The Husqvarna 110iL is our Best Overall string trimmer not because it’s the most powerful, but because it offers the most complete experience for the greatest number of users. Our previous Best Overall, the 110iL’s big brother, the Husqvarna 330iKL, is still featured in this roundup, but I found the 110iL to be a better overall option for most homeowners.

The 110iL doesn’t have the raw power of some other heavy-duty models, but it has more than enough power to handle trimming grass and light brush of a typical suburban yard (even one that’s overgrown). Instead, the 110iL excels at being good at everything; it’s not too heavy, has a good battery life, is well balanced, isn’t too loud, and it’s on the market at a very competitive price.

The Husqvarna 110iL also provides extreme versatility. It comes with a dual trimmer/edger head (unlike the 330iKL, which is a trimmer head only), providing homeowners with two tools in one. In addition, the FLXi line allows you to swap out heads, giving access to leaf blower, pole saw, hedge trimmer, and more, all with the same core motor.

I like that the Husqvarna lines use a dedicated power button, making it a little extra safe and resistant to accidentally triggering during transport. My one complaint with the 110iL is that it only has one speed. Without speed controls, you aren’t able to throttle down while working around flowers or buildings.

Unlike some other powerful trimmers with dual strings, it didn’t pull itself into the patio furniture when I performed a collision test. Overall, the 110iL does everything well and is a great investment for anyone who wants to tackle their trimming with ease.

Full Husqvarna 110iL String Trimmer Review

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The Worx 20-volt PowerShare GT 3.0 is a great value if you want a lightweight, battery-powered trimmer that can handle anything the typical suburban lawn throws at it. It handled my pre- and post-mow trims with ease, while the flower guard and edging mode made flower bed cleanup a breeze.

Speaking of edging, the Worx performed well as an edger both around beds and along sidewalks. I noticed it strained a little bit on overgrown sidewalk edges, mostly a result of having a single cutting strand, instead of the two that higher-end trimmers have, but it got the job done. It takes two steps to convert to an edger—manually adjusting the angle of the head, then loosening and rotating the shaft. I liked that it rides on two wheels when edging, which provided more stability, and it’s surprisingly quiet for an edger/trimmer combo.

The angle of the offhand grip is adjustable, but the location is not. Since the offhand grip is significantly behind the point of balance, I found it took more effort to hold it straight while trimming.

You can buy this trimmer with no batteries (linked above) or one or two 2.0-Ah batteries. If you can get it on sale, the two-battery option is the best bet, as it helps you unlock the most amount of runtime when you factor in each battery. Once one is discharged, pop it in the charger, plug in the second, and keep going.

Full Worx 20-Volt PowerShare String Trimmer Review

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Echo built its name on string trimmers, and this model is a shining example of why it has such a solid reputation. Equipped with a powerful 25.4-cc engine, this trimmer produces ample torque, as the 2:1 gear reduction functions like the lower speed on a bicycle—focused on delivering power. Factor in the added strength and durability of its thick twisted nylon line, and you’ve got a trimmer that absolutely shreds weeds, making it worthy of a spot in a professional yard management crew’s tool arsenal.

There are also thoughtful touches that make this trimmer ideal for all-day use, including a skid plate that protects the fuel tank from picking up holes and springing a leak, overmolded grips that make it comfortable to operate for big jobs, and a speed-feed design that lets you reload a new line in seconds. If you want pro-level power and build quality in your yard trimmer and don’t mind the noise and maintenance that comes with gas, this is a great choice.

Full Echo SRM-2620 String Trimmer Review

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Multipurpose tools may sometimes seem like a compromise—they don’t excel at one thing, but instead do several tasks decently. Take the Ryobi Expand-It system, which has a tool base that runs a variety of different tool heads, so it’s not singularly a string trimmer, but can save you space compared to having all of those implements as separate, dedicated tools.

