The best 11 hedge trimmers to buy 2025 – tested by our reviews experts in real-world conditions

Before cutting your hedge, it’s important to avoid the main breeding season for garden birds, between March and August. Always check for nests before trimming, even outside these months, as it’s an offence under law to intentionally damage or destroy active bird nests.

Buyer's guide to hedge trimmers – video

Many thanks to Rosie Yeomans and Sparsholt College for their help in making this video.

Why you can trust Gardeners' World reviews

As trained gardeners and seasoned users of all sorts of garden tools, Kay Maguire, myself, and the rest of the team at BBC Gardeners' World Magazine have reviewed scores of hedge trimmers over the years, using our trusted testing matrix to make sure we're giving balanced, fair judgements.

We test hedge trimmers in varied, real-world conditions, cutting a variety of hedge plants with different characteristics. Because we're real-world gardeners with lots of experience, we know what to look out for and the sorts of things that will make all the difference once you're using a particular hedge trimmer regularly.

We give each hedge trimmer an at-a-glance list of pros and cons for clarity, and a rating out of five. We also don't share product reviews with manufacturers or retailers before they're published, and we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, either. Oliver Parsons, gardenersworld.com

How we test the best hedge trimmers

When we test hedge trimmers, we use them across various hedges with different stem thicknesses.

Then, we score each model against these four criteria, with equal marks attributed to each one:

• Set-up and storage: We assess the assembly needed, the ease and clarity of the instructions provided, the battery charge time on cordless models, and any storage features.
• Handling: Vital for the tool to be enjoyable to use, we look at each hedge trimmer's ease of use, overall weight, weight distribution, noise levels, comfort and safety features.
• Performance: We also look at the quality of the cut, blade length, the maximum stem thickness the trimmer can handle, and, for cordless models, the battery run time.
• Value for money: We look at all of the above, plus quality and design in relation to the RRP (including battery and charger where relevant), and the length of warranty.

For more on our testing process across all the different gardening product categories, see How we review

In every review category, we award the most outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend (the best of the rest), browse our pick of the best hedge trimmers, below.

Meet our testing panel

Oliver Parsons, Strategic Projects Editor
Oliver trained as a professional horticulturalist at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Chelmsford and has also worked for Gardening Which?, as a freelance gardener and with the gardening team at Down House in Kent. He is now Strategic Projects Editor at BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine and GardenersWorld.com, heading up our reviews desk, Apple News output and weekly newsletter.

Kay Maguire, Magazines Editor
Kay trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and has been writing and making films about gardening ever since. She has written for websites and magazines, including The Garden and Amateur Gardening, was Horticultural Editor on BBC Gardeners' World for five years, and has also written several books on a range of gardening topics from growing house plants to making the most of a small space. After several years as Reviews Editor, building up our reviews section into a leading resource for UK gardeners, she has now become Magazines Editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, responsible for all print output.

Harry Duncton, freelance powered tools tester
Harry has a wealth of experience, from being a language teacher to a tree surgeon, and has built this into a career writing about all things DIY and gardening. A passionate believer in self-reliance, his aim is to inspire others to give it a go themselves and not worry about making a few mistakes along the way. A regular contributor to popular DIY blogs and a recent addition to the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team, he loves tracking down the best new tools and writing about them.

Sue Fisher, freelance garden writer
Sue’s extensive horticultural career spans over 40 years, starting with a decade in the garden centre and nursery industry before developing into an accomplished gardening writer, designer and speaker. Sue writes regularly for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine, GardenersWorld.com, and Garden Answers magazine. She has written 10 books on subjects including container gardening, plants for small gardens and designing with colour, and she has co-authored other books with some of the biggest names in gardening.

Emma Crawforth, Horticulture Editor
Emma holds the Kew Diploma in Horticulture and has been working in horticulture for 18 years, including roles in public gardens, a plant nursery supplying plants for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and a training college for young horticulturists. She looks after an ornamental, fruit and veg garden at home and regularly undertakes trips to see plants growing in their natural habitats. She is the author of the Kew Publications book, ‘Things to do with Plants’.

