40v vs 80v String Trimmer: Which One Should You Buy?
40V and 80V string trimmers compared on voltage, cutting path, line size, feed and batteries, with 4 examples from the listings and a verdict on who should pick which side.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- 1
Worx 40V 15 Inch Cordless String Trimmer9.7/10View on Amazon - 2
Greenworks 80V 16 Inch Carbon Fiber String Trimmer9.7/10View on Amazon - 3
Greenworks 80V 16 Inch Cordless String Trimmer9.5/10View on Amazon - 4
EGO STA1600 16-Inch Carbon Fiber String Trimmer AttachmentView on Amazon - 5
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 String Trimmer/Edger & Lawn MowerView on Amazon - 6
Oregon Magnum Gatorline 095 Trimmer Line Heavy DutyView on Amazon - 7
String Trimmer Line for Black and Decker Trimmer/EdgerView on Amazon - 8
BLACK+DECKER String Trimmer / EdgerView on Amazon - 9
Husqvarna 130L Gas String TrimmerView on Amazon
Verdict: Pick a 40V trimmer if your work is lawn edges, beds and moderate weeds. Pick an 80V trimmer if you cut thick grass, dense underbrush and long fence lines, where the Greenworks examples offer 16 inch paths and 2.0Ah batteries.
Grass creeping over the sidewalk edge, weeds thick along the fence line, a ditch bank gone shaggy: each calls for a trimmer that can clear it without a cord. That is where 40v vs 80v string trimmer matters. Voltage sets the platform, not the whole story: cutting path, line size, feed type and battery size decide how each trimmer actually works.
AcreMowerLab earns a commission when you shop through links here. It never changes your price. Affiliate disclosure.
Greenworks 80V 16 Inch Carbon Fiber String Trimmer
An 80V carbon fiber string trimmer with a 16 inch cutting path, 0.095 inch dual line, bump feed and a 2.0Ah battery, rated at 6000 RPM.
Who it's for: owners with long fence lines, ditch banks, 8 inch tall grass and dense underbrush who want 80V power without fuel.
Who should skip it: anyone who only trims lawn edges.
Read the full review
The carbon fiber Greenworks example is the strongest 80V pick here: an 80V brushless motor rated at 6000 RPM, stated as equal to 30cc gas power, with a 16 inch path and 0.095 inch dual line on a bump feed head. The listing claims 2 miles of fence lines or 1.5 acres per charge, a variable speed trigger with Speed 1 for delicate work and Speed 2 for ditch weeds, 11.2 lbs with battery, and 72dB operation with CARB certification for all 50 states.
Pros
- 6000 RPM brushless motor, stated as equal to 30cc gas power
- Carbon fiber frame at 11.2 lbs with battery
- 4-Year Full Coverage for tool and battery
- 2.0Ah battery powers 75+ Greenworks tools
Cons
- No charger is named in the listing
- 72dB noise figure states no measurement distance
- 2 speeds only, Speed 1 and Speed 2
- Weight of 11.2 lbs is stated with battery only
Worx 40V 15 Inch Cordless String Trimmer
A 40V cordless string trimmer with a 15 inch cutting path, 0.095 inch line, bump feed and 2 4.0Ah batteries with a dual-port charger.
Who it's for: owners who want gas-like cutting without fuel and use the 140+ tool PowerShare platform.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants a stated warranty term or runtime figure, since the listing gives neither.
Read the full review
The Worx example is the strongest 40V pick here: a brushless motor 2.0 claimed to run like a 25cc gas motor, with 40% more power and 10% longer runtime than first-gen brushless motors and 10X longer life than brushed motors. It cuts a 15 inch path with 0.095 inch line on a dual-exit head, feeds line with a bump feed tap, reloads through an easy-load spool head, and ships with 2 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger.
Pros
- 2 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger in the box
- Brushless motor 2.0 with 40% more power than first-gen brushless motors, per the listing
- 15 inch cutting path with 0.095 inch line
- 9.42 lbs with an adjustable D-shaped handle
Cons
- No warranty term is stated in the listing
- No runtime figure is stated
- Line advances only when the head is tapped on the ground
- Weight figure does not say whether batteries are included
BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX String Trimmer and Edger
A 40V MAX cordless string trimmer and edger with a 13 inch cutting path, automatic feed spool and a power command dial, with battery and charger not included.
Who it's for: owners who already own 40V MAX batteries and want a trimmer that doubles as an edger for neat borders.
Who should skip it: anyone buying their first battery tool, since battery and charger are bought separately.
