Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
Your sidewalk edge has gone shaggy, your fence line is a mess of tall grass, and the gas trimmer in the shed won’t start on the third pull. The fix is matching cutting swath, battery platform, and edging design to your lot size. Cordless trimmers and edgers have gotten good enough that most homeowners no longer need to mix fuel at all — you just need to know which cutting swath, battery setup, and edging design actually fits your property.
This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Below you’ll find cordless 2-in-1 combos, dedicated corded edgers, and gas-powered options, each matched to a specific yard scenario — small lot, slope-heavy lot, remote acreage, or driveway edging.
Top Picks
How To Choose The Best Yard Trimmers and Edgers
The first decision isn’t brand — it’s whether you’re buying a trimmer that also edges, or a dedicated edger that only does one job well. A combo spins nylon line and flips to edge; a dedicated edger runs a steel blade that cuts a deeper trench.
Trimmer, edger, or both
A 2-in-1 combo spins a nylon line and flips to cut a straight edge along pavement. A dedicated edger runs a steel blade — the DEWALT kit uses a 7-1/2 in. hardened steel blade, and the two WORX edgers run 7.5 in. blades — which bites deeper into soil for a crisp trench line. If your grass along the driveway is your main headache, a dedicated edger is the sharper tool. If you have beds, fence lines, and walkways to clear, a combo saves you a second purchase.
Match the cutting swath to your lot
Cutting swath is the width the head clears per pass. A 13 in. swath on the Craftsman or Makita covers more ground per sweep than a 12 in. head, and a 17 in. swath on the Husqvarna gas unit widens that further. A 17 in. swath clears open lawn fast; a 12 in. head steers better around beds and fence lines. On a quarter-acre with lots of obstacles, a 12 in. head is often easier to steer.
Battery, cord, or gas
Cordless runs quiet and starts instantly — the Makita fires up with no pull cord and no oil mixing. Corded units like the Amazon Basics edger give you constant 12 Amp power with no battery to recharge, but you’re leashed to an extension cord. Gas, like the Husqvarna 122C, brings a 22-cc engine that never asks for an outlet, at the cost of fuel mixing and a pull start.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Model | Best For | Power Source | Cutting Width | Weight / Runtime | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CRAFTSMAN V20 CMCST901M1★ Best Overall | All-day battery trimming on a mid-size yard | Battery (1× 4.0Ah V20) | 13 inches | 63 min runtime | Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER LST300Best Value | First-time buyers with a small yard | Battery (1× 2.0Ah 20V MAX) | 12 inches | 5.7 pounds | Amazon |
| Amazon Basics 12 Amp Corded EdgerTrench Ready | Deep trenching along beds and driveways | Corded (12 Amp) | 7.5 inches | 14.3 pounds | Amazon |
| WORX WG896 Electric Edger | Straight, repeatable driveway lines | Corded (12 Amp) | 7.5 inches | 14 pounds | Amazon |
| WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 | Trimming and edging with two batteries | Battery (2× 20V) | 12 inches | 5.5 pounds | Amazon |
| Husqvarna 122C | Big properties with no outlet nearby | Gas (22-cc) | 17 inches | — | Amazon |
| Makita XRU23SM1 | Quiet, low-maintenance cordless trimming | Battery (1× 18V 4.0Ah) | 13 inches | 60 min runtime | Amazon |
| Milwaukee M18 FUEL QUIK-LOK | One powerhead, many attachments | Battery (M18) | 16 inches | 13.2 pounds | Amazon |
| DEWALT DCED472X1 60V Edger | Cordless edging with steel-blade depth | Battery (60V FLEXVOLT) | 7.5 inches | — | Amazon |
Detailed Reviews
1. CRAFTSMAN V20 String Trimmer and Lawn Edger Kit (CMCST901M1)
Our pick — 4.5+★ from 200+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The combo trimmer that finishes the whole yard before the battery taps out.
