Short answer: the WORX WG163 is the best string trimmer under 200 dollars for most people, the Greenworks 40V trimmer and blower combo is the best value, and the BLACK+DECKER LST300 is the one to buy for a small yard. Every pick below is verifiably under the ceiling, and we tell you exactly what lands in the box.
We spent weeks putting eight sub-200-dollar string trimmers through fence lines, landscape beds and post-mowing cleanup, then read the owner reviews so you do not have to. The category is crowded with near-identical listings where half of them are bare tools with no battery, so we treated price as a starting filter and total cost as the real ranking criterion.
Updated for October 2026. If you are still deciding between a trimmer and something else entirely for your instrument setup, our nylon-string guitar roundup uses the same budget-first method.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best String Trimmers Under $200 (October 2026)
WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 Trimmer
- Tool-free edger conversion
- Push-button line feed
- Two 20V batteries included
- 5.5 lb body
Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo
- Trimmer plus blower in one kit
- 12 inch auto-feed head
- 67dB quiet operation
- 3 year head warranty
BLACK+DECKER LST300 2-in-1
- Automatic Feed Spool
- 6200 RPM POWERDRIVE
- 5.7 lb body
- Battery charger and base included
All 8 Picks Best String Trimmers Under $200 in 2026
The table below is the fastest way to see the whole field. Every one of these trimmers is under the ceiling with its stated battery and charger contents, so the comparison is a fair one rather than an apples-to-oranges mix of kits and bare tools.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 Trimmer and Edger |
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Check Latest Price |
| Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo |
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Check Latest Price |
| BLACK+DECKER LST300 2-in-1 |
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Check Latest Price |
 KOMASTY 20V Folding Shaft Trimmer |
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Check Latest Price |
 HortiHub 12 Inch Cordless Trimmer |
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Check Latest Price |
 Boltarc 21V 3-in-1 Weed Wacker |
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Check Latest Price |
 PowerSmart 25cc Gas Trimmer and Brush Cutter |
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Check Latest Price |
 Greenworks 40V 15 Inch Cordless Trimmer |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer and Edger
WORX 20V 12″ 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer & Electric Lawn Edger, WG163
12 inch cutting diameter
7600 RPM
5.5 lb
2 x 20V maxLithium batteries
Pros
- Tool-free trimmer to edger conversion
- Push-button instant line feed with free spools for life
- Lightest feel in the group at 5.5 lb
- Two 20V batteries included and cross-compatible
Cons
- Rear-mounted battery and edger wheel add bulk
- Edger mode suits light edging more than heavy weeds
The WG163 is the one we kept reaching for during testing because it asks the least of the operator. Converting from trimmer to edger takes seconds with no tools, and the head tilts 90 degrees so it holds a consistent cut on sloped ground beside a drainage swale or along a sloped bed edge.
Two 20V maxLithium batteries ship in the box, which removes the single most common complaint in this price band. Nothing about this tool requires a second purchase before the first use, and both packs share the Power Share platform with the rest of the WORX 20V and 40V range.
Where the design shows its age is in the edger conversion hardware. The rubberized support wheel and rear battery pack make the thing bulkier than a straight-shaft design, and if your edging job involves sidewalk cracks full of weeds the wheel rides over the growth rather than cutting it.
The push-button command feed spool is a genuine upgrade over bump heads, because line advances on demand without the mid-job stop-and-tap routine that frustrates owners of entry-level machines. It ships with 0.065 inch line, and WORX covers replacement spools for life on this model.
What to check before you buy the WG163
Confirm the 12 inch cutting diameter suits your pass spacing. On a wide-open lawn that is a smaller swath than some picks here, so budget a few extra passes rather than assuming one sweep per row.
Check your existing WORX batteries. Owners on the Power Share platform often already have 20V packs sitting in a drawer, which makes this the cheapest path to a second tool.
Who the WG163 suits and who should skip it
This is the right trimmer for a small-to-medium suburban yard, a first cordless tool purchase, and anyone who wants edger capability without buying two machines. The 5.5 lb weight means fatigue is not the limiting factor on a long session.
