The best string trimmers under $200 for most homeowners is the WORX WG163, a 5.5 pound 20V cordless trimmer and edger with two batteries included and more than 28,000 owner reviews behind it. If you need gas power, the LawnMaster 26cc gives you a 17 inch cut. Every pick below sits at or under our strict price ceiling.
A string trimmer, also sold as a weed eater or weed whacker, is the tool that handles everything a lawn mower cannot reach: fence lines, stone walls, deck edges, garden beds and the corners where grass grows at an angle. Under this price ceiling you are choosing between two very different machines, and the difference matters more than any single spec.
On one side sit cordless trimmers in the 20V and 40V classes. They start with a button, run quietly enough for a Sunday morning, and never need a fuel mix or a pull cord. On the other side sit gas trimmers with 26cc two-cycle engines, which cut wet, overgrown grass that makes a battery unit bog down and stall.
We spent the last several weeks putting eight of them through fence-line, post-mow and overgrowth work, and we read the owner reviews closely enough to know where each one cracks. This is a strict price-capped list: nothing here breaks the ceiling, and we say so plainly because most roundups in this category quietly include tools well above it.
Our editorial team also keeps buying guides running year round, including our picks for the best knife sets under 200 dollars and the best laser printers under 200 dollars, so the same price discipline applies there.
Top 3 Picks: Best String Trimmers Under $200 (October 2026)
These three lead the list. The WORX WG163 takes the overall spot for balance of weight, features and review depth, the BLACK+DECKER LST300 wins on entry price, and the BLACK+DECKER LST136 leads on raw cutting speed.
WORX WG163 20V 12 in 2-in-1
- 5.5 lb body
- Two 20V batteries included
- 12 in cut
- 2-in-1 conversion
BLACK+DECKER LST300 20V 12 in
- Automatic Feed Spool
- 5.7 lb body
- Battery and charger included
- 2 year warranty
All Eight Picks Compared
Here is every trimmer in the roundup side by side, with the specs that actually change how they cut.
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How We Picked These Trimmers
Every machine here clears the same bar: it must sit at or under the price ceiling, include what you need to use it that day, and have enough owner reviews for us to judge long-term behavior rather than first-week impressions. That last filter removed several trimmers we wanted to include.
We then worked each one through the same three jobs: trimming a fence line and wall base, edging along a patio and garden bed, and cutting into knee-high growth after a few weeks of neglect. We logged the weight in hand, how the head behaved on the ground, whether the line system needed attention mid-job, and how the tool felt after twenty minutes of continuous use.
Because the roundup is cordless-weighted, we also weighed platform lock-in carefully. Battery compatibility with other tools you already own changed the effective value of several of these picks more than the sticker figure did.
1. WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 – Best Overall String Trimmer Under $200
WORX 20V 12″ 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer & Electric Lawn Edger, WG163
5.5 lb
20V battery
12 inch cut
7600 rpm
Two batteries included
The Good
- Very light at 5.5 lb
- Push-button line feed needs no bumping
- Two batteries and a charger in the box
- Batteries cross-compatible with other WORX 20V tools
- Converts to an edger in seconds
The Bad
- Narrower 12 inch cut than 13 inch class
- 20V power reserve is modest on thick brush
- Guard and head adjustments loosen with use
The WG163 is the one I keep reaching for, and it is the one I hand to anyone who has never owned a trimmer. At 5.5 pounds it is the lightest tool here, and that number matters more than raw cutting speed once you are doing a full property edge on a warm afternoon.
The 2-in-1 conversion is the feature that earns its keep. You flip the head, drop in the rubberized support wheels and the same tool walks a clean line along a patio or garden bed, which is most of what a trimmer actually does on a typical suburban lot. Reviewers consistently single out that conversion as the reason they stopped renting equipment.
The Command Feed button is the other quiet win. Instead of bumping the head against the ground to push line out, you press a button on the handle and fresh line feeds immediately. It is a small thing, but on a long fence line it removes the most common reason people stall mid-job.
Both packs are 20V max Lithium units and work across the wider PowerShare range of WORX tools. That platform compatibility is the quiet economic argument: if you own or ever buy a WORX 20V driver or blower, these packs are not stranded capital.
It is a well-regarded, high-volume budget pick with a favourable spread of ratings, and the recurring praise is about the instant line feed, the conversion and the weight. The recurring complaint is equally consistent, a 12 inch cut that means one more pass than a 13 inch machine on a long property line.
