We Tested 7 String Trimmers: Here’s Which One You Should Buy in 2026

We Tested 7 String Trimmers: Here’s Which One You Should Buy in 2026

If you have ever spent a Saturday morning fighting with a tangled spool or chasing the last patch of weeds along the fence line, you already know not all string trimmers are built the same. Some balance like a dream. Others feel like swinging a kettlebell on a stick.

Over the past few months we tested seven cordless trimmers from DeWalt, Husqvarna, Ego, Ryobi, Stihl, Skil, and Greenworks. Each one got a proper workout around our test yard — edging driveways, cutting through thick grass, and running long enough to see what actually holds up once the shine of new tool day wears off.

Our goal was not to crown a single winner for everyone. It was to find which trimmer makes sense for your kind of yard and your level of patience. What feels great for small cleanup jobs might drive you nuts on an acre lot.

DeWalt DCST922P1 — Compact and clever, but a little front heavy

DeWalt’s foldable 20V trimmer caught our attention right away. It folds in half, fits in a trunk, and runs on the same 20V batteries you probably already use for drills and drivers. We liked how easy it was to reload the line and how quietly it ran compared to gas models.

That said, after a few sessions we all agreed on one thing. It is a little head heavy. The hinge that makes it so portable shifts the weight forward, so your arms start to feel it after ten or fifteen minutes. The cutting width is also tighter than others in this test, so you make more passes than you might expect.

Still, for quick weekend maintenance and smaller yards, it is a handy low hassle trimmer. If your garage is tight on space or you are already deep in DeWalt’s battery platform, this one fits right in. For bigger spaces or longer jobs we found a better balance elsewhere.

Read the full DeWalt review: DeWalt DCST922P1 String Trimmer Review

Husqvarna 320iL — Smart controls, smooth feel, solid choice

When we first picked up the Husqvarna 320iL it felt refined. The weight sits evenly, the trigger has a soft pull, and the vibration is low enough that your hands do not go numb halfway through a session.

We ran it side by side with the DeWalt on a mix of thick rye and patchy clover. The Husqvarna handled both without fuss. The dual direction head was a neat surprise. Being able to flip the spin direction helped push clippings where we wanted them instead of scattering across the beds. Turbo mode gave a bit more punch when needed, though it chews through the battery faster.

This trimmer feels like it was built for people who notice little details. The balance, the quiet hum, the way it stays steady when you feather the throttle. It is not the strongest tool here, but it is easily one of the most comfortable to use for longer sessions.

Read the full Husqvarna review: Husqvarna 320iL String Trimmer Review

EGO ST1511T / ST1623T — Power and ease of use, strong contender

Ego brings solid cutting swaths and user friendly features. The ST1623T in particular offers a wider 16 inch swath and a more ergonomic head shape than some competitors. In our tests the Ego units rolled through thicker patches of lawn with less stalling and fewer passes.

What we liked was the balance between power and comfort. Ego leans toward giving you a bit more torque without turning the tool into a handful of vibrations. Reload systems and spool designs were easy to work with, which matters when you are doing a long session and need to reload quickly.

Drawbacks are mostly around weight and battery ecosystem. Ego batteries are great, but if you are switching from a different brand you need to commit. Also, turbo or higher power settings eat batteries noticeably faster.

If you want fewer passes and cleaner cuts on medium to large yards, Ego is a smart pick.

Relevant Ego reviews:

• EGO ST1511T String Trimmer Review
• EGO ST1623T String Trimmer Review

Ryobi RY402110 — Affordable and easy to live with

Ryobi’s trimmer is the model you grab when you want a competent tool that does not make you think twice. It is not flashy, but it works. The cutting swath is decent and the ergonomics are fine for regular weekend jobs.

We found Ryobi to be especially forgiving for casual users. Line changes are straightforward and the balance is acceptable for most homeowners. It does not have the refinement of the Husqvarna or the power of the Ego on the toughest patches, but it is cheaper and easier to justify for small yards.

If you do light to medium trimming and want to avoid fuss, Ryobi makes a lot of sense.

Read more: Ryobi RY402110 String Trimmer Review

Comparison at a glance

	Model	Cutting swath	Best for	Standout trait
	DeWalt DCST922P1	14 in	Small yards, DeWalt 20V users	Foldable for storage
	Husqvarna 320iL	16 in	Precision trimming, longer sessions	Dual‑direction head, low vibration
	EGO ST1623T	16 in	Medium to large yards	Power + easy line reload
	Ryobi RY402110	17 in	Larger suburban yards	Big 17" swath, accepts 0.105" line
	Stihl, Skil, Greenworks	varies	Specific needs, budget, platform	See deep reviews below

What surprised us

• The foldable convenience on the DeWalt was genuinely useful for storage, but we did not expect how much it would affect balance.
• Turbo or boost modes feel great in the moment, but they drain batteries fast. For long jobs battery management matters more than a short power burst.
• Line reload mechanisms vary a lot. The ones that are easiest to reload saved us real time over a season of use.

What broke or needed adjusting

• A few of the cheaper spool heads needed tightening after the first heavy session. Not catastrophic, but annoying.
• Turbo modes caused more heat on some motors during long runs. We backed off and let batteries cool when that happened.
• One tool had a small wobble from a loose guard that we fixed with a quick re torque of screws.

We list any specific failures and fixes inside each full review.

Which one we actually keep in the shop

We keep the Husqvarna 320iL for most everyday trimming because it asks less from us in terms of fiddling. For days where we need extra cut per pass we reach for the Ego ST1623T. The DeWalt sits in a cabinet for quick cleanups or when space is the limiting factor.

Where to read the deep reviews

If you want the full breakdown, specs, photos, and the tiny quirks, read the complete reviews in the section below: