For most of us, a perfectly even, neatly mown lawn can only be achieved by following up with a strim around the edges.
We know the importance of investing in a good lawn mower, but don’t cheap out on your strimmer, either. A quality strimmer should help you to quickly and effortlessly trim your lawn’s perimeter, creating an even look in no time at all – so you can sit back and admire the results sooner.
Here, I’ve recommended my top tried-and-tested strimmers for UK lawns based on their type, performance power, ease of use, price, build quality, and more.
Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 3.1 kilograms
Power: 300-650 W
Brand: Black + Decker
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 2.1 kilograms
Power: 350 W
Brand: WORX
Price: ££
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 2.4 kilograms
Power: 20 V
Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Battery
Cutting width: 24cm
Weight: 2.15 kilograms
Power: 18 V
Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 1.6 kilograms
Power: 300 W
Brand: ParkerBrand
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 28cm
Weight: 10.7 kilograms
Power: 52 cc
Brand: BU-KO
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 31cm
Weight: 12 kilograms
Power: 52 cc
Table of Contents
Best Lawn Mowers
- Best Overall: Flymo Contour 500E Electric Grass Trimmer and Edger
- Best Budget: Black + Decker GL360GB Garden String Strimmer
- Best Cordless: WORX 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer WG163E.3
- Best Budget Cordless: Einhell Power X-Change 18V Cordless Strimmer
- Best for Small Areas: Flymo Speedi-Trim Electric Grass Trimmer
- Best Petrol: ParkerBrand 52cc Petrol Garden Brush Cutter
- Best Multipurpose: BU-KO 52cc Petrol Strimmer Garden Tool
📊 Comparison Chart of Lawn Mowers
Scroll right on mobile to see the whole table chart
| Product | Brand | Price | Power Source | Cutting Width | Weight (kg) | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flymo Contour 500E Electric Trimmer | Flymo | £ | Corded electric | 25 cm | 3.1 | 300-650 W |
| Black + Decker GL360GB String Strimmer | Black + Decker | £ | Corded electric | 25 cm | 2.1 | 350 W |
| WORX 20V Cordless Trimmer WG163E.3 | WORX | ££ | Cordless battery-powered | 30 cm | 2.4 | 20 V |
| Einhell Power X-Change 18V Cordless Strimmer | Einhell | £ | Cordless battery-powered | 24 cm | 2.15 | 18 V |
| Flymo Speedi-Trim Electric Trimmer | Flymo | £ | Corded electric | 25 cm | 1.6 | 300 W |
| ParkerBrand 52cc Petrol Brush Cutter | ParkerBrand | ££ | Petrol | 28 cm | 10.7 | 52 cc |
| BU-KO 52cc Petrol Strimmer | BU-KO | ££ | Petrol | 31 cm | 12 | 52 cc |
⭐ Reviews – Best Lawn Mowers of 2023
In my testing, I found that the Flymo Contour 500E Electric Grass Trimmer and Edger had the best overall performance, so it’s my top recommended grass trimmer on this list.
The trimmer provides a balance of quality, power, and versatility, cuts well, and comes at a reasonable price (I paid just under £55 for the 500-watt model). It’s also the most popular electric strimmer currently available on Amazon, with a 4.3-star rating from more than 10,000 customer reviews. I’ve used dozens of Flymo products and have a lot of confidence in this brand.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 3.1 kilograms
Power: 300-650 W
Best For:
Anyone who wants to invest in the best-value strimmer from a well-known brand that’s both affordable and reliable, cuts grass well, and is comfortable and easy to use.
Pros:
I had a great experience using this Flymo strimmer. There are three power options ranging from 300 to 650 watts – I went for the 500-watt strimmer which was plenty of power for my medium-sized lawn. The strimmer cuts grass effortlessly and feels comfortable and light enough to carry (it weighs just over 3 kilograms).
Price was another benefit for me. The advantage of going for a corded electric strimmer is that they’re the most competitively priced on the market because you’re not paying for an expensive battery or a more complicated petrol-powered engine.
