The 26 best weed eater brands
Ryobi, BLACK+DECKER and Craftsman lead our ranking of 26 weed eater brands. Compare what each brand makes, visit its official site, or shop it online.
Weed Eater brands, ranked
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1
Ryobi
Ryobi covers both petrol and ONE+ battery trimmers, so one battery platform can run many other tools in the range.
Website: ryobitools.com |Brands like Ryobi
Popularity 10.0/10
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2
BLACK+DECKER
Budget-friendly electric and lithium trimmers, with auto-feed heads that suit light trimming around small yards.
Website: blackanddecker.com |Brands like BLACK+DECKER
Popularity 6.2/10
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3
Craftsman
Craftsman trimmers are mostly straight-shaft petrol or cordless models, with an edger option for tidying borders.
Top products: CMEST913
Website: craftsman.com |Brands like Craftsman
Popularity 6.0/10
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4
DEWALT
DEWALT's 20V cordless trimmers use brushless motors and share batteries with its wider 20V MAX tool range.
Top products: DCST922
Website: dewalt.com |Brands like DEWALT
Popularity 5.2/10
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5
STIHL
Premium petrol trimmers built around anti-vibration design and durable two-stroke engines, favoured by professional landscapers.
Website: stihlusa.com |Brands like STIHL
Popularity 4.8/10
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6
Ego
Power+ 56V battery packs run the same trimmers, mowers, and blowers, so one charger covers the whole yard.
Popularity 4.6/10
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7
Makita
Heavy industries and workplaces that demand high power often depend on tools and equipment to complete a task. The more powerful the instrument, the better the productivity. Makita U.S.A is an establishment responsible for offering different types of equipment that can deal with the massive workforce and other pressures. Established in 1915, the company produces and supplies products like cordless blowers, gas power cutters, hedge trimmers, and many more. They also bring other accessories.
Website: makitatools.com |Brands like Makita
Popularity 4.3/10
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8
Milwaukee
M18 cordless trimmers with brushless motors, suited to tradespeople who need runtime and a tough build.
Top products: 2828-20E
Website: milwaukeetool.com |Brands like Milwaukee
Popularity 4.2/10
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9
GreenWorks
Battery trimmers on 40V and 82V platforms, where the 82V pack suits heavy commercial cutting and the 40V suits homeowners.
Website: greenworkstools.eu |Brands like GreenWorks
Popularity 3.9/10
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10
Husqvarna
Professional petrol trimmers with X-Torq engines and a straight-shaft design for dense or large grass.
Top products: 122L
Website: husqvarnacp.com |Brands like Husqvarna
Popularity 3.7/10
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11
WORX
Lightweight electric and battery trimmers with a rotating head, a practical pick for small gardens.
Website: worx.com |Brands like WORX
Popularity 3.7/10
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12
Homelite
Every home requires adequate lighting. It is the most fundamental of utilities. It is essential for delivering light into our lives so that people can see what they are doing and do various home activities. Homelite Utility Lighting is an...
Popularity 3.4/10
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13
Weed Eater
Multi-function kits built around a shaft-mounted trimmer head, adding hedge trimmer and blower attachments.
Popularity 3.4/10
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14
Toro
Toro's bump-feed heads, found on both gas and battery trimmers, suit mid-sized lawns.
Popularity 2.6/10
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15
Shindaiwa
Professional-grade two-stroke trimmers and brushcutters, favoured for durability and tough cutting jobs.
Website: shindaiwapartsonline.com |Brands like Shindaiwa
Popularity 2.3/10
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16
Troy-Bilt
Beautifully trimmed grass is as stunning as Eiffel Tower. So, to maintain the growth and healthy life of the garden, Troy-Bilt brings in sturdy products that help shape and keep the grass tidy and trim. Their product ranges from riding...
Top products: TB22
Website: troybilt.com |Brands like Troy-Bilt
Popularity 2.0/10
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17
SKIL
The portable circular saw was invented by SKIL. They understand power tools. They're still on top, with patented technology and deliberate advancements that tackle real-world workplace problems. SKIL tools provide the power and performance you need to accomplish your most...
Website: skil.com |Brands like SKIL
Popularity 1.9/10
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18
Sun Joe
The eco-friendly outdoor yard + garden tools Snow Joe, Sun Joe, and Aqua Joe are designed to assist you in eliminating snow, ice, and water off your route. Blowers, vacuums, self-propelled mowers, and other lawn care items are available. They...
Website: snowjoe.com |Brands like Sun Joe
Popularity 1.5/10
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19
Honda
1946 was when bicycling was the most common mode of transportation. Soichiro Honda got the idea of using auxiliary power for bicycles when he witnessed the Imperial Army using generator engines for powering wireless radios. After a lot of trial-and-error,...
