The best lawn edgers do more than make your yard look good. They keep it healthy.
Give your yard a tidy, manicured look with these editor-approved tools and accessories.
Sure, the crisp clean lines you can carve on your grass with a lawn edger are visually appealing, but these tools and the tight borders they create are also vital to the health and safety of your yard. They minimize root intrusion into flower beds, reduce potential slipping hazards on walkways, and encourage proper drainage through precisely cut borders. Along with a lawn mower and string trimmer, a great lawn edger is a key tool in your comprehensive landscaping arsenal.
$319.00
We’ve recommended Echo’s products for decades. The PE-225 is a well-priced stick edger with enough power to cut through topsoil and typical cool-season grasses, like Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescue. The 21.2-cubic centimeter (cc) engine that powers this machine takes a professional-grade 50:1 gas-oil mix, and its spring-assist mechanism makes starting this edger as easy as possible.
For southern grass species (such as Bermuda, Zoysia, and St. Augustine), clay soil, or soil with small stones, check out the Echo PE-2620, which has a larger 25.4-cc engine. It's a bit more expensive, but the additional power is better suited to heavy-duty use.
The Best Lawn Edgers
$89.99
Edging, especially at full depth, takes lots of torque. This model, from Worx, features a powerful motor—the same kind of current that a mid-duty circular saw draws. It has more than just power going for it, though. Its depth adjustment is simple and tool-free: Flip the latch on the side open, and move the wheel and mounting bracket to the desired depth. Then, flip the lever shut.
Another feature we find intriguing is the machine’s cut line indicator, a drop-down fin that rides in the trench you’re cutting, steadying the machine and resulting in fewer miscues and uneven lines.
- Best Overall: Echo PE-225 Lawn Edger
- Best Corded: Worx 12-Amp, 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher
- Most Powerful Cordless: Greenworks 80V 8-Inch Cordless Electric Lawn Edger
- Best Walk-Behind: Earthquake Walk-Behind Lawn Edger
- Best Gas: McLane 101-4.75GT-7 Gas Lawn Edger
What to Consider
$219.99
Greenworks' latest pro-grade cordless electric edger comes equipped with an 80-volt brushless motor and a variable-speed trigger so you get maximum torque, but only when you need it. It features a brushless motor for maximum efficiency and claims to edge up to 80 minutes per charge.
Combined with the ergonomic wraparound handle, the 10.1-pound weight of this edger is comfortable to transport and operate and makes it a great choice for those who don’t feel like lugging around a heavy tool. (Keep in mind that the battery adds a couple pounds on top of that.)
Types
At their most basic, lawn edgers are like string trimmers, but with a vertical blade instead of a horizontal wire on a spool. You push or propel the edger (often propped up on wheels) along a grass border, slicing off any overhanging greenery while digging a trough in the dirt. The combination creates clean, defined borders between your lawn and other landscaping elements. Although all edgers perform the same basic function, they can go about it in a few different ways. Each type brings its own set of strengths and weaknesses to the job, making some better suited for specific yard types or landscaping needs.
$465.99
We’ve tested a variety of Earthquake machines over the years, and they deliver on the brand’s promise of no-frills power. While we haven’t tested it, after reviewing its specifications, the brand's lawn edger looks to uphold the brand's reputation for sturdy, but affordable machinery.
Engage the blade only when you’re ready to cut by using this edger’s clutch mechanism. It also has an engine appropriate for this class of equipment, a multi-angle cutter head, and an uncommon (though robust) debris catcher made from short chain links.If your taste in outdoor power equipment tends to be old-school simplicity, give this edger some serious consideration.
Stick
Like a weed whacker (but with a stabilizing wheel for added control), stick-type lawn edgers feature a long handle with a gas engine or electric motor on one end, and the blade on the other. They're lightweight and easy to store, but come with a bit of a learning curve: It can take some time to learn how to steer properly and produce a straight, clean notch. Price-wise, stick edgers can range anywhere from $70 to $500, depending on their power supply and output.
