The 8 Best String Trimmer Mowers
Updated by · How we research
Wheeled string trimmers for weeds, ditches and fence lines, gas, battery and corded, compared on warranty, power and handling. The Earthquake 40314 leads. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A string trimmer mower puts a trimmer head on a wheeled steel deck, so you push it instead of carrying it. That lets it chew through waist-high weeds, ditch banks and long fence lines without wearing out your arms, though it leaves a rough cut, not a lawn. These picks suit acreage and neglected lots, plus two electric kits for town yards.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Earthquake 40314 now leads. Its maker has built wheeled trimmers for years, and this one pairs a five-year warranty with a bail that stops the line without shutting off the engine, which matters when you're untangling vines every few minutes.
Five of the six machines we ranked before are gone. The Remington Walk Behind and Southland 43cc have vanished, and the Earthquake Fields Edge M205, Swisher Deluxe and Tazz Never-Kill are no longer available. The Black + Decker 3-in-1 stays, now sold as the Black+Decker BESTA512CM. New picks bring a cheaper gas machine in the Senix STMG-L, a battery walk-behind in the Earthquake 44965 and a tangle-resistant head on the Earthquake 47325. We looked for a self-propelled model, but the ones we found had too little information to judge.
Nobody runs lab tests on these machines, so we weighed makers' specs and warranty terms against a long-term wheeled-trimmer review from a chainsaw site, farm-forum owner threads, and a fresh federal recall of DR Power trimmer mowers whose packed grass can catch fire.
August 25, 2020:
For this update we removed several choices that were discontinued, including the Husqvarna 675HWT and the Dirty Hand Tools 101085. In place of the Husqvarna, we added the Swisher Deluxe which sports similarly impressive engine power, plus we like how it's trimmer head has four feeds for cutting line, as this makes it's mower function over plain grass more consistent, plus the versatile head not only turns vertically 90 degrees, but can be off-set either to the right or left for awkward spots.
We added the less robust Black + Decker 3-in-1 as a wheeled option for users who aren't tackling large plots of land with over-grown weeds, but will appreciate a reduced number of tools to store and the convenience of a rolling trimmer over lugging a standard one around, even though it can be removed and used as just a string trimmer without the wheeled accessory. We also like how the Black + Decker offers the option to order their mower with safety goggles included, as it's important to protect your face and eyes from the flying debris.
April 01, 2019:
The Remington Walk Behind took the top spot for its superior durability and not skimping on the little things, like the all-metal trimmer head that will outlast the plastic competitors.
Although the option from Southland Outdoor Power Equipment has the maddening shortcoming of the handle being to short for those over 6 feet tall, we included it because of the unique swiveling head that allows for more precise edging than any other choice.
Special Honors
DR Power Equipment DR Power Equipment sells push and self-propelled walk-behind trimmer mowers directly, including models built for large properties and steep, rough ground. If you already own a DR Pilot or Premier trimmer mower, check the October 2026 federal recall: packed grass can catch fire, and DR offers a free repair kit. drpower.com
Wheeled Trimmer, Mower Or Handheld?
A battery or corded trimmer that clips into a small wheeled deck, such as the Black+Decker MTC220, covers edging and the odd strip of grass, and it hangs on a garage hook.
A wheeled string trimmer is a field tool. It swings heavy nylon line on a steel deck between two big wheels, so it cuts tall grass, weeds and saplings that would choke a rotary mower, and it reaches along fences and ditch banks where a mower deck can't go. One owner who ran a 22-inch model along about 200 yards of fence and a long roadside ditch found waist-high weeds no trouble, blackberry canes harder, and the line wearing fastest where it slapped brick or concrete (Chainsaws Today).
It is not a lawn tool. The cut is rougher than a mower's, and the machine can't tilt the way a handheld trimmer can, so it's clumsy around tree trunks and flower beds. Owners on a long-running farm forum describe them as great for clearing overgrown ground and poor for grooming work, and one called a self-propelled model more trouble than help on hills (TractorByNet).
If your yard is small and you only fight a few weeds, skip the engine. A battery or corded trimmer that clips into a small wheeled deck, such as the Black+Decker MTC220, covers edging and the odd strip of grass, and it hangs on a garage hook.
Gas, Battery Or Cord, And What The Specs Mean
Most gas models share a recipe: a four-stroke engine of about 160 to 175 cc, a 22-inch cutting swath, 0.155-inch line and rear wheels about 14 inches tall. Four-stroke means oil goes in the crankcase and plain gasoline goes in the tank, so there's no fuel mixing. Thick 0.155-inch line is for brush; heads that also take 0.095-inch line are friendlier on grass. Airless wheels can't go flat in thorny ground. A bail that stops the head while the engine idles saves a lot of restarts.
Weight matters more than it looks. Gas units on this list run from about 48 to 78 pounds, and you'll have to lift them into a truck or up a ramp. A battery model such as the Earthquake 44965 is lighter and quieter, but its runtime falls in dense, wet growth. Self-propelled versions exist, mainly from DR Power, but push models are the norm because the wheels already carry the weight.
In California, the state Air Resources Board now requires most new small gas engines for lawn and garden equipment to be zero-emission, which is why some gas trimmers aren't sold there (California Air Resources Board).
Safe Use, Fire Risk And Upkeep
Grass that packs around a hot engine can burn. In October 2026 the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of about 43,000 DR Power Pilot and Premier trimmer mowers after 19 reports of fires from built-up debris, and DR offers a free repair kit (CPSC). That recall covers one brand, but the lesson applies to any gas model: brush grass off the engine and muffler after every job and before storing it.
Fill the crankcase with oil before the first start; most gas units ship dry, and running one without oil ruins the engine in seconds (Chainsaws Today). Wear safety glasses, hearing protection, long pants and boots, since the line throws stones and sticks. Keep children and pets well away, and shut the engine off before you clear a jam or replace line. Expect to replace line often if you work along brick, rock or concrete.
How we researched this
We compared about 20 wheeled and walk-behind string trimmers, including every model on the old list, read the makers' published specs and warranty terms, a long-term owner review from a chainsaw site, years of farm-forum owner threads and California's small-engine rules, and checked every brand for recalls with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. No lab or magazine has published tests of these machines.
Sources (8)
Frequently asked questions
Is a string trimmer mower the same as a lawn mower?
No. It cuts with spinning nylon line instead of a blade, so it handles tall weeds, brush and fence lines a mower can't, but it leaves a rougher finish. Use a lawn mower for a groomed lawn.
Can a walk-behind string trimmer work on slopes?
On gentle slopes, yes. These machines are heavy and most are push models, so steep banks are tiring and can be unsafe. Work across a slope, not up and down it, and keep your footing.
Do I have to mix oil into the gas?
No. Nearly all of them use four-stroke engines, so oil goes in the crankcase and plain gasoline goes in the tank. Add oil before the first start, since most ship without it.
What trimmer line should I use?
Use the size the manual names, usually 0.155-inch line for heavy weeds and brush. Some heads also take thinner 0.095-inch line, which works well on grass and costs less.
Is a battery walk-behind trimmer strong enough?
For grass and weeds on a typical rural lot, yes. The Earthquake 44965 is rated for up to about 90 minutes on two batteries, but dense, wet growth cuts that down. For long days in brush, gas still lasts longer.
Have any string trimmer mowers been recalled?
Yes. In October 2026 DR Power recalled its Pilot and Premier trimmer mowers because packed grass can catch fire. Owners can get a free repair kit from DR. We found no recalls of the trimmers on this list.
