String Trimmers Buying Guide
A string trimmer picks up where a lawn mower leaves off, providing the finishing touches as it whisks away grass around trees
and flower beds, straightens uneven edges along driveways, and trims patches of lawn your mower or tractor can't reach. What's
more, you can get a capable trimmer at a good price.
- Getting started
- Types
- Features
- Brands
- Watch video
Getting started
Electric string trimmers are finding more favor with environment-conscious consumers. But the latest gas-powered trimmers are polluting less than the older models, thanks to recently toughened California and federal regulations. Several premium gas-powered models certify that their engines will meet those regulations for 300 hours, rather than the usual 50. More hours mean not only less pollution, but possibly longer engine life. But those premium trimmers carry a premium price, about $200 and up.
Some electric plug-in models can provide fine trimming and edging for less money. But the top performers in our latest tests were still mostly gas-powered, and they remain our first choice for whacking the taller stuff and when an electrical outlet isn't nearby.
See how it feels
Handle the trimmer at the store to check its balance. After adjusting the front handle for a comfortable reach, hold the trimmer in the cutting position with both hands. Its weight should feel evenly distributed from top to bottom or slightly heavier at the top. Be sure that the controls work smoothly and are easy to reach.
Check the gap
Tall grass and weeds can slow or stall a trimmer by wrapping around the top of its cutting head, especially if there's a gap between it and the mounting for the grass-debris guard. Models with a small gap or a protective sleeve around the shaft avoided that problem in our tests and did well in tall grass.
Be safe
String trimmers can kick up debris. To avoid injury, wear safety glasses or goggles and long pants and boots. All but the cordless electric trimmers we tested emitted at least 85 decibels, the point at which we recommend ear protection.
