5 Best Petrol Strimmers of 2025

The ParkerBrand 52cc Petrol Garden Brush Cutter steps things up a notch in terms of power: with a 52 cc engine, it has almost 10 cc more than the next-most-powerful on our list of petrol strimmer reviews.

This is the sort of machine that you might need if you’re looking to tackle some serious undergrowth in the garden, we’re talking brambles, nettles, ivy, etc…!

There’s a brush cutting blade included as well as an auto-release line head, but you might not even find yourself using the blade much as it’s powerful with the line alone.

At 10.7 kg, this is one of the heavier petrol strimmers featured here, but there are a couple of things that help make it more comfortable. Primarily, there is a decent harness included that is more than just a single shoulder strap; it’s adjustable, with padded coverings and should distribute the weight well.

The handle position is also adjustable, so users of different heights can find the position that is most suitable, and the engine also starts relatively easily which will reduce fatigue from pulling the engine cord.

On an aesthetic note, the finishes, such as the buttons, components and strimmer head, may be a bit crude in comparison to more premium models, but the general consensus seems to be that this doesn’t affect the running of the strimmer itself and it still offers good value.

Along with the harness, a tool kit and fuel-mixing bottle come included. Whilst you may get more from using your own tools for maintenance, the bottle is useful for easily combining the petrol and oil needed before starting.

Overall, this is a pretty heavy-duty strimmer which should get through a lot of difficult undergrowth as long as you can cope with the weight of it.

If you need the force of a petrol machine, but aren’t sure if you can handle the weight of one, the McCulloch Trimmac Trimmer finds a good balance between power and manageability.

Despite having a 25 cc engine, at only 3.9kg it’s the best lightweight petrol strimmer on our list. For those who are worried about managing heavier weights, but still want something with plenty of power, it’s a great option.

Particularly if you have areas of your garden that get easily overgrown and can’t be reached by the mower, this is an easy tool to take out and neaten up those smaller spaces – the 40 cm cutting width can get into tighter spots without being so small that the job will take ages. Given its slimline design, it’s also easier to work in these narrow areas than a strimmer with wider handlebars would be.

However, it does have its limitations, and you shouldn’t expect to be able to charge this strimmer through brambles or very thick vegetation. It’s a lightweight strimmer that works well for lightweight tasks.

There is a bump-feed head that feeds out line, but no brush-cutter blade head; although, again, this makes sense given the type of work it is suited to.

In terms of storage, this might be easier to store than some other petrol strimmers. It can be split into two parts making it a lot more practical to pack away, or even transport, when necessary.

It also doesn’t seem to vibrate as much as other petrol models, but this is likely due to its lower power output. However, if you only want something for quickly completing light gardening tasks, then its comfort, light weight and manoeuvrability certainly work in its favour.

This Trueshopping Garden Trimmer is the best petrol strimmer to buy on a budget because, even though it’s inexpensive, it’s still extremely well designed. It comes with secure bike-handlebar handles which, when combined with the shoulder strap, create a very stable machine.

This is just as well, as it’s a relatively powerful 43 cc 2-stroke petrol strimmer with both a bump-line feed head and a brush-cutter blade. For the most part, the line head is able to work through a lot of tough undergrowth, like long grass and brambles, so you may find there’s not even much need to change to the brush cutting blade.

Getting the hang of balancing the machine can be initially difficult, especially if you’re used to more conventional strimmers, but the design generally seems to distribute the 8.25 kg weight well across the body. It may be a little heavy for some users, depending on upper-body strength, but it’s still a relatively average weight for a petrol strimmer with a motor of this size.

It’s also possible to adjust the height and angle of the handlebars to make them better suited to the height and preferences of different users.

When it comes to starting the machine, engaging the throttle can be a little challenging as the throttle lock, throttle, and one other button all need to be pressed simultaneously so that they stay depressed – initially this could be challenging, but should get easier as you get used to it.

No matter the size of your garden, you might find that there are small areas where it’s impossible to take a mower. Most strimmers have a cutting width of around 40 cm, so they can still struggle to get into tighter spaces, but the Einhell Two Stroke Brush Cutter has a blade attachment of 25.5 cm. It’s one of the best machines for manoeuvring into narrow spots.

Whether you choose to attach the blade or line cutter, the cutting action is powered by a 52 cc motor – even if you’re working with a garden full of brambles, this Einhell strimmer can cut through, shred them up, and clear the space.

It weighs 8.9 kg and has handlebar-style handles to provide a good grip on the strimmer – especially useful when working through tougher terrain; however, the harness could be of better quality to help more securely distribute the weight.

The two-stroke engine starts relatively easily and requires a combination of petrol and oil, and you should consider using ear protection as well – it’s quite a noisy machine.

Working in its favour is its power, but you might find that you need to rest frequently if using this machine for long periods, especially with the blade attachment, as the vibrations can be uncomfortable.

As with some other models, it can be split into two pieces which will make it a lot easier to store or transport than fixed-shaft strimmers. Therefore, this could also be a good option if you think friends or family will also want to borrow your strimmer for their own gardens.

For neatening up lawn edges, as well as cutting through tougher shrubbery like brambles, the Ryobi 2 in 1 Petrol Grass Brush Cutter is a solid choice: powerful yet lightweight.

You have a choice of using either a brush-cutter blade or a head with a bump-feed line, so whether its just tidying up the grass, or beating back tougher plants, this model can be adjusted to either task.

The line head has a 43 cm cutting path so it doesn’t take long to cover larger areas either; if you have parts of the garden where the mower can’t go, this strimmer should be able to get in and help keep things looking tidy – especially useful around fountains, benches and playgrounds.

There’s a 24.55 cc engine which is surprisingly powerful for something packed into an 8 kg unit, and a shoulder strap is included to maintain better control and precision whilst strimming.

Generally, it seems this model is quieter than competing petrol strimmers, which might make it a bit more ‘neighbour friendly’, especially if you’re fond of working the early mornings or evenings.

Starting up the motor doesn’t tend to be too difficult either, although it may sometimes be harder to start warm, and need a couple of minutes to cool down.