Ryobi had a few different string trimmers out there and I wanted to find out the difference between the different models and compare to see which ones were best.
In order to do that, I broke down the different types of string trimmers offered by Ryobi (by power source) and compared specs for trimmers in that class and it helped out a lot!
Here's what I found out...
Ryobi's 18V String Trimmers (Overview):
I was surprised to see how many 18V string trimmer that were available from Ryobi and I'm sure that this comparison is going to help out a lot of other people, myself included.
Price: These ranged in price from around $40, all the way up to $100 for the bare tools only and the kits ranged from $70 - $160 and usually came with a single battery, the trimmer and a charger.
Features: The cutting radius for the 18V trimmers ranged from 10" - 13" and most were single string cutters. I would recommend using a 4 Ah battery if you want to run these for close to an hour on a single charge.
Most of the 18V models utilize the auto feed string system that Ryobi uses and one model used the bump system. The majority were also straight shaft trimmers and most weighed around 6 - 8 lbs.
** Models are shown in order of cost from low to high.
ryobitools.com
The P2003A is one of the most affordable 18V cordless string trimmers offered by Ryobi.
It has a 10" cutting pattern and uses a single string, rather than two cutting strings and a .065 string diameter is recommended.
This is a lightweight weed eater, coming in at around 3 lbs. but is made more for light duty work and is not going to be the best choice for tougher weed eating tasks.
The shaft also rotates on the P2003A if you want to do some edging and has the auto line feed feature that Ryobi offers which means you don't have to bump the head to let out more string.
The bare tool will run you about $40 or you can get it with a battery (1.3 Ah) and a charger in a kit for around $70, which is model # P2030.
ryobitools.com
The P2052 is a step up from the P2003A and is about $10 more for the bare tool (around $50) and around the $90 range for the kit (P2060A) which includes the string trimmer, a charger and one (2.6 Ah) battery.
The P2052 is a straight shaft string trimmer and weighs in at around 6.5 pounds.
The P2052 still only uses a single cutting string but has a larger 12" cutting path that is adjustable (10" - 12") and uses the standard .065" diameter trimmer string. The shaft rotates, like many other Ryobi string trimmers for edging and the head actually pivots up and down as well.
ryobitools.com
The P2200A is a unique string trimmer, mainly due to the fact that it can be powered off of an 18V Ryobi battery or it can be plugged into an electrical outlet (dual power sources).
This may be a useful feature for some people who can have it plugged in while trimming close to a power source and switch to a battery when farther away.
The P2200A can run standard sized line (0.65") but still only uses a single string when cutting. It also has a 12" cutting radius that is adjustable and a uses a telescoping shaft that would probably come in handy for different height requirements.
The P2200A will run you about $70 for the string trimmer alone or it comes in a kit (P2210) that comes with a battery (1.3 Ah) and a charger for roughly $100.
ryobitools.com
The P20010A was really designed to be an upgraded version of the P2200A, having longer run times and the ability to use a little bit larger diameter string (.080").
The string trimmer is around the $50 mark alone (bare tool) and a kit is also available (P20100) for around $90 that includes a 2 Ah battery and a charger.
Other than that, everything else is pretty standard like a single cutting string, an adjustable cutting radius of 10" - 12" and automatic string feed system.
ryobitools.com
The P2008A is a little bit different than the other 18V string trimmers for a couple of reasons.
It doubles as a more precise edger as well, having a wheel mounted onto the shroud which makes it a lot easier to get a precise edge and has a max. cutting radius of 13".
On top of the more dedicated edging capabilities it uses larger diameter string (.080") but still only uses a single string for cutting. The variable speed trigger is another cool feature of the P2008A and allows for more control.
This Ryobi trimmer also uses the auto feed feature for the string and the head pivots for easier transitions when switching from standard weed eating to edging. The bare tool is priced around $80 and the kit (P2080) is around $130 for a 4 Ah battery , charger and the trimmer.
Ryobi's Best 18V String Trimmer...
ryobitools.com
The P2009A is one of the top 18V Ryobi string trimmers out there and is available for around $100 for the tool itself or around $160 for the kit (P2090) and it comes with the tool, a charger and a 4 Ah battery.
