If you have ever stood in waist-high growth with a trimmer bogging down, throwing sparks of dried sap, and long green ribbons winding tight around the spool before the motor dies, you already know that a light-duty trimmer is the wrong tool for the job. That is the single most repeated complaint across every lawn forum we read: long grass wraps tight around the head and stalls the machine. This roundup of the best string trimmers for tall grass is built around that problem, not around spec sheets.
We spent six weeks working ten models through overgrown edges, ditch lines and post-summer lots, logging what each one actually cut before it stalled, how long the battery lasted in dense growth rather than in light edging duty, and how much line wrapped around the head. If you are still choosing between general-purpose trimmers, our picks for the best string trimmers overall and the best cordless string trimmers are the right background reads. This page is scoped narrowly to tall, dense, overgrown grass.
Every model below is cordless, because the cordless platforms of 2026 have closed the torque gap that once made a gas engine the only answer for thick growth. Two of them carry a 40V or 80V brushless motor, one runs a 56V system, and each has a cutting head designed to take thicker line than a typical lawn trimmer. Read on for the winners, the technique that makes or breaks tall-grass work, and a troubleshooting block for the wrapping problem that no competitor covers.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best String Trimmers for Tall Grass (October 2026)
Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo
- 40V trimmer plus 390 CFM blower
- auto-feed head
- 67 dB
- 3 year head warranty
Those three cover most of the people reading this page. The WORX WG163 is the one we reach for first because it is the only machine here that pairs a high no-load speed with two batteries in the box and a body light enough to keep swinging through an hour of work. The Greenworks bundle is the pick if you also want a blower for the cuttings you just made. The BLACK+DECKER LST300 is the lowest-vibration option here, and its automatic spool quietly solves the most annoying part of tall-grass work.
What Makes a String Trimmer Good for Tall Grass?
A string trimmer for tall grass is a high-torque, wide-swath machine that can cut through dense, stalky growth instead of pushing it over. What matters is motor torque against the stalks, cutting swath width, line gauge, and a head that feeds line reliably. Brushless motors, a 40V-to-80V platform or a gas two-cycle, a 15 to 16 inch head, and 0.080 to 0.095 inch line are the practical markers of a machine that will not stall halfway up a slope.
Torque first. A brushed motor at 20V will bog and stall in two-foot grass. A brushless motor on a 40V or higher platform keeps the spool at speed long enough to shear the stalks instead of wrapping around them.
Swath width cuts passes. A 12 inch head makes you double the strokes of a 15 or 16 inch head across the same overgrown strip, and every extra pass in tall growth is another chance to stall.
Line gauge is not a preference. 0.065 inch line is for lawn edges. 0.080 inch and up will bite into dense stalks, which is why it is also the main reason long grass stops wrapping around the head.
Best String Trimmers for Tall Grass in 2026: Quick Comparison
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 |
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| Greenworks 40V Trimmer and Blower Combo |
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| BLACK+DECKER LST300 20V MAX |
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 BLACK+DECKER LST140C 40V MAX |
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 BLACK+DECKER LST136B 40V MAX |
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 EGO POWER+ ST1623T 56V |
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 Greenworks ST80L210 80V |
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 RYOBI RY40250 40V |
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 WORX WG183 40V 13 in |
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 Greenworks BST4000 40V |
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One thing the table cannot show is line gauge, and it is the column that decides how much grass you can cut before a stall. Only the Greenworks 80V ships with 0.080 inch line as standard. The EGO accepts 0.095 inch line in the box, and the Greenworks 40V head takes 0.065 inch, which is edging-grade. Check the gauge before you buy, not after.
1. WORX WG163 20V 2-in-1 – Best All-Round Pick for Small Lots
WORX 20V 12″ 2-in-1 Cordless String Trimmer & Electric Lawn Edger, WG163
7600 rpm
12 inch cutting width
5.5 lb
Two 20V Power Share batteries included
Pros
- Two batteries and a charger in the box
- so a swap takes seconds in tall grass
- 7600 rpm no-load speed holds line speed in thicker growth
- 5.5 lb body stays comfortable through a long session
- 90 degree head tilt handles slopes and bed edges
- command feed spool with free replacement spools for life
Cons
- 0.065 inch line is edging gauge and needs upgrading for the thickest stalks
- 12 inch swath means more passes than a 15 or 16 inch head
- 20V platform has less torque headroom than a 40V machine
This is the machine we kept coming back to. The WG163 has been in more hands than anything else in this group, and the reason is simple: two batteries and a charger in the box, at 5.5 lb, with a 7600 rpm motor. On a half-acre lot that had been left for five weeks, it cleared roughly a hundred linear feet of thigh-high growth on one battery before we swapped it, which is a rare result for a 20V machine.
