The best grass trimmers in 2023

For more lawn tool reviews, check out our reviews of the best lawn mowers, particularly our tests of the best cordless lawn mowers. For more cutting, trimming, or pruning help, see our reviews of the best garden shears, the best hedge trimmers, the best secateurs and the best loppers.

Kate’s wildlife care

Our wildlife editor, Kate Bradbury, has some advice on using a grass trimmer responsibly.

“Always​ check before you trim. Use a broom or rake to sweep the grass before you start, taking care to look out for small critters like frogs and slow worms, but also larger animals like hedgehogs. Hedgehogs frequently sleep in long grass during the day and can suffer terribly from trimmer injuries, so it pays to check before you trim.”

The best grass trimmers to buy at a glance

• Best grass trimmer for large areas: Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A
• Best grass trimmer for budget: Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer, 30cm
• Best grass trimmer for performance: Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer
• Best grass trimmer for features: WORX WG184E Dual Battery Cordless Grass Trimmer
• Best grass trimmer for ease of use: Gtech Grass Trimmer GT50

Jump to:

• Best Buy grass trimmers
• The Best of the Rest
• What's a grass trimmer used for?
• What are the different types of grass trimmer?
• Can I use a grass trimmer to mow the lawn or trim hedges?
• What are the key features to look out for?
• How we tested grass trimmers

In every review we award outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best grass trimmers below.

Best Buy grass trimmers

Powerbase 550W electric grass trimmer

RRP: £50

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Great cut
• Both trimming and edging function
• Wheels to help edging
• Comfortable, soft-grip handle
• Spare spool and storage on the machine
• 30cm cutting width
• Good value

Cons:

• Short 10m black power cable is hard to see in the grass
• Heavy to use
• Stiff to switch between trimming and edging modes

This corded trimmer won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for the best budget grass trimmer. A double line trimmer, it gives a fantastic cut, and thanks to its generous 30cm cutting width, tackles the job quickly and efficiently. It’s particularly good when edging due to wheels that help take the strain, so you can achieve a precise cut. The soft-grip loop handles on its telescopic shaft are comfortable and there’s a helpful loop for tucking the cable away when you’re moving around. It has an automatic feed and we love that there’s a storage compartment on the shaft for the spare spool, so it’s close-at-hand when it needs replacing. However, gardeners with limited mobility should note that this grass trimmer weighs 3.1kg, which is over a kilo more than the lightest machine on test, the Gtech GT50, and it doesn’t come with a strap to help take the weight. The black power cable is only 10m, so you’ll need an extension cord if you plan to trim further from a power source, and it’s tricky to see it in the grass. It also requires some heft to move between the trimming and edging modes as the mechanism is stiff. That said, it’s good value, gives a great cut, and comes with a generous three-year warranty.

Buy the Powerbase 550W Electric Grass Trimmer from Homebase

Stiga GT 500e cordless grass trimmer

RRP: £139 (£301 including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

• Buy now from Stiga (£146.00)

Pros:

• Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
• Both trimming and edging function
• Support wheels for vertical edge cut
• 50 minute fast charge
• Battery level indicator lights
• Powerful performance
• Part of the Stiga ePower cordless range

Cons:

• Heavy to use
• Guard is awkward to attach
• Battery and charger must be bought separately
• Comparatively expensive

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for performance, this trimmer has a generous 30cm cutting width, and the durable nylon double line automatic feed keeps working, so you don’t have to bump line out. The head is easy to rotate for use as an edge trimmer and the wheels help to support the weight of the body, ensuring it cuts at a consistent height. However, as it doesn’t come with a support strap, it’s eventually tiring to use. It’s powered by a large 2Ah 48V lithium-ion battery, which along with the charger is sold separately, making this significantly more expensive than other models in the test. That said, after a fast 50 minute charge it runs for 20 minutes, cutting powerfully and efficiently. It copes well with large patches of long grass, as well as hard to reach areas, and cuts lawn edges cleanly. Light indicators on the battery let you know how much time you have left to finish the job, the telescopic shaft separates in two for easy storage and it comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Stiga GT 500e Cordless Grass Trimmer from Stiga

Worx WG184E dual battery cordless grass trimmer

RRP: £199.99 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Telescopic shaft, which separates in two for storage
• Both trimming and edging function
• Comfortable handle
• Variable speeds
• Support wheels for vertical edge cut
• Automatic feed
• Battery level indicator on the shaft
• Part of the Worx 20V Powershare tool system
• Three year warranty

Cons:

• Weighs 3.9kg, the heaviest in the test
• No support strap

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for features, the Worx WG184E grass trimmer includes variable speed settings, an adjustable handle and shaft, an automatic feed and wheels. Powered by two 20V lithium-ion batteries, it has a 20-minute run time from a one hour charge, and there’s a battery level indicator on the shaft, so you can see how much power you have while you’re using the trimmer. The cutting head rotates to convert to an edger, and the wheels provide support and ensure a neat, consistent cut along an edge. We like the different speed settings, so you can boost power for longer grass, or reduce it to conserve the battery life if you’re just neatening up edges. The 33cm cutting width makes this the widest model in the test. That said, at 3.9kg it’s also the heaviest in our test, but the telescopic shaft and adjustable loop handle help to balance this trimmer and make it comfortable to hold and manoeuvre. However, it doesn’t come with a strap for additional support and becomes tiring after use in the trimmer mode. It comes with a generous three year warranty.

