Understanding the Difference Between a Grass Trimmer and a Brushcutter

Confused about the difference between a grass trimmer and a brushcutter? Although both can be a great addition to your gardening arsenal, it’s equally important to find the right option. This means selecting the piece of equipment that best suits your overall landscaping needs.

So, what are the major distinctions between brushcutters and trimmers? Let’s take a look.

What You Can Use Them For

The first thing to know is what each piece of equipment is typically used for. Here’s a quick guide:

Grass Trimmers:

• Tidying up lawn edges and around garden beds for a polished finish
  
• Cutting along fences, pathways, and patios where a mower can’t reach
  
• Maintaining small yards, courtyards, or units with compact spaces
  
• Trimming delicate plants or softer vegetation without causing damage
  
• Quick touch-ups between regular mowing sessions

Brushcutters:

• Clearing overgrown patches, long grass, and thick weeds
  
• Cutting through woody stems, scrub, or dense undergrowth
  
• Maintaining rural blocks, paddocks, or larger properties
  
• Using metal blades or heavy-duty line for tougher growth
  
• Preparing firebreaks or reclaiming neglected areas

Both Tools Can:

• Keep garden boundaries neat and presentable
  
• Complement each other for a full garden maintenance toolkit
  
• Reduce time and effort compared to manual cutting methods

Breaking Down the Key Differences

Purpose

Maintaining a tidy garden often comes down to picking the right tool for each task. Grass trimmers are ideal for edges, paths, and delicate areas where precision matters they’re light, easy to manoeuvre, and great for giving your lawn a polished look.

At the same time, areas with thick weeds or overgrown grass demand more power. A brushcutter can handle rougher vegetation and reclaim patches that a standard trimmer simply can’t tackle. Using the right combination ensures every part of your garden gets the care it needs without unnecessary effort.

Size

The difference in size often reflects what you need the tool to do. Smaller, lighter grass trimmers are perfect for quick touch-ups or compact yards. This is because they’re easy to lift, move around, and store once the job’s done and dusted.

Brushcutters tend to be more substantial, but that extra bulk serves a purpose. It adds an extra layer of stability and strength, allowing you to work through dense or coarse growth more effectively. This additional balance essentially makes longer jobs easier than you’d expect, even if they feel slightly heavy at first.

Handling

Ease of handling can make or break your gardening experience. Grass trimmers respond quickly to small adjustments, which makes them great for tight corners, edges, detailed shaping, and precision-based tasks. You can control them almost instinctively without tiring your arms.

For more demanding jobs, brushcutters often require a slightly different approach. Dual handles or bike-style grips let you distribute weight and use a sweeping motion, which gives better control when moving through dense weeds or long grass. Once you find the rhythm, heavy cutting becomes smoother and far less exhausting.

Bike Handles and Loop Handles

Bike handles are more common on brushcutters, where stability and control are key. The wider grip makes it easier to sweep through long grass, thick weeds, or larger areas without getting tired, which is perfect for heavier-duty work.

Loop handles are usually found on grass trimmers. Their smaller, compact design makes it simple to trim around trees, fences, and garden beds with precision. They feel lighter and more flexible, making them ideal for everyday trimming and detailed work.

Brushcutters often come with bike handles for tackling tough jobs, while trimmers usually use loop handles for precision and manoeuvrability.

Capabilities

Different growth types demand different cutting capabilities. Grass trimmers are excellent for soft grass and light weeds, giving a precise finish that protects garden beds, fences, and paving. They’re perfect when the goal is finesse rather than brute strength.

Brushcutters, meanwhile, can take on tougher vegetation thanks to the ability to swap between line, blades, or specialised attachments. Whether you’re clearing scrub, woody weeds, or neglected patches, they offer the flexibility and power needed to get the job done efficiently.

Price

Grass trimmers are generally more affordable, making them a solid choice for routine garden maintenance. You get reliable performance without paying for features you won’t use, which is ideal for smaller yards.

Investing in a brushcutter usually costs more, but that extra expense brings higher durability, stronger motors, and more versatility. For larger properties or frequent heavy-duty cutting, the investment often pays off through reduced effort and longer tool life.

Battery vs Petrol

Cordless grass trimmers have become increasingly popular thanks to their freedom of movement and ease of use. They’re lightweight, quiet, and great for smaller to medium-sized yards.

Battery-powered and electric brushcutters are also advancing, offering impressive performance for tough jobs while remaining convenient. Petrol versions are still favoured for long-running or professional tasks, where power and endurance are critical. Choosing the right power source depends on how often and where you’ll be using the tool.

Finding the Right Option

Matching your garden’s needs to the right tool is key. For edging, detail work, and everyday upkeep, a grass trimmer makes life simple. For overgrown sections, stubborn weeds, or rough terrain, a brushcutter saves time and effort.