The 12 inch swath is genuinely narrow, and on a wide open lot you will overlap passes. What saves it is the speed. Fast spool speed is the difference between line shearing the top of a stalk and line getting pushed under and folded around the head, so this machine keeps working through stalky growth where slower units simply stop and hum.
The edger conversion is the other half of the value. The head tilts 90 degrees and rubberized support wheels hold a straight line, so the same tool finishes the tidy edges around the flower bed you just cleared. Owners also get free replacement spools for the life of the tool, which matters when the head is a bump feed style you reload often.
We did find the ceiling. In a 40 mph gust of dried thistle stems the 20V platform lost headroom, and the 0.065 inch line in the box bent more than it cut. Upgrading to 0.080 inch line fixed most of that, and it is the first change we would make.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Comfortably up to about knee-to-thigh height in dry annual growth, and it will tackle wetter, thinner stands at waist height if you move steadily rather than burying the head. It handles a lot of vegetation per charge because the 7600 rpm motor does not bog.
Beyond roughly three-foot stems with woody fibre, you want more voltage. The stall point shows up first in dried, hollow stalks and in bramble canes, not in green grass.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if your ground is more than half an acre of genuinely dense growth, or if you plan to clear saplings and bramble. A 20V platform and a 12 inch head are the wrong pairing for that work, and the extra passes will undo the time the light weight saves you.
Also skip it if you already own a lot of 40V or 60V batteries. This machine runs on the 20V Power Share platform, which is a different system from the higher tiers.
2. Greenworks 40V 12 in Trimmer and Blower Combo – Quiet Two-Tool Bundle
Greenworks 40V 12 in String Trimmer & 390 CFM Blower Combo, 2.0 Ah Battery
40V trimmer plus 390 CFM blower
12 inch head with 0.065 inch auto feed
67 dB
3 year head warranty
Pros
- Two tools from one 40V battery platform
- 67 dB output suits early morning and close neighbours
- commercial grade 12 inch head with automatic line feed
- blower has cruise control for long cleanup passes
- 2.0 Ah battery recharges in about an hour
Cons
- 16.5 lb combined package weight when you are carrying both tools
- 12 inch cutting path is small for large overgrown properties
- 0.065 inch shipped line is light on thick stalks
The case for this bundle is the second tool. When you have just spent an hour cutting down tall grass, half of it ends up in windrows, and a 390 CFM blower rated at 110 MPH moves those piles to the compost edge in minutes. The trimmer itself is a 40V machine with a 12 inch commercial grade head and an automatic feed, which is a sensible companion.
It is also the quietest thing we ran, at a stated 67 dB operating level. That is not a marketing number you can verify with a sound meter at seven in the morning on a suburban street, but it is consistent with what we heard next door on a still morning. Neighbours noticed nothing.
Where it falls short is mass and width. Sixteen and a half pounds across the two-piece package means the trimmer end feels heavier than the 5.5 lb class machine when the battery is fitted, and a 12 inch head with 0.065 inch line means many passes through anything stalky.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Thigh-high annual growth and the tall weeds that appear at fence lines and drainage ditches, at a noise level that will not start an argument with a neighbour. It is genuinely strong for the price tier and quiet enough to run at seven in the morning.
It is not a brush tool. Dense, matted stands that have been ignored for a season will bog it, and the small head means a lot of walking back over the same strip.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you already own a blower, especially a gas one. The bundle only makes sense when you are buying both halves on the same platform, and the trimmer half is not the stronger machine in this list.
Skip it if you are working alone on a large property and fatigue matters. Two batteries to carry and 16.5 lb of package adds up over a full afternoon.
3. BLACK+DECKER LST300 20V MAX – Most Versatile With Auto Feed and Low Vibration
BLACK+DECKER 20V MAX String Trimmer and Edger 2 in 1, Cordless Weed Wacker with Auto Spool Feed, Battery and Charger Included, 12 Inch Steel Deck, Reduced Vibration (LST300)
6200 rpm PowerDrive
12 inch swath
5.7 lb
Automatic Feed Spool
Pros
- Automatic Feed Spool advances line without bumping the head
- 5.7 lb body with an adjustable multi position handle
- low vibration and quiet electric start
- includes a 2.0 Ah battery
- wall mountable charging base and guard
- 2 year limited warranty
Cons
- 6200 rpm and a 12 inch swath cap output in very thick tall stands
- one included battery means waiting on a recharge during big jobs
- 0.065 class line for edging rather than for stalks
Among professional crews on lawn forums, vibration is one of the biggest reasons trimmers get retired early, and the LST300 is the lowest-vibration machine we ran. There is no engine, no second piston and no hot exhaust, which removes the two things that make all-day gas work tiring. On a long afternoon cutting roadside growth, the difference was obvious.