The best hedge trimmers to buy at a glance

• Best cordless hedge trimmer for smaller trimming jobs: Flymo 18v EasiCut 450 hedge trimmer
• Best mid-price cordless hedge trimmer: Stihl HSA cordless hedge trimmer
• Best cordless hedge trimmer for handling: Erbauer EHT18-Li Cordless Hedge Trimmer
• Best lower voltage cordless hedge trimmer: Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer
• Best value cordless hedge trimmer: Vonhaus 20V Max Hedge Trimmer
• Best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use 2024: Stihl HSA 30 hedge trimmer
• Best cordless hedge trimmer for charging & run times: Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer kit
• Best cordless hedge trimmer for ease of use: Stiga SHT 100 AE cordless hedge trimmer
• Best efficient cordless hedge trimmer: Greenworks G40HT61K2 cordless hedge trimmer
• Best premium petrol trimmer: Husqvarna 122HD60 petrol hedge trimmer
• Best value petrol trimmer: Webb HC600 petrol hedge trimmer

Each hedge trimmer has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to set-up and storage, handling, performance and value for money. Every Best Buy hedge trimmer in our round-up below has scored a minimum of 4.5 out of 5 stars, so you can buy with confidence.

Jump to:

• BEST BUY cordless hedge trimmers
• BEST BUY petrol hedge trimmers
• The best of the rest

In every review, we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best hedge trimmers below:

Best cordless hedge trimmers in 2025

Flymo 18V EasiCut 450 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £174.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from B&Q, Amazon and Wickes

Pros:

• Light and easy to use
• Easily visible battery level indicator
• All packaging recyclable
• Part of the Power For All Alliance battery system

Cons:

• Screwdriver needed to attach the handle
• Over two hours battery charge time

This simple little trimmer is ideal for small to medium gardens, and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for smaller trimmer jobs. It comes almost ready to use, and all its packaging is recyclable. Everything is wrapped in either cardboard or brown paper, which we love. Unlike others in our test, it needs the handle to be attached with a screwdriver, but this is very easy and takes just a couple of minutes. With a 45cm cutting length, the hedge trimmer is easy to use with a comfortable wrap-around handle and a two-stage start for safety. There’s also a hand guard to protect the hand as you work. At 2.2kg, it feels light and well balanced, and it’s easy to use and manoeuvre around a hedge.

A blade tip protector stops it from getting damaged when cutting close to walls or the ground, and this trimmer cuts cleanly through the privet hedge, brambles and yew we trimmed. It’s powered by an 18V battery and has a good battery run time of around 55 minutes, plus the battery charge is clearly visible on the trimmer as you work, so it's easy to see if you're nearly running out. However, the battery does take just over two hours to charge, so you'll have to wait if you've still got trimming to finish. Overall, this is a simple, light and high-performing hedge trimmer which is just the thing for everyday cutting and trimming in smaller gardens. It's good value for money, particularly as Flymo 18V batteries are also part of the Power4All Alliance, which means they can be shared across all the Flymo, Bosch and Gardena cordless tools in the Alliance and will save you money if you invest in further tools in the future. It also comes with a two-year warranty.

Stihl HSA 50 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £234

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from Stihl

Pros:

• Efficient wide blade
• Well balanced and comfortable to use
• Top-loading battery
• Blade tip protector and stout guard
• Fully recyclable packaging
• Part of the Stihl AK battery system

Cons:

• Cutting capacity is small for the price
• 80-minute charge time

Replacing the Best Buy-winning Stihl HSA 56, this efficient, cordless hedge trimmer also earns a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy award for the best mid-priced cordless hedge trimmer. With a top-loading battery and improved balance, it has a 50cm blade and a cutting capacity of 16mm. It's comfortable to hold, and the updated design of the front trigger handle makes it easier to use at different angles. With a run time of around 50 minutes, it copes well with even mature, woody growth and is quiet, with good safety features, including a neutral locking position and a tip protector over the blade. The blade guard also feels sturdy and built to last. It takes 80 minutes to charge and comes with a two-year warranty. The battery and charger are compatible with other Stihl tools in the AK system.