Sixty-three minutes of runtime is the headline here, and it’s the number that decides this pick. That’s a battery-average-life figure from the manufacturer — enough for a mid-size lot’s trimming and edging in one session on a single charge. A 13 in. cutting swath means fewer passes down the fence line, and the motor is rated at 52% more power than the previous generation, so thick grass doesn’t stall the head.
The Turn-To-Edge design flips the head to cut a straight line along pavement without a second tool, and the adjustable handle lets you set the grip height to your reach. Two speed settings let you pick between saving battery and pushing harder through overgrowth. It runs on the V20 battery system, so the 4.0Ah pack that ships in the kit can drop into other Craftsman V20 tools you own.
The catch is the line: it feeds 0.065-in line, which is on the thin side for heavy brush, so you’ll change spools more often on tough jobs. For routine lawn edges and bed borders it’s fine. This is the crowd favorite across 200+ owners at 4.5+ stars, and the runtime is the reason — buyers mention edging an entire yard multiple times on one charge.
What earns it the top slot
- 63 minutes of runtime per charge — a full yard session on one battery
- 13 in. swath clears more grass per pass than a 12 in. head
- Converts to an edger without swapping tools
- Two speed settings let you trade runtime for power
Where it asks for care
- 0.065-in line is thin for heavy brush — expect more spool changes
- One battery in the kit, so long sessions need a second pack
Reach for this if: you want one tool that trims, edges, and runs long enough to finish a normal suburban yard without a recharge.
Hold off if: your property is mostly thick, woody brush where a thin 0.065-in line will wear fast.
2. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer and Edger LST300
The lightest way into cordless trimming, at 5.7 pounds in the hand.
At 5.7 pounds this is one of the easiest trimmers here to carry around a full border, and that weight is why it turns up in so many first-time and older-user households. The Automatic Feed Spool feeds line on its own — no bumping the head on the ground to advance it. The POWERDRIVE transmission spins the head at 6200 RPM, moving more of the motor’s effort into the cutting string so it clears grass with less bogging.
You get a 12 in. cutting swath, a 2.0 Amp-hour lithium-ion pack rated for 33% more runtime per pack than the previous LBXR20 battery, and a wall-mountable charging base. Converting from trimmer to edger takes seconds. The adjustable handle and height positions let you set it to your stance instead of stooping.
Honest limit: a 12 in. swath and a 2.0Ah pack are built for small yards and basic trimming, not acreage. Treat it as a tight-lot tool. Owners looking for a light machine for routine edges keep coming back to it, and the 2-year limited warranty backs the purchase.
Comfort-first design: 5.7 pounds plus an auto-feed head means less fatigue and no stopping to bump line out.
The honest ceiling: a 12 in. swath and single 2.0Ah battery suit small-to-mid yards; a big lot will outrun both.
The easy yes for small lots: a manageable 5.7-pound machine that trims and edges without fuel or fuss.
Look elsewhere if: you’re clearing a large property where a wider swath and bigger battery would save real time.
3. Amazon Basics 12 Amp Corded Electric Lawn Edger
The corded edger that doubles as a trencher for burying cable and irrigation line.
A 12 Amp corded motor spinning a 7.5 in. double-edged blade at 4420 RPM gives you steady power with no battery to run down mid-line. What makes this one different from the trimmer combos is the trenching job: the blade digs up to 1.5 inches deep, so you can cut a channel for wires, cables, or irrigation lines along a bed. A spring-assist front wheel adjusts that depth easily as the ground changes.
It weighs 14.3 pounds — versus the 5.5-pound WORX cordless combo above, which is the price of a steel blade and a corded motor. The adjustable auxiliary handle helps you keep control through a long sidewalk run. A 5-year Power Tool warranty covers the tool.
Two things to know. It’s loud — 94 dB max — so ear protection is a real consideration, and the cord ties you to an outlet. The performance is what owners talk about most, and the build quality draws steady praise, but durability is a split verdict: some units hold up for seasons while a few give out early. Keep it to routine edging and trenching rather than rocky, hard-packed ground.
Two jobs in one: edges walkways and cuts a 1.5-inch-deep trench for cables, which the trimmer combos simply can’t do.
