The Best Brush Cutters For Heavy-Duty Lawn Maintenance, Tested
Brush cutters can easily grind through overgrown fields, up steep hillsides, and into deep ditches where regular lawn equipment doesn’t work so well. When a lawn mower and weed wacker won’t cut it, a brush cutter might be the answer.
In my years as a landscaping pro, I used heavy-duty handheld and walk-behind brush cutters that I wouldn’t necessarily choose as a homeowner. For this guide, I researched more than 40 brush cutters of all sizes and types before choosing the following models for testing. I’ve included walk-behind and handheld brush cutters (of both gas- and electric-powered varieties) as well as a universal brush cutter attachment, brush saw blade, and heavy-duty trimmer line. No matter the size of your property, if you need to deal with overgrown grass or tough, woody brush, this roundup of the best brush cutters should have something to fit your project needs and budget.
- BEST OVERALL: Makita 36V LXT Brushless Brush Cutter Kit
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Wild Badger Power 52cc Straight Shaft Brush Cutter
- BEST GAS BRUSH CUTTER: Husqvarna 336FR Gas Brush Cutter
- BEST ELECTRIC BRUSH CUTTER: Greenworks Pro 80V 16-Inch Cordless String Trimmer
- BEST HANDHELD BRUSH CUTTER: Echo X Series SRM-3020U Gas Brush Cutter
- BEST WALK-BEHIND: DR Power Premier 26 Field and Brush Push Mower
- BEST ATTACHMENT: Troy-Bilt BC720 TrimmerPlus Add-On Brush Cutter
- BEST BRUSH CUTTER BLADE: Forester Chainsaw 20-Tooth 9-Inch Brush Blade
- BEST BRUSH CUTTER STRING: Oregon Platinum Gatorline SuperTwist Trimmer Line
Before You Buy a Brush Cutter
A fully equipped brush cutter can be an expensive, heavy-duty machine. Compared to typical battery-powered string trimmers and weed wackers, the best brush cutters are heavier and more powerful (as well as more expensive). Depending on the density of the brush you need to cut and the tools you have at your disposal, with the help of attachments and adapters, you might be able to do the job with tools that are already in your shed. For example, some string trimmers can be converted into brush cutters, though their power will be limited.
While a high-quality string trimmer can knock down patches of dense lawn weeds on occasion, they’re better suited for simple yard maintenance rather than slicing through thick brush. If the weeds are extra tough, the area is large, and trimming needs to be done frequently, it makes sense to invest in a dedicated brush cutter instead.
How We Tested the Best Brush Cutters
After researching more than 40 different brush-cutting tools, I settled on nine options for testing. These include a heavy-duty walk-behind model, several gas- and battery-powered handheld brush cutters, and an assortment of string trimmer attachments. I tested both the walk-behind and handheld machines, using all the equipment they came with. This included fixed blades, string trimmers, and for some, a heavy-duty trimmer line. I used Greenworks’ attachment-capable trimmer to test the universal brush-cutter attachment.
Each test was performed on 1,000 square feet of coarse, grassy weeds, followed by another 1,000 square feet of woody brush. Afterward, I recorded my observations, beginning with the assembly process, then starting the machine, operating it, and performing the required maintenance. I scored all products on a rubric before giving each an award to highlight its standout features.
Testing Stats
- Products tested: 9
- Time spent testing: 11 hours
- Tests performed: 5
- Average price: $456.53
Our Top Picks
A good brush cutter can help you tidy up those overgrown corners, but with so many options, it can be difficult to choose the best tool for the job. Read on to find out how each of these picks performed in hands-on testing, as this might help you figure out which brush cutter is best for your cleanup project.
Best Overall
Makita 36V LXT Brushless Brush Cutter Kit
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.
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.7/5; Noise 5/5; Effectiveness 4.3/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Cutting width: 9 inches
- Weight: 15 pounds
What We Like
- Eco-friendly; does not require gas and produces zero emissions
- Comes with comfortable molded grips, a brushless motor, and a variable-speed trigger for user-friendliness
- Steel drive shaft boosts tool durability and minimizes handle vibration
- Extremely comfortable backpack-style harness system minimizes user fatigue
What We Didn’t Like
- 30-minute runtime may not be adequate for larger properties or tougher conditions
- Most expensive handheld brush cutter in the test group
Powered by two 18-volt batteries, the Makita LXT brush cutter comes equipped with bicycle-style handlebars, an efficient brushless motor, a 9-inch steel-blade cutting head, and a variable-speed trigger. The steel drive shaft produces low vibration, minimizing user strain. It also features Automatic Torque Drive Technology that automatically adjusts the motor’s output to adapt to tougher cutting conditions and to lengthen its runtime. It weighs in at just 16.8 pounds with the batteries and cutting head installed.
