Trimmer Storage: Vertical or Horizontal?

Since string trimmers are a pretty common tool to have in your lawn arsenal, the question of how exactly to store them gets asked a lot. Having sort of an awkward shape, you can’t really just set them on the ground and lean them against a wall in your garage. And since most people don’t have unlimited shelf space in their sheds or garages, laying them flat on a rack isn’t always an option. Opinions about the best way to go about storing your string trimmer vary depending on what owner or manufacturer you talk to.

So, Trimmer Storage…Vertical or Horizontal?

The debate between trimmer storage being vertical or horizontal has a few different factors involved but the best approach in my opinion is to hang your trimmer vertically. Doing so will not only help you maximize the storage space in your garage or shed, but it also will prevent any kind of damage to the trimmer itself while it’s hanging up.

Is It Ok to Hang a String Trimmer Vertically?

Hanging your string trimmer vertically is definitely a good way to do it, and is actually recommended by lots of manufacturers and professionals in the lawn care industry. It is the preferred method of storage for a handful of reasons. I’ll list some of the biggest advantages here:

• Prevents fluid from leaking (gas powered models only)
• Doesn’t put pressure on the more delicate parts of the trimmer
• Keeping the trimmer off the ground helps prevent the buildup of dust and dirt
• Saves a good amount of space

While this is especially important for gas powered trimmers, it is ok to hang electric string trimmers vertically as well. Parts like the guard, spool, and line cutter are all fairly fragile and pressure from laying flat or on the ground can cause damage. If they do end up getting damaged it could cause things like jamming and excess use of trimmer line.

And best of all, it doesn’t have to cost a lot to create a storage solution like this either. I actually put together this post on how to build your own trimmer rack for a very small cost. So definitely check that out if you’re interested.

Should You Hang Weed Eater Engine Up or Down?

Storing your weed eater vertically with the engine up is the best way to do it. Manufacturers of gas trimmers recommend this to help keep any fluids from leaking within the motor. So if you’re wondering how to hang your Stihl or Ryobi trimmer, engine up is the way to go. In fact, Stihl specifically recommends storing their trimmers this way.

But even if you have an electric trimmer, you’re better off hanging it vertically with the cutting side down. A lot of people with electric weed eaters hang them by the lower handle or by the guard, but this can damage them in the long run. Handles are easily cracked and broken, and they also push the tool further out from the wall when hanging.

This increases the chance of your tool falling from the wall. While the guard may appear to be a convenient way to catch a nail or wooden beam on the wall of your garage, it really isn’t a great idea.

Though you won’t run the risk of leaking engine fluids with an electric model, the guard at the bottom of your trimmer is a bit too fragile to hang from. As I mentioned in the previous section, you don’t want to risk damaging the cutting side of your trimmer.

What Can Happen If You Store Your Trimmer Horizontally

Since we’re talking about “trimmer storage  – vertical or horizontal?”, and you know that it is ok to hang a string trimmer vertically, let’s talk a bit about why you should avoid horizontal storage. It isn’t a good idea to store your trimmer horizontally for a few reasons. The biggest consequences of doing so are: gas or oil leaks from the engine, pressure on fragile parts, and wasted space. Let’s take a look at them in more detail.

Gas or Oil Leaks

Leaking gas or oil is a super common issue with storing trimmers horizontally or with the engine down instead of up. While you might get away with it in the short term, it isn’t a good idea to leave your trimmer laying flat or upside down for an extended period of time.

There are two types of gas powered trimmers, two-stroke and four-stroke. Both have the possibility of leaking if they are stored incorrectly, but it’s more common with four-stroke trimmers. This is because the oil is stored separately from the gas. Though this probably won’t render your tool useless, nobody wants to have to clean up a gas or oil spill.

Pressure on Fragile Parts

The bottom, or cutting side, of a trimmer isn’t the only semi-fragile part. The handle and the shaft on many weed eaters are made from plastic or aluminum and can get bent out of shape pretty easily. Sometimes the handle, shaft, or even guard can bend or crack just by the weight of the engine being propped up by them. Not to mention, if you’ve got your trimmer lying horizontally on a shelf there’s a good chance you might throw something on top of it by accident. It just isn’t worth the risk.

Wasted Space

This might be a bigger concern for some, but I have yet to meet a person who has an abundance of extra space in their garage, shed, or basement. With the right design, you can save a ton of space by hanging your trimmer vertically instead of horizontally. Like most power tools, string trimmers do not lay flat and you can’t stack anything on top of them.

Given this, there is a clear winner of the trimmer storage – vertical or horizontal debate.  Do yourself a favor and either buy a vertical hanger for your weed eater, or if you’re up for the job, build your own trimmer rack! But whatever you do, don’t store your tool on the ground.