Best Electric Weed Eaters 2023: Reviews & Buying Guide
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Weed eaters are an important tool for anyone who wants to keep their lawn and garden looking particularly neat and even. They’re useful for cleaning up areas that your lawnmower can’t reach, and even for cleaning up the troublesome weeds next to concrete and landscaping stone.
Like all lawn care tools, weed eaters, also called string trimmers, come in a variety of quality and effectiveness. The electric versions are even more variable since the technology that makes them reliable and higher quality is relatively new.
But, we’ve taken the time to find some of the best electric weed eaters and give them a comprehensive review so that you can find the right option for you.
So, whether you’re here because you’re looking for a greener alternative to your gas-powered string trimmer, are just tired of making sure there’s always gas on hand to run it, or are just looking for a powerful and effective tool for keeping your lawn tidy, you’re in the right place.
Matt's Top Picks for Electric Weed Eaters in 2023 | ||
 | Matts Top Pick: Best Electric Weed Eater Ryobi 40V Brushless String Trimmer | |
 | Best Folding Electric Weed Eater EGO 56V Cordless String Trimmer | |
 | Best Lightweight Weed Eater DEWALT 20V Brushless Dual Line String Trimmer | |
 | Best Electric Weed Eater for Small Yards Ryobi ONE+ 18Volt Cordless String Trimmer | |
 | Best Two In One Weed Eater & Mower Black + Decker 20V 3 in 1 String Trimmer/Edger/Mower | |
 | Best Multi-Tool Electric Weed Eater Milwaukee M18 Brushless String Trimmer with QUICK LOK Attachment Capability | |
Table of Contents
Firstly, lets discuss the different types of Weed Eaters
Before we get into some of the best electric weed eaters, we think it’s important to spend a little time talking about the different types of weed eaters. We’ll also provide a short buying guide after the product reviews to help you pick the right choice for you.
Here we’re focused on making sure you know what varieties of weed eater (including non-electric weed eaters) are available.
Corded Weed Eaters:
Corded weed eaters are exactly what they sound like. They are a weed eater that runs on a cord, typically with the addition of an extension cord. These weed eaters are relatively green and are easy to use.
However, they are limited by the length of the cord. This style of weed eater tends to work best for people with relatively small properties, or only a small area that needs attention from a weed eater. They aren’t significantly stronger or weaker than gas-powered weed eaters, instead, they’re relatively comparable.
Gas Powered Weed Eaters
Gas-powered weed eaters are still the most common type of weed eater. If you grew up using one, chances are it was a gas-powered weed eater.
This option offers a lot of power and is highly mobile. You can take the weed eater with you wherever you need it, and they’re a common choice for landscaping companies and yard maintenance contractors.
However, gas-powered weed eaters tend to be a little louder than other styles of string trimmer. They also produce fumes, and since you hold weed eaters closer to your body than the average lawnmower, you’re more likely to breathe more of those fumes and to smell like gasoline.
These are a good option for people who don’t mind keeping gas around, who need to use their weed eater for an extended period, and who have a medium to large property to care for.
Battery Powered Weed Eaters:
Another common option, especially for people looking to combine the mobility of a gas-powered weed eater with the green design of a corded weed eater, are battery-powered options. These range in power a good bit, but most are more than powerful enough to get the job done.
The biggest problem with these weed eaters is that they have a limited run time. While gas-powered string trimmers also have a limited run time, it’s often easier to refill the gas tank than it is to charge and replace the battery.
Owning multiple batteries can help, but you’ll still probably want to break up your weed eating chores if you have a particularly large property or lots of areas that need this kind of maintenance.
6 Top Electric Weed Eater Reviews
Matts Top Pick: Best Electric Weed Eater
Ryobi 40V Brushless String Trimmer
11.7 lb | Straight shaft type | 4Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
This 40-volt option is the middle of the power range for a battery-powered weed trimmer, but based on performance alone you wouldn’t guess it. The brushless motor means that you get better performance for less power, and also works to increase the life of the tool overall.
It comes with its own charger and battery pack, but you may want to invest in a second battery. That way to know you’ll have a charged battery if you end up running out of juice while you’re still working.
This weed eater is also designed to have added versatility. It worked with the expand-it line of accessories from Ryobi. While that means you’ll end up spending a little more on the accessories if you need that additional versatility, Ryobi is also a reasonably reliable brand, so you’ll know you’re getting what you’ve paid for.
The fixed head design doesn’t require winding or bumping, which saves you time. The string attachment is easy to use and very accurate, no worries about accidentally shredding plants you didn’t mean to touch.
