Every lawn edger gets a score from 0 to 100% built from six factors, which maps onto the 5-point rating shown on the site (a 0% score would be 1.5 stars; a perfect score, 5). Each factor is scored against fixed reference points, not against the other products in the list, so adding a new model never moves another model’s rating. Battery and gas edgers are ranked in separate groups.
| Factor | Measures | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Value | kit price; tool-only battery edgers get a battery and charger allowance | 30% |
| Cutting depth | deepest cut the maker states | 20% |
| Blade | blade diameter | 10% |
| Motor or engine | brushless motor (battery) or engine size (gas) | 15% |
| Weight | the edger's weight as the maker states it | 10% |
| Warranty | warranty length | 15% |
Where the numbers come from
Blade size, cutting depth, voltage, battery, motor, engine, weight and warranty come from the maker’s product page, spec sheet or manual, including the maker’s own copy on a retail listing. Where two of a maker’s own figures conflict, the product page notes both and the ranking uses the spec table, or leaves the figure out. Prices are checked at Amazon and the maker’s own store, and the lowest price at a store the page links to is used.
The factors
Value is the price of a working edger, on a log scale, so halving the price always counts the same. A battery edger sold without a battery is scored as if it cost $100 more, a rough price for a battery and charger, so tool-only models compare fairly with kits; the product page shows both figures. Battery edgers score zero at $550 and full marks at $130; gas edgers score zero at $1,000 and full marks at $200.
Cutting depth is the deepest cut the maker states: 1.5 in. scores zero and 3 in. full marks. Depth is what most separates one edger from another, so a model whose maker publishes no depth scores zero here, marked estimated, rather than the neutral middle score.
Blade is the blade diameter: 7 in. scores zero and 9 in. full marks.
Power is the motor for a battery edger and the engine for a gas one. A brushless motor scores full marks and a brushed motor zero; a motor counts as brushless only when its maker says so. For gas edgers, a 20 cc engine scores zero and an 80 cc engine full marks.
Weight is the maker’s stated weight. Stick edgers score zero at 15 lb and full marks at 8 lb; walk-behind edgers score zero at 80 lb and full marks at 40 lb. Makers weigh their tools with and without a battery or fuel, and the product page shows the basis where it is given.
Warranty is the maker’s tool warranty: 1 year scores zero and 5 years full marks.
What isn’t scored
Voltage, battery capacity, runtime, depth settings, bevel cuts, attachment support and release date are listed but not scored. Runtime and battery size are left out because makers measure runtime in different ways (minutes, or feet of edge) and a tool-only edger can take any battery its platform offers.
Missing data
If a blade size, motor type, engine size or weight isn’t published, that factor gets the neutral middle score (50) and the product page marks it as estimated. Cutting depth and warranty are the exceptions: a maker that doesn’t publish one gets zero for that factor, marked estimated, so a thin listing never outranks a documented one.
Ties and discontinued models
Products are ranked by score within each group. Discontinued models stay listed but rank below every current model and can be hidden with the “Hide discontinued” filter.