Best Greenworks 40V 17-Inch Brushless String Trimmer

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If you are comparing options and landed on the best greenworks 40v 17-inch brushless string trimmer, here is the short version. The Amazon record describes a battery-powered string trimmer with a 17-inch cutting width, a brushless motor and a Load-N-Go head. The title and the size field both say the tool is sold without a battery and charger. The record does not state a runtime, a warranty or a battery model, so those points need checking before you order.

Quick answer

• Good fit if you want a 17-inch cutting path for a larger yard and you plan to buy a battery and charger separately.
• Check the battery plan first. The title names a 40V platform, but the record gives no battery model, so confirm which battery and charger you need before you buy.
• The record gives no runtime and no warranty, so do not assume either one.
• Read the safety basics before the first use, because string trimmers throw debris and can injure bystanders.

The product at a glance

The table uses only what the Amazon record states. The data comes from a stored Playwright scan of the listing, dated 2026-10-23. Where the record is silent, the cell says not stated.

Item	What the listing states
Brand	Greenworks
Model number	ST40L05
Power source	Battery powered
Battery platform	40V (from the title)
Battery model	not stated
Battery and charger	Not included (the title and the size field both say so)
Cutting width	17 inches
Motor	Brushless
Trimmer head	Load-N-Go trimmer head
Line	Dual feed, 0.105-in. spiral twist line
Speed control	Variable speed with a 2-speed trigger
Item weight	10.3 pounds
Item dimensions	66.54 inches long by 11.02 inches wide
Speed field	600000 rpm (what this figure refers to is not stated)
Recommended use	Trimming
Color	Green
Warranty	not stated
Runtime	not stated
Units in pack	1

View on Amazon

Two figures in the table are worth working through. The 17-inch cutting path is about 1.4 feet, since 17 divided by 12 gives 1.42. Along a 10-foot run of edge, a path that wide covers about 14 square feet of ground, which is 1.42 times 10. That is arithmetic on the listed width, not a time estimate, because the record does not say how fast the head moves or how dense the growth is.

Safe use with a 17-inch string trimmer

Oklahoma State University Extension warns that string trimmers and edgers can be dangerous around gravel, trash and other debris in the yard, so clear the work area before you start. The same column says that trimming too close to tree trunks, plants, house trim and fences can leave gouges, and that plant damage can show up later as scars, disease or insect problems.

Virginia Tech’s powered hand tool training module asks you to keep bystanders, children and pets at least 50 feet from the work area. It also calls for full eye and ear protection, and for long pants, closed-toe shoes and gloves. For a string trimmer, it advises firm footing, keeping your body clear of the rotating string head, and using the tool only for weeds and grass. It also says to secure long hair above the shoulder.

Ohio State University Extension’s factsheet on handheld trimmers adds two practical points. It recommends eye protection and leather gloves, and it says cutting-edge upkeep is not required on string lines. That factsheet was written for handheld trimmers and brush cutters, many of them gas-powered, so this post uses only its general safety points and its string-line note.

A battery trimmer has no cord to trip over, which removes one hazard Oklahoma State describes for corded electric equipment. The debris, bystander and eye-protection risks remain. The Amazon record we read does not include a manual, so find the Greenworks operator’s manual on the manufacturer’s site before you rely on the points above.

Before the first trim

Three checks from the safety sources are worth doing before you start the tool. Each takes only a few minutes.

• Confirm that the guards are in place and that no safety feature has been bypassed. Ohio State’s factsheet asks for the shields and deflector guards to be in place.
• Look the trimmer over for loose fasteners and a cracked string head before each use, and replace any damaged part. Virginia Tech’s module gives this check.
• Clear the area and check the light. Ohio State says to remove visible stones, sticks, wires and other debris, and Virginia Tech says to make sure lighting is adequate and not to overreach.

Ohio State also says to become familiar with how the equipment starts, stops and makes adjustments before you use it. Read the controls section of the manual first, then try the trigger and speed control with the tool in a clear area.

Who it suits

This trimmer suits a homeowner who wants a battery-powered string trimmer with a 17-inch cutting path and who expects to buy the battery and charger separately. The record positions the product for larger yard projects, so the first candidates are owners with long fence lines, wide beds, or long runs of edging along walks and driveways.

• A homeowner who plans to buy a 40V battery and charger and wants to confirm the fit before ordering.
• A person who wants to get to work quickly, without filling a gas tank, checking oil or adjusting a choke. The University of Illinois Extension makes this point about electric lawn and garden tools in general.
• A yard where a wide cutting path matters more than reaching into tight corners, a point the record does not address.

Skip it if

• You need the battery and charger in the box. The record says they are not included.
• You need a stated runtime or a stated warranty to compare models. The record states neither.
• You need a tool for thick brush. The record recommends the trimmer for trimming, and it does not mention a brush-cutting blade.
• You need to know which battery fits. The title names the 40V platform, but the record names no battery model.
• You would rather have a 20V battery tool. Our Black and Decker cordless weed eater 20V post covers that class of trimmer.
• You want a higher-voltage string trimmer. Our DeWalt FlexVolt 60V string trimmer post covers a different battery platform.

What the listing does not say

The record leaves several questions open. Here is what it leaves out, item by item.