$209.00
While it isn't quite as robust as the more powerful 80V Greenworks we also recommend, this 48-volt version should still be plenty useful for the average homeowner. Its dual 24-volt batteries provide an impressive bit of power—and an advertised 45 minutes of runtime.
The cushioned grip and wraparound auxiliary handle provide a solid and safe grasp, and the variable speed trigger affords precise control at all times. The 8-inch blade allows for the standard 2.5 inches of cut depth, and the built-in guide wheel makes it easy to generate clean, straight edges along curbs, driveways, and sidewalks.
Both batteries are also compatible with a wide variety of 24-volt Greenworks power tools and, along with the edger itself, are covered by a three-year limited warranty.
Walk-Behind
$41.08
If you don’t have especially long lawn edges to maintain, and aren’t intimidated by a little physical effort, consider this manual tool from Garden Weasel. Its sturdy metal blade can dig up to 3 inches, and affords you extra precision, since you can set it up perfectly before each cut.
We really appreciated the 90-degree lip that keeps your edge at a consistent depth, and even in my slightly muddy soil, the built-in channels allowed us to yank it back out without much effort.
The alloy construction and wide push plate let us use our own bodyweight to easily penetrate the ground, as well as any roots that may be in the way (seriously, this thing has a solid feel to it). I especially appreciated the rubber handle, which only added to the comfortable, user-friendly operation.
We also found that, at a slight 2 pounds, it is light enough to carry and store without much effort. And, given the Garden Weasel is a little over 3 feet, we could perform all our testing without bending over. (As opposed to using a trowel or garden knife, which require you to get on your hands and knees.) The Garden Weasel’s lifetime warranty also has you covered if any issues arise.
These larger, typically gas-powered edgers create the cleanest and straightest cuts, but they are typically much more expensive than stick lawn edgers. Mounted on three or four wheels for maximum stability, they can take up a lot of room in your garage or tool shed. Given that, we only recommend these if you have a large property.
Manual
You can also create a clean border to your lawn using a manual edger, which is essentially a rounded blade attached to a long handle. You use your foot to stomp down the blade and chop through the grass, like sinking a shovel into packed dirt. Manual edgers are affordable, but using them effectively will take more time and effort than an automatic model.
Power
Motorized lawn edgers are powered by either gas, a rechargeable battery, or a power cord, so consider their specific differences before making your decision.
Gas lawn edgers typically provide more power—their combustion engines generate higher torque and horsepower compared to electric. But they are also noisier and produce harmful fumes that electric models do not. They also have the added expense of buying fuel: Fill-ups can be more of a hassle than swapping in a new battery.
Cordless electric edgers are easy to use—they start right up every time, whereas a gas edger and its pull-start mechanism may require multiple tugs to get it going—and have virtually zero maintenance requirements compared to gas-powered options. With no emissions, they’re also better for the environment. These models have a shorter runtime than their gas-powered counterparts, though, and they also tend to be more expensive up front.
Corded electric edgers give the benefit of an unlimited runtime, as well as a severe limitation: They can only operate within the length of their power cords. (You'll want to make sure you have a couple heavy-duty extension cords, handy.) They're typically the most affordable powered option, but best reserved for smaller yards that don’t require as much mobility.
Safety
Lawn edgers use large metal blades to chew through soil, and can be extremely dangerous if not shown proper respect. Always wear safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying rocks and debris, as well as closed-toed footwear and long pants.
Proper technique is also essential for safety. Before you start, make sure to study your edger's instruction manual for tips and advice. As you use it, always keep both hands on the handles and mind your balance, especially while working on uneven terrain.
How We Selected
We’ve used all types of lawn edgers over the years, both as part of a large landscaping crew as well as personal use at former Test Editor Roy Berendsohn’s own properties. Based on this testing and experience, we've recommended a set of edgers from brands we trust. Our picks span a wide range of use cases and price points so you don’t end up with a large tool that’s overkill for your property, or an undersized model that doesn’t get the job done efficiently.