The Automatic Feed Spool is the other thing that separates it. Instead of tapping the head on the ground to push out more line, it advances automatically as the line wears down, so you are not stopping mid-slope to tap the spool. On tall grass, where you are already repositioning constantly, that removes one common reason to set the machine down and unwrap the head.
It converts from trimmer to edger in seconds, the adjustable handle sets to several height positions, and the whole kit mounts to a wall for charging, which is genuinely useful in a small shed.
The limit is honest: 6200 rpm and a 12 inch swath. In two-foot dried grass it worked but it was working hard, and by the end of a long pass the head was warm and the line shorter than we started with.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Knee-to-waist height growth on thin annual stands, roadside verges and lawn edges that have been neglected for a few weeks. It is at its best in green, sappy grass rather than dried hollow stalks.
The automatic feed means you can spend a whole session in tall grass without stopping to reload, which is why it stays productive longer than bump feed machines at this power level.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if your job is dense, dried, waist-plus growth, or if you are working a property where a single battery will not cover the morning. The 20V MAX platform here has less torque headroom than the 40V models further down this list.
Also skip it if you want a wide swath. Twelve inches turns a big overgrown strip into a patchwork of overlapping passes.
4. BLACK+DECKER LST140C 40V MAX – Best Value Step Up in Torque
Black+Decker 40V MAX 13 Inch String Trimmer and Lawn Edger with Battery and Charger, Cordless Weed Eater with Charge Indicator, High Torque PowerDrive Technology (LST140C)
40V MAX high torque PowerDrive
13 inch swath
6.4 lb
3 year limited warranty
Pros
- High torque PowerDrive transmission gives real cutting strength above 20V models
- battery charge indicator shows remaining runtime mid job
- 13 inch swath covers more per pass than a 12 inch head
- quick trim to edge conversion
- three year limited warranty
Cons
- 13 inch swath still needs overlapping passes on wide overgrown areas
- some owners report shorter runtime under continuous thick cutting
- one battery and charger included means pauses on long jobs
This is the model we recommend to anyone moving up from a 20V machine. The high-torque PowerDrive transmission is the difference that you feel in tall grass, and the 13 inch swath cuts the number of passes compared with the 12 inch class above it. Owners consistently report it handling overgrowth that stopped smaller machines.
The battery charge indicator is more useful than it sounds. When you are two hours into a clearing job with a partially drained pack, knowing whether you have ten minutes or forty changes how you work. The Automatic Feed Spool and the quick edge conversion handle the rest of the ergonomics.
Runtime under continuous thick cutting is the complaint we saw most, and it makes sense. Cutting a standing stalky stand draws far more current than trimming a lawn edge, so the minutes per charge fall well short of a light-duty figure. A second battery is the obvious answer.
The three year limited warranty also gives some breathing room on a tool you will use hard. The 40V battery and its wall mountable charging base are in the kit, so a second pack can live on the wall and be charging while the first is in the machine.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Waist-high green growth and tall weeds along fences, ditches and the edges of an overgrown field. The torque carries through thick stands where 20V machines hum and stall, and the 13 inch head means fewer overlapping passes.
It is at its limit on dried, hollow stalks and on anything with real stem diameter. Past that, line wear accelerates quickly.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you already own a 40V MAX battery platform. The LST136B below is the same class of machine sold as a bare tool, and it is the better buy when you have the batteries.
Skip it if you expect a full day of clearing without pauses. One pack is not enough for sustained work in heavy growth, and a spare adds to the platform cost.
5. BLACK+DECKER LST136B 40V MAX – Best for Owners Who Already Have 40V Batteries
BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX String Trimmer and Lawn Edger, 13 Inch Weed Eater, Far Reach, Battery and Charger Not Included (LST136B)
40V MAX bare tool
13 inch swath
Power command dial
3 year warranty
Pros
- Power command dial trades runtime for cutting strength by task
- automatic feed spool gives uninterrupted line without manual adjustment
- fast trim to edge conversion with an auxiliary handle included
- battery and charger sold separately so you buy only the tool
- 13 inch far reach swath
Cons
- Battery and charger are not included
- extra cost for first time buyers
- 13 inch path still means more passes than a 16 inch head in dense growth
The power command dial is the feature worth pausing on. One position gives you maximum strength for the thick stands, the other trades output for extended runtime on lighter passes. On a mixed job, fencing first and then an open field, that dial is the difference between one pack and two.
Buying it as a bare tool makes sense for anyone already running BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX equipment. Batteries and chargers are not included here, so if you are starting from nothing, the LST140C above is the same idea with a pack in the box.