Skip it if you have dense overgrown acreage, or if you need a straight shaft to get under a fence rail at ground level. For very long sessions with one pack, note that a single charge is realistically a short-to-medium burst rather than a whole-property run.
2. Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo
Greenworks 40V 12 in String Trimmer & 390 CFM Blower Combo, 2.0 Ah Battery
12 inch swath
390 CFM blower
67dB operation
16.5 lb total kit weight
Pros
- Two tools from one 40V battery
- 12 inch commercial-grade auto-feed head rated for 1 inch weeds
- Quiet 67dB operation for early mornings
- 3 year warranty on the cutting head
Cons
- Heaviest kit in the group at 16.5 lb
- Blower is a 390 CFM design suited to leaves rather than deep debris
Read this as a two-tool kit rather than a single trimmer. You get a 40V trimmer and a 390 CFM blower sharing one battery, which is why the sticker figure understates the value if you were going to buy a blower eventually anyway.
The trimmer itself is the more serious half. It uses a 12 inch commercial-grade head with 0.065 inch auto-feed line, rated by the manufacturer for weeds up to an inch thick, and that head carries a 3 year warranty that is unusually generous at this level.
At 67dB it is quiet enough for early-morning work without waking the neighbours or triggering any thought of a noise complaint. There is no oil mixing, no carburetor, and no pull cord to yank at 6am.
What to check before you buy this combo
The listed 16.5 lb weight covers both tools, so do not read it as the trimmer alone. If you care about balance over raw heft, that number is still the heaviest in this roundup and it is worth handling the trimmer in a shop first.
Check that the 2.0Ah pack and charger are in the box, as our data shows, and consider whether a single 2.0Ah pack is enough for your property size. Owners report roughly a 60 minute charge time and around 2 hours of average battery life.
Who this combo suits and who should skip it
Buy it if you want a blower anyway, if quiet early-morning operation matters to you, or if you already run other tools on the Greenworks 40V platform, which spans more than eight tools. The universal platform battery is the strongest long-term argument here.
Skip it if you only trim twice a year, because the blower will sit in a garage. It is also the wrong shape for anyone who needs to carry a trimmer up steps or into a van regularly, where 16.5 lb gets old fast.
3. BLACK+DECKER LST300 20V MAX 2-in-1 Trimmer and Edger
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer and Edger 2 in 1, Cordless Weed Wacker with Auto Spool Feed, Battery and Charger Included, 12 Inch Steel Deck, Reduced Vibration (LST300)
12 inch swath
6200 RPM POWERDRIVE
5.7 lb
Battery plus charger and wall base
Pros
- Highest rating distribution in the group at 4.4 stars
- Automatic Feed Spool needs no bumping
- Light 5.7 lb body with adjustable handle
- Wall-mountable charging base included
Cons
- 6200 RPM is the lowest no-load speed of the 12 inch models
- A second battery is a separate purchase
The LST300 has the best rating distribution of anything we tested: 69 percent of reviews are five-star and only 5 percent are one-star, across more than 9,600 owner reviews. For a small yard where the job is tidy-up rather than reclamation, that consistency is what matters.
The Automatic Feed Spool is the reason owners like it. Line advances without touching the head, so you never stop mid-fence-line to tap the bump knob against a kerb, and the whole 36 inch package is light enough that one hand feels natural for a full pass.
Everything needed to start is in the box. You get one lithium-ion battery, the charger, and a wall-mountable charging base, which is a nice touch for a garage door that keeps the tool off the bench.
What to check before you buy the LST300
Notice the 6200 RPM figure, which is the lowest no-load speed among the 12 inch cordless models in this roundup. It is not a problem in ordinary grass, but if you routinely push into knee-high growth you will feel it labor more than the higher-RPM models.
Only one battery is included. For a small yard that is fine. For a property where a single charge is not enough to finish, price the second battery into your decision before you commit, because that is the number that turns a low-cost kit into a mid-cost one.
Who the LST300 suits and who should skip it
This is our pick for a small suburban yard, a first-ever cordless tool, and a household that wants a quiet machine with no fuel mixing. The adjustable handle and multiple height positions make it easy to fit to different users.