Matt Loves:
- Long 5 year warranty
- Easy Maintenance
- 2-speed trigger offers more control
- Weed eater head can be reloaded in less than a minute
- Battery lasts 60 minutes or more, depending on use and conditions
Consider:
- Lots of plastic housing may dent or break relatively easily
- Relatively heavy
Best Folding Electric Weed Eater
EGO 56V Cordless String Trimmer
11.9 lb | Folding shaft type | 2.5Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
If you’re looking for a trimmer that offers the kind of power contractors and yard workers need, with the convenience of an electric trimmer, and small storage requirements, this is a good option.
The folding shaft makes storage a breeze. It’s also better suited to properties where you might need to load the trimmer into the back of the truck, or onto your riding lawn mower, to get back to the farthest corners of the property.
The long 15-inch cutting width is perfect for handling larger jobs quickly, though it does take a little getting used to if you’re accustomed to a smaller cutting profile.
The high-efficiency brushless motor combined with the large battery to give you a long comparative runtime. You also have a speed variable trigger, which gives you not only more control and power, but also means that you can save your battery power for the most important jobs, and go a little easier on low-difficulty tasks.
Combined with a 5-year warranty on the tool, and the 3-year warranty on the battery, and you have a lot of security that you’ll get the power and flexibility you need.
Matt Loves:
- Large 15 in cutting width
- 5-year warranty + 3-year battery warranty
- Longer-lasting battery
- Variable speed trigger
- Folding shaft for easier storage
Consider:
- Bump feed system is a little inconsistent
- Slightly bulky, may take some experience to learn to maneuver
Best Lightweight Weed Eater
DEWALT 20V Brushless Dual Line String Trimmer
8.5 lb | Straight shaft type | 5Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
Lastly, we come to the DeWalt 20V weed eater and trimmer. This model is designed more specifically to be a trimmer than some of the other models on this list, but the list would not be complete without mentioning at least one DeWalt model.
Like all 20V tools from DeWalt, this battery-powered weed eater is designed to work with the universal battery, and the same battery will work with the rest of DeWalt’s 20V tool line.
It uses a bump speed loader to make it easier to maintain your cutting length the whole time you’re trimming, no matter how difficult the trimming and edging task. The tool is also lightweight overall, making it easier to use, though it can be easier to overshoot your intended adjustments since it is such a lightweight design at only 8.5 lbs.
Matt Loves:
- Compatible with DeWalt’s universal 20V battery design
- Very lightweight
- Bump loader for easy and consistent trimming
- Powerful enough for edging and difficult trimming jobs
Consider:
- Battery position is awkward, can be difficult to remove
- Trimmer guard doesn’t prevent trimmed plants and grass from flying back toward the user
Best Electric Weed Eater for Small Yards
Ryobi ONE+ 18Volt Cordless String Trimmer
7.5 lb | Straight shaft type | 4Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
Another Ryobi option, this one comes with a smaller battery, which makes it better for smaller properties. That smaller battery doesn’t noticeably reduce the power of the weed eater though, just means that it doesn’t run quite as long as it’s bigger and more powerful counterpart.
That brings us to one of the real advantages of this model. It’s significantly lighter than the 40V version, only 7.5 lbs compared to more than 11 lbs on the larger weed eater.
This system is also compatible with the 18V battery line, although it doesn’t have the accessories options of the 40V system. That battery line means that assuming you use some of Ryobi’s other 18V tools, you’ll only need a couple of their compatible batteries to run your whole system.
The 90-degree pivoting head makes it simple to switch back and forth from trimming to edging. You also have some control over the string trimmer’s length, with 11in and 13in so you have more control over your cutting area.
Matt Loves:
- Lightweight
- Batteries compatible with other Ryobi toolsets
- Trimming head pivots easily between trimming and edging
- Lots of control and adjustability
Consider:
- Not compatible with very many accessories
- Short battery life, you’ll need multiple batteries for larger jobs
Best Two In One Weed Eater & Mower
Black + Decker 20V 3 in 1 String Trimmer/Edger/Mower
Straight shaft type | 2Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
This trimmer was clearly designed for homes with limited storage space for their tools. As a mower trimmer combined tool, it takes up a lot less space than having both tools. Though, the smaller trimming width and lower battery voltage both make this a tool that is better for smaller spaces than large ones.
The mower attachment works, and is a relatively consistent tool, especially when you compare it to other tools of the same type. However, it’s a very small mower system, so you will spend a little more time mowing even the smallest yards with this attachment.
