Echo Black Diamond is the best trimmer line for homeowners, and STIHL X-line is the best for pros. Both make pristine cuts without breaking. But sub-par strings snap, snag, and butcher lawns.
Everyone loves a lush lawn, so we did the dirty work and found the top types of weed eater string. We tested Home Depot, Lowe’s, Amazon, and Walmart trimmer lines. After carefully comparing cut quality, durability, and cost, we discovered the best ones. Our trimmer line reviews and buying guide help you choose the best line for your trimmer.
Our top picks
Top 4 trimmer lines for homeowners – Reviews
1. Echo Black Diamond – Best overall
The best trimmer line for homeowners is the 0.095-inch Echo Black Diamond string. It’s quiet, durable, and precise. Made of high-quality nylon, the twisted diamond line makes quick, clean cuts through medium to heavy-duty overgrowth.
Out of all the strings we tested, it made the crispest cuts. It also resisted wire fence and rock damage better than any other homeowner string. The 0.095-inch spool is best for most residential gas and high-power battery trimmers, but it also comes in a 0.105-inch diameter for more demanding needs.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Universal
- Design: Diamond, Twisted
- Diameter: 0.095
- Material: High-grade Nylon
- Uses: Medium to heavy-duty
- Warranty: 90-day consumer / 30-day commercial
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Quiet ✓ Universal fit ✓ Best cut quality ✓ Comes with a warranty ✓ High resilience to wire fences | ✗ Expensive ✗ May fray in high humidity |
Where to buy:
2. Husqvarna Titanium Force – Runner up
Husqvarna’s Titanium Force 0.095-inch line is another excellent choice for homeowners with medium to heavy-duty overgrowth. It’s smooth and pliable. Made of commercial-grade copolymer nylon, the round, dimpled string effortlessly slices through dense weeds and tall grass.
It cuts smoothly but not as cleanly as Echo Black Diamond. It’s one of the most durable residential trimmer lines, but it’s prone to wire fence damage and can weld to the trimmer head if it gets too hot. Most gas trimmers use a 0.095-inch spool, but it also comes in an electric-friendly 0.080-inch diameter.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Universal
- Design: Round
- Diameter: 0.095 in.
- Material: Co-polymer Nylon
- Usage: Medium to heavy-duty
- Warranty: 90 days
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Efficient ✓ Universal fit ✓ Smooth cuts ✓ Comes with a warranty | ✗ Expensive ✗ Prone to wire fence damage ✗ Sometimes welds to the trimmer head |
Where to buy:
3. Makita Twisted Trimmer Line – Best for electric string trimmers
Our favorite electric weed wacker string is the 0.080-inch Makita Twisted Trimmer Line. With a 10-point star shape, the twisted line makes clean cuts through medium overgrowth. It’s quiet and efficient, increasing comfort and battery-powered runtime. Additionally, it holds up well around wire fences and fits traditional trimmer heads.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Universal
- Design: Star, twisted
- Diameter: 0.080 in.
- Material: Co-polymer Nylon
- Usage: Medium-duty
- Warranty: none
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Quiet ✓ Crisp cuts ✓ Universal fit ✓ Increases runtime ✓ High resilience to wire fences | ✗ No warranty ✗ Line sometimes snaps ✗ Not good for very dense weeds |
Where to buy:
4. Rino-Tuff Pro Twist – Best light-duty
Rino-Tuff’s Pro Twist 0.065-inch string is the best light-duty trimmer line. The twisted nylon string contains impact modifiers that enhance its flexibility and strength, making it less likely to snap. The high-efficiency string increases battery run time and reduces noise and vibration.
It cuts smoothly but less cleanly than Makita’s Twisted Trimmer Line. However, if you want to reduce landfill waste, the biodegradable string is also available in a 0.080-inch diameter.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Universal
- Design: Twisted
- Diameter: 0.065 in.
- Material: Enhanced Nylon
- Usage: Light-duty
- Warranty: none
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Quiet ✓ Universal fit ✓ Smooth cuts ✓ Biodegradable ✓ Increases runtime | ✗ No warranty ✗ Sometimes it unravels ✗ String quality deteriorates if left sitting for extended periods |
Where to buy:
Top 2 trimmer lines for pros – Reviews
1. STIHL X-line – Best overall
The best pro trimmer line is STIHL’s 0.095-inch X-line. With tremendous strength and awe-inspiring precision, it’s the perfect pair to a pro trimmer. It slices through dense weeds like a hot knife through butter.
Its distinctive X-shape ensures quick, crisp cuts. While Echo Black Diamond cut slightly cleaner, the difference was negligible. The X-line’s exceptional durability and resistance to heat, wire fence, and rock damage set it apart, making it a perfect pick for pros.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Most STIHL string trimmers
- Design: X-shaped
- Diameter: 0.095 in.
- Material: Nylon
- Usage: Heavy-duty
- Warranty: none
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ High resilience to wire fences ✓ Easily cuts dense weeds ✓ High resistance to heat ✓ Crisp cuts | ✗ Brand-specific fit ✗ No warranty |
Where to buy:
2. Oregon Magnum Gatorline (22-855) – Best heavy-duty commercial
The 0.155-inch Oregon Magnum Gatorline is the best pro-string for commercial properties with hardy vegetation. The sturdy square-shaped line makes clean, straight cuts without breaking. It potently penetrates extremely thick overgrowth, including grass, brush, and weeds.