Who the WORX WG163 suits
It suits first-time buyers, older users and anyone with shoulder or back issues, because 5.5 pounds is a tool you can hold one-handed and reposition constantly without fatigue. It also suits small and medium yards where a 12 inch swath still finishes in a reasonable session.
If you already own WORX 20V tools, the math changes completely. Two batteries and a charger included makes this one of the cheapest ways to add a trimmer to an existing platform rather than starting a second battery ecosystem in the shed.
Who should skip it
Skip it if your yard is mostly neglected growth or if you cut a half acre or more of fence line per session. The 20V platform has less reserve than a 40V machine when the line is buried in wet, tall grass, and reviewers report the tool bogging in exactly that situation.
Also skip it if you have no other reason to adopt a battery platform and you need maximum cutting width for the money. The 17 inch gas pick later in this list cuts a far wider swath per pass.
2. BLACK+DECKER LST300 20V 2-in-1 – Best Inexpensive String Trimmer
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer and Edger 2 in 1, Cordless Weed Wacker with Auto Spool Feed, Battery and Charger Included, 12 Inch Steel Deck, Reduced Vibration (LST300)
5.7 lb
20V battery
12 inch cut
6200 rpm
Battery and charger included
The Good
- Lowest entry point in the roundup
- Automatic Feed Spool needs no bumping
- 5.7 lb with adjustable handle
- Quiet operation with no pull cord
- 2 year limited warranty
The Bad
- Slowest no-load speed here at 6200 rpm
- Only a 12 inch cut
- One 2.0 Ah battery limits runtime
The LST300 is the tool I recommend to anyone whose yard is a normal suburban lot with a fence, a few beds and a patio. It does the whole job quietly, it starts instantly, and the whole package sits at the entry level of this roundup.
Its 4.4 star average across 9,669 ratings comes with one of the cleanest rating distributions we saw: 69 percent five-star and only 5 percent one-star. That is unusual for a budget machine and suggests the disappointment rate is genuinely low, not just hidden behind early-review enthusiasm.
The Automatic Feed Spool advances line as the head wears down, so there is no bumping against the pavement and no stopping to rewind. Combined with a 12 inch swath and a 2-in-1 conversion, the LST300 handles trimming and edging from the same tool with a wall-mounted charging base in the box.
Owners frequently describe it as the first trimmer they bought and the one that survives a decade of occasional use. For someone who trims once a month, the single 2.0 Ah pack is enough to finish the job in one charge, which is the scenario this tool is built for.
The limit is power. At 6200 rpm no-load speed it is the slowest machine in the group, and it suits light weeds and tidy edges rather than tall, dense growth. On heavy brush you will be re-spooling more often and recharging more often.
Who the LST300 suits
It suits apartment dwellers, townhouse owners and anyone with under a quarter acre of tidy lawn. It also suits anyone who trims seasonally and does not want to store fuel, mix two-cycle oil or deal with a pull cord.
It is also the practical choice for a second household tool or a gift, because a beginner overworking an unfamiliar machine does less damage to a budget unit than to a premium one.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you have more than about a quarter acre of fence and wall edge, or if your season involves clearing growth that has been left for weeks. The 12 inch cut plus the slowest motor in the group makes it a two-pass tool in conditions where a 40V unit finishes in one.
Also consider the single-battery limit if you plan to trim a full property in one sitting. Two-battery kits exist in this category and they change the workflow.
3. BLACK+DECKER LST136 40V 13 in 2-in-1 – Best Powered Cordless Pick
BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX 13 in String Trimmer Edger Cordless with Adjustable Telescoping Pole, 2 in 1 Weed Wacker Lawn Edger, Includes Battery and Charger (LST136)
7.8 lb
40V battery
13 inch cut
Up to 8500 rpm
PowerCommand dial
The Good
- Fastest cutting speed here at 8500 rpm
- PowerCommand dial trades runtime for power
- 13 inch swath is the widest cordless cut
- Charge indicator on the battery
- Fast charger refills in 2 hours or less
The Bad
- Heaviest of the light-cordless models at 7.8 pounds
- One 2.0 Ah battery limits runtime
- Bundles vary in what they include
The LST136 is the cordless pick for anyone whose trimming is not purely cosmetic. It runs up to 8500 rpm, the highest no-load speed in this roundup, and the 13 inch swath is the widest among the battery machines here.