Erbauer EHT18-Li cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £189.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from ScrewFix

Pros:

• Lightweight and very easy to handle
• Powerful brushless motor
• Robust and easy-to-use blade guard
• 60-minute battery charge time

Cons:

• No leaf brushing attachment
• Not available as a bare tool

An extremely manoeuvrable and lightweight but powerful hedge trimmer, the Erbauer EHT18-Li has been awarded the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for handling. It features a generous 55 cm blade, and the diamond-ground teeth have a high cutting capacity of 25 mm. The long overall length at 110cm helps to keep the trimmer balanced and comfortable to use, and the swivelling handle makes vertical and diagonal cuts easy to manage. It comes with a large 5.0 Ah battery that takes just an hour to charge and provides 50 minutes of run time too – the only drawback with this trimmer is that it’s not available as a bare tool. For storage, you can hang the trimmer up on a nail or hook via the hole on the end of the blade to keep it safe and out of the way. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £100.99

Our rating: 4.8 /5

Available from Ryobi and Amazon

Pros:

• Quite light yet efficient
• Compact, lightweight battery
• Long warranty
• Stout blade guard

Cons:

• Power indicator is hard to view

For its compact size, this hedge trimmer offers a surprisingly impressive performance and trims different materials well. The blade guard is sturdy and feels built to last, although the power indicator on the battery is difficult to view. The tool is lighter than previous Ryobi models and is ideal for sculpting hedges and shrubs. The battery and charger come at an additional cost but can be used for other tools in the Ryobi ONE+ System, making it a money-saver in the long term. We awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for a lower-voltage cordless trimmer.

Read the full Ryobi ONE+ OHT1845 hedge trimmer review

Vonhaus 20V Max G-Series cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £74.99

Our rating: 4.8/5

Available from B&Q and VonHaus

Pros:

• Excellent performance
• Good value
• Lightweight
• Long runtime

Cons:

• Small hand-guard

Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for best value cordless trimmer, this is an excellent price and very easy to use. It’s well balanced and light, with little vibration as it cuts through all but the thickest branches and we are also impressed with its runtime of 50 minutes, which is one of the longest on test. Not only does it offer great performance at a reasonable price, but its battery is compatible with other Vonhaus G-Series tools, saving you money if you buy any of these in the future. Its only drawback is that the hand guard is a little small.

Stihl HSA 30 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £144

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Stihl

Pros:

• Light and well balanced
• Simple to use
• Quiet
• Fully recyclable packaging

Cons

• Only designed for young growth

No assembly is needed with this easy-to-use hedge trimmer from Stihl. It comes with clear instructions and is ready to go straight out of the box. The battery takes just 70 minutes to charge to full power and has a good 50-minute run time, plus there’s a clear battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer, although you do need to stop trimming to push the indicator on to see how much charge you have left. It has a three-stage start for safety with buttons on the handle and grip, and the trimmer feels well balanced in use. Thanks to the small AS 2 battery, it's also very light, weighing just 2.4kg.

The 45cm blade has a cutting capacity of 8mm and a tip protector on the end so you don’t damage it on walls or fences as you trim, and it cuts fresher growth on box, privet and laurel easily and smoothly. It struggles with thicker, woodier stems, but this trimmer's not designed for tougher trimming jobs. It's easy to manoeuvre and shape with this trimmer, so it's ideal for the tight trimming of smaller shrubs and the annual trimming of your hedges, and we awarded it a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use. It comes with a blade cover for storage, and there’s also a hanging eyelet on the handle of the trimmer so you can hang it up out of the way in the garage or shed after use. It comes with a two-year warranty, and the battery and charger can also be used in any other AS machine in the Stihl range, saving you money if you already own these or if you plan to invest in the future.

Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £113.95

Our rating: 4.5 /5

Available from Debenhams, ManoMano and The Range

Pros:

• Battery charge level is clearly visible
• Fast charge time
• Long run time

Cons:

• Narrow cutting capacity
• Short blade

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for best charging and run times, this efficient cordless trimmer has a steel blade with a cutting length of 46cm and a 15mm cutting capacity. It has tip protection and a hanging hole on the end, and it cuts well. The 18V 2.0Ah battery has by far the shortest charge time, 40 minutes, and the longest run time, 80 minutes, in our test. The charge is visible while you work, and both battery and fast charger are compatible with a wide range of Einhell Power X-Change tools. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Einhell GE-CH 1846 Li cordless hedge trimmer kit review

Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.5/5

Available from Stiga

Pros:

• Soft comfortable handle
• Handle rotates into three positions
• Quiet
• Battery charge level is easily visible

Cons:

• Snags on some wood
• The blade cover is tricky to fit

Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for ease of use, this versatile trimmer has a hardened steel blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. It’s great value with generous features, including a hanging hole for easy storage, visible battery charge while you work and a comfortable, soft-grip handle that rotates 180° for easy cutting. Part of the Stiga 100 battery tool range, so you’ll save money if you buy further tools in the future, the 20V 2.0Ah battery has a charge time of 70 minutes and a run time of 40 minutes. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Stiga SHT 100e cordless hedge trimmer kit review