Heft and noise: at 14.3 pounds with a 94 dB output, this is a deliberate, corded, ear-protection job.
Built for the driveway and the flower bed: the pick if you want a crisp edge plus trenching capability and don’t mind a cord.
Pass if: you need to roam a big yard freely — the extension cord and 14.3 pounds will slow that down.
4. WORX Electric Lawn Edger, 12 Amp 7.5″ Trencher (WG896)
A cutting-line guide that keeps your walkway edge dead straight, pass after pass.
The feature that earns this edger its slot is the cutting line indicator — a guide that keeps your blade tracking the pavement edge so the finished line looks like it was done professionally. The 12 Amp motor spins the 7.5 in. blade at 4700 RPM, and you get three depth settings: 1 in., 1-1/4 in., and 1-1/2 in. Pick shallow for a tidy trim, deeper for a real channel.
It’s a big machine in footprint terms — 22.6″L x 14.1″W alongside the 14-pound weight, versus the Amazon Basics edger at 14.3 pounds. An adjustable shaft and D-grip handle let taller and shorter users find a comfortable position. Functionality is what carries this one — it’s the thing users bring up most — with ease of use close behind. Assembly is quick enough that it’s ready to work shortly after unboxing.
The recurring gripe is blade durability; the steel wears on rocky or hard-packed ground, so plan on a replacement blade down the road. And like every corded unit, it needs an extension cord — the built-in 1 ft power cord is a stub, not a reach. A 3-year limited warranty covers it.
Why it edges so clean
- Cutting line indicator keeps your edge straight along pavement
- Three depth settings from 1 in. to 1-1/2 in.
- Adjustable shaft and D-grip fit different user heights
- Runs and assembles fast, with a 3-year limited warranty
Where it wears
- Blade durability is the most-cited issue — rocky ground eats steel
- Built-in cord is only 1 ft, so you supply the extension
For the neat-freak homeowner: if a razor-straight sidewalk edge is the goal, the line indicator makes it repeatable.
Think twice if: your ground is rocky and hard-packed, where the blade will wear faster.
5. WORX 20V 12″ 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer & Edger (WG163)
Two batteries in the box, a head that tilts 90°, and a 5.5-pound frame.
Two 20V batteries ship with this one — versus the single pack you get on the Craftsman kit — so you can swap packs instead of waiting on a charge. At 5.5 pounds it’s the lightest full combo trimmer on this list, and the head tilts 90° to work sloped terrain and reach under shrubs. The 12 in. cutting diameter and 7600 RPM no-load speed handle routine lawn work.
Line feeding is a push-button command feed with no bumping, and the rubberized wheels help guide straighter edging passes. An adjustable spacer guard protects plants and lawn ornaments from the line. Both batteries run on the WORX Power Share system, so they’ll power other WORX 20V and 40V tools too.
Caveats worth knowing: both batteries charge on the included charger, so plan for a slow turnaround if you drain both on the same day — charge time is on the long side. Durability is a split report, and cutting performance divides opinion too. The mass of owners still rate it a strong everyday tool, and ease of use plus the light weight keep it a favorite for people who want a trimmer that doesn’t wear them out.
Double-down on power: two included 20V batteries mean a spare always on deck, and the 90° tilting head handles slopes.
Patience on charging: slow recharge times and a split record on long-term durability are the real limits.
Suits the slope-heavy yard: the tilting head and 5.5-pound body make awkward terrain far easier.
The one snag: if you run both batteries flat, the charger won’t refill them instantly.
6. Husqvarna 122C String Trimmer
A 17-inch swath and a 22-cc engine that keep cutting long after batteries quit.
You get the widest cutting path in this guide at 17 inches, so open grass goes down fast. That width comes from a 22-cc two-cycle engine (a gas engine that mixes oil into the fuel) on a curved shaft (a bent pole that angles the cutting head toward the ground). It suits big lots with no outlet nearby, where a battery would run dry. The curved shaft also lets you steer around obstacles. Smart Start and Air Purge are engine features aimed at easier starting, so you pull the cord less. The low-noise engine design keeps the job a bit quieter than typical gas trimmers.
