Quick verdict: Buy a string trimmer first for grass around obstacles and general finishing. Add a dedicated lawn edger when maintaining a defined lawn-to-paving edge is a frequent job your trimmer does not handle satisfactorily.
Research-based buying guide; no hands-on testing is claimed. As an Amazon Associate, Time to Get Outside earns from qualifying purchases.
| Decision | How the options compare |
|---|---|
| Primary job | String trimmer: Cutting grass with a line head Dedicated lawn edger: Maintaining an edge with a dedicated blade system |
| Best first purchase | String trimmer: General lawn finishing Dedicated lawn edger: Repeated border work on a suitable property |
| Running costs | String trimmer: Specified line or replacement spools Dedicated lawn edger: Correct replacement blades and other wear parts |
The tools have different main jobs
A string trimmer reaches grass the mower leaves around posts, fences and other obstacles. Some models also convert to an edging position. A dedicated lawn edger uses a purpose-built blade arrangement for a defined boundary, such as the meeting point between turf and paving. These roles overlap, but they are not identical.
BLACK+DECKER’s LST300 trimmer/edger and LE750 landscape edger are useful examples of those two approaches. The shared word edger in a listing does not mean the cutting mechanism or intended result is the same. Inspect the head, guide system and manufacturer’s description instead of comparing only the product names.
When the trimmer is enough
If your regular work is tidying grass around a small yard, start with a suitable trimmer. A model with an edging function may cover an occasional border touch-up without buying and storing a second machine. The value comes from meeting the finish you actually want, not matching a professional-looking equipment collection.
Check the adjustment between trimming and edging, how the handle feels in both positions and the specified line size. Replacement spool availability matters more than an extra marketing feature if you will struggle to find consumables locally. A kit that includes a battery and charger may be more useful than a lower-priced bare tool.
When a separate edger is justified
A dedicated edger makes more sense when your property has enough suitable hard boundaries to create a repeated task and the result from your current tool is not satisfactory. Compare guide wheels, adjustment, blade availability and the type of power supply. Paying more is easier to justify when the machine solves a routine problem.
Do not assume every boundary is suitable for a powered blade or that a landscape-edging function is a general digging tool. Follow the exact instructions and assess the location before use. For a short edge touched up only a few times a year, a manual edging tool may deserve a price comparison before adding another powered machine.
Budget for the system you can use
For battery models, confirm platform compatibility and whether a usable battery and charger are included. For a corded edger, add the suitable outdoor cable required by its manual. Compare working weight rather than an unpowered tool’s headline weight, and make sure the handle adjustment fits the person who will use it.
I would buy the trimmer first for broad lawn-finishing needs and add a separate edger only when the border work justifies it. Compare Canadian-dollar prices for complete setups and check replacement line or blade costs. Two inexpensive machines that duplicate your occasional work can be worse value than one well-chosen tool you use comfortably every week.
Compare current U.S. and Canadian listings
These buttons open product searches, not guaranteed stock or fixed prices. Match the exact model, size, included accessories and seller before ordering. Canadian shoppers should compare the final cost in Canadian dollars, including any shipping or import charges.
Related buying guides
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- Best Garden Kneelers and Seats for Comfortable Yard Work
Sources and research notes
Specifications and guidance checked October 15, 2026. Recommendations are editorial judgments based on the cited details and use cases; they are not independent performance measurements.