String-line trimmers play a key role in helping professional lawn and landscape workers keep customer properties trimmed and tidy. These tools make it simple to trim around hardscape elements in the yard, cut weeds and grass too tall for mowers, maintain slopes too steep for a mower, and tidy up along the edges of landscape beds, paths, sidewalks, curbs, and driveways.
But what is the best commercial string trimmer for professional use? And which brands should you look at when you’re shopping for a commercial-grade trimmer?
Top Commercial Gasoline-Powered Brands
STIHL, Echo, Shindaiwa, and RedMax are the top trimmer brands recommended by professional contractors. According to feedback from readers of Green Industry PRO Magazine, contractors put STIHL on top (82% favorable). The next highest ratings were for Echo (61% favorable), Shindaiwa (48% favorable), and RedMax (42% favorable).
This survey also asked contractors which brand was the absolute best. The results were similar. STIHL again led with 42% of the votes. RedMax was ranked second with 19%, and Echo third with 18%. These percentages show that while green industry pros often have favorite trimmers, they’re not all loyal to one particular brand and may try out several different brands depending on features and deals offered when shopping.
Top Commercial Battery-Powered Brands
STIHL and Echo offer top-quality battery-powered trimmers in addition to their well-known gasoline-powered options. With the STIHL AP Professional Battery System, one battery works with over 60 tools. Similarly, ECHO’s next-generation 56V Battery System uses the same battery across all their equipment. This includes chainsaws, blowers, edge trimmers, edgers, multi-tools, and more, in addition to string-line trimmers.
If you’re looking for battery-powered equipment, there’s another brand to consider as well. EGO is one of the top-rated, top-recommended battery-exclusive brands. It offers universal battery compatibility, which means all the batteries work with all the tools. Being able to interchange batteries between tools makes it much easier to keep up with charging, especially for commercial crews. In addition to string-line trimmers, EGO’s line includes walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, hedge trimmers, pole saws, snow blowers, and multi-tools. They also offer a pressure washer, misting fans, augers, Bluetooth speakers, compact inflator, wet-dry vac, backpack sprayer, area lights, and a mini bike.
Choosing A Power Source
When choosing a commercial-grade trimmer, one of the first things to decide is whether you want a gas- or electric-powered model. Gasoline-powered trimmers are typically heavier and louder, but they can handle taller grass and weeds. Modern trimmer models are much lighter and quieter than older versions, though, and many feature anti-vibration systems that make them easy to use. Gasoline is still a go-to option for many green industry pros.
Battery-powered trimmers are lighter weight and more portable, but do not have as much cutting power as the largest gas trimmers. For most situations, though, modern lithium-ion battery-powered trimmers perform at the same level as comparable gasoline-powered models. Battery-powered trimmers can also save money on fuel costs, are a great choice for noise-restricted neighborhoods, are lower maintenance than gasoline trimmers, and have no engine emissions. The biggest challenge you’ll need to overcome if you’re switching to battery-powered tools for commercial use is finding a charging method that works for your company.
Features of Professional Trimmers
In addition to choosing a power source, there are a few other options to consider when looking at commercial trimmers. These include shaft style, handle type, and cutting head options.
Most commercial trimmers have a straight shaft. Straight-shaft trimmers work best for taller users and can reach under obstacles like decks, shrubs, and benches. Curved-shaft trimmers might have a place in your fleet, though. They’re better for shorter users and are easier to maneuver and control, which makes them good for trimming in tight areas.
Handheld trimmers either have a loop handle or bicycle-style handlebars. Loop handles are standard on residential models, but commercial trimmers come with both options. Loop handles are more maneuverable, but bike handles are less tiring to use. Whichever you choose, you can pair them with a shoulder strap or back harness to help shift the weight of the trimmer from the hands to the shoulders.
String trimmers, as the name suggests, use string-line in the cutting heads. Some models, though, have the option to change the string-line cutting head for a brushcutting blade. If you need a sturdy blade that can trim dense weeds and heavy brush, make sure you get a trimmer with the option to use a brushcutting blade.
Multi-tool or Dedicated Tool
Multi-tools are a way to have several tool options on hand while only maintaining one powerhead. That’s great for most homeowners, but it has both pros and cons for commercial crews.
Multi-tools take up less space on equipment trailers and in storage than individual tools. However, only one person can use the multi-tool at a time, whereas if you had a trimmer and an edger (for example) as separate tools, then two people could work at the same time. Whether a multi-tool will work for your business depends on your needs and how you structure your crews.
Multi-tools can also be good backup tools. For example, your lawn care crews might use trimmers and edgers most frequently and occasionally need a hedge trimmer or blower. You could have a dedicated trimmer and edger, then keep a multi-tool with trimmer, edger, hedge trimmer, and blower attachments in the trailer as well. The multi-tool will act as a backup for your most-used tools and give you a space-saving way to carry a hedge trimmer and blower as well.
Where To Buy Commercial Trimmers
If you’re wondering, “Where can I buy a professional-grade stringline trimmer near me?” Richardson Saw & Lawnmower is the answer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. STIHL, Echo, RedMax, Shindaiwa, and EGO are some of the most trusted brands on the market, and they’re all ones that we carry here at Richardson Saw & Lawnmower.
Whichever of these top trimmer brands you choose, you can rest assured that they are trusted by lawn industry professionals. With so many models and features to choose from, you are sure to find a quality trimmer that fits your lawn care needs. Come visit us at our location in Richardson, TX, to see these trimmers in-person and find one that matches your commercial trimmer needs.