If storage is at a premium in your garage, deputy editor Colin Aylesworth, who recently tested this unit, found that the Expand-It offers a flexible solution if you also look at adding things like a pole saw, a blower, a hedge trimmer, or more.

The product was tested at Aylesworth’s home on his half-acre property. Once assembled, the Expand-It string trimmer is a full-length straight-shaft string trimmer. Two string ends emerge from the head, and the line is advanced with a strong bump of the head onto the ground. This is how most other trimmers work, those used by regular homeowners and professionals alike.

The Expand-It trimmer made quick and easy work of Aylesworth’s edging and competently tackled trimming around his lawn’s border areas. At no time did he feel as though the tool was a compromise in any way. Additionally, the 40-volt battery platform the tool runs on is plenty powerful, and you can fit any capacity battery depending on what you have and how much work you are doing.

Okay, true confession time: I love corded tools. I know that battery-operated tools have the edge in terms of power and mobility, but sometimes that’s more than you need. If you’re only trimming an area that’s reachable with a long power cord, then save some money by opting for a corded string trimmer.

The Black + Decker PowerCommand is a lightweight 14-inch trimmer that's perfect for smaller yards. At just over 5 pounds, it’s comfortable in the hand and easy to navigate. Its biggest drawback is that it’s a bit noisy, even for a trimmer/edger combo.

I was skeptical when I saw the design of the edging conversion. Unlike most trimmers/edgers, which are designed so that you walk behind the cutting edge, the PowerCommand has you move alongside it. You do need to go slow and steady, but it’s surprisingly comfortable to use, and the design really shone when I edged curved beds. I simply stood in the center of the curve radius and brought the edger around, which is much easier than a more typical design.

Price and convenience make the PowerCommand trimmer a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers with small yards.

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String trimmers and leaf blowers complement each other, and breaking out a blower is a great way to clean up your driveway after trimming or edging the perimeter. The ST1510T is a solid, high-performing trimmer that’s available alone or packaged with a 610 cfm leaf blower. (For more on leaf blowers, check out our buying guide.)

Manufacturers often bundle a trimmer and blower in a package, but I often find that one or the other is underpowered. The ST1510T is a full-featured trimmer with two speeds, a variable-speed trigger, and the power to cut through even the toughest weeds. In addition, the telescoping shaft and adjustable offhand grip make it easy to find the right balance point for your height and arm length.

I also found the ST1510T was more than comfortable for left-handed use. I primarily use trimmers right-handed, shifting to a left-handed grip when needed. The Ego ST1510T is one of the rare trimmers that I find just as comfortable to use in either grip. This is underscored by design decisions like placing the speed selector on top of the unit, where it’s easily reachable for both a right- or left-handed grip.

The only shortcoming I found with the Ego ST1510T was during assembly. I’ve put together a lot of string trimmers, but on this model, the adjustable handle simply wouldn’t slip, no matter how hard I pressed. I even tried to tap it into place with a wood block and rubber mallet—nothing worked. After a lot of swearing, I finally used a heat gun to soften the plastic enough to widen the mouth, and it popped into place. Once it came together, it was a great performer, but it did take extra effort during assembly.

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Of the trimmers I have been testing, the Kress KG160 is the most comfortable to use. The weight distribution and balance are fantastic, and I had minimal fatigue even when using it for long periods.

The Kress KG160 is also one of the quietest trimmers I've ever used. This is especially true when in its lower speed setting (ECO mode). But I decided to see how far I could push this by using an old trick I learned when working for customers sensitive to noise: I trimmed back around 20 percent of the line length. With that change, the Kress was quiet enough that I could easily have had a conversation while using it without raising my voice.

This string trimmer has two speed settings and a variable-speed trigger. It uses a bump feed advance. It had no trouble with trimming tall grass or weeds, and while it does not have an edger mode, I found it nimble enough to use as an edger if needed.