Sound engineering is the secret to its Hercules-like strength. Its durable inner core prevents breakage and reduces string consumption. Its heat-resistant top coat prevents welding, keeping your trimmer head clean. The string‘s strength increases productivity and minimizes supply costs.
Specifications
- Compatibility: Remington RM1159 and other modes made for 0.155 in. string
- Design: Square
- Diameter: 0.155 in.
- Material: Nylon
- Usage: Heavy-duty commercial
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime
Pros and cons
| What we liked | What we didn’t like |
| ✓ Crisp cuts ✓ Long warranty ✓ Reduces string consumption ✓ High resistance to heat ✓ Cuts through extremely thick vegetation with ease | ✗ Expensive ✗ String’s too thick for most weed eaters |
Where to buy:
Buyer’s guide
To purchase the best trimmer line, please consider the following:
Design
Most weed eater string has one of the following shapes:
- Round cutting lines are the most common and a great choice for general purpose trimming. They tend to have the longest lifespan, but are prone to breaking along wire fences. They cut smoothly, but less cleanly than a multi-sided-shape.
- Square/diamond trimmer lines cut cleaner and deeper than round strings. Many homeowners prefer square lines for heavy-duty trimming and crisp edging. They’re a popular pair with the best gas string trimmers.
- Star, plus, and X-shaped cutting lines make clean cuts and have the most cutting power. They work well with high-performance cordless trimmers.
Some string shapes are enhanced:
- Twisted trimmer line reduces vibration and noise. It also increases the string’s resilience around wire fences. It’s a popular choice for the best battery-powered string trimmers.
- Serrated trimmer line is noisy but strong. It works well with the best pro trimmers for brush cutting and commercial land.
Line diameter
Most residential trimmer lines are 0.065 to 0.105 inches thick, but some commercial-grade string is thicker. Strings with a larger diameter can cut through denser weeds and grass.
The table below shows the typical line diameter by string trimmer type.
| Line diameter (in.) | |
| Corded electric trimmers | 0.065 – 0.080 |
| Battery-powered trimmers | 0.065 – 0.095 |
| Gas-powered trimmers | 0.095 |
| Commercial trimmers | 0.095 – 0.155 |
Material
Almost all cutting lines are Nylon, but the Nylon blend differs. Hardened monofilament nylon is the most common, but copolymer nylon is more durable.
A copolymer is two or more substances bonded together. Nylon blends containing glass, composite, aluminum, or steel are less prone to breakage and better for heavy-duty trimming.
Compatibility
Only shop for strings that are compatible with your trimmer. Check your owner’s manual for suggested string specs. If you can’t find the manual, you can Google it or check the trimmer’s product page.
The main specs to consider:
- Line diameter: Most trimmers require a specific string gauge.
- Universal vs. specialized fit: Universal string fits most weed eater models. However, some trimmers require a particular type of cutting line. Auto-feed trimmers are more likely to use a specialized spool than bump-feeds.
Cost
The average trimmer line spool costs $25 and contains 250 feet of string.
| Average cost per spool | $25 |
| Typical price range per spool | $3 – $100 |
| Cost per 100 sq. ft. | $10 |
| Typical price range per 100 sq. ft. | $3 – $80 |
FAQ about trimmer line
How do you put the trimmer line in a weed eater?
To properly put string in a weed eater, follow these steps:
- Choose the right string
- Measure the string
- Turn off and clean your weed eater
- Remove the cap
- Remove old string
- Attach the new string
- Wind up the string
- Feed the string through the exterior holes
- Put the trimmer back together
- Use the line feed system (bump-feed or auto-feed) to pull out desired string
Which trimmer lines make the cleanest cuts?
Our tests showed that the following trimmer lines made the cleanest cuts:
- Echo Black Diamond
- STIHL X-line
- Oregon Magnum Gatorline
- Makita Twisted Trimmer Line
How do you weed eat like a pro?
To weed eat like a pro, equip yourself with one of the best string trimmers and the most effective weed eater string. Then follow these steps:
- Mow first: Pros mow, edge, then blow.
- Prioritize safety: Ensure you’re appropriately dressed and equipped with the necessary safety gear. Follow suggested string trimmer safety protocols to avoid accidents and injury.
- Edging along pavement: Walk along the pavement, keeping the string perpendicular to the paved surface.
- Trimming around trees and flowers: With the string parallel to the grass, move the line back and forth.
- Walk this way: If the trimmer head spins counter-clockwise, walk right-to-left, and if it spins clockwise, walk left-to-right.
- Grasscycling: Leaving grass clippings on the lawn is called grasscycling. The clippings are a natural nitrogen-rich lawn food and one of the best grass fertilizers. Pros and turfgrass specialists recommend the practice for a lush lawn and sustainable soil.
When to call a lawn care pro
If you’re short on time or sick of sweating in the sun, consider hiring a pro. Lawn Love links you to local lawn care pros who are vetted and insured. We work with America’s top lawn care specialists.
It only takes a moment to get an online quote, and you can manage your service via our mobile app. If you don’t love your lawn when we leave, we’ll come back and fix it or refund your money. There’s no risk, and rates are surprisingly low.
Sources
- “String Trimmer Toolbox Talk.” Cornell University
- Waltz, C. & Griffin, B. (2017). “Grasscycling: Let the Clippings Fall Where They May.” The University of Georgia Extension
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