The best genuine full-size cordless line trimmer available in New Zealand right now is the Bosch 18V EasyGrassCut, sold either as a ready-to-use kit with battery and charger, or as a bare tool if you already own Bosch’s 18V “Power For All” batteries.
Note on scope: real weed eaters (long-shaft cordless string trimmers) that can actually be shipped to a New Zealand address are genuinely limited – most cordless trimmer listings, including several well-known brands, are blocked from NZ dispatch due to their battery. This guide covers the three genuine line trimmers that do ship, plus three compact cordless grass and shrub shears from Bosch’s garden range for detail edging and shaping work – a different, smaller tool to a full weed eater, and clearly labelled as such below rather than presented as a substitute.
Each entry lists what the tool actually includes – battery or bare tool, cutting width, runtime – taken from its own product listing, so you know exactly what you’re buying before you check the price.
Quick comparison
| Rank | Pick | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch 18V Cordless Line Trimmer (with Battery Kit) | Best overall / ready to use |
| 2 | Bosch 18V Cordless Line Trimmer (Bare Tool) | Best for existing Bosch 18V battery owners |
| 3 | Stanley Fatmax V20 18V Line Trimmer Kit | Best alternative brand |
| 4 | Bosch 18V Cordless Grass & Shrub Shear Kit | Best for edging and shrub detail work |
| 5 | Bosch 3.6V Compact Hedge & Grass Shear | Best compact multi-use pick |
| 6 | Bosch 3.6V Compact Hedge Shrub Shear | Best budget pick |
The Best Weed Eaters & Cordless Garden Trimmers in NZ
Full-size line trimmers (weed eaters)
1. Bosch 18V Cordless Line Trimmer – Best overall / ready to use
This is Bosch’s EasyGrassCut 18 sold as a complete kit with a 2.5Ah battery and fast charger included, so it’s ready to use straight out of the box rather than needing a separate battery purchase.
It has a semi-automatic spool that feeds line without manual adjustment, plus an easy edging function that switches the head with a tap and twist of the handle for cutting lawn edges as well as open grass.
The battery is part of Bosch’s “Power For All” 18V system, so it’s compatible with other Bosch Home & Garden 18V tools if you add more to the collection later.
Pros
- Comes with battery and fast charger – no separate purchase needed
- Semi-auto spool feed and tap-and-twist edging function
- Battery works across the wider Bosch 18V “Power For All” tool range
Cons
- 26cm cutting width suits a small-to-medium lawn rather than a large section
- Costs more upfront than the bare-tool version if you already own a compatible battery
Key specs: 26cm cutting width, 18V, includes 2.5Ah battery and fast charger, semi-auto spool feed, easy edging function.
2. Bosch Cordless Line Trimmer – Best for existing Bosch 18V battery owners
This is the exact same EasyGrassCut 18 trimmer as the kit above, minus the battery and charger, for anyone who already owns a Bosch 18V “Power For All” battery from another tool.
It has the same 26cm cutting width, semi-automatic spool feed and tap-and-twist edging function as the full kit, just without the added cost of a battery you may not need.
Worth checking you actually have a compatible Bosch 18V battery and charger before buying this version, since the tool won’t run without one.
Pros
- Meaningfully cheaper than the full kit if you already have a compatible battery
- Same 26cm cutting width and edging function as the kit version
- One less battery and charger cluttering the garage
Cons
- Won’t run at all without a separately-owned Bosch 18V battery and charger
- No real saving if you don’t already own Bosch 18V gear
Key specs: 26cm cutting width, 18V, bare tool – battery and charger sold separately, semi-auto spool feed, easy edging function.
3. Stanley Fatmax V20 18V Line Trimmer Kit – Best alternative brand
This Stanley Fatmax kit comes with an 18V V20 lithium-ion battery included, which Stanley states has no memory effect and minimal self-discharge, so it should hold its charge well between uses.
It has a 25cm cutting swath and an automatic line feed system, plus an edging guide wheel specifically for keeping lawn borders straight while edging.
