Best String Trimmer of 2026

A 4.0Ah battery and a 13-inch cut are the right ingredients for a cordless trimmer that finishes a normal yard without a recharge, and CRAFTSMAN rates this kit at up to 63 minutes. We like that margin because it changes how you work: you can edge the walk, trim around the beds, and still have power for the back fence without watching the gauge. The turn-to-edge conversion is simple, and the adjustable handle helps you find a comfortable working height.

The longer pack makes the most of the 20V motor. The kit includes the battery and charger, and the 13-inch swath covers ground faster than the 12-inch budget models. We did find the edging button sits low on the shaft, so switching modes means reaching down rather than flicking a control by your thumb.

That low button is a small annoyance, not a dealbreaker. What gives us pause is the shorter track record: this is a newer model, and long-term durability is still an open question. For the money, though, the runtime and complete kit are compelling. If you want a cordless trimmer that can finish a normal yard on one charge and you do not need the widest swath, this is the value pick we point to.

The 40-volt battery and 13-inch cutting swath put the LST136 in the sweet spot for a suburban yard: enough muscle for thick grass along a fence, not so much tool that you dread carrying it. At 7.8 pounds, it is light enough to swing through a long edge line, and the 8,500-rpm head gives it more bite than the 20-volt trimmers here. We especially like the PowerCommand dial, which lets you choose maximum power for a tough patch or maximum runtime for the easy stretches.

Automatic feed is the other daily-use win. The head pays out line without bumping, so you keep moving, and the spool is straightforward to reload when it runs dry. The included fast charger restores the pack in two hours or less.

The compromise is the two-year warranty, which is shorter than we like on a trimmer at this end of the cordless group. We still recommend it because the combination of power, low weight, and simple line management is the most complete here. For a yard with a mix of clean edging and the occasional overgrown strip, this is the trimmer we hand to a friend first.

The 130L is the gas answer for a property where the growth does not wait for a dry weekend. Its 28cc engine and 18-inch cut give it a clear advantage in tall weeds and rough fence lines compared with the battery trimmers here. The Rapid Replace head is easy to load, and the Smart Start and air purge are designed to take some of the drama out of getting a two-stroke running.

We also appreciate the LowVib handle, which helps on a long session. At 12.2 pounds, this is a two-handed tool; you will feel it across your shoulders after an hour, especially on a slope. The reward is the ability to refuel and keep going without waiting on a charger.

A gas trimmer is not the easy default. Starting can be temperamental, and the 130L is heavier and more demanding than a battery model. We rank it as the gas pick, not the all-around pick. If your trimming is a weekly cleanup around a small lawn, a battery model is simpler; if you are clearing a fence line of saplings every spring, the 130L earns its keep.

The LST300 is the trimmer we reach for when the job is a quick edge and a pass around the mailbox, not a field of weeds. At 5.7 pounds, it is easy to carry and control, and the adjustable handle and height let you set it up for a shorter or taller user. The 12-inch cut and 6,200-rpm motor are modest, but they are enough for thin grass and regular lawn edges.

Automatic feed and the trim-to-edge conversion keep the routine simple. We like that there is no bumping and no cord to drag, and the battery and charger are included.

The single 2.0Ah pack is the catch. It is a short-session battery, and if your trimming takes more than a few minutes, keep a second pack charged. The motor also loses enthusiasm in tall, wet grass. This is a light-duty tool, and we do not ask it to clear a fence line.

For a courtyard, a townhouse patch, or an older gardener who wants less weight, it makes sense. If you need one trimmer for a larger lot, the CRAFTSMAN or LST136 is the better buy.

The WG163 is the trimmer here with a proper wheeled edger setup, and that is the reason to pick it. The rubberized wheels and 90-degree tilting head let the tool ride along a sidewalk or driveway edge instead of you freehanding the line. We like that for the weekly detail work that makes a lawn look finished.

At 5.5 pounds, it is the lightest full-size trimmer in this group, and the two included 20V batteries are a genuine convenience: one runs while the other charges. The push-button command feed is easier than bumping the head, and the adjustable spacer guard helps keep line away from plants and siding.

The catch is cutting power. The 12-inch head and 7,600-rpm motor are fine for lawn edges and thin weeds, but thick growth takes patience. We rank the WORX as the edging specialist, not the all-around choice. For a yard defined by sidewalks and beds, it is the easiest of these to use; for a pasture edge, choose more power.

The KOMASTY's trick is the shaft: it folds 180 degrees in three positions, so the trimmer can stand vertically in a corner of a garage or shed instead of sprawling across the floor. We like that for a townhouse or a workshop that has to share space with a car. The head and 9,500-rpm motor are set up for light trimming and edging, and the pivoting head makes the switch without a second tool.

Two 2.0Ah batteries are included, and together they are rated for 30 minutes of run time. That is the number to take seriously: 30 minutes is enough for a courtyard or a small front yard, not a half-acre. The automatic feed saves time, and having a second pack means you can keep working while the first one charges, provided you plan the charge break.

For its size, the folding design is the reason to choose it. A trimmer that disappears onto a shelf is easier to live with in a small house, and the low-speed control is friendly around beds. If you need to clear heavy weeds or cover a large lot, this is not the machine; if storage is the constraint, it solves the problem neatly.

Sixteen inches is a lot of trimmer to swing, and the Greenworks 60V is the widest cordless model here. That extra swath is why it earns a place for overgrown lots: fewer passes along a fence line, and the brushless motor has the torque to keep the line moving in tall grass. The 0.095-inch line and spin-to-load head are a sensible pairing for that job.

We like the reload design; twisting the housing and pulling fresh line takes seconds rather than a wrestling match. The 2.5Ah battery is rated for up to 65 minutes, and a 45-minute recharge is quick for this class. The trade-off is 11.2 pounds, which is heavier than the other cordless picks and can tire your shoulders on a slope.

For flat, rough ground, the weight buys real cutting capacity. For a small, tidy yard, it is more tool than you need. We rank it as the heavy-growth cordless alternative: if you want the lightest possible trimmer, the WORX or LST300 is easier; if you have a ditch line that gets away from you, this is the one that keeps up.