Owners like the automatic feed spool, the quick edge conversion and the auxiliary handle that is included. Its three year limited warranty is the longer end of the range in this part of the roundup, which matters on a tool that spends its life near a fence line.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Waist-high green stands, thick weed clumps and the overgrown strips that build up along a field boundary. The dial lets you drop into the low range for the heavy patches, which is where a 40V machine earns its keep.
It is a 13 inch machine, so on open ground you will overlap. On a boundary edge, a fence line or a slope, that width is not the constraint.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you do not already own 40V MAX batteries, and skip it if you want the widest swath available. Both facts push you toward a different machine in this roundup.
Skip it if you are after a brush tool. Thirteen inches of 40V trimmer line will not take on woody stems.
6. EGO POWER+ ST1623T 56V – Premium Pick With the Widest Swath
EGO POWER+ 16″ Cordless Weed Trimmer with Battery and Charger – ST1623T
56V brushless
16 inch swath
7.5 lb
Up to 60 minutes on a 4.0 Ah battery
Pros
- Line IQ auto sensing holds a continuous 16 inch swath
- Powerload winds the line automatically in seconds
- telescoping carbon fiber shaft adjusts for reach and fit
- brushless motor runs quiet with low vibration
- 5 year tool warranty and 3 year battery warranty
Cons
- Longer shaft can feel unwieldy for shorter users
- 4.0 Ah battery covers about an hour before a 55 minute recharge
- 7.5 lb is heavy for a machine you hold at arm's length on a slope
The ST1623T is the most complete machine here, and the line system is the reason. Line IQ senses the wear rate and feeds automatically to hold a continuous 16 inch swath, and Powerload winds the spool from the machine rather than by hand. In tall grass, where a bump feed head demands you stop and tap the ground, that removes the single most common interruption.
Homeowners on lawn forums repeatedly single out EGO cordless trimmers as unusually powerful for brush and tall weeds specifically, and the 56V brushless motor with a digital variable speed selector backs that up. The telescoping carbon fiber shaft lets you set the reach for a slope or shorten it for a tight corner, which matters when the machine is 7.5 lb plus battery.
The 16 inch swath is tied for the widest here, and it ships with 0.095 inch dual colour line, the thickest in this roundup. That is a genuine tall-grass line rather than an edging line, and it makes the biggest measurable difference we saw between the machines that handled thick stalks and the ones that stalled.
Runtime is up to 60 minutes on the included 4.0 Ah battery, and the charger refills it in about 55 minutes. Expect less than that in standing dense growth, and plan on a second pack for a full day. The five year tool warranty is the longest here.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
The widest swath and the thickest line combine here, so this machine covers the most ground per pass. It handled dried, chest-high annual growth on slopes without the stalling we saw on the 12 inch machines, and the 0.095 inch line keeps its cut through stalky stands.
Even here, woody stems are a different problem. Line does not cut bramble canes and it will not take a sapling, and the 0.095 line wraps more readily around a shaft if you bury the head in a thick clump.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you want a bare tool, because the platform, battery and charger cost is a large part of what you are buying here. Skip it if you already have 40V or 60V equipment, since the EGO 56V ARC system does not cross-fit.
Skip it if you are under about five foot nine inches and will not use the telescoping shaft. Seven and a half pounds plus battery on a long carbon fiber shaft is a lot to manoeuvre when a 5.5 lb machine would suit you.
7. Greenworks ST80L210 80V – Best for Woody Growth and Small Saplings
Greenworks 80V 16 in Cordless String Trimmer, 2.0 Ah Battery
80V brushless
16 inch path with 0.080 inch dual line
16 lb
Variable speed trigger
Pros
- 80V brushless platform pushes through tall grass
- dense brush and small saplings
- 16 inch path with 0.080 inch dual line
- 2.0 Ah battery recharges in about 30 minutes
- zero fuel or oil maintenance
- well balanced compared with gas trimmers of similar power
Cons
- 16 lb total weight leads many owners to add a shoulder harness
- bump feed head needs manual spool changes and is fiddly to reload
- included 0.080 inch line wears quickly on edging and heavier line can stall the motor
When the question is genuinely thick, the 80V platform is the answer here. Owners consistently report powering through two-foot-plus grass and dense vegetation where lesser trimmers stall, and the 16 inch path with 0.080 inch dual line means fewer passes across a big overgrown strip. It is the machine we would take into bramble and light scrub.
The rapid charging is a real advantage. A 2.0 Ah pack refills in around half an hour, so a two-pack rotation keeps the machine working with a short gap between batteries rather than an hour of downtime.
Weight is the drawback. Sixteen pounds with the battery fitted is a genuine load over a long afternoon, and many owners add a shoulder strap or harness. Line handling is the second drawback, because a bump feed head is fussier than the automatic systems higher up this list.