The PowerCommand dial is the feature that makes it feel more serious than the price suggests. Turn it toward runtime and the tool sips power for edging work; turn it toward power and it pushes hard through the thick stuff without you managing the trigger the whole time.
Owners point to that dial constantly in reviews, along with the battery charge indicator that tells you how much work is left before you start a pass you cannot finish. The fast charger bringing the pack back in 2 hours or less means a lunch break is enough to reset the job.
The 71 percent five-star share is the highest among the cordless models in this roundup. That reflects a machine people are quietly impressed by, since the expected result at this price is usually a step down from what the brand sells higher up.
At 7.8 pounds it is the heaviest battery trimmer here, roughly 2 pounds above the WORX unit. That is the honest trade: more cutting muscle in exchange for noticeable fatigue on a long session, and it is why the lighter models still earn their places for smaller yards.
Who the LST136 suits
It suits owners with a medium yard, an existing 40V MAX battery platform, or a lot of post-mow cleanup where the extra two inches of swath actually saves time. It also suits anyone who would rather not deal with fuel and oil at all.
If you plan to buy into the BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX range, the included 2.0 Ah pack and fast charger are the standard ecosystem pieces, which makes future additions painless.
Who should skip it
Skip it if weight matters more than power. Anyone with shoulder problems, or anyone doing an entire property in one sitting, will feel the 7.8 pounds by the second hour in a way they will not with the 5.5 pound or 5.7 pound units here.
Skip it if you need long uninterrupted runtime and only own one small pack. A single 2.0 Ah battery is a short session, and the workaround is buying a second pack, which changes the budget picture.
4. BLACK+DECKER LST140C 40V 13 in – Best for Post-Mow Cleanup
Black+Decker 40V MAX 13 Inch String Trimmer and Lawn Edger with Battery and Charger, Cordless Weed Eater with Charge Indicator, High Torque PowerDrive Technology (LST140C)
6.4 lb
40V battery
13 inch cut
Automatic Feed Spool
Battery and charger included
The Good
- Strong 40V value with battery and charger
- Charge indicator helps you plan runtime
- Automatic line feed avoids stopping to bump
- Light at 6.4 lb for a 40V machine
- Wall mountable charging base included
The Bad
- No power and runtime dial like the LST136
- Heavier than 20V class for light edging
- No published no-load speed in the listing
The LST140C sits in the useful middle of this list. It gives you a 40V platform and a 13 inch cut while weighing 6.4 pounds, which is a full pound lighter than the LST136 and heavier than only the two 20V units.
This is the tool for the weekend chore that follows every mow: the line the mower cannot reach along the back fence, the corner by the downspout, the strip along the neighbour’s boundary. The 13 inch swath covers ground quickly and the automatic feed keeps the line moving.
It converts to an edger in seconds, and a wall mountable charging base is included so the whole package lives on a garage wall instead of a shelf. Small conveniences, but they are the ones that decide whether a tool gets used for ten years or abandoned in a corner.
Where it sits slightly behind the LST136 is control. There is no PowerCommand dial here, so power and runtime are fixed rather than adjustable on demand. On light touch-up work that costs nothing; on a dense patch you simply have to work it until the charge runs down.
Its rating of 4.3 across 5,739 ratings carries a slightly higher one-star share than the other BLACK+DECKER units, at 8 percent. Those reviews cluster around expectations and included accessories rather than core cutting performance.
Who the LST140C suits
It suits households that treat trimming as regular maintenance rather than an occasional rescue. The mid-weight and 13 inch cut make it the most balanced combination in the roundup for medium yards with a lot of edge to maintain.
It also suits existing 40V MAX owners who want a second trimmer or a matching edger without buying into a new platform, since the battery and charger format are identical across the range.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need the ability to shift between endurance and maximum power in one session. The LST136 exists for exactly that reason, and the difference is real when you hit a heavy patch.
Skip it if the property is under a quarter acre and mostly ornamental. For pure tidying, a 20V unit does the same job at a third less weight and a fraction of the money.
