Taking care of the garden used to mean dragging out an old petrol mower or various cumbersome handutes, but now you can use even the cheapest 18V cordless grass strimmer / weed wacker to tidy up your garden with minimal hassle!
Strimmers or string trimmers are an utterly phenomenal design making use of the centrifugal force of the monofilament line or string to literally “lash” through, weeds, grass and other plant material.
It makes short work of trimming a lawn or border or keeping a patio weed free. A cordless strimmer is even better because you aren’t tethered to the power source whilst you are doing your gardening work.
And if you’re looking to buy a cheap 18V cordless grass strimmer, you’ll be happy to learn there is plenty of models worthy of the title “cheap”.
So whether you’re looking for a cheap strimmer for under £50, or a cordless strimmer for under $100, it should be relatively easy to find one of the cheap garden tools at a bargain price online.
To get your quest started, I have actually bought and tested 3 of the cheapest 18v Cordless grass strimmer models available.
Please read on for reviews of these dirt cheap strimmers and my perspective on whether they will be up to the task of dealing with your back garden.
If your looking for something with more visual, what to expect from a cheap cordless strimmer, take a look at this review video reviewing one of the cheapest
3 Popular Cheap 18 v cordless strimmers
1. BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer
Product specifications
- Power source: lithium battery-powered (cordless electric)
- Battery voltage: 20 (18 nominal)
- Power: 20 watts
- Cutting swathe: 12 inches (30 centimetres)
- Speed control: twin-speed
- RPM: 5500 / 7200
- Line size: 0.047 inches (1.2 millimetres)
- Dimensions: 9.25 x 41.33 x 5.74 inches (23.49 x 104.97 x 14.57 centimetres)
- Weight: 4.8 pounds (2.2 kilograms)
String trimmer includes:
- Cordless trimmer
- 2x 20V max Lithium batteries (18V nominal voltage)
- 1x charger
- 3m spool of cutting line
- 1x Guard
Colour: black and orange
Function: trimmer and wheeled edger
Warranty: 3-year home-use warranty
Description
For less than $100, you can purchase a useful easy feed string trimmer that also works as an edger, allowing you to tame wild parts of your garden such as borders and flower beds.
The Black+Decker name means you can have a low-cost strimmer and expect to enjoy great value and durability from this tidy cordless strimmer.
It comes with two 20-volt batteries and a charger that can also work with other Black+Decker power tools.
This is one of Black+Deckers low-cost 18V cordless strimmers, but it has great cutting power with their Power Drive Transmission, which provides increased torque for cutting power from the string.
You can also change the function of greater power or longer running time by switching between the various speed options.
Pros
- Simple to use: This string trimmer is easy to manage, with a soft grip that makes it feel comfortable to use.
- Height adjustable: Not only is the strimmer height adjustable, but the handle is too. A huge difference when using the strimmer for long periods to use it safely.
- Easy feed: The EASYFEED function means that your strimmer string is constantly moving rather than having to stop to feed it.
Cons
- The handle can become disengaged: even with the handle seemingly lock into place it can exit that position, even though you may not be aware of it until you notice it mid-operation.
- The performance is not built for the more challenging of garden clearance: while the performance is not on par with a gas trimmer and will struggle when faced with severe wild vegetation overgrowth, this buy is limited to maintaining your lawn or lighter gardening.
My overall thoughts about the BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer
This is not Black+Decker’s most powerful strimmer, but it is a decent entry-level model with batteries that will work with other Black+Decker garden tools. The strimmer’s power is sufficient for light gardening tasks.
I would rate this a 4 out of 5! It is a great value for the price!
2. FPGT18LI 18V 230mm Cordless Grass trimmer
Product specifications
- Power source: lithium battery-powered (cordless electric)
- Battery voltage: 18 volts
- Cutting swathe: 9.05 inches (23 centimetres)
- Line size: 0.065 inches (1.65 millimetres)
- Dimensions: 9.25 x 41.33 x 5.74 inches (23.49 x 104.97 x 14.57 centimetres)
- Weight: 6.3 pounds (2.85 kilograms)
String trimmer includes:
- Cordless trimmer
- 1x 18V Lithium battery
- 1x battery charging unit
- Strimmer guard and screws
- 1x 1.2 mm×3m cutting line
Colour: green
Function: grass trimmer
Description
This inexpensive strimmer is priced below $60 and can be found only at B&Q and Argos in the UK. However, there are strimmers available online that are similar.
It is very simple and aimed at trimming grass in small to medium-size gardens. It comes with one battery and charger, as shown in the review video.
It is very easy to put together; you just need a cross head screwdriver.
This strimmer is lightweight and the height can be adjusted. The handle can also be rotated to prepare for edging. It is pre-loaded with a cutting line which can be replaced, but it might require an effort the first few times.
The battery was fully charged when unpacked, and managed 40 minutes of uninterrupted strimming, before the 2 hours required to recharge the battery. You are unlikely to be able to manage a larger garden with one battery charge.
The battery slots into the handle, and then there is a push-button on the handle to switch the strimmer on.
Using this strimmer is straightforward. There is a metal bar on the trimmer head, to stop you getting too close to any wall, and snapping the wire. If the bar is removed and you need to get close, you will snap the wire!
Pros
- Simple maintenance: After the battery was taken out, the strimmer was simple to clean.
- Adjustable: The strimmer extended to a comfortable working height/depth when fully extended.
- Lightweight: The strimmer was the lightest of the four. This made it easy to use for extended amounts of time.