Website: techinfo.honda.com |Brands like Honda
Popularity 1.0/10
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20
PowerSmart
PowerSmart is an American-based company that supplies power tools for commercial, agriculture, and residential use. Their products are smart and powerful to make them convenient for the users. Hi-tech technology that delivers great performance for any kind of outdoor use....
Website: powersmartusa.com |Brands like PowerSmart
Popularity 1.0/10
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21
Kawasaki
Kawasaki makes motorcycles, off-road ATVs, side-by-side vehicles and Jet Ski personal watercraft. It also sells motorcycle parts such as clutch levers and handlebars, along with apparel and vehicle accessories. The Japanese manufacturer builds powersports machines for riders who enjoy the...
Website: kawasaki.com |Brands like Kawasaki
Popularity 0.9/10
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22
RIDGID
Ridgid is the brand that created the modern pipe wrench. This company makes sure to offer assistance to the people who are building the world that we live in. they started way back in 1923, and they keep on going...
Website: ridgid.com |Brands like RIDGID
Popularity 0.9/10
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23
Poulan
Poulan Pro was established in 1946, right after the war's end. Claude Poulan first started the business with the creation of two-person chainsaws. The company has continued growing over the years, and they have steadily created many lightweight and durable...
Website: poulanprosteam.com |Brands like Poulan
Popularity 0.9/10
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24
McCulloch
McCulloch offers chainsaws, chainsaw chain, and chainsaw oil for home gardeners and landowners. The brand has built garden equipment for more than 50 years and is recognized for its X-Torq engine design. Its saws are built for cutting firewood, pruning...
Website: mcculloch.com |Brands like McCulloch
Popularity 0.8/10
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25
Lawn-Boy
Lawn-Boy is the top dealer in lawn equipment and landscaping tools. Established in the year 1904 in Wisconsin, it is considered a brand icon for the best quality backyard equipment. Their products are developed to maneuver smoothly on rough terrain...
Website: lawnboy.com |Brands like Lawn-Boy
Popularity 0.8/10
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26
Cub Cadet
Cub Cadet manufactures outdoor power equipment and has a history of more than 60 years, starting with small tractors made under International Harvester. Its lineup includes riding mowers, zero-turn mowers, snow blowers and deck covers. Attachments that expand what its...
Website: cubcadet.com |Brands like Cub Cadet
Popularity 0.7/10
Official websites and social accounts
| Brand | Website | X / Twitter | YouTube | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi | ryobitools.com | /ryobitoolsusa | ryobitoolsusa | @RYOBItoolsusa | – |
| BLACK+DECKER | blackanddecker.com | – | – | – | – |
| Craftsman | craftsman.com | /craftsman | craftsman | – | craftsman |
| DEWALT | dewalt.com | /dewalt | dewalttough | – | dewalttv |
| STIHL | stihlusa.com | – | – | – | – |
| Makita | makitatools.com | /makitatoolspage | makitatools | @MakitaTools | MakitaPowerTools |
| Milwaukee | milwaukeetool.com | /MilwaukeeTool | MilwaukeeTool | @MilwaukeeTool | – |
| GreenWorks | greenworkstools.eu | /GreenworksTools | greenworksfrance | – | greenworkstools |
| Husqvarna | husqvarnacp.com | – | – | – | – |
Weed Eater Buying Guide
Keeping your garden and lawn well-maintained and well-groomed is important as it enhances the aesthetics of your premises. To achieve this, investing in a weed eater is a logical option. However, with so many options in the market, choosing the right weed eater can be a difficult task. This buying guide has been crafted to assist you in making the best choice in accordance with your needs.
Understanding Weed Eaters
Firstly, it’s important to know what a weed eater is and the types that are available in the market.
What is a Weed Eater?
A weed eater, commonly known as a string trimmer, is an outdoor tool used for cutting grass and weeds where a lawn mower does not reach such as corners, edges, and around fences. It’s widely used by house owners, landscapers, and gardening enthusiasts. It consists of a motorized engine that provides the spinning motion to the string. Lines are fed through a spool or a reel that rotates below a guard, which shields the user from the rotating lines.
Types of Weed Eaters
There are three main types of weed eaters available on the market:
- Gas-Powered
- Electric/Powered
- Battery Powered
Let’s take a further look into each of them so that you have an idea of what you may require for your garden.
Gas-Powered Weed Eaters
Gas-powered weed eaters are the most powerful weed eaters available on the market. They are highly efficient and reliable, making them the perfect option for large lawns and commercial lawns that require prolonged use over extended areas. Furthermore, they have longer run times, faster cutting speeds, and are more powerful than their electric and battery-powered counterparts.
