The best grass trimmers
The mower does the middle; a trimmer does the rest. Our picks for tidy edges along fences, paths and flowerbeds, corded and cordless.
A grass trimmer is what turns a mown lawn into a tidy one: the strip along the fence, the tufts round the washing line, the edge by the patio. The string trimmer was invented in the early 1970s by George Ballas of Houston, Texas, who got the idea watching the spinning brushes in a car wash. In Britain most of us call it a strimmer, after a Black & Decker trademark registered in 1977.
Corded trimmers are light, cheaper and never run flat, but you're tied to an extension lead. Cordless ones go anywhere, and if the family already owns tools on one battery system, a body-only trimmer is the cheapest way in. For neat lawn edges, pick one whose head turns sideways to edge.
What matters
- Corded or cordless: a cable never runs flat, a battery goes anywhere.
- Cutting width: 25–30cm suits most lawns.
- Weight and a telescopic shaft, for your back.
- An edging mode, for crisp lawn edges.
#1 of 5
Best overall
WORX WG163E 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer with Two Batteries
£129.99 RRP
Press a button and fresh line feeds out, so there's no stopping to bump the head on the ground. A twist of the head turns it into a wheeled edger, and it comes ready to go with two 2.0Ah batteries and a charger.
What owners say: Owners say it cuts through grass and weeds with ease, is especially good along patio edges, and feels light, with a spare battery to swap in.
A closer look: The head pivots 90° to reach under benches and garden furniture, and the flower guard keeps the line off plants. Register it online within 30 days for a third year of warranty. The batteries also fit WORX's other 20V PowerShare tools.
- 30cm cutting width
- Push-button line feed
- Converts to a wheeled edger
- Head pivots 90°
- Two 2.0Ah batteries and charger
Best for: Trimming and edging in one
- Power
- Cordless, 20V
- Cutting width
- 30cm
- Weight
- 2.4kg with battery
- Cuts with
- 1.65mm line, push-button feed
- Telescopic shaft
- Yes
- Cable or battery
- Two 2.0Ah batteries and charger
#2 of 5
Best for Ryobi owners
Ryobi OLT1832 18V ONE+ Grass Trimmer (body only)
£73.99 RRP
Choose a 25cm or 30cm cut: the narrow setting makes the battery last longer, the wide one gets the job done faster. It runs on Ryobi's ONE+ batteries, which fit more than a hundred of its tools, so it's the one to get for anyone who already owns a Ryobi drill.
What owners say: Owners find it light, easy to adjust and effective, especially in small gardens, and easier to use than a corded trimmer.
Heads up: It comes without a battery or charger. Ryobi says a 5.0Ah ONE+ battery gives up to 50 minutes of trimming, which covers most gardens.
A closer look: When you put it together, look for the guard screws taped to the back of the guard before searching the box. The shaft telescopes and the trimmer folds for storage, and Ryobi gives it a three-year guarantee.
- 25cm or 30cm cutting width
- Auto-feed 1.6mm line
- EasyEdge switch from trimming to edging
- Three-position pivoting head
- Telescopic shaft
Best for: Existing Ryobi owners
- Power
- Cordless, 18V ONE+
- Cutting width
- 25 or 30cm
- Weight
- 2.3kg without battery
- Cuts with
- 1.6mm line, auto-feed
- Telescopic shaft
- Yes
- Cable or battery
- Battery and charger sold separately
#3 of 5
Best corded
Flymo Contour 500E Electric Grass Trimmer and Edger (500W)
£50–£75 Price range
Two lines feed out automatically for a quicker, cleaner cut, and turning the head sideways with its little wheel makes it an edger for borders, walls and fences. Flymo is the name behind the hover mower, invented by the Swedish engineer Karl Dahlman and gliding over British lawns since 1965.
What owners say: Owners say it cuts grass well, handles both trimming and edging, and feels well made.