Greenworks G40HT61K2 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £179.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon and Greenworks

Pros:

• Light, easy to use and quiet
• Long for size and weight
• Blade tip protector and hanging facility
• Stout, sleeve-type blade guard

Cons:

• Poorer cut quality on woody stems
• The battery indicator is hard to see

This fast and efficient cordless trimmer was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for efficiency and is lightweight and easy to use, particularly overhead or at shoulder-height. The jam function prevents the blade from clogging, while 20mm tooth spacing allows it to cut through woodier growth. The handle rotates to three different positions for easy handling, although the hand guard does feel a little thin. Both the battery and charger can be used with other tools in the Greenworks G40V cordless range if you decide to expand your kit.

Read the full Greenworks G40HT61K2 hedge trimmer review

Best Buy petrol hedge trimmers

Husqvarna 122HD60 petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £329

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Amazon and Husqvarna

Husqvarna 122HD60 Petrol Hedge Trimmer

Pros:

• Powerful with a brushless motor
• Rigid guard with hanging option
• Fast, efficient cut
• 3-position handle
• The lowest noise level of the petrol models

Cons:

• Highest price petrol model(in our 2018 test)

This petrol hedge trimmer is compact and light but still delivers a powerful and efficient cut. It was awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for premium petrol trimmers. The rotating handle makes awkward angles easier, and the anti-vibration system means it’s comfortable to manoeuvre. The tool is quiet, so there’s minimal disruption for your neighbours, and it would be best for high hedging and large shrubs. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Husqvarna 122HD60 hedge trimmer review

Webb HC600 petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £179.99

Our rating: 4.8 out of 5

Available from Webb and Tooled Up

Pros:

• 5-position rotating handle
• Widest tooth spacing
• Tip guard
• Easy to start
• Handles and cuts well

Cons:

• Louder than others in our test

An easy-to-start model with a five-position rotating handle, we awarded this a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine for best mid-priced petrol hedge trimmer. It's versatile, suiting most sizes and shapes of hedges, while the wide tooth spaces make it tough on wider, mature stems. The tool is heavy but felt well-balanced to hold, and it cut powerfully through hedges. A well-placed tip guard protects the blade against walls and fences. It's good value and comes with a two-year warranty.

Read the full Webb HC600 hedge trimmer review

Best of the rest

Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test.

EGO HT2000E 56V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £309

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Mowers Online

Pros:

• Plenty of power to cut thick branches
• Large cut capacity of 25mm between the teeth
• Battery provides long run time of up to 75 minutes

Cons:

• Expensive when bought as a kit
• Uneven weight distribution makes it harder to handle

Everything about this hedge trimmer is big. It’s a chunky machine with a big battery and impressive cut capacity. Each gap between the teeth on the 51cm blade is 25mm wide and 20mm deep, meaning it can happily chew through decent-sized branches without slowing down. The front and rear handles are big enough for large hands wearing gloves, and the safety switch is easy to operate at most angles.

Running on EGO’s hefty 56-volt battery system, the trimmer wields tons of power and a huge run time of up to 75 minutes. However, there’s more weight at the back of the machine, which makes the tool feel somewhat unbalanced, so it’s not the most comfortable to use with your arms extended. On the plus side, there’s not much vibration, so it’s fine for up close work, and it comes with a quality hard plastic blade cover and a hole in the top to hang it on the shed wall. The price tag is on the large side, too, but you can use the battery in more than 50 different tools in the range. The tool is covered by a five-year warranty, while the battery is covered for three years.

LawnMaster MX 24V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £69.99

Our rating:

3.9 out of 5

Available from Amazon

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Pros:

• Incredibly light for ease of use
• Well-balanced and easy to handle
• Affordable

Cons:

• The front handle takes some getting used to
• Loud at 102 dB during use
• Small 15mm cut capacity

An affordable but capable hedge trimmer, the LawnMaster MX 24V delivers a surprising amount of power for a light piece of kit. Decked out in bright orange, it’s not going to get lost easily in the garden; it has a pleasant, soft-grip back handle, and it’s nicely balanced from front to back. You get a 52cm blade with a rather small 15 mm gap between each tooth, which means you’re limited to smaller branches. It’s all powered by a 2.0 Ah battery weighing less than 500g, helping the entire setup to come in at under 3kg in weight. That’s quite an impressive feat and means that almost anyone could use it without putting too much strain on the arms and back. It will run for about 40 minutes on a single charge.

