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8 best cordless strimmers and grass cutters to keep your lawn in check

Whether you’re tackling your garden or allotment, you’ll want one of these machines at hand

Jon Axworthy
Tuesday 02 April 2024 10:54 BST
These tools can tackle everything from intricate garden borders to tough patches of weeds
These tools can tackle everything from intricate garden borders to tough patches of weeds (The Independent)
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There’s a fine (usually nylon) line between a good-looking garden and a great-looking one, and it’s attached to the best strimmers or brush cutters on the market.

These tools form an essential part of any garden armoury, tackling everything from delicate jobs, such as delivering a nice crisp edge (which escapes most mowers’ blades), to taking on tougher tangled patches of thorns and ivy that quickly encroach on areas of the garden that don’t get much footfall.

What’s also essential is the strimmer has an effortless feed mechanism, as a broken line is inevitable, and you don’t want to have to keep stopping to ensure there is enough cord spinning around for the machine to do its job effectively.

No matter how efficient the feed, you will eventually run out of line, so, we assessed each model on how easy it was to respool – all the machines in our edit made the job of resupplying the line headache-free.

There aren’t too many extras when it comes to strimmers, apart from the overall ergonomics of each machine – from the shoulder strap or harness to the hand holds – so, we needed to find out if we could work in comfort, without having to fight the machine, as we put the finishing touches to lawned areas and battled the brush in our garden.

How we tested the best cordless strimmers and grass cutters

We had an acre of land on which to test all the machines. Within that space, there were dense patches of unruly vegetation, as well as a lawned area that had just been mown. We put each machine through its paces, using it to edge borders, taper up to walls, fences and around trees and scythe through areas that were hip height in long grass and choked with scrub.

The best strimmers for 2024 are:

  • Best strimmer overall – Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 grass strimmer: £398.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget strimmer – Spear and Jackson S4528ET strimmer: £46.50, Argos.co.uk
  • Best strimmer for city gardens – Stihl FSA 57 strimmer: £144.99, Sam-turner.co.uk
  • Best space-saving strimmer – Husqvarna aspire T28-P4A strimmer: £155, Toolstoday.co.uk

Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 grass strimmer

ryobi .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer overall
  • Cutting width: 28cm to 33cm
  • Weight: 3.7kg
  • Why we love it
    • Quiet
    • Good ergonomics for a strapless model

This is a quiet, battery-operated model that comes with a variable cutting path of either 28cm or 33cm, and with the line already fitted onto the cassette, so you can hit the ground strimming.

The line is adjusted by simply unscrewing and rotating (by 180-degrees) a small cutter on the underside of the cutting deck, which will automatically cut the line to the size you want to work with. The machine coped with its grass duties, and the rougher stuff around the edges, with the auto feed working well when you ease off on the power during cutting.

For a strapless machine, the ergonomics were good, after a few adjustments to the handle.

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Spear and Jackson S4528ET strimmer

spear .jpg
  • Best: Budget grass strimmer
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 3.5kg
  • Why we love it
    • Cuts longer grass with ease
    • Neat spool-sized storage in the handle

This electric model from the British manufacturer comes with a 28cm cutting swathe and 10m of cable, so it’s able to make its way around most small lawns without the addition of an extension lead. The automatically fed line worked well and cut with ease through longer grass areas and ivy.

There is a spool-sized storage area in the handle (with an extra spool and line) for another length of cord, so, if you do run out in the middle of the job, you can replace it there and then without a trip back to the shed. A telescopic shaft, foot pedal adjustment for degree of cut and an edging wheel makes that job much smoother, and we found the machine left a nice, tidy line in its wake.

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Karcher LTR 18-30

karcher .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer for lawn finishing
  • Cutting width: 30cm
  • Weight: 2.5kg
  • Why we love it
    • User-friendly for any height
    • Handy for hard-to-reach areas

The battery-operated Karcher did a superb job of reaching the parts of the garden that were out of bounds for the mower (for example, underneath a low, stone garden bench), thanks to an easy-to-change pivoting head.

The 30cm cutting width was ample for small to medium gardens, and the automatic line feed worked well, while changing the line in and out was straightforward. The two grips were ergonomically positioned and the telescopic handle made the machine user-friendly for any height.

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Gtech GT50

gtech .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer for tight spaces
  • Cutting width: 23cm
  • Weight: 1.85kg
  • Why we love it
    • Lightweight
    • Good for hard-to-reach areas

This is an incredibly lightweight battery model that’s nicely balanced and uses plastic blades (instead of cord), which clip onto the cutting head and are effective at taking down long grass, nettles and even some of the larger, well-established weeds it had to tackle.

There’s no strap or harness, but the fact the machine is only 1.85kg means it’s ready to just pick up and go whenever you want to give a lawned area a quick touch up. It’s particularly suited to finding its way into hard-to-reach areas, such as in and around a rockery. The swivelling head was effective for edging, and the machine comes with 20 replacement blades as standard but, as long as you clear your working area of hidden rocks and stones and take care near patio edges, a few blades should see you through a summer’s worth of strimming.

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WORX WG183E strimmer

worx .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer for small to medium sized gardens
  • Cutting width: 33cm
  • Weight: 2.9kg
  • Why we love it
    • Removed tough patches of grass with ease
    • Lightweight

Even with the batteries on board, this machine was very light, and the 33cm cutting path impressively reduced some tough patches of heavy grass and weeds. When it came to the more delicate job of edging, the results were equally impressive, and we were left with a nicely defined cut down long lengths of lawn. We didn’t need to think about the line’s length for the entire time we were strimming, with the machine’s auto-feed mechanism working well every time we stopped and then started strimming again.

Like the Gtech, there’s no strap but the WORX’s light weight works well in combination with the rubberised grip and adjustable handle, giving you good control of the machine without it placing too much strain on your body. However, this does limit the machine to shorter shifts of strimming on a small to medium sized patch, rather than an all-out assault on the entire garden.

  1.  £139 from Worx.com
Prices may vary
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Stihl FSA 57 strimmer

stirh .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer for city gardens
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 3.5kg
  • Why we love it
    • Impressive power
    • Quiet
    • Easy to use

For a battery model, this delivers really impressive power, with a minimum of noise and fuss. We were able to get through some thick ground-hugging ivy and clumps of long grass without any issues – when we wanted more line to deal with them, the bump and feed mechanism worked well.

A push-button start and easily adjustable handle and shaft add to the ease of use, and the plant protector gave sufficient space between border plants. The fact it runs so quietly, even on full power, makes it an attractive option for urban gardeners who don’t want to be branded a noisy neighbour.

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Husqvarna aspire T28-P4A strimmer

husquarna .jpg
  • Best: Space-saving strimmer
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 2.6kg
  • Why we love it
    • Easy to store away
    • Automatic turn-off when not in operation

We’ve featured plenty of products from Husqvarna’s aspire range in our edits of the latest and best landscaping tools, and we’re happy to recommend the aspire trimmer, too. It’s nicely designed and balances performance and power cutting with a solution for anyone who has a garden but doesn’t have a lot of room to store the kit needed to maintain it.

The telescopic shaft tailors the tool to you for good ergonomics but it’s also a space saver, as you can just retract the handle and then hang up the strimmer using the storage hook. We didn’t have any problems with the auto feed, and we liked the fact there is an automatic shutdown if the machine is left on but isn’t in operation.

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Ego power + ST1613E-T strimmer

ego .jpg
  • Best: Continuous strimmer
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 2.6kg
  • Why we love it
    • Really good auto-feed
  • Take note
    • Pricey

For a machine with a sizeable cutting width, the Ego did very well on more-delicate duties around the lawn edge, thanks to a responsive trigger and two preset speeds. However, when it was time to take on the brush, it was able to perform without skipping a beat, so, it’s a great tool if you have to contend with lawns and undergrowth in equal measure, as you won’t have to switch to a specialised brush cutter, unless things get really thick and clogged.

You also won’t have to stop to tend to the line, thanks to Ego’s Line IQ auto feed, which was very responsive, ensuring we had enough line in play at all times, for effective cutting. The strap is comfortable and works well to take the weight of the machine and makes it easier to move along, cutting in an arc.

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Strimmers FAQs

Things to look for

Ergonomics

Strenuous strimming while hunched over and tense is the fast-track way to back pain, so, if you are prone to such ailments, choose a strimmer with adjustable handles and shafts, to help you get the right balance and feel for your posture. If possible, try out your prospective purchase before you buy. The ability to adjust the length or angle of the cutting head can also help when strimming on inclines and working in confined areas of the garden.

Battery system

Many of the strimmer brands reviewed here have interchangeable batteries that will work across a number of power tools within their respective brand’s cordless range. Li-ion batteries (also known as lithium ion rechargeable batteries) and their accompanying chargers tend to be rather pricey, so, this may sway your choice if you already own cordless tools. Be sure to check whether your strimmer comes bundled with batteries and chargers, as this can add considerably to the total cost.

Strimmer cutting head

Strimmers are usually equipped with a flexible strimmer wire, which becomes taught as the strimmer head rotates, enabling it to slice through vegetation. The standard wire thickness for light residential use is around 1.5mm but if you intend to cut through thick brush, you need to be looking at a wire thickness of 3-4mm. Note that using a thicker wire will reduce the runtime of your battery.

Grass trimmer safety tips

  • Protection – It might not be the most comfortable gardening get-up but using powerful tools such as these requires some protective gear, so, make sure you’re sporting full-length trousers, gloves, closed-toe shoes and a long-sleeved top. It’s also important to invest in eye protection, a pair of earplugs and a gardening face shield.
  • Clear the area – Before you start strimming, check the area for bits of debris, such as pieces of glass and metal or sticks and stones, as these can be picked up and thrown by the trimmer. Of course, you should also make sure no one will be coming into the area in which you’re working – this means keeping an eye on curious pets, too.
  • Get the right tool for the job – It’s vital you ensure your trimmer is suitable for the work you plan to do. Don’t attempt to tackle large areas of undergrowth with a compact, lightweight model, and, before getting to work each time, you should check the machine for any damage.
  • Cutting techniques – This may seem obvious but you should keep your distance from the strimmer end of your power tool at all times. This includes avoiding raising the blade above your waist and trying not to strain too much when tackling hard-to-reach spots. If you begin to get tired, step away and recharge – it’s important you don’t push through fatigue, as this is when accidents can happen.

Can you cut wet grass with a strimmer?

The short answer is no. In terms of safety, the electrical components found in battery-powered trimmers are isolated, unlike their corded counterparts, but there is still a risk of starting a fire or giving yourself a nasty electric shock when working with wet grass. You will also be working with an uneven surface, as soggy grass tends to get trodden down more easily, which will only lead to an uneven cut. Plus, wet grass can clump together and cause blockages to the blade.

The verdict: Strimmers

For pick-up-and-go strimming, we found the Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 was an excellent all-rounder, with good ergonomics. The fact it cuts at two different widths, after a minimal adjustment, was very handy when moving on from the lawn to the more overgrown areas in a garden, too.

Want to take the work out of tackling your lawn? We’ve rounded up the best robot mowers

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