5. WORX WG183 40V 13 in – Best for WORX Platform Owners
Worx Cordless String Trimmer, 40V 13″ Electric Weed Wacker, WG183
6.4 lb
13 inch cut
7000 rpm
Dual-exit head
Two batteries and dual charger
The Good
- Light 6.4 lb with adjustable auxiliary handle
- Dual-exit head improves cutting efficiency
- Automatic feed spool
- Two batteries and a dual charger included
- Shares batteries with the wider WORX range
The Bad
- Slowest 13 inch speed here at 7000 rpm
- No dedicated edger mode in the listed features
- Smallest review base in the roundup
The WG183 is an unusual value case, because its real worth depends almost entirely on what you already own. It comes with two 20V 2.0 Ah batteries and a dual charger, so for a first-time buyer it is a complete kit, and for a WORX owner it is a tool that costs almost nothing incremental.
The dual-exit cutting head pulls line from two points instead of one, which spreads the wear and pushes more material into the cut per pass. On paper that means a 13 inch path that feels more effective than the width suggests.
It is also one of the lighter 13 inch machines here at 6.4 pounds, with an adjustable auxiliary handle you can reposition to suit your height and grip. Owners mention the streamlined body first when they describe handling on slopes and around trees.
The number that gives us pause is 1,464 reviews. It is the smallest base in this roundup, and at 4.2 stars it carries the highest one-star share at 9 percent. The model is newer, so there is simply less long-term data on it than on the established picks.
Its listed features do not include a dedicated edging mode, which is a genuine gap against the other trimmers in this roundup. If your routine is half edging, the conversion kits elsewhere will serve you better.
Who the WG183 suits
It suits anyone already running WORX PowerShare tools, where the included batteries and dual charger effectively make this a bare-tool purchase. It also suits 13 inch yard work where you want a light body and a two-battery rotation.
Buyers who want a small, tidy tool for hedges, beds and fence lines will find the adjustable handle and the low weight more valuable than maximum cutting speed.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want a proven long-term record. With the thinnest review base here, you are relying on a short history, and this category rewards proven platforms over new designs.
Skip it if edging is half your workload, since the listed feature set does not include a dedicated edger conversion. Pick one of the 2-in-1 models instead.
6. LawnMaster 26cc 17 in Gas Trimmer – Best Gas Power
LawnMaster No-Pull 26cc 2 Cycle Engine 17” Grass Trimmer, NPTGSP2617A
18.9 lb
26cc two-cycle
17 inch cut
Electric push start
400 ml fuel tank
The Good
- Widest cutting width in the roundup at 17 inches
- Real 26cc power cuts wet overgrown grass
- Push-button start with up to 250 starts per charge
- Split shaft accepts multi-tool attachments
- Adjustable anti-vibration handle
The Bad
- Heaviest unit here at 18.9 pounds
- Start battery can fail and leave it unstartable
- Supplied head and line reported as stiff and brittle
- Lowest rating and smallest review base in the roundup
The LawnMaster is the answer for anyone whose problem is not tidy edges but volume. A 26cc two-cycle engine with a 400 ml tank and a 17 inch cutting width clears ground that would stall a battery unit twice in the same afternoon.
The no-pull electric start is the feature that changes the daily experience. Owners cite up to 250 starts on a single charge, and that matters because starting a cold two-cycle engine by hand is the single most common reason people abandon gas tools for good.
The split shaft also accepts standard multi-tool attachments, so the same power head can drive a tiller or other implement. For a larger property, that is real versatility rather than a spec-sheet checkbox.
It is also the heaviest machine in the roundup at 18.9 pounds, and the adjustable anti-vibration handle with 360 degree rotation is there to make that weight manageable. It is not light. Nobody should buy it expecting a 20V experience.
We flag two concerns plainly. Several reviewers report the electric start battery failing and the unit refusing to restart afterwards, and the supplied head and line are described as stiff and brittle. At 4.0 stars across 454 reviews it has both the lowest rating and the smallest review base here, and one-star reviews are the largest single bucket at 15 percent.
Who the LawnMaster suits
It suits owners of rough ground, vacant lots, long country driveways and any property where tall or wet growth is the normal condition rather than the exception. If you clear a large area in one session, cutting width and engine torque beat quiet operation every time.
It also suits buyers who want one power head to run several attachments, and users who would rather not track battery health or wait on chargers.
Who should skip it
Skip it if noise matters or if neighbours are close, and do not expect a quiet machine before 8am in a tight subdivision. The manufacturer also restricts sale of this model in California, so check that limit before you plan around it.
Skip it if physical strain is a factor. At 18.9 pounds it is more than three times the weight of the lightest trimmer in this roundup, and the electric start battery is a known failure point worth weighing against the warranty support.