Where it pays off is any property that’s too big or too far out for cordless. Where it costs you is the routine: gas means mixing fuel and pulling to start, which is the trade against the instant-start cordless picks. It’s also a heavy machine — this is a two-hands, take-your-time tool.
The Tap N’ Go twin-line head advances line with a tap on the ground. The honest note is value: opinion splits on whether the husqvarna price is justified, with some buyers well satisfied and others feeling shortchanged. Ease of use is the strongest positive — it starts and runs as expected. Buy it for the reach and the swath, not for a bargain.
The reach advantage: a 17 in. swath and 22-cc engine clear big, remote lots no cordless can match on a single tank.
The gas ritual: fuel mixing and a pull start are the daily cost of that reach.
Made for acreage: pick the gas trimmer when the yard is large and the outlets are far and few between.
Not for the small lot: if you’re just edging a suburban border, the fuel-and-start routine is more hassle than you need.
7. Makita XRU23SM1 18V LXT 13″ String Trimmer Kit
No gas, no pull cord, no oil mixing — just squeeze and cut quietly.
A brushless motor rated for up to 6,000 RPM and up to 1 hour of runtime on the included 18V LXT 4.0Ah battery is the proposition here. The brushless design is the low-maintenance kind — no carbon brushes to wear out — and it runs quieter and cleaner than gas. A 13 in. cutting swath matches the Craftsman combo on paper, so per-pass coverage is comparable.
Two controls give you real flexibility: a high/low button for choosing between power and runtime, and a variable speed trigger for matching cutting speed to the grass in front of you. That trigger matters around beds and fences, where you want controlled, slow passes. It’s part of Makita’s 18V LXT system, so the battery drops into their other tools.
Runtime is the split point. On light work the battery barely sips power, but heavy continuous cutting can drain it much faster. A 3-year limited warranty covers tool, battery, and charger. This is a solid mid-tier cordless trimmer for someone already invested in LXT batteries.
Control in your fingers: the variable trigger and high/low button let you dial power to the task instead of running flat out.
Battery reality: an hour is the ceiling on light work; hard continuous cutting drains it quicker.
For the LXT owner: if you already run Makita 18V batteries, this trimmer slots right into your kit with no new platform.
Weigh the runtime: if you cut hard for an hour straight, plan a second battery to avoid a mid-job stop.
8. Milwaukee M18 FUEL String Trimmer with QUIK-LOK
One powerhead that takes 13 different attachments — trimmer today, edger tomorrow.
The QUIK-LOK system is the reason this trimmer exists as a category of its own. It accepts all 13 Milwaukee QUIK-LOK attachments, so a single powerhead can switch from trimmer to edger to other yard tools by swapping the shaft. A 16 in. cutting swath is wide enough to clear open grass quickly, and the POWERSTATE brushless motor is rated to deliver more power than a 31cc gas powerhead — gas-class output without the fuel.
At 13.2 pounds it’s a substantial machine, versus the 5.5-pound WORX combo. That weight buys you the power and the attachment flexibility. Where it fits: a homeowner building a multi-tool yard kit around Milwaukee’s M18 batteries, who wants the trimmer to do double duty.
The honest split is on battery life and weight — some find it manageable, others call it heavy after a long session. The satisfaction level is the strongest signal here; people who buy into the system tend to enjoy running it. Buy it as the powerhead for a multi-attachment Milwaukee kit, not as a one-off trimmer.
Built to grow with your kit
- Takes all 13 QUIK-LOK attachments on one powerhead
- POWERSTATE brushless motor rated to beat a 31cc gas powerhead
- 16 in. swath clears open grass in fewer passes
What to budget for
- 13.2 pounds is heavy on a long shift
- Battery life divides opinion — some want more runtime
Buy it for the system: a Milwaukee M18 household gets one powerhead that becomes a whole yard-tool lineup.