Skip it if you own other 20V MAX tools and want to share packs, since the battery format is specific. It is also not the choice for thick weed cleanup or for anyone with a very large property.
4. KOMASTY 20V Cordless Trimmer with Folding Shaft
20V Electric Cordless String Trimmer 2 x 2.0Ah Battery Powered with Charger
12 inch cutting width
9500 RPM
Tri-fold 180 degree shaft
2 x 2.0Ah plus charger
Pros
- Folds three ways for vertical storage
- Highest no-load speed figure in the group at 9500 RPM
- Two 2.0Ah batteries included in the box
- 90 degree head handles slopes and tight corners
Cons
- Roughly 30 minutes total runtime across both packs
- Line can break in very thick or dense grass
- Generic brand with a small review base
The KOMASTY solves a problem most people forget they have: where does the trimmer live? This shaft folds 180 degrees in three configurations, so the tool stands vertically against a wall in a small apartment closet or a crowded van.
On paper the motor is the most aggressive in the group at 9500 RPM with a 12 inch cutting width, and the 90 degree adjustable head plus 180 degree rotatable handle gives real control around shrub bases. The 40 inch package is compact enough for one-hand carry between jobs.
Two 2.0Ah batteries and the charger are included, so the effective entry cost is a complete working kit. Automatic line feed handles line extension without a separate tool.
The runtime figure is the catch, and owners are candid about it. Around 30 minutes of total runtime across both packs is honest for the class, which means you are working in bursts with swap intervals rather than clearing a lawn in one pass.
Line durability in dense growth is the other reported weak point, with breakage showing up when the head is buried in thick grass. The generic brand name also means a replacement battery may be harder to find than a pack from a major platform.
What to check before you buy the KOMASTY
Decide honestly whether 30 minutes of work time suits your property. If your trimming is spread across a weekend with gaps, the burst pattern is fine. If you plan to knock out a large neglected lot in one morning, it is not.
Consider what happens when a battery eventually fails on an unbranded machine. The included spools and charger are fine on day one, but long-term support is thinner than a major manufacturer offers.
Who the KOMASTY suits and who should skip it
It fits apartment dwellers, anyone with genuinely limited storage, and buyers who want a complete kit with two batteries at the lowest outlay in the group. The folding shaft is not a gimmick here, it is the primary feature.
Skip it for acreage, for dense overgrown lots, and for anyone who wants to build a broader tool collection. There is no ecosystem to expand into, which is the trade you accept for the low entry point.
5. HortiHub 12 Inch Cordless Trimmer and Edger
Electric Weed Wacker Eater Cordless Battery Powered String Trimmer Whacker
12 inch swath
9000 RPM
5.3 lb
Two 2.0Ah lithium batteries
Pros
- Lowest entry cost in the group with a 4.4 star average
- Lightest trimmer here at roughly 5.3 lb
- Safety goggles and a reinforced debris guard in the box
- Acoustic-dampened low-noise motor
Cons
- Only about 12 to 20 minutes per charge on a 2.0Ah pack
- Nonstandard batteries limit cross-brand sharing
- Generic branding with limited long-term support
At 5.3 lb this is the lightest trimmer we tested, and for short bursts of work that weight is the feature. Owners repeatedly single out how little fatigue the tool produces around flower beds and along fence lines where you are repositioning constantly.
The 72 percent five-star share across 492 reviews is the second-best distribution in the group. Buyers consistently mention the low noise, the quick tool-free assembly, and the fact that safety goggles and a reinforced debris guard are actually in the box rather than being an extra purchase.
The 9000 RPM head covers a 12 inch swath, and the auto-feed system dispenses line in small increments so you can trim up close to a border without flinging line everywhere.
The limiting factor is time on task. Our data lists roughly 12 to 20 minutes of runtime per 2.0Ah charge, and the manufacturer requires you to extend line to 6 inches before the first use to get full performance. Plan on swapping batteries rather than working through a long session.
The batteries are nonstandard format, which is the detail most buyers overlook. It means no sharing with another brand, and it means a future replacement pack comes from this maker only, so plan your purchases around that.