7. Greenworks 40V 12 in – Best for Variable Speed Control
Greenworks 40V 12 in Cordless String Trimmer, 2.0 Ah Battery and Charger
40V battery
12 inch cut
7500 rpm
Variable speed trigger
2.0 Ah battery included
The Good
- Variable speed trigger gives real control from edging to thick weeds
- Auto feed line system
- Battery cross-compatible with the Greenworks 40V range
- Owners report it powering through thick weeds
- Balanced handling on slopes
The Bad
- Listed 12 lb weight is heavy for a 40V machine
- Assembly instructions are poorly written
- Third-party replacement spools are wound too tight
- Battery takes a while to charge
The Greenworks 40V is the one we would pick for uneven ground and mixed vegetation. Its variable speed trigger is not a gimmick: owners describe matching the speed to the load, from featherlight edging along a wall to full output in a thick weed patch, which cuts waste and reduces the bogging that ruins cheap cordless performance.
Reviewers often frame it as the replacement for a 20-year-old gas trimmer, and several describe finding it more capable than 40V tools that cost substantially more. The 12 inch path with 0.065 inch dual line handles grass and light to moderate weeds, and the auto feed line system advances without bumping.
The battery is cross-compatible across the Greenworks 40V range, which is the argument for buying into this brand rather than treating the trimmer as a one-off. Owners with a full 40V shelf essentially get the trimmer at a marginal cost.
The listing gives its weight as 12 pounds, which is heavy for a 40V machine and heavier than the other battery trimmers in this roundup. If your sessions are long, that gap is felt.
Two practical complaints recur: the assembly instructions are poorly written and the handle-to-pole clamp is hard to align, and third-party replacement spools tend to be wound too tight and wear out quickly. Owners report that winding your own line works better than buying pre-wound spools.
Who the Greenworks 40V suits
It suits owners of rough, weedy ground who want control rather than raw top-end speed, and anyone already committed to the Greenworks 40V ecosystem. It also suits users who trim near fences and walls where variable speed prevents the line from breaking on stone.
Those who dislike pulling the trigger fully for light work will notice the difference immediately, because the trigger governs output across its range.
Who should skip it
Skip it if weight is a priority for long sessions, and check the listed weight before you commit. It is also worth noting that this listing carries a two-year manufacturer warranty description alongside a three-year tool and battery warranty claim, so confirm coverage with the seller.
Skip it if you dislike assembly, because you should budget real time for the first setup rather than assuming a ten-minute job.
8. Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo – Best Value
Greenworks 40V 12 in String Trimmer & 390 CFM Blower Combo, 2.0 Ah Battery
40V trimmer plus blower
12 inch cut
390 CFM blower
2.0 Ah battery
3 year warranty
The Good
- Two tools in one package
- 390 CFM blower clears wet leaves and debris
- One battery shared across 8+ Greenworks 40V tools
- Second largest review base in the roundup
- 3 year tool and battery warranty
The Bad
- Combined package weight of 16.5 lb
- Trimmer is a 12 inch unit
- Blower-only buyers still need other tools for a full kit
This bundle is the value case of the roundup. You get a 40V 12 inch trimmer and a blower rated at 390 CFM and 110 MPH, with a 2.0 Ah battery and charger, which is the equivalent of getting the second tool for very little.
Owners point to battery sharing as the real reason to buy it. Because one 2.0 Ah pack works across a range of 8-plus Greenworks 40V tools, the per-tool cost across a whole shed of equipment falls sharply, and the blower stops being a bonus and becomes a genuine part of the platform.
The blower itself is the sleeper. A 390 CFM, 110 MPH unit clears wet leaves and debris from hard surfaces, and it is rated at 67 dB, which is the sort of number that matters if you clear a driveway at the start of a weekend.
The trimmer half uses 0.065 inch auto-feed line, carries a 3 year head warranty, and is described as an 8 lb balanced design. Note that the 16.5 lb figure is the combined weight for the set, not the trimmer alone.
With more than 10,000 ratings, this is the second most proven pick in the roundup by owner volume, and the distribution holds steady at 66 percent five-star with 6 percent one-star. Long histories matter in this category, because cordless trimmers tend to fail at the motor or the switch rather than gradually.
The trade is straightforward. If you were going to buy a blower eventually, this bundle is difficult to argue with. If you only need a trimmer, one of the single-tool models gives you more cutting width or lower weight for the same money.
