The Independent's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Why trust us?

11 best strimmers to keep your garden grass in check

Whether you’re tackling your garden or allotment, these cordless options are up to the job

Jon Axworthy
Thursday 20 July 2023 13:19 BST
<p>These tools can tackle everything from intricate garden borders to tough patches of weeds</p>

These tools can tackle everything from intricate garden borders to tough patches of weeds

There’s a fine (usually nylon) line between a good-looking garden and a great-looking one, and it’s attached to a strimmer or brush cutter.

From delicate jobs, such as delivering a nice crisp edge (which escapes most mower’s blades) to the task of taking on the tougher, tangled patches of thorns and ivy that quickly encroach on areas of the garden that don’t get much footfall, they’re an essential part of any garden armoury.

What’s also essential is that 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 also assessed each model on how easy it was to respool, and all the machines that made 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 other areas of the garden.

How we tested

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 2023 are:

  • Best strimmer overall – Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 grass strimmer: £288.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best electric strimmer – Spear and Jackson S4528ET strimmer: £62, Argos.co.uk
  • Best value-for-money strimmer – Bosch art 27 strimmer: £40, Diy.com
  • Best petrol strimmer – Hyundai HYBC5080AV: £199.99, Amazon.co.uk

Ryobi RY36LT33A-120 grass strimmer

ryobi .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer overall
  • Cutting width: 28cm to 33cm
  • Weight: 3.7kg

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.

Back to top

Karcher LTR 18-30

karcher .jpg
  • Best: For lawn finishing
  • Cutting width: 30cm
  • Weight: 2.5kg

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.

Back to top

Gtech GT50

gtech .jpg
  • Best: Strimmer for tight spaces
  • Cutting width: 23cm
  • Weight: 1.85kg

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 that 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.

Back to top

Spear and Jackson S4528ET strimmer

spear .jpg
  • Best: Electric grass strimmer
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 3.5kg

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 through longer grass areas and ivy with ease.

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 that the machine left a nice tidy line in its wake.

  1. £62 from Argos.co.uk
Prices may vary
Back to top

WORX WG183E strimmer

worx .jpg
  • Best: For small to medium sized gardens
  • Cutting width: 33cm
  • Weight: 2.9kg

Even with the batteries on board, the 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 to give you good control of the machine without it placing too much strain on the 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. £179 from Worx.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Stihl FSA 57 strimmer

stirh .jpg
  • Best: For city gardens
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 3.5kg

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 that 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.

Back to top

Husqvarna aspire T28-P4A strimmer

husquarna .jpg
  • Best: For saving space in the shed
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 2.6kg

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.

Back to top

Ego power + ST1613E-T strimmer

ego .jpg
  • Best: For continuous strimming
  • Cutting width: 28cm
  • Weight: 2.6kg

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 to ensure we had enough line in play at all times to ensure 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.

Back to top

Bosch art 27 strimmer

bosch .jpg
  • Best: Value-for-money strimmer
  • Cutting width: 27cm
  • Weight: 2.7kg

A super-light, corded model that is perfectly suited to keep a small front and back garden in check during the summer. A pull-out metal bar means you don’t have to worry about the cutting line breaking on patio edges or inadvertently cutting down a favourite shrub or bloom.

The line fed out well and the cutting head can be turned, so you can switch from trimming to edging without hassle. There is also a handy wheel attachment that makes operating it in a straight line even easier.

  1. £40 from Diy.com
Prices may vary
Back to top

Hyundai HYBC5080AV

hyandai .jpg
  • Best: For heavy-duty strimming
  • Cutting width: 25cm to 45cm
  • Weight: 9.68kg

Sometimes you need something with a little more oomph than nylon line, to get through thick, matted patches of bramble, scrub, ivy and shrubs. That’s where the petrol-fuelled Hyundai comes in, with its powerful motor and capacity to switch out the bump-fed nylon cutting line (which offers 45cm of cutting width) for two metal cutting blades (which offer 25cm of cutting width) when you really need to focus on the stubborn stuff. One blade has three teeth for general scrub, while the eight-tooth blade will work well against thicker, harder wooded stems, and the blades are easily changed.

The pull-start worked well and never turned into a workout, while the harness does a good job of distributing the weight of the machine while you work. Ergonomics can be a problem with petrol machines, but the Hyundai’s trigger, long boom and cow-horn handles made it easy to work with a straight back, while still allowing you to scythe easily through undergrowth.

Back to top

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 below 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 that no one will be coming into the area you’re working on – this means keeping an eye on curious pets.
  • Get the right tool for the job – It’s vital that 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 isstill 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.

Looking for more garden essentials? We’ve rounded up the best planters

Voucher Codes

TUI Discount Code
£100 off all bookings over £1000 - TUI discount code
ASOS Discount Code
20% off everything with this ASOS app discount code
Travelodge Discount Code
5% off all bookings with this Travelodge discount code
The Body Shop Discount Code
20% off everything with The Body Shop discount code
The Perfume Shop Discount Code
15% of all orders with The Perfume Shop birthday discount
Cult Beauty Discount Code
Up to 20% off all orders over £40 - Cult Beauty discount code

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in