The Makita 36V LXT earned Best Overall due to its speedy efficiency, easy operation, and lightweight comfort. In my tests, the batteries provided 30 minutes of nonstop cutting per charge through coarse grass, vines, brambles, shrubs, and tree seedlings up to 0.75 inches thick. The included 4-tooth circular steel blade held its edge perfectly, even after a few encounters with unseen rocks. This blade provided enough versatility to cut through a wider variety of materials than either a heavy-duty trimmer string or a sawtooth cutter could offer.
The unit also came equipped with the best harness system of the testing group. Well padded and easy to adjust, the harness system fit like an extremely comfortable backpack. Combined with the light weight of the machine, it eliminated any notion of fatigue and made working a pleasure.
The low power/speed setting was perfect for cutting tough woody material, while the faster speeds were best while moving quickly through coarse weeds and brambles. The half hour runtime was longer than I expected but is still a limiting factor for those with large properties. Some users may require additional batteries to continue working while the depleted set recharges. Though it may not be the best option for those who regularly cut large areas of thick, woody brush, this was an excellent general-purpose brush cutter for a wide range of conditions and brush types.
Read our full review: Makita 36V LXT Brushless Brush Cutter Kit
Get the Makita brush cutter at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Acme Tools (tool only).
Best Bang for the Buck
Wild Badger Power 52cc Straight Shaft Brush Cutter
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4/5; Noise 4/5; Effectiveness 4.3/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: String trimmer conversion
- Cutting width: 18 inches (maximum)
- Weight: 19.5 pounds
What We Like
- 52 cubic centimeter (cc) 2-cycle gas engine delivers ample power for heavy-duty cutting
- Blade adapter works with other types of rigid brush-cutting blades
- 2-in-1 kit includes a 3-tooth brush cutter head as well as a string trimmer head
- Bicycle-style handlebars and nylon harness system boost user comfort and control
What We Didn’t Like
- Heavier, louder, and harder to start than other brush cutters in the test group
- Design and components are not as efficient or robust as more expensive models
For a budget-friendly brush cutter, we know of no better option than the Wild Badger Power brush cutter. It does double duty as both a brush cutter and a string trimmer for cutting fine lines as well as coarse weeds and brush. This 19-pound handheld cutter includes a harness and bicycle-style handles to increase stability and control while preventing fatigue. It features a 52cc 2-cycle full-crank engine for taking on small to large projects, and the straight aluminum shaft is lightweight enough for long periods of use.
The Wild Badger Power brush cutter offered a lot of cutting ability at an affordable price, but it lacked the comfort features and mechanical refinement of more expensive options. The big 52cc engine made it the heaviest of all of the handheld brush cutters I tested. The weight was somewhat mitigated by the included shoulder and waist strap, but the straps themselves were flimsy and not well padded. Assembly involved attaching the bicycle-style handle, as well as choosing and installing one of the two included cutting heads, which only took a few minutes.
It started like other 2-cycle machines: purge, choke, and pull the recoil cord. It took five to seven pulls every time. The big engine was a bit louder than others in the test, which I expected, but the actual cutting power seemed about the same or maybe a little lower than the Husqvarna and Echo models reviewed below. Equipped with the string trimmer head, it worked well on overgrown grass and coarse weeds, and the 3-tooth steel blade was good for brambles and vines. Neither of the included heads did a great job on seedlings and weedy shrubs thicker than half an inch in diameter, but the machine is capable of supporting a sawtooth brush blade for users who need that capability.
Get the Wild Badger Power brush cutter at Amazon, Lowe’s, or Tractor Supply Co.