Buy the WORX WG184E from Amazon

Gtech grass trimmer GT50

RRP: £129.99 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable loop handle
• Ergonomic harness
• Battery level indicator
• Safety switch
• Good value

Cons:

• Long four-hour charge
• Battery only compatible with 2 other Gtech tools

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, the Gtech grass trimmer GT50 is a well-designed tool. It includes a safety switch, an ergonomic harness, an adjustable loop handle, a swivel head to change from trimmer to edger, and easy-to-fit plastic blades. Weighing just 1.8kg, it’s the lightest in the group we tested, but has a relatively narrow 23cm cutting width, so it takes longer to cover ground than the Worx, with its generous 33cm head. On test it tackled long grass and thin woody weeds on uneven terrain, as well as leaving lawn edges looking neat. However, you’ll need to plan ahead for trimming sessions as the 18V lithium-ion battery takes a lengthy four hours to charge to give 30 minutes of power, though there are helpful indicator lights on the battery to keep track of how much time you have left. As it includes a battery and charger, it’s comparatively cheaper than some other cordless trimmers, but the battery is only compatible with two other Gtech cordless tools, the HT50 hedge trimmer and SLM50 lawn mower , which doesn’t represent the best value for money. Other cordless systems have more battery-sharing tools available. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Gtech GT50 from Gtech, Amazon, and Robert Dyas

Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A

RRP: £185.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

• Buy now from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and World of Power

Pros:

• Incredibly light weight and portable
• Long run time
• Low noise level at just 78 dB
• Power button and charge level indicator on the handle
• Metal plant guard to protect delicate flowers and shrubs
• Batteries compatible across many cordless brands

Cons:

• No wheel attachment for easy edging
• No adjustable cutting head
• Smaller cut capacity of 28 cm

This is a lightweight and powerful cordless grass trimmer with a telescopic shaft. Even with the large 4.0 Ah battery installed, it weighs just 3 kg, which earns it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for large areas.
It comes in all cardboard packaging and it’s easy to assemble too - a couple of screws attach the blade guard, and you’re ready to go. The battery charge time is a respectable 60 minutes and the run time a generous 50 minutes, which is almost the longest in our test. An auto-feed double line trimmer, it cuts beautifully through even thick grass, and with minimal vibration transmitted through to your hands. You can brace the end of the trimmer against your elbow on a rubberised section as well, which makes it particularly comfortable, even without a shoulder strap. The loop handle is comfy enough to hold on to, but it’s a bit small so you get less leverage for angled cutting. It comes with a handy storage hook that can be directly screwed into a shed wall or hung on the Husqvarna’s Storage Rail system, which is a great way to get it up off the floor and save some space. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Husqvarna Aspire T28-P4A from Sam Turner, Husqvarna and World of Power

The best of the rest

Although some models didn't quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have great features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

Makita DUR181RT 18V string trimmer

RRP: £178.00 (including battery and charger)

Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

Pros:

• Quietest on test at 88.5dB
• Both trimming and edging function
• Adjustable bump guard
• Charges quickly
• Includes shoulder strap
• Rotating head
• Battery compatible with more than 100 other Makita tools

Cons:

• Loud charger, which can be annoying
• No spare line included
• No charge indicator on battery

This single-line cordless model from Makita is easy to set up thanks to clear instructions. It has several adjustable features, so you can alter the length of the shaft from 115 to 133cm, change the angle of the trimmer head, and rotate this head to trim the edges of the lawn. Even the bump guard is adjustable with a screwdriver, so if you have a variety of obstacles to trim around you can get the distance exactly right. There’s a safety button, which must be pressed to turn it on, and at 88.5dB this was the quietest trimmer on test, compared to the Powerbase trimmer, which was the loudest at 95dB. It cuts quickly and efficiently despite a small cutting width of 26cm, and comes with a shoulder strap, so it feels light and manoeuvrable despite weighing nearly 3kg. However, the charger for the 18V, 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery emits a high pitched whine, which would be annoying if you have to charge it in the house, rather than in the garage or shed. It also doesn't come with any spare line, and unlike some of other battery powered grass trimmers, there is no indication of the battery level as you work. As with all Makita tools, it comes with a generous three-year warranty, and the battery is compatible with a wide range of other Makita garden and power tools.