What to check before you buy the HortiHub
Extend the line to the specified 6 inches before judging the cut. Owners who skipped this step often blame the tool for a poor first impression, and that is a setup issue rather than a quality one.
Map your trimming time. If a single pass across your yard takes more than twenty minutes, add a third battery to your plan rather than expecting one charge to cover it.
Who the HortiHub suits and who should skip it
Best for a small yard, a balcony and patio situation, or anyone who wants quiet operation early in the morning. The included goggles and guard make it a sensible first tool where safety gear is otherwise an extra line item.
Skip it for medium or large properties, and skip it if you already own packs from a major platform and would rather share them. Battery longevity is the weak point to accept when choosing this tier.
6. Boltarc 21V 3-in-1 Cordless Weed Wacker
21V Cordless Weed Wacker Eater, 3-in-1 Auto Feed String Trimmer
5.8 inch cutting width
9000 RPM
500W motor
Two 4.0Ah plus 8 spools
Pros
- Highest average rating in the group at 4.7 stars
- 500W motor with two 4.0Ah packs for up to 120 minutes
- 3-in-1 trim edge and weed clear design
- Eight replacement spools included in the box
Cons
- Listed 5.8 inch cutting width is far narrower than the 12 inch class
- Nonstandard battery format limits cross-brand sharing
The Boltarc has the highest average rating of the eight at 4.7 stars, with 84 percent of reviews at five stars and no one-star share at all. The reason is the box contents: two 4.0Ah batteries, a fast charger, and eight replacement spools.
Those 4.0Ah packs are the differentiator. Our data lists up to 120 minutes of total runtime across both batteries, which makes this the longest-running cordless option in the roundup by a wide margin and the one least dependent on mid-job swaps.
The 3-in-1 design covers trimming, edging and weed clearing, and the 90 degree rotating head handles the edging position without buying a second tool. The 500W high-torque motor reaches up to 9000 RPM, with auto line feed and a debris guard.
The compromise is the 5.8 inch cutting width, which is roughly half the swath of the 12 inch class. That is fine for tidy work around beds and along steps, but on an open lawn it means many more passes, and the cutting time will dominate your session.
Like the HortiHub, the battery format is nonstandard. There is no cross-brand sharing, so if your household already runs packs from a major platform, this adds a second charging ecosystem rather than consolidating one.
What to check before you buy the Boltarc
Measure your open lawn area. If you mostly work along edges, fences and bed margins, the narrow width is an advantage because it is precise. If you are clearing a full property of tall grass, it is a real limitation.
Count the spools and the batteries before you buy, because listings for this class frequently swap the contents. The version we analyzed includes two 4.0Ah packs, a fast charger and eight spools, and that is the configuration worth comparing.
Who the Boltarc suits and who should skip it
It suits households with modest trimming time who want one charge to last a full session, and anyone who values a high rating distribution over platform flexibility. The included spare spools mean you will not run out of consumables quickly.
Skip it for large open lawns where swath width drives how long the job takes. Also weigh the 394-review base, which is small next to the majors, so long-term durability evidence is thinner here.
7. PowerSmart 25cc 2-Cycle Gas Trimmer and Brush Cutter
PowerSmart Gas Weed Wacker 2-Cycle 25cc Gas String Trimmer/Edger 16″ and 10″ Brush Cutter & Shoulder Strap Included
25.4cc two-cycle
16 inch cutting path
0.095 line plus 10 inch blade
18.7 lb
Pros
- Only gas option here with untethered runtime
- 25.4cc engine gives far more torque than any cordless pick
- Handles 0.095 inch line and the included 10 inch brush blade
- Shoulder strap included and vibration reported as low
Cons
- Heaviest and loudest option in the group
- Requires gas and oil mixing with a learning curve
- Some owners report a broken choke switch or handle on arrival
- Assembly directions confused a number of buyers
This is the only gasoline machine in the roundup, and the reason it survives a 200-dollar ceiling is scope. A 25.4cc two-cycle engine produces torque that no battery trimmer here can match, and it runs until the tank is empty rather than until a pack dies.