Assembly was a breeze. If you’re not a big DIYer, you should be able to follow the setup instructions and diagrams.
The 25cm cutting width is decent for a trimmer and covered plenty of ground, so I didn’t have to go over the same area too many times.
Cons:
Having to navigate around an electric cord was a bit annoying.
I had to use a lot of finger pressure to keep the trigger pressed down, which started to strain my finger/wrist after a while.
If you’re spending less money upfront on a strimmer, it’s still important that the tool is high-quality and worth the money (we all know the saying: buy cheap, buy twice). The Black + Decker GL360GB Garden String Strimmer is the best-quality grass trimmer under £50 that I tested.
The strimmer weighs just 2.1 kilograms – 1 kilogram lighter than my top recommended Flymo strimmer – and was around £20 cheaper at the time of my review. It has the same 25cm cutting width, but its 350-watt motor means it’s not quite as powerful and may be less capable when tackling very dense, thick grass or weeds.
Note: you can upgrade to a more powerful model (all the way up to 900 watts) but the 350-watt strimmer was the only model available at the time of our review.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Black + Decker
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 2.1 kilograms
Power: 350 W
Best For:
People who want to spend as little as possible on a quality, dependable strimmer for a small garden, sold by a reputable brand name.
Pros:
There were a few things I preferred about this Black + Decker strimmer compared to the Flymo model. It’s noticeably lighter, so I could operate it with less strain on my back, and the start lever is much easier to press, so my finger didn’t get tired from holding it down.
It also has a 25cm cutting width despite the reduced wattage, so it covers a lot of ground without being too heavy or difficult to manoeuvre.
Again, price is a bonus. If your lawn is only small and you just want a trimmer for normal grass cutting duties (not very thick grass or dense weeds) I don’t think you need to spend a fortune. This Black + Decker model is a little cheaper because it’s less powerful, but it still works perfectly for quick edge trimming jobs.
I found the strimmer quick and easy to assemble, with very little manual work – most of the process is just slotting parts together.
Cons:
This is another corded model, so I had to make sure the cord was positioned safely while strimming.
There’s no safety cutoff switch.
The WORX 20V Cordless Grass Trimmer WG163E.3 is my top recommended cordless grass trimmer. Its cordless design meant I didn’t have the hassle of a trailing lead, and it’s battery-powered rather than using petrol, so I found it much quicker and easier to maintain.
It’s on the pricier side at £170 (at the time of this review), but it’s still great value for money – you get a wide 30cm cutting width, a 2-in-1 grass trimming and edging function with a 90-degree pivoting head, and two 2.0Ah batteries included (supplying 20 volts of power). WORX is another manufacturer that I’ve used and had a good experience with in the past.
Quick Specs:
Brand: WORX
Price: ££
Power source: Cordless battery-powered
Cutting width: 30cm
Weight: 2.4 kilograms
Power: 20 V
Best For:
Anyone who wants the convenience of a cord-free grass trimmer that they can use to strim any area without the expense, pollution, or maintenance of a petrol-powered model.
Pros:
This WORX strimmer covered more ground than the corded electric strimmers I tested, with a slightly wider 30cm cutting width, so I could get the job done faster.
Some battery powered strimmers struggle to produce enough power for a decent cut, but this model destroyed all the weeds and grass in my lawn with no trouble whatsoever. In my opinion, it’s worth more money for a model with a powerful battery that can handle even thicker grass and weeds.
At 2.4 kilograms, it’s not much heavier than my top-pick Flymo model, despite having the extra weight of a battery.
The battery retains a charge well – I used it for around 15 minutes, and it still had just under 60% battery left at the end.
Cons:
Price is a setback here. You might not want to spend upwards of £150 on a strimmer.
The setup instructions weren’t great, although the process was thankfully pretty self-explanatory without them.
If you want the benefits of a cordless grass trimmer without the price tag of the WORX strimmer, I recommend the Einhell Power X-Change 18V Cordless Strimmer.