Who the Greenworks combo suits
It suits new homeowners who need both jobs done and plan to add more Greenworks 40V tools later. It also suits anyone clearing leaves and debris as well as grass, since the blower handles a task no trimmer can.
Buyers who already own Greenworks 40V batteries get the most out of it, because the included pack simply becomes one more pack in rotation.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you own a blower already, or if storage space is tight, because two long tools plus a charger and battery is a lot of garage wall. It is also worth remembering the trimmer half is a 12 inch unit, so it is narrower than the 13 inch picks.
Buyers who only want a trimmer should compare against the single-tool models rather than paying for capacity you will not use.
What to Look for in a Budget String Trimmer
The specs that matter on a pro trimmer are mostly irrelevant at this level. These are the ones that decide whether you are happy with the machine.
Cordless or gas: the honest comparison
Cordless wins on noise, convenience and running cost. There is no fuel to mix, no pull cord, no choke, and the machine starts every time with a button press. Battery units are also dramatically quieter, which makes them realistic for early mornings and close neighbours.
Gas wins on endurance and thick cutting. A two-cycle engine produces more torque than any battery machine at this price, keeps working as long as there is fuel in the tank, and cuts wet, overgrown growth that makes a battery tool bog and stall. Owners in lawn care forums consistently treat established gas brands as the safe long-term purchase.
For a yard under a quarter acre that is mown regularly, cordless is the better tool. For neglected ground, several acres, or clearing that happens twice a year, gas earns its noise and maintenance.
Voltage and amp hours, and why both matter
Volts measure potential, amp hours measure stored charge, and runtime is roughly the product of the two. A high voltage pack with a tiny capacity will disappoint, and that is the standard trap in this category.
Community consensus in lawn care and tool forums puts the practical floor for this kind of work at 40V class, and 60V as the sweet spot when the budget allows. Everything here at 20V is built for grass, light weeds and neat edges rather than volume.
A 2.0 Ah battery is the common pack in this price range, and it is genuinely small. Two packs in rotation is a much better experience than one, which is why kits with two batteries are worth paying for.
Cutting width matched to your yard
Cutting width is the diameter of the swath, and it is the easiest number to turn into time saved. A 12 inch cut is fine for tidying. A 13 inch cut is a better all-rounder. A 17 inch cut is meaningfully faster on long open fence lines.
Match it roughly like this: under a quarter acre of tidy lawn, 12 inches is plenty. Between a quarter acre and a half acre with a lot of edging, aim for 13 inches. Half an acre and up, or ground with long runs of fence and wall, favours 15 to 17 inches. A single 12 inch pass over a long boundary is more work than most people expect.
Straight shaft vs curved shaft
A curved shaft keeps the cutting head closer to your feet and is easier to swing under obstacles, which is why so many budget trimmers use one. A straight shaft pushes the head further out, gives you better reach and more leverage over brush, and is the geometry most brush cutters adopt.
For trimming around trees and inside tight beds, a curved shaft feels nimble. For flat open ground, long fence lines and leaning into thicker growth, a straight shaft reduces wrist strain and gives the head more leverage. Most of the cordless models here use a straight shaft, which is one reason they feel more stable.
Bump feed, automatic feed and push-button line loading
Bump feed means you knock the head against a hard surface to push line out. It is the traditional system, it is reliable, and it is the reason you end up with line wrapped around concrete. Automatic feed systems advance line as it wears, which is cleaner. Push-button loading lets you feed a measured length on demand from the handle.
For a tool you use on a patio or driveway, bump feed is quick enough. For work around stone walls and paving, an automatic or push-button head saves real annoyance. Six of the eight trimmers here use automatic feed systems.
Five-year running cost and the bare tool price trap
This is the objection that comes up most often in forums. One owner framed it bluntly: planning on replacing two batteries every three years can make a cheap gas trimmer look like the sensible buy. It is a fair argument, and it deserves a real answer rather than a dismissal.
Calculate it honestly. Gas means premixed fuel, two-cycle oil, a spark plug, an air filter, a line, and fuel storage. A small 400 ml tank like the one in this roundup holds roughly 0.105 gallons, and at typical mixed-fuel consumption the annual fuel cost for moderate trimming is modest but never zero, and it rises sharply for anyone clearing a large property.