Read the full review
The BLACK+DECKER example is a 40V MAX trimmer and edger with a 13 inch path, a Powerdrive transmission that boosts motor output to the cutting string, and a power command dial that selects maximum strength for thick growth or extended battery life for larger areas. Its automatic feed spool trims without manual adjustment, it converts to an edger in moments, and the box holds the trimmer, an AF-100 spool, a guard and an auxiliary handle, with battery and charger not included.
Pros
- Power command dial selects maximum strength or extended battery life
- Automatic feed spool needs no manual line adjustment
- Converts from trimming to edging in moments
- 3 Year Limited Warranty
Cons
- Battery and charger are not included
- No weight is stated in the listing
- No line size is stated in the listing
- 13 inch cutting path covers less ground per pass
Greenworks 80V 16 Inch Cordless String Trimmer
An 80V cordless string trimmer with a 16 inch cutting path, 0.095 inch dual line, bump feed, a variable speed trigger and a 2.0Ah battery.
Who it's for: owners who want 80V power and a wide 16 inch path for thick grass and tough weeds.
Who should skip it: anyone who wants a stated warranty term, runtime figure or weight in the bullets, since the listing gives none of those.
Read the full review
The standard Greenworks example is an 80V brushless trimmer with a 16 inch cutting path, 0.095 inch dual line and bump feed, plus a variable speed trigger for work around plants, shrubs and landscaping. The listing claims strong cutting power for thick grass and tough weeds, an ultra-lightweight ergonomic design, no gas, no oil and no emissions, and instant starting; its spec table lists 16.61 pounds.
Pros
- 16 inch cutting path with 0.095 inch dual line
- Brushless motor for more torque and longer motor life, per the listing
- Variable speed trigger adjusts cutting speed on the go
- 2.0Ah battery for the 80V platform
Cons
- No warranty term is stated in the listing
- Weight is stated only in the spec table, at 16.61 pounds
- No runtime figure is stated
- No charger is named in the listing
Other machines to compare
EGO STA1600 16-Inch Carbon Fiber String Trimmer AttachmentCheck price on Amazon
BLACK+DECKER 3-in-1 String Trimmer/Edger & Lawn MowerCheck price on Amazon
Oregon Magnum Gatorline 095 Trimmer Line Heavy DutyCheck price on Amazon
String Trimmer Line for Black and Decker Trimmer/EdgerCheck price on Amazon
BLACK+DECKER String Trimmer / EdgerCheck price on Amazon
Husqvarna 130L Gas String TrimmerCheck price on Amazon
40v vs 80v string trimmer side by side
| Factor | 40V examples | 80V examples | Takeaway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltage platform | 40V MAX and 40V PowerShare | 80V Greenworks platform | Each platform takes its own batteries |
| Cutting path | 13 inch and 15 inch | 16 inch on both examples | Wider paths cover open ground faster |
| Line | 0.095 inch on the Worx example; not stated on the BLACK+DECKER example | 0.095 inch dual line on both examples | Line size matches across the Worx and Greenworks examples |
| Feed | Automatic feed spool and bump feed | Bump feed on both examples | Automatic feed needs no tap; bump feed needs a tap |
| Batteries | Not included on the BLACK+DECKER example; 2 x 4.0Ah on the Worx example | 2.0Ah on both examples | The BLACK+DECKER example ships without a battery |
| Weight stated | 9.42 lbs on the Worx example; not stated on the BLACK+DECKER example | 16.61 pounds and 11.2 lbs with battery | Compare weights only where the listing states the basis |
| Warranty | 3 Year Limited Warranty on the BLACK+DECKER example; not stated on the Worx example | 4-Year Full Coverage on the carbon fiber example; not stated on the other example | Warranty terms differ by listing, not by voltage |
| Motor speed stated | Not stated on either 40V example | 6000 RPM on the carbon fiber example; not stated on the other example | RPM figures are sparse; compare only where stated |
Figures are manufacturer stated for the examples, collected 30 October 2026.
Voltage: what 40V and 80V change
Voltage marks the battery platform, and platforms do not mix: the Worx example runs on 40V PowerShare batteries shared with 140+ Worx tools, the BLACK+DECKER example runs on 40V MAX batteries, and both Greenworks examples run on the 80V Greenworks platform, which the carbon fiber example states powers 75+ Greenworks tools. But the listings show the limits of that shorthand: the Worx 40V example claims 25cc gas-like power from its brushless motor 2.0, while only the carbon fiber 80V example states a motor speed, at 6000 RPM.
Battery size also differs by listing. The Worx example includes 2 4.0Ah batteries with a dual-port charger, both Greenworks examples state a 2.0Ah battery, and the BLACK+DECKER example ships with no battery or charger at all. A bare-tool example needs a battery purchase on top.
