: what the numbers mean

Volts set the platform more than the power you feel. Popular Mechanics' tester finds 20V plenty for touching up ordinary lawn grass, suggests 30 to 40 volts for moving through thicker weeds, and points dense, overgrown brush toward gas or a battery model of 50V or more. Makers count volts differently, too: BLACK+DECKER says its 40V MAX packs are 36 volts nominal (40 is the voltage with no load) and its 20V MAX packs 18 volts, so compare runtime and testers' results rather than the number on the pack.

Amp-hours and watt-hours are the size of the tank. EGO's battery pages spell out the arithmetic, volts times amp-hours equals watt-hours, which is how its 4.0Ah pack comes to 224Wh and its 2.5Ah pack to 140Wh; BLACK+DECKER lists pick 4's 2.0Ah pack at 80Wh. Popular Mechanics notes that doubling the amp-hours roughly doubles how long one charge lasts.

Cutting width is the diameter of the circle the line cuts. Consumer Reports says a swath of around 15 inches or more trims faster but is harder to steer in tight spaces. These picks run from 12 inches on pick 3 to 18 on the gas pick 6, with pick 2 adjustable from 14 to 16.

Line diameter matters as much as volts. Popular Mechanics finds 0.065- to 0.080-inch line right for grass and lawn borders and suggests 0.095-inch or larger for thicker weeds, adding that thicker line takes more power to spin and so shortens runtime. Picks 3, 4 and 5 use 0.065-inch line, pick 2 takes 0.080 or 0.095, pick 1 uses EGO's 0.095-inch twisted line, and pick 6's heads take 0.080 to 0.105. Stay within your manual: EGO says heavier line than it specifies overloads and overheats the motor, and Greenworks says thicker line than its manual advises can void the warranty.

Straight or curved shaft, bump or automatic feed?

Consumer Reports describes curved shafts as shorter and nimble around obstacles, and straight shafts as longer, with more reach from one spot, which is why pros tend to prefer them; its gas trimmer article adds that users under about 5 feet 6 inches may find a curved shaft easier to control. Bob Vila finds straight shafts generally better for users 6 feet or taller. Pick 6 is the straight-shaft 130L; the curved-shaft 130C that Bob Vila tested is its sibling.

Line feed decides how often you stop. A bump-feed head (picks 2 and 6) lets out line when you tap it on the ground; Consumer Reports describes an automatic head as one that comes wound and releases line on its own (picks 4 and 5), and pick 3 lets out line at the press of a button. Pick 1's Line IQ goes a step further, sensing a worn line and feeding it without a tap, and Pro Tool Reviews found that also stopped it from cutting the grass lower each time it would otherwise have bumped. Reloading is the other chore: EGO's POWERLOAD (pick 1) winds the line in for you.

Attachment systems trade a dedicated trimmer for one motor that runs several heads. Consumer Reports calls a powered base a good option if you need several of the tools it runs; in its gas tests, though, it found attachment bases did worse than stand-alone tools. On a battery, EGO's Multi-Head System pairs one power head with attachments, a string trimmer and an edger among them, each sold separately, and the attachment-capable Greenworks ST40L414 is in Also considered.

Can a string trimmer edge a lawn?

Yes. Popular Mechanics notes that almost any trimmer can edge if you tip it on its side or hold it upright, and some make it easier with a head that rotates and a wheel on the guard. Consumer Reports finds a rotating head especially useful because holding a trimmer turned 90 degrees for several steps along a driveway gets awkward. Picks 3, 4 and 5 all convert this way: pick 3's head pulls out and twists, pick 4's rotates and drops a wire edge guide, and pick 5's lower housing rotates onto an edging wheel. Pick 1's head does not rotate, so it edges held sideways.

Edging along concrete wears line fast; BLACK+DECKER's manual warns that stone, brick, curbs and wood wear string rapidly, and that stones and metal can be thrown at high speed, so it wants people and pets at least 100 feet away while you edge. For the edge between a lawn and a planting bed, our guide to cutting and keeping a clean bed edge covers the hand-tool method.