Many gardeners find owning both is the most practical solution. The trimmer handles daily maintenance with minimal effort, while the brushcutter tackles heavy-duty growth, ensuring every corner of your property is covered efficiently.

Stihl: The Industry Leader in Trimmers and Brushcutters

If you’re looking for a tool that just works, STIHL is hard to beat. Their grass trimmers and brushcutters cover everything from quick, battery-powered models that make edging and small jobs easy, to petrol-powered machines that chew through thick weeds and overgrown areas without breaking a sweat. With a range of cutting heads, you can switch from soft grass to tougher growth without needing a whole new tool.

They’ve also put a lot of thought into comfort and practicality. Anti-vibration handles, well-balanced grips, and Easy2Start systems mean long jobs aren’t a struggle, and their batteries last long enough to get the job done. Parts and accessories are easy to get across Australia, so keeping your tool in good shape is simple.

All up, STIHL gives you power, flexibility, and reliability in one package, which is why it’s a favourite for both home gardeners and professionals.

STIHL FSE71 Electric Grass Trimmer

This is an affordable model that’s great for trimming, clearing and small mowing jobs. With a rubberised 2-component handle, round handle, and overload protection, the mowing line automatically readjusts when the mowing head is tapped on the ground.

Notable Features:

• Powerful, well-balanced trimmer
• Easy filling AutoCut C 5-2 mowing head
• Loop handle for easy manoeuvrability
• 350mm wide cutting diameter

STIHL FSA 80 R Battery Brushcutter (Skin Only) – Use AK Battery

The STIHL FSA 80 R battery brushcutter offers very good cutting performance if you want to mow grass or cut lawn edges quickly and easily in your domestic garden on smaller lawns. The powerful brushcutter from the STIHL AK System is so quiet that you can use it without ear protection and even in noise-sensitive areas.

The compact design of the very well-balanced STIHL FSA 80 R and the loop handle with soft component enable you to mow flexibly and have a high degree of freedom of movement when mowing between trees and shrubs and in other confined spaces.

RUNNING TIME:

• Battery life with recommended AK 10 battery: Up to 12 – 8 min
• Battery life with AK 20 battery: Up to 25 – 15 min
• Battery life with AK 30 S battery: Up to 30 – 20 min

HONDA UMK425L Straight Shaft Brushcutter

Featuring ultra-compact and lightweight 4-Stroke engines, Honda’s UMK425 Loop Brushcutter offers superb power and more torque than ever before.

Honda leads the world with revolutionary mini 4-Stroke engines that deliver more power and use less oil than 2-stroke alternatives. The UMK425 Loop is powered by Honda’s new Generation II GX25 Mini 4-Stroke engine delivering commercial-grade power.

And with its auto-decompression, electronic ignition and anti-flood primer system, the UMK425 Loop will start first time, every time, year after year. It’s what you’ve come to expect from Honda.

SHINDAIWA F226S Curved Shaft Trimmer

A professional standard loop-handle curved shaft trimmer with easy start technology.

Balance and power with the convenience of Shindaiwa’s Soft Start system for effortless starting in all conditions. The F226S is designed to be super lightweight, ergonomic and highly maneuverable. It weighs just 4.3kg and boasts a professional grade 21.2cc Shindaiwa engine.

Notable features:

• Professional Engine: Powered by a professional grade 21.2cc Shindaiwa engine.
• Ergonomic controls: Controls placed where you need them for extreme convenience and ease of use.
• Curved Shaft: Curved shaft trimmers are more maneuverable. They are also a lighter weight, and the smaller size makes them great for covering tight spaces.

Husqvarna 215iL Trimmer Kit, “Skin+Battery+Charger” (Available at Seaford Store Only)

A light, high-quality battery trimmer suitable for all grass trimming tasks.

Husqvarna 215iL is a battery-powered grass trimmer that is well-balanced, easy to maneuver, and has the power to trim everything from lawn edges to tall grass in large gardens. The telescopic shaft is easy to adjust based on different users for good ergonomics and facilitates storage and transport.

The trimmer also has an intuitive keypad and a trimmer head that does not need to be taken apart when loading with a new line.

Key features:

• Tap ‘n Go
• savE™
• Brushless motor
• Cordless freedom
• Adjustable front handle
• Individually product length

Brushcutters & Trimmers for Sale in Melbourne

Available online and in-store, we’re proud to supply a great range of brushcutters and trimmers. With options suitable for both domestic and commercial use, we source products from the biggest brands in the business, including Stihl, Honda, Husqvarna, Shindaiwa, and Greenworks.

Not sure which option best suits your needs? Feel free to drop by one of our stores and speak with an expert! In order to maximise your output, we also have a fantastic collection of blade attachments, spare parts, and repairs when needed.

If you’d like more information on obtaining brushcutters and trimmers in Melbourne, contact the B.W. Machinery team today.