Testing The Best Cordless Strimmers

Tested by Daniel Woodley. Fact checked by Paul Farley.  Published to Products on the 9th September 2022. Updated: 27th February 2023.

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Cordless strimmers offer many benefits over corded or petrol alternatives and are perfect for light to moderate use in small and medium-sized gardens.

But which one should you choose?

I looked closely at four of the top-selling cordless strimmers in August 2022 and put them through their paces in our yard.

Let me show you the features and my likes and dislikes so you can choose the best strimmer for your garden.

In a hurry?

After testing the highest-rated strimmers, I feel the Einhell GC-CT is the best for domestic gardeners. It’s light, has a good battery life and chomped through grass and weeds.

I recommend the Black+Decker String Trimmer for those on a tight budget with small gardens, for cutting around mixed surfaces and for long grass.

The Four Cordless Strimmers I Looked at

Here are the four cordless strimmers I looked at:

• Einhell GC-CT Bladed Strimmer (currently 10600 reviews on Amazon)
• Black+Decker String Trimmer (currently 4,600 reviews on Amazon)
  
• Worx 20v Cordless Strimmer (currently 1700 reviews on Amazon)
• Makita 18v Strimmer (currently 20 reviews on Amazon)

Product 1: Einhell GC-CT Cordless Strimmer (Great All Rounder)

Key Specifications

Weight: 2.2kg. Battery: 18v – 2.0Ah. Cutting Width: 24cm. Type: Blades. Edger Wheel: No. Warranty: 2yrs.

Price I Paid

I paid £90 for this Einhell strimmer and this included a 10% discount (From Amazon in August 2022).

How I Tested This Cordless Strimmer

I selected this strimmer based on the number of positive reviews and ratings I found online, and I put it through rigorous testing in my garden.

I tested it:

• On tall and short grass.
• In weeds.
• Around patios and paths.
• In the rain and when it was dry.

Things I liked About The Einhell Cordless Strimmer

1) I found that the plastic blades cut through grass and weeds easily.

2) This was one of the lightest cordless trimmers I tested and came in at 2.2kg.

3) The telescopic shaft, fully adjustable handle and adjustable cutting angle made it easy and comfortable to use, even though I’m tall at 6ft2.

4) The flower guard rail not only protected flowers, but I found that I could also use it as a guideline to keep the blades away from concrete, patios, roots, etc., where they may snap.

5) During my test, I found that the first battery charge took 1 hour, and subsequent charges took about 45 minutes, which I was pleased with.

Things I Didn’t Like About This Cordless Strimmer

1) The cutting head is quite narrow at 24cm, meaning this strimmer is better suited to smaller, narrower areas rather than huge swatches of nettles and weeds.

2) The blades – you either love them or hate them. In my test, I found that they cut better than cord but did wear out more quickly. I found that they are best suited to areas with grass and weeds and should be kept away from patios, concrete, roots and hard surfaces where the ends snap or wear out.

3) It doesn’t come with an edging guide wheel, although the user can still use it for edging.

4) The guard is small; I found it offers little shielding when used for edging.

Who I Recommend This Strimmer To

The fast-charging battery is a great bonus and means most users won’t need to buy a separate battery. This makes the Einhell strimmer suitable for the general strimming of medium-sized gardens and areas with weeds and grass of variable length. Other strimmers I looked at had battery chargers with long charging times, and this Einhell strimmer charged in less than an hour.

I’m tall at 6ft2, and I appreciated the fully adjustable handle, the telescopic pole and the variable angle cutting head, once I had set them to the desired settings, I found using the strimmer comfortable and effortless.

Who I Don’t Think Should Buy This Cordless Strimmer

The plastic blades are softish, so in theory, they shouldn’t snap if they hit a hard surface, but during testing, I found they either did or wore out quickly when they hit patios, tarmac, roots or other hard surfaces.

If you have lots of edges with hard surfaces, you may wish to consider a corded strimmer instead of this bladed product, as replacement cord is cheaper. Also, the lack of a wheel makes this a great lightweight strimmer unsuitable for edging large areas.

Digging Into Online Reviews

I did my research online before buying this Einhell strimmer, and here’s what I found from the various online retailers I looked at:

• There were over 14,000 ratings and reviews online.
• 87% of raters gave this product a score of 4 or 5 stars out of 5, which is very good and higher than many competing products.
• 7% gave it 1 or 2 stars.
• The main complaints were due to Einhell selling the same product without a battery and charger, and some buyers didn’t release this and had to pay extra for the battery. In addition, several buyers stated they were going through lots of blades, while others stated that with more careful use, the blades last longer.
• I found plenty of reviewers who complimented how light the strimmer was, and the fast charger was popular.

