But a backup battery solves the same problem for an electric trimmer. And with a charged battery on hand, you’ll never run out of juice.Īs it stands, a gas string trimmer’s single biggest advantage is that you can keep cutting as long as you need, provided you keep adding gas. Then you can simply use the batteries among multiple tools, and keep one charging at all times. If you amass enough tools from the same brand over time, you can buy some of them without batteries, saving you about a third off the cost of the tool. If you buy an electric outdoor tool, make sure to buy into the platform, not just the one tool-check that the brand you buy also offers other outdoor tools with high scores in our ratings. Brands that make electric string trimmers know you’ll likely want to use that same battery in another tool, such as a lawn mower or leaf blower. They’re also better for the planet, better for your ears, and over time, they’re probably better for your wallet, too, when you factor in gas string trimmers’ lifetime cost of gas and (in some cases) oil.Įlectrics also have an advantage gas doesn’t: the interchangeability of electric batteries. Still, in almost every case, it’s easy to find an electric string trimmer that matches or beats the performance of gas models.Įlectric string trimmers, like all electric outdoor tools, perform better now than they ever have in the past. In our testing, gas string trimmers have a narrow edge over electrics. Here, we settle the score on which type of string trimmer, gas vs. For that reason, we’ve included some top-rated models of each type, below. In your own yard, the only thing that matters is the performance of the specific string trimmer you choose. Keep in mind that we compiled this information to compare models across categories. So we also built bell curves to see where the majority of models of each type fall in terms of performance. One thing to note: Averages can be misleading because they include outliers that are either exceptionally good or exceptionally bad. We also looked at run times for every electric model, and across electric models in general. We compared average scores for gas and electric string trimmers in the following tests: trimming, edging, tall grass, handling, ease of use, and noise. Our engineers took years’ worth of string trimmer testing data to build a tool that allows us to compare scores from dozens of models, including both gas and electric. And read on for a look at how we test these two types of string trimmers. You can also go to our string trimmer ratings of dozens of models if you’re ready to buy. If you’re just starting to shop, look to our string trimmer buying guide for advice about types and features. If you’re looking to keep the peace with nearby neighbors, note that an electric string trimmer is always quieter than gas. Neighbors and noise: Gas string trimmers are loud. The more of those you have, the longer you need to trim, which means gas might make sense if it typically takes you more than an hour to trim those areas in your yard. Those include edges along pathways and patios, near a mailbox, around trees or plantings, or around flower beds. Yard layout: You need a string trimmer to reach areas you can’t get to with a lawn mower. If you go with electric, expect reduced run times. If you do, remember that this task will drain a battery, or empty a gas tank, faster than regular trimming. But some people don’t bother with edging at all. Depending on how much trimming you have, that’s probably good for 1 to 2 acres, tops, on a single charge.Įdging: Edging refers to using your string trimmer vertically to dig out a small trough along pathways and patios, which in turn creates a neat look. Yard size: The best electric string trimmers can cut for just over an hour on a single charge. In your own yard, you should consider the following.
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