Electric vs Gas Lawn Edger: Which One Should You Buy?

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Below: what each power source does, how the four edgers covered here compare, and how to pick between electric and gas for the edges in front of you.

Electric vs gas lawn edger: what each power source does

The battery edgers here run on batteries. The Greenworks listing states its edger starts instantly, runs quietly, with no gas, no oil and no emissions. The trade is range: the battery sets how far you edge before a recharge, and the CRAFTSMAN sells the battery separately while the Greenworks sells the battery and charger separately, so the tool alone does not cut until a battery joins it. A gas edger runs on fuel, so refueling keeps it going, and it suits long edges and overgrown curbs. The trade is weight, noise and upkeep, plus the fuel itself: the EARTHQUAKE 4-cycle engine eliminates mixing gas and oil, while the NEO-TEC 2-cycle engine runs on a gas mix.

Tool	Best for	Limit
Battery edger	Short edges near the house	Battery sold separately
Gas walk-behind edger	Long edges, deep cuts, overgrown curbs	Heavy at 57 pounds, plus fuel and upkeep
Gas 3-in-1 trimmer	Edging plus trimming and brush cutting	2-cycle engine, not for California buyers

The edgers covered here

The edgers below are ranked on what their listings state, from the capable walk-behind to the versatile handheld.

EARTHQUAKE 41273, 79cc walk-behind edger. The listing describes a 79cc 4-cycle Viper engine that eliminates mixing gas and oil, with 5 cutting angles, a blade that pivots up to 20 degrees in either direction, and 10 edging depths that cut up to 2.5 inches deep. A tri-tip steel blade, a variable-speed throttle, 4-wheel stability and a built-in cup and tool holder round it out, and the listing states a 5-Year Limited Warranty. At 57 pounds with dimensions of 38.96 by 19.47 by 39.67 inches, it carries the heaviest stated weight here, and it also handles smaller trenching jobs such as an electric fence run or a cable run to a shed.

CRAFTSMAN CMCED400B, 20V cordless edger. The listing describes a cordless edger with an integrated edge guide for a smooth cut along sidewalks and driveways, a VERSATRACK hook for hanging the tool, and V20 platform compatibility with other CRAFTSMAN outdoor equipment. The battery is sold separately, and the listing states a 3 Year Limited Warranty. One wrinkle: the bullets list 8 lbs while the spec table lists 10.5 pounds; the bullets are trusted here, so the weight is taken as 8 lbs.

Greenworks 40V 8 inch brushless edger. The listing describes an 8 inch brushless edger with a curb wheel, tool-free depth adjustment and a no-load speed of 6500 RPM, at 8.6 pounds. The brushless motor gives more torque, quiet operation and longer life, per the listing, and the edger is virtually maintenance free with no gas, no oil and no emissions. The battery and charger are not included.

NEO-TEC BC260EPA-X, 26cc gas 3-in-1 trimmer. The listing describes a 3-in-1 tool that converts to a lawn edger, a string trimmer or a brush cutter, with a 16 inch trimmer head, a 9 inch edger blade and a 10 inch brush cutter blade, plus a shoulder strap and a split shaft. The EPA-certified 2-stroke engine suits overgrowth and thick weeds. One hard limit: the listing states this product is NOT CARB certified and cannot be sold or shipped to California addresses.

How to pick between electric and gas

Start from the edges themselves. If the edges are short and the house is close, a battery edger covers the job. If the edges run long, sit far from an outlet or carry heavy overgrowth, a gas edger keeps going without a recharge. Weight matters too: the walk-behind gas edger weighs 57 pounds, while the battery edgers weigh 8 lbs and 8.6 pounds, so the walk-behind suits longer runs and the battery edgers suit quick passes. For battery options, see our cordless lawn edger picks.

Also weigh upkeep against versatility. A battery edger needs a charged battery, while a gas edger needs fuel and the care a small engine asks for, with the 4-cycle design skipping the gas and oil mix. A 3-in-1 gas tool adds trimming and brush cutting to edging, which suits a yard with overgrowth beyond the edges, as long as the California shipping limit does not apply to you.

Safety

Wear eye and hearing protection and sturdy shoes. Clear sticks, stones and other debris before edging, and keep children, pets and bystanders away from the work area. Refuel only with the engine off and cool, and run gas units outdoors only. See our Safety Disclaimer.

FAQ: mowing large lots

Do electric edgers need gas or oil?

No. The Greenworks listing states its edger runs with no gas, no oil and no emissions, and the battery edgers here run on 20V and 40V batteries.

What is the difference between a 2-cycle and a 4-cycle edger engine?

A 4-cycle engine, such as the EARTHQUAKE 79cc, eliminates mixing gas and oil. A 2-cycle engine, such as the NEO-TEC 26cc, runs on a gas mix and is EPA-certified.

Can a gas edger be used for trenching?

The EARTHQUAKE listing states its walk-behind edger can also be used for smaller trenching jobs, such as an electric fence installation or a cable run to a garage or shed.

Do I need a battery and charger with a bare tool?

Yes, unless you already own one. The CRAFTSMAN listing states the battery is sold separately, and the Greenworks listing states the battery and charger are not included.

Can the NEO-TEC trimmer be shipped to California?

No. The listing states this product is NOT CARB certified and cannot be sold or shipped to California addresses.

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