Best Makita Cordless String Trimmers (2026)

The XGT trimmer is the strongest single-battery Makita here, and its standout feature is the Automatic Torque Drive mode. The motor shifts between 3,500 and 6,500 RPM on its own, giving added power when the line meets heavy growth and extended runtime when it is in easy grass. An outer rotor brushless motor provides the torque.

The maker also claims the XGT's digital communication between tool and battery gives up to twice the sustained power under load, a relative claim that points to less power fade as the pack drains. That matters on a long, thick job, where cheaper trimmers lose speed as the battery sags.

The kit includes a 4.0Ah XGT battery and charger. XGT is a separate family from the 18V LXT packs, so it is the right choice only if you plan to build on it or already own the packs. Keep the head clear of wrapped grass, use fresh line and store the battery indoors. In practice the automatic mode means you can leave the trigger alone and let the tool decide, which suits people who would otherwise run at full speed all session. It is the Makita to buy when you expect one tool to handle both the lawn and the overgrown corners.

The XRU23SM1 is the sensible centre of the range. A BL brushless motor spins the head at up to 6,000 RPM, the swath is 13 inches, and the kit includes a 4.0Ah 18V LXT battery and charger. The maker claims up to an hour of runtime on that pack, a figure that should be read as a best case.

The point of this tool is the platform. 18V LXT batteries run a very wide range of Makita tools, including drills, blowers and saws, so a household with a few of them already owns the battery, and the bare version, the XRU23Z, saves money. For a newcomer, the kit is the right buy.

The listing's low-maintenance points apply to any battery trimmer: no gas, no oil mixing, no pull cord and low noise. It is a quiet, steady machine for lawns up to half an acre. Keep the line fresh and clear the head after each use. If you want a little more run time, a 5.0Ah LXT pack fits the same tool and adds about a quarter more capacity. Because LXT is the largest family, spare packs and chargers are easy to find at most tool dealers.

This trimmer uses two 18V LXT batteries at once, giving 36V of drive from the same packs that run Makita's drills and blowers. That is the clever part: no new platform, just a bigger tool. An outer rotor brushless motor with a direct drive provides high power and torque.

It offers three speed options at 3,500, 5,300 and 6,500 RPM for power management, plus an Automatic Torque Drive mode that shifts between 3,500 and 6,500 RPM for extended run time or added power. That is more control than any other Makita trimmer here.

The kit comes with 5.0Ah batteries. Two packs per session is the cost of the extra power, and the tool is heavier as a result. It makes the most sense for someone who already owns four or more LXT batteries and wants to use them in a bigger trimmer. Work out how many sessions your pack stock will cover, since two packs in use means two packs to charge. A third and fourth pack turn it into a tool you can run all afternoon, which is exactly the case for owning it.

The XRU18Z is a bare, dual-battery trimmer for people who already own LXT packs. The maker claims power equivalent to a 30cc gas string trimmer, a comparison that is a marketing label but places it in the heavier class. The BL brushless motor provides high power and increased torque, and the tool is free of gas, emissions, oil mixing and pull starts.

Because it is sold without batteries, it is the cheapest route to a strong trimmer if you own four LXT packs. It lacks the kit's batteries and the three-speed control listed for the XRU15PT, so it is a plainer tool.

If you do not own LXT packs, buy the kit. Keep the head clear of grass and store the batteries indoors. Treat the gas comparison as a pointer to the class of tool and not a measured output, and judge it by how it handles your own growth. For a large property it is a credible gas replacement for people who already own the packs.

This kit sells a power head, not a trimmer. A BL brushless motor delivers up to 7,000 RPM with the 13 inch string trimmer attachment, and the head also drives other attachments, including a 10 inch pole saw. A lever style lock system lets you swap attachments without tools.

That makes it a system: one motor and one battery, with different shafts for trimming, pruning and more. The value is real only if you will use more than one attachment, because the power head and battery cost more than a single trimmer kit.

It suits someone with a mixed garden who dislikes storing a separate machine for each task. Check the lever lock before each use, wipe the attachments after use and store the battery indoors. Lever locks wear with use, so keep the contact faces clean and free of grit. A power head with several attachments is most useful if you keep them together in one bag or on one rack.