My Rating

For small to medium gardens and light/moderate strimming of grass and weeds, I rate the Einhell GC-CT bladed strimmer 9/10.

Read my full review of this Einhell strimmer here.

Product 2: Black+Decker Strimmer (Good Value, Small Gardens and Ease of Use)

Key Specifications

Weight: 2.6kg. Battery: 18v – 2.0Ah. Cutting Width: 28cm. Type: String (automatic). Edger Wheel: Yes. Warranty: 2yrs.

How I Tested This Strimmer

I used this strimmer on lawns in my garden and I tested it:

• On wet and dry grass.
• Near wood edgings, patios and paths.
• On long and short grass as well as on weeds.

Price I Paid

I paid £76 for this Black+Decker strimmer, which included a 49% discount off the list price (From Amazon in August 2022).

5 Things I liked About This Black+Decker Strimmer

1) The string/cord deploys automatically, so I didn’t need to fiddle about extending it after it snapped.

2) Adjustable power (eco setting) – this feature allowed me to reduce the power when strimming areas with light growth, thus extending the battery time.

3) I managed 34 minutes of strimming at the lower power setting before I had to recharge the battery.

4) The small guide wheel was perfect for edging and allowed me to keep control of the strimmer without having to hold the entire weight of it.

5) The build quality – this cordless strimmer felt well-built and sturdy.

5 Things I Didn’t Like About This Cordless Strimmer

1) The battery took 5 hours to charge (that’s fine if you have a small/medium size garden, but certainly an issue otherwise).

2) On full power (turbo), I struggled to get 25mins of use before the battery ran out of power.

3) The cord/string auto feed system was occasionally a little enthusiastic and wasteful; thankfully the line spools are cheap if you buy non-branded versions.

4) The cutting head isn’t adjustable and is set to one angle – this means taller people like me have to bend over to get it to cut horizontally.

5) During the test, I found that the handle was only partially adjustable, I could lock it in several positions but I couldn’t slide it up or down the shaft – again this means that this Black+Decker strimmer isn’t the best choice for those that are very tall or very short.

Who I Recommend This Strimmer To

Based on the results of my test, I recommend this cordless strimmer to those with small gardens requiring only a limited amount of light to moderate strimming. It’s an excellent strimmer, well built, and with good balance, and the auto-feed system means it’s easy to use.

Also, if you have lots of tree roots, fences or concrete/patios etc then I feel that this corded/string strimmer will be much easier to use than a bladed trimmer as the blades often snap when they hit something hard.

If you are of average height, on a tight budget and want an edging guide wheel, I think this strimmer would be a good purchase.

Who I Don’t Think Should Buy This Cordless Strimmer

The battery initially took 5 whole hours to charge, and subsequent charges still took over 4 hours. So if you have a large garden or very thick growth that takes time to cut, this strimmer isn’t for you unless you buy a separate fast-charger or extra batteries.

The fixed cutting head and the semi-fixed handle mean that very tall or very short people may find this strimmer a little uncomfortable.

Digging Into Online Reviews

I did my research online before buying this Black+Decker strimmer, and here’s what I found from the various online retailers I looked at:

• 89% of raters gave this product a score of 4 or 5 stars out of 5, which is very good and higher than many competing products.
• 5% gave it 1 or 2 stars.
• The main complaints were about how difficult it was to fit the guard (this only needs to be done once but does require some force) and the slow battery charging time.
• I found plenty of reviewers who complimented the build quality, balance and ease of use, especially for edging.

My Rating

For small gardens and light strimming of grass, I rate the Black+Decker string trimmer 8/10. However, if you have a large garden or thick weeds that drain the battery, the 5-hour charging will be a deal breaker and could make the device unusable without extra batteries or a fast charger. Very tall or very short folks should consider the Einhell strimmer instead.

Read my full Black and Decker cordless strimmer review.

Product 3: Worx WG163E.2 Strimmer (Best For Features) 

Key Specifications

Weight: 2kg. Battery: 20v – 2.0Ah. Cutting Width: 30cm. Type: Cord. Edger Wheel: Yes. Warranty: 3yr (Must be registered online within 30 days of purchase.)

How I Selected and Tested This Strimmer

I chose this strimmer for my test as it had good reviews and I knew someone who owns it.

I tested it on:

• Grass of variable length.
• In the wet and dry.
• Near hard surfaces such as patios and my timber lawn edgings.
• On longer weeds.