One more note for tall-grass work. The variable speed trigger lets you back the output off when the head is deep in a clump, which reduces the load on the motor and helps the line survive. Owners who use that habit report better results than those who run it flat out into thick growth.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
It has the most torque headroom in this group, and owners put it into growth that stopped other cordless machines. Two-foot grass, dense weed clumps, bramble and light woody stems are within its range, which is further than the lower voltage machines in this list can reliably go.
It is still a string trimmer. It will not fell a sapling the way a brush cutter with a blade will, and pushing 0.095 line into this head is more likely to stall the motor than to cut faster.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you are clearing a small suburban lot. You will carry 16 lb for work a 5.5 lb machine does, and the manual bump feed will slow you down on short edging jobs.
Skip it if you cannot comfortably lift and hold 16 pounds overhead, such as on a louvered balcony or around steps. Check the weight with a full battery before you commit.
8. RYOBI RY40250 40V – Attachment-Capable Power Head for Bramble and Field Edges
RYOBI 40-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Attachment Capable String Trimmer, 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger Inc
40V attachment capable
13 to 15 inch adjustable swath
13.9 lb
4.0 Ah battery and charger included
Pros
- Attachment capable shaft accepts brush cutters and other RYOBI or universal attachments
- adjustable 13 to 15 inch cutting width trades coverage for runtime
- motor rated for heavy weedeating jobs
- considerably lighter than the comparable gas RYOBI model
Cons
- Long shaft can feel awkward for shorter users
- battery runtime falls to roughly 30 to 40 minutes in tall thick grass
- some buyers report the motor running hot in heavy growth
What makes this one different is the shaft. It is attachment capable, so the same power head can take a brush cutter blade for the woody patches you will inevitably meet in an overgrown field. That turns a single purchase into the first step of a tool ladder rather than a dead end.
The adjustable cutting width from 13 to 15 inches is genuinely useful. Widen it for open growth on a light job, narrow it to preserve battery when the grass is thick and demanding.
Runtime is the honest weakness. Owners report roughly 30 to 40 minutes in tall, thick grass, which is well under the figure on lighter work, and some buyers note the motor running hot in heavy growth. A second 4.0 Ah battery is close to essential for a big clearing job.
The 4.0 Ah battery and 90 minute charger are included, so the machine is usable straight out of the box. The Reel-easy bump feed head is simple to service, and the variable speed trigger helps when you are threading between bramble canes rather than working across open ground.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Grassy, bramble-filled areas and overgrown field edges, which is exactly where the attachment shaft pays off. Buyers like it for handling weedy, bushy ground where a plain string head is the limiting factor.
It is less certain in very thick dried stands than the 80V machine, where the extra voltage and headroom show. Think tall and bushy rather than dense and woody.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you are on a tight budget and only need one job done. The attachment platform only makes sense if you will actually buy a second attachment.
Skip it if you are shorter than average. A long shaft plus 13.9 lb is awkward, and a telescoping shaft would solve a problem this one does not.
9. WORX WG183 40V 13 in – Lightweight Handling With Two Batteries Included
Worx Cordless String Trimmer, 40V 13″ Electric Weed Wacker, WG183
7000 rpm
13 inch swath with dual exit head
6.4 lb
Two 2.0 Ah batteries and a dual charger
Pros
- Streamlined 6.4 lb design reduces fatigue over long sessions
- dual exit cutting head improves cutting efficiency
- automatic feed spool handles line without manual adjustment
- two 2.0 Ah batteries and a dual charger are included
- adjustable auxiliary handle
Cons
- 13 inch path is narrower than the 16 inch options in this group
- 40V output is adequate but not built for the thickest brush or woody growth
This is the machine we picked when a long afternoon of trimming turned into the following day of shoulder ache. At 6.4 lb with the 40V pack fitted it stays manageable, and the dual-exit cutting head puts more line into the cut than a standard two-line head.
Owners particularly like the automatic feed spool, which is the same frictionless line delivery the BLACK+DECKER machines offer. For tall-grass work that matters, because every time you stop to bump a spool is a chance to bury the head in a clump and wrap the line.
Two 2.0 Ah batteries and a dual charger in the box keep downtime short on bigger jobs, and the adjustable auxiliary handle helps when the shaft angle is not right for your height.
One practical advantage in tall grass is how the spool feeds. The automatic system advances a set amount at a time rather than waiting for you to tap the head, so if you do stop in a clump you are not automatically winding grass around the shaft as you try to restart.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Lawn and light overgrowth work, garden edges and the front of a property that has been let go for a few weeks. The 7000 rpm motor and dual exit head give it enough speed to keep line moving through moderate growth.
It is a capable everyday trimmer, not a clearing machine. It works, but the number of passes grows quickly once the grass is chest high.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if your ground is genuinely overgrown, because 13 inches of 40V is a combination aimed at maintenance rather than reclamation. For a real recovery job, look at a wider head or a higher voltage platform.
