Best Electric Weed Eaters & Battery String Trimmers (2026)

The EGO ST1623T is the trimmer that finally convinced holdout gas users to go electric. Its 56V ARC Lithium brushless motor spins line at the same speed as a 25cc gas engine, but without the pull-cord frustration, exhaust fumes, or ear protection requirements. The 16-inch cutting swath handles everything from fine edging work along sidewalks to clearing thick overgrowth along fence lines.

The standout feature is POWERLOAD technology. Instead of manually threading line through the head (arguably the worst part of using any string trimmer), you simply insert the end of the line and press a button. The head automatically winds and cuts the line to the correct length. It sounds like a gimmick until you use it once and realize you never want to go back. The carbon-fiber reinforced shaft keeps the overall weight at just 10.4 pounds, making it easy to use for extended sessions without fatigue.

With the included 5.0 Ah battery, expect roughly 45 minutes of runtime during typical residential trimming. The EGO battery platform now covers 70+ tools including mowers, blowers, chainsaws, and snow blowers, so this purchase can be the start of a complete yard care ecosystem.

Milwaukee built the M18 FUEL trimmer for landscape professionals who run tools hard, every single day. Despite being "only" 18 volts, the POWERSTATE brushless motor punches well above its weight class thanks to intelligent power management that optimizes torque delivery based on cutting load. The result is gas-equivalent performance from a lower-voltage platform.

The QUIK-LOK attachment system is a major advantage for commercial users. The trimmer head detaches in seconds and can be swapped with Milwaukee edger, hedge trimmer, pole saw, and brush cutter attachments. With a high-output 12.0 Ah battery, you can get up to 60 minutes of continuous runtime, enough to trim an entire commercial property without swapping packs.

If you already own Milwaukee power tools, this is a no-brainer. The M18 battery platform spans over 250 tools, from drills and impact drivers to outdoor power equipment and job-site lighting. That ecosystem lock-in is a feature, not a bug.

The DeWalt 60V MAX is the brute-force option in our lineup. With the widest cutting swath at 17 inches and 60 volts of FLEXVOLT power behind it, this trimmer eats through thick weeds, overgrown grass, and light brush that would stall lesser machines. The brushless motor delivers consistent power from full charge down to the last 10%, with no gradual fade-out like older battery tools.

FLEXVOLT is DeWalt's signature battery technology. The same 60V battery automatically steps down to 20V when inserted into any of DeWalt's 300+ 20V MAX tools, giving you enormous cross-compatibility. A single battery investment works in your trimmer, drill, circular saw, impact driver, and everything in between. With the 9.0 Ah FLEXVOLT battery, expect around 50 minutes of runtime during standard residential trimming.

The dual-line bump-feed head is straightforward and reliable. While it lacks the auto-feed convenience of the EGO, bump-feed heads are universally replaceable and widely available at any hardware store. For users who want raw cutting power above all else, the 60V MAX is hard to beat.

The Greenworks 80V Pro packs the highest voltage in our lineup into a trimmer that costs less than most 60V competitors. The 80V brushless motor delivers serious torque for cutting through dense vegetation, tall grass, and weedy lots that other trimmers struggle with. It's a legitimate replacement for a 30cc gas trimmer.

Greenworks has been making electric outdoor power equipment longer than most of the big-name tool brands, and that experience shows in the refinement of this trimmer. The variable-speed trigger, adjustable shaft length, and pivoting head make the transition from trimming to edging seamless. The 2.0 Ah 80V battery provides roughly 45 minutes of runtime, and the rapid charger gets you back to full in about 30 minutes.

The 80V Pro platform includes mowers, blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, and snow throwers. While the ecosystem is smaller than EGO or Milwaukee, the tools themselves are well-built and competitively priced, making Greenworks a strong value play for homeowners who want commercial-grade voltage without the commercial price tag.

The Ryobi 40V Expand-It is the Swiss Army knife of string trimmers. The real selling point is not the trimmer itself (though it performs well for a 40V unit) but the Expand-It attachment system that turns one powerhead into a dozen different tools. Available attachments include an edger, pole saw, hedge trimmer, brush cutter, cultivator, blower, and more, all sold separately for $30-80 each.

The 40V brushless motor delivers solid mid-range performance with a 15-inch cutting swath. It will not match the raw power of 56V or 60V units when cutting through thick brush, but for standard residential trimming and edging, it gets the job done reliably. The 4.0 Ah battery provides about 35 minutes of runtime, and Ryobi 40V batteries are among the most affordable in the industry.

Ryobi's 40V outdoor platform includes 85+ tools, all available exclusively at Home Depot. That retail partnership means parts, batteries, and accessories are always in stock nearby. For homeowners who want to build out a complete yard care toolkit without spending a fortune, the Expand-It ecosystem offers the best cost-per-tool ratio on the market.

Not everyone needs a 60-volt powerhouse. The BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX is built for homeowners with small to medium yards who want a simple, affordable trimmer that just works. At $89 including battery and charger, it costs less than a single replacement battery for some of the pro-grade tools on this list.

The 12-inch cutting swath is narrower than premium models, but that actually makes it easier to maneuver in tight spaces around flower beds, fence posts, and garden borders. At just 5.7 pounds, it is the lightest trimmer in our lineup by a wide margin, which means less fatigue during use and easier storage. The automatic feed spool (AFS) advances line without bumping, which is a nice convenience feature at this price point.

The 20V MAX platform is BLACK+DECKER's entry-level cordless system, and it includes drills, saws, vacuums, and other yard tools. Runtime is about 25 minutes on the included 2.0 Ah battery, which is enough for most small-yard trimming sessions. If you need more time, a second battery is only about $25.