6 Best Lightweight Weed Eaters of 2024

A weed eater is one of the most important garden tools for cutting grass, take care of your bushes and tree trunk. A weed eater is also known as "String Trimmer", "Whipper Snipper", "Weed Whacker", "Weed Whip", "Line Trimmer" (in Australia and New Zealand), or "Strimmer" (in the UK and Ireland).

Before you start looking for the lightest weedeater, you should know which type of them fits your need. The gas-power weed eater is much heavier than electric ones so if you're looking for a lightweight string trimmer machine, the electric option is most recommended.

There are two types of electric weed eater, it is difficult to exactly compare the two options' heaviness in general, it means that it doesn’t really matter whether you will get a corded or a cordless weed eater; they can both weigh similar or even the same. We researched, experienced, and picked all the Best Lightweight Weed Eaters below without wasting much time.

Here are the lightweight weed eaters you can buy in 2024:

• Best Overall: BLACK+DECKER (LST136) 40V String Trimmer/Edger
• Runner-Up: WORX WG163.9 GT 3.0 20V Cordless String Trimmer & Edger
• Premium Choice: DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless Trimmer
• Lightest: Makita XRUuZ 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer
• Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Whacker
• Most Powerful: Husqvarna (128LD) Gas String Trimmer

Best Overall: BLACK+DECKER (LST136) 40V String Trimmer/Edger

BLACK+DECKER (LST136) 40V String Trimmer/Edger

See at Amazon

For its high performance and an outstanding feature, this Black+Decker is a great value in range. This product owns PowerDrive transmission that can handle even the toughest weeds and grass. Moreover, the trimmer has a 12-inch cutting width that is easy for user trim and edge needs.

The shaft length can be adjusted quickly and easily. If you're cutting on a steep slope, a shorter shaft comes in handy. It's also very simple to flip the head and use the trimmer as an edger. The swivel head makes it easy to switch from grass cutting to sidewalk edging or flower bed edging.

BLACK+DECKER (LST136) 40V String Trimmer is a cordless-electric string trimmer that has a straight shaft and weighs 7 lbs. This tool is easy enjoyable to use and very cheap to maintain. Another great factor is that it is powered by a battery, which means you do not have to worry about any extra cost for mixed fuel or gas. The battery lasts a long time and can be quickly recharged.

Runner-Up: WORX WG163.9 GT 3.0 20V Cordless String Trimmer & Edger

WORX WG163.9 GT 3.0 20V Cordless String Trimmer & Edger

See at Amazon

The Worx 12 Inch 20 Volt Grass Trimmer/Edger is not only one of the most affordable weed eaters on the market, but it's also one of the most effective. The GT converts from a trimmer to a lawn edger and back again. And you don’t need any tools to make that change. Save your money, no need to buy a separate trimmer and edger. It is also lightweight, weighing only 5 pounds, and has a rechargeable battery.

The 12-inch cutting width is not the widest on the market, but it'll suffice for the majority of homeowners. All accidental trimming of flowers, plants, and lawn furniture should be avoided with its spacer guard. When it comes to keeping the decorative elements of your landscaping safe, the adjustable guard is your best friend.

Another great feature of the Greenworks trimmer that makes it popular is the trim hard to reach places. The head tilts a full 90° so you can trim in tight, awkward spaces, or so you can edge in uneven terrain. The handle is fully adjustable as well, so you can find a position that’s comfortable to work in.

Premium Choice: DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless Trimmer

DEWALT DCST920P1 Brushless Trimmer

See at Amazon

The DCST920P1 is a professional string trimmer that comes with a 20V MAX 5.0 Ah lithium battery that makes maintaining a garden or yards easy; it is powerful, affordable, and highly durable. When you have this high-performing trimmer, you don’t need to postpone your plans to cut the grass and clean your yard.

This high-powered trimmer gives you freedom from cables and the need to fill the gas tank every time. You just plug the tool in the electric charger and your advanced weed eater will be up and running in no time.

The DeWalt DCST920P1 comes with precise power controls and different levels of speed that enable the tool to deliver an amazing performance every time you use it. It comes with a high/low-speed control switch to give you just the amount of power you need to cut or trim the grass with a high level of precision.

Lightest: Makita XRUuZ 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer

Makita XRUuZ 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer

See at Amazon

The 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Cordless String Trimmer (XRU02Z, tool only) is a versatile solution for landscape cutting and trimming, but without gasoline or a cord. It’s part of Makita’s expanding 18V Lithium-ion series, the world’s largest cordless tool line-up powered by an 18V lithium-ion slide-style battery. Makita 18V Lithium-Ion batteries have the fastest charge times in their categories, so they spend more time working and less time sitting on the charger.

For improved tool performance and extended battery life, Makita created Star Protection Computer Controls™. Star Protection is a communication technology that allows the Star Protection-equipped tool and battery to exchange data in real-time and monitor conditions during use to protect against overloading, over-discharging and overheating.

