Every Major Grass Trimmer Brand Ranked Worst To Best

Grass trimmers go by many names. Strimmer, string trimmer, Weedwhacker, and Weed Eater are just some of the more common. Some of these names were actually trademarked by specific companies, only to later become affectionate terms for all grass trimmers. The Weed Eater was, in fact, the original name given to the grass trimmer when George Ballas invented the machine in 1972.

The string trimmer has evolved somewhat since Ballas' first rudimentary Weed Eater models. Nowadays, they are lightweight, and the better brands have features that make gardening a breeze. With features from auto-choke to vibration reduction technology, there are many comfortable and easy-to-use trimmers available.

However, it's important to note that environmentally-friendly battery-powered trimmers are now outselling the more powerful gas trimmers. In fact, gas-powered trimmers are slowly being phased out, and the city of Oakland has been fining residents using gas-powered string trimmers and leaf blowers since 2021. The rest of California will follow suit in 2024, and Colorado has rolled out similar plans. Thankfully, cordless string trimmers are rapidly evolving and gaining in performance against their gas-powered siblings.

To determine our ranking of major grass trimmer brands, we have considered reputation, awards, professional reviews, and overall heritage. These include accounts from Consumer Reports, Pro Tool Innovation, and Popular Mechanics — here's how these string trimmer manufacturers — and their product lines — stack up.

A leading manufacturer of battery-powered outdoor equipment, Ego has impressed top consumer publications with its superior weed eaters. With power, performance, durability, and value at the forefront of the company's priorities, it has delivered innovative conveniences through its Powerload and Line IQ technologies. On top of that, Ego's tools share battery compatibility, meaning they can easily be swapped out for continuous power.

Since the company's inception, it has focused on electric-powered outdoor tools. At that time, consumer interest in environmentally friendly and cordless options was just beginning to manifest, and Ego delivered advanced battery tech that rivaled the performance of gas-powered string trimmers. However, it's relatively short life as a manufacturer means it doesn't quite have the history yet. And, while the company is releasing new models annually, it still doesn't quite reach the range of choice that other leading companies do.

But, Ego prides itself on its patented battery technology that maximizes power and run times while delivering quick recharging. The well-received ST1521S uses this battery technology while solving one of grass trimming's biggest nuisances: replacing the string line. All that needed to be done was to feed the line in and press a button to have it automatically wind the string. 

Ego followed that up with the ST1511T, which delivered even more power but could still be gentle when needed. It improved on noise levels and ergonomics with its telescopic shaft and smooth handle adjustments. Then came LINE IQ technology on the SR1623T, which automatically kept the line at 16 inches. Its telescopic carbon shaft also lightened the load, with the SR1623T weighing just 12.5 lbs without compromising on power and durability.

Makita produces high-quality grass trimmers from durable materials with robust constructions, and its batteries provide long runtimes and consistent power output. However, Makita prioritizes user comfort and convenience in its trimmer designs and they are favored by landscaping professionals for this and their durability, performance, and versatility.

Founded well over a century ago in Nagoya City, Japan, Makita began its journey to success by selling and repairing lighting fixtures, motors, and transformers. The company eventually specialized in motors and began exporting to the world in 1935, starting in the USA. By 2005, Makita introduced Lithium-Ion Xtreme Technology, or LXT for short. With lithium-ion batteries, Makita grass trimmers were lighter in weight and delivered faster charges and longer run times. This set new industry standards, and Makita string trimmers are still favored among professionals today.

Among its LXT range of string trimmers is the Makita LXT X2 XRU15 model. This trimmer delivers up to 1.5 hours of trimming time on a single charge and, with the 5.0Ah battery included, weighs just 10.4 lbs. Additionally, the XRU15 runs on the same 18V batteries as many other products in the LXT System, enabling gardeners and workers to swap out and charge batteries simultaneously, ensuring they never run out of power.

However, some professionals — such as the landscapers who favor Makita products — may consider gas-powered trimmers more convenient for their needs. There's no need to recharge or swap batteries, which is handy when far from a wall outlet, and they still generally offer more power than battery trimmers do. They also provide more versatility with their compatibility with more attachments. Makita knows this and manufactures excellent gas-powered weed whackers in addition to their battery and cord-powered models.