Best Gas Brush Cutter
Husqvarna 336FR Gas Brush Cutter
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 4.5/5; Noise 5/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Durability 5/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Cutting width: 18 inches (string) or 9 inches (blade)
- Weight: 18 pounds
What We Like
- 34.6cc gas engine produces ample torque and blade speed to cut through tough brush
- Kit includes a string trimmer head, 3-tooth grass blade, and 22-tooth saw blade for a variety of cutting needs
- Consistently easy to start; low vibration while operating reduces user fatigue
- Well padded and easy-to-adjust backpack-style harness for extended comfort
What We Didn’t Like
- Brush blade assembly limits the depth of cut to about 2 inches
- Unclear instructions for assembling the rigid blades; I had to resort to a web search
The Husqvarna 336FR is great for those who need a powerful, versatile, and dependable gas brush cutter. It packs an easy-to-start 34.6cc engine, bicycle-style handlebars, a well-padded backpack-style harness system, and three different cutting heads. While the string trimmer head and 3-tooth grass blade both proved to be powerful attachments, I spent extra time working with the 9-inch brush blade.
The instructions for assembly of the handlebar and string trimmer head were perfectly clear in the printed directions. But when it came time to change over to a rigid blade, I had to resort to an internet search. I was able to use the rigid grass blade with the same guard as the string trimmer, but in order to work with the brush saw, I had to install a different blade guard. All of the parts were included for all three configurations. As it turned out, the assembly for rigid blades proved best suited for grass and thin-to-moderate woody stems, as the donut-shaped fitting between the blade and the nut restricts cutting depth to about 2 inches. Also, the donut is made of plastic, and it showed signs of wear after an hour of cutting.
The brush blade itself was outstanding. With its relatively thin kerf and 22 chisel teeth, it buzzed through woody stems like a knife through warm butter. The special blade guard allowed more of the blade to be exposed, which was convenient for moving through dense stands of brush. The potential downside of the smaller guard was flying debris. In addition to safety glasses, I wore a forestry-style hard hat with earmuffs and a mesh face shield for protection. The motor didn’t bog down at all, even when cutting hardened, dry wood, and I always felt in control with the handlebars. As a side note, in terms of comfort and ease of adjustment, the harness system was right up there with our Best Overall pick, the Makita.
Get the Husqvarna brush cutter at Tractor Supply Co. or Mowers At Jacks.
Best Electric Brush Cutter
Greenworks Pro 80V 16-Inch Cordless String Trimmer
Our Ratings: Ease of Use 5/5; Noise 3.7/5; Effectiveness 4.5/5; Durability 4/5; Value 4.5/5
Product Specs
- Type: Handheld
- Cutting width: 16 inches
- Weight: 11 pounds
What We Like
- Efficient brushless electric motor provides up to 45 minutes of battery life
- Included string-trimmer attachment provides added versatility
- Features a variable-speed trigger to optimize battery power
- Lightweight construction minimizes strain on the user
- Battery and charger included; rapid charging
What We Didn’t Like
- Additional attachments not included with purchase
- Underpowered for clearing tree seedlings and thick, woody brush
The attachment-capable Greenworks 80-volt powerhead with string trimmer attachment is a good investment for those with limited storage space. It eliminates the need for fuel handling and gas engine maintenance, and it works just as well with daily use as it does after months in storage. Its affordability, adaptability, ease of operation, and impressive battery life earned this string trimmer the award Best Electric Brush Cutter. It’s a great choice for regular lawn maintenance and seasonal cleanup projects on smaller properties.
The electric motor produced ample torque and speed to drive both the string trimmer head and the brush cutter through overgrown grass and light brush. In its base configuration, it served best as a conventional string trimmer with just enough power to take out the occasional tree seedling or vine that found its way into my border plantings. When equipped with a brush cutter attachment (see my review of the Troy-Bilt brush cutter attachment below), it easily tackled thicker vines, blackberry canes, and woody brush up to a half inch in diameter.
I worked through one full charge with the string trimmer attachment and a second charge with the brush cutter attachment. The 80-volt 2-amp-hour battery provided 15 to 20 minutes of nonstop runtime per charge. This would not be enough for big yards, but it was plenty for a few thousand square feet. Recharging the battery took about 30 minutes. The included harness system was a simple diagonal shoulder strap, unlike the shoulder/waist-strap combos and backpack-style harnesses that come with heavy-duty cutters. It was fairly comfortable thanks to the light weight of the machine. The variable-speed trigger worked smoothly, and the cutter produced very little vibration during operation.
Get the Greenworks brush cutter at Amazon or Greenworks Tools.