DeWalt 20V MAX 7.5 in. Cordless Corded Lawn Edger (Tool Only)

Why I reached for a cordless edger—and what I found

I’ve been edging sidewalks and driveways with a string trimmer for years. It works, but it’s slow, messy, and inconsistent. So I picked up DeWalt’s cordless edger to see if a purpose-built tool would clean up my lines and cut my time without the fuss of gas. I tested it across two properties: a well-maintained suburban lot that gets edged monthly, and a stretch that hadn’t seen a proper edge in a long time.

The short version: this DeWalt edger excels as a maintenance tool. It’s light, easy to handle, and makes tidy edges quickly when there’s an established groove to follow. It can struggle on a first cut through compacted soil or turf that’s crept over concrete. If that describes your yard, expect to go slow, make multiple passes, and use a big battery.

Design and build

At about 10 pounds without a battery, the tool is comfortably light. The adjustable bail handle lets you fine-tune hand position for your height and preferred stance, and the textured grip gives good control. The blade is a 7.5-inch steel disc (DeWalt’s DZO400), paired with an edge guide that rides along hard surfaces to keep your line straight and protect the blade.

Depth is handled by a three-position adjustment up to a measured 2 inches. The setting detents are crisp and easy to change without tools. For most sidewalk edges, I ran it in the middle setting and only dropped deeper when cleaning up stubborn encroachment.

A high-efficiency brushless motor sits on the right side of the head. That side-mounted housing is worth noting: it pushes the footprint out a few inches, so you need a bit of hard, flat surface for the wheel to roll along. In practice, that’s perfect for edging next to concrete, but it limits how close you can get to vertical walls or fences, and it isn’t the tool for freehand trenching into beds.

The guard covers the rear of the blade well, and debris containment is good for an edger. However, the lower edge of the guard rides low. In taller grass, it can drag and add resistance, which you feel as extra push effort. Keeping the leading wheel on the concrete and slightly lifting the handle nose helps, but this is a design trade-off between safety coverage and glide.

Overall build quality feels solid—no rattles, no flex in the shaft lock, and the head hardware stays tight. As usual with DeWalt outdoor gear, the plastics are thick and the fasteners are correctly sized.

Battery platform and setup

This is a tool-only kit, so you’ll need a 20V MAX battery and charger. It runs on any 20V MAX pack, including FlexVolt batteries in 20V mode. Assembly is quick: connect the shaft halves, set the handle position, and install the blade. The exploded diagrams are a touch vague in places, but it’s a straightforward five-minute job if you’ve assembled split-shaft tools before.

My advice on batteries is simple: use at least a 5.0Ah pack, and if you plan to cut a new edge, start with a 9.0Ah FlexVolt. The motor definitely appreciates the extra current under load.

Performance in the yard

• Maintenance edging (established line): This is where the DeWalt edger shines. On my regularly maintained sidewalks and driveway, the tool tracked straight, cut fast, and left a crisp edge with minimal cleanup. With an edge already established, the middle depth setting was plenty, and I could zip around 250–300 feet in just a few minutes. A 5.0Ah battery barely budged—one to two bars down at most.

• First-time or neglected edges: Different story. Where grass had grown over the slab and soil was compacted, the blade would bog if I tried to take a full-depth bite on the first pass. The right approach was multiple shallow passes: start shallow to open a line, then drop one setting deeper, and so on. Dry conditions helped; damp soil tended to cake inside the guard and stall the blade sooner.

Taking that measured approach, I still finished the neglected areas cleanly, but it wasn’t fast. With a 9.0Ah pack, I got roughly 20–30 minutes of heavy cutting before charging. That’s well shy of an hour, but realistic for the workload. If you’re reclaiming edges the first time this season, plan on more time and more battery.

• Control and stability: The single rear wheel and front guide wheel keep the tool planted on hard surfaces. I would love a second rear wheel for side-to-side stability on uneven ground, but on sidewalks and driveways the existing setup is fine. The edge guide is effective—once it’s resting on concrete, it’s almost like tracing with a stencil.

• Noise and vibration: Noticeably quieter than a gas edger and less fatiguing than running a string trimmer vertically. Vibration is minimal, even when the blade kisses the concrete.

• Cut quality: The 7.5-inch blade leaves a neat, consistent slot. On maintenance passes, the edge looks pro-level with very little string-trimmer follow-up. On first cuts, expect some cleanup with a blower or rake to clear the pulled thatch.

Ergonomics and user experience

The balance is head-heavy enough to keep the blade planted without forcing it, and the adjustable handle lets you square your shoulders and walk naturally. At around 10 pounds plus battery, it’s easy on the forearms over long runs. The trigger and safety are intuitive, and the soft start avoids sudden kick.

One ergonomic limitation is the motor bulge on the right side. It means you’re effectively edging in one direction with the guide against the hard surface. If you have tight fences or raised stone borders where there’s no flat surface for the wheels, a string trimmer with an edger guide may remain your best bet.

Maintenance and blades

Blade wear was reasonable. After several sessions, the cutting edge showed expected dulling but still performed well. Keep the blade bolt snug (check it before each use) and clear packed dirt from the guard periodically—especially if you’ve been edging damp soil. Replacement 7.5-inch blades are widely available, and the guard design makes swaps simple.

What it is—and isn’t

This DeWalt edger is an efficient, easy-handling maintenance tool living in the 20V MAX ecosystem. It’s not a trenching machine and won’t power through compacted soil in a single pass like some higher-voltage or gas units. If you already own DeWalt batteries and want a cleaner, faster alternative to flipping your string trimmer vertical, it hits the mark.

If you’re starting from scratch on a yard that hasn’t been edged in years, you can absolutely get the job done—but you’ll move slower, make multiple passes, and benefit from a high-capacity battery. A flat hard surface for the wheels is also key; this design prefers sidewalks and driveways to freehand edging in turf.

Pros

• Light, well-balanced, and comfortable to use
• Clean, straight edges on established lines
• Effective edge guide and simple depth settings up to 2 inches
• Brushless motor and quieter operation than gas
• Works with existing DeWalt 20V MAX and FlexVolt batteries
• Good debris control for an edger

Cons

• Can bog on first-time cuts through compacted soil or heavy overgrowth
• Guard rides low and can drag in taller grass
• Needs a flat hard surface for best tracking; not ideal along walls or fences
• Real-world runtime under heavy load is far less than a light-duty maintenance pass
• Tool-only—budget for a high-capacity battery if you don’t already own one

Recommendation

I recommend this DeWalt edger for homeowners who already live in the 20V MAX platform and want a dedicated tool for maintaining clean edges along sidewalks and driveways. It’s lightweight, easy to control, and very effective when you’re refreshing established lines. Pair it with at least a 5.0Ah battery (a 9.0Ah FlexVolt is even better) and it becomes a quick, tidy part of your weekly mow.

If your edges have been ignored and you need to cut through encroached turf and compacted soil, the tool will work—but it won’t be the fastest or most powerful option. Be prepared for multiple shallow passes and shorter runtime. In that scenario, a higher-voltage cordless edger or a temporary assist from an edging spade might suit you better. For ongoing maintenance, though, this DeWalt is a satisfying, low-hassle upgrade over a vertical string trimmer.