Best String Trimmer for Edging (2026): Trimmer and Line Picks
Trimmers and blowers
The best string trimmer for edging is the WORX WG163, a lightweight 2-in-1 that twists into a wheeled edger and rides on two wheels for a straight line. The SEYVUM 12-inch is the budget 2-in-1, and Viabrico .095 line is the cheap upgrade that cleans up an edge.
Our picks
The best string trimmer for edging is the WORX WG163 when you want one tool to trim the beds and cut a crisp line along the driveway. It earns the pick on the conversion and the wheels: a twist of the shaft puts it in edging mode, and two wheels hold the line vertical so you are not fighting the head for a straight edge.
This guide sits in the trimmers and blowers guides next to the best electric lawn mower for a small yard, since the same short grass along a fence line is what both tools deal with.
Trimming and edging are two different jobs
Trimming is horizontal. You hold the head level and sweep it around a fence post or a tree, and the line cuts whatever it touches. It is forgiving. You can be an inch off and nobody notices.
Edging is vertical. You hold the line at 90 degrees to the ground and cut a clean line where the grass meets concrete. There is no room for wander. If the head rocks, the edge comes out wavy, and that is what makes a lawn look sloppy even when the grass is short.
That is the whole argument for a convertible tool. You are not buying more power. You are buying a way to lock the head vertical and a wheel to roll along the walk so your hand does not have to hold the angle. The picks below are two trimmers that convert and one spool of line that makes any of them cut cleaner.
Top pick: WORX WG163 2-in-1
The WORX WG163 is the best string trimmer for edging for most yards. It is a 20V cordless trimmer that converts to a wheeled edger in seconds, and it comes with two batteries and a charger.
The conversion is the reason it wins. Loosen the collar, rotate the head 90 degrees, tighten it, and adjust the head angle. In edging mode it rides on two wheels on one axle, and that stability is what keeps the line vertical. It also tilts 90 degrees for reaching under shrubs and along slopes.
Day to day it is an easy tool to live with. It weighs about 5.6 lb with the battery, the shaft telescopes from 36 in to 51 in, and the Command Feed system pays out line with a button press instead of a bump on the sidewalk. It runs a 12 in cut with .065 line.
Who it is for: A quarter acre or less, a sidewalk or driveway edge you want crisp, and anyone who wants one tool for beds and walks. Skip it if you are clearing heavy brush, where a brushless trimmer with thicker line is the better tool.
Shop: WORX WG163 on Amazon
Best budget 2-in-1: SEYVUM 12-inch
The SEYVUM 20V 12-inch is the best budget 2-in-1 trimmer for edging. It is a cordless trimmer that converts to a wheel edger, and the kit is unusually complete for the price.
It ships with two 2.0 Ah batteries, a fast charger, and eight spare spools with line, so the first season does not include a refill purchase. Together the batteries are rated for up to about 60 minutes of run time. The head tilts 90 degrees for edging, the auxiliary handle adjusts 180 degrees, and the spacer guard protects plants and lawn ornaments while you work an edge.
At 8.8 lb it is heavier than the WORX, and it runs auto line feed rather than a button. The trade is straightforward: you give up some portability and save real money.
Who it is for: A first trimmer, a small yard, and anyone who wants batteries and spools included. Skip it if you want the lightest tool you can carry one-handed down a long walk.
Shop: SEYVUM 12-inch trimmer on Amazon
The line that makes an edge cleaner: Viabrico .095
The Viabrico .095 square trimmer line is the cheap upgrade that cleans up an edge. It is heavy duty nylon with a square profile, and it comes on a 330 ft, 1.7 lb spool.
The square cut is the point. A flat edge presents a sharper corner to grass than round line, which cuts cleaner and makes less noise, and the listing rates it at a 110 lb tensile weight. The bright orange color is a practical bonus when you are pulling line out of a tangle in tall grass.
Use it on a trimmer rated for .095 line, which means most gas trimmers and larger brushless battery models. A typical 20V string trimmer is spec'd for .065 to .080, and .095 will feed poorly or not at all.
Who it is for: Anyone with a trimmer that takes .095 line and wants a sharper edge and fewer refills. Skip it if your trimmer head is built around .065 line.
Shop: Viabrico .095 trimmer line on Amazon
How to edge a sidewalk without scalping the lawn
A clean edge is about angle and patience more than power. The method below is what we use on a concrete walk with a straight edge.
