2024’s Best Lawn Edgers Tested for Crisp Landscape Lines
Regardless of the size, style, or complexity of your landscape, a lawn edger tool will help you keep it looking its best. Lawn edgers are steel-bladed tools used to define crisp, semipermanent grass edge lines along driveway, sidewalks, curbs, and landscape beds. The blade cuts foliage, runners, and roots 2 inches or more above and below the soil line. With monthly edging, it is much faster and easier to maintain a tidy appearance in the interim using a string trimmer. Lawn edgers come in a variety of types and sizes, including manual, handheld gas- and electric-powered, and walk-behind models. We tested 16 lawn edgers, representing the full range of options, in order to showcase their strengths in different use cases.
Choosing the right edging tool for your property largely depends on the property size and your personal preferences. Whether you like the quiet simplicity of manual tools, or the time and labor savings of power equipment, we have you covered. Our favorite is the Echo PE-225 Curved-Shaft Gas Lawn Edger; it’s precise, easy to maneuver, and offers an extended runtime. In this review roundup, you’ll find the performance details on this and other picks that will help you identify the best lawn edger for your yard.
- BEST OVERALL: Echo PE-225 Curved-Shaft Gas Lawn Edger
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Greenworks 12-Amp 7.5″ Corded Lawn Edger
↓ Jump to Review - BEST GAS COMBO: Echo PAS-225VP String Trimmer and Edger Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST CORDLESS COMBO: Ego Power+ Multi-Head Trimmer and Edger Combo Kit
↓ Jump to Review - BEST CORDED ELECTRIC: Black+Decker 12-Amp String Trimmer/Edger and Trencher
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BATTERY-POWERED: Greenworks 60V 8″ Cordless Battery Edger
↓ Jump to Review - BEST MANUAL: True Temper Dual-Wheel Rotary Edger
↓ Jump to Review - BEST FOR LANDSCAPE BEDS: Razorback-Back Half-Moon Turf Edger With Wood Handle
↓ Jump to Review
| Testing Stats | |
| Products tested | 19 |
| Time spent testing | 24 hours |
| Tests performed | 5 |
| Price range | $35 to $800 |
Our Top Picks
After researching and testing dozens of lawn edgers, the products below rose to the top based on their overall quality and efficacy. We favored important factors like tool features, power and performance, user comfort, safety, and price. To make the cut, each tool successfully navigated our hands-on edger testing program. Check out the product descriptions for performance details.
Best Overall
Echo PE-225 Curved-Shaft Gas Lawn Edger
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 5/5; Maneuverability 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Power source: 21.2-cubic-centimeter (cc) 2-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 13.1 pounds
What We Like
- Lightweight curved-shaft design provides excellent precision and maneuverability
- Professional-grade 2-cycle engine
- Easy-start system reduces starting effort and boosts durability
- Molded open-face debris shield reduces debris clogs and kickback
- Captive wheel mount allows for easy height adjustment
What We Don’t Like
- Requires 2-cycle fuel: 89-octane (or higher) gasoline mixed 50:1 with 2-cycle oil
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Detailing the lawn with precision calls for specialized equipment like the Echo PE-225 lawn edger. This gas edger for lawn maintenance delivers pro-quality results without the extra weight and expense of pro-grade equipment, which is why we selected it as our top pick.
This handheld edger is powered by a 21.2cc high-output 2-stroke cycle engine equipped with the Echo i-30 spring-assisted starting system, which the company says reduces pull-start effort by 30 percent. It features a durable molded open-face blade shield that eliminates debris buildup; captive wheel-mount hardware for easy height adjustment; and a curved shaft that places the operator closer to the edge line, boosting work efficiency and user comfort. The tool weighs just 13.1 pounds.