The P2009A also uses the heavier gauge string (0.80") and is uses dual strings to cut! The trigger is also another nice feature and reminds me of higher end (gas powered) trimmers.
The P2009A also uses a brushless motor, which will extend the battery life among other things and it has a bump feed mechanism, which some people prefer over Ryobi's auto feed system.
A couple of other features that are worth mentioning are the variable speed trigger and the two different speeds (high and low) which will come in handy for rocky areas, stickers and other tougher landscapes.
An Overview Of The 40V String Trimmers...
Pricing: The bare tools pricing was comparable to the 18V models but when you start to look at kits, that's when the added cost can really start to add up. The 40V batteries are more expensive than the 18V Ryobi batteries (naturally) and is something you should keep in mind if you are planning on buying a 40V string trimmer.
The cost for the bare tools ranged from $60 - $120 and the kits were between $130 and $200 but used different capacity batteries, which would affect price naturally and makes sense.
Features: The 40V string trimmers offered by Ryobi had a little bit larger cutting capacity (11" - 15"). Most of them also accepted many attachments, making them much more versatile than the 18V models.
They all use the heavier gauge string (.080") but two of them used a single string cutter head and the other two used a dual string cutter head.
** Models are shown in order of cost from low to high.
ryobitools.com
Ryobi's RY40204A is pretty much their base 40V string trimmer and has some of the expected features you would find with any cordless Ryobi string trimmer.
It does utilize larger diameter string (.080") but only uses a single cutting line. The cutting radius is adjustable between 11" and 13" and also has a variable speed feature that is controlled by the trigger.
The bare tool (RY40204A) will run you around $60 and the kit (RY40240) is around the $130 price range. The kit comes with a 1.3 Ah battery, the trimmer and a charger. One last note worth mentioning about the RY40204A is that it uses an auto feed head that automatically feeds the string when needed.
ryobitools.com
The RY40201A by Ryobi is basically the same as the RY40204A (above) but has a more dedicated edging functionality (shroud design) to it as you can see in the picture to the left and can have attachments added to it via the Connexion Attachment System.
Everything else is basically the same with a minor price difference. The bare tool will run you around $70 and the kit (RY40210B) will run around the $120 range, coming with a charger, the trimmer and higher capacity (2.6 Ah) battery.
It uses a single string cutter (.080"), has a variable speed trigger to control the speed of the line and has that same adjustable cutting radius at 11" - 13". This has the auto feed feature for the wire and the head also pivots for easier transitions from cutting to edging.
ryobitools.com
The RY40202 is a little bit different than the other two Ryobi 40V trimmers we looked at and is a little more expensive as well. The bare tool is around $100 and the kit (RY40220) can be had for around $170.
The kit comes with the trimmer, a charger and one 2.6 Ah battery.
The RY40202 uses dual cutting strings and is actually uses a bump motion to advance the string instead of the auto feed feature we saw on the last two string trimmers. It still uses the .080" diameter string and has a little bit larger cutting radius that is adjustable from 13" - 15".
The RY40202 can also accept Ryobi's Expand-It attachments, making it a much more versatile choice for people who like have those options available to them. This model also uses the variable speed trigger to control the cutting speed.
Ryobi's Best 40V String Trimmer...
ryobitools.com
The RY40203A is one of the top 40V string trimmers available from Ryobi and uses their brushless motor to power it. It is also the most expensive model.
The bare tool is priced around $120 and the kit (RY40230) is close to that $200 mark but comes with a larger capacity battery than any of the other kits (3.0 Ah) and of course the charger and trimmer.
The RY40203A also uses a bump feed head and the larger capacity string (.080") with dual cutting strings. It has the variable speed trigger (like the other 40V models) but also has a 2 speed selection switch (high and low) for more control, which is unique to this 40V model.
The RY40203A also has the larger cutting radius like the RY40202 (above) that is adjustable between 13" and 15". On top of that, it is also capable of running RYOBI's expand-it attachments.