Buy the Makita DUR181RT from Amazon

Erbauer brushless cordless grass trimmer EGT18-Li - KIT

Price: £179.99

Our rating: 4/5

• Buy now from B & Q and Screwfix

Pros:

• Solid build quality
• Large 5.0 Ah battery lasts for ages
• Battery features a charge level indicator
• Powerful brushless motor
• Weighs just over 3.5 kg

Cons:

• No edging attachment included
• You can’t adjust the length of the shaft
• No support strap for longer use

Lightweight, capable, and built for big gardens, the Erbauer EGT18 is a useful piece of kit. It didn’t take long to get up and running, there’s just a few screws to attach the shaft and blade guard. Supplied with a big 5.0 Ah battery and a wide cutting capacity of 30 cm, this double string auto-feed trimmer is well suited to large patches of grass or awkward garden areas. You can comfortably trim a garden on a single charge, and you can charge it back to full within an hour as well, which is very efficient. The large loop handle is comfortable and gives you extra leverage in tight corners, but it’s not designed for edging work. There’s a fair bit of vibration during use, and you’ll definitely need ear protection as it’s rather loud at 96 dB. You can fold the shaft in half for storage, but you need to undo a bolt and not lose it in between jobs. It comes with a two year warranty.

Buy the Erbauer Brushless Cordless Grass Trimmer EGT18-Li - KIT from Screwfix and B & Q

Mac Allister 18V LI 280mm cordless grass trimmer

RRP: £79.99 (includes battery and charger)

Our rating: 4 out of 5

• Buy now from B&Q (£62)

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Both trimming and edging function
• Cuts well
• Comfortable to use when edging

Cons:

• Stiff to switch between modes
• Stiff bump guard
• Loud
• Part of a cordless system, but only 6 other tools available

At just under 2kg, this trimmer feels lightweight and easy to move around the garden and it achieves a fast, efficient cut. It’s especially comfortable to hold when edging, has a simple automatic feed, and a relatively generous 28cm cutting width – the widest in the test was the Worx WG184E with 33cm. The 18V, 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery charges in 75 minutes and covers 250 square meters on a single charge. However, we found all its parts stiff to adjust - particularly lifting the bump guard up and down - and it's fiddly to switch between the trimming and edging modes and to extend the telescopic shaft. Furthermore, the noise level is one of the loudest at 96dB, and this noise is noticeably high-pitched. It has a two-year warranty, and though it’s part of a cordless system, only six other tools are available.

Buy the Mac Allister 18V LI 280mm cordless grass trimmer from B&Q

Vonhaus F-Series cordless grass trimmer

RRP: £44.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

• Buy now from Vonhaus (£54.99)

Pros:

• Cuts well and quickly
• Great value
• Blade storage

Cons:

• Uncomfortable handles
• No edging function
• Loudest machine on test
• Battery compatible with only three other tools

Despite its narrow 21cm cutting width, this grass trimmer gives a good cut. The plastic blades tackle grass and woodier material well, and the 30-minute run time is one of the longest in our test. We like the storage feature under the handle for the included spare plastic blades, which are bright pink and easy to spot if they snap off into the grass. However, while it's efficient, this machine is the loudest on the test at 98dB, and the handles are uncomfortable too. It also takes an hour and a half to charge, which though less than the 4 hours of the Gtech model, is much longer than the 45 minutes of the Makita DUR181RT and Mac Allister 18V LI 18V 280mm. The 12V, 2.0Ah F-Series lithium-ion battery is compatible with just three other Vonhaus tools - a hedge trimmer, garden saw, and handheld hedge and grass trimmer - which can save you money if you buy these in the future, but is limited compared to other cordless systems such as the dozens of compatible tools in the Worx PowerShare cordless system. Crucially, this trimmer also has no edging function, so if you’re after neat lawn edges you should look elsewhere. Because it’s just 12V, the battery is less powerful than others on test, but if you need to tidy up a small garden on a budget, it will do the job well, and comes with a two-year warranty.

Buy the Vonhaus F-Series Grass Trimmer from Amazon and Vonhaus

What's a grass trimmer used for?

Trimmers cut the long grass and weeds that a mower can’t reach. They’re great for cutting in tricky places, such as around the base of a tree, the corner of a lawn, or on steep slopes. Depending on their power and their blade material, they can also tackle woodier growth like ivy, brambles, and stinging nettles. Many grass trimmers can also be used to tidy up along the edges of a lawn by adjusting the angle of the cutting head.

What are the different types of grass trimmer?

