11 Best Hedge Trimmers (Review) in 2019

We’ve selected the Black & Decker LHT2436 as our Best Choice hedge trimmer. There are more powerful and cheaper hedge trimmers available, but we think this is the best all-rounder on the market at the minute.  It’s a battery-powered cordless trimmer that runs on Black & Deckers’ impressive 40-volt, lithium batteries. They provide 5X more charge than the standard 36-volt alternatives, found in most similar bush trimmers. It doesn’t say exactly how long one charge will last, but they do say that you’ll be able to cut around 6000 square feet of hedge – which should keep you busy for long enough. Then, when you need to recharge, it only takes one hour to fully charge the batteries.

It has a 24-inch, dual-action blade that can cut through branches up to ¾” thick. That makes it easily one of the most powerful hedge trimmers on the market, matching the more expensive Dewalt trimmer further down the list. The two grips are soft and ergonomically designed so that you don’t strain yourself when you’re trimming for a long time. Plus, the PowerDrive transmission stops the trimmer from stalling and allows you to cut more branches.  There’s no question that this is one of the best electric hedge trimmers around. Find more great products for your garden by checking out our guide to the best cordless lawn mowers.

Greenworks aren’t one of the most well-known companies around, but they make some pretty impressive gardening tools. They are part of Globe Group, which is – as the name would suggest – a global company. That means they have the research and technology departments to make innovative tools that can make your gardening experience a whole lot easier. The most impressive thing about GreenWorks 2272 Pole Hedge Trimmer is the extendable pole. It can extend up to 6.5 feet, which means you can get to the super hard-to-reach areas, without the need for ladders or other dangerous equipment. This is an impressive feature, but it will suit some people’s needs much more than others.

Unfortunately, for this amazing reach, you do have to sacrifice some performance. It has a 20-inch dual-action blade, that can cut branches just over half an inch in diameter. The runtime is only 30 minutes, but the 40-volt batteries charge up quicker than a lot of the alternatives. Plus, it’s heavier than your standard hedge-trimmer, so if you have a long hedgerow to trim, it might not be suitable. Having said that, it’s hard to beat the convenience of being able to reach the top of bushes easily. 

We’ve selected this Black & Decker trimmer as our Best Value product on this list. That’s not because it’s the cheapest trimmer, but because it provides awesome value for money. Whether you’re spending $30 or $200, Black & Decker is a well-respected brand. So, to be able to buy a large power tool from them for less than $30 is amazing. It’s never going to be as powerful as the expensive models, but if you only need it for cutting small hedges, it’s perfect. You get a 16-inch dual-action blade, made from hardened steel. It can cut branches just over half an inch thick, which is the same as the extendable Greenworks trimmer.

The short blade means that it’s not ideal for cutting large bushes, but the plus side is that it’s more lightweight than the bigger hedge trimmers. It’s powered using a 3.0-amp motor, that has to be plugged into a wall socket. The cord comes with cord retention technology, which stops the trimmer from being pulled out of the socket by accident. With the ergonomic handles and safety guard, BLACK+DECKER BEHT100 is the perfect lightweight hedge trimmer for those smaller jobs. Our handy guide to the best riding lawn mowers features more great products like this.

Makita has a long history of making high-quality tools. They’ve been around since 1915 and are now one of the biggest brands in power tools. So, even before you look at the features of Makita XHU02Z 18V LXT hedge trimmer, you know it’s going to be good. And it doesn’t disappoint. First off, you get a 22-inch blade, which is the longest we’ve seen yet. That means you can get an awesome straight-line cut all the way across your hedgerow – the longer the blade, the easier it is to get a straight cut. The blades are dual-action and the motor provides a considerably higher cutting speed than most of the alternatives. Add all this together and you get a hedge trimmer that is going to cut through almost anything, without much effort from yourself.

Inside the motor, there are five cushions that stop the hedge trimmer from vibrating when it’s running. Plus, the battery is around 25% quieter than other cordless units and much quieter than corded hedge trimmers. We almost forgot to mention the battery, with all the other great features! It has around 75 minutes of run time and charges faster than most other similar models.

The Worx WG255.1 is a cordless hedge trimmer that sits nicely in the middle of the price range. At around $80, it’s an investment but isn’t one of the top range models like the Dewalt or Makita trimmers. However, you still get a lot of tool for your money. It has a dual-action 20-inch that gives an excellent smooth cut and don’t become blunt after the first use. It can handle some pretty thick branches, but they don’t actually specify exactly how thick, so we’d stick to small-medium sized hedges.

The handles are some of its best assets. The D-grip at the front and the main handle are covered in a soft material that gives you a really comfortable grip on the trimmer. Add this to the fact that it’s ultra-lightweight, means that you get a really comfortable trimming experience. In terms of power, you can either buy it with or without a 20V battery and charger kit. That’s because the batteries are standard across pretty much all Worx power tools, so if you have one already you can use the battery from that. Be sure to also check out our guide to the best robot lawn mowers for more great products like this.