A closer look: At 3.1kg it's the heaviest here, so set the telescopic handle and the second grip to your height before you start. The plant guard keeps the line off shrubs and tree trunks, and a third setting lets it trim under benches.
- 500W motor
- Twin auto-feed lines
- Twists to edge, with an edging wheel
- Telescopic handle
- 10m cable and plant guard
Best for: Edging on mains power
- Power
- Corded, 500W
- Cutting width
- 25cm
- Weight
- 3.1kg
- Cuts with
- Twin 1.5mm lines, auto-feed
- Telescopic shaft
- Yes
- Cable or battery
- 10m cable
#4 of 5
Best for small gardens
Bosch EasyGrassCut 26 Corded Grass Trimmer (280W)
£45.00 RRP
Light at 1.9kg and simple to live with: fresh line feeds out each time you let go of the trigger, so there's no bumping or rethreading halfway round the lawn. Bosch made it for small and medium gardens.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use, comfortable to hold and quick to put together, with plenty of power for its size and good value.
A closer look: There's no edging mode, so pair it with long-handled edging shears for crisp lawn edges. It has a 6m cable; for the far end of the garden, use an outdoor extension lead plugged into an RCD.
- 26cm cutting width
- 280W motor
- Line feeds on trigger release
- 1.9kg
- Adjustable second handle
Best for: Small lawns
- Power
- Corded, 280W
- Cutting width
- 26cm
- Weight
- 1.9kg
- Cuts with
- 1.6mm line, feeds on trigger release
- Telescopic shaft
- No
- Cable or battery
- 6m cable
#5 of 5
Best budget cordless
Jwdj 21V Cordless Strimmer with Plastic and Metal Blades
£20–£30 Price range
Instead of line it spins small blades: plastic ones for soft grass and weeds, metal ones for tougher weeds and overgrown corners. It's light, the handle telescopes to your height, and two batteries come in the box.
What owners say: Owners find it light and easy to put together and use, like the good selection of spare blades, and think it's good value.
Heads up: Charge both batteries fully before the first job, and keep the metal blades away from stones, kerbs and cables, as the maker advises.
A closer look: Use the plastic blades for everyday trimming, as they're kinder to lawn edges, and save the metal ones for nettles and thick weeds. The maker quotes 40 to 60 minutes a battery, and with two you can charge one while you use the other.
- 21V cordless
- Plastic and metal blades
- Telescopic handle
- Two batteries included
- About 1.45kg (3.2lb)
Best for: Weeds on a budget
- Power
- Cordless, 21V
- Cutting width
- 15cm
- Weight
- 1.45kg (3.2lb)
- Cuts with
- Plastic and metal blades
- Telescopic shaft
- Yes
- Cable or battery
- Two batteries included
How they compare
| Feature | #1WORX WG163E | #2Ryobi OLT1832 | #3Flymo Contour 500E | #4Bosch EasyGrassCut 26 | #5Jwdj 21V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for Ryobi owners | Best corded | Best for small gardens | Best budget cordless | |
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.1 |
| Price | £129.99 RRP | £73.99 RRP | £50–£75 Price range | £45.00 RRP | £20–£30 Price range |
| Power | Cordless, 20V | Cordless, 18V ONE+ | Corded, 500W | Corded, 280W | Cordless, 21V |
| Cutting width | 30cm | 25 or 30cm | 25cm | 26cm | 15cm |
| Weight | 2.4kg with battery | 2.3kg without battery | 3.1kg | 1.9kg | 1.45kg (3.2lb) |
| Cuts with | 1.65mm line, push-button feed | 1.6mm line, auto-feed | Twin 1.5mm lines, auto-feed | 1.6mm line, feeds on trigger release | Plastic and metal blades |
| Telescopic shaft | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cable or battery | Two 2.0Ah batteries and charger | Battery and charger sold separately | 10m cable | 6m cable | Two batteries included |
| Best for | Trimming and edging in one | Existing Ryobi owners | Edging on mains power | Small lawns | Weeds on a budget |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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