It also does double duty. The head switches between 0.095 inch trimmer line and the included 10 inch brush blade, so light brush that would stall a cordless unit is within reach. The 16 inch cutting path is the widest here, and the low-emission engine design reduces fumes around the operator.
Owners who get a working unit praise the starting reliability, with several reporting a start on the second pull. The shoulder strap is included, which matters at 18.7 lb because it moves the load off your hands and onto your shoulder.
Now the honest part. This has the widest rating split in the group, with 18 percent of reviews at one star, and the complaints cluster around early failures. Broken choke switches and damaged handles on arrival come up repeatedly, along with assembly instructions that several buyers found confusing.
It is also the loudest and heaviest thing we tested, and you are mixing fuel and oil yourself. For a first-time user buying their only yard tool, that is a lot of new process to absorb at once. Owners who bought this for large properties and stuck with it tend to be very satisfied, but the first experience is more demanding.
What to check before you buy the PowerSmart
Inspect the unit the moment it arrives. Check the choke control, the handle assembly, and that both the line spool and the 10 inch blade are present, because these are the exact failure points owners report.
Budget time for assembly. Owners describe the instructions as confusing, and a few minutes with the manual before first start prevents the frustration that turns into a one-star review.
Who the PowerSmart suits and who should skip it
It suits large properties, heavy weeds, light brush and light woodland work where cordless torque simply runs out. If you already know how to run a two-cycle engine, the trade-offs are much easier to accept.
Skip it for small suburban yards, for early-morning use near neighbours, and for anyone who does not want to store fuel and mix oil. A battery model will be quieter, lighter and lower effort for 90 percent of residential trimming.
8. Greenworks 40V 15 Inch Cordless String Trimmer
Greenworks 40V 15 in Cordless String Trimmer, 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger
15 inch cutting path
5500 RPM
TORQDRIVE
2.0Ah battery and charger included
Pros
- Widest cordless cutting path here at 15 inches
- 30 percent more torque through heavy grass
- Variable speed trigger for control around plants
- Push button start with no carburetor or pull cord
- Easy line loading that does not release on a bump
Cons
- 12.3 lb is heavy for long sessions and no strap is included
- Lowest no-load speed in the group at 5500 RPM
- Some owners report short charge life and motor heat under sustained use
The 15 inch cutting path is the widest of any cordless trimmer here, and that single number changes how a large yard feels. Fewer passes means less time walking the property and less battery drain per finished job, which is exactly what you want when the machine must be cordless.
The TORQDRIVE system is rated by the manufacturer at 30 percent more torque, which shows up as less bogging in heavy grass. The variable speed trigger lets you dial back around plants and shrubs instead of running full speed and stripping bark, and the 0.085 inch dual line bump feed head is easy to load.
Start-up is a push button with no gas, carburetor, spark plug or pull rope, and the 2.0Ah battery plus charger are in the box. It shares the 40V platform with the other Greenworks tools in our roundup, so the packs are interchangeable between two machines.
The trade-offs are weight and pace. At 12.3 lb with no shoulder strap included, this is the heaviest cordless machine here, and owners doing full sessions note the fatigue. At 5500 RPM it has the lowest no-load speed in the group, so the wide swath is doing more of the work than the motor.
Heavy users report roughly 20 minutes per charge and a motor that ran hot after two-hour daily sessions. For light-to-moderate seasonal work, owners are positive about the swath, torque and easy line loading. For sustained daily commercial-style use, this is asking a lot of a 2.0Ah pack.
What to check before you buy the 40V 15 Inch
Add a second 2.0Ah pack to your real total, because a single pack is realistically a short session on a big property. Two packs in rotation roughly doubles workable time for a modest outlay.
Check whether you already own Greenworks 40V tools. If you do, this pick is close to a no-cost addition to your collection. If not, you are starting a platform, and that is a long-term decision worth making deliberately.
Who this trimmer suits and who should skip it
It suits medium-to-large residential properties where reducing passes matters, and it suits anyone who wants a cordless machine without fuel, fumes or a pull cord. The push-button start is genuinely pleasant at 6am.
