A good string trimmer finishes the job your mower starts, cleaning up along fences, walls, trees, and the awkward strips where wheels will not reach. Today almost all of the popular choices are cordless, and the real decisions are about voltage, cutting width, whether you want an edger or a blower bundled in, and how the tool feels in your hands. This roundup pulls together seven current cordless options, from compact 20V trimmers to a 60V wide-swath model and a full multi-head system, so you can match one to the size and difficulty of your yard.
Our top picks for the best string trimmer
We leaned toward tools that are honest about what they are. A 20V trimmer is a light-duty touch-up tool, a 40V or 56V platform steps up for regular yard work, and a 60V with a 16 inch head is built for bigger or tougher grass. Combo kits earn their place when you genuinely want the second tool. Below, rank one is our overall top pick and the rest are grouped by the job each one does best.
How we evaluated these string trimmers
These are editorial picks drawn from current Amazon listings, not laboratory trials. We did not trim grass with these units or run timed runtime measurements. Instead we compared the manufacturers' stated specifications, how the designs are built, and the real buying trade-offs between them. Voltage, cutting width, and battery capacity are all listing claims, and because every brand measures voltage its own way, those numbers are not directly comparable from one maker to the next. Where a spec is not clearly stated on the listing, we say to check the current listing rather than guess.
Best overall: EGO MHC1603 56V Multi-Head Combo Kit
The EGO multi-head kit leads because it is really a platform, not just a trimmer. The 56V power head carries a 16 inch string trimmer head and an 8 inch edger attachment, and it is built to accept more attachments down the line. The listing highlights POWERLOAD line loading, which winds new line without hand threading, and the kit includes a 4.0 Ah battery and a 320W charger. If you expect to edge beds and maybe add a pole saw or blower head later, buying into the power head first is the smart long game.
Best high-power: Greenworks 60V 16 in Cordless String Trimmer
When the grass gets thick or the lot gets large, reach and swing width matter. This Greenworks trimmer lists the highest voltage in the group at 60V and the widest cut at 16 inches, and it ships with a 2.5 Ah battery. A wider head means fewer passes across a big lawn. It is a trimmer only, with no edger or blower in the box, so choose it when raw cutting capability is the priority rather than versatility.
Best cordless all-rounder: WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1
The WG163 is one of the most familiar cordless trimmers around, and for good reason. It is a 20V, 12 inch tool that rotates from trimmer to in-line edger, so one light tool handles both the fence line and the sidewalk. For a small to mid-size suburban yard with lighter growth, it does the everyday work without the weight or commitment of a high-voltage platform, and line and parts are easy to find.
Best combo kit: Greenworks 40V Trimmer and 390 CFM Blower
If you want a trimmer and a blower that share one battery, this 40V Greenworks kit is the convenience pick. It bundles a 12 inch trimmer with a blower the listing rates at 390 CFM, the highest blower figure here, plus a 2.0 Ah battery. Trim the edges, swap the battery to the blower, and clear the clippings off the drive, all on one charger and one battery family. You are paying for the blower, so it makes sense only if you actually want it.
Best budget combo: WORX WG928 20V Trimmer and 360 CFM Blower
The WG928 covers the same trim-then-clear routine as the Greenworks combo, but on the lighter 20V platform. It pairs a 12 inch string trimmer with a 360 CFM leaf blower. For a compact yard, or for anyone already invested in WORX 20V batteries, it is the leaner two-tool option. The trade-off is that 20V is aimed at light duty and the blower rating is a step below the 40V kit.
Best lightweight: HEYWORK 20V 12 in Trimmer and Edger
HEYWORK lists this as a 20V, 12 inch cordless weed wacker that also edges. Think of it as a touch-up tool for tidying a bed line or clearing a strip the mower cannot reach, rather than a machine for knocking down tall growth. If keeping the weight down for longer sessions and overhead reach matters most to you, a simple 20V trimmer like this is easy to live with.
Best value: BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX LST300
The LST300 is the no-fuss familiar-brand choice. It is a 20V MAX, 12 inch 2-in-1 trimmer and edger that, per the listing, includes a battery and charger and uses automatic spool feed, so you never bump the head to advance line. BLACK+DECKER also notes a reduced-vibration design and a 12 inch steel-reinforced deck. For a modest lawn, it is a straightforward tool that just works.
How to choose a string trimmer
Cordless vs corded vs gas. Every pick here is cordless, which is where most homeowner buying has moved. Cordless gives you freedom from cords and the noise, fumes, and mixing of gas, at the cost of runtime limited by the battery. Corded electric trimmers never run out of power but tie you to an outlet and an extension lead, which is fine for small yards near the house. Gas still offers long run times and strong power for large or overgrown properties, but it is heavier, louder, and needs more maintenance. For typical suburban lawns, cordless is the sweet spot.
Voltage and power, light vs heavy growth. Higher voltage platforms generally target heavier work. A 20V tool is best for light grass and touch-ups, 40V and 56V handle regular yard duty, and 60V with a wide head suits thick grass and bigger lots. Remember that voltage is a listing claim and is not comparable across brands, so use it as a rough guide to a tool's intended duty, not as a scoreboard.
Cutting width. Width is how much grass the line clears in a single pass. The 12 inch heads here, like the WORX and BLACK+DECKER models, are nimble for tight spots and light growth. The 16 inch heads on the EGO and Greenworks 60V cover more ground with fewer passes, which saves time on larger lawns but asks a bit more from the motor and battery.
Battery platform and runtime. The battery is a bigger decision than the tool. Pick one platform and stay on it so chargers and spare packs are interchangeable across your trimmer, blower, and future tools. A larger amp-hour rating, such as the 4.0 Ah pack with the EGO, generally runs longer between charges than a smaller 2.0 Ah pack. If a listing does not clearly state what is included, confirm on the current listing before buying.
Bump feed vs automatic line feed. Trimmers advance fresh cutting line in different ways. Bump feed taps the head on the ground to release more line and gives you manual control. Automatic feed, like the spool feed the BLACK+DECKER LST300 lists, pays out line on its own so you never stop to bump. The EGO uses POWERLOAD to wind new line without hand threading. Automatic systems are convenient, while bump heads are simple and predictable.
Weight and balance. A trimmer you swing for twenty minutes should feel balanced, not nose-heavy. Lighter 20V tools like the HEYWORK are easy to control and good for reach work, while bigger-battery tools weigh more but power through tougher grass. If you can, hold the tool before committing, and consider a shoulder strap for longer jobs.
Combo kits. Combos such as the Greenworks 40V and WORX WG928 bundle a blower on the same battery, and the EGO multi-head adds an edger and a shared power head. These are great when you want the extra tool, because one battery family covers several jobs. If you only need to trim, a single trimmer keeps things lighter and less expensive.
Straight vs curved shaft. A curved shaft is usually lighter and comfortable for light trimming around a typical yard. A straight shaft gives more reach under shrubs and is often favored for heavier work and taller users. Neither is strictly better, so pick the shape that fits your height and the kind of growth you cut.
Safety note
String trimmers throw debris at high speed. Always wear eye and ear protection and closed shoes, keep children, pets, and bystanders well clear of the cutting area, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for your specific model. Remove the battery before loading line or clearing a jammed head.
The bottom line
If you want one answer, the EGO MHC1603 multi-head system is the most flexible choice because it edges, trims, and grows with more attachments. For power and width on a demanding lawn, the Greenworks 60V leads. For a simple, light everyday tool, the WORX WG163 is the easy pick, and the combo kits make sense when you also want a blower on the same battery. Whichever you choose, commit to a single battery platform and match the voltage and cutting width to how much and how tough your grass really is.