A Look At Ryobi's Electric String Trimmers:
There was only one electric model that I found that is sold and I was surprised that I din't find at least one or two other models. I did find an older model but it was unavailable everywhere I looked so I did not include it.
ryobitools.com
The RY41135 was the only electric model string trimmer that I found that was still widely available. It was priced at around the $70 mark and has a straight shaft design to it.
One of the biggest surprises was the huge 18" cutting radius on it, which was much larger than any of the 18V or 40V models.
Another nice surprise that I came across when looking deeper into the RY41135 was that it could accept Ryobi's expand-it attachments, making it much more versatile and appealing, especially to have a corded version.
It uses the thicker gauge, .080 line that has two cutting strings and is powered by a 10 amp motor, which is much larger than the older model's 7.5 amp motor.
It also comes with a fixed line head or a standard bump feed head. Other than that, it is pretty basic and what you would expect from a corded string trimmer.
Finally, Ryobi's Lineup Of Gas String Trimmers...
Pricing: Ryobi's line of gas string trimmers were very comparable in price to their cordless models ranging from about $100, all the way up to $200. The gas trimmers that used a 2 stroke engine tended to be cheaper then the 4 stroke engines.
Features: All of the gas string trimmers offered by Ryobi shared some similar features like dual string cutting heads, bump feed line advance, the ability to accept attachments and using the thicker gauge line (.095).
The main difference when it came to features was the engine used and these were 2 stroke (25cc) engines and 4 stroke (30cc) engines. The cutting radius was between 17" and 18", so not a significant difference there.
The last main different was a curved shaft model and a straight shaft model, which is usually a user preference type of thing and hard to say which type is better.
I personally prefer straight shaft trimmers because of the extended reach and my taller stature but I like the comfort of a curved shaft trimmer more than a straight shaft model.
ryobitools.com
The RY252CS is the least expensive gas string trimmer offered by Ryobi and is around the $100 dollar mark which makes it very appealing to most people.
This is a curved shaft design and has the smaller 25cc engine (2 stroke), instead of the 30cc engine.
The RY252CS has two cutting lines, like the other gas trimmers and uses a hefty .095" line and a cutting diameter of roughly 17", which will last longer and have the ability to tackle some thick brush.
The RY252CS uses a bump head type of line feed mechanism and has a fuel capacity of 12 oz., which is quite small but average for Ryobi gas trimmers. The RY252CS is also able to accept different attachments, making it much more versatile.
ryobitools.com
The RY253SS has a couple of features that the RY252CS (above) did not and for about $30 more, it is well worth it. The RY253SS was priced around the $130 mark but has an upgraded carburetor and engine design to it.
The RY253SS is also a straight shaft design, which I personally prefer and has a little bit larger cutting diameter (18") over the previous model.
Everything is basically the same regarding features as it utilizes two separate cutting strings (.095") and uses a bump feed string advance feature. The RY253SS is also another model that can accept different attachments for a more diverse tool overall.
The engine on the RY253SS is still the smaller 25cc (2 stroke) engine, so it is the smaller sized engine but still a pretty decent tool for the price.
ryobitools.com
The RY4CCS is a curved shaft 4 stroke engine so no need to mix oil and gas, for those people who find it inconvenient (like myself). It is a little higher in price, coming in close to $150.
The RY4CCS also uses the larger 30cc engine, which is a nice addition and the extra power is sometimes needed.
All of the other features are basically the same as the other gas trimmers, the dual string cutter head that uses bump a feed mechanism, uses the .095" line and is able to accept attachments.
The cutting radius is the smaller 17" (for comparable Ryobi gas trimmers) but is worth the extra money, especially for the 4 stroke engine (in my opinion).
ryobitools.com
The RY4CSS is the most expensive gas string trimmer offered by Ryobi and is priced around the $200 mark. It also uses the 4 stroke engine and the more powerful 30cc engine, like the RY4CCS (above).
It has the larger cutting capacity (18") and uses two separate strings for cutting that are .095" in diameter, just like the other gas Ryobi trimmers.
The RY4CSS is a straight shaft trimmer though so it has a little bit more of a reach over the curved shaft model and it too is also able to accept different attachments.