In my testing, the strimmer wasn’t as powerful as the WORX model, but it’s not far off – it’s an 18-volt tool with one 2.0 Ah battery included, which is why the price is lower at just £75 (the WORX strimmer comes with two batteries). It still did a great job of trimming our test areas with ease, and it’s impressively lightweight at just 2.15 kilograms. But its cutting width is slightly narrower at 24cm.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Einhell
Price: £
Power source: Cordless battery-powered
Cutting width: 24cm
Weight: 2.15 kilograms
Power: 18 V
Best For:
People who want to upgrade to a powerful battery-powered grass trimmer but have a budget of less than £100.
Pros:
I found this Einhell model easier to use and lighter than the WORX cordless strimmer, with a comfortable, ergonomic handle. I had no complaints about the operation.
The strimmer was quick to assemble and the blade went in easily. I preferred using the clip-on plastic blades rather than a spool, which I find typically requires more maintenance.
The cost savings compared to the WORX strimmer are also worth mentioning as a highlight. It’s around £100 cheaper, but it still has a sturdy, quality build.
Again, I could avoid the hassle of a cord, which made it worth the extra investment for me.
Cons:
The battery life isn’t as good as on the WORX strimmer – I got around 19 minutes before it needed charging.
The setup instructions weren’t great, although the process was thankfully pretty self-explanatory without them.
My top recommended grass trimmer for small areas is the Flymo Speedi-Trim Electric Grass Trimmer.
This corded strimmer is the lightest strimmer I tested, weighing just 1.6 kilograms. It has a simple, practical design, and might not be as attractive or feature-heavy as other strimmers, but it’s great value at under £30 (when we made this review) and does the job.
Quick Specs:
Brand: Flymo
Price: £
Power source: Corded electric
Cutting width: 25cm
Weight: 1.6 kilograms
Power: 300 W
Best For:
Folks who want an affordable, practical little strimmer that cuts and edges smaller gardens to a good standard.
Pros:
This Flymo model delivers a no-nonsense approach to grass trimming and is practically designed for this purpose. I was able to assemble it within a matter of minutes following the instructions. Plugging it in and setting up the cable took less than 2 minutes.
The strimmer is lighter than all the other models in this best grass trimmers list, and I was able to strim my lawn from start to finish without too much wrist strain or fatigue.
It’s a 300-watt model, so it’s not as powerful as some of the other strimmers I tested. But it’s still powerful enough to cut long grass with ease – I only had to go over the thicker, tougher areas more than once.
Reduced power also means a quieter motor, and I didn’t feel like I was disturbing the neighbours while strimming.
Cons:
Don’t expect any design features aside from the essentials here. The handle isn’t adjustable, so you’ll have to stoop if you’re any taller than 5’7″.
I also found that the strimmer spools were prone to tangling and needed to be rethreaded quite often.
If you need to trim a larger garden or you just prefer the most powerful model that gets the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible, go for a petrol strimmer. The best of all the petrol trimmers I tested was the ParkerBrand 52cc Petrol Garden Brush Cutter.
This beast of a strimmer tackled long grass, weeds, and thick, dense areas with ease, crafting a tidy garden in no time with its powerful 52cc engine. It’s cheaper than many other petrol models at just over £100, and it comes with a brush cutter, a grass trimming spool attachment, plus a tool kit, harness, and fuel mixing bottle.
Quick Specs:
Brand: ParkerBrand
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 28cm
Weight: 10.7 kilograms
Power: 52 cc
Best For:
Anyone who wants a powerful petrol trimmer that makes easy work of strimming grass in large spaces or tackling tough projects.
Pros:
This ParkerBrand strimmer delivers the power and efficiency that you just don’t get with electric power tools. It’s the most capable grass trimmer I tested, and refreshingly easy to use compared to other petrol-powered trimmers.
Don’t be put off by its 10-kilogram weight – the strimmer comes with a harness, so you’re not taking all the weight with your wrists. I found that it was well-balanced, although it does obviously still feel heavier than the electric and cordless models.