The front handle is the only thing that lets this trimmer down a little. Rather than a D-shaped handle that you can hold at any angle, this one is more like a ball grip with safety switches you engage with the palm of your hand. It still works, but a more traditional grip is easier to work with.

For a budget-friendly hedge trimmer, it’s good to see it come with a hard plastic blade cover rather than a flimsy sleeve that’s hard to put back on. Overall, it’s an impressive little tool for not a lot of money, and it’s covered by a two-year warranty.

VonHaus 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4.1 out of 5

Available from B&Q

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Pros:

• 180° rotating handle for comfortable vertical trimming
• 40-volt battery provides good power and a 60-minute run time
• Affordable

Cons:

• Balance favours the battery end
• The safety guard in front of the D handle is a bit flimsy

Vonhaus have added to their growing collection of garden power tools with their upgraded 40-volt battery hedge trimmer. A capable machine, it has a 51cm blade and an impressive cut width of 22mm. It makes short work of leaves, stems and reasonably sized branches and is comfortable to hold onto, thanks to a rubberised grip and large rear trigger. The large front D-shaped handle is big enough for large hands wearing gloves, too, which is always useful. Something we liked about this trimmer is the rotating handle, engaged by pressing a large orange button on the top of the rear handle. By changing the angle of the blade, you can neatly cut vertical or horizontal hedge surfaces without having to hold the trimmer awkwardly. And when it’s running, it only makes 92 dB of noise.

The large-size 40-volt battery powers the trimmer for up to 60 minutes and can be fully recharged in the same amount of time. And although it provides plenty of cutting power, the balance is slightly biased towards the battery end. It’s not uncomfortable to use, seeing as it only weighs 3.7kg, but it’s still noticeable. Overall, you get a powerful hedge trimmer for under £100, covered by a two-year warranty.

Webb Eco WEV20HTB2 50cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £89.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Amazon

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Pros:

• Lightweight and well-balanced
• Affordable

Cons:

• Small 16mm cut capacity
• Quite loud during use

A lightweight and affordable hedge trimmer from Webb Eco, this machine is ideal for smaller garden hedges. You don’t need to assemble anything before getting to work, and as the tool weighs just 3.4kg, it’s not too hard on the hands and back. The 50cm blade can tackle a range of leaves and even thin branches without struggling. It comes with a 2.0 Ah battery and charger that promises up to 48 minutes of work on a single charge.

Although the D-shaped front handle is a bit on the small side, this hedge trimmer is still easy to handle. This and the general ease of use are thanks to an excellent balance between the blade and the battery end. The machine’s 16mm cut capacity is quite small and it’s a bit loud during use, but otherwise this is a capable and lightweight hedge trimmer that was a pleasure to use. This hedge trimmer is covered by a three-year warranty, like all Webb products.

Worx WG261E.1 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £109.99

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from B&Q and Very

Pros:

• Spare battery
• Comfortable handle
• Cuts smoothly and easily

Cons:

• Long charge time
• Fiddly hand-guard attachment
• No battery level visible

The hand-guard needs attaching on this trimmer, which is a bit of a faff and wasn’t necessary with all but two of the other trimmers we tested, we liked that it’s clear and you can see where you’re cutting. A generous handle means it’s comfortable to use, and it has a 45cm long blade with a 16mm cutting capacity and tip protection. It takes a relatively long time to charge - 230 minutes - and although the run time of just 20 minutes is very short, it comes with two batteries, so if you’re organised and keep the second battery charged, you can get 40 minutes of continuous use. The batteries and charger are part of the Worx PowerShare system, so you'll save money if you invest in further tools. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t have a battery level indicator, which we found unhelpful. It comes with a three-year warranty.