- Trim first, edge second. Knock the tall grass down around the walk so the edger is not fighting length.
- Advance fresh line. Worn line beats grass instead of cutting it, and it leaves a torn edge.
- Set the head vertical. On a convertible trimmer, lock it in edging mode. On a standard trimmer, turn the head so only the tip faces the joint.
- Ride the wheel. Let the wheel follow the concrete and keep your arms loose. Steering with your wrists is what makes an edge wave.
- Cut the top third only. The line should skim the soil line, not dig below it. Two light passes beat one deep one.
- Sweep, do not blow. A quick sweep of the debris on the walk keeps the clippings out of the street drain.
If the edge is overgrown, run the trimmer at a lower angle first to open the line, then come back vertical for a finish pass.
Who should skip a 2-in-1 trimmer
A convertible trimmer is a compromise, and a few buyers are better off elsewhere.
- You edge a long commercial driveway. A dedicated walk-behind edger cuts a cleaner groove and takes the load off your arms.
- You clear brush. A 2-in-1 with .065 line is a light-duty tool. Heavy growth wants a brushcutter or a bigger trimmer.
- You only ever trim. If you never edge, a lighter dedicated trimmer costs less and weighs less.
- You want zero maintenance on line. A fixed-line head or a trimmer with tool-free spool changes is worth the look.
- Your soil is mostly rock. Edging into gravel wears line fast, and a string trimmer is not the right tool for a gravel shoulder.
For a typical suburban walk, the 2-in-1 is the practical answer.
Bottom line
The best string trimmer for edging is the WORX WG163, because it converts to a wheeled edger and the two wheels hold a straight line along a walk. The SEYVUM 12-inch is the budget 2-in-1 with batteries and spools included, and Viabrico .095 square line is the inexpensive upgrade that cuts a cleaner edge on a trimmer that takes it.
When the mowing is done, the best electric lawn mower for a small yard covers the cut itself, and the trimmers and blowers guides cover the rest of the cleanup tools. Browse the garden and lawn care guides for bed and soil work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best string trimmer for edging?
For most yards the WORX WG163 is the best string trimmer for edging. It converts from a trimmer to a wheeled edger with a twist of the shaft, and the two wheels on a single axle hold the line vertical so your sidewalk edge comes out straight. It is light enough to use one-handed along a long walk.
Can a string trimmer be used for edging?
Yes, and many are designed for it. A convertible trimmer flips the head 90 degrees and adds a wheel or wheels so you can guide the line along a hard edge. A standard trimmer can edge too, but holding the head perfectly vertical for a long stretch is what tires your wrist, which is the problem the conversion solves.
Is a 2-in-1 trimmer and edger as good as a dedicated edger?
For a home lawn, close enough. A dedicated edger cuts a defined groove and is easier to hold dead straight on a long driveway. A 2-in-1 trades a little of that precision for one tool that trims the beds and edges the walk, and it costs far less than buying both.
What size trimmer line is best for edging?
Match the line to the trimmer head first, then go as thick as the head will feed. Most battery 20V trimmers are spec'd for .065 to .080 line, and larger gas or brushless trimmers run .095. A square or twisted profile in the right diameter cuts a cleaner edge than round line, because the flat edge meets grass at a sharper angle.
Why does my trimmer leave a ragged edge?
Two reasons show up most: worn line and too much speed. Line that is worn short leaves a blunt tip that beats grass instead of slicing it, so advance fresh line before you start the edge. Then walk at a steady pace and let the tip do the work. Pushing the head into the grass at full tilt frays the tips and leaves the edge looking torn.
How do I edge a sidewalk without scalping the lawn?
Set the head so only the bottom third of the line touches soil, keep the guard between you and the walk, and make one steady pass. If you need a deeper line, make a second lighter pass rather than leaning on it. Scalping happens when the head is buried and the line digs below the crown of the grass, so a light first pass is the safer habit.
Does trimmer line go bad in storage?
It can. Nylon line absorbs moisture from the air, and a spool that sits in a hot shed all winter dries out and gets brittle. The old trick is to soak a new spool in a bucket of water overnight before you wind it, and it does make the line more flexible. Store spools in a sealed bag in the garage and they will keep.
Is a cordless trimmer strong enough to edge a long driveway?
Yes, if you plan the battery. A 20V 2-in-1 like the WORX WG163 handles a quarter acre of trimming and edging on a pair of batteries. Longer runs and heavier growth are easier with two batteries in rotation and a spare charging while you work.