Best electric brush cutter

There those moments you wake up only to be confronted with the nightmare of an overgrown front yard. Grasses have grown beyond your imagination and this presents a health risk as it is the breeding ground for insects and pests. A brush cutter is a device that will get you over very thick grass.

Unlike a string trimmer that uses a nylon string, the brush cutter comes with a metal blade attachment that helps you cut those thick bushes. Batteries or electric cords power electric brush cutters. This however, does not mean that they are in any less powerful than the gas powered brush cutters. Here is out list of the best electric brush cutters in the market.

Best electric brush cutter Comparison table

Model	Top Speed	Power source	Runtime	Availability
Makita DUR365UZ twin 18v	6500rpm	Twin 18v Lithium-ion batteries	2 hours	Check Price
DEWALT DCM571 54 V”XR Flexvolt brush cutter	6600rpm	54v battery	45min to 1 hour	Check Price
Ryobi OBC1820B 18V Brush cutter	N/A	18V	30min	Check Price
EinhellAgillo Power X-change brush cutter – cordless	6300rpm	36V	N/A	Check Price
Snapper XD Cordless 82V Max brush cutter	N/A	82V	N/A	Check Price

Best electric brush cutter reviews

Makita DUR365UZ Twin 18 volts brush cutter – Best value for money

The Makita comes equipped with twin 18v Lithium-ion batteries. This allows the brush cutter to run on speeds of up to 6500 rpm. Depending on how well you use it this should give you a run time of up to 2 hours. The cutter comes with a variable speed control that enables you to adjust power depending on tasks. The speed settings operate from a low of 3,500rpm, medium of 5,300rpm and high of 6,500rpm. The provided nylon cutting head is capable of rotating clockwise so the user is protected from grass clippings flying everywhere.

The Makita has a bull horn style handle that is quite comfortable to use. Besides, the Makita star blade you also get a nylon grass strimmer head. To better help you in gardening, the brush cutter comes with a “fuel gauge” that tells you how much battery life is left. You also get an electric current limiter that protects the unit from power damage due to overload.

The Makita also has an electric brake/soft start and lock-off lever. It also features a small protector for better view of the cutting area. The unit does not have carbon brushes and this enables it to run cooler hence extending its shelf life. Also, provided with purchase is an on-tool hex wrench for cutter storage and preventing the cutter from getting lost.

Pros

• Brushless electric motor
• Runs at 6500rpm
• Large bull horn style handle
• Speed control settings
• Over two hours running time
• Reverse switch to help clear clutter

Cons

You will need to purchase the batteries and cutter separately

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DEWALT DCM571 54 V”XR Flexvolt brush cutter – Best speed control

The DEWALT brush cutter comes with a 54 volt motor that is highly versatile to handle a variety of jobs. For light work you can use the self-feeding nylon spool while for heavy duty gardening work you can shift to the brush knife. We found the 54V brushless motor to be quite adequate and performing as well as gas driven cutters.

At full charge expect the DEWALT to give you from 45 to one hour of power. This is at speeds of 6600rpm. The speed is distributed from high variable speed (0-6600rpm) to low speed (0-5600rpm). The cutter is ideal for persons of varying heights, as the cordless brush cutter shaft is 1.8 meters. The 3.5Kg cutter weight is evenly distributed among its components so that you do not feel strained while operating it. The product comes with a one 9.0Ah 54 volt battery, 2.0mm twisted line and a charger.

Pros

• Operates as both a brushcutter and strimmer
• Performs as good as the gasoline based cutters
• Durable brushless motor
• Variable speed settings
• Good battery life

Cons

Some people find it a bit too long

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Ryobi OBC1820B 18V Brush cutter – Most innovative battery

If you already own a Ryobi machine then this is a great addition to your collection as you can use the same battery for up to 40 different products. The brush cutter comes with a “bull horn” handle that enables you get better control of the unit while giving you a firm grip for those heavy duty tasks. The speed controls are also within your reach on the grip handles.

The Ryobi brush cutter features a 18v battery that is optimized for high performance. You also get interchangeable brush cutter and trimmer that offers you the necessary versatility to handle a variety of jobs. To carter for those stubborn weeds the 20cm hardened steel triac blade does an amazing job.