One issue I ran into was debris kick-back. While all trimmers throw clippings, the KG160’s debris was excessive. In fact, it was the only trimmer I tested that kicked material back into my face. This is probably due to the smaller debris shield size compared to other trimmers. It didn’t happen often, but it’s a reminder of why it’s always a good idea to wear protective equipment.

Key Specs

A common stumbling block for those new to string trimmers is learning how to advance the string length. Many models use a “bump head” advance, which functions by tapping the head against solid ground while running the trimmer. This feels awkward when you first try it, and it’s a learning curve made worse by models that have stiffer heads and more of a whack than a tap.

The Greenworks ST60L414 has a particularly smooth, beginner-friendly bump head advance. It really did require just a tap, and never jammed or failed to deploy during testing. If you’re put off by bump head feed, but still want a high-performing trimmer, the ST60L414 is a great choice.

The ST60L414 has two speed settings and a variable-speed trigger. It ships with a 60V, 4.0 Ah battery and charger. I’ve used this same battery with Greenworks chainsaws and lawnmowers, and it proved more than adequate for a string trimmer. The downside is the battery’s weight, which pushes the overall weight of the trimmer well over 12 pounds, making it the second-heaviest trimmer we reviewed. Happily, Greenworks includes a shoulder harness to help distribute the added weight.

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We attached a string trimmer accessory to DeWalt’s massive 60-volt power head and waded into a drainage basin to face off with some tall stuff, slicing down weeds, grass, and light to medium briars as we went. If it wasn’t such hard work, it would almost have been fun.

The DeWalt more than proved its capability in that jungle, then we slipped into its low (rpm) setting, tipped it vertically and cut a nice, neat channel at the edge of a sidewalk and along a curb.

This is a substantial machine, but its balance is good, and we didn’t find it tiring to use. Nor did we find problems with the string trimmer head that were referenced online. What we did find is a rock-solid trimmer capable of taking a pounding while delivering a clean cut.

Key Specs

Ego pulled out the stops in engineering this string trimmer. Start with the fact that you never have to bump feed the head— instead it feeds out string automatically. When you run out of line, simply feed a precut length through the head and press the rewind button at the end of the shaft. The string zooms into the head in seconds. Our test found the 56-volt brushless motor delivers power to spare.

A two-speed selector switch enables you to choose between going full out at vegetation or dialing back the speed for around delicate shrubs. A telescoping shaft lets you adjust the length to suit your tastes, while a lightweight carbon-fiber shaft makes it easier to handle.

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Husqvarna is highly regarded for its chainsaws among those who make a living chopping down trees, so it should come as little surprise that its string trimmers are pretty darn good, too.

When it comes to power and performance, this 36-volt battery-powered 330iKL doesn’t disappoint. The 330iKL is the big brother to our Best Overall pick, the 110iL, and a great fit for tackling thick, dense undergrowth or on large properties. It uses a thicker cutting line (0.095-inch compared to the 110iL’s 0.065-inch diameter line) and has a wider cutting swath (18 inches, 6 inches wider than the 110iL). It doesn’t have an edging conversion, though the entire head can be swapped out for an edging attachment.

During testing, the 330iKL devoured dense brush, clearing tall weeds off the shoulder of a local bike path and thrashing through vegetation with ease. After all that, there was no decline in power or any snafus with line feed. In short, it’s an excellent choice if you want a powerful, battery-driven trimmer.

Key Specs

In the realm of outdoor power tools, the 20-volt Craftsman occupies a lightweight, light-duty niche. It’s an absolute pleasure to use. No, this isn’t a weed-slashing brute, but it trims neatly and effectively. Its brushless motor and 5.0-Ah battery won’t give up on you before you’ve finished the job.

Plus, it’s one of the easier trimmers to handle and is easy on the ears. It weighs a mere 6.8 pounds and is nearly whisper-quiet on its low setting.

One caveat here: It works vertically when edging, but only if you have a light hand. Its single .080 line won’t take a whole lot of dirt impact. Go easy, and you’ll be fine.

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