The assembly instructions provided were some of the best I’ve encountered, so I think the setup process is DIY-friendly even though there are more tasks involved than for an electric model.
A pull-start function can be quite daunting, but in my testing, the strimmer started on the first pull of the cord, and could also be easily restarted after a break.
Cons:
Don’t expect any design features aside from the essentials here. The handle isn’t adjustable, so you’ll have to stoop if you’re any taller than 5’7″.
I also found that the strimmer spools were prone to tangling and needed to be rethreaded quite often.
The BU-KO 52cc Petrol Strimmer Garden Tool is the best multipurpose strimmer I came across.
This 3-in-1 strimmer comes with numerous blades, so you can swap them out to achieve multiple different gardening tasks with just one tool. It’s petrol-powered so is more powerful than an electric or cordless grass trimmer, and has a sturdy, well-thought-out design with all the necessary safety features.
Quick Specs:
Brand: BU-KO
Price: ££
Power source: Petrol
Cutting width: 31cm
Weight: 12 kilograms
Power: 52 cc
Best For:
People looking for the best-value multipurpose strimmer that can be used for numerous gardening tasks.
Pros:
The highlight of this strimmer for me was that I could switch between three heads – a metal brush cutting head, a nylon strimmer head, and a steel wire strimmer/ weed brush cutting blade. The first is best for cutting tough thickets of weeds; the second is best for general edging duties; and the third is great for cleaning mossy paths.
I was able to assemble the strimmer myself and was pleased with the quality of the setup instructions.
Again, I found the strimmer to be well-balanced and not too strenuous on my arms thanks to the included shoulder harness, which takes the weight well. It started on two pulls for me, so not bad, although not as easy as the ParkerBrand model.
The strimmer’s design is sturdy and the mechanical parts are made from more durable metals, so it should last longer than a cheaper plastic tool.
Cons:
I think it’s great value for money given that you can use it for different purposes, but £140 for a trimmer might be too high for you.
I like that the strimmer comes with some PPE, but it feels quite cheap – especially the face guard.
🧾6 Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Strimmer
I recommend considering the following things when you’re choosing the best grass trimmer for your situation:
🔌 Preferred Power Source
Start by considering your preferred power source for a strimmer.
There are a few factors that might influence your decision here, including your budget, your lawn size, the thickness and height of the grass/weeds you plan to strim, your preferred weight, and how quickly and efficiently you want to trim your lawn.
Here’s a breakdown of your options, and what each power type is typically best for:
Electric corded grass trimmers are the cheapest option, with many costing less than £50. They’re ideal for small-to-medium gardens and are powerful enough to tackle long grass and weeds, but some people find the cord a bit of a hassle.
Cordless grass trimmer models are more expensive, typically costing over £100. Like all cordless tools, they’re best for situations where a plug socket may not be within easy reach, or for people who want to avoid the hassle of an electric cord. They run off rechargeable batteries and should be capable of trimming long grass, but models with less powerful batteries may require you to go over the same area twice.
Petrol strimmers are also more expensive, costing around £100-£150 on average. They’re the most powerful and capable power type, and the best grass trimmers for tackling very dense, tough weeds or very long grass. They’re the fastest and most efficient solution, but they also require more maintenance, are heavier, and emit polluting fuel fumes.
Most people will be happy with an electric or cordless grass trimmer, but if you have a bigger lawn, don’t have access to a power socket, or need to strim a tough patch (such as a weed-ridden allotment plot), you’ll benefit from upgrading to a petrol grass strimmer.
💰 Your Budget
If you haven’t already, decide how much you want to spend on a grass trimmer.
Most electric trimmers cost within the £30-£75 price range, depending on their wattage, build quality, size, and features.
Cordless trimmers are more expensive because of their cord-free benefits. They typically cost £100-£145.
Petrol trimmers cost between £100 and £180 typically, again depending on their power and features.