We found that the Echo PE-225 was compact, lightweight, easy to operate, and easy to store. We started by mixing a fresh batch of 50:1 2-cycle fuel. The manufacturer’s instructions called for 89-octane or higher gasoline. The edger came with enough 2-cycle oil to mix with 1 gallon of gas. The 12.8-ounce fuel tank held more than enough to edge the entire test property three times. Those with small yards will want to consider using a fuel stabilizer to protect the engine from gum and varnish buildup associated with stored fuel.
The PE-225 was overall the best edger for lawn care, broadly speaking. It did a competent job digging new edges, but it wasn’t as proficient as the bigger, heavier machines. The 2-cycle engine produced higher blade revolutions per minute and lower torque than the 4-cycle walk-behind units we tested, which translated to faster clean-cutting action for maintenance, but less power to dig through compacted soil and roots. The handheld design makes it easy to maneuver along curbs, driveways, patios, and landscape beds and is suitable for all landscape types and sizes.
The runtime on a single tank of fuel (1.5 hours) outperformed all of the battery-powered edgers we tested. That said, the potential for engine damage from stale fuel is real. Our test was on a large suburban lot with a long driveway, patio, walkout basement slab, and numerous landscape beds—an ideal scenario for a gas edger. Those with only a limited amount of lawn edging might be better off without mixing and storing gasoline. But for the widest range of adaptability and top-end user comfort, it was our favorite of the group.
Get the Echo PE-225 lawn edger at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Best Bang for the Buck
Greenworks 12-Amp 7.5" Corded Lawn Edger
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Power source: Corded 12-amp electric motor
- Weight: 14 pounds
What We Like
- Adjust edging/trenching depths depending on the task at hand
- Adjustable handle height accommodates height of most users
- Aggressive double-edge blade cuts thick and thin plant and grass types
What We Don’t Like
- No edge guide makes it somewhat difficult to get started
- Height adjustment is somewhat awkward
- Best for edging pavement; not as effective for landscape beds
This corded electric lawn edger is a great choice for small yards. It features a 12-amp engine and power cord with a cord-lock feature to prevent accidental unplugging. The best extension cord to connect it to a power source would be either a 14- or 12-gauge 3-wire cord. It weighs 14 pounds, but a portion of this weight is supported by a pair of back wheels and a single guide wheel that can be adjusted in height to change the depth of the cut.
The 7.5-inch double-edged steel blade of the Greenworks lawn edger is capable of cutting grass cleanly and smoothly to a maximum depth of 2.25 inches. You can also adjust the length of the shaft so that it better suits your height. When the lawn edger is properly adjusted and you’re ready to go, just pushing in the trigger lock switch unlocks the trigger.
The Greenworks corded model was one of the best electric edgers for lawns at a budget-friendly price. Like the other corded electric models we tested, this Greenworks unit performed best in a maintenance setting but lacked power and size for trenching unbroken soil. It is lightweight and articulate, and an excellent choice for smaller yards.
Get the Greenworks 12-amp lawn edger at Amazon.
Best Gas Combo
Echo PAS-225VP String Trimmer and Edger Kit
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 5/5; Maneuverability 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Power source: 21.2cc 2-cycle gas engine
- Weight: 16.2 pounds
What We Like
- Multi-attachment power head saves on storage space and engine maintenance
- Quick and easy attachment changes
- Powerful edger trenches cuts clean and deep
- Starts easily; requires 30 percent less effort to start than comparable options
What We Don’t Like
- Heavy for extended use; shoulder harness not included
- Requires mixed 2-cycle oil and gas
- Somewhat loud; may not be ideal for use at night
The 21.2-cc Echo PAS-225 power head drives more than a dozen different lawn care tool attachments to keep a yard looking great without filling the garage with extra gas engines. The kit includes the power head, a curved shaft edger with a 9-inch square-tipped blade, and a straight shaft string trimmer, making it the best gas string trimmer edger combo in our roundup. Along with a lawn mower and leaf blower, this may be all that’s needed to maintain a great-looking lawn. Available add-on attachments include hedge shear, pole saw, brush cutter, cultivator, bed redefiner, sweeper, and rock sweeper.