How to trim without scalping the lawn

The aim is to leave the trimmed strip at the same height as the mowed lawn. Minnesota's extension service advises keeping a typical lawn at 3 inches or taller and removing no more than a third of the leaf at a time, and warns that cutting too short or scalping stresses the grass and lets weed seeds get more sun. EGO's manual says the cutting height is set by how far the line sits above the lawn and that the head should run parallel to the ground; BLACK+DECKER's LST136 manual calls for a slight tilt of 5 to 10 degrees, never more than 10, cutting with the tip of the line.

A few habits from the makers' manuals help. Let the tip of the line do the cutting rather than pushing the head into uncut grass. Cut grass taller than 8 inches from the top down in small steps, which EGO says avoids early line wear and motor drag. Trim when the grass and weeds are dry. On a bump-feed trimmer, tap the head on hard, bare dirt, as EGO's manual advises, rather than in tall grass, where it warns the motor may overheat.

How to trim around trees without damaging the bark

Illinois' extension service says it is mowers and weed eaters, more than the lawn itself, that do the most harm to trees growing in turf. Purdue's forestry extension explains that the root flare, where the trunk meets the turf, takes the hits, and that young trees with thin, smooth bark, maples and birches among them, can have bark less than 1/16 inch thick. Damage to the layer just behind the bark interrupts the flow of water and nutrients, repeated small wounds add up, and a wound that circles the trunk kills the tree. Illinois' extension service adds that the damage often shows up weeks, months or years later as bark peeling from ground level to 5 or 6 inches up.

The fix is to keep the line away from the trunk altogether. Purdue suggests removing turf from the base of the tree, a mulch ring with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch, and trunk guards; Illinois suggests a mulch layer no deeper than 2 to 4 inches, in a ring 2 to 3 feet out from the trunk, kept an inch back from the bark. EGO's and BLACK+DECKER's manuals both tell you to avoid trees and shrubs because the line easily damages bark, and BLACK+DECKER adds that you should work away from solid objects such as trees to cut down on rebound. Popular Mechanics' tester used a trimmer's low speed to avoid slicing into bark around trees. If you are planting new trees, our guide to planting a tree covers setting up the mulch ring from the start.

String trimmer safety: eyes, ears, bystanders, fuel and batteries

These rules come from the makers' manuals and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

• Protect your eyes and skin. EGO's manuals call for goggles or side-shielded safety glasses marked ANSI Z87.1, plus a face shield where the job calls for one. BLACK+DECKER's LST136 manual says to wear "heavy long pants to protect your legs", and Greenworks' manual recommends rubber gloves and sturdy footwear for outdoor work.
• Keep people and pets back. EGO's ST1610T and Greenworks' ST60L254 manuals set at least 50 feet, and Husqvarna's manual sets 15 meters (about 50 feet) and says to stop the trimmer if anyone comes closer. BLACK+DECKER's BESTA510 manual gives 30 feet when starting or operating in one rule and 100 feet in another, both BLACK+DECKER manuals ask for at least 100 feet while edging, and EGO suggests bystanders wear eye protection too.
• Protect your hearing. Husqvarna's manual calls for approved hearing protection, and BLACK+DECKER's BESTA510 manual says to always wear proper personal hearing protection while you work.
• Use only nylon line. EGO warns never to load wire or metal-reinforced line, which can break off and fly at high speed, and never to exceed the line diameter the manual sets.
• Refuel gas trimmers carefully. Husqvarna's manual says to shut the engine off and wait for it to cool before refuelling, to move 10 feet from the refuelling spot before starting, and to mix no more than a month of fuel at a time.
• Charge batteries properly. EGO says to charge only with the charger it specifies, never in rain or wet places, and only within the manual's temperature range, and warns that fire or heat above 212 F can make a pack explode.
• Corded: GFCI and a heavy enough cord. See the cord chart above; BLACK+DECKER's manual wants GFCI protection on the outlet or circuit.
• Check a gas trimmer's recall status. The Consumer Product Safety Commission lists the SKUs in Husqvarna's 2024 grass trimmer recall; the SKU is on the serial tag under the motor housing.

