Buying guide for best lawn edgers
There's a certain satisfaction to be had when you see a lush, green lawn with clean, straight edges. Especially when that lawn is yours.
On the face of it, it may seem like finding an adequate lawn edger would be no sweat. But when you study the range of edgers available – and the variety of price tags out there – the task of finding the perfect lawn edger for your needs grows much more daunting.
That’s where we come in. At BestReviews, our aim is to provide consumers with up-to-date, unbiased information about the best products available.
Each edger featured in our product list is a great tool that would satisfy the needs of a certain population of users. Using our product-specific recommendations and buying guide, we’re confident that you can find an excellent product to meet your needs.
Power options
Should you get a manual, electric, or gas-driven edger? We discuss your options here.
Manual lawn edgers
In this technology-rich world, an old-fashioned manual edger may look a bit out of place. And yet, this type of tool offers some definite benefits.
- Low cost
- Environmentally friendly
- Easy to store
- Quiet
- Maintenance free (apart from a quick wipe-down here and there)
- No motor or cables to deal with
Admittedly, a manual tool probably isn’t the right choice if you’ve got miles of edging to do. But for small flower beds, gardens, and other areas, it’s a smart option for both maintaining and installing edging.
Electric lawn edgers
The most popular edgers are those powered by electricity. It’s easy to see why they’re such a trendy choice.
- Ease to use; just plug in and go
- Little maintenance required
- Low running cost
- Lightweight (compared to gas models)
- Tolerable noise level
- Zero emissions
On the downside, you must trail a cable behind you when you use an electric edger. (Unless you invest in a cordless model, that is.) A cord isn’t a deal-breaker, but it’s a nuisance, and if you’re not careful, it could be a safety hazard. What’s more, the power output of an electric edger pales in comparison to the power output of a gas-powered model.
How do you install an edge where an edge doesn’t yet exist? If you’re planning a major sod-related project as part of a landscaping renovation, it may be best to purchase or rent a sod cutter. A sod cutter is a versatile tool with many applications, from removing grass to cutting turf.
STAFF
BestReviews
Gas-powered lawn edgers
It’s true that landscaping pros tend to use pricey gas-powered edgers. But the market offers some great mid-range gas machines for homeowners as well. If you have a larger-than-average plot of land that requires a decent amount of edging power, this could be the right choice for you.
Gas-powered edgers offer these advantages:
- Easy to start
- Works all day (refueling aside)
- Excellent durability
- Built for accuracy
On the downside, gas-powered edgers put out more noise and emissions than electric and manual models. Regular maintenance is essential to their functioning.
When we consider a lawn edger, we look for the basic features consumers prefer, including a lightweight build, easy-to-use controls, and quiet operation.
We explore three types of lawn edgers in our research: manual, electric, and gas-powered edgers.
We look at lawn edgers suitable for right-handed users, lawn edgers suitable for left-handed users, and lawn edgers that could be used by either population.
Because gas edgers deliver the most power, they are suitable for maintaining large areas of land. In our research, we assess power while also noting noise output, fuel emissions, and maintenance requirements.
Electric lawn edgers are lighter and easier to wield than gas-powered edgers. In our research, we look at both corded and battery-powered models.
We look at lawn edgers with blades of different sizes. For the best performance and longevity, we tend to seek lawn edgers with blades made of steel.
When looking at a battery-powered lawn edger, we research how long the tool can be expected to run with a full charge.
When we research gas-powered lawn edgers, we want to know if they are easy to start. We also consider their weight, as these edgers tend to be heavier than other options.
There are several pros to using a manual edger, including an affordable price, a simple design, and straightforward operation. We take these perks into account when shortlisting the best lawn edgers.
A lawn edger’s power impacts the type of work it can do. We look at the horsepower offered by gas-powered models and the amps offered by electric models.
Features and tips
Features vary depending on the type of edger you buy. Here’s a brief summary of what to expect from a good lawn edger, be it a manual, electric, or gas-powered tool.
Manual edgers
Shape: This type of edger is often shaped like a half moon. However, we note that edgers with a point can be easier to position and guide.
Design: The cheapest manual edger is simply a flat plate with a handle. But for a few dollars more, you can get a manual edger with a “step.” The step acts as a useful guide against hard landscaping, and it won’t dig into your foot like a straight blade can.
