Best Generator for Running a String Trimmer

Corded electric string trimmers are light, cheap, and nearly maintenance-free, but they tie you to an outlet. On large properties, fence lines, and job sites with no power, a small generator can fix that. The load is gentle compared with saws and compressors: most corded trimmers draw 4 to 6.5 amps. That means the generator decision is really about portability, noise, and fuel, and about whether the trimmer should be corded at all. Here is how to choose sensibly.

Trimmer power figures

Generator picks

Best overall for corded trimmers: 1,000-1,200W inverter

A small inverter handles a 6.5A trimmer’s surge and runs it on about 0.07-0.12 gallons per hour. At roughly 28-35 lb, it’s light enough to carry along a fence line or set in a garden cart. Noise in the low-to-mid 50s dBA at 23 feet means the trimmer head is louder than the generator. Expect roughly $400-$900 for a quality unit in this class.

If you also run an edger or hedge trimmer: 2,000-2,300W inverter

A corded edger pulls 10-12A, and pairing it with other tools pushes past a 1,000W generator’s comfort zone. A 2,000W-class inverter covers the edger and a trimmer on separate outlets, though not both starting at once, plus a phone charger or radio.

Best for battery trimmer owners: power station or small inverter

If your trimmer runs on a 40V-80V battery platform, a 500-1,000Wh power station or a 1,000W inverter can recharge packs in the field. Rapid chargers draw 200-400W, so a 1,000Wh station can refill several typical 2.5-5Ah packs.

Corded vs battery: choose the tool, then the generator

Corded trimmers pull cord as you walk, and on a big lot you’ll spend a lot of time managing 100 feet of extension cord. Modern battery trimmers offer 20-45 minutes of cutting per pack, which covers most suburban yards. For multi-acre properties, a charging station at the truck powered by a small generator beats dragging a cord across the property. Corded tools still win on weight, cost, and unlimited runtime close to the generator.

Cords, GFCI, and wet grass

String trimmers are used outdoors, often on damp grass, so electrical safety matters. Use an outdoor-rated extension cord of 14-gauge up to 100 feet (12-gauge beyond), keep connections off wet ground, and plug into a GFCI-protected outlet on the generator or an inline GFCI adapter. Loop the cord through the trimmer’s strain-relief hook so it doesn’t pull out mid-cut. Keep the cord behind you. A trimmer line will cut through a jacket faster than you’d think.

Fuel and maintenance for an occasional-use generator

A yard-work generator may sit idle for weeks between uses, which is hard on gasoline engines. Use fuel stabilizer, or ethanol-free gas if it’s available, and run the carburetor dry or drain it before long storage. Change the oil after the first 5-10 hours of break-in, then roughly every 50-100 hours. Keep the spark arrestor clean if you use it on dry grass, since some jurisdictions require arrestors to reduce fire risk.

Where to set the generator

For yard work the generator usually sits in the open, which is good. Keep it away from the house, at least 20 feet from doors, windows, and vents, and don’t park it in the garage doorway or a shed while it runs. If it’s also backing up household loads after the trimming is done, CO alarms inside the home are essential. Household circuits should connect only through an electrician-installed transfer switch or interlock, never through a backfed outlet.

FAQ

Can a 1,000-watt generator run an electric string trimmer?

Yes. Most corded trimmers draw 400-800W running, well within a 1,000W-class inverter’s capacity, including their brief startup surge.

Is it cheaper to buy a battery trimmer than a generator?

Often, yes. If you only need power for trimming, a battery trimmer kit with two packs usually costs less than a quality generator plus a corded trimmer, and it’s easier to handle. A generator makes sense if it also serves other tools or outage backup.

Bottom line

A corded string trimmer needs only a 1,000-1,200W inverter. Step up to 2,000W if an edger is also in the mix. Battery trimmer owners should think of the generator, or a power station, as a pack charger rather than a direct tool supply.