Just as surgeons have scalpels and mechanics have wrenches, lawn pros have … string trimmers. Not only are they one of the most important tools to help you efficiently complete jobs, but finding the “best” model for you can make your finished product really stand out.
As with most of our equipment recommendations, the goal is to keep you from spending a lot of time parsing through online specs and endless “customer” reviews of particular brands. Instead, we want to get you out there “slapping line” on the pavement as soon as possible.
How to choose your string trimmer
An easy way to narrow the search for the best trimmer for your lawn care business is to consult the pros you work with. Prioritize what you’re looking for in your company’s next string trimmers by asking them if there is anything they like or don’t like about the trimmers your company currently uses.
Start answering these questions and it can really narrow your options down to a manageable number.
- Is your current trimmer a little heavier than you would like?
- Is it difficult to fix or perform routine maintenance?
- Does it start on the first pull?
- How about noise?
Additionally, there are trimmers for almost every preference and even some useful add-ons you can buy to truly customize your rig. (We’ll talk about those later.)
To further alleviate any pre-purchase jitters, I should also mention that string trimmer technology has advanced and been refined significantly over the last decade. We’re at a point where you almost can’t go wrong with your preferred brand of trimmer.
Note: Battery-powered trimmers are more powerful and last longer than ever, making them a viable option for most lawn care businesses. As such, we made sure to include a few battery-powered models in our recommendations.
Best string trimmers based on your crew size
In the spirit of making sure we put function over brand preference, let’s take a look at a few use cases and recommendations that will help make sure you are confident in your next purchase.
Select the option that best describes your lawn care business:
Weekend Warrior/Part Timer – (10-20 residential yards per week)
2-Man Crew/Full-time – (15-20 residential lawns per day)
3-Man + Commercial Crews (20+ residential lawns and large commercial jobs)
Weekend Warrior/Part-Timer – (10-20 residential yards per week)
If you are a lawn hobbyist/enthusiast, and are mowing only a few yards a day, there’s no need to go out and spend $600 on a top-of-the-line professional string trimmer.
With a light schedule, you are likely more concerned with the finished product looking sharp and not worried as much about a trimmer designed to run for several hours a day.
While there are some good residential trimmers out there that might do the job, our focus today will be on commercial-grade trimmers with warranties appropriate for business use.
Here are a few choices suitable for the part-timer:
Stihl FSA 57
With a price point of around $199.99 (including a battery and charger) this unit is a must-have for the eco-conscious hobbyist or part-timer. The perfect balance of lightweight and powerful, with quick charging and run-times around 27 minutes or more, this unit is a solid choice for maintaining a few small residential yards
Echo SRM 225
Powerful, efficient, and easy to use. Designed for everyday use, this may be the last trimmer you buy as a hobbyist – I love the price point of around $279.99 for this beauty.
Toro Flex Force Battery-Powered String Trimmer
This battery-powered bad boy (pictured below) sports a runtime up to 45 minutes and a quick-load spool for maximum efficiency – all for $199.99.
2-Man Crew/Full-time – (15-20 residential lawns per day)
A 2-man lawn care crew is a very common example of a small-business setup you will see in the field, and these crews can do a LOT of yards in a day. While the trimmers may not be used for long durations, the high frequency of use can start to wear down the user if comfort and weight aren’t considered.
At this point in your business, you might also want to consider a unit that will be powerful enough to trim clean lines on the first pass and reset edges on regularly maintained yards.
This will save you the time of having to use edgers on every service and prevent multiple passes along fence-lines and driveways.
A few units that will do the job for our high frequency, low duration pros are:
Echo SRM 2620
This lightweight, powerful string trimmer (pictured below) is easy to maintain, and I love the price of $369.99.
Stihl FS 111 R
This is my favorite trimmer of the bunch and my daily trimmer of choice. More power than the Echo SRM 2620 and a higher price tag, but it slices through the thickest weeds, and I love the quick start system. Cost? Around $499.
Husqvarna 525 iLST
This award-winning battery-powered trimmer will easily get you through multiple residential yards on one charge and is quiet as a mouse. This trimmer is super-lightweight but absolutely for commercial use, and has just about every bell and/or whistle you can imagine for around $399.99.
3-Man + Commercial Crews (20+ residential lawns and large commercial jobs)
Large commercial jobs are always exciting to get and can mean great money for your small business, but trimming a large commercial lot for hours on end can be enough to drive anyone to the cool comforts of an office job.
Acknowledging that and getting the right trimmer for the job will save you and/or your pros a lot of aches and pains.
Here’s where power and reliability reign supreme. You will need something that can easily trim down thicker grass, chop down mature weeds, and set edges on sidewalks or driveways. You might also need to attach a more heavy-duty metal blade for small shrub and brush clearing.
Keep in mind, these larger jobs will require you to maintain awkward grips on your trimmer for extended periods of time. While forearms like The Hulk would be nice, you’re more likely to get strains and pains from overuse.
Here are some quality models to choose from for those high intensity, long duration trims:
Stihl FS 131
This is a heavy-duty professional trimmer that has the sturdiness to accept multiple metal attachments and has an amazing power-to-weight ratio for long duration jobs. Cost: Around $629.99
Echo SRM 410x
The most powerful trimmer from the most well-known brand. Be careful that you don’t chop a tree down or rip off any fence planks with this nimble beast of a trimmer. At around $645, it’s not cheap, but you’ll be glad you bought it when you are 2 hours into a commercial job
Stihl FSA 200
The most powerful battery-powered trimmer available (pictured below) and with easy-grip bicycle handles, this is likely the most comfortable trimmer to use as well. This unit is designed to work all day on the heaviest jobs with a whopping 40-minute runtime and fast-charging capabilities. Cost: Around $675.
Trimmer Extras
As I mentioned earlier, preferences will vary widely when it comes to the trimmer that is best for your business. Here are a few aftermarket extras that can make pulling your trimmer from the rack feel more like pulling Excalibur from the stone.
- Darwin Grip Pro Trimmer Handle: This is a MUST for any lawn care pros 6-feet or taller. Not only will this extension attachment make reaching under shrubs and other tight spaces easier, your lower back will sing you a love song.
- Battery Packs/Charger Rigs: If you plan on going with any of the electric models suggested above, check out your options for extra batteries and portable charger setups.
- Speed Feed Trimmer Heads: Reloading a spool has never been easier and they fit most models. Trust me when I say you will never use another type of trimmer head again
Final Considerations
One last thing I always try to keep in mind is that owning your own lawn care business will always be hard work, but it should also be fun. If this is your first purchase and you are a solo-operator, reach out to your local dealer or other local pros to find out what they like to use and why.
As we talked about earlier, the quality of string trimmers across the brand spectrum is very high and there are a lot of companies to choose from.
As long as you pay attention to the things that you wish were better about your current trimmers and listen to what your pros prefer, it’s easy to be confident in your final purchase regardless of the brand.
Read Next:
— Best Mowers for Lawn Care Pros
Main Image: Workers using trimmers to cut tall grass outdoors. Image Credit: Fotolia RAW / Adobe Stock with Text Overlay using Canva Pro
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