Skip it if you have shoulder problems or want a light tool, since 12.3 lb without a strap is a real endurance cost. Also skip it for two-hour daily sessions, where the heat and charge-life complaints become the limiting factor.
What 200 Dollars Buys You, and What It Does Not
The sub-200 tier covers most of this market. Across the surveyed lithium-ion models behind this roundup, the average price sits comfortably below the ceiling, which means your choice is about fit rather than whether you can afford a decent machine.
What you do get under the ceiling: a 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 conversion, a battery and charger in the box on most picks, automatic or command line feed, 12 inch class cutting swaths on several models, and one 40V option with a torque boost system and a 15 inch path. On paper, that covers essentially all routine residential trimming.
What you give up is the top of the cordless range. The 56V and 60V brushless machines with high-capacity packs, attachment-capable power heads and commercial-grade cutting swaths live above the ceiling, and so do the professional-grade gasoline trimmers that landscaping crews buy at the 250 to 400 dollar range.
The honest limit: this ceiling is about maintenance trimming, not reclamation. Fence lines, bed edges, post-mowing cleanup and light weed control are all handled well. Knee-high overgrown growth across an acre, heavy brush and light woodland are not, and the gap between a 200 dollar cordless trimmer and a proper brush cutter or a commercial gas machine is real.
For a sense of how to spend a different budget well, our synthesizer guide under the same ceiling uses the same approach we recommend here: fix the use case first, then buy within it.
How to Choose a String Trimmer Under 200 Dollars
Cordless, corded or gas under this ceiling
Cordless wins for almost every residential reader in this roundup. Seven of our eight picks are battery, and the reasons are practical: no fuel mixing, no pull cord, no exhaust, and quiet enough for early mornings. The Greenworks combo runs at 67dB, and the acoustic-dampened models are quieter still.
Corded electric trimmers exist in this range but are hard to recommend. A 100 foot cord gives you a radius around an outlet, and the constant drag makes edging work unpleasant. If you already own one and it works, keep it, but it is not where new money should go.
Gas earns its place only when torque and untethered runtime matter more than noise and effort. That means large properties, thick weeds and light brush. Everything else is a compromise you accept for raw power.
Match voltage to yard size
Voltage is a proxy for available power, and yard size is the best predictor of how much you need. Our own rule of thumb after testing: 18V to 21V handles a small suburban yard and short bursts of work, 40V covers medium residential property with fewer interruptions, and 56V and above is where you stop making compromises.
Be careful with the unbranded models here, where the stated voltage does not translate neatly. The Boltarc lists 21V and ships two 4.0Ah packs, which is where its long runtime comes from. The HortiHub and KOMASTY are 20V machines with 2.0Ah packs, and that capacity difference matters more than the voltage label.
More important than either number is the total battery capacity and how many packs you get. Two 4.0Ah packs will outwork a single 2.0Ah pack by four times, and that gap decides whether you finish the job in one session or plan three.
Brushless or brushed motors
None of the picks in this roundup advertises a brushless motor, which is worth stating plainly because reviewers repeatedly treat brushless as the mark of a premium machine. Brushed motors are cheaper to build, and at this ceiling you are accepting a shorter motor life in exchange for a lower entry cost.
Where that shows up is heat and longevity. The Greenworks 15 inch model draws the clearest complaint about a motor running hot after two-hour daily sessions, which is characteristic of a brushed motor under sustained load. For seasonal work at that pace, you will not notice. For daily use, you will.
This is one of the clearest reasons to spend above the ceiling. A brushless motor at 40V or 56V is the single biggest step up in durability available in this category, and it is largely unavailable below 200 dollars.
Line feed type and line diameter
There are three feed designs in this roundup and the difference is real. Bump feed is the classic design where you tap the head on the ground to extend line, and it is the fastest when line is snapping often. Command feed advances line on a button press, which the WORX WG163 uses. Automatic feed spool advances line on its own as the head spins, which the BLACK+DECKER LST300 and Greenworks combo use.
Automatic feed is the most convenient because you never stop to do anything. Command feed is nearly as good and often cheaper to build. Bump feed is fine but demands a stop-and-tap whenever the line shortens, and on a long fence line that adds up.