Husqvarna Aspire™ H50-P4A battery hedge trimmer

RRP: £139.99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Husqvarna and World of Power

Pros:

• Efficient 50cm blade
• Comfortable handle and large trigger
• Power button and charge level indicator on the handle
• Removable leaf brushing attachment
• Highly versatile batteries are shared between brands

Cons

• The flimsy blade guard is hard to attach
• Quite front-heavy

This quiet 18-volt battery-powered hedge trimmer is powerful enough to chop through woody branches up to 23 mm in diameter and leaves an excellent finish on hedges and trees. The handles are hard, but comfortable, and the overall length of less than a metre means you can work in tight spaces. With the 4.0 Ah battery attached, it can work for up to 80 minutes on a single 95-minute charge, which is perfect for gardens with large privet hedges. Packing the hedge clippers away is easy, too, thanks to the integrated storage hook that can attach to a rail system. Both the battery and charger are compatible not only across the Husqvarna Aspire range but with the Power For All Alliance of cordless tools, which includes Flymo, Gardena and Bosch and will save you money if you invest in any of those tools in the future. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Mountfield MHT 20 Li cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Mountfield and Amazon

Pros:

• Battery charge visible
• Light
• Comfortable and simple to use

Cons:

• Struggles with thicker wood
• Lacks features for the price

Part of the Mountfield Freedom 100 cordless range, this cordless hedge trimmer has a hardened steel, laser-cut blade with a cutting length of 55cm and a cutting capacity of 18mm. It has tip protection and a hanging hole at the end of the blade. The 20V 2Ah battery takes 70 minutes to charge to full power and has a run time of 40 minutes, and the charge is visible, at the touch of a button, while you work. The trimmer is light and easy to use and cuts most wood smoothly, although compared to other trimmers in our test, particularly the Stiga, with which it shares a battery system, it lacks features for the price.

Stihl HSA 45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £124

Our rating: 4.3 out of 5

Available from Stihl and Amazon

Pros:

• Great safety features
• Battery level is clearly visible
• Very quiet
• Well balanced

Cons:

• The whole trimmer needs charging
• Long charge time
• Narrow 8mm cutting capacity

If safety is a consideration, this is the model for you, thanks to the combination of a removable activation key and three switches to start it up. Featuring a double-sided blade with tip protection, it has a 50cm long, 8mm cutting capacity, which is the smallest of all the trimmers we tested. While the 18V 2.0Ah battery has a relatively slow 210-minute charge time and a 40-minute run time, there's a battery level indicator on the side of the trimmer so you can always see how much charge you have left. However, the battery is integrated into the casing, so you must plug in the entire tool to charge it, and you won’t benefit from using the battery in other tools. We like the useful hanging hole for easy storage, and it comes with a two-year warranty.

Gardena EasyCut Li 14.4, 40cm cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £124.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon

Pros:

• Very light and well balanced
• Cuts well

Cons:

• Slightly awkward to hold and use
• Integrated battery
• No battery level indicator

This compact hedge trimmer requires no assembly and has an integrated battery, so you simply plug the whole trimmer in to charge it. However, this does mean that, unlike most other cordless trimmers, there’s no interchangeable battery you can swap among tools. It’s also a little tricky to get the charging cable in. The trimmer has a three-stage start on the grip and a shaped handle for safety, but it is a little awkward to hold, especially if you’re manoeuvring between shrubs. However, it’s well balanced and weighs just 1.9kg, and for regular light trimming, it’s efficient and easy to use. It cut all newer growth easily and well in our test, and the battery runs for around 60 minutes on a full charge, although there’s no charge level indicator on the trimmer, so it’s tricky to know how much power you have left while you’re working. The 40cm long blade has a 16mm cutting width and a tip protector to prevent damage if you’re trimming close to the ground or a wall, and the trimmer comes with a three-year warranty.

Cobra HT55040VZ 40V cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £94.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Just Lawnmowers

Pros:

• Ready to use
• Long run time
• Battery charge indicator
• Hanging hook

Cons

• Heavy to hold and use
• Struggles with thicker wood
• Plastic packaging bar box

There’s no assembly needed with this hedge trimmer; once the 40-volt battery’s charged, it’s ready to use straight out of the box. It takes 90 minutes to charge the battery to full power, but it has a comparatively long run time of 70 minutes, which is useful. It also has a handy battery level indicator on the back of the battery, although you do need to stop trimming and push the button to see how much power's left. The 2.5Ah battery is also large, which makes this trimmer, which already weighs 3.8kg, heavy and feel a little unbalanced, and for those who struggle with heavy lifting or who lack mobility, this may not be the trimmer for them. It has a two-stage start on the grip and handle, which has a rubberised grip for comfort, and the long, double-sided 55cm blade has a 20mm cutting width. There’s a tip protector to prevent damage if you’re trimming close to the ground or a wall, and a hanging hook for storage. This trimmer cuts well, only struggling a little with thicker growth, and it feels well-made, sturdy and durable. Compared to many of the smaller, cheaper trimmers in our test, this feels designed for longer, harder trimming jobs, which the price reflects. This hedge trimmer costs a similar price to many, but without the battery and charger, which need to be purchased separately. However, the trimmer and battery are part of the interchangeable Cobra 40-volt Li-ion system, so you would save money if you already own one of their batteries or if you plan to invest in further tools in the system in future. It comes with a three-year warranty.