Price Paid

I paid £140 for this strimmer and it wasn’t discounted (From Amazon in August 2022).

Overview

The Worx 20v corded strimmer ticked many boxes for me including:

• Fast charger.
• Wheel for edging.
• Lightweight.
• Flower guard.
• Feed button to extend the cord.
• Wide cutting head (30cm).
• A telescopic pole that I found very comfortable despite being 6ft2.
• Decent battery life.

What I Didn’t Like About This Cordless Strimmer

I just can’t get away from the feeling that the build quality of this corded strimmer is subpar.

Perhaps that’s due to it being the lightest strimmer I tested or it could be all the lightweight plasticky parts, but it just felt somewhat flimsy.

For example, the base of the unit that often rubs on the ground should be made from the toughest material as this area is prone to wear and tear. Unfortunately, on the Worx corded strimmer, it was made from soft plastic that I doubt would last the test of time.

As with most other manufacturers, they also sell the same strimmer without a charger and battery and there’s also a cheaper set that comes with a slow charger, this all adds to the confusion I see in some of the online reviews I checked.

Who I Recommend This Strimmer To

The Worx strimmer ticks all the boxes apart from build quality and if you only plan to use it for light tasks in a small garden, I’m sure it will be fine.

Digging Into Online Reviews

I did my research online before reviewing this Worx strimmer, and here’s what I found from the various online retailers I looked at:

• There were over 1400 ratings and reviews online.
• 93% of raters gave this product a score of 4 or 5 stars out of 5, which is very good and higher than many competing products.
• 4% gave it 1 or 2 stars.
• Customers praised the many features of the strimmer, in particular, the fast charger and the lightness of the tool.
• Complaints centred around the short battery life and some customers purchased the “bare” unit without a battery/charger by mistake.

My Rating

For small to medium gardens and light/moderate strimming of grass and weeds, I rate the Worx corded strimmer 7/10.

Product 4: Makita DUR181RT Strimmer (Excellent Battery Life and Build Quality)

Key Specifications

Weight: 2.8kg. Battery: 18v – 5.0Ah. Cutting Width: 26cm. Type: Cord. Edger Wheel: No. Warranty: 3yr.

How I Tested This Strimmer

I have experience using Makita strimmers and have always found them very reliable and well-built.

Despite this product being less popular than the other products in my test, I wanted to test it as it had a better battery (in terms of power output and longevity).

I tested this strimmer on wet and dry grass in my garden and also near my concrete lawn edgings. I used it on dry and wet grass as well as near weeds.

Price Paid

I paid £185 for this strimmer, inc the strap (Toolden in August 2022). Makita sells the strimmer, battery and charger without the strap on Amazon but currently at the same price.

Overview

I feel that the 5.0Ah battery in this Makita 18v Cordless Strimmer is the key selling point.

The higher the Ah, the longer the battery will last before it needs to be charged.

5.0Ah is more than double that of competitors in this class, but it did add noticeable weight to the strimmer and cost to the purchase price.

The strimmer itself didn’t come with all the bells and whistles that many of the competitors have, but during my test, I felt it did three things very well:

• The battery life.
• Battery charging time.
• Build quality.

Pros

• During my test, I found that the battery lasted well over an hour, making this strimmer perfect for larger areas.
• I charged the 5Ah in 45 minutes which is impressive considering its size.
• While this strimmer was slightly heavier than the others I tested, I was impressed with the build quality. It felt sturdy and as if it was built to last, something which I’ve come to expect from Makita, who also makes tools for professionals as well as domestic customers.
• I liked the over-the-shoulder strap, which felt secure and made swinging the strimmer from left to right a breeze (this is optional, but I feel is worth it. If you need a longer battery for 1hr+ of strimming, then you’ll probably need the shoulder strap too.)
• The bumper system meant I could release extra cutting cord by bumping the head of the strimmer on the ground.

Cons

• The price is at the upper end for domestic strimmers and is not far off a professional tool.
• The lack of an edging wheel could be an issue for gardeners who like to create perfect lines around patio edges.

Who I Recommend This Strimmer To

If build quality, battery life and charge time are important to you and you’re prepared to pay an extra 40%+, then this Makita strimmer is a great choice. After putting it through its paces, I feel it’s perfect for larger gardens and it has a 3-year warranty from a reputable brand.

Who I Don’t Recommend This Strimmer To.

Occasional users or those with small gardens might struggle to justify the extra cost, and this strimmer doesn’t come with a guide wheel, so while I did use it for edging, I had to do this manually.

