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Weed Eater Cost: What a String Trimmer Costs in 2026

A weed eater costs $40 to $400. Corded runs $40 to $90, cordless $100 to $300, gas $130 to $400. Here's the real cost by type and which string trimmer fits your yard.

By The YardBuff Team

What a weed eater costs

Pricing as of July 2026, per Home Depot and Lowe's listings, July 2026.

Prices vary by brand, model, and region. Confirm the current price with the retailer before you buy.

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A handheld gas string trimmer resting on a mowed lawn
A string trimmer, commonly called a weed eater, spins nylon line to cut where a mower can't reach., Photo: Hedwig Storch via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 3.0.

Cost by type

Weed eater price by class. Typical retail range, July 2026.
TypeTypical priceBest for
Corded electric$40–$90Small yards near an outlet; light edging and trimming.
Cordless$100–$300The homeowner default; no cord, no fuel, plenty of power.
Gas (straight or curved shaft)$130–$400Big lots, thick weeds, and all-day trimming.

A weed eater costs $40 to $400. Corded electric models start around $40, cordless run $100 to $300, and gas trimmers land at $130 to $400. Most homeowners spend around $130 to $180 on a cordless trimmer that handles a normal yard’s edging and weeds.

“Weed eater” and “string trimmer” are the same tool; Weed Eater is a brand name that became the generic term. It spins a nylon line fast enough to cut grass and weeds along edges, fences, and beds where a mower can’t reach.

A weed eater trimming grass along a garden edge
The core job of a weed eater: cutting grass and weeds along edges a mower leaves behind. Photo: somegeekintn via Flickr. CC BY 2.0.

Which type fits your yard

A corded electric trimmer is the cheapest, fine for small yards within an outlet’s reach, but the cord fights you around beds and trees. A cordless trimmer is the modern default: $100 to $300 buys a quiet, no-fuel tool with enough power for edging and light weeds, and battery run time is rarely a problem on a home lot. If you own a battery platform, a bare tool is cheap.

A string trimmer being used to clear thick growth
A straight-shaft trimmer clears heavier growth than a small cordless model handles. Photo: Dave Bezaire via Flickr. CC BY-SA 2.0.

Gas trimmers ($130 to $400) still rule the biggest jobs: large properties, thick brush, and all-day trimming. A straight-shaft gas model with a brush-cutter blade tackles growth a nylon line can’t. For a suburban yard, gas is usually more than the job needs.

Close-up of a string trimmer head with the nylon cutting line
The trimmer head feeds nylon line, the main wear part and a small ongoing cost. Photo: StrangeApparition2011 via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 4.0.

What to actually spend

Match the tool to the growth. A mid-range cordless trimmer handles almost every home lawn’s edging and weed work for well under $200. Step up to gas only if you’re clearing heavy brush or covering acreage, and even then, a straight shaft is easier on tall stuff than a curved one. Don’t buy the flagship gas trimmer to edge a small lawn.

A weed eater standing ready for yard work
For most yards, a mid-range trimmer covers edging and weeds without paying for gas-tier power. Photo: Tobyotter via Flickr. CC BY 2.0.

Where to buy

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