Cutting path and line
On cutting path, the 80V examples pull ahead on paper: both Greenworks examples state a 16 inch path, against 15 inch on the Worx example and 13 inch on the BLACK+DECKER example.
Line size matches across most of the examples: the Worx example and both Greenworks examples state 0.095 inch line, with dual line on the Greenworks examples. The BLACK+DECKER example states an AF-100 spool and automatic feed, but no line size, so its line diameter is not stated. The Worx and Greenworks examples take 0.095 inch line; the BLACK+DECKER example leaves that question open.
Feed, handling and weight
Feed type splits the group. The BLACK+DECKER example uses an automatic feed spool that needs no manual line adjustment, while the Worx and Greenworks examples use bump feed, which advances line when the head is tapped on the ground.
Handling follows the same split. The Worx example states 9.42 lbs with an adjustable D-shaped handle and a 2-stage trigger that prevents accidental starts. The carbon fiber Greenworks example states 11.2 lbs with battery and an ergonomic handle, while the other Greenworks example states 16.61 pounds in its spec table, though its bullets call the design ultra-lightweight. The BLACK+DECKER example states no weight. With-battery and without-battery figures are not the same thing.
Batteries, warranty and upkeep
Upkeep is charging batteries and replacing line and spools. No example here needs fuel mixing; the standard Greenworks example states no gas, no oil and no emissions, and the carbon fiber example states no gas, no oil and no tune-ups. Warranty differs most: the carbon fiber Greenworks example states 4-Year Full Coverage for tool and battery, the BLACK+DECKER example states a 3 Year Limited Warranty, and the Worx and standard Greenworks examples state no warranty term at all.
The examples
Acreage and terrain fit
Greenworks ST80L254
Worx WG185
BLACK+DECKER LST136B
Greenworks ST80L253
Matching It to Your Property
- Long fence lines and ditch banks. The carbon fiber Greenworks example states 2 miles of fence lines per charge and manual length adjustment for ditch banks and uneven terrain.
- Tight beds and walks. The BLACK+DECKER example converts from trimming to edging in moments, which suits neat borders and pathways.
- Thick grass and underbrush. The Greenworks examples state 16 inch paths with 0.095 inch dual line.
- Charging setup. The Worx example includes 2 4.0Ah batteries and a dual-port charger, so a spare battery charges while the other works.
Wear eye and hearing protection, long pants and sturdy footwear, and keep bystanders well back while the line or blade spins. Clear stones and debris first, and stop the engine or remove the battery before clearing the head. Refuel only with the engine off and cool. See OSHA landscaping safety. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
The Acre Score explained
The Acre Score weighs five factors: performance (power, cutting path and line), build quality (frame, handle and guard), value (what comes in the box), safety (certifications or operator controls the listing states) and warranty (years and coverage). A factor the listing does not state scores zero: warranty scores zero where the listing states no term, and safety scores zero where the listing states no certification or control.
| Product | Acre Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks ST80L254 | 9.7 | 32 | 22 | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| Worx WG185 | 9.7 | 32 | 21 | 22 | 7 | 0 |
| BLACK+DECKER LST136B | 9.5 | 28 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 3 |
| Greenworks ST80L253 | 9.5 | 30 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
If you clear larger areas, see our brush and field mowers for clearing bigger ground.
FAQ: mowing large lots
Can a 40V trimmer handle thick weeds?
The Worx example claims 25cc gas-like power from its brushless motor 2.0, and the BLACK+DECKER example offers a power command dial that selects maximum strength for thick growth. For dense underbrush and 8 inch tall grass, the carbon fiber Greenworks example states 80V power with a 6000 RPM motor.
Is an 80V trimmer too heavy for a small yard?
The Worx example states 9.42 lbs, the carbon fiber Greenworks example states 11.2 lbs with battery, and the standard Greenworks example lists 16.61 pounds in its spec table. The BLACK+DECKER example states no weight.
Do 40V and 80V batteries work across brands?
No. Each listing names its own platform: 40V MAX for the BLACK+DECKER example, 40V PowerShare for the Worx example, and 80V Greenworks for both Greenworks examples. Batteries stay on their own platform.
What line size do these trimmers use?
The Worx example and both Greenworks examples state 0.095 inch line, with dual line on the Greenworks examples. The BLACK+DECKER example states an AF-100 spool but no line size, so its line diameter is not stated.
Does the BLACK+DECKER trimmer come with a battery?
No. The listing states battery and charger are not included, and the tool is sold without them. Budget for both if you do not already own 40V MAX batteries.