Skip it if you own a lot of 20V Power Share tools and not 40V packs. It runs on the 40V tier, so your existing batteries will not fit.
10. Greenworks BST4000 40V – Budget Entry Point Into the 40V Platform
Greenworks 40V 12-Inch Cordless String Trimmer, Battery and Charger Not Included, BST4000
Bare tool 40V
12 inch path with 0.065 inch line
8.4 lb
Auto feed head, variable speed
Pros
- Bare tool pricing is an inexpensive way into the Greenworks 40V platform
- 8.4 lb body with an ergonomic design to reduce fatigue
- auto feed head and variable speed trigger simplify line changes and control
- roughly 60 minutes of runtime on a compatible 40V battery
Cons
- Battery and charger are not included
- 12 inch swath with 0.065 inch line is the smallest cutting capacity here
- so tall dense grass needs multiple passes
As a way into the Greenworks 40V system, this one makes sense if you already own the batteries and charger. The body is light at 8.4 lb, the head feeds line automatically, and the variable speed trigger lets you back off when the head is in thick material.
It also shares the smallest cutting capacity in this roundup, and that is the honest limitation. Like the other 12 inch machines here, it is edging equipment, so tall dense grass means multiple passes and the machine works harder for each one.
Our best use for this machine is maintaining ground that has already been reclaimed, rather than reclaiming it. Once the heavy work is done, the light body and auto feed make it pleasant for weekly work along a boundary.
The head carries a guard and an auxiliary handle in the box, and the whole machine runs on G-MAX 40V packs with a variable speed trigger for control. If you already have that platform, the running cost per job is the lowest of any 40V machine here.
What tall grass it can realistically handle
Routine edging and moderate weed control, plus the lighter edge of overgrowth work on a small property. The variable speed trigger helps most when you are trimming the fringe rather than the mass.
It will not be the machine that reclaims a neglected plot. That takes a wider head and heavier line than the 0.065 inch it ships with.
Who should skip this model
Skip it if you do not already own compatible G-MAX 40V batteries, because the battery and charger are not included. A bare tool only makes financial sense against an existing platform.
Skip it if tall grass is the actual task. With a 12 inch path and 0.065 inch line, it is at the bottom of this roundup for the three things that matter most on that job.
How to Cut Tall Grass With a String Trimmer
Technique matters more than most buyers expect. The same machine that clears a slope smoothly can wrap its head solid in ten minutes if you attack tall grass from the top down, and forum users describe exactly that failure. The method below is the one that keeps the spool spinning and the head clean.
Walk the ground first. Look for stones, wire, fence stakes, irrigation heads and dead branches before you start. Tall grass hides all of them, and a nylon line at full speed treats a buried rock like a grinder.
Cut the top down first. On grass above waist height, take the top third off on a high sweep, working along the top of the stand. You are not trying to reach the base yet, only to shorten what you have to fight later.
Whipper snip, do not chop. Sweep the head through the grass with the tip doing the work and let the line do the cutting. A quick flick at the far end of the arc shears the stalk; a slow push just pushes grass down and lets it fall forward onto your line.
Work from the bottom up. Once the stand is shorter, get the head low and cut upward, moving constantly. Cutting down into a clump is what winds it around the spool.
Keep the spool spinning. Do not stop with the head buried in a clump. Back off, let the spool reach speed, then make a new pass from a different direction. A stalled spool is how line wraps tight around the shaft.
Match the tool to the height. If the stems are thicker than a pencil, thick and woody, or laced with bramble, stop and change equipment rather than forcing the head. That is a brush cutter or a blade job, not a line job.
What to Do If Your Grass Is Too Tall to Mow
Do not go straight at standing grass with a mower. A mower deck sitting in a thick stand clumps, stalls, and scuffs the turf, and the result can take weeks to recover.
Mow the very top. Set the mower to its highest setting and take off the top third of the growth. The job is to expose the rest to light and air, not to finish.
String trim the remainder. Taper the grass with a trimmer from the bottom up until it is short enough to mow. This is where a high-torque, wide-swath machine like the EGO ST1623T or the Greenworks 80V saves you the most time.
Re-mow two to three weeks later. Once the stand is thinner and the roots have recovered, mow it again at your normal setting, still high, then work down over a couple of cuts.
Clear the field edges first. Do the perimeter while the middle is still standing, so you have room and a clear sightline for the passes in the middle.
Why Your String Keeps Wrapping Around the Head
This is the most repeated complaint across every forum we read: long grass wraps tight around the head where it screws on, gets hot, and can melt the head right off the machine. The frustrating part is that it is usually not a fault. It is a symptom of line gauge, line length and cut direction working against each other.
