The Makita XRU11Z is another in a long line of Makita products shaking up the landscaping market. As the technology improves, more and more people in the industry are shifting to battery-powered cordless trimmers, as gas-powered weed eaters prove inefficient and are prone to failure. The Makita XRU11Z is a powerful unit that provides all the great qualities of top-tier brands with accessible and straightforward functionality.

The Makita XRU11Z has an Automatic Torque Drive Technology. With this feature, the weed eater’s RPM will adjust based on how tough the job is. The XRU11Z also has adjustable speed options so users have direct control over the power. Makita’s products also include Makita Extreme Protection, which prevents internal components from being damaged by outside particles such as water and dust.

The Makita XRU11Z also has plenty of battery life. On its highest setting, the battery will offer 40 minutes of use. That’s plenty of time for yard work, and is right on par with other top end cordless weed eaters. Combined with the weed eater’s brushless motor, the Makita XRU11Z has plenty of power and life expectancy to handle most conditions.

Makita’s option for top tier weed eaters is a powerhouse for battery life and performance, and a clear top choice for someone looking for the best weed eaters. Plus with additional features like Automatic Torque Drive, the Makita XRU11Z really sets itself apart from the competition.

Cordless weed eaters have always been known to be less powerful than corded ones, but that gap grows smaller and smaller with each passing year. That incremental improvement is exemplified in the Ego 56-Volt weed eater. With a 2.5Ah battery, it has plenty of juice to tackle your entire yard.

The most unique thing about the Ego 56-Volt is its carbon fiber shaft. This shaft is unique because it is lightweight, making it less of a strain on your muscles and back as you use it. Carbon fiber is also a lot stronger than traditional materials, so users can expect it to last a long time, even in the roughest of conditions. The Ego 56-Volt’s lightweight materials are further complimented by the ergonomic design. With the battery pack near the user and the motor at the base by the head, the weight is evenly distributed and comfortable to deal with.

The Ego 56-Volt is also simple to load and packs a lot of power. With its unique Power Load feature, users can load a line into the weed eater in about 10 seconds, saving them tons of time. The Ego 56-Volt is also rated for lines between 0.08” and 0.095”. That’s plenty of power for most people’s needs, and it makes it perfect for anyone caring for lawns with lots of obstacles.

For a weed eater that perfectly balances performance, durability, and weight, the Ego 56-Volt weed eater is a tough one to beat.

For those looking for an entry-level weed eater to do bare bones maintenance, the Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ is an ideal option. It doesn’t have a lot of the same features or trademark properties as other weed eaters on this list, but it does provide a solid all around experience that can handle day to day weed eating.

One unique thing about the Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ is the two-handle design. Most weed eaters only come with one handle. If the weight isn’t distributed well on the weed eater, this can make them cumbersome or hard to hold. The Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ comes with two handles, making it easier to hold and maneuver. That makes it a great choice for people with bad backs who can’t handle a lot of weight or beginners who have never really used a weed eater before.

The Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ also has a few added safety features. For instance when the trigger is released, the line will automatically advance. The Ryobi can also easily switch between edging and trimming, depending on your needs. That’s where the unique features of the Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ end, though.

This weed eater is great for general maintenance, but it lacks the power to do any heavy duty trimming. The spool of line provided rates at 0.065”. If you want something more powerful, consider a higher end cordless weed eater or a corded one. However, for those of you looking for something entry-level and straight forward to use, the Ryobi RLT1825 ONE+ is an ideal choice.

Corded weed eaters have some tradeoffs compared to their cordless counterparts. For one, users don’t have to worry about the runtime, since they are connected to a power outlet. This means they can work for as long as they need to. However, that necessity for a power outlet can be a major hindrance as well. If you lack the proper extension cords, the reach of these weed eaters an be quite limited.

The BLACK+DECKER Besta510 makes a compelling argument for these corded weed eaters. It offers a lot of the same great features of cordless weed eaters, and it is actually the perfect tool for maintaining your lawn. The Besta510 runs 14”, so its an ideal size for anyone looking for a weed eater that cuts a decent-sized path when used.

It also has an Automatic Feed Spool, so loading new lines is a quick and efficient process. The Besta510 also includes an edging head, so it would be excellent for putting on the finishing touches for lawns along driveways and fences.

That being said, the Besta510 isn’t going to be for everyone. For a corded weed eater, it actually runs on the weaker side at 0.065”. That’s perfect for what its designed for, but it won’t be able to handle heavy duty weed eating tasks. The corded design also limits is functionality, but it should do for most people looking to maintain their yard.

For a solid and simple to use corded option, the BLACK+DECKER Besta510 is a hard option to beat.

The Greenworks ST40L00 is so much more than just a weed eater. It is actually part of a much larger ecosystem of Greenworks yard products. A Greenworks G-Max battery is compatible with over 25 different tools, making their products incredibly versatile and cross compatible.

The Greenworks ST40L00 is nothing to scoff at either. On its own its a powerful and effective tool that easily makes it one of the best weed eaters around. Combine that with its functionally in the Greenworks ecosystem, and you could easily own a suite of convenient and powerful products.

The ST40L00 has a 40V battery that offers up to 45 minutes of battery life. That’s even longer than some of the other top tier weed eaters available. That automatically makes the Greenworks weed eater ideal for anyone who plans on using it for extended periods of time. Combined with its brushless motor, the ST40L00 matches the competition in both power and performance.

The ST40L00 also matches its competition with its 0.08” rated line, which makes it ideal for most heavy duty trimming and edging scenarios. You don’t have to worry about compromise with this weed eater. And while some of its competition can be bulky and heavy, the Greenworks ST40L00 comes in at just over five pounds. That’s pretty lightweight, which means just about anyone can use it.