The tool can also be powered by Makita 18V LXT® and Compact Lithium-Ion batteries with the star symbol on the battery indicating Star Protection inside for increased versatility. The XRU02Z delivers 7,800 RPM and up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge of the 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion 3.0Ah battery (sold separately).

Best Budget: BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Whacker

BLACK+DECKER LST300 Weed Whacker

See at Amazon

The Black & Decker LST300 12-Inch 20-volt Cordless Trimmer and Edger have already accumulated many great views, drawing our attention to test what so many users like about this weed eater. Based on our tests, this weed eater is best for the casual gardener, or those that use this tool for light lawn maintenance and not in any professional or heavy impact applications.

The Black & Decker LST300 12-Inch 20-volt Cordless Trimmer and Edger is lightweight even with the battery on board, making it easy to use around the yard. Please note that those over 6 feet or taller, might find they have to bend over more a bit more with this weed eater due to the compact nature. The 20-volt battery does provide up to 33% more runtime than previous models but is still not robust enough to hold hours of use, and it will take a few hours to recharge. We found at best, it can provide about 30 minutes of continuous use. We found this to not be a sufficient tool to use if needing this for thick turf and weeds.

Most Powerful: Husqvarna (128LD) Gas String Trimmer

Husqvarna (128LD) Gas String Trimmer

See at Amazon

Husqvarna 128LDX shares all the advantages of gas weed whackers – great power, complete freedom of movement, no messing with the cord, or limitation of battery life. On the other hand, it requires mixing the gas-oil fuel, a little maintenance, and louder and heavier than electric units.

The 2-cycle gas string trimmer weighs 11 pounds to allow you to do your yard work without straining. The mass is distributed over a small volume of fewer than 13 inches on each side and a shat of 40 inches from the base.

The trimmer uses a bump feed to advance the line and it works without any problems, many users also mention how quick and easy it is to disassemble the spool and change the line.

The 2-cycle gas string trimmer runs on a 28cc engine from Husqvarna. The 2-stroke engine uses both gas and oil mixtures. The engine will not give you a headache to start. An important aspect of the engine is the ability to perform different tasks without any impact on performance. It has an air purge technology that gets rid of air from the carburetor and fuel system.

Weed Eater Buying Guide

String trimmers, also known as weed whackers, are commonly used at the end of the lawncare process to reach hard-to-reach areas in your yard. String trimmers are overworked and misused because they are used to edge around trees, shrubs, and walkways. Here are some tips to buying a suitable trimmer for your garden:

1. Consider your garden's size

Before buying a trimmer, the owner should consider the garden's size to decide which type of trimmer is suitable for the garden.

An electric corded or battery-powered weed trimmer makes quick work of trimming chores in a small yard. Choose a trimmer with enough runtime to tackle the entire job at once if you have a large yard. Large jobs can be tackled with cordless, battery-powered trimmers, but you may need to purchase an extra battery to ensure you have enough power to tackle the entire yard at once.

2. Type of power source

After knowing the garden's size, you can select the string trimmer that is best for you. With so many options in the trimmer market such as electric, cordless, and gas, here are some tips you should consider.

• Gasoline fuel system: It is a powerful and versatile device, primarily designed to work in large areas.
• Corded (Electric) machine: Lightweight, mobile and compact, unlike gasoline one. The electric machine is mainly chosen for small and noise-sensitive areas, environmental-friendly users.
• The cordless (battery-powered) machine: is even more mobile, flexible, and compact than the electric one.

3. Style of trimmer: Curved or Straight Shaft?

Regardless of whether the appliance is gas, electric, or battery-powered, the shaft serves as the main body.

• Straight Shaft: In general, trimmers with straight shafts are more powerful than the curved shafts. As a result, they'll be ideal for heavy-duty or dealing with a large yard with dense brush. Their design allows them to reach under overhanging tree branches, low decking, and sharp corners with ease. Moreover, this is also less vibration. Straight shaft trimmers are heavier than curved shaft trimmers, which means they will vibrate less and thus cause less user fatigue over long periods of time. However, when compared with curved shaft trimmers, you'll see that straight shaft trimmers are usually more expensive. Because of their versatility and more powerful performance, they cost more to own.
• Curved Shaft: The first impression is from its cost, inexpensive than the straight one. If you are looking for a cheap trimmer just for basic trimmer function, the curved shaft trimmer is a better choice. Besides price, the curved shaft is loved by ladies because it's lightweight, easy to use, and maneuver. It's perfect to use for a small garden. You can easily get in and out of tight spaces with these trimmers. Anyway, curved is not recommended for tall people. The short shaft on the curved shaft trimmers, tall people may find them inconvenient to use because they will have to reach down frequently.

FAQs

1. What does a string trimmer do?

String trimmers are used to keep the grass trimmed in places where a lawn mower can't reach. And the edgers are used to clean up the edges of sidewalks and driveways. These days, trimmer and edge can combine to save lots of money when buying separate these two tools. Before buying one, we have some things to consider, such as trimmers shafts.