However, their poignancy comes at a cost; they are the most expensive amongst other weed eaters. Additionally, they emit harmful fumes that are not only harmful to the environment but also for the user, making them unsuitable for enclosed working areas. They also require frequent maintenance like cleaning filters, refilling the gas tank, and sparking plugs.
Electric/Powered Weed Eater
Electric weed eaters are the most common weed eaters available on the market. They come in two types; corded and cordless. Corded weed eaters are much cheaper than their cordless counterparts and are convenient for small to medium lawns. They are generally lightweight and produce less noise, making them an ideal choice for eco-conscious individuals who live in a suburb.
Cordless weed eaters, on the other hand, are heavier than corded weed eaters, but they offer more flexibility than corded weed eaters. They can be used anywhere without having to worry about the inaccessibility of plug points. However, they usually have a shorter runtime than gas-powered weed eaters, which may restrict performance from time to time.
Battery Powered Weed Eaters
Battery-powered weed eaters are the latest weed eaters available in the market. They are a hybrid between gas-powered and cordless electric weed eaters. They are environmentally friendly compared to gas-powered weed eaters and have a longer runtime than cordless electric weed eaters. They are lightweight, making them the ideal choice for seniors and individuals with physical disabilities.
However, their runtime is restrictive, and they lack the power that gas-powered weed eaters have. They rely on batteries, which need to be charged before usage, and if the run time of the battery exhausts, it can take a couple of hours to recharge the battery, which can be troublesome. They are ideal for small to medium lawns and are relatively cheap.
Factors to consider when purchasing a Weed Eater
Here are some critical factors to consider when purchasing a weed eater that best suits your needs:
1. Power and Engine Capacity
The engine capacity determines the power of a weed eater. For small lawns, electric weed eaters with a power capacity of around 5 to 7 amps work perfectly, but for larger lawns, a minimum engine capacity of 24cc should be sufficient. Similarly, for commercial lawns, a 40cc engine capacity would work best.
2. Cutting Width/Cutting Diameter
The cutting width, also known as the cutting diameter or swath, determines the amount of vegetation that can be effectively cut at once. The higher the cutting width, the faster the job gets done. For small lawns, a cutting width of 11 to 14 inches should suffice. For larger lawns, a cutting width of up to 16 inches or higher would be suitable.
3. Weight and Size
The weight and size of a weed eater are crucial factors because they determine the ease of maneuverability, user comfort, and storage. Electric and battery-powered weed eaters are lightweight compared to gas-powered weed eaters, making them more maneuverable and easy to use. Gas-powered weed eaters tend to be bulkier and heavier, making them unsuitable for individuals with physical disabilities.
4. Adjustable Shaft and Handle
The weed eater’s handle and shaft should be adjustable to suit users of varying heights. Some weed eaters have adjustable handles, which allow you to move your hands to different angles to make it easy to switch between different cutting tasks. If you purchase a weed eater that is too long or a handle that is hard to adjust, it can cause fatigue or even back pain.
5. Cutting Line/ Blades
There are two types of cutting lines or blades available in the market. The first type is standard nylon lines, while the other is a blade. Nylon lines are more popular, and they come in different thicknesses that determine the cutting diameter of the weed eater. Heavy weeds require thicker cutting lines or a swivel head that can accept different blades.
6. Maintenance and Maintenance Costs
Gas-powered weed eaters require more maintenance than corded and cordless electric weed eaters. They require frequent maintenance such as changing oil, cleaning spark plugs, and air filters. Electric weed eaters require less maintenance, but corded electric weed eaters require you to manage the cord, which means it’s prone to tear and wear over time. Cordless weed eaters require very minimal maintenance.
7. Brand
The brand you choose has an impact on the quality of the machine, warranty, and customer service. Always choose a reputable brand that offers excellent customer service and warranty to guarantee quality and reliability.
8. Price and Budget
The price and budget should be considered when purchasing a weed eater. Typically, gas-powered weed eaters are the most expensive, while cordless electric weed eaters are cheaper. It’s important to have a budget in mind and match it up with the features that are most important to you.
Conclusion
Purchasing a weed eater is a significant investment, and that’s why it’s important to make sure that you select the best weed eater that suits your specific requirements. With so many options available on the market, it’s essential to consider the size of your lawn, power source, engine capacity, cutting widths, weight and size, adjustable shaft and handle, cutting lines/blades, maintenance and maintenance cost, brand, price, and budget.
If you don't have a large yard, a corded or cordless electric weed eater should work efficiently. Choose gas-powered weed eaters for larger lawns or commercial purposes. Don't forget to read product reviews from other customers and always purchase from a reputable brand that offers good customer service and warranty.
