7 Best Lawn Edgers For a Neat-Looking Yard
Use one of these handy tools to create distinct lines in your yard.
Reviewed by Dan DiClericoHome Improvement & Outdoor Director
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The best way to tame unruly edges in your yard and make your turf look pristine is with a lawn edger. This tool helps you draw crisp, professional-looking lines alongside driveways, sidewalks, patios and garden beds, kicking your landscaping up a notch.
Most lawn edgers use a motorized blade to cut through anything in their path and come equipped with a stabilizing wheel for control. There are three types of lawn edgers: handheld stick edgers, walk-behind edgers and manual edgers.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we test all types of equipment to help you maintain your yard from lawn mowers to lawn dethatchers. To identify the best edgers on the market today — and help you achieve a yard with sharp lines that will make your neighbors jealous — the experts in the Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab spent a couple weeks testing models, plus we compared notes with our partners at Popular Mechanics, who recently put together their own round-up of top-rated lawn edgers.
- Best Overall: Echo DPAS-2600SB
- Best Value: Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Lawn Edger
- Best Multi-Use: Stihl KMA 80 R
- Best Gas-Powered: Echo PE-225 Handheld Edger
- Best Corded: WORX 12-Amp 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher
- Best Walk-Behind: EARTHQUAKE 41273 Walk-Behind Lawn Edger
- Best Manual: AMES 2917200 Saw-Tooth Border Edger with T-Grip
Pros
- Top-notch performance
- Easy to maneuver
- Lightweight
Cons
- Lawn edger attachment is sold separately
The 56-volt DPAS-2100SB from Echo is a brushless string trimmer that’s compatible with 16 attachments, such as a leaf blower and a brush cutter. We tested the tool using the curved shaft edger attachment (sold separately) and found its edging performance to be first-rate, creating clean lines around the perimeter of our tester’s backyard patio.
The cushioned handle made the tool easy to grip, and its lightweight design and curved shaft allowed for easy maneuvering and precision. The battery delivers an impressive runtime of up to 52 minutes.
| Style | Stick |
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 15 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | 7.75 in. |
Greenworks Pro 80V 8-Inch Brushless Lawn Edger
Pros
- Low priced
- Powerful 80-volt brushless motor
- Variable speed
Cons
- Battery not included
If you’re looking for an edger that delivers excellent torque, consider this budget-friendly model. Greenworks tools have performed well in our previous Lab tests, and we expect no less from the company’s lawn edger. It features an 80-volt brushless motor and a variable-speed trigger that allows you to adjust the power output as you see fit.
According to Popular Mechanics' review: “You can give the motor full power for deep cuts or cutting through clay soil, or back off the trigger for light cuts, such as refreshing the edge after weekly mowing.” Keep in mind, though, that the battery — which the brand says lasts 80 minutes on a single charge — is sold separately for $55. (Note: The edger is compatible with batteries from other devices in the Greenworks collection.)
| Type | Stick |
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 16.57 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | 1.75 in. |
Pros
- Up to 14 attachments
- Precise
- Open-guard design for less clogging
Cons
- Expensive
Here’s another multi-use device that offers a particularly wide array of useful attachments, including a leaf blower and a hedge trimmer. We tested the straight-shaft lawn edger attachment for this report, and its edging performance proved excellent in our assessments. Its open-guard design allowed for smoother cutting and less grass clogging, while the tool’s control wheel provided precision.
The downside? The system itself is pricey, and the straight-shaft edger attachment costs an additional $200.
| Type | Stick |
| Power source | Battery |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | Not listed |
Pros
- Rubber flap reduces flying debris
- Easy to start, according to the manufacturer
- Variable speed
Cons
- Pricey
This is Echo’s second device on our list. The highly-rated tool — which garners mostly excellent customer reviews on Amazon and has an average 4.6 rating — features a starting system with a spring-assist mechanism that lets you turn the machine on more easily, the brand says, addressing a common pain point for gas-powered edgers. It’s also equipped with a curved shaft, a 7.75-inch cutting depth and a 12.8-ounce fuel tank for longer operation.
It also has a rubber flap to reduce flying debris. However, the engine requires a professional-grade 50:1 gas-oil mix. Those 2-cycle fuel costs can add up over time, and that’s on top of the tool’s high price tag.
| Type | Stick |
| Power source | Gas |
| Weight | 20 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | 7.75 in. |
WORX 12-Amp 7.5-Inch Electric Lawn Edger & Trencher
Pros
- Powerful motor
- Lightweight
- Easy to steer
Cons
- Corded design limits the tool’s portability
Equipped with a powerful 12-amp motor, this corded device from WORX pulls double duty as both an edger and a trencher, thanks to adjustable-height, 7.5-inch steel cutting blade. At just 14 pounds, the tool is easy to steer and maneuver, according to customer reviews on Amazon and the manufacturer’s website.