If your budget is on the lower end, go for an electric grass trimmer. But if you can afford to spend up to £200 on a trimmer, you have the pick of the lot.
I don’t recommend spending any more than £200 on any model. You can find plenty of grass trimmers that deliver perfect results within the £30-£180 price range, so there’s generally no need to invest any more unless the product offers a specific unique feature that you think you’ll really benefit from.
🧵 Strimmer Line/Spool vs Blade
Grass trimmers have two main cutting mechanisms: blades and lines/spools.
Line or spool trimmers use a spool of nylon string wound inside the trimmer head, which extends and rotates at high speed during operation. They’re versatile and suitable for moderate trimming tasks, offering safety benefits by being less likely to damage nearby structures or plants.
Blade trimmers use small, flat metal or plastic blades that spin rapidly, providing a chopping action to cut through vegetation. They’re typically more powerful and suited for heavier-duty tasks like cutting thick vegetation, small saplings, or brush. However, they may pose a higher risk of damaging nearby objects or plants due to their more aggressive cutting action. (Many have some sort of shield or guard to reduce damage to the surrounding area.)
I generally recommend line strimmers for general lawn edging situations, and blade trimmers for cutting thicker or tougher vegetation.
🛠 Assembly & Maintenance
Assembly and maintenance are unavoidable aspects of owning any grass trimmer, but some are easier to set up and service than others.
Electric grass trimmers are the easiest to assemble because they just have a few parts that need slotting together, with no battery to charge or fuel to add.
I recommend choosing a strimmer with an easy-to-follow assembly manual. Even if the setup process requires a few extra tasks, you’ll be able to do it yourself if you can follow clear instructions with diagrams.
There are a few basic maintenance jobs required for grass strimmers:
Cleaning, lubricating, and inspecting the components.
Removing grass dirt, and debris from the tool after every use.
Inspecting the trimmer head for any signs of wear or damage, such as frayed lines or dull blades, and replacing them as needed. Trimmer line usually needs replacing every 2-3 months, while blades may last up to a year, depending on your use frequency.
For petrol trimmers only: Checking the fuel and oil levels regularly, topping them up as necessary, and ensuring that the air filter is clean and free from dirt or debris.
Check your user manual for instructions on specific maintenance tasks for your strimmer model.
🟢 Your Lawn Size & Thickness
I’ve touched on this already, but make sure the grass trimmer you buy is suitable for your lawn size.
If you have a small garden and just want something that you can whip around your lawn edges, a smaller electric or cordless model will do you fine.
If your lawn is big, you need something that’s as powerful and efficient as possible, so you can cover plenty of ground in one go. You want to avoid having to spend ages in one spot or go over areas you’ve already covered. In this case, the best grass trimmer for you is a petrol trimmer.
The same goes for if you intend to trim very thick, dense terrain – go for a petrol strimmer with the power to easily slice through tough weeds and vegetation without getting clogged.
Most strimmers have 24-25cm cutting widths, although some petrol models are as wide as 30cm. The wider the strimmer, the more ground the cutting head will cover – but the heavier and bulkier the tool.
💬 Customer Feedback & Manufacturer Reputation
Finally, take some time to read impartial expert reviews like this one, as well as customer reviews on marketplaces like Amazon, before you invest in a new grass trimmer for your garden.
The top grass trimmers have hundreds – often thousands – of positive reviews. I recommend avoiding strimmers that have an overall star rating of 4.0 or lower on Amazon – there are plenty that have at least 4.2 stars or higher.
That said, be sure to read reviews to understand their context. Customers often complain about poor delivery, which isn’t a problem with the product itself!
Also check the manufacturer’s reputation, especially if you’re buying from a lesser-known brand name. Flymo, Einhell, Flymo, and Black + Decker are popular brands selling strimmers, but there are some other great brands out there that are lesser known. Just make sure to do your research and ensure the manufacturer offers a good product warranty.
Important note: this review was last updated in July 2024. We apologise if pricing or availability has since changed for any of the products mentioned above.