Battery-powered string trimmers make it easy, affordable, and convenient to trim your grass in hard-to-reach places.

Not only are cordless string trimmers an eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered string trimmers, but they are also objectively easier to use, making a tough task as painless as possible.

Our comprehensive guide features in-depth reviews on the best battery-powered string trimmers available, along with a helpful buyer's guide to help you make the best choice for your yard.

Backyard Boss Top 5 Battery Powered String Trimmers for 2021

PRODUCT

FEATURES

GreenWorks-21362-G-MAX-40V-Digipro-14-Inch-String-Trimmer - $$title$$

GreenWorks-21362-G-MAX-40V-Digipro-14-Inch-String-Trimmer

  • Cutting Swath: 14 inches
  • Battery: 40V
  • Warranty: 4 years

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BLACK+DECKER LST136W 40V Max Lithium String Trimmer - $$title$$

BLACK+DECKER LST136W 40V Max Lithium String Trimmer

  • Cutting Swath: 13 inches
  • Battery: 40V
  • Warranty: 3 years

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WORX WG170 GT Revolution 20V 12 Grass Trimmer - $$title$$

WORX WG170 GT Revolution 20V 12 Grass Trimmer

  • Cutting Swath: 12 inches
  • Battery: 20V
  • Warranty: 3 years

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Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless Electric String Trimmer - $$title$$

Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless Electric String Trimmer

  • Cutting Swath: 16 inches
  • Battery: 82V
  • Warranty: 5 years

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EGO Power+ ST1504SF 15-Inch Foldable Shaft String Trimmer - $$title$$

EGO Power+ ST1504SF 15-Inch Foldable Shaft String Trimmer

  • Cutting Swath: 15 inches
  • Battery: 56V
  • Warranty: 5 years

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Why You Can Trust Us

When you have questions about your lawn, Backyard Boss has got you covered with in-depth guides written by lawn care experts.

We recognize that taking care of weeds in your yard is already time-consuming and annoying enough, so the last thing you need to do is spend time weeding through all of the lawn care products available. Through countless hours of research, and our team's impressive combined knowledge, we find the best products for you.

Curious about what could be the best string trimmers for your yard? We have a guide that covers all of the best options, trimming away lackluster models. Wondering about what's the best edge trimmer for hard-to-reach places? Our guide covers the models that edged out the competition. We don't just cover products though, we also have guides that answer every lawncare question under the sun from how to string a wheeled trimmer to the differences between brush cutters and string trimmers.

Why do we do it? Because we know that every homeowner is capable of being a Backyard Boss.

Best for Adding Attachments

GreenWorks-21362-G-MAX-40V-Digipro-14-Inch-String-Trimmer

    This versatile battery-powered string trimmer is extremely easy to use and works smoothly.

      Pros:

    • Detachable top mount trimmer head
    • Works in tandem with products from other manufacturers
    • Affordable
      Cons:

    • Not great for professional use

Why We Like It: This cordless weed eater can handle big jobs with ease, using its wide-cutting swath and innovative design.

Its 14-inch cutting width is very impressive, as is its .080 bump feed which enables easy line advancement and cutting. Its straight shaft design allows for better viewing of the area ahead, so you can use it seamlessly. The top mount trimmer head is detachable and can be used with multiple attachments. The 40V battery is Li-Ion, and you can choose between 2AH and 4AH capacity for lighter or heavier jobs.

Who Should Buy It: This cordless weed eater is a great choice for people who need a versatile garden maintenance system.

Best All-Around Option

BLACK+DECKER LST136W 40V Max Lithium String Trimmer

    This top-rated battery-powered string trimmer is without a doubt one of the best products available on the market.

      Pros:

    • Automatic feed system
    • Relatively small recharge time
    • Choice between battery or power conservation
      Cons:

    • Expensive

Why We Like It: This powerful battery-powered string trimmer allows users to tackle a mile-long strip of overgrown grass on just one charge.

Using its power command dial you can choose between a high power setting and a low power setting to get either the maximum strength performance or extended battery life. This model can be rotated up to 180 degrees to rapidly change its mode from trimming to edging and back. The automatic feed spool system yields more string for cutting when it is needed, so you don't have to bump the string trimmer as you're working to get more string out. It takes around an hour to charge the batteries, which means you won't be grounded for long when tackling bigger jobs.

Who Should Buy It: This is a great option for people who want a strong, versatile string trimmer that's hassle-free to use.