You might be slightly suspicious when you first look at Snow Joe HJ22HTE. It’s a lot cheaper than most of the hedge trimmers on here and looks a bit more old-school, but it’s actually a pretty good tool for the money. Firstly, it has an impressive 22-inch blade that is capable of cutting through relatively thick branches. It doesn’t state the exact cutting diameter, but a quick search of the FAQs and you will see that it cuts ¼ inch thick branches. Having said that, a lot of the Amazon customer reviews say that it can handle a lot thicker.

The 3.5amp motor delivers plenty of cutting power and the wrap-around handle will keep your hands well away from the blades. All-in-all, this is a decent hedge trimmer. It’s not going to give you the accuracy or power than the more expensive models can provide, but you can’t really expect it to. If you’re looking for a cheap alternative, it’s well worth a try.

DEWALT DCHT860M1 is the daddy of hedge trimmers. It retails at about $250 and is used around the world by professional successful gardeners and landscapers. So, if you’re not serious about hedge trimming, look away now. However, if you want to carve your hedge into the most beautiful and smooth shapes, keep reading. It has 22-inch, laser-cut blades that will confidently cut through any branches up to a ¾ inch thick. They are designed to last for a long time and have hook-shaped teeth along the blade that can keep up the speed and power of the hedge trimmer when you encounter thick branches.

The handles are super comfy and ergonomically designed, which is important because this isn’t the lightest hedge trimmer on here. Plus, it is housed in Dewalt’s premium Xenoy exterior to give it extra durability and impact resistance. It’s powered by a 40-volt lithium battery, that can run for up to 70 minutes on one single charge. Sure, it’s not the cheapest hedge trimmer you can buy, but it’s going to last a lot longer than most and will cut through almost anything your hedge has to throw at you.

This impressive little trimmer offers something completely different. It’s much smaller than the rest of the hedge trimmers on this list, with a blade that only reaches out 6.3 inches. That means it’s completely useless on large hedgerows, but perfect for smaller bushes and neatening up the edges. Earthwise Cordless Shrub Shear and Hedge Trimmer Combo also has a handy little 3-inch grass shear blade fitting, which cuts through grass edges as well as any strimmer. Plus, the blades can easily be changed, thanks to the molded mounting plates.

It’s powered by a 3.6V rechargeable lithium-ion battery, which has an average run time of around 45 minutes. It also has a built-in charging unit and an LED light to indicate when the battery is running low. At just over 1 pound in weight, it’s easily the most lightweight option on this list, but it’s really only suitable for small bushes. If you’ve got a big job on your hands, you need to invest in something more heavy-duty.

The best thing about the Greenworks Corded Hedge Trimmer is the transparent safety guard between you and the blades. It’s by far the biggest effort we’ve seen so far at keeping your hands safe from the super-sharp, fast-moving blades. It’s also got a cord lock to stop it from being accidentally unplugged, which is another important safety feature. Add these together and you’ve got one of the safest hedge trimmers around.

This gardening tool cuts with an impressive 22-inches, dual-action blade and is powered using a 4-amp motor. It’s also pretty eco-friendly (hence the company name Greenworks), so if you’re safety conscious, eco-aware gardener, this hedge trimmer definitely has to be a consideration for your tool shed. For more gardening tools, check out our guide to the best leaf shredders. 

LHT360CFF 60V Max Powercut is the last Black & Decker hedge trimmer in our list. It’s a bit heavier duty than the first two, and most of the other trimmers on here. It has a 24-inch, dual action blade, which is very similar to the LHT2436 that we featured as our Best Choice product. But it has one crucial difference – this trimmer can cut branches up to one and a half inches thick. That is twice the thickness of any other trimmer we’ve featured. Plus, it has a feature called Powercut™ that gives you an extra boost of power if you get stuck on a particularly tough bit of the hedgerow. Anyone that has tried to trim a thick hedgerow will know how important this feature could be.

Other than that, it’s powered by a 60V lithium battery. Black & Decker don’t state how long the runtime is, but some reports say that it can go for up to 4 hours at a time. You’ll need a break from trimming before it does!

The Weed Eater WE20VH is one of the cheapest hedge trimmers around. It was a strong contender for our Best Value product, but overall, we thought the Black & Decker was a better deal. However, there are still a few reasons you might want to choose this one instead. For a start, you get 20-inch dual action blade – instead of the Black & Deckers’ 16 inch – which means it is slightly more suitable for larger hedgerows. Plus, it’s cordless, which some people will prefer as it gives you more flexibility. But apart from that, there isn’t much to tell them apart, which is why this trimmer makes a perfect gift for gardeners. One slightly negative point is that you only get around 30 minutes of run time off one charge. This could prove to be annoying if you have a lot of hedgerows to get through – in which case, we’d go for a corded model like the Black & Decker.