If lots of power and versatility are important in your lineup of yard tools, Greenworks and their extended ecosystem are well worth the look.

 Gas-powered weed eaters are less popular now as battery-powered cordless options become more efficient. However, some of the best cordless weed eaters still can’t touch the Husqvarna lightweight. This is as good as gas-powered weed eaters come, and its unique features make it one of the best weed eaters around.

For one, the Husqvarna has something called Air Purge. With this feature, the weed eater flushes air out of the carburetor and fuel system. This makes starting up the weed eater easier, since oxygen in the fuel tank can cause sputtering. The Husqvarna also has Smart Start to make starting the weed eater as simple as possible. Both these features combined take a lot of hassle out of the startup process, which is one of the biggest drawbacks of gas-powered weed eaters.

The weed eater is also very ergonomic in its design. The curved shaft gives the user better control, and its lightweight design makes it easy to control. The shaft is noticeably shorter than other weed eaters, though, so it may not be ideal for taller users. The Husqvarna does have a lot of accessories and attachments available, so it is great for multi-purpose yard work.

For someone still looking for a quality gas-powered weed eater, there aren’t many much better than this Husqvarna.

For another high quality gas-powered weed eater, one can’t go wrong with the Hitachi CG23ECPSL. This model measures just under 70”, which puts it on the longer end for weed eaters. However, that give the weed eater more reach, and it still only weighs ten pounds. That means most people are able to heft and use this weed eater on a daily basis. It is heavier than some of the options on this list, but it is by no means weighty.

The Hitachi also has a few unique features that set it apart from other gas-powered weed eaters. Most weed eaters have a lot of vibration in them, which can wear pretty heavily on its users after extended use. The CG23ECPSL has an anti-vibration system which is designed to reduce the fatigue on users while in use. It also has S-start recoil system, which makes the weed eater easier to power on. These two features greatly reduce the user’s fatigue and save time and efforts for maintenance and startup.

The Hitachi is also incredibly powerful, so its ideal for both personal and commercial use. If you are someone who doesn’t want to turn away from gas-powered weed eaters or need a lot of power with the one you get, you can certainly do a lot worse than this powerful Hitachi CG23ECPSL.

BLACK+DECKER has another quality item, and this one offers more versatility thanks to its cordless design. The BLACK+DECKER LST136 has a lot of features that make it appealing and its streamlined functionality makes it easy to use.

The first thing one should know about the LST136 is its adjustable shaft height. That means users can adjust the length of the weed eater as needed, making it perfect for people of any height. On top of that, users can also rotate the head 180 degrees to do edging work. This makes the LST136 more versatile than other weed eaters.

Battery life on the LST136 leaves a lot to be desired, though. The maximum run time is about 25 minutes, which isn’t bad. It just isn’t necessarily good either. That’s especially true considering the LST136 uses a 40V battery, which offers 40 minutes of run time in some of the other best weed eaters. However, the LST136’s other features to compensate for the lack of battery life.

The LST136 has an Automatic Line Feed, just like the other model on this list. Essentially, that means the weed eater will automatically advance the feed when it feels resistance, requiring less observation on the user’s end. The line rates at 0.065”, which is on the low end for top-quality weed eaters. However, the LST136 is really designed for general lawn maintenance. It isn’t meant to be a heavy duty weed eating solution.

If you trusted BLACK+DECKER’s quality products in the past, you won’t be disappointed by the LST136.

The Toro PowerPlex 51482 is one of those no compromise cordless weed eaters. If offers a ton of power with added flexibility thanks to its cordless design. One of the major selling points of the Toro PowerPlex is its brushless DC motor. The motor provides more power and a longer battery life than a traditional brushed motor. The weed eater can run up to 40 minutes, which is plenty of time for even the toughest weed eating scenarios. Combine that with the added lifespan of the motor, and its clear why the Toro PowerPlex has a one-up on some of the competition.

That isn’t the only thing that makes the Toro PowerPlex 51482 great, though. The weed eater is also really convenient to use, even for users who don’t frequently use devices like this. The Toro PowerPlex has variable speeds, so you can amp it up for tougher weeds and pull back for lighter maintenance issues. The PowerPlex is also collapsible, making it great for storage.

The Toro PowerPlex is rated for 0.08” line, which isn’t the highest on this list but is more than enough for most lawn and garden maintenance. If you need something really heavy duty, though, you may want to look for a more powerful cordless option or look at corded weed eaters, which tend to be more powerful.

For a solid all-around cordless weed eater, the Toro PowerPlex 51482 is a great option for those looking to do basic maintenance on their lawn and gardens.

The WORX WG154 is a compelling option for those looking for a no-nonsense weed eater. The WORX WG154 makes up for its lack of features with a simple and flexible design. It also has a few features of its own that make it a versatile tool for anyone with a lawn.

The major selling point of the WORX WG154 is the way it easily switches from a trimmer to edger. All you have to do is use the one-touch switch, and the WORX WG154 automatically switches modes. The weed eater has an automatic line feeding for easy loading and replacing of lines, and an adjustable cutting diameter. This makes the WORX WG154 ideal for most lawn-cutting scenarios.

Being entry-level, though, the WORX WG154 does have a few drawbacks. For one, the battery life on the WORX WG154 isn’t comparable to some other battery-powered cordless weed eaters. On average, the WG154 will last for 20 minutes. That’s fine for light work or one specific job, but it is only half the runtime of some of the other best weed eaters. It also isn’t powerful enough to handle heavy-duty weed eating jobs.

However, the WORX WG154 is lightweight and simple to use. It is ideal for users who are looking for something straightforward or need to switch between trimming and edging on the fly. Users may just need to grab an extra battery if they plan on using it for extended periods of time.