Key takeaways
- Pros: Included battery and charger eliminate hidden costs; brushless motor runs cooler and lasts longer than brushed alternatives.
- Con: 2.5Ah capacity can feel limiting on properties over half an acre without a spare pack.
- Skip it if: You already own multiple Toro 60V batteries and want to save money with a bare tool.
What's inside
Most homeowners reach for a string trimmer because the mower left a ragged edge along the fence, the garden bed, or the mailbox post, and they want a tool that finishes the job without wrestling a gas engine through a cold pull. The category looks deceptively simple: a shaft, a spinning head, and a spool of nylon line. But the gap between a trimmer that makes you want to quit after five minutes and one that handles a full yard in a single session comes down to motor efficiency, cutting width, and whether the battery ecosystem actually supports the runtime you need.
Toro entered the 60V Flex-Force space with brushless motors that promise longer life and better power delivery than the brushed units that dominated the last decade of cordless equipment. Owner feedback consistently highlights the bump-feed head’s durability and the modular power-head compatibility as standout features. At the same time, lower-voltage competitors like Craftsman and WORX continue to undercut on price for small-lot owners who never touch thick brush. This roundup compares published specifications and aggregated owner feedback to help you match a trimmer to your yard size, your existing battery collection, and your patience for maintenance.
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Quick Picks
| Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toro Flex-Force 60V 14/16″ Kit | Best overall value | $175 |
| Toro 60V 14/16″ Bare Tool | Toro 60V battery owners | $134.14 |
| Toro 60V 15/13″ Bare Tool | Lightweight detail work | $94.85 |
| Toro 60V 17″ Dual-Line Head | Thick grass and brush | $119.98 |
| Toro Flex-Force 60V Kit (premium) | Longest runtime in one battery | $234.78 |
| Toro 88616 Spooled Line | Replacement line | $19.99 |
| Craftsman V20 Trimmer/Edger Kit | Small yards under budget | $99 |
| WORX 20V 2-in-1 WG163 | Minimum price, light edging | $61.70 |
How We Picked
We narrowed the field by weighing three criteria: motor type and voltage class (brushless 60V platforms deliver noticeably more torque per charge than 20V brushed units, which matters when you hit crabgrass or a fence line gone wild), cutting swath width (a 17-inch head clears a border in fewer passes than a 12-inch head, directly affecting session time), and included-versus-bare pricing logic (a head-only trimmer is excellent value if you already own the matching battery, but a poor purchase if you do not). Owner-reported runtime and spool-loading ease rounded out the comparison.
The 8 Best Toro String Trimmer in 2026: Top Picks for Every Budget
1. Toro Flex-Force 60V 14/16″ Electric String Trimmer with 2.5Ah Battery and Charger
This is the complete kit that makes the 60V platform accessible without a separate battery hunt. The brushless motor paired with 2.5Ah capacity gives enough runtime for a standard suburban lot in one charge, and the dual-width head lets you switch between a tighter 14-inch cut for flower beds and a wider 16-inch path along fences. Owner feedback praises the balanced weight distribution and the tool-free width change. The price undercuts the premium Flex-Force kit by roughly sixty dollars while delivering the same core motor experience.
- Pros: Included battery and charger eliminate hidden costs; brushless motor runs cooler and lasts longer than brushed alternatives.
- Con: 2.5Ah capacity can feel limiting on properties over half an acre without a spare pack.
- Skip it if: You already own multiple Toro 60V batteries and want to save money with a bare tool.
2. Toro 60V 14/16″ String Trimmer — Bare Tool
If you already have the Flex-Force 60V battery system running your blower or mower, buying this bare head is the most cost-effective path to a trimmer. You get the same brushless motor and dual-width bump-feed head as the kit version, minus the pack and charger. Owner reports confirm identical cut quality to the kit. The 134 dollar price point is a significant discount for existing battery owners, and the unit stores compactly on a wall hook between seasons.
- Pros: Lowest per-use cost if you already own a 60V battery; identical motor performance to the kit version.
- Con: No battery or charger included, so the effective price jumps significantly for new buyers.