After purchase you will notice that the machine is quite easy to setup, though you get a manual for this. While the Ryobi is not necessarily lightweight, it’s ergonomical design ensures that it is well balanced. One downside to the machine is its battery running time, on full charge you get just 30 minutes of work.

Pros

• Hardened 20cm steel blade
• Interchangeable heads
• Ergonomical design for balanced performance
• Speed control
• 30cm strimming blade

Cons

• The 30 min run time is very short

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EinhellAgillo Power X-change brush cutter – cordless(Most comfortable brush cutter)

The Einhell is a comfortable cordless brush cutter that can effortlessly handle a variety of terrain. Due to its cordless nature it is quite flexible in handling a edges. The Einhell comes with a brushless front motor that ensures maximum power and weight distribution. To ensure your comfort while working the Einhell is equipped with a twin-handle. Also, you get an aluminum tubular long handle, high comfort harness, and soft grip handle. All these ensure that you can work for long hours without experiencing a lot of discomfort.

The maximum output on the Einhell is 6,300rpm. The machine weighs a paltry 8.5kg making it well balanced. It is also very versatile as it comes with a blade and nylon string. Assembly can be quite a challenge but you will get through it. The Einhell does deliver enormous power and you should be careful to wear protective gear at all times.

The Einhell is speed is electronically controlled and the 3 tooth blade is capable of cutting through a variety of shrubs and weeds. You can set the cutter with ease through a spindle lock system. Due to the split shaft system the Einhell is easy to transport and store. You can also use the provided rechargeable batteries with any Power X-change tool. Overall, this battery-powered cutter does deliver some amazing power that resembles a gas powered cutter.

Pros

• Extremely powerful tool
• Cordless brushless cutter makes it well balanced
• Interchangeable heads
• Adjustable two-hand handle
• Speed is controlled electronically

Cons

• Can be quite dangerous when operating with objects flying everywhere

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Snapper XD Cordless 82V Max brush cutter – Most versatile brush cutter

The Snapper is a very powerful brush cutter that comes with four available attachments – pole saw, brush cutter, hedge trimmer, and cultivator. The unit also comes with a 2.13 foot extension pole that enables you to take your hedge trimmer into far to reach places. The brush cutter has 3 steel cutting blades and has width of 10 inches. This allows you to handle a larger surface area. The cultivator consists of 4 tines with an 8” diameter, it also has a max tilling width of 10”. The Pole saw is a 10” Oregon chain with a 90 degree pivoting head with 200ml oil capacity. Lastly, the snapper also consists of a hedge trimmer that has a 17” steel blade with a 90 degree pivoting head.

The snapper produces 82 volts of power which makes it an excellent companion for a variety of garden work. The grass cutter comes with built-in grass deflector and this protects you from any flying grass. Occurrence for this is higher due to the high speeds the 3 steel blades spin.

Pros

• 10” cutting width
• Ability to connect brush cutter to any Snapper XD max string trimmer
• Highly versatile operates as cultivator, brush cutter, pole saw and hedge trimmer
• Very powerful machine

Cons

High probabilities of objects flying towards you

View price here

Buying Guide

Factors to consider when purchasing the Best electric brush cutter

Before getting started on the purchasing the ideal electric brush cutter, it is important to know the key differences between it and the string trimmer. This is because at first glance the machines look almost similar. One of the key differences in distinguishing between the two is that a string trimmer uses a nylon cord while a brush cutter uses a blade. This difference determines how you use the devices. You can the string trimmer to cut short to medium grass while the brush cutter is used for heavy duty gardening work.

Power source – Electric or gas

Gas power cutters

When getting a gas cutter it can be 2-stroke or 4 stroke. The 2-stroke is lighter and easy to maintain. This makes it ideal for light gardening work. The 4-stroke cutter is bulkier and ideal for heavy duty gardening tasks. The gas cutters do not require an electrical source and can work on almost anything. While the 2-stroke cutter has few moving parts it is smelly and noisy. The 4-stroke cutter is more complicated and unbalanced but runs more cooler.

Electric brush cutter

The electric cutters run from 20, 40, 60, to 80 volts. The 20 volt cutter is ideal for small and medium tasks while the 80 volt one is for more intensive work. The electric/cordless cutter comes with extension cables or battery packs (which you can interchange for extended use). The cutters also have rating of between 6,000 to 7,000rpm.