Best Budget Option

WORX WG170 GT Revolution 20V 12 Grass Trimmer

    This high quality battery-powered string trimmer is a great option for people with limited budgets.

      Pros:

    • Affordable
    • 3-in-1 capabilities
    • Telescopic handle
      Cons:

    • Limited battery life

Why We Like It: Although this model has an incredibly affordable price, it's still high-quality and can get the job done.

Its 20V battery is strong enough to handle any task normal homeowners may throw at it. One of the best things about it is that it's three machines in one, working as a string trimmer, garden edger, and a mini lawnmower. You can adjust it, choosing between seven different handle positions and six different trimmer head positions to enable maximum comfort while using it. It also has a telescopic handle so you can adjust it to your height. The command feed system allows you to keep working without having to manually pull the string as you go.

Who Should Buy It: This is a great option for homeowners with small yards, and limited storage space who want an affordable 3-in-1 tool.

Best for Heavy-Duty Professional Use

Snapper XD 82V MAX Cordless Electric String Trimmer

    This heavy-duty battery-powered string trimmer will plow through tough jobs.

      Pros:

    • Variable speed trigger
    • Lots of power
    • Limited kickback
      Cons:

    • Expensive
    • Heavy

Why We Like It: With 82V of power, this heavy-duty battery-powered string trimmer rivals gas-powered models with its strength.

Its 2Ah battery will last a long time while you work. This trimmer, in general, will stay functional for a long time, with an incredible 5-year warranty. With limited kickback, no flying debris, and an easy to restring trimmer line, this string trimmer is hassle-free to use. Its dual-line bump-feed head can cut down massive amounts of grass and weeds.

Who Should Buy It: This impressively powerful string trimmer is an excellent choice for people who have large yards, lots of weeds to deal with, and big budgets.

Best for Large Properties

EGO Power+ ST1504SF 15-Inch Foldable Shaft String Trimmer

    With lots of convenient features, this battery-powered string trimmer will blow you away.

      Pros:

    • Carbon fiber shaft
    • Wide cutting swath
      Cons:

    • Expensive
    • Difficult assembly

Why We Like It: The Ego Power+ brand impresses with an easy-to-use, ergonomic, battery-powered string trimmer.

This super-quiet machine has a powerful 56V motor and comes with an impressive 5Ah battery.  The large battery size means you don't have to pause your yard work to charge your string trimmer, but rather can get it all done in one go. The Rapid Reload head is beyond easy to use, you simply thread your trimmer line through it and then twist it to wind it in. The foldable trimmer shaft is made with carbon fiber and comes with a lifetime warranty. As a whole, this trimmer has a great 5-year limited warranty.

Who Should Buy It: This battery weed eater is a good choice for people with large lawns who want an ergonomically designed trimmer.

Why Use a Battery Powered String Trimmer?

Battery-powered weed trimmers help you cover hard-to-reach spots that your lawnmower can't get to, giving your lawn a polished look. Mow down errant grass and weeds with ease using a battery-powered string trimmer.

Compared to gas-powered trimmers, battery-powered string trimmers are much easier to maintain, since you don't have to worry about procuring, storing, and using gasoline. They are also much more eco-friendly. Trust us, your lawn will look much better if it's not on a burning, drought-burdened planet.

Battery-powered weed eaters are better than corded electric string trimmers because they don't have to be plugged into an outlet, so you aren't limited by where your extension cord can reach. Their one main downside is that they do tend to have limited battery lives, ranging from 15 minutes to an hour.

Features of Battery Powered Weed Eaters

Cordless string trimmer doubling as an edger, cutting the edge of a lawn.

Image credits: Worx via Amazon

Cordless string trimmers work wonders on small lawns, getting rid of stubborn grass and weeds in hard-to-reach places. Below are features to consider when purchasing your battery-powered string trimmer so you make the best decision for you.

Cordless Electric String Trimmer Batteries

Battery-powered string trimmers have battery packs that allow them to operate without a cord, so you don't have to stay within a certain distance of your outdoor outlets.

Most come with 2.5Ah or 5Ah batteries, which last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Obviously, if you have more time-consuming jobs, you're going to want to use a cordless electric string trimmer with a bigger battery.

It's also a good idea to get additional battery packs with your cordless electric string trimmer, so that if it does run out of juice, instead of having to wait for it to recharge you can just pop another battery in.

Nickel-Cadmium (Ni-cad) batteries

String trimmers running on nickel-cadmium batteries are typically more affordable than those with lithium-ion batteries.