Related guides

For the mower that does the rest of the lawn, our best lawn mower guide compares battery, gas, riding and robot mowers. Shrubs and hedges need a different tool: our best hedge trimmer guide covers the tools made for them. And for weeds in beds and between plants, where a spinning line would shred the plants you want, our best weeding tools guide covers hand tools for that job.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best weed eater?

For most yards, the EGO Power+ ST1623T, a 16-inch battery string trimmer with automatic Line IQ feed that TechGearLab ranks first in its test and Pro Tool Reviews calls the best homeowners can buy; this Amazon bundle adds a second battery. For thick weeds on a battery, the Greenworks 60V ST60L254, and for a small yard, the WORX WG163.

Is a weed eater the same as a string trimmer?

Yes. Family Handyman notes that Weed Eater began as a brand name and is now a common name for any string trimmer, along with weed whacker; all of them cut with a fast-spinning nylon line.

How long does a battery weed eater run on one charge?

Consumer Reports expects about 30 minutes from the best battery trimmers, and it can drop to 10 minutes in thick brush. On their makers' figures, the EGO ST1623T runs up to 60 minutes on its 4.0Ah pack and the Greenworks ST60L254 up to 53 on its 2.5Ah pack, though Pro Tool Reviews measured the Greenworks at 24 minutes 48 seconds at high speed.

Is a battery or gas string trimmer better?

For most yards, battery: Consumer Reports' tester says top battery models now match top gas trimmers for cutting, and they start instantly with little upkeep. Consumer Reports and Popular Mechanics point to gas for a large property, around an acre or more, or lots of thick weeds, because gas runs as long as you refuel.

What size trimmer line should I use?

Use the diameter your manual names: 0.065-inch on the WORX WG163 and the two BLACK+DECKER picks, 0.080 or 0.095 on the Greenworks ST60L254, 0.095 on the EGO ST1623T and 0.080 to 0.105 on the Husqvarna 130L's approved heads. Popular Mechanics finds thin line fine for grass and borders and 0.095-inch or larger better for thick weeds, though thicker line shortens runtime.

Can you edge with a string trimmer?

Yes. Almost any trimmer can edge held on its side, per Popular Mechanics, and models with a rotating head and a wheel or edge guide, like the WORX WG163 (support wheels), the BLACK+DECKER LST136 (wire edge guide) and the BESTA510 (edging wheel), make it easier; BLACK+DECKER's manual wants people and pets at least 100 feet away while you edge.

How far away should people stand when you use a string trimmer?

EGO's and Greenworks' manuals set at least 50 feet for children, bystanders and pets, Husqvarna's sets 15 meters (about 50 feet), BLACK+DECKER's BESTA510 manual gives 30 feet when starting or operating in one rule and 100 feet in another, both BLACK+DECKER manuals set 100 feet while edging, and Husqvarna's manual says to stop the trimmer if anyone comes closer.

How do I keep a weed eater from damaging trees?

Keep the line off the trunk: Illinois extension suggests a mulch ring 2 to 3 feet out from the trunk and no more than two to four inches deep, Purdue suggests a 2- to 3-inch layer, so there is no grass to trim against the bark, and EGO's and BLACK+DECKER's manuals say to avoid trees and shrubs with the line.

The bottom line

Buy the EGO Power+ ST1623T bundle for most yards, the Greenworks 60V ST60L254 for thick weeds on a battery, and the WORX WG163 for a small yard. Pick the BLACK+DECKER LST136 if edging is half the job, the corded BLACK+DECKER BESTA510 near an outlet, or the gas Husqvarna 130L for an acre or more, and whichever you choose, wear eye protection and keep the line off tree trunks.

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