Skip the weight: if you want the lightest possible trimmer, 13.2 pounds will feel like it by the end of a session.
9. DEWALT 60V MAX Cordless Lawn Edger Kit (DCED472X1)
A cordless steel-blade edger built to cut gas-style trenches without the fuel.
A 7-1/2 in. hardened steel blade with up to 2-1/2 in. adjustable blade depth is what puts this edger in a different class from the string trimmers. The steel bites clean into soil for a deep, sharp line along driveways and beds — deeper than the 1.5 in. max on the Amazon Basics edger, thanks to that 2-1/2 in. depth. The 60V FLEXVOLT battery and charger come in the kit, so it’s a self-contained system.
A large guide wheel keeps it tracking while you edge, and a variable trigger with hi/lo settings lets you manage power and runtime. It also carries Universal Attachment capability to accept additional tool pieces, so the powerhead can grow. Effectiveness is what people praise most — it cuts like a gas edger — with power close behind.
Two honest flags: battery life divides opinion, with some finding it adequate and others wanting more on long runs, and durability has generated real complaints about breaking after heavy use. The blade also needs a re-tighten check now and then. Treat the 60V kit as a serious edging tool for homeowners who edge often and will keep an eye on the blade hardware.
Where it cuts above its class
- 7-1/2 in. hardened steel blade reaches 2-1/2 in. deep for a real trench line
- Large guide wheel keeps the edge tracking
- Variable trigger with hi/lo settings manages power and runtime
What to keep an eye on
- Durability complaints on heavy use — treat it as a tool to not overwork
- Battery life is a split report for long edging sessions
For the frequent edger: if clean, deep pavement lines matter and you want cordless freedom, this steel blade delivers.
Not for occasional light touch-ups: a string edger is simpler and lighter for a few passes here and there.
Know the Specs
Cutting width (swath)
Cutting width is how much grass the head clears in one pass, measured in inches. A 12 in. head is nimble around beds; a 17 in. head like the Husqvarna covers open lawn faster. Wider isn’t always better — tight plantings punish a wide head with clumsy maneuvering.
Power source
Cordless runs on a rechargeable battery and starts instantly; runtime is measured in minutes per charge. Corded needs an extension cord but gives constant power with no recharge. Gas brings a small engine that never needs an outlet, at the cost of fuel mixing and a pull start.
Blade type on edgers
Steel blades bite deep into soil for a sharp trench line — the DEWALT runs a 7-1/2 in. hardened steel blade and reaches 2-1/2 in. deep. String-line edgers flip the trimmer head and cut a lighter edge. Steel does the deeper, cleaner work; string is more forgiving around obstacles.
Battery platform
A battery platform is the family of tools that share one pack. The Craftsman V20, WORX Power Share, Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18, and DEWALT FLEXVOLT systems each let one battery run multiple yard tools. If you already own V20, LXT, M18, Power Share, or FLEXVOLT packs, buy the bare tool and skip a second charger.
Common Questions
Can a string trimmer replace a dedicated edger?
How long does a cordless trimmer run on one battery?
Is gas or cordless better for a large yard?
Do I need an extension cord for corded edgers?
What does the cutting line indicator do on an edger?
Can I share batteries between a trimmer and other yard tools?
How deep should an edger cut along a driveway?
What does a trimmer head that tilts do for me?
Is a brushless motor worth it on a string trimmer?
How heavy are these trimmers and edgers to carry?
The Bottom Line
The yard trimmers and edgers winner for most homeowners is the CRAFTSMAN V20 Kit, because its 63-minute runtime and 13 in. swath finish a normal yard in one charge while the Turn-To-Edge head handles the border too. If a crisp, deep pavement line is what you’re after, the DEWALT 60V Edger gives you a 7-1/2 in. steel blade that cuts to 2-1/2 in. deep. And for a remote lot with no outlet in reach, the Husqvarna 122C brings a 17 in. swath and a 22-cc engine that keep cutting where cordless can’t. Whichever you pick, match the swath to your lot and the battery to a platform you already own.
How we choose
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of November 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
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