Material: Most manual edgers are made of steel, which is prone to rust. To reduce the chance of this happening, some manufacturers layer paint over steel. Unfortunately, this finish may scratch over time.
"Some manufacturers suggest that their product will last longer because it’s made of “carbon steel.” Technically, however, we’d like to point out that all steel is carbon steel. "
STAFF
BestReviews
Cordless electric edgers
Batteries: Obviously, you’re going to have to buy batteries for this type of tool. We recommend that you get the biggest battery available, with a minimum of 20 volts. And we urge you to make sure it’s lithium, not NiCad. Lithium batteries cost more, but they hold their power longer, and they don’t suffer from the “memory effect” that makes NiCad batteries lose performance each time they’re charged.
If you’ve got your heart set on a cordless edger, we suggest that a “combination” machine – a string trimmer/weed wacker with an edging facility – might be your best option.
"In recent years, cordless lawn edgers have grown in popularity. Battery life remains a drawback, but run times are definitely improving."
STAFF
BestReviews
Corded electric edgers
Motor: Some manufacturers quote horsepower, but a better guide for this type of edger is amps. The most popular corded lawn edgers feature 11- or 12-amp motors.
Cord retention clip: This type of tool frequently comes with a cord retention clip to prevent the cables from coming undone while you’re working.
Blade: A steel blade is a must. Sizes range from 15 to 20 centimetres, but a larger blade isn’t necessarily a better blade. Bear in mind that quoted blade size has little to do with depth of cut, which may be no more than 5 centimetres. Blade depth adjustment is a more useful feature.
Trenching: Some edgers offer a trenching option. This is useful if you want to bury cable for lights or run lightweight hose around the garden for irrigation.
Right- and left-handed operation: The best electric edgers provide left- or right-handed operation. This is great if you're a “mixed” family of lefties and righties!
Gas edgers
Blade: As with electric edgers, we urge you to check blade size, depth of cut, and adjustability before making a purchase.
Easy set-up: Most gas-powered edgers require minimal assembly.
CARB compliance: Machines that are CARB (California Air Resources Board) compliant have lower emissions. It’s a standard created in that state before the federal Clean Air Act came about, and it’s something more and more states are adopting.
Power: Big horsepower numbers aren't alway necessary. But if you’re doing a lot of edging, a machine with more power will make your life easier.
Other features: Some gas edgers can angle the blade for cutting bevels. Some offer curb-hopping capability: the front and back wheels on one side lower so the machine can step over curb stones.
Lawn edger alternatives
If you’ve got a large plot of land to manage, a dedicated lawn edger is highly recommended. And if you’re creating new borders in your landscaping, nothing quite compares to a great edger.
However, several alternatives exist for people who are looking to save money while still maintaining neat edges.
- If you already have one or more cordless garden tools, buying a cordless trimmer or edger from the same manufacturer might afford you the ability to interchange attachments. For example, you might be able to fit your edger piece on your weed wacker.
- Buying multiple products from the same manufacturer also sometimes affords you the ability to share batteries between tools. This could certainly make life easier, but check carefully; even machine batteries from the same maker aren't always compatible.
- A number of commercial-grade edger attachments are available for gas-powered weed wackers. This option is not as powerful as a dedicated gas lawn edger, but if you've already got a big brush cutter (or similar), it’s a high-performance alternative that's worth considering.
Lawn edger prices
How much does a good lawn edger cost? A high-quality manual edger will probably cost you around $30. There are cheaper models, but in the “dirt cheap” price bracket, we’d be concerned about quality.
You don't have to spend a fortune to get a top electric lawn edger, either. Somewhere between $80 to $120 should cover it.
The best gas-powered edgers vary in price enormously. Mid-range machines cost between $250 and $300. The very best edgers are professional machines that will cost you twice that, and it's not difficult to spend $1,000 or more.
Safety tips
Lawn edgers are sharp tools. As such, they should be stored and handled with utmost care. We spoke to our landscaping consultants for some safety advice.
- Our experts recommend that you sharpen your blade after every six to ten hours of use, just as you would your lawn mower blade. For people who use their edger for less than half an hour at a time, this translates to just a few sharpening sessions per year.
- Always wear eye and hand protection, as well as long sleeves and long pants, when using your edger.
- Always use extreme caution when operating a lawn tool.
