The best hedge trimmers in 2025

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.

Our expert testers trial hundreds of garden tools to work out which will do the job well and offer the best value, comfort and quality. We’ve tested essentials like the best garden spades and best hoes as well as more specific kit like the best wood-splitting axes, the best leaf blowers and the best pressure washers.

Looking to expand your range of cordless tools? Check out our round up of the best cordless mowers and best cordless drills, or our buyers guide to cordless multi-tool systems.

Buyer's guide to hedge trimmers - video

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

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

Jump to:

• Best buy cordless hedge trimmers
• Best buy petrol hedge trimmers
• The best of the rest
• What are the different types of hedge trimmer?
• How we tested hedge trimmers
• How to safely use a hedge trimmer

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 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 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 attaching 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 wraparound 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’s feels light and well balanced and it’s easy to use and manoeuvre around a hedge.

A blade tip protector stops it 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, but it does take just over two hours to charge, so you'll have a wait if you've still got trimming to finish. Overall, this is a simple, light and high performing hedge trimmer which is the 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 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. 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 110 cm 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 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 2.4 kg.

The 45cm long 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 if 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 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 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 visible

Cons:

• Snags on some wood
• Blade cover 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 minute. 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
• Battery indicator 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 over head or at shoulder-height. The jam function prevents the blade 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
• 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. Awarded a BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Best Buy for premium petrol trimmer, 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 minimum 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 sized and shaped 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.

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 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 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 50 cm long cutting deck
• 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

• 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 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 a 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 clearly visible
• Very quiet
• Well balanced

Cons:

• 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 minutes 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 amongst tools. It’s also a little tricky to get the charging cable in. The trimmer has a three stage start on the grip and 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 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 40v 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 does make this trimmer, that 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 rubberised grip for comfort and the long, double sided 55cm long 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 the 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 40v 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
• 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 long blade , and comes with a 18V 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 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 model 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 offered 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 their 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 do require a power source and have cables that are potentially hazardous - 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 we tested hedge trimmers

The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Reviews team tested the hedge trimmers across a range of hedges with different stem thicknesses, including privet, yew and laurel. The hedge trimmers were compared, and the following criteria used to calculate the scores, with equal weight given to each:

• Set-up & storage: We looked at the assembly needed, ease and clarity of instructions, the battery charge time and any storage features.
• Handling: Assessed ease of use, weight, noise levels, comfort and safety features.
• Performance: Focused on the quality of cut, blade length, the maximum stem thickness the trimmer could cut and for the cordless models, the battery run time.
• Value for money: Considered all of the above, plus quality and design, the RRP (including battery and charger where relevant), and the length of warranty.

For more information on our testing process see How we Review

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, avoid loose fitting clothes that might snag on branches as you work. Wear sturdy, non-slip shows 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 March 2025. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.