This product is cheaper than our budget pick, the Greenworks Pro, but a corded lawn edger isn’t as convenient to use as a battery- or gas-powered model, especially if you have a large yard. Also, several customers on Walmart’s website said that the blades wore out fairly quickly.
| Type | Stick |
| Power source | Corded electric |
| Weight | 14 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | 1.5 in. |
EARTHQUAKE 41273 Walk-Behind Lawn Edger
Pros
- Affordably priced for a walk-behind model
- Integrated tool holder
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- Difficult to assemble, according to customer reviews
- Bulky to store
Although it takes longer to put together than a stick edger, the Earthquake 41273 is reasonably priced for a walk-behind design and its 79cc gas engine that delivers a decent amount of power. The adjustable pivoting head has five different cutting angles, from 70 to 110 degrees, that allow you to create clean edges along curved surfaces, such as sloped sidewalks and garden beds.
Equipped with an integrated tool holder, the machine is also easy to operate, according to the brand, with padded handlebars that allow you to push the edger just like you would a lawn mower. Another plus: The product is backed by a generous five-year warranty.
That said, a number of Amazon customers said in reviews that the product took a while to assemble. One wrote: “This thing comes in a ton of pieces and [is] tightly packaged, making opening and assembly a pain in the posterior.” And because of its size, it is difficult to store.
| Type | Walk-behind |
| Power source | Gas |
| Weight | 57 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | 3.5 in. |
Pros
- Suitable for small yards
- Durable saw-tooth blade
- Easy to store
Cons
- Requires more effort to use
- Not good for larger yards
If you’re willing to put in the physical effort and don’t have a lot of edging to do, this Ames manual edger could be a good affordable option compared to the other edgers on this list. The lightweight tool's serrated steel blade is quite durable, according to customer reviews on Amazon, and the footplate helps you sink the blade deeper into the ground.
It’s also easy to store, taking up around the same amount of space as a rake or a hoe.
| Style | Stick |
| Power source | Manual |
| Weight | 3 lbs |
| Maximum cutting depth | N/A |
How we test lawn edgers
The Good Housekeeping Institute put two lawn edgers — the Stihl KMA 80 R and the Echo DPAS-2100SB — through a battery of tests, assessing each tool’s ease of assembly, construction, handling and, most important, edging performance. We tested the tools several times over the course of two weeks.
We also compared notes with our partners at Popular Mechanics, who recently completed their own list of the highly-rated lawn edgers. Finally, we scoured hundreds of online customer reviews to identify common issues that consumers reported while using the tools. We took all of that data into account when selecting the best lawn edgers.
What to look for when shopping for the best lawn edger
There are several key things to consider when you go hunting for a lawn edger:
✔️ Type: Lawn edgers are either handheld stick models or walk-behind machines. The latter are similar to walk-behind lawn mowers that you push to operate. Walk-behind edgers typically provide more power than stick edgers since they’re often equipped with larger engines.
- Stick edgers feature a long handle, like a weed whacker, with a cutting blade at the bottom and a gas engine or electric motor at the top. Some stick edgers have straight handles, while others have a curved-shaft design.
- Walk-behind edgers are larger machines that operate like a push lawn mower or dethatcher. They feature three or four wheels, with a cutting blade below a deck, that you push around your yard. Most walk-behind edgers are gas-powered, and they’re typically more expensive than stick edgers.
- Manual edgers feature a rounded blade attached to a long handle. You use your foot to stomp down on the blade to draw lines. Manuals are the most affordable option.
✔️ Power source: Lawn edger power sources fall into three categories: electric, gas and manual.
- Electric lawn edgers, which run on a battery or an electric cord connected to a power outlet, have gained market share in recent years, as more consumers move away from gas-powered lawn equipment. Generally, people say electric edgers are easy to operate, but battery models inherently have a limited runtime and corded models limit your range of usage.
- Gas-powered lawn edgers run on fuel, with gas tanks varying in size. Many have more torque than electric edgers, but they generate emissions and tend to be noisier than electric ones.
- Manual edgers take a lot more physical effort to operate, since you have to press down on the blade to use it instead of running a motor, making them more suited for smaller yards with less edging to do.
✔️ Lawn size: The size of your yard plays an important role in what kind of edger would best fit your needs. If you have a smaller lawn, a stick model may be sufficient. A larger yard may call for a walk-behind edger that you can more easily push around instead of carrying a handheld edger.
✔️ Cutting depth: A lawn edger’s cutting depth can vary, typically anywhere from 1.5 inches (shallow) to 8 inches (very deep). Deeper cutting depths allow you to edge farther into the ground. Many lawn edgers feature adjustable cutting depths.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
The Good Housekeeping Institute provides expert reviews and advice on all things home-related, including lawn mowers and edgers.
Daniel Bortz is a freelance writer who has written about home improvement for more than a decade, including testing-based product reviews across every major category, from outdoor power tools to smart home technology. His work has been published by the New York Times, Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine and other outlets. He personally tested the Echo DPAS-2100SB and the Stihl KMA 80 R lawn edgers in his backyard in Gaithersburg, Maryland.
For this article, Bortz worked closely with Dan DiClerico, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Improvement and Outdoor Lab. DiClerico has tested and written about travel equipment for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping, his expertise appeared in Consumer Reports and This Old House.
Daniel Bortz (he/him) is a freelance writer in Arlington, Va who has written about home improvement for more a decade, including product reviews across every major category, from appliances to smart home technology, as well as articles on real estate, personal finance, and more. His work has been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Consumer Reports, Newsweek, Money magazine, among others. He’s also a licensed real estate agent who watches way too much HGTV.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
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