- Skip it if: You do not already own a Toro 60V Flex-Force battery.
3. Toro 60V 15/13″ String Trimmer — Bare Tool
This narrower-head variant is for trimmer owners who prioritize maneuverability over raw swath width. The 15-to-13-inch range makes it easier to thread between patio furniture legs, along curving borders, and under low-hanging shrubs where a 16-inch head catches on obstructions. Weight savings are modest but perceptible during a full-yard session. Owner feedback highlights the lighter tip load and reduced wrist fatigue. It still runs on the same 60V platform, so any Flex-Force battery works.
- Pros: Narrower profile excels in tight landscaping spaces; lighter than the 16-inch variant for extended use.
- Con: Covers less ground per pass, so open fence lines take slightly longer to clear.
- Skip it if: Your primary job is wide open edges where maximum swath width saves time.
4. Toro 60V 17″ Dual-Line Bump Feed Head with 2.5Ah Battery and Fast Charger
The 17-inch cutting swath and 1200W brushless motor put this head at the top of the Toro Flex-Force trimmer range for heavy growth. Dual-line bump feed means two strands hit the ground per pass, which owners report noticeably improves performance in thick fescue or early-season brush. The 27-minute runtime spec from a 2.5Ah pack is competitive for this motor class. Power-head compatibility means the same battery runs your blower and string trimmer interchangeably.
- Pros: Widest cut and dual-line feed handle stubborn vegetation; fast charger included reduces downtime between sessions.
- Con: Heavier head increases wrist load during overhead or extended-detail trimming.
- Skip it if: Your trimming is limited to clean edges along paved surfaces where a lighter head suffices.
5. Toro Flex-Force 60V Max Cordless String Trimmer with 2.5-Ah Battery and Charger (Premium)
The highest-priced kit in this roundup sits here because of added features owners report at the premium tier: upgraded head housing, extended warranty support, and packaging that includes accessories the base kit omits. The core motor and battery specs are identical to the mid-range kit. Where this earns its premium is in build quality at stress points — the shaft coupling, the guard attachment, and the handle clamp. For a buyer who keeps tools for a decade and values first-day fit and finish, the 235 dollar price is justified.
- Pros: Superior build at stress points and attachment interfaces; premium packaging with added accessories.
- Con: Motor and runtime specs match the mid-range kit, so the performance gap is marginal relative to the price gap.
- Skip it if: You want maximum cutting performance per dollar and do not care about accessory packaging.
6. Toro 88616 Spooled Trimmer Line (13″ & 15″ Electric)
This is a consumable, not a trimmer, but it earns a row here because line cost over a season quietly changes the total-ownership math. The 88616 spool fits the 13-inch and 15-inch Toro 60V heads specifically. Owners confirm it drops in without modification and that the pre-spooled format eliminates the frustration of hand-winding uneven line onto a spool. Replacing a spool at twenty dollars is faster than reloading a line-on-demand head repeatedly through one session.
- Pros: Factory-spooled for even winding and immediate installation; eliminates hand-winding errors that cause jams.
- Con: Only compatible with the 13-inch and 15-inch Toro heads; does not fit the wider models.
- Skip it if: You own a 16-inch or 17-inch Toro head, which uses a different line format.
7. Craftsman V20 String Trimmer and Lawn Edger Kit with 4Ah Battery and Charger
The Craftsman V20 earns its place by offering a 4Ah battery and edger function in the same box for under a hundred dollars. On paper that is an impressive value stack. Owner feedback is mixed: the edger attachment works well on soft soil edges, but the 20V platform lacks the torque to push through anything thicker than light grass, and the bump feed is single-line. Runtime is competitive for the price because of the larger cell count.
- Pros: Includes a 4Ah battery and edger attachment in one package; generous runtime for the price tier.
- Con: 20V motor struggles with dense or tall growth where a 60V Toro pulls through easily.
- Skip it if: Your yard has thick fescue, early-season brush, or a fence line that demands real torque.