• Battery and charger: not included. The title says so, and the size field reads Trimmer (Tool Only).
• Battery model, capacity and charge time: not stated.
• Runtime on a charge: not stated. The record gives no minutes of operation.
• Warranty: not stated. The record has no warranty field.
• Shaft type and balance: not stated.
• What the 600000 rpm speed field refers to: not stated.
• What the 66.54-inch length covers, such as whether it includes the shaft and head: not stated.

The record also makes performance claims that it does not back with detail. It says the brushless motor gives more torque and a longer life, that the head gives the fastest reload, and that the line tackles the toughest weeds. This post reports those as what the listing says, not as results.

Battery plan before you buy

The battery and charger are the biggest open question for this listing. The record says they are not included and names no battery model, so the battery plan comes before the purchase.

The University of Illinois Extension makes the general point that battery management matters, because a dead battery makes the operator wait until it is charged. For a trimmer, a single battery may not cover a whole yard. The record gives no runtime, so you cannot estimate from the listing how much edging one charge covers. Decide before you order whether you will buy a spare battery, or whether you can split the job around a charging break.

Buying checklist

• Decide how you will power the tool before you check out. The record says the battery and charger are not included.
• Confirm the battery platform with the seller or the manufacturer, since the record names 40V but no battery model.
• Ask for the shaft type and the warranty terms in writing, because the record states neither.
• Have eye and ear protection ready before the first use, as the Virginia Tech module recommends.
• Find the operator’s manual before the first use, because Ohio State and Oklahoma State both say to read it.

Mistakes to avoid

• Assuming the battery is in the box. The title and the size field both say it is not.
• Buying it for brush clearing. The record recommends trimming and does not mention a brush-cutting blade.
• Reading the performance lines as proof. The listing makes the claims, and the sources in this post do not cover this model.
• Letting bystanders stand close. The Virginia Tech module puts the distance at 50 feet.
• Skipping the manual. Ohio State and Oklahoma State both tell owners to read it before use.

How we chose

This product is in the post because the keyword names this exact model and its ASIN, B0BHVY1CW8. We wrote about this one ASIN only. The post does not compare it with other trimmers and does not rank it against them. The product data is from a stored Playwright scan of the Amazon listing, and the data was read from the scanner record checked 2026-10-23.

The criteria were simple. The item had to be a single yard tool, the record had to state its battery status, and the record had to contain enough listed specifications to describe the tool without guessing. The safety and use points come from extension pages on powered hand tools and trimmers, opened 2026-10-22. We did not use retail, blog or review pages for product facts.

What we could not verify

Several points remain unverified after this review.

• How long a charge lasts under real trimming. The record states no runtime, and the sources we opened do not cover this model.
• The warranty terms, since the record states none.
• Which Greenworks 40V batteries and chargers work with this trimmer. The record does not name them.
• Whether the performance claims about torque, line reload speed and weed cutting hold up in use.
• What the 600000 rpm speed field and the 66.54-inch length refer to.
• Whether the Amazon record still matches the current product. The scan is dated 2026-10-23.

FAQ

Does the Greenworks 40V 17-inch trimmer come with a battery and charger?

No. The Amazon record says the battery and charger are not included, and its size field reads Trimmer (Tool Only). You will need to buy a battery and charger separately, and the record does not say which ones fit this model.

Is the 17-inch cutting width enough for a larger yard?

The record gives a 17-inch cutting width and says the trimmer is for larger yard projects. It does not compare that width with narrower models, so the width alone should not decide the purchase.

Can this trimmer handle thick brush?

The record recommends the trimmer for trimming and describes a string head only. It does not mention a brush-cutting blade, so do not expect brush-clearing performance that the listing does not describe.

What safety gear and distances should I use?

Wear eye and ear protection, long pants, closed-toe shoes and gloves. Keep bystanders, children and pets at least 50 feet from the work area. The Virginia Tech powered hand tool module and the Ohio State trimmer factsheet both give these points.

Does the listing say how long one charge lasts?

No. The record gives no runtime. Check the manufacturer’s information for the specific battery you plan to buy before you assume a figure for this tool.

Does a battery trimmer need the same upkeep as a gas trimmer?

Some upkeep carries over, such as keeping the equipment and its attachments in good repair, which the Ohio State factsheet recommends. Fuel and spark plug steps do not apply to a battery tool, and the factsheet says cutting-edge upkeep is not needed on string lines. Follow the maintenance schedule in the owner’s manual.

Bottom line

Choose this trimmer only if you can add a battery and charger and you accept that the record gives no runtime or warranty. The decision rule: if the battery and charger must come in the box, skip this model.

Sources

• Greenworks 40V 17-Inch Brushless String Trimmer, Battery and Charger Not Included, Amazon listing record (opened 2026-10-23) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHVY1CW8
• Handheld Trimmers and Brush Cutters, AEX-790.37, Ohio State University Extension (opened 2026-10-22) https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/aex-79037
• Beyond The Mower: Safe Use Of Trimmers, Edgers And Blowers, Oklahoma State University Extension (opened 2026-10-22) https://extension.okstate.edu/announcements/grow-gardening-columns/2025/august-24-2025.html
• Lawn Care: Powered Hand Tool Safety, BSE-41, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech (opened 2026-10-22) https://ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/BSE/BSE-41/BSE-41.html
• What’s better: Gas or electric-powered lawn and garden tools?, Illinois Extension Good Growing (opened 2026-10-22) https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2022-11-24-whats-better-gas-or-electric-powered-lawn-and-garden-tools