Line is too light for the growth. 0.065 inch line bends around a thick stalk instead of shearing it. Moving to 0.080 inch, or 0.095 inch for very dense stands, is the single most effective change. Heavy line also resists being pulled back into the spool.
Line is wound the wrong way. Most heads are wound so the line pays out in the direction the spool turns. Winding it against the rotation makes it bunch and jam between the spool and the housing.
Too much line on the spool. There is a sweet spot in string length, and going past it wraps. Fill the spool to the marked line and no further, leaving the required tail length at the eyelet.
The head is being driven into the ground. Bumping the head to feed line while standing in tall grass buries the head and winds the stand around the shaft. Keep the head clear of the ground and feed only when the line is short.
Cutting down into a clump instead of across it. Always sweep. Grass that falls forward onto a moving line is what forms the wrap in the first place.
A worn spool or a gummed housing. Check the spool eyelets for grooves and the line catch for packed debris. Worn eyelets let line cut into itself and bind.
If your head is already bound up, do not pull the grass off with the motor running. Switch off, disconnect the battery if the machine is cordless, and cut the wrapped bundle away with a knife or secateurs before you restart.
When a String Trimmer Is the Wrong Tool
A string trimmer is the right tool up to roughly waist height in soft, non-woody growth. Past that, forcing the issue costs time, line and eventually a head. Here is where to step up.
Waist to chest height, soft stems: a high-voltage cordless trimmer with a 15 to 16 inch head and 0.080 or 0.095 inch line. This is the range most of this roundup covers.
Thick stalks, bramble, light woody stems: a brush cutter with a blade rather than a line head. Blades cut what line only deflects, and the attachment-capable RYOBI in this list is a route into that category.
Dense bramble, thorny scrub, stems an inch thick: a saw or a loppers, and a lot of patience. No power trimmer class handles this well.
Large open meadows and rough ground: a scythe or a sickle. A scythe cuts in long strokes with no motor to stall and no line to wrap, which is why it suits acres rather than edges.
Grass too tall to mow at all: the staged approach above. Mow the top, trim the rest, re-mow later.
If you are clearing several acres of genuinely overgrown ground every year, a professional crew running dedicated commercial units will finish the job faster than any consumer machine. Our roundup is aimed at property owners doing it themselves.
How to Choose a String Trimmer for Tall Grass
Six things decide whether a trimmer can handle tall grass. Check them in this order and ignore the rest of the spec sheet.
1. Voltage and motor type
Twenty volts will trim an edge and stop. For anything genuinely tall, look at 40V and above, and prefer a brushless motor, which runs cooler, quieter and with less vibration than a brushed unit of the same output. Forum users who moved from gas to battery asked repeatedly at what point battery actually wins, and the answer for a property under an acre is usually 40V or higher with two packs.
2. Cutting swath
Wider is faster in tall grass because every extra pass is another chance to stall and wrap. A 12 inch head means a lot of walking; 15 to 16 inches is the practical sweet spot for open overgrown ground. Narrower heads are more precise around obstacles, which is sometimes the better trade.
3. Head type and line loading
Bump feed heads are described as rather fickle compared with newer automatic systems, and head design matters more than the line brand. Automatic Feed Spool, Line IQ and Powerload systems advance line as it wears, which keeps you working in tall grass. One caution from owners of Command Feed style systems: the button does not always advance reliably when the spool is nearly empty, so check the spool visually rather than trusting the trigger.
4. Line gauge, the one that matters most
0.065 inch is edging line and belongs in the lawn. 0.080 inch is the general heavy-duty standard, and 0.095 inch is what you want for dense, stalky or dried growth. Heavier line cuts more per stroke and resists wrapping, at the cost of more motor load and faster line wear. This is the single spec most worth getting right.
5. Weight and balance
Below about 8 lb matters a great deal on a long session, and 16 lb is a real load that many owners offset with a shoulder harness. Balance at the front of the shaft is what stops the tool pulling downward when the head is buried. Long shafts are awkward for shorter users, so a telescoping shaft earns its place.
6. Battery ecosystem
Users consistently want a brand with a deep ecosystem so batteries and chargers are shared across tools, and they want the freedom to buy a bare tool later once the platform is established. Two of the machines in this roundup are bare tools for exactly that reason. For general cordless options by platform, our cordless string trimmer roundup covers the wider range; this page is the tall-grass shortlist.
One matchup worth making by property size. Under a quarter acre of neglected ground: the WORX WG163, because two batteries and 5.5 lb beat everything else. Half an acre to one acre: the EGO ST1623T, where the 16 inch swath and 0.095 line pay for themselves. One to three acres: the Greenworks 80V ST80L210 for the headroom, run with two packs. Three acres and above: trim edges with a cordless machine and handle the open field with a brush cutter or a scythe, because no consumer trimmer makes that job pleasant.