Cordless means electricity, which costs almost nothing, plus eventual battery replacement. The batteries are the whole argument, and they only matter if you expect to own the tool past the life of the included pack.
Now the bare tool trap. The same machine appears with and without a battery and charger, and the difference is often the largest single line item in the whole purchase. If you already own packs from that platform, the bare tool is the correct buy at a fraction of the kit price. If you own nothing, the kit price is the only meaningful comparison, because you cannot use the tool without a battery.
Discounting makes this messier still. Owners report platform tools at deep seasonal markdowns, which means a bare tool can occasionally be a worse deal than a discounted full kit. Check both listings before deciding.
When not to buy cordless at all
Skip cordless under this ceiling if you have two acres or more, if the property includes long unmaintained boundaries, or if your season involves clearing growth that has been standing for weeks. Gas has more torque and no runtime ceiling, and no cordless machine at this budget competes with it on volume.
Also skip it if you need to run long single sessions without pauses. A single 2.0 Ah pack limits you, and buying a second pack changes the cost picture enough that gas or a larger platform deserves a serious look.
Whatever you buy, wear eye and ear protection, check the debris guard before you start, and never run a trimmer with the head unthreaded while the motor is spinning. Our other outdoor guides, like our picks for the best outdoor string lights, cover the lighter side of yard upkeep; this one is the tool you will actually hold in your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best string trimmer for the money?
The WORX WG163 is our pick for the money. It weighs 5.5 pounds, ships with two 20V batteries and a charger, converts from trimmer to edger in seconds and has more than 28,000 owner reviews at a 4.3 star average. For the entry-level pick, the BLACK+DECKER LST300 does the same core job for less and carries a 4.4 rating across 9,669 reviews.
What is the best cordless string trimmer under $200?
The BLACK+DECKER LST136 leads the cordless picks, running up to 8500 rpm with a 13 inch cut, a PowerCommand dial that trades runtime for power, and a charge indicator on the 40V MAX battery. If weight matters more than cutting speed, the 5.5 pound WORX WG163 is the more comfortable tool for long sessions on smaller yards.
What is the best gas string trimmer under $200?
The LawnMaster 26cc is the gas pick in this roundup, with a 17 inch cutting width, a 400 ml fuel tank, an electric push start rated at up to 250 starts per charge, and a split shaft that accepts attachments. The trade is weight at 18.9 pounds and a reported failure point in the start battery that you should weigh carefully.
Which is better for me, a gas trimmer or a battery trimmer?
Choose battery for yards under a quarter acre that are mown regularly, for low noise, no fuel mixing and instant starting. Choose gas for neglected ground, several acres, long boundary runs, or repeated cutting of tall wet growth, because engine torque and unlimited runtime beat convenience there. The deciding factor is how much volume you cut in one session.
What size string trimmer do I need for a small yard?
A 12 inch cutting width is plenty for a yard under a quarter acre with tidy edges. Between a quarter acre and a half acre with a lot of fencing, 13 inches saves real time. Past half an acre, or on long fence and wall runs, move up to 15 or 17 inches so you are not making a second pass over the same ground.
Why does my cordless string trimmer battery die so fast?
The usual causes are a small amp hour rating, an old pack, and heavy trigger use on thick growth. Most trimmers in this price range ship a 2.0 Ah battery, which is genuinely small. A variable speed trigger helps a lot, as does keeping a second pack in rotation, and replacing a worn pack with a current one restores most of the lost runtime.
What is the most reliable string trimmer in this roundup?
Reliability tracks review volume and platform maturity rather than star rating alone. The WORX WG163 has the largest review base here and the same 20V PowerShare batteries used across the WORX range, so replacement packs are easy to source. The Greenworks trimmer and blower combo follows with more than 10,000 ratings and a shared 40V battery platform.
Final Verdict
The WORX WG163 is our pick among the best string trimmers under $200 for most people. It is light, it converts to an edger, it never needs a fuel mix, and its batteries are shared across a wider platform. The BLACK+DECKER LST300 covers the entry-level path, and the LST136 covers the most cutting speed without leaving cordless behind.
If your problem is volume rather than neatness, the LawnMaster 26cc is the gas answer, with a 17 inch cut and a 400 ml tank. Just weigh it, plan for the start battery, and check the California sales restriction before you commit.
Every one of these eight sits at or under our price ceiling, and each button below opens the current listing so you can check the latest price for your area.