• Curved Shaft Trimmers: Curved shaft trimmers are typically lighter in weight, making them ideal for small yards with few shrubs.
• Straight Shaft Trimmers: Straight shaft trimmers are ideal for larger yards and for reaching under decks, patios, and larger shrubs. Straight shaft trimmers are also more comfortable to use for taller users and can help reduce user fatigue.

2. Which is better 2 strokes or 4 strokes Weed Eater?

4-stroke trimmers are stronger than 2-stroke ones, but both have their own advantages.

A 4-stroke string trimmer is friendly to prevent pollutants, reducing environmental impact, and increasing fuel efficiency. That is the reason why in some states, you may be required to use a cleaner-running 4-stroke trimmer. On a consumer level, the increased fuel efficiency of a 4-stroke model is also appealing. You'll use less gas, saving you money and time when it comes to refueling. Plus, when your parts emit fewer pollutants, they tend to make less noise. This is especially true for 4-stroke trimmers.

While 2-stroke string trimmers are dependable tools because they have fewer moving parts. They are lighter than 4-stroke trimmers and vibrate less, reducing operator fatigue and providing a better trimming experience. Moreover, with the 2-stroke trimmer, the user can is easy to store and maintenance it.

3. Which is better gas or battery weed eater?

Electric weed eaters are better for those who do not want to crank the machine by pulling a string or simple friend-environment. But gas weed eater is more powerful.

Cordless weed trimmers are similar to electric weed eaters, but they run on lithium-ion batteries instead of being plugged in. Instead of pulling a rope, these trimmers are started by pressing a button. And to operate it, the trimmer is quieter than the gas one. Because electric trimmers do not use a combustion engine, they are much quieter to use than gas-powered models.

A gasoline-powered weed eater has a gasoline-powered motor. A two-stroke or four-stroke engine can be found in gas weed eaters. Gas-powered weed eaters have more power than their electrical or cordless counterparts. This means they can tackle woodier and heartier plants and weeds than the others. Go with strong power, gasoline-powered weed eaters can be very expensive to fuel, given the price of both gas and oil.

4. How long does the battery last on a weed eater?

For the newer trimmers, it will run for 20 to 40 minutes when fully charged. To extend the life of your trimmer battery, run it completely down every two months and fully recharge it overnight.

Battery-powered trimmers are available in 18-, 24-, 36-, 40-, 56-, and even 80-volt configurations. You might believe that a higher voltage battery automatically equals more power. In the trimmers market, the manufacture prefers to use lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries have two main advantages: they charge quickly and discharge at a consistent rate, regardless of whether they are fully charged or only partially charged. Non-lithium batteries start out strong, but their power gradually fades. You'd know your battery was almost dead on those old-style batteries because your tool slowly stopped working. All Remington battery-powered tools include a high-capacity, rechargeable 40V lithium-ion battery, ensuring a steady stream of power from start to finish.

Which Brands Make The Lightweight Weed Eater?

BLACK+DECKER: Black+Decker Inc. is an American manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products, home appliances, and fastening systems headquartered in Towson, Maryland, north of Baltimore, where the company was originally established in 1910. Since our earliest days as a small Baltimore machine shop, BLACK+DECKER has remained steadfastly focused on customer needs. Learn more about how we've earned our reputation for quality, ingenuity, and value.

WORX: Other companies build things. With a passion for innovation, power, and performance, we create tools that let our customers work quickly and easily, then get on with their lives. Or take what’s always been done and reimagining it being done better. Faster. Easier. More efficiently.

Makita: It all started with the motor over 100 years ago. Makita Corporation was founded in 1915 as an electric motor sales and repair company. Today, as a global brand in over 40 countries, Makita is an innovation leader, manufacturing best-in-class products at 10 plants operating in 8 countries. The unmatched quality and durability of Makita products are driven by the company’s strong R&D capabilities and have earned the trust of professional users worldwide. Every day, on job sites around the world, Makita delivers the power, performance, and durability that professional users demand with products that are more compact, have less vibration, and feel better.

DEWALT: DeWalt Industrial Tool Company is an American worldwide manufacturer of power tools and hand tools for the construction, manufacturing, and woodworking industries. DeWalt is a registered trademark of Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.

Husqvarna: makes mowers, tractors, and zero-turn-radius riders for the consumer and the commercial market. Husqvarna has a large dealer base, and Lowe's and Sears carry the brand. Husqvarna lawn tractors are fully featured and have deck widths in the widely sold 42- to 54-inch range. Most models have hydrostatic-drive systems and Briggs & Stratton engines.

Conclusion

Consumers are turning to use electric weed eaters for their yards; whether the yard is large or small. With that being said cordless weed eaters are best for smaller yards but they can all do everything a lot easier than corded weed whackers or even gas-powered ones. Plus you won’t have to worry about mixing the gas and oil, smelling, your arms getting heavy, and get hurt. Grab your own favorite lightest weedeater, wish you success with your lovely yard.