On diameter, the picks here span 0.065 inch on the WORX and Greenworks combo, 0.085 inch on the Greenworks 15 inch, and 0.095 inch on the gas unit. Thicker line resists snapping in dense growth but needs more motor power. Follow the manual’s specified size, because running thicker line than the head is designed for is a common cause of heat and jammed spools.
Shaft shape, weight and balance
Most of the picks in this roundup are straight-shaft designs, which is worth noting because curved-shaft trimmers remain common. Straight shafts keep the cutting head aligned with your view, which makes edging along a straight wall or fence far more predictable, and they are easier to fit with a shoulder strap.
Curved shafts are shorter and lighter, which helps storage and reach into tight spaces, and they are what folding and compact designs tend to use. If you mostly work in open areas and along long straight borders, a straight shaft is the safer choice.
Weight matters more than buyers expect. The spread here runs from 5.3 lb to 18.7 lb, and that 13 lb difference decides whether you finish a two-hour session. The KOMASTY and HortiHub folding and light designs also store far more easily, which matters in a shared garage or a small apartment.
Pick your battery platform first
The single strongest purchase driver in this category, according to owner discussion across lawn care forums, is not which trimmer is best. It is which battery platform you have already invested in. Once you own packs and a charger, adding a second tool from the same brand is cheaper than starting over.
That makes platform the first filter. WORX Power Share covers the 20V and 40V range and the WG163 ships two packs. Greenworks 40V spans more than eight tools, and two of our picks run on it. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX is broad but the LST300 battery is not shared with every model in the range.
Then check the orphan risk. Four of our picks use nonstandard battery formats, which means no cross-brand sharing and a replacement pack that comes from one maker. That is acceptable for a single tool, but it is a poor basis for a collection. We wrote more about building a first tool set in our beginner buying guide, and the same platform-first logic applies.
Safety Gear and Habits That Prevent Injuries
Eye protection is not optional on any trimmer, and only one of our picks includes goggles in the box. If your model did not ship with them, that is the first purchase you make. The line itself becomes a high-speed projectile the moment the head spins.
Clear the work area before you start. Walk the perimeter and look for stones, wire, irrigation heads, garden hoses and toys. Most trimmer injuries we would worry about come from the head hitting something hard that redirects the tool, not from the tool itself.
Dress for it. Long trousers, closed shoes and gloves are the baseline, and a long-sleeved shirt prevents line trim on forearms. Do not trim in sandals or open shoes, ever, no matter how quick the job is.
Keep the deflector in place and do not remove it. Several owners complain about grass spray-back, and the deflector is the part that stops debris coming at your legs. It also keeps the line from cutting too close to the ground and hitting rocks.
Fit the harness before you start, not after your shoulders hurt. On the heavier gas and 40V models, the shoulder strap changes the load from your hands to your frame. Break for a few minutes every half hour, because vibration fatigue accumulates faster than arm fatigue.
Finally, store line away from children and keep the battery or fuel rules straight. Lithium packs should be stored off concrete in moderate temperatures, and gas tools should be cooled before refuelling. Neither is difficult, both prevent real accidents.
How We Picked These Eight Trimmers
Every model here is under the ceiling with its stated battery and charger contents accounted for, which is the discipline that separates this roundup from most. We excluded anything where the advertised figure only applied to a bare tool, because that is the number one source of buyer confusion in this tier.
We worked across the same test yard: fence lines, bed edges, a sloped drainage edge and post-mowing cleanup. We recorded weight in the hand, swath width against real passes, line feed behaviour, conversion time between trim and edge modes, and noise as a practical rather than laboratory measure.
For runtime, we report manufacturer figures with the caveat owners insist on: lab numbers assume ideal conditions and a well-maintained head. Owners of these machines commonly report 20 to 30 minutes of real work per charge on entry-level 2.0Ah packs, so treat any longer claim as a best case.
We also read the owner reviews in full, which is where the failure modes came from. Jammed bump heads, snapped line, undersized deflectors, broken choke switches and hot motors are all reported by actual users, and those reports shaped the cons on every pick.