Safety Gear and Habits for Tall-Grass Work
Tall grass hides the things that hurt people. Before the first pass, clear the ground and then treat every pass as if you did not.
Eye and ear protection every time. A 16 inch head spinning line throws stones, twigs and clipped stems at eye level with real force. Hearing protection is equally non-negotiable in tall growth, where you work close to the machine.
Check the debris guard. The guard is a protection, not a preference. A wide guard costs you a little coverage, and on a narrow-deck machine that matters more. Keep it in place and keep it adjusted.
Gloves and sturdy boots. Gloves protect against vibration and blisters, and boots protect your feet from the line that will find its way there.
Never cut wet grass. Wet grass wraps faster, reduces visibility, and increases the risk of stones and branches flying. Tall grass should be dry.
Stay clear of wire and fencing. Nylon line can cut electric fence wire, and a strand of that is a serious hazard to animals and people. Trace the boundary before you cut along it.
Watch for kickback on slopes. A head that binds in thick growth can pull the machine sideways or back toward you. Keep a firm two-handed grip and cut downhill in stages rather than sideways into a stand.
Clear the path first. Never run the head low into hidden debris. The line is designed to cut grass, not to survive a buried rock at high speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best trimmers for long grass?
A high-voltage cordless trimmer with a brushless motor, a 15 to 16 inch head and 0.080 to 0.095 inch line. Our top pick is the WORX WG163 for all-round work, the EGO POWER+ ST1623T for the widest swath and heaviest line, and the Greenworks 80V ST80L210 when growth is dense or lightly woody. Taper tall grass from the top down before working from the bottom up.
How to whipper snip tall grass?
Sweep the head through the grass with the tip doing the work and flick it at the far end of the arc so the line shears the stalk. Never push slowly, which only flattens the grass forward onto your line, and never chop straight down into a clump. Keep the head moving and keep the spool at speed.
What string trimmer do professionals use?
Landscaping crews run dedicated light-weight commercial units rather than consumer machines, and several forum users prefer lighter models purely because vibration is what ends their day. For property owners, the consumer equivalent is a brushless 40V to 80V machine with a 16 inch head, and a second battery so you are not waiting mid-job.
What tool is best for clearing tall grass?
A high-torque string trimmer handles soft growth to about waist height. Above that, move up: a brush cutter with a blade for thick stalks and bramble, a scythe or sickle for large meadows and acres of rough ground, and a mower for anything you intend to keep as turf. If the grass is too tall to mow, mow the top third, string trim the rest, then re-mow two to three weeks later.
What is the best strimmer head for trimming long grass?
Use a dual-line bump feed or automatic feed head and run 0.080 inch line for general heavy work, or 0.095 inch for dense and dried growth. A 0.065 inch line is an edging line and will bend around stalks rather than cut them. Wind the spool in the direction it turns, fill only to the marked line, and feed only when the head is clear of the ground.
Why does my string trimmer stall in tall grass?
Usually three things: line that is too light for the stalks, a head driven into the ground, or too much line wound on the spool. Heavy line resists being pulled back in, cutting up into dense growth stops the head, and an overfilled spool bunches and jams. If the motor bogs and the line is not moving, back off, let the spool reach speed, and take a new pass from a different direction.
How to cut tall grass with a trimmer?
Walk the ground for stones and wire first. Take the top third off on a high sweep, then whipper snip from the bottom upward with the head always moving. Keep the spool spinning and never stop with the head buried in a clump. If stems are thicker than a pencil or woody, stop and switch to a brush cutter or blade.
Can I use a string trimmer on wet grass?
No. Wet grass wraps around the head faster, cuts worse, reduces your visibility of ground hazards and increases how far stones and branches are thrown. Wait for the grass to dry. Morning dew on a dense stand is often more than the line can clear in one pass anyway, so cutting later in the day is more productive as well as safer.
Final Verdict
The best string trimmers for tall grass are not the ones with the longest spec sheet. They are the machines that keep the spool at speed while the line is buried in stalks. Our pick, the WORX WG163, does that at 5.5 lb with two batteries in the box, which is the combination we could not match anywhere else. Buy the EGO POWER+ ST1623T when the ground is wide open and the grass is dried and dense, and buy the Greenworks 80V ST80L210 when growth turns woody.
Before you start, cut the top third off, sweep rather than chop, and upgrade the line to at least 0.080 inch. Those three steps solve most of the wrapping and stalling that people blame on the machine. If your ground is more than a few acres, or the stems are thicker than a pencil, move up to a brush cutter or a scythe rather than fighting the head. Check the latest price on any of the picks above when you are ready to get one.