The tool attachments swap out quickly and easily, with just a spring pin and tension screw handle. The edger features a clog-resistant open-faced metal safety shield that works easily around uneven soil and taller grass. It penetrates deeply for trenching and bed edge renovation and trims crisp, clean edges along the pavement. The adjustable curb wheel allows users to customize the fit for maximum comfort. When not in use, the included S-hook hanger helps keep attachments organized.
We appreciated the versatility of the Echo PAS system. Both the edger and the string trimmer worked smoothly and efficiently, and the powerhead delivered nearly professional-level performance. The 9-inch edger blade had no difficulty penetrating clay soil while trenching for bed renovation. The combination of power, versatility, and moderate weight make this a broadly useful pick for maintaining small or large landscapes.
Get the Echo PAS-225VP lawn edger kit at The Home Depot.
Best Cordless Combo
Ego Power+ Multi-Head Trimmer and Edger Combo Kit
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.7/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Power source: 56-volt 5-amp-hour battery
- Weight: 15.94 pounds
What We Like
- Delivers power equivalent to a 2-cycle gas edger
- Kit includes powerhead, string trimmer and lawn edger attachments
- Also includes battery and charger
- Powerhead is compatible with additional landscaping tool attachments, sold separately
- Durable IPX4-rated weatherproof construction
What We Don’t Like
- Heavier than other battery-powered edgers
Ego Power+ offers a full range of 56-volt cordless lawn care equipment that operates with power equivalent to gas. Its clean, quiet multihead string trimmer and edger kit is the best battery trimmer–edger combo we tested and a nice alternative to our favorite gas-powered lawn edger combo. The powerhead works with all Ego Power+ lawn care attachments. The included edger attachment uses an 8-inch rectangular steel blade, just like a handheld gas edger. The string trimmer attachment comes prestrung with pro-grade 0.095-inch trimmer line. The kit also includes a 56-volt 5-amp-hour battery and charger.
In the yard, the edger produced the best combination of torque and blade speed of any electric edger we tested. It was at least as powerful as our Best Overall pick. It did an equally excellent job of creating new edges as it did in edge maintenance. The motor remained strong and resisted bogging, even in dry, compacted clay-based soil. The straight shaft allows easy passage in tight spaces but also places the user in the direct path of flying debris, of which there was plenty. If there is a downside, it is the overall tool weight, as this was one of the heaviest models we tested.
Get the Ego Power+ lawn edger combo at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Mowers at Jacks.
Best Corded Electric
Black+Decker 12-Amp String Trimmer/Edger and Trencher
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Performance 4.5/5; Maneuverability 4/5; Durability 4.5/5; Value 5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Power source: Corded 12-amp electric motor
- Weight: 14.4 pounds
What We Like
- Compact build and lightweight; easy to maneuver, lift, and store
- Powerful electric motor can take on thin and thick grass and plant varieties
- Adjustable handle height accommodates multiple user heights
What We Don’t Like
- Limited range due to corded motor; might not be ideal for large-scale tasks
- Not as effective at creating new edges; best for maintenance
The plug-and-go Black+Decker serves not only as an edger but also as a trench digger. With a 12-amp electric engine that produces no emissions, this tool is useful for installing outdoor lighting and fencing, or when planting bushes and trees. The edger can be set to one of three possible cutting depths, with a maximum depth of 3.75 inches.
As an added safety feature, this trimmer-edger includes a built-in cord-retention system that keeps the extension cord in place to prevent users from tripping over it. The edger weighs 14.4 pounds, and it has an edging guide that helps to make clean cuts around hard surfaces like patios, walkways, and driveways.
We liked the way the Black+Decker edger tracked around tight landscape bed curves and straightaways along paved edges. It easily sliced through grass foliage and tough surface roots for a clean edge but was a bit undersized for digging into clay for bed-edge renovation.