Home & Kitchen
The Best Cordless String Trimmers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four cordless string trimmers on power, line feed, battery ecosystem, runtime, and handling to find the best homeowner pick.
The short version
Most homeowners are best served by the EGO POWER+ ST1521S: its 56V brushless motor has the torque to tackle thick weeds, and the POWERLOAD head ends the misery of hand-winding line. The RYOBI 40V attachment-capable kit is the value runner-up, turning one powerhead into a whole yard toolkit for less money. The Makita 18V X2 is a superb trimmer, but only worth it if you already own LXT batteries — otherwise the two-pack format and premium price sting. Skip the BLACK+DECKER 20V: it's fine for a tiny patch but under-motored and short-running for a real lawn. Best for: homeowners who want gas-free power that matches their yard size and existing battery platform.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Power & cutting swath
- Line-feed system
- Battery platform
- Runtime (included battery)
- Weight & handling
- Build & durability
Cordless string trimmers have quietly gotten good enough that most homeowners no longer need gas. The trick is matching battery voltage, cutting swath, and line-feed system to the size of your yard. Three of these four are genuinely worth owning; one is a common budget buy we think most people should walk past.
Gas-like 56V power with a push-button line feed that ends spool-winding misery.
Best for: Homeowners with quarter- to half-acre lots who want gas-grade power without the fuss.
- POWERLOAD head auto-winds the line at the push of a button — no hand-spooling
- 56V brushless motor delivers the torque reviewers say chews through thick, wet weeds
- Feeds a large 56V ecosystem of mowers, blowers, and saws that share the battery
- Front-motor build is sturdy but nose-heavy compared with lighter 20V trimmers
- POWERLOAD only feeds cleanly when the line is pre-cut to the specified length
The value pick: one attachment-capable powerhead that grows into a whole yard toolkit.
Best for: Budget-minded homeowners who want one battery platform for many yard tools.
- Attachment-capable shaft accepts edger, pole saw, and cultivator heads from one motor
- Backed by RYOBI's huge, affordable 40V lineup that owners praise for value
- Ships with a generous 4Ah battery, so runtime is long for the price class
- Noticeably heavy once the 4Ah pack is fitted
- Uses a bump-feed head rather than EGO's automatic line loading
A beautifully balanced trimmer that only makes financial sense if you already live in Makita LXT.
Best for: People already invested in Makita 18V LXT tools who want top-tier fit and finish.
- Runs on two common 18V LXT batteries you likely already own from Makita drills and saws
- Independent testing and owners consistently praise its balance, build quality, and low vibration
- Variable-speed trigger plus a reverse function to clear line jams quickly
- Needs two batteries to run, doubling battery cost and weight versus single-pack rivals
- Buying in fresh — as the full kit does — lands at a premium price for a homeowner trimmer
Light and cheap, but too under-motored and short-running for anyone with a real lawn.
Best for: Tiny urban yards or occasional light touch-ups only — most buyers should size up.
- Very light and easy to swing for quick touch-ups
- EASYFEED power-feed beats pure bump heads when it behaves
- Inexpensive entry point with two batteries included
- 20V motor bogs down in thick or wet grass, per many owner reports
- Small 12" swath plus short 1.5Ah battery runtime makes real yards slow going
- Owners repeatedly cite line-feed jams and durability complaints
| Criteria | EGO POWER+ 15" String Trimmer with POWERLOAD (ST1521S) Top pick | RYOBI 40V 15" Attachment Capable String Trimmer Kit (RY40ST01K) | Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Brushless String Trimmer (XRU15PT) | BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX EASYFEED 12" String Trimmer/Edger (LSTE525) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Homeowners with quarter- to half-acre lots who want gas-grade power without the fuss. | Budget-minded homeowners who want one battery platform for many yard tools. | People already invested in Makita 18V LXT tools who want top-tier fit and finish. | Tiny urban yards or occasional light touch-ups only — most buyers should size up. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
| Power & cutting swath | Strong 56V, 15" swath — gas-like torque | 40V brushless, 15" swath — ample for most lawns | 36V (18V X2) — smooth and strong | 20V, 12" swath — bogs in thick grass |
| Line-feed system | POWERLOAD automatic push-button winding | Bump-feed head | Bump-feed head | EASYFEED power-feed (jam-prone per owners) |
| Battery platform | 56V ARC Lithium — large OPE lineup | 40V — huge, affordable lineup | 18V LXT — shares with power tools (needs two) | 20V MAX — light-duty lineup |
| Runtime (included battery) | Modest 2.5Ah kit — fine for average lots | Long — 4Ah battery included | Good — batteries swappable, kit includes several | Short — small 1.5Ah packs |
| Weight & handling | Sturdy but nose-heavy | Heavier with the 4Ah pack fitted | Well-balanced and comfortable | Very light and easy to swing |
| Build & durability | Solid, weather-resistant | Good for the price | Excellent fit and finish | Basic; owners cite wear issues |
| Best use case | Quarter- to half-acre lots | Multi-tool budget setups | Existing Makita LXT owners | Tiny yards / touch-ups |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $ · budget |
Which one is right for you?
- Homeowners with quarter- to half-acre lots who want gas-grade power without the fuss. Buy it EGO POWER+ 15" String Trimmer with POWERLOAD (ST1521S)
- Budget-minded homeowners who want one battery platform for many yard tools. Buy it RYOBI 40V 15" Attachment Capable String Trimmer Kit (RY40ST01K)
- People already invested in Makita 18V LXT tools who want top-tier fit and finish. It depends Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Brushless String Trimmer (XRU15PT)
- Tiny urban yards or occasional light touch-ups only — most buyers should size up. Skip it BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX EASYFEED 12" String Trimmer/Edger (LSTE525)
How we judged the field
We don’t run our own test lab. Instead, we synthesize independent testing, expert reviews, and aggregated owner reports to find where the consensus lands — and where it splits. For cordless string trimmers, the criteria that actually separate a keeper from a regret are power relative to your grass, the line-feed system, the battery platform you’re buying into, real-world runtime on the included pack, and how the tool balances in your hands over a full session. Price matters too, but only in context: a cheap trimmer that can’t finish your lawn isn’t a bargain.
EGO POWER+ 15” String Trimmer with POWERLOAD (ST1521S) — buy
This is the trimmer we’d point most homeowners toward. The 56V brushless motor has the torque reviewers describe as genuinely gas-like, powering through thick and wet weeds that make budget trimmers stall. The headline feature is POWERLOAD: cut a length of line, thread it through, push a button, and the head winds it for you — no prying the spool open on the driveway. Owners consistently call it the feature they didn’t know they needed. It’s part of EGO’s large 56V ecosystem, so the battery also runs mowers, blowers, and saws. The trade-offs are modest: the front-motor design is sturdy but a little nose-heavy, and POWERLOAD only feeds cleanly when the line is cut to the specified length. For a quarter- to half-acre lot, it’s the easy call.
RYOBI 40V 15” Attachment Capable String Trimmer Kit (RY40ST01K) — buy
The RYOBI is the value play, and a strong one. Its shaft is attachment-capable, meaning the same powerhead accepts edger, pole-saw, and cultivator attachments — one motor, a whole shed of yard tools. It cuts a full 15” swath, ships with a generous 4Ah battery for long runtime, and plugs into RYOBI’s enormous, affordable 40V lineup. Owners rate it highly for the money. It isn’t as refined as the EGO: it’s heavy once the 4Ah pack is on, and it uses a conventional bump-feed head rather than automatic loading. But if you want maximum capability per dollar and a platform you can keep expanding, it’s hard to beat.
Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Brushless String Trimmer (XRU15PT) — it depends
The Makita is arguably the best-built tool here — independent testing and owners praise its balance, low vibration, and fit and finish, and the variable-speed trigger with a jam-clearing reverse is a nice touch. The catch is the format. It runs on two 18V LXT batteries, which is fantastic if you already own Makita cordless tools and can share packs, but doubles the battery cost and weight if you’re starting from scratch. Bought fresh as the full kit, it lands at a premium price for a homeowner trimmer. So the verdict genuinely depends on you: an obvious buy for the LXT faithful, an expensive way in for everyone else.
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX EASYFEED 12” String Trimmer/Edger (LSTE525) — skip
This is the one we’d steer most people away from — not because it’s defective, but because it’s mismatched to real lawns. The 20V motor bogs down in thick or wet grass, and the narrow 12” swath paired with short 1.5Ah batteries turns an ordinary yard into a stop-and-swap chore. The EASYFEED power-feed is a nice idea, but owners repeatedly report jams and durability complaints. It’s light, cheap, and fine for a tiny urban patch or the occasional touch-up. For anything more, you’ll outgrow it fast — and the extra money for a 40V RYOBI buys a tool you won’t have to replace.
EGO ST1521S vs RYOBI RY40ST01K: which should you buy?
These are the two most homeowners should choose between. The EGO wins on refinement and raw ease: more torque in reserve, and the POWERLOAD head that makes re-lining a non-event. If your priority is the smoothest, most gas-like experience and you don’t mind paying a premium, take the EGO. The RYOBI wins on flexibility and price: the attachment-capable shaft means one purchase can become an edger, pole saw, and cultivator, and the whole 40V platform costs less to build out. Choose the RYOBI if you want to equip a whole yard from one affordable battery system. Neither is a wrong answer — it comes down to convenience versus versatility.
What to look for
- Match power to your grass. 40V and 56V brushless trimmers handle typical lawns and weeds; 20V tools are for tiny patches only.
- Prefer a 15” swath over 12” if you have a full lawn — it clears ground meaningfully faster.
- Decide on line feed. Automatic loading (like POWERLOAD) is the most convenient; bump-feed is proven and cheaper.
- Buy into a battery platform, not just a tool — the packs you own should drive the brand you pick.
- Check the included battery. A larger amp-hour pack in the box means fewer interruptions on bigger yards.
- Weigh the tool with the battery on, not bare — a heavy pack changes how it feels after ten minutes.
Our final take
For most homeowners, the EGO POWER+ ST1521S is the trimmer to buy: it has the power to match a real lawn and the POWERLOAD head that removes the single most annoying part of owning a string trimmer. The RYOBI 40V kit is the value-savvy runner-up, especially if you want one affordable platform to run many yard tools. The Makita is a superb tool that earns its keep only if you’re already in the LXT ecosystem. And the BLACK+DECKER is the honest skip — a fine little touch-up tool that’s simply out of its depth on an actual lawn. Buy the one that fits your yard and your batteries, and you’ll be happy for years.
Questions, answered
Are cordless string trimmers powerful enough to replace gas?
For most homeowners, yes. Independent testing and owner reports agree that 56V and 40V brushless models like the EGO and RYOBI handle typical lawns and moderate weeds without complaint. If you're clearing heavy brush or maintaining large acreage, a gas trimmer still has an edge, but for standard suburban lots battery power is now more than enough.
What's the difference between bump-feed and automatic line feed?
With a bump-feed head (the RYOBI and Makita here), you tap the spinning head on the ground to release more line as it wears down. EGO's POWERLOAD instead winds fresh line automatically at the push of a button, so you never open the head to re-spool by hand. Automatic feeding is more convenient, but it only works reliably when you cut the replacement line to the exact length the tool specifies.
Do I have to buy the same brand of battery I already own?
It pays to. Batteries don't cross between brands, so if you already own Makita LXT, RYOBI 40V, or EGO 56V packs, buying the matching bare tool saves a lot of money. If you're starting fresh, factor the battery and charger into the total cost — that's a big reason the two-battery Makita only makes sense for existing LXT owners.
What cutting swath and line size should I look for?
A wider swath clears grass faster: the 15" cut on the EGO and RYOBI covers ground quicker than the 12" BLACK+DECKER, which is a real difference on a full lawn. For homeowner use, line in the 0.080"–0.095" range is the sweet spot — thick enough to power through weeds without constantly snapping.
Why skip the BLACK+DECKER and similar cheap 20V trimmers?
They're not bad tools, they're just mismatched to most yards. Owners report the 20V motor bogging down in thick or wet grass, and the small 12" swath plus short 1.5Ah battery runtime turns an average lawn into a multi-battery chore. For a tiny patch or occasional edging they're fine, but most buyers outgrow them fast and would be happier spending a little more on a 40V tool.