At a 9,000rpm cutting speed it’s positioned as a fast-cutting option for larger areas, and it’s a genuine alternative brand to the Bosch picks above if you’re not already invested in either battery system.
Pros
- Battery and charger included in the kit
- Edging guide wheel helps keep borders straight
- 9,000rpm cutting speed for faster trimming
Cons
- 25cm cutting swath is slightly narrower than the Bosch picks’ 26cm
- A different battery system to Bosch, so it doesn’t share batteries with the picks above
Key specs: 25cm cutting swath, 18V V20 lithium-ion battery included, automatic line feed, edging guide wheel, 9,000rpm.
Compact grass & shrub shears (for edging and detail work, not a full trimmer replacement)
The three picks below are handheld cordless shears, not full-size line trimmers – they’re built for shaping shrubs, edging small areas and detail work in tight spots a long-shaft trimmer can’t easily reach, rather than cutting a whole lawn’s worth of grass or weeds.
4. Bosch 18V Cordless Grass & Shrub Shear Kit – Best for edging and shrub detail work
This Bosch AdvancedShear 18V-10 kit includes both a 100mm grass blade and a 200mm shrub blade, swapped via what Bosch calls a “Multi-click” system, plus a 2.0Ah battery and charger.
Bosch’s patented Anti-Blocking System is built in to reduce jamming on thicker branches, and the dual-action blades are Swiss-made for precision cutting rather than a rougher hack-through action.
Amazon’s listing states it can cut up to 85 square metres per battery charge, and the battery is part of the same Bosch 18V “Power For All” system as the line trimmer picks above.
Pros
- Two interchangeable blades (grass and shrub) in one kit
- Anti-Blocking System reduces jamming on thicker branches
- Shares a battery system with the Bosch 18V line trimmer picks above
Cons
- This is a handheld shear, not a substitute for a full-size line trimmer on open lawn areas
- Highest price of the six picks on this list
Key specs: 100mm grass blade + 200mm shrub blade, 18V, includes 2.0Ah battery and charger, up to 85m² per charge, Swiss-made dual-action blades.
5. Bosch 3.6V Compact Hedge & Grass Shear – Best compact multi-use pick
This Bosch EasyShear is a genuinely compact 2-in-1 tool that switches between shrub and grass shear blades without needing tools, aimed at small shaping jobs rather than large areas.
The 3.6V battery is integrated rather than removable, rated for up to 40 minutes of runtime per charge, and recharges via the included Micro-USB cable in around 3 hours.
It’s built for small, occasional garden tasks – trimming shrub edges or grass borders – rather than as a daily-use tool for a large section.
Pros
- Genuinely compact and lightweight for small jobs
- Tool-less blade swap between grass and shrub shear
- Recharges via Micro-USB, no separate charger to lose
Cons
- Integrated battery can’t be swapped or upgraded like the 18V picks above
- 40-minute runtime suits small jobs only, not extended use
Key specs: Integrated 3.6V battery, up to 40min runtime, 2-in-1 grass and shrub blades, Micro-USB charging, Swiss precision blades.
6. Bosch 3.6V Compact Hedge Shrub Shear – Best budget pick
This Bosch ISIO 3 is the cheapest pick on this list, a compact single-blade shrub shear with Bosch’s Anti-Blocking System and an integrated 3.6V battery rated for up to 50 minutes of runtime.
It comes with a 120mm shrub blade and a soft carry case, and Bosch’s “Multi-Click” system means other compatible attachments (sold separately) can be fitted to the same handle.
It’s a genuine budget entry point into cordless shrub shaping rather than a full trimmer, best suited to light, occasional use around small shrubs and hedges.
Pros
- Cheapest pick on this list
- 50-minute runtime, longer than the EasyShear above
- Multi-Click system allows other attachments (sold separately)
Cons
- Single shrub blade only – no grass blade included
- Integrated battery can’t be swapped or upgraded
Key specs: Integrated 3.6V battery, up to 50min runtime, 120mm shrub blade, soft case included, Anti-Blocking System.