Like Honda, Ryobi is a Japanese company that forayed into the outdoor power tools market after having previously established its reputation in different industries. For Ryobi, it was die-cast products that it initially manufactured when the company was founded in 1943. By 1968, it had started manufacturing outdoor power tools.

Ryobi offers a wide range of grass trimmers, including electric and battery-powered models. The trimmers are priced competitively and are known for their reliable performance for both residential and commercial purposes. Ryobi also continuously introduces new features and technologies to its trimmer lineup. One such feature is the company's Expand-It attachments. Some Ryobi grass trimmers use this line of attachments to allow users to convert their trimmers into other yard tools, such as edgers or pole saws. This innovation is a great way to enable Ryobi customers to save money, making its tools more cost-effective and space-saving in the tool shed.

Then there is the Whisper series of power tools, which are up to 86% quieter than gas-powered tools. With this tech available on selected grass trimmers, they are one of the best purchases for use in serene residential areas. Many Ryobi trimmers are also incredibly lightweight, with the 18V ONE+ 10-inch String trimmer weighing in at just under 4lbs. Keeping all this in mind, one can easily imagine an effortless Sunday afternoon of gardening using a Ryobi grass trimmer.

Echo is another professional-grade brand renowned for its range of popular power equipment. Its string trimmers are well known for reliability, and Echo is often at the forefront of innovation. The company is particularly renowned for its commercial-grade gas-powered trimmers, which impress with their powerful engines, durability, and ergonomics. Many Echo string trimmers are also available with split-shaft designs, providing versatility to gardeners who want to attach accessories or tools to the trimmer.

Echo now manufactures highly-rated cordless electric models, too. In 2023, Popular Mechanics awarded the Echo DSRM-2100 its best cordless pro-duty string trimmer award at its annual Yard & Garden prize ceremony. The popular science and technology magazine noted that "this cordless 56-volt trimmer could handle the work". Handle the work it did, with Popular Mechanics going on to state that the DSRM-2100 "performed beautifully" and that its "robust head [is] a reliable line feeder."

The DSRM-2100 is part of Echo's eFORCE range of battery-powered outdoor equipment, which also includes the DSRM-2600 and DSRM-2600U string trimmers. The latter two models are part of the Echo X Series, which offers the best-in-class products designed specifically for professional landscapers. The tools are not only powerful but also lightweight and comfortable to operate, meaning professionals can get their work done more quickly with less fatigue.

GreenPal, an online platform that connects homeowners with landscaping service providers, surveyed professional landscapers in 2023 to find out which brand of string trimmer was the most favored among lawn-care professionals. Echo grass trimmers came out on top by a considerable margin, receiving more than half of the votes. Participants cited the trimmers' reliability and reasonable pricing among the highlights.

Determining a clear winner in the grass trimmer industry is a challenging task. With such a high level of competition, particularly from Husqvarna and Echo, it has been difficult for Stihl to establish itself as the undisputed leader. However, the company has given it a good go, and it is often the brand that professionals and consumers turn to. Stihl leads the way in robust and durable two- and four-stroke gas-powered trimmers and has also branched out into the realms of battery-powered models.

While Husqvarna grass trimmers may be known for their higher cutting speed, Stihl trimmers trump when it comes to strong, low-end torque. This makes them more effective when tackling thick weeds and brush. Pro-grade gas-powered models, such as the FS 131 R, also feature larger fuel tanks with low exhaust emissions, while its semi-automatic choke lever and one-touch stopping simplifies starting and restarting.

However, the German company doesn't just target the professional market. Stihl also manufactures a range of trimmers that are ideal for the homeowner. These models are lightweight but powerful and have much of the same tech, such as the Easy2Start feature, that enhances user experience, such as the excellent FS 70 R Professional String Trimmer. With its 27.2 cc engine and features, such as a translucent fuel tank and low-vibration design, it's the ideal grass trimmer for homeowners seeking power and performance for tackling medium to large yards.