The Ryobi String Trimmer Tool That'll Whack Weeds Right Out Of Your Lawn

When doing basic trimming work on your yard, almost any weed whacker will do. However, when you need to cut down thick patches of tall, tough weeds, you need a high-powered outdoor power tool that can do the job quickly. Multiple TikTokers highlight the Ryobi 40-volt 12-inch battery string trimmer for doing big jobs well.

TikTok reviewer houseofesperanza shows the capabilities of the Ryobi trimmer on a large area with extremely tall weeds. In the TikTok video, houseofesperanza compared the Ryobi battery-powered weed eater to gas-powered models she used in the past, saying the battery-powered trimmer is far easier — and less scary — to use. She also appreciates the ease for trimming big weeds against a stone landscaping border without worrying about damage.

You'll pay about $130 for the Ryobi 40V string trimmer at Home Depot. The kit includes the tool, a 40-volt battery, and a charger. You can buy the same kit at Ryobi Tools for about $130. Thanks to strong customer reviews and a versatile set of battery-powered outdoor tools, it's well-known that Ryobi outdoor power tools can whip your lawn into shape. The 12-inch string trimmer fits right in with the rest of the Ryobi lineup, as it has strong customer reviews. At the Home Depot website, more than 3,900 customers have reviewed the string trimmer. The tool has a 4.1-star rating out of 5 stars, and 80% of customers would recommend purchasing the Ryobi 40V weed whacker to friends and family.

Thanks to its versatility, whether you are looking to create razor sharp garden edges with the Ryobi 40V weed eater or you want to tear down a patch of tall weeds quickly, this model is ready for the job. YouTube reviewer The Lawn Whisperer appreciated that the Ryobi model spins counterclockwise for better results when trimming versus clockwise-spinning models. However, The Lawn Whisperer did not like the noisy operational level with the Ryobi model in comparison to other battery-powered trimmers. He says it is not as loud as a gas-powered trimmer, though. It performed well for both trimming and edging needs in The Lawn Whisperer's review video.

TikTok reviewer eastcoastmarinenature created a video using the Ryobi trimmer to edge a driveway. In the video, eastcoastmarinenature added a trimmer head with serrated plastic blades that greatly simplified the edging process after turning the Ryobi weed eater's head 90 degrees. You can pick up these plastic blades in a kit at Home Depot for about $25.

Should you want to stick with using string and restringing the weed whacker, you can find Ryobi weed eater parts at Home Depot. (Ryobi is the house brand for Home Depot hardware stores.) Home Depot offers a single replacement line spool for about $10. You can save a bit of money per spool by purchasing multiple spools at once.

The tool ships with a 2.0 Ah battery, which costs $119 at Home Depot if you purchase it separately. Considering the cost of the standalone 40V 2.0 Ah battery, you're receiving quite a bargain with the Ryobi 40V weed eater and battery combo. If you want more run time, you can buy either a 4.0 Ah unit ($149 at Home Depot) or a 6.0 Ah unit ($199 at Home Depot). Both of them work with all of Ryobi's 40V tools. Ryobi claims the 6.0 Ah unit offers about three times the runtime of the 2.0Ah battery, while the 4.0 Ah model offers about double the run time.

Ryobi also offers 18-volt cordless string trimmers. However, the 18-volt model doesn't have the runtime or the overall power of the 40-volt model. TikTok user thehandymanpreacher recommends using the 40-volt battery-powered Ryobi weed whackers because of the need for extra power when doing these types of outdoor tasks, especially with large patches of tall weeds. Ryobi 40V battery tools typically work best for long, heavy-duty outdoor projects, while 18V tools often work better for simpler, shorter jobs. 

However, when using a weed whacker with an 18V battery, you'll won't have to lug around as much weight as models that use the physically larger 40V battery. Having less weight means you probably can work longer without arm fatigue. The 40V and 18V batteries are not interchangeable on the tools, as they use different connector systems.