Digging Into Online Reviews

This Makita strimmer is at the top of the price range for domestic cordless strimmers; hence, there are very few online reviews.

• Online it has an average score of 4.7 stars out of 5.
• I couldn’t find complaints about significant issues, although I did find several comments about the strimmer’s good build quality and general sturdiness.

My Rating

For small to extensive gardens and light/moderate strimming of grass and weeds, I rate this Makita corded strimmer 8/10.

11 Things to Look Out For Before You Buy a Cordless Grass Strimmer

I have extensive experience with strimmers, as I’ve been using them for over 15 years. Before you buy a cordless strimmer, check these 11 things I feel you should look for:

1) Battery Voltage

The higher the voltage, the more power the strimmer will have. Most domestic strimmers are in the 18-20v range. A more powerful system will drain the battery quicker, so avoid high voltage systems if they come with only one battery or a slow charger.

2) Battery Ah

The higher the Ah, the longer the battery will last before it needs to be charged. For example, a 1.5Ah battery will provide power for about 15-20 minutes, while a 5.0Ah battery should be good for over an hour.

3) Battery Charge Time

This will only be important to you if you have a larger garden and need to charge the battery on the same day so you can get back out there. Cheaper strimmers (such as the Black+Decker I tested, were very good but came with a pitifully slow charger.)

4) Cutting Width

During my test, I found that the cutting width isn’t an essential feature on cordless strimmers; a wider cutting head doesn’t mean you’ll cover more ground quickly. Cordless strimmers often lack the power to munch through thick, long grass or dense weeds, so they may need a few passes, regardless of the cutting width. For example, and based on my experience, a powerful 26cm cutting head will deliver better results than an underpowered 35cm head.

5) Edging Wheel

This allows the user to cut lawn edges without balancing the strimmer above the lawn. However, the wheel adds bulk and weight, and not everyone uses or needs the wheel.

6) Flower Guardrail

This is a simple piece of metal that allowed me to keep the strimmer away from flowers and other delicate areas. Unfortunately, not every strimmer has one, but they are helpful.

7) Extendable Shaft

If you are over 6ft tall, you may want to check the shaft length or consider a strimmer that extends. For example, I’m 6ft2 and found that I bent over often when strimming.

8) Adjustable Features

Are you tall or short? If the cutting head is fixed at one angle, you may struggle to cut the grass evenly so look for a strimmer with an adjustable head. Does the handle slide up or down the shaft? I’m 6ft2 and really liked the Einhell strimmer because I could slide it up to the top of the shaft and lock it in place.

9) Strap

A strap that goes over the shoulder and around the waist will make using a strimmer light work – quite literally. You won’t need one if you have a small garden, but all of the professional gardeners I’ve worked with use them.

10) Weight

While the weight of the strimmer is important, buyers should be wary of very lightweight strimmers with lots of features; they are often flimsy and have subpar build quality. I feel that buyers are better off choosing a strimmer with a strap for comfort than choosing a plasticky strimmer that probably won’t last the test of time.

11) Warranty

Many of the products I looked at came with extended warranties, but there is a catch – some were only valid if the buyer registered online within 30 days of purchasing the product. Don’t forget to register your product, as strimmers have many fast-moving parts that could break.

Pros and Cons

I’ve owned petrol and corded strimmers in the past so I feel I’m well placed to produce pros and cons of cordless strimmers:

Pros

• No power cables – this is a key selling point.
• No extension cables – another item you don’t need.
• They take up less storage space.
• They are more eco-friendly than petrol or electric alternatives.
• I found during my test that they are quieter than corded and petrol strimmers.
• Cordless strimmers are perfect for small and medium-sized gardens.
• They are effective on grass and light weed growth.

Cons

• They cost more than corded electric and strimmers.
• The battery power is much less than that from a power cable or petrol engines and, while great for light tasks, may be inadequate for brambles or thick masses of weeds and other growth.
• Long grass and weeds caused me a few problems, and I had to pass over them several times.

Alternatives

While cordless strimmers have many benefits, they aren’t as powerful as electric or petrol strimmers.

The consensus in the gardening world is that:

Cordless strimmers are great for small to medium-sized gardens where the user will be strimming light grass and weed growth.

Electric strimmers aren’t as mobile because of the cable, but they pack more punch and are best suited to thicker grass, brambles and dense weed growth.

Petrol strimmers are noisy, heavy and bad for the environment, but they produce the most power, are preferred by professionals, will munch through almost anything, and are 100% mobile.

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