Cutting width

The capacity of a cutter is determined by its width. If you have stubborn weeds then a cutting width of about 10 inches is ideal while 8 inches is ideal for normal trimming. A larger cutting width means you do more in a very shorter time that a smaller one.

Shaft

The shaft is that part of the cutter that connects the spinning head to the engine part. The shaft can either be bent or straight. A bent shaft gives you more detail in your trimming but comes with the cost of being susceptible to mechanical problems than the straight one. This is largely due to the linking system. The straight shaft is directly connected to the power source and this makes it have more power.

You should also consider the shaft length during purchase as it determines your ease of working. A shorter shaft means you will be bending hence causing certain back pain problems. Shaft length tends to be 52” to 65” long.

Head versatility

Most brush cutters in the market come with interchangeable heads. This allows you to switch between the nylon cord and steel blades depending on the tasks. Having interchangeable heads offers you more versatility as you can easily move from small to large tasks.

Vibration

Brush cutters due to the use of engines/motors tend to produce some level of vibrations. Good quality engines will come with anti-vibration features that automatically reduce the vibrations when the machine is in idle. When vibration is minimized the cutter feels comfortable in your hands but it is custom for higher output cutters to vibrate more.

Handles

Brush cutters can be dangerous tools if not handled well. This necessitates the need for a good grip during working. The handle choice falls into two main categories – one and two handed. The two handed ones resemble bull horns while the one handed one resembles a loop handle. If you have a large lawn to work on with stubborn weeds then the two handed handle is better suited for the job. It is more comfortable for bigger tasks.

Brush cutter variety

Brush cutters are classified into – Handheld, walk-behind, and two behind. The most common of the three is the handheld cutter. This one’s tend to be shorter and 2/4 cycle engines. They have larger engines and thicker lines and are ideal for cutting grass, saplings and overgrown weeds. If you have a large surface area to trim then the walk-behind cutter is most ideal. This cutter is quite similar to the lawn mower in design. The two-behind is similar to the walk behind with the difference as the name suggests you pull the cutter. These are ideal for cutting overgrown thick bushes and abandoned fields.

Durability

Here the brand name will mostly be your guide as some brands are synonymous with quality while some are not. It is ideal to get a cutter that will last you for many years without requiring constant maintenance. When choosing the cutter be on the lookout for the quality of the blades; this should be sturdy enough for tough tasks. If you are planning on cutting grass then blade with eight teeth are recommended while for shrubs and thick plants 9 to 40 blade teeth. For larger smaller trees or saplings then a blade with over 40 teeth is more ideal.

Purpose

Before you go to the market to get yourself a gardening tool, one of the key questions you need to ask yourself is what are you cutting. If you have overgrown bushes and weeds then a nylon string may not serve well and you should opt for a brush cutter. These are pricier but can handle more work. However, if all you want is to trim your backyard grass that is not that overgrown then there is not point in spending large sums of money for a brush cutter, just get a string trimmer instead. Some of the brush cutters tend to be very heavy and you need to put this into consideration. Initially, the added weight may not seem like much but after 30 to 45 minutes of trimming you should start feeling tired and exhausted. The extra vibration isn’t that great for an old body.

Warranty

Unlike string trimmers the gas powered cutters are more expensive and need constant maintenance. So, you need to factor this in your pricing. As with other products the cheaper a cutter the less it is to be of high quality. While considering the price also factor in the warranty. Most of the brush cutters in the market tend to come with a warranty of 2 years. This allows you to get replacement of parts during this period. Weigh your options before purchase so that you get the best price.

Verdict: So, which is the best electric brush cutter?

We have examined some very innovative and good electric brush cutters but we have a winner in the Makita DUR365UZ Twin 18 volts brush cutter. We were impressed with its dual 18 volts battery that offers one enough power for weed and bush cutting. The machine operates at high speeds of up to 6,500rpm which is quite decent to get all your work done fast. The unit also comes with an interchangeable nylon grass strimmerhead which you can use for lighter work. The Makita features a bull horn style handle which is ideal for heavy duty work while still remaining very comfortable to use.