How to choose the best weed eater or garden shear
Deciding between a full-size line trimmer and a compact shear comes down to how much area you’re actually cutting – a whole lawn’s edges versus a few shrubs – plus whether you want a swappable battery you can share with other tools.
Corded, cordless or petrol?
Corded electric trimmers are typically more powerful and run indefinitely, but you’re tied to an extension cord and outlet range. Cordless (battery) trimmers trade some runtime and power for freedom of movement, and have become quiet and capable enough for most home gardens. Petrol trimmers are the most powerful and have no cord or battery limit, but they’re heavier, noisier, and need fuel stored and mixed correctly for two-stroke engines.
Battery voltage and shared battery systems
Higher voltage generally means more cutting force – an 18V trimmer will out-cut a 12V model on thicker weeds and longer grass. If you already own cordless tools from a brand like Bosch, buying a bare tool in the same battery system (like the bare EasyGrassCut 18 above) is usually cheaper than a full kit, since you’re not paying for a battery and charger you already have.
Cutting width and diameter
A wider cutting swath covers more ground per pass, which matters on a larger lawn, but a narrower head is often lighter and easier to manoeuvre in tight spots between garden beds, fences and furniture. Match the cutting width to the size and layout of the area you’ll actually be trimming, rather than just buying the widest head available.
Line trimmer or handheld shear?
A long-shaft line trimmer is built for cutting grass and weeds across an open area – lawn edges, verges, and larger overgrown patches. A handheld shear, like the compact Bosch picks on this list, is a different tool built for shaping shrubs and hedges or tidying small, tight areas a trimmer’s spinning line can’t easily reach. Most gardens genuinely benefit from having both rather than expecting one tool to do everything.
Anyone tackling the rest of the garden at the same time might also want to check our guides to lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and chainsaws for the bigger jobs a line trimmer or shear can’t handle.
Verdict
For most people who just want a genuine full-size weed eater ready to go, the Bosch 18V Cordless Line Trimmer kit is the easiest pick – battery and charger included, with a wide enough cutting head for most home lawns. If you already own a Bosch 18V battery from another tool, the bare-tool version is the cheaper way in.
Anyone not already invested in Bosch’s battery system should look at the Stanley Fatmax kit as a genuine alternative brand. For shaping shrubs and tidying tight edges a line trimmer can’t reach, the three Bosch compact shears are worth adding alongside a full trimmer rather than instead of one – the AdvancedShear kit if you want the widest blade options, or either compact EasyShear or ISIO 3 for lighter, occasional use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a weed eater and a line trimmer?
They’re the same tool by different names – “weed eater” is the more common term in the US, while “line trimmer” or “whipper snipper” are more commonly used in New Zealand and Australia. All refer to the same long-shaft tool that spins a nylon line to cut grass and weeds.
Can I use a grass shear instead of a line trimmer?
Not for a whole lawn – a handheld shear is built for shaping shrubs and detail work in tight spots, not for cutting grass or weeds across an open area the way a full-size line trimmer does. Most gardens benefit from having both tools rather than substituting one for the other.
How long does a cordless line trimmer battery last?
Runtime depends on the battery’s capacity and how hard the trimmer is working, but a typical 18V 2.0-2.5Ah battery on a home-sized lawn usually lasts long enough for one session of edging and trimming before needing a recharge. Buying a second battery is worth considering if you have a larger section.
Do I need safety gear to use a line trimmer?
Safety glasses are strongly recommended to protect against flying debris, and closed footwear is a good idea given the spinning line. Petrol trimmers also warrant hearing protection given their noise level, which is less of a concern with quieter cordless electric models.
What cutting width do I need for my lawn?
A narrower head (around 25-26cm) is lighter and easier to manoeuvre around garden beds and obstacles, while a wider head covers more ground per pass on a larger, more open lawn. For most home sections, 25-30cm is a sensible middle ground.
Can I use the same battery across different cordless garden tools?
Only if the tools share the same voltage and battery system from the same manufacturer – for example, Bosch’s 18V “Power For All” batteries work across their compatible 18V garden tools, but won’t fit a different brand’s tools or a different voltage from the same brand.