Cons
- Only one battery supplied: one battery will make extended sessions with this strimmer a complete pain, as there are no replacement parts, you cannot purchase another one!
- No battery light: without a battery light you cannot tell when the battery is fully charged.
- No auto-feed on the wire: unlike many strimmers, when the wire breaks, you must pull strimmer string out manually. The process of pulling out strimmer out of the reel is a bit fiddly!
- No replacement parts: other reviewers have written that there are no replacement parts for this strimmer and even reels may not be easy to replace. So, when it breaks, it is likely to the rubbish pile!
My overall thoughts about the FPGT18LI 18V 230mm Cordless Grass Trimmer
This strimmer seems to be rated only for very light use. It isn’t very powerful (and I would rate it at 3 out of 5 overall).
If it breaks down after 12 months, its life is over as there are no real parts to effect a repair. The lesson with this strimmer seems to be, you get what you pay for! It’s a throw away product.
3. Litheli 20V Cordless String Trimmer
Product specifications
- Power source: lithium battery-powered (cordless electric)
- Battery voltage: 20 (18 nominal)
- Power: 20 watts
- Cutting swathe: 12 inches (30 centimetres)
- Speed control: twin-speed
- RPM: low-speed – 4500 RPM high speed – 6550 max
- Line size: 0.065 inches (1.2 millimetres)
- Dimensions: 35.6 x 11 x 5 inches (90.42 x 27.94 x 12.7 centimetres)
- Weight: 4.5 pounds (2.04 kilograms)
String trimmer includes:
- Cordless trimmer
- 1x 20V max Lithium batteries (18V nominal voltage)
- 1x charger
- 3m spool of cutting line
- 1x Guard
Colour: grey and aqua blue
Function: trimmer and wheeled edger
Warranty: 3-year home-use warranty
Description
This strimmer is the most expensive of the cheaply priced strimmers I looked at, but it still comes in at under $100.
Like the Black+Decker strimmer, it is dual-function with the hassle-free edging function that the B&Q strimmer didn’t have. The cutting head is ease adjustable through many angles for precision cutting.
The setup of this strimmer is easy and it is height adjustable via its standard telescoping shaft.
The automatic line feed feeds the strimmer line automatically, without having to pull it out.
It includes one Lithium-ion battery which doesn’t last particularly long if you use the higher of its two speeds. However it charges quickly in one hour, or you can upgrade the battery from the 2.0 Ah to a 4.0Ah volt battery.
Like the other cheap strimmers Lithelo’s strimmer is lightweight and easy to manage, and includes a switch-lock for your safety. The strimmer also comes equipped with a flower guard to protect any delicate foliage.
Pros
- Adjustable cutting head: The adjustable positions of the angled cutting head provide versatility with this particular strimmer.
- Twin speed settings: The two-speed options give the user an option to use the lower speed setting to extend battery life.
- Replacement parts are available: Litheli makes a number of garden power tools and can be contacted for important replacement parts when warranted or not. The reel can also be replaced easily with standard wire of the prescribed diameter (0.065 inches).
Cons
- Limited battery capacity: You only receive one battery: One battery will limit your ability to carry out extended periods of yard work with this strimmer. For a similar price, Black+Decker provides two batteries. Other owners of this string trimmer purchase another power tool in the same range to receive another battery.
- Not terribly powerful: Although this strimmer has some nice touches, it is not very powerful limiting its uses only to light garden tasks.
My overall thoughts about the Litheli 20V Cordless String Trimmer
This strimmer is not a match for the Black+Decker strimmer in terms of value and performance, but it is clearly better than the B&Q lower-spec model. The adjustable cutting head is its standout feature, but the single battery hampers extended use.
I rate this strimmer 3 out of 5.
F.A.Q Cheapest 18V cordless grass strimmer
What are the benefits of having a cordless electric strimmer?
Strimmers are a incredibly versatile gardening tool and fully capable of controlling lawn growth, green growth, and weeds.
In a small garden, a string trimmer is a perfectly viable and much smaller alternative to a lawnmower.
String trimmers can be used for –
- Scything long grass around trees and obstacles
- Tapering grass for a variety of effects
- Screeding weeds on a patio
- Neatly edging your borders
A cordless electric strimmer offers an added convenience as you do not have to deal with a long cable. A cable can create a trip hazard or be damaged by the strimmer, but using a cordless option is a safer alternative.
How can I clean my cordless strimmer?
You need to clean the plant juices and leaf material that can build up on your strimmer, so it doesn’t corrode and destroy the strimmer!
Your strimmer should be kept clean and free from any build-up of grass, soil and the debris that settles on the cutting head.
Remove the battery and recharge at the same time. Wipe down your strimmer well with a wet cloth! If you have metallic parts to your trimmer, wiping lightly with a common mineral oil also works!
Have I got the right strimmer for my garden jobs?
This type of inexpensive cordless strimmer is really for only light garden work in smaller gardens. For larger gardens and heavier and larger amounts of overgrowth you will need a more powerful string trimmer.
The power and type of motor of the strimmer will determine its heavy-duty garden work capability. Petrol and mains power or corded strimmers will usually have greater power.
Rounding up
As you can see, there is a vast array of inexpensive battery-powered strimmers to choose from. But, almost always, these will be lower voltage and lower-powered models.
In short, when it comes down to performance, you will get what you pay for as these strimmers will not stand up to the rigors of heavy-duty weed whacking!