Bosch EasyHedgeCut 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Amazon and Bosch

Pros:

• Light and well balanced
• Cuts cleanly
• The battery system includes garden and DIY tools

Cons:

• Long charge time
• Uncomfortable handle/grip position
• Battery level not visible
• No hanging hole

This trimmer has a 45cm blade and comes with an 18-volt 2Ah battery. While it has an above-average run time of 50 minutes, the charge time can take around 124 minutes, which is among the longest of the models we tested. This, together with the handle design, which we found to be awkward and uncomfortable to grip. However, it’s part of the Bosch Power For All 18V Alliance system, which powers around 40 Bosch home, garden and household tools, so this may be something to bear in mind. We liked that it features blade sensors to prevent snagging, and it has a decent cutting capacity of 15mm. It comes with a two-year warranty.

Kärcher HGE 18-45 cordless hedge trimmer

RRP: £99.99

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Available from Tooled Up, Karcher and Amazon

Pros:

• Great value
• LCD battery display
• Excellent performance

Cons:

• Heavy
• Short runtime
• Expensive

We loved the performance of this trimmer from Kärcher. Unlike other trimmers on test, this model has an LCD battery display, which lets you see precisely how long you have left to cut. We’re also impressed with the value of this model, because its battery is compatible with 16 other Kärcher tools, including mowers, grass trimmers, and chainsaws. However, it’s quite heavy, and we found that the skin of your fingers could easily catch between the ‘dead man’ switch and the handle. Though we love the helpful screen on the battery, its 35-minute runtime is below average.

Mitox 600DX petrol hedge trimmer

RRP: £209

Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Available from Garden Machinery Direct

Pros:

• Longest warranty in our test
• Anti-vibration system
• 4-point rotating handle
• Cuts efficiently

Cons:

• Hard to start
• Thin plastic guard

The Mitox 600DX is a heavier petrol-powered trimmer. Despite the weight, it's well-balanced and has a handy rotating handle and anti-vibration system to help make handling comfortable. The trimmer was harder to start than other models we tested, and the plastic hand guard felt quite flimsy, although it does come with a generous five-year warranty. The long blade is great for tall hedges and offers an almost professional cut.

Read the full Mitox 600DX hedge trimmer review

What are the different types of hedge trimmer?

There are three types of hedge trimmer available, each with its own pros and cons:

• Cordless hedge trimmers: These are lightweight, quiet, environmentally friendly and have no need of petrol, engine maintenance or electricity, plus there are no trailing cables to worry about. Without the cord or a petrol tank, you aren’t limited to where you can cut, and although these were traditionally pretty pricey, recent advances have lowered their price. Expensive batteries and chargers, however, can increase costs. Read our best cordless tools buyer's guide for more information on cordless tool systems.
• Electric corded hedge trimmers: Affordable, low-maintenance and lightweight, these trimmers require a power source and have potentially hazardous cables. Depending on their length, you may also need an extension cord for extra reach.
• Petrol hedge trimmers: These are powerful and, like cordless versions, can be used anywhere. However, petrol has an environmental impact, is expensive and messy, and trimmers are heavy, noisy and require regular maintenance.

How to safely use a hedge trimmer

Check the weather forecast
It can be dangerous to cut your hedges in the rain, especially when using an electric trimmer. So make sure the hedge is dry, and no rain is forecast while you’ll be working.

Check your equipment
It’s always worth giving your tool a once-over to check that it’s in working order and has not been damaged.

Wear the right clothes and shoes
Ensure your clothes offer you enough protection whilst cutting your hedge, and avoid loose-fitting clothes that might snag on branches as you work. Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes so that you feel steady on your feet. You might also like to wear goggles and gloves.

Remove dead leaves and debris
Old, dead leaves or debris in your hedge could jam the hedge trimmer, so make sure you check the hedge before you start.

Check that the area is safe
It’s worth just checking your surroundings before you start. Make sure there are no children or pets running around. If you’re using a corded trimmer, make sure the cable isn’t creating a trip hazard for yourself or others.

This review was last updated in August 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.