8. WORX 20V 12″ 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer and Edger WG163
At sixty-two dollars, this is the cheapest path to a cordless trimmer with an edger. The 12-inch cut is genuinely small, making it suited to patio borders and walkway edges rather than full-yard trimming. Owners praise the pivot mechanism that switches between trim and edge in seconds. The 20V platform will not clear anything beyond short grass, and the head width means more passes along long fence lines. It is a niche tool, not a primary trimmer.
- Pros: Lowest price in this roundup; quick trim-to-edge pivot is genuinely convenient for walkway work.
- Con: 12-inch swath and 20V motor together make it unsuitable for any yard with moderate-to-heavy growth.
- Skip it if: You need one tool to handle both fine edging and fence-line trimming in a full session.
Buying Guide
Voltage and Motor Type
The single most decisive spec is the voltage platform, because it determines torque available at the head. Toro’s 60V Flex-Force line uses brushless motors that deliver more consistent power draw and resist heat buildup longer than brushed equivalents. A 20V Craftsman or WORX head will handle a clean edge along pavement, but when you hit overgrown fescue against a chain-link fence, the 60V class maintains line speed while the 20V class bogs down. If your property has anything beyond manicured turf, prioritize the 60V tier.
Cutting Swath Width and Line Configuration
Swath width directly affects how many passes you make along a straight edge. A 17-inch head covers more than a third more ground per pass than a 12-inch unit, which compounds over a typical suburban perimeter. Dual-line heads feed two strands simultaneously, increasing effective cutting thickness. The trade-off is head weight and tip load. If you do detail work around ornamental beds, a 13-to-15-inch single-line head is lighter and more controllable. If you clear borders and fence lines, the wider dual-line option saves meaningful session time.
Battery Ecosystem and Total System Cost
A bare trimmer head at 95 dollars looks like a bargain until you realize you also need a 60V battery and charger, which can add 100 to 130 dollars. Existing Flex-Force owners should buy bare tools. New buyers should compare kit prices against the sum of bare tool plus separate battery, because bundled kits often deliver a 20-to-30 percent discount on the total system. Factor in that a shared battery ecosystem across blower, trimmer, and mower is the primary long-term value of committing to a single voltage platform.
Our Verdict
The top pick is the Toro Flex-Force 60V 14/16-inch kit at $175. It bundles a brushless motor, dual-width head, battery, and charger at the lowest complete-configuration price in the 60V range, making it the most logical first purchase for a new Flex-Force owner. The budget pick is the Toro 60V 15/13-inch bare tool at $94.85, which is the most efficient buy if you already own any 60V battery. However, the Craftsman V20 kit wins outright when your entire need is a walkway edge and a 20-minute trim of a quarter-acre lawn, and you want the largest included battery in the lowest price tier. For anyone in that scenario, paying sixty more dollars buys runtime and a charger in one box without touching the Toro ecosystem at all.
FAQ
Can I use any 60V battery with a Toro Flex-Force string trimmer?
Yes. Any Toro Flex-Force 60V Max battery — whether it came from a blower, mower, or standalone purchase — will fit the string trimmer head. The platform is cross-compatible by design. Third-party batteries rated at 60V are not recommended due to BMS communication differences.
Is a brushless motor actually worth the price difference over brushed?
Brushless motors run cooler, waste less energy as heat, and last longer because there is no carbon brush to wear out. Owner feedback over multiple seasons consistently notes better runtime retention and fewer head failures on brushless units. The price premium is justified for anyone planning to keep the tool beyond two or three seasons.
How long does a 2.5Ah battery realistically last during trimming?
Toro rates the dual-line 17-inch head at approximately 27 minutes on a 2.5Ah pack under standard load. Real-world owner reports range from 20 to 35 minutes depending on grass density and whether you run at the low or high speed setting. A lighter 13-inch head on short grass will extend that further.
Should I buy a string trimmer or a dedicated edger?
A 2-in-1 like the Craftsman or WORX handles both roles adequately for small yards. If your primary job is fence lines and open borders, a dedicated string trimmer with a wider swath is more efficient. A dedicated edger is only worth buying separately if you work long straight edges along hardscaping and want consistent depth control that a trimmer head cannot provide.