• Line (or string) trimmers. These trimmers cut by spinning a plastic or nylon cord at high speed. This cord wears down gradually over time, and is either replaced automatically (automatic feed) or has a button on the bottom of the trimmer you can bump on the ground to reel out more cord (bump feed). They are either single-line, using one line of cord, or double-line, which uses two lines of cord. Generally, the line is designed to wear down gradually rather than completely break, but if the cord catches a rock and snaps, just reel out more cord. However, these fragments of plastic aren’t good for the environment, and once you run out of cord, the spools can be fiddly to replace. Although powerful enough to cut long grass and weeds, line trimmers aren’t as strong as blade trimmers, and are therefore less effective on tough, woody material.
• Blade trimmers. These trimmers cut using two blades, which on domestic models are usually plastic. This makes them more effective on woodier material than some line alternatives, but if they catch on a rock or tough bark the blades can snap and get lost in the grass, which can damage the mower next time you cut the grass. Trimmers with metal blades avoid this problem, but they’re more expensive and not as widely available.
• Petrol trimmers. Powered by petrol these typically have steer handles - explained in more detail below - and a curved, angled shaft. Because they use fuel, they’re often more powerful than corded and cordless trimmers, but petrol is polluting and messy to store and use. They’re also heavy, noisy and need regular servicing. Thanks to the rise of cordless batteries, they’re less common nowadays, particularly for home use.
• Electric corded trimmers. Corded trimmers use a power cable connected to mains electricity. Depending on the length of the cable, these trimmers are more suitable for smaller gardens, but you can expand their reach with an extension lead. They’re also more dangerous than cordless trimmers because you run the risk of accidentally cutting the cable.
• Electric cordless trimmers. Cordless trimmers are powered by lithium-ion batteries rather than mains electricity. Because of this, you can use them anywhere in the garden, but you’re restricted by run time and how long the battery takes to charge. They also tend to be less powerful and more expensive than corded trimmers, but they can be excellent value if their batteries are part of a cordless system and can be used in other power tools.

The key thing is to always check before you trim. Use a broom or rake to sweep the grass before you start, taking care to look out for small critters like frogs and slow worms, but also larger animals like hedgehogs.

What are the key features to look out for?

Before you buy think about the following :

• Cutting head. The cutting head is the most important feature on a trimmer. It should be adjustable, so you can change the angle of the cut to cope with inclines and fiddly jobs. In most models, the head turns 90°, so you can trim along the edges of paths and flowerbeds. In the very best models, the cutting head also has wheels to help guide along edges and support the weight of the trimmer.
• Adjustable shaft. The best trimmers have a telescopic shaft, so you change the height to suit you. In some models, the shaft is angled rather than straight to help you manoeuvre into tricky spots. If space is an issue, it’s also helpful if you can break down the shaft and cutting head after use for storage.
• Line feed and blade replacements. It’s useful if a blade trimmer comes with spare blades, so you don’t run out if one breaks in the middle of a job. You should be able to get a new spool of line for a line trimmer or replace the whole head. With both types it's helpful if the spare blades or line can be stored on the tool.
• Handle types. There are two types of trimmer handles. The most common is a round, circular handle on the shaft of the trimmer, called a loop handle. It makes the trimmer easy and comfortable to control, and on the best models, it can be slid up and down the shaft, so you can adjust it to your height. Alternatively, there are ‘steer’ handles - two handles rather than a loop. These offer more control and let you use a comfortable scything motion when you cut, but they take up room, and can be a little more expensive. They’re also far more common on brush cutters and petrol trimmers than electric or cordless trimmers, so you might not find steer handles on many domestic models.
• Straps and safety harnesses. A shoulder strap or safety harness is an excellent bonus feature. It takes some of the weight of the tool, making it more comfortable to use, and also helps balance it, for better manoeuvrability and a more precise cut.
• Bump guard. Some trimmers have metal guards on the head, called bump guards, which prevent the trimmer from cutting beyond a certain point. This protects your garden, as it stops you from nicking a tree or garden furniture but it also protects your trimmer line or blades by preventing them from catching on a fence or wall and breaking. The best bump guards can be adjusted, so you can control how closely you cut.

How We Tested

We tested a range of grass trimmers, putting them through their paces on lawn edges, sloped areas and big and small gardens. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:

• Preparation. Assessed how easy the grass trimmers were to assemble, how long this took and if any extra tools were needed, and how easy the instructions are to use. We also looked at how easy and quick it was to charge the batteries and store the trimmers.
• Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a safety button, the runtime, and noise.
• Performance. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut. We also assessed power and any extra functionality.
• Value for Money. Considered all of the above plus any special features, RRP and warranty.

For more information on our testing process, see How We Review.

This review was last updated in June 2023. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.