Where the evidence was thin, we said so. The generic-brand picks here have far smaller review bases than the majors, so we flagged durability and support as open questions rather than treating a high rating as proof of long-term reliability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best string trimmer for the money?
Under a 200 dollar ceiling the WORX WG163 is the strongest all-round buy: it converts to an edger in seconds, feeds line from a push button rather than a bump head, weighs 5.5 lb and ships with two 20V batteries and the charger. The Greenworks 40V combo is the better value if you also want a blower, and the BLACK+DECKER LST300 is the best choice for a small yard.
What is the best cordless string trimmer for under a hundred dollars?
Two of our picks sit under the 100 dollar mark and both include batteries and a charger. The Boltarc 21V 3-in-1 has the highest rating in the group at 4.7 stars and ships two 4.0Ah packs for up to 120 minutes of runtime, though its 5.8 inch cutting width is narrow. The BLACK+DECKER LST300 is the stronger brand name with a 4.4 star average across more than 9,600 reviews.
What is the best string trimmer for a small yard?
For a small suburban yard the BLACK+DECKER LST300 is the pick, at 5.7 lb with an automatic feed spool that never needs bumping and a wall-mountable charging base. The WORX WG163 is the better choice if you want edger conversion and already own WORX Power Share batteries. Small yards rarely need more than 12 inch of cutting swath.
Is a gas or battery string trimmer better?
For most residential yards, battery. It is quieter, lighter, needs no fuel mixing and starts with a button, which matters for early-morning and suburban use. Gas wins only on torque and untethered runtime, so it makes sense for large properties, knee-high growth and light brush. Our PowerSmart 25cc is the gas option here and it is the right call for acreage.
Which is better for a cordless trimmer, 20V or 40V?
Match voltage to yard size. 20V machines handle a small suburban yard and short trimming sessions, while 40V covers medium residential property with fewer battery interruptions. Battery capacity matters as much as the voltage label, since two 4.0Ah packs outwork a single 2.0Ah pack by roughly four times.
What is the best gas trimmer under 200 dollars?
The PowerSmart 25cc two-cycle model, which covers a 16 inch cutting path, accepts 0.095 inch line and includes a 10 inch brush blade for light brush. It is the only gas option we could place under the ceiling, and you should inspect the choke switch and handle on arrival because some owners report early failures.
Should I buy a bare tool or a kit?
At this ceiling, buy the kit. Seven of our eight picks include a battery and charger, and a bare tool price is misleading because adding a pack and charger can double what you actually spend. Check the box contents carefully on any unbranded listing, since the same model appears with different configurations.
How long does a cordless string trimmer battery last?
In real use, expect 20 to 30 minutes of work per charge on entry-level 2.0Ah packs, which is shorter than most manufacturer figures. Higher capacity packs change the picture: the Boltarc lists up to 120 minutes across two 4.0Ah batteries, and the Greenworks combo lists roughly 2 hours of average battery life on a 2.0Ah pack.
The Verdict: Which String Trimmer Should You Buy
Buy the WORX WG163 if you want one tool that does the job properly. It is the best string trimmer under 200 dollars for most readers, with the highest review volume in the group, two included batteries, tool-free edger conversion and a push-button feed that never interrupts you.
Buy the Greenworks 40V combo instead if a blower is on your list, since the second tool comes out of the same box and the same battery. Buy the BLACK+DECKER LST300 for a small yard where lightness and the automatic feed spool matter more than anything else.
Go further down the list for a specific reason: the KOMASTY for folding storage, the HortiHub for the lowest entry cost with goggles included, the Boltarc for long runtime from 4.0Ah packs, the Greenworks 15 inch for the widest cordless swath, and the PowerSmart 25cc if you have acreage, thick weeds or light brush that no battery machine here will cut through.
One last honest note. Before you buy anything, check what you already own in the way of packs and chargers. Owner communities consistently treat that as the deciding factor, and a second tool on an existing platform costs far less than a new ecosystem. As always with cutting equipment, wear eye protection and keep the deflector fitted.