As a trimmer, this model performs well and consistently. You get 100ft spool for the string trimmer, with a maximum trimming length of 12in. The bump feed is easy to use, and cuts down on reloading time, letting you get more done.
While the battery on this model is less powerful than most alternatives and is the lowest power of any tool on this list, the package makes up for it by providing two batteries. Keeping one charged while you work lets you extend your working time considerably.
Matt Loves:
- Can also serve as a mower
- Consistent bump feed keeps you cutting longer
- Moderate string trimming width is good for new users
- Typically comes with two batteries
Consider:
- 12-inch cutting width is narrower than some models
- Mowing attachment best for small yards due to a narrow cutting deck
Best Multi-Tool Electric Weed Eater
Milwaukee M18 Brushless String Trimmer with QUICK LOK Attachment Capability
12.3 lb | Straight shaft type | 8Ah | Lithium Ion Battery
The M18 line offers over 200 tools, and the battery system that comes with this weed eater is compatible with all of them. In addition to those 200 tools, this system is compatible with several different yard maintenance tools.
That added versatility lets you keep your garage storage a little more compact, without making sacrifices on which tools you own.
The weed eater itself is highly effective, with a wide 16-inch cutting area, and 6,200 rpm max speed from the motor. That’s more than enough power to tackle the most difficult trimming jobs, not to mention to handling edging.
The easy load trimmer head also makes it simple to get up running as quickly as possible, and without having to stop and reload as you work.
The biggest downside of this system is on the heavy side, weighing slightly more than 12 lbs.
Matt Loves:
- Battery system compatible with a wide range of tools
- Wide cutting area
- Trimmer head is easy to load and doesn't require frequent stopping
- Several optional accessories for this tool system give you greater versatility
- High rpm cutting power
Consider:
- Heavyweight for a weed eater
- Bulky design can be hard to maneuver, especially around more delicate plants
Electric Weed Eater Buying Guide
Here are the features to consider when buying the right electric weed eater for the job
How long will the Weed Eater Battery Last?
The battery power of your trimmer determines how long your trimmer can run. A weak battery paired with a strong motor will have a shorter total runtime, while a strong battery paired with a weak motor will have a longer runtime, but less cutting power.
Battery power above 20V is generally designed to give you both, while a 20V battery system will usually give you plenty of power, but a shorter runtime.
More powerful batteries also take longer to charge, which makes it more likely that you’ll need a second or third battery if you do run completely out of the charge. While a smaller voltage battery might be able to charge completely while you’re using the second battery, so you can alternate.
What is a Brushless Motor?
Almost all electric weed eaters will come equipped with a brushless motor. The brushless motor design wears down more slowly than other motors and requires less energy for the same output.
However, there are some cheaper models that are made with other motor types, and usually, these don’t offer the power or battery life to perform well. Always look for brushless motors in electric weed eaters, corded and battery-powered alike.
Weed Eaters Folding or Straight Shafts
Folding shafts are an adaptation that allows you to store your weed eater more easily, but they are most important for packing into the back of a truck or car.
However, for all the advantages of a folding shaft, the folding mechanism is another possible point of failure. You should carefully weigh whether the advantages of being able to fold the tool shaft is worth the disadvantage of likely needing to replace it sooner.
Electric Weed Eaters Head Types
There are several different types of trimmer head you can put on your weed eater.
Bump trimmers feed out a new length of the string when you bump them against the ground. The length is pre-measured, and while this feature is convenient, the feeder can jam and force you to reload the trimmer before they work again.
Automatic feeders use the same mechanism, but they don’t need to be bumped to feed out more. Instead, the tool does it automatically as needed. However, the jamming problem is still there.
Fixed-line heads are a little less common these days, but work using a fixed-line that needs to be replaced when it wears down. However, replacing the line is usually easier than fixing a jammed feeder, even if you do have to reload a little more often.
Final Words on the Best Electric Weed Eaters
In this article, we’ve gone over the different types of weed eater and reviewed some of the best battery-powered electric weed eaters out there. We’ve also given you a short buying guide that talks about the main differences between different string trimmers, and what each point of difference is best for.
Hopefully, now that you’ve read this article, you’re not only more confident picking your next electric weed eater, but also have a shortlist of some of the best models, and which will work best for you and your property.
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Howdy, I’m Matt and welcome to my site Mowing With Matt. I’ve always been a self confessed lawn mowing nut and have learnt plenty about looking after lawns.
I’d like to share this knowledge by providing valuable information and tips from buying the right lawn mower to keeping your grass green.
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