These batteries were popularly used in old electric string trimmers, although they are being phased out now because they are heavier, and they experience a reduction in performance and power as the battery loses its charge with use.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) Batteries

Lithium-Ion batteries are becoming more and more common in electric string trimmers because of their superior performance in comparison to nickel-cadmium batteries.

Below are some properties of lithium-ion batteries.

  • Lightweight: They don't weigh much – these batteries can be up to 50% lighter than nickel-cadmium batteries.
  • Steady Power Output: While nickel-cadmium batteries tend to fizzle out as they run out of charge, lithium-ion batteries have a steadier power output throughout their performance.
  • Require Recharging Less Frequently: You don't have to charge lithium-ion batteries as frequently as you have to charge nickel-cadmium batteries.
  • Better Overall Battery Life: They also have more recharges in their life, up to three times as many as nickel-cadmium batteries, before they have to be replaced.

Types of Trimmer Shafts

Curved Shafts

String trimmers that have curved shafts are good for dealing with weeds and grass in open lawns. Due to their curved design, they aren't as good when used in tight spaces requiring maneuverability, like under a fence or hedge. They are generally regarded as easier to use compared to straight shaft trimmers.

Straight Shafts

String trimmers with straight shafts are much better at handling tight spaces. You can get up close to the hard-to-reach edges of your garden, or areas that are farther away from yourself.

Telescopic Shaft

Some models come with a telescopic shaft that you can shorten or lengthen based on your height. This ergonomic feature ensures that you are comfortable while you are working.

Tips for Buying a Cordless Electric String Trimmer

Man holding a battery-powered string trimmer while cutting lawn around a flower bed.

Image credits: Snapper via Amazon

Prioritize Power

The period of time for which you will be able to use your cordless string trimmer depends on the battery that it runs on.

If it's a nickel-cadmium battery, then it will require more frequent recharges, and will also have less battery life. Even worse, you'll experience a drop in the performance of the string trimmer as the battery runs low.

On the other hand, cordless string trimmers running on lithium-ion batteries will last longer each run, require fewer recharges, and it will have better overall battery life. They will also perform consistently throughout the battery's discharge cycle.

In other words: You should DEFINITELY have a lithium-ion battery in your cordless electric string trimmer.

Lightweight Trimmers are Easier to Use

You have to strike a perfect balance with your battery-powered weed eater: You want it to be lightweight enough that it's easy to use, but strong enough to handle tough weeds and debris.

The weight of your string trimmer is largely dependent on its battery type with nickel-cadmium batteries being much heavier than lithium-ion batteries.

Look for Innovative Designs

If you will be working mostly in open spaces, a curved shaft string trimmer is recommended; it's easier to use and more ergonomic. A straight shaft trimmer is only recommended if you will be sticking to a smaller lawn with lots of tight corners.

If you aren't sure as to where you will be using your string trimmer, go for a 2-in-1 solution that gives you the freedom to choose between both design styles.

You Can Get a Great String Trimmer for an Affordable Price

There are some excellent cordless string trimmers out there for affordable prices! Of course, you do need to be cautious of cheap low-quality models that won't last you more than a year because then you'll end up spending even MORE money on a new cordless electric string trimmer next year.

A great way to tell how durable a battery-powered weed eater is, and how long it will last, is by looking at its warranty. If a company feels confident their product will last, they'll give it a warranty that reflects that.

How We Picked

We weeded through all of the myriad battery-powered string trimmers on the market, trimming away to competition to find these five outstanding models. Without a doubt, these are the best battery-powered weed eaters available in 2021.

We looked for machines that would serve a variety of needs and work for different situations, finding the most versatile battery-powered string trimmer, the best affordable battery-powered string trimmer, the best battery-powered string trimmer with a foldable shaft, and the best heavy-duty battery-powered string trimmer.

Every option on this list is durable, long-lasting, easy to use, and more than capable of handling tough jobs. As wonderful as they all are, only one can be the best of the best.

The Best Battery Powered Weed Eater Is...

The BLACK+DECKER LST136W 40V Max Lithium String Trimmer is the best battery-powered string trimmer that we reviewed.  With its efficient battery, choice between power output modes, automatic feed system, and fast charging time, there isn't another competitor that quite matches its particular combination of solid features.

Of course, if a different battery-powered string trimmer that we reviewed better